To Wed and Protect (15 page)

“Luke,” she said weakly.

“It's all right. Everything is going to be just fine.” He didn't take the time to explain. “We need to get you to the hospital.” He tried not to focus on the blood
that had completely soaked the white sleeve of her T-shirt.

“Jason…Jessica… I need you to stop crying and listen to me. I'm going to put you both on Abby's horse. Jason, you hold tight to the saddle horn, and Jessica, you hold tight to your brother, okay?”

Still sniffling, they nodded. He put the kids on the back of the horse, then went to Abby. “Abby…Abby, honey, we've got to get you out of here. I'm going to have to lift you up and put you on my horse. Can you lift your arms around my neck?”

She nodded, a faint movement of her head, then with a deep, wrenching moan, she lifted her arms and weakly clung to him.

It took him three attempts to mount the horse with her in his arms, but he finally managed to get up and hold her tight against his chest.

He grabbed the reins of the children's horse, and they took off, moving as fast as possible, the blood pounding in Luke's head as it seeped from Abby's body.

He was terrified that the jostling motion of the horse would make her wound worse, but the alternative was for her to bleed to death.

“Hang on, Abby…hang on,” he said over and over again. But she didn't hang on. By the time they reached the car, she'd passed out.

Thirty minutes later Luke sat in the hospital waiting room, Jessica on his lap and Jason seated in the plastic chair next to his. They were waiting for the doctor to come out and tell them Abby's condition.

Luke barely remembered the drive to the hospital.
He'd never been so terrified in his life. She'd looked dead when he'd carried her into the emergency room, both he and the children screaming for help.

He held Jessica closer, realizing the little girl's hair smelled like Abby's. Abby's children. What would happen to them if Abby… He couldn't think about it. He couldn't imagine anything more horrible.

“Luke.”

He looked up, surprised to see Sheriff Broder approaching him. “Heard you had some excitement out at the dude ranch,” he said.

Gently Luke stood and put Jessica in his chair, then took Broder's arm and led him away from where the children were seated.

“Your brother came to see me about twenty minutes ago. He had a little surprise for me.”

Luke nodded. “Cahill.”

“Yup.” A whisper of a grin lifted the corner of the sheriff's mouth. “Matthew had him trussed up like a calf. Told me that Cahill took a couple of shots at you and your family.” Broder gestured toward the children. “I see the kids are okay.”

“My wife. He shot my wife.” Luke had never felt such bleak despair as when those words left his lips.

“Is she going to be all right?” Broder placed a hand on Luke's shoulder as if to steady him.

“I…I don't know. We're waiting to hear from the doctor.”

“I need to get a report from you,” Broder said, but at that moment Dr. Johnny Howerton entered the waiting room and strode toward Luke.

“We'll have to do this later,” Luke said, his heart
banging in his chest as he anticipated what the doctor might say. “How is she?”

“She's weak and she was in shock, but she's stabilized. The shot was clean and took a dozen stitches, but she's conscious and she wants to see you.”

“I'll stay here with the children,” Sheriff Broder said.

Luke walked to Jessica and Jason. “This is the sheriff. He's going to wait here with you while I go in and see Mom for a minute.”

“But I want to see her,” Jason said, his little face streaked with dirt and tear tracks.

“I know, buddy. But for now she is in a place where only grown-ups can go in. I'll tell her you and Jessica love her and to get well real soon, okay?”

“Is she going to be all right?” Luke asked a moment later as he followed Dr. Howerton down the hallway.

“She was incredibly lucky. An inch one way or the other and that bullet would have done tremendous damage. As it is, she's going to have a sore shoulder for a while. I'd like to keep her a day or two for observation.” He stopped outside the door to a semi-darkened room. “Just a few minutes, okay?”

Luke nodded and entered the room. Her eyes were closed and her face was as pale as the sheet that covered her. He wanted to see her eyes sparkling with life. He wanted to hear her laughter ringing in the air.

Luke sat in the chair next to the bed and gently took her hand in his.

“Abby? It's me, honey. It's Luke.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and to his immense relief
her fingers tightened slightly around his. “Luke. I have to…I need to…”

“Sh,” he whispered softly. “You're going to be all right. You've lost a lot of blood, but you're going to be fine.”

“I have to go home,” she said, a grimace twisting her features as she tried to sit up.

“You aren't going anywhere,” Luke protested and gently pushed her against the pillows. “The doctor wants to keep you overnight.”

“Overnight?” Her face was even paler than before, and a frown etched its way across her forehead.

“What?” he asked,

“The custody hearing…it's first thing in the morning. You have to go. You have to be there for me. Dress the kids nice…make sure their hair is combed…”

“I will. I promise,” he said. He squeezed her hand once again. “You just rest and don't worry about a thing. Everything is going to be just fine.”

“Justin? It was Justin, wasn't it?”

Luke nodded. “He's in jail now, and there's no way in hell he's going to get custody of those kids tomorrow. The son of a bitch took a gamble and he lost, Abby.”

She closed her eyes, the grimace of pain momentarily easing. When she opened her eyes and looked at him again, her gorgeous green eyes were awash with tears.

“It's going to be all right, Abby,” Luke said, his chest tight with emotion. He leaned forward and
stroked a strand of her hair. “You want me to sit here with you for a while?”

“No, I want you to take the children home, feed them supper and tuck them into bed. I know they must be terrified and I want things as normal as possible for them. Please, Luke…promise me you'll take them home right now.”

“I promise,” he said, unable to deny her anything at the moment.

She closed her eyes, and her fingers went lax around his. He waited a moment or two, to see if she would speak or open her eyes again. She didn't, and finally he stood, leaned over and kissed her cheek, then left the room.

After telling Dr. Howerton to call him if any problems arose, he left the hospital and took his kids home.

They ate hot dogs and beans for supper, and while they ate, Luke explained to Jason and Jessica that Abby was fine, but the doctor wanted to keep her for a couple of days.

When they'd finished eating, Luke told the kids to get ready for bed and he would tuck them in. He let Peaches out to run, then let the dog back in and went into Jason's room.

“You all tucked in, buddy?” he asked as he sat on the side of the bed.

Jason nodded. “Can we go see Mom tomorrow?”

“You know we've got to go see the judge tomorrow morning, but after we're finished there, we'll go see your mom.” Luke ruffled the little boy's hair, kissed him on the forehead, then moved to Jessica's room.

Jessica's big brown eyes pierced Luke's heart. He
saw in their depths fear, and although he repeated that her mommy was going to be fine and would be home in a couple of days and that in the meantime he'd keep her and her brother safe, he wasn't sure the little girl believed him.

After tucking in the kids, Luke went into the living room, where Peaches curled up next to him on the sofa.

Over and over again he replayed that moment when Abby had slumped from her horse to the ground, her T-shirt seeping blood. And over and over again he was filled with a sense of horror.

He never again wanted to see her so lifeless, so still. Never again did he want to see pain etching lines into her forehead, stealing away the sparkle of her eyes.

And never had he wanted a drink more than he did at this moment. He knew Abby had a bottle of wine in one of the cabinets in the kitchen. Although wine certainly wasn't his drink of choice, he knew a couple of glasses would take the edge off, relieve some of the tension that racked his body, erase some of the fear he felt each time he thought of Abby lying so pale, so lifeless.

He got up from the sofa and went into the kitchen, Peaches at his heels. He sat at the table and stared at the cabinet where he knew the wine was stored.

The kids were taken care of and sound asleep in their beds. Abby wasn't home. Nobody would know if he fell off the wagon.

Just one drink. It would make him feel better, dull all the emotions that thundered inside him. A vision of his father filled his head, a mental picture of the old
man pacing the floor, bourbon splashing from the glass in one hand, a belt ready to strike in the other.

The beatings had always been worse when the old man had been drinking. Luke leaned back in the chair and dragged his hands down the sides of his face. Just one little drink. Nobody would know.

Except him. Until he took that drink, he was in charge of his life, his destiny. As Abby had told him, until he took that drink, he was a success.

Abby. He remembered her unshakable belief in him when he'd stumbled home one morning, reeking of alcohol Justin must have poured over him after he'd passed out in the alley. She hadn't questioned his story, had believed in him like no other person ever had in his life.

Suddenly the thirst he'd entertained was gone, vanished beneath the need to be the best he could be, not only for Abby, not only for the children, but also for himself.

“Come on, Peaches, it's time to go to bed. We have a big day tomorrow.” He put Peaches in her bed, then, instead of stretching out on the sofa, went into Abby's bedroom. He wanted to sleep in Abby's bed with her sweet scent surrounding him.

As he walked into her bedroom, he spied the guitar he'd strung leaning against the wall next to her bed. He pulled down the sunflower bedspread, pulled off his T-shirt, then got in beneath the sheet.

He kept his jeans on, fearing that Jason might very well have one of his nightmares tonight. As he'd expected, the sheets smelled of Abby, and the room seemed filled with her spirit.

Closing his eyes, he tried to find sleep, knowing he'd need to be alert and clearheaded in the morning to face the family court judge. But sleep remained elusive. He was still too keyed up, too wired by the evening's events.

Abby white-faced, falling to the ground. Abby worried about her children despite her wounds. Abby…Abby…Abby.

He turned on the bedside lamp and grabbed the guitar. Strumming the strings in soft tones, he felt himself start to relax. He'd nearly finished the first tune when Jason appeared in his doorway.

“What's up, buddy?” he asked softly.

Jason shrugged his little shoulders. “I can't sleep.” He rubbed his eyes. “Could I sleep in here with you, Luke?”

Luke patted the mattress next to him, and Jason eagerly jumped into the bed. Within minutes Jessica had joined them, cuddling up on the opposite side of Luke.

“Sing us a lullaby,” Jason said. “Our mommy in Heaven used to sing us lullabies…before our daddy hurt her.”

Luke's heart skipped a beat. Abby had told him the kids had never talked about that night, the night they had seen their father kill their mother.

“You saw your daddy hurt your mommy?” he asked lightly, still strumming the strings of the guitar.

“Mommy and Daddy were fighting, and she told us to go to our room, but we didn't,” Jason said.

“Mommy was crying and Daddy hit her until she wasn't crying anymore,” Jessica said.

“Remember that your mom and I talked about go
ing to talk to the judge tomorrow?” Luke asked. He continued to strum the guitar in soft, soothing tones. They both nodded. “You think you could tell the judge what you saw your daddy do to your first mommy that night?”

They both frowned, obviously disturbed by the idea.

“It would really help your mommy now if you could do that,” Luke continued. “And the judge would make sure you never, ever had to see your daddy again.”

“And we could live together here forever?” Jason asked.

“You and Jessica and your mommy and Peaches could live together forever, and you'd never have to be afraid again,” Luke said.

Jason frowned for another long moment, then he shook his head. “Then I'll tell the judge tomorrow.”

“Me, too,” Jessica said softly.

“Now will you sing us a lullaby?” Jason asked.

As Luke began to sing, Jessica and Jason snuggled against his sides. The scent of childhood clung to them, and he was awed by the fact that they had trusted him enough to tell him about the night of their mother's death.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Luke wondered if Nashville could possibly be better than this.

A
bby awoke that morning knowing nothing on earth was going to keep her away from that custody hearing. In spite of the doctor's protests, despite an overwhelming lethargy and muscle aches that ripped through her, she left the hospital wearing a hospital gown tucked into her jeans and took a taxi to the courthouse where the hearing was going to take place.

She was early so she sat on a bench outside the courthouse, waiting for her family to arrive. Her family. Please God, let them continue to be her family.

She remembered Luke telling her that Justin was in jail for shooting her, but she was afraid he might somehow wiggle out of that, that even if they settled the custody issue today it would only be a temporary settlement and eventually she'd have to face Justin again…and again and again.

The sun was warm on her face, and the heat pene
trated the gown where her shoulder was bandaged. It felt good, like the warmth of Luke's hands when they made love…like the warmth of his smile when he gazed at her.

Luke. Her time with him had been magical, and she wished the magic could go on forever. But he had big dreams, big hopes for finding magic in Nashville, and his future didn't include her.

After the hearing, it was time for her to set him free. He'd never intended the marriage to be permanent, and she'd promised him no strings, no regrets.

She would never let him know how much she would miss him, how much it would ache inside her when they said goodbye. She would never let him know how much she loved him…that she had a feeling she would always love him.

“Mommy!”

The cry called her from a half-sleep, and she opened her eyes to see Jessica and Jason racing toward her, Luke, handsome as a devil in a suit, following just behind them.

“Easy,” she said to the kids as they raced into her arms. She hugged and kissed them, then stood and faced Luke.

“What on earth are people going to say? My wife sleeping on a bench in a hospital gown?” His eyes were teasing as he drew her against him. She welcomed his support, leaning against him for strength.

“I've never cared much what people say,” she replied.

“I can't believe you're here. Did the doctor say it was okay?” he asked worriedly.

She smiled sheepishly. “Let's just say he was not particularly enthusiastic about letting me go. But I couldn't miss this. I had to be here.”

At that moment Johnna arrived, gray eyes twinkling as she eyed the group. “This is going to be a cakewalk,” she said merrily. “I can't believe that man was so stupid as to get himself arrested the night before this hearing.”

“I just wish it was on a charge that would put him away forever,” Abby said softly.

Luke held her closer, and Abby fought a sudden burn of tears. She'd once believed she couldn't live without her children, and now she had to figure out how she was going to live without the man she loved.

“Come on, let's go get this done,” Johnna said. “I have a feeling the judge won't look kindly on a man who would discharge a firearm in the direction of his children. I believe what he did to you is considered attempted murder, and there's no way he isn't going to face that charge.”

Abby nodded, somehow not assured by Johnna's words. He'd gotten away with murder before…why not attempted murder?

Together the five of them entered the courthouse.

Abby wasn't sure what she'd expected, but the hearing was surprisingly short and rather informal. The judge, an elderly man with a snowy head of hair and piercing blue eyes, indicated that he had a favorable home study report from Sonya Watkins.

Shock riveted through Abby when Sheriff Broder arrived with Justin in tow. The children became ob
viously upset, and the judge took them back with him to his chambers.

As they waited for the judge to return, Luke's hand grabbed hers, and in a whispered tone he told her what had happened with the children the night before, how they had indicated that they would tell the judge what had happened the night their mother was killed.

Abby said nothing, but her heart filled with an amazing joy and an intense pain. Luke had proven to Jessica and Jason that he was a good man, and they had trusted him with their secrets.

They would miss him when he was gone, this man who had sung them lullabies. And her heart would break when it came time for her to say goodbye to him.

She glanced at Justin, who cast her a cocky smile. The man had tried to kill her. Without a doubt she knew that had been his intention. He'd wanted her out of the children's lives, permanently out of the way. And she saw in his eyes a promise…the promise that this wasn't over.

A wave of hopelessness shot through her. How much time would he get for shooting her? Enough time so that when he got out of jail the children would be grown? Somehow she didn't think so. She had long ago lost faith in the judicial system and knew it was possible Justin would get off with a slap on the wrist and probation.

Luke wrapped his fingers around hers, as if sensing her anguished thoughts. Again she wondered what she was going to do without him. Since their marriage, for all intents and purposes they had interacted like a real
family. And more than anything, Abby wished they could continue to be a family forever.

As the minutes clicked by, Abby wondered what was going on between the judge and the children. What if despite what they'd told Luke the night before, they simply couldn't bring themselves to talk to the judge?

Finally the judge returned to the bench, his features sternly forbidding. “I have just spoken to the children at length. I find them to be bright and articulate, and you are to be commended, Mr. and Mrs. Delaney, for their adjustment to life after their mother's death.”

“Your Honor, I appreciate everything that Abby has done for my children in my absence from their lives, but I am their father and I have a right to have my children back with me,” Justin said.

“Mr. Cahill, even if I were to discount the circumstances involving the shooting last night, even if I were to believe your story that the shooting was accidental and you had no intention of harming anyone, I cannot discount what the children told me concerning the night of your wife's murder.”

Justin looked stricken, and Abby knew he had been confident the children would remain too traumatized to ever discuss that night with anyone.

“I have been in touch with the district attorney in Kansas City, Missouri,” the judge continued. “And in light of this new information, they inform me that they intend to go to trial once again and charge you with first-degree murder. Therefore, in the best interest of the children, I terminate your parental rights and grant
permanent custody to Luke and Abby Delaney.” The judge banged his gavel. “Court dismissed.”

Justin erupted with shouted curses and threats. Luke grabbed Abby and hugged her, and Johnna did the same. Abby clung to them both, unable to believe that it was over.

Broder led a still screaming Justin from the courtroom, and the judge released the children from his chambers. Again there were hugs all around as Abby told them they were going to live with her forever.

“I'd love to continue a long celebration,” Luke said. “But we need to get this woman back to the hospital.”

“No…please. I just want to go home,” Abby said.

“I'll call the doctor from there and get all his instructions. Please, Luke. Let's all go home.”

Now that the drama of the moment was over, Abby was beyond weary, and her shoulder ached with an unrelenting, throbbing pain.

But they had won! Tears of joy spilled down her cheeks as she realized the children would never have to spend a day…a minute with their father. She and the children could build a good life together without looking over their shoulders, without being afraid.

And if what the judge had said was true, Loretta's murder would finally be vindicated. Justin would be returned to Kansas City to stand trial again, and this time she knew the children would be strong enough to voice what had happened on that horrible night. It was over. Finally.

 

For the next four days, Abby spent most of her time in bed as Dr. Howerton had instructed. Luke insisted
that he cook the meals, and it was one of the few things Abby realized he did not do well. Each evening at supper they all spent the first few minutes of the meal trying to guess what the ingredients were of whatever he had cooked.

And every night Abby lay in bed, dreading the day when Luke would leave, knowing the time was coming far too quickly for her. With each day that passed, she felt Luke subtly distancing himself from them all. Not in big ways, but in small ways that told her he was preparing both her and the children for his absence.

Exactly one week after the custody hearing, the day after they got the news that Justin had been extradited to Missouri to stand trial again, Luke began to pack what few belongings he'd brought to the house.

His truck was packed and ready to go just minutes before it was time for the children to get home from school. Abby wondered if he'd timed it that way on purpose. He would leave as the children arrived home, giving her no time to grieve his leaving.

“It's not like we'll never see each other again,” Luke said as the two of them stood next to his truck.

“It's still months before I leave town.”

She nodded, her mind embracing the vision of him. Those strong, bold features of his would be forever emblazoned in her memories. Her fingertips would always retain the feel of his wide, muscular shoulders, the springy hair of his broad chest, the warmth of his skin.

Her heart would treasure forever the laughter they
had shared, the dramas and joys of their time together. Her soul would always cherish and remember her love for him.

For a long moment his gaze held hers. She didn't want him to go yet couldn't stop him. She'd promised and, just like he always kept his promises, she always tried to keep hers.

It was he who averted his gaze first, staring toward the road where a cloud of dust indicated the approach of the school bus. “You and the kids will be fine,” he said, and it sounded like he was assuring himself more than her.

“Yes, we'll be fine,” she agreed softly. And they would. Abby was strong, stronger than she'd ever believed herself to be, and she knew she would survive this even though her heart was breaking into tiny, shattered pieces.

“Johnna will send over the divorce papers. They should be cut and dried.”

Again Abby nodded, unable to speak as emotion rose in her throat.

With a squeal of brakes, the big yellow bus lumbered to a halt, and Jason and Jessica got off. They raced toward Luke and Abby, their faces lit with happiness.

Jason's smile fell first as he saw Luke's things in the back of the truck. “Where are you going, Luke?”

Luke bent on one knee and drew Jason and Jessica close to him. “It's time for me to go back to my own house. I was just staying here with you guys while I worked on the place and while we were waiting for the judge to make a decision.”

“Where's your house?” Jason asked.

“You know the ranch where we ride the horses? That's where I'm going to be living now.”

Jessica's lower lip quivered slightly. “But Peaches is gonna miss you,” she said softly and put a little hand on Luke's cheek. “You're our lullaby man. Who is gonna sing us lullabies?”

Luke stood, as if needing to distance himself from the children. “Your mommy can sing you lullabies,” he said.

“No, she can't.” Jason wrinkled his nose. “She doesn't sing good at all.”

A burst of half-hysterical laughter left Abby's lips. “Now you know the last of my secrets. I'm pretty much tone-deaf.” The laughter died on her lips, and she swallowed hard against a sob that threatened to erupt. “You two better go see your dog. She's been waiting for you all day long.”

Jason and Jessica gave Luke one final look then headed for the house.

“Then I guess this is it,” Luke said, his gaze once again not meeting hers.

“Yes.”

“But we'll see each other around.” His beautiful gray eyes looked at her for a long moment. “This is for the best, Abby. You don't need a man like me in your life.”

“You mean I don't need a strong, wonderful, loving man?”

He didn't reply, but instead climbed into his truck, started the engine and took off.

Abby watched his truck pull away, the tears she had
tried so hard to contain once again burning…oozing uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Luke. Luke. Her heart cried out for him. Her soul mate. The children's lullaby man. Gone.

She turned, stumbled to the porch and sank down, half-blinded by the tears that continued to flow down her face. She'd known all along that this day would come, had believed she was prepared for it.

What she hadn't been prepared for was the utter, profound, intense heartache of loving Luke.

“Mom, can we have some cookies?” Jason asked as he flew out the front door.

“Sure,” she replied, not turning to look at him.

“You can each have two cookies and a glass of milk.”

“You sound funny.” Jason sat next to her and looked at her. “You're crying.”

Abby hurriedly swiped at her cheeks. “Maybe just a little,” she replied.

“Are you hurt?” He looked at her worriedly.

“No, I'm not hurt on the outside, but my heart hurts.”

Jason's eyes narrowed. “Did Luke hurt your heart?”

“Maybe just a tiny little bit,” she said, then swiped her eyes. “But Luke didn't mean to hurt my heart.” She gave Jason a hug and forced a wide smile. “But don't you worry. I'll be fine. We're all going to be fine. Come on, let's go get some cookies and milk.”

 

Luke had believed that in making the break, in packing up and leaving Abby, he'd feel relief. After all, it had never been intended to be a lasting marriage.
They had accomplished their goal, and now it was time for him to focus on his future.