Brides on the Run (Books 1-4): Small-Town Romance Series

by Jami Albright

Charlie snorted coffee out her nose.

  Honey handed her a napkin. “Lord, girl, you’re a mess.”

  That sobered her. “I’ve certainly made a mess of my life.”

  “No, you haven’t. No more negative talk. This baby is precious, and we’re going to celebrate it. Can you tell me who the father is?”

  The delicious food suddenly lost its appeal. “I don’t…it’s complicated.”

  “Ha! If I had a dime for every time I’d said that about a situation that wasn’t really that complicated, only took some courage to address, then I’d be as rich as one of them housewives on TV. Can you imagine? The Real Housewives of Zachsville, now that’d be a show. Instead of fightin’ over men and where to go to lunch, we’d be fightin’ over who got the biggest cucumber at the farmer’s market, or who had the right to sit in the front pew at the Baptist church.” She rested her forearm on the table. “What I’m saying is that most things aren’t complicated, they’re just hard, and it’s easier to ignore them than tackle them head on.”

  She pushed her plate away and studied Honey. Oh well, in for a dollar, in for a married sheriff. “Hank Odom.”

  Apparently, that wasn’t the answer Honey was expecting. She blinked several times like the words wouldn’t compute in her brain. “Hank? Sheriff Hank Odom?”

  Charlie bit her lip. “Yep.”

  “But when? How?”

  “The how was the traditional way.”

  Honey gave her a look. “You know what I mean.”

  “The first weekend after Pops’ accident. I ran into him at the hotel where I was staying.” She shrugged. “Things…happened.”

  Honey reached for the remaining biscuit on Charlie’s discarded plate and took a big bite. “This is… So, you and Hank? Did you know who he was?”

  Charlie took mercy on the woman and told her the story. The whole story, including always being in love with him and the little matter of his wife.

  “Oh, darlin’.” Honey’s liver-spotted hands covered hers. “He and Karen were legally separated. And I did hear she’d filed for divorce too. There’d been infidelity.” Honey whispered the last word as any good Texas woman would.

  “By Hank?” Had she just been one of many?

  “No, by Karen. She and Matt Allen were having an affair. We were all shocked when she and Hank got back together.”

  A humorless laughed escaped Charlie’s mouth. “Yeah, me too. Wait. Karen? Karen Williams?”

  “Yes. That was her maiden name. Did you know her?”

  Charlie rubbed her tired eyes. Did she know her? “Yeah, I knew her.” Karen had been Hank’s age and Miss Everything. Had had everything, except Hank. And she’d made no bones about the fact that she’d wanted him. Old jealousy slithered around Charlie’s body. The competition between her and the other woman had been vicious.

  Looks like you won after all, Karen.

  Honey wrapped her in another hug. “I’m so sorry. Are you going to tell him?”

  She disentangled herself from the embrace. “No.”

  “But why? Don’t you think he’ll figure it out?”

  She shrugged. “I’ll deal with that at the time. The boy I knew always did the right thing, no matter how hard or unpleasant it was. I can only assume he’s the same as a man.” She looked to Honey for confirmation.

  “Yes, that’s Hank.”

  “If he knew, then he’d try to do the right thing, and I don’t want to be the reason for trouble in his marriage. I also don’t want anyone in The Pod’s life just because it’s something they think they have to do.”

  “The Pod?”

  “That’s what I’ve been calling it.” Her cheeks pricked with heat. Honey would probably think she was already the worst mother around.

  “Isn’t that adorable.”

  She couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Yeah?”

  Honey’s warm hand cupped her face. “Yeah.”

  “Thank you for understanding.”

  “Oh, darlin’, I don’t understand. And for the record, I think you’re wrong, but I’ll support you no matter what.”

  Lovely streams of warmth spread through her chest. “Thank you, Honey. I…um…also need to ask you not to tell Pops until I’m ready.”

  Honey rose and took their dishes to the sink. “Well now, that will be tricky.”

  “I know. I hate to ask you to lie.”

  “It’s not that, though I’d never outright lie to him. As much as I hate to admit it, the man is perceptive. He knows something’s up.” A quick rinse and the plates were loaded into the dishwasher. “That’s why he insisted on going to that joke of a wedding yesterday. We had the heart attack scene planned and would’ve used it to keep you from getting married. As it turned out, you came to your senses on your own.”

  Charlie laughed. “You two are a dangerous pair. And thank you.”

  Honey chuckled. “You’re welcome.”

  “What do you think he’ll do when he finds out?” She asked the question that had been plaguing her since she took the pregnancy test.

  Honey took the chair next to her again. “Baby, he’ll honor your wishes. I’ll make sure of it, if you know what I mean.”

  Coffee shot from Charlie’s lips back into her cup. “I don’t think I want to know what’s involved in that.”

  A smear of red lipstick on Honey’s front tooth flashed at Charlie when the woman let out a belly laugh. “I’m sure you don’t either.”

  Chapter 9

  Hey, babe. Sorry, but I got tied up at work. I can’t make it to dinner. I’ll meet you at home later.

  Hank listened to the message from his wife for the second time. He’d give anything to feel even one ounce of disappointment, but he couldn’t ignore the river of relief that rushed through him.

  This was bad.

  He was committed to his marriage, so he better find a way to make this work. He fired back a text.

  No worries. I’m going to grab a bite, then I’ll be home.

  He was about to exit his cruiser, when he noticed a commotion across the street. A group of reporters crowded around a car, yelling and snapping photos. In an instant, he knew it was Wardell’s car. From there it didn’t take long to understand that Zachsville’s newest celebrity in residence must be in the car too.

  Now this was a situation he could take care of. He started his car and made the block. The squawk of the siren got the paparazzi’s attention as he pulled in behind the other automobile. He could see that Honey was in the driver’s seat, and she was yelling at the press.

  He unfolded from his vehicle and waded into the fray. “Alright, what’s going on here?” The edge of anger in his voice wasn’t manufactured after he got a look at Charlie in the backseat. Christ, she’d put up with these vultures for the last couple of months, and it was time for them to go.

  “Charlie! Look here.”

  “Heard you were going to marry Ron Gaylord, why’d you call it off?”

  “Are you pregnant, Charlie?”

  These guys had to have the worse job in the world. Ninety-nine percent of what they reported was fabricated bullshit. He had no idea why she’d decided to marry her manager, but he was reasonably sure it wasn’t because that old guy got her pregnant. No way were they sleeping together. He didn’t know how he knew, just that he did.

  Yeah, you don’t know shit, Odom.

  He wedged himself between the paparazzi and the car. “That’s enough. Back off.”

  “We have a right to be here, sheriff,” some big guy whose shirt didn’t entirely cover his belly said.

  “You don’t have the right to harass the good citizens of Zachsville, son.” He didn’t feel one bit bad about the satisfaction he got from adding the ‘son’ to that sentence.

  A skinny, pasty guy who looked like he was on vacation from his mother’s basement shouted, “Come on, sheriff. We’re just trying to do our job. Give us a break.”

  Hank took off his cowboy hat and smoothed his hair back with t
he opposite hand. “I get that, but you can do your job from the other side of the street. Now.”

  There was cursing and whining, but they did finally move like an amoeba to the opposite corner, where they restarted their barrage of questions and snapping cameras.

  Once he was sure the coast was clear, he opened Honey’s door. “Y’all alright?”

  Honey exited the car and fanned herself. “At first it was excitin’, but then they tried to open the car doors.” She straightened her frilly top and pushed her red hair from her face. “I’ll tell you right now.” A red-tipped finger waggled in his face. “I know how to handle those jackals, Hank Odom. You remember when they tried to come on our property when Scarlett and Gavin got married. I showed them.”

  He bit the inside of his lip to keep a straight face. “Killer, I believe we’ve had more than one discussion about the concealed handgun license you have.”

  The troublemaker’s hands went into the air to indicate her innocence. “I know, and I’m not carrying today. But that don’t mean I couldn’t introduce them to the redneck side of the Jenkins family.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Even though I don’t have my fightin’ shoes on, I’m pretty sure I could take that little pasty one.”

  He lost the battle with the laughter building inside him. “I’m pretty sure you could too.”

  “You okay, Wardell?” he asked the old man as he limped around the front of the car, leaning heavily on a cane.

  “Just dandy. Thanks for the save. Unlike this lovely lady, I’m not in fightin’ shape.” He snuggled Honey to his side.

  “No problem.” Hank glanced toward the reporters to make sure they were still across the street. Once he was sure she was safe, he opened Charlie’s door and extended his hand. “You alright, darlin’?”

  She ignored his hand, and exited the vehicle. And elbowed him hard in the gut. “All you’ve done is made it worse. Now they think I’ve got something to hide. The best way to deal with them is to give them their pound of flesh.” She yanked the ball cap she wore farther down on her head and turned to Honey and Wardell. She took them both by the arm and walked to the City Cafe. “I’m sorry they scared you. They’re mostly harmless, but I know it can be overwhelming.”

  Honey patted her hand. “We’re just fine. I’d say it’s the most excitement we’ve had all week,” she winked at Wardell, “but I can’t.”

  Charlie choked. “Okay, you two, we’re going to have to come up with a list of things you can talk about in front of me. And I can assure you that’s not on it.” She stopped abruptly and snapped her head around to Hank. “What are you doing?”

  “Going to the City Cafe.” Hank tried and failed to sound innocent. For whatever reason, he enjoyed the fact that his presence annoyed her.

  “You can’t. We’re going to the City Cafe.”

  He opened the door to the restaurant and ushered the family inside. “You see, there’s this thing called a public place. Do they have those in California?” He shouldn’t mess with her. He didn’t know why he was, but it was like when they first met. He couldn’t help himself. She was snooty then, like she didn’t have the time of day for him. It took months of picking at her to break her down.

  The tight-lipped smile she shot him looked out of place on her face. It was so reminiscent of the girl she’d been that it hurled him back in time. Devastated and broken, he’d been nearly ruined when she left. It’d taken him years to get over her. It hadn’t helped that she was on TV seven days a week, tormenting him.

  “Yes, we have public spaces in California. I mean, we’re having dinner as a family. Shouldn’t you be having dinner with your family too? Where is your wife, by the way?”

  Bullseye.

  “Working.” She knew exactly how to hit the mark and make it count. That was the danger in fighting with someone who knew you well.

  Hell, at least she’d fight with him. When he and Karen had a disagreement, she wouldn’t fight, she’d just leave. That was the reason for their legal separation. They’d had a disagreement about having kids. She didn’t want to try. He did. But instead of talking it out or fighting it out, she left and said she didn’t want to be married anymore. Now he knew it had nothing to do with having kids and everything to do with her affair with Matt Allen.

  Let it go, man. That shit’s in the past.

  “Shame. Well, enjoy your meal, Sheriff.” She led Honey and Wardell to a table in the corner, but Wardell dug in his heels.

  “Let me buy you dinner, Hank. You shouldn’t eat by yourself.”

  The mutinous look on Charlie’s face had him accepting when he knew damn good and well he shouldn’t. “I’d love to.”

  Honey and Charlie did that silent communication thing women do. He didn’t understand what it was about. Maybe Charlie had told the older woman about what happened in Austin.

  They took their seats, and Honey stopped him when he started to slide in next to the Hollywood celebrity. “I’d like to sit across from Wardell, Hank.” She motioned toward the other side of the booth.

  Yep, she knew alright. Shit. “Sure, Honey.”

  He scooted into the booth, followed by Honey, while Charlie and Wardell sat opposite them.

  Honey clasped her hands on the table. “Well, isn’t this cozy?”

  Wardell took her hands in his and the look her gave her scorched the paint off the walls. Damn, these two needed to get a room. Which gave him the willies and apparently destroyed his mental filter, because he blurted the first thing that came to his mind. “So, Charlie, you’re not as skinny as you were two months ago.”

  What. The. Hell.

  Was he insane? Of all the things he could’ve said, why did that come out of his mouth?

  There was a flash of panic in Charlie’s gaze that was quickly replaced by annoyance. “Why, Hank, you say the nicest things.” Sarcasm marched the words across the space between them and punched him in the face.

  “What I—”

  “It’s good livin’ and my cookin’,” Honey said.

  Charlie grabbed a menu from behind the napkin dispenser and studied it. “That’s right. Good country living and Honey’s delicious food.”

  He must’ve really pissed her off, because she wouldn’t look him in the eye.

  Wardell shook his head. “I don’t see how she’s gained any weight with as sick as she’s been.”

  What? “You’ve been sick?” The desire to make sure she was okay was intense and so inappropriate.

  She waved him off. “A virus. I’m all better now.”

  “It’s lasted longer than it should,” Wardell supplied. He held his thumb and forefinger close together. “I’m this close to sending her to Doc Sanders.”

  “Oh, Lord, don’t send her to that quack. That man doesn’t know a stethoscope from a hole in the ground.” Honey stood and held out her hand. “Wardell, come with me. Sally Pruitt’s over there, and she’s been wanting to say hello and see how you are. I wouldn’t let her come to the house, or we’d never get rid of her, but we should go say hi, that way we can leave when we want. Charlie, we both want the chicken-fried steak with all the fixins.” She glanced at Hank. “’Scuse us.”

  “Sure.”

  Once they left, he and Charlie sat for several seconds in silence. They each took turns staring at the same spot on the linoleum tabletop. The awkward vibe strumming between them played an off-key chord. He closed his eyes and sucked her wildflowers-after-a-spring-rain scent deep into his lungs. When he raised his lids, she had him in a dead-eyed stare.

  He should leave.

  Go home to his wife and enjoy the evening with her. But he still owed Charlie an explanation. He’d stay to give her one if she’d let him.

  Also, he was a masochist.

  Charlie’s brain was whirring like the buzzing fan on the counter of the restaurant. What in the ever-lovin’ hell just happened? She owed Honey for getting her grandfather out of there for a minute.

  “So, you’ve been sick?”

  Are
you kidding me? She needed to nip this in the bud right now. “Yes, Hank. Do you really want to sit through the retelling of my adventures in regurgitation?”

  He chuckled and rested his arms on the table. “You’ve still got a sassy mouth.”

  She gave him a flat stare and tried to ignore the fiesta going on in her girly parts at the sound of him talking about her mouth. Her brain, playing the role of the crabby neighbor to her party-loving anatomy, tried to put a stop to all the yummy vibes assaulting her. “Remind me again, you’re married, right?”

  He dropped his head and took a long breath. The pain in his eyes when he glanced up at her made her want to crawl across the table and curl into his lap. It physically hurt her to see him so…tortured was the only word. “Charlie, I’m so sorry. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you. Please believe that.”

  Truth rang clear as a bell in the words. “I believe you.” It was out of her mouth before she knew she was going to say it. But the sincerity of what he’d said drew them out of her like a snake charmer.

  “You do?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wish there was a way to make it up to you. I—you mean so much to me.” His expression pleaded for her to understand.

  She didn’t, but she could accept his earnest apology. Maybe Honey was right, maybe she should tell him about The Pod. He cared for her. They could work something out. “Hank—”

  “But I do need you to know that even though I’m sorrier than you can imagine, I’m committed to making my marriage work. I made a vow, and it’s the right thing to do.”

  “And you always do the right thing.”

  He shrugged. “I try.”

  And there it was. This was who this man was, and she wouldn’t get in the way of him doing what he thought was right. Her secret would stay her secret until he and his wife could get on firmer footing. She would tell him eventually, but not right now. “So, I guess the boy did turn into an honorable man.” She hoped the sadness behind her smile didn’t show, but when she saw the same emotion in his eyes, she knew it did.

  He bit his lip and glanced away. “You know, I think I’m going to get my food to go. Tell Wardell and Honey thank you and that I’ll take a raincheck.” He stood to leave.