Hometown Christmas Gift. Kat Brookes

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      “Only two of you doing everything?” she said, growing wide-eyed beneath the rim of her rhinestone-lined cat’s-eye glasses.

      “It’ll only be for ten or so days,” he assured her. “Then Deputy Mitchell will be back and can take over his share of the extra workload. In the meantime, I’ll see if we can bring in additional help until we’re back to a full crew.”

      She shrugged. “I suppose that’s all we can do for now. Thank the Lord above that Bent Creek is a peace-loving town or we would be in real trouble.”

      Justin offered her a reassuring smile. “If that was an issue, I’d just deputize Jackson here to fill in. He’s good with a rope. Could lasso any criminal who dared to step foot in our little town.”

      The older woman looked his way and Jackson smiled. “If it ever came down to it, I wouldn’t even wait for him to ask. I’d volunteer.” His gaze slid over to Justin. “Because that’s what friends are for. To help each other out in times of need.” And Justin had been there for him plenty of times over the years. Especially after Lucky Shamrock had sent Jackson to the hospital with a crushed leg and fractured hip. Justin was always checking in on him. He’d driven Jackson to countless physical therapy sessions and had picked Jackson up those times depression threatened to claim him.

      “That’s good to know,” the older woman said, sounding a little less harried. Looking to Justin, she said, “I’ll call Kathy and let her know you’ll be stopping by.”

      “Thank you,” Justin said, closing the door behind the older woman’s departing form. Then he turned to Jackson. “This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.”

      “Not so sure Todd had much say-so over the timing,” Jackson pointed out with a small grin, hoping to ease some of his friend’s stress.

      “Maybe not, but the fact remains I’m going to be spending most of my time working.”

      “In other words, nothing’s changed,” he pointed out. His friend was very committed to the position he’d been appointed to and worked long hours already as it was.

      “I had hoped to take a little time off to spend time with Lainie and Lucas, but that won’t be possible now,” Justin said with a heavy sigh.

      “I’m sure she’ll understand.”

      “Maybe so. But Lainie was counting on me to do things with Lucas his father might have done if he were still here. With Todd out of commission, and Deputy Mitchell away on a lengthy vacation, I’m going to have far less time to spend with my nephew. Intentional or not, I’m letting my sister down when she needs me the most.”

      “Maybe your dad can fill in until your schedule frees up a little,” Jackson suggested.

      Justin looked to him. “Dad? You do recall that he’s seventy years old now, with arthritis in both knees.”

      Jackson nodded. Justin and Lainie’s parents had been in their early-to midforties when they’d adopted the orphaned siblings. His friend had been five at the time and Lainie only two, and they had been loved beyond measure by their adoptive parents—the only parents they had ever really known. “I suppose that would make it difficult to play football with Lucas, or to go on hikes with him through the woods.” And all the things they used to do with their fathers as boys.

      “Jackson,” Justin said, meeting his gaze. “You’ve always been like a brother to me. To Lainie as well.”

      Not always, Jackson thought, recalling the kiss. Guilt nudged at him. “I feel the same way.”

      “Glad to hear it,” his friend replied. “Because we need your help.”

      Jackson’s brows arched upward. “My help?” Something told him he didn’t want to hear what the other man had to say.

      “I’m not going to be able to be there for my sister and her son right now,” he said, and Jackson could tell it was tearing him apart. “At least, not like I’d planned to be. But I’m hoping they’ll be able to have the next best thing—you.”

      Me? he thought, feeling the urge to back himself right out of Justin’s office. The last thing Lainie wanted to do was spend time around him. “Justin, you know I would do anything for you. But how am I supposed to help Lainie with her son?”

      “You’re an uncle,” his friend explained. “You’ve had experience with kids.”

      “Limited,” he countered.

      “More than me,” Justin pointed out, effectively winning the debate.

      “Have you forgotten about my bad leg?”

      Justin arched a brow. “You can’t be serious.”

      He was. But not because it would keep him from doing things with Justin’s nephew. It was having Lainie see him limp around on his damaged leg, knowing he could never be the man she’d once been so determined to give her heart to.

      “Look,” his friend said, his tone serious, “if you’re too busy to help me out, or would just prefer not to, just say so. I’ll figure something out. I know you’ve just finished up the rodeo season and you’re probably worn thin.”

      True. He was still recovering from spending weeks on end, traveling from state to state with the broncs he and his brothers had contracted out to various rodeos. But this was his best friend asking for his help. More importantly, Lainie needed it, even if he was fairly certain she wouldn’t want it. And Justin had enough on his plate as it was. He shouldn’t have to be worrying about his sister as well.

      Shoving his own reservations back, Jackson said with a sigh of resignation, “No need to look elsewhere. I’ll do it.”

      Relief swept over the sheriff’s face in the form of a wide smile. “Thanks. I owe you one. My sister’s happiness means the world to me.”

      It meant the world to him, too, but Jackson wasn’t so sure Lainie knew that. Probably for the best, he decided, because they could never go back to the way things were before he’d broken her heart.

       Chapter Two

      “Morning,” Lainie said in greeting as her brother, finally coming in from the night shift he’d had to work, stepped into the kitchen. He was a sight for sore eyes after her trip home and a long, restless night, having cried herself to sleep the night before thanks to an emotional journey.

      “Sis,” Justin replied with an affectionate grin as he crossed the kitchen to where she stood at the stove frying up some bacon. He gave her a warm, welcoming bear hug and then released her as he took a step back. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here with you last night.”

      She shrugged. “Life doesn’t always work out the way we plan for it to.” She knew that better than anyone. “Besides, Lucas and I were both spent. We went to bed early. Thank you for keeping me updated though. Sounds like things are more than a little bit crazy at work for you right now.” He’d called her the evening before to explain what had happened and to let her know СКАЧАТЬ