by Chloe Lang
“Thank you for trusting me to tell me, Denver. It means so much.”
Her words were music to his ears.
Chapter Seven
It had taken some convincing, but Jessie had finally convinced Denver that she needed to get some things from her hotel room. She was still worried about having to face her father, but her cowboy had been so good to keep her mind occupied on other things. For now, she didn’t want to think about her dad.
As they walked into the lobby, she saw Maude, the owner, wearing a bright red housecoat. Next to her was Denver’s mother, Mrs. Wilde.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
The woman was beautiful. She looked too young to have children as old as her sons.
“I’m here to see Jessie.”
Denver frowned. “What about?”
“None of your business. Don’t be rude.”
Jessie had met her and her husbands at the hospital in Elko where they’d taken Pappy Jack after the explosion. She’d instantly liked her. “Hello, Mrs. Wilde.”
“Please. Call me Mary.”
“We don’t have time for this. I want to get Jessie back to my place. You don’t know what is going on, Mom.”
“I know more than you think, Denver. You Wilde men are so overprotective. Well, you stay down here in the lobby. Jessie and I will go to her room and have a chat.”
“But—”
“Your dads are outside making sure things are safe. Does that make you feel better?”
“Some.”
“Good. We’ll be down shortly.” Mary held out her hand for Jessie to take. “We’re way past due this talk, sweetie. Maude, if my son makes a move to come up the stairs, shoot his kneecap.”
She laughed. “You know I will, sis.”
Denver shook his head. “There’s no chance of winning with these two. Ten minutes. Then I’m coming up.”
“Please. Your mother is right. I have some questions only she can answer. I need to talk to her.”
He stared at her for a long time. Then he finally nodded. “Okay. But I’m not leaving this lobby.”
Mary went up to him, and he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. There was much love and respect between mother and son.
“I promise, son, not to climb out the window with your sweetheart.” Mrs. Wilde traced an X over her chest. “Cross my heart.”
“Fine. Go. But don’t undersell your sons to Jessie.”
“I’m only going to tell her the truth.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He pulled Jessie in tight. “Don’t believe everything she tells you, okay? I’m not that bad.” He leaned in and kissed her.
“But you are,” Jessie teased. “I already know that.”
“Go.”
“Sweetie, run, before he changes his mind.” Mary darted up the stairs like a teenager.
Jessie followed, trying to think of all the questions she wanted to ask the Wilde brothers’ mother.
Once in the room, they both sat on the bed.
Mary grabbed her hand. “Are you okay?”
Her sweet concern was so endearing. “Yes and no.”
“I know about what’s been going on, sweetie. It’s a lot to take in.”
Jessie wondered if she knew everything or just some. “Yes, it is.”
“You know I call Dallas my little George Washington. He can’t lie.”
“I know. He’s easy to read.”
“I’m glad you figured out the memo. It couldn’t have come from Austin.”
It seemed that their mother did know everything.
“Maybe. I just know that it could’ve been faked.”
“True. But I know Austin. He’s tough and dark, but he would never betray the family or put the mine in a bad light. It’s killing him about all these accidents.”
“I couldn’t tell.”
“Of course not. You’ve not spent enough time with him. But a mother knows. His dads elevated him to running the mine in the hopes he would change his mind about leaving Wilde. It almost worked, too.” The sadness in her voice was heartbreaking. “Now, I don’t know. We plan on retiring soon, spending some of the year here in Wilde and the other part in Bliss, Colorado. But I’ve told my husbands that if Austin leaves, I think I’ll die. There’s a rift that has been building for years between the boys. The younger four adore Austin, but he just keeps pushing them away. I think it’s his way of preparing to make the break.”
“So, is that why you wanted to talk to me? See if I could change his mind about leaving?”
“No, honey. Not at all. I’m here for you. I remember how confused I was when I came to town and my Wilde brothers swept me off my feet. I only had three to contend with. You’re juggling five.”
“Actually, four. Austin and I aren’t really spending any time together. I’ve only seen him a couple of times since I came to town.”
“Really? That’s odd.”
“I don’t think so. He’s not too keen on me being here in town, you know, investigating the accidents.”
“Still, his style is to meet things head on. And you’re a beautiful woman. There’s got to be some other reason he’s avoiding you than that.”
“I wouldn’t know what it is.” Maybe I’m just not his type.
“Well, he’ll let you know when he’s ready.” Mary smiled. “You are a beauty, Jessie. I can see why my boys want you for their wife. Ask me anything. I’ll tell you the truth.”
Jessie decided to ask something less pointed. She wanted to ease into the big questions. “How did you come up with your sons’ names?”
“Good question. They are corny names when you think about it.” Mary laughed. “Well, my husbands like to spoil me. My favorite thing is to travel. So they’ve taken me all kinds of places at least twice a year. Back before the boys were born, the mine wasn’t doing so well. We didn’t have much money. So, we had to stay in the country.” The sweet woman blushed then said, “Each is named after the city they were conceived in.”
Jessie liked knowing that. Next, she decided to go for one of the hardest questions. “What about children?”
“Yeah, I remember that troubled me, too. It’s really simple with our family. The men don’t care to know who the genetic provider is. They all think of the boys as their own. Though I have my suspicions about who might be the biological father for each boy, I’d never say. Like my husbands, I really don’t want to know.”
“How did your own family react?”
“Badly. Maude came to Wilde to beat some sense into me but ended up falling for the two Strong brothers.”
“How did that happen?”
“The Strong brothers had never practiced plural marriage. In fact, they had their own families—a wife and two sons each. A year before my sister came to town their wives had taken a road trip together for a girls’ weekend to Vegas. On the way back, they were hit by a drunk driver and were killed. The brothers moved in together on their family ranch in order to share the raising of the four boys that had been left behind.”
“That’s awful.”
“Yes. The boys were really young. Maude fell in love with them first, then their dads. When she delivered the twins, she had her hands full. We help each other out.”
“I imagine you have to.”
“Yep. We women have to stick together in Wilde.”
Jessie continued asking questions, and Mary gladly shared. She learned that though the Wilde way wasn’t perfect, it did work for her cowboys’ mother. Could it work for her, too? She was beginning to think it might. Still, Austin was the dark horse. It was past time to find out if there was any chance with him.
* * * *
Jessie paused at the door of Norma’s diner. Denver was at her side.
He asked, “You sure about this?”
Her dad was somewhere inside, waiting. He’d called her cell and set up the meeting. His tone had an edge. Would he spread out the photos on the table the second she walked in? Maybe. It didn’t matter. She wa
nted to get this over with.
“Yes. I’m sure.”
The place was loaded with patrons. Every table was taken. She spotted her dad in a booth by the window. He wore his typical suit and tie. In Wilde, he stood out like a sore thumb at a hand model convention.
Jackson and Phoenix were sitting at the booth across from him. She spotted Dallas on the other side of the glass outside. The Wilde brothers weren’t taking any chances. It was like she had her own Secret Service team.
She took a deep breath and walked to her dad’s booth. Denver walked beside her.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Have a seat, Jessica.”
“This is Denver Wilde.” She pointed to her cowboy and was glad that he was by her side.
Denver held out his hand, but her father didn’t take it.
“I recognize him. I also have seen those two.” He pointed at Jackson and Phoenix and then motioned to Dallas on the other side of the window. “That guy, too.”
“Mr. Greene, we can end this meeting right now.” Denver was seething.
“Who the hell do you think you are talking to?” Her dad’s face darkened.
“Denver, please, go sit with your brothers. I want a moment with my dad.”
He didn’t move. Instead, he and her father just stared at each other. The cafe’s customers were turning their heads no doubt to see what all the commotion was about.
Jessie rubbed his cheek. “If you care about me, I beg you.”
Denver stopped glaring at her dad and turned to her. “Five minutes. Okay?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
Denver turned back to her dad. “Don’t fuck up, sir. Your daughter deserves better.”
Luckily, her dad ignored him.
Denver slid into the booth with Phoenix and Jackson.
Her dad angrily said, “Sit, Jessica.”
“First, tell me why you came.”
He frowned. “You know.”
“The photos?”
“In part.” His tone softened. “Please, sit. We need to talk.”
She sighed. “Fine.” Sitting down, she folded her hands in her lap. Thankfully, she noticed that the customers settled back to attending to their own meals and conversations.
“Why did you lie to me about you and Michael? I had no idea your engagement was off.”
“Right. You talked to Michael. He told you. Well, I was waiting for the right time.”
“Jessica, it’s been a year. What were you waiting for?”
“I’m not sure.” Her mind was spinning. Like it or not, she loved her dad even though he was so cold, so distant, so hard. “I had opportunity. Christmas. Easter. Your birthday. Mine.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me? You’re too smart not to know.”
“I guess I didn’t want to disappoint you again.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Bring out the photos.” This was the game they played for so many years. Don’t talk. Avoid. Evade. Change the subject. Whatever. Just don’t talk about the elephant in the room. “Let’s get this over with.”
He snapped, “You’re just like your mother.”
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Her gut tightened and angry tears fell. “Why do you hate me and hate her memory so much? What did I do? What did she do?” The dam had burst, and she couldn’t stop. “I tried to be all you expected, and you just kept pushing me away. I missed the dad took me to Central Park every Saturday and bought me ice cream. W–What h–happened to h–him?”
Jessie looked over at her three cowboys through her tears. They’d all left their seats to rush to her, but before they did she motioned them to sit back down. Reluctantly, they did.
“I guess I deserve that, Jessica. Your mother’s death changed me.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit. You changed before she died. Do you remember the night when I knocked over her medicine? The last night you spent in her bed?”
He closed his eyes. “Yes.”
“What happened? Tell me.”
“It’s hard. In many ways I’ve forgiven your mother. Still, the sting smarts from time to time. Even now.”
“Forgive her of what? What did she do?”
Her dad reached across the table and shocked her with his request. “May I hold your hand, sweetheart?” To her surprise, tears were flowing down his cheeks.
She lifted her hands from her lap, and he took them both in his.
“Dad, how bad is it?” Jessie asked, terrified what it might be.
“I had an amazing friend in law school. He was really smart and a great guy. Me, your mom, and he were inseparable. Thick as thieves. I knew he was falling for her, but I didn’t have any idea she was falling for him, too. We weren’t even engaged then. I fixed that. I guess my persuasive skills were pretty good even then.”
“Are you saying Mom had an affair?”
“Yes, Jessica. She did. She never told me. For years, she let me live in my delusion of what our life was.”
Jessie squeezed his hand. “Dad, I’m so sorry.”
“I want you to forgive me, honey. You never did anything wrong.”
“I forgive you, Dad. I wish you would’ve told me.”
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“That night when you knocked over the medicine, before you came in, she confessed everything. I wish she hadn’t. I gladly would’ve continued in my fantasy, but her guilt wouldn’t let her take the truth to the grave. Sweetheart, you’re my daughter. No matter what.”
Jessie’s mouth gaped open. “Are you saying…? No. That can’t be.”
“I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
“Not possible.” Her mind was buzzing, burning, screaming. “This is crazy.”
Her cowboys were at her side.
Denver lifted her from the booth. “Your five minutes are up, Mr. Greene.”
“Jessica?” Her boss walked in the door and beelined straight for her.
Her dad turned around. “You!”
“You know my boss?” she asked.
“You asshole! Lee, you’re my daughter’s boss. How could you?” Her dad was on his feet, throwing punches at her boss.
Jessie pointed at her boss and screamed, “You’re the best friend!”
Chapter Eight
Sitting in the chair in his living room, Denver held Jessie close as she continued to sleep. Jackson, Phoenix, and Dallas sat on the couch watching her intently. None said a word.
The big reveal at Norma’s had been like a made-for-TV melodrama, only it had been true and had broken Jessie in pieces. She’d screamed her resignation to her boss and told both men that she never wanted to see either of them again. After he and his brothers got her in his truck, she sobbed buckets and finally collapsed before he got back to his house. The outside world was fucked up. Both men loved Jessie’s mom, but were unable to share her. How selfish. The concept was so foreign to him.
Her eyes fluttered open. “Hi.”
“Hi, sugar.”
She turned her head and saw his brothers. They all stood up and drew close. “All my cowboys are here.”
“Yes, angel. We’re here.” Phoenix brushed her hair.
“Darlin’, you okay now?” Jackson asked.
“I am. Crying helps a woman more than you know. It’s sometimes better than therapy.”
Denver did know.
Dallas kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me, too.” Jessie nodded. “Now, down to business. Tell me about your investigation on the memo, the brake line, and the explosion.”
Phoenix spoke first. “Angel, you were right. Austin isn’t the one behind the memo.”
“Really?”
“I got with the techie guys at the mine. Apparently everything that gets printed there goes to a server. The little bastards were able to backtrack the fake to one company employee ID. Paul’s.”
“Paul King? The guy who had the heart at
tack and nearly ran me over?”
“The one and only.”
Jackson gave his report next. “And apparently Austin’s been meeting with the bank president to get his funds in order. He’s planning on leaving Wilde next month. There’s been nothing nefarious about their meetings and nothing to do with the mine.”
Dallas nodded. “That clears our eldest brother.”
Jessie asked, “What about the brake lines?”
“Paul’s worked on machinery at the mine.” Dallas cupped her chin. “I’m sure he knows a thing or two about an automobile. And he’s a miner. Dynamite is as easy to handle to him as riding a bicycle. He is likely responsible for the Old Mine explosion, too.”
“All evidence points to Paul,” Jackson pointed out. “I can’t figure it out. He always seemed like such a nice guy.”
Phoenix added, “And I always thought he liked working at the mine.”
“Who knows why anyone loses their mind.” Dallas rubbed his chin.
“Did I tell you about how crazy he was at Norma’s with Samantha the other day?” Jessie’s eyes widened.
“No. So, now you’re the one holding back on us.”
“No, Sir. Not me.” She told them how he’d burst into the kitchen and seemed really out of his mind. He’d even warned her to leave town.
“Well, I say we go get the son of a bitch.” Jackson stood up.
“Can’t,” Phoenix informed. “Paul’s left town and his wife. No idea where he went.”
Dallas shook his head. “The guy is completely off his rocker.”
“Well, I feel safe with my guys around me.” Jessie’s words ignited him like a lit match to spilled gasoline.
No matter what happened, she would be his wife one day. “Let’s make our girl feel more comfortable,” he ordered.
Jessie blinked her consent. Denver and his brothers removed her clothes in a flash. He lifted her up into his arms and went to his bedroom. His brothers followed behind.
He gently lowered her onto the middle of the bed then pressed her lush lips with his. Her lips quivered like a delicate butterfly against his mouth. God, he was totally lost to her.
