Her Bodyguard (31 page)

“Well…” She lifted her shoulders. “I don’t know. It’s just an idea, and it only has merit if she wasn’t a fake, and then a person has to believe in that sort of thing. I’m not sure I do.”

“I do,” Kat declared. “The McBride family history is filled with instances of bad luck in love.”

Emma wrinkled her nose. “Casey Tate was the love of my life.”

Mari offered Emma an encouraging smile. “He was the love of your
youth
. You’ve still a lot of life to live, Em. Maybe you’ll meet someone somewhere down the road who will offer another chance to break the curse. Maybe we all will.”

Maybe I already have
.

“Not me,” Kat said. “I’m done with men.”

“You’re not even twenty yet, Kat. You’re the one who just said never say never.”

“And for once in our lives, you’re the one being dreamy instead of realistic. Think about it, Mari. Not long after Christmas, I’ll have a child to care for. A child I’ll be responsible for. All by myself. Even if I wanted a man in my life—which I don’t and won’t— what man would want me?”

“A smart one,” Emma said. “And you won’t be alone. You’ll have your family with you every step of the way.”

Mari blinked, then silently repeated her sister’s words.
You won’t be alone. You’ll have your family.

It’s true. She’d have all her family. Not just Mari and Emma.

She’ll still need me, but not quite as much. Not quite as much
.

Again, conversation waned as the three sisters privately considered their own thoughts. Emma crossed to the bedroom window and watched her father swing his ax. Kat absently rubbed her hand over her stomach, then stretched out on the bed once again. Mari sat in the rocker beside the fireplace, then put forth the rest of her idea. “It’s the necklaces. If there is anything to this curse at all, then I think our necklaces are the key.”

“She told us to wear them all the time,” Emma said, still facing the window. “May I point out, Mari, that you seldom wear yours?”

“I’ve changed. Remember about the task we’re supposed to accomplish? I think our necklaces will have something to do with that, and it’s possible the task might connect us with the men we’re supposed to love.”

Emma glanced back over her shoulder, then slowly turned all the way around. “You think Kat’s…um…adventure was somehow related to her task?”

Kat propped herself up on her elbow. “Mari. Surely you don’t still think Rory is the man for me.”

“No.” Mari drew a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I didn’t think about this before, but I wonder…well…what if the task was mine. What if my task was to find you?”

Kat pursed her lips. Emma’s expression was thoughtful.

Mari continued. “Maybe I’m supposed to be the one who finds the love that is powerful, vigilant and true in all of this. Maybe instead of me being the last to find the love that will help break the curse, I’m the first.”

Her sisters considered the idea a moment, then shared a look of alarm. Kat shot up straight. “Oh, my God. What a disaster. You went and fell in love with Luke Garrett, didn’t you, Maribeth?”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

LUKE’S TRIP TO GALVESTON began on a sour note. Though he was able to place a pair of Rangers on the Dickersons’ trail with relative ease, arranging private security for Mari and Kat proved more difficult than he expected. Plenty of men wanted to act as bodyguards for the McBride women. It took Luke longer than anticipated to find a couple of men he trusted not to take advantage of the situation. As a result, he and Rory damned near missed the train.

Then, at the first stop in Dallas, Rory created a diversion and attempted to run off. Luke grabbed him just before he disappeared into the crowd milling about the station. Rory spent the time until the second stop arguing the case that it’d be a bad idea for him to return to Galveston, and when Luke wasn’t convinced, Rory attempted to jump from the train as it pulled away from the platform. Luke lost what was left of his patience. He kept his brother handcuffed the rest of the trip.

They arrived in Galveston at the end of a long, uncomfortable night. As the train pulled into the station, Luke was greeted with the promise of a pink dawn in the east where a sliver of sun peeked above the gray waters of the Gulf of Mexico. He nudged his brother awake. “We’re here.”

Rory stretched and groaned. “What time is it?”

“Early.” Too early, Luke thought, to go knocking on Melissa Callahan’s door. Maybe they’d stop at a restaurant and get breakfast first. His brother would be glad for the reprieve.

Rory was in no hurry to return to his wife. That didn’t surprise Luke, although Rory’s ambivalence regarding his new son left Luke mystified. If he were ever blessed with children, he wanted to be in on all the action.

It wasn’t hard to picture himself in a well-appointed parlor, pacing the floor, staring anxiously toward the staircase that led to the bedroom where Mari lay giving birth. Her mother would come to the landing and call his name. He’d look up to see the blanket-wrapped bundle in her arms. A little girl, the image of her mama, maybe with his brown eyes. He’d dash up the stairs, meet his daughter, then greet his wife, looking tired but beautiful, glowing with joy in their bed.

On second thought, maybe it wasn’t too early to go by Melissa’s. The sooner his business here started, the sooner it’d be done. The sooner he could get back to Fort Worth and the woman he wanted for his own.

Luke unlocked Rory’s handcuffs but kept him close as they traversed city streets already bustling with activity despite the early hour. The aroma of baking bread floated on air heavy with the scent of salt, and sparked the brothers’ hunger. Wagons clattered over brick-lined streets, and voices called hellos and questioned weather predictions for the day. Hot with no rain appeared to be the consensus. No surprise there, Luke thought. Fall weather wouldn’t reach this far south for another six weeks.

The streets grew quiet as Rory and Luke left the business district behind and walked through a residential neighborhood toward their sister’s home. Janna supported herself and her two children by serving as governess to shipping magnate Horace P. Wentworth’s three children, and she lived with her two daughters in a carriage house on her employer’s estate.

Luke was gratified to find a light shining in the window of the apartment. Janna was awake. His boots thumped against the wooden steps as he climbed the outdoor staircase. Rory followed but hung back, waiting halfway down the stairs as Luke rapped on the solid oak door. To his surprise and consternation, a man in shirtsleeves answered the door. It was just after six o’clock. Had Janna moved? “I’m looking for Janna Murphy?”

The stranger widened his stance and folded his arms. “And just who are you?”

Luke didn’t like the fellow’s tone or his body language. “Look, mister, let’s not—”

“Jared? Did you say…” Janna Murphy walked up behind the stranger, holding a baby in her arms. “Luke? Luke, is it really you?”

The stranger stepped back, smoothly accepting the child Janna handed his way before throwing herself, laughing, into her brother’s arms. “Luke!”

They hugged tightly, then Luke took a step back and looked at his sister. She looked different. Her hair was still brown and curly, her eyes still the color of melted caramel. The difference, he detected, shone in her eyes. Janna Murphy looked happy.

Luke gave the stranger a second look, then the baby.
Well, now. What’s going on here?
“Hello, sunshine.”

“Oh, Luke! This is such a wonderful surprise. It’s so good to see you. It’s been too long.”

“That it has, Janna. That it has.” Luke felt a wave of affection rise within him as he again hugged his sister, and he couldn’t help but think of the McBride reunion he’d witnessed the day before. That family would never let a year go by without getting together. “It’s wrong of us to let it stretch this long between visits.”

She squeezed him hard. “Come inside. You must have arrived on the morning train. Bet you can use some coffee.”

“Definitely. But first…” He nodded toward the stairs. “I didn’t come alone.”

He crooked a finger toward Rory who climbed the remaining stairs like a prisoner approaching the gallows. Poking his head into the doorway, Rory waved. “Hello, Janna.”

Her chin dropped. “Oh, my heavens.”

“Jan?” the stranger asked, stepping forward, concern in his tone.

“Rory.” She jerked her head around and spoke to the stranger. “It’s
Rory
.”

The stranger muttered a curse, then moved away from the door. “Let your brothers in, honey. I’ll put the baby down and join you.”

Luke stepped into the apartment, which consisted of two bedrooms off a central room that served as a combined kitchen, living and dining area. He noted new curtains on the windows. New rugs on the floor. The oak dining table that had graced their mother’s kitchen was set for two. An iron skillet sat on the stove, eggs and sausage laid out on a cutting board ready to cook. He had a dozen questions, but he started with an easy one. “Girls not home?”

“They’re staying over at a friend’s house. It’ll break their hearts that they weren’t here when you arrived. You are staying in town, though, aren’t you? You’re not leaving right away?”

Luke glanced from her to the stranger who had emerged from the girls’ bedroom with empty arms. Might as well cut to the chase. “Actually, I’d hoped to stay here.”

The stranger crossed the room to stand beside Janna. He rested his hand possessively at her waist. “That makes sense, honey. You and the girls and the baby can move on up to the house. It’ll make everything easier.”

“I think an introduction’s in order, don’t you, Luke?” Rory piped up.

Janna’s smile flickered, then when the man gave her a comforting squeeze, went tender and sweet. “Yes. Definitely. Luke. Rory. I’d like you to meet Jared Harper, my fiancé. We’re to be married in two weeks.”

“Your fiancé?” Rory’s brows winged up and he glanced at Luke. “I thought you said Murphy was in jail. Did those friends of yours kill him, after all?”

“His trial is set for next month,” Luke said, raking Jared Harper with suspicious eyes.

Rory pursed his lips. “So that means…hell, Janna. You wouldn’t make the mistake I did. You finally worked up the nerve to divorce Finn?”

Janna’s chin came up. Temper snapped in her big brown eyes. “Yes.”

“I’m surprised.” Rory scratched the back of his head. “I didn’t think you believed in divorce.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Because of him, right?” Rory gestured toward Jared Harper. “Guess you’re human after all. Funny how fast our convictions can change when faced with something we want really bad.”

Luke watched his sister’s eyes narrow and her mouth stretch into a grim line. He knew that look. He’d grown up seeing that look. Rory was fixing to get it.

“Actually, brother,” she drawled. “I changed my mind because I saw how good divorce has been for a dear, dear friend of mine. A sister of mine, one might say. Divorce has been a wonderful thing for her, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

Oh. Puzzle pieces fell into place. Luke pursed his lips and blew out a silent whistle as he anticipated what was coming.

Janna continued, “Her husband deserted her, and she divorced him and her friends have been supportive. It wasn’t near the scandal I expected. Now she’s remarried and on her honeymoon with a dear, wonderful,
dependable
man. In fact, I’m babysitting for her now. They chose not to leave town, of course, since the baby is still nursing, but they have a private room in a lovely home, and she is blissfully happy.”

Harper squared his shoulders and added, “We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure she stays that way.”

Rory’s baffled expression told Luke he didn’t get it. “Rory, she’s talking about Melissa.”

“Melissa? What does she…? Whoa. She divorced me?’

Janna lifted her chin even higher. “Yes, she did.”

“Oh. Well.” Rory walked over to the dining table, pulled out a chair and sat. He pursed his lips, drummed his fingers on the table and thought for a full minute. His tone held a note of accusation when he finally said, “I didn’t sign anything.”

“It wasn’t required. You deserted her.”

“Yes, well…” He continued drumming his fingers. “Divorce. That’s a fine thing for a fellow to hear out of the blue.”

Janna folded her arms and her toe went to tapping.

“Well, what did you expect? You seduce her away from her longtime beau, stay long enough to get her with child, then disappear without a word. No goodbye, no financial support. Not even a letter asking if she’d yet given birth to your baby!”

“Luke said she had a boy. Brian. He’s…wait…you’re babysitting for Melissa? Is that kid you were holding mine?”

“Finally,” Luke muttered beneath his breath.

“Only by accident.” Janna gave her head a toss. “George is the boy’s father in every way that matters.”

“George Honeycutt?” Now Rory was the one whose chin dropped. “She went back to him?”

“He never stopped loving her. Once she came to her senses about you, he forgave her and took her back. He loves Brian, too.”

Again, Rory fell silent. His fingers continued to drum. Eventually, he nodded. “Well, I guess that’s good. Honeycutt was always a steady sort. Say, when did this divorce take place?” Glancing at Luke, he said, “Maybe I am married to Kat after all. Wouldn’t that be great?”

Great
wasn’t the word Luke would choose. The question had occurred to him right off, as had the potential consequences. Pregnancy notwithstanding, Kat McBride was better off without the likes of Rory Callahan in her life. Not to mention that his own plans for Mari didn’t need the complication.

“Melissa was granted the divorce two weeks ago,” Janna’s fiancé responded, just as Janna asked, “Who is Kat?”

Weariness melted over Luke. “It’s a long and not-so-pretty story better saved for another time. Janna, I’d love that cup of coffee you mentioned.”

Serious conversation halted while Janna added two cups and saucers to the pair already on the table and filled all four with coffee. Luke took a seat, then sipped the strong black coffee, groaning with pleasure.