by Tina Leonard
“Now, now, what I meant was that they are numerous, but not necessarily quality.”
“I don’t know what you meant, but it sounded pretty demeaning to me.”
Bode laughed. “I never remarried after I lost my wife, Sidney. I think I know the value of a good woman.”
Sidney looked at him, not appeased.
“Now, take my daughter, Julie—”
Sidney stood. “I’ll find my own wife, Mr. Jenkins, if it’s all the same to you.”
Bode nodded. “Well, be quick about it. I’m very eager to write this check out to you instead of a charity. To be honest, I don’t think much of charities, Sidney. I’m not certain that all that lovely money ever gets to the deserving folks who need it.”
Sidney, white knight that he was, looked outraged. “There are many charities that do necessary, vital work.”
“Yes, and it would be better in your pocket where you could decide on the charities of your choice. I’m not much for charity, as I said.”
Sidney stared at him. “Are you trying to say that you decide where the money goes, if not to me?”
Bode pretended surprise. “Who else would?”
“My grandfather left no directive?”
Bode shook his head. “Nope. He figured you’d want the money badly enough to find your way to an altar, son. So maybe you ought to rethink letting Darla go, since the two of you had this nice little thing worked out.”
Sidney sighed. “Tell me again how my grandfather came to choose you to be the executor of his estate?”
“Business, Sidney. We did business together. You might say we understood each other’s world view, to a certain extent. And we went to school together, so we went back a long ways. He knew he could trust me.”
Sidney looked at him a long time. “You’re not trying to jump this will, are you, Mr. Jenkins?”
Bode grinned at him. “Sidney, from where you sit, two million dollars is a world of money. You can do a lot of good with it. You can have a nice house, send your kids to college. But for me, now, because I never let a penny go that had my name on it—unless Julie makes me—two million is good money, but it’s not going to change my standard of life.”
“I’m not sure you have a standard.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Bode smiled. “Your grandfather was a good man. And I always honor my friends.”
Sidney put his hat on. “Thanks for the drink.”
Bode nodded. “By the way, I have my doubts about Darla and Judah working out.”
Sidney stopped. “What do you mean?”
“A little bird told me that they’re planning to divorce as soon as the children are born. Now if you ask me,” Bode said, his gaze sad, “that’s a crying shame.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Ask Darla,” Bode said, and Sidney said, “I will.”
He closed the door.
Bode grinned and hummed a wedding march.
“IT WAS A LOVELY EVENING, Judah,” Darla said at her front door when the “limo” returned her home. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Judah said. “My truck’s here, so I can leave, but of course, I can also stay if you want company.”
Darla thought about the dining table and how she’d never be able to eat there again without remembering Judah loving her into a delirious frenzy. “It’s been a long day. I have to be up early.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
She wondered if he understood something she wasn’t necessarily saying. “Judah, why did you really plan the surprise trip tonight?”
He shrugged. “We haven’t ever dated, for one thing, and for another, I’m kind of hoping that tomorrow will be the day we get married.”
A truck door slammed, and Sidney appeared.
“Hello, Darla,” he said. “Judah.”
She glanced at Judah, then at Sidney. “What are you doing here, Sidney?”
“Just feeling a bit wistful. Tomorrow’s supposed to be our big day,” he said. “Hope you don’t mind me saying so, Callahan.”
“Not at all,” Judah said, “but I guess this is awkward. You two probably have things to discuss. Plans to end.”
“Actually, I need to talk to both of you,” Darla said.
Chapter Twelve
Darla seated her beaus on the sofa, gave them some tea, wondered if she should serve something stronger. They looked at her expectantly.
“Sidney,” she began, “you and I were making a deal when we agreed to get married. That wasn’t fair to you.”
“I was okay with it,” Sidney said. “I still need a wife. In a really bad way.”
“There’s a lot of women running around Diablo,” Judah said helpfully. “Let me introduce you to some.”
“I like this one,” Sidney said, and Darla could tell he was baiting Judah.
“And Judah,” she said, “there are some things between us that make me nervous. The condom prank, for one thing, which you never told me about. We shouldn’t even be in this position.” She took a deep breath. “I’m still in shock that I’m having twins.”
“I’m a Callahan,” Judah said. “Magic happens for us.”
“Awkward,” Sidney said. “And as a doctor, may I remind you that the female is responsible for some of the genetic coding?”
Judah shrugged. “But babies by the bunch are what we do at Rancho Diablo.”
He said it in a top that! tone, and Darla sighed.
“Also,” she said, “Sidney wasn’t honest with you about your concussion.”
Judah looked at Sidney. “Tunstall, you’re a dirty dog. You made me think I’d cracked my nut. Did I even have a scratch?”
Sidney shrugged. “Perhaps there was something minor. Maybe.” He sighed. “No. But I saved you from yourself. You needed to be here, with Darla, figuring out your future.”
“You see,” Judah said, “he’s a gentleman, if not a good M.D.”
Sidney shrugged again. “Whatever. I’ve had crankier patients.”
“So,” Darla said, interrupting their digging at each other, “this is my dilemma.”
“No,” Judah said. “You’re having my children. There is no dilemma. We will find Sidney an appropriate bride of his own. I’ll lend him my tux, but nothing else.”
Sidney put his palms up in surrender. “I’m thinner than you, so the tux wouldn’t fit. However, I can see that Darla has made up her mind—”
“I haven’t made up my mind,” Darla said quickly, feeling bad for Sidney, “because what I’m trying to tell both of you is that none of this started out right with either one of you.”
“I don’t care how it started out,” Judah said. “I’m pretty happy with how things are proceeding. But if Sidney tries to marry the mother of my children, I’ll give him a concussion he won’t forget.”
“He probably would.” Sidney stood, went to the door. “He’s a caveman, Darla. And I’m a gentleman. But ladies have always been attracted to bad boys. I know when I’m beat.”
“That’s right,” Judah said, and Darla glowered at him.
“You’re not beat, Sidney,” she said softly, “but he is a caveman.”
“I just took you to Chicago,” Judah protested.
Sidney kissed Darla on the forehead. “You guys have a lot to work out. I’ll shove off.”
“Both of you shove off,” Darla said in annoyance. “I think you two have a lot to work out.”
“What?” Judah asked. “You can’t expect us to be best friends. We’re both too manly for that.”
“It’s hard competing for a woman,” Sidney said. “So I’ll have to agree with him.”
“Both of you go,” Darla said. “Now.”
They looked at her, neither one happy.
“And don’t come back until you’ve resolved your issues. I’m not having any hard feelings over a day that should be the happiest of my life.”
“But—” Judah started, and Sidney said, “All right.”
“Now, look
here,” Judah said, “this game of yours of always being Mr. Nice is tiresome. I can be nice, too.”
Sidney shrugged. “If you own that emotion, own it. No one’s standing in your way.”
Judah frowned. “He’s not going to fight fair,” he complained to Darla. “I don’t trust skinny bronc busters. He’s already tried to put one over on me about my nonexistent concussion.”
“That was your own fault,” Sidney said righteously. “Even you should know if you bumped your head or not.”
“I’ve had other things on my mind,” Judah said with a growl Darla’s way.
“Good night,” she said, closing the door on both of them.
“What about tomorrow?” Judah called through the door.
“Tomorrow is another day,” Darla told herself, and went to bed alone, already wishing Judah was there to hold her in his arms.
“WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO be careful,” Sidney said. “She might find another guy to marry.”
“What are you talking about?” Judah wondered if the top of his head was about to blow off. Was the doc crazy? In Judah’s opinion, Darla loved no one but him—even if she hadn’t realized it herself yet.
“If she has to choose between us,” Sidney said reasonably, “she might opt for a third party.”
They leaned against Judah’s truck, chatting under the dark night sky as if discussing the stars. Judah grunted. “I’m not worried. I wouldn’t let that happen.”
“She’s suffering with a guilt complex where you’re concerned, so you might not have a say in the matter. Guilt doesn’t make for an easy path to the altar.”
Judah didn’t care. “I’m getting her to the altar tomorrow. I have the rest of our lives to let her make up to me for all that guilt she’s worried about.”
“I don’t know if that’s the proper approach.”
“You’re my shrink now? My love doctor?”
“Someone’s got to do it,” Sidney said. “Look, I don’t mind helping you, but I’m in a ditch. I need her, too. So don’t push me.”
“What’s your deal?” Judah asked. “What’s it going to take to get you convinced that Darla is not the bride you want? Because frankly, you’re not going to have her.”
“Remember I was first,” Sidney said. “That flower arch in her backyard has my name on it, so to speak.”
“What flower arch?” Judah’s head turned like it was on a swivel. “I don’t see an arch.”
“Notice that all the little elves have been busy while you were chasing romance in Chicago.”
In his haste to try to get past Darla’s front door tonight, he hadn’t noticed the lanterns strung along her porch, and candles wrapped with pink ribbons along the drive. “Okay, what’s the plan? I’m open to suggestions right now. Because she returned the ring to me. And I heard she gave Sabrina some stupid magic wedding dress, not that I believe in magic.” Judah thought about the wild horses that ran across the far reaches of Rancho Diablo. They hadn’t been seen in a while. Maybe good luck had left him behind. “I do believe in magic,” he said after a moment, “and right now, I need some.”
“Yeah, me, too.” Sidney nodded. “I was sent here tonight to break you two up.”
Judah didn’t let himself show his surprise. “So you’re the villain in my fairy tale.”
“There’s nothing Bode Jenkins would rather see more than you and Darla calling things off.”
“Over my cold dead body will that happen.”
Sidney nodded. “I thought so. Anyway, that’s why I came over tonight. Hope I haven’t confused matters between you and Darla.”
“What do you mean?”
Sidney shrugged. “Just in case she’s in there right now having second thoughts. Third thoughts.”
“She’s not.”
“Bode’s determined to get at your family. I should probably keep my mouth shut, considering he holds some of my purse strings at the moment, but he’s playing foul.”
“Look,” Judah said, “I don’t know how to help you with your problem. I wish I did. But don’t let Bode talk you into a wedding you don’t want.”
“Yeah,” Sidney said, almost reluctantly. “I don’t want it. And Darla doesn’t love me, either. She’s always loved you.”
“Not me,” Judah said, and Sidney said, “Yes, you. You’re the only one who doesn’t know it.”
Judah blinked, considered whether Sidney knew what he was talking about or was trying to dig himself out of a pounding courtesy of Judah’s big fists. “Did Darla tell you that?”
Sidney got in his truck. “You’ll have to find out on your own. I’ve done all the repairs on my conscience I intend to. I’ll be here tomorrow, waiting to move in if you don’t do the job properly, though. And if you don’t mind, keep this conversation under your big hat. I don’t want Bode deciding to claim my inheritance. You have a trustworthy aunt who oversaw your affairs. Bode is a different proposition altogether.”
Judah tipped his hat. “Be here with your tux on,” he said. “I need a best man, and you’ll fit the bill just fine.”
Sidney looked at him. “Are we inviting gossip?”
“Just letting everyone know that the bride’s a smart lady. She’s got good taste in men. And you can show Bode he doesn’t own you.”
“He does, in a way, but that’s out of my control now.” Sidney backed his truck up. “Let me know if you come across an extra bride.”
“By chance have you ever met Diane, Aberdeen’s sister? She’s not exactly looking for marriage, but you might change her mind. Anyway, good luck.” He waved, and when the doctor’s truck had disappeared, he marched to Darla’s bedroom window. He tapped and a moment later she appeared, looking none too pleased to see him.
“Judah! What are you doing?” she asked through the glass.
“Serenading you.”
She slid the window open. “Go away.”
“I can’t. We have to talk.”
“So talk.”
“Let me in, Darla.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance, buster.”
“What is it?” he asked, his voice innocent. “What’s got my bride thinking less than happy thoughts the night before her wedding?”
“I’m not getting married tomorrow,” Darla said, “even though everyone is conspiring to make it happen.”
“I got blood drawn. I’m ready to rock,” Judah said. “It looks like the decorating is done, and you’ve got a dress. We can go get a marriage license in the morning, and be ready to say ‘I do’ at sundown.”
She shook her head. “I’m not a girl who rushes in to things.”
Judah put his hands on the window ledge and hauled himself into Darla’s bedroom. “Whew, I’m getting too old for this,” he said. “I hope you plan on being a more agreeable wife than you are a fiancée.”
“I’m not your fiancée. And you’re not supposed to be in here.” Darla closed the window and pointed a finger toward the den. “Go out there if you want to talk.”
“It’s dangerous for you out there, too,” Judah said. “I like variety.”
She didn’t reply, but he could tell she wasn’t exactly rejecting his suit. “So back to this guilt thing,” he said. “I don’t care if Creed’s stupid condoms failed. I’m going to have the most beautiful babies in the world. And I don’t care about Doc trying to give me the shove. I like him. He’s entitled to want the most beautiful woman in Diablo, too. So,” Judah said, crossing to take her face between his hands, “can we put all this guilt business behind us? Because you really, really want to marry me, and frankly, putting me back out in the stream to be fished by other ladies is a move you’d always regret.”
Darla closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax in his grasp. “Let’s sleep on it. I’m too tired to think tonight.”
“I’ve waited a long time to hear that. Come on, love, let me put you to bed.”
He pulled Darla toward the bed, pressing her down into the sheets. He lay down next to her, tugging her up agains
t him spoon-style, and rubbed her back until she fell asleep. Once she was breathing deeply and he could tell she was out like a light, he cupped a palm under her tummy—under his boys—and fell asleep himself, feeling like a million bucks.
Chapter Thirteen
Darla would have liked to pretend that she surrendered, but when she stood at the altar the next evening after a whirlwind of last-minute preparations, she knew she was marrying Judah because she’d always dreamed of it. Whatever they were letting themselves in for, he was going to be her husband, and she was going to be Mrs. Judah Callahan, exactly what she’d always wanted.
She wasn’t strong enough to resist her dreams another day. She couldn’t imagine not marrying him. In that, Judah was egotistically right: she didn’t want to return him to the dating pond for other women to catch. She wanted him all to herself.
Maybe he wasn’t the marrying kind, but she had to take a chance that he was.
Everyone was happy, smiling at the wedding. The evening was lovely, the air sweetened with romance. Judah was breathtakingly handsome and sexy; she couldn’t believe he was actually going to be hers.
“Are you ready?” Jackie asked, coming to her side.
Darla nodded. “Thanks for being my maid of honor.”
“I’m happy to have a sister.” Jackie hugged her. “Judah’s out there pacing. If we don’t get you down the aisle, he’s going to come get you.”
Darla smiled. He’d been gone this morning when she’d awakened, but he’d left a note on her pillow telling her that she was the luckiest woman in the world, and she’d always be the envy of every other woman in town.
Typical Judah.
“I’m ready,” Darla said.
“Just a small warning,” Jackie said, “so you won’t be surprised. Bode’s here.”
“I didn’t invite him.” The news did nothing to calm her nerves.
“Bode is like the troll that no one ever invites, but he manages to hang around. I vote ignore him, and completely ruin his day. Fiona told him that if he did one thing to upset you, she’d have him tied to a cactus. And I won’t tell you what Judah said about it.”
