Love Under Two Outcasts [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Cara Covington

  When he’d walked them out to their car, George Benedict had borne the look of a man truly torn between two loyalties. Charlotta understood why he would choose his wife over his children—she just didn’t necessarily approve of it.

  At least Addison had seemed somewhat approachable. She’d been careful, though, not to appear too eager to chat in front of her mother. Charlotta been told that the one word the rest of them—Veronica, Cord, Jackson, and her men—agreed described their oldest sister was “a snot.” But Charlotta had been thinking since they’d returned, and was more and more convinced the woman was just socially awkward. And she wondered, since the younger woman did take after her mother, appearance wise, if she hadn’t just learned to get by the best way she could by conforming to that woman’s expectations.

  Charlotta knew, not just from her studies, but from working with people that a coping mechanism like that would only last so long. Eventually, something would have to give.

  She made a promise to herself then and there that if that ever happened, she would be there for her sister-in-law. She didn’t have a painful history with the young woman to overcome, so she would be the one to reach out.

  Wanting to take her mind off unhappy thoughts on such a happy day, she let herself take a moment to take in this wonderful party. So many people she knew, and so many more she didn’t, had come up to talk and hug and welcome.

  People were not only seated in the restaurant dining room, they’d overflowed into the attached bookstore. The fireplace that formed part of the “wall” between the two separate businesses had been lit, the low fire just enough to chase the very slight January chill away.

  Charlotta smiled in response to the banner that hung over the archway. It read, “Congratulations, Charlotta, Jesse, and Barry!” She turned toward Barry when he touched her shoulder, and saw her uncle and aunt come into the restaurant, with both their sons and daughters-in-law in tow.

  “Well now, isn’t this something?” Her Uncle Leroy looked proud as punch, and wasted no time giving her a hug. Then he shook hands with first Jesse, and then Barry. “We all wanted to come tonight to show the people of Lusty that our girlie here has family who love her and accept her just as she is.”

  “We’re happy to call you kin,” Jesse said. “Thank you for coming. It means a lot to Charlotta—and to us.”

  “We believe in the words about being entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Don Carmichael said.

  His brother Tim nodded. “They aren’t just words to us.” Then he looked at Charlotta. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look this happy, cousin.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” she said. “Thank you for coming.”

  “It does my heart good to know that there’re so many folks here for you to call family,” Aunt Bella said. “And that food looks good, too. I imagine I’ll be asking around for recipes.”

  Caleb, Jonathan, and Bernice Benedict came over, and Jesse performed the introductions. Of course, Jonathan and Leroy had instant rapport, as they were just a couple of Texan ranchers at heart. Her cousin Don, on top of helping with the family ranch, worked part-time as a deputy sheriff and recognized the retired Texas Ranger.

  “Looks like your folks are making friends,” Barry said.

  Her folks. Yes, they were her folks, and knowing their hearts and seeing them chat and laugh and happy to meet whoever came over to them just warmed Charlotta’s heart.

  Chase and Brian Benedict came into the restaurant, grins on their faces and laughter in their eyes.

  “Well, cousins, it looks like you’re smarter than we gave you credit for—picking such a lovely and intelligent woman to be your wife.” Brian grinned as he said that, shaking Jesse and Barry’s hand and kissing her cheek.

  Charlotta had already seen “cousin-speak” in action. Personally, she thought it was hilarious.

  “We certainly can’t deny that our fiancée is both beautiful and intelligent,” Barry said.

  “We feel duty bound, as Benedicts, to warn you that if we don’t think you’re treating the lady well enough, we’ll have to take you out to the woodshed for a little ‘discussion’ on the matter.” Chase sounded implacable in that assertion.

  “Of course,” Jesse said, “as we have already promised to do the same on behalf of your own lovely wife.”

  Behind Chase and Brian, Alan Wilson and Duncan Moore snickered. Holly Bethune, their fiancée, elbowed Alan in the ribs. “Behave,” she said, as her niece, who’d accompanied them, laughed.

  “You’d better,” Ricoh Stone said to the ranch hands, “as I do believe that promise extends to the two of you as well.”

  All four Benedict men looked fierce as they nodded their heads and made grumbled sounds of agreement.

  Holly laughed. “It’s a pretty good deal, being a woman in Lusty.”

  “It sure is,” Charlotta agreed, “and in more ways than one.”

  “I don’t know anything about that,” Jacqui said, “but this is the first place I’ve lived where I’ve felt completely safe.”

  Charlotta suspected that many of the men in the families considered Jacqui—who was also Nancy’s bookstore manager—to be an honorary younger sister.

  Of course her comment got the men blushing. Charlotta finally understood Samantha Kincaid’s whispered words of a couple days before. She’d smiled and said, “The men have always outnumbered the women in this town—but the women have always come out on top.”

  Cord, Jackson, and Ari arrived with Hank, Veronica, and Travis, as well as Camilla, Ben, and Quentin. The Stinsons were staying with the Benedicts out at the ranch, and the Parks were staying with them. The Parks were leaving in the morning, eager to get back to their boys, but the Stinsons had decided to spend the weekend in Lusty, so that they’d have time to visit with Grandma Kate and finally tour the museum.

  They’d all had dinner together, earlier. Of course the two main topics of discussion had been the update Hank had for them on the fate of the recaptured fugitives, as well as the reception she, Jesse, and Barry had received in Montana.

  The Maxwells had been released from hospital—scarred and sore but still functional—into the hands of the Texas State Police. They’d been charged with car theft—the owner of the Ford Escort they’d been driving had been located. Negotiations were still taking place between the various state governments involved, since the men had stolen cars in every state between Wyoming and Texas.

  “The prosecutors decided not to include attempted murder charges against them, though,” Hank had said. “One of the other escapees, who was also recaptured, stated in a sworn affidavit that neither Phil nor Gord knew about the plan in advance.” Hank shrugged. “They just took advantage of the moment.” Then he looked around. “This is quite a party.”

  “It is,” Charlotta said. “I was really surprised when Aunt Bernice told us about it.”

  Veronica and Camilla came and stood beside her. “All things considered, it helps, doesn’t it?” Veronica asked. “To have people you know are there for you. Family isn’t just the people you’re blood kin to.”

  “No,” Charlotta agreed. She put her arm around the women. “Family isn’t just blood kin.”

  “Veronica said this is a family tradition?” Camilla asked.

  “I arrived in Lusty in time for Cord and Jackson’s party—and then Grandma Kate shanghaied me the very next morning and took me to Divine.” She looked over at her husbands, talking with the other men. “Thank goodness.”

  “Aren’t they a bunch of handsome devils?” Camilla asked.

  Charlotta didn’t answer. She just grinned—and it felt like the same well satisfied grin she could see mirrored on both of her friends’ faces.

  “This place is just lousy with cops tonight,” Jake Kendall said. He and Adam had just arrived and were right behind the Stinsons and the Parks. Hank and Travis turned, laughed, and greeted the pair enthusiastically.

  Because Adam asked, Hank gave him
a rundown on the case involving Phil and Gord Maxwell. He included the night they were taken into custody—another example of pure shit luck that this time had been against them instead of their favor.

  “You know, if the poor dumb bastards had just stayed put when the van had been run off the road,” Travis said, “they’d likely have had their sentences reduced for good behavior. Now they’re likely facing several more years of prison time.”

  “Karma,” Veronica said, “It’s a beautiful thing.” Then she turned her attention to something Jake had said when he and Adam had arrived. “You said there are a lot of cops here?”

  “Well, honey, there’re me and the fish cop, here,” Hank said, indicating Travis.

  “Then there’s me, and Matt, who’s my deputy.” Adam pointed to Matt Benedict. “Nancy married those two FBI agents over there, and Joe Grant, Michelle’s husband, he’s with the Bureau, as well.”

  Jake picked up the running commentary. “Our brother-in-law, Peter, is with the DEA, and then there’s Uncle Caleb—Caleb Benedict, Texas Ranger, retired.”

  Veronica’s eyes had lit with interest. “Wow, that’s a lot of cops, and all of them family.”

  Charlotta understood her interest. “And I bet every one of them would be happy to help you with research if you asked them, madam author.”

  “I’m certainly going to keep it in mind.”

  Charlotta promised Veronica she’d join her as soon as she could—there were still a few more guests to arrive—and caught sight of the next group coming down the sidewalk as she did. She didn’t recognize the two younger men walking with Samantha and her husbands, but they looked like Kendalls.

  “We’re all so glad that you’re joining the family,” Samantha said. She’d hugged Jesse and Barry and then her. “We want you to meet our nephews. This is William and Norman Kendall.”

  William was dark haired, while Norman’s hair was brown with auburn very slight shadings. Their eyes were similarly contrasted, in that William’s were a deep sapphire while Norman’s light blue gaze was nearly hypnotic. Charlotta shook their hands. “Are you visiting Lusty?”

  “You could call it an extended visit,” Norman said.

  “We’ve worked for three years without any vacation time,” William said. “So Aunt Samantha and the uncles said to come out and stay. They even had a place lined up for us to rent.”

  “Where are you from?”

  “New York City. Our fathers and the uncles here are half-brothers.” Norman grinned. “In fact, they didn’t even learn about each other until they were in their late twenties.”

  “And by fathers, we mean that Norm and I are actually cousins.” William frowned. “Did that make any sense?”

  Charlotta nodded. “It did.” She’d have to remember to ask Samantha some time about her husbands not learning they had half brothers until they were grown men.

  Samantha grinned at her nephews. “Charlotta and her men are going to have their Commitment Ceremony on our forty-second wedding anniversary.”

  “Then men of Lusty are clever, Will,” Norman said.

  “Getting married on Valentine’s Day. Practically guarantees they’ll never forget their wedding anniversary,” Will agreed. Then he laughed. “Too bad neither your father nor mine ever thought of that.”

  Norm laughed. “It is.” Then he nodded. “We’ll have to razz them when we see them next.”

  Charlotta was still shaking her head a few minutes later when Robert and David Jessop arrived with their wife Jillian—and their baby daughter, born on New Year’s Day.

  “Ooh, let me look at her.”

  Robert continued to hold the carrier while Jillian deftly undid the straps and lifted the baby out.

  Pride and love shone so bright from the three of them, Charlotta thought it a wonder they didn’t all need sunglasses.

  “Oh, she is adorable.” The two-week-old baby slept contently, a gossamer covering of black hair on her head, her tiny mouth pursed in a perfect bow shape.

  Jillian offered and Charlotta accepted the tiny bundle.

  “Her name is Colleen Cassandra,” David said. “And, of course, she is the most perfect baby in the world.”

  “Of course she is,” Charlotta agreed. And one destined to have an interesting time once she became a teenage girl—with two Doms for her fathers.

  Charlotta didn’t hold the little baby too long, because she could see so many in the restaurant craning their necks, trying to get a look at the tiny girl.

  “I just love great-grandchildren!”

  Charlotta turned, her smile wide in response to the sound of the voice. Looking far younger than her ninety-three years, Kate Benedict stood arm-in-arm with Miriam Conway.

  “That’s a good thing, Grandma Kate,” Jesse said. “With all the weddings that have been taking place around here lately, you’re bound to get a passel of them.”

  “I know, isn’t it grand?”

  “Hey!” Barry had just spotted who’d come into the restaurant with Kate Benedict and Miriam.

  “Congratulations,” Ernie Morris shook the men’s hands and then hers. “Mrs. Benedict invited us along,” he said.

  “Now, Ernie you promised you’d call me Kate.”

  He smiled shyly. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll try to remember that, Kate.”

  Charlotta could see the man was a bit confused—likely about the fact that both Jesse and Barry were her fiancés.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Charlotta said.

  Paulette grinned. “I’d say that times have changed, except Kate was telling us that this town was founded more than a century ago.” Then she hugged Charlotta. “Congratulations. I just know that y’all will be very happy together.”

  “I invited the Morris’s because I know how much you care for them, and because of the surprise I have for the three of you.”

  “A surprise?” Barry looked from Grandma Kate, to her, and then to Jesse. “What kind of surprise, Grandma Kate?”

  Kate didn’t answer. Miriam did.

  “I was appalled when I discovered that Gene Harris had been hitting on you, Charlotta. Especially when Ernie and Paulette mentioned that one of the main reasons they wanted to oversee the care of the horses belonging to the program was they didn’t like or trust the man, either.”

  “To be honest, Harris gave me the creeps the first time I met him,” Paulette said.

  “I didn’t trust him not to hurt the animals,” Ernie said. Charlotta felt her face heat with embarrassment. What he didn’t add but was definitely implied was especially in light of her continued refusal to acknowledge the man’s advances.

  “I received a call from the District Attorney,” Miriam said. “Harris has chosen to plea bargain rather than face a trial. He’ll serve a few years in jail for what he did.”

  “Good. If I never see that man again, it will be too soon.” And how wonderful was it that her men had drawn closer, and put their arms around her, as her attacker had been discussed.

  “Harris’ behavior was a wake-up call for me,” Miriam said. “Kate’s going to help me screen my employees better. That will definitely be a positive outcome of this near tragedy. But there’s one other.”

  “The Board of Directors of the G & P Wellness Center just had their annual meeting,” Kate said.

  Charlotta hadn’t really been surprised to learn that Kate Benedict was the money behind the center that had been named in honor of her late husbands. She had been surprised when she discovered the woman had been completely aware of her dancing days, and had hired her anyway.

  “Grandma Kate, you have a twinkle in your eye, the reason for which I think I will love,” Jesse said.

  “I’m sure you will, dear boy. We decided that the benefits of equine therapy warrant a larger investment in the program. There’s a parcel of land at the south edge of your ranch that is going to be the future home of the expanded Healing Rides Program. When the building of it is complete, there will be two large horse barns, each with an indoor
arena, as well as two bunkhouses, so that we can hold camps. There will also be a manager’s house—and I’m pleased to inform you that Ernie and Paulette have agreed to be those managers.”

  “Oh, Grandma Kate, that’s wonderful!” Charlotta believed in the efficacy of the program, and nothing could have pleased her more.

  “We’ll eventually hire another counselor to help direct the activities—unless, when the time comes, you decide you’d like to be in that role full-time.”

  “Wow.”

  “You might consider it, baby. I know the parcel of land Grandma Kate means. It’ll be fairly close to where our house is going to be built.”

  “I will consider it.” Especially if the three of them decided to start their family, sooner rather than later.

  Charlotta went to Grandma Kate and gave her a hug that had her whole heart in it. “Thank you. Not just for that program, but for everything. For hiring me, and working your particular kind of magic so that I would meet Jesse and Barry.”

  Kate giggled. She placed her hand on Charlotta’s cheek. “I see the cousins have been telling tales out of school.”

  “Perhaps one or two.”

  “Well, all I did, sweet girl, was hire the best woman for the center, knowing that the three of you would meet up. The rest was up to you.” Kate looked at Jesse and Barry and then cast her gaze around the full-to-bursting dining room. “I always say that things generally turn out the way they’re meant to be.”

  With Jesse and Barry beside her, and most of her family and friends around her, Charlotta found she had to agree.

  And she would always be grateful that it was so.

  THE END

  WWW.MORGANASHBURY.COM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Morgan Ashbury, also writing as Cara Covington, has been a writer since she was first able to pick up a pen. In the beginning it was a hobby, a way to create a world of her own, and who could resist the allure of that? Then as she grew and matured, life got in the way, as life often does. She got married and had three children, and worked in the field of accounting, for that was the practical thing to do and the children did need to be fed. And all the time she was being practical, she would squirrel herself away on quiet Sunday afternoons and write.