Emma's Treasures (13 page)

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“Did you get ’em?”

“Yeah, but I hit his chest. Son o’ bitch moved on me.”

“Here, let me try.”

“You haven’t shot a rifle in years, better let me try again.”

“Hell no, you had your shot. It’s my turn.”

“Well, if you’re gonna cry about it!” he said, handing his brother the rifle. “Better make it count, ’cause we gotta head back.”

“I’m not crying about it. I just want my turn. And for your information, I could always shoot better than you.”

“Yeah, well, that’s still debatable. Just shoot the bastard and let’s get back.” He got up to give his brother some room. Stepping back a couple of paces, he watched as his brother got into the prone position, leveled his scope and took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.

“Doc, can I have some ice cream now?”

In the weeks that followed, things seemed to settle down at the ranch, but Emma wished she could say the same for the town. Once word got around that a single person controlled the town Charter, those affected were in an uproar. All the neighboring ranches and some select businesses in town began searching for this lone person. Everyone had their own suspicions, but nothing was concrete.

Her father, Matthew Jenkins, decided to relocate back to Treasure Cove after more than one of the ranchers hired him to investigate the town’s Charter, which infuriated Doc. It was nice having them both around, but Emma began to suspect the main reason Matthew moved back to Treasure Cove was because of Macie. Her suspicions were confirmed when the bickering between the two of them was taken to a whole new level when Matthew punched Doc in the face at Macie’s Diner over a parking spot. Poor Macie was livid and embarrassed, banning the both of them forever, and an angry Braxton had to arrest both of them. They continued to fight all the way to the jail, where they had to be separated.

Kelly kept coming over to continue therapy, but eventually it was more to talk about the infamous Daniel Meyer, a young navy sailor who, along with other members from his team, Kelly was helping acclimate back into civilian life. It was hard for Kelly, because these men refused to talk, but lately some of them had begun to open up, except for Daniel. Kelly was determined to get through to Daniel, and nothing was going to stop her.

As for Emma and the boys, well, things went back to normal after Kyle was killed. It was later confirmed that Kyle had indeed been the biological son of Glenn McKenzie, but that was it. As for Glenn being the son of Patrick McKenzie, it turned out that Old Man McKenzie never did father Glenn. Authorities down in Denver were able to locate Glenn’s mother, who just happened to be alive and well, living in a nursing home. She confirmed that yes, she had had an affair with Patrick, but she was already pregnant with Glenn by then.

Life on the ranch continued on. Travis still insisted that Emma and Tabitha be watched at all times, and so far Emma was going along with it, because she knew that until Travis found out who controlled the Charter, he believed that Tabitha and she were in some sort of danger. It caused a lot of fights between them, but eventually Emma conceded. The boys tried on several occasions to get her to talk about what had happened at the pond several years ago, but Emma decided to put it out of her mind. She knew what had happened, she had lived it, but she chose not to allow it to control her life. It was in the past, and she couldn’t change it, so she moved on.

Of course, Kelly told her that it wasn’t healthy, but Emma figured there was nothing she could do to change it, so she accepted it. It wasn’t easy at first—the nightmares of watching Kyle die still haunted her—but it was the knowledge that he was no longer around that brought her the closure she needed. The boys were also a big help, though she wouldn’t tell them that. It was the way they gave her space and comfort that allowed her to move past everything, and now she felt relaxed, happy with herself and where she was in her life.

She was sitting on the front porch holding an envelope in her hands when Tucker and Tate rode up. She loved watching her men ride. They were all like something out of an old Western movie, strong and powerful, as they rode to defend what was theirs, but her concentration was on the envelope. She had known eventually it would come, and then all their fears would be put to rest. She just hadn’t had the courage to open it and look.

“Hey, purty lady, I must say you look scrumptious today,” Tucker said, smiling.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“What ya doin’ out here?” Tate asked, tying his horse to the porch rail.

“Thinking,” she whispered. Emma looked up just as Tate sat next to her and Tucker bent down in front, rubbing her legs. “Mail came today. I went and got it. Just a bunch of junk, except this,” she said, grasping the envelope tightly.

“What is it?” Tate asked.

“It’s from a lab in Denver. It’s the paternity test for Tabitha,” she advised them both.

“Ah, I see. Have you opened it yet?” Tate asked, putting his arm around her shoulders. Emma shook her head no, and leaned into Tate, wanting the reassurance. “Tuck, better call Travis in. We should all be here to hear the news,” Tate said and watched as his brother grabbed his phone out of his jeans.

“It doesn’t fucking matter. Tabby is ours,” Tucker shouted, but did what Tate told him and made the call as he told Travis the news.

The wait seemed like forever as she watched Tucker pace back and forth. Tate stayed next to her, just holding her. About five minutes later, she looked up when she heard the beat of hooves on the ground. She never got tired of seeing her strong man coming toward her. Travis was a sight, and today he looked stronger than ever. Always in control, he never let her down, and, true to form, he took charge. Dismounting, he walked over to her. “Open it, Emma. No sense in beating around the bush.”

Emma looked to Tucker, who took position next to his brother. She then felt Tate remove his arm, and watched him stand on the opposite side of Travis. There they were, the three loves of her life, and in her hands, the envelope that held the hopes of her future. She knew either way none of the boys would ever leave her, and she would never leave them.

They had told her several times, they didn’t care who fathered Tabitha. Tabitha was theirs, but Emma had to know, needed to know, to finally close the book on that horrible chapter.

The brothers watched as Emma slowly opened the white envelope. They watched as she removed three sheets of paper and began to read quietly to herself. When she was finished, she folded the papers and placed them back into the envelope, reached into her pocket, and produced a lighter. They began to get nervous when her thumb flicked the lighter and she set the envelope on fire. She dropped the envelope at their feet, stood up and smiled. “I haven’t started dinner yet. What do ya’ll say we go get Tabitha early from school and go out to dinner tonight? I feel like celebrating.”

THE END

Rebecca Joyce is your typical housewife and mother. The daughter of a retired military service member, Rebecca tries to incorporate the sights, smells, and adventures of her travels, but mainly she writes of the buff, gorgeous men she drooled after in her teen years!
There is just somethin’ about a man in uniform…WOW!

Growing up in the military, Rebecca Joyce, along with her family, moved from state to state, enjoying the never-ending game of “Where are we moving to next?”…which happened every two to three years! After high school, Rebecca met and married her own military service member and now devotes her time to her husband and children.

Her ‘spawns,’ as she lovingly calls them, demand and expect a lot of her attention. When she is not catering to the whims of her family, Rebecca spends her quiet time reading or writing.

As an avid reader from an early age, Rebecca decided to try her hand at writing while her husband was away on a deployment to pass the time. Since then, she finds time in her hectic day to scribble her hopes, wishes, and dreams.

Though her
real
life sometimes interferes with her
imaginative
life, Rebecca tries to balance each with wit, sarcasm, and humor… “Screwing up takes practice…I think I’m well rehearsed!”

Rebecca Joyce currently lives in the United States with her husband of eighteen years and their three children.

For all titles by Rebecca Joyce, please visit

www.bookstrand.com/rebecca-joyce