Scott's hard-booted stride splattered more mud around as he stormed straight toward Alyx.
“You,”
he roared, pointing a finger, his face dark red with anger, “are about to get your ass handcuffed, too.”
Mocking him, Alyx cocked out a hip and asked, “Can you handcuff an ass? How clever.”
Scott's eyes widened more, and his color deepened to near purple. Issuing an animal sound of rage, he ran a hand through his muddy hair, knotted his fingers, and pulled. He turned his furious attention to Joe. “She hit me. She knocked me into the damn mud.”
“You were in my way,” Alyx explained with preposterous calm. “And besides, how was I supposed to know you're a deputy?”
Bryan hauled Bruno to his feet, surveyed both Alyx and Scott, and laughed. When everyone looked at him, he laughed some more. “Never a dull moment around here, is there, Winston?”
Scott's jaw clenched so tight, it appeared his teeth might crack. He glared at Alyx and bellowed, “The sirens? The lights on the car? My uniform? What the hell did you think, that I'm a freakin' Boy Scout?”
Alyx smiled and even dared to smooth a hand over his mud-caked uniform shirt. “As soon as I noticed the uniform, I stopped fighting.”
Scott was unappeased. He caught her wrist and flattened her hand on his chest. “Not before bloodying my lip.” He thrust his chin toward her, showing the lip that was now swelling.
Alyx stared at his mouth. “Ah, poor baby got a boo-boo?”
Snarling, Scott hauled her up against his chest. Luna wasn't at all sure if he planned to kiss her or choke her.
She decided someone should regain control before more blood was shed, and it might as well be her. “Scott, I really hate to interrupt this tirade, but can you call for some backup or something? I need to check on the kids and I have to thank Jamie for his help, but I want these idiots gone first, before one of them hurts Joe.”
Silence fell everywhere. Even the wet trees seemed to stop dripping. The crickets all hushed. No one breathed. As if in slow motion, Joe pivoted around to glare at her in incredulous wonder. “Hurt
me?”
Luna looked up at him. His blue eyes, now filled with indignation, were bright and compelling in the remaining drab daylight. His black hair hung limp over his brow and his slightly crooked nose had mud across the bridge. He was by far the most beautiful man, inside and out, that she'd ever known.
She didn't mean to say it. If she hadn't been so emotionally rattled, so fearfully overwrought, she
wouldn't
have said it. But her heart still ached and her stomach still twisted in knots and the residual fear hadn't yet abated. Before she knew it, the words just tumbled out on their own. “I love you, you big lug, so I don't want to chance it.”
Joe's mouth opened, ready with more arguments, then abruptly snapped shut. His brows lifted high and he rocked back on his heels. “What the hell did you say?”
Appalled at the unmeasured words that had left her mouth, and his demanding response, Luna shook her head.
“Luna?” Joe's voice dropped to that familiar, sensual drawl she'd come to recognize whenever he felt amorous. How he could feel amorous now, she couldn't fathom.
“Oh, no.” Luna shook her head again, feeling like a complete and utter idiot. “I'm not saying it again, so forget it.”
Alyx clapped her hands. “Well, I heard her plain as day the first time. She said she loves you. Hallelujah. Finally I'll have a sister-in-law, and a good one, too.”
Luna knew she'd just made an utter fool of herself. Not once had she ever told a man that she loved him, and here she'd gone and shouted it at Joe. And not in private, as would be appropriate for a declaration of love, but with an unruly audience of friends, family and reprobates. Her face grew hot until she realized Joe was the only one paying her any mind.
Both Scott and Bryan gave their undivided attention to Alyx, watching her with the same wary regard they might have afforded a beautiful but deadly viper.
Laughing, Alyx shooed them. “Come on, boys, let's get busy. No time to stand around in idle chitchat. Scott, did you call for another car? I think you're going to need it since it looks like Joe has two miscreants this time. And while they both look very disreputable, I wouldn't sentence them to the backseat with Amelia.” She shuddered in exaggerated dread. “Heaven forbid such a fate.”
“I know what I'm doing,” Scott snapped.
Alyx nodded. “Great. I'll take that to mean another car is on the way. Thank you.”
“Don't thank me for doing my damn job.”
“Men get so surly when they're agitated.” Alyx turned to Bryan Kelly and held out a hand. “Bryan? Nice to meet you. My, you're a big one, too, huh?” She didn't give him a chance to reply. “Would you like to haul one of these fellows up front? That's a good man. We'll be all organized in no time.”
Fascinated, Luna watched Alyx quickly prod both men into doing her bidding. “She's dangerous.”
Joe pulled Luna close and nuzzled her ear. “So are you, sweetheart. I think you stopped my heart with that damned announcement of yours.”
Luna burrowed closer, loving his scent, his warmth and his strength. “What declaration?” she asked, which made Joe laugh. There'd be no denying it now, but at least he wasn't pushing her in front of everyone.
Scott cleared his throat. “Damn, Joe, much as I hate to interrupt this tender moment you're indulging in, in the middle of the carnage, we need to talk.”
Alyx hooked her arm through his. “About what?”
Scott ignored her, but he didn't free himself from her hold. He just pretended she wasn't there. “You've got Quincy beat to a pulp, this other fellow hog-tied, and a muddy cat fight to explain.”
“In a nutshell, Quincy was caught breaking into the shed. He swung first, so I hit back.”
“That's a lie!”
“I'm a witness,” Bryan volunteered, interrupting Quincy's denials. “I can testify that Winston acted in self-defense after he confronted Quincy trying to pry his shed door open.”
Luna nodded. “Me, too.”
Quincy whined, “I need a damn ambulance. I think my nose is broke.”
Scott rubbed his eyes tiredly, then removed handcuffs from his belt and snapped them onto Quincy's wrists. “There's an ambulance on the way. They can look you over before I haul you off to jail.”
“You'll need to pick up Dinah Belle, too. She was working with Quincy to set up all the little mishaps and vandalism.”
Scott hung his head and groaned. “All right. I'll see to it.” He stabbed Joe with a meaningful look of disgust. “Looks like the jail is going to be damn crowded tonight.”
Bruno made a few muffled sounds through his gag, but Bryan said, “I've got this under control. His wound is superficial. He'll liveâwhich is a damn shame.”
Scott scowled. “I really hate to inquire, but just who the hell are you?”
Bryan flashed his badge, then handed Scott an authorization to arrest order. “Joe manhandled him, not me.” His smile was not a nice thing. “I'm playing by the rules so there won't be any slipups.”
“If that's so, then get that damn gag off him.”
“Soon as I have him alone,” Bryan promised, then he began prodding Bruno toward the front of the house. The big man had to take tiny steps with the cords still around his ankles. “I'll need a lift to my car so I can transport Bruno back. But we'll wait up front. I have a few things to say to him.” Bruno didn't like that idea, given the way he fought Bryan, but he got taken around front all the same.
“This is a nightmare,” Scott groaned. “All that's left to figure out is the cat fight.”
Alyx chuckled and hugged Scott's arm to her breasts, rendering him mute.
Joe made a gruff sound of exasperation. “Damn it, Alyx, turn him loose and behave. Here, Scott, you can have Bruno's rifle. And, Quincy, quit your damn sniveling.” He glared at Scott. “I want Luna to change out of her wet clothes before we do any more talking. And God help me, I need some aspirin and ice. I'm definitely too old for this shit.”
Scott looked as though he would refuse, then he threw up his hands. “Yeah, sure, what the hell.” He stared down at Alyx for a long moment, scowled darkly, and finally muttered, “I'm in no hurry.”
They turned around and almost ran into Jamie Creed. His deep, intelligent brown eyes seemed to take in the entire scene without really moving. There was no smile on his face, no discernible expression at all.
The stormy breeze opened Jamie's well-worn flannel and molded a gray T-shirt to his hard abdomen. His hair was loose, hanging to his shoulders. Willow and Austin flanked him, their expressions uncertain.
Jamie nudged them forward with a hand at their backs. “Go on now, and remember what I told you.”
The kids nodded.
Jamie studied Luna a moment. He tipped his head and said with sage consequence, “Everything's going to be okay now.”
“Here we go,” Joe muttered.
Luna shushed him before turning hopeful eyes on Jamie. She needed a promising boost right about now. “You really think so, Jamie?” She glanced at Joe.
“Everything?”
“Yes. You can quit your worrying.”
Alyx whispered, “I feel a swoon coming on,” and she leaned into Scott for support.
Joe scowled. He brought Luna's face around to his with a fist beneath her chin. “I tell you not to worry, but do you listen to me? Hell no.” He glared down at her, taut with irritation. “Yet some strange character drags down off a mountain, and you hang on his every damn word.”
“Joe!” Luna worried that he'd insult Jamie.
Joe had no such qualms. “I swear, Luna, if you tell me you believe Jamie's mumbo jumbo when you won't believe me, I'll . . .”
Luna waited, but the threat remained unspoken. “You'll what?”
Joe stared at her a moment more, then kissed her hard. “I don't know. I'll think of something.”
Snickering, Alyx said, “Maybe Jamie just has more influence with the ladies than you do, Joe.”
“Good God.” Scott rolled his eyes and forced Alyx to stand on her own. “I could have guessed you'd buy into that nonsense, too. Hell, half the women in town are in love with Jamie Creed. They've got him built up to be some mysterious and ethereal romantic figure, and Jamie, damn him, drifts in and out of town just often enough to keep that impression thriving.”
“It doesn't hurt that he's tall, dark, and handsome,” Alyx teased, but when she turned to give her flirting comments directly to Jamie, he was gone. “Hey, where'd he go?” There was no sign of him anywhere.
Willow looked behind her, frowned and shrugged. “I don't know. He was right here just a second ago.”
Luna stared around in wonder. “Wow, he's really good at that disappearing stuff.”
“He'll show back up,” Scott grumbled, and Joe muttered, “Unfortunately.”
“I think you're both jealous,” Luna told them, which immediately incited grave indignation.
“Maybe he went around front.” Alyx started in that direction, toting Scott along with her. He bellyached, but he followed, which meant Quincy had to follow since Scott had the key to the handcuffs.
Willow sidled up to Luna. Her eyes were huge and dark. “Are you both okay?”
“We're fine, honey.” Guilt hit Luna. “I'm so sorry I left you alone. That wasn't right, and I just didn't really thinkâ”
“I'll say you didn't.” Joe put his arm around Luna, softening his censure, and herded everyone toward the back door. “You should have stayed inside.”
Willow looked at Joe, then at Luna. “She couldn't. She loves you, so of course she couldn't leave you out there alone. That's what Jamie said.”
“He did, huh?” For once, Joe didn't fuss over Jamie's perception.
Luna stroked Willow's long fair hair. “I love you and Austin, too, you know. I hope you weren't too scared.”
Surprisingly, Willow smiled. “We were fine. You made sure we were inside with all the doors locked, and I'd already called Deputy Royal. We were safe.”
Realizing that Willow, rather than being upset, was comforting and reassuring her, Luna blinked. “You believe that I love you?”
“Yes. Jamie said you were very loving, and that he knew you were here to stay, that you'd never leave us.”
Joe growled, but didn't say anything.
Skipping, Austin moved in front of Joe and continued backing toward the house. “Jamie said you were staying, too, Joe. He said things were on their way to being set right, thanks to you, and that now you wouldn't want to leave.”