by Karen Anders
Corey pulled her close and held her, so thankful that she was alive. It was a miracle that they had both survived their father’s brutality.
A low grunt broke them apart and Marigold’s tearstreaked face broke into a grin when she saw the little black-and-white pig butting her ankles.
“He does that when he likes someone and wants to be picked up. He loves to be held,” Ellie said, reaching down and lifting Two Tone into Marigold’s arms.
Shyly she smiled at Ellie, her smile widening with confidence when Ellie grinned back.
Corey introduced Jennifer and Ellie and told Marigold that he was going to get married and that not to worry because he would take care of her. His heart warmed when Jennifer chimed in that they both would take care of her.
And as if Two Tone agreed, he let out a loud grunt and settled his rotund body deeper into Marigold’s arms, proclaiming her one of the family. All of them laughed through their tears. And when Corey’s and Marigold’s eyes met, they knew that finally, out of the darkness of despair, they had found a place of warmth and light. A place they could call home.
Epilogue
Three months had passed since Marigold had moved in with them. She and Ellie had become immediate friends. Seldom apart, they shared secrets, Two Tone and the love of horses.
Jennifer had bonded with Marigold right away, which didn’t surprise Corey. With her big heart and gentle hands, she had soothed Marigold’s fears, bought her a huge wardrobe that Corey was sure she could never exhaust and made her feel warmly welcome in the big house.
Two months ago he had married Jennifer and it still brought tears to his eyes when he thought about how she had looked at him that day. How her eyes had filled with tears and love when he’d slipped the ring on her finger, broadcasting to everyone that she was his forever. Both Ellie and Marigold had been bridesmaids. The whole town had turned out for the nuptials, heralding Corey as a hero for standing up to Jay Butler and his vicious brothers. Corey had even received grudging respect from the sheriff. The Butler brothers had been charged with attempted murder and assault and were all sentenced to prison terms. Corey had begun to see a therapist and was working through the emotional baggage he carried around with him. Progress was slow, but it was sure.
He had taken the considerable sum of money his mother had left him and contracted builders to erect the community center on the outskirts of town on a plot of land that had been long forgotten. Jennifer had encouraged Corey to make a bid on the land.
Now the center was ready for the finishing touches and the staffing. He’d recruited Ellie, Marigold and Tucker, promising to pay for the boy’s jumping lessons in exchange for his help. He also helped Ellie and Tucker mend the rift between them.
Corey sat resting his aching back against the now-dry, newly painted director’s office wall. He closed his eyes wearily.
“What do you think you’re doing, Rainwater?” Jennifer asked dryly.
“Resting.”
“Looks like slacking to me,” she said with a gleam in her eye. His gray T-shirt clung to the hard curves of his chest and his dark hair lay loose and wet against his neck. The red bandanna he’d tied around his forehead was also drenched with sweat.
“Whose idea was it, anyway, to open a community center?” He grinned up at her, humor glinting in his eyes.
Jennifer sauntered over to him and crouched. She pointed her finger into the steel of his chest. “I believe that bright idea was yours, cowboy.”
He reached up and cupped her face, the turquoise ring on his left hand reflecting the light from the skylights above. “I’m always up for a challenge.”
Jennifer smiled and her eyes traveled down his body. “That’s never been one of your problems.”
“No. You, darlin’, are my only problem. One I want to take a lifetime to solve.” He smiled and drew her forward, kissing her mouth.
She grabbed his hand and touched the ring on his finger. “You’ve got a lifetime, because I’m not letting you go.” She intertwined her left hand with his until her matching turquoise ring connected with his. He drew her forward between his legs and with a sigh she melted against him.
He buried his face in her hair. “I love you, Jenny darlin’.” His voice was thick and uneven.
She turned her head to look up into his eyes, her heart so full it was almost impossible to hold all the emotion she felt for this brave, strong, precious man. She closed her eyes against the instant surge of emotion, wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him hard. Swallowing against the tightness in her throat, her happiness perfect and thorough, she cradled his face in her hands. With the same thickness and unevenness in her voice, she said, “My heart will always belong to you, Corey. Forever.”
“Jennifer, about Tucker—”
“Yes, we can unofficially adopt him, too. Why not? The more the merrier. He’s a sweet kid.” Jennifer snuggled into his sweaty warmth and turned her face up for another kiss.
“Please, can’t you guys get over it,” Ellie said as she walked into the room, Marigold trailing behind her. “The rest of the furniture’s here, Dad and Mom. Where do you want them to unload it?”
Jennifer got to her feet and Corey rose. The sound of the word Dad on Ellie’s lips, even if it was with a teasing inflection, made him feel warm and mushy inside. “You know something, little darlin’, you didn’t knock,” he said in a mock-scolding voice.
“There wasn’t a door, smarty-pants,” Ellie responded tartly, putting her hands on her hips, using the same taunting inflection that Corey had used.
“Yeah, Corey, you can’t expect Ellie to knock if there isn’t a door, now, can you?” Marigold mimicked Ellie’s stance.
“Is there an echo in here?” He turned to look at Jennifer.
“Parrots maybe.” Jennifer laughed, her eyes twinkling as she wrapped her arm around Corey’s waist.
“I guess I’d better put one in then,” he said as he moved swiftly and caught both girls around the waist and swung them around.
Tucker walked into the room with a disgusted look on his face. “Hey you guys were supposed to tell Corey that the delivery truck is here,” he said, puffed up with pride that Corey had trusted him with the furniture.
“I did, Mr. Garrison, so there.” Ellie’s tone was crisp.
“Don’t get snippy with me, Ms. Rainwater. I think those guys are getting impatient,” Tucker scolded, his eyes moving to Corey.
“Well, I’ll just tell them they’ll have to wait!” Ellie started to walk out of the room.
Tucker grabbed her by the arm and said, “You better hold on there. Let Corey handle it.”
“Don’t get pushy. Who died and made you boss, Garrison?” Ellie extricated her arm with all the grace of a princess, giving Tucker a hard look. She wasn’t about to let his touch make her feel all weak in the knees.
Marigold, not about to be left out of the squabble, tugged on Ellie’s other hand. “Yeah, Garrison.”
They exited the doors still arguing heatedly.
“They’re going to drive us crazy, Corey.” Jennifer chuckled. “Already Marigold and Ellie are as thick as thieves. God help us when they get hormones. Two fourteen-year-olds. My mother and father have really gotten their revenge.”
Jennifer looked up at her husband and her features softened when she saw the look of pure rapture on his face.
“Yeah, isn’t it grand?” He beamed, grabbing Jennifer around the waist. “What do you say, Mrs. Rainwater? Want to go rescue those deliverymen before your daughter puts them in their place?”
“Lead on.” The surge of love she felt for him made her voice rough.
Hours later, once the painting was finished and the last door was installed, the furniture unwrapped and situated, the five of them sat on the newly carpeted floor and toasted the opening of the Silver Creek Community Center. Corey and Jennifer with champagne and the teenagers with cider.
Jimmy walked into the center with a camera in his hand. “Why don’t y’all ga
ther together and I’ll take a picture,” he coaxed, undaunted by the moans and groans of the teenagers.
It wasn’t until everyone was settled on the sofa that Corey realized that he had finally gotten what he had wanted so many years ago and so much heartache later. A family. A wonderful, beautiful, normal family.
When the shutter clicked, the image was caught forever on film.
“Corey,” Jennifer said softly as he slipped into bed beside her that night, gathering her into his arms. “I’ve been waiting for you. I have something very important to tell you. Where have you been?” She reached out for him.
“Showing Ellie and Marigold how to draw faces,” he replied. She snuggled into his arms, drawing her warm soft body against his. “What did you want to tell me?” he murmured sleepily.
“Remember the day we, um, lost control in the pantry? Well...we’re going to have a baby... I’m four months along.”
Corey made a half shout, half sob in his throat, drawing her closer to him, giving her a kiss that could ignite rock. “God, Jennifer, I’m so happy.”
They lay together as he stroked her arm and nibbled on her ear. A few moments later he spoke again. “Are you sure you don’t mind? I mean about my sister living with us and about Tucker.”
“Don’t be so stupid. Of course I don’t mind. It looks like she and Ellie are going to be really good friends.” After a moment of silence she said, “Hey, are you ready to go to sleep yet, I need my rest.”
“How much?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Yeah,” he said, doing something wicked with his hand and smiling when she gasped.
“But not that pregnant and not that sleepy,” she murmured.
Many moments later in the warm afterglow of their lovemaking, Jennifer stroked the hard planes of his chest and asked softly, “Things are working out with the counselor?”
“It’s going to take some time and I know things won’t always be perfect, but I’m willing to try.” He had discovered that he could only be the man he was and he hoped that would be enough. He looked down into Jennifer’s eyes and saw that it was enough, more than enough. He smiled.
She smiled back at him, then reached for his lips. With sighs of pleasure, they joined their mouths and their lives.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-7222-4
JENNIFER’S OUTLAW
Copyright © 1997 by Karen Alarie
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office. Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street. New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Jennifer watched him ride away, watcbed until be was out of sight.
Letter to Reader
KAREN ANDERS
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Copyright
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Jennifer watched him ride away, watcbed until be was out of sight.
Letter to Reader
KAREN ANDERS
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Copyright
