Page 21 of Bridles and Bribery

Its white paint gleamed in the moonlight for a moment before being plunged into the shadows of the snarling clouds overhead. A rainstorm was rolling in. The dropping, mid-January temperatures could easily turn it into slush and snow.

Dave wouldn’t be surprised if the weather delayed his takeoff. If the Lord was smiling big enough on him, it might even cancel his flight out of town this evening. It certainly wouldn’t break his heart to return home to Jillian for the wedding night they’d been cheated out of.

Thunder rumbled as he stepped out of Gil’s new silver Land Rover. He opened the passenger door on the right and reached for his suitcase.

Gil glanced over his shoulder. “Listen, there’s something I’d like to tell you before you leave.”

He looked so serious that Dave braced himself for more bad news.

“Never thought I’d be in this position.” Gil lifted his Stetson to run a hand through his longish auburn hair.

Despite the number of years they’d spent on the football field together, followed by three decades in law enforcement, this was the first time Dave had ever seen his best friend look downright vulnerable. It wasn’t a look he enjoyed seeing on him. “Dude, spit it out! I have a flight to catch.” He also had a criminal to track down, and he needed to know Gil was going to have his back like he always did.

“Bliss is expecting twins,” Gil blurted, without any further preamble.

Dave’s jaw dropped. “Twins,” he repeated slowly. “As in two babies instead of one?”

“One girl and one boy.” Gil sounded short of breath, like he’d been running the last few miles instead of driving.

Good gravy!Dave hardly knew what to say. “How?”

Gil burst out laughing, making Dave turn red.

“I’m not asking for a birds-and-bees lesson, you moron!”

“I know.” Gil sobered. “Apparently, the risks of multiple births is higher at Bliss’s age. The doc told us earlier today that it could’ve been triplets or quadruplets.”

Dave choked and had to cough to catch his breath. “Like a blasted litter of puppies, eh?” It had never entered his mind to ask if Jillian was expecting more than one baby. Asbadly as he suddenly wanted to call and ask her, it was probably best if he waited until he returned home. It felt like a conversation that would be better to have face to face.

“Something like that.” Gil ran a hand through his hair again before clapping his hat back on his head. “Just needed to get that off my chest before you left town. We haven’t told anyone else yet.”

Ignoring the first raindrops pattering down intermittently, Dave rolled his suitcase around to Gil’s door and rapped on the window with his knuckles.

Gil rolled it down.

Dave gave him a fist bump. “Let me be the first to congratulate you, you stud you.”

Gil rolled his eyes. “Just…don’t.”

“My bad.” Dave held in a snicker. “I meant stallion.”

“I said don’t.” Gil started to roll up his window.

Dave gave an innocent shrug. “Would you prefer steed?”

Gil revved the motor of his Land Rover ominously. “If you’re finished making light of my new-dad terror, the doc also read us the Santa-sized list of risks involved in a multiple-birth pregnancy.”

“Man, Gil!” Dave’s smile vanished as it dawned on him that the fearless retired sheriff of Heart Lake was craving a rare ounce or two of reassurance. “I hear you. I do.” He dug deep into his faith, trying to come up with the right words. “But there’s no way God would’ve allowed two guys in their fifties to meet the loves of their lives, only to turn His back on us when things got tough. I have to believe He’s going to see us all the way through to the delivery room.” Little did he realize it was a statement he’d be repeating to himself again and again in the coming days.

Gil nodded as he absorbed his words. “You’re right.” He raised the brim of his Stetson to wipe his sleeve across his forehead. “A few months from now, I’m gonna be the father of twins. Two perfectly healthy gifts from Above.”

He sounded so winded that Dave reached through the window to grip his shoulder. “It’s gonna be alright. Anything you and Bliss need, I’ve got your back, man. Me and Jillian both.”

“I know you do. Thanks.” Gil straightened the brim of his hat.

“Anytime.” Dave lowered his hand to his side as he bent closer to the window. “Did you get any takers at Lonestar to patrol our corner of the neighborhood?” He was waiting to tell Jillian about it after he received confirmation when the patrols would begin. He hoped it would make her feel safer while he was out of town.

“Yep. A guy by the name of Gage Hefner said he’d be glad to do it.” Gil drummed his fingers on the steering wheel while he gave Dave the lowdown on him. “He’s one of Lonestar Security’s newest recruits. An Army Ranger with combat experience. He and I are gonna tag-team the job.”

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