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  “It can wait until you get back.” She had a suspicion he was right about leaving whatever it was buried.

  “I’ve had a will drawn up,” Ty said. “You’re the sole executor and beneficiary of my estate, should anything happen to me.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Why?”

  “Who else is there?” He kissed her gently on the lips. “And I would have no peace of mind whatsoever if that supercharged ovary of yours decided it had bingoed.”

  She was stunned. Couldn’t say anything. “Ty, you’re going to be fine. Nothing’s going to happen.”

  “All affairs have to be in order.”

  She knew that. On one level it made total sense. On the other hand, it forced her to realize that what he was doing was very dangerous—and more so in the future, if he was accepted into the SEALs.

  Of course he would be. He’d worked his ass off to realize his dream.

  “All right,” she murmured, not happily.

  “You’ll write me if you’re pregnant? I’d be the world’s worst dad not to be here—”

  “I’m not pregnant,” she said. “I told you, I don’t even think I’m in the right time of my cycle.”

  “Damn.” He looked a bit crestfallen, though he smiled. “I really worked hard at that.”

  She laughed. “I noticed. It was wonderful.”

  He kissed her long and sweetly, drawing a sigh from her when he finally pulled away to look at her.

  “Which brings us back to the box,” he said.

  She waited.

  “I want you to open it after I’m gone.”

  A gasp flew from her before she could stop it. “I don’t—”

  “Hear me out.” He cut off her words, holding her protectively in his arms. “You’re the only person I trust with whatever’s in there. Take care of what needs taking care of, in regards to the contents. I just don’t want to know whatever secret Dad might have been keeping. I hope you understand.”

  “I do,” she murmured. “I really do. I’m not comfortable with it, but I do.”

  “It’s a huge favor, like I said. But I really want to leave with a clear head, and no BC drama hanging on to me.”

  “It’s the least I can do.” Jade took a deep breath. “You realize it’s probably nothing other than...I don’t know, maybe some important papers.”

  “Those were all in the vault. Anyway, here’s the thing,” Ty continued, obviously not caring to linger on whatever secrets his father might have left behind. “After you go through the contents, I want you to seal the step back up. I’ve left the materials to do that. I figure you know how to work with wood, since you help your mother set up the stand at the haunted house.”

  “It’s no problem.” She was actually pretty handy at repairing lots of things. Small-business owners learned how to do things for themselves. “I can take care of it.”

  He kissed her one last time, his lips lingering over hers. “This isn’t how I wanted to say goodbye. I had planned for something more romantic, not dumping all my final requests on you.”

  “It’s fine.” She was still stunned that he was leaving so quickly. It felt as if part of her was being ripped away.

  “I’ve told Cosette she’s off the case. Here are the keys.” Ty handed Jade financial documents and a key ring. “Believe me, I’d rather be giving you a different kind of ring, Jade.”

  Her gaze flew to his. “I think we both know that’s not realistic.”

  After a long moment, he nodded. “I guess not.”

  “Go,” she said, feeling on the verge of tears she didn’t want to cry in front of him. “Be the best damn SEAL the navy ever trained.”

  He smiled, his mouth a little crooked. “You always believed in my dream.”

  “Of course I do. If Frog and Squint and Sam can be SEALs, you ought to really make BC proud.”

  He grinned. “Your faith is inspiring.”

  “I just know you. You’ve never set a goal you didn’t achieve, Ty.”

  He looked at her. “I never really thought of myself that way, but I guess you’re right.”

  “Of course I’m right.” She kissed him one last time. “Please hit the road.” The papers and key ring felt heavy in her hands. She wanted to drop them and throw her arms around his neck, beg him not to leave, at least not so quickly.

  But he had to.

  “You mean a lot to me, Jade Harper.”

  She smiled bravely. “And you mean a lot to me. You’ll mean even more with a Trident.”

  “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

  “You don’t know if you’ll ever be back,” she said. “And that’s exactly the way it should be. You haven’t dreamed this dream for so long to be pulled back to Bridesmaids Creek, Ty. The only reason you came home was to save us. In lieu of a going-away party from BC, I freely tell you to get your ass in that truck and don’t look in the rearview mirror. Nothing ever changes here. We’re a mirage in time.”

  “A town of carnies,” he said. “Everybody selling their shtick and the BC legend.”

  “That’s right. Now go sell yours.”

  Ty looked at her for a long time. “I would have swum the creek for you. Even done the Best Man’s Fork run. And that’s something I’ve never said to anyone.”

  “Our BC legends are pretty entangling. Be careful what you say.” She smiled, but he didn’t return it, his gaze serious. Her heart ached, but he had to go. He’d always feel he’d fallen short of his goal and his dreams if he didn’t. A few hours of wonderful lovemaking shouldn’t change everything he’d planned for. “Now go, cowboy.”

  He nodded, got in the truck. “But if there should be a baby—”

  “There isn’t. Goodbye.” She kissed him on the mouth through the window opening, smiled as big as she could, selling shtick as hard as she could. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes serious and dark, then started the engine. He drove away, his truck headed down the road toward the Hanging H, where he’d say his goodbyes to his buddies. She imagined shouts and laughter, and assumed Sam would drive him to the airport. She wished Ty would have asked her to take him, knew that would have been a really bad idea. Airports were no place for goodbyes, not goodbyes that were forever.

  She carried the papers and the house keys inside.

  Her heart rode off with Ty.

  Chapter Eleven

  Eleven months later

  “These little ladies don’t look like their father,” Sam observed, looking down into the bassinet where little Marie and Eve blinked their eyes like tiny dolls.

  Jade shook her head. “Considering most of the town thinks they’re yours, you better not say that too loudly.”

  He grinned. “Aw, I wouldn’t mind if they were.”

  She raised a brow.

  “I just mean I wouldn’t mind having some kids,” he said hurriedly. “But I’m sure not hitting on you, Jade.”

  She laughed. “I know.”

  Sam hung around a lot now that she’d had the girls, as did Frog and Squint. She’d never admitted that Ty was the father, not to a soul except Betty—and her mother would never give up her secret. Sam was just fishing, doing his usual trickster thing.

  “I just want that to be clear,” he continued, “because one day Ty is going to ride back into town, and I don’t want him beating my head in if someone tells him I was flirting with his girl.”

  “I’m not Ty’s girl.” Jade swallowed hard. “Don’t be silly.”

  “It’s not a matter of silly. You’re taking care of his house. Ty wouldn’t let anyone take care of his homestead unless he trusted them and felt strongly about them.”

  “Sorry to blow up your theory,” Jade said breezily, reaching into the
bassinet to pick up Eve, “but you’re aware that Cosette used to do this same job I’m doing? Keeping an eye on the Spurlock place?”

  Sam shook his head. “I’m not buying the story you’re selling, sister, but whatever.” He scooped up Marie. “I do love babies. And these girls are sweet.”

  A little uneasy that he’d guess her secret, Jade wanted to get Sam’s attention on a different topic. “Maybe you should consider running in the Best Man’s Fork race.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t.” Sam nuzzled the baby. “I think you may have done something unattractive in your diaper, little one, and yet somehow I can’t find it entirely unattractive.”

  Jade laughed. “That’s bad, Sam.”

  “I can change diapers faster than Houdini can disappear. I’ve had lots of experience.” He did just that at the change table with impressive speed and efficiency.

  “Are you sure you won’t at least consider the Bridesmaids Creek swim? It’s very, very lucky,” Jade said. “Guaranteed to bring you a bride, if you win.”

  “Oh, I could win,” Sam bragged, “but I don’t want a bride. My goal is to be free and easy for the rest of my life.”

  “We have lots of pretty ladies around here.” She looked up as she tested a bottle. “Anyway, Ty brought you here to find a wife. Aren’t you stating that you have conflicting goals?”

  “Look, it’s easy. Squint and Frog want women. Justin didn’t think he wanted one, but he got five. I think that’s hilarious.” Sam grinned. “Frog’s trying to romance the socks off of Suz, much good may it do my brother in arms. And Squint’s determined to tame the tornado known as Daisy. I figure everybody’s settled and accounted for, and if I slip through Ty’s net, that’s fine. He’ll just have to be happy with his success rate, and then get his own house in order.” Sam glanced at Jade. “You still haven’t told him, have you?”

  “I’m not going to, and neither are you.” She took a deep breath. “The time will be right one day, but it’s not now. And you know it as well as I do.”

  “He was pretty proud when he wrote that he was now truly one of us,” Sam said.

  “And he took off for Afghanistan as fast as he could get sent. Or wherever he really went.” There hadn’t been a lot of news from Ty, and Jade felt a twinge about that. She’d stayed awake many nights during her pregnancy, wanting so badly to tell him, but not about to rock his world. “Anyway, what should I have done? Told him before he was even finished with BUD/S that he was going to be a father? You and I both know he would have come rushing back home.” She swallowed hard, knowing it was true. Ty felt strongly about family, and the fact that he was adopted poured determination into his soul. He would have returned—and they would have had no future. You didn’t take someone’s long-held dream and dash it on the rocks, then expect that he wouldn’t look back with some regret. Oh, Ty was too good of a man to be bitter or resentful—but it wouldn’t be the same as it had been during that blissful time they’d shared in his house.

  “I have to go do something.” Jade had put this particular errand off long enough. “I’m going to call Mom over to watch the babies.”

  “I can do it,” Sam said.

  “You should be working.” She went to find Betty, who’d staked out her place in the kitchen. “I need to run over to the...the Spurlock place real quick, Mom. Can you watch the girls?”

  “Of course I can!” Flour flew as Betty put the lid on a canister. “Let me wash up.”

  She glanced over her shoulder at her daughter as she stood at the French sink. “I thought you were on the once-a-month schedule of going over there.”

  “I am.” Jade covered the cookies her mother had baked with a paper towel, knowing they wouldn’t be around long enough to bother putting them in a canister. “There’s something I need to take care of.”

  “Suits me. I needed a baby break!” Betty sailed out of the kitchen, and Jade could hear her admonishing Sam to go find the cookies because he was looking too thin.

  Sam wasn’t too thin—but if he and the fellows didn’t quit hanging around here so much, they were going to gain very un-SEAL-like pounds. Jade put on a scarf and coat to protect her against the cool wind—December was bringing much colder weather—and hurried to her truck.

  Fifteen minutes later she was at Ty’s, cautiously unlocking the door. As always, the house seemed welcoming and secure to her—but she never opened the door that her gaze didn’t go straight to the stair step she had yet to repair.

  She’d put off pulling out the metal box as long as she could. Today was the day, she vowed. The babies were two months old; Ty wasn’t coming back. No one went into the house except her and Betty. Jade dropped in from time to time, checking over the place, turning on every tap to make sure everything was running properly, running a light rag over every surface to pick up dust. When she’d been ordered to bed for three months during her pregnancy—the doctor had been worried about her carrying the babies to term—Betty had come over in her place. Jade had told her mother that the third stair was loose, and not to step on it. Ty planned to repair his father’s handiwork when he came home one day.

  Betty had thought that sounded reasonable, and the subject never came up again. Jade had mostly put Ty’s wishes concerning the box out of her mind. Part of her had hesitated because there was the tiniest chance he might come home—but that would mean he hadn’t made it through BUD/S, and she definitely didn’t want that.

  It was really hard to think about opening a box Ty’s father had left behind, but she understood why Ty didn’t want to do it, why he was happier closing up the past for good. She’d promised herself that by the twins’ two-month birthday, she was going to quit putting off the special mission Ty had entrusted her with.

  She briefly considered repairing the step and not examining the contents of the box, but it was a small favor he’d asked, considering all he’d done for her. Anyway, it would take only a moment.

  Jade tugged the step apart, finding the box undisturbed, though it still surprised her in some way to see it. The box’s placement was so odd, nestled into the dark shelter of the stairs. Whatever was inside was something Sheriff Spurlock couldn’t toss away, and yet didn’t want Ty finding, a perfect hiding place from an active boy who might randomly see something his father didn’t want him to see.

  Yet maybe it was something good. Love letters, or a tiny statuette blessed for the house the sheriff had built.

  Encouraged, Jade pulled the box out, and sat on the bottom step. Slowly she opened it, staring down at the pile of papers inside. On top of the stack lay an envelope with no writing on it. She picked it up, took a deep breath and pulled out the letter inside.

  Dear Ty,

  If you’re reading this letter, I’ve probably gone to the big ranch in the sky. I left instructions with Phillipe LaFleur—Mssr. Unmatchmaker—that if you ever decided to sell the house—or if Robert Donovan managed to take over Bridesmaids Creek for good—that he was to give you a sealed letter I’d left in his possession. The letter gave you instructions on how to find this box, and I ask you in advance to forgive me for not telling you the truth in person. I never wanted to, could never see the reason to honor a man by ruining your life, which I think would have happened if you’d learned my secret during your formative years. If I had my way, this secret wouldn’t ever make it to the light of day—certainly not until after Donovan’s death.

  But skeletons don’t always stay buried, and the fact is, you are Robert Donovan’s true son. Donovan’s wife, Honoria, who was born and raised in BC, came home here and confided to my wife, Emily, during her pregnancy that Robert didn’t know she was expecting, and that she planned to leave the state to have you, and give you up for adoption. Emily talked her into allowing us to adopt you, as long as we never, ever told Robert the truth.

  As Emily couldn’t have children, we jumped on the opportunity to
have a child of our own, and Honoria was happy to know that her child was going to be living with us. We didn’t know Robert that well then—he wasn’t from here, and we figured our secret was safe. They were living at the time in Houston. It wasn’t that she didn’t want you, son. Honoria had realized she didn’t love Robert, and she wanted no part of having a child with him. By then he’d already begun to show the seeds of the evil he’d later develop, and Honoria had quickly realized she didn’t want to stay with him, wanted no ties with him. He would have never left her alone, anyway, if he’d known she was having his child.

  Of course, you know this means that you’re Daisy’s older brother. You’ll wonder how the Donovans ended up staying together, and even having a child together.

  Honoria told Emily years later in confidence that upon her return from having you in Pennsylvania (we met her there and picked you up as soon as you came into the world), Robert professed his undying love for her and swore to change his ways. He’d missed her during her extended absence, fearing she had no intention of returning. Honoria decided to give her marriage one last chance, and Daisy was born a couple of years later. They moved here to BC for good when Daisy was about three years old. Secretly, I think Honoria was thrilled with the chance to keep an eye on you as you grew up. I think she also didn’t realize that by then Robert had chosen BC as the perfect place to launch his empire, or she might never have returned here. I know their marriage wasn’t a happy one after Daisy’s birth, as Robert became hungrier and hungrier in his ambitions. Something about having a child of his own seemed to spur those ambitions. He was determined to create a kingdom for his name and his only child.

  Jade stopped reading, stunned beyond words at the secrets spilling from the pages. It was almost too horrible to contemplate. She was fiercely glad Ty had never opened the box. She felt certain he would have never left BC, would have made it his mission to stay here and thwart his birth father at every turn of his evil steps.