“Jake Harkner, you told me you only kiss your wife that way,” Gretta teased, patting him on the cheek.
Jake never let up on his grip around Randy. “This is a special occasion,” he told Gretta, “and you spoke up for me. I won’t forget that.”
“Hell, if I’d known it would lead to a kiss like that, I’d have said a lot more and made it worth two kisses!” Men around them roared in laughter.
“Come see me the next time you’re in Denver, handsome,” Gretta told Jake, jokingly swaying her hips as she walked away and invited men to come with her to the Range Club to celebrate Jake Harkner’s release.
Jake grinned and shook his head, heading out with Randy. He noticed Evie hurrying toward him.
“Daddy, is it true? You can come home with us?”
Jake kept Randy in one arm and embraced Evie with the other. “What the hell are you doing here? You’re supposed to be back at the hotel.”
“I couldn’t leave, Daddy! I just couldn’t. I made Brian let me wait outside on the steps.”
Jake hugged her close, kissing her hair. “You shouldn’t have done what you did, angel. It wasn’t necessary. I didn’t want you to go through that.”
“But it was necessary,” she argued. Tall like her brother, she didn’t have to stand on tiptoes to hug Jake. “I think God wanted me to speak up, Daddy. He’s the one who gave me the courage and put the words in my mouth. I’m okay. Really.”
Jake glanced at Brian. “I’m damn sorry, Brian. I didn’t want her to do this.”
Brian touched her shoulder. “I tried to get her to the hotel, but far be it for me to be able to stop her when she makes up her mind. We both know where she gets that from.”
“My daughter is a brave, strong, determined young woman!”
“Yeah, well, I’ve never been able to say no to her since the day I met her.” Brian gently pried her away from Jake. “Come on, honey, come back to the hotel with me.”
They were outside on the steps by then, and Jake whistled for a cab. “I want Evie and Katie and Lloyd to go back in a buggy. All three of them should get some rest and stay in bed the rest of the night.” He grasped Randy’s arm. “Do you want to go back with them?”
“No, I want to stay right here with you. And the kids can all walk with us.”
Brian climbed into the enclosed cab with the two women and Lloyd. The buggy pulled away, and people continued to mingle around Jake and Randy.
“Grampa has his guns now!” Little Jake bragged. “Nobody can take him away now!”
People laughed, and Jake picked the boy up again. Randy walked ahead of him with her arms around Ben and Stephen. Pepper and Cole walked on either side, keeping a lookout for anyone who might decide to make a name for themselves, namely one Brad Buckley.
Jeff walked briskly behind all of them. No jail time for Jake Harkner! he wrote. He considered what just the right headline should be. He would wire the news to every newspaper he could right away. “Jake, I’ll meet up with you and the family tomorrow morning,” he told Jake. “All of you need some time alone.”
“You be sure to come out to the J&L as soon as your wife can travel,” Jake answered. “And if you and the wife need help in any way sometime, you let me know, and I’ll damn well come to Chicago.”
“It’s the same for me, Jake. You know that, but I’m not so sure you should come to a big city again,” Jeff joked.
“Yeah, well, you don’t fit the J&L any more than I fit into a city!” Jake shot back.
Jeff laughed. “After riding with you for all those weeks in Oklahoma? Hell, I’m a real cowboy now. I’ll come out to the ranch, and you can teach me how to wrangle down a calf for branding.”
Jake laughed harder. “Please do! That is something the boys would definitely want to watch!”
“Then by God, I’ll come out and do just that!” He shook Jake’s hand again, sobering. “You’re the best friend a man could have, Jake. I’ve never met anybody quite like you. I meant what I told the judge.”
Jake squeezed his hand. “You’re a damn good friend yourself.”
Jeff nodded and let go. “I’d better get this news on the wire. You’re good for my career, Jake.”
Jake grinned. “Nice to know I’m good for something.” He turned to join the rest of the family in their walk back to the hotel. He answered questions and joked with others the whole way, finally setting Little Jake down. The boy ran to catch up with his grandmother while Jake lit a cigarette and took a deep drag on the smoke, secretly thanking God for his freedom. I don’t know why You keep getting me out of trouble, he prayed. I’m sure you did it for Evie.