Kelsey knew she was being a coward and was fine with that. So she concentrated on making more salad, cleaning the kitchen, and refilling trays. She focused, worked, and ignored the looks her staff sent her and prayed for that hour to pass.
She didn’t know why she looked up when Michelle came into the kitchen. The look of worry on the woman’s face made her heart thud and sweat break out all over her body.
“What’s wrong?”
“Kelsey, you better come out here. I think we have a problem.”
Since Michelle turned and went back into the dining room, Kelsey followed. The woman had stopped and had her attention fixed on a particular table. Kelsey followed her gaze and swallowed hard.
The little boy who looked like her son had fallen asleep in the booster seat.
For a dreadful moment she thought he was dead. Then she saw him twitch, saw a smile come and go, and realized he was dreaming. She exhaled shakily.
“His parents are gone,” Michelle said.
Kelsey looked at her, the words not making sense. “What do you mean, gone?”
“I mean, they left. I didn’t see when. I’m sorry. I noticed the little guy drift off and the mom stroking his hair. I noticed because she looked kind of sad. Then I got busy, and the next thing I knew, they were gone. I thought at first they’d gotten up to go to the bathroom, and although I wouldn’t have left my child alone like that, I could understand how some might, especially if the little guy was sleeping.”
“His parents can’t be gone. How could they make a mistake like that and leave their baby behind?” No way, that’s how. Kelsey had seen that look on the mother’s face. She’d felt that look, lived that look. There was no way she would have forgotten…
“Oh, my God.” Kelsey turned to Michelle, who was nodding because she, Kelsey, had finally gotten it.
The little boy’s parents hadn’t forgotten him. They’d abandoned him.
Kelsey didn’t think. She just reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She punched number three on her speed dial. The phone was answered on the second ring.
“Sheriff Kendall, it’s Kelsey Madison over at Lusty Appetites. Could I speak to Matthew, please? It’s important.”
* * * *
“For a man who’s getting regular sex, you’re a mite tense there, Deputy Benedict.”
Matthew narrowed his eyes, his gaze slicing right through the man who’d spoken those teasing words. His steely-eyed glare might work on most men, but it seemed to have absolutely no effect whatsoever on his cousin Adam. And since his cousin was also his boss, he supposed he could let the comment slide.
Like hell.
“If my mood isn’t to your liking, Sheriff Kendall, perhaps we could step outside around back and…talk about it.” Matthew gave Adam his best smile.
Adam’s shit-eating grin just pissed him off even more. “We could do that, Deputy, but I’ll take you, same as I always do.”
“I’m bigger than I used to be,” Matthew warned.
“Yeah, but I have a ton of sexual frustration to add fuel to my fire. Seriously,” he stepped over to the coffee pot, poured two cups, and handed Matthew one, “you and Steven spend every spare minute with Kelsey. I thought the three of you were a done deal. I’ve been expecting any day now that you would ask me to be your best man.”
Matthew accepted the brew and the chance to share confidences. Next to Steven, Adam was his best friend, despite the two years between them.
“Yeah, I’d have thought that by now we’d be a done deal, too.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“It’s taking us longer to cut through Kelsey’s defenses than we thought it would. Oh, believe me, on a physical level, we couldn’t be happier or better suited. But emotionally? She’s still locked up tighter than a girls’ school at midterm.”
Adam sat in his chair behind his desk and relaxed back. “I guess that’s only to be expected. None of us can really understand what she’s been through. You just have to be patient with her.”
“Oh, I know. We both know. And we’re not giving up on her. She doesn’t really understand it, but she’s ours, and we’re keeping her. That part is definitely a done deal.” He paused for a moment to sip his coffee. He thought of the way Kelsey had resisted awakening this morning, the way she’d snuggled down between them so sweetly. He especially thought of the way she seemed to totally relax as soon as she arrived at the ranch. “I’m certain she feels more for us than she’s willing to admit.”
“Getting her to admit it is the problem?”
For the most part, he and his brother thought so. “Yeah. Steven and I have just about run out of ideas. We took Mom’s advice and asked Kelsey to help us redecorate the front parlor at the ranch. Mom says that should start sending the message that we’re serious and help her to develop a sense of belonging there. If you have any suggestions to add to the mix, we’d be obliged.” He got up and paced toward the window. He stood for a long moment, watching people and traffic.
“That’s not the heart of it, is it?”
Adam’s quiet voice and the question reminded Matthew that his cousin had inherited more than just a love for wearing a badge from that long ago Adam Kendall. He had the family’s sixth sense, too.
“She’s never talked about it. Not once. I think…I think before she can admit any emotional attachment to us, she has to open up about her loss.”
Matthew wondered what Adam would say to that. Then the phone rang. Adam picked it up on the second ring.
“Sheriff’s Department,” Adam said. “Hi, Kelsey. Sure, he’s right here.” Adam held out the receiver. The look in his eyes made Matt’s heart skip a beat.
“It’s your woman. She sounds funny. Like something’s wrong.”
Chapter 11
The only message Steven got was something had happened at the restaurant, and Kelsey was at the Lusty Clinic.
He literally raced into town and nearly broke down the door entering the building and didn’t even care that several gazes immediately snapped to him. He scanned the small crowd gathered, all people he knew, and spotted Kelsey in the midst of them. In three strides, he reached her, his hands going to her shoulders, his gaze anxious as he took in every inch of her.
“You’re all right.” The relief was enormous, and he closed his eyes for one moment.
“Of course I’m all right.”
Only she wasn’t. He knew that in a heartbeat. Whatever brought her here hadn’t been any physical injury, but she was hurting. Her face looked drawn, and the tone that came out of her sounded so icy it could have cut granite.
“Let me guess,” Adam Kendall said. “Auntie Anna called you.”
Steven met the man’s gaze and nodded. “Yeah.” He really should have known better than to allow that jumbled phone call to upset him. They all loved their Auntie Anna. Not another soul in the entire family knew the great-greats the way Auntie Anna Jessop did. Unfortunately, she couldn’t be relied upon to deliver a message or get any kind of the practical details of everyday life straight to save her soul.
Steven shook his head and focused again on Kelsey. Because her expression looked so haunted, he gathered her in for one moment, making his hug as comforting as he could, trying not to let his own emotions show. When she relaxed in his arms, when she wrapped hers around him and held him, Steven sighed. He searched but couldn’t see Matthew.
Rather than jump to any conclusions, he asked, “Okay, what happened?”
“They just left him,” Kelsey said.
She pulled against his hold, and he let her go but he slid his hands down her arms until he had her hands in his. Grateful she threaded her fingers through his, he nodded to let her know she had his full attention.
“He’s just a little boy. How could she just leave him? Doesn’t she know how precious he is?”
Kelsey’s voice shook with emotion, and Steven’s heart turned over.
Adam stepped closer and filled in the details, ending wi
th when he and Matthew rushed to the restaurant.
“He wouldn’t wake up at first,” Kelsey said. “And when he did, I could tell…just looking in his eyes, I could tell something wasn’t right with him.”
Steven looked over at Adam, who nodded. “Kelsey said she thought the little guy had been drugged. Matt scooped him up and ran like hell for here.”
The clinic was only two blocks away from the restaurant.
“Here’s the bag.” Michelle came into the clinic, carrying what looked to Steven like a backpack. Adam took it and headed down the hall toward the examining rooms.
“Who’s on duty today?” Steven asked. Not that it made any difference. He’d known both of the doctors who ran the clinic all of his life.
Shirley, the middle-aged woman, who as receptionist, secretary and accountant for all intents and purposes ran the clinic, looked up at his question.
“Both Doctors Jessop are here today.”
“Do you want to sit down?” Steven asked Kelsey. Michelle had remained, and there were a few other people in the waiting area, cousins that Steven guessed had been dining at the restaurant when the drama unfolded. They were there, he knew, not to be nosy, but to be on hand in case they were needed.
“No. I want to go see what’s happening. I want to be in there. I just want to—”
Kelsey stopped talking, but she shook like a leaf. Steven understood, or at least he thought he did, where her mind was, where her emotions were. He looked at Shirley, one of the few people who lived in Lusty who had no family connection to Benedicts, Kendalls or Jessops.
“I’m taking her back there. Which room?”
Shirley looked as if she might protest, but then she nodded. “Room three.”
“Come on, sweetheart.” Steven kept his arm around Kelsey as he walked her down the hall to the appropriate room.
“I’ve never been in here before. It’s larger than I expected.”
“The town trust pays for it and keeps it up to the highest standards.” Steven kept his voice gentle, understanding Kelsey’s inane comment came from nerves.
He knocked once on the door to room three, then opened it.
Kelsey left Steven’s side, making a bee-line for the little boy who sat on the examining table looking lost and alone. As soon as she reached him, the little guy reached for her.
Smart kid. Steven looked at his brother, who stood with their uncles, Doctor James and Doctor Adam Jessop. Adam Kendall was sorting through the backpack while both doctors had been speaking in low tones to Matthew.
Likely the little boy felt overwhelmed with so many strange men in the room. No wonder he’d reached for Kelsey.
“How is he?” Kelsey asked.
“Here’s your culprit.” Adam said.
Kelsey had spoken at the same time Adam had. Steven looked at the bottle he was holding. Uncle James took it, read the label, then opened the bottle.
“This would do it. A mild dose of sleep aid, and it looks like there’s a half a pill here, which means a half a pill missing. If that’s all he ingested, he should be fine. The blood work will be back in just a few hours. Marc’s coming in to run the tests.”
“So he’s all right?” Kelsey asked. The little guy had laid his head on her shoulder and stuck his thumb in his mouth.
Every man in the room heard the emotion in her voice. Steven wondered if she realized that she was slowly swaying, side to side, rocking the child as she stared at the doctors.
“Benjamin is fine. Aren’t you, Benjamin?” Dr. James said.
“Benny,” Benjamin said around his thumb.
“Benny, then,” Dr. James said. He ruffled Benny’s hair, but the boy had closed his eyes, seeming content for the moment just to snuggle into Kelsey.
“So now what happens now? To Benny?” Kelsey looked at each of them in turn. Steven felt his heart twist at the look of anxiety on her face.
“He needs to be watched for the next twenty-four hours,” Dr. Adam said. “And awakened every so often just to make sure the medication is wearing off.”
“But what—”
“I’ve called your mother, Adam,” Dr. James cut Kelsey off and looked at Adam Kendall.
Kelsey focused on Adam. “Why did he call your mother?”
“Mom’s the local magistrate,” Adam said.
“Oh. Of course. I guess there’ll have to be a court order. Children’s Services will have to get involved. Yes, of course.”
Steven heard the disappointment in Kelsey’s voice and wondered if she did, as well. He looked from Matthew to his cousin Adam. Matthew nodded, and Adam seemed to understand exactly what it was he and his brother wanted to happen next because Adam nodded, too.
“I’ll go see if she’s here yet,” Adam said.
“I want my mommy.”
“I know, sweetheart.” Kelsey continued to rock Benny, whose eyes began to close.
Matthew stepped forward and ran a hand down the little boy’s back. “I’m going to do my best to find her for you, Benny, okay?”
“Are you a police man?” Benny asked.
“I’m the deputy sheriff,” Matthew said. Then he used his thumb to indicate Steven. “That’s my brother. He’s a cowboy.”
“Really?” That news perked Benny right up. He straightened and took his thumb out of his mouth. “Do you have a horse? Is it here? Can I see it?”
Steven stepped forward. The wide-eyed tot tugged at his heartstrings. He gave him his best smile and kept his voice soft. “I have about twenty horses. Not here, I keep them at my ranch. We’ll see what we can do about letting you have a look at them.”
“Cool.” Then he laid his head back down on Kelsey’s shoulder and closed his eyes again. Steven let his gaze meet Kelsey’s, and the emotions he saw swirling there lifted his spirits and laid him bare all at the same moment.
* * * *
Kelsey hadn’t wanted to get involved, but the moment she’d realized this poor, precious baby had been drugged, she’d been helpless to resist him.
At the moment, Benny lay against her shoulder, his head finding that special place God gave mothers to cradle their sons. The weight of him in her arms as she held him and the warmth of his tiny body stirred more emotions in her than she felt capable of dealing with right now, but she didn’t matter.
Only this precious baby boy mattered.
The door to the examining room opened, and Sheriff Kendall stuck his head in. “The magistrate is here,” he said.
“Come on, honey,” Matthew said. He stood on one side of her, Steven on the other. Both men’s gazes had filled with sympathy, and she felt herself shudder.
Only this baby mattered. Kelsey shuddered again as the memories came, fast and furious. She pushed them away ruthlessly and let the men lead her out of the room.
Tall, with beautifully coiffed red hair and mesmerizing green eyes, Samantha Kendall was a striking woman. Kelsey recalled thinking that once before when she and her husbands had come into the restaurant. Kelsey felt her eyes widen when she recalled that Samantha had not two, but three husbands. Adam’s fathers, she’d learned just a few weeks ago, were triplets.
At the moment, Lusty’s magistrate took in the tiny boy Kelsey held, and her eyes softened.
“How is the little man?” she asked, stroking her hand down the boy’s back.
How interesting that she’s asking me. “The doctors say he’ll be fine. They think he was given just a bit of sleeping medication. He needs to be awakened every couple of hours for the rest of the night.”
“He seems very comfortable with you,” Samantha said.
“I think it’s because he was surrounded by so many big men when I went into the room.” Kelsey said.
“You’re probably right. I have one of my husbands, Preston, tucked away in the admin office here preparing…ah, there he is.”
Preston Kendall looked as if he stepped right off the cover of a men’s fashion magazine. Though he had to be in his sixties, he didn’t look a day over forty
.
“Here you go, sweetheart,” he said, handing his wife the paperwork. “Three copies, as you requested.” Then he bent down to peer at Benny, who had fallen fast asleep. “He’s a lovely child.”
Kelsey swallowed the urge to say thank you. Benny was not her child. In fact, any moment now, Mrs. Kendall was likely going to—
“This form appoints you as temporary guardian for Benjamin,” Samantha said. “If you’ll sign on the line above your name, then we’ll file this on Monday, taking care of the legalities.”
“I’m sorry?” Kelsey felt her heart leap. She couldn’t have heard what she’d thought she’d heard.
Samantha gave her a matter-of-fact look. “We don’t have a Department of Children’s Services here in town. Someone has to look after him. Besides, with my son and Matthew on the case, they’re likely to find Benny’s parents soon.” The magistrate shrugged. “This is easiest all the way around, don’t you agree?”
“We’ve lots of room out at the ranch,” Steven said. “You and Benny can stay there. With your business it’ll be easier if we all pitch in. Plus,” he lowered his voice and winked, “I’ve got horses.”
Just then, the door to the clinic opened, and Tracy’s mother, Heather Jessop, came in. “Where would you like these?” She held two full-to-bursting shopping bags.
“Here, I’ll take them,” Preston said. “Your Jeep outside, Steven?”
“Yes, Preston, it is. It’s not locked.”
“Of course not,” Preston said.
“There’s some pajamas and enough outfits for a few days, and a few toys as well. We’ll have some more things gathered for you tomorrow,” Heather said to Kelsey.
Kelsey looked down and saw Matthew and then Steven sign as witnesses each of the three pages that Preston Kendall had produced.
“Here, let me have him for a moment,” Steven said. “I think I’m the only one of us who hasn’t held him yet.”
Covington, Cara - Love Under Two Benedicts [Lusty, Texas 1] (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting) Page 9
