Joline's Redemption (27 page)

“I'm truly sorry, Baron. I was never close to Lara, but I would miss her if she were gone. I was more like Mark as a child, refusing to do what my sister asked. Grandpa was the only one who could get me to obey, and even then I often did it begrudgingly.”

“I suppose you do know how I feel.” He smiled softly. “And I wish I could have known that ornery little girl.”

“Trust me, you're better off not having witnessed how dreadfully I behaved.” She glanced out the door. “I need to be going. I didn't tell Lara I was leaving.”

“Ah … still the wild child. Well, not a child but … you know.”

“I'm trying to change, but it's hard.”

He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Don't change too much. I rather like the woman you are now.”

Her pretty eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly. Once again, the thought to kiss her overwhelmed him. He stared at her lips, and when she licked them, his pulse tripled its pace.

Then reason returned. “Ah … I was wondering.” He cleared his throat, hoping to get rid of the huskiness. “Now that Mark is gone, Jamie is the only connection my parents have to him. I think it would bless them greatly to know he has a son. Would you be willing to let them meet Jamie?”

Jo's face instantly paled. “You can't ask that of me. What if—No! I can't do that.”

As Jack walked out of the barn with Gabe, he couldn't help feeling a bit envious. This spread was the kind he always dreamed of owning. But he'd made too many bad choices in his life, and now he had few worldly goods to show for it. The only smart thing he'd done was to realize his need for God and to ask Him into his heart.

Helping the Beatty boys had felt good, too. He hadn't failed them, at least. He muttered a quick prayer for their health and happiness and for the couple that took them in.

“So, what are your plans now?” Gabe rested his arms on the top rung of the corral fence. A black horse with a white diamond on his face moseyed in their direction and nibbled some fresh grass below the fence. Gabe reached through the rungs and scratched the gelding's neck.

Jack lifted his foot to the bottom rail and rested his arms on the top one. “I don't know. Part of me thinks I should go back to Glen Haven”—
and fight for my job
—“but another part doesn't.” And then there was Cora. He missed her, but did he miss her enough that he should return and court her? Maybe he was just scared. He'd been moving around since he left home, and setting down roots somewhere seemed so—permanent.

“What? No woman in the picture?”

Jack's gaze zipped to Gabe's. Had the man read his thoughts? “There is. I just can't decide how I feel about her.”

“I remember feeling the same with your sister.”

“How did you decide she was the one you should marry?”

Gabe's eyes took on a dreamy look, and his lips turned upward in the smile of a man in love. “When I couldn't stop thinking about her—couldn't stop worrying over her welfare. Of course, that happened just a week or two after I met Lara.”

Jack's heart warmed, glad that Lara had married a good man who cared so much for her. “She always was a sweet girl. Always trying so hard to keep the family together, even when she was small.” Jack shook his head. “I must have broken her heart when I left. Lookin' back, I feel bad about that.”

“I can tell you that she never stopped searching for you or praying you'd come home one day. You've made her very happy by doing that.” Gabe tightened his lips. “I hope you stick around for a while. In fact, if you'd like to live here, we have room. I can't pay a lot, but you'd have food, shelter, and family.”

“A man couldn't ask for much more than that.” But the issue of Cora still remained. He actually missed her. That thought surprised him. Now that he'd found his sisters and Grandpa, he was hesitant to leave. He'd missed them all so much and never thought he'd get to see them again. The fact that he had was a special blessing from God.

He thought of Jo and how she'd gone upstairs yesterday evening after supper and hadn't joined the rest of the family in the parlor. She was hiding something. Jack had a feeling she might need him. “I guess I should spend some time in prayer and see what the good Lord wants me to do.”

“Always a wise thing to do. I noticed that mount of yours looks like he oughta be turned out to pasture. Help yourself to any of the horses in the barn or corral if you'd like to ride out and spend some time alone. With a houseful of women and young'uns, I sometimes do that.”

“Good idea. I enjoy takin' a ride on a pretty day and prayin'. Of course, I'd like to help you, too. Earn my keep.”

“There's no rush on that. Spend some time with your sisters.”

Gabe pushed away from the fence. “Like I said, take your pick of the horses—all except for the black here. His name is Tempest, and he's my mount.” The horse lifted his head at hearing his name.

“Thanks.”

Gabe slapped Jack on the shoulder. “I'll be praying God shows you what to do.”

“I appreciate that.”

Jack watched his brother-in-law walk away, tall and confident. Lara had married a fine man, but what about Jo? She'd said her husband was gone, but did that mean he was dead or merely away on a trip?

He turned and walked back to the barn, ready for a long talk with his Maker. Something about Jo bothered him, but he didn't know what it was. Maybe she needed his prayers.

He saddled a gray gelding then turned the horse toward Guthrie—the same direction he'd seen Jo ride out over an hour ago.

J
o hurried out the back door of the store. She couldn't believe Baron would almost kiss her—not that she'd let him—and then pull away to ask something so difficult of her. If his parents met Jamie and learned he was Mark's son, they'd want to see him all the time. And if she left town as she planned, it would break their hearts. It was better they didn't know about him at all.

“Jo! Wait. Please.” Baron rushed after her and stopped her with his hand to her arm. “I know what I'm asking isn't easy. But think of my parents and their loss. Jamie—”

“Jamie is not a bartering tool. He's my son.”

“And my nephew—and my parents' only grandchild. He's all they have left of Mark.”

For a split second she wavered. Would it be so bad for Jamie to have a grandmother to love him?

But she wasn't staying. And their leaving would only bring his parents more grief. She shook her head. “I can't.”

Baron dropped his hand, his gaze narrowed. “Why not?”

What could she say to appease him?

“Jo—”

She held up her hand. “Your parents would want nothing to do with Jamie if they knew where he was raised. You talk about scandal.”

“What?” He frowned. “I don't understand.”

“Never mind. I have to get back.”

She rushed down the steps, but he continued to follow her.

“You can't make a statement like that and then run off.”

She spun around. “I don't owe you an explanation of my past.”

He held up his hands. “You're right, of course. But I beg you to reconsider. My parents are getting older, they're hurting, and knowing about Jamie would breathe new life into them.”

“And what's in this for Jamie?” She crossed her arms.

“Think about it. My parents are wealthy. Father owns dozens of stores in various cities. I imagine Mark's half of our inheritance would belong to Jamie.”

Jo hadn't considered that, but she wouldn't sell out her son for money. “But in return, they'd want Jamie to be part of their lives.” She shook her head. “It wouldn't work. I'm headed west, not east.”

Baron's forehead crinkled. “West? What do you mean?”

Jo suddenly realized he'd gotten her so flustered she'd blurted out more than she intended. “I have to go.”

She started for the barn again, but he ran past her and blocked the way. “You're leaving? Why? I know your sister would let you stay with her.”

It seemed there was no way to make Baron understand unless she told him the awful truth. And he'd hate her when he knew. That thought saddened her. At some point, she'd started to like Baron Hillborne, and the idea of never seeing him again left her feeling hollow. No matter. He'd soon be done with her and Jamie.

“I can't stay here. There's someone who is after me—and Sarah.”

“A man?”

Jo nodded. “His name is Badger. And he runs …” The starch fled her shoulders. Telling him was so much harder than she had expected. She didn't want him to despise her. She wanted what she could never have—him. The sudden thought surprised her.

He took hold of her hand. “Tell me who he is. I can protect you and Jamie.”

Tears burned her eyes. “No. You can't. You won't want to once you know the truth.”

“Then tell me. And let me be the judge.”

And he would. He'd judge her just like everyone else who knew the truth. It was best to get this over with. She lifted her chin. “Jamie spent the first year of his life in a bordello.”

Baron frowned. “I don't understand.”

“You truly don't—or you don't want to?” Anger burned through her. “When Mark left me alone and pregnant, I had nowhere to go. I stayed at the house you're living in for a few weeks, until I was out of food. I knew I had to leave—and I wasn't about to go crawling back to Lara's, although in hindsight, I wish I had.”

“What happened?”

“I met Badger—a charming man like Mark. He wanted a wife and family and offered to marry me. He said he would take care of me.” She bit her lower lip and looked away. She'd been such a fool. So desperate that she'd listened to another deceiving snake charmer. “He didn't marry me, but he did take me home with him.” She looked Baron full in the eyes so he'd have no doubts. “He took me to his bordello—the whorehouse he ran—where I've lived for the past year, until I managed to escape.”

Baron's mouth dropped, and his eyes widened. Jo couldn't bear to see the look of disgust she knew would come, so she turned and ran past the barn to her horse. She mounted quickly and trotted down the alley.

Baron didn't follow or call out this time.

Baron couldn't have chased after Jo if he wanted to, because his body felt frozen in place. Numb to the core. Had she meant what she said about living at a bord—the thought was too horrible to even consider.

It certainly would explain her secretiveness.

He leaned against the back porch railing. Disgusted at the thought of her in such a place. No respectable woman—

Baron gritted his teeth. Mark had done this to her. What a maggot his brother was. Deceiving Jo. Getting her pregnant—and then leaving her alone with no means of support. If Mark hadn't lied and tricked Jo into thinking they were married, she wouldn't be in such a fix. And who was this hooligan who was looking for her?

Baron bent forward, resting his head on the rail. So many emotions swarmed him that he didn't know what to do. He wanted to chase after her again, but he couldn't ignore everything she'd told him. Not only had she been with his brother, but other men, too. His stomach swirled. Thank God he hadn't told his parents about her and Jamie. Talk about a scandal.

Guilt riddled him as if he'd been shot a dozen times. The pain of it made his heart clench. He hadn't realized that he was so attracted to Jo. He thought himself gallant for offering her a job when he didn't really need the help. But she had neglected to tell him that the money she made would take her and Jamie away. More than likely, he would never see his darling nephew again, especially now.

He dropped onto the top porch step and sat with his elbows on his knees. What a mess this whole situation was.

He'd vowed long ago to never fall for one of Mark's castoffs, but then Jo came into his life and slipped under his guard. Sure, he was attracted to her because of her beauty and spunkiness. But she'd proven to be a hard worker at the store and a loving mother to her son. She and Jamie had stolen part of his heart, but he couldn't—wouldn't—court a woman who'd given herself to other men. It was unconscionable. Unscriptural.