Chirp(90)

A dog barked and broke her concentration. She removed her sunglasses, hung the stem in the top of her blouse, then strolled to the front door. After knocking with no response, she took a hairpin and made short work of the lock. Funny, she still remembered how to do it.

She turned to face her partners. “Remember, this guy is an ex-con, so things might get physical. But nothing will stop me from rescuing my stepdaughter. Understand?”

“Two of us, one of him. No problem,” Frank said.

Marla walked inside with both men right behind her. A dog yelped from the back porch.

“Where’d you learn to pick a lock?” Tony asked.

She spoke over her shoulder. “When I was a teenager, I’d sneak out at night. Had to learn how to get back in without a key.” That wasn’t the real story, but it sounded better than admitting she’d been a thief. She moved to the sofa and sat.

Tony ran his hand through his wavy hair. “Now what?”

She cut her eyes over at the hired muscle. “We wait.”





Wren


A wave of panic washed over Wren as she changed from her wedding clothes into jeans and a T-shirt. The earlier conversation concerning kids made her realize how little she knew about her new husband. Husband. The word caused her chest to tighten.

No doubt she loved him, and he’d said he loved her a million times, and she believed him. But was that enough? Sure, living together had provided some insights to his habits, but there was more to compatibility than not squeezing the toothpaste tube in the middle and liking the same foods.

She hung her wedding gown on the hanger and covered it with the clothes bag. It really was the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen, and from the way Rance had gazed at her when she’d appeared at the end of the aisle, he agreed. However, if he saw the price tag, he’d have more to say about her being rich.

When she’d joined him at the altar, he’d taken her hand and kissed it, and she’d almost collapsed from happiness. And then later, during their first dance together, her heart had pounded.

The door opened with the sound of a tap. Rance leaned against the jamb and smiled. “Mrs. Keller, you ready to go?”

Hearing her new name startled her. This was the happiest day of her life. Yet gloom settled over her like something bad was about to happen.

He rushed forward and took her in his arms. “What’s wrong?”

She rested her forehead against his chest and inhaled his scent. She loved how he smelled and the comfort of his embrace. “What if I mess up?”

He led her to a small bench and pulled her down next to him. “If anybody should worry about screwing things up, it’s me.”

“I have more money than you.”

“So I hear. But that makes no difference in how I feel about you. Lose it all tomorrow, I’m still your guy.”

“Okay.”

He placed his hand beneath her chin and tilted it up. “Look at me.”

Those beautiful blue eyes she loved stared back with nothing but adoration.

“Sometimes I’m restless and reckless and a real jerk, but I love you more than life. There’ll be times when I piss you off. But I’m the one person you can depend on no matter what—and I’ll be damned before I let anything or anyone come between us. Even my stubbornness. Understand?”

“Yes.”

He stood and brought her back into his arms. “Okay. We good?”

She nodded. “I want to make you happy.”

“Baby, you are my happiness. After all those miserable months I spent without you, I know that for a fact. Stop worrying. We’ll be fine. I promise.” He leaned to whisper in her ear, “Do you have a church on that list of yours?”

“No!”

He laughed. “Just checking, because if you did—I mean, we’re already here. Don’t want to miss an opportunity.”

“You’re bad.”

“Guilty, but sometimes I’m good, like now, because I have a surprise for you.”

“What?”

“I know we didn’t discuss a honeymoon, but with the help of your aunt, tomorrow morning we’re flying to Fishers Island, New York, where Montgomery Steel owns a cottage. We’ll have the whole place to ourselves for a week. She even arranged for a staff. So we need to get home and pack.”





Rance


Rance wouldn’t worry about Chirp’s insecurity. The wedding had happened so fast, she just had a case of the jitters. He had more pressing matters. Like making sure they got away from Bluebird before her wicked stepmother showed up. When he got to the farm, the hair on the back of his neck prickled. A strange SUV sat in the drive.

Chirp leaned forward. “Whose car is that?”

“Don’t know, but I’ll find out.” He brought the truck to a stop. “Seth and Hanna aren’t far behind us, so you stay put until they get here.”

“I want to go with you.”

He narrowed his eyes. “No. There might be trouble waiting inside, and I want you out of harm’s way. Don’t argue with me, Chirp.”

“It’s Marla, isn’t it?”

“Maybe. Probably. So stay here. Please.”

She grabbed his arm, and her bottom lip quivered. “Don’t go. Let’s drive away. We can buy everything we need for the trip.”