by C. J. Miller
Jade shifted. The fragility of her relationship with Declan made her feel self-conscious and she didn’t know what to say exactly. “We could make it work.”
“How would you have time to travel? You can’t expect Declan to come to Shadow Creek every time you see each other, and you can’t leave the farm.”
Jade felt a headache coming on. She wasn’t a pie-in-the-sky daydreamer, but this was too new for her to make decisions. “If it gets to that point, if Edith can work from anywhere, then Declan can too.”
“You want him to move to Shadow Creek? I doubt that would happen.”
His pessimistic words surprised her. “Why doubt?”
“River told you about his father and Livia. How does Declan feel about all that now? Is he ready to put it behind him?”
A sense of unease crept over her. Declan had mentioned a few things, but nothing in detail. She had sensed it was a delicate topic and he would tell her when he was ready. “He still seems angry at Livia.”
Knox set his hand on his hip. “What about Declan’s mother? Where is she?”
“Declan hasn’t said.” Knox’s tone was making her feel defensive. “I don’t know. We’ve only been out together a few times and this is new. I don’t have the answers today.”
“I just don’t want to see you hurt,” Knox said.
After what had happened with Allison, Knox might have been projecting some of his feelings about Livia and her uncanny ability to destroy lives. Knox had missed out on years of Cody’s life because Allison had lied about her son’s father. It had been a careful manipulation from Livia, seeing that her children did what she wanted, regardless of who was hurt. “I know that. But this conversation is bumming me out. Why don’t you tell me about your plans for being sheriff? How is the campaign going?”
“I don’t know how it’s going. I get the general anti-Bud sentiments in town because the guy is just incompetent. But the protesters are making it hard to be a Colton.”
“It’s always been hard to be a Colton,” Jade said.
Knox laughed. “True. But when it’s being screamed in your face at every turn, it’s worse.”
“What are you going to do?” Jade asked.
“I need supporters. Maybe I’ll try a fund-raiser. Mac and Thorne have both offered to hold it at their place.”
“That’s a good idea. You could also ask Declan.”
Knox inclined his head. “Declan?”
“He and Edith are close, and she is family now. Declan will be selling the La Bonne Vie estate, so he has a vested interest in the community. You as sheriff makes more sense than Bud as sheriff. That guy is a joke.”
“Who is a joke?”
Declan walked into the barn, his walk slow but even. Her heart took flight. He was wearing a sling and he still seemed tired, dark circles under his eyes. Jade ran to him and wrapped him in a hug.
He groaned. “That hurts a little.”
She released him. “What are you doing here? You should be resting.”
“I’m doing fine. My doctor said it was okay to travel. I needed to check on the progress with La Bonne Vie. Knox, how are you? Cody, good to see you.”
Cody waved politely.
“I’m okay. Just checking in on Jade. I was telling her about my bid for sheriff. Isn’t going as easy as I would like. Not with the protesters around town stirring up trouble,” Knox said.
“I drove past a couple of them on my way here. They were outside Claudia’s shop holding up their signs,” Declan said.
“That must be bad for business,” Jade said.
“I keep thinking the group will lose interest or find something more constructive to do with their time. But they are fixated on protesting the Coltons,” Declan said.
“If they ruin my chances of being sheriff, we’ll have to live with Bud Jeffries for another term in office.”
“So Bud is who you were referring to,” Declan said. “I have to say, he is not my favorite person in Shadow Creek. I’ve been working on the zoning of La Bonne Vie. He’s on the local council and the guy is slow and lazy. Lost paperwork Edith gave him twice.”
“Then maybe you should put your support behind Knox,” Jade said.
Declan looked at Knox and nodded. “Wouldn’t be the first time I played politics to get my way.”
“Have you seen Cody?” Knox asked with alarm in his voice.
The three adults turned around. Cody wasn’t in front of Tots’s stall.
“Cody!” Knox and Jade shouted.
The boy poked his head out of an empty stall. “What?”
Knox hurried to his son and slid an arm over his shoulder. He hugged him. “I lost sight of you. I was worried.”
“I’m okay, Dad,” Cody said.
Since Cody had been kidnapped, Allison and Knox were often worried about their son, his mental health and his coping mechanisms, and they feared Livia or one of her former associates would strike again and try to take him.
“Stay where I can see you, okay?” Knox said, his voice calmer.
“Can I look at the other animals?” Cody asked.
“I need to talk to your aunt about something,” Knox said.
“I’ll take him,” Declan offered.
“Go ahead. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Knox said.
Declan and Cody walked off to the barn.
“The other reason I’m here, aside from being worried about you, is to ask about Tots. Allison and I think Cody is ready for his own horse for his tenth birthday and we’d like one of your rehabbed ones,” Knox said.
Jade felt warmth and pride spreading through her. Her family believed in what she was doing. They wanted to be part in their own way. Knox could have asked Thorne or Mac, but he’d come to her. “Most emphatically yes,” Jade said. “I love that horse and I love Cody. This is wonderful.”
They discussed the details of the arrangement and then Knox hugged her.
“I’ll go check on Cody,” Knox said.
Five minutes later, Declan sauntered into the barn. “I’d love to assist with whatever you are doing, but I’ve only got one arm.”
“Keep me company? Then I’ll go in and shower and we can talk.”
“Do we have something to talk about?” Declan asked.
Jade hadn’t been planning to bring up her feelings for him, not when she had only just realized herself how much she wanted him in her life. But she wanted to revisit their conversation from the night she had bought dinner and he had left abruptly. “Just haven’t seen you in a while.” She hoped she sounded casual. Four days. Four long, heartrending days.
Declan jerked his head. “Come here. Please.”
She walked to him and he put his good arm around her and delivered the softest, sweetest kiss. Her toes curled in her shoes and her body arched toward him.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you that way as soon as I saw you, but I didn’t want to upset your brother,” Declan said, brushing his nose against hers.
“It was worth the wait,” Jade said.
After she finished her chores, they turned and walked toward the house.
“Let me check your bandage,” Jade said.
Declan touched it lightly. “It feels good. My nurse changed it before I left.”
Declan hadn’t mentioned coming to Shadow Creek before showing up. He could have told her over the phone first. “Why are you here? Just worried about La Bonne Vie?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I missed you,” Declan said.
“Then welcome and please stay awhile,” Jade said, taking his hand and leading him to her bedroom.
“I’m glad you offered. Edith packed my things from the bed-and-breakfast where I had been staying. Suitcases are in my car. What are the chances I could crash with you?” Declan as
ked.
Though he wasn’t asking to move in with her in the traditional, let’s-live-together way, her heart fluttered with anticipation. “I’d love to have you. Let me get your suitcases and we’ll get you settled.”
* * *
Jade was hosting her weekly 4-H club meeting. She had long been a part of the program, but since opening Hill Country, she had become more involved, holding club meetings and teaching what she could. Inspiring another generation to care for horses was one of her top goals. Her father and Mac had done a good job with her in that regard.
Eight girls from the local high school were due to arrive. They usually carpooled with each other’s parents. After waiting twenty minutes, Jade called one of the girls, worried. No answer on her cell phone. She tried two others with the same result. A sinking feeling struck her. Calling the local 4-H office, she found they were closed for the day.
Finally, she called one of the girl’s mothers from the roster she kept for emergencies.
The woman answered sounding out of breath.
No, the girls would not be coming back. Ever. They had changed their mind about working with horses. The 4-H program was trying to find a better fit for them. Livia had helped fund the program years before, but they had been quick to put distance between themselves and her. Now they didn’t want anything to do with Jade, either.
Jade hung up, shocked and trying to think if she had done something to cause this turnabout. She had missed last week, but Thorne had stepped in and run the session. Everyone in town knew she was Livia Colton’s daughter and that hadn’t stopped them from visiting the farm before.
Three more awkward phone calls and one of the moms finally told her, bluntly and to the point, that the protests against Jade and her family made them profoundly uncomfortable and that they felt it best to stay away from the Coltons. The girls were getting made fun of at school for spending time with a Colton.
Jade’s throat was tight and she was barely able to say goodbye before she burst into tears. She stifled them, not wanting to wake Declan. He had spent the night at her place and was resting. Tossing and turning all night, he hadn’t looked well in the morning and Jade had encouraged him to go back to bed after a quick breakfast.
She took a shower and changed into clean clothes. The shower was as much for the sweat and mud as the therapeutic value of hot water.
Declan was sitting up in bed with his laptop on his lap. “What’s wrong?” He set the laptop to the side and straightened. Her face must have made it plain she was upset.
The mothers’ words echoed through her thoughts. Black Heart Colton. Get out of town. Bad influence. “The girls from the 4-H didn’t come today.”
“Are they okay?” Declan asked. Something in his expression read of worry.
“They’re fine. They won’t be coming anymore. The protesters have scared them away. Their parents don’t want them to be near me. They are getting made fun of at school for coming to my farm.” Tears she had tried to hold inside bubbled up and spilled over. She crawled into bed next to Declan, curling her body against his.
“That’s ridiculous. You’ve been working with them and all of a sudden they don’t want their girls near you?” Declan asked.
“I guess so. Maybe they’re worried that my mother will come here. I don’t know. It was all I could do not to hang up the phone when we were talking.”
“I’m so sorry. That’s awful,” Declan said.
“I have to get used to it,” Jade said. “This is the reality. For a few years, it was more peaceful around here. My mother wasn’t in the news every week and people started getting to know me as Jade Colton. Now I feel like her escape has brought up bad feelings again and the town is turning on us. The Victims of Livia Colton group is stirring up so much anger.”
“It will pass. It will get better and easier with time. They can’t run you out of town unless you let them.”
Except the longer she stayed in Shadow Creek, the less she felt she belonged there.
* * *
Tinker was more skittish than usual. Jade had advanced her training, giving her long periods of relaxation time and trying to give her purpose and meaning. Some horses did better when they were taught new skills. Others never lost the instinct to run.
Jade had to calm Tinker and then make sure all the horses were fed and their stalls clean. Declan was with Edith at La Bonne Vie and he wasn’t sure how late he would be. Jade wished he wouldn’t push himself, but he said lying in bed and resting was making him batty.
Suddenly, she heard a metallic click and turned to see a gun, the cold metal pressed against her head, which sent fear jolting through her.
“Where is Livia Colton?”
This was a strange way for the FBI to question her. But this couldn’t be the FBI. They wouldn’t hold a gun to her head to get information about her mother, especially when she truly did not know where Livia was hiding out.
“I don’t know,” Jade said. She started to turn around and the man set a hand on her shoulder. She caught a quick glimpse of his face. He had dark eyes and a mustache, but she couldn’t place him. Someone from her mother’s past?
“Face the wall. Do not turn around. Tell me the truth and maybe you’ll live through this,” the man said.
Jade’s heart pounded harder. Speaking the truth hadn’t worked. If she did continue to admit she didn’t know where Livia Colton was, would this man kill her? “I am telling you the truth.”
“Livia wouldn’t care if you were dead. But she might care if I killed you. She seems to be oddly affected when someone messes with her family. More because she believes you all belong to her. Only she can kill you or give the order for your deaths.” The man chuckled.
“I do not belong to her or anyone,” Jade said.
“You are as stupid as the rest,” the man said. “If you don’t tell me where she is, I will cut out your tongue.”
Jade pressed her lips together. How would she get out of this? “I don’t know. If you think I’m protecting her, you’re wrong. She was a terrible mother and she’s a bad person. She ruined my childhood and she’s still ruining my life.” She felt the gun move away from her head.
Jade waited. She was too scared to move, afraid he would make good on killing her. Her heart was racing and sweat covered her body. After several moments of silence, she turned around. Alone in the barn, she let herself process what just happened. The man might come back. Her hands were trembling and her legs felt weak. He could harm her horses. It took her three tries to lock the stable, and then she ran into the house to call the sheriff. Her second call was to Declan and her third to Knox.
When Declan arrived, he wrapped her in a hug. “I’m sorry I wasn’t home yet.” He kissed her temple. “Are you okay?”
She was still jittery. “I was terrified. But as quickly as it started, it was over.”
“I’m going to hire a security guard to stay with you,” Declan said.
“Don’t be silly. I don’t need someone following me around all day,” Jade said.
Declan hugged her again, holding her tight to him. “This was a close call. It could have been worse. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you. At least let me have one of my security experts come out here and install some better locks and some alarms and video monitoring.”
Jade was shaken and upset enough to agree. While the prospect of strangers watching her on video cameras made her nervous, being trapped by Livia or one of her cohorts was worse.
Jade’s phone rang. “It might be Knox or the sheriff.”
She looked at the display. “It’s Thorne.” She answered.
“Maggie’s in labor. It’s too soon. I don’t know what to do,” Thorne said.
“Did you call the midwife?” Jade asked.
“Yes and she’s on her way. Maggie
won’t go to the hospital. She thinks she’s prepared for this. But I’m scared.”
“I’ll be there soon. Maybe I can help.”
* * *
Declan didn’t sleep well on the couch at Mac’s house. Maggie was in labor and progressing slowly. The midwife was encouraging her to go to the hospital, but Maggie wanted a home birth. They had a doctor on call, but Jade was worried. And because Jade was worried, Declan was concerned too.
Declan was at Mac’s house with Knox, Allison, River and Edith. Jade, Thorne and the midwife were at his house. The whole family was keeping their phones close. There was little they could do but offer their prayers and support.
As the hours ticked by, Declan’s anxiety grew. He had read that labor, especially with a firstborn, could take hours. Trying to be useful, he made runs for food and drinks and delivered meals to Thorne’s house.
Jade always answered the door, took the delivery, kissed his cheek and returned to what she had been doing.
After eighteen hours, the family was exhausted and worried. Declan could only imagine how Maggie had to be feeling. He hadn’t wanted to bother them, but he called Jade.
“Maggie is doing great. She’s getting to the hard part and the midwife is concerned she’ll be too weak. Thorne is trying to convince her to go to the hospital, but she’s refusing.”
“Why?” Declan asked. If he were in her position, he’d want to be drugged up in a medical facility with doctors and nurses to care for him and the baby.
“She hasn’t fully explained it, but I think it’s something about Livia having built the hospital. She thinks it’s cursed or that Livia has influence over what happens there. I can’t blame her entirely. Too much of our lives have been wasted dealing with my mother. If this means a lot to Maggie, she should have the delivery she wants.”
Except medical complications could mean needing other plans. “I’ll let everyone know,” Declan said.
“Are you still at Mac’s?” Jade asked, sounding surprised.
“Yes.”
“You’re a good man. I’ll let you know when I know something.”
Declan relayed Jade’s message to the family. Then more waiting.
