He went over and leaned around her to turn the volume down. “There, that’s good.”
“What songs are on the CD?”
“Just older holiday songs mixed in with some Christmas carols.”
He took a breath then asked, “Is ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ on it?”
She smiled. “Yes. It played maybe five minutes ago. I love that song.”
He followed her lips, but he heard her in his head as she spoke. It was her voice from his dream. “Oh” was all he could say.
Liberty studied him for a moment, then said, “Thanks for taking care of Pax,” and headed into the office. Jake cleaned Pax off, then lay down on the couch. As he closed his eyes, the dream ran through his mind of Liberty singing that song as he held her. Crazy coincidence. But he’d “heard” her sing it, and now that voice was fixed in his mind.
Morning came the next day with no snow falling and the wind barely there, but the cold was just as intense. Jake left Liberty a note on the back of the front door, Going to check county road. Back soon. Then he walked down the drive toward the boulders. When he got to the rise, he saw a snowplow going past the entrance, piling snow up on either side of a single cleared lane.
He turned and went back to the house. When he took the steps to the porch, the door opened, and Pax darted out past Liberty. “Good morning,” she said with a smile as he stamped his feet to get the clinging snow off before he stepped inside.
She closed the door, then turned to him as he unbuttoned his jacket. “So?” she asked, still in her pajamas with her hair loose.
He saw the hope in her green eyes, and he gave her the news. “The plows have cleared the road to the highway. It’s only one lane wide, but it’s drivable.”
He barely saw her smile before she was hugging him, her face buried in his chest. He felt as if he was living that dream when she’d been in his arms, and he closed his eyes and let himself hug her this one time. When she moved back, he met the full impact of her smile. “This is great! Let’s go,” she said. “I just need to change and get my phone, then I’m ready.”
With that, she took off up the stairs, and he went to sit down on the bench. He was playing with fire. His determination to keep his distance had bitten the dust. He couldn’t even avoid her hug. Worse yet, he wasn’t at all certain he would try to avoid it. Right then, he made himself a promise, one he wouldn’t break. As soon as the landline was connected, he was leaving. If Liberty had been someone passing through his life whom he was attracted to, he might have played it out. But she wasn’t looking for anything from him. She’d be married soon, and she was Seth’s dear friend.
He saw her at the top of the stairs, still smiling as she hurried down and over to him. Wearing a dark green sweater and jeans, with her hair back in a ponytail, she sat down by him on the bench. She put her boots and jacket on quickly, then stood. “I’m ready,” she said, but hesitated. “What about Pax?”
“What do you think? He could stay here if you put out food and water. We shouldn’t be more than a couple hours.”
She crouched in front of the dog and spoke to him, and Jake wished he could see what she was saying. The dog sat down, and she stood. “Ready?” she asked Jake.
“Is he ready?”
“Yes, I explained why we’re going away, and I think it’s okay.”
He wouldn’t challenge that statement. “So now that we can get to town, the plan for today is getting something to eat and do grocery shopping, then head to Wicker Pines to visit Sarge, right?”
“That’s the plan.” He saw her hesitate before she asked, “How are you doing?”
He felt the dream haunting him as he read her lips. He still imagined her voice. “I’m okay,” he said, and reached into the pocket of his blue plaid flannel shirt, which he wore under his jacket. He took out an old photo he’d found and held it out to her. “This was taken on the first day Sarge and Maggie moved into this house.”
When Liberty took it, Jake watched her study the photo of a young, strong Sarge with his arm around Maggie, a delicate-looking woman with red hair and happiness radiating from her. A soft smile touched Liberty’s lips as she asked, “Do you think I can make a copy so I can put it up in Sarge’s suite for when he comes home?”
“Sure.”
“You know, I think I do look a bit like Maggie.”
“Yes, you do.” He didn’t want to add anything about their other similarities, such as their smiles, their kindness or how both could walk into a room and life got better. That would only make things harder on himself. “Sarge’s life revolved around her.”
She fingered the edge of the old photo. “No wonder he’s so lost without her.”
To have one person so important to you that your life would cease to be worth living without them seemed unthinkable to Jake. He got to his feet and wanted to leave, but Liberty was still staring at the photo. When she finally looked up at him, he saw her say, “I need to put this away.”
“Okay. I’ll bring the truck up from the garage and meet you out in front.”
She went back toward the office while he slowly got to his feet and crossed to the door. Pax just sat there. “Protect this place,” he said to the dog, then Jake stepped out and closed the door behind himself. He paused to take stock of how he felt physically. Something was different besides that delusion that he could almost hear Liberty speaking. He wasn’t dizzy or nauseated, and pain didn’t come despite the horrible cold. He figured he’d find out sooner or later and headed off to the garage.
By the time Liberty came out the front door, the truck was idling by the porch steps and the interior was warming up. Jake sat on the passenger side watching her as she got in behind the wheel and closed the door. She readied herself with the pillows, adjusted the seat and secured her seat belt. Then she finally looked at him. “I hope Pax is okay.”
“He’ll be fine,” he said, hoping he was right. “We won’t be that long.”
“Okay, let’s go,” she said, and backed the truck up to turn it and head down the drive. She stopped before she turned onto the cleared lane of road and looked at Jake. “We’re probably safer with Pax at the house instead of in the truck. If he’d come, he probably would have been so excited he would’ve tried to give kisses and licked one of us to death,” she said.
He actually chuckled at that. “I guess dogs don’t learn to kiss by practicing on the backs of their own hands, or paws, as the case may be.”
“Is that how you learned to kiss?” Libby asked.
He liked that gleam of humor lingering in her eyes. “Why would you think that?”
“Just a guess that comes from seeing my share of preteen boys kissing the backs of their hands.”
He laughed again. “Busted, huh?”
“You bet. Although my Dad told me I couldn’t tease them about it.”
“Kind man.” Jake motioned toward the road. “Should we go?”
“Sure,” she said. Jake knew she couldn’t face him to talk while driving, so they drove in silence on the cleared lane to the highway. She stopped just before the turn to get on the northbound side and took her phone out of her jacket pocket. She looked at Jake. “I’ve got a signal, and I want to call the veterinarian for Pax. Do you know his name?”
“Lucas Patton.”
While she got the number, she made her call, then explained to Jake. “Dr. Patton said there was nothing in candy canes that would hurt Pax. He wants me to bring him in for a checkup soon.”
“So no death by candy cane?” he asked, not bothering to hide a grin.
She looked a bit embarrassed. “No, but it can harm his teeth.”
“A toothless dog,” he said, the grin still there.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WHEN THEY FINALLY arrived in Cody, the main street was almost cleared, but their progress was stop-and-go, dictated by a street
plow plodding along ahead of them. Libby tapped Jake’s arm when she had to stop because of another plow coming out of a side street. “I saw a sign for a market ahead, so we can pull in there.”
“Maybe they’ll have a deli or something and we can get some food.”
The cars in front of them started moving, and a few minutes later, Libby pulled into the cleared parking lot for the market and found an empty spot close to the entrance. As she brought the truck to a stop, Jake said, “I’ll stay out here. If you come across a roast-beef sandwich with everything but mayo, could you get me one?”
“Okay,” she said.
Libby came back out shortly after with a shopping cart full of bags. As soon as Jake saw her, he got out and came around to open the security box. While he took care of putting the groceries away, she carried one of the bags around to get behind the wheel. When he got in, she held out a wrapped sandwich to him. “Roast beef with no mayo,” she said as he took it from her. Then she handed him one of two bottles of cream soda. “I found these in the cooler.”
He smiled at her. “Great,” he said.
She laid her sandwich out on the console and unwrapped it. When she picked up her soda, Jake lifted his bottle to hers in a salute. “Here’s to people with kind hearts,” he said, his eyes holding hers as he took a drink.
“Is it a good or bad thing to have a kind heart?” she asked him.
He hesitated, then lowered his bottle. “In this world, sometimes it’s a very rare thing.”
Libby nodded at Jake. “I think you’re right.”
She stayed parked while she ate part of her sandwich, then rewrapped the remainder and put it back in the bag. Jake was finished with his when she pulled out of the parking lot and headed north to go to Wicker Pines.
When Libby drove the truck into the cobblestoned parking lot at the rehab, they were the only vehicle in the visitor’s area. Libby heard a beep from her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell. It was a warning that it was almost dead. “Shoot, I should have charged my phone,” she said as she stopped the car and turned to Jake.
He tapped a slot in the console between them. “Grab the cable and charge it while we’re inside.”
“How’s your phone for a charge?” she asked as she did what he’d said.
He took his out and turned it on. “Good.”
“Okay.” She turned off the truck and got out, but Jake wasn’t making any move to do the same. She went around and opened his door. He was looking intently down at his phone. She tapped his arm.
Very slowly, he turned toward her frowning. “Sarge isn’t doing well. Seth’s calling Max Donovan, the sheriff, to ask him to go to the ranch and get me to come here.”
Her heart sank. “Let me call and see what’s going on, unless you want to do a video call?”
“No,” he said right away, and handed his phone over to her.
She could feel his eyes on her as she stood by the open door in the cold and called Seth. He answered right away. “Jake! Finally.”
“Seth, it’s me, Libby. Jake just got your message, and we’re at Wicker Pines ready to go in. What’s going on?”
“Sarge is running a high fever, and they’re trying to figure it out. I’m stuck in New York. There’s no flight out because of a freaking snowstorm. Ben’s caught, too. I’ve been trying to contact Jake since Dr. Miller called me.”
“There’s no cell signal at the ranch, and the landline’s down.”
She heard his rough exhale from the other end of the line. “Max is almost to the ranch.”
“Do you know the sheriff very well?” she asked.
“He’s an old friend.”
“Well, there’s a dog in the house named Pax, and he’s all alone, and if we have to stay here longer, he might not do well. Do you think your friend could check on him to make sure he’s okay?”
“I’m sure he will. Let me talk to Jake.”
She looked at Jake and motioned him to get out of the truck. “Jake’s heading inside right now. We’ll call as soon as we know anything.”
She ended the call and handed Jake his phone. She told him what Seth had said. “We need to find out what’s going on with Sarge.”
Jake turned and headed toward the entry, and Libby had to half run to keep up with his long strides. When they were buzzed in, Julia was there to greet them. “You made it. I’ll get you in to see Sarge as soon as Dr. Miller finishes some tests. Right now, Sarge has a fever that’s far too high, but he’s resting comfortably. They’re working on adjusting his medication.” She motioned to a pair of wingback chairs near the desk. “Have a seat and try to relax. He’s in good hands. I’ll come back to get you as soon as possible.”
“Are you sure we can’t go in now?” Jake asked.
“I’m sorry, no.” She seemed sincerely apologetic. “In the meantime, I promise I’ll keep you up to date.”
Libby turned to look at Jake, who was staring as Julia went through the double doors. He spoke without looking at Libby. “I should just go back there. What are they going to do to me if I do?”
She could see his jaw working, and she stepped closer to him to touch his arm. He glanced at her. “They could have you removed physically, and you could see the sheriff when he comes to take you to jail.”
He took off his jacket and laid it over the back of the chair, which had a view of the double doors as well as a side door. He sat down, his eyes on the exits to the room. Libby did the same with her jacket, then sat facing Jake and leaned forward to touch his knee. She didn’t pull back until he looked at her. “If this was a really dangerous situation, they would’ve had him taken to a hospital, airlifting him if they had to. Money is no object with Seth. You know that. So this isn’t good, but it’s obviously something they feel they can handle.”
She expected him to close his eyes and shut her out, but he never looked away. “It is what it is,” he finally said on a heavy sigh.
“Is that your motto?”
“It has been for quite a while.”
“My dad’s kind of like that. He takes what comes and makes it work and never complains. I wish I were more like him. I mean, I’ve learned so much from him, even if I wasn’t there with him from the start of my life.”
Jake narrowed his eyes on her. “How long were you in the system before the adoption?”
She knew that answer pretty quickly. “Four years, two months and eleven days. How about you?”
His expression tightened as he looked down at his hands resting on his thighs. “Almost ten years from the time I was dumped at a police station until I went to the ranch. I don’t count my time with Sarge and Maggie as the system.” He shifted his hands to the arms of the chair and gripped them. “How did you get into the system?”
“My mother was a single parent, and my father’s name on my birth certificate was ‘unknown.’ My mother got sick when I was three, almost four. She didn’t make it.” She had to swallow. “The only real memory I have of her is the scent of the vanilla-and-roses shampoo she used.”
“So, you were adopted by your foster parents?”
“Yes, Susan and David Connor. I was eight years old when they asked to adopt me.” She exhaled. “They’re wonderful. They took me in and gave me a home and a great life.”
Jake held her eyes. “A real calm in the storm,” he said in a low voice.
“Yes, peace and safety and real love. Although, for a while, I thought they could send me back, even though I was adopted. The concept of being with them forever was hard to get my mind around. But when I did, wow, it was great. My new parents gave me a choice of what I wanted to be called. I decided I wanted to be a Connor like them, and they said I could choose any name or names I wanted. So, I went from being Grace Good to Liberty Grace Connor. The judge in the adoption court gave me a stuffed bear named Liberty. I really liked the name.”
; “And you never looked back,” he said.
“Well, I always remember the storm’s out there. And the foster camp, if it turns out right, could be the calm in the storm for so many boys.”
Jake looked more tense, but when he spoke, his words were measured. “I’m just glad that you’re out of the storm.”
That simple statement made her so aware of the man across from her she could barely breathe. Then Jake darted a look behind her at the same time she heard footsteps. She turned, and Julia was there. “You can go in now.” Jake got to his feet and was heading for the doors before Julia finished her sentence.
“Thank you,” Libby said to the woman, then hurried after Jake. She was surprised to find him standing just inside the double doors in the hallway, his hand pressed to his right ear. When he saw her, he lowered his hand and turned to keep going.
Libby didn’t say anything, but she knew something had happened again. If he wouldn’t mention it, she wouldn’t ask. She stayed by his side until they were outside the door to Sarge’s room.
Julia hurried up from behind them. “The doctor said he’ll be in to speak to you as soon as possible.” She was carrying their jackets, which they’d forgotten. “I’ll put these here,” she said, and laid them on one of the padded benches by the doors.
When Julia was gone, Libby looked up at Jake. “I’ll stand where I did the last visit, directly across from you. So if you have a problem, just give me the high sign.”
He turned toward the door but didn’t move to open it. Libby realized the man who took massive chances every time he went up to test a jet was worried about pushing through the door in front of him. He was afraid of what he’d face on the other side. She didn’t even think about it before she reached for his hand and laced her fingers with his. There was no reaction at first, then he was holding on to her. He closed his eyes momentarily, then reached to push back the door with his free hand.
When they stepped inside, Sarge was awake, his face flushed. The man was looking over at them. Libby couldn’t tell if he recognized Jake or not. She was praying he did. Jake went toward the right side of the bed, still holding tightly to her. Sarge looked up at Jake then spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “Oh, my boy, Jake.”
Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set Page 61
