CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Hope was only doing a short shift at the bar, so when she was done, she met Mikey at the McBride house for another photography lesson. Tonight she and John were doing some more shots at sunset. Ethan was flying them into a location they’d found.
“Hey, Branna.”
Dressed in cutoffs and a loose cotton top, Branna McBride looked relaxed and beautiful. Rose was rested on one hip, dressed in a pink dress, her hair in two pigtails on top of her head.
“Hi, Hope.”
They were standing on the deck of the long, low log cabin Jake had built. Hope was tickling the little girl under the chin when Jake walked out with scruffy hair and worn clothes. He moved to stand at his wife’s back. It was instinctive, Hope realized. Their love had them gravitating to each other.
“Can I take a few shots of you three?”
“Sure,” Jake said.
“Mikey, come here.”
The boy ambled over, and soon she had him taking the pictures. He snapped off several, then she did a few. It really was a beautiful setting with the redwoods in the background.
“Can we see?”
“You show them, Mikey. I’m going to have a look around for a good location for your next lesson.”
She walked off the steps and slowly navigated the house, then wandered down to the barn. It was as she reached it that she heard cars. Cubby’s cruiser was followed by Newman’s Jeep.
Her first thought was to keep walking, but that would be rude as she’d seen them. And while she did rude, she tried not to do it too much here in her hometown.
“Hey, Sheriff.”
“Hope. I need to talk with you, if you have the time?”
He looked serious, his blue eyes intent as they focused on her. Newman had got out of his car and moved to her side.
“What’s happened?”
“Let’s take this somewhere quiet.”
She nodded.
“What’s up, Cubby?”
“I need to talk to Hope for a bit, Jake. You all good if I do that in the barn?”
“Sure.” Jake looked curious, but he didn’t say anything. “I’ll put the coffee on, you come on up to the house after.”
“Will do.”
Hope followed Cubby to the barn with Newman on their heels.
“Does this concern you too?”
“Nope, but Cubby filled me in.” His face was serious, which only increased her tension.
They entered the large space, and she saw cars and tools. Stopping just inside the door, she folded her arms over her chest and waited.
“There’s been a few incidents at the Wildlife headquarters. Last night someone broke in and stole two cameras. And Casey Rae Linear is laying the blame at your feet.”
The shock had her staying silent as Cubby elaborated. He told her everything he knew, and beside him, Newman stood silently with his eyes on her.
“And you believe I did this?” She looked at him.
“No!” The word exploded from Newman with so much force Hope couldn’t help but believe him.
“Thanks.” It meant a lot to her that he believed her.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you did it either, Hope,” Cubby said. “But I have to follow this through as I’m the sheriff.”
“Of course, Cubby. I understand that. But I didn’t do it.”
“Can anyone verify where you were last night?”
“Only my mom. But I went to bed early, just after nine.”
“Good, okay, that’s a help.” Cubby got out his notebook and scribbled as she talked, and answered the questions he asked her.
“Right, that’s it for now. I’m going to try and solve this as soon as I can, but don’t leave town before I do.”
“I won’t. I guess because Casey never liked me, and after what happened between us just the other day, this is personal now too. There’s also this business with John Finch, and me saying I’m looking at challenging Wildlife for what they did to me.”
Cubby nodded. “Newman filled me in on that conversation, and the rest of the stuff.”
They left the barn then, and headed up to the house, where the McBrides were awaiting them with Mikey on the deck. She took a chair, suddenly exhausted.
“You okay?”
“Trying to be,” she said as he sat beside her. “But it’s not fair, Newman. I mean, I lost my job because of him, and now this from her.”
“I know, but we’ll get through. Trust Cubby, okay? He’s the best.”
She nodded.
“You okay with the others knowing?”
“Sure, they’ll find out anyway.”
She sipped her tea while they talked to Jake and Branna. Mikey played with Rose, drawing her pictures. Was her baby a little girl or boy? She turned and caught Newman’s eyes, and knew he was thinking the same thoughts. His smile was gentle.
“I’m sorry about this, Hope. Especially after what happened with your job, and that idiot Jay.”
Jake McBride was talking, and he looked genuinely pissed off on her behalf. It was always a shock when someone sided with her, because she’d always done everything solo, and never really inspired great friendship in people. And then the nausea came, so quickly, it caught her off guard. She usually had warning and got a cracker out of her bag to nibble.
“Could I use your bathroom?” Hope got to her feet quickly, so quickly she stumbled. Newman grabbed her, steadying her.
“Sure, I’ll take you.” Branna took her arm and led the way.
Hope inhaled through her nose, willing the nausea away, praying no one realized what the hell was going on.
“Mikey, you go on inside and get that soda for yourself,” Jake said.
Newman knew the boy had been sent away because his friend wanted to say something in private. They stayed silent until both Mikey and Rose had disappeared.
So, when’s the baby due?”
“What?” Newman nearly choked on the word.
“Hope just went green, and unless she’s got a stomach upset, which I don’t think she has, she’s pregnant.”
Only he and Cubby had heard the words.
“What?” Newman said again to buy himself some more time. “Because her stomach’s upset, she’s suddenly pregnant?”
“Doctor, bud. Call it instinct. So am I right?”
“I’m adopted.” He went for that instead of answering. It had worked with Buster, after all. And now that he had told two of his friends, the rest needed to know.
“Yeah?”
He nodded.
“Okay, so that explains a few things. So, about Hope. What’s the deal?”
“My parents are not my real parents, Jake.”
“Always thought there was something odd there. I mean, both your parents are dark-haired, and there’s you with those blond, girly curls.”
“They’re not girly, they’re manly.”
“So about Hope?” Jake had always been persistent.
“There is no about Hope. And I’ve been thinking, Cub. You know how she was dismissed. Do you think she should start proceedings for wrongful dismissal? Would that put the heat back on Wildlife?”
“Sure, could do. But has nothing to do with this side of things. This is criminal, and without evidence I can’t charge Hope.”
“Are we just going to ignore the fact that Hope is carrying Newman’s child?” Jake said.
“Why do you think she’s carrying my child?”
Jake snorted. “You can’t keep your eyes off each other. Then there’s that kiss Tex saw happening in the Roar.”
“True that,” Cubby agreed. “So?” He looked at Newman, who said nothing.
“Here we are,” Branna said, coming back out onto the deck.
Hope was nibbling a cracker. Her eyes went to Newman, and away again. Newman looked at Branna, who offered him a gentle smile.
He sighed. There was really not much else he could think of doing right at that moment. This was Howling after all; not much got by anyone.
“So, how you feeling, Hope?”
She shot Jake a look, then Cubby. Both gave her a gentle smile. The men around here did that with pregnant woman. Newman had once had a conversation with his friends about this very matter. Granted, they were a few beers under on poker night, but still, he remembered it.
“You smile at pregnant woman gentler,” Cubby had said. “You never know how they’re handling it you see. Some like being pregnant, others, not so much. So the smile is always the best option.”
“Sit, you look green,” Newman said, getting to his feet and lowering her into a seat. “It’s my guess, Branna was onto you?”
Hope nodded.
“So was the doctor, and Cubby a close second.”
Hope groaned and lowered her head to her knees. After admiring her agility, because he wasn’t sure he was that supple, he rested a hand on her neck and rubbed the tension.
“We just found out a few days ago, and are trying to get a handle on it, so let’s keep it to ourselves for now, okay?”
His friends nodded.
“Our parents don’t know yet.”
“I think we need to get Hope checked out,” Jake said.
“Congratulations,” Cubby said, getting to his feet. Hope was now upright, so he hugged her, then pumped Newman’s hand. “Got to head home now, before I fall asleep here. I’ll be in touch, Hope.”
“Okay.”
Jake talked to Hope about a few things she needed to know about what her body was going through. Newman listened, and was pleased he was a man. They then made an appointment for her at the clinic.
“You doing okay?”
Newman was driving her home. She was quiet, and looked pale and tired.
“Yes. It’s a lot to take in, but the baby thing aside, this business with Wildlife isn’t going away, is it, Newman?”
“They have no proof, Hope. So we’ll just deal with what comes along, okay?”
She didn’t nod, or look at him again, just sat staring out the window, leaving Newman to wonder what the hell was going to happen to them next.