Larson: McCullough’s Jamboree – Erotic Jaguar Shapeshifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  “Yes, well, she told me to break this part to you gently, but they want to make a movie series, on the big screen, of your books.” She handed him the baby and stood up. Larson thought she looked like she was going to be sick. And when she rushed from the room, with her hand over her mouth, he followed her.

  He stood outside the bathroom for a few minutes before the nanny came to get Sam. She could hear that Virginia was ill and asked if it was the baby. Nodding, not wanting to tell her what he’d done, he watched the door until it finally opened.

  “You call that gently?” He grinned. “I don’t think you’re the least bit funny right now. And for that matter, I don’t even know if I like you.”

  “You love me, admit it.” She growled low and he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, but you had to know that it was going to happen sometime. You’re very well liked. And people love your stories.”

  “They feel sorry for me.” He lifted her chin up so that she could see that he was cocking his brow at her. “Well, that’s what I want to believe, and you can believe whatever you want. They feel sorry for me.”

  “All right, love. They feel sorry for you.” He held her again and stroked her back as they stood there. “So, these people that feel sorry for you, what do you think they’re going to do when they find out your book is going to be made into a big-time movie?”

  Before she could retaliate, which he was sure she was going to do later anyway, the front doorbell rang. He loved the sound. It wasn’t a usual ring, like most houses, but a minute of classical music, complete with harps and all.

  Making his way to the door with Virginia at his side, he waited for Ben to answer it and stood back when he didn’t recognize the person standing there. The elderly woman smiled at Ben and asked if Larson was at home.

  “Mr. and Mrs. McCullough are both at home, miss. May I tell them who is calling?” She said her name, but Larson didn’t hear it. “If you’d come this way, miss, I’ll go and tell Mr. McCullough that you are here.”

  He turned then and saw them both standing there and told them who she was. Just as her name registered with him, two other people entered the room, one a willowy blonde girl, the other a dark-haired boy. Both of them were dressed in somber clothing, and he knew why now.

  “You’re Tom and Donna’s children. Come in, come in.” They hugged him, and he hugged them back. Mrs. Simmons, Tom’s mom, hugged him and Virginia twice before she pulled a pretty hanky from her pocket and wiped at her tears. “I’m so sorry about your loss, Mrs. Simmons, children. Tom and Donna were good people.”

  “Yes, they were. And the best parents anyone could have had.” The girl, Jenny, smiled at him. “He told us to come here if something happened to them. I don’t know why he thought something would, but we have something for you.”

  “My dad and mom, they wrote us a letter when they left. Gave it to Grandma in case they were hurt or came up missing.” Vince, the younger of the two children, handed him a thick envelope. “We read it over, my sister and me. And my dad, he had it right about you. He said that you’d figure things out and fix it for us.”

  “You mean finding their killer?” Vince nodded and leaned into his grandma. He was taller than her, but she hugged him like he was just a little boy. Larson thought it was something they’d been doing his entire life. “I was glad to do so. But it wasn’t just me, it was my entire family that helped.”

  “My son, he thought the world of you. And he told me that if something happened to him and Donna, we were to come to you and give you this. I miss him more and more every day. And the kids, they’ve been my only saving grace.” She cried a little more, and Virginia held her as she led them into the living room. “I’m sorry. We probably could have waited until after Thanksgiving, but the kids wanted to come now. To do what their parents wanted them to.”

  Ben brought them in some refreshments and asked if they’d be joining them for dinner, there was plenty. Virginia said that they would, and Rose, Tom’s mom, insisted they could find them something on the way back to the hotel.

  “Nonsense. You’ll stay for dinner. And for tomorrow as well. In fact, we’ve only just gotten all the bedrooms furnished over the last few days, and you can stay here.” Virginia told Ben to make arrangements to have their things brought here. “Now. You’ll not say no. You can ask my mom, I’m very pushy about things in order to get my way.”

  “You two are so sweet.” Rose looked at him and the envelope that he’d yet to open. “Tom, we had a long talk before he left. He didn’t tell me what was going on, but he did say that should something happen to him or Donna, we were to lay low until the time was right. I had no idea what he meant until that came for us. It’s the check, the one that you sent him that day. It’s signed and all by them both. And he told me to bring it here, to you.”

  “He didn’t tell me anything. Other than have me sell the shares to his stock in Ranger Mountain. Once that was done, he told me that he’d bought a boat. That he and Donna were looking forward to sailing with the kids this coming summer.” She nodded, and Jenny held her brothers hand. “I’m so sorry about this. I wish I could have talked him out of going.”

  “I don’t believe that you could have, young man. He was set on this and excited for it. Donna too.” Rose wiped at her nose again. “I find that I can get through almost a whole hour now without sobbing about my losses. But that…he said in a letter that I got a couple days after he was found dead, that we were to come to you and you’d know what to do with that money. Also, that you’d not leave anything to chance, that if something did happen, you’d make sure justice was served.”

  “Thank you.” He opened the envelope that was addressed to him. “He wants me to take the money that he sent you and invest it for your future. And to help you both get into a good college.”

  “He said that you’d be able to turn that into some money so that the kids wouldn’t have to work.” Larson told Rose that he’d do just that. “Thank you, Larson. As I said, he thought the world of you and what you’d done for him. When I think back on that conversation that we had just before he left, I ache with it. I think he knew, and somehow figured that being on the boat without the children, it would be better.”

  Dinner wasn’t as it usually was, noisy and loud. But the kids did eat, and they spoke to them when talked to. Virginia told them about the dinner that was going to be here tomorrow, as well as all the people that were going to be there.

  “Don’t think I won’t be keeping an eye on you to be sure you eat.” Jenny nodded and played with her chicken. Larson wasn’t sure what she was going to say next when a crying Sam was brought to her. “My son has the temperament of a wart hog.”

  They all laughed and Jenny asked to hold him. After that, things seemed to loosen up, and laughter seemed to ring around the table again. Sam, of course, was eating up all the attention, and it seemed to Larson that he was flirting with Jenny. Larson was happier about Sam being upset than he had been about anything in a while. Then the nanny winked at him as she left them for her own supper.

  My goodness, he thought, the entire household was helping with these children. After that, Larson joined them in teasing each other. He could not wait until tomorrow.

  Chapter 13

  Boyd was having the time of his life. He’d just brought a brand-new person into the world and couldn’t stop smiling. After four little girls, Mr. Patterson had his son. And what a son he turned out to be. Ten pounds and four ounces.

  “Look at him, will you?” Brad smiled at him over his wife nursing their newest addition. “Can you believe that? I’m a father of a big boy. He’s going to play linebacker or something equally exciting. And we’re going to be there for every play. Aren’t we, honey?”

  Not that he wasn’t there for his girls. The reason he’d been almost too late to see his son coming into the world was that he had taken his oldest daughter to baseball tryouts, where she’d made the team.

  Another of his girls was a gymnast. T
he third one, only about three, was quite the swimmer. And the fourth daughter was already playing better ball than most of the adults that helped coach her. And not once had he ever pushed them into what they loved doing. Brad just stood back and let them do whatever they wanted, so long as they gave it their best.

  “Have you got a name for this fellow yet?” He nodded and laughed. “I’m sure this is going to be good. How long did your wife argue with you before you bullied her into it?”

  “It’s her pick. I told her it could be.” Boyd looked at his patient, who was smiling like she’d won the lottery. Boyd thought in a way that she had. “I told her that she got to name this one, no matter what we had. And it was going to be the last. I can barely afford these girls.”

  Which wasn’t true. Brad, like a lot of people in town, had gone to Larson about helping turn their money into gold. Brad was a wealthy man, and could afford anything and everything that his children wanted.

  “His name is Bradley William Patterson, the second. We’ll call him Will.” Boyd looked at the shocked look on her husband’s face as he checked on the baby again. “You said I could name him anything I wanted. Well, I wanted him named for the greatest man I know. You.”

  “You said you hated my full name. Made fun of me when I suggested it for our first child.” She laughed and told him that was how she had been able to surprise him. “I see. So, you’ve been waiting on this day forever to name our son after me?”

  “I have. I knew that one of these days we’d have ourselves a son, and that he’d be just like his daddy. Almost as big too, as it turned out.” They were laughing as Boyd gave Will a clean bill of health and sent him on to the nursery. As soon as Vicki was ready for her room, he made arrangements to head to his brother’s house. Thanksgiving was the best day there was.

  On the drive to the house, he made verbal notes on his recorder so that he’d not forget anything on his day off. He was on call, but the office was closed up. And thanks to the Pattersons having their baby a day early, he was free of being called in on that as well. Sitting at the light at the intersection, he sent the notes to the service that would not only type them up for him, but also make sure they were put in the patient’s notes.

  Boyd looked around while he waited for the light to change. The little town was gearing up for the next holiday. There were people working in a couple of shops now, putting up trees in their front windows. One store was painting a scene in theirs. He knew that since he’d been a little boy, the Wilsons had been having a whimsical painting done every year. And he was glad that the new owners were doing the same thing.

  Looking at the light to make sure that he hadn’t missed it, he saw a man walking the streets without a coat or hat. When the light turned finally, he drove forward and pulled over when he realized that the man wasn’t stopping. Getting out of his car, he slowly approached the man, talking as he did so.

  “Sir? Are you all right? Do you need me to call someone?” He turned and looked at him then, and he knew who he as. The very man that he’d been thinking about. “Mr. Wilson, what’s going on? Why are you out here without a coat?”

  “I have to set up the store. I didn’t know it was Thanksgiving today, and I have to get the store ready.” He led him to his car, looking around for anyone that might be looking for him. “They said today was a special day. I didn’t know what they meant until I got two pieces of pumpkin pie for dessert. It’s Thanksgiving. I have to set up the store for tomorrow. It’s our biggest day. Is your mom gonna bring you by to see Santa, Boyd?”

  “I don’t think she will this year. But I’ll bring her by.” He said that was good. After getting him in the car and buckling him in, Boyd pulled out his cell and called the police. “Mr. Wilson was just wandering the streets.”

  “We’ve been looking for him for the past hour, Boyd. Christ, thanks for calling us. I’ll call the home and let them know. Poor old man. His wife passed a few months ago, and he didn’t take it well.” He said he could understand that. Joe said he could as well. “I’ll be by to get him. You might have to sit with him a bit, is that okay? We’re short staffed today.”

  “I’ll take him to my brother’s house. We’ll make sure he’s warm and fed. There are a lot of people going to be there this year.” Joe told him that his own wife was there, and he was coming by after work. “Just get him then. And we’ll keep him safe. Is that all right?”

  “More than all right. You McCulloughs, you guys are the best.” Joe laughed a little. “I sure hope that when I get old and infirm, there is someone out there like you for me. No telling what sort of trouble I can get into when I’m as old as Mr. Wilson.”

  Boyd said nothing, not commenting on the fact that he’d not be getting old and would, in all likelihood, still be practicing medicine when Joe was long gone. It saddened him, and made him realize how lonely it would be when everyone around him, friends and all, would be gone and he’d still be taking care of their great-great-great-great grandchildren.

  As he drove them to Larson’s he thought of his life so far. He was happy with it. Boyd had a good family, a home now, and he had lots of nieces and nephews around all the time. With him and Hawk the only single men in the family, they hung out more. Commiserated on how domesticated their other brothers were. He loved their wives, had fun with them, but his mate, he knew, wasn’t going to come.

  “I had my chance, Mr. Wilson, and I let it go for the pursuit of a career.” Mr. Wilson told him that there wasn’t anything like a good woman. “Yes, my brothers have great wives. My dad and mom have been happily married for a very long time. I love them to pieces, but it’s not in my cards to be as happy as them.”

  “Only you can make yourself happy, young man. There ain’t nothing out there that can make you what you want to be but for yourself.” Boyd nodded, not sure he didn’t have it right. “Why just the other day, the missus and I were talking about you boys and how well you’ve turned out to be. That other one, the bird? Anyway, I worry for him a lot. Poor boy will need himself a good strong woman to tame his heart. And you, you need someone to shake you up a bit. Rock your world like that Lauren does for Colin.”

  “You know Lauren?” He said she came to see him sometimes. “Well, I didn’t know that. She is a world breaker.”

  “That ain’t all she is breaking, either.” They both laughed about that. “I tell you, meeting you today was a God send. I been cooped up for so long that I can’t be around people like them old ones there anymore. I know that I get lost sometimes, used to even before the kids locked me away to forget, but I got good days too, and I’m having one with you today. You’re a good boy, Boyd. Don’t have enough people telling me that anymore.”

  “I’ve always thought you were a good man. And a good husband and father. You provided for your children all their lives, Mr. Wilson. And you made that little store the highlight of my childhood when I was growing up. Going there with our mom at this time of year was something that my brothers and I looked forward to all year.” He smiled and nodded, and wiped at his tears. “You’re a good man. And I’m glad to have known you all my life.”

  “Thank you. Thank you very much. Now, let’s not be melancholy on this day. It’s my favorite holiday, next to my birthday. Though, I’ve not looked forward to that in a great many years either. Going to be ninety-four. Can you believe it?” He laughed heartily. “My mom said the way I was as a kid, I’d be lucky if I made it to my twenties. I sure do miss her. She had a mean smack when you needed it, and the most loving hug a boy or man could ever need. You still hug your mom, Boyd?”

  “I do. And my dad and brothers too. Not too much the women in the family, not the mates, but I love them as well.” He said that was a good thing too. “Yes. I love all the kids too. You ready for this?”

  “I believe I am. Yes, sir, I do believe I am.” They pulled up in front of the house and his dad came out. He wondered how he knew that he was bringing a guest, and figured that Joe would have called and told them. “Well, i
f it ain’t Richard McCullough. You still taking candy that you ain’t paid for?”

  “That was nearly fifty years ago, you old coot. And I came back and paid you. I told you then and I’m telling you now, I didn’t remember having it in my hand.” They were laughing as they made their way into the house. Boyd parked his car with the rest of them and went to the door too. Life was treating them pretty well at the moment, and he was going to enjoy it. He had a feeling that things were about to be topsy turvy again soon.

  The house was full to capacity. There were strangers there, as well as old friends. This is what it was supposed to be like, he thought. Opening your doors to everyone that wanted to come visit. Having a grand meal and lots of conversation. To him, this was all he needed.

  “You ready for the coming year?” He asked Hawk what he meant, just noticing that he wasn’t in fatigues. “I’m not going back after the holidays. I’ve decided to come home and open my own business in training people how to defend themselves.”

  “Really? You’re not going to go away for long periods anymore?” He said that he’d had enough, and that he still might leave when it got to be too much. “I’m glad. I’ve been out to see your house. Could you get any more off the beaten path?”

  “Yeah, when Dustin told me about the house, all I could think about was having four walls around me, and that would have driven me nuts. But I love the place. Open plan in the lower levels, and the bedrooms are huge. I haven’t gotten much in the way of stuff to put it in yet, but I have plenty of time. How about you?”

  “I have a nice little house. Nothing like you guys. It’s only me, you know.” Hawk said he was sorry. “Don’t. Not today, okay? Let’s not talk about mates and losses today. I don’t think I could take it.”