Page 38 of Dead Man's Hand

“You are such a sucker for a happy ending,” she teased. “I heard Davy is manning the office. I’ll call him and see if he knows anything about her.”

As she gave Davy what few details she knew about Sadie Montclair, Bella had another contraction. Ansley had been timing them, knowing that she might have to take her to the hospital soon. “Davy’s going to call back.”

They talked about baby names, baby clothes—“Have you seen the little overalls they make for girls?” Bella had cried. “I couldn’t resist. I got the denim ones and the Western shirts that match.”

“For a newborn?” Ansley asked in surprise.

“No, that would be silly. I got the twelve-month size and while I was at it, picked up the twenty-four month size as well.” Bella laughed. “Tommy is actually worried that I might go overboard on baby clothes. Can you imagine?”

Ansley’s phone rang. She quickly picked it up, hoping it was Buck. “Davy,” she said trying not to sound disappointed since she was the one who’d asked him for the favor.

“If she is the Sadie Montclair of Palm Beach, Florida,” Davy said, “then she has quite the mob connection. I found a socialite photo online that tagged her as the goddaughter of Ezra Montclair, Palm Beach business mogul. He’s her godfather, all right.”

Bella was waving her hand. “Well? Who is she?”

“Any word from the others?” Ansley had to ask before she hung up.

“Nope. Not yet. Don’t worry. They know those mountains. They’ll be fine.”

“Thanks.” She disconnected, even more worried. Davy was worried, too, but who wouldn’t be given the weather?

“What?” Bella demanded after breathing through another contraction.

“I think we should get you to the hospital,” Ansley said, rising. “Your contractions are more consistent and are now ten minutes apart.”

Her friend looked surprised that she’d been timing them. “What about Sadie?” she asked as she lumbered to her feet.

Ansley helped her. “Seems Sadie’s godfather might be the head of the mob in Palm Beach, Florida.”

“Get out of here,” Bella cried.

“Which is exactly what we are doing,” she said, steering her toward the door. “Should we call your doctor to let him know we’re coming in?”

Bella shook her head. “He’s on call. He knows.” Her face crumpled. “What if Tommy doesn’t make it?”

“I’m sure he’ll show up at the hospital as soon as he’s out of the mountains,” she said, and realized Bella meant what if Tommy doesn’t make it out of the mountains. “Do you have a bag packed for the hospital?”

“It’s by the door. Tommy insisted.”

“I’ll grab it.” As Ansley picked it up and turned, she saw Bella standing by the door looking back at the house as if she might never see it again.

“Let’s go see if this baby is coming today or not,” Ansley said too brightly as Bella turned to look at her, tears in her eyes as her water broke.

SADIETURNED,not sure who she would find standing in the doorway as her hand closed around the grip of the gun. She blinked, startled by the tiny, slim blonde who stared back. But she was more startled by the gun in the angelic-looking woman’s hand. She took a wild guess. “Keira.”

“Who are you?”the blond woman demanded.

Sadie was debating whether or not she could pull the gun from behind the vase, let alone shoot this woman who DJ considered his little sister. She eased her hand off the grip and pretended to hold on to the mantel for support. “I’m Sadie.”

“Sadie, of course. You’re that mobster’s daughter DJ’s been working with down in Florida.”

That pretty much summed it up, she thought. Although her father and her godfather considered themselves businessmen who played the odds and used the system to their benefit.

“Where’s DJ?” Keira asked, taking in the small cabin and seeing for herself that he wasn’t there.

“The last time I saw him, he was headed for the outhouse out back. Actually, I thought you were him returning. He must have heard you coming and took off.”

The blonde stepped deeper into the cabin, letting the back door close as she moved away from it. “He wouldn’t leave you behind,” Keira said, smirking. “I know how he feels about you.” Sadie stayed by the fire, turning her back on Keira to warm her hands, and considered her chances if she went for the gun. “Get over here so I can see you.”

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