The Price (33 page)

Jack couldn’t get out of the house fast enough. He charged down the stairs and almost knocked Marnie over in the process.

“Where are you going?” she inquired, calling to him as he swung the front door open.

“Out,” he shouted.

Marnie stood in foyer and with a twist of her head, she watched her son-in-law slam the door closed behind him.

“Perfect!” she mumbled as a slow look of satisfaction beamed across her face.

There was a skip to her step as she walked through the hall and entered her study. She sat at her desk and picked up the receiver to the phone. She dialed the number and waited patiently for it to be answered.

“They had a huge fight.” There was delight in her voice when she spoke to the caller on the other end.

She paused as if she was listening.

“I wouldn’t wait too long,” she stated. “Kate needs you.”

There was hesitation again.

“See you soon, darling,” was all Marnie St. Claire replied.

Without so much as a
good-bye
, she hung up the phone.

TWENTY-THREE

I’M OUT OF HERE

Jack got into his truck and started driving. Where he was driving to, he had no idea other than being far away from Marnie St. Claire and her daughter.

His judgment had been flawed where his mother-in-law was concerned. He thought he could out-wit and out-play a master at deception. He was no match for her, especially since he was playing on her home-turf.

It was a mistake coming to Santa Cruz and staying with Marnie. Jack realized it now. He played right into her game, and now he was stuck. He was half-tempted to go back and throw Kate over his shoulder and take her to some motel where he could call in the reserves and de-program her.

Jack kept driving, and soon found he was traveling up the coast following the ocean’s curved edge. After a while, he pulled off into one of the parking areas that led to the beach.

Jack got out of his truck and began walking down the sandy-rocked dunes toward the water’s edge. He stared out at the dark ocean with its only light cast by the moon reflecting on its surface, allowing the gentles waves to crest over his booted feet before he sat in the sand. He brought his knees up to his chest and locked them tight around him with his arms.

God, he could use a drink at this moment—get totally hammered until he was in a state of mindless oblivion in order to shut off the rage still brewing inside him. But that wasn’t the kind of man Jack McBride was.

He laughed at the notion and could almost understand why his father drank all the time. Tonight especially, he could easily slip and be a chip-off-the-old-block. He had done that only once in his lifetime, and that was when Kate entered his life. She had him turned so upside-down back then.

Never did he expect to fall in love with a woman like he did with Kate. It happened so fast it made his head spin—that sweet smile and that curled-up nose—would make any man do back flips. He particularly liked the sprinkling of freckles across the top of her cheeks and her blond hair that always smelled so good. And those blue eyes—oh those blue eyes, always sucked him in whenever he looked at her.

He smiled thinking about her sweet tight ass displayed to perfection when she wore those tiny jean shorts. And her breasts—
those spectacular breasts
—so full and beautiful that fit perfectly in the palm of his hands. Tears formed in his eyes, thinking about her breasts. A masterpiece wielded by the hand of the gods.

But now the creation was gone! C
hipped away like a broken statue with only a remnant of what once was.

Jack broke down and sobbed, but it wasn’t for him he was crying for. It was for Kate!

Kate and the loss of her feminine identity. She didn’t feel whole anymore and there was nothing he could say or do to bring that back for her. She would have to find it on her own. Come to terms with her loss and make peace with the body she now had.

Jack didn’t care if she had one breast or two. Hell, at this moment, they could have taken them all. As long as he had Kate alive and well that’s all that mattered to him. He wondered why she couldn’t see that. Why she thought he wouldn’t want her anymore?

Jack sat along the beach trying to make sense out of something that made no sense at all. By the time he was ready to leave, he came to the only conclusion possible. He needed to get Kate and his family out from under Marnie St. Claire’s thumb.

The problem was that he was still stuck in Santa Cruz. His hearing was next week. If everything went well, which his lawyer advised him it should, he would be able to take Kate back to Nevada.

He didn’t care that she was receiving treatment here in Santa Cruz. He would call Clara tomorrow and see if she could help him make arrangements to transfer her treatment back home. There was a cancer center in Carson City, and Jack could have her finish her treatment there. Now if he could only hold out for one more week, everything would be fine.

Jack stood from the sand and walked back to his truck. He was exhausted and all he wanted to do was lie down next to Kate and go to sleep. He got in his truck and headed back to Marnie’s place. He hadn’t realized he’d traveled so far, getting back on the coastal road heading towards Santa Cruz. He returned to the mansion an hour later.

Jack pulled up to the metal gate and stopped by the security station but there were no guards on duty and the gate was wide open.
That’s odd
, he thought, driving through and following the road that led to the mansion with the only light and sound coming from his headlights and the rumbling hum of his truck.

He pulled up to the four-car garage and parked. He gave a deep sigh before climbing from the cab. He was tired to the bone and his feet dragged along the pavement floor, wanting nothing more than to go to bed. He heard the front door open and looked up to see Marnie St. Claire exit the estate along with Paul Harris following on her heels.

“What are you doing here?” Jack came to a halt with exhausted eyes narrowing in on the last person he wanted to see.

“If I were you I would turn around and head back to your truck,” stated Paul.

“I’m in no mood for you, tonight.” Jack grit his teeth. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going upstairs to go to sleep next to my wife.”

“I don’t think so, Jack,” said Paul. “You see, right now you’re in violation of your restraining order.”

“Oh, you’re not going to start this one again are you?” He gave a tired laugh. “I’m not violating anything. I live here.”

Just then Jack heard a car rolling down the drive and saw red flashing lights. Two police cruisers came into view.

“What are you two up to?” Jack looked at Marnie and then at Paul.

Four police officers left their vehicles and headed straight for Jack.

“That’s him officer!” Paul yelled, pointing at the confused cowboy and flashing a copy of the restraining order.

“Sir, step away from Mr. Harris and follow me,” said one of the police officers while another retrieved the order from Paul.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” exhaled Jack, and he decided he better do as instructed. “Officer I live here. I was just coming home to go to bed when he showed up.” He waved a hand at Paul.

“You live here?” The officer looked at Jack and placed disbelieving hands on his hips, touching the leather belt housing his gun.

“Yes,” said Jack, seeing the officer’s fingers tap steadily on steel and leather before glaring at Kate’s Mother. “Marnie, for Christ’s sake, tell them I live here.”

“He was living here with my daughter,” said Marnie matter-of-factly. “But they had a falling out as of recent and they are now separated. I invited Paul to stay at the house since my daughter is quite ill, no thanks to Mr. McBride.”

“She’s lying,” shouted Jack, and his temper flared. “I live here, and my wife and I are not separated. Let me get Kate and she’ll tell you.”

“Sir, I think it’s best if you come with us,” the officer stated and stepped in front of Jack before taking his arm.

“I’m telling the truth,” Jack yelled, and pulled away.

“Sir, I’m not asking you again,” he said in a forceful tone. “Now put your hands on the car!”

“All right…all right, I’m putting my hands on the car!” said Jack as he placed both palms on the hood of the squad car.

The officer patted him down, all the while reading him his rights. After, he was handcuffed. Jack felt the metal scrape against his wrists while two big officers pulled him off the hood.

“This is a big misunderstanding,” yelled Jack, being directed into the backseat of the squad car. “I didn’t go anywhere near him. They’re setting me up!”

“We can figure that out later at the precinct,” said one of the officers and apparently not buying it by the way he flung Jack into the vinyl seat and barely missed banging his head on the metal door.

Jack heard the door slam and he turned to look out the window. He saw Marnie take Paul’s arm and escort her back in the house. Jack sat back in the seat and rested his head against its back. He was in trouble, and it was his word against theirs. There was no telling what they were going to do or say to Kate. Jack had a horrible feeling that things had just gone from bad to worse, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He needed help and he needed it fast, for Kate’s sake. He said a silent prayer, hoping for anything out there to help.

TWENTY-FOUR

BAIT AND SWITCH

Kate felt like hell the next day. Her head was pounding and she couldn’t stop throwing up. She tried to rest in-between bouts of running to the bathroom and dry heaving but she couldn’t as her mind was on Jack. He spent the whole night away and he was still not home. It was not like him to be gone all night. They had fights before, but he always came back and she worried she’d pushed him too far this time.

She didn’t mean to drive him over the edge. It was just that she was so scared of his reaction when he saw her deformity and she couldn’t bear to see that look in his eyes that said he was no longer attracted to her.

Kate was kicking herself now. Why couldn’t she just open herself up and let him see? Especially when he was being so loving and understanding toward her, asking her to take a shower with him so she wouldn’t hot flashes while he held her. He had a right to want to hold her, and Kate vowed if he returned she would never push him away again.

No,
Kate reminded herself,
not if but when.
How could she get through this without Jack? He was her rock, her salvation through this storm, and she loved him more because of it.

Kate wondered if maybe he spent the night in Maria’s room, but when she went to check, Maria was alone with Jesse. She returned to her room and went in search of her cell phone. It was time to put her pride aside and call him. She searched her night stand then remembered she destroyed it the night before.

“Shit,” she exclaimed.

She thought about sneaking down to her mother’s study and using the phone there, but she didn’t want to run in-to her mother and answer questions. The last thing she needed was her mother to gloat about Jack not returning home. She would have to eventually tell her if he didn’t come home in time to take her for her chemotherapy appointment, but Kate doubted he would miss her treatment in spite of everything they had been through. She was sure he would come.

The time grew nearer, and Kate was getting more worried. Jack was still not home. She dressed and went downstairs before tiptoeing into the study and closing the door. She sat at her mother’s desk and picked up the phone to call Jack. She dialed his number and waited for him to answer. It rang several times then went to voice mail. Kate hung up and tried again. Once more, there was no answer. Kate hung up but didn’t leave a message. She left the study and entered the hall just as she heard a knock on the front door.

“Jack!” Kate exclaimed, and ran to the door but it wasn’t Jack. It was Paul.

“Hi,” said Paul, with a huge smile on his face.

“Oh…hi.” Her shoulders slumped in disappointment.

“Why so blue, Katie?” he asked, entering the house as if he belonged there..

“I thought you were Jack.” A wave of nausea rolled in her belly. She suppressed it as best she could.

“Marnie told me you two had a big fight last night,” he said, tucking her blond hair behind her ears. “You okay?”

“No,” said Kate, as she pushed back the tears from forming. “If you came to see my mother I don’t know where she is?”

“I came to see you,” he smiled.

“I’m ready to head out. My appointment is in fifteen minutes, but I can’t seem to find anyone to bring the car around.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” he stated. “Paul Harris is at your service.” He did a slight bow.

“I couldn’t ask you to take me.” She shook her head, her mind still on Jack.

“Don’t be silly, my car is right outside and I have nothing to do all day.”

Kate glanced once more at the door, wishing with all her might for Jack to come waltzing thru—but he didn’t.

“Well, if you’re sure.” Kate blinked back the tears.

“Right this way, madam.” He gestured with his arm, then opened the front door. “Your carriage awaits you.”

“Thanks.” She feigned a smile for politeness sake as she brushed past him.

Paul opened the car door for her and Kate stepped in. He closed it and raced around the front, climbing in behind the wheel. He drove her to the cancer center and stayed with her throughout her treatment.

As Kate sat in the lounge chair hooked up to the IV, she stared blindly at Paul listening to him make small talk, though his words weren’t sinking in. She was too busy thinking about Jack.
He wouldn’t have missed her appointment. He just wouldn’t
—
Jack may be many things, but he wasn’t the kind to let her hang
.
He would have been here if he could.
Kate started to worry that something bad happened to him. She looked at Paul as a strange feeling lurched in her gut. Was he behind Jack’s mysterious disappearance?

No
, Kate said to herself.
He wouldn’t have done anything stupid like that
. It was apparent he was still interested in her, but he wouldn’t go so far as to have Jack arrested without her knowledge.
Would he?