Imperfect Justice

by Olivia Jaymes

  “I’ll take any help that I can get. I don’t want to send Misty running her first night with the family.”

  Jared had fixed her door this morning before they stopped at the diner for lunch. Their appearance had caused a small sensation with every eye in the place trained directly on them. Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, Misty had fidgeted in her chair but Jared had simply stared right back with a cocky grin.

  After lunch, he’d moved her meager possessions into his house and had been appalled at what he’d seen. Unlike every woman he’d known before, she only had three pair of shoes if you didn’t count her slippers. Her clothes situation wasn’t much better, her wardrobe consisting of jeans and sweaters mostly. Those humongous jeans and sweaters. He wanted to replace these as soon as possible with clothes that showed off her natural beauty.

  Convincing her to let him was going to take some doing however. She had more than her fair share of pride. When he’d asked for the information from the Seattle lease so he could buy it out she’d stiffly told him she had that under control. But he certainly didn’t intend to let his future wife and mother of his child lose her life savings. He would have his lawyers go over the lease. He was sure they could get her out of it without losing everything.

  “No better time to sit down and eat than now,” declared Ty as Misty rejoined them. Their dad was sitting in the living room as usual and Becky was somewhere in the house as well.

  “What about Royce?” Jared hadn’t seen his brother in a couple of days. “He promised he’d straighten up and be around more.”

  Ty chuckled. “He’s keeping his promise, don’t worry.” He turned to Misty and gave her a big hug. For some reason Jared didn’t like seeing his little brother’s arms around the mother of his child, which was ridiculous. She wasn’t interested in Ty. Was she? “Welcome to the family, Misty. Dinnertime is likely to get a little rowdy but don’t pay any attention to the old man, okay? He’s not himself these days.”

  Misty licked her lips and nodded. She was clearly nervous and Jared wished he could promise her everything would be fine. “Jared told me he’s ill.”

  “Probably you won’t want to mention that,” Ty replied with a grimace. “He doesn’t like being reminded of it. He’s used to being more active and more involved.”

  Jared leaned in, a quick glance at the door to the living room. “Did he take his medication today?”

  “The day nurse says yes so we have that going for us.” Ty slapped Jared on the back. “Relax. I won’t let Dad kill you if you promise to do the same for me.”

  “Why would he kill you? He ought to be thanking you for straightening the ranch out.”

  Ty gave him a mysterious smile. “I don’t think he’s going to be in the mood for that after dinner tonight. Good thing we all have our own houses. Otherwise I’m pretty sure we’d be sleeping in the barn again.”

  Ty scuttled away to announce dinner at the top of his lungs while Misty looked up at Jared with a worried frown. “What was he talking about sleeping in the barn? What did he mean?”

  “When we were being disciplined Dad felt that it was because we didn’t appreciate what we had, so he would make us hike in the mountains or sleep in the barn. Stuff like that.”

  Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “That sounds horrible. That’s abuse, Jared.”

  He patted her shoulder and shook his head. “I swear it’s not. He always made sure we were safe and healthy enough for it but he felt physical challenges were important to build character. He had rules about keeping our rooms clean and the maintenance of the house and vehicles. If we broke those rules or any others, we had to complete some sort of challenge. It really wasn’t a bad way to grow up. I swear we never slept in the barn unless it was summer. Heck, it was like camping really.”

  Misty pressed her lips together. “I don’t want our child disciplined like that. It sounds barbaric.”

  “Believe me we had it better than most boys my age. My friends adored my dad and wished he was theirs. He was tough on us because he wanted us to grow up and be strong men.”

  She tilted her head in question. “Did it work?”

  “For the most part. Royce has his issues, of course.”

  “And your sister? Did she have to sleep in the barn too?”

  “Becky? No way. Dad punished her by taking her credit card.”

  “Doesn’t sound like much of a punishment.”

  “It was. Wait until you meet my sister. You’ll understand. I’d say I hope the two of you become friends but I can’t think of anything you have in common except me. She’s–”

  He couldn’t finish his explanation as Ty, his dad, and Becky were all assembling at the table. Gerald gave Jared a sharp-eyed look when he saw Misty but Jared didn’t say anything, content to wait for the right moment for their news. Becky, on the other hand, was still holding her phone so she barely glanced up.

  Jared seated Misty to his right while his dad was at the head of the table on the left with Ty and Becky sitting across. Jared put his arm around Misty’s shoulders and cleared his throat.

  “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Misty Foster. Misty, this is my dad, Gerald, my sister Rebecca, and you’ve already met my brother Ty.”

  Gerald’s eyes narrowed and he looked Misty up and down but she didn’t shrink away from the appraisal, instead raising her elfin chin with pride.

  Good for you, honey.

  “Is there something to announce, son? Something we should know?”

  Jared opened his mouth to answer but never got the chance. His sister had slapped her cell phone down on the hard oak surface of the table so hard the water shifted in the glasses.

  “Oh my God,” Becky exclaimed. “Mantrap Misty is your new girlfriend? Have you completely lost your mind?”

  Misty winced at what must have been a childhood nickname but Jared tightened his hold on her shoulders and stared down his incredibly selfish and vapid sister.

  “No, I have not. And I don’t think I’ll listen to a lecture about choosing a mate from you, sis. Your track record leaves something to be desired.”

  Becky’s expression turned ugly but Jared was used to his sister’s tantrums. They had no effect on him at this point in his life. “She’s probably fucked every guy in a hundred mile radius. Is that what you’re into now, big brother? Sloppy seconds?”

  The table shook as Gerald Monroe pounded the oak surface. “Rebecca Jane, I will not have you using that sort of language at our dinner table. Do you understand me?”

  Pressing her lips together, Becky nodded but she shot Jared a nasty look that promised more to come from her in a different venue.

  “Now son, please continue.” Gerald shot his daughter a look to keep her silent.

  “Misty moved in with me today,” Jared announced. “And we’re having a baby.”

  Not even Gerald Monroe could keep Becky from exploding in a torrent that Jared didn’t bother listening to. His father kept trying to cut her off but finally gave up and leaned forward so Jared could hear him clearly.

  “When’s the wedding, son? I assume you’ll want to do it sooner rather than later.”

  Jared glanced at Ty who was grinning ear to ear. This was the difficult part – telling his father that so far there would be no wedding.

  “About that, Dad. For right now anyway there isn’t going to be a wedding.”

  His father’s brows shot almost to his hairline. “What’s this? Jared, when a man gets a girl in trouble he steps up and does the right thing.”

  Jared groaned inwardly at his father’s old-fashioned thinking. They’d come a long way since a girl was “in trouble.”

  Misty placed her hand on Jared’s arm. “Your son did offer to marry me, Mr. Monroe. I’m the one that said no.”

  Ty was laughing his ass off across the table at Misty’s statement. Apparently getting a marriage proposal thrown back in your face was completely hilarious.

  If it was happening to someone else.

&nb
sp; Jared’s father looked confused. “What do you mean you said no? You are pregnant, aren’t you?”

  “I am.” Misty nodded, not in the least cowed by his bullheaded father.

  “It belongs to my son?”

  “It does.”

  “Then why the hell aren’t you marrying him? The baby will be born a bastard.”

  Jared did groan out loud this time. “That’s enough, Dad.”

  Gerald turned on Jared. “What’s wrong with you that you can’t convince her to marry you?”

  Becky threw her napkin down on the table. “She probably doesn’t want to tie herself down to one man. I’d get a DNA test if I were you, Jared.”

  “I’m not you,” Jared shot back. He couldn’t wait until Becky went back to Colorado Springs where she’d been living since her last divorce and new engagement. In fact, the sooner the better. He should call her fiancé and let him know that Becky’s presence here was no longer required. She only upset their father and things would be calmer when she was gone.

  “Excuse me, but I also have an announcement,” Ty said in a booming voice. “Has anyone wondered where Royce is?”

  As a matter of fact, Jared had been wondering that exact thing but his brother had been known to disappear for a day or two and then turn up. Usually he was shacked up with some woman in another town.

  “Well, get on with it,” Gerald said impatiently. “Where is he?”

  Ty placed his fork next to his plate. “Your oldest son borrowed your truck, Dad, since his is in the shop from hitting that telephone pole a few weeks ago. Anyway, he had a few too many – again – and hit the storage shed out in the pasture. Ran it clean over.” Ty scratched his head. “And totaled your truck, Dad.”

  Jared’s father slammed his fist down on the table again. Royce might be his favorite son but that truck was practically a family heirloom. His dad had babied that thing for almost three hundred thousand miles.

  “Where is that boy?” Gerald thundered, his face red with anger.

  “I drove Royce to a rehab center in Denver two days ago. He’ll be home in about a month,” Ty said calmly, picking up his fork again and shoveling a mouthful of pot roast into his mouth. “One more thing I wanted to announce. I’m gay.”

  Sheer pandemonium.

  Becky was frantically texting God-knows-what on her cell phone while Gerald pounded the table a few more times. Ty simply sat there with a smile on his face eating dinner. Despite the playful grin, Jared had a feeling Ty was being totally serious.

  “What about Sally Simmons?” Gerald demanded. “You dated her for over a year and not that long ago.”

  Ty broke his dinner roll in half and buttered it generously. “Sally’s a sweet girl but not my type. I’m actually dating her brother Kyle Simmons.”

  Jared snuck a glance at Misty, wondering what the hell she must be thinking about the Monroe family but she was serenely eating her dinner and watching the floor show.

  Rubbing the back of his neck, Jared asked the question everyone was thinking. “Are you serious, Ty?”

  His brother’s smile faded and his jaw tightened as if waiting for a punch. “Yes, I am. And if you all don’t want me to be part of this family I sure as shit know where the door is. As for Royce, rehab for him has been a long time coming. At least there he won’t wreck anything else. Unless he tries to break out or something.”

  “I don’t have a problem with you in this family,” Jared replied quickly, wanting to put any question to rest. He loved his brother no matter what. Both of his brothers.

  Becky looked up from her phone. “Me neither.”

  All eyes turned to the patriarch of the family.

  “Can we call Royce or something?” Gerald asked, his voice now calm. His father might be ailing but he’d found his famous self-control and was displaying it now. “The boy might be lonely.”

  Ty nodded, his expression guarded. “He can have calls and visitors in a few weeks.”

  Gerald nodded and picked up his own fork. “Hope he gets straightened around. Are you sure the truck is totaled? Maybe Hays at the garage can take a look at it. We can discuss it after dinner when we go over the ranch invoices.”

  It was as close to an admission of support as Ty was going to get from his old-fashioned father. The fact that Gerald was talking with Ty about ranch business as if nothing had been said spoke volumes. Ty was accepted.

  “Sure, Dad. More potatoes?” Ty asked, a smile playing around his lips. “Misty, how about you?”

  “I’m full, thank you.” Misty shook her head but Gerald reached for the large bowl and spooned out a serving.

  “You’re eating for two now,” Gerald grunted, his eyes on his plate. “You should have more roast. Protein is good for pregnant women.”

  God bless Misty. She smiled and reached for the platter of meat. “You’re right, Mr. Monroe. Protein is good for me.”

  She only took a tiny piece but she’d made miles of progress with Jared’s stubborn father. Becky stood up abruptly, the legs of her chair scraping on the maple floorboards.

  “I’m leaving,” she announced dramatically. “If anyone cares.”

  “Then go,” Gerald answered irritably. “No need to make a spectacle out of yourself. Your mother–”

  Becky didn’t wait around to hear what her mother might have thought of things. She was out the front door in seconds. Jared had a good idea where she was headed. She was going to meet her friends with the gossip scoop of the decade. Sheriff Jared Monroe had knocked up Misty Foster and she wouldn’t marry him.

  It was pure gold. Becky was sure to get days, if not weeks of mileage from it.

  After she left the four of them ate quietly for a few minutes, tension still in the air. When dinner was over Gerald retired to the living room to watch television and the remaining three cleared the table. Jared rinsed plates while Misty stacked them in the dishwasher. Ty brought in a fresh armload from the dining room and placed them on the counter.

  “How’d I do, big brother? I think I made your news sound pretty trivial compared to mine.”

  Ty had a smirk on his face and Jared had to chuckle in response. His little brother certainly had taken the wind out of their father’s sails tonight, although it could have easily backfired on Ty. He’d taken a real chance.

  “You did, but it might not have turned out so well you know.”

  “I know but I’ve been waiting for just the right time to say something. It’s not often that all three Monroe boys have something to make their father crazy on the very same day. It’s like the planets aligned or something.”

  “You should have said something to me before now. Did you think I would care?” Jared asked.

  Ty scraped his fingers through his hair and gave them a sheepish smile. “I couldn’t be sure. You have some stubborn ideas about how you and others should act.”

  Jared didn’t know what to say. Ty was right and Jared needed to rethink a whole lot of things lately.

  “So,” Misty said brightly, obviously trying to lighten the atmosphere between the two brothers. “That Kyle Simmons is pretty handsome. Way to go.”

  They ended the evening laughing in the kitchen, Ty and Misty getting along like old friends and future brother and sister. Despite the fiasco of an evening she fit in just fine. He just needed to convince her that marrying him was the right thing to do.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dinner hadn’t been near the horrific disaster Misty had predicted. Sure, Rebecca had a hissy fit right there in the middle of the dining room and Gerald Monroe hadn’t been happy they weren’t getting married, but all in all she’d actually enjoyed the latter part of the evening when she, Jared, and Ty had sat around and exchanged stories about their childhoods.

  At least Ty and Jared had; she hadn’t wanted to bring up those early years all that much and both men seemed to understand. Ty had changed the subject to baby names and nursery decor. He wanted them to name the baby after him. Boy or girl.

  He was si
lly and sweet and if she’d had a brother she would have wanted him to be just like Ty Monroe.

  “My brother really liked you. And Dad will come around.”

  She and Jared were sitting in the living room of his house. She was ready for bed – pajamas and robe, face washed, teeth brushed. She’d made two mugs of hot chocolate and after giving him one she was now relaxing in front of the fire and staring into the flames. Jared had a pile of paperwork around him and looked to be settled in for a good long while.

  “I liked Ty. Your dad was fine. He just wants us to get married, that’s all.”

  She didn’t mention his sister, as Misty’s mother had always said not to say anything at all if one didn’t have anything nice to say.

  “I want that too.”

  “I’ve explained why I can’t.”

  Although after seeing how he stood up for her at the diner at lunch and then with his family, she was beginning to think she might not be able to do any better than Jared Monroe.

  But they still weren’t in love. Was it too much to ask?

  “And I’ve explained why I think we should. But I won’t push it tonight.”

  She didn’t want to be a should. She wanted to be a want and a need. There had to be someone out there who could love her.

  Finishing her hot chocolate, she rinsed the cup in the sink and dried her hands on the dishtowel on the counter. Jared’s home was comfortable and well-equipped. Decorated in masculine tones with a minimalistic flair, the living area and kitchen were one large great room. A formal dining room was off to the side but Jared admitted the only thing he used the table for was to wrap gifts on Christmas and to fold laundry. There was a large master suite with an attached bathroom that was almost as big as her entire apartment, plus two other bedrooms with one being used for workout equipment. The last one Jared had suggested as the nursery since it was closest to the master bedroom and had a nice southern exposure.

  She hadn’t answered at the time, still overwhelmed by all the space he had for one person. Her clothes barely took up ten percent of her side of the closet and the bed looked like something from a movie it was so huge.