BROKEN (27 page)

He shook his head.
 
“Just…explain what you said.”

“It was a false labor, which isn’t all that uncommon
,
and normally I wouldn’t be too concerned.
 
But with Jessie being as small as she is and carrying twins, I
am
worried the stress on her body is getting to be too much.”

“It’s my fault this happened,” he said miserably.
 
“If I’d told her the truth months ago then Jud wouldn’t have come barging in tonight and upset her.”

“I admit she’s been worried about you, but what happened tonight had nothing to do with the false labor.
 
She said she’d been tired all day
,
so obviously it was working up to that moment.
 
The timing was purely coincidental.”

“I wish I could believe that
.
”

“Listen to me, Mitch.
 
I didn’t get a chance to hear everything that went on when Jud showed up, but when you left to go tell the boys she was okay
,
Jessie gave me the highlights.
 
She wasn’t upset, at least not for herself.
 
She was a little concerned with how you would react, but in truth she was ecstatic that she not only got to clear the air between the two of you
,
but also got the chance to put Jud in his place and stop all that revenge nonsense.”

“I’m pretty relieved about that myself.
 
When Jud waved those papers in front of her
,
I was sure
Jessie would
read them and then throw me out on my ass.
 
I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

“Jessie
is
a very bright girl.
 
She knew what she had
,
and she wasn’t about to let Jud or anyone else break you up.”

“How long has she known?”

“Oh, she suspected something wasn’t quite right almost from the beginning, but she figured it out shortly after that first visit when she learned she was pregnant.”

Mitch was floored.
 
“She’s known all this time?
 
Why didn’t she say something?”

“At first she wasn’t sure if you actually thought you were Adam.
 
She was afraid if she confronted you, it might push you over the edge.”

“That’s just like Jessie, isn’t it?
 
Always trying to fix people.”

Liz smiled.
 
“Apparently, she’s pretty good at it too.”

“Yeah,” he smiled back, “she
is
pretty good at it.”

“Well, now it’s time for us to repay the favor and fix what’s wrong with her.”

“Bed rest!”
 
Jessie crossed her arms, scowling at both Mitch and Liz.
 
“You don’t honestly expect me to stay in bed for the next two months.”

“That
is
exactly what I expect,” Liz said firmly.

“And I
will
be there to enforce it,” Mitch added.

“I’ll just sneak out of bed every time you leave,” Jessie said petulantly.

“I
have
got five ranch hands out in the waiting room working on a schedule right now
,
and every one of them has given me their word that you won’t be allowed to go any f
a
rther than the bathroom and back when I’m not around.”
 
Mitch ignored the indignant huff.
 
“Now, Liz has agreed that you’re well enough to go through with the wedding plans and maybe a short reception afterwards.
 
After that, you
will
be confined to bed rest until the babies are born.”

“I’ll go stark raving mad if I have stay cooped up in the bedroom.
 
Surely it wouldn’t hurt to make the meals…”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” Mitch interrupted.
 
He glanced at Liz for support.

“You’re doing fine,” she assured him.
 
“Just don’t let her con you with sweet talk or tears.”

“Oh, you two are impossible,” Jessie snapped.

“Listen, sweetheart, I know it sounds like we’re bullying you, but it’s for your own good."
 
 
Mitch sat down on the edge of the bed and took her hand.
 
"We have to think of the babies right now.
 
Jess, I want my sons to go full term.
 
I want them to be strong and healthy
,
but that’s not going to happen unless you stay in bed.”

Guilt washed over her for behaving so selfishly.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
You’re right, of course.
 
I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep them safe.”

“That’s my girl.”
 
He leaned over and kissed her.
 
“I’m going to leave for a little while but I’ll be back in a few hours to pick you up.
 
I have a few last minute arrangements to make
,
but Liz will be here to help you get ready.”

Jessie looked confused.
 
“Arrangements for what?
 
I told you I
would
behave so you don’t need make any
arrangements
to have the boys guard me.”

“It has nothing to do with that.”

“Then what is it?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”
 

He gave her a quick kiss then made his escape before she had a chance to question him further.
 
Jessie stared at the empty doorway for a moment before turning her gaze back to Liz.
 
“What was that all about?”

Liz shrugged.
 
“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“You’re supposed to be watching after my health,” Jessie pointed out.
 
“Working my blood pressure up and driving me to distraction isn’t really in my best interest, or that of my babies.”

The smile on Liz’s face broadened.
 
“I guess that’s a valid argument.”
 
She walked to the closet and pulled out a white garment bag and brought it over to Jessie.
 
“This is your wedding gown.
 
Last night Mitch asked me to pick something up
,
so this morning I ran down to the bridal shop and got this.”
 
She pulled out an ivory gown and laid it across Jessie’s lap.
 
“The bottom half is pretty roomy but I thought the form fitting bodice would look nice
,
especially since you’re a good cup size larger now.”

“I don’t suppose Mitch had anything to do with that,” Jessie said dryly.

“As a matter of fact he didn’t, but he did get this sexy little gleam in his eyes when I showed it to him.
 
We still have a few hours so I wouldn’t suggest you put it on just yet…”

“Liz, he…he wants to marry me
today
?”

“Why do you look so surprised
?  T
he man is crazy about you.
 
If he had his way, you
would
have gotten married right here in the hospital wearing nothing but that God awful nightgown they made you put on.”

“But…”

“But nothing
.  T
his is what you’ve been dreaming about for months.
 
I’ll leave you alone for a bit so you can take a shower then I’ll be back to help you with your hair.
 
Hank brought your robe and a small suitcase with some of your clothes so I’ll just set them out before I leave.
 
Hopefully
,
the old fool was smart enough to put some clean underclothes in there too.
 
Your robe is hanging on the bathroom door.”
 
She took the gown and hung it back in the closet then helped Jessie out of bed.
 
“I’m happy for you, Jess, he’s a wonderful man.”

“He is wonderful.
 
He’s more than any woman could ever hope for, and more than I deserve.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, kiddo
.  You are
Snow White incarnate and Mitch is Prince Charming.
 
You’re living proof that fairy tales are real and dreams really do come true.”

Jessie laughed so hard tears trickled down the sides of her cheeks.
 
“
A
pparently
, I’ve
painted a rather rose colored picture of Mitch.”
 
She dabbed the tears from her eyes.
 
“He’s hard-headed, stubborn as a mule, possessive, over-protective, and…”

“And you love him.”

“Yeah,” she said with a dreamy smile, “I love him more than anything in the world.”

“Well then, I suggest you go take that shower so you’ll be ready when he comes to sweep you off your feet.”
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                       
***

Swe
e
p her off her feet is what he did, literally.
 
Since it was supposed to be bad luck for the groom to see his bride in her gown before the wedding, Liz insisted that Jessie wear her bathrobe over it.
 
She felt silly, but Mitch had been highly amused as
he
scooped her into his arms and carried her out of the hospital.

He was positively breathtaking in a dark suit and shiny black cowboy boots
.  S
he barely took her eyes off of him during the drive into town.
 
Fully expecting to be married at the courthouse in an abbreviated ceremony, Jessie nearly cried when they pulled up in front of the small church.
 
Mitch came around to the passenger side and lifted her out, lowering her feet gently to the ground.
 

“I’m afraid it’s not going to be as grand as you deserve, but it’s the best I could do on short notice.”

“Oh, Mitch, it’s simply wonderful!
 
You’re
wonderful.”

“I wish I could take all the credit
,
but I can’t.
 
I was all for bribing the minister into coming to the hospital to perform the ceremony, but my little sister said she
would
throttle me herself if I did that to you.”

“I think I’m going to like your sister.”

“Here’s your chance to find out,” he nodded towards the church entrance.
 
“That wild looking young woman dashing down the stairs is Jill.”

Mitch’s sister was stunning to say the least.
 
Hair as dark as
her brother’s,
curled around a nymph
-
like face and fell just past her shoulders.
 
She was tall and slender
,
and energy seemed to radiate from her as she bounded down the stairs and across the parking lot.
 
A brilliant smile lit her face when she reached them and gave
Mitch
a heartfelt hug.

“You’re just as beautiful as Mitch described you,” Jill beamed at Jessie.

Her smile was infectious and Jessie couldn’t help returning it.
 
“I’m sure I look devastating in this robe.”

Jill waved her hand in the air dismissively.
 
“Oh, Liz already told us she made you cover up.
 
Come inside, everyone is waiting
,
and Liz has the entire event on a time table.”
 
She looped her arm through Jessie’s as if they
had
been friends for years and urged her towards the church.
 
“We only have an hour and half for both the ceremony and reception before you’re banished to the ranch and your bedroom.”
 
She cast a sly glance at Mitch.
 
“As kind hearted and considerate as my brother is, I’m sure he won’t mind sacrificing his time to keep you company.”

The next several minutes were a blur of activity as Jill shooed her brother off and whisked Jessie into a small room where Liz was waiting.
 
Between the two women, they managed to rid her of her robe, brush out her hair, and have her standing in the hallway with a bouquet of flowers in a span of ten minutes.
 
Jill kissed her on the cheek and hurried inside, cueing the organ music.

Liz gave her a big hug.
 
“You look gorgeous, Jess.
 
I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of asking someone to take your father’s place in walking you down the aisle.”

Jessie’s heart melted at the sight of Hank standing just outside the doorway looking quite handsome in his suit.
 
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said with a smile.

Hank came forward and offered her his arm.
 
“
Just so you know, the boy
was crazy in love with you right from the start.”

“I suspect that’s how you figured out he wasn’t Adam.”

“That was the biggest clue.
 
Not that Adam didn’t care about you in his own way, but Mitch…”

“I know, and I feel the same way he does.”

“What do you say we get this show on the road and put the poor boy out of his misery?”

Jessie drew in a deep breath and let Hank escort her to the doorway of the chapel.
 
There was a buzz of hushed praises and the flash of several cameras as everyone rose to their feet and turned to watch her walk down the aisle.
 
Tears sprang to her eyes when she saw the brightly colored flowers and yards of white ribbon that adorned the pews.
 
How Mitch managed to procure the church, get it decorated and gather so many of her friends from town in only one day, she wasn’t sure
,
but she was incredibly touched by the effort he’d made.
 
At the end of the aisle, the minister waited with a bible in his hand.
 
Standing on one side of him was Liz and Jill, and on the other side, to her surprise, was Del.

Then Mitch stepped in front of the minister and everyone else faded from view.
 
She’d never seen him quite so happy, and the way he was looking at her made her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
 
It was absurd, considering the sizeable bulge around her mid-section, but there it was in his eyes and the soft smile he wore.
 
Liz was right.
 
She was Snow White, he was Prince Charming, and dreams really did come true.