“You can’t do that,” Reagan said, barely containing her anger.
“We’re the FBI. We can do whatever we want. And you’re coming with me,” Spizer reached for her again and Reagan heard a low growl. Although this time it wasn’t coming from her father. It was coming from Robyn who jumped up onto Carter’s bed to hold off the three agents.
“Stop!” Ryan demanded. “You are not to touch them.”
Cy yanked his arm away from the agents and Reagan was afraid this was going to end badly. “Maybe I may be of assistance,” Ahmed said, his tone anything but friendly.
“Was he on the plane?” Spizer demanded.
Dr. Monroe rushed in the room. “What is going on here? Get out of this room immediately. My patients are recovering from a traumatic event and need their rest.”
“We have an investigation to complete and arrests to be made. Don’t interfere,” Spizer ordered.
“The investigation is closed and you’re just trying to make it appear that you did your job instead of other law enforcement and civilians doing it for you so that you can make it back to New York.” DeAndre spoke in his deep voice as he stepped up to stand side by side with Cy and Ahmed. “Instead, what you don’t realize is you’re about to be fired.”
“And you all are about to be arrested for murder,” Spizer yelled, his voice cracking as he tried to reach for Carter with handcuffs in hand.
Robyn snarled and Cy reached for Spizer. “Touch me and I’ll haul you in too.”
Ahmed grabbed the agent’s shoulder, spun Spizer away from Carter, and knocked him out with a single punch to the chin. “Since you couldn’t hit him, I thought I’d help you out.” Ahmed shrugged. “Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“You’re under arrest for assault on a federal agent,” Morrison said, though he was hesitant to reach out to grab Ahmed.
“Diplomatic immunity,” the entire room said a moment before a mop handle smacked Morrison on the head.
“Here,” Ryan said, pushing through the line of angry Keenestonites to hold out his phone on speaker. “Go ahead, sir.”
“What the hell is going on down there?” the voice demanded over the phone. “I have princes, former President Nelson, President Stratton, and members the joint chiefs of staff calling me about my agents acting improperly.”
“Director Dean?” Morrison asked slowly.
“Yes. I want the three of you to report to my office immediately. You too, Agent Parker, and this sheriff deputy . . . Tanner. Now! In the meantime, Agent Beth Willis is in charge until Parker gets back. Are my orders clear?”
“Yes, sir,” was chorused as Agent Pryor helped a foggy-headed Spizer up from the ground.
“We’ll be back soon,” Ryan told the room. “I’m sure Beth will be here any minute. She’s a good agent and will wait until you’re ready to give your statements. She’ll be interviewing Paul, Daniel, and Stewart first. But in the meantime, it appears that Sam learned of survivors of the crash and drove here overnight. We have an outgoing call to Sam from an unknown number that pinged off the phone tower in Moonshine. Our guess is there’s a phone Mick had that let him tell Sam where he was heading. Since Mick left witnesses and was in police custody, Sam tried to take care of loose ends. What he didn’t count on was Keeneston protecting their own. After I go to DC, Beth and I will head down to Sam’s house, which is currently being sealed off, to see what else we can find.”
“Thank you, Ryan,” Carter said, holding out his hand. Ryan shook it and squeezed Reagan’s shoulder in silent support before heading out the door.
The room began to clear out as Aniyah slung her purse over her shoulder. “You were so hot, Sugarbear,” she winked as she kissed DeAndre. “And look who has his tiger undies on today. Grrrrr. You were fierce.” Aniyah grinned at Ahmed and then looked thoughtful. “Can you teach me to punch like that?”
A collective groan went up from the town as they shuffled from the room. Shooting was bad enough. Aniyah, bless her bad-aimed heart, would be a danger to society if she knew how to fight too.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Reagan’s mother asked as she kissed her daughter’s cheek.
“Yes, we are. Thanks, Mom. Now we just want to get some rest and head home as soon as we can.”
“And home would be where?”
“Carter’s home on Ashton Farm,” Reagan told her mom as she reached for Carter’s hand.
“Our home,” he corrected her.
“Score!” Porter and Parker fist bumped.
“Your brothers want your house.” Gemma laughed lightly now that the stress of overbearing agents was gone. “Oh, and by the way, your father is planning a second wedding for you two in three months. Now get some rest.”
Gemma had the room cleared before Reagan or Carter could ask about Cy planning their wedding. Instead of worrying about it, Reagan just laughed. “Dad sure changed his tune about us getting married.”
“In the best way possible. Now, come here, Mrs. Ashton. If this is my honeymoon I’m going to enjoy it as best I can,” Carter patted the bed and Reagan curled up next to him in the narrow bed. She rested her head on his shoulder and when she looked at him, Carter kissed her. “Our relationship has been anything but normal, but it was all worth it to have you as my wife.”
Carter’s lips caressed hers as his fingers brushed back her hair. Reagan had never felt more loved. Loved by her family, her town, and the man who held her heart. She’d never hide her love again. From this day forward, she’d make sure Carter and everyone who saw them knew how much she loved her husband.
“Four weeks is nothing, right?” Reagan asked when Carter broke the kiss that had left them both breathless.
“Right,” Carter said, clearing his throat. “No problem.” His hand traveled down her upper back to cup the side of her rib cage. His fingers brushed the side of her breast and Reagan groaned. This was definitely going to be a problem.
The door was pushed open and her father strode into the room with his telephone to his ear. Reagan noticed that Carter’s hand didn’t move as he pulled her closer to his chest.
“Sydney wants to know if you want satin, lace, or organza for your wedding dress.”
Carter and Reagan looked at her father and then looked at each other before breaking out into rounds of laughter. She’d been so scared for a future she thought she’d have with a father hating her husband that she laughed now with her heart singing. She was loved by two great men, and she loved them both in return. Now her future was light and bright, filled with nothing but love, laughter, and her very own happily ever after.
30
Keeneston, Six weeks later . . .
* * *
Reagan held the door open at the Blossom Café for Carter to walk through tentatively. She looked around the full café at dinnertime and spotted a table full of cousins and friends sitting at two neighboring tables as they talked up a storm.
“There’s my patient,” Layne grinned as Carter took a seat next to Sloane and across from Layne.
“How’s the rehab going?” Sloane asked as she kissed Carter’s cheek. Gabe and Sloane had been traveling the world for the summer, but they were back in Keeneston now that Sloane had started working at the high school.
“Layne has worked wonders. I got to ditch the crutches this afternoon. Next up are exercises that will get me up and moving with my full weight so that I’ll be walking Reagan down the aisle with no problem.” Carter leaned over and kissed his bride.
“That’s great news, man,” Wyatt said in his smooth and slow Southern accent that seemed more deep South than Kentucky. He’d not only inherited Grandpa Beauford’s farm, but his drawl as well.