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  Ty could tell they were in dangerous territory. Beside him, Jade had stiffened up, tense and unmoving. Any moment now, things could get ugly. More ugly than they were already. “You want the BC ways, Daze, you know you do.”

  “I just want a baby, Ty. Preferably a son. I don’t need a big day of glory for that.” She looked at the pram with a huge dose of loathing. “They really are cute little things. And if Jade can do it, so can I.”

  She tore off on her motorcycle, then looped back around to stop in front of them again. “I tell you what, brother. I’m pretty sure I see through your plan. You don’t want me with Frog because of dear Suz.”

  He didn’t say anything. Just watched his new sister carefully.

  “I don’t believe the creek is magical. I don’t believe Best Man’s Fork is, either. Frankly, I think Dad was better off when he wanted to mow this town down to the ground and bring in government offices. Make this the Washington, D.C., of Texas.” Daisy looked at him speculatively. “But if you have such strong faith in the powers of our superstitions here, I’ll let you set up a swim for me, or a run. I don’t care which.”

  He nodded. “Good. I’ll get right on it. Maybe just before Christmas.”

  “Oh, absolutely, just before Christmas.” She grinned at him. “But I’ll only agree to a run if Jade does, too.”

  Jade shook her head. “What will that prove?”

  “It will prove that my brother married the right woman,” Daisy said, her voice silky. “I mean, after all, it was such a hurry-up wedding, who can possibly know? Poor guy is home on leave, finds out his nighttime love had his children—what’s he supposed to do?”

  “That’s disgusting, Daisy, even for you.” Jade pushed the pram forward, moving off.

  “She’s scared to know the truth. When you’ve been born and raised in BC, these fairy tales mean everything. Me, I’m a transplant, as everyone always likes to remind me. But even I know when a marriage has started off on the wrong foot,” Daisy told Ty.

  He had started to deny it when his darling, hotheaded wife whirled around.

  “A swim,” Jade said. “All the guys will swim. And you’ll eat your words, Daisy Donovan. I married the only man for me. I just hope Ty can talk one man into showing up for you. It’s twenty-five degrees outside. It would take a really strong man to want to prove that he’s the right man for you.”

  Daisy smiled at Ty. “Do not try to keep Frog from the competition. He’s going to want in.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because Daddy’s putting up a hundred thousand dollars for the winner. Every bachelor in town will want to swim.” She laughed, gunned her bike and roared away, and Ty realized he’d been caught in a neatly set snare.

  Crap-a-monkey. He didn’t believe in superstitions, either. But he did believe in BC.

  He certainly believed in his marriage.

  So he’d swim. Like a SEAL that wanted everything to be just as magical as possible for the only woman he’d ever loved.

  * * *

  JADE WAS NERVOUS. She couldn’t relax. Two days before Christmas, on Christmas Eve eve, the whole town was gathered on the banks of Bridesmaids Creek. She’d left the babies at home with Betty, because snow was falling and the forecast said it would snow all day.

  “If you swim,” she told Ty, “you’re probably going to catch something besides me. Pneumonia.”

  “Not me. I’ve swum this creek many a time in the freezing cold.” He zipped up a black wetsuit that fitted him quite nicely, Jade noticed.

  Too nicely.

  “I don’t want any other women looking at you.”

  He laughed. “I’m going to be swimming so fast I’m going to be merely a shadow in the water. No worries.”

  She was worrying.

  Ty came over to her, cradled her face between his palms. “I’ve got this. Everything’s been taken care of.”

  “Meaning?” Jade wanted more reassurance than just confident words. Suz had been on the warpath for days, knowing exactly what Daisy was up to. Suz wasn’t happy, either, that Frog had readily agreed to the swim.

  She hadn’t wanted to hear that any sane man would swim for a hundred thousand dollars. It had nothing to do with Frog having feelings for Daisy, because he didn’t.

  A knock at the front door caught their attention.

  “Expecting someone?”

  “No.” Jade walked behind Ty to the front door of the house she was coming to love, where she felt very much at home with her husband.

  Sheriff Dennis McAdams stood on the front porch.

  “Hello, Sheriff. Come in,” Ty said. “It’s good to see you.”

  Dennis stepped inside. “You’ve really fixed the place up.” He looked around, admiring the decorations.

  “We didn’t do this, actually. A team of elves decorated the place.” Ty glanced at Jade, winking at her, which warmed her heart. “We think the ladies of the town sneaked in here, since Betty has access to Jade’s key, but no one will admit to being our Secret Santas.”

  Dennis laughed. “Some secrets will stay secret, I guess.”

  “Let me get you a cup of tea, Sheriff.” Jade turned toward the kitchen. “It’s cold outside, and these guys are determined to swim.”

  “Believe me, I know. Daisy’s gang started a bonfire in town. They’re pretty liquored up, standing around, trying to stay warm.” Dennis shook his head. “Somebody’s going to drown if they keep drinking like college kids. Anyway, I can’t stay, Jade, so I’ll have to skip the tea. Thanks, though.”

  “What’s on your mind, Sheriff?” Ty asked.

  “Well, as you know, Robert Donovan is doing his best to turn over a new leaf. Just happens to be that leaves aren’t that easy to turn.” The lawman sighed, glanced around the cheery room as Jade leaned against Ty for support. She had the strangest feeling Dennis’s mission today wasn’t good news for them.

  “Just so long as he decides to stay a changed man, that’s fine by me,” Ty said.

  “The two deaths at the Haunted H—the one when your father was still...sheriff,” Dennis said, carefully not using the word alive, “and the one earlier this year—Robert claims were accidental. But he did bring those men here for mischief. Both of them were meant to cause trouble. He’s confessed to that.”

  “Awfully coincidental, don’t you think? That both of his henchmen would die?” Ty asked.

  “Donovan claims he just wants to start over. Wants a clean slate with everyone. Hence his confession.” The sheriff zipped up his sheepskin jacket. “He’s real worried that Daisy’s gone over the edge. She liked being an only child. Hard to give up her kingdom, or princessdom, I guess you’d say.”

  “Tough luck on that,” Jade said, feeling a little guilt wash over her. Daisy still wouldn’t know, and the town wouldn’t be splitting apart, if she hadn’t ever opened the Pandora’s box under the stairs. And if she’d kept her mouth shut.

  But it was too late for that.

  “Confession’s good for the soul, I guess. It wasn’t Robert’s fault that the men died,” the sheriff continued. “There’s nothing I can charge him with.”

  “Criminal mischief?” Ty asked. “There has to be something.”

  “One charge is beyond the statute of limitations, and the other—hell, what would we prove?” The sheriff gazed at him. “Look, this might be a case where we realize Robert’s trying to change, and we support him. For the sake of BC. Because honestly, I think Daisy’s got more potential for mercilessness than her old man ever had.”

  “How do two men just randomly die at our haunted house?” Jade asked. “Something doesn’t make sense. I know he was trying to destroy our dreams, and BC, but he’s not telling you everything.”

  “Well, the first man had a serious heart condition, which Robert knew about. He c
hose him deliberately because of it. The man also needed money and was open to causing trouble—but it was just too much good fortune that he died on your father’s watch. My guess is that both of these men were ill, and stress may have triggered their deaths. Unfortunate? Yes. Coincidental? Maybe. Partly. Robert chose men who would do his dirty deeds, and who had nothing to lose. The thing is, we’ll never know for certain. The only thing you can do is not let it rule your life going forward.” Dennis looked at Ty sympathetically.

  “So two men die, and he blames it on Betty’s toxic cocoa.” Ty shook his head. “The man is a monster. He should be run out of town on a rail.”

  “He’s admitted that he was behind the rumors that your father didn’t look into the case seriously, and that his policies were flawed.”

  “Jackass,” Ty said, and Jade could feel her husband breathing hard. “He destroyed my dad. His admission does my father little good now. Terence Spurlock died knowing this town had lost their trust in him.”

  “Yes.” Dennis nodded. “I’m not saying you have to forgive Donovan for that. But forgiveness is just as meaningful for Bridesmaids Creek as it is for your life, Ty. You don’t want to be imprisoned by the past forever.” The sheriff sighed. “Donovan seems to be shedding his snakeskin and wants to make amends, ask forgiveness. He’s started with his confession. He’s also offered to set back half a million dollars for your girls, either for their education or their wedding, or—”

  “We don’t want a penny of Robert Donovan’s money,” Jade snapped. “In fact, I’m sick of hearing about it. And if you’ve come here on a mission of mercy from him, you’re going back empty-handed.”

  Ty shrugged, proud of his wife’s fire. “I’m afraid Jade’s right.”

  “I totally understand. Think about it.”

  “So what did the second man really die of?” Jade demanded, unwilling to give much thought to the state of Robert Donovan’s soul. “Since Robert’s being so honest? Because I think he’s lying through his teeth.”

  “According to him, and I’ve verified this through the autopsy results, that man had only a few months to live. Hence he was very open to the financial remuneration Robert offered him to come to the Hanging H that night. He, too, was supposed to cause a ruckus. Robert claims his goal was to set a small fire, maybe near the bunkhouse. To spook the customers and families, give the Haunted H a reputation for being an untrustworthy event.”

  Ty shook his head. “This is ridiculous. Donovan should be in jail, if for nothing else but being a creep and a son of a—”

  “You tell Robert Donovan that he’s footing the entire bill for the next ten years of haunted houses out at the Hanging H,” Jade said, and Ty felt a surge of pride wash through him. “You tell him that he pays for ten years of Haunted H family gatherings, every single penny. And then maybe, just maybe, we’ll think about whether we ever want to invite him to Christmas dinner!”

  Ty glanced at her. Jade looked at him, feeling like a firecracker ready to explode.

  “That’s what this is all about, Ty. He’s trying to clear the past so he can get forgiveness. So he can be with his granddaughters, and so he can be invited into our family.”

  “Is that likely?” Ty asked the sheriff. “Does Donovan actually think in terms of family?”

  “My guess is yes. At least that’s what it sounded like to me. He’s an old man who’s done a lot of wrong. It’s time for him to come clean. And he’s a smart man. He knows that eventually skeletons pop out of closets.”

  “Tell me about it,” Ty said.

  Jade grabbed her coat. “And he cancels every single sale and contract he may be negotiating, or may have negotiated, with any entity to come here, whether it be government or not. He stops trying to bulldoze people out of their homes and their businesses, and most especially, he leaves Phillipe and Cosette Lafleur alone.” Jade buttoned her red coat and slipped on some white mittens, looking very Christmassy and darling to Ty. Sexy, and somehow like a Christmas angel, too.

  “And all business decisions he makes concerning sales, any sales of any property, have to go through the town council, which consists of Ty or myself, and Cosette, Phillipe, Jane Chatham and her husband, Ralph, Betty, Mackenzie and Justin Morant, as well as yourself, Sheriff. Those are my conditions. He’ll have to take it or leave it.”

  Jade glanced at the two men, who seemed disinclined to argue with her, or tell her that she was asking for the moon.

  “If he wants to see his granddaughters, and hold them, and be part of their lives. If he wants to darken the door of this home at Christmas or any other time, that’s my final and only offer. And now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m off to man the hot-cocoa stand at the creek. My husband has a race to win for me today.” She rose on her tiptoes to kiss her hunky husband goodbye. “I love you. Swim like Flipper.”

  He grinned. Time and two babies had not knocked one ounce of sass out of his lovely redhead. “See you at the finish line, gorgeous.”

  Jade went out, bundled to the max, her red-and-white scarf flying in the breeze.

  “I guess you know that she’s the only woman who could have tamed your heart,” Dennis observed. “She’s got a helluva lot of spunk.”

  Ty just smiled hugely.

  Chapter Seventeen

  To say that Ty swam like seven devils were after him was no understatement. He felt awesome, as if he was back in BUD/S, pitting himself against himself, the weather and all the men who had the same goal he did—to be the very best.

  He won, easily. Way ahead of the pack. Climbed out of the frigid water to be rewarded by his wife throwing herself into his arms.

  “Superstition or not,” he said, gasping for air, “I know I’m married to the only woman who is my better half. My significant other. The apple of my eye,” he announced to the cheering crowd. “The milk in my cereal, the cherry on my pie. Long live Bridesmaids Creek!”

  Jade laughed, kissing him. “You’d better sit down, husband, and drink some cocoa. You sound a little punchy. A little bit like you’ve been to Daisy’s bonfire and gotten into the hooch.”

  “Yeah, but it was romantic,” he said, collapsing on the bench where she led him. “Wasn’t it?”

  She smiled and put a warm blanket around him. “Very romantic. Silly, but romantic. When you catch your breath, there are warm, dry clothes waiting in your truck.”

  Clothes could wait. He got to his feet, lumbered to the side of the creek to see how the other fellows were doing. How fast could men swim for a hundred thousand dollars?

  Daisy stood on the bank, wearing a drop-dead black cashmere pantsuit that clung to her every curve. She had on black boots, and her long hair whipped around as she cheered the swimmers on.

  It looked as if Squint was going to win. Ty breathed a sigh of relief. The Plan was, as he’d instructed his brothers, that all three of them would swim faster than Daisy’s gang—but then, at the last second, Squint was to touch the bank first. Frog and Sam were to cede the lead, though discreetly, thereby throwing the race to their friend.

  The three would split the money, according to the terms Ty set forth for his brothers.

  They’d readily agreed. They’d had to. It was his sister, he’d pointed out, his father-in-law’s money, and Ty planned to beat their heads in if they didn’t do exactly what he told them.

  Squint was the fall guy, the sacrificial lamb, because he actually had, as Ty had pointed out with no thought to a pun, half an eye for Ty’s dangerous sister. And Squint wasn’t as easygoing as Frog. Frog wasn’t capable of handling a woman like Daisy—she’d run all over him.

  “Swim, Squint!” Ty yelled, unable to help himself. He’d known he’d be far in front of his brothers, but they seemed to be swimming slowly, by his calculations.

  Even retired SEALs should be in reasonable shape.

  To his shock,
Daisy’s gang began to pull in front. Something was terribly wrong. His brothers were slowing to a crawl.

  “What’s happening?” Jade asked. “Does something seem not right to you?”

  He shook his head, his jaw dropping when all of a sudden, Frog touched first and jumped out of the water, dripping and gasping from the last-ditch effort he’d put forth.

  Daisy’s gang came in second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth.

  Sam came in seventh. And Squint—he was dead last.

  And everyone knew what coming in last meant.

  It meant he didn’t have a chance in hell of a happy marriage—or any marriage at all—in Bridesmaids Creek.

  * * *

  “IT DOESN’T MATTER,” Jade said as they went upstairs to their bedroom that night. Ty let his bride tuck him into bed, insisting he get under a pile of blankets. She was just certain he’d caught a chill.

  Ty had never felt better. But he certainly wasn’t opposed to letting his wife warm him up. She had that look on her face, as if she was in the mood for some Christmas fun, and he smiled. This was the real prize, the real win, being in bed with his beautiful wife, with the babies tucked into the nursery down the hall. The tree was twinkling downstairs, and so many presents billowed out from under it that it was clear Santa had arrived early.

  Santa SEAL. “Come here, wife.”

  She snuggled up to him, warming him the way he’d known she would. “It’s just a race in a pond, a fund-raiser for our small town. Deep inside, you know that, Ty.”

  “You’re trying to say it doesn’t matter that somehow Squint didn’t win. How does Squint suddenly get a leg cramp? He knows better than to let pain be his guide! What a wienie.” Ty was outraged by his friend’s sudden weakness. “I think he threw the race on purpose.”

  “We’ll never know.” She kissed Ty, trailing her fingers along his jaw. “Daisy gigged herself a Frog, and he claims he had to take one for the team because he could tell that Sam and Squint were struggling.”

  “I don’t believe a word of it. I think Frog’s competitive side kicked in.”