“The entire police force and half of Jude’s farm helped rescue Hunter. Did you invite all of them, too?” He couldn’t seem to quit laughing.
“No, Daddy. Just the special ones we wanted to come.”
“Well, Theo I like the new look.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“He got no fur now, Grandpa. He got a tash like you on his mouth. I like it better.”
“So you like his tash, huh?” He jostled Lance.
“Yeah. Mommy like it better, too.”
“Well, if you and Mommy like it better, I guess it’s good that Theo got rid of the fur and kept the tash on his lip.”
“Now that we’ve totally embarrassed Theo, is there anything else you want in here before my bride and I order all of you out?” Seth’s eyes sparkled as he looked at each of them.
“We wanted to give you the first chance to see the headline in tomorrow’s paper.” Hunter held it up.
Sought After Murderer Transported To Florida
“You can read all about it later, but since it made the news state-wide, my little paper is famous. The police force is thrilled, and Richard is the toast of the town for being such a hero in capturing a man who had killed two people in Florida. As the family decided, we didn’t tell them about him killing Eve. We figured the family had already had enough publicity about that.”
“I think we made the right decision there, son. As for the other two, I’m sure glad they’re out of our lives.”
“Good riddance. I hope we never hear of them again,” Julia said.
“Probably won’t. Nobody thinks Dorie is competent to stand trial. She’s still babbling about the messages she gets from Woodrow and Eve. They’ll put her somewhere, I’m sure.” Hunter turned to Andrew.
“We know you said you were going to wait until warm weather to take your honeymoon, but we think you should rethink that. We want to make sure you get time alone so you can enjoy each other without all of us around.” Andrew took an envelope from his pocket.
“We’d like that, wouldn’t we, sweetheart?” Seth looked at her.
“As much as we love all of you, I’d like to escape with my husband for a little while.”
“We figured you felt that way, so we decided we’d take care of everything for you.” Andrew handed the envelope to Julia. “Your plane leaves day after tomorrow.”
She opened the envelope and gasped. “Look, Seth. They’re sending us to Hawaii.”
“I don’t believe this.” His eyes misted, and he swallowed. “I guess we’d better not put them up for adoption, after all.”
“And that’s the reason Theo and Jimmy are really here. Theo promises to keep the farm in top running condition, Dad, and Jimmy promises to help him out until you get back.” Hunter grinned.
“We have one more surprise for you,” Ashley said, and nodded at Hunter.
He went out of the room and returned with Norma, leaning on him for support.
“Norma! It’s you.” Seth and Julia said almost in unison.
Jimmy pulled up a chair and sat it by the bed. Norma eased down on it. “Of course, it’s me! You don’t think one old sorry good-for-nothing man can put me out of commission for long, do you?”
“Well, I’m glad to see you, Norma.” Julia smiled at her.
“Thank you, Mrs. Armstrong. It’s good to see you, too.”
“I’m glad to see you, too, Norma.”
“Well, you ought to be glad to see me. Somebody needs to straighten you out. I can’t believe you’re making this good woman laze here in this bed like you’re a king or something. Don’t you know you’ve got a bunch of hungry children in this house? Look at me. It’s going to be a day or two before I can do the cooking. How can you make your kids go hungry? It’s a dirty shame.”
Ashley motioned for Lance and Lilly to come with her and everyone left the room leaving Seth and Julia to contend with Norma.
Seth and Julia eased down in the bed and he pulled the sheet over their heads. “We’re married now,” he whispered. “You can’t get out of this even if you want to.”
“And there’s no way you’ll ever get out of it, even if you try.”
“Then do you want a preview of what you’re going to have to put up with in Hawaii?
“A nice, long preview.”
Seth looked out from under the sheet. “You better get out of here, Norma, because if you don’t, in about three minutes, you’re going to be embarrassed.”
Norma shook her head. “You’re just like all the horny old men.” She looked toward the door. “Somebody better come get me. They’re starting to kiss, and I’m afraid he’s going to make her do something I don’t want to witness.”
Andrew and Hunter came in and ushered Norma out without a word. Seth heard the lock on the bedroom door click as it closed behind them.
“Should we get up and join the family now?” Julia looked at him.
“Not until after the preview I promised you.”
She gave him a seductive smile. “Why don’t we skip the preview and get to the feature presentation?”
“I’ve always known you were my kind of woman.”
She couldn’t answer. His lips were covering her mouth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Agnes Alexander is a multi-published author with over 40 books in print. She writes in different genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense and Western Historical Romance. She loves all these genres, and plans to continue writing in each. Her first book, a mystery, was published in 2004 and was a nominated for Best Mystery Fiction by a North Carolina writer by the NC Arts and Historical Society. Agnes enjoys working with serious new writers and has helped 4 unpublished writers see their books in print. She is delighted that Prairie Rose Publications/Fire Star Press has decided to re-print the Coverton Mills series.
Her Forever Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 3) Page 23
