All I Want for Christmas: A Kinnison Legacy Holiday novella Page 9

  “Aubrey,” Clay said. “Her name is Aubrey.”

  The doctor, who appeared to be in his mid-to-late thirties, smiled. “I’ll let the nurses know.” He leaned over and pulled back the blanket to take a peek at the newborn in Clay’s arms. “Both girls?”

  “Yessir,” Clay said with pride marking his response. “This is Ava.”

  The doctor chuckled. “I have twin girls of my own in middle school right now. Please accept my condolences.” He patted Clay on the back and gave him a grin.

  “Gavin Beauregard, is that you?” Betty skirted around the crowd and held her arms out to the surprised man. “I haven’t seen you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper. How’s your mama?”

  The doctor peered at Betty with a frown. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Do I know you?” He smiled and took her hands in his.

  Dalton raised his brows and glanced at Rein, as if to say, “this woman knows no strangers.”

  “Back in the day, before Jerry swept me north, I lived in New Orleans. I remember your mama when she’d come into my daddy’s market to buy his special Cajun seasoning.”

  “Did either of you know that?” Wyatt whispered as he came up behind his brothers.

  Rein looked from one to the other. “I’ve never heard her mention it. But that might explain the café serving grits twenty-four seven.”

  The physician narrowed his gaze. “You’re not that Betty?” His face brightened. “I remember now. I must have been what? Six, maybe seven at the time?” He shook his head. “What a small world.” He chuckled. “My mama is doing fine. Still likes to cook Cajun cuisine, but daddy doesn’t fancy it much. His tastes run a little bland for a New Orleans resident.” He winked at Betty. “I do miss my mama’s cooking.”

  Betty pulled him into an unexpected bear hug. “Well, now, we have no strangers in this bunch. You’ll have to come up to End of the Line sometime to try some of my cooking. I might even whip up some shrimp and grits, if I can find any worthy around here.” She smiled and patted his hand.

  He rolled his eyes heavenward in appreciation of the offer. “I may just take you up on that, Miss Betty.”

  He slapped Clay on the shoulder. “Congratulations, but if you’ll excuse me. I’ve got a patient… uh, Miss Aubrey to check on and some paperwork to catch up on.” He looked at Clay. “We’ll be in touch a little later.”

  Clay shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you.”

  Ava Marie Saunders spent the next few moments being the rock star of the enamored audience of the Billings maternity ward waiting room.

  Rein sat down next to Liberty as she held the sleeping child. Life was damn funny, he thought. Once, his whole life was about cattle and wondering about his next construction contract. Now, he dreamt of moments like this. “Hey, you hold that baby like a pro.”

  “You want to hold her?”

  Rein eyed the tiny package. She appeared far too small, too delicate for his big, rough hands. Without thought, he rubbed his hands nervously over his knees. “Yeah… she’s little, really little.” He glanced up and met Liberty’s beautiful gaze.

  “You won’t break her.”

  “I might,” he said, offering a wry smile. Her tiny head alone would fit in the palm of his hand.

  She handed him the child, and Rein’s heart faltered at the enormous sense of responsibility that washed over him.

  “Just cradle her in the crook of your arm,” Liberty guided him. “There, just make sure you have her head supported.” She leaned back and smiled. “Just like a pro.”

  He’d held his niece, Gracie, and his little nephew, Sawyer, only a few months old, but neither seemed as fragile as tiny Ava. Once tucked in his arms, however, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, nor could he stop thinking about Cody and how being called dad had affected him.

  ***

  Thursday morning, Rein woke to the sound of Liberty in the bathroom. He walked in, carefully pushing open the door, and found her on her knees, viciously scrubbing the tub. He blinked a couple of times, and checked the clock on the bedside table over his shoulder. It took a couple of blinks to register that it read five a.m. “Honey, are we expecting guests?”

  Her dark hair was drawn up in a ponytail and she was wearing her cotton pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. Given the sweet dream he’d been having; he was more than ready to haul her back to bed—pink Playtex gloves included.

  She glanced up at him as she blew a wisp of hair from her face. “This tub was a mess.” She returned to her task with renewed fervor.

  Rein stared at her fine little ass bouncing gingerly with her intensity. The cotton knit fabric molded every curve. He knelt down beside her. “You need some help?” He eyed the narrow swath of bare skin showing between her shirt and waistband. “This kind of thing can be hard on your back, sweetheart.”

  He rubbed his hand over her back, dipping between her thighs.

  She shot him a look. “You know I’m trying to work here.” Her sentence hitched when he stroked her once.

  “So am I. What’s a guy to do when he wakes up to his wife’s ass—mind you, exquisite ass—flashing him in the face?”

  “Me cleaning turns you on?” She leaned on her elbows, her hips pushing back against his fingers.

  “Sweetheart,” he whispered against her temple. “Everything about you turns me on.”

  She drew up on her knees to face him, tossing the gloves into the sink. She cradled his face in her hands and captured his mouth in a no-nonsense kiss. “You need a shower,” she said.

  He pulled her to her feet and stepped in the shower, drawing her in after him. “I need more than a shower, darlin’.”

  An hour later, they sat together at the kitchen island. Liberty nursed a cup of tea and poked at a bowl of oatmeal that she thought had sounded good until placed in front of her.

  Rein reached out, taking her hand. “Sweetheart, are you feeling okay? Maybe you should make an appointment to see Doc Johnson.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I’m fine. I just haven’t slept well, thinking about everything.”

  “Hey, you sure I should go down to Billings tonight? I can ask Wyatt or Dalton to step in as Kris Kringle.” He studied her face. She looked pale.

  “I’ll be fine. Clay and Sally are coming home today and we’ve been planning some meals to take over until Julie gets back to help out. I have them in the freezer--I’d just planned to stop by a little later to drop them off.”

  “If you like, I can drop the food by on my way to Billings. It’d save you getting out in the cold.” He eyed her. “Maybe you’re coming down with something, sweetheart.”

  She dismissed his concern. “Rein, there’s no need to baby me. I’m just tired. With Cody and the holiday gathering, and now Clay and Sally’s twins born early—I just have a lot to accomplish before Christmas.”

  He smiled softly, tucking a stray shock of hair behind her ear. “Which is why you’re cleaning the tub at the crack of dawn?”

  “Cleaning relaxes me,” she said, giving him a side-glance.

  He took her hand, kissed the inside of her wrist, and smiled. “Here I always thought it was me. Looks like I’m going to have to step things up. You suppose that adult store outside Billings has a mop and maybe a bucket?”

  She eyed him. “You are a sick man, you know that?”

  “Yeah, but damn, girl, you married me, didn’t you?” He gave her a wicked grin.

  “That I did.” She smiled and shook her head. Taking a few steps toward the sink, she paused a moment and seemed to be getting her balance when Rein noticed her knees begin to buckle.

  He lunged for her, catching her before she fell, easing her to the floor. He realized she’d fainted, and when he got no response from her, he called the ambulance, now on speed-dial. Within the hour they were on their way to Billings for the second time that week.

  Four hours later, Rein sat in a chair beside Liberty. Her face was pale against the sterile white hospital sheets. She’d come in severely dehydrated, and drifted
in and out of consciousness the past few hours. They’d admitted her to run tests in order to determine why, exactly, she’d fainted other than being dehydrated. He wasn’t about to leave her side, not even when Aimee offered to give him a break.

  Sally and Clay had stopped in before heading back to End of the Line to take their girls home. Wyatt, who readily accepted taking over the Santa role at Miss Ellie’s holiday party, also assisted in getting the prepared food down to the Saunders’ house.

  Sitting in the hospital, watching daylight turn to dusk and snow begin to fall, Rein thought about when the roles had been reversed. When he’d been shot, he fought to heal from his wounds because he didn’t want to lose her. A myriad of possible concerns flitted through his mind. He couldn’t lose her, too.

  “Hey.” Liberty opened her eyes. “How long have I been asleep?”

  He scooted his chair closer to the bed and reached for her hand. “You’ve been drifting in and out for a few hours. Just in this past hour have you slept soundly.”

  She glanced outside. Her eyes darted suddenly to his. “What about the party? Ellie and the kids?”

  He squeezed her hand. “It’s all good, including the food you made for Clay and Sally. Wyatt and Aimee have it under control.”

  “I’m sorry. This is silly. I just haven’t been taking very good care of myself.”

  Rein brought her hand to his lips, leaving a kiss on her fingers. “The nurse said that the doc should be around soon with an update on the tests they ran. God knows they took enough of your blood for a transfusion.” Rein smiled. “You hungry?”

  She looked up at him. Dark circles shadowed her beautiful eyes. “Not really, thanks. How about you, did you eat?”

  “A nurse brought in your lunch, but you were sleeping. I helped myself to the pudding cup.”

  “Of course you did.” She smiled, then glanced at the carafe on the nightstand. “Is there any water in there?” She licked her lips.

  He poured a glass and helped as she took a few sips through the straw. “Better?”

  She nodded and lay wearily back on her pillow. She shut her eyes.

  “You want to sleep some more?” he asked.

  She shook her head. By the expression on her face, he saw that she was fighting with her emotions.

  “Sweetheart,” he said, brushing the hair from her forehead,” it’s going to be okay.” He leaned down and kissed her softly.

  “Rein, there’s something I need to tell you.” She took a deep breath.

  “Honey, you can tell me anything.” His gut twisted, even though he meant what he said.

  “I didn’t think it would matter. The doctors told me it wouldn’t.” She looked up at him. Tears seeped from the corners of her eyes. “I should have said something, early on.”

  Rein searched her face. “Baby, whatever it is won’t make a difference in how much I love you.”

  She turned her face from him. “I hope you’ll feel the same after I tell you.”

  He turned her face to meet his gaze. “Liberty, you know you can always tell me—”

  “I had an abortion.” She held his gaze.

  Reins’ heart seemed to drop in his chest.

  “It was long before I met you.” She averted her eyes directly from his. “I’m not proud of it. But I was young—too young to be pregnant—and I—” She struggled with the words. “I didn’t want to be a mom back then.” Tears flowed in rivulets down her temples. “They told me it’d be okay. That I should be able to have children again, but they warned me of the risk—the chance that I might not be able to due to complications.”

  She broke down then, great sobs shaking her shoulders. He held her hand, absorbing the information, not knowing what kind of doctor she’d seen, how experienced they were in such things. He blew out a long breath, looked away, and, rubbing his hand over his mouth, walked to the window. He stood a moment, staring at the snow-covered cars in the parking lot.

  “Rein, I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. But I’ve wanted to tell you from the moment we started talking about a family.” Her face crumpled. “Now I’m afraid that what they told me back then wasn’t true.” Her voice cracked as she rambled on—verbally flogging herself for the choices she’d made in the past.

  “Stop.” He said, looking back at her. “Stop it, Liberty.” He walked over and sat on the bed, pulling her into his arms. “You’ll stop this now. Stop feeling guilty. Stop beating yourself up.” He rocked her softly, all the while saying a silent prayer that those doctors had been good, reputable, and right. That she’d have no complications in being able to bear and carry a child. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. Either way, we’ve got each other. We’ve got our family. It’s going to be—”

  “Mr. Mackenzie?” Dr. Stephens, one of the family practice physicians associated with the Billings hospital, stood inside the door. In his hand was a clipboard with several papers attached to it.

  Rein stood. Holding Liberty’s hand in his, he faced the white-haired man. His cell phone jangled in his pocket, but he ignored it. Finally, he apologized and looked at the caller I.D. “It’s Ellie. Should I take it?” It was long past time when the party should have started. He’d gotten a text earlier from Wyatt saying the suit still fit. The ringing stopped, and he tucked the phone in his pocket. “I’m sorry. Please continue.” But he couldn’t shake the weird feeling in his gut.

  “Well, after running a number of tests—”

  Rein’s phone rang again. Once more, it was Ellie’s number.

  At that moment, the doctor’s pager went off and he read the code. “I’m sorry, folks, this will have to wait. It seems we have an emergency situation coming in.”

  Rein answered his phone. “Ellie? What’s up?”

  “Rein, there’s been a shooting,” she began.

  “What? A shooting? Wyatt. Is Wyatt okay?” His heart began to race.

  “He managed to get most of the kids into the back room with me and one of the other staff members.”

  “Ellie! Is Wyatt okay?” Rein knuckles were turning white.

  “I think so. The medics are bringing him to Billings Hospital. They should almost be there.”

  Cody. Rein closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “The kids—Cody—is everyone okay?” Rein fought past the lump in his throat. God, please don’t take Cody away from me.

  “He’s fine. Frightened, but okay, I think. I’m afraid that it had to do with Rowena. The two came in looking for her. They started shooting.” There was a pause. “They aren’t sure she’ll make it. I’m with Cody. He keeps asking for his daddy.”

  Rein’s hand flew to his heart. Never again would he doubt Emilee’s gift.

  “The police insist that everyone be checked out. They killed the two men before they could shoot anyone else. Rowena knew them. She tried to stop them.”

  “Jesus,” Rein said in way of prayer as he paced the floor, listening. “I’ll see you when you get here.”

  “How’s Liberty? Wyatt told me why he was filling in.”

  His gaze met Liberty’s. “We’re going to be fine.” It felt more like a decree than a prayer. “See you soon.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed. “They’re bringing in Rowena and Wyatt.”

  She clutched his hand. “Are they okay? Ellie and Cody, everyone?”

  He nodded. “She thinks so. But the police suggested they all come up and be checked.”

  “And the people who did this?” she asked.

  “Ellie said the police shot two men who’d come in demanding to see Rowena.”

  “Payback,” Liberty said. “Trust me, my father was the king of payback.”

  “Because of her plea bargaining, giving up those names.” He shook his head. “Baby, I need to go check on Wyatt and Cody, okay?”

  “Of course, go. I’m fine. Really.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Go,” she said, “and be sure to call Aimee.”

  Epilogue

  It was a Christmas
Eve to remember at the Kinnison ranch this year. Amid the flurry of news of the new twins in town, and the tragedy striking Miss Ellie’s shelter, a surge of community camaraderie spread like wildfire, along with word-of-mouth invitations to the Kinnison holiday gathering. From noon on, a steady stream of friends, family, and townsfolk had been filtering in and out, bringing greetings, food, and non-perishable items to donate to Miss Ellie’s shelter pantry.

  Wyatt, his leg in a cast from where a bullet whizzed through his calf, miraculously missing bone, sat in a chair reading and re-reading Jed’s traditional Christmas story to any kid (or adult) who wanted to hear it. Sadie slept on the floor beside him, oblivious to the chaos disrupting her household.

  Clay and Sally had decided that this was a not-to-be missed event for their week-old twin daughters—Ava and Aubrey. The family held court in one corner of the massive living room where they received advice and well-wishes—not to mention baby-sitting offers from several folks who’d stopped by.

  Liberty sat on the couch watching Rein carry in more wood for the fire. Outside, Michael Greyfeather and Dalton offered short sleigh rides across the snowy back pasture after Emilee decided to come in and play with her cousins.

  Her eyes bright with the spirit of Christmas, Emilee plopped down on the couch next to Liberty. “How are you, Aunt Liberty?”

  Liberty smiled at the young girl and took her hand to give it a squeeze. “Just fine, Miss Emilee, and ready to open up a can on you in a game of checkers whenever you’re ready.”

  Emilee didn’t respond right away, but stared at their entwined hands.

  “Em?” Liberty eyed the girl as she nudged her.

  She looked up at Liberty, her eyes wide with delight.

  “Don’t. Say. A. Word.” Liberty leaned down nose-to-nose with the girl.

  Liberty looked up when Ellie came through the front door. Cody stood at her side, his face drawn. Liberty wondered if they were strong enough to help him through the horror of his mother’s death. If love would be enough to instill the sense of security lost to such a tragedy.

  Cody’s gaze quickly scanned the roomful of people until he found Rein, who had just risen from tending the fireplace. “Dad,” he yelled and ran across the room, leaping into Rein’s outstretched arms. He buried his face in Rein’s shoulder as he hugged his neck.