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"Of course you were. He's a wonderful little boy, smart as a whip. Cal and I adore him."
Jane stirred milk into a mug of coffee and gave it to her. Rachel took a seat on a counter stool just as the men appeared.
"Pastor Ethan!" Edward jumped down off his stool and began peppering Ethan with an account of his latest adventures. Ethan alternated between responding and throwing her unhappy looks that seemed to say he'd expected better from her.
Rosie began pounding on her high chair, demanding to be let down. While Jane filled another mug, Cal put his daughter on the floor. She immediately crawled over to Edward and pulled herself up on his legs.
He winced as her sharp little fingernails scratched his bare calf. "Rosie, you're a pain."
She clapped her hands, lost her balance, and fell back on her rump. Her face puckered, but before she could cry, Gabe scooped her up. It was the first time Rachel had seen him hold her, and from the surprise that flickered over his brothers' faces, she knew she wasn't the only one who'd noticed.
Gabe reached down and touched Edward's cheek. "How'd you like to watch TV while the grown-ups visit?"
"I don't like baby shows."
Jane abandoned her pancake mix and moved out from behind the counter. "Rosie's grandparents gave her a cartoon video for her birthday. It's still too old for her, but I bet you'll like it."
"Okay."
The two of them disappeared into the family room. Gabe set Rosie back down and put Horse in front of her. He eyed his brothers. "Since both of you are here, I think it's time we had a family meeting. I know you're tired, Rachel, but this has gone on long enough."
Rachel would rather have hidden in the bathroom than face such a biased jury, but she shrugged. "I haven't run from a fight yet, lover."
Ethan and Cal both stiffened. She gave herself a mental pat on the back. They were too easy.
Gabe regarded her with mild exasperation, then turned to his brothers. "All right. Here's the way it's going to be…"
Ethan cut him off. "Before you get started, you need to know how concerned Cal and I have been about the effect your relationship with Rachel's had on you." He paused. "Although Cal did go a little far last night."
"Yeah? Well, you weren't around to hold a prayer service!" Cal retorted.
Gabe exploded. "I'm not ten years old, for God's sake! And I damn well want to be able to fall asleep at night without worrying that one of you is going to have Rachel strung up while I'm not watching!" He shot his index finger at them. "She hasn't done one thing to either of you, but you've both treated her like dirt, and by damn, it's going to stop right now!"
Jane had returned to the kitchen. She patted Gabe's arm as she passed him, then went to stand beside her husband and stroke him.
Cal's jaw jutted. "This isn't about what she's done to us, and you know it. You're the one we're worried about!"
"Well, stop worrying!" Gabe shouted.
Rosie froze and blinked her eyes. Gabe drew a deep breath and dropped his voice. "Rachel's right. You're both like a couple of mother hens, and I can't stand it any longer."
Ethan said, "Look, Gabe… I have some experience here. I've done a lot of grief counseling, and you have to understand—"
"No! You're the one. who has to understand. If either of you—either one of you ever hurts Rachel again—you're going to regret it. If you so much as frown at her, you'll have to deal with me. Do
both of you understand?"
Cal shoved his hands in his pockets and looked uncomfortable. "I wasn't going to tell you this, but I don't seem to have a choice. You're not going to like hearing it, but you're blind where she's concerned, and you need to know the truth." He drew a breath. "I offered Rachel twenty-five thousand dollars to leave town, and she took it."
Jane sighed. "Oh, Cal…"
Gabe turned to Rachel and studied her silently for several seconds. Finally, he lifted one inquisitive eyebrow.
She shrugged, then nodded.
He gave her a faint smile. "Good for you."
This time Cal was the one who exploded. "What do you mean, good for her! She let herself be bought!"
