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Lee Stetson glanced up at the sky with apprehension. It was too early for snow, but still the clouds looked threatening. He made sure the barn door was secure behind him and pulled his heavy coat tighter as he headed up toward the house. He hoped the rain held off, at least until everyone arrived.
Murphy and Sherry were flying out with Skip and Melanie. They were due in this afternoon. Andy and Cait, driving over from Cincinnati, would be the last ones here. Lee was looking forward to this Thanksgiving with his cousins and their families. He certainly didn't want the weather to spoil things.
As he reached the house, he spotted his old Corvette parked in the driveway. Phillip must've made it home while he was out looking after the horses. Lee smiled and remembered the look on his stepson's face when he'd been presented with the keys as a going away to college gift. Phillip had started classes at Georgetown this fall and Lee knew all too well how much a car meant to a young man just getting out on his own. He also knew how much Phillip loved cars. He was confident the 'vette would be well taken care of.
It certainly wasn't a very practical car for Lee to use anymore. Married and settled down, with one child and another on the way, not to mention his two nearly grown stepsons... he was definitely a different person than the man who'd bought the car five years ago. He didn't even have the same job. When they found out Amanda was expecting their daughter, Jennifer, he'd made the big jump from field agent to administration, taking a desk job with the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. His family's safety had to come first. Besides, it paid better.
He reached for the door, taking time to kick the mud off his boots. Amanda had cleaned from top to bottom in preparation for their guests. He'd catch hell if he messed up the floor now. He had to chuckle at himself. How domestic he'd become in just three short years of married life.
He could hear the television as he stood in the entryway and hung up his coat. He walked over to the family room. Sixteen year old Jamie was listening intently to the news, taking time once in a while to jot something down in his notebook.
"Homework?" Lee finally asked.
Jamie glanced up for a moment then turned back. "Current Events for my Government class," he replied.
"Over the holiday?" Lee asked in disbelief.
Jamie nodded then he looked back up at Lee excitedly. "Did you know somebody robbed an armored truck convoy today? They got nearly a million dollars!"
"Too bad they didn't drop any of it our way," Lee commented. "Anything else happen worth mentioning?"
"Naw." Jamie shook his head. "Just the regular boring things in Russia and China and all that."
Lee laughed at the boy's idea of importance. "Where's your mom?" he asked, still chuckling.
"I think she's in the kitchen," Jamie replied, his attention once more focused on the news.
Lee headed in that direction. Already the house smelled of wonderful things Amanda was cooking for tomorrow's dinner. He tried to keep her from working so hard, but she stubbornly insisted she was only pregnant, not terminally ill. So he'd backed off, letting her do what she wished. He figured she knew better than he did what a pregnant person was capable of doing. Besides, this was their second child together. He didn't want to sound like a rank amateur.
The kitchen was a warm and noisy place. Amanda was busy chopping up vegetables at the work station, all the while carrying on an animated conversation with Phillip, who sat at the bar talking to his mother. Eighteen month old Jennifer was in her high chair, clamoring loudly for the banana Phillip had peeled but not yet given to her. He was in the middle of a story and held the forgotten fruit temptingly close yet just out of reach.
"Nana... Phip, nana..." she kept repeating while banging her hands on the tray in front of her.
Phillip appeared oblivious to her. "And so then," he continued. "There I was, walking down the quad with all those books in my arms and I saw her again. I mean, Mom really, it couldn't have been just coincidence. I know she followed me."
"NANA!" Jennifer screamed, her patience finally exhausted.
"You better give her the banana." Lee laughed as he came over to stand beside Amanda. He reached under her arm and stole a freshly peeled carrot. "If you want any peace and quiet, that is."
"Sorry, Jenn," Phillip apologized. He broke the banana up into bite size pieces and gave them to his little sister.
She beamed at him as she crammed them into her mouth. Much of the soft fruit ended up smeared all over her face and squished through her hands. Phillip looked disgusted.
"You're really gross, Jenny," he told her. He turned back to Lee and Amanda. "I sure hope she doesn't eat like that when she goes out on dates."
"She won't, Honey," Amanda assured him with a smile. "You and Jamie were worse than that, believe me."
"Besides," Lee interjected as he munched on his carrot. "Who said she's going to go out on dates?"
Amanda poked him playfully in the ribs. "Has it started raining yet?" she asked, changing the subject.
Lee shook his head. "Not yet. Looks like it's about to, though." He wrapped his arms around her from behind, stretching to accommodate her present condition. "You've made so much food," he observed. "What if they don't make it? How are we ever going to eat all this by ourselves?"
"They'll get here," Amanda replied firmly. Then she realized Lee was teasing her and she turned to give him a stern look.
"Watch out, Lee," Phillip warned with a laugh. "She's got a knife."
Lee threw up his hands to ward her off.
"You'll see," Amanda said, smiling. "When everybody's here, stuffing their faces. You'll be glad I cooked so much."
"I know, I know," Lee told her. He leaned over to kiss her cheek. "I just don't want you over doing it and wearing yourself out. I want you to enjoy visiting with everyone, not wait on them hand and foot."
"Lee..." Amanda began.
"I'm outta here," Phillip declared and ducked past Lee to make good his escape.
"Coward," Lee called after him then turned an innocent face back to Amanda.
She rolled her eyes at him, plainly exasperated.
"I'm sorry." He took her into his arms. "You know I only worry because I love you."
She finally relented and reached up to give him a quick kiss. "I know. But I'm fine. We've done all the tests. We know I'm healthy, the baby's healthy, so don't fuss at me so much. I'm not made of glass. I won't break."
"Okay, okay, Mrs. Stetson. I'll stop nagging you. Even if you are carrying my son... the heir to the Stetson throne."
"Very well, Your Highness." Amanda made a mock bow. "If it wouldn't be beneath you, could you kindly take the royal daughter and clean her up?"
Lee glanced over just in time to see Jennifer smear the last of the banana into her hair. He grimaced at the sight of her once golden curls now matted and sticky. He sighed and moved over to the highchair.
"I guess a king's work is never done," he complained good-naturedly. "Come on, Princess," he told his daughter. "Let's give you a bath."
"Dada," Jennifer greeted him with a big smile and held out her messy hands. "Nana gone."
Lee laughed. "Not quite, Sweetheart." He picked her up under her arms and held her at arms length to avoid getting plastered with mashed banana. He looked back at Amanda as he headed out the door. "You owe me for this one," he warned her. "Big time."
It was Amanda's turn to look innocent. Lee just shook his head and laughed as he headed upstairs to the bathroom.
Phillip stayed in the background as the first batch of guests arrived. He liked Lee's family but when they all got together like this, he couldn't help feeling a little like an outsider. He knew it was dumb and he would never say anything to his mother. He was glad that, in the general chaos that would rule their house this holiday weekend, he and Jamie would probably never be missed. On the other hand, spending too much time with their dad and Carrie always tended to be a bit boring. It was kind of a strange situation. Both his parents had started new lives and he sometimes wondered just where he and Jamie fit.
He hadn't felt like this at first. When his mom married Lee, he'd been happy. It was nice to have a guy around, somebody to talk with about cars and girls and all that kind of stuff. He'd been elated when Jenny was born. Growing up with just a brother, he really enjoyed having a little sister around, even if she got into his things. He supposed it started when he found out his mom was pregnant again, this time with a boy. He knew he wasn't being fair. Lee had a right to have a son of his own. Besides, he was way too old to be jealous. But he couldn't help feeling an occasional twinge of something when he thought about a new boy coming into their home. After all, this kid would have Lee around from the beginning, not just the last few years of high school. Phillip sighed. He was being stupid, he knew. He'd started college. He didn't need to sit around and mope about not having a full time father. He should just forget about all this. When he and Jamie went to their dad's tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner, he didn't want to be in a sour mood.
He sat on the couch and watched the boisterous greetings. He saw Murphy and Sherry come in with four year old Tommy. Right behind them were Skip and Melanie. Five year old Peter and three year old Benji were already racing up the stairs. That was another reason Phillip was glad he was going to his dad's. There would be far too many little kids here for his taste. He hoped his mom would keep them out of his room.
When he saw the girl hovering shyly next to Melanie, he didn't recognize her at first. Then his eyes opened wide. It was Michelle, but not how he remembered her. Had it only been last summer at the ranch? She'd seemed such a little girl then, not that he'd paid much attention to her. He knew she was Jamie's age and he'd always considered her a tag along, a know-it-all tom boy. Now she looked like a different person. He studied her discreetly to see what had changed.
She'd cut her hair for one thing. The image he always pictured when he thought of her was her long, blonde braids. They were gone. Her hair now fell about her shoulders and softly framed her face... a face that had changed from a child's to a young woman's. She'd also grown a little taller and was no longer a skinny little kid. She'd filled out in all the places Phillip was growing to appreciate more and more each day. He got up off the couch and moved over to join in the activities, suddenly wishing he didn't have to leave in the morning.
Amanda was in her element. There was nothing she loved better than a houseful of people. It had been six years since she'd first met Lee's cousins and they never got to see enough of each other as far as she was concerned. Though the next few days were bound to be a mass of confusion, she wouldn't have it any other way. She only wished she wasn't quite so pregnant. As much as she protested Lee's fussing, she knew she would have to take it easy for the next few weeks until the baby came. In fact, if the truth were known, she'd probably gotten carried away with cleaning and cooking. She was tired and dinner still had to be put on the table.
"Here, Amanda. Let us do that."
Sherry and Melanie had come into the kitchen and now they gently but firmly moved in at the sink and took over the preparations for the meal.
"But you're guests..." Amanda started to protest.
"Not this time," Sherry told her. "I told Murphy the only way we would impose on you was if you didn't do all the work."
"And look at what you've done already," Melanie added, gesturing at the pies sitting on the counter.
"I didn't do that much," Amanda countered but she gladly sat down at the table as they went about finishing the dinner. She genuinely liked these two, though she'd felt intimidated when she first met them. They seemed so smart; Sherry was a practicing psychologist and Melanie a world renown physicist who'd been to the moon, for gosh sakes. After she'd gotten to know them though, she'd discovered they'd been in awe of her when they found out she worked as a government agent alongside Lee. Amanda had to laugh. When it came right down to it, people were the same. They were all wives and mothers, whatever their chosen profession.
"When are Andy and Cait coming in?" Sherry asked.
"They were supposed to be here already," Amanda answered in concern. "We were hoping the rain would hold off till they got in but..." She got up and looked out the window into the night. In the light provided by the kitchen, she could she the rain coming down steadily. "Maybe it won't get too bad for a while."
"Mommy, we're hungry."
Amanda turned to see Peter standing in the doorway, his hands on his hips demandingly. Behind him, Tommy and Benji waited expectantly.
"Ten to one they were sent in," Melanie laughed. "And I know by whom." She walked over to the boys and leaned around the door. "Anyone who wants to eat had better come in and start helping," she announced in the direction of the family room. She walked back over to the sink and stood with her arms folded, softly counting backwards from ten.
"Ten... nine... eight... seven..."
She'd only reached five by the time Skip came bounding in, a huge smile lighting his face.
"Did I hear the dinner bell?" he asked with a mischievous wink at the boys.
"I'd get my hearing checked if I were you," Melanie teased. "But since you just happen to be in here..." She pointed at the stack of plates and silverware Amanda had pulled out earlier. "You could help set the table."
Skip snapped to attention and gave his wife an exaggerated salute. He then turned to the children. "Come on, Men. There's work to be done." He quickly had the boys marching behind him as he moved over to snatch up the place settings.
Amanda smiled as she watched him. She didn't know how he did it, but Skip never seemed to run out of either energy or good humor.
"What's Lee doing?" she asked.
Skip pointed at the floor. "He's down in the netherworld, showing Murphy the rec room."
"I'll go round them up," she told the other women.
Amanda walked out of the kitchen, passing the family room on her way to the stairs. She saw Phillip and Jamie with Michelle, all three teens talking animatedly.
"Dinner's ready," she told them as she went by, then stopped and looked back in at her sons. "Where's Jenny?" she asked.
"She's with Lee," Jamie told her.
Amanda nodded and continued on. She reached the top of the stairway and called down.
"Lee? Murphy? Dinner's ready."
"Okay," Lee shouted back up. "Be right there."
Amanda waited, knowing she would probably have to call a second time before Lee would reluctantly come up from the newly finished game room. As she stood there, she heard a loud clap of thunder just as the glare of headlights flashed into the entryway through the glass on the front doors. She hurried over and peered out into the storm. Sure enough, she could see a small station wagon in the driveway.
"Andy and Cait are here," she called out as she opened the door for them.
It was pouring. Amanda quickly pulled out her umbrella from the hall closet. She was just about to run out to meet the new arrivals, when Lee and Murphy came up behind her. Lee took the umbrella from her with a disapproving frown.
"You weren't really planning to go out there, I hope," he said as he ducked out into the rain.
"I won't melt," Amanda muttered after his retreating figure.
"You have another one of those?" Murphy asked.
Amanda turned back to closet and found another umbrella. Murphy took it and went out as well. By this time everyone else had gathered in the hallway. Skip didn't wait for an umbrella. He simply ran after Murphy.
"They'll be drenched," Sherry observed. "Umbrellas won't help much in this."
Amanda turned to her sons. "Boys, go get some towels out of the linen closet, please." They trotted off just as Lee came running back from the car, one arm around Caitlin, trying to shield her from the rain. He turned Cait over to Amanda and was back out the door. Sherry had been right. Cait stood dripping all over the entryway, a sheepish look on her face.
"I'm sorry, Amanda," she apologized. "We tried to get here before it broke, but..."
"Nonsense," Amanda replied. "It's not your fault it decided to flood us out tonight. Phillip, where're those...?"
"Here, Mom."
Amanda caught the stack of towels just as Murphy showed up, two year old Trina clinging to his neck.
"Mommy," the toddler cried and reached out to Cait.
"She's pretty wet," Murphy said then looked down at himself and laughed. He held up the mangled remains of the umbrella Amanda had given him. "The wind caught it. Sorry."
"Don't worry," Amanda chuckled. "Come on, Cait. Let's get you two dried off."
"Where's Danny?" Cait asked.
"Andy's got him," Murphy told her. "Go on and dry off. We'll bring him to you."
Cait finally turned to follow Amanda. It seemed to take forever to finish bringing in all the luggage and to get everyone dried and changed. But finally they all sat down to a dinner that had been all but forgotten in the confusion.
"It got pretty hairy," Andy was telling them between bites. "A couple of times I thought we might have to stop and wait it out."
"We probably should have," Cait added with a shudder. "That last stretch nearly did us in."
"Fortunately it's rain and not snow," Lee noted. "You never would've made it."
Andy shook his head. "I don't know about that. Snow packs up. I'm not sure the road up to your place is still there anymore. The water was pretty deep when we came through."
Amanda felt a twinge of apprehension and automatically felt for the baby. The thought of being stuck somewhere this close to her due date didn't exactly fill her with joy. Sitting beside her, Lee must have noticed her reaction for he reached out to take her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Don't worry," he told her quietly. "The rain won't last more than a few days. The baby's not due for two weeks."
Amanda gave him what she hoped was a brave smile. "I know," she replied. "I'm just being foolish."
"You're not foolish, Amanda," Sherry put in. She was sitting on Amanda's other side and had heard their exchange. "It's normal to be worried, especially this close to your time."
"Besides," Skip piped up from across the table. "What's the worst that could happen? You could have the baby and ol' Lee here could deliver it."
"Skip!" Melanie slugged him none too gently in the shoulder.
"What did I say?" he asked innocently.
Amanda listened to their banter and tried not to laugh. Skip's mouth was forever getting him into trouble, even when he thought he was being serious. At least she wasn't worried anymore. It had been a momentary concern and had now passed.
"Speaking of babies," Cait interjected brightly, when there was a lag in the conversation. "Did we tell you we were expecting again?"
There was a long pause then everyone began talking at once.
"Congratulations," Amanda told her. Family meant a great deal to Cait. She and Andy had planned a large one from the beginning. Cait gave her a big smile from across the table.
"Good God, Andy," Skip exclaimed, a degree of awe evident in his tone. "Danny's not even a year old is he?"
"Addison..." Melanie's voice was menacing this time.
Skip winced at the use of his given name. "I didn't mean anything," he sputtered out, but he had the grace to look embarrassed.
"I think it's wonderful," Sherry voiced her opinion, though Amanda realized all this talk of babies probably saddened her. Amanda knew how much Sherry and Murphy had wanted more children. She also knew that last year the doctors had told the couple it wouldn't be safe for Sherry to try again. Tommy would be their only child.
"Besides," Lee put in. "Three kids isn't all that many. "We're on our fourth... well, Amanda is." He gave her a loving look.
"It's not going to be three," Andy told them nonchalantly as he reached for more bread. He glanced up, a sly look on his face. "Doctor told us last week it's twins."
"What!" This time the entire table exploded with reaction.
With each passing hour, the storm increased, its fury evident from the noisy thunder and the howling wind. Inside the house however, the atmosphere was calm. The younger children had all been put to bed and everyone else was gathered in the family room, sitting around the fire. They'd lost the electricity some time back but that hadn't put a damper on anyone's spirits. Lee had produced candles, Skip brought out his guitar and Phillip and Jamie were busy trying to make popcorn on the open fire. Amanda leaned against Lee and sighed contentedly. She only hoped the power was back in the morning or they'd be roasting hot dogs instead of turkey for Thanksgiving.
Looking up at Lee, his face soft in the flickering firelight, Amanda still found it hard to believe how much life had changed since she'd first met him. She could remember thinking he was just a woman chasing flirt, which of course he was. But she had quickly discovered there was much more to Lee than what he let show on the surface. Never seriously considering the idea of any romance between them, Amanda had instead become his friend, something he let himself have few of. Of course, when she looked back on those times, she realized she'd always been attracted to him but Amanda was certain their bond together was stronger because they had allowed friendship to develop first, rather than a fast physical relationship.
Now, after three years together... after giving Lee a daughter and their son nearly here, Amanda had never felt happier. Though at times she felt she was a little crazy to be starting a new family at her age, she knew she wouldn't change anything. She felt the baby kick hard against her ribs and she shifted slightly to get more comfortable.
"You okay?" Lee asked in concern.
"I'm fine," Amanda assured him. "Your son's just doing somersaults."
Lee smiled. "I'll have to have a talk with him. He should be nicer to his mother." Then the smile was gone from his face. He sat up straight, listening.
"What is it?" Amanda asked. Though Lee had been behind a desk for the last few years, he would never completely forget his field training. His face was intense and Amanda wondered what had caused him to react so.
He shook his head slightly. "Thought I heard something outside." After a moment he relaxed. "It's the barn door," he told her. "I thought I fixed it this time but the wind must've blown it open." He rose from the couch. "I better go take care of it."
"We'll go, Lee." Phillip suddenly popped up beside him, his face eager. "Jamie and I can take care of it."
Amanda wondered what made her oldest son so suddenly willing to go traipsing out in the rain. She could also tell by the look on Jamie's face that he thought his brother must have lost his mind. He obviously didn't relish the idea of going out in the storm.
Lee looked from one boy to the other. "You sure? I can do it."
"You've got company," Phillip reasoned. "Why should you have to go out? Come on, Jamie." He pulled on his brother's arm.
Jamie rose reluctantly.
"Thanks, Guys," Lee told them.
Amanda nearly laughed at Jamie's expression as he followed after Phillip.
"Now what ever made them want to do that?" she asked after they slammed the front door shut.
"Looked to me like only one of them wanted to," Lee chuckled. He sat back down beside Amanda. "But who am I to argue?"
"You're crazy," Jamie yelled at Phillip, not sure if his brother could hear him in the wind. It didn't matter. He felt better for having said it. He sloshed through the flooded grass and wished he could have stayed back by the fire. Despite his rain slicker, it'd only taken a few minutes outside before he was completely soaked. The cold wind whipping the rain in his face didn't help much either. It wasn't that he minded helping Lee. He'd just been caught off guard by Phillip's unexpected offer. But then, Phillip had been acting weird all day.
Jamie wondered if everybody turned bizarre when they entered college. Phillip certainly had. There were days when he acted like Jamie had the plague because he was still in high school. Then he would suddenly want to be best pals. He'd talked to their mother about it and she'd told him not to worry. Phillip was just making a transition. Then she went into a lot of stuff about becoming an adult and leaving the nest. Whatever the reason, Jamie knew his brother was, at the least, unpredictable. Today however, had been stranger than most.
First, Phillip didn't want to have anything to do with their guests. He'd hung back, unenthused even about going to their dad's house tomorrow. Then suddenly, he'd started being "Mr. Helpful", doing all kinds of little things to try and help. Volunteering for this chore only went along with the rest of it. Making Jamie go with him was too much. They'd reached the barn. Phillip's flashlight shone on the open door slamming back and forth in the wind.
Jamie jogged a bit to catch up with his brother.
"I hope this doesn't take long," he groused.
Phillip ignored him. He handed the flashlight to Jamie. "Here, hold this," he ordered then set to work with the hammer and screwdriver he'd brought with him.
Jamie held the light with one hand and wiped at his glasses with the other. It didn't help much. He could feel the water squishing in his shoes as he wiggled his toes.
"Hurry up, Phillip," he coaxed. "I'm freezing."
"Just a minute," Phillip told him as he pounded once more on the latch. "There, that oughtta hold it."
"Good. Let's go."
Jamie turned to go back to the house but felt himself being pulled inside the barn. Phillip shut the door behind them.
"What are you doing?" Jamie demanded hotly.
"Shut up, wouldja?" Phillip asked in a calm voice. "I just wanted to talk to you a minute."
It was better in the barn. There wasn't the steady stream of water beating down on him and the heat from the animals made it a little warmer. But Jamie still wanted to be in the house.
"Did we hafta come out here to talk?" he asked irritably. "Couldn't we have just gone to your room or something?"
Phillip waved aside his questions. "Are you having a good time here?" he asked.
"Oh yeah, I'm having a ball," Jamie answered sarcastically. "I love being wet and cold and standing around in the dark."
"Knock it off," Phillip growled. "I mean with everybody here. Are you having a good time?"
Jamie shrugged. "I guess. Why?" Now curiosity was taking the place of his irritation. He had absolutely no idea what his brother was getting at. Even in the dim illumination of the flashlight, Jamie could see Phillip was fidgeting awkwardly. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Well... I just wondered if maybe you wouldn't mind not going over to Dad's tomorrow."
"What?" Jamie didn't know what to say. It was the last thing he'd expected. "I thought you wanted to get away from the kids. Besides, Dad and Carrie are expecting us. Don't you think they'll be upset if we don't show?"
"Maybe you can go alone," Phillip suggested brightly. "Tell them I didn't feel good or something."
"I'm not going by myself," Jamie told him stubbornly. He knew there was more to this than his brother was telling him, and he wasn't going to cooperate until Phillip came clean.
"I'll let you take the 'Vette," Phillip offered.
Jamie felt his mouth drop open. Now he knew Phillip was crazy. "You'd let me drive your precious car?" He almost said yes but then decided he'd rather know the reason for the bribe. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why? Come on, Phillip. Why do you wanna stay here so bad?"
Phillip was quiet for a moment. Jamie could hear the wind howling outside and the nervous rustling of the horses in the stalls. Finally Phillip shoved his hands in the pockets of his rain coat and shrugged sheepishly.
"It's Michelle," he admitted with a foolish grin on his face.
"Michelle?" Jamie had thought he couldn't be surprised anymore, but he was wrong. "You mean the Michelle that's up at the house?"
Phillip nodded. "Yeah. I like her. I don't want to leave in the morning. I'd rather stay here."
"But you can't like her," Jamie argued. "You're related to her. That's illegal or something."
"I can too like her," Phillip countered defensively. "And we're not related... not really."
"Sure we are. Lee's our stepdad and she's his cousin. So we're cousins or something like that."
Phillip looked troubled. "Are you sure?"
Jamie nodded emphatically. "You better be careful," he warned. Phillip didn't look happy and Jamie felt sorry for him. Even if he was crazy, they were still brothers. "Come on," he said. "Let's go back and get warm."
They left the barn and were once more in the midst of the storm. Maybe it was because they had been out of it temporarily, but to Jamie it felt like it had worsened in the few minutes they'd been in the barn. He was all for running the whole way back, but Phillip stopped him.
"Now what?" he asked, his patience gone.
Phillip pointed the flashlight down the hill toward the road. Jamie could barely see the gleam of headlights.
"Looks like somebody's stuck."
Sure enough, the lights weren't moving. Jamie sighed, knowing they were going to be out in the rain a lot longer than he'd planned on.
Lee sat listening to the soft music. Skip had quit singing and was quietly strumming his guitar. As the evening wore on, talk had subsided and now everyone was settled into a relaxed mood as they let themselves unwind from the excitement of the day. As Lee watched his cousins and their wives, he felt a kinship with them that had nothing to do with being related. He glanced down at Amanda, nearly asleep beside him. Despite her claims to the contrary, Lee knew she'd overdone it. But he also knew how much she enjoyed doing things for his family. It was hard to be angry with her.
A heavy banging on the front door startled them all out of their quiet reverie. Lee bolted off the couch before he realized he was overreacting. He grinned self-consciously. All those years of training were hard to forget. He knew it was probably just the boys coming back from the barn.
"Phillip and Jamie must've locked themselves out," he stated as he headed toward the entryway. The pounding came again, more insistent. "Hold on, Guys," Lee called. "I'm coming."
He reached for the knob, realizing it wasn't locked as he turned it. The door was flung open and Lee found himself staring at the barrel of a snub nose .38.
"Take it easy now," came the harsh command. Lee let his eyes travel down the gun to the face of the man holding it. There was a determined set to the man's features that Lee had seen on others before. This man didn't have much to lose. "Back up. Hands where I can see 'em."
Lee took a few backwards steps, his hands held out to his sides. The man followed him in. Behind him came two others, each one carrying two large gym bags. All three were dripping wet and covered with mud. And all three were armed. "Listen," Lee began. "I don't know what you want but..."
"Shut up," the man ordered. He held the gun a little higher. "Turn around and walk."
Lee turned slowly, knowing the man would have his pistol pointed at his back, and walked into the family room.
"What is it, Lee?" Amanda asked.
She rose from the couch at the same time the lead man shoved Lee from behind. He stumbled a bit as he moved over to his wife. Everyone in the room stood, taken as much by surprise as Lee had been.
Lee put a protective arm around Amanda. "These... uh, gentlemen... have come by for a visit."
"That's right," the first man told them. "Me and my friends here had a little trouble with our car." He gestured toward the window with his pistol. "Seeing as how it's a little wet out there, we could use some hospitality." He took a swift look around the room. "This everybody?" he asked. He glanced up at the ceiling. "Anybody upstairs?"
"Just our kids," Amanda told him. "Little kids. They're asleep. They can't hurt you."
The man flashed a grin and gave Amanda a slight bow. "You the lady of the house?"
"Yes," she answered evenly and Lee felt a sense of pride that she could keep her head about her. Her Agency training was going to come in handy.
The man spoke to his companions. "Colby, Stubbs, put that stuff someplace safe then go with Betty Crocker here and find some grub." His men dropped the bags and came over. He motioned for Amanda to go with them.
She glanced up at Lee. He nodded once. "Go on," he told her softly.
As they left, the man turned his attention to the rest of the group.
"Okay, okay. Everybody else, sit down. We'll all get along if you do just what I tell you to."
Lee watched his family as they slowly obeyed. He hoped no one tried any heroics. He glanced over at Andy, the most impulsive of his cousins and the one with the hottest temper. He sat next to Cait, holding her close, his eyes fixed on the intruder. He seemed willing to do what he was asked, at least for now.
Lee's gaze moved next to Skip. His usually happy-go-lucky manner was gone. He sat between Melanie and Michelle, holding his wife's hand, his arm around his daughter's shoulders. Skip had too many people to take care of to try anything stupid. Lee wasn't worried about him.
Then there was Murphy. He sat beside Sherry. His hand rested on her arm, but his eyes moved constantly between the gunmen and Lee. Obviously, his cousin was waiting to see what their next move should be, ready to take his cue from Lee. Murphy was probably the most capable if push came to shove. Lee caught his cousin's eye and shook his head imperceptively. He didn't want to start anything yet, not until they had a better idea just what these men wanted, what frame of mind they were in. Besides, Phillip and Jamie were still outside and unaccounted for. Lee wasn't about to try something without knowing what had happened to Amanda's boys.
"Hey, Bucky! We hit the jackpot."
The men came back into the family room, their arms laden with rolls, lunch meats, chips... plus the pies Amanda had made for tomorrow's dinner. The taller one, the one called Colby, held up a six pack of beer.
"Nice going," their leader praised and motioned them over. He shook off his wet jacket and kicked off his muddy shoes. "Don't mind us while we make ourselves at home," he told his captives. "We haven't eaten for a while. Been a little busy."
His henchmen laughed at his attempt at humor. They sat down by the fire and began cramming food into their mouths and downing the beer with great gusto. Lee could only hope they would drink enough to make them careless. For now though, they would have to bide their time.
Amanda came back and sat down beside Lee, worry showing plainly in her brown eyes. "What about Phillip and Jamie?" she whispered.
"I don't know yet," Lee replied softly. "These guys may not know they're outside. I just hope they stay there."
"Hey, hey," Bucky interrupted their conversation. "No whispering. Anything you got to say, say so we can all hear it."
Lee gave him a casual smile. "We were just wondering how long you planned on staying here."
The man scowled. "As long as we have to," he answered. "You got a problem with that?"
Lee shook his head. He didn't want to antagonize any of these men, at least not until the odds were more in their favor. He watched the men eat and silently studied each one, trying to size them up.
The head man, Bucky, was shorter than Lee, probably a little under six foot. His hair was nearly dry now and it looked a light brown, though it was hard to tell in the firelight. He had a sharp face and deep set eyes. Even while he ate, he kept his gun in his right hand. Lee also noticed that, unfortunately, he wasn't drinking.
Colby was long and lean, his hair blond and his face pock marked. He had the most voracious appetite, having already downed three sandwiches and two beers. The third man, Stubbs, was most likely the youngest. He looked in his mid twenties. He had a thick mop of unruly dark hair, most of it hanging in his face. He was of medium height and build. None of these men looked terribly dangerous except for the fact they had guns and, right now, Lee didn't. He had several handguns in the house but they were upstairs, carefully locked away from curious little hands. They may as well be on the moon for all the good they would do where they were.
The car was definitely stuck. The rain was coming down so hard, it must have been next to impossible to see the road. It was no wonder the car had gone into the ditch. Phillip and Jamie were nearly knee deep in weeds and mud as they tried to get to the vehicle. Reaching the door, Phillip tried to wipe off some of the water as he bent down to peer in the window.
"I don't see anybody," he shouted across the hood to where Jamie stood on the other side. The wind and pelting rain made it hard to talk to each other. He could see his brother trying to look in the passenger window. Obviously he hadn't heard him. Phillip banged on the roof of the car and Jamie glanced up. "Nobody here!" Phillip yelled.
Jamie said something back that Phillip couldn't make out. He pointed to the car and waved him over to his side. Phillip slogged around the front of the vehicle.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Instead of answering him, Jamie opened up the door and climbed inside. Phillip leaned down into the car to see what his brother was up to. Jamie had bent over the front seat to retrieve something from the back.
"What is it?" Phillip repeated.
"I thought I saw something..." Jamie's voice was muffled as he hung down with his flashlight, searching.
Phillip waited, wondering what had caught his brother's attention. Jamie finally straightened up, clutching something in his hand.
"I thought so," Jamie cried in triumph.
"What?"
Jamie pointed his flashlight at his hand and Phillip could see he held a fistful of money. Phillip whistled appreciatively.
"How much is there?"
Jamie shrugged. "These look like hundreds. There's a lot more all over the floor." He sat down on the seat and looked up at Phillip. "Why would they leave it all here?"
Phillip shook his head. "Why would they even have it to begin with?"
They were quiet for a moment. Phillip could hear the wind howling as it banged the door against his legs. He was cold and uncomfortable.
"Let's go back to the house," he suggested. "Maybe that's where these people went anyway. I would." He started to pull back out of the car but Jamie grabbed him by his jacket and stopped him. Phillip jerked his brother's hand away. "What's wrong Pipsqueak? You're the one who wanted to get inside."
"Phillip, wait a minute." Jamie was insistent. "What if these guys are dangerous?"
"Dangerous?"
Jamie nodded. "There was a big hold up today. I heard it on the news. Some guys robbed an armored truck convoy. They got a bunch of money."
"So?"
"So..." Jamie held up the bills. "What if this is some of that money? What if this is their car?"
Phillip considered what his brother was telling him. If he was right and the thieves had used this car... He stood up and turned toward their house. It was hard to see in the driving rain but he could make out its dark outline and see a faint gleam of light from the candles burning in the family room. He looked back down at the car and saw Jamie staring up at him.
"Do you think they went up to the house?" he asked.
Phillip nodded slowly. "There's nowhere else." He thought of his mother and Jenny and Lee all held hostage in their home... and Michelle. Michelle would be in there too and there was no way to know how dangerous these men were. He reached down and grabbed Jamie's arm. "Come on."
They slowly made their way out of the muddy ditch. Once back up on solid ground, Phillip broke into a fast trot. As they neared the house though, he slowed and turned off the flashlight.
"What're we gonna do?" Jamie whispered.
Phillip thought for a moment then turned to his brother. "Let's make sure they're in there first." He started forward, motioning Jamie to follow.
Slowly they crept across the front walkway. Phillip wasn't too concerned about being heard above the noise of the storm but he moved cautiously nevertheless. They wouldn't be of help to anyone if they got caught. He got down on hands and knees, pulling Jamie down beside him as they inched their way to the big family room windows. Phillip rose up on his knees and peered over the sill. He was fairly certain no one could see him. His eyes took in the scene quickly.
At first glance, everything appeared normal. He could see his mother sitting beside Lee. The rest of their guests were all seated as well, filling the rest of the furniture. He could see Michelle sitting by Skip. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he happened to look over by the fireplace.
Three strangers were eagerly stuffing themselves. Even from here, Phillip could tell they were wet and dirty. Then he caught sight of the weapon in one of the men's hands. He ducked below the window. Jamie dropped down next to him.
"Did you see that?" Jamie breathed out. Phillip could hear the fear in his little brother's voice. "They have guns."
"I know." Phillip was thinking furiously.
"What do we do now?"
Phillip grabbed Jamie's shoulder. "Listen. Get over to the Taylor's as fast as you can. Call the police and tell 'em what's going on here."
Jamie nodded. The Taylors were their nearest neighbors and both boys knew them well. They'd spent lots of summer days at the creek that ran through their property.
"What're you gonna do?" Jamie asked.
Phillip looked up at the house speculatively. "Get in somehow. I know where Lee keeps his guns. If I can get to 'em, maybe I can help."
"How're you gonna do that?"
Phillip shrugged. "I'll figure something out. Now get going."
Jamie hesitated for only a moment. Then he backed away from the window. When he was a safe distance, he got up and started running. Phillip watched his brother's rapidly disappearing figure, then he too backed away from the window.
The men eventually slowed down as they reached their fill. Bucky leaned back against the fireplace, his gun still held firm in his hand. Stubbs reached for another beer but Colby got to his feet and stretched the length of his six foot plus frame.
"Damn, that tasted good," he exclaimed. He let his eyes rove over the family room, taking in the rustic decor. "Nice place you got here. Wouldn't mind having a shack like this somewhere." He wandered around the room, poking here and there. When he ended up behind Lee, he nudged his shoulder. Lee looked up questioningly. "Got any smokes?"
Lee shook his head. "Sorry." He watched the man continue his prowl. He didn't like the restless look on the man's face. It could only mean trouble. He felt Amanda squeeze his hand and turned to her. She looked pale, her face drawn. "You okay?" he asked in alarm.
Amanda gave him a small nod. He could see some of the tension leave her face. "Don't worry," she told him. "It's nothing. The baby's just kicking."
Lee wasn't sure if she was telling him the whole truth but she looked better now. He turned back to see what had become of Colby. The man was standing behind Skip and Melanie, staring down at them. No, Lee corrected himself. Not at them... at Michelle.
"Hey, Little Girl," Colby leered. "How'd a pretty thing like you get stuck here with all these losers?"
Lee watched as Michelle leaned closer to her father. Skip hadn't looked up at the man but Lee could see his cousin was barely containing his anger. His jaw was clenched tight and he stared stonily ahead. It was frightening to see Skip so upset. With Andy or Murph, Lee knew how they would react in almost any situation. He'd never seen the Skipper like this and had no idea at what point he would blow.
Colby reached down and fingered Michelle's hair. Lee tensed, waiting for what might happen. He knew how he would feel if it was Jennifer sitting there. He wouldn't blame Skip for reacting but Lee wasn't about to let his cousin get killed. He saw Melanie, with her hand on her husband's shoulder, her eyes on the man behind them. Lee could see Mel's emotions plainly as both fear and outrage battled within her. The situation was explosive.
Colby's hand left Michelle's hair and came to rest on her shoulder. He kept it there for a brief moment then he bent his head down, meaning to nuzzle her neck.
Michelle cried out at the same time Skip moved. He sprang from the sofa, pulling his daughter up with him, away from her tormenter. He stood there, his eyes flashing anger.
"Leave her alone," he ordered fiercely. Lee had never heard him use that tone of voice before.
Lee sat at the edge of his seat. He could tell Skip wasn't in any frame of mind to be reasoned with but he could also see Colby wasn't going to be easy to deal with either.
"I'm just trying to be friendly," Colby stated. He was rocking back on his heels, grinning broadly. Lee was trying to see where his hands were, to see how close they were to his gun. It was difficult since the man was constantly in motion. "Why don't you tell your old man to keep out of this, Little Girl," he suggested to Michelle. "You wouldn't want him to get hurt, now would you?"
Skip pushed Michelle behind him.
"Dad..." Michelle began fearfully but Skip wasn't listening. He still faced Colby, his stance challenging.
"Skip," Lee hissed, trying to get his cousin's attention. "Let it go." The situation was getting out of control fast.
The two men stood and stared at each other, neither willing to back down. Lee felt like he was in the middle of some absurd Western, only Skip was unarmed. If he pushed Colby too far, he would more than likely end up dead.
"Colby! Back off."
Lee turned at Bucky's command. The leader hadn't moved from his position by the fire. He still sat working on Amanda's apple pie but the tone in his voice had been unmistakable. He shot a glance up at his man. Colby leaned against the wall and hooked his thumbs in his belt.
"Cool down, Bucky. I didn't hurt nobody."
Lee let his breath out in relief. He saw Skip visibly relax as he turned to smile at Michelle. It was at that moment Colby drew out his gun and matter of factly pulled the trigger.
Everything happened at once. At the sound of the shot, Michelle and Melanie both screamed. Skip stumbled backwards and fell, clutching his right shoulder. Lee automatically leapt forward but stopped at the sight of the man's pistol aimed at his head. Bucky tossed aside the pie and with a few strides was at Colby's side. He was livid.
"I told you to back off!" he screamed. "I don't want nobody killed."
"He's not dead," Colby scoffed. "I coulda killed him if I wanted to."
"But I told you..."
"I know what you told me," Colby shot back. "But he was trying to tell me what to do and all I wanted was to get to know Little Sister here."
While they continued to argue, Lee turned to see about Skip. His cousin lay on the carpet, his shoulder bleeding profusely. Melanie knelt with his head in her lap. Michelle was by his side and Lee could see she was crying quietly. Everyone else had gathered around to try and help. Amanda arose and stood beside Lee. She looked shaken but her voice was calm.
"He needs some bandages," she told him. "I don't think it's too bad but he's bleeding pretty heavily."
Lee stooped down. "Hey, Cuz." Skip turned and looked up at him. Lee could see the pain in his cousin's face and he kept his tone light. "What were you trying to prove? How dumb you could be?" Skip tried to laugh but ended up merely grimacing as Melanie applied pressure to his wound.
Lee felt someone tapping his shoulder and he looked up to see Bucky standing behind him. He got up to face their captor.
"Sorry about all this." The man actually looked sincere. "Didn't mean for anybody to get hurt." He gestured down at Skip. "He okay?"
"He needs attention." Lee glanced over at Colby who still leaned against the wall, a sullen look on his face. "You sure your goon's under control?"
Bucky's face grew angry. He waved his gun under Lee's nose. "Don't get smart, Big Man. I could've let him kill your friend."
Lee bit back any remarks. He would have to watch himself. These men were unpredictable. "Okay, okay. But my cousin still needs help. We've got first aid supplies upstairs. That would do for now."
Bucky considered for a moment then he nodded. Lee started forward but heard the man pull back the hammer of his gun. He froze in mid stride.
"Uh,uh. Not you." Bucky eased back on the hammer and Lee turned to face him. He glanced over the people in the room. "Send the girl," he ordered. "She's the only one I trust not to do anything stupid."
Michelle had been watching and came over when Lee beckoned. Her face was tear- streaked but she was under control. She looked at Lee questioningly. Lee took her hand and gave her an encouraging smile.
"Go on upstairs. The stuff's in our bathroom, off the master bedroom. Bring as much as you can." Michelle nodded and glanced back down at Skip. "He'll be fine," Lee assured her. "Go on."
"Okay." Michelle's voice was shaky but she managed to return Lee's smile as she headed over to the stairs.
When the sound of the shot rang through the house, Phillip froze, his heart in his throat. He'd retrieved the ladder from the barn and climbed up into his mother's bedroom. As he stood there, wet and shivering, he felt bad for all the water and mud he dripped on her carpeting but there wasn't much he could do about it. His first thought was to get Lee's guns. Then he would decide what to do next.
He'd barely reached the closet, walking softly so no one would hear him, when he heard the gun go off. Now he stood still and listened, wondering what had happened, who might have been hurt or even killed. He could hear the commotion, the sound of many voices, some raised loudly. He strained to hear his mom but couldn't pick her out from the rest.
"God," he prayed silently. "Don't let anything have happened to Mom or Lee." But then he had to amend that thought. There wasn't anyone down there he didn't care about.
A sudden rustling whirled him around. Jenny's crib stood by the bed. She'd been moved in here for the weekend to make room for company. The noise from below must have disturbed her sleep.
"Don't wake up, Jenn," he whispered fervently. That was all he needed right now, a crying baby. He waited for a long moment but his sister remained silent. She must have settled back down to sleep. He tiptoed over to her crib.
She slept like a stinkbug, her bottom up, her knees tucked under her tummy. Phillip and Jamie had always laughed at this, although Amanda assured them it was normal baby behavior. Looking at her now, Phillip had an impulsive desire to pick her up and cuddle her close. He loved his sister. He was sure glad she was all right.
He moved slowly away from the crib. He had to get to those weapons. He was just opening the closet door when he heard the sound of footsteps. Someone was coming this way.
Panicked, he slid the door open and stepped inside the big closet, leaving the door open a crack to see through. He was glad they had no electricity. If anyone turned on the lights, his muddy footprints would lead right to his hiding place. With heart pounding, he peered through the slit and watched the bedroom door open.
He nearly shouted for joy when he saw Michelle come into the room. She carried a candle, its wavering light illuminating her frightened face. She walked past the closet without glancing his way and headed toward the bathroom. Phillip slid the door open carefully and crept up behind her. He didn't want to startle her so he stayed back a ways.
"Michelle," he whispered.
She whirled around, nearly dropping the candle.
"It's me," he told her. "Phillip."
"Phillip!" She carefully set the candle on the counter and sank down to sit crosslegged on the floor, her head in her hands. Concerned, Phillip came over to sit down beside her.
"How did you get in here?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Never mind that. What's happening? I heard a shot."
Michelle nodded her head and Phillip thought he saw tears in her eyes, but in the dim light, he couldn't be sure. "That man shot my dad."
"Your dad?" Phillip couldn't help the feeling of relief that his mother was safe. "Is he... I mean..." Phillip stammered awkwardly.
"He's alive," Michelle told him. "But he's hurt and it's my fault."
"Your fault?"
"I shouldn't have made such a big deal out of it. He wasn't hurting me. I shouldn't have..."
"One of those guys was hurting you?" Phillip felt a deep anger stirring at that thought.
Michelle shook her head. "Not really. He was just bothering me... you know... touching me and all. I shouldn't have gotten scared. Then my dad wouldn't have tried to stop him."
"It's not your fault." Phillip placed his hand on hers. "Listen to me. I need your help." Michelle gazed up at him and, for a moment, Phillip was distracted by how blue her eyes looked in the candlelight. He remembered Jamie's comments in the barn and he broke the contact. "I only saw three of them. Are there any more?"
"No. Just those three."
"Okay, what were you doing up here?"
"I came to get some first aid stuff for my dad." She stood up. "I have to get back down there. He needs me."
"Good," Phillip told her. "You get what you need. I'll be just a minute." He left her to rummage through the cabinets while he moved back to the closet.
It took only a few seconds to locate the strongbox back behind Lee's shoes. It was locked, but Phillip knew where the key was. He pawed through the nightstand until he found the small ring with one tiny key. Gripping it tightly, he came back over to the floor and worked at the lock.
The box opened easily and he flipped back the lid. There, glimmering in the light from his flashlight, lay three handguns. Lee had shown these to Phillip and Jamie and even let them shoot a few times, but Phillip had never handled them on his own. He felt like an intruder but he knew Lee would agree with his decision. He picked one up and hefted it in his hand. It felt too light. In a second level to the box, Phillip found the clips and quickly loaded first one gun and then the others.
"I'm done," Michelle told him quietly. "What do you want me to do?"
Her arms were full of first aid supplies. There was no more trace of her tears. She was calm and ready to help. Phillip was glad. He didn't like girls who fell to pieces over the least little thing. He held out two of the guns. Michelle shifted her load and took them gingerly.
"I don't know how to shoot," she told him.
"You don't have to. Just make sure Lee gets 'em. He'll know what to do."
"I can't just carry them downstairs."
That was true. Phillip thought for a moment then took one of the towels from her arms. Here, wrap them up in this." The bulky towel hid the weapons out of sight nicely. "Okay. You better get back before they miss you. Tell Lee I'm up here. I'll be at the top of the stairs whenever he needs me."
Michelle nodded, then her eyes met his again. "Be careful," she whispered.
Her intense gaze was disconcerting. "Go on," Phillip told her then gave her a smile. She returned it shyly and headed out the door. Phillip watched her from the doorway. When she had disappeared down the stairs, he crept out to lay flat on the landing. He could see pretty well into the family room. He hoped he would be able to help Lee when the time came.
Lee was frustrated. There ought to be something he could do to get his family out of this situation, but he couldn't think of how to do it without getting them all killed. It was bad enough that Skip was lying here bleeding on his family room floor. Having these men invade his home like this rankled him more than anything else. This was his home... his and Amanda's. It was their place of refuge from the world. It was supposed to be a safe haven.
He thought of Jenny upstairs... of all the children sleeping up there. At least these men hadn't done anything yet that would endanger them, although there was no telling what might happen before this ordeal was over.
He glanced at Amanda kneeling down beside Sherry. The two of them were busy trying to stop Skip's bleeding. They didn't have much to work with and he wondered what had become of Michelle. It shouldn't have taken her this long to get the supplies from the bathroom. He saw Amanda reach out and take Melanie's hand and smile reassuringly. It was just like Amanda to think of others and try and help, even though she wasn't in the best of shape herself.
Lee studied his wife from his seat on the couch. She didn't look very well. Her face was drawn and pale and every once in a while Lee could see her fists clenched tightly, her knuckles white. His frown deepened into a scowl. Something was wrong.
Before he could do anything however, Michelle walked back into the room, her arms laden with cotton, gauze, antiseptics and a myriad of other first aid supplies. Sherry immediately drew her over to Skip, where she and Amanda set to work dressing Skip's shoulder. His attention on his cousin, Lee hardly noticed that Michelle had made her way over to sit beside him on the couch. He turned to her when he realized she was staring at him.
"He'll be fine." He patted her hand. "You'll see."
Michelle nodded then scooted even closer. Thinking she needed come comforting, Lee put his arm around her. She leaned her head against his shoulder but instead of crying, she began whispering in a voice so low he could barely hear her.
"Phillip's upstairs. He got your guns."
Lee felt a thick towel pressed into his hand. He could feel something heavy wrapped inside of it. He slowly stuck his hand inside and the familiar feel of the guns washed away all his previous frustration. He slowly stuck one pistol into his waistband, under his shirt. "Phillip has one too," Michelle continued. "He's on the landing, waiting for your signal."
Lee hugged her tight. "Good girl," he whispered. Then he spoke up a little louder. "Don't worry, Michelle. Your dad's going to be okay."
Doing his best to appear casual, Lee got up from the couch. His first impulse was to give the second gun to Amanda but he wasn't sure she was in any condition to help. Besides, it wasn't just Amanda who'd be involved. The baby would be just as much a target. He spotted Murphy, watching with concern as his wife worked on Skip. He didn't think about it twice. Lee moved over and squatted down beside his younger cousin. Murphy looked up at him questioningly.
"How's he doing?" Lee asked then lowered his voice. "We've got some help." He leaned a little closer to Murphy as he passed him the towel.
As Murphy took the bundle and obviously felt the metal within, his eyebrows shot up in surprise but he managed to keep the facade going. "Sherry thinks the bullet fractured his collar bone. He's going to be laid up for a while." He, too lowered his voice. "What next?"
"Just wait," Lee told him. "You'll know when it's time."
Amanda didn't want to believe this was happening but she could no longer tell herself it was just the baby kicking. Each contraction was growing stronger and they were definitely getting closer together. She hadn't said anything to anyone yet. They were still manageable, but before too long someone was bound to notice the pain she was going through.
She sat beside Skip, helping Sherry bandage his shoulder. With the supplies Michelle had brought down, they'd been able to stop the bleeding, though Skip still needed a doctor's care. He was resting as comfortably as they'd been able to make him. His wound was painful, besides the fact he was embarrased and he felt stupid for letting himself get shot.
Michelle knelt down next to her and took her father's hand. She gave him an encouraging smile. "How you doin', Dad?"
Skip chuckled dryly. "Oh, just great. Amanda, I'm sorry about the mess I'm making of your floor."
Amanda smiled at his attempt at humor. "I'll send you a cleaning bill." Another contraction started and she clenched her teeth against the cramp.
"Amanda, are you okay?" Skip inquired.
She endured it for a few moments, then blew out her breath as it passed. She realized Skip wasn't the only one watching. She hadn't escaped Sherry's keen eye either.
"Are you having contractions?" she asked in concern.
Amanda's hands fluttered self-consciously. "Just little ones. Please don't tell Lee. They're not bad. Don't worry."
"How far apart are they?"
Amanda shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe ten minutes."
"If they get any closer than that, you be sure and tell someone," Sherry ordered firmly.
Amanda nodded. If they started getting closer, she wouldn't have to tell anyone.
Jamie had just about reached his limit of endurance. He didn't think he could get any wetter than he was. He was cold and exhausted, his breath coming in ragged heaves. For the first time since they'd moved out here, he wished they had closer neighbors. He'd finally reached the bottom of the Taylor's long, steep driveway and he stopped for a moment to catch his breath.
He wasn't a jock like Phillip or Lee. He'd never been that keen on sports. Now he regretted it. He was sure his brother could've made this run a lot easier than he had. But he was here now. That was all that mattered. Allowing himself a few more deep breaths, he started up the hill.
By the time he reached the front door, he practically collapsed against it. It was too dark to find the bell and his hands were so cold, they were numb. He wasn't even sure he'd actually knocked on the door until he heard someone coming. The door opened and Jamie fell forward into the entryway.
"Land's Sake!" Mrs. Taylor caught him before he lost his balance completely. "Jamie? Is that you, Child?" Jamie nodded, still out of breath. "Well, what in Sam Hill are you doing out on a night like this? Does your mother know you're over here?"
"Mrs. Taylor..." Jamie had to stop and cough. "I need... to call the police..." He coughed again and realized he was shivering. "Men at our house... robbed the trucks..." He knew he wasn't making much sense. He felt a blanket being draped around his shoulders and he grabbed it gratefully.
"Come on in, Child. We'll get you warmed up and dried off. Then you can tell me your story."
That sounded wonderful to Jamie but he knew he couldn't waste the time. He shook his head determinedly. "Gotta call the police first."
Mrs. Taylor regarded him in concern. "'Fraid we can't do that, Jamie. The lines are down from the wind." She raised her voice to call back into the house. "Freddie... Freddie come out here. We got some trouble." She led Jamie into the house and closed the door. "My husband has an old ham set. Maybe he can get it to work for you. Right now, let's get you dry."
Things were quiet for the moment. Lee sat and let his eyes take in everything around him. Skip lay on the floor. They'd decided against trying to move him. He'd lost a lot of blood and his face looked pale, even in the firelight. Melanie was still beside him, holding his hand and stroking his hair. Michelle had moved up to sit on the couch. She looked expectant but Lee couldn't fault her for that. At least she'd refrained from casting any anxious glances up towards the second floor where Phillip waited.
Andy and Cait sat beside her. Cait was quiet but Andy was restless. Lee could tell his cousin wasn't going to just sit around much longer. Murphy and Sherry had resumed their places on the loveseat. Murphy sat leaning back, his hand conveniently near the hidden gun. Lee turned to Amanda to see how she was doing. What he saw frightened him.
His wife sat tensed, with eyes closed. One hand lay against her swollen abdomen, the other gripped the arm of the couch tightly. He could see her taking long, deep breaths. He grabbed her arm.
"Amanda! What's wrong?" He kept his voice low. He didn't want to draw their captor's attention.
She didn't answer him right away. She kept breathing steadily for a time then she relaxed and opened her eyes. When she turned those eyes to him, they were filled with anguish.
"Lee," she whispered. "I'm sorry. I didn't want it to happen but it just started and I couldn't stop and now it's gotten worse and I don't know what I'm going to do."
It had been a long time since he'd heard Amanda babble like that. He knew it was a sign she was truly frightened. Not caring now what these men thought, he gathered his wife into his arms. She laid her head on his shoulder.
"Amanda," he whispered into her ear. "Don't worry. We're going to get out of this. Phillip's upstairs." He heard her intake of breath at the news her son was alive and well. "They never knew about the boys," he continued. "Everything's going to be all right in just a little while. Hang on."
He sat and held her, knowing she needed his comfort. He also knew she was going to need more than that soon. If something didn't happen on its own, he was going to have to make it happen. He wasn't going to allow Amanda to have the baby while under threat of her life.
The men had been mostly quiet since the shooting incident. Bucky still sat by the fire, his head leaning against the bricks. His eyes were closed but Lee knew he wasn't asleep. He held his gun firmly. Stubbs had been silent during most of the ordeal. He was flipping through some of Jamie's computer magazines. Colby had been standing at the window, watching the storm but now he began to wander the room again, his restlessness back. Lee watched him closely, alert for more trouble.
He felt Amanda tense in his arms as another contraction began. Damning these men for making her go through this, he took her hand firmly.
"Hold onto me," he whispered. "I'm right here for you."
She didn't say anything but he felt her grip tighten and he could hear her doing her breathing pattern again. After it was over, she relaxed against him.
"How far apart are they?" he asked softly.
Amanda shook her head. "I'm not sure. A few minutes." She looked up into his face and gave him a weak smile. "Lee, I'm afraid our son wants in on the excitement."
Lee kissed her forehead lovingly. "Just like his mother. He won't stay where he's supposed to." He felt Amanda poke his ribs and was glad she still had her sense of humor about her. He glanced around the room again and realized Colby had stopped by Michelle. "God," Lee groaned inwardly. "Not again."
Colby sat down beside her. He leaned back and laid his long arm along the back of the couch. Michelle sat forward to avoid his touch but he pushed her back. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close to him. Lee could see the fear in the girl's eyes.
"Come on, Little Sister," he urged with an evil grin. "How 'bout a kiss?"
Lee had started forward, and saw Melanie a step ahead of him, but before either of them could do anything, Cait suddenly rose from the couch to stand before the man.
"You don't need this kid," Cait told him disdainfully. "Why don't you try somebody closer to your own age... someone with a little more... experience."
Lee didn't recognize Cait's voice. She had deepened it... made it sultry and inviting. He knew he was staring at her and noticed Colby was too. If that's what Cait had planned, it was working. She reached down and patted Michelle's knee.
"Scoot over, Honey. You're out of your league."
Michelle wasted no time in sliding out of Colby's reach. She moved over next to Andy who was watching his wife, a scowl darkening his usually pleasant features. Lee only hoped Andy wouldn't get mad and do anything dumb.
Cait reached out a long arm and grabbed Colby's hand. Her whole body seemed to writhe seductively as she pulled him to his feet. Lee realized his mouth was open and he clamped it shut. Cait was a beautiful woman, there was no doubt about that. He'd just never pictured her in this temptress role. She played it very well, better than any Peacock Dancer in the Agency. She certainly had Colby fooled.
He stood before her, grinning like an idiot, as she ran her fingernails down his arms.
"You look like you could use someone a little more... exotic," Cait told him. She leaned close to his face. "How 'bout it?"
"Whatever you say, Lady. I'm game." He frowned for a moment and glanced over at Andy who sat clenching his fists. "I thought you were with the cowboy over there."
Cait laughed merrily. "Even leather gets old after a while." She leaned against his body, letting her arms move down his back. "You look like you could use a little something." As Colby licked his lips in anticipation, Cait moved abruptly, bringing her knee up sharply.
Colby yelped in pain as Cait stepped back as far as she was able, her blues eyes flashing. "Next time you'll think twice about hitting on little girls," she informed him icily. Lee nearly laughed out loud. She'd been perfect. Colby danced around in the small amount of space between the couch and the coffee table, holding himself. Then Lee did hear laughter. He looked and saw Bucky chuckling gleefully.
"She surely got you, Colby," he taunted. "Serves you right for screwing around when I told you not to."
Colby had stopped his frantic movements. He glared at his boss then turned his hate-filled eyes on Cait.
"Oh,oh," Lee thought as he started to rise. "This is trouble."
"Nobody messes with me!" Colby shouted as he advanced toward Caitlin. "Especially not you, Bitch!"
She tried to move out of his way but her escape was blocked by the table and Skip's prone body. Colby swung his arm and backhanded her across her face.
As Cait stumbled backwards, Andy leapt to his feet and dove after Colby, catching him offguard. Off balance, they both went over the back of the sofa. Lee could hear Andy cursing at the man, calling him every name he could think of and threatening to kill him. Bucky and Stubbs both rushed over to where the two were fighting but Bucky held Stubbs back, keeping him from helping their partner.
"Let 'em fight it out," he said coolly.
This was as good a time as they were likely to get. While they were diverted by the fight, Lee acted. He pulled out his gun, at the same time shouting for Murphy to do the same. He needn't have bothered. His cousin had already drawn the weapon and leveled it at Stubbs. Lee drew bead on Bucky.
"All right, drop the guns!"
The room fell silent, except for the sounds of the two men battling it out. Bucky turned slowly to regard Lee, staring at the unexpected weapon. Lee could see Stubbs had already let his gun fall to the floor. Bucky took a moment to consider.
"Don't even think about it," Lee advised threateningly. "Believe me, I know how to use this."
Bucky regarded him calmly. "I believe you do," he said at last and finally dropped his .38.
"Cover them, Murph." Lee moved over to see how Andy was faring with Colby. Though short, Andy had always been a scrapper and he was further motivated by Colby's attack on Cait. Andy looked like he'd taken a few licks but he definitely had the upper hand. "It's okay, Andy," Lee stated. "You can stop now. We've got them." Andy gave no indication he'd heard. Lee reached down and pulled on his cousin's shoulder. "Come on, Cuz. It's over."
Andy finally stopped fighting. Breathing heavily, his hair in his face, he stood up. Lee kept an eye on Colby, his gun pointed at his head. The man glared at him and wiped at the blood coming from his nose but he made no move to get up.
"If you would be so kind, Cousin," Lee told Andy. "Get the man's gun." Andy reached down and pulled it from Colby's belt. He handed it to Lee then walked over to where Cait sat, holding her cheek. Michelle had been sitting by her but got up when she saw Andy approach. He sat down beside his wife and took her into his arms. Cait suddenly broke into tears.
Lee beckoned Michelle over. "There's some twine out in the kitchen that will do nicely for our friends here. Could you get it for me?"
She ran out to the kitchen and when she came back she wasn't alone. Phillip was with her.
"Is this what you want, Lee?"
Lee turned and saw Phillip standing in the doorway, the ball of twine in one hand, a gun in the other. He was covered with mud from head to foot but he was one of the greatest sights Lee could've asked to see. Lee was glad Phillip hadn't had to use the weapon but he couldn't keep back the swell of pride that rose in his chest. A huge grin split his face as he waved his stepson over.
"Phillip!" Amanda rose unsteadily from the couch to go to her son.
"I'm kinda dirty, Mom," Phillip warned as she tried to embrace him.
"I don't care," Amanda declared as she threw her arms around him. "Where's Jamie?"
"I sent him over to the Taylors'. They were gonna call the police."
Lee came over and got the twine from Phillip. He tossed it to Sherry who stood beside Murphy, watching the prisoners. "Tie them up good." He took Amanda by the arm and led her back to the sofa. "You stay put," he ordered kindly then he turned back to his stepson. "Nice work," he complimented.
Phillip met his eyes and, for a moment, there was an awkward silence between them. Lee abruptly took the boy into his arms and hugged him tightly. Phillip returned the embrace enthusiastically. When he pulled back, he looked up at Lee again. Lee's smile softened and he reached out to tousle Phillip's hair, something he hadn't done since the boys were younger. "You did good, Son."
Phillip returned his smile and held up the last of Lee's guns. "I never got a chance to use it."
Lee took it from him and popped out the clip. "I'm glad you didn't. I'm glad none of us did." He laid the gun down on the table. "Did you say Jamie's getting the police?" Phillip nodded. "I guess we'll just have to babysit these gentlemen till they get here." He glanced over at Amanda then turned back to Phillip. "I don't suppose they'll be bringing an ambulance or paramedics?"
Phillip gave him a curious look. "I didn't ask him to. I didn't know about Skip when I sent him." He looked over at his mother as well, then frowned back at Lee. "Is it Mom?"
Lee nodded grimly. "I'm afraid you're about to meet your new brother. Why don't you get cleaned up. I'm going to need some help."
Phillip's eyes grew wide but he obeyed. He raced up the stairs. Lee came back over to sit down by Amanda.
"How you doing?" he asked.
Amanda smiled ruefully. "I've been better," she admitted with a wry smile. Her face suddenly twisted with a grimace of pain and she clutched Lee's arms tightly. "Lee... Lee they're coming faster." There was a touch of panic in her voice and Lee knew he had to keep her calm.
"All right, all right," he soothed as he stroked her hair. "Here... lie down." He helped her lie back on the sofa. He settled her head on some pillows but when he moved down to lift her legs onto the couch, he realized her water had broken. He felt his own surge of panic. He'd never delivered a baby before. Sure, he'd been with Amanda when Jennifer was born but that had been in a hospital, with doctors and nurses. For the first time it really struck home that the baby was coming... now. He stood there for a moment, at a loss as to what to do next, when he felt someone touch his arm. Sherry and Melanie were standing by his side.
"It's time, isn't it?" Sherry asked. Lee nodded silently. "Don't worry," she went on. "You won't have to go through it alone. We'll all help." She instantly took over, sending people to get sheets, towels, warm water and various other items. She also ordered Murphy to move his charges out of the family room, declaring Amanda deserved some privacy.
Lee sighed in relief and knelt down by Amanda's head. She looked up at him apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Lee. I didn't want this to happen."
Lee chuckled at her concern. "Stop apologizing," he told her with a smile. "It's nobody's fault."
"You just concentrate on getting this little guy born," Sherry told her. "That's all you have to worry about right now."
Amanda nodded but couldn't speak as another spasm of pain racked her body. She gripped Lee's hand with more strength than he thought she had.
"Hold on," he encouraged then turned to where Sherry was examining Amanda. "What's going on down there, Ladies?" he asked sharply.
"Take it easy, Lee," Melanie advised. "We can just barely see the baby's head. Do you want to stay there or do you want to come and deliver your son?"
Lee glanced at Amanda. She managed to smile at him. "I'll be fine. You go welcome our son to his new home."
Lee got up to change places with Sherry. Just as he was moving, he saw Phillip come back into the room. He motioned him over. "You want to be a big help to your mom?" Phillip nodded. "Good. Sit here by her and hold onto her. You'll have to brace her so she can push." Phillip looked a little doubtful but he knelt down next to Amanda and took her hand.
"I'm right here, Mom," he told her. "Go ahead and yell and scream if you want."
"They only do that in the moo...ooovies." Amanda's voice suddenly rose in pitch and she grabbed her son's hand.
Lee moved down to sit between Amanda's feet. There wasn't much light but, from what he could see, she was definitely ready to push. "Okay, Amanda," he told her. "Time to do a little work. Phillip, help her lean forward."
Lee felt his heart racing as Amanda pushed, each contraction bringing the baby closer. He could hear her straining a little harder each time and he could see more and more of his son's head.
"He's coming... just a little more," he encouraged. He reached forward and took both her hands to give her something to pull against. "Come on, Amanda... just a little harder."
And then he saw it. The baby's head was out and turning. Lee felt a thrill of excitement and knew his hands were trembling as he reached for the bulb syringe Sherry handed him.
"Get his nose and throat," she told him quietly. "You want to make sure he can breathe okay."
Lee quickly performed the task, holding the baby's head cupped in his hand. "Okay, Sweetheart... One more time ought to do it."
He heard Amanda lean forward once more. Nothing seemed to happen and he suddenly recalled watching Grandpa Michaels and Uncle Jake help a mare foal. Remembering what they did, he took two fingers and scooped them under the baby's shoulder. Before he knew what was happening, he was holding a wet, squirming baby boy. The wonderful sound of a newborn's wail filled the room and Lee grinned triumphantly.
"You did it, Amanda," he told her. "You did it."
"Put him on her stomach, Lee," Sherry instructed him. "We need to keep him warm."
Lee gently laid the baby face down on Amanda. Melanie was there suddenly with towels warmed by the fire. Sherry was calling for the twine and she tied two knots in the umbilical cord. She handed Lee the scissors.
"You get the honors, Papa."
Lee felt the absurd sting of tears and his hands were shaking as he cut the cord. He moved up to sit by Amanda's head. She had brought the baby up to lay on her chest and she was holding him to her securely. Lee leaned over and kissed her tenderly.
"You do good work, Mrs. Stetson," he said softly.
Amanda gave him a weary smile. "You're not so bad yourself, Dr. Stetson. Happy Thanksgiving."
Lee sat back and relaxed, the first time since the whole nightmare began. He was thankful... for so many things.
It had taken the police all night to get through the rain but they finally made it. They took the three thieves away and radioed for medical help but informed Lee it would probably take at least another hour for the paramedics to arrive. So all they could do was wait. Jamie had been mad he'd missed all the excitement but was just as glad to be home and clean... warm and dry. Andy and Cait had gone to their room to get some sleep but Lee suspected they just needed to be alone for a while. Murphy and Sherry had both dozed off on the love seat, Sherry with her head in her husband's lap and Murphy's long legs propped up on the coffee table. Melanie had stretched out on the floor next to Skip, to be near him in case he needed her. Michelle was curled up in the recliner.
Lee sat on the floor, his back against the couch where Amanda lay with the baby. He couldn't sleep, even if he'd tried. He was too pumped up with everything that had happened. He gazed down at his hands and marveled that, with them, he had brought his son into the world.
"It's pretty wonderful, isn't it?"
Lee turned to see Amanda watching him. "I thought you were asleep." He tucked the blanket closer around the baby. "You think he's warm enough?"
Amanda smiled. "He's fine. She reached out her hand and brushed Lee's cheek. "Have I told you how much I love you?"
Lee turned completely around so he could kiss her, first lightly, then deeper. "And I certainly love you," he replied when he broke away. He looked down at the baby sleeping so soundly. "You know," he said thoughtfully. "I don't remember ever agreeing on a name."
Amanda shook her head. "We never did but I think there's only one."
"What's that?"
"Well, we have Jennifer... I think we need to have Matthew. It's only fitting."
Once more Lee felt the sting of tears as he gazed into Amanda's eyes. He tried to talk but had to clear his throat before any words would come. "Matthew it is," was all he could get out.
It was the strangest Thanksgiving Lee could ever remember. Skip was in the hospital and so was Amanda. The storm was over but they had no power yet. Most of the food Amanda had made, the thieves ate anyway. The combination they managed to scrounge and cook over the fire would probably give them all indigestion for a week. Still, Lee was happy. In spite of all the bad that had happened, the birth of his son overshadowed everything else.
He stood in the kitchen, trying to clean up by candlelight when Phillip walked in.
"Need any help?" he asked.
Lee shook his head. "Nope. I've just about got it licked."
"Okay."
Phillip perched up on the barstool. Lee studied him for a moment. It was obvious the boy wanted to talk about something.
"What's wrong?" Lee asked, after a few minutes of silence.
Phillip looked toward the door, as if making sure no one was there. When he spoke, his voice was low.
"Lee... I... What I mean is..."
"Just spit it out," Lee advised. "It's always better if you just say it."
"I was just wondering... that is, Jamie said... Well... Is Michelle really your cousin?"
Lee stopped, taken aback by the question. Then he shook his head. "No, she's not. Skip's my cousin and she's his daughter. I'm not sure what that makes us. Besides, she's adopted so we're not blood relatives anyway."
"Really?" Phillip brightened considerably. "And me and Jamie... We're not your blood relatives either, are we?"
"Well... no," Lee admitted. "But I've never let that..."
"That's great!" Phillip jumped down from the stool. "Thanks, Dad..." He vanished out the kitchen door.
Lee stood staring after him and wondered if he would ever understand teenagers. What had that all been about? Being related and all... Lee suddenly smiled, realizing how dense he'd been. Of course Phillip would be glad he wasn't related to Michelle. And then it struck him that Phillip had called him Dad. He'd never pushed himself on either boy, feeling they were old enough to make their own decisions about what to call him. He'd always told himself it was enough to be their friend. He realized now he'd been wrong. They were his sons, as surely as if they'd been born his sons. He was proud of both of them. They'd shown courage and cleverness in dealing with what had happened. But how could they have helped it? They were Amanda's boys after all. And now they were his boys as well.