An Intimate Bargain

Ten

Zach was going through his days on autopilot. Though he was far from being an expert, he strongly suspected he’d fallen in love with Abigail. Worse than missing her was the knowledge that he’d hurt her, and he was now powerless to do anything about it. He had to fight with himself every single day to keep from calling to see how she was feeling.

One day he spotted her on Main Street. He nearly called out, but then he saw Travis coming out of the hardware store behind her. He was under no illusion that Travis felt any differently than his brother, Seth. Zach gripped the door handle of his Jaguar, watching her move alongside the ranch pickup truck, wondering if she’d recognize him from this distance, honestly not sure what he would do if she saw him. He didn’t think he could bring himself to ignore her.

She was carrying a cardboard box. It was impossible to tell if it was heavy, but the urge to stride down the block and lift it from her arms was overpowering. And then he saw she was limping. He swore from between clenched teeth.

What had happened this time? Had a cow stepped on her foot? Or maybe she’d tripped and twisted an ankle, or come off a horse again, or maybe she’d fallen off a roof. Angry at her, angry at her family, and furious with himself at having abandoned her, he yanked open the driver’s door. He slammed his way into the car and peeled out of town.

He brooded in the depths of the castle until Alex caught up with him in his suite that night.

“Missed you at the meeting this afternoon,” Alex said easily, but his expression was watchful as he crossed the room, taking a spot on the sofa.

“Got busy,” Zach responded vaguely, not wanting to talk about his abrupt departure from Lyndon. He rose and made his way to the makeshift bar to pour them each a scotch.

“No big deal,” said Alex, letting it go. “Accounting wants a new software package. Ariel-something. They say it’ll pay for itself in staff savings within the next couple of years.”

Zach collected the drinks and turned back. “Did you okay it?”

“Wanted to run it by you first.”

Zach walked over to Alex and handed him his drink. “Whatever you think.”

“I think yes.”

“Good enough.” Zach sat himself down.

Ozzy immediately waddled over, dropped onto his rear end and whimpered at Zach’s feet. Zach automatically scooped the puppy up into his lap.

“Laziest dog in the world,” Alex mused.

“He’s not lazy.”

“He can’t even be bothered to jump into your lap.”

“He’s not lazy. Give the little guy a break.”

Alex chuckled.

Annoyed, Zach stared levelly at his friend. “They were going to put him down. Because he’s imperfect, and nobody wanted him. You know what that’s like.”

Alex took a sip of his scotch. “I do know what that’s like. But I don’t think he should use it as a crutch for the rest of his life.”

“One of his legs is shorter than the other,” Zach felt compelled to explain. “And he’s blind in one eye. It’s hard for him to jump.”

“He’ll never learn if you don’t make him try.”

“He is trying,” said Zach, anger percolating inside him. “I can tell he’s trying. But he’s not cut out for jumping. He’s not cut out to be some robust ranch hand, running after cattle and horses.”

“Ranch hand?”

“He’ll get hurt.” The day’s frustrations clouded Zach’s brain, coalescing into outright anger. “He might even get killed. And the people who claim to love her should stop putting her in danger.”

Alex peered over the rim of his glass. “Her?”

“Huh?”

“You said her.”

Zach gave himself a shake. “I meant him.”

“You said her.”

Zach downed his drink in one swallow. “He’s just a little puppy. I’m going to take care of him. So sue me.”

Alex rocked back. “Okay, Zach. What the hell’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re all bottled up.”

“I’ve been working hard, and I’m tired. We’re all tired.”

“Bull,” said Alex. “You love this stuff. When things get frantic and risky, you love it even more.”

“I hate it.” Zach hated everything today. He hated uprooting their headquarters. He hated moving halfway across the country. And he especially hated depending on Seth Jacobs. If he didn’t need to set DFB up in Lyndon, nobody, nobody would stop him from going to Abigail.

Alex was silent for a long minute. He polished off his own drink. “It’s her, isn’t it?”

Zach tried to take another drink, but his glass was empty, nothing but a sip of melted ice on the bottom. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve been on edge since Abigail left.”

Zach gave a grunt of disagreement.

“Why don’t you call her?”

Zach would like nothing better than to call her. “Not gonna happen.”

“I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there with Stephanie. You’re going to feel like this until you call her.”

“I can’t call her.”

“I know you think you can’t call her. But, believe me, you can. You’ll get used to the indignity that comes with having a girlfriend.”

“You think this is about my dignity?” Zach scoffed. If it had been that simple, he’d have kept her here when she came back for Ozzy. No, that wasn’t true. If it had been as simple as his dignity, he’d have never let her leave in the first place.

“What else would it be about?” Alex asked.

Zach wasn’t a heart-to-heart kind of guy, but he was too tired to fight it tonight, too tired to do anything but admit the truth.

“It’s about you,” he admitted to Alex. “You and DFB and everybody else. If it was just about me, I’d do whatever it took. In a heartbeat. Anything.”

“You’re in love with her,” Alex stated.

“Absolutely.” There wasn’t a doubt in Zach’s mind.

Alex rose, crossed the floor and retrieved the scotch bottle. He poured a measure into each glass. “Then it’s not about me.”

Zach contemplated the new drink, a sense of eerie calm coming over him as his mind went places he never could have imagined. “How would you feel about starting over?” he asked softly.

Alex sat back down. “Starting over how?”

“You and me, in a cheap basement suite, working as bartenders again while we save up a down payment for another business.”

“Not great,” said Alex. “But I’d do it. Why?”

Zach hesitated a moment longer. “Because her brother threatened me.”

Alex was clearly confused. “Threatened you with what?”

Zach set the glass down. “The mayor told me that if I ever so much as spoke to his sister again, he’d turn down our business license and make it impossible for DFB to operate in Lyndon.”

“Why?”

“He thinks he’s protecting Abigail. He knows I blackmailed her. I imagine he thinks I coerced her into sleeping with me.”

Alex stared reflexively into space, and the minutes ticked by.

Zach knew he’d put his friend in an impossible position. He was sorry about that. But he didn’t think he could bring himself to abandon Abigail.

When Alex finally spoke, there was a thread of laughter in his voice. “He actually forced you to choose between her and me?”

“He did.”

“And you chose me? I’m flattered, Zach. But…you’re an idiot.”

“Choosing her would have destroyed the company.”

“You’re still an idiot.”

“Are you saying I should have turned him down?” Zach challenged.

“I’m saying, for starters, you should have told me we were being blackmailed.”

“Yeah,” Zach was forced to agree. “I should have told you that.”

How many other mistakes had he made in all this? He found himself picturing Abigail in his robe, the night he’d rescued her from the highway, her bandaged arm, the fading bruises, her sore rib cage. His stomach churned.

“I can’t leave her there, Alex. It’s not right. She’s not happy. The work’s dangerous. I’m afraid it might kill her.”

“So go get her.”

“I do, and I risk everything we’ve ever worked for.”

“We’ll build something else.” Alex made it sound ridiculously simple.

“And what about our employees?”

“If worse comes to worst, we’ll sell the assets and give them all a fat severance package.”

Zach snapped his fingers. “Just like that?”

“You don’t get to give up Abigail for me, Zach. Because if I find the right woman, and I have to choose-” Alex grinned and shrugged “-you’re toast, buddy.”

“Good to know where I stand.”

“Isn’t it?”

It was.

And it was great to know that Alex had his back, just as he always had. No brother in the world could be more loyal than Alex. Because of him, Zach didn’t need to stand around and watch Abigail suffer. He could do something about it, damn the consequences.

When Abigail heard Zach’s voice in the foyer of the ranch house, she shot to her feet from the sofa, gaping in astonishment as he elbowed his way past Travis, wheeling into the living room.

Her brother Seth jumped up from an armchair, squaring his shoulders and widening his stance. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Lisa appeared from the kitchen, obviously drawn by the raised voices. She stopped in the archway and took in the three men.

“Zach?” Abigail managed to say, the breath leaving her body. What had happened? Why did he look so angry?

Instead of responding to her, he spoke to Seth. “You,” he growled, “can take your business license and shove it.”

Travis stopped short behind Zach.

“Zach?” Abigail repeated, taking a step forward, half hopeful, half confused.

“Get out of this house,” Seth ordered.

“I will close my business,” Zach vowed, his voice low and menacing.

“What the hell?” Travis interjected.

“Leave,” Seth repeated.

Zach didn’t take his gaze off Seth. “I’ll chuck it all and start from scratch before I sacrifice Abby.”

Sacrifice her?

“Have you lost your mind?” Travis demanded of Zach.

Good question.

“I’ll do whatever she wants. I’ll hire her,” said Zach, still fixating on Seth. “I’ll marry her. I’ll protect her. The one thing I won’t do is let the family who supposedly loves her work her into the ground.”

“That’s enough,” Seth shouted.

“What’s he talking about?” Travis had also turned his attention to his brother.

“Nothing,” said Seth.

Zach gave a cold laugh. He turned to Travis. “Your brother didn’t tell you he was blackmailing me?”

Abigail gaped at Seth.

His nostrils were flared, and his face had turned ruddy.

“Seth?” Travis insisted.

“He’s the one who was blackmailing her.”

Abigail’s stomach dropped like a stone. Her gaze shot to Lisa, but Lisa shook her head in incomprehension.

“He seduced her,” Seth continued. “Then he threatened to run to us with the tale.”

Zach coughed out a sharp laugh. “You think that was my threat? That I’d kiss and tell?”

“Stop it!” Abigail demanded, afraid she knew where Zach was going.

“I threatened-”

“Shut up, Zach.”

Zach stared coolly into her eyes but kept right on speaking. “To tell you that she hates working at the ranch.”

The room went completely silent.

Abigail mouthed the word no, slowly shaking her head in denial.

“They need to know, Abby.”

No, they didn’t. They never needed to know. She couldn’t believe Zach had betrayed her. “You promised,” she whispered.

“I guess I lied.”

“How could you?”

Travis stepped up, clamping a hand on Zach’s shoulder. “Time for you to leave.”

“We need to talk,” Zach said to Abigail.

“Why did you come back?”

His tone went soft, and so did his brown eyes. “Because I couldn’t stay away.”

“Out,” said Travis.

But Lisa spoke up, advancing on Seth. “What did you do?”

Seth puffed out his chest. “I protected my sister.”

Abigail stood in mute misery, knowing she’d been the cause of all this.

Zach’s voice was deliberate. “Mayor Jacobs advised me that if I ever spoke to his sister again, he’d deny the DFB business license and bankrupt my company.”

“He was blackmailing her,” Seth protested.

“How did you know that?” asked Lisa.

“Stop it!” Abigail cried. “Everyone, please, just stop.” She couldn’t stand that Seth had compromised his principles. And she hated that Zach had outed her.

Lisa’s arm closed on her shoulders.

Abigail found herself searching Zach’s face, as if his expression might give her a hint of why he was doing this.

“You hate the ranch?” Travis asked.

“She’s had enough,” said Lisa.

Zach shook off Travis’s hand, turning on him. “You might want to think about letting her leave this place before you kill her.”

Travis sneered. “Don’t be absurd.”

“Ask her for an inventory of her bruises someday.”

Seth had gone quiet. Now he turned a concerned look on Abigail.

“Get out,” Travis ordered.

“Right,” Zach capitulated. “I’m leaving.” Then his icy stare took in both brothers. “But that doesn’t mean I’m gone.”

His last look was for Abigail. His eyes turned to mocha, and his mouth flexed in a half smile. His deep tone brought back a thousand memories. “Take your time, Doll-Face. Decide what you want to do and let me know.”

An hour later, Abigail blinked against the shaft of light from the hallway as her sister Mandy pushed open the door and stepped into the dim bedroom, quietly pulling it shut behind her.

Abigail shifted into a sitting position on the bed, drawing up her knees. “It didn’t take them long to send for reinforcements.”

Mandy smiled as she padded across the room, wrapping her hand around the newel post on the footboard. “Sounds like I missed all the fun.”

“You call that fun?”

“I call it exciting.” Mandy sat down at the foot of the big bed and leaned back.

“It was that,” Abigail allowed.

“Your life’s not usually that exciting.”

“Not so you’d notice.” Though, lately, it had had its moments.

“So, what’s the real story with this guy?”

“It’s a bit complicated.”

Her sister shrugged. “I’m not going anywhere.” Then she grinned. “Seriously, Abby. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. So you might as well start talking.”

“I met him in Lyndon.” Abigail settled back against the headboard, preparing to give her sister the whole story. Though she felt battered and bruised, and confused by Zach’s behavior, she felt strangely calm. It was all out in the open now. For better or worse, they could all stop sneaking around.

“When?” Mandy prompted into the silence.

“Election night. He was a stranger then, probably the only guy in town who didn’t know who I was. He thought I was elegant and sophisticated.”

“You are elegant and sophisticated.”

Abigail’s glance went to her tattered fingernails. “Not usually.”

“You were that night. It was one great dress.”

“It was,” Abigail agreed. She thought back to her and Zach’s nighttime picnic. “I was pretty hot that night. It was all very sexy. I wouldn’t let him tell me his name, and I refused to tell him mine. But we slept together.”

“No way.”

“Way. It was great. And then I sneaked away the next morning.”

“And he tracked you down to blackmail you?”

“No. He didn’t know who I was.” Abigail believed that now. “He needed a variance on his water license. Somebody gave him my name. And when I refused to help him, that’s when he blackmailed me.”

“And you’re still sleeping with him.”

“Yes. Well, I was until Seth threatened him, and he broke it off.” At least Abigail now understood Zach’s sudden withdrawal. She was going to have a long talk with both her brothers.

“He’s a great guy,” Abigail continued. “In a ridiculous situation.” She thought back to the DFB employees she’d met in Houston, and his determination to do right by them. And when you added to that Seth’s blackmail, and Zach’s stunning reaction tonight… A reaction that was only now coming clear inside her head.

She sat up straighter. “I’m pretty sure he said something about marrying me down there.”

“I heard. Lisa told me.”

“What do you think he meant by that?” Could it have been metaphorical? Even if she took into account Zach’s rather single-minded determination to get her away from the ranch, offering to marry her seemed a bit extreme.

“Let’s see…” Mandy tapped her temple with her index finger. “What could a man possibly mean when he offers to marry a woman?” She gave an elongated pause. “I know. Maybe he wants to marry you.”

“Why?”

“To love, honor and keep you all the days of his life?”

“That’s silly. Zach doesn’t love me.”

“You sure about that?”

Abigail wasn’t sure about anything right now. And her head was starting to ache.

She changed the subject. “What on earth was Seth thinking?”

“That he was protecting you.”

“Ha, he botched that. I’m a grown woman. He needs to stop interfering in my life. So does Travis.”

Mandy leaned forward as if to share a secret. “Maybe if you hadn’t lied to him, lied to all of us.”

“I never lied.”

“You didn’t tell us you hated the ranch.”

“I don’t hate the ranch.”

“You hate working on the ranch.”

Abigail pushed back her messy hair. A sheen of sweat had formed at the hairline. “Yeah,” she admitted. “I hate working on the ranch.”

“You should have said something.”

“And then what? Leave Travis stuck here all alone?”

“He can hire more help.”

Abigail’s voice rose. “It’s not the same. You know it’s not the same.”

Mandy scooted to the middle of the bed, placing a hand on Abigail’s upraised knee. “That doesn’t mean you get to be the sacrificial lamb. Travis doesn’t want you to do that. None of us want you to do that. Would you want Katrina to do that?”

“It’s different with Katrina.”

“It’s not different at all.” Mandy squared her shoulders. “You’re not staying, Abby. We’re not going to let you stay.”

Abigail gave a sad smile. She had mixed emotions about that. She didn’t want to abandon Travis, but she desperately wanted her freedom.

Mandy wasn’t finished. “And while you’re thinking about where to go, did you happen to give a listen to what Zach said down there? Did you watch him stand up to Seth and Travis? Did you see that he was willing to give up everything for you? His company. His fortune. Alex, and everything they’ve ever worked for. And he didn’t know how our brothers would react. There were two of them and only one of him, and he barged onto their land to get you.”

Abigail had seen all that. She’d been shell-shocked at the time. But Mandy was right-it was pretty amazing.

“Love doesn’t get much better than that,” said Mandy.

Abigail’s chest squeezed tight. Could it be true? They pushed and pulled and prodded each other. He was frustrating and opinionated, and she was stubborn. But they also made amazing love. And they laid for hours in each other’s arms afterward. And they shared joys and fears and secrets. And if she’d had her way, she might never have left Craig Mountain.

She loved Zach. She loved him so very much.

Mandy tossed back her hair. “So, what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

Abigail groaned at the bedroom ceiling. “I should never have let him walk out of here.”

“You love him.”

“Yes.”

“Then you should have thrown yourself in his arms, told him that and walked away from the ranch with him by your side.”

“I’d be halfway to Craig Mountain by now.” Abigail paused, hope glowing to life inside her. “Is it possible that he really wants to marry me?”

“He asked you.”

“In a roundabout way.”

“In a very public and possibly hazardous way. He didn’t know how Seth and Travis would react.”

Abigail’s heart thudded, and the hope grew stronger.

“Go ask him,” Mandy whispered. “Better yet, answer him. Tell him you love him. Say yes to the marriage proposal.”

“Drive on up to Craig Mountain.” Abigail couldn’t help remembering what had happened last time she’d tried that.

“Yes.”

“Tell him I love him.”

“Yes.”

“Step off an emotional cliff with no safety net.”

“He already did that for you.”

Abigail felt herself smile.

He had. He’d waltzed right in here and gambled everything. Mandy was right-the very least Abigail could do was meet him halfway.

She put her hand on top of Mandy’s and squeezed. “I’m going to Craig Mountain.”

“You want me to drive?”

“I think I need to do this alone.”

“It’s late. And it’s a long way. Caleb will-”

“I’m a big girl, Mandy. I can drive myself.”

Mandy sucked a breath through her teeth. “Yes, you can. Call me when you get there.”

Abigail came to her feet, feeling an overwhelming urge to run to the nearest vehicle and speed to the highway. “I might be busy.” She started for the door.

“Then phone me after,” Mandy called out. “And drive carefully.”

On the stone front patio of the castle, Zach lounged in a deep, wood-slat chair, Alex in the one next to him, Ozzy curled at his feet, a bottle of cold C Mountain Ale condensing against his left palm.

“So, you proposed,” Alex was saying. “But you left without getting an answer.”

“She was pretty upset by the whole thing,” Zach responded. “I don’t think she’s had time to think it through.”

Ugly as it was, he didn’t regret his actions tonight. He’d meant every word he said to Seth and Travis, and to Abigail. Whatever she wanted, whatever she needed, he was here, and he wasn’t going anywhere.

“You probably should have waited for an answer,” said Alex.

“Maybe,” Zach admitted. He’d gone over it a thousand times on the drive back. But he truly didn’t know if he should have stayed. “Maybe I should have kidnapped her when I had the chance.”

Alex chuckled. “I can’t see her brothers letting you haul her out of the family house.”

“I suppose.”

They both took a swig of beer, while the crisp wind whistled across the lake, crackling the bright fall leaves and sending them fluttering down to the grass around the castle.

“So we might be bankrupt, and we might not,” Alex mused.

“I don’t think Seth will hold it against us.”

By the end there, it was obvious Seth was rethinking the situation. Out of everyone in that room, Zach was willing to bet Seth got that Zach would defend Abigail against anyone, including her family.

Alex contemplated his beer bottle. “Which means, the company is saved, and we’ll still be able to drink free of charge?”

“Damn fine beer,” Zach intoned, chuckling at the memory of their silly, teenage name for the company. Their original plan had been to buy a small brewery, create jobs for themselves and be able to drink for free. That’s as far as their dreams had gone in the early days.

“DFB,” Alex echoed. “It’s been one amazing trip, buddy.”

A pair of headlights appeared in the distance, flashing through the trees as the vehicle bounced on the rough road. It was coming in at quite a clip.

“You don’t suppose…” Alex ventured.

“A guy can hope.” Zach’s chest tightened. He took a reflexive swig from the bottle, draining it and setting it on the patio beside his chair.

Restless, he came to his feet, gazing into the night, waiting for the moment when the vehicle came around the bend and he’d know if it was her or not.

“Jacobs Cattle Company.” Alex spoke in the same moment Zach read the logo on the door of the blue truck.

“I hope it’s not Travis with a shotgun.” Zach squinted at the windshield, but the parking-lot lights were reflecting off the glass, and he couldn’t see inside.

“I thought you said he wouldn’t hold it against you.”

“That was Seth.”

Travis was definitely a wild card with an attitude.

The truck rocked to a halt.

It was her.

Zach’s chest tightened further as she slammed her way out of the driver’s seat. She rounded the hood, wearing scruffy jeans, a gray T-shirt and tan cowboy boots. Her hair was mussed, her makeup nonexistent, and her mouth was pursed in a moue of determination.

God, she was beautiful.

“Yes,” she shouted shortly as she mounted the stairs.

“Yes, what?” he called back.

She trotted toward him. “You told me to decide what I wanted.”

“I did.”

She stopped in front of him. “And to let you know.”

She didn’t look angry, and he dared to really hope.

“Uh-huh,” he prompted, gazing into those gorgeous golden eyes.

He was vaguely aware of Alex coming to his feet behind him.

“Hi, Alex,” said Abigail, her glance flicking past Zach’s shoulder.

Zach touched an index finger to the bottom of her chin, turning her attention back to him. “Yes, what?”

A beat went by. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Pure, unadulterated joy shot through him, but he kept it together. “You will?”

A trace of uncertainty crossed her face. It was adorable. “Were you serious? Or were you just trying to protect me?”

He had to struggle to keep a straight face. He also had to struggle to keep from hauling her into his arms and kissing the life out of her.

“I was trying to protect you,” he admitted. He tried to pause, but he was impatient. “I was also trying to love you.”

“Gettin’ anywhere with that?” she asked, her spunk clearly back.

“Yeah.” He gave in and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ve succeeded. Completely.”

“Then say it.”

“I love you.”

“Good.”

“Your turn.”

“I love you, too, Lucky. A whole lot.” She came up on her toes, snaking her arms around his neck.

He met her halfway in a searing kiss.

“Uh, Zach?” came Alex’s voice.

Zach broke the kiss and turned. “Are you still here?”

Abigail giggled against his chest.

“I thought you might want this.” Alex tossed a small wooden box that Zach caught in midair. “I found it in the north tower.”

Puzzled, Zach flipped the brass catch with his thumb and opened the top. There sat a gorgeous little emerald-and-diamond ring, the brilliant stones nestled in polished gold.

“I don’t know its history,” said Alex. “But then, we orphans never really know for sure, do we?”

“We never do,” Zach agreed. An heirloom ring from Craig Mountain Castle. Somehow, it seemed fitting.

“And now I’m leaving.” Alex’s footsteps sounded on the porch until the door closed behind him.

Zach turned to show Abigail the ring.

“Will you marry me?” he whispered. “I love you so much.”

“Yes,” she breathed, her eyes sparkling brighter than the ring. Then she looked down. “It’s absolutely gorgeous. Lord Ashton’s?”

“I’m really starting to like that guy.”

The first day of spring was opening night at Lord Ashton’s Alehouse. Over the months Abigail had worked on the project, the restaurant had expanded until it was a whole lot larger than Zach had first envisioned. There’d been a buzz about the place around the whole state since New Year’s, and the restaurant was booked up past the end of the month.

A bright wood fire roared in the massive fireplace, vintage black tools hanging from hooks against the worn stones. Lord Ashton’s swords and shields decorated the walls, and Abigail had even found a couple of suits of armor to place in the corners of the room.

The dinning tables were made of worn, rough-hewn beams. An elaborate candelabrum sat in the center of each one. The chairs were upholstered in soft leather, designed to look worn, with the wooden arms and backs crafted to look antique. Lady Elise Ashton’s paintings graced the entrance, and the multitude of sunken windows were decorated with heavy, emerald velvet curtains.

“Is it really wild boar?” Mandy asked, pointing at the leather-bound menu from her place at the table next to Abigail.

“They assure me it is,” Abigail answered, smiling around the big table at Seth and Travis, Mandy and her husband, Caleb. Alex was at the foot of the table kitty-corner to Lisa. And even Reed and Katrina had flown in from New York City for the weekend. Her parents were still in Denver, settling in nicely to the social life in a retirement complex.

“I’m going for it,” said Mandy. “And I’m definitely trying the Yorkshire pudding.”

“I don’t know how you people can eat so much,” Katrina put in from across the table.

“Try the garden salad,” Abigail advised her youngest sister. The downside to being a famous ballerina was keeping your figure so trim.

“I’ll be eating even more pretty soon,” said Mandy.

“Going on a trail ride?” asked Seth, helping himself to one of the fresh rolls placed in baskets in the middle of the table.

“Eating for two,” Mandy announced matter-of-factly.

The wide, proud grin that stretched across Caleb’s face confirmed the news.

Abigail squealed. “You’re pregnant!”

Mandy nodded, while Abigail pulled her into a tight hug.

The men offered congratulations to Caleb, and Katrina rushed around the table to join her sisters.

“I’m going to be an auntie,” Abigail breathed.

“I can’t wait to take her to plays and shops and museums,” said Katrina.

“Might be a boy.” Mandy laughed.

Katrina pooh-poohed with a wave of her hand. “If it is, you can always try again.”

Abigail laughed, glancing down at her sister’s flat stomach. “Do Mom and Dad know?”

“I called them this morning.”

While her brothers came around to hug Mandy, Abigail felt Zach’s hand wrap around hers. He urged her to him, out of the fray, then drew her down onto his lap in the roomy armchair at the head of the table.

“What about you?” he whispered in her ear.

“What about me?” she whispered back.

“You interested in having kids?”

“I am.” She rested her cheek against his, inhaling his familiar scent and letting her body mold against his strength, while her family’s voices seemed to fade. “You?”

“I’m the only one of my line,” he said, voice gruff. “So, yeah. I’d like to carry it on.”

Abigail’s heart squeezed hard.

“We can have lots of children,” she told him around a suddenly clogged throat. “You, Zach Rainer, are going to be the start of something big.”

“Can we start now?”

She couldn’t help smiling at that. “We haven’t even had the appetizer yet.”

“I don’t need food. I need you.”

“After dessert,” she whispered with a surreptitious glance over her shoulder to the commotion around Mandy. “We’ll go get pregnant.”

He stared deeply, lovingly into her eyes. “Do you think we should get married first?”

“Sure.”

He hesitated. “So, we’ll wait?”

“I’m thinking, if we take the Jaguar, we can be over the Nevada border in six hours.”

He drew back. “Elope?”

She nodded.

“Won’t that upset your family?”

She smoothed a hand across his cheeks, burrowing her fingers in his hair and moving in close. “I’ve stopped living for my family, Lucky.” She kissed him gently on the lips. “I’m living for you now. And we should do whatever we want.”

“Oh, Doll-Face,” he groaned, hugging her tight. “Marry me. Do it now.”