Yes, Ruby thought. If Walter was in trouble then Adam would take time out of chasing that tramp to help him. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? The stupid girl just stood there.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
“Ma’am,” the girl chirped in her irritatingly young voice, “the only person who just walked out of here was Jack Barnes. He’s a rancher. He owns the Barnes and Fleetwood Ranch outside town.”
Ruby’s head hurt. She put a hand to her temple to rub the throbbing there. Yes, Jack Barnes had come by and threatened her. He’d been calm about it, so Ruby knew he was serious. She understood that a man like Barnes was infinitely more dangerous when he was calm. He’d told her he could ruin her socially and financially and that he’d do it without a second’s remorse if she hurt Abigail Moore again. He was marrying Abigail Moore on Thursday. He was giving that slut his name and his protection.
Or had it been Adam who said that?
“Ma’am, please take your medication.” The girl’s voice grated on Ruby’s nerves.
Without thought, Ruby downed the pill and took a drink of the water. She needed to rest. She had to plan. It was obvious Adam wasn’t going to see reason, and neither her husband nor her younger son could see how it all would end. They would tell her she was overreacting, but she would not have that tramp in her family. Sometimes Ruby felt like Cassandra from the old Greek stories. She told them all what would happen, and no one would listen to her.
Ruby heard the door close softly and settled back against the plush cushions of the couch. She had to think, and this time she wasn’t going to bring anyone else into it. That had been her mistake. She let others influence her. She was his mother, and she was the only one who knew what he needed.
This time would be different. She would take care of that siren and save her son. Could a mother do any less for her son?
Sam shook his head. “You never learn.”
The sound echoed against the walls. The men’s bathroom at the Hamilton County Courthouse was empty save for Sam and Jack. Jack was happy with the circumstance. He was nervous. Trying to fix his tie was a nearly impossible task. Sam sighed and took over.
“Well, I don’t have occasion to wear them very often,” Jack admitted. He allowed Sam to pull the silk tie off and stood quietly as Sam efficiently began to retie the knot.
Sam worked the silk with an easy hand. “You should be glad one of us listened to Julian’s numerous lectures on proper dress. I have to admit, it’s a little fun to see you so nervous.”
“I’m not nervous,” Jack lied.
Sam finished and looked over the pristine pinstriped suit Jack was wearing. “You look perfect.”
Jack felt a little awkward. It was there between them. Jack could remember the way Sam felt underneath his hands. It was strange, but Jack was okay with it. This new relationship with Sam was something they could explore. The possibilities suddenly seemed endless. But first, he had some formalities to get through.
“Do you think we should have driven into Tyler and gotten her roses?” Jack looked down at the store-bought bouquet of lilies. It was wrapped in green tissue paper and covered with plastic.
“No,” Sam replied. “Abby loves lilies. She’ll like the flowers, Jack. They’re the best we can get in Willow Fork. Now, I believe you’ll find that when we get to Hawaii, we’ll have to upgrade. Don’t worry, I planned everything out. We have the best suite, the finest hotel, first class tickets to everything.”
Jack nodded. “Good. I want that…for both of you.”
Sam grinned. “Yes, Jack, you made that plain when you gave Abby the go-ahead to redecorate. I saw the check you wrote to the contractor. That was a lot of zeroes. I write the next one, okay?”
Jack wanted to argue but shrugged instead. “All right. She’s your wife, too. Well, she will be in twenty minutes.” Jack turned and looked at himself in the mirror, praying he didn’t look like an idiot. Everything seemed to be in the right place. He needed a haircut, but when he’d mentioned it, Abby had sweetly pleaded with him not to. She’d told him she liked his hair longer.
Damn, he thought, pushing the thick black stuff back, the things he was willing to do for that woman.
There were, however, some things he was not willing to do. “You talk to Kyle Morgan about what’s wrong with his football players? You tell the coach that it is not my responsibility to give his players work. Ranching is not a part-time business.”
For the last two days, the ranch had been inundated with high school boys looking for part-time work.
“I don’t think they really want to learn the business, Jack. Besides, a couple of them offered to mow the lawn or clean the pool…for free.”
“Why the hell would they do that for free?” Jack asked, letting irritation tinge his tone. “Why are they trying to do me favors?”
Sam shook his head and readjusted his own tie. “I don’t think they give a damn about you, Jack. If you haven’t noticed, it’s Abigail they ask for.” Sam looked down at his watch. “We have to go. It’s time to meet Abby.
Jack’s face flushed. “Are you telling me we’ve got twenty horny high school boys sniffing around our wife?”
“Get used to it.” Sam slapped him on the back. “She is one hell of a woman. That’s the good news. She loves us. I doubt she’ll be running off with the quarterback. He’s the one who offered to wash her Benz.” Sam guided Jack out of the bathroom and into the corridor that led to the Justice of the Peace’s office. “The running back has written a few lines of poetry to welcome Abby back into town.”
Jack heard Sam, but his words didn’t really register. Jack’s attention was wholly on the woman in front of him.
Abby sat on a bench just outside the office. She was talking to Christa and her mother. Mike stood in his best Sunday suit. He murmured something to the women, who looked up. Abby stood and smiled.
She was in a form-fitting, cream-colored suit with black heels. Her glorious hair was in an elegant bun tied at the nape of her neck. A small hat sat dashingly on her head. She looked every inch the gracious lady, and Jack had no idea why a woman as beautiful as Abby wanted to marry the two of them.
“You still nervous?” Sam’s voice was full of emotion.
“I was never nervous, Sam,” Jack replied, his own voice thick. “I’m anxious. We need to get her to sign those papers before she comes to her senses.”
Abby walked toward them, glowing with happiness.
“She’s never coming to her senses, Jack,” Sam vowed. “She’s going to love us forever.”
“Thank god,” Jack breathed.
“I was beginning to wonder if I was getting stood up,” Abby complained good-naturedly.
“Never,” the men managed to say in complete synchronicity. They each took a hand and led her into the office.
The Justice of the Peace had never actually married a couple where the woman held hands with two men. Abigail Moore had said her vows with a steady voice, but the judge saw her squeezing Sam Fleetwood’s hand though she was becoming Jack Barnes’s wife. It was an odd but emotional little ceremony. Barnes didn’t seem to have a problem with Fleetwood kissing the bride after the ceremony. It wasn’t a friendly peck, either. It was quite the passionate kiss, but the new groom merely smiled indulgently before taking another kiss for himself. The small wedding party congratulated the bride, the groom, and Sam Fleetwood.