Evan cleared his throat. “Kayla asked you?”
“Yeah, and I wasn’t expecting it. I froze. I think my mouth even fell open a little.” Mitchell shook his head. “I never knew she wanted that. What do you think?”
“Since Ginger never met Mom and Dad, I can see her point. I want to bring them into our family too, so what better way to start than with the wedding?”
“Huh? What do Mom and Dad have to do with you and Ginger being our children’s legal guardians when the time comes? Kayla wanted me to talk to you just in case we’re pregnant.”
“Oh, I guess we have more to talk about than I thought,” Evan said with a chuckle then smiled at his brother. “Mitchell, you know I’d be honored and so would Ginger. I’m surprised you’d ever worry about asking me that. I would’ve been hurt if you hadn’t.”
The relief on Mitchell’s face was evident. “I just didn’t know with you having your own child on the way. I didn’t want it to be too much.”
“Dude, we have two families living in the same house. We’re going to be with them anyway. I think it’d be only natural. With Thomas’ schedule, it would be hard for him.” Evan shook his head. “We haven’t even talked about it because we just thought you and Kayla knew we’d want the same thing.”
“Of course,” Mitchell said with a smile. “So, what did you want to say about Mom and Dad?”
Evan knew this subject was going to be harder to discuss and didn’t want to push Mitchell until he was ready. “Well, Ginger reminded me of a bridal saying about something borrowed.” Evan put the last words in air quotes.
“Yeah, I’ve heard it before. It’s a rhyme or something, right?”
“Exactly. Apparently, she and Kayla have discussed it, and they’d like to borrow something of Mom’s for the wedding.”
Mitchell’s eyes widened. “I see. What do you think?”
“It’s more than that for Ginger and me, but I know we have to be in agreement before we do anything. Mitchell, I think it’s time we go through their wing.” Evan looked him in the eyes. “Ginger and I want to incorporate something from both of our families into the nursery. Plus, if we’re all going to live there, we’re going to need the extra room as the kids get bigger, or we have more. Two extra bedrooms and baths will come in handy. What do you think?”
Mitchell was silent as he kept his focus straight ahead. “Wow, another gut punch. I didn’t expect that.” He finally looked at Evan. “I miss them so much.” Mitchell rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Mitchell, let’s bring pictures of them out, and maybe we’ll find something in there we can use. The girls won’t ever wear Mom’s clothes, and we won’t wear Dad’s. That’d be the main things we’d have to clean out. I’d like the girls to divide Mom’s jewelry, but I’d like it to be a surprise for them.”
“You’re right. What kind of surprise?”
“They pick out something to wear for the wedding as their borrowed. When the wedding is over, we can put it back with the other stuff, then on our first anniversary we actually give it to them as a gift and let them decide which other pieces they’d want. The rest we’ll put away until we have daughters,” Evan said with confidence.
“I like that idea, but we keep the furniture and stuff? Just give away the clothes and things we don’t want to keep, right?”
“Yes, and I think we let the girls help us so they get a sense of them. I know Kayla knew them, but Ginger didn’t. I need her with me.”
“Agreed. I love you, bro,” Mitchell said as he let the tears fall down his cheeks.
“Love you too, man.” Evan's eyes welled with tears. He wiped his hand down his face. “We should probably head back.”
They turned the horse toward home and rode in silence. By the time the guys had the horses brushed and fed, the girls had dinner ready. They were having a glass of lemonade when the guys walked in.
“Something smells good. Can dinner wait long enough for us to take showers, or do we need to eat now?” Mitchell asked.
“It’ll keep for a few more minutes,” Kayla said with a smile.
Evan leaned down and kissed Ginger when he walked by. “Be back in a few. You okay?”
“We’re good.”
Everything was ready when the guys walked back in. Kayla fidgeted with her napkin until Mitchell grabbed her hand. When she looked up, he whispered in her ear, “Ask them. I have Evan’s answer, but you haven’t said anything to Ginger.”
Kayla looked at Mitchell as he nodded his head toward Ginger, so she took a deep breath, “Mitchell and I have been talking, and we want everything in place for when we get pregnant.” She squeezed Mitchell’s hand. “When the time comes, would y’all be our children’s legal guardians?”
Ginger’s head snapped toward Evan then back toward Kayla and Mitchell. “Is that why you’ve been acting so weird today?”
“I knew Mitchell wanted to talk to Evan first, but it was driving me crazy,” Kayla said.
When Ginger turned back toward Evan, he was smiling. “You knew and didn’t say anything?”
“Not until we went for a ride. Darlin’, I knew Kayla would want to ask you herself. I told Mitchell yes.”
“Duh, of course. I just assumed that’s what would happen. I mean, we want you as our kids’ guardians, too. Kayla, I can’t believe you’d have to ask. Well, you and Cat have been friends longer, so I probably shouldn’t have just assumed,” Ginger finished quietly.
“Since we’re going to be living under the same roof, we thought our kids would be used to being with y’all more so than anyone else. It just seemed logical.” Kayla shrugged.
“Speaking of living under the same roof, Mitchell and I also discussed what to do with Mom and Dad’s wing of the house,” Evan said.
“And the wedding,” Mitchell added.
Kayla and Ginger looked at both men waiting for their responses. As they turned toward each other, nervous smiles crossed their faces.
Evan took Ginger’s hand while Mitchell did the same to Kayla. Evan closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “This was a hard discussion for us, but one that needed to happen.”
When he opened his eyes, Ginger was staring at him with tears in hers. “Kayla grew up knowing our parents, but you didn’t have that privilege.” He squeezed her hands. “We want you both to pick out something of Mom’s you want for your borrowed thing.” He took a deep breath. “We’re ready to clean out their wing and want you there with us. I want you to pick out something of each of theirs to put in the nursery. We want something to honor their memory somewhere in the house.”
“We’re not ready to do away with their furniture or valuables, just what we need to be able to use that wing,” Mitchell said with watery eyes.
“Thank you for letting me borrow something,” Ginger whispered against Evan’s lips.
Kayla cupped Mitchell’s face. “You know I loved your mom, so I want to honor her at our wedding, that’s all. Thank you.”
Mitchell pulled Kayla in and planted his face on his favorite spot on her neck while Evan did the same to Ginger. When they pulled apart, they finished dinner and retired to the living room to relax.
22
It was Wednesday, and Evan was returning from a meeting with Ben Stevens when a U-Haul truck pulled up to the front doors of the police department. A smile crossed Evan’s face as Nathan climbed out of the driver’s door.
“It’s about damn time you got here,” Evan called from halfway across the parking lot.
“Dude, it feels like we’ve been driving for four days straight,” Nathan said as he stretched his back.
Evan shook his hand. “You remember Ben Stevens with our state police?”
Nathan released Evan’s hand and shook Ben’s. “Yes. How are you, Ben?”
“Good. Glad you and Sam are joining us down here,” Ben replied.
“Where’s Sam?” Evan asked.
“He went straight to the Sheriff’s office since he’s on his bike,” Nat
han said. “Did you just have lunch?”
“It was a dual-purpose lunch meeting. I’ll explain later. Are y’all staying at the hotel until you find a place to live, or do y’all need to stay at the ranch for a day or two? I don’t think you’d want to stay there much longer than that with all the wedding planning and shit going on.” Evan chuckled. “I think they’re delivering a tent or something this week.”
He shook his head as he thought about all the decorations being delivered. Plus, this weekend they were finally going into their parents’ wing of the house for the first time in over six years, and he really didn’t want any extra people there. That was private.
“Nah, I’m staying at that hotel where we met over on Highway 61 until I decide where I want to live, and Sam found a little house on the edge of town to rent. I just wanted you to know I was here and see if there was anything I needed to start work tomorrow.”
“You’re ready to start? When’s your last official day with ATF?”
“I took the payout for my days so I could start as soon as I got here.”
“Oh, man, that’s great.” Evan slapped Nathan on the back.
“Evan, I need to make some phone calls. Do you have an office I can borrow, or do I need to head over to the Sheriff’s office?” Ben asked.
“No. I’ve got an extra office. I’ll fill Nathan in while we wait for Human Resources to send down his new hire packet,” Evan said.
They all walked into the police department, and heads turned as Nathan walked through with his wavy blond hair, blue eyes, scruffy jaw, tight-fitting T-shirt, and ripped jeans. Evan was used to the reaction but still found it comical. As soon as they rounded the corner at his office, he said, “I ought to make you clean the drool stains on the floor from the women out there. Take a seat while I show Ben the empty office.”
When Evan returned, he was laughing. “Every female officer is out there whispering about you. No dating anyone in my department, got it?” Even though Evan was smiling, his eyes and tone were serious.
“Learned my lesson there years ago.” Nathan frowned.
“I know. Sorry, man.”
“Do you have time to catch me up to speed? I’d like to hit the ground running tomorrow,” Nathan said, effectively changing the subject.
Evan sat behind his desk. “A few weeks back one of my officers told me that Mr. Jones from United Southeastern Bank has weekly meetings at the Riverton Diner with different people, most of which are from out of town. There’s always a briefcase present, and one of those briefcases ended up in my office when Curtis was Chief. It was full of counterfeit bills and marked ones that ATF and DEA used with the Masterson case. We were just trying to see if the meeting was still taking place with Curtis and Frank behind bars, and who’d show.”
“So what happened?”
“He still had lunch with someone I don’t know. I took a picture to see if my officer recognizes the man.”
“Is that what I’m going to be working on?” Nathan asked.
“No, I want you working with ATF on the email and photos. They aren’t pursuing the one of Ginger even though I think they’re related.”
“I’m going to what, look at mug shots?”
“Nathan, our wedding is in ten days.” Evan ran his hand down his face and held it over his mouth. “Ginger’s stalker is still out there. She’s seen him. We know the emails were sent from the Riverton County Public Library, so I want you to arrange to look at their security discs for the last ten weeks. That should go back to when Ginger arrived in town. I’ll get some physical characteristics from her for you to go by, but if he’s the guy we saw at the river, he’s about my height, but bulkier.”
“That should be doable, but I don’t know anyone here, so how am I supposed to know who doesn’t fit?”
“There’s a lady who works there named Vanessa Harper. She’ll be able to help you. Her husband is the school board superintendent, so she should know most everyone around here. If she doesn’t know them, they either don’t have children or aren’t from here.”
“That makes sense. Anything else I need to know?”
“Ben is calling Secret Service for some help on the counterfeit currency. Oh, your official title is Assistant Chief of Police, and I’ll introduce you as such in the morning. The wedding reception is a street dance for the town to attend. You’re heading up the security for it. You’ll have both town and county officers at your disposal, and I’ve requested for Sam to be one of them.”
Evan placed his crossed arms on his desk and leaned into them. “Nathan, if we haven’t gotten this asshole by then, I want that place locked down tight. I trust you and Sam. If I’m not able to be with Ginger for some reason, I want you no more than a foot away from her. Other than Mitchell, you’re the only ones I’d trust with her life,” Evan said as tears stung his eyes.
Before Nathan could answer, a tap sounded on the door. “Come in,” Evan called.
Rita opened the door and stuck her head in. “Human Resources dropped these off.”
“Rita, I’d like you to meet Nathan Cox. He’s my former partner at ATF and our new Assistant Chief of Police. And Nathan, this is Rita. She’s our day desk clerk. Run everything through her—schedules, special task forces, meeting. Randy is our night clerk. You’ll meet him later.”
“Nice to meet you,” Nathan said as he stood to shake Rita’s hand.
“You too,” Rita said with a slight flush to her cheeks.
Evan pulled out his phone. “Before you leave, has this man ever met with Mr. Jones before?”
Rita looked at Evan’s phone. “Yes, a few weeks back.”
“Before or after Curtis showed up with his briefcase?”
Rita stared at a spot on the wall and appeared to be thinking. “Um, the week after, and he didn’t look as happy as he does in that picture.”
“Thank you, Rita.”
As soon as the door closed, Nathan asked, “What do you think she meant by that?”
“I don’t know unless Curtis didn’t do what he was supposed to with the briefcase.”
Nathan stood. “I’ll work on this,” he said as he raised the envelope. “What time do you want me here tomorrow?”
“Come in around nine. That way you can be here for shift change tomorrow night. I’ll stay and introduce you. It’ll give you time to meet the officers.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
“Do y’all need any help tonight?”
“Nah, I’m going to leave my stuff at Sam’s until I find a permanent place. When we drop off the U-Haul, I’m getting a rental to drive until I find a truck.”
“Don’t waste your money on a rental. You’ll have a patrol car. I’ll pick you up after shift change and bring you here. Your car will be waiting.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll find something this week.” Nathan walked out of Evan’s office.
Sam unfolded his over six-foot body from his motorcycle and called Sheriff Cahill as he approached the front doors of the Sheriff’s Department. As soon as Sam walked up to the desk, Sheriff Cahill greeted him. “I’m glad you decided to join us, Mr. Boo…, I mean Baxter.”
Sam grinned. “Thank you, sir. I’m glad to be here.”
“You goin’ to be ready to start on Monday?”
“I was leaving that up to you, sir. I’m moving into a little house this afternoon, so I could start tomorrow if you’d like.”
Sheriff Cahill motioned, and Sam followed him to his office. A couple ladies smiled as he walked by. They were attractive, but he’d learned from Nathan not to date anyone you work with, so he politely nodded and kept walking.
Just like Nathan, Sam was brought up to speed on what was going on with the counterfeit case while his new hire package was sent to him. The Sheriff told him that since he was replacing Frank Smith, he was coming in as Assistant Sheriff. Once his packet was dropped off, Sam headed toward his landlord’s address anxious to get the keys to his new home.
23
The following morning Evan picked Nathan up at the hotel by the big box store. When they arrived at the station, Evan introduced Nathan to the officers on duty.
Nathan took the time to speak to several of the officers before he met Evan in his office. As he closed the door, he asked, “How many shifts and number of officers are there?”
“Three shifts with about a dozen officers on each shift. Most of the office personnel on the weekends are retired officers who volunteer.” Evan slid Nathan’s badge, gun, and keys to him. “If you want a second piece, you’ll have to provide it. Come on, let me show you to your office.” Evan stood and walked toward his door.
Once they were in the hall, Evan showed him the restrooms and break room which was all that separated their offices. Next, they stopped by the centralized desk.
“Rita, do you have Nathan’s phone?”
Rita handed Evan the phone. “Thank you,” Evan said to Rita before turning his attention back to Nathan. “If you need anything when you’re on first shift, Rita is who you come to. She keeps our schedules as far as meetings, appointments, ceremonies.” Evan handed Nathan his phone. “All of the officers have this number.”
They left Rita and walked into Nathan’s office where Evan pulled a shirt from behind the door just as the Mayor did for him. “This is yours.” He turned toward Nathan’s desk. “Good, your cards came in. You’ll need those until people around here learn your name. They’ve already got your phone number on them. Any questions?”
Nathan chuckled. “Damn, you really want me to work and shit.”
“I know. Hard to believe, but yeah.” Evan shook his head and laughed. “I’m glad you’re here, man.”
“Me too.” Nathan changed shirts as he said, “I’m going to the library first. Anything, in particular, I need to know?”
“Just ask Vanessa to help look for people she doesn’t know, most likely a man.”
“Gotcha.”
“You know where you’re going?”
Unexpected Guest: A Riverton Crossing Novel - Book Three Page 8
