Little Boys Blue

by Susan Kearney

  As if reading her mind, Cam shook his head and she hesitated in confusion.

  One moment later, her grandfather flung a tabloid at Alexa’s feet. “Consorting with the enemy?”

  Alexa’s heart iced over. She should have known their concern wasn’t for her, but for their precious reputations, and wondered why the newest revelation hurt so much. Her grandparents were as cold as a Boston winter, unbending, unfeeling, so sure they knew what was best for her. She’d come to grips with what they were and what they weren’t a long time ago, but she’d never stopped hoping for the affection and approval she’d craved all her life.

  As children, she and Sandra had never been told they’d done a good job, never been told they were loved. They’d grown up under a string of nannies and had been shipped off to boarding school at the first opportunity. Summers, they’d spent at camps and finishing schools. The only warmth in the big old gusty mansion had been Sandra and Alexa’s commitment to each other.

  Her grandparents had taught them that well-bred young ladies only had their names in the paper when they married and when they died. To her grandparents, having one’s name plastered across the front page of a tabloid was the equivalent of committing treason.

  Alexa looked down at the paper to regroup, expecting to see the photo of herself and the twins. But this article in another rag was different. Much worse. In this paper the first kiss she and Cam had shared stared up at her from page one in living color. Who had taken the picture? And how had they gotten so close to the house without being noticed by one of the hands?

  She couldn’t resist scooping up the paper for a closer look. She looked so young and carefree, happy to be lost in the moment. Her eyes were shut, a dreamy look on her face. Cam held her tightly, his eyes open and fierce, hungry, like a warrior claiming his woman after a long campaign.

  Their private moment had been printed for all the world to see. Alexa had to stiffen her knees to keep from staggering toward Cameron. As if sensing her need for comfort, he placed his hand over her shoulders and drew her to his side, barely glancing at the photo. His warmth and support gave her the strength to keep back the torrent of ugly emotions rushing through her, emotions as primitive and harsh as this wild land Cam lived in.

  She wanted to scream and shout. Pitch a fit and insist they’d done nothing wrong. But she refused to give her grandparents the satisfaction of knowing how much they’d gotten to her.

  Anger flooded her at the invasion of her privacy. That someone had watched their kiss was despicable. That someone had snapped the picture and sold it made her feel dirty. Her throat tight, she fought back tears.

  “I’m not the enemy,” Cam said softly to her grandparents, an edge of steel underlying his polite tone. “I’m the father of your great-grandchildren. Let’s all go inside and talk.”

  Her grandfather pointed his cane toward the house’s interior. “We’ve seen the way you live. It isn’t suitable.”

  Grandmother fingered the diamonds around her throat. “It’s dangerous.”

  Rage swept away Alexa’s sadness. “How would either of you know what’s dangerous for children? Neither one of you has ever taken care of—”

  Her grandfather slammed his cane into the front porch. “Young lady, don’t you raise your voice to your grandmother.”

  Alexa sweetened her tone but didn’t hold back her true feelings. “I’m a grown woman and will speak however I choose.”

  “That’s enough. This man has poisoned you against us. Pack your bags. You will stay in town with us until after the trial.”

  Molten steel poured through Alexa’s veins. “And if I don’t, what are you going to do? Take my trust fund like you’re trying to do with the twins?” Alexa couldn’t stop the bitterness in her tone. She raised the newspaper for emphasis. “Did you plant this picture?”

  Dalton Barrington’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “How dare you accuse—”

  “—I dare.” Fury such as she’d never known spurred Alexa on. “You want to control Jason and Flynn’s trust fund so badly I think you’d go to any extreme, even sending the paparazzi to do your dirty work.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Is it?” Cam spoke softly, razor-sharp anger heating his words. “Someone just tried to kill us. Yet, you made it safely over the bridge. And the only strangers around here have the most to gain from our deaths.”

  “Oh, God.” Her grandmother’s shoulders slumped. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Are you accusing us of murder?”

  “Come on, dear.” Her grandfather started to descend the steps, his head high and expression unrepentant. “I believe we’ve outstayed our welcome. We’re leaving.”

  At last. Alexa couldn’t wait to see their car depart. Right now, she didn’t care if she ever saw them again. Despite all her churning emotions, she knew Cam had the most to lose from the bad publicity at the upcoming trial. A sickening feeling about what could happen after this current fiasco had her shaking. Even the fairest judge might question Cam’s fitness as a father after seeing that kiss plastered across the paper. People would assume Cam was a playboy, an unfit father. A good lawyer could make it appear as if he was neglecting his children and cavorting with women. And after learning about the accidents, a judge might place the twins’ safety above the need to stay with their father.

  Cam sighed and shoved a hand through his hair. “As much as I’d like for you to leave, you’re not going anywhere.”

  “And why is that, young man? Do you intend to hold us hostage?”

  “Nothing that dramatic. The bridge is out. And until it’s repaired, you’re stuck here with the rest of us.”

  As Alexa realized the truth of Cameron’s words, she swallowed a protest. The unfolding events were worse than a nightmare. Her grandparents living in the uncompleted house, scrutinizing everything they did, would give them ammunition in court.

  One look into Cam’s steely eyes told her he recognized the danger. But they had no choice.

  “Surely there must be another way off the ranch.”

  “Only by horseback.”

  Clearly the elderly pair couldn’t ride out. On numb legs, Alexa sank onto the porch steps. She’d come out here at her cousin’s dying request to help Cam keep custody of the twins. But her actions had made the situation worse. Now her grandparents would be watching their every move. With a sigh, Alexa wondered what else could go wrong.

  Chapter Six

  “Don’t worry.” Cameron squeezed Alexa’s shoulder. “I’ll have the Senator put up your grandparents at his house.” He looked Dalton Barrington right in the eye. “I’m sure you and your wife will be much more comfortable there.”

  Emily Barrington’s face, pale to begin with, turned paler. “We’re stuck in this godforsaken place?”

  Cameron controlled his temper. The frail old lady looked as if she thought Indians might ride across the valley and scalp her at any second. “Unless you want to ride to town on horseback or swim, you’re our guests here until we repair the bridge and the sheriff clears you.”

  Alexa cocked her head to the side, and he could have sworn he saw a hint of mischief in her eyes. “You think the sheriff will suspect them?”

  She might not believe her grandparents capable of murder, but she wasn’t above letting them know she’d taken his side, and her open support meant a lot to him. “After our accident, we could see for some distance and we appeared to be alone. That means a timer set off the detonation. I’m hoping there’re prints on a piece of the bomb.”

  Dalton snorted. “A bomb? As if I would know how to set off such a mechanism.”

  Cameron’s eyes focused on the Barringtons’ burly driver, who stood ready to help his charges back into the car. “I’ll bet your man there knows all about explosive devices. He has the look of ex-military about him.”

  Alexa nodded. “He doubles as a bodyguard.”

  If anyone had even implied—never mind almost accused—someone in Cameron’s family was capable
of murder, he’d be ready for a fight. But Emily merely straightened her skirt and kept her protest lukewarm as if discussing which tea to serve her guests. “Paul would never—”

  “Hush, Emily,” Dalton said. “Don’t give them any information. They’ll just use it against us in court.” Alexa’s grandfather pointed his cane at Cameron. “You’d better go spend the time you have remaining with your sons, young man, because I’ve hired the best attorneys.”

  Alexa sighed. “Too bad your motives aren’t the best.”

  “Alexa!” Emily’s face pinched into a frown. “You should know better.”

  “I heard Sandra’s dying wishes. She wanted her boys raised by their father, not a series of uncaring nannies followed by boarding schools and summer camps. And I’ve come here to tell the judge her wishes.”

  Dalton pointed to the tabloid picture with his cane. “You think anyone will believe you after they see those pictures?”

  “Of course they will—especially after I tell them who owns those trashy rags.”

  Alexa’s expression didn’t change, except for a shadow of pain hovering in the depths of her eyes. Despite her brave front, she couldn’t take much more of this venom.

  Cameron had had enough. “Perhaps you would care to wait on the porch while Alexa and I go inside and make arrangements for your stay at the Senator’s house.”

  Without waiting for a reply, he ushered Alexa inside, away from the cold stares and harsh accusations. That Sandra and Alexa had become warm, loving women after growing up with those two ice cubes was no less than a miracle.

  He swept her immediately into his arms and kissed her soundly.

  He didn’t pull back until the twins started clapping.

  “Kissy. Kissy.”

  “Daddy likes Lexi.”

  “And Lexi likes Daddy.”

  Red-faced, Alexa scooped up Flynn, and Cam did the same with Jason. Leo and Julie looked on from the kitchen with interest. Julie didn’t look happy and Cameron guessed she was thinking about how to explain his actions to the twins. It was one thing to think of Alexa as a temporary visitor; it was quite another when their actions affected his sons. Cam knew he had to re-evaluate, but now wasn’t the time.

  “Make a sandwich,” Flynn demanded.

  “I’m the big cheese,” Jason declared.

  Alexa looked puzzled and Cameron explained, “We’re the bread. Think of a four-way hug.”

  The two adults hugged with the squirming and giggling kids between them. Jason tickled Flynn. Flynn tickled Cameron and Cameron tickled Alexa. The four of them ended up on the carpet in a playful mass of wrestling bodies.

  When Cameron looked up, the darkness was gone from Alexa’s eyes. The kitchen door was closed. And the two Barringtons stared in the windows from outside as if they were looking at animals in a zoo.

  Eventually, Cameron made arrangements and sent the Barringtons on up to the Senator’s house. Alexa took her hot shower. And he hired Leo Harley, which wasn’t a tough decision after he tasted the meal the cook had prepared on the propane grill.

  “Yummy.” Jason smacked his lips, uncaring of the barbecue sauce dripping from his chin.

  “Absolutely yummy,” Julie agreed before turning to Cameron at the picnic table set up in the living room. “Can I borrow a horse? I really need to go to class tomorrow.”

  “No problem. I’ll make arrangements for you to stable your mounts with the sheriff’s horses. Perhaps Leo should go with you. After that attack the other night, I don’t want you riding alone.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  “The Senator hopes to have the bridge back in working order in another day or two. Apparently the explosion took out the planking, but most of the braces are sound.”

  “Did the sheriff find anything?” Alexa asked, digging into the ribs with as much enthusiasm as the twins.

  “He found a timer right off. It was still blinking numbers on the underbelly of the bridge.”

  “Any prints?” Julie asked.

  “Not so far, but he’s hoping to trace the pieces back to where they were bought. And he tried to question the Barringtons by phone, but they refused to cooperate.”

  “Why not?” Leo asked, setting out a dish of baked beans with bacon and onions.

  “They said they wanted to help, but needed their attorney present after the accusations we made.”

  Alexa licked sauce off her fingers like a dainty cat. “And their attorney will advise them to say nothing.”

  Shortly after dinner, Julie put the twins to bed and she and Leo left for town and her one night class at college. Alexa settled at the cleared kitchen table, poring over house plans. Under her administration, the contractor was working diligently. The house now boasted running water and electricity. Windows were done, the drywall was completed, and the kitchen cabinets were up.

  But without the bridge, no work could continue. Workers from Highview couldn’t return. Appliances, wall coverings, light fixtures and carpets couldn’t be delivered.

  Since the Barringtons’ departure, Alexa hadn’t spoken of them. But when a vehicle pulled into the front drive, she jerked, and he could read the despair in her eyes.

  Alexa’s shoulders relaxed, however, as the Senator’s deep voice boomed out. “Anyone home?”

  “Where would we go?” Cameron asked his father. “Pull up a chair, and I’ll find you some coffee.”

  Alexa looked at the Senator with troubled eyes. “Are my grandparents causing you problems already?”

  “Not the kind you think. Better fetch a cup for yourself and Alexa. The caffeine will help you brace yourselves.”

  “For what?” Alexa curled a lock of hair behind her ear, a frown drawing worry lines on her forehead.

  The Senator had a look in his eyes that Cam recognized—worry, excitement and just perhaps a solution to their problems. A solution that would work but one that Cam might not necessarily like. “Those newspaper photographs could cause a lot of damage in court.”

  As a former attorney, no one knew that better than the Senator. His tone didn’t condemn or accuse. He simply stated the facts as he saw them. But what was done was done.

  Alexa sat at the kitchen table, poised and collected, seemingly unaware that Cameron’s father was up to something.

  While his father took his time to come to the point, Cam fixed the coffee. “There’s nothing we can do about these pictures now.”

  “There is,” his father said mildly, looking from Cam to Alexa with speculation in his eyes.

  Alexa rolled up the plans, and Cam handed out mugs of coffee. “You think the papers might print retractions?”

  Alexa cupped her hands around the mug. “Retractions won’t change public opinion.”

  “Exactly.”

  “So what do we do?” Cameron asked. “We only shared a kiss or two. We didn’t rob a bank.”

  “I’ve had some experience with the press,” the Senator said, his voice even. “The problem is, once the public sees you kissing a woman on the printed page, they’ll automatically assume there are lots of other women. Those pictures as good as branded you a playboy. And judges don’t like to give playboys custody of their children. They might even prefer rich and stable great-grandparents. Especially if tomorrow there’s a story about you and the nanny—”

  “I’ve never kissed Julie!”

  “That won’t matter. We’re not talking about the truth here, we’re talking about perceptions. Julie’s young. And pretty. While she lives at the dorm on campus, sometimes she spends nights here. There’re enough facts to support innuendos. And modern photography can superimpose alien heads on human bodies. They’ll have no trouble faking pictures of you with other women.”

  “I could move into town,” Alexa volunteered.

  The Senator shook his head. “It’s too late for that. The damage has already been done. Now we need to put our own spin on it.”

  “What are you suggesting?” Cam asked, knowing he’d just taken the bait h
is father had so skillfully offered.

  “I’m suggesting a marriage. Yours and Alexa’s.”

  Eyes wide, face paling, Alexa sucked in air. Cameron felt as if he’d just been thrown off a bucking bronco and landed on his head. “Marriage?” he repeated, logic telling him he must have heard wrong, but Alexa’s stunned expression said otherwise.

  His father nodded. “A marriage would solve a multitude of problems. The public impression can be changed with your whirlwind marriage. The judge will like that you are no longer a single dad trying to raise your babies alone. And who better to help you bring up the children than their aunt Lexi—the Barringtons’ granddaughter.”

  “But…but…” Alexa was like a bird about to have her wings clipped.

  “We barely know each other,” Cam objected while letting the logic of his father’s suggestion sift through his automatic protest against marrying again. It had been one thing to steal a few kisses and tell himself it could do no harm since Alexa’s stay was temporary.

  And while Alexa wasn’t a stranger, he didn’t know her well. But he did know her enough to realize it would be wrong to ask her to give up her career just to please the court and help him keep the twins.

  The Senator scratched his chin and looked at the tabloid picture, a sparkle in his eyes and a hint of humor in his tone. “Doesn’t look like you barely know each other to me. And it won’t look that way to the public, either.”

  Cam couldn’t believe his father was suggesting they marry to increase his chances of keeping the twins. But the Senator didn’t often interfere in his grown sons’ lives—not unless he thought he could help.

  Cam also knew his father was capable of match-making if the occasion arose. Although the Senator had remained single since their mother had died so long ago, he stressed to all his sons that raising a family was one of the most satisfying experiences a man could know. And deep in his heart, Cam agreed. His years with Sandra had been busy, exciting, fulfilling.

  But Alexa was a far different woman from Sandra. Kissing Sandra had been like sipping a smooth cognac, while Alexa’s kisses reminded him of tequila straight up with a lick of salt and a bite of lime. Living with Sandra had been the comforting soft rain on a tin roof. Alexa was the lightning that struck during a spring storm. Sandra had centered her life around her family. Alexa had a life all her own.