“Oh, Jake, I can’t believe it!”
“You did it, mi amor. You and the big, beautiful family you’ve given me.” He kissed her hair, her cheek, her eyes, her lips. “I love you, Randy Harkner. Do you know how much?”
“Not as much as I love you.” In seconds, they were joined by Stephen and Ben, both boys also crying. Jake reluctantly let go of Randy and took a moment to hug both boys and tell them everything would be all right now. Little Jake reached up, insisting that Jake pick him up again. He locked his arms around Jake’s neck as Jake shook hands with Pepper and Cole.
“We’re ready to head for the J&L as soon as you are, Jake,” Pepper told him. “It’s gonna feel real good to be back home, ain’t it?”
“It sure is!” Jake answered.
Once the group hugs were over, Peter and Jeff joined in the moment. Randy turned to embrace Peter again. “Thank you so much, Peter. It was so good of you to come all the way here from Chicago.” Jake kept hold of Little Jake, watching with mixed emotions.
Peter let go of Randy and kissed her cheek, looking at her lovingly. Jake caught the look before Peter managed to wipe it off his face. “I’m just happy for both of you and greatly relieved,” Peter told Randy. He looked up at Jake. “I hope you know I mean that. I wanted this for you, too, Jake. I wasn’t sure how this would turn out, but I had a feeling all along that Judge Carter was on your side. You and that beautiful family of yours won him over.”
Jake set Little Jake on his feet and shook Peter’s hand vigorously. “I don’t know how to thank you, Peter. I’ll pay you whatever you say I owe you, and you have to come visit us at the J&L—you and Jeff both, along with your wives. Our men will give them a royal escort to the ranch in complete safety. We’ll have the biggest barbecue you’ve ever attended, and you’ll taste the best beef in Colorado and see the prettiest piece of land in this whole state.”
“I’ll remember the invitation,” Peter told him.
“You can come back with us now if you want,” Jake told him.
Peter glanced at Randy, who was hugging Lloyd. He turned back to Jake. “For reasons you probably understand, I’d better get back to Chicago for now. I have a wife there waiting for me.”
“Then I want your promise you’ll come back with Treena,” Jake told him.
“I’ll do that. Right now I have some paperwork to file. Come back here to the courthouse in the morning before you head for the J&L, and I’ll have a few things for you to sign.”
Jake nodded, shaking his hand again. “You’re a good man, Peter. One of the best, and you know why I hate saying that.”
“Well, Jake, I hate having to say the same about you, but you have a way of growing on people. I respect your ability to survive and rise above some bad situations. I’ve come to know the man down under all the bravado.” He squeezed Jake’s hand harder. “I know I don’t need to tell you to take good care of Randy, but I’m telling you anyway.”
Little Jake was running in circles, shouting about going home. Jake kept his eyes on Peter. “I’d die for her, and you know it.”
Sadness wafted across Peter’s gaze. “I damn well do know it.” He turned away, and Jake turned to Jeff, who’d just finished scribbling more notes and waited anxiously to shake Jake’s hand and congratulate him.
“I’ll come to the J&L again sometime after my wife has our baby,” he told Jake.
Jake wouldn’t settle for just a handshake. He gave Jeff a full hug and slapped him on the back again. “Jeff, my loyal Jewish friend, what can I say? I appreciate what you told that judge. And as far as the verdict, it’s just what Evie prayed for all night. Has she converted you to Christianity yet?”
Jeff laughed. “I stay away from her as much as I can because I’m worried she’ll manage to do just that, which would greatly shock my family.”
Jake laughed and moved an arm around Randy, pulling her close.
“That daughter of yours has some powerful faith,” Jeff added, sobering a little.
Jake felt a keen stab of pain to his heart. “That she does. It takes a lot of faith to pray for the likes of me.” He ached at what Evie went through earlier, loving her even more for the proud way she told the judge her name and the way she honored the grandmother she never knew. He pulled Randy even closer. “Speaking of Evie, we’d better get to the hotel and tell her what’s happened.”
Bedlam followed as Lloyd grabbed his guns from the judge’s bench and joined the rest of the family as they headed out of the courthouse. Jake spotted Gretta and called her over. With one arm still around Randy, he bent down and planted a long kiss on Gretta’s lips. Men hooted, and women just shook their heads.