Facing the Fire Read online

  "I heard she walked right up to him and planted one on him in your front yard," Miranda said. She hugged Clint quickly. He passed her the baby and she cooed over him. "Oh, he's gorgeous, Maggie. Looks just like...a cross between you and Clint."

  "Rexford Barratt Talley Gunderson," Clint said. "We're calling him Ford for short."

  "Perfect." Marin slipped to the bed, exhaustion on her face. "How could he not be? He's Maggie's."

  "He's perfectly healthy, even if he is almost four weeks early."

  "At almost ten pounds, it's probably a good thing he came a little early," Marin said. She held out her arms and her sister passed Ford to her. "He is as beautiful as I knew he would be."

  "So why did you kiss Weatherby?" Miranda asked, as Marin rocked the baby gently. "He's not exactly your type."

  "Anyone would have been my type after this afternoon. Call him a palate cleanser. I needed to forget..."

  Her eyes met Maggie's.

  Maggie knew the truth; they would never forget how they'd felt. It had changed them all. They’d watched a man die at their feet today. It would take them both a long while to get over that.

  "It's over now," Marin finally said. "Everything ever tied to Clive Gunderson has reached its conclusion. No more ghosts haunting Clint. You can move on now, and know you're all safe. Weatherby is about to show up and confirm that, if you don't believe me."

  "Getting spooky again, Marin," Miranda said, moving to the chair. "I'm going to buy you a cat and a crystal ball."

  "I'll take it. I need a new one for my collection." Marin shot a tired smile at Maggie as she rested against the back of the chair. Maggie studied her for a long while—she was pale, shaky, but would be ok. They were safe now.

  Miranda asked them questions about what had happened, as she and Clint spoke quietly. Easily.

  It didn't matter to Maggie that he and Miranda had once loved each other. They still loved each other; it was obvious in the easy way they spoke with one another. The jokes. But there was no doubt in her mind that Clint loved Maggie, and always would.

  She didn’t doubt that now.

  He’d walked straight into fire to get to her today. And she had no doubt he would do it again without ever hesitating.

  Miranda and Rex Weatherby were Clint's family. Even if he hadn't realized that. She had. She'd seen it. Family wasn't just biology.

  Marin drifted off. She probably should have been at home now, or in a hospital bed somewhere. But she wasn't.

  Because she was family, too.

  Miranda slipped out, to go grab herself some coffee and call her grandmother--who had Bentley, the child Miranda was in the process of adopting.

  She'd asked Clint to be his unofficial godfather, like Miranda was Violet's godmother.

  Maggie thought that sounded perfect.

  She was nursing the baby discretely when another knock came at the door.

  Marin didn't even stir to see that her prediction had been correct.

  Rex Weatherby stood outlined in the door.

  He stepped in. Clint stood. Maggie watched as the two men slapped each other on the back.

  He turned to Maggie, his cheeks heating when he realized what she was doing. "I can step out..."

  "I'm good." Maggie was covered. It was definitely awkward, but they'd figure it out eventually. "Thank you, Rex. For what you did today. And for...getting her to help."

  He grunted, then focused on the woman slumped in the chair. "Damned woman needs a keeper. Should be in a hospital bed."

  Right before Maggie and Clint's eyes, Rex slipped his arms around Marin’s knees and behind her back. He lifted her effortlessly. Marin never stirred.

  He promptly lowered Marin to the second hospital bed in the room and tossed a blanket over her.

  He grunted, then settled into the chair she'd once occupied. "So...what's this kid's name and when does he get to come hang out with Uncle Rex so I can teach him about the real world?"

  Maggie smiled, but said nothing. This was Clint's show--his choice. She passed him their now content son. Clint handed him to his godfather. "Meet your godson, Rexford Barratt Talley Gunderson."

  Yes. Family was far more than just biology.

  Now they were going to build one together.