Summer's Indiscretion(Divine Creek Ranch 7)(87)

“Oh, yeah. How can I forget? The ‘gold necklace’ incident. Oh, boy.”

Summer observed the man who had just entered the store as Kemp approached him. Patrick Jr. sniffled and lifted his head to watch the policemen as they lifted the handcuffed shooter from the floor and dragged him shouting and screaming from the store.

Two police officers had assisted Leah to one of the benches in the shoe department, and one of the cops handed her a glass of water as the other squatted in front of her and rubbed her shoulder. It was a casual gesture for such a situation, and Leah smiled at him tremulously and nodded. She looked up at the other man and smiled at him in thanks as she took the paper cup he offered her with both hands.

“Boom,” the little boy whispered as he looked at Summer and put his pudgy little hands to his ears and said, “Scare me.”

She looked into his cornflower-blue eyes and patted his back comfortingly. “Don’t worry, baby. You’re all safe now. You stay with Mommy and Daddy and no more running around in the store, okay?”

He nodded, looking completely convinced, and said, “Okay.”

She looked at the man Kemp spoke with and then back at Patrick. Then looked at the man again. “Grace? Rosemary? Anybody else notice a familial resemblance between that man and a certain member of this group?” she asked, pointing at the top of little Patrick’s head.

Grace pressed her lips together and made big, surprised eyes, and Rosemary whispered, “Dang, Grace, I hope you’re taking notes with all this drama going on.”

Grace replied, “It’s like I always say. The frozen chosen get on their high horses, but they are usually hiding bigger secrets of their own when they do. That little sinner,” she whispered, looking Elizabeth’s way. The woman looked nearly broken as she watched her husband begin to draw the same conclusions from across the room. He gazed at his son and then at the man Kemp spoke with quietly.

Sheriff Hank Stinson joined Kemp’s conversation, and things grew heated judging by the blond man’s tone. His face turned red, and he pointed at Elizabeth and started crying. Summer had to look away from his display of emotion. This whole situation had morphed from incredibly scary to just plain sad.

She glanced at Mr. Owen and knew he’d drawn the same conclusion as she had. That man speaking with Kemp was Patrick’s father. The resemblance was too clear.

A sudden convergence of male bodies occurred.

Jack Warner, Ethan Grant, and Adam Davis bore down on Grace from one side. Jack reached her first and wrapped her in his arms.

“Darlin’! I was so worried!” In turn, Ethan and Adam both hugged and kissed her as she reassured them she was fine. Summer thought she still looked a little pale, and one of the men voiced the same opinion.

Approaching from the front of the store, Wes and Evan Garner descended on Rosemary.

She reached for them happily, and Evan wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her to him. “Baby. You okay?” She kissed him and nodded.

Wes got hold of her next and lifted her off her feet as he hugged her to him gently. He whispered against her shiny, black curls and kissed the side of her head.

Checking on her own men, Summer noted that Hank was leading the blond-headed stranger from the store and Kemp was making his way back to their little group. He looked satisfied.

He slid his arm around Summer’s waist and said, “His name is Leroy Paggs. He confessed to setting the fire, the break-in and assault on you, and to harassing you and Grace on the road. The black SUV is parked outside by the sidewalk. He said Elizabeth promised to leave her husband for him if he helped her. He took the picture of us on the front porch and assisted her in taking pictures last night. He made a full confession to Hank just a minute ago. He said he’s the biological father.” He indicated with a nod of his head toward little Patrick, whom he was referring to.

Summer looked over at Ace and noted the serious look on his face. Elizabeth’s husband was speaking to her in soft but certainly irate tones, solidifying Summer’s belief that he was a true gentleman for not revealing her sins to the crowd that was milling around.

A policeman joined their group and ascertained whom he needed to take statements from and got an idea from them of what had happened.

Rosemary groaned when Summer mentioned her part in the takedown of the shooter. Evan and Wes reacted noticeably and both turned to her simultaneously. Evan’s eyes blazed as he turned to look at Rosemary.

She smiled lamely at him and patted his chest. “Not here. Okay?” Summer tried to hide her snicker when Rosemary smiled at Evan. It was visibly difficult for him to frown darkly at her and hide the trace of a smile in his eyes at the same time, but he tried anyway.