A Haunted Twist of Fate

by Stacey Coverstone

  She felt at ease with her decision to keep Dean’s actions a secret from Frank. There would have been nothing gained by giving him the hurtful details. She was curious to know if Frank knew of anything in his grandfather’s past that would have made him terrified of fire. If she’d asked, she would have had to explain more than she wanted. That was something else she’d just have to wonder about.

  As Shay’s dad had told her mom all those years ago, sometimes it’s better for the past to remain in the past. What was important was to live for today.

  * * * * *

  “Hallelujah! Both my sons are marrying,” Hannah exclaimed, as she gave Colt and Shay each a big hug. “Do wonders ever cease?”

  The six of them sat at a table in the restaurant with melting ice cream sundaes in front of them. Chet and Dawn both looked stunned by the news, but Brady got up and gave Shay a congratulatory kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear, “I knew it. I can see smitten a mile away.”

  “When’s the big day?” Chet asked, spooning hot fudge and whipped cream into his mouth.

  “Two weeks from Saturday,” Colt said, beaming like a lighthouse beacon. “The day after I get this damned cast off.”

  Hannah shot him a look that could have sliced him in half. Then her gaze shifted to Brady and back to Colt. Shay knew what Hannah was thinking; that she was pregnant like Dawn.

  Colt immediately cleared up any misunderstandings without embarrassing his future sister-in-law. “We want Frank Averill to attend the wedding, and there’s no telling how long he has left. It’s going to be a small affair, just family and a few friends.”

  “Oh,” Hannah said, obviously relieved. “Why is it important for Frank to be there?”

  “Do you want to tell them, or do you want me to?” Colt asked Shay.

  “I will.”

  He took her hand under the table and held it, bolstering her for the complicated and emotional story she was about to tell.

  Once Shay had finished the account of her complicated background, Hannah and Dawn had tears in their eyes, Chet was shaking his head, and Brady’s gaze was wide in surprise.

  “Oh, honey,” Hannah said, “I knew you were one of us the first time Colt introduced you.” She tapped a finger to her temple. “I have a sixth sense about these things.”

  Seeing how Dawn remained quiet and looked left out, Shay switched the subject back to her. “Have you and Brady set your date yet?”

  Dawn brightened. “We were going to tell everyone tonight. And then Colt called.” She glanced at Brady.

  “Go ahead and tell them, baby.” Brady patted her arm.

  “Tell us what?” Chet asked, pushing his empty bowl back.

  “We’re already married.” She held up her hand that she’d kept hidden under the table all evening. A gold band shone from her left ring finger. “We went to the courthouse today.” Brady pulled a matching band out of his pocket and slipped it on his finger.

  “Lordy sakes!” Hannah cried.

  Colt, who was sitting next to his brother, clapped him on the back and Chet shook his head again, as if he weren’t surprised by anything anymore.

  “Why’d you go off and elope?” Hannah wanted to know.

  “Neither of us cared much about having a big wedding,” Brady said. “And with Dawn expecting and all, we didn’t want to make a fuss.”

  “It was my idea, Miss Hannah,” Dawn offered, looking like a frightened rabbit. It was evident she worried about what Brady’s mom thought of her, the pregnancy, and even the kind of home she came from. “I don’t want the family to be ashamed or humiliated. And I didn’t want to be walking down the aisle looking like I had a beach ball stuffed in my dress.”

  Shay’s heart went out to her. Dawn had a right to a wedding the same as any other woman, pregnant or not, rich or poor. But it seemed she was starting to grow up, since she was taking responsibility for her choices. Brady too.

  “The important thing is we love each other and we did the right thing,” Brady said. “We’re married and we’re happy. And we’re going to have a baby.”

  “Hear, hear,” Colt said, raising his glass of water. All of them did the same and then clinked their glasses together in a toast.

  “To love and marriage,” Shay said.

  “And to grandbabies,” Hannah added, with a wink and a grin. She rose from her chair and gave Brady and Dawn each a warm hug. “Congratulations, son. Welcome to the family, Dawn.”

  “Thank you, Miss Hannah.” Dawn looked like she might burst out bawling.

  Hannah must have noticed, because she gave her an extra hug. “You can call me Mama, if you’d like.”

  Relief and gratitude flooded Dawn’s face.

  “Colt,” Brady said, as they all exited the restaurant a short time later, “do you think you can find Dawn and me a little house in town? I’ve got money saved, enough for a down payment. I was going to buy a new truck with it, but we need our own place. Not too big, but room enough for the baby. A backyard would be nice, too, so the boy and I can play catch and toss a football.”

  “How do you know he’s a boy?” Dawn asked, elbowing him in the ribs.

  “Okay, okay. Even if he turns out to be a girl, we’ll still need a yard to play in. Girls like to toss balls, too.”

  “You’re going to be such a good daddy,” Dawn said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

  Colt shook his hand. “I have a couple of places that would work. Call me tomorrow and we’ll set up some times to go look at them.”

  Shay felt exhausted. Everyone said goodbye outside, and she tossed Colt the keys to her car. “Cast or no cast, you can drive. I’m beat.”

  He caught the keys. “So am I. I can’t wait to crawl into bed.”

  “Which one? Yours or mine?”

  “Ours,” he said.

  Once they got back to Colt’s place, they stripped and got into bed. Shay snuggled next to him. She trailed her finger down his chest to his belly button and further. “You know, I think I’ve gotten my second wind,” she whispered.

  He pulled her on top of him with his right hand so she was straddling his legs. She bent and pressed her mouth to his.

  “Are you up for a ride?” he asked.

  Shay arched her eyebrow and flashed him a wicked smile. “Yeah, cowboy. And you won’t even have to feed or brush me when it’s over.”

  Fifty-Two

  The wedding was being held outdoors in the backyard of their home. With blue skies and sunshine to spare, the day could not have been more perfect. An intimate group of family and friends were gathered to witness their marriage, and were seated in chairs on both sides of the aisle in the grass.

  As the Double M Cowboy Band played the romantic George Strait hit, ‘Cross My Heart,’ with Brady singing the lyrics, Shay kept her eye trained on her man as she strolled down the white aisle runner that was strewn with pink rose petals. Colt stood under an arch that was wrapped in white organza and topped with an arrangement of more pink roses.

  Her heart jumped in her chest at the sight of him, so handsome in a suit and tie, and polished black boots. His wide grin and loving gaze were sure signs that he was a man in love.

  She felt so beautiful in her wedding gown, a simple but elegant ivory dress with a V-shaped neckline that Colt had helped choose. When she reached the arch and the song ended, she smiled at Dawn, her matron of honor. Brady stepped to Colt’s side to take his place as best man. When Colt took Shay’s hand and the minister began the ceremony, she felt contented and fulfilled.

  “Who gives this woman to be joined with this man?” the minister asked.

  “I do.” Frank answered, in a strong voice, from his wheelchair in the front row.

  Shay blew him a kiss.

  After exchanging vows and promising to love and cherish each other, the minister pronounced them husband and wife and told Colt he could kiss his bride. The kiss was long and enthusiastic, with Colt’s arms wound tightly around her. When they parted, everyone laughed as Colt dove i
n for a second smooch.

  “It’s my pleasure,” the minister announced, “to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Colton Morgan.”

  The guests clapped as Shay gave her new in-laws a hug. Likewise, Colt kissed his mom and shook his dad’s hand, and then Shay bent and hugged Frank. The band started up and their guests tossed handfuls of flower petals at them as the two of them strode, arms linked, down the aisle.

  The band entertained the crowd during the laid-back reception held under a canopy. At the end of the evening, Shay and Colt received final congratulations and thanked all their friends and family for sharing the day with them.

  After waving goodbye to Chet and Hannah, the last to leave, Colt put his arm around Shay. They sauntered into the house and locked the door behind them. Gifts were stacked on the dining room table to be opened tomorrow.

  “You’re the most gorgeous bride I’ve ever laid eyes on,” he said, pushing a strand of hair back from Shay’s face. “You’ve made me the luckiest and happiest man on earth.”

  Her heart couldn’t be any fuller. “Fate brought us together. Love will keep us together.”

  He smiled and pulled her close. As his body pressed against her, she could feel he was ready to enjoy a night of lovemaking as husband and wife.

  “Let’s get out of these clothes,” he said, running his hand under her hair and down her body.

  “I’ll join in you one minute. I need a drink of water. My throat is parched.” She stepped into the kitchen and filled a cup with tap water and drank it down. A noise from outside captured her attention. It sounded like a bird chirping.

  When she peeked out the window above the sink, a bluebird sat perched on the clothesline in the yard. It stared straight at her and continued singing its friendly tune.

  “Could it be?” she said aloud.

  When it stopped chirping, the bird stared at her a few seconds, and then it spread its wings and flew off. Her hand went to her throat, and she smiled. The bluebird had first come to her in a time of confusion and pain, to teach her how to achieve internal peace; something she’d never have trouble with again.

  As Shay stood at the window, she believed the bluebird had been a gift from Denise. Besides Denise’s blessing, she also felt that both her moms had been working some miracles of their own from heaven. She strolled down the hallway to the bedroom, completely at peace for the first time in years.

  Lit candles shimmered on each of the side tables to cast a golden glow throughout the room. Soft music played from somewhere in the distance.

  “It’s not Paris or Rome,” Colt said as he met her at the bedroom door, “but I promise this will be the best wedding night of your life. Let me help you out of your dress, Mrs. Morgan.” He skimmed his hands over her hips and up her back. He kissed her while undoing the dress buttons. The gown slipped past her shoulders, and she shimmied out of it and let it slide to the floor.

  Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her over the threshold to the bed and laid her down. “Let’s make a baby tonight,” he breathed.

  Shay gazed into his beautiful eyes.

  When they kissed, something deep inside hinted that together, they’d be able to accomplish anything.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Stacey Coverstone is a multi-published author of both contemporary and historical western romances, romantic suspense, Gothic mysteries, and ghost stories. She resides in Maryland with her husband and their dogs, cats, and a paint horse named Bill. They have two grown daughters and a baby granddaughter. When Stacey isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, traveling, target shooting, photography, and making scrapbooks of her adventures.

  Please visit Stacey’s website to view all of her books. If you’d like to be notified when a new book releases, please join her Announce Only Newsletter:

  http://www.staceycoverstone.com