BROKEN (26 page)

Jud’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
 
“You’re telling me you knew this whole time he wasn’t Adam?”

It was nearly impossible to tear her gaze away from Mitch, but she had to convince Jud she was telling the truth.
 
“Of course
,
I knew.
 
But the attraction between us was so strong and happened so fast we didn’t think the boys or anyone in town would approve.
 
So when…Hank mistook him for Adam, we both played along.”

Jud scoffed at that.
 
“You honestly expect me to believe he was willing to pretend he was Adam forever?”

“Don’t be silly,” she said, the lie rolling so easily from her lips she could almost believe her own story.
 
“Originally, he was going to leave for a while.
 
That would give me time to break the news of Adam’s death so that when Mitch came back, people wouldn’t be so judgmental about our relationship.”

“But you didn’t do that,” Jud pointed out, his tirade losing steam.
 
“You continued to play out this charade.”

Jessie’s hand moved to her belly.
 
“As you can see, that plan got shot down when I found out I was pregnant.”

Jud looked like a deflated balloon as he shoved the papers back in the envelope.
 
“You’re right,” he sighed, “I need to find something more constructive to do with my time.
 
I’m…sorry, Jess.
 
I won’t say a word about this until you’re ready to tell everyone.
 
I suppose this mean the Buchanan ranch will never be up for grabs?”

Jessie wrapped her arms around Mitch’s waist.
 
“Not a chance.
 
We’re going to fill this house with children and it will remain in the family for generations to come.
 
And Jud, you’ll have to get used to calling it the Kincaid ranch from now on.
 
Mitch and I are getting married.”

“Well I…I guess congratulations are in order.”
 
He squared his shoulders and held his hand out to Mitch.
 
“You’re a lucky man.”

Mitch hesitated for a moment before releasing his hold on Jessie to shake hands with Jud.
 
“I’m well aware of how lucky I am.
 
And now if you don’t mind, I think Jessie needs to get some rest.”

“Yes, of course, I’ll be going now.”
 
He took a step towards the door then paused and looked back at them.
 
“I’m having a barbeque at the end of the month.
 
Practically the whole town will be there.
 
I’d really like it if you two could come.”

Mitch looked down at Jessie.
 
Her nod was almost imperceptible; she was leaving the decision up to him.
 
“We’ll be there.”
 
He doubted that he and Jud would ever become
good friends, but he respected the man for knowing when he was defeated and for offering an apology.
 
“I’ll walk out with you,” he said, suddenly feeling very gracious.

 
And why shouldn’t he?
 
He no longer had to be afraid Jessie would leave him
,
and at last he
would
be able to reclaim his own name.

Jessie smiled to herself when she heard Mitch tell Jud he could use some advice on operating a cattle ranch.
 
Things couldn’t have worked out better if she
had
planned them.
 
She was free to tell Mitch how much she loved him, and she wouldn’t have the worry of Jud’s retaliation hovering over her.
 

She heaved a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing just how much it
had
taken out of her.
 
A dull ache had settled in her lower back and the weight of the babies seemed heavier than usual.
 
She took a few steps towards the living room then stopped with a harsh gasp when a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.

Jessie stood there for a moment, terrified by what the strange aches and pains could mean.
 
She was still two months away from her due date and if she went into labor now there was a good chance the babies wouldn’t survive.
 
Panic welled up inside of her at the thought of losing their sons.
 

She shuffled to the door holding her belly, praying that it was just a fluke, that the jabbing pain didn’t mean anything.
 
She’d just managed to make it onto the porch when the second one nearly brought her to her knees.
 
She reached out, bracing herself against a pillar with one hand and clutching her stomach with the other.

Two strong arms caught her just as she started to crumble, but when she tipped her head back to tell Mitch something was horribly wrong, it was Del’s concerned face she saw.
 
He kept a firm grip around her and hollered out for Mitch then lifted her gently in his arms.
 
Vaguely, it registered that all the boys were gathered on or around the porch
,
and if she hadn’t been so worried about the babies, she would have been amused by it.
 
Obviously
,
they’d spotted Jud’s truck and had been lingering outside in case there was any trouble.

Fear tinged Mitch’s voice when he bounded up the stairs and touched her cheek.
 
“Jessie, what’s wrong?
 
Is it the babies?”

When she nodded, his heart dropped to the ground.
 
Please God, he prayed, it’s too soon.
 
From behind him, Jud started barking orders.
 
He told one of them to go call Doctor Stewart and have her meet them at the hospital
,
then asked another one to get Mitch’s keys and follow them in his truck.
 
Then he slapped a hand on Mitch’s shoulder and said he
would
drive them to the hospital.

Mitch just nodded helplessly as Jud gave him a gentle shove towards the
truck
.
 
Del followed with Jessie still in his arms and waited for him to climb in before lifting her onto Mitch’s lap.
 
He cradled her to his chest, murmuring soft words of comfort as Jud turned
the truck around and headed down the road.
 
She was deathly pale and small beads of perspiration had broken out along her forehead.
 
He offered her comfort with his words and with the strength of his arms around her
,
even as his own insides shook with fear.
 
They couldn’t lose the babies, not now when Jessie was so close to term.

The drive seemed interminable and Jessie’s soft crying only heightened his uneasiness.
 
She’d seemed so calm, so self-assured when she stood up against Jud, but now he realized it was all just a brave front.
 
If only he
had
been the one to answer the door none of this would have happened.
 
He never would have let Jud come inside…no, Mitch had to be honest with himself.
 
He would have tried to keep the man out, but given the vengeful mood Jud was in he probably would have put up such a stink Jessie would have rushed out to see what was going on.
 
The stress of seeing him and Jud arguing and possibly even getting into a physical fight would have been ten times more stressful for her.
 

“We’re here,” Jud said as he pulled up to the emergency entrance.
 
“Let me get the door open first and I’ll help you get Jessie out.”

Mitch allowed him to open the door but, irrationally perhaps, refused to let Jud take Jessie from his arms.
 
The way she was clinging to his neck, he doubted Jud could have pried her loose anyway.
 
Liz Stewart was waiting at the entrance with a wheel chair
,
but the look on Mitch’s face must have told her he had no intention of letting Jessie go any sooner than he had to.
 

With an indulgent smile, she wheeled the empty chair back inside and told him to follow her to a small room.
 
After easing Jessie down onto the examination table, he stepped back and tried to be as unobtrusive as possible while Dr. Stewart questioned Jessie about the pains she
was
experienc
ing
.
 
Jessie told her about the heaviness she’d felt just before the pains started.
 

“It wasn’t as bad on the drive here, but I still felt like there was this…pressure.”

“The first thing I’d like to do is give you an examination.
 
Then we’ll hook you up to a few monitors just to make sure the bab
ies’
heartbeats are strong and
that they’re
not under any stress.
 
Now I know this is going to be difficult considering how worried you are, but I need you to stay calm and try not to upset yourself.
 
If your blood pressure goes up or you
get
overly stressed, it affects them too.”
 

Liz took a moment to check for the bab
ies’
heartbeats with a stethoscope.
 
“Three strong hearts,” she said with a smile.

Mitch let out an audible gasp.
 
“Three!
 
She’s not having triplets
,
is
she
…” he stopped abruptly when the two women exchanged amused glances.
 
“That would be the two babies plus Jessie’s
heart
,” he said with a sheepish grin.

Liz’s eyes made an appreciative sweep down his muscular physique and back up again.
 
“So this is Mitch…ur, Adam, right?”

“You had it right the first time,” he said.
 

“Thank God,” Liz sighed, “I’ve been prodding Jessie for months to tell you she knew.”

“Actually, it was Jud who pushed me into it,” Jessie admitted.

“Jud?
 
Really?
 
Well, we certainly
have
some things to talk about.
 
Right now, however, we need to get you examined and hooked up to that monitor.
 
Would you like Mitch to stay or would you be more comfortable if he waited outside?”

“I’m pretty sure he’s seen it all.”
 
She looked at Mitch.
 
“I’d like you to stay if that’s okay.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                        
***

Liz peeked her head through the door.
 
“Is she still sleeping?”

Mitch nodded and rose from the chair beside Jessie’s bed and crossed the room.
 
“She’s been sleeping soundly for the last two hours,” he said, careful to keep his voice low.

“Good, she needs it.
 
Step outside for a minute so we can talk without waking her.”
 

Mitch’s stomach made a sickening lurch.
 
He waited until the door closed behind them to ask the question that had been gnawing at him ever since they arrive.
 
“Is she going to lose them?”

“They’re in no danger at the moment.”
 

His heart clutched.
 
“At the moment?
 
What does that mean?
 
You said she was fine, that the babies were fine…”

“Goodness, if you keep up like this I’ll have to admit you too!
 
Take a couple of deep
breaths;
everything is going to be okay.
 
Would you like to sit down?”