“Walk?” he asked.

“You would have made a good father, Waylon,” Kate said when they were fifty yards down the edge of the creek.

“Thank you. I like kids, but like I said before, I wasn’t ready when the time was right, and now the time has passed.”

“You really think so?” She pulled off her sandals and set them on the edge of the quilt. “With the right woman, you could still have a houseful of kids.”

“I can’t imagine that. I think I’ll just enjoy Lisa and Gracie and be their surrogate uncle. Are you fixin’ to wade in the water?”

“I am.” She nodded.

“It’s been years since I’ve got my feet wet in the creek.” He tugged off his boots and socks, rolled up the legs of his jeans, and took her hand in his. “Shall we step off into it together?”

“One. Two. Three.” She counted and then put her foot in the water. “Sweet Lord, Waylon! That water is really icy. How did those kids stand it so long?”

“They were hopping around and having such a good time that they didn’t even notice.” He chuckled. “This little creek is always clear and cold. It will cool you right down.”

“I am definitely a tenderfoot.” She moaned as she took baby steps into the water.

“Not any more than I am. I haven’t gone barefoot in years. I have a big favor to ask,” he said.

“Yes, you can kiss me.” He tipped her chin up with his fist, and she looked deeply into his eyes. Her hands snaked up around his neck, and the temperature of the cold water around her calves felt as if it shot up forty degrees.

By the time the kiss ended, Kate was sure the water was boiling. No one had ever made her feel like he did. Timing was wrong, right along with everything else, but she liked this detective—a hell of a lot.

“I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.” He smiled. “The favor is that when this is really settled, you’ll go out with me.”

“Like on dates? Even if I’m in Fort Worth? A long-distance dating thing?” she asked.

“Sounds crazy, but we might make it work,” he said.

“Everything else in our world has been crazy this summer, hasn’t it, so why not?” she said.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Kate envied Jamie the right to carry a sleeping Gracie into the house that Monday evening. She took in her backpack and watched Jamie strip her out of her clothing and tuck her between the sheets in nothing but her underpants.

“Wine?” Kate asked.

“Love some.” Jamie nodded.

When they reached the kitchen, Kate got two glasses and Jamie opened the refrigerator for the wine.

“Paul?” Kate asked as Jamie poured.

“Waylon?” Jamie raised an eyebrow.

“I could like him, but long-distance relationships don’t always fare so well,” Kate answered. “You, on the other hand, will be living right here in the same town with Paul. He is handsome, he’s honest, and he’s a sweet guy and a great father.”

“It’s only two hours from here to Fort Worth.” Jamie led the way to the deck.

“But how far is it to Huntsville or whatever prison I could end up in?” Kate asked.

A whimper made them both forget their conversation.

Kate quickly crossed the deck to the far side. “Amanda? What’s wrong? Did you get a bad report at the doctor’s?”

“No,” she sobbed.

“Is it your aunt?” Jamie pulled a chair across the wooden floor to sit beside her.

“No, it’s a girl.”

“What girl? Who did something to make you cry?” Kate sat down on the end of the chaise lounge.

If someone had hurt Amanda’s feelings, then they’d better get ready for a fight with Kate. Amanda was naïve, but she was pregnant and her hormones were all out of balance and she sure didn’t need extra stress.

“The baby is a girl, not a boy, and I wanted a girl. I don’t know anything about boys, and now I feel guilty because I didn’t want a boy.” Amanda blew her nose loudly, tossed the tissue into the trash, and reached for another one. “I’m a mess all over again.”

“Gracie will be so excited,” Kate said.

“I know, but I’d made up my mind to love a little boy and to work hard and not let him be like his father, and now I don’t even know how to put it in words.” Amanda dabbed at her eyes. “God answered my prayers and all I can do is cry.”

Jamie laid a hand on her knee. “That’s what pregnant women do in the last couple of weeks. Don’t feel guilty.”

“Are they sure it’s a girl?” Kate wanted to do her version of Gracie’s happy dance.

“She showed us very plainly that she is a girl and she has a lot of hair and she’s gorgeous.” Amanda nodded. “Are you sure all this is normal, Jamie? Did you cry and cook all the time?”

“I did both and cleaned closets,” Jamie answered.

“Her name is Rachel,” Amanda said.

“That’s pretty,” Kate told her.

Rachel and Gracie. The two names were perfect for a couple of sisters.

“I’m glad we’re changing our names tomorrow. I want her to be a Hilton from the day she’s born, and I’m not putting a father on her birth certificate.” Amanda tipped her chin up in a determined gesture. “Tell me about your day. No, don’t, or I’ll get all weepy because I couldn’t be there.”

A phone rang.

Jamie checked hers and shook her head. Amanda picked hers up from the arm of the lounge and shook her head.

Kate didn’t recognize the tone or the number, but it was definitely her phone.

“Hello,” she answered.

“I’m so glad you answered, Mrs. Steele. The judge who will be presiding over the cases of you and two other women and a child has had a family emergency. The only time he can see you will be at eight o’clock in the morning. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, and if you want to reschedule, we can do that. We have a date open four weeks from tomorrow or on out past that,” a woman said.

Kate glanced at Amanda and made a snap decision. “We will be there. How long will it take in the courthouse?”

“Fifteen minutes if he agrees. Longer if you have to talk him into it,” the lady answered. “We just learned of the emergency. Sorry I couldn’t give you more time.”

“It can’t be helped, I’m sure. Have a nice evening,” Kate said.

“What can’t be helped?” Amanda asked.

“We’re going to Dallas tonight. Instead of seeing the judge at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon, we’re seeing him at eight in the morning. With the traffic in the downtown area, we’d have to leave a three o’clock in the morning, so we might as well drive down to my house and spend the night there,” Kate said.

“You’ve got to be joking.” Amanda groaned.

“I have a perfectly good house! I’ll arrange for a car to take us to and from the courthouse so none of us have to drive. We’ll take my car down there. Just pack a bag and we might even have time for a swim before we go to bed,” Kate said.

“Are you sure?” Jamie downed the rest of her wine.

“Very, and pack your bathing suits. Gracie will probably wake up on the way, and I’m sure she’ll love a swim.”

Amanda smiled for the first time that evening. “Me, too! I love to swim and I’ve got a maternity bathing suit. This will be a real treat. Thank you.”

“Living in Bootleg is one thing. This will be in the middle of all your neighbors,” Jamie said.

“So? Are you ashamed to be seen with me?” Kate teased.

“Hell, no!” Jamie answered. “I was thinking it might run the other way.”

“Hell, no!” Kate echoed with a grin. “Let’s get ready and go take care of business. I’ll call for takeout food on the way. Y’all decide what you want.”

“Sounds fine to me,” Amanda said.

Gracie didn’t wake up until they were on the outskirts of Fort Worth and had barely gotten her eyes open when Kate parked in the garage of a big two-story stone house. “Is this a castle?” she whispered.