Running scared, p.4
Running Scared, page 4
“You forgot something,” he told her as she felt the heat coming into her cheeks, totally embarrassed for her silent accusations.
He reached over and took her hands, guiding them around his waist. Once more, her heart began to beat rapidly; this time she also felt tiny beads of sweat form on her upper lip.
“Any self-respecting criminal would hide a gun in their waistband,” he announced laughingly. Surely he was aware of her discomfort?
Emma pulled her hands back quickly, and turned her back on him, heading for the house, and Sally.
“Emma.”
She stopped and turned to face him, not uttering a word. Since the moment she’d met him, he tried to help her. Or maybe it was just a ruse?
She was so confused. Should she go, or should she stay? After all, it wasn’t only herself she had to think of. Sally was in as much danger, and as her mother, her sole parent, she had an obligation to make certain they both stayed safe.
*
They sat on Emma’s comfy sofa sipping coffee. Emma had sent Sally to her room to play while the adults talked.
“I’m really sorry, I feel so embarrassed.”
“Okay, I concede—when we met, with my torn jeans and old shirt and stubby chin, I did look a bit rough, but let’s face it, Emma, we’ve known each other for a while now...” He paused for effect, but Emma sat sipping her drink, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Emma,” He reached over and took the cup from her hands. “Look at me.”
Emma sat staring into space. Gary gently clutched her jaw with his fingers and turned her to face him. “Would you trust this face?” he asked light heartedly. “With its angelic eyes and loveable mouth? Oh, and let’s not forget the cute little nose.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” she said quietly. “I don’t know who I can trust.” Now she looked him in the eye. “You could be anyone. These last weeks have been a huge mistake.”
Gary was solemn as he mimicked the Boy Scout salute. “Emma James-Larkin, I swear to God, I will not harm you or Sally. I promise to protect you both.”
Emma’s tears clung to her lashes like early morning dew to blades of grass, and Gary pulled her close against him.
*
With the booster seat firmly in place, and Sally strapped into her seat belt, Gary started up the four-wheel drive.
Sally became impatient after they had been traveling for only ten minutes. “Are we there yet, Mr. Bedford?”
“Soon, Squirt, soon.”
“Have you got any lambs?” she asked excitedly.
“Lots. And calves and foals—lots of baby animals.” He half turned his head and smiled at her. “Would you like to feed them?”
Sally’s eyes were wide in astonishment. “Can I, Mummy? Can I?”
“Sure. If it’s okay with Mr. Bedford, it’s okay with me.”
As they continued their journey, Gary grinned at the squeals coming from the backseat as Sally noticed things along the way. First to catch her attention was a herd of cows, which she called horses. It was soon apparent that anything that looked remotely like a horse was a horse.
As they passed through Lucknow, the fire truck being washed by a group of fire fighters was another distraction. They soon reached the gates to the farm, where Gary brought the car to a stop. He was surprised that Sally hadn’t noticed the playground in the main street of Bruthen as they passed through.
“Well ladies, here we are, The Knee-High Fun Ranch.”
Sally squealed and clapped her hands together as she spotted horses galloping toward the fence. “Mummy, Mummy, look!”
Gary smiled at Emma, and then reached across to Sally in the back seat. He gently touched her hand. “Settle down, Squirt. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” He winked at her, and then turned back to the wheel. “Okay, are we ready to roll?”
Not waiting for an answer, Gary took off the handbrake, began the long haul to the house, grinning at the squeals of delight coming from the back seat as Sally spotted animals along the way.
When the Cherokee pulled up in front of the main house, Gary was at Emma’s door before she had a chance to move.
A farm hand sauntered lazily over to them.
“Boss, Ma’am.” He tipped his well-worn Akubra at Emma. “Just in time for the feedin’. I don’t see no little one. She here?” he asked, looking around.
Gary cringed when the other man spoke. “Sure is. Jake, meet Emma.” Jake Ramsay was on Gary’s team, but as far as Emma was concerned, he was a farm hand.
Gary watched on silently as Emma carefully scrutinized Jake. She seemed to drink in his features, and her gaze rested on his two-day growth.
“Glad to meet you Ma’am,” Jake said as he shook her hand. Emma winced at Jake’s strong grip. Gary’s gaze drifted from Jake to Emma, then back to Jake. He winced inwardly as Jake again spoke to her.
“Sorry, Ma’am,” he said, frowning. “Don’t know my own strength sometimes.”
“It’s all right, Jake,” Emma said, continuing her appraisal of him.
Gary continued to watch as her eyes strolled over Jake’s tall frame, and noted her surprised expression as she stared at his hands. Jake, while not as tall as Gary, was solid, and hopefully that would convince Emma he was the Real McCoy. His smooth hands could be his undoing.
“Are you a cowboy?” Sally asked Jake excitedly, as Gary lifted her out of the booster seat.
Gary winced again. Jake certainly sounded more like a cowboy than the farm hand he was supposed to be. He’d have to tell Jake to ease up on the acting.
Jake laughed out loud. “No darlin’ I ain’t. I’m just a farm hand.” He winked across at Emma. “I guess you must be little Sally.”
“I’m not little,” she said, scowling.
“Sally!” Emma cautioned her offspring.
“It’s all right Ma’am,” Jake winked at Emma again. “Miss James, I a-pol-ogise for my mistake,” he drawled in the worst hillbilly accent Gary had ever heard.
Sally smiled at Jake. “Oh, that’s okay, and you can call me Sally.”
“Well, boss, better get this show on the road. Them there lambs is getting hungry.”
Gary groaned inwardly. Boy, what a ham! Jake had taken things way too far.
Jake headed toward the huge barn, then stopped, reaching down for Sally to take his hand. Sally looked across at Emma for assurance.
“It’s okay, Squirt, Jake will look after you.”
Before he’d even finished the sentence, Emma was hot on Jake’s tail. Gary could see she wasn’t prepared to let Sally out of her site for even a moment, and followed the trio into the main barn.
Jake helped Sally feed a small lamb with a bottle of milk, patiently showing her the right way to do hold a lamb of this age.
Sally turned around to face them, eyes wide. “Mummy, Mummy, look at me!” she squealed excitedly.
“Quietly darling, you’ll frighten the poor thing.” Emma said, genuinely interested.
“It’s all right, Ma’am. These creatures are used to little ‘uns,” Jake responded. “Nearly every day we have school groups and holiday makers comin’ through. Course, Sunday’s the best day!”
“Oh, why’s that, Jake?” Emma asked.
“Heh! Cause there ain’t no guests on Sunday’s—that’s family day,” he chuckled.
Emma looked puzzled and Gary was annoyed—Jake had said way too much. Gary placed his arms around Emma’s shoulder, and squeezed her tight.
“Hey there, Squirt. How’s it going?” Gary asked, pulling his hat off his head, and trying to distract Emma.
Sally squealed as the lamb tried to suckle her fingers when the milk ran out.
“Don’t worry, Squirt, they do that all the time,” Gary told her. “Want to come and see some other animals?”
He didn’t have to ask twice, Sally flew across to him and wrapped her little arms around his neck when he picked her up.
“Hey, boss,” Jake shouted as they wandered out of the barn toward the paddocks. “You need me now? Otherwise, I’ll be off.”
Gary dropped his hat on Sally’s head as they walked through the large barn door. “No, we’re fine. Make yourself scarce.”
Jake’s short, but carefully choreographed appearance had already achieved what Gary had wanted—to make Jake a legitimate part of his life—no questions asked.
As they walked around the property, Gary pointed out the little cabins scattered about. “Holidaying families stay in those cabins while they’re with us. They’re pretty basic, and apart from bedrooms, each cabin has a bathroom and tea-making facilities.
“See that building over there?” Gary pointed as he lifted Sally up onto his shoulders. “That’s the mess. All meals provided. Come on, I’ll show you one of the cabins.”
They wandered over to a cabin, and Gary swung Sally down onto the ground.
“Off you go Squirt. You can have a look around while I talk to Mum.” He reached out and cupped Emma’s face with his hands, then kissed her tenderly. Emma leaned into him, allowing herself to relax just this once.
“Mr. Bedford. I found a funny bed, with another bed on top!” Sally called from the other room.
Reluctantly, Gary broke the kiss. “Foiled again! By a four-year-old no less!” he joked. He grabbed Emma by the hand and pulled her along with him.
“That, sweetheart, is a bunk bed,” he said, as they walked into the second bedroom. “See the ladder? That lets you climb up to sleep on top, only you’re a bit small yet, you might fall out.”
“I am not too small!” Sally complained.
“Oops, looks like I hit a sore spot. Tell you what, Squirt, you can climb up now, while I’m here to watch. Okay?”
Sally scampered happily up the ladder once Gary put it in place.
She wriggled and squirmed all over the bed until Gary reached up and pulled her off. “Time to go check out the mess,” he told them, straightening the bedding.
Pulling the door closed behind them, he swung Sally up onto his shoulders again.
“I can see real good from up here, Mr. Bedford,” she gleefully exclaimed. “Hey, look. I can see some duckies!”
“Maybe later we’ll find some bread and feed them. Okay, Squirt?”
“Okay.”
They headed toward the mess, and Gary was about to open the door, when a car engine made them stop.
“Damn! They’re early,” Gary said under his breath. “Uh, Em, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you...”
Emma stood in front of him, hands on her hips as another vehicle rolled into the drive. “Uh-huh. And what’s that?”
“Uh, Em, it’s uh,”
“Family Day?”
“Yeah.” He recalled Jake’s vague comments in the barn. “Sunday is the day my, uh, family comes over for lunch. I guess they’re a bit early today.” Looking down at his watch he added, “Or maybe not! I didn’t realize how late it was.”
Another vehicle entered the drive, and Gary noted Emma’s worried expression. He reached out and held her hand.
“Just how big is this family of yours?”
“Oh, we’re big. Very big.” He laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re not mad at me, are you? I didn’t think you’d come if you knew the whole clan would be here.”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t have,” she quietly told him. “Do they know I’m here? I mean, Sal and me.”
“Uh, no.”
“No?” Emma turned away from him. “Take us home, please.” Her voice was soft, but her feelings came through loud and clear.
“Aw, come on, Em. It’s not that bad.” He reached out and touched her shoulder. “Honest. We’re a nice bunch. Just give us a break, please?”
“Mummy, Mummy, I can see lots of other kids up there!” Sally pointed in the direction of the house as she sat atop Gary’s shoulders.
“Right, come on Squirt. We’ve got visitors.” Gary hurried off, knowing full well that Emma would follow.
*
With Sally still perched high on his shoulders, Gary addressed his large family. “If I could just get everyone’s attention?” Everyone seemed to be talking at once, and Gary had to shout to be heard.
Emma was by his side, as close as humanly possible. He liked it that way, although he sensed she was feeling apprehensive, even a little frightened. Not that there was anything to be worried about. This was family day—a regular, weekly, family luncheon get-together.
“That’s better,” he said as the noise died down. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Emma James, my, uh, girlfriend.” He eyed Emma as he spoke—she glared at him. Had he gone too far? A hush went over the group and he quickly added, “And Sally, her daughter.”
“Gazza, you son-of-gun. You kept that quiet!” someone called out from up the back.
“Actually, we haven’t known each other that long.”
Oh yeah, she’s irritated.
Gary moved closer to Emma and put his arm around her shoulders. “You’re not mad are ya,” Em?” he asked, pulling her closer still.
“Well...”
“Aw, come on, Em.” He grinned down at her, then lifted Sally off his shoulders. Gary leaned down and brushed his lips across Emma’s ever so lightly. “You’re not are ya, Em?”
“Maybe...” she began, but was interrupted.
“Emma, I’m Gary’s brother Finn. I’m the handsome one!” He winked at her, then reached out and shook her hand, gently holding it in both his hands.
Gary observed wordlessly as Emma did a quick scan of Finn’s tall frame. She was thorough, real thorough. She’d been doing this a long, long, time.
“And I’m Naomi, the handsome one’s wife.” Naomi’s words seemed to startle her. Perhaps Emma hadn’t seen Naomi approach? “And somewhere in all this crowd are our brood, Harley, Crystal and Zach.”
“Oh my, three?” Emma asked.
“Three,” Naomi confirmed. She turned to her husband. “Will we tell them?”
“Yeah sure, why not?” His eyes gleamed with mischief. “While we’re making announcements, can I get everyone’s attention?”
Emma sighed audibly. Gary could almost read her thoughts. Attention was now away from her. Anything would be better than everyone scrutinizing her and Sally.
“Uh, Naomi and me, we’re, uh...”
“Come on Finn, get it out,” someone yelled.
“All right, all right! There’s another kid on the way.”
A whoop came up out of the crowd. Its owner rushed forward, grabbing Finn by the hand.
“Congratulations, my boy!” Gary’s father, Joe, turned to Naomi and hugged her warmly. “Congratulations!” He then turned to Gary, laughing. “You are the eldest, but do you give me grandchildren? No. Go ask your brother, he will tell you just how easy it is. Huh!”
“One day, Dad, one day.” He turned to Emma. “Em, meet Joe, my dad.”
Joe took her hand, then hugged Emma with an air of familiarity. “Welcome to the family,” Joe told her.
Gary groaned silently—his family would be his ultimate demise.
“No, no, you’ve got it all wrong...” Emma protested.
“Em’s a bit shy, Dad.” Gary winked at Finn. “Besides, I didn’t tell her she’d be confronted by a lynch mob today.”
“You can be so secretive sometimes,” Gary heard his youngest brother say.
“Clay! How are ya doing?” Clay accepted Gary’s outstretched hand. “Where’s Pru? Is she all right?” he asked, looking around for his very pregnant sister-in-law.
“Yeah, she’s resting, over there.” Clay pointed at a lounger not far away. “Only a few weeks to go. Boy, have you got a lot of catching up to do! Anyway, maybe now you will. Gee you’re sly!”
Gary was pleased. Very pleased. Clay and Finn were really convincing. It was as though they had no idea that Emma even existed.
It was hard to believe only hours earlier Gary met with his brothers and the rest of the team to thrash out a game plan.
“When are you two gonna tie the knot, Bro?” Gary asked Clay.
Shrugging his shoulders, Clay answered, “Dunno—Pru says she’s not ready yet. Maybe after the baby arrives.”
Clay turned to Emma. “Since we’re not going to be introduced, I’ll do it myself. I’m Clay, the youngest and most handsome of the three brothers.”
Shaking his hand, Emma laughed. “Hmmm, now we have a problem. Finn already told me he was the most handsome, and I must say,” she whispered conspiratorially, “I happen to think Gary is.”
“Huh, see, Bro? Big brother’s the most handsome.” Gary squeezed Emma’s shoulders.
“Gazza, mate! You gonna introduce me to the lovely Emma?” Emma shook herself out of Gary’s embrace.
“Sure. Emma, this is Porter Thompson—the Real Estate Agent. And this little tyke is Curtis.” Gary leaned forward and ruffled the fine blonde hair on the small boy as Emma shook Porter’s hand.
Gary looked around, but couldn’t see his sister anywhere.
“Where’s Missy?” he asked. “She is here isn’t she?”
“Yeah, inside with Melanie. Mel had an ‘accident’—Missy’s cleaning her up.”
“My sister, Melissa,” Gary explained, noting Emma’s puzzled expression.
Emma glanced from Gary to Finn, to Porter and finally to Clay. She closed her eyes briefly and took several deep breaths.
She was surrounded by strangers, Gary realized.
“Em?” Gary lifted her up into his arms.
“For heaven’s sake Gary, put me down,” she whispered fiercely at him. “I’m fine. Can’t a girl compose herself?”
Clay came rushing over with a chair, and Finn came forward with some water.
“Please, don’t fuss, I’m all right,” Emma protested as Gary sat her on the chair.
“Gary, dear, why don’t you take Emma inside, away from these rebel rousers?” Gary’s mother took charge as usual.
“Good idea, Mum.” He lightly kissed Queenie’s cheek. “These ruffians have overwhelmed her a bit I think.” He glanced sideways at his brothers.
“That I could believe.” Turning to Emma she said, “Emma, dear. I’m Queenie, Gary’s mother.”
“I’m fine, really I am. If everyone would stop fussing...”
