Randall Honor

by Judy Christenberry

  She’d felt sure she could count on Jennifer to accept a social invitation. She liked her, but Jen and Jessica had more in common than Tori did. She was more partial to Sarah, the serious one. Sarah was a brunette. She was older and more responsible. In fact, Tori thought she worried too much, but she felt responsible for her sister, even though she was only three years older.

  Tori quickly dialed the ranch house. “Mildred? It’s Tori. I invited two more guests for this evening. Is that okay?”

  “Of course.” She paused and, with her hand over the receiver, she called, “Two more, Red.” Then she turned back to Tori. “We’re setting up extra tables now. Who’s coming?”

  “The Waggoner sisters. I thought it would be a treat for the doctor to meet them.”

  After a pause, Mildred said, “How generous of you.”

  “Er, yes. Um, do you want me to bring anything?”

  “Nope. We got it covered. Oh, your mom’s just pulling in. Want to talk to her?”

  Definitely not. “No need. That’s all I wanted. See you tonight.” She quickly got off the phone.

  “What are you up to?” Jessica asked, having heard both calls.

  “Nothing you need to worry about, but if Mom calls, I’m in with a client and can’t be disturbed.”

  As she hurried to her office, Jessica said, “You want me to lie to Mom?”

  Tori looked over her shoulder. “It won’t be the first time, little sister. I shared an apartment with you at college, remember?” Tori laughed as her sister pouted.

  The phone rang, and Tori hurried into her office and shut the door.

  JON SHOWERED after he got home from the office. He shaved, too. This was his first invitation to the Randall ranch, and he wanted to make a good impression. Besides, he was going with Tori.

  He was looking forward to the evening. They’d at least be alone during the ride. Maybe he could get her to talk a little. He could tell her Russ was making definite strides. That should please her.

  But her acceptance of the evening told him she had something up her sleeve. He was beginning to read her like a book.

  The phone rang and he tensed. What if she was calling to cancel their evening? The disappointment that filled him was a surprise. It was no big deal, right? But he knew better.

  “Hello?”

  “Son? How are you?”

  “Dad! I’m fine. Kind of busy. Sorry I didn’t call this weekend, but I went up into the mountains with a friend.”

  “That’s great. I’ve always wanted to see the Rockies.”

  “Come on out. I’ve got a spare bedroom.”

  “Aw, I couldn’t leave Aunt Tabby on her own, you know.”

  Jon heard the longing in his father’s voice. His father had loved his mother, but she’d demanded everything be centered around her. Jon didn’t think he’d ever heard his mother ask his father’s preferences about anything. After Jon’s mother died, his uncle had told his father it was his turn to care for Aunt Tabby, Tabitha to everyone else.

  His father had immediately moved the elderly lady into his house and taken care of her.

  “Aunt Tabby can travel, can’t she? We’ll share my bedroom and Aunt Tabby can have the spare room. Just let me know in advance so I can get a bed in there.”

  “You think that would be all right? We wouldn’t be in your way? We wouldn’t stay long, but I really want to see those mountains. And you, of course.”

  “I’d love it, Dad. I think I can even arrange for you to visit a real ranch, with cowboys and everything,” he teased. “Think we can trust Aunt Tabby around those sexy cowboys?”

  “You find them sexy? You must’ve changed, son,” his father teased back.

  Jon chuckled. “Nothing to worry about, Dad. The cowgirls are even better.”

  “Oh, good. Let me talk to your great-aunt and see if she’ll come. I’d love to visit. When should we come?”

  “Whenever you can make it.”

  “Well, I never thought I’d get to see the mountains. Just wait until I tell Tabby.”

  Jon checked his watch. “I have to go, Dad. I have an invitation to dinner, but I’ll call this weekend and see if you’ve made up your mind.”

  He hung up the phone, grinning. His reason for insisting on going back to Chicago was to be with his dad, to ease the burden of Aunt Tabby a little. His father was only fifty-three. He might even remarry if he were free to meet someone. He owed him at least that opportunity.

  Jon was finding himself happy in Rawhide, more than he’d ever thought he would be. The idea of settling down here wasn’t a negative thing now, as it had been when he had arrived. And, really, Tori had nothing to do with that decision.

  Right.

  He pulled on a tweed coat over his white dress shirt and blue jeans and hurried out to Tori’s door. He was right on time.

  After knocking, he eagerly waited for her to answer. He hadn’t seen her since morning and—

  “Good evening, Jon,” Tori greeted him, a smile on her face.

  Jon thought he’d died and gone to heaven. Tori smiling at him was a sight to behold.

  Then she stepped aside and waved to someone. Two women appeared behind her. “I’d like you to meet Jennifer and Sarah Waggoner. They run the store in the next block.”

  Even as he greeted them, he was wondering what their presence meant. Was Tori going to back out of the evening?

  “They’re going with us to dinner. I wanted you to meet more citizens of Rawhide, so you’ll feel more at home.” Tori smiled again.

  “I guess I’m the luckiest guy in Rawhide tonight, getting the chance to escort three beautiful women. Good evening, ladies. Are we ready?”

  He wasn’t surprised when Tori refused to ride in front with him, insisting Jennifer take that place, as one of their guests. Tori and Sarah, a pleasant-looking brunette, sat in the back.

  He’d met women like Jennifer before. Easily entertained with flattery, interested in having a good time. Maybe he was misjudging her, but she seemed very young, more like Jessica. She needed seasoning to make her interesting.

  He tried to listen to Tori and Sarah’s quiet conversation in the back seat, but Jennifer kept up a running commentary on people in Rawhide, and he had to give up trying to hear them. It was a relief to reach the ranch.

  There, he discovered even more Randalls than he’d already met. And he was introduced to Lavinia Dawson, Janie’s mother, Russ’s grandmother. It occurred to him that she might be a good person, along with Mildred, for Aunt Tabby to visit if she came. They seemed about the same age.

  He received compliments and gratitude until he was thoroughly embarrassed. “I promise you, I wouldn’t have been able to make the trip without Tori. She was the master planner. I added a little muscle, but that was about it.”

  To his surprise, Doc Jacoby appeared, too. “You know, boy, you made a hell of a house call. You’re perfect for Rawhide.” He lifted his coffee cup. “Here’s to a long stay.”

  “Now, Doc, you know—”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. But plans change. Don’t forget that.”

  It occurred to Jon that he’d been thinking the same thing earlier this evening. But a visit was a lot different from his family moving here. He’d have to wait and see.

  When they were to take their places for dinner, he was led to the seat on Jake’s right-hand side, obviously a seat of prominence. He noted Tori took a place at a small table that seated six. He realized there were thirty people in the room.

  “This is a lot of people to cook for,” he murmured to Jake. “I hope you didn’t go to all this trouble just for me.”

  “You saved one of us. Don’t you think that deserves a celebration?” Jake asked him.

  “I couldn’t save Abby,” he reminded him quietly.

  “You didn’t have a chance. None of us did.”

  “And Tori is the one who—”

  “I know. She’s a feisty little thing, isn’t she?” Jake said with a broad smile. “She used to be qu
iet, almost afraid of her own shadow. I’d like to have heard her telling Russ off at the hospital.”

  Jon grinned back. “She was magnificent,” he said.

  “Make a good wife.”

  Jon stared at Jake, surprised. Tori had said something about her family matchmaking, but he’d thought she was exaggerating. Jake was being even more direct than Doc and Anna had been.

  Jake picked up a platter of steak and passed it to Jon. “Steak? Raised right here on the ranch.”

  The change of subject suited Jon just fine.

  AFTER DINNER, everyone mingled. Jon noticed Tori was always on the other side of the room, no matter where he moved. Which made him decide tonight was when he should talk to Brett.

  After looking around the room, he discovered Tori’s father near the fireplace, talking to Griffin Randall.

  As he walked up, Brett said, “Griff, have you met Dr. Jon Wilson?”

  “Yes, I have. How are you?”

  They stood talking for a few minutes. Then Griff was summoned across the room by his wife. Before anyone else could join them, Jon said, “I need to talk to you in private.”

  Brett studied him. “Okay. Let’s take a stroll down to the barn. It gets warm in here with all these people.”

  The silence was a welcome relief. Until Jon thought about what he had to tell the man beside him. Brett stopped by a corral where several horses were prancing around. “What do you think of these guys? Toby is training them.”

  “To do what?”

  “To be cutters.” After looking at Jon, he realized the doctor had no idea what he meant. “Horses that can cut cows out of the herd and separate them. That’s a useful talent for a cowboy’s horse.”

  “Oh. That’s good. They’re beautiful animals.”

  “Yes. So, what do you need to tell me? Or is it to ask me?”

  “I need to tell you something. You’re not going to like it.”

  Brett paused. Then he said, “Okay.”

  Jon hoped the man would be as calm when he finished. “When Tori and I went up to find Russ…”

  “Yeah?”

  “When we got to the cabin, Russ wasn’t there. Tori tried to hide how upset she was. We unpacked, settled in, ate dinner. Then when we were cleaning up, I tried to reassure her everything would be fine.” He cleared his throat. “Uh, things sort of escalated—we made love,” he finished in a rush.

  Brett took a deep breath. Then he snapped his mouth tightly together.

  Jon figured he was about to receive a broken nose, but he couldn’t deny the man his right.

  When Brett said nothing, Jon said, “I promise I didn’t force her. In fact, it was mutual.”

  “What are your plans?”

  “Plans?” Jon asked, not switching gears fast enough.

  “Look, I know about emotions leading to—to sex. It happened to me and Anna. But I knew I wanted to marry her. I wasn’t just, you know, scoring.”

  “I’d marry her tomorrow if I could get her to at least speak to me. But she won’t. And she needs to. You see, we didn’t use any protection.”

  “You mean my daughter may be carrying an illegitimate baby?” Brett demanded, his voice rising.

  Jon clinched his jaw. “If there is a baby, it won’t be illegitimate. I’ll marry Tori long before the baby appears. I won’t wait until she’s ready to deliver. But if she won’t even talk to me, I can’t get to the root of the problem.”

  “What? Why won’t she talk to you?” Brett asked.

  Jon shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I can’t even get her to listen to me, much less answer. All she’ll say is she’s not pregnant, and besides, it isn’t necessary. I need someone to—persuade her to be reasonable.”

  “Women!” Brett said, frustration in his voice.

  “Yeah,” Jon agreed. “Oh, I have to tell you something else. I can’t promise to keep her here in Rawhide if we marry. I have to go back to Chicago. I’ve got commitments there.”

  “Another woman?” Brett demanded, frowning.

  “No, my family.”

  “Boy, this is a mess.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll have to talk to her mother and see what we should do. I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

  “I appreciate your help, Mr. Randall, and I’m sorry I let you down.”

  Brett grunted. “It happens. But don’t you hurt her!”

  “No, sir.”

  WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDED the next morning, Tori shut it off and then lay there, thinking about the previous night. She’d solved one problem. She hadn’t been alone with Jon. She’d worried about it when they dropped the Waggoners off at their store. They lived above the store, as Tori and Jon lived above the accounting office.

  Surprisingly, to Tori, Jon wasn’t interested in conversation. He said he enjoyed her family, and the food was certainly good.

  Then he told her good-night, waited until she’d unlocked her door and then entered his apartment. He didn’t seem to care anymore if she was pregnant. Good thing she hadn’t believed him!

  At least they’d made a decision about July Fourth. They were going to have the celebration and ask Jon to keep Russ in the hospital until July fifth. Tori thought that would be best for Russ. He was doing better, but he couldn’t handle facing all the condolences and sympathy just yet.

  Finally she dressed and got ready to go downstairs. She had work to do. Just as she headed to the door, her phone rang. What was going on? She didn’t usually get early-morning phone calls. First yesterday and then today.

  “Hello?”

  “Baby girl, are you dressed?”

  “Daddy! I mean, Dad. Yes, I am. I’m going downstairs.”

  “Not yet. Your mother and I need to talk to you.”

  “Why?”

  “Never mind. We’re here. We’ll be right up.”

  She hadn’t made a pot of coffee, because Jessica would make a pot in the office and she’d get her coffee there. Now she changed her mind and began a pot of coffee. Before she finished, her parents knocked on her door.

  She let them in with hugs and a smile. “Good morning. This is a nice surprise. I just put on coffee.”

  “Good,” Anna said, “because I brought pastries from Red and Mildred.”

  “Oh, yum. I’m glad I didn’t eat breakfast.”

  Her parents froze and exchanged a look. Tori had no idea what was going on, but something was.

  “Will the smell of coffee bother you?” Brett asked.

  “No. I hadn’t made a pot here, because Jessica makes it downstairs.” She frowned at them. “Will it bother you?”

  “No,” Brett snapped, and pulled out a chair at her table and sat down.

  “Dad, what’s wrong?”

  The light on the coffeepot came on and her mother waved her to a seat. “I’ll pour. Here’s a plate for the pastries.”

  Tori stared at her. Anna’s voice was gentle, sympathetic.

  “If someone doesn’t explain soon, I’m going to scream.”

  Brett growled, “Jon told us.”

  No. Her father couldn’t mean what—Jon was a smart man. He wouldn’t— “Told you what?”

  “About the baby!” Brett yelled, rising to his feet.

  Tori stood, too. “What baby?” she shouted in response.

  “The one you may have made up on the mountain!” Brett bellowed.

  Anna intervened. She put a cup of coffee in front of her husband, then one in front of her daughter. “Take a deep breath and let’s discuss this calmly.” They both sat down.

  “I can’t believe he told you. Why would he do that?”

  “Because he’s a responsible man. My daughter should have told me!” Brett said, his temper rising again.

  Tori rolled her eyes toward her mother. “Mom, please, he’s not being realistic.”

  “I know, dear, but it’s difficult for a father to realize his daughter is—is doing the same thing he’s, uh, doing.”

  “It’s different! We’re married!
That’s more than you can say, baby girl!”

  “True. And it’s good to know my parents remained chaste and pure until their wedding day.” She stared at her father. She didn’t know for sure, but she’d heard enough teasing between the brothers and their wives to suspect things.

  Her father’s face turned bright red. “That’s none of your business!”

  “I agree. And my activities are none of your business.”

  “She’s got you there, sweetheart,” Anna said with a grin.

  “We’re not here to talk about what you did,” Brett returned, surprising her.

  “Then why are we talking about it?”

  “It’s the pregnancy test,” Brett said. “Jon said you wouldn’t take one.”

  Tori raised her chin. “That’s because I’m not pregnant.”

  “How do you know?” Brett quickly returned.

  “I just do,” Tori said stubbornly.

  “Darling, I’m on your side, you know,” Anna said softly. “But I’m a nurse and I don’t buy that response. It’s too soon for you to be feeling any of the symptoms.”

  Tori got up from the table and turned her back to her parents. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “What does that mean?” Brett demanded.

  Tori turned and faced them. “It means that if I’m pregnant, I can take care of my baby. And if I’m not pregnant, then everything’s fine.”

  “I’m not having any illegitimate babies in my family!” Brett roared.

  “You want me to change my name?” Tori asked, hurt.

  “Yeah, I do, by marrying the doctor. He said he’d marry you if you’re pregnant.”

  She thought she’d die of embarrassment. Her father had insisted Jon marry her?

  “I can’t believe you did that,” Tori said, beginning to pace.

  “I didn’t force him. He told me he intended to marry you if you were pregnant.”

  She was going to kill the doctor. “He’s wrong. He’s not going to marry me for any reason.”

  “What?” Brett roared.

  Tori folded her arms. “Dad, I appreciate your concern. But I make the decisions about me and any possible baby. If I am pregnant, I’ll either move away or—or change my name, if you don’t want us around.”

  Brett stared at her. “Of course, I want you around. You know I don’t really mean that, baby girl!” He moved quickly and wrapped his arms around her. “In fact, that’s the one thing that bothered me. He’s planning on taking you back to Chicago if he marries you.”