"I do," Jasmine said. She tugged her gun out of her handbag.
"Hell, we all do," Jessi put in. She got out of the station wagon, crouched down, and when she rose again, she was tossing a decent-sized rock in her hand. The others got out, too, gathered around her, nodded. "Best give one of us the gun, Jasmine," Jessi said. "He'll probably search you, if he gets the chance. Besides, we're gonna need him alive, unless he brings Luke with him."
Jasmine closed her eyes tight. "God, Luke wasn't even supposed to be moving around much. And he missed his pain meds." It turned her stomach to think of the pain he must be in right now.
To think of what Petronella might have done to him.
"Luke's a Brand, Jasmine. He's tough as they come. He's gonna come through this all right," Jessi said.
"Come on, let's find cover and weapons. Set this up right under and around that billboard. Best spot possible."
"I don't see how we're supposed to find any cover out here," Jasmine said, squinting, shading her eyes with her hand. A cactus, a tumbleweed, the car, which he would surely search, and the billboard itself, were all she saw.
Jessi smiled and patted her on the back. "Yeah, but you're from out of town. Come on hon. Let us show you how we do things in Texas."
Kirsten pulled a pair of imitation calfskin gloves out of her designer bag, and slipped her hands into them. Then she walked right up to a cactus, broke off one of its arms and swung it a few times like a club, nodding in satisfaction. "Bastard's gonna wish he hadn't started up with us," she muttered.
* * *
THE HALF HOUR TICKED BY slower than molasses on a midwinter day. But Jasmine was ready. Following Jessi's instructions, she'd snapped a handful of tangles off the tumbleweed and brushed away all the footprints that showed anywhere. Mostly the ground here was hard packed and barren. The desert wasn't all sand, the way she'd always thought. Then she stood in plain sight underneath the billboard and waited
Finally another car pulled to a stop alongside hers. Petronella sat still for a moment, looking around, listening. Then he got out, with his gun in hand. He strode right up to Chelsea's station wagon, opened its doors, searched inside it, then, satisfied, he looked up and down the road, and finally, walked off the pavement to where Jasmine waited, under the billboard, a hot, dry breeze raking her cheeks.
"I don't see the boy," he said.
"I didn't see any reason to bring him. You want the tapes. I want Luke. My son has nothing to do with it."
He shrugged. "Hell, I've only got one bullet on me anyway." He lifted the gun.
"Kill me and you won't get the tapes," she said, trying hard to hide the bolt of fear that jolted up her spine just then.
He smiled slowly. "Tapes aren't gonna do me any good anyway, sugar."
He smiled slowly, and his hand flexed on the gun so fast there was no time to do anything to prevent it. But only a dull click resulted when he pulled the trigger. Then Chelsea came hurtling down from the billboard where she'd been hiding—she'd had to stand on Jessi's shoulders to get hold of the sign's frame and had pulled herself up from there, clung to the back and waited for her moment. And it was perfect. She landed on top of Petronella, flattening him to the ground. He hit hard, but rolled over, flinging Chelsea off him. Kirsten leaped out from behind the one-armed cactus and smashed him in the face with her makeshift prickly club. He howled in agony, but already Jessi had shot out from where she'd been lying flat underneath the car and Penny rose up from under the tumbleweed. So when Petronella knocked Kirsten's club away and sat up with his hands to his face, it was only to get pegged by two cobble-sized stones, one from in front and one from behind.
He never stood a chance. His head was split open and bleeding in the back, swollen and purple on the front, and his face was extremely messed up, courtesy of the cactus. He never even got back on his feet again.
Jasmine yanked off her belt and tossed it to Jessi. Jessi knelt behind him and bound his hands. Then she tossed the gun back to Jasmine. "Your gun misfired," Jasmine said. "Mine won't. Where is Luke?"
He shook his head. "Damned wet powder," he muttered. "You can blow me away. I'll never tell you. You can just suffer for what you did. I can guarantee you he is—and the longer it takes you to find him, the better his chances of being dead before you do." He spat.
Jasmine pursed her lips. Jessi reached around the man from behind, grabbed his shirt by either side and tore it open, laying his chest and stomach bare. "Hey, Kirsten!" she called. "What'd you do with that cactus limb?"
"Oh, hell, Jessi, you don't want to beat the poor man with that thing," Chelsea said. "Not there, anyway." She nodded to Jasmine. "Let's yank off his pants. I mean, I think he'll talk faster."
Kirsten retrieved her limb and came forward, brushing it lightly over his chest, cactus spines raking his flesh. "Where did you leave Luke? Is he in that room you rented above the bar? Hmm?" She reached for his fly.
"Yes!" he shouted. Then, as she drew the club away, "How the hell did you know about the room?"
"City slicker," Jessi said. "You're clueless."
A huge pickup truck came skidding to a stop, sending up more dust clouds, and Brand men piled out of both doors and the back. They came running, then stopped and looked at the scene before them.
"You guys handle it from here," Jasmine said. "I'm going to find Luke."
"We'll send an ambulance, Jasmine," someone called.
She jumped in Chelsea's car and sped away.
* * *
SHE BURST INTO THE FRONT part of the room, saw no one and raced through it, calling Luke's name. When she reached the bedroom she found him. He lay facedown on the floor, halfway into the small bathroom. His head was cut open, bleeding. His face was beaded with sweat and contorted in pain, and his eyes were squeezed shut tight.
She was beside him instantly. "Luke! It's all right. Hold on. Help is coming."
His eyes opened. He peered up at her. "You're alive...."
"Of course I'm alive. And Petronella's lucky to be. God, baby, what did he do to you?" She stroked his face, then dashed over him into the bathroom for a wet cool cloth. She wiped his face with it then pressed it gently to the cut. "You have to be okay, Luke. Dammit you have to be okay."
He smiled. "Doesn't matter. Just as long as you and Bax are."
She shook her head. "We won't be. Not if we don't have you."
His face changed. He looked surprised, but then something else. "Jasmine, even if I make it I don't know...what I mean—I can't feel my legs, Jasmine. Not even a little."
"I love you, Luke," she whispered. "I finally understand what you were trying to tell me back there. I love you. Totally. I never thought I could feel this way for any man, but I do, and dammit you promised me you'd help me start a new life. And I want that Luke. I want to marry you. I want you to be a father to Baxter. I want that. Do you understand? So you just have to hang in there, Luke. You just have to. You have to."
He managed to smile, even past all the pain. "Well, hell, Jasmine, I couldn't die now if I wanted to. Not with an offer like that on the table."
Epilogue
* * *
"WELCOME HOME, LUKE" THE BANNER read, when Garrett and Wes pulled up at the brick house that had been known as the old Walker place. It wasn't anymore. The title now read Luke and Jasmine Brand.
Everyone had gathered for the celebration of Luke's release from the hospital. God, it had been three entire weeks. The physical therapy had been brutal and was ongoing. But he was getting better.
Mostly because of Jasmine.
She stood on the porch now, little Baxter in front of her, her hands on his shoulders. They both smiled widely as he got out of the pickup and limped up the walk. He carried a canvas tote in his free hand and leaned heavily on the cane that looked as if it was going to be his walking partner for a long time to come. Maybe forever.
He didn't give a damn. He had what mattered. Jasmine had married him in the hospital room. She'd refused to wait. The legal matters
had taken longer, but Luke had had a visit from his lawyer today, just before his release, and now that part, too, was official.
Beyond Jasmine, the house was alive. He could see his family peering out every window and door, their smiles as bright as the happy tears in their eyes. They loved him. They loved her, too.
He made it to the steps, glanced at Garrett and Wes, who'd flanked him all the way, the overprotective lugs. "Can you keep them all at bay for just a sec?" Luke asked.
The men nodded and ran up the steps, into the house, where the party was waiting. They closed the door.
"I'm so glad you're home now, Luke!" Baxter came off the porch and hurled himself into Luke's arms. Jasmine started forward, but Luke held up a hand, caught his balance and hugged the boy back.
"Not half as glad as I am, Bax," he said. "But here. I have a little surprise for you. Two, actually. Now, the first one just can't wait, so you'd better take it now. It's in here." He held up the canvas tote bag.
Frowning, Bax parted it on top to look inside. A small brown puppy poked his head out the top and licked Baxter's nose. The boy squealed and scooped it up, hugging it close. "For me? Really, oh, really? Oh, Mom, can I keep him? Can I?"
Jasmine smiled damply, nodding her head hard, meeting Luke's eyes, love brimming from her own. He couldn't quite get used to that. A woman as special as this one, loving him the way she did.
Baxter sat on the steps, holding the squirming pup in his lap.
"I have one more surprise," Luke said. He pulled a document from his pocket, unfolded it. "This."
Baxter got up and handed the puppy to his mom so he could take a look.
"De...cree...of a...a...dop...adop..." He blinked and his eyes widened. "Adoption?" he asked, looking up at Luke.
"Yep. It's a whole lot of big words and legal terms, Bax, but what it means is that from now on, I'm officially your father."
Baxter's little lips quivered. Tears rose up and one fell over. He said, "You...you...you're my dad?" in a high, squeaky voice that wasn't like his own.
Luke nodded. He couldn't really talk just then. He leaned the cane against the porch, lowered himself onto the top step and folded his son into his arms. Baxter was hugging his neck so hard Luke almost couldn't breathe, and his tears were flowing so fast Luke couldn't hold back his own.
"I've been wishing and wishing you could be my dad, Luke. And it came true. It really came true!" Baxter said.
Jasmine came down the steps, sat down beside Luke and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"From now on, Bax, I'm gonna make all your wishes come true. And your mom's, too. I promise.
He met Jasmine's eyes, saw that they were as wet as his own. She leaned in and kissed him on the lips, and she said, "You've already granted all mine, Luke. Even the ones I never knew I had."
The three of them embraced, and Luke knew he was home. They all were. Home.
* * *
If you enjoyed Texas Homecoming, you might also enjoy these titles:
The Texas Brands
* * *
THE LITTLEST COWBOY
Garrett Brand and Chelsea Brennan
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
THE BADDEST VIRGIN IN TEXAS
Jessie Brand and Lash Monroe
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
BADLANDS BAD BOY
Wes Brand and Taylor McCoy
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
THE HUSBAND SHE COULDN'T REMEMBER
(Long Gone Lonesome Blues)
Ben Brand and Penny Brand
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
TEXAS GUARDIAN
(That Mysterious Texas Brand Man)
Marcus Brand and Casey Jones
Coming Soon!
THE BADDEST BRIDE IN TEXAS
Adam Brand and Kirsten Cowan
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
THE OUTLAW BRIDE
Elliot Brand and Esmeralda Montoya
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
TEXAS ANGEL
(Angel Meets The Bad Man)
Sara Brand and Jake Nash
Coming Soon!
Maggie Shayne Classics
* * *
THE IMMORTAL WITCH SERIES
Eternity, Book 1
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Infinity, Book 2
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Destiny, Book 3
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes
THE FAIRIES OF RUSH
Fairytale
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Forever Enchanted
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Kobo | iTunes
STAND ALONE TITLES
Annie's Hero
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Forgotten Vows
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Dr. Duffy's Close Encounter
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Miranda's Viking
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
NOVELLAS
The Fairy's Wish
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
The Bride Wore A Forty-Four
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Witch Moon
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Musketeer By Moonlight
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Everything She Does is Magick
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
BUNDLES
The Fairy Collection Boxed Set
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
The Bad Ass Brides Collection
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
The Witch Collection
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
AND MAGGIE'S NON-FICTION
Shayne on You
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Magick and the Law of Attraction: A User's Guide
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
About the Author
* * *
New York Times bestselling author Maggie Shayne has published more than 50 novels and 23 novellas. She has written for 7 publishers and 2 soap operas, has racked up 15 Rita Award nominations and actually, finally, won the damn thing in 2005.
Maggie lives in a beautiful, century old, happily haunted farmhouse named "Serenity" in the wildest wilds of Cortland County, NY, with her soul-mate, Lance. They share a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer & Daisy, and a little English Bulldog, Niblet, and the wise guardian and guru of them all, the feline Glory, who keeps the dogs firmly in their places. Maggie's a Wiccan high priestess (legal clergy even) and an avid follower of the Law of Attraction
* * *
Connect with Maggie
* * *
Maggie's Website
Maggie's Blogs:
Maggie's Coffee House Blog
Maggie's Bliss Blog
Twitter
Facebook
MySpace
Texas Homecoming Page 20
