Page 5 of Trouble Comes in Threes

Joe laughed as he tugged a T-shirt over Liam’s head. “Sorry, buddy. It’s just an expression. There won’t be any horses there. But I’ll be there.”

“Promise?”

“You bet.”

“Is it my turn to bring snacks?”

“Nope.” Joe said, now working on Liam’s jeans. “That’s in two weeks.”

“We can’t forget.”

Joe laughed. “I doubt you’ll let us.”

“Uncle Joe and Aunt Rose are responsible, Mikey,” Ashley said with a sigh. “They’ll remember.”

I was glad Ashley had more faith in me than I had. I suspected she’d be the one to remind us. But on the off chance she didn’t, I’d already scheduled an alert on my phone.

I checked the time and stood, eating the rest of my eggs as I walked over to the sink. “It’s supposed to be cooler today, so everybody get your jackets on and let’s go!

Joe stood and put Liam on his hip, then picked up the diaper bag as I scooped Hope out of her chair and carried her out to my Suburban.

Ashley and Mikey were already climbing into their booster seats in the third row as I strapped Hope into her car seat. Just as I got her buckled, I realized I’d forgotten my own bag and Hope’s. Joe was buckling in a wiggly Liam, so I hurried inside, grabbed both bags, and ran back outside, passing Joe on the way.

“Have fun digging in the dirt,” he said, giving me a quick kiss. He knew how much I loved planting.

“And you have fun with all your meetings.”

“I knew the sheriff’s position came with a ton of administrative stuff, but some days…”

“You’re the best sheriff this county has had in a long, long time, Joe Simmons,” I said, placing a hand on his chest and patting it. “You’re doin’ good, whether you can see it or not.”

“Thanks, Rose. That means more to me than you know.” Concern filled his eyes. “I know you were up with Liam a couple of times last night. Sorry I didn’t help more.”

“It was fine. You were beat, and I wasn’t sleeping well anyway. Besides, you’ve taken plenty of turns.”

“Did you have trouble sleeping because of your nightmares?”

I hesitated before answering. “Not last night, thank goodness.”

He cupped my cheek. “You’re safe, Rose. The kids are safe.”

I wanted to believe him, but my nightmares of the literal nightmare we’d lived through three years ago had started up again a few weeks ago. They’d stoked my lingering fear that the Hardshaw crime group would reform and hunt me down for the role I’d played in their demise. I was even more terrified they’d hurt my kids.

Joe had assured me time and time again that we were safe and Hardshaw was gone for good. But my subconscious still didn’t believe it.

“I know,” I said with a soft smile, wishing I truly believed it.

“I’m lookin’ forward to this weekend,” he said with a sly smile.

“Me too,” I said affectionately.

One of my favorite bands was coming to Little Rock on Friday night, and Joe had booked tickets and a room in a boutique hotel. Jed and Neely Kate had offered to watch the kids, so we were planning to leave work early on Friday and have dinner in Little Rock before the concert. We wouldn’t be able to stay for long on Saturday—Mikey had a game at one—but we’d be able to sleep without interruption.

I said as much, and Joe gave me a wicked grin. “Maybe one interruption or two.”

I laughed, lifting my brow. “Two? Someone’s ambitious.” We were lucky to get more than twenty minutes of sexy time at home.

He laughed too, then swatted my bottom and gave me a kiss.

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