On The Texas Border (21 page)

I want to do what’s best for you and for Hope…. Brewster Farms is your home. It has been for a long time…. I’ve loved you as much as anyone in my life.

He suddenly realized why he’d wanted to leave. It had nothing to do with freedom. It had to do with his feelings for Brewster. Over the years, they’d had their ups and downs, but Brewster was always there, always a guiding force in his life. The truth behind those words surged through him. Without Brewster…without him… Oh God, he loved that old man. That’s why he’d been so set on leaving. He didn’t want to face these feelings, but now…

“Jonas.”

He heard her voice and turned toward it. He blinked. Where was he? He hadn’t even realized he’d left the room.

“Jonas, are you all right?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I…”

“He loved you,” she said softly. “And he’s right. This is your home and it’s where you belong.”

“But he’s not here, Abby. He’s gone.” As he said the words, tears began to roll down his cheeks. “Oh God, he’s gone.”

Abby ran down the steps and held him. Jonas clung to her and allowed himself to cry—to grieve—for Brewster, the man he had loved.

They stood for a long time just holding each other. Finally Abby whispered into his shoulder, “You were like a son to him.”

He sucked air into his raw throat. “I know.” He rubbed his face against hers. “I just wish he had told me what he was planning to do.”

“He knew that if he did, you would refuse his gift. I think he hoped that after his death you wouldn’t be able to do that.”

This place had been Jonas’s whole life. It was a part of him, just as Brewster had said. But how did he accept this? How did— “I can’t be happy here without you,” he uttered in a miserable voice.

She drew back and looked into his eyes. “Why is that?” she asked.

He gazed into her eyes and the words rose up from his heart without any difficulty. “Because I love you.”

A smile lit her face, and she quickly brushed away tears. “I love you, too.”

He kissed her deeply, passionately, until the world spun away, leaving only this wonderful feeling of love and being loved. After a moment, he rested his forehead against hers. “How do we handle this? Your job’s in Dallas. I’ve waited a long time to have
these feelings I have for you, and I can’t stay here unless you’re with me.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” She smoothed the lapel of his jacket.

“Why?”

“I suddenly have this newspaper to run and I can’t do that from Dallas.”

Brewster’s other gift—the
Hope Herald.
“That means you’re coming home?”
Home.
It was such a beautiful word, he thought.

“Yes,” she said brightly. “To you, to Hope and to our future.”

He held her tightly. “Oh, Abby, I love you.”

“As long as I know that, we’ll be fine.”

He gazed into her bright eyes. “I do, so much.” He cupped her face and kissed her gently. “I’m sorry it’s been so hard for me to say that.”

She kissed his chin. “Well, you’ve said it now, Jonas Parker.” She smiled at him. “Maybe we’d better go back inside and ease Mr. Foster’s mind.”

“In a minute,” he said as he gazed at Brewster’s valley. Things looked so different now. He had mistakenly thought that without Brewster there was nothing here for him. But this was his home. It always had been. He glanced up at the sky and murmured a word of thanks to the old man who had given him more than he had ever dreamed possible…including Abby.

Four years later

“P
ERFECT, JUST PERFECT
,” Abby said as she studied the front-page layout for the
Hope Herald.
“The picture is spectacular. Steve, you did a wonderful job. You captured the essence of my story. The image of the little girl hanging from the international bridge fence with one hand and begging with the other is so poignant. And that look on the American tourist’s face tells all. She’s trying not to look at the child, but you can almost see her hand coming out of her pocket.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Parker, I’m glad I did your story justice,” Steve said.

Abby glanced around at the staff. The paper had come a long way. When she’d first started, there’d been three people who’d been with the
Hope Herald
for years. Now she had a staff of ten. It had been hard at first, but Abby had purchased new equipment with the money Mr. Brewster had put into the
Herald
account. His generosity had made her determined to turn the
Hope Herald
into a competitive newspaper. She was succeeding. In the past four years, the circulation had quadrupled and several articles were being picked up by the Associated Press. One of her
border stories had won an award last May. Mr. Brewster would have been proud.

“Let’s put this one to bed,” she smiled. “Great job, everyone.”

People got up to leave. “One more thing,” Abby said. “I’m busy this evening. If anything comes up, Bridget or Hank will handle it. Right?” She gave Bridget, her secretary, and Hank, her assistant, a questioning glance.

“Yes, ma’am,” they chorused.

Abby gathered up her papers and headed for her office. She laid the papers on her desk and stood for a moment, a smile lingering on her face. These days she knew exactly who she was—Abigail Duncan Parker. And Abigail Duncan Parker had plans for tonight. Big plans with her husband.

Their lives had been so busy for the past four years. They’d had many transitions to make. She’d quit her job and moved from Dallas to Hope. They’d lived in Jonas’s apartment the first year because they couldn’t bring themselves to move into the mansion. Edna, Jules and Darby had contested the will to no avail and were shocked to learn that their money had been put into a trust fund—which Jonas controlled—and they were each allotted five thousand a month. Edna and Jules moved to Houston, and Darby moved to Las Vegas. Jonas only heard from them when they ran short of money.

Abby’s relationship with her mother was good, and she was glad they’d been able to work through the heartache. Earl’s relationship with his mother had also improved. He’d married his girlfriend three years ago and last year had become the proud father
of a baby girl. Aunt Sybil had refused to go to the wedding, but she was crazy about her granddaughter.

Holly came to visit often, and Abby was trying to talk her into working for the
Herald,
but so far she hadn’t succeeded. Holly enjoyed big city life.

Jonas had had his hands full with the Brewster estate. He’d made Stuart manager of Brewster Farms and that had worked out very well. It had given Jonas the time he needed to take over Mr. Brewster’s seat on numerous boards, including the bank, the school, the water and the chamber of commerce. The money, the power, didn’t change Jonas. He still wore his chambray shirt and jeans, and when he wasn’t occupied with business, he could be found working side by side with the laborers.

Jonas was making a difference in the small town. With pressure from him, Sheriff Fisher retired and a younger, more aggressive sheriff took his place. The drug-dealing on Fifth Street was cleaned up. Jonas talked Mick into retiring and had helped him turn Mick’s Tavern into a malt shop and game room for the kids of Hope—which Mick’s daughter operated. Jonas poured money into the school system and funded special classes—two nights a week—to teach English to the Mexicans who wanted to stay and work in this country. Gail ran the program.

Abby smiled, thinking of everything Jonas had accomplished. Then she heard his motorcycle and ran for the front door.

She watched as he parked the bike, removed his helmet and grinned at her. Her heart raced. His hair was still sun-bleached and curled into his collar.

“Need a ride, ma’am?” The grin deepened.

She lifted an eyebrow. “My husband doesn’t let me ride with just anyone.”

“Smart man.”

“Hmm,” she sighed, moving around the bike to his side. “He’s also terrific, kind, generous, com—”

The word was smothered against her lips, as he pulled her close and kissed her. She leaned into him returning the kiss with the urgency that always overwhelmed her when they touched.

“Hey, you two, this is a public street,” Brenda called as she was about to get into her van.

Abby and Jonas smiled at her.

“Remember dinner tomorrow night at our house,” Brenda said.

“We’ll be there,” Jonas replied.

Brenda waved as she drove away.

Jonas put his hands around Abby’s waist and rested his forehead against hers. “If you’re through for the day, I thought we’d hit the highway for a while.”

“That sounds wonderful, but I had a special evening planned in the apartment.” Although they had renovated and moved into the mansion three years ago, they used the apartment when they didn’t want to be interrupted.

“Oh, so that’s what Rosa’s been doing at the apartment all afternoon. I thought she was cleaning.”

“No, she’s preparing a special meal for us.”

His hands moved up her back. “I know it’s not our anniversary or your birthday or mine. Did I forget an occasion?”

“No, I just wanted us to have some time alone to talk.”

“Don’t we do that every night?”

She played with the hair on his neck. “This is different.”

“Hmm.” He kissed her again. “Sounds serious.”

“In a way, it is,” she admitted. “I have something I want to talk about and it’s important.”

“Then, that’s what we’ll do,” he said, reaching for the helmet on the handlebars and handing it to her. “We’ll take a ride around Hope before going home. Okay?”

“Okay.” She smiled as she climbed onto the back of the bike. Within minutes they were flying through Hope. Abby held on tightly to Jonas and hoped the evening would end the way she’d planned.

They walked hand in hand up the stairs to the apartment. Rosa, a short, plump lady, was putting some finishing touches to the table, which was set with linen, candles and flowers.

“Wow,” Jonas said. “This must be a special evening.”

Rosa wiped her hands on her apron. “Everything’s ready, ma’am.” She moved toward the door. “I’ll be back later to clean up.”

“No,” Abby said. “You go home to your family. I’ll clean up. I appreciate you doing this on such short notice.”

“Thanks, ma’am,” Rosa said, and disappeared out the door.

Abby went into Jonas’s waiting arms. “I’m not hungry for food at the moment,” she said, pulling the shirt from his jeans.

“When you touch me, I’m never hungry for food.” He kissed her neck, then swung her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.

Slowly they undressed, savoring each movement,
each caress. Their lovemaking was intense and powerful because they knew how to please and satisfy one another. It always felt to Abby like the first time; the wonder, the joy and immense pleasure. She treasured this love, this man.

A long time later Abby lay in Jonas’s arms feeling content and happy, but she knew they had to talk.

He kissed her hair. “What did you want to talk about?”

She sat up and faced him. It was now or never. “I wanted to talk about babies.”

He looked surprised. “Babies?”

“Our baby,” she corrected.

“Okay,” he said, and also sat up.

“I know we agreed to wait because we weren’t ready and we had so much going on in our lives.” She rushed on. “But I’ll soon be thirty-five and you’ll be forty.”

“What are you saying?”

She took a breath. “I’m saying I’m ready for a baby.”

“And you’re worried that I might not be?”

“Something like that.”

He cupped her face and smoothed the worried lines with his thumbs. “Don’t you know by now that I’d do anything you want. If you wanted the stars from the sky, I’d try to find a way to give them to you.”

She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. “I know,” she whispered. “But I want you to want a baby as much as I do.”

“Abby, Abby,” he murmured softly. “I’ve come a long way in four years. You’ve taught me more about love since I’ve met you than I’ve known in
my whole life. And now I’m ready to share that love with…our baby.”

“Oh, Jonas.” She kissed him deeply, and there was silence for a while.

Finally, Jonas spoke against her lips. “And think of all the fun we’ll have trying. You’ll probably call me in the middle of the day and tell me to meet you at the apartment because it’s your fertile time and your temperature’s just right.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

His eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Since I’ve been having a problem with the pill, we haven’t been too careful.” She tried to find the right words.

He watched her for a moment. “Abby, are you trying to tell me something?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

Her eyes met his. “I’m…pregnant.”

A smile split his face. The biggest smile she’d ever seen.

“Pregnant? You’re pregnant?” he whispered, as if he was afraid to say the words out loud.

She nodded, tears filling her eyes, because she could see the joy in his. Everything was going to be fine. Jonas was ready.

“Abby, oh Abby.” He pulled her to him, his hands sliding over her and coming to rest on her flat abdomen. “A baby? We’re having a baby?”

“Yes.” She laughed through the tears. “I found out this morning, and I’ve been dying to tell you all day, but I knew you had that buyer’s meeting and lunch this morning and a bank meeting this after
noon. I didn’t want to tell you and then leave. I wanted us to be together in case…”

He kissed her again. “I’m sorry you were worried, but I’m thrilled. Oh God, I’m ecstatic.”

She threw her arms around him, and they fell backward on the bed. “I love you, Jonas,” she cried as she kissed him fiercely.

“I love you, too,” he breathed between kisses.

She knew then that whatever life had in store for them, they would face it together.