The Great Texas Wedding Bargain (9 page)

He’d left the door open.

“Do you want me to hang up your tux so you can join Jose?” she asked.

“No, I hung it up, thanks, Megan. I, uh, I put the suitcases in your room since I emptied the big one. Or I can store them in my closet, after you finish unpacking. I have a bigger closet than you.”

“All right, that would be nice. Did Mom mess up any of your equipment?” she asked, her gaze traveling over several of the machines.

“No, I’m sure she didn’t. But tell her not to move the others. They’re heavy. I’ll take care of them when I get back to the house.”

“I will. I’m sorry for all the inconvenience. I want to tell you again how much we appreciate what you’ve done.”

He moved toward the door and she stepped aside. But he didn’t pass her by. Clasping her shoulders, he leaned toward her and she thought he was going to kiss her.

“Megan, we’re each doing something for the other. Remember how this house looked before you and your mother cleaned it? And all that good food you’ve cooked? I’m not suffering.”

“I hope not,” she muttered, refusing to look at him. He was too close.

So when he did kiss her, she wasn’t prepared.

Fortunately, he only brushed his lips across hers and hurried down the stairs, leaving Megan standing in his bedroom doorway, wishing things were different than they were.

R
ICK JOINED
Jose and worked hard all afternoon, in spite of Jose’s teasing about his honeymoon. He distracted his friend by teasing him right back about the young lady he’d brought to the wedding.

“Maybe you’re planning on heading up the aisle, just like I did?”

“Hey, I just met the lady. Don’t be rushing me. Some of us don’t make decisions as fast as you do.”

“I guess I was a little quick, but I didn’t want her to get away,” Rick assured him, realizing he wasn’t completely lying. Megan needed his help and he felt she deserved a little consideration.

“Besides,” Jose added, “since I have to work for other people part of the time instead of for myself, I’m not ready to take on more responsibility.”

Jose had a small place, but he supplemented his income by working for Rick three days a week. When he could, Jose intended to train horses. He had a natural ability that impressed Rick.

“Yeah, a wife and family are a big responsibility,” Rick said with a sigh.

“You gonna adopt those kids?”

The question shocked Rick. Of course he wasn’t, because the marriage wasn’t real, but he realized if it was, that would be what he wanted. “Uh, Megan and I haven’t discussed it. Things happened too quickly.”

“They’re cute kids.”

“Yeah. And Torie is getting used to me. As long as she can play with Daisy,” he added with a grin.

Rick was still thinking about Torie as he and Daisy headed back to the ranch at sunset. He figured the little girl would ask about swimming in the creek, as he’d promised, when he got to the house.

He’d told Megan he didn’t mind Torie’s fondness for his dog. And he didn’t. As a child, he’d had a pet. Fluffy had been part cocker spaniel and part something else. She’d been a faithful companion as he’d navigated childhood. When his mother had died, Fluffy had consoled him.

Maybe he should get Torie her own puppy. Daisy was a work dog, but if Torie had her own puppy, housebroken of course, she’d have the constant companionship that had meant so much to him.

He’d ask around town, see if anyone had puppies they needed to find homes for.

And maybe he’d better talk to Megan, too. He didn’t want to do anything to upset her. After all, she was the temporary legal guardian for the children.

Should he get Drew a puppy, too? The baby seemed too young yet, but Megan would know. They’d make the decision together.

Like husband and wife.

That thought occupied his mind until he got to the barn. As he unsaddled his horse, he realized they had a visitor, if the car parked beside the house was anything to go by.

And he thought he recognized the vehicle. It looked like Mac Gibbons’s sport utility vehicle.

Mac Gibbons, his wife’s attorney.

Had she already decided to back out of their marriage?

“Hey, Mac, how are things?” Rick asked as he entered the kitchen, trying to remain calm.

Mac, who had been seated at the table across from Megan, stood and shook his hand. “Good. How’s married life?”

Rick shot a quick glance at Megan, looking for reassurance, but she kept her gaze fixed on the table, her hands clasped in front of her. Tempting fate, Rick put his hands on her shoulders and leaned over to drop a kiss on her temple.

“It’s wonderful,” he assured Mac.

Mac gave him a well-satisfied smile. “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”

“What brings you out here this late in the day?”

Mac looked at Megan, and she gave a faint nod. “I received a call today from Drake Moody’s attorney. He’s fighting the temporary custody.”

Rick pulled out the chair beside Megan and covered her clasped hands with one of his. “Isn’t he still in prison?”

“Yeah. He wants his parents to have custody until he’s out.”

“I thought Megan intended to have the custody hearing here, instead of Fort Worth.” He could feel her hands trembling beneath his and wanted to wrap his arms around her.

“We’ve talked about that. The temporary custody order was issued in Fort Worth and that’s what he wants changed, so we’ll have to deal with that in Fort Worth. We’ve already filed for permanent custody here.”

Rick nodded and waited.

Finally, Mac sighed. “We’re going to need to go to Fort Worth for the hearing. Can you come with Megan?”

“Of course I can. Do we take the kids?”

“No, I don’t think that will be necessary, though they may send a social worker out to check on their situation, to interview Torie, at least.”

“Yeah, Drew’s not much of a conversationalist,” Rick said, hoping to bring some relief to Megan. “When do we go?”

“It’s set for Monday morning, nine a.m.”

“Okay, we can drive down on Sunday.” He looked at Megan for confirmation, but she never moved.

“Or you can fly in with me early Monday morning. Whichever you choose.”

Since Megan wasn’t responding, which was worrying Rick, he murmured, “We’ll talk it over and let you know.”

“Great. Well, any questions, Megan?”

She shook her head no.

Rick stood and offered his hand, thanking Mac for coming out. Then he followed him outside.

“Okay, what has Megan so panicked?” he asked when Mac reached his vehicle.

Mac sighed. “She’d hoped to avoid facing a judge in Fort Worth. Moody apparently has some influence there.”

“Yeah, she told me that. Do we have a chance?”

“Yes, but I need more to work with. Could the two of you afford a private investigator to collect information on Moody? If he’s as bad as Megan says, there’s got to be—”

“Hire one,” Rick said at once.

“I won’t charge for my services, but a P.I.—”

“Expense isn’t a problem, Mac. We’ll pay your bill and the P.I.’s. Just let me know how much.” He paused, then added, “But don’t say anything to Megan. I don’t want her to worry about money.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Mac clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a good man, Rick Astin.”

Rick shrugged off the praise. “You’d do the same for your wife, wouldn’t you?”

“In a heartbeat,” Mac agreed. “There’s just one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“There mustn’t be any hint of…if you spend Sunday night in Fort Worth, it has to appear…you’ll have to share a hotel room.”

Rick didn’t know what Mac knew…and didn’t want to know. But he got the message. “No problem.”

Just like last night was no problem. He’d get almost no sleep and be frustrated, but, hey, it was for the kids.

“Great. Let me know when you two are going down.”

“Will do.”

Rick stood watching Mac drive away.

He’d just broken a promise to himself. But there was more at stake here than his pride, or the game he’d been playing. Babies needed to be protected. Megan needed him. His family, even if it was temporary, depended on him.

And it felt damn good.

M
EGAN STOOD
at the kitchen sink, staring out the window at Mac and Rick talking.
What were they saying? Was Mac telling Rick they had no hope?

He hadn’t said that to her, but Megan feared that was what he was thinking. Had she made a mistake, running away from Fort Worth, hiring a local attorney?

Mac was good. She trusted him. But he wouldn’t be on his home turf. Should she hire another attorney? And would she have enough money to see this through?

She looked outside again and realized Mac had left and Rick was nowhere in sight. Probably he’d retreated to the barn, not even the evening meal tempting him to come back in.

The sound of boots had her spinning around to find she’d mistaken Rick’s direction. She couldn’t even form a welcoming smile, fear had such a hold on her.

To her surprise, he headed straight for her. When he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her against his long form.

“It’s okay, baby,” he whispered, and Megan lost control completely, her body shaking like a leaf in a storm.

“N-No, it’s not! We’re g-going to lose them. H-He—”

“No, we’re not. Those children are depending on us to keep them safe, and that’s what we’ll do.”

She pushed back a little so she could see his face. “You don’t understand. Drake Moody has money and power. Fort Worth is his territory. I thought if we came here, could get the custody battle moved here, we could—”

“And we will. The judge isn’t going to move the children without a good reason. Thanks to you and your mother, they’ve got a good home. They’re receiving loving care. There’s no reason to move them.”

“That’s what Mac said.”

“And he’s right.”

Some of his reason and the warmth of his body began to invade her, warding off the chill Mac’s announcement had brought her.

Faith peeked around the kitchen door. “May we come in?”

Megan jumped from Rick’s hold as if she’d been doing something illegal. “Of course!”

Rick grinned at his mother-in-law. “You bet. I hope that means we’re going to eat. I’m starving.”

Megan watched her mother respond to those words like an army horse hearing the bugler sound the charge. She settled Drew in the high chair and immediately began to put the dinner on the table.

“I was going to feed the children earlier, but the lawyer came and—”

“Where is he?” Torie whispered, still standing by the door, as if ready for a quick escape.

“Who?” Rick asked.

“The man who made Aunt Megan cry.”

Rick’s gaze immediately shifted to Megan, and she wanted to hide. “Is she talking about Mac?”

“I don’t like him,” Torie protested.

“Sweetie, Mr. Gibbons is a nice man,” Megan hurriedly assured her niece, crossing the room to pick her up.

“H-He said my daddy’s name.”

Megan saw the fear in her niece’s gaze and shuddered. She couldn’t lose this battle. She couldn’t abandon Torie to her father’s sadistic behavior. Or Drew, she added, staring at the baby’s sweet smile as he banged on the tray of his high chair. She couldn’t.

“Your daddy wanted to know if you’re okay,” she said, flashing a warning to her mother and Rick with her gaze.

“I don’t want him to come,” Torie said, her eyes filling with tears.

Megan didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t promise Drake would never come. She couldn’t even promise to keep Torie and Drew safe. Tears gathered in her eyes, too.

Then Rick lifted Torie out of Megan’s arms. She started to protest, but she realized Torie wasn’t.

“Hey, you, I don’t want him to come either,” Rick said, but he was grinning.

“Are you ’fraid of him, too?” Torie whispered.

“Nope. I’m not afraid of him. But I don’t want him to come because I like our family the way it is.”

“Me, too,” she said softly, one arm going around his neck.

“I had an idea today. But we need to ask your mommy—” Rick broke off, catching his mistake. “I mean, we need to ask your Aunt Megan about it.”

Torie leaned forward and whispered. Megan could just barely hear her words. “Sometimes I call her Mommy, too. I don’t think my real mommy cares. She went away.”

Megan’s heart ached at Torie’s sad words. She and her sister hadn’t always agreed on everything, but she’d loved her. And Andrea had loved her children.

They were the reason she’d finally left Drake. And they were the reason she left with him in his car. They were supposed to discuss the children’s future.

Megan caressed Torie’s blond curls. “You can call me Mommy if you like, Torie. Your real mommy won’t mind and you’re my little girl, now.”

Torie leaned into Megan’s caress. But she looked at Rick. “Does that mean you’re my daddy?”

Megan gasped, unable to think of anything to say.

Rick, however, after looking surprised, nodded. “I guess I am. So, guess what I thought we should discuss with Mommy?”

“What?”

“I wondered if maybe you’d like your very own puppy?”

All the tragedy, the angst, the worry was forgotten. Torie squealed with delight, clapping her little hands together. “Yes, yes, yes!”

Megan opened her mouth to protest. But the joy on Torie’s face stopped her. Even Drew, not sure what he was cheering about, clapped his pudgy hands together and squealed with his sister.

Faith had stopped putting dinner on the table, watching the three of them talk. Now she reached for Torie.

“Time for dinner, young lady. You and your brother have to get your baths and get tucked in bed soon. We’ll discuss puppies tomorrow.”

R
ICK FIGURED
Faith’s scolding words were aimed at him as much as Torie. But he hadn’t been able to bear the heartbreaking sadness in the little girl’s eyes and words.

“I want to sit by Daddy,” Torie complained as Faith put her in a chair by Megan.

Both women turned to stare at the little girl, and Rick almost chuckled out loud. Hey, it wasn’t his sterling personality. It was the puppy.

Megan silently switched places with Torie, putting the child between her and Rick.

The platters were passed around and Rick tucked into another well-cooked meal. Chicken-fried steak tonight, with creamed potatoes, pinto beans and a tossed salad.

“How big is a puppy?” Torie whispered, leaning toward him.

Rick looked up and found Megan’s gaze on him, as well as Torie’s. “I don’t know. I’ll look for a puppy tomorrow. And you can be thinking of a name.”

The rest of the meal, Torie tried out various names on her audience. Megan shot a glare at Rick after the thirtieth name was discussed ad nauseam. “Torie, eat your dinner. It’s almost your bedtime.”

Just as Faith was picking up Drew to take both children upstairs for their baths, Torie had another question.

“What about Drew? Does he get a puppy, too?”

“No!” Megan exclaimed without waiting for Rick’s answer.

He grinned. “No, honey, one puppy will be enough. You’ll get to name the puppy, but you have to share it with Drew.”

“Okay, I’ll share,” Torie promised. Then she raced around the table to take Faith’s hand.

Megan, who had promised to do the dishes if Faith took care of the baths, stood and began clearing the table. Rick rose and picked up several dirty plates.

“I’ll do it,” Megan said sharply.

“I’ll help,” he said firmly, not willing to be shut out. Megan seemed to think they could keep strict lines in this situation. He didn’t.

“That’s not your job, Rick.”

He leaned over and kissed her as he walked past. Just a brief kiss, not what he wanted. But enough to get her attention. “
Our
job is to keep those babies happy and safe. I’m doing my part.”

“Was that the reason for the puppy?”

“Yeah. And it worked. Torie forgot all about her father.”

“I wish I could,” Megan confessed, slumping against the kitchen cabinet.

Rick set down the dirty plates and took her in his arms again. He knew how he’d like to distract her, but he couldn’t take advantage of her emotions.

“Maybe I should get you a puppy, too,” he suggested, a warm smile in place when she pushed back and stared at him. To his relief, a gurgle of laughter escaped her.

“Maybe helping with the dishes is a better idea,” she told him, still smiling.

He couldn’t resist. Planting a smacking kiss on her soft lips, he released her. “Your wish is my command, Mrs. Astin.”

Turning back to the table, he began clearing it again, thinking he was fortunate Megan didn’t realize how much he’d meant those words.

A
FTER THE
kitchen was cleaned, Rick went to his bedroom. He still needed to move the rest of his equipment, but first he had some phone calls to make.

The fourth call did the trick. Herk Jones, one of his neighbors, had six puppies, yellow lab and retriever mix, that were ready for new homes.

Rick returned to the kitchen. Faith and Megan were sitting at the kitchen table, tightly holding hands, quietly talking.

“Am I interrupting?” he asked, pausing by the door.

Faith managed a smile. “No. Megan was explaining what Mac had to say, but she’s finished.”

Rick gave his mother-in-law an encouraging smile. “Things are going to go our way, Faith. We’re going to protect the kids.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am. The biggest thing you’ve got to worry about is training a puppy.” He grinned and added, “Sorry, I know I kind of sprang the idea on you, but I couldn’t stand for Torie to look so sad.”

Faith stood and walked over and, much to Rick’s surprise, stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “You’ve got a good heart, Rick. I can handle a puppy if it means Torie is happy.”

“Good, ’cause we can pick it up tomorrow.”

With a faint smile, Faith patted Rick’s arm. “Then I’d better get to bed. I’ll need my rest.” She walked to the door, but her gaze was fixed on her daughter, an anxious look on her face.

“Go on,” Rick said softly. “I think Megan wants to discuss names for the dog with me.”

Megan’s head snapped up and she glared at Rick. “I certainly do not. Torie took care of that problem at dinner.”