Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) (39 page)

Jaelle hugged him tight. “Daddy, I wuv you so much.”

Joey did the same thing. “I missed ya, Dad.” He sniffled and wiped at his eyes. “I wanted to come home.” He buried his face into the curve of Jase’s neck and cried, and then Jaelle cried.

Brenna couldn’t hold back tears, and as she looked around, she wasn’t the only one. Even a big, strong bull rider had a tear or two. Caulder placed his arm around the woman named Velia and they held each other.

Brenna turned toward Tristan and he was on the phone, telling Nora they had the kids. Tristan put it on speaker. Judy, Destiny, and Nora all screamed out in their own happiness.

Jase peered at Brenna and held his hand out. “Kids, I want you to meet someone.”

Brenna knelt in front of the kids, smiling through her tears, not sure how they’d take to the news of their dad being with someone. Jaelle placed her little palm against Brenna’s cheek. “Did
you
take care of my daddy while we were gone?”

Brenna bawled like a little baby and placed her hand over Jaelle’s. “Yeah, honey, I guess you can say that.”

Jase smiled at his little girl, saying, “Brenna took good care of Daddy, princess.”

Joey lifted his head from his dad’s shoulder and gave Brenna a big smile. “You’re pretty.”

“Like father like son!” Jase winked at her, wrapping both kids in his arms again. He stood and held them tight. He nodded to Brenna. “Let’s go home, darlin’.”

His plans to return home with the kids that night didn’t go as planned at all. Jase learned there was one more issue that couldn’t be ignored. He sent Brenna home with Tristan, and his mom arrived in Yuma to be with him and the kids.

He dragged his feet down the corridor at the Yuma Regional Medical Center, coming to a halt outside of Rebecca’s room. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and blew it out.
I can do this.
Jase didn’t know how he’d handle seeing her again, let alone seeing her dying. When he pushed the door open, a person he barely recognized turned toward him. He heard her gasp, even from the distance of the doorway.

“Yeah, it’s me.” What he wanted to say was,
yeah, it’s me, bitch.

Rebecca propped herself up on her elbows. “J.C.! Oh, God. Where’s my kids?”

“Downstairs. Do you think I’d be as cruel as you…you and Matthew? I don’t even want to know how the hell
that
happened. Guess that’s how you got back on the drugs, huh? Matthew, the biggest drug addict in Canyon Junction?”
Hold it together, dude.
He was fading fast.

Her weakened voice cracked as she asked, “How’d you find me?”

He removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. He took another deep breath, still getting over the shock of her appearance. “Hey, you know what a mother bear is like when her cubs are threatened. Well, sweetheart, don’t mess with a papa bear.”

“I’m sorry,” said Rebecca, laying back against the pillows. She raised the head of her bed to a sitting position and took a sip of water.

He looked around at the IVs on a pole beside the bed, a couple pots of flowers…monitors, the steady rhythm visible to his eyes. “It’s a little late for apologies. You took my kids away from me, Rebecca. You knew damn well what that would do to me.” Jase moved to the foot of her bed. Her empty gaze followed him.

“Where’s Matthew?”

“Hell if I know. The cops hauled him off the last I saw him. After me and Tristan had a go-round with him and Gary.” He snickered. “If I didn’t get handcuffed, I would’ve finished the job.”
And I’m not done with either asshole.
But he thought about that… It wasn’t true. It
was
over. He hung his head and rubbed his temple.

Rebecca gave a big sigh. “Matthew didn’t do anything. I told him I had custody of the kids.”

“Didn’t do anything? You lied to him, too?” Lying must’ve become a habit with her. “The kids will have a good life with me and my family.” Jase lifted his hands. “You didn’t even put them in school all this time?” He pivoted on one foot and turned away. “They’ll be happy again and will have everything they need for the rest of their lives.” He swung back around wanting to see the look on her face.

“Except me.” Rebecca raised her hand to remove tears from her pallor cheeks.

“You expected them to go on without me. I won’t let them forget you, though.” He cocked his head in her direction. “You’re their mother. I’ll give ya that.”

“I needed them with me, Jase.” She turned away and stared out the window, continuing to sop up the tears rolling down her face.

“At their expense? I don’t understand why you thought it best for them to be raised by someone other than their father when you…”
Deep breath.
Swallow. You can do it.
“Well, you know what I mean. You would’ve let another man raise them.
My
babies!” Jase dropped his hat to the chair and shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I don’t know why you didn’t bring them back to me when you learned how sick you were. One phone call…
One
, is all it would’ve taken, Rebecca.” He entwined his fingers at the back of his neck and turned away, paced to the door and back, but he had to do it again. A minute to collect himself. His throat was parched, lips dry. No way could he stop the trembling within his body. He wasn’t quite sure for the reason. Anger? Remorse?

“It got to the point of being too late for me to call you. They settled into this life with me and Matthew, and I didn’t want them to have to change again.”

Turning back, he shook his head. “I’m sure you can justify that in your own mind.” He grabbed his hat off the chair and set it atop his head, turned away for a moment but faced her again. “I’ll send the kids up before we leave and I’ll bring them to see you as often as I can. Neither you, nor anyone in your family, will
ever
be left alone with them again.”

Jase headed to the door. He turned before pulling it open. “Rebecca, I wasn’t a coldhearted man before…before you stole my kids away…devastated my life.” His voice cracked and he couldn’t prevent it. “Where you’re concerned, I’m sorry you’re sick, but I…I can’t forgive you for this.” He took the door handle, pulled his hat lower on his forehead, and glanced over his shoulder. “Paybacks are hell, huh?”

Stepping into the hallway, he leaned against the wall for a minute. Sorry for his last words, but now he couldn’t take them back. Who knew? Maybe they were true.

Not in a hurry, he sauntered to the elevator and took it down to the lobby. Taking a seat beside his mom, he stared at the floor. Putting up a good front in Rebecca’s room, his emotions were all over the place between old love and hate. He had loved her up until the day she left, but he hated her for a time afterward. “That was harder than I thought.”

Judy put her hand on his back. “A thing like this is never easy, son. Do you want me to take the kids up now?”

He glanced at his children. “Yeah, Mom. I need to be alone. Thanks.” He called the kids over from a play table and kissed them before they left with their grandmother. Jase lowered his face into his hands. This must’ve been so hard on his babies. What a thing for them to go through. He’d give them love, thankful he found them in time. When Rebecca died, no telling what would’ve happened to them. He shuddered to think of the horror of never finding his own flesh and blood.

Visitors came and went as he mourned, or loathed, he wasn’t yet sure which. Jase checked his watch.
She’ll be home now
. He took his phone out of his pocket and called Brenna. When she answered he found it hard to speak, her soft voice rushing through his blood like good whiskey. “Hey, honey, I’m still in Yuma at the hospital. I’m glad Tristan got you back home for your new teacher orientation. I didn’t see any other choice but have him take my truck back.” He gulped and tried to swallow. “Mom’s here and we’ll go home with her so I won’t have to rent a car. She couldn’t wait to see the kids. I’m glad she came.”

“Are you okay?”

“No,” was all he said. He closed his eyes and pictured Brenna’s enchanting blue ones, and it hit him in the gut. No one knew what tomorrow brought. He loved her and didn’t want to waste any more time of waiting for anything. “I saw Rebecca.”

“I’m sorry, baby. It must’ve been awful.”

It was
. Her voice was comforting and hearing it choked him up. Finding Brenna when he did was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. “Sweetheart, this might not be the best time, but you know what?”

“What is it? I wish I could hold you.” She sniffled. “I’m there in spirit.”

“I know, darlin’. But, I’ve been thinking… I’m tired of calling you Brenna Page. I really want to call you Brenna Carlson for the rest of our lives. Okay?” He waited for a response. Jase peered at his phone. “Dammit!” He lost the cell signal, and hurried outside, walking farther out into the parking lot until he had a few bars showing. Dialing again, she laughed when she answered. “Where were we, Bren? The call dropped.”

“I believe you said something about changing my last name.” She hesitated. “My dear cowboy, whatever are you saying?”

“I want you to be Mrs. Carlson. To be my wife.” Jase peered at the ground as he paced in the parking lot.

“Your wife, Jase? You’re asking me to marry you?”

He heard the tremor in her voice…or was it his? “Yeah, baby, I told you I wanted to be your first and I was. But I’m selfish, and I want to be your last, too. I’m asking you to marry me. Yeah, on the damn phone. But I can’t wait any longer. Will you? Marry me?”

“Jase Carlson. Hallelujah. I love you so much. Yes!”

He straightened his back and peered off into the distance. “You will?” He sighed heavily. “Brenna, I love you, woman.”

Her voice went up an octave. “You heard me right. Listen.”

In the background he heard Chloe whooping it up. “It’s about time, you
old
cowboy!”

He found a smile. “Put that girl on the phone.” He waited for Brenna to hand the phone over to her sister.

“Hey, congratulations,” said Chloe on her end.

Jase moseyed over toward his mom’s SUV, looking out at a twilight sky full of tangerine, indigo, and a glimpse of a quarter moon. “What do you mean,
old
cowboy? You think your sister’s marrying an old guy, eh?”

“Teasing you, Jase. You’re the best thing to happen to my big sister…and me.”

“Yeah, well, put her back on the phone. Oh…and thanks.” Before she gave the phone back to Brenna he said, “Hey...”

“What’cha want there, dude?” asked Chloe.

“Behave while we’re on our honeymoon.” He laughed to himself picturing her eye roll.

Chloe snickered. “I’ll make sure to tell Davy y’all will be gone for a good amount of time. How long do you think that will be, Jase?”

“It’ll be a lifetime, sweets.”

“You mean I gotta behave for a lifetime? No. Can. Do.” He heard when Brenna must’ve smacked her because the phone dropped, and Chloe gave a loud squeal followed by a hardy laugh.

“Hey, I’m back,” Brenna said, with a laugh. “I don’t know what you said to my sister.”

He unlocked the car and took a seat on the passenger side. “I told her to behave when we were on our honeymoon that would last a lifetime. I can’t wait to marry you and I want to do it soon. You need to be in my arms when I go to sleep every night.”

“What about the kids? Do you think they’re ready for this?”

Jase let her smooth voice wash over him. “My little ones will be fine. They’re still talking about you, honey. Joey has a crush, I believe.”

“I want to be here for you and them. We’re a family now. All of us together.”

Jase inhaled a big breath and slowly let it go. “I can’t wait to wrap myself around you.” He lowered his voice, watching as the sky darkened and the moon brightened. “I
need
you.” He turned into a limp noodle when it came to that blonde.

“We’ll discuss the wedding while you’re wrapped around me—”

“After I make love to you like a crazy man
without
interruptions.”

Brenna whispered, “Since I’ve turned into a wild woman where you’re concerned, I need to be made love to by a
crazy
man.”

Jase moved the seat back and stretched his legs out. “I assume Chloe left the room?”

“Yeah, she’s upstairs with Davy.” Brenna gave a breathy sigh. “Come home quick, horse rancher.”

“Planning on it. We’re heading home in the morning. We have a couple rooms on the edge of town for tonight and we’re having dinner with my cousin and Velia. Caulder’s hanging around an extra day or two.” He slouched down in the seat and stretched his legs in front of him, and covered his eyes with his arm. “My heart aches for my babies, Bren, but they’re home.” His voice kept fading. “Hey, good luck at the new teacher thing tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” She paused. “Jase?”

He smiled when she whispered his name. “Yeah, honey?”

“Remember you’re marrying me?”

“Yes, I do, pretty lady. I love you.”

***

After breakfast they hit the road. He held the kids all night long, barely able to sleep for fear of waking and finding it was all a dream. Jase glanced to the back seat. “The kids are sleeping. It’s so good to look back there and see them.” He peered at his mom on the passenger side. “Mom, I just can’t believe it.” He shook his head and thumped his fist against his thigh. “She would have Matthew take them…when she was gone. That kills me!”

“You have them now, Jase,” said Judy in a soft voice. “
We
have them now. Not to worry anymore. Let it go.” Judy rested her head against the seat and released a big sigh. “It was a wonderful thing your cousin did. We’ll have to invite him and Velia over. She seems very nice and perfect for him. You boys sure know how to pick beautiful women.”

He laughed to himself and changed lanes to go around a slower vehicle. “Speaking of
beautiful
women, I asked Brenna to marry me.” He glanced over.

Judy peered at him and she had an enormous glow on her face. “Now, son, that doesn’t surprise me at all. I suspected that first night in the parking lot that you two would become…something wonderful.”