The Bride's Choice

by Sara Orwig

  “Be careful, Counselor. We’re back on dangerous ground.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to get back to the preschool…I have carpenters coming.”

  “When you give me looks like that, I want to lock up my office and carry you off to a hotel.”

  She gave him a level gaze. “Not a chance.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll work on it.”

  She shook her head in exasperation as they left the res- taurant. They walked back to his office. In the parking lot beside her car, he turned her to face him. He placed his hands on her shoulders and her heart began to race with ex- citement and alarm that he might kiss her here on the street with people and traffic around them.

  “I still wish I could cancel everything for the afternoon and go home with you.”

  “Well, we both know it’s wisest not to. I’ll see you at home tonight.”

  “That sounds so damned good,” he said solemnly, making her heart skip a beat. “Am I forgiven?”

  She shook her head. “You knew you were forgiven when you kissed me.” She tilted her head and studied him. “I wish I could resist you.”

  He inhaled, his chest expanding, his eyes darkening. His hands tightened on her shoulders. “I’m going to remind you of that statement tonight,” he said in a husky voice.

  “I better go.” She could barely get out the words. Sparks danced between them, the air seeming to crackle as they stared at each other and she struggled with her emotions. She turned and grabbed the car door, yanking her hand back with an exclamation. The sun had heated the door handle.

  “Did you get burned?” he said, reaching past her to open the door. She looked up at him.

  “Badly. So damn badly,” she said softly, thinking about him and knowing she was heading for hurt. She slid into the car that enveloped her with heat and he stepped back, pushing his jacket open as he placed his hands on his hips and watched her back out and drive away. Before she turned out of the lot, she looked in the rearview mirror to see him still standing there watching her.

  She tried to concentrate on traffic, her thoughts and emotions churning while she muttered darkly to herself about Cal turning her life upside down.

  That night it got worse.

  Juliana arrived at six and thirty minutes later, Cal drove up. He came bounding up the stairs as she started down. He looked virile, filled with healthy vitality and she realized that even with the boys and Gladys and Stoddard around, it was sexier to live under the same roof with someone on a day-to- day basis than to date the person. Cal had removed his jacket and loosened his tie. His black hair was tousled from the wind and the moment he saw her, his expression changed to a warm gaze.

  She had changed to cutoffs and a red T-shirt and his gaze swept over her as he reached the top of the steps. “Hi,” he said in a throaty voice that set her nerves tingling. “Red’s a good color for you.”

  “I was just going to round up the boys for dinner.”

  “I’ll do it if you’ll wait a minute.” He caught her arm. “Come here and let me show you something.”

  Curious, she followed him into his room. He closed the door and pulled her to him.

  “You tricked me!” she protested lightly.

  “Yeah, I did,” he admitted, wrapping his arms around her to pull her close and kiss her. Her heart thudded as she slipped her arms around his neck and responded until the kiss escalated.

  “We have a whole family and servants downstairs,” she said breathlessly.

  “I don’t care.”

  “I do. And I could get used to this kind of homecoming fast,” she said solemnly. “Now, let me show you some- thing,” she said, pulling on his arm and moving him away from the door. “Goodbye,” she said, reaching for the door.

  Cal gave her fanny a playful swat and she glared at him before rushing out and closing the door, hearing his soft chuckle. She went to her room and closed the door, head- ing to the mirror to look at herself because Mimi would give her an inspection and she didn’t want her grandmother gloating over the fact that Cal had kissed her soundly the instant he arrived home.

  All through dinner she was intensely aware of him, con- scious any time his fingers brushed hers. He had changed to jeans and a navy T-shirt that revealed the smooth bulge of muscles in his arms and chest.

  Halfway through dinner, Cal glanced around the table. “Guys, I’ve discussed something with Juliana and she says it’s okay. I’m getting you a horse.”

  The boys erupted into cheers until Stoddard thrust his head into the room from the hall and gave each of them a look.

  “One at a time,” Juliana said as they all began shouting questions at Cal. She noticed that Quin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

  “When do we get him?” Josh asked.

  “Him is her,” Cal said, grinning at them. “And first, you three have to help me build a corral.”

  “Yeah!” Josh yelled and glanced toward the door as if expecting Stoddard to reappear. He lowered his voice. “I’ll help.”

  “So will I!” Chris echoed. “When do we get it—her?”

  “As soon as we get the corral built. Are you going to help, Quin?”

  “Yes, sir,” he said, smiling. “What color is the horse?”

  “Black, so you can think of a name.”

  “I like Midnight,” Quin said quietly.

  “That’s a good name,” Chris said, and Josh nodded.

  “That’s settled,” Cal said. “If only we could settle everything that quickly and easily,” he added, glancing at Ju- liana.

  “I think a horse will be lovely for the boys,” Mimi said. “Of course, they have to learn how to take care of her and how to ride.”

  “I’ll teach them,” Cal said, winking at Juliana.

  She sat in silence, her emotions in turmoil. Don’t be so good to the boys. Don’t be a father they can’t bear to lose. They’ve already lost one. His wink seemed to wrap the two of them in their own separate world and she didn’t want that happening, either. He was storming all her defenses too fast, too completely.

  The boys spent the rest of the meal chattering about the new horse and the moment dinner was over, they left with Cal to look for a spot for the corral. She looked out the window to see Stoddard walking beside Cal.

  “He’s very good for all of you,” Mimi said, patting Ju- liana’s arm. “I knew he would be. Elnora did the right thing.”

  “I don’t know,” Juliana said, wondering how much they would be hurt when Cal went out of their lives.

  Mimi went home about eight, Gladys and Stoddard left, and the boys finally came inside for the night, while Cal sat in the family room and pored over notes about a case. Thunder rumbled in the distance and the wind died, leav- ing the air muggy and still.

  “Juliana! Juliana!” Quin shouted from somewhere in the house.

  His cry was filled with alarm, sending a chill through her as she raised her head. She came to her feet, running to- ward the hall, dimly aware of Cal heading toward the door at the same time.

  Nine

  Quin stood at the head of the stairs, his face white and eyes huge. Her heart lurched as the other boys came running.

  “Snookums is gone!”

  “Well, damn,” Cal mumbled beneath his breath. “He’s probably here somewhere,” he said, but Chris shook his head.

  “There’s a screen missing from a window in my room and the window was open.”

  “He wouldn’t jump out of a second-story window,” Cal said as he and Juliana climbed the stairs.

  “He didn’t have to. There’s an oak right outside my win- dow.”

  “He’s outside and no one’s with him,” Quin said, his voice quavering. “I want to go find him. He’s never been outside alone before. He won’t know what to do.”

  “Yes, he will,” Cal said calmly. “He’s a cat and it’s his nature to prowl, he’ll know what to do instinctively.”

  Thunder rumbled and Quin shivered. “He’ll be out in a storm and he doesn’t like st
orms.”

  “Let me get some cat food—he usually comes when he hears the can opener,” Juliana said. “And let’s look through the house and make sure he’s really gone before we search for him outside. Chris and Quin, you look upstairs. Cal, Josh, and I will check downstairs.” She patted Quin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about him, he knows this is his home. He won’t wander away.”

  “Suppose someone takes him?”

  “No one—” Cal bit off his words at a look from Ju- liana. “No one will get him. He’d run away from a stranger if anyone tried.”

  “Suppose a dog gets him?” Quin persisted. “There are dogs that roam around here.”

  “Red would keep other dogs from him,” Cal reassured him.

  “Honey, stop worrying. Let’s check the house first,” Ju- liana said, hurting for him because Quin looked terrified. “I’ll go open some cat food. If he’s in the house, he’ll come to the kitchen at the sound of the can opener.”

  Quin nodded and Cal knelt in front of him. “Don’t worry, son. Cats are able to take care of themselves better than lots of animals in this world. Snookums is smart enough to look out for himself. He’s probably either asleep under a bed or outside enjoying a prowl right now. You know how much you like to be outside.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Well, so does he. And he’ll come home to eat,” Cal said firmly, and Quin nodded. Juliana prayed the cat was fine, it would crush Quin if something happened to him. She went downstairs as Josh dashed down ahead of her and disap- peared into the living room. Cal walked beside her.

  “That damn cat is fine,” he said.

  “But we need to get him back inside the house.”

  “If he’s out,” Cal said. “Open the cat food and then you and Josh look around downstairs. I’ll get Stoddard to help me search outside. If Snooks is in the yard, I hope he can hear the can opener.”

  Thirty minutes later, Cal had returned and the boys stood in front of Juliana. “He’s not in the house,” Chris an- nounced.

  “I’ve looked outside and can’t find him. Stoddard came out and he’s still searching.” Cal let out a frustrated sigh before continuing. “The sappy cat could be a million places out there, just sitting watching me search for him.”

  “What about Red?” Juliana asked.

  “Stoddard said Gladys took Red home with her.”

  “I’ll help you look for Snookums,” Chris offered.

  “I want to go look,” Quin announced. “I don’t want to go to bed.”

  “I know you don’t,” Juliana replied. She glanced at her watch. “It’s twenty after ten. We’ll go outside and search for him, let’s meet back here in an hour.”

  “We’ll turn out the upstairs lights,” Cal suggested. “If someone finds him, come home and turn on all the lights upstairs so the rest of us can see to come back. Now, we need a buddy system. No one is to be out searching alone. Is that understood, guys?” he asked, looking at Quin and Josh.

  “Yes, sir,” they answered in unison.

  “Let’s get flashlights,” Cal suggested. “I have one in my car. Stoddard is already out searching for Snooks. Quin, you and Chris stay together. Josh, you come with me. Ju- liana, you stay here and let us know if he comes home. That’s as likely as anything.”

  She nodded and started toward the kitchen. “C’mon. We’ll get more flashlights.”

  Cal handed a flashlight to Josh as the two older boys left. “Here, Josh. Look in the bushes in the front bed, and I’ll be right out.”

  “Yes, sir,” he said and scampered out of the house, banging the screen door behind him. Cal turned to her. “Quin will work off some of his worries and wear down. That cat will show up when he gets hungry.”

  “I hope so. They’re independent creatures—”

  “Like someone I know,” Cal said, touching her cheek.

  “He’s never been out on his own before.”

  “Don’t you start worrying. I’d bet my practice that he comes home or we find him sitting around enjoying the fu- ror. And don’t worry about Quin. He’s with Chris and he’ll be all right as soon as the damned cat comes back. You’ve got the difficult job, just waiting.”

  He gave her shoulders a squeeze and left. The outside lights were on, and near the garage Cal saw Chris and Quin. Cal felt a tug on his heart as he watched Quin trudge into the shadows with his shoulders slumped and his head down.

  Thunder was still a distant sound, and Cal hoped they didn’t get rain before they found the cat. A flash in the dis- tance revealed a cloud bank to the south.

  An hour later as Cal headed toward the house, the up- stairs lights came on. “Hey, see, they found him,” he said to Josh. Josh gave a whoop and ran toward the house with a renewed spurt of energy. Relief filled Cal because the ap- proaching storm would add to Quin’s fears for the cat’s safety.

  In minutes, Josh raced up the steps and disappeared in- side the house. As Cal approached the screened porch, Ju- liana, Chris and Josh came out. Stoddard was behind them. One look at her face and Cal knew something was wrong.

  “What’s happened?”

  “Quin got away from me,” Chris said, his face turning red and his voice filling with frustration and anger. “I told him an hour was up and we were to go back. He didn’t want to and we argued about it. He grabbed my flashlight and threw it. When I went to get it, he ran off and just disap- peared in the dark and I can’t find him.”

  “He’s all right,” Cal said calmly, knowing they had a real worry now. “He won’t leave home because he wants to search for the cat, so he’s out in the yard. Does he have a flashlight?”

  “No, sir, he doesn’t.”

  “Okay. I think this guy is worn-out,” Cal said, pointing to Josh.

  “Josh, you stay with me. We’ll go get everyone if Quin comes home,” Juliana said.

  “Fine,” Cal replied. “Chris, you and Stoddard and I will search for Quin.”

  Juliana nodded, looking at Josh. “You need to get your bath now.”

  Cal turned to look at Chris. “Where did you last see Quin?”

  “At the end of the property, down by the creek.”

  Cal felt a chill of worry at the thought of Quin being in the dark along the creek by himself. He glanced around to see Juliana holding open the back door. He knew Juliana had heard Chris because fear was plain in her expression.

  “I’ll head that way. Chris, you take the front half of the yard. Stoddard, you go to the east. Let’s meet here in an hour.”

  They nodded, and he watched Juliana cross the porch with Josh. “Is Quin all right?” Josh asked, his childish voice filled with worry.

  Cal didn’t hear her answer as he strode into the dark to- ward the creek. “Quin!” he called. There was nothing but silence. He stuck the flashlight into his back pocket, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. At the creek he switched on the light, playing it over the dark surface of the water. His palms were sweating and he was tense with worry. After satisfying himself that Quin wasn’t in the water, he turned away, pushing through weeds and calling the child’s name again.

  An hour later, Cal passed the toolshed. The door was partially open, and he pushed it wider, shining his light around empty shelves and tools. He closed the door. He started to turn away, when he heard a rustle and a sniff. He walked around the building.

  “Quin?”

  Another sound came, like a soft cry. Cal shone his light and found Quin huddled behind a bush, his back against the wall of the shed. In his lap he clutched Snookums, whose big green eyes blinked in the glare of the light.

  “You found him.” Cal was swamped with relief at find- ing Quin. Tears streaked Quin’s cheeks, and Cal sat down beside him. “Isn’t he all right?”

  Quin nodded as tears still rolled down his cheeks.

  “Where did you find him?”

  There was only silence as Quin looked down at Snook- ums in his lap. He held the cat tightly, and Cal felt another wrench of sympathy for the child.

/>   “Was Snookums here by the shed?”

  Quin nodded.

  “He’s all right, isn’t he?”

  Quin nodded again, and Cal put his arm around the boy’s thin shoulders.

  “Well, that’s good. You’ve got your cat back and Snookums is just fine, so now you don’t have to be scared for him or worry about him, do you?” he asked, keeping his voice quiet and calm.

  Quin shook his head as he looked down at Snookums.

  “Snooks likes to get out and prowl around and he doesn’t know he isn’t supposed to do that. That’s a cat’s nature, and he’s all right out here,” Cal said softly.

  Quin continued to hold the cat tightly and look down at him. Cal brushed Quin’s hair back off his forehead. They sat quietly, Cal keeping his arm around Quin and listening to thunder that had moved closer.

  “We were all worried about you. Did you know we’ve been looking for you for a long time now?”

  Quin merely blinked and stared straight ahead. Sud- denly, Quin looked up at him. “I had to find him.”

  “I know you did and I know you love him, but we all love you even more and we were worried about you.”

  Quin’s blue eyes shimmered in a flash of lightning as he looked up at Cal. “You love me, too?”

  “Yes, I do,” Cal said, realizing he was beginning to bond with all three boys, knowing how frightened he had been when he had searched the creek. “And Juliana is worried about you.”

  Quin threw himself against Cal’s chest and hugged him, sobbing hard while Snookums was unceremoniously dumped beside them. Startled, Cal scooped up Quin and set the child on his lap. He tightened his arms around the small boy and held him close. “We all love you, Quin,” he repeated quietly.

  “Are you going to be our daddy now?” Quin said, looking up again, and Cal’s heart thudded.

  “Yes, I am, if you want me to be,” he said, thinking about his answer, realizing all four of them, Juliana and the boys, were important to him. A year from now was a hell of a long way, and at this moment, he cared for the boys and Juliana. For an instant, he forgot Quin as he thought of Juliana. Was he in love with his wife?