Counting On It (Hearts for Ransom Book 1) (4 page)

Well, that had gone over like a cow on a tightrope. Colorful language had flown around the campsite like birds around a feeder when Logan made his announcement. The only ones who didn’t seem too rattled were Brody Gaines and Jesse Rogers. Brody was just too laid back and easygoing to be upset. His looks and calm demeanor served him well when he defended a client in court.

Jesse, however, had better tone down his enthusiasm a little before some of the other guys started pounding on him. The farm boy thought it would be the “most life-changing” thing they could ever do.

“I’m getting Lisa and the baby out here tomorrow. I want at least one night with my wife before those juvenile delinquents descend upon us,” Matt Newman, the tall African-American center fielder, said.

“We could go home tonight,” Logan suggested. “Maybe switch out clothes or get other things we might need.”

“I’m not going anywhere. If I show up in town, my cell phone will start ringing. Cheryl is handling the office while we’re gone, but if people think Brody and I are back, we’ll be finished with any kind of a vacation.” Jacob Landon and Brody were partners in their own law firm.

“Well, if I’m going to spend two weeks being a ‘role model,' I want me some lovin’ time first. I’m calling Marie tonight and telling her to catch a ride with Lisa.” Second baseman Cooper “Coop” Grayson complained as he ran his hand across his nearly white buzz cut.

“Is there room in Lisa’s vehicle for Joni, Matt?” Colton was referring to his wife.

Matt nodded. “I’ll tell her to bring the mini-van.” He turned to address the tall, muscular first baseman standing next to him. “You want to call Liz, Bo? There’ll be room.”

Bo nodded.

“Well, I hope a boy who really needs strong guidance is assigned to me,” Jesse announced in his all too cheerful voice.

“Shut up, Rogers,” Bo spoke succinctly. “You don’t have to be so happy about this mess.” He looked at Logan. “What was Al thinking, to agree to this?”

Logan steadily returned his gaze. “That we want our ball team.” He shifted on his feet. “I wish Taylor Construction could afford to sponsor the team, but I’m barely in the black now. It’s too late to find another sponsor.” He leveled his gaze at his friends. “It wasn’t Al’s idea, and he’s not any happier about it than any of us are.” He quickly qualified that statement before Jesse began protesting. “I know, Jesse. You think it’s great.”

“So we’re going to be like big brothers to troubled boys,” Mason stated flatly.

“And somebody will be here taking pictures of us for publicity,” Colton added.

“Look, you guys. We’re stuck with this—unless any of you want to call Sam Haynes yourself and complain.” Logan waited to see if anybody was foolish enough to volunteer. When there were no takers, he continued, “So, why don’t we just make the best of the situation? We were all kids once, and Matt, you have a son. He’ll grow up, and if he didn’t have you, who knows how he’d turn out?” There he was, sounding like Stringbean when he really just felt like griping with the rest of them. “Let’s buckle down and try to help these boys for a couple of weeks.”

“I still think it bites the big one,” Bo offered in his usual blunt manner.

Logan noticed that the grumbling was easing up and being replaced by speculation.

“Where are the kids going to sleep?” Jake asked.

“I don’t know,” Logan admitted. “I guess the church that’s sponsoring it will take care of that. They’ll probably have tents or something for them.”

“Come on, guys.” Brody was always the diplomat of the team. “It’s just two weeks. Stop giving Logan grief about it. We’ll take another fishing vacation next Spring. We worked it out this year. It’ll all work out again.”

“It better.” A still unhappy Matt was talking.

Mentally crossing his fingers that he was telling the truth, Logan assured him, “It will.”

A low whistle came from Logan’s side and he looked to see what Mason was so interested in now. He followed the other man’s line of vision until he saw two women walking on the path between campsite one-hundred, Emily’s site, and the playground. If his eyes didn’t deceive him, that was Abby Michaels walking with Em, and Abby was casting furtive glances at the Slammers. What was she looking for? Then he knew.

“Brody, I bet you’ve got yourself a fan over there.” He addressed the unassuming heartthrob of the team.

Brody looked up and over to see who Logan was referring to, then did a double take. That was interesting. Since they had seen Emily the night before, it had to be Abby capturing Brody’s attention, a fete never accomplished by a female in front of Logan before.

“Do you know who she is?” Brody softly asked.

Very
interesting. “Yeah. I went to school with her, too.” Logan noticed that every eye was on Brody, as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. “Her name is Abigail Michaels.”

“Abigail…” Brody sounded like he was in a trance. Come on. Abby had always been cute, but she wasn’t beautiful like some of the other women or—he hated to think it—Emily.

“Most people call her Abby,” he informed Brody.

Abby had grasped Emily’s hand and was practically dragging her from the path and toward the Slammers. She must have seen her target and was honing in.

“Hey, Abby,” Logan greeted her once they arrived.

“Logan.” Well, from the tone of her voice, he’d have to say she evidently didn’t like him any more now than she had seven years ago. “Are you going to introduce us?” she practically demanded.

He just couldn’t stop himself. “Abby, that’s Emily. Emily, you’re standing next to Abby.”

“I’m Brody Gaines,” the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, All-American boy-next-door lawyer announced, standing up and walking to the women. “I’m a partner in my own law firm and play second base for Sloopy’s Slammers.”

“Hi,” Abby replied. Logan was surprised. She wasn’t breathless and giggly like most women were when they were within spitting distance of Brody. “I’m Abby Michaels, a friend of Emily’s.”

Emily paid attention as Brody began introducing Abby to the men. What was she, anyway? Chopped liver?

Brody turned to the others. He indicated the stocky, black-haired, brown-eyed man with the beard. He was the one who had been at her site that morning. “Mason Wright catches for the Slammers.”

Logan watched Mason’s reaction. Abby might be a reasonably attractive woman, but even Mason knew when to wave the white flag. He wouldn’t even bother to try and compete with Brody for her attention. “Nice to meet you,” was all he said.

“That guy over there is Jesse Rogers. He plays left field.” Emily watched as he directed Abby’s attention to the tall, lanky red-headed man with the sparkling green eyes and big grin.

“Pleased to meetcha,” the blushing Jesse said.

“I’m Colton Rennard.” The man with long, blonde hair and green eyes smiled genially. “I play shortstop.”

“That giant guy over there with black hair is Bogard Daniels,” Brody informed Abby. “Bo is our first baseman.”

“Jacob Landon is the guy sitting next to him. He’s my partner at Gaines and Landon Law Offices, and he plays right field.” Emily looked with Abby at the man with brown hair so dark it was nearly black, and the darkest blue eyes she had ever seen.

Logan saw Jake nod politely, also evidently knowing when it wasn’t worth the effort to flirt.

“I’m Matt Newman,” the tall, mahogany-skinned man told Abby. “You can watch me play center field for the Slammers.”

“That last fellow over there with the white buzz cut is Cooper Grayson.” Brody pointed to him. “He’s our third baseman.”

“Hi,” the man with gray eyes greeted Abby.

“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Abby told them.

Emily was going to upchuck. She knew very well by the way her friend had carried on, Abby knew who each and every one of these men was. But because Brody Gaines, the player she was crushing on, had done the introductions, she had hung on every word.

And as for Logan’s “introduction”, she wanted to throw something at him, the jerk.

As if her thoughts had prompted him, Logan’s deep voice carried across the site. “You all remember Emily Scott from last night. Em, I trust I don’t have to make the rounds and tell you who everybody is again, do I? Your memory can’t be that bad.”

Actually, other than the tall red-head whose name was Jesse Rogers, and Brody Gaines, Emily would be hard pressed to identify any of the others. She never had been good with names and faces. And she would admit that to Logan Taylor when Tinker Bell showed up for a cup of tea.

“I’m fine,” was her acknowledgment.

“Emily tells me you’re leaving Saturday. Do you have big plans for tomorrow?” Abby was really playing her clueless blonde role to the hilt.

Brody smiled at Abby. “Actually, we won’t be leaving on Saturday after all.”

Both women looked at him with confusion, then turned to Logan.

Ah, this was
almost
going to make the next two weeks worth it. “It seems our plans have changed. We’ll be staying for the next couple of weeks to help out with the mentoring event you’re hosting.”

Emily let out an unladylike snort. “Right. Like anybody would ever choose you to be a role model for impressionable minds.”

Logan realized he and Emily would be putting on a show for his teammates and Abby, but he could no more stop himself than a chopped tree could keep from falling. “It seems that not everybody holds such a low opinion of me, Em. Each one of us has been assigned to a troubled youth. Are you one of them by any chance?”

That man! “Well, if the one you get isn’t already troubled, he will be after you’re finished with him.”

“I think it’s fitting that they’d pick the place
you’re
supervising to send them. Those in charge must realize the boys will fit right in here—with you.”

“Maybe we’ll all get lucky…”

“Oh, I’m counting on it.” He actually waggled his eyebrows at her.

He was insufferable! “Maybe we’ll all get lucky, and the youth you’re assigned to will be a positive influence on you.” She was all but shouting.

“Enough!” Abby suddenly yelled. “I’ve heard enough.” She made a visible effort to calm down. “You both sound like we’re back in high school. No—scratch that—you sound like we’re back in
grade
school. We are adults and you both need to get. Over. It.”

Emily couldn’t believe this. She felt more than betrayed. Her best friend had just given her a dressing down right in front of an entire ball team—and Logan. It just wasn’t right. Even if she did need to hear it, this wasn’t the time or place. She turned hurt eyes to Abby, then swiveled and began to walk to her site. She was humiliated beyond belief.

“Wait up, Em.” It was Logan, and he was right beside her.

Knowing she was flushed with embarrassment, and having no desire to compound it by returning to their mutual diatribe, she kept her gaze directed on the ground in front of her and didn’t slow down.

“Em, come on. Stop for a minute.” Logan gently grasped her arm and turned her to face him. “I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what gets into me when I’m around you.” He used his finger to tilt her face up until she had no choice but to make direct eye contact. “Let’s listen to Abby and stop. Sticking around for two weeks wasn’t my idea, but I have to do it. I’m going to make the best I can of the situation. Maybe if I try, I can make a real difference for the kid I’m assigned to.”

Emily looked into his brown eyes and seeing only sincerity there for once, sighed. “I’m sorry too, Logan. You’ve just done so many awful things to me that the only way I’ve ever had to defend myself was verbally.” She offered a shaky smile. “I guess I became too used to it.” She stuck out her hand. “Let’s put our differences aside, at least for the next two weeks, so these boys that are coming will have the best possible chance of leaving here better off for the experience. Deal?”

He let go of her chin to shake her hand. “Deal.”

“Finally,” breathed Abby, who had caught up with them.

“I’ll talk to you later,” Emily told Logan before she turned and silently resumed her trek. She hadn’t forgiven her friend. What Abby had done was wrong.

“So, what?” Abby asked, walking beside her. “You’re not talking to me now?”

“When I want to tell you how you should act,
I’ll
do it in private—not in front of a bunch of strangers.” Emily wasn’t sure if she was angry, hurt, or a mixture of the two.

“Em, somebody had to say something,” Abby protested. “You and Logan were making fools of yourselves. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, but if you’d have stopped long enough to see how the other guys were watching both of you, you’d have been even more embarrassed.”

“You could have just told me we needed to leave,” Emily insisted.

Abby sighed. “Okay. You’re right. I didn’t handle the situation in the most tactful way. I’m sorry.” They had reached the site. “Do you want me to go home, Em?”

Emily shook her head. “It might surprise you that I don’t make all my decisions like I’m still in grade school, but I’m a little beyond sending you away because I’m angry with you.”