“Yeah, I know that. And I explained it to Brett and his brothers, just to be sure. They still insisted you stay here.”
“Mike, you’ve got to understand—”
Mike patted him on his good shoulder. “I understand, Steve. More than you can grasp. I’m leaving two deputies here to help out. They’ll maintain guard during the nights. All you have to do is get stronger and think about Jess’s plan. I think it might work, too.”
Steve looked at all the good people in the room and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, Steve, you know. It’s the best way, like Mike said. You’re safe here,” Jessica assured him. “You just need another couple of days to be strong enough to go to D.C. With me.”
“Your dad—”
“I’m not a child, Steve. And we shouldn’t be having this discussion in the middle of a family reunion!” Obviously finished arguing, Jessica stood up and walked away.
Steve’s gaze never left her retreating figure, until Mike whispered, “Watch out, or you’re going to be part of the family sooner than you expected.”
“What are you talking about?”
Mike grinned. “It didn’t take me long to figure out Caro was for me, even if the family was a little overwhelming.”
“No, I—I don’t have a future, Mike. I have to turn these guys in, and it may cost me my life. I don’t want to— I can’t—” He broke off, staring at Mike.
“Things will work out, Steve. This is the safest place you can be right now. And in the future.”
Steve was beginning to think the whole family was crazy. Couldn’t they see the difficulty?
Steve had been trying to shut out the warmth that stole over him whenever Jessica was with him. The urge to pull her close and kiss her, caress her. He couldn’t make her promises. He couldn’t offer her a future.
Like a moth, his gaze traveled helplessly around the room to the vibrant flame that Jessica was. It was easy to believe she’d been a success in Hollywood. She would light up a screen.
What was he doing even thinking about Jessica? He had to get out of here. “Mike, I need to ask you something.”
Mike sat down beside him. “What is it?”
“I don’t have my gun. How can I get a new one?”
“I don’t know. Why do you need one? You can’t take it on the flight to D.C., and the Randalls have plenty of guns to protect you. I don’t think you need one.”
“But—”
Mike patted him on his good shoulder again and left him sitting there.
Now what? Maybe he could borrow Jessica’s gun.
That certainly wasn’t what he wanted from her. But under the circumstances, it would have to do.
JESSICA WAS SURROUNDED by her family all evening, but she always knew where Steve was. She tried to hide her observation of him, but her sister, Tori, knew.
“If you don’t look away from him, everyone’s going to realize how interested you are.”
“But I’m responsible for him, Tori. I brought him into the family. And I have to keep all of them safe.”
“That’s the only reason you can’t take your eyes off him?” Tori teased. “I think you’re overdoing the safety thing.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Mom’s already noticed,” Tori warned.
Jessica’s gaze flew to her mother, standing across the room. Her mother looked up at that moment and smiled at her. Jessica turned back to her sister. “I don’t think she’s noticed. She hasn’t said anything.”
“Mom wouldn’t. She understands how it strikes you. That’s what happened between her and Dad. And he was engaged to someone else.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Tori smiled. “She doesn’t spread that around. But what they felt for each other kind of broke up the engagement.”
“I saved him, Tori. I have to take care of him.”
“What happens when he’s well? When he doesn’t need you to save him?”
“He’s never had a family. There was only him and his mom, and she—she got hooked on drugs. He was put in foster care two years before she died. So you see, I can save him even when he’s safe. I can save him with family.”
“Be careful, sister. It has to be about the two of you, not the family, if you want it to last.”
“I know,” Jessica said with a sigh. “But I’m not sure—” She paused before adding, “I’ll be careful.”
She joined her parents as people began to leave, saying goodbye and thanking them for coming. She knew Steve was still sitting on the sofa, talking to Red and Mildred. They’d been so busy preparing food for the gathering, they hadn’t actually talked with Steve until now.
When finally only the residents of the ranch were left, which was still a fair number of people, Mildred suggested Jessica take Steve to his room for the night.
Jessica immediately summoned Murphy to escort them. “Are the deputies on duty?” she asked as she moved to Steve’s side.
“Yes, they are,” Brett said. “We’re taking your protection seriously, honey. You and Steve are safe.”
Jessica stretched up to kiss him on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Yeah, I appreciate your assistance,” Steve said, stretching out a hand for Brett to shake.
“No problem. We’ve let the dogs out tonight, too, to make sure no one slips through.”
“Thank you,” Steve said quietly.
“And, Dad, tomorrow you’ll make the call to your contact in D.C.?” Jessica asked. “Like we talked about earlier?”
“I’ll see what I can do, but I’m not sure I have the right connections,” Brett said, looking doubtful.
“I’m sure you do, Dad.” Jessica gave him another kiss before she turned to Steve. “Do you need help getting up?”
“No, I can get up,” Steve said, showing he could by standing. “You can just tell me where my bedroom is and I’ll find it by myself,” he added.
“The house is too big and complicated, Steve. It’ll be easier for me to show you,” Jessica assured him as she took his arm. She loved the feel of him. Her cheeks heated up as she remembered her sister’s warning.
“Good night,” she called out to the family as she led Steve to the stairs. “All your things were taken up earlier,” she told him as they climbed the flight.
“What things? I don’t have anything.”
“You have the clothes we’ve loaned you. I washed them this afternoon, and some of the family contributed more things so you’d feel more comfortable.”
Steve shook his head. “But, Jessica, I don’t want to owe anyone else. I already owe you my life!”
“You wish I’d left you dying in that alley?” she demanded, irritation on her face.
“Of course I don’t, but— Jess, I can’t—”
“You can’t what?”
“There are no guarantees in my lifestyle. You know that. All I have is this moment. And I’m not even sure of that.”
“We’re safe here.”
“I’m not so sure. I wish I had a gun. Will you loan me yours?”
“I’m not sure that would be wise. I’ll have to check with your doctor.”
“But that leaves me with nothing to protect myself.”
Jessica opened a door. “Here’s your bedroom. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“Wait, Jessica—”
But Jessica ignored him and left the bedroom.
When she reached her room, she sat down in front of the dresser mirror. “What should I do?” she asked Murphy, who’d followed at her heels. The dog whined and laid his head on her knees.
Jessica petted him. “I don’t know, Murphy. I know I don’t own him, but I don’t want him to leave. Not without me. And if I give him my gun, I’m afraid he’ll try to slip away so he won’t involve me or my family. I can’t let him do that.”
She stood and began pacing the room. “But I can’t leave him unprotected, either. Like him, I’m not sure.”
She decided to ma
ke her choice after she’d had a shower.
When she was done, she dressed in a long silk nightgown she’d bought in California. Then she combed her red curls and creamed her flawless skin. Murphy whined again, and she knelt to hug him. “I’m going to talk things over with Steve. I want you to stay here, but let me know if you hear anything strange.”
The last thing she did was take her gun from the suitcase. She carefully loaded it again and put on the safety. She wasn’t going to give it to Steve, but she would use it to protect him if she needed to.
Slipping into a matching robe and placing the gun in the robe’s pocket, she checked her hair one more time, petted Murphy and slipped out of her bedroom, tiptoeing down the hall.
Her bedroom wasn’t far from Steve’s, a fact for which she was grateful. Otherwise, she might run into the parents as they came up to bed. With four sets of them, she’d be in trouble no matter which way she went. Growing up, the Randall kids had learned all four sets of parents could dole out punishment and didn’t keep secrets from one another.
A smile flitted across her face as she remembered a few times that she’d been caught. But that wasn’t going to happen tonight.
When she reached the door to Steve’s room, she thought about knocking, but decided against it. Instead, she opened the door and slipped inside.
Strong arms grabbed her and threw her against the wall.
“Wait!” she shrieked.
Steve stared at her. “Jessica! What are you doing here?” he asked in a harsh tone.
“I—I came to protect you,” she said in return.
“Damn it, Jess, you can’t keep saving me! I’ll never be able to repay you.” Steve stepped back.
“Is your shoulder all right?” Jessica asked, her gaze staring at his right shoulder.
“It’s still a little weak, but I can defend myself,” he assured her.
Jessica took a step toward him. “But I don’t think it’s safe for you to be alone.”
“Come on, Jess, you don’t need to— You shouldn’t get so close,” he protested as Jessica took another step.
“I think I should,” she said, sliding her arms around his neck.
Chapter Nine
“Jess, I promised your father!” Steve protested even as his arms went around her.
“I didn’t,” she said succinctly, raising her lips toward his.
He wasn’t a robot. Or a dead man. When a beautiful redhead wanted a kiss, he was willing to comply. At least he had been in the past. But he wasn’t playacting now, as he had so many times, and that made his reaction even more important.
“Jess, I only have now, this moment. I can’t promise—”
“I didn’t ask for promises, Steve. No one can promise a future, because the future is unknown. I want now.”
He bent his head and their lips met. He’d kissed women, all kinds of women, but this one was different. Her kiss was giving, warm, intense. He pulled her tighter against him, wanting more….
But the sound of gunshots broke them apart.
Jessica pushed him back and pulled out her revolver. Cautiously she looked out the window but saw nothing amiss. She was about to check the house when the bedroom door opened.
Her father stuck his head in.
“Dad, what’s happening?”
“Apparently, a man challenged one of the deputies. He got away, but the deputy took a bullet in his leg. I called Mike. He’s on his way. Your mom went to tend to the deputy.”
“He’ll probably come back tonight, thinking he can avoid the deputies now that he knows they’re on duty,” Steve said, frowning.
“Why would he do that?” Brett asked. “He’s facing injury or death.”
“He’d come back because his life is at stake. If I make it to D.C. and turn in the proof of what they’ve been doing, he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison. Lawmen don’t fare well in prison, so he might as well be dead.” Steve said the last part with anger in his tone. “Damn, I knew this would happen. I knew I’d bring danger to this ranch.”
Jessica put a finger to his lips, but Steve wouldn’t be stopped.
He stepped around her. “Please, sir,” he said to Brett, “she thinks she needs to protect me, but I’m trying to convince her I can manage on my own if she’ll just lend me her gun.”
“That’s not possible,” Brett said. “You haven’t recovered enough. That would be suicide.”
“Mr. Randall, you don’t want Jess in the middle of things, and neither do I. If I had a gun, I could get out of here and remove the danger. I can guarantee he’ll follow me.”
Jessica sent Steve a disgusted look. “Of course he will, unless he’s an idiot! But you wouldn’t be safer, one on one, than you are here, surrounded by people who care about you!”
“But I never—”
Steve broke off as they all heard a vehicle coming down the driveway.
“That will be Mike,” Brett said. “I’m going downstairs.” He looked at the two of them, his glance lingering on Jessica’s nightgown and Steve’s bare chest. “Anyone coming down should get dressed.”
Jessica tensed, but instead of arguing, she marched out of Steve’s room to her own.
ALONE WITH BRETT, Steve went on the offensive. “I need some jeans and boots so I can get out of here before Jessica realizes it.”
But Brett gave him no quarter. “Much as I don’t want my daughter mixed up in this, I have to agree with her that sending you out on your own would be crazy. Let’s go talk to Mike.”
Downstairs, the men of the family were gathered in the kitchen. Someone had made a pot of coffee, and it seemed everyone had a cup in his hand.
When he noticed the sheriff, Steve asked, “How’s the deputy?”
“He’s taken a bullet in the leg. We’re going to get him to the hospital, but he’ll be all right. I’ve got another man to replace him.”
“I’ve got to get out of here,” Steve protested in a low voice. “I’m endangering this family, and they don’t deserve that!”
Mike looked Steve in the eye. “You want me to take a vote? Whether to send you out on your own or to keep you here, protected?” With a smile, he added, “I know the way the vote will go. The Randalls aren’t weak or selfish.”
Jessica entered the room, determination on her face. “Where is Steve?” she demanded.
He stepped out from behind Mike. “I’m here, Jess, but—”
“No buts about it. You have to give my plan a chance to work! I insist on it!”
“She’s got a point, Steve.” Mike grinned when Jessica sent him a triumphant look. “Let’s wait until tomorrow and see what Brett can do with his phone calls. Then we can make a decision.”
“By then, someone else could be injured or killed protecting me! I don’t want that!”
Jake put a hand on his shoulder. “We know you didn’t ask to come here and let us protect you. We made that decision, and we’ll deal with the danger that it may bring. You haven’t even healed yet.”
“I’m almost well. I heal fast. If I had a gun and some jeans and boots, I’d be all right.” He looked around, searching for anyone who’d help him out.
No one volunteered.
Then Mike spoke up. “My deputy said he got a shot off and thought he might’ve winged the guy, so I don’t expect him back tonight. Just give us the night, Steve, and we’ll work things out tomorrow.”
“I guess I don’t have much choice,” Steve growled.
“No, you don’t!” Jessica agreed, a grim smile on her face. “You have to give my plan a chance to work.”
“Honey, these men aren’t going to be confused because I put on a hat or wear glasses. They know me. We’ve worked together for years.”
“I can fool them. I know it. It’s not just the disguise, it’s the attitude.”
Steve groaned and looked around for someone to carry on the argument. Instead, he came face-to-face with Anna, Jessica’s mother.
She patted him on his good shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it now. Just go upstairs and get a good night’s sleep.”
Everyone nodded in agreement and Steve turned toward the stairs. He was surrounded by goodness. He only hoped no one got hurt until he could get out of there.
“YOUNG LADY, YOU NEED to go to bed, too. Your own bed!” Brett emphasized.
Jessica leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Good night, Dad.”
Brett stared as she calmly climbed the stairs.
Anna slipped her arm through her husband’s. “Your daughter will do what’s right. Just like you did. Trust her.”
“She’s too giving.”
“Just like her daddy,” Anna said again. “Come on, we need to get our rest, too. I’m feeling my age tonight.”
“Not you, Anna. You still look as young as Jessica,” Brett whispered, his arm going around his wife’s waist.
“When you hold me, I feel as young as Jessica,” she told him with a warm smile, moving him up the stairs to their room.
STEVE LAY AWAKE for a while, afraid his enemy would come back and harm someone else. He was desper ately frustrated. The situation was ridiculous! He should get up and steal a gun and clothes from these good people, and stop them from sacrificing themselves.
But he couldn’t bring himself to do such a rotten thing to them. Jess, for one, would never forgive him. He didn’t want to disappoint her.
He began to relax, his body taking advantage of the safe warm bed….
Until he felt greater warmth as another body wrapped around his.
His arms surrounded Jessica, pulling her close in spite of himself. Since he’d been shot, Jessica had been beside him every step of the way. He’d missed her tonight. But here she was.
When she was in his arms, all was right with his world.
JESSICA KNEW her parents, her father in particular, wouldn’t approve of her behavior. But she needed to stay close to Steve. She told herself it was because she could protect him.
But when she touched him, she knew that was a lie. She didn’t want to protect him. She wanted to love him.
When she awoke the next morning, she lay in the bed, pressed against Steve’s side, trying to force herself to get up and let him continue to sleep. When he moved and suddenly blinked his eyes, that choice was gone.
Randall on the Run Page 9
