Dream a Little Dream (Chicago Stars, #4)(88)

Edward took his time replying. “I want to, but if I do, Rosie’s gonna cry ’cause she likes me so much, so I guess I’ll stay here and play with her.”

Rachel could see that her son’s decision had won him the affection of Rosie’s parents. Both of them smiled and told him he could go on, but Edward politely refused.

Ethan and Gabe stepped down off the deck. Rachel began to clear the table only to have Cal come up behind her and say softly, “Would you mind stepping into the study for a few minutes? I have something to show you.”

Going off with him was the last thing she wanted to do, but Jane and Kristy had just disappeared into the kitchen, so there was no one to rescue her. She gave what she hoped looked like a careless shrug and followed him.

When they reached the study, he closed the door behind them. Through the window to her left, she saw the football fly, then Gabe ran into her field of vision to catch it.

Cal walked behind the desk that had once been Dwayne’s and pulled open a drawer. “I have something here for you.” He withdrew a slip of paper and extended it toward her. Even before her fingers closed around it, she knew that it was a check. She glanced down and drew in her breath.

It was made out to her in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars.

Her voice croaked. “What’s this?”

He settled into the chair and looked up at her. “A down payment on your future.”

She stared at it, a sinking feeling in her stomach, knowing the answer to the question even before she asked it. “And what do you want in return?”

“I want you to leave Salvation and not contact my brother again.” He paused. “You have responsibilities. A child to support. This’ll make it easier.”

“I see.” A knot began to grow in her throat. She had come to Salvation to find a treasure, but she hadn’t imagined this would be it. She swallowed hard, trying to make the knot loosen. “How long do I have?”

“I figure you’ll need a little time to find a place to go, so I’ve postdated it. I’ll expect you gone in ten days.”

As she looked across the desk at him, she was surprised to see a flash of compassion in his eyes, and she hated him for it. She blinked hard. “Gabe laughs now. Not often, but sometimes. Did Ethan tell you that?”

“Reopening that drive-in has been good for him. He’s finally starting to heal.”

She wanted to argue with him, to tell him that she was the reason Gabe had begun to heal, but he wouldn’t believe her. Besides, she didn’t know if it was true. Maybe she didn’t mean anything more to Gabe than a few hours of forgetfulness when they were in bed.

“Both Ethan and I believe that having you gone will speed up the process.”

“If Gabe finds out about this, he’ll be furious.”

“That’s why you’re not going to say a word. Do you understand? If you even hint to him about this, the deal’s off.”

“Oh, yes. I definitely understand.” She drew the check through her fingers. “Just tell me one thing. Exactly what do you think I’m doing to your brother that’s so terrible? ”

“I think you’re taking advantage of him.”

“How?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t play games with me, lady, because I’ll run you right over! Gabe’s a rich man who’s careless about his money. You want to take him for every penny he has, then set off for greener pastures.”

“You know this for a fact?”

“Are you going to take the check or not?”

She gazed down at the check and wondered if the time would ever come when she could outrun her past. “Yes. Yes, I’m going to take it, Mr. Bonner. You bet your life I am.”

She shoved the check into the pocket of her dress and turned toward the door, but his soft voice stopped her before she could leave.

“Mrs. Snopes, you won’t like what happens if you try to screw me over on this.”

Her fingers convulsed around the knob. “Believe me, Mr. Bonner, you’re the last man on earth I’d screw.”

She forced herself not to run from the room, but she was shaking by the time she reached the deck, where Jane and Kristy had abandoned their efforts to clean up and were sitting and talking.

The moment Jane saw Rachel, her expression grew wary. “What did he do?”

Rachel couldn’t quite control the small quaver in her voice. “You’ll have to ask him.”


Jane rose and caught Rachel’s hands in her own. “I’m sorry. The Bonners are—They’re a family in every sense of the word. They’ll fight the world for each other, but sometimes their loyalty blinds them.”

The most Rachel could manage was a small nod.

“I’ll try to talk to him again,” Jane said.

“It won’t do any good.” She spotted Gabe’s keys on the table, and she scooped them up. “I’m not feeling well. I’m sure Ethan won’t mind driving Gabe back to the cottage. Come on, Edward, we have to go.”

Edward protested Rachel’s announcement, and Rosie fell apart when she realized she was losing her play companion. Her small face crumpled as Edward disengaged Horse from her hands. She reached out her arms for him or for the rabbit, Rachel wasn’t sure which, and began to howl.