Do Not Forsake Me(6)

Two


Randy set Jake’s shotgun into a wall rack near the kitchen door. The tight feeling in her chest and stomach that plagued her every time her husband left on a dangerous mission was only just beginning to ease up. As each weapon was set down or unbuckled and untied and laid aside, she felt a little better. Shotgun—rifle—spare six-gun—gun belt and its two .44s. “Are you really all right?” she asked Jake.

He unbuckled the gun belt after untying the holsters from around his thighs. “What do you think?”

Randy put her hands on her hips. “I think Brad Buckley weighs well over two hundred pounds, and you threw him off that boardwalk like he was five years old. Should I find some liniment for that left shoulder?”

Jake scowled. “That kid called me an old man. Are you agreeing with him?” He hung up his gun belt and locked the back door, then faced his wife, folding his arms. Randy was smiling.

“I’m just being realistic, and I know you have a lot of pain from old wounds, Jake Harkner.”

He looked her over in a way that always made her feel beautiful as well as weak, even after twenty-six years together. “Woman, I’ve been gone three weeks, so right now, no pain of any kind could stop me from stripping you naked and having my way with you.”

Randy walked closer, rubbing her hands over his muscled arms. “And you are trying to change the more important subject here. I don’t like what happened out there in the street. Brad Buckley isn’t going to let this go.”

Jake firmly embraced her. “Well, right now he’s hurting really bad. He’s not going to be a bother for quite a while. The fact remains, I killed his father, worthless as the man was, and Brad’s not going to forget about it anytime soon. I know that.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “But right now, I don’t want to think about him. I just want my woman and some sleep—and I smell fresh-baked bread.”

“Yes, you do,” Randy answered with a smile. “I had a feeling you’d show up today. I’ve reached the point where I can almost feel it when you’re close, so I made some for you early this morning. I also made that beef stew you like so much. When I heard your whistle, I felt very proud that I’d predicted correctly.”

“Lady, you know me too well.” Jake turned and hung up his hat, then sat down and put out a foot. “Help me get these boots off.”

Randy eyed him slyly, knowing what was coming. She straddled his leg and began tugging, then laughed when he placed his other foot on her rump to support her as she pulled off the boot. He repeated the gesture with a stockinged foot and wiggled his toes teasingly as she removed the other boot. Randy jumped away when the second boot came off.

“I’ll eat later,” Jake told her, “after I take care of my appetite for you.”

Miranda grinned as she turned to the stove to stir the stew. “You should be too tired.”

“For you? Never.”

“Is Lloyd really okay? I wish he’d come back with you. Little Stephen misses him so when he’s gone.”

“He’s fine. By now he’s turning on the charm for Katie Donavan Lamont. I told him it’s time he made up his mind. Our son needs a woman in his life, and Stevie needs a mother. You can’t be doing it all.”

“I hope he listens to you. I like Katie very much, and she needs a husband as much as Lloyd needs a wife.”

In the next moment, Jake’s arms came around her from behind. He leaned down and kissed her neck. “God, I miss you when I’m out there. I worry about you, Randy. I don’t like not being close enough to watch out for you.”

Randy turned and wrapped her arms around his middle, relishing his strong embrace. “I hate it too, because I’m always afraid you’ll never come back.”

“Oh, I always find a way to come back and keep making life miserable for you.”

Randy looked up at him. “It would be miserable without you, and you know it.”

Jake met her mouth with a deeper kiss, pressing her tightly against him. He moved his lips to her brow. “We might have to forget about dinner. Once I’m through with you, I will be too tired to eat. Will Stephen stay at Evie’s tonight?”

Randy breathed in his masculine scent. “Of course, but they will have a time keeping Little Jake confined. He asks about you at least ten times a day when you’re gone. That boy lives to be around his ‘gampa,’ though you need to stop cussing around him, Jake. He’s picking up some of it, which upsets Evie.”

“I try, but the kid is a little hellion.”

“Like grandpa, like grandson. The boy knows no fear, and he’s going to make Evie crazy. But, yes, both boys will be with her and Brian tonight. They understand we need time alone when you get back, although it embarrasses me a little that they know why we need some time.”