by Karen Rock
“Come again?” Jared stopped cracking eggs into a blender.
“We know what really happened to Maggie Cade.” Cole leaned against the granite kitchen island and calmly met everyone’s astonished stares.
“Everett killed her for the jewel. Case closed.” Justin grabbed a pear from a nearby bowl and took a savage bite.
“No. It’s a story about star-crossed lovers denied their chance at happiness by tragic fate, missed opportunities and outside interference.” Katie-Lynn swiftly filled them in on their findings. When she finished, the group crowded around the large table, peering at letters and reading journal entries.
“Who talks like this?” scoffed Justin before quoting, “‘Souls, soldered by the moon, spun together by the stars.’ Sounds fake.”
“A woman in love.” Jewel sighed, the tough, no-nonsense cowgirl surprising everyone. Her eyes connected with Heath’s for a moment, and Cole spied her brothers exchanging meaningful glances. Seemed his hunch from the line-dancing night was right; she was soft on Heath. Given the way Heath returned her stare called into question Heath’s on-again-off-again girlfriend’s claim of an impending proposal.
“You think these are real?” Justin asked Katie-Lynn.
“We’ll authenticate them for the show,” she assured him. “But I’m certain they’re genuine.”
A blender whined, filling up the silence as the group digested the feud’s new facts. Something in the air shifted, a new weather front moving in, milder. Warmer. Heralding better times ahead?
“Poor thing.” Joy swiped at her streaming eyes. “Pregnant, alone and about to marry a man she didn’t truly love.”
Boyd produced a handkerchief and gently dried Joy’s cheeks.
Cole recalled how she’d been in a similar predicament once. She had loved Jason Cade, but Pa was her first love, and you never forgot your first love. His eyes strayed to Katie-Lynn, who now read passages from Maggie’s diary to a rapt Javi. Sunlight blazed on her white-gold hair, setting her aglow. She was beautiful, intelligent, funny and caring. He was a lucky man to have won a heart as big as hers.
“Everett loved Maggie.” Daryl rubbed his chin, peering down at the open journal. “And he worked hard to earn enough money to win her family’s blessing. Doing things properly. Sounds like a Loveland.”
Nods circled the room, including a few of the Cades. The sight caught Cole with an unexpected warmth. They might reconcile and become one family after all. Who would have thought it? His gaze drifted to Katie-Lynn again. When she’d returned home, he’d considered her a threat. Instead, she’d become his family’s salvation... His, too.
His hermit existence had been comfortable. And miserable and lonely, he amended. Katie-Lynn dragged him back into life, proving the outside world, beyond his ranch and family, wasn’t a minefield of threats after all.
“What if Everett killed Maggie out of jealousy? Maybe he didn’t want her marrying another guy.” Justin accepted a glass of beaten eggs and juice from Jared, and downed half in one gulp.
“Of course he didn’t.” Sierra held up the last letter. “That’s why he came home when Maggie wrote him about the new wedding date. Strange how he worked for Maggie’s betrothed.”
“It wasn’t a coincidence.” Cole shook his head at Jared’s offered orange-egg smoothie. “Clyde William Farthington hired Everett to get him out of the way. He’d had Maggie followed and discovered their secret meetings.”
The group listened, rapt, as he repeated Clyde’s deathbed confession. When he finished, the only sound was James’s baby, now gnawing on a teething ring with tiny, satisfied grunts. Their oversize tabby cat, Clint, leaped to the floor, seemed to forget why, then stretched out on the tile.
“Clyde the fourth admitted this to you?”
Katie-Lynn nodded at Pa. “Got it all on tape, and he signed on to be part of the episode.”
Joy reached over her shoulder and grabbed Boyd’s hand. “Clyde Farthington killed Maggie Cade,” she said slowly, her voice full of wonder. “Not Everett Loveland.”
“Doesn’t change the fact you Cades strung up Everett without investigating the facts,” Travis stated flatly, in full-on lawman mode. “Your family exacted vigilante justice.”
“We’re hotheaded,” James replied, his grave eyes on a scowling Justin. “And we did wrong. Can’t change the past, but we can ask for forgiveness. Please accept our apology.”
“Did hell just freeze over?” Javi asked his mother in a loud whisper. “Pa said it would before we ever said sorry to the Lovelands.”
James’s frown gave way to a smile, then a guffaw. Sofia giggled, Boyd chuckled, and the rest of the room erupted into gales of laughter.
A couple minutes later Joy blotted her streaming eyes, stood and tucked herself into Boyd’s open arms. The room quieted, but the smiles remained.
“We accept the apology,” Boyd pronounced. Cole and his siblings nodded.
“So we don’t have to hate each other anymore.” Jewel ducked her head, then peeked up at a blushing Heath.
“Wouldn’t go that far,” Justin joked, “Cole’s still a pain in the—”
“Who’d like some cupcakes?” Joy hurried to say, speaking over him. “We’ve got plenty left over after last night.” Her voice lowered. “Boyd. I’m sorry about acting so rashly. Reading about Maggie and Everett...it reminds me true love’s too precious to squander.”
“Are you saying you’ll marry me?” The lines of Boyd’s face smoothed, his color returning. For the first time since last night, Cole dragged in a full breath.
“Guess we might as well since we can’t get the deposit on the cake back,” Joy teased. “And my wedding dress was on clearance. Can’t return it.”
“And I already rented the tux,” Boyd said, tweaking her right back. “Nonrefundable. Don’t want to waste good money.” He spanned her waist and grinned down at her. “Or love.”
Joy’s eyes glowed as she smoothed a hand down the side of Pa’s face. “I love you, Boyd Loveland. The wedding’s back on.”
The group cheered.
“Hey! We’d better hurry.” Jared pointed to the wall clock. “We’re supposed to be at the church in a couple of hours.”
“We’ll make it,” Joy said, her eyes on Boyd.
“Yes.” He kissed the tip of her nose and grinned. “I believe we will.”
“What about the lawsuit?” Justin asked, somber.
“We’ll discuss it another day,” Joy pronounced. “As a family.”
Nods circled the room.
“One more thing.” Cole held up a hand to stop the mass exodus. “It’s about Cora’s Tear.”
All eyes turned to him expectantly.
“Did you find the buried treasure?” Javi bounced on the balls of his feet.
Cole patted the little guy’s head, withdrew a faded velvet bag from his pocket, then shook the jewel into his palm. Brilliant light sparkled on the large sapphire brooch. Gasps erupted, and the group pressed near for a closer look.
“Is that...?”
“What’s he got?”
“Can’t be...”
“Katie-Lynn and I found this where Maggie buried it for her and Everett’s future.” Cole passed the jewel to Joy. “Now you and Pa can use it to start yours.”
He leaned down and bussed Joy’s damp cheek. “Glad to welcome you to our family.”
She caught him in a tight hug. “I couldn’t be prouder to become a Loveland or your stepmother.”
“That can be your something blue, Ma,” Jewel said. “And you’re borrowing it from Maggie.”
“And having the wedding she never did,” Katie-Lynn added. “The brooch will finally make it down the aisle.”
It took Boyd several tries before his shaking fingers successfully pinned the brooch to Joy’s shirt. He stepped back and beamed at her. The large blue stone
grabbed every bit of light in the room, sparkling like blue fire.
“Pretty!” Javi rose on his toes to touch it.
“Thank you, Cole, Katlynn,” Joy said, fingering the brooch. “You’ve given us our happily-ever-after.”
Cole caught Katie-Lynn’s smile and returned it, ready for their happy ending, too...
They’d vowed to make things work and like his grandma always said, “Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
They had plenty of will; now they needed to find their way.
* * *
“YOU’RE AWFULLY QUIET.” Katlynn gazed up into Cole’s handsome face as he waltzed her on the crowded dance floor a few hours later. In a fitted black tux, he cut a fine figure, broad-shouldered and slim-hipped, his deep blue eyes and square jaw putting any Hollywood leading man to shame.
A slow country tune wove through the converted barn Sofia used for her event-planning business. Flower garlands, hanging from the rafters, filled Katlynn’s nose with their heady scent. Outside the large windows, she glimpsed the sinking sun finally relinquishing the day to a soft, lavender dusk.
“Cole?” she prompted, touching his chin lightly.
Laughter mingled with clinking glasses and the muted shouts of children playing outdoors. A peaceful happiness stole over her, sweet and sharp. She wished she could press this moment into a memory book and keep it forever.
If she gave up her job and returned to Carbondale full-time, she wouldn’t need a memory book. This would be her life—simple, uncomplicated and full of love. “Earth to Cole...”
His eyes swerved to hers. “Got carried away.”
“With?”
His strong arms tightened around her. “Thinking about us. How lucky I am.”
“I think you’ve got that backward.”
He shook his head and one side of his full lips tipped up. “You make me so happy, sweetheart.”
“Joy and Boyd look happy.”
They turned to watch a laughing Joy, garbed in a simple, high-necked ivory dress, place a piece of wedding cake into Boyd’s mouth. Cora’s Tear sparkled at her throat. The surrounding group, bloodthirsty for a cake-war, egged on Boyd. With a shake of his head, he ignored them and carefully dropped a bite into Joy’s mouth. The long kiss he planted on her, however, satisfied the cheering crowd.
“Do you think Maggie and Everett are watching?” Katlynn glanced outside at the first twinkle of stars.
“Yep. Bet they’re pleased to see us all come together.” Cole waltzed her past a shuffling couple, twirled her under his arm, then reeled her back with one smooth, effortless pull.
Her breath caught. Her heart raced. A rugged, protective, loyal cowboy was a catch. Add in a tender heart, old-school charm and grace and you had a keeper. Her fingers gripped Cole’s broad shoulders. She wasn’t letting him go... He’d vowed they’d find a way to a compromise. With twelve months left on her contract, they had to figure out a path forward.
Cole smoothed his fingers over the top of her head and guided her cheek to rest against his drumming heart. His warmth enveloped her. Was there anything sweeter than dancing in the arms of the man you loved? A blissful sigh escaped her. Let tomorrow take care of itself her pa always said... Speaking of whom...
“Mind if we stop by to stay hello?” She pointed at two large tables pushed together. Her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews dined on the steak and baked potato meal while her father carefully cut her mother’s meat.
“Sure.”
“Hey, y’all,” Katlynn called when they neared her family.
The children launched themselves at her, throwing their arms around her legs. “Aunt Katie-Lynn!”
How much had changed since she’d begun stopping by her ma’s house on her free time, working around their schedules instead of hers. She no longer needed to be the star. She was happy to orbit around others’ lives, nothing to prove except to herself, a lesson she’d learned from Cole. She felt a complete trust with him to be exactly who she was. She didn’t have to be any other version of Katlynn/Katie-Lynn Brennon for him to love her.
“Guess you’ll be leaving us soon,” her father said. When he held a bite of steak to her mother’s mouth, she good-naturedly swatted it away with her arthritic hand.
“Stop fussing.” She motioned to the empty seats near her. “Won’t you sit a spell?”
“Thanks.”
Cole pulled out her chair then grabbed one for himself.
“The cable guy you hired came by a couple days ago. Set up the whole thing. He’s even got my DVR-thingy taping your show now. I won’t miss another one.” Her mother patted her hand. “We’re so proud of you, Katie-Lynn.”
A strange look crossed Cole’s face, swift as a speeding cloud over the sun. Was it regret? Second thoughts about compromising?
“Thanks, Ma.” She leaned over and kissed each of her parents’ cheeks.
“Go on,” her stoic father protested. He swiped at his face but looked pleased by the gesture nonetheless.
“Just found out your father needs back surgery,” her mother announced. “And you know how the roof’s leaking... Keith was hoping to have his cannabis business going by now, but he’s hit a bit of a legal snag...”
Cole choked on his water and plunked the glass down so hard the liquid sloshed over the rim.
“Are you all right, Pa?” Katlynn touched his calloused hand. He’d worked hard all his life until an injury forced him on disability. She wasn’t sure which took a bigger blow, his health or his pride.
Her father nodded stiffly. “Don’t you worry about me, darlin’.”
Katlynn held in a sigh. Pa never wanted a fuss. Still, given his pronounced back hunch and the line of strain around his eyes, he was clearly in pain. Her family shouldn’t have to choose between health care and a roof...
“I’ll send money for both,” she vowed.
“Oh. Now. We don’t want to impose, Katie-Lynn,” her mother tutted. “You help out plenty.”
“I don’t mind. I’m happy to do it.”
Her mother sighed. “Well. It’d be a big help. Michelle’s promotion at the market fell through yesterday when her boss refused to give her time off for Timmy’s preschool graduation and she quit. John’s working overtime just to make his alimony and child care payments, Martin’s car needs a new transmission...so...”
“We’ll pay you back someday,” her father vowed, his fingers tight around his fork.
“I know, Pa,” Katlynn agreed, knowing she’d never take a dime from her parents. They’d given her so much more than she could ever repay. Growing up, she’d thought she’d lost out on their attention. What they’d really given her, though, were valuable life lessons like independence, a strong work ethic and responsibility.
What would happen to her family if she left Scandalous History and couldn’t help them financially? They depended on her as did the show’s cast and crew.
Yet Cole needed her, too. Would a compromise mean splitting their time between Colorado and California? She could live here as her main residence and travel to LA when taping a season...
“Katlynn, you look ravishing.”
She turned and spied her producer, Tom, beside her chair. His dark hair was slicked back, and he wore a tailored gray suit, his expensive Italian loafers gleaming under the soft light cast by hundreds of flickering candles. “Tom. This is my family.” By the time she finished introducing the large group, he appeared faintly shell-shocked.
“We could develop a reality show with a family this big,” Tom murmured, eyeing a teething Frankie as he gnawed on a flip-flop.
Cole recoiled like he’d been stung.
“And I believe I met another of your siblings. Keith?” Tom continued, oblivious. “We had a—ah—transaction outside. Quite the businessman. Perhaps we’ll call the show In the Weeds. What do you think? The firs
t legalized pot-selling family. Gives new meaning to the old mom-and-pop operation...”
“Pot?” Katlynn’s pa sputtered. “No hippies in our family.”
“It’s okay, Pa,” Katlynn soothed, guiding her red-faced father, a Vietnam veteran, back down in his chair. “Tom’s just joking.”
“Don’t see the humor in it,” Cole muttered, giving voice to the horror still contorting her father’s face. He tossed down his napkin and rose to his towering height.
Tom backed up a step and swallowed hard. “Cole Loveland. Didn’t see you there. I hope you’ll accept my apology for what happened yesterday. We meant no offense. It was just business.”
“That’s all that matters to you Hollywood types,” Cole charged, his expression hard. “Money. Not people.”
Tom began to nod, caught Katlynn’s slight head shake, grabbed a glass of water and downed it in one gulp.
“Hey!” Katlynn’s father protested. “My teeth were in there!”
Tom spit out the water.
Her entire family cracked up. Katlynn’s brother Martin slapped Tom on the back as he coughed. “Pa was just foolin’. He’s still got his teeth. Look.”
Katlynn’s father parted his lips to reveal an impressive mouthful for his age. “Got ya.”
She chuckled. Once she’d been awestruck by the sophistication, the intelligence, the savvy, of the LA crowd, yet here was proof country people were just as clever in their own way. And warm and welcoming, too. She appreciated her roots and was proud, not ashamed of them.
Tom dabbed at his wet chin with a napkin. Red stained his spray-tanned face. “You got me, all right. Katlynn. I need to steal you away for some quick shots with the bride and groom.”
She nodded, resigned.
“And Cole—” Tom extended a hand “—no offense meant. We have plenty of footage without using the rehearsal dinner clip, thanks to Katlynn interviewing your grandfather.”
Cole’s expression froze. His hand dropped. No! She’d meant to tell Cole about the interview once she’d heard which angle the production team had chosen; a decision she’d expected to be included in...
