Texas Baby Cover-Up

by Virginia Vaughan

  * * *

  Before dawn the next morning, the truck was loaded up and they were on the road. They’d decided to leave from Zeke’s place, so they hauled the horse trailer over there and then saddled the horses and loaded one with supplies. Paul joined Kellyanne and Zeke on another horse to follow them to the cabin so he would know where it was located.

  Kellyanne had Brady in a carrier strapped to her as she rode. Zeke led them toward the river and then made a right and headed up a steep hill. When they neared the end of the strong current, he pointed toward an isolated, elevated cabin.

  “That’s the place.”

  It didn’t look as bad as Kellyanne had expected, but she recalled Zeke saying he’d come by to clean up the place a few months ago. However, she doubted many people had been around. The river, which had had a strong current only a few miles back, was barely trickling here. Whatever water his grandfather had once fished in had been dammed up years ago, leaving only a muddy riverbed with a creek-sized body of water remaining.

  Once they reached the cabin, Zeke helped her climb off the horse, being careful with Brady. She couldn’t believe how well he was behaving. During the two-hour ride, he’d glanced around and enjoyed the sunshine, fresh air and nature on display. His blue eyes had been wide with wonder and ever so observant. Now he was growing fussy and hot, and she couldn’t blame him. She was exhausted too.

  The cabin had been built on stilts when the water was obviously much more of a threat than it was now, but its elevated status added a level of comfort. At least they would be able to see anyone trying to sneak up on them in time. She grabbed Brady’s supplies and carried him up the steps to the front door.

  While Zeke and Paul carried in the rest of the supplies, Kellyanne unstrapped Brady, changed him and found a sleeping bag for him to lie on while she helped them unpack the supplies. She would have to find a better place for him since they’d had to leave the Pack ’n Play behind for lack of room on the horses.

  One of the things they had brought was a radio with a receiver good enough to reach her family to be used only as necessary. As she watched Paul and Zeke set it up and test it, it occurred to her that they might be here for a long time. You didn’t get to be in Davenport’s position without making powerful friends who would be willing to turn their heads or do his bidding for a price.

  She shuddered at the thought of him trying to snatch Brady again. If he didn’t want him, he should just leave them alone. She would never tell anyone about Brady’s parentage if it kept him safe. She would be just fine letting everyone believe he was her baby. Hers and Zeke’s.

  She stole a glance at Zeke as that idea turned in her mind. They’d grown closer since that day he’d first arrived at her apartment and taken them both under his protection, and it was obvious he’d grown to care about Brady, but was he ready to take on the responsibilities of raising a child?

  And why was she even allowing her thoughts to go down that road? She still owed him the truth about their baby, and that would destroy any chance of a future between them.

  When everything was settled, Paul hugged her, said goodbye and left. They watched him climb onto his horse and hurry away. A part of her was sad to see him go, but she wanted her privacy. Now she was getting it.

  It didn’t take long before they had everything put away. Zeke pulled out an old dresser drawer and cleaned it up to make a bed for Brady. She’d thought about placing him on the bed with pillows surrounding him, but he was just starting to roll, and she was worried he might roll off the bed when she wasn’t watching him.

  She searched through the cans of food they’d brought before choosing a can of beef stew to heat up for them to eat. Zeke shot her a sorrowful look. “Your brothers will bring more supplies in a few days.”

  “I don’t mind it,” she assured him. She wasn’t complaining. She felt safe and free here in this secluded cabin with Zeke and Brady.

  As the sky outside grew darker, Zeke lit a fire, and they sat before it and ate their makeshift meal. She watched him, in awe of how easily he’d stepped out of his life to keep them safe. He was a good man, the best man she knew.

  “How did you get Josh to allow you to come here with me?”

  He gave her a curious glance and shrugged. “I just told him I wanted to stay near you and Brady to keep you both safe. You were there when I did.”

  “And what would you have done if he’d said no and insisted on coming himself?”

  “I don’t know. I would have made sure he knew how important it is that I remain with you. I would have insisted on coming.”

  He would have stood up to her brother. Why couldn’t she have that same kind of strength?

  “You’re very loyal to Josh, aren’t you?”

  “I like him. He’s not like other people in this town. He doesn’t hold my past against me.”

  “Your past? What are you talking about?”

  He set down his bowl of stew and leaned back. “I’m the son of a murderer, Kelly. I went to work for a large police department right after leaving the police academy. Someone discovered my father killed my mother, and I had people who looked at me differently. In fact, one attorney even tried to use it to mar my character when I was a witness in court. People in town look at me differently. Even you...” He shrugged and turned back to his food. “Josh never throws that in my face.”

  Her heart broke to know his father’s actions continued to haunt him all these years later, but why had he included her in that list? “I guess I knew about it, but I never saw you differently because of it.”

  “Didn’t you? Isn’t that why you never wanted people to know about us, Kelly?”

  “I’ve already told you that was because of my brothers. They tormented my first boyfriend. He still gives me a wide berth to this day if I see him around town.” She didn’t want to get into a discussion about her brothers. She’d noticed how much he seemed to want Josh’s approval. Maybe it was because they both had tragic histories. “You know Josh’s wife was murdered. Some people believe he was responsible.”

  “I’ve heard the rumors, but I’ve never looked into it. I have a difficult time believing he could do something like that.”

  “Oh no, of course, he didn’t do it. And you didn’t do anything either, Zeke. You’re not responsible for your father’s acts or what some people might think of you.”

  “Well, it’s defined me for most of my life. It’s kept me from going after the things I wanted.”

  “And what did you want, Zeke?”

  He locked eyes with her. “You.” Then his face reddened, and he dropped his head. “But then I never could have given you what you deserved, Kelly. I can’t even give you a decent place to hide out while you’re running for your life. This place is a dump.”

  She touched his arm and felt how tense he was. He was really upset at having to be here. But she wasn’t. “Zeke, I like this cabin. It isn’t much, but you’ve kept us safe. This isn’t permanent, and I have to be honest, I wouldn’t care if it was, as long as we could be together.”

  He glanced down at her, and she saw his eyes fall to her lips. She was drawn to him, and he must feel it too.

  He pushed away from her and stood and walked to the fireplace, then knelt to stoke the fire. “You don’t mean that, Kelly. Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  He turned and locked eyes with her. “I’ve given you everything I ever had to give, and it was never enough for you. I’d finally gotten over you. I came to see you that night to tell you I was finally over you. But I got pulled back in.”

  She felt like he’d slapped her, and she wanted to lash out, but the pain on his face stopped her. She’d made him feel unwanted, unloved, like nothing he could do was right. How could she have made him feel just as awful as she did?

  Shame filled her. She was a terribl
e person.

  “I understand why you never wanted to be with me. Sure, we had fun, but I don’t think you were ever as serious about me as I was about you.” He looked at her. “I wanted to marry you, Kelly. I had dreams about starting a family with you and growing old with you.”

  She caught her breath. She’d never realized he’d been that serious. “You did?”

  “But to you, we were nothing but fun and games.”

  She stood and went to him, pressing her hands onto his chest. “Zeke, I wanted that too.”

  “But you left. If you’d really wanted to be with me, you should have at least asked me to go with you.”

  “You had your grandmother to think about. I didn’t think you would ever leave her. Besides, I know how much you love this place. I couldn’t stay, but it didn’t have anything to do with you, Zeke.” She touched his cheek and leaned in for a kiss, brushing her lips against his.

  When she did, he pulled his arms around her and dragged her close, and she soaked in the feel of his arms around her. He could have been hers all along, and she hated that she’d ever made him feel inferior. He was everything she’d ever wanted.

  When the kiss broke, he rested his forehead against hers and caught his breath. “What about who I am, Kelly? What about your family? I’ll never be good enough for you.”

  “Why do you think anyone would think that?”

  He leaned back and pulled a hand through his hair. “Because of who I am. My father killed my mother. I’ve had to live with that shame. People have judged me for that all my life. What kind of person can I be when I come from such violence?”

  She was stunned by his confession. She’d known about his folks and how they died, but she’d honestly thought he’d coped well with the trauma. It certainly had never colored how she’d viewed him. “You’re not damaged. You’re a good man, better than I deserve.”

  “No. You deserve everything.” He stared into her eyes. “I love you, Kelly. I’ve always loved you. Every time I watched you leave town and forget about me, I tried to convince myself that I’d fooled myself into believing you loved me too.”

  She touched his cheek as his words broke her. Her selfishness knew no bounds. “Oh, Zeke, I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m not looking for an apology. I don’t want it. I don’t care about that stuff anymore. It doesn’t matter to me how many times you push me away. I want to be with you, and I will always be there for you whenever you want me.”

  Her heart leaped. He was offering her everything she wanted. “I love you too, and I want us to be together.” But she couldn’t continue to keep this secret from him if they ever hoped to have a future together. “I need to tell you something—”

  He placed his finger on her lips to stop her from speaking. “Don’t say it. Don’t ruin this. Please don’t ruin this. Tonight is everything I’ve ever wanted. We can deal with the rest of it tomorrow.”

  She leaned into him. He deserved the truth and she only hoped—prayed—he would be able to forgive her once he knew it. But for now, she was enjoying the blessing of being in his arms.

  * * *

  Three days passed, and Kellyanne, Zeke and Brady spent them quietly, taking walks along the bank of the river, horseback riding, reading and talking in front of a burning fire at night.

  Kellyanne loved every moment of it. She would’ve forgotten that she was in danger if it weren’t for Zeke’s guarded demeanor and multiple patrols per day. She might have let down her guard, but he hadn’t. She still hadn’t brought herself to tell him her terrible, terrible secret.

  On the third day, she’d just finished feeding Brady his lunch when they heard what sounded like horse hoofs approaching.

  Zeke tensed and reached for his rifle as he walked to the door and opened it cautiously. His body relaxed, and he pushed it open. “It’s your brother Colby.”

  Colby? When had he arrived in town and why?

  She stepped outside and saw it was indeed Colby approaching on horseback and walking another horse loaded with supplies. Zeke placed the rifle by the door and hurried down to help Colby unload.

  He waved, and she waved back and then took Brady inside to clean him up. She’d known their time alone would be limited. They needed fresh supplies. Plus, she was anxious to hear if her brother had any updates on the situation with Davenport. They’d been leery to use the radio to talk about things that important in case their conversations could be intercepted, but if they’d gotten that matter settled once and for all, she might have this happy little life with Zeke and Brady for good.

  Colby entered carrying a box full of food. “Zeke will be up in a minute. He’s going to take care of my horses.” He set the crate on the counter, turned to Kellyanne and pulled her into a hug.

  She soaked in his calming presence. His job as an FBI agent often kept him away from home during the holidays, and Kellyanne realized they hadn’t seen one another in well over a year. “I wasn’t expecting you. When did you arrive in town?”

  “We got in last night.”

  “We?” Colby was single and didn’t have a family, so his use of the plural interested her.

  “Miles and I drove up together.”

  So Josh had called in Colby and Miles, needing some federal backup. She wasn’t surprised, given the name of their primary suspect. “Did Melissa and Dylan come too?”

  “No, Miles thought it would be best to leave them at home in case there’s any threat of danger.”

  She nodded. Miles was always thinking of his family first. “And did Josh show you the photos?”

  “He did.”

  “And what do you think?”

  He pulled a hand through his hair. “This is big, Kelly. Senator Davenport is predicted to win the election in a landslide. People are even saying he’ll one day run for president. The man is a powerhouse with friends all over the state and in Washington.”

  “I know. I couldn’t believe it either.”

  “Why wouldn’t your friend tell you about this?”

  “I guess she wanted to protect him. She thought he loved her, but when she discovered he was having affairs with other women, too, she changed her mind.” He gave her a stare that made her uncomfortable. As the second oldest of her brothers, Colby had a presence that served him well in the FBI. He turned that look on her now, and she didn’t care for it. “You’re acting like I was the one who had the affair with a married, prominent politician. It wasn’t me.”

  “But she was your friend, right?” His tone implied she shouldn’t have associated with someone who would do such a thing.

  She bit her lip to hold back her anger at having one of her brothers question her decision-making. She didn’t want to lash out as she’d done in the past so she decided to take the same approach Zeke did, calm and composed. “Why do you do that?” she asked Colby. “Why must you question every decision I make as if I’m not capable of living my own life?”

  He looked like he was going to refute her claim, but then his expression twisted, and he scrubbed a hand over his chin. “I just did that, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, you did. It’s not just you, Colby. I love all my brothers, but you all never give me a chance to prove that I’m not a little girl anymore.”

  He sat down on the hearth and rubbed his hands together. “You’re right. We do treat you that way sometimes.” He glanced at her and then shrugged. “All right, all the time. But we’re your brothers. It’s our job to protect you and help you, but I suppose we do sometimes swerve into being controlling and overprotective.”

  “I know that you care about me, Colby, and I appreciate that you want to keep me safe, but I’d also like to feel free to make my own choices without being judged for them. I’m not the only one who makes mistakes.”

  “No, you’re definitely not the only one.” Pain flickered through his eyes, leaving Kellyanne to wonder if he
was referring to something specific in his life. It meant a lot to her that he could admit he and the rest of her brothers had been controlling and overbearing at times, but it also felt good to stand up for herself and actually have him listen to her and acknowledge her feelings.

  “Lisa was a good person, Colby. She made a mistake, but once she had Brady, all she cared about was giving him a good life.”

  “Brady? That’s her baby, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  He stood and leaned against the mantel, his head lowered. He glanced at Brady on a pallet on the floor and then looked back at Kellyanne. Confusion muddled his expression now. “This is your friend’s baby?”

  “That’s right. His name is Brady.” She was tired of the questioning looks. “What is the matter with you, Colby? Why are you behaving this way? Yes, she had an affair with a married man. Yes, she got pregnant without being married. I know it’s not the way it should have been, but it’s not the end of the world. You act like you’re accusing me instead of her.”

  “No, I’m only trying to get to the truth of the matter, Kelly, and I don’t believe you’re being totally honest with me, with anyone. That’s why I told Josh I wanted to be the one to come here today. I need to sort out the truth.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  He gave an exasperated sigh. “If this is your friend’s baby...” He locked eyes with her before he continued. “Where is your baby, Kelly? What happened to it?”

  She gasped and felt all the air leave her body. She fell onto the couch. “What? How did—” She tried to laugh at the absurdity. He couldn’t possibly know. He couldn’t. “I don’t have a baby.”

  He sat on the coffee table and pierced her with his gaze. “I was in Austin months ago on an assignment. It wrapped up quickly and unexpectedly, so I thought I would drop by your apartment and take you to dinner.”

  Tears pressed against her eyes. She saw it in his face. He knew.