The Forgotten Daughter

by Lauri Robinson

  “I’ve dreamed of this,” she admitted. “Of me and you.”

  “So have I,” he said, climbing over the top of her.

  Smiling, she reached up and held his face between her hands. It was then a hint of uncertainty plagued her. “I’m not sure what to do.”

  “I am,” he whispered.

  “Good,” she answered. “Where do we start?”

  “Where do you want to start?”

  She shrugged. “Kiss me?”

  “Forever,” he whispered, leaning down to take her lips.

  Without further ado, he masterfully orchestrated their coupling. Josie had seen beautiful things in her life, lived with them daily, but she’d never experienced beauty. Not like this. Scooter’s masterful entrance was a completion she’d never have understood without experiencing it. His love was evident in each caress of his hands, each kiss of his lips, and his extreme devotion was made apparent by the way he whispered words of love as their bodies fell into a rhythmic dance fueled by their shared dedication to one another.

  Josie welcomed all the yearning, all the amazing cravings and delightful ache of hunger that grew inside her. Their bodies merged, became one, like they had when they rode his bike together, leaning and swaying in perfect harmony.

  A divine desire spread through her entire body, becoming so great, so demanding, she tossed her head from side to side and bit down on her bottom lip. Pleasure-filled groans were rolling in her throat, escaping now and again, along with gasps when she couldn’t fully catch her breath.

  Scooter’s arms were strong, his shoulders broad, his entire body much more powerful and larger than hers, yet he was infinitely gentle while commanding her body through one amazing phase and into another. He took her to places that couldn’t be of this earth and kept her there, holding on to nothing but him. Thinking of nothing but him.

  The phenomenal tension he created inside her was reaching a peak, she was sure of that, but had no idea what to do next.

  “Breathe, Josie,” he said. “Just breathe.”

  She hadn’t known she was holding her breath, and as she let it out, a great release happened. It was a feeling of freedom so great and powerful it consumed her wholly and left her euphoric.

  A wealth of pure bliss fanned through her, filling her with such harmony she sank deeply into the mattress below her. Scooter was sinking, too, his glorious weight resting upon her lightly.

  He kissed her, softly, sweetly, and then slowly rolled onto his side, pulling her close. Beyond the pounding of her heart echoing steadily in her ears, the music of the rain still falling upon the roof above made her smile. She’d always liked the sound of rain, and would even more from now on.

  “We’ll live here, won’t we?” she asked. “After we’re married?” A tinge of heat filled her cheeks. The idea of his mother or sister, or little Jonas, hearing the commotion they’d just created could prove to be rather embarrassing.

  * * *

  Scooter’s eyelids jerked open as if all of his cylinders had misfired. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, wondering if the roof had sprung a leak. Something had shocked him back into reality as fast as cold water thrown on his face.

  “Yes,” he said, trying to sound normal. Although he was about the furthest he’d ever been from that particular state. He and Josie would be married, as soon as possible, which could very well be the longest few months of his life.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It was very late by the time the rain ended. Scooter didn’t bother checking the clock. No matter what the dial said, he was taking Josie home. He’d made mistakes in his life, but that didn’t mean he had to keep making them. Having her snuggled up to his back, with her arms wrapped tightly around his waist as he dodged puddles on the road, didn’t help his resolve.

  He’d seen the taillights ahead of them, and wasn’t surprised when he saw Roger walking across the parking lot. Or Gloria. They’d arrived at the Plantation shortly before he’d left. Before it had started to rain. Before he’d found Josie at his station. Before—

  “It looks like you two made up,” Roger said.

  Scooter had pulled up next to the main doors of the resort and cut the engine.

  Josie giggled next to his ear as she climbed off the motorcycle.

  Scooter set the stand beneath the motorcycle and climbed off. “Josie was at my station when I got there,” he said, nervously trying to explain what he was doing bringing her home so late. “I had to wait for the rain to end before bringing her home.”

  “We waited, too,” Roger said. “That was a real cloud buster. You have any hail at your place?”

  Scooter had no idea if it had hailed or not. “Won’t know if there was any damage until daylight,” he said, trying to answer indirectly.

  “It was the size of grapes in town,” Roger said as he moved forward and wrapped his arms around his daughter. “How you doing, Josie-girl?”

  Smiling, she nodded. “Good. Wonderful, actually.”

  Stepping back, Roger gestured toward the door. “You two come into my office,” he said. “So we can talk.”

  “I’ll say my good-nights here,” Gloria said, leading the way through the double doors. “It’s been a long day.”

  There was no tension in the air, or underlying message in Gloria’s tone, which had Scooter hoping she and Roger had settled things between them. The man had not been impressed that Gloria had involved Josie in her scheme. Scooter experienced a slight punch to his gut as he wondered what Roger would think of Josie’s desire to buy a house in Duluth. He’d help her with that, just as he’d said, whether her father approved or not.

  A tiny smile appeared on her lips and her eyes softened much like they had earlier, back in his bed, as she looped her arm through his while saying good-night to Gloria.

  Side by side, he and Josie entered Roger’s office.

  Taking off the coat he’d insisted she borrow, Josie draped it over the back of a chair before she sat. “You were wrong, Daddy.”

  Scooter glanced between her and her father as he took a seat in the other chair.

  Roger had already sat down. Elbows on his desk, he tapped the tips of his fingers together. “About what?”

  “Not being very good with broken hearts.”

  The gaze she sent his way had heat rising to Scooter’s neck.

  Turning back to her father, she said, “You knew exactly what you were doing.”

  Roger laughed. “I was young and in love once, too, you know.”

  Scooter wasn’t sure what the two of them were talking about, but had an inkling it involved him.

  Leaning back in his chair, Roger then asked him, “Did she tell you about the house in Duluth she wants to buy?”

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “What do you think about that?”

  Scooter reached over and squeezed Josie’s hand. “That if anyone can make a difference for those girls, it’ll be Josie.”

  Roger nodded, but then lifted a brow. “There will be no shenanigans this time. No pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes.”

  Scooter looked her way, bracing himself for her reaction. “I won’t have to, Daddy,” she told her father while looking at him. “Scooter will know all about it from the very beginning.”

  “That’s how it should be,” Roger said. “Gloria’s interested in helping you. So is Karen Reynolds. She’s moving to Duluth on Monday, when Clyde goes back up there.”

  “She is?” Josie asked. “Isn’t she still married to Galen?”

  Roger shrugged. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way, Josie-girl. Nothing is going to stop Karen this time, and I say good for her. Good for them. Karen wants to talk with you before she leaves. She said she’ll look at some property there and Clyde says he’ll have two large donation checks for you when the time comes. One from US Steel and one from J. P. Morgan.”

  “Really?” Josie asked. “That’s awfully nice of them.”

  “If not for you and Scooter, he’d have had
a harder time convincing the police to raid Francine’s warehouse.” Roger turned to him then. “Speaking of US Steel, they own a lot of trucks, use a lot of fuel. Clyde thinks you should consider opening a station or two in Duluth. I’m interested in financing them if you do.”

  “You are?” Scooter asked, the ability to build Josie a proper house instantly foremost in his mind.

  “Sure am,” Roger said. Leaning forward he waved a hand. “Bootlegging has been good to me, but it’ll come to an end. I’m aware of that. But steel, automobiles, gasoline—those are all here to stay.”

  “I’m interested, all right,” Scooter said.

  “Good,” Roger said. “We’ll set aside some time to talk more about it next week. Get things going.” He glanced between the two of them. “A man fighting to give his wife the life she deserves is a man to reckon with. I’ve been there.” His expression grew solemn as he glanced around the room. “And would give everything I own to be there again. Rose, your mother,” he said specifically to Josie, “died before I had any of this. Our life together was that of scrimping and scraping. We never lived alone. Moved in with my parents on our wedding night, and they all three died within days of each other, in that very house.”

  Scooter tightened his hold on Josie’s hand again, and offered a consoling smile when she squeezed his in return.

  “I’m assuming you two will be announcing a wedding date soon,” Roger said.

  “Yes, sir,” Scooter answered.

  “We’ll wait until Norma Rose returns from her honeymoon,” Josie said. “I’ll be here to help you with the resort while she’s gone.”

  “We’ve already talked about that,” Roger said.

  “I know what you said, Daddy, but—”

  “But you don’t think I can do it without you?” He chuckled then. “I know this place is Norma Rose’s baby, and I’m glad of that. Just like I’m happy you are branching out to follow your dreams.” Puffing up his chest, he continued, “But let me assure you, I can run this place if need be. And let me assure you, there was never any threat of the Eastman gang taking it all away from us.”

  Scooter flinched slightly. Retaliation for Francine’s arrest was still a real threat.

  “Your secrets made me realize it’s time for me to come out in the open a bit, too,” Roger said. “To my family. I’ve told Forrest and Twyla, and will tell Ginger and Brock everything when they come home for Norma Rose’s wedding.”

  “Tell us what?” Josie asked.

  “That I’m not a gangster,” Roger said. “But I do business with a few of them. They like the product that I provide them, and we all make a lot of money from it. The men I deal with aren’t about to let a band of underground thugs step in, and never will. The only thing that could have taken me down was the government, and that didn’t happen because the federal agent that could have done it was after a mobster named Ray Bodine, not me.”

  “The undercover agent the feds keep well hidden,” Scooter replied.

  “Yes, the one who turned in his badge to marry my oldest daughter.”

  “Who? What? Ty?” Josie asked all in one breath.

  “Yes, Ty,” Roger said, then laughed. “And you thought you had consequences falling in love with Josie, Scooter.”

  “They seem pretty minimal now,” Scooter said.

  “They always were minimal,” Roger said. “It’s just that when some things consume our minds, they grow much larger than they really are.” He stretched his arms out to his sides and let out an exaggerated yawn. “Well, I think I’ll call it a night.” Standing, he held out a hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”

  Scooter stood and shook Roger’s hand. “Thank you, sir.”

  Stepping around his desk, Roger kissed Josie’s cheek when she stood. “Catch the lights after Scooter leaves, will you?”

  “Yes, Daddy,” she said. “Good night.”

  Roger pulled open the door before he turned around. “You know there’s an old saying that women marry men who remind them of their fathers. Handsome. Intelligent. Suave.”

  The grin on Roger’s face caused Scooter to chuckle. “Can’t say I’ve heard that one before.”

  “Me, neither,” Josie said.

  “You haven’t?” Roger shrugged. “Maybe I just made it up.”

  “Maybe you did,” Scooter replied.

  His gaze was on Josie then. “He has one up on me, Josie-girl. I never had to bail your momma out of the hoosegow.”

  Josie’s blush was so endearing, Scooter wrapped both arms around her waist and tugged her into a solid hug. “I’d do it again,” he told Roger, and her. “I just hope I won’t have to.”

  “You two are incorrigible,” Josie said, although she was laughing along with the two of them.

  Roger stepped out of the room, but before he completely closed the door, he said, “Let me know if you want me to tell Norma Rose you’ll be getting married before her.”

  The door closed before either of them could respond.

  * * *

  Josie’s mind was twirling so fast she could very easily be going batty. There was so much to think about, to process. Thank goodness Scooter’s arms were around her, keeping her grounded.

  “He was joking.”

  Taking a step back, mainly so she could think, Josie asked, “What? Joking about what?”

  “About telling Norma Rose you were getting married before her,” Scooter said.

  Josie purposefully held his gaze. The spark in his eyes was mesmerizing, and promising, which had her insides dancing the Charleston, but there was also a hint of something else. Distress maybe.

  He took hold of her hands. “We can wait as long as you want.”

  “As long as I want?”

  “Yes.”

  His kiss was glorious and she didn’t want it to end, but she sensed he was kissing her in order not to have to talk. Pulling her head back, she asked, “How long do you want to wait?”

  His silence made her stomach bubble.

  “I love you, Josie,” he said seriously. “I sincerely do, and what I have to say isn’t easy. I want us to be married as soon as possible.”

  “But...” she said, her nerves kicking in. After all they’d been through, all they’d talked about, she couldn’t comprehend where this conversation might lead.

  “But I believe the earliest it can happen is this winter. Hopefully.”

  “This winter?” she repeated. “Hopefully?”

  “Yes.”

  Josie willed herself to remain calm. A difficult thing. “Why?”

  “I’m hoping by then to have a house built.”

  “You have a house,” she said.

  “No, I don’t.” He let go of her hands and brushed the hair back from his forehead. “That’s my mother’s house. I don’t want us to live with her. It would be too crowded.”

  “I asked if we’d live at your station,” she pointed out, “and you said yes.”

  “I know, but after thinking about it, that’s no place for you to live.”

  Josie stepped back. She thought Scooter had understood her. Completely. “After thinking about it or after bringing me home?”

  “I don’t want to wait, either, Josie, but—”

  “But,” she interrupted. “You said I say that all the time. I don’t. You do. But this. But that.”

  His smile could have meant to be consoling. There was just no soothing her. There was no changing her mind, either. “Scooter Wilson,” she began, wagging a finger before his face, “let me tell you a few things about myself, things you’d best remember. I don’t care about a lot of things. I don’t give a wit about fashion or makeup or flashy parties with fireworks. I don’t care about fancy houses or food I can’t pronounce. None of those things have ever made me happy. And that’s what I do care about. I want to be happy. I am happy when I’m with you. Therefore, I am not about to wait until next winter, until you build a new house. But—” she emphasized the word on purpose “—if a new house means that much
to you, I’ll help you build one. I’ll pound nails and sew curtains and fill it with all sorts of useless furniture because I love you. That is what I do care about. You. Loving you. I care about becoming your wife. And that I want to do now, not months from now.”

  He took a hold of her hands again. “You may say all that, Josie, but when it comes to living above a gas station, you’ll think differently.”

  “No, I won’t. I know myself, Scooter, and you know me, too.”

  “Yes, I do,” he said. “I know you’re used to the finer things in life.”

  “Used to and wanting them are two different things.” She shook her head. “Don’t do this to yourself, Scooter. For once in your life, put what you want first.” The conversation with her father came to mind. “Do you know why Clyde and Karen were separated all those years ago? It was because her father refused to allow her to marry a poor man. When he discovered Karen was pregnant with Clyde, he forced her to marry Galen Reynolds. Something he soon regretted.”

  “How do you know that?” he asked.

  “Twyla told me all about it yesterday.” Josie leaned forward and pressed her lips to his briefly. “I love you, Scooter.”

  “I love you, too, Josie, and I want what’s best for you.”

  Pulling her hands out of his grasp, she ran her fingers up his arms and onto his shoulders, while stepping close enough that she could feel the heat of his body. “You are what’s best for me,” she insisted. “Living in your apartment will be best, too. Given there’s so much we have to do.” When he frowned, she said, “You told me you’d help me buy a house in Duluth for those girls.”

  He nodded.

  “That will take time,” she said. “We’ll have to find someone to manage it, maybe Karen Reynolds could help since she’ll be living up there anyway. We’ll also have to figure out where you want to build more gas stations. After we do all that, then we can decide where we want to build a house. Here by our families, or up in Duluth.” She shrugged, not really concerned over that at all. “Or wherever.”

  “Josie—”

  “A house is the least of my worries, Scooter. Marrying you is what I want. Please, don’t make us wait for that,” she whispered, touching his chin with the end of her nose. “Please. My plan will work. Trust me, like I trust you.”