Redwood Bend

that he was surprised to see shoes on her feet. And there was Charlie—tall and strong. And goddamn him, he was good-looking enough to be a movie star himself. Decked out in his uniform, covered with medals and ribbons, every photo of him gazing at Katie with absolute love and longing and the promise of making her cry out in pleasure every night.
And suddenly she was sitting beside him. “Our wedding,” she said.
“It’s a wonder the guy can stand up under all that brass,” Dylan said.
“He was highly decorated. He took way too many chances, I’m sure of that. He got the Medal of Honor posthumously for acts of bravery and heroism that cost him his life, but saved others. We weren’t married long, but I felt like I knew Charlie very well—he wouldn’t have thought twice. Did you know that only a few living soldiers have been awarded the Medal of Honor? I saw one interviewed on TV. And you should see how modest and humble he is. I must admit, that’s about the only time Charlie was modest and humble, when the army wanted to give him a medal, otherwise he was kind of full of himself.”
“Really?”
“You know guys,” she said. She turned the page. “We had six months together before he deployed, so he got to know the boys a little bit. But two months later he was killed.”
“Got to know the boys?” Dylan asked.
She put her hand on her tummy. “In here. While they were in here, moving around, going crazy. We named them before he left. And the nicest thing—the president made sure there were two Medals of Honor—one for each of the boys. And three flags—one for me, one for each of them…”
And all this time Dylan had been pissing and moaning about a half-whacked family and the rigors of fame…?
Charlie Malone, hard act to follow.
Dylan picked up the tabloids that sat beside him on the sofa. “Katie, throw these in the trash.”
“Why?”
“First of all, it’s all B.S. Second, this crap shouldn’t sit on top of Charlie’s medals. It’s sacrilege.”
“It must be really annoying, seeing that kind of stuff printed.”
“It would be if I ever bothered to look. I used to. When I was a kid it really bothered me. So—what did you and Leslie decide is going to happen to us—Conner and I?”
“Well, you’re going to face the music. After I pick up the boys this afternoon, we’re going to their house. The two of you will apologize, take an oath to stay out of each other’s business and shake hands.”
“Awww…”
“Just shake hands and talk about baseball or something. I honestly don’t care if you hate each other till the end of time, you’re going to act like adults around Leslie and I. Or else.”
“Can I just remind you that I didn’t attack him?”
“Uh-huh, so I hear. And you also had to be held back so you wouldn’t retaliate. It is officially over, Dylan. Or you will be banished.”
“But you said I could have the couch. You can’t banish me.”
She lifted one light brown brow. “Try me.”
The phone rang and she got up to answer it. Dylan could only hear her side of the conversation but he realized two things immediately—it was that Tom fellow, and whatever he had to say did not make her happy. “What? Oh, no! Tom, that isn’t a good thing. No, I don’t like it but I feel trapped. And I’m very grateful that you let them know but… Honestly, if she were better natured, I might try to hide her…”
By the time she hung up, Dylan was standing, looking at her across the room. “What’s the matter, Katie?”
She pulled a sad face and shrugged. “Tom did as he promised and called Fish and Game. They said they would put a plan in motion to relocate the bear but they couldn’t guarantee anything. It’s very unlikely the whole family would be relocated together. They might hold one or two of the cubs in captivity for a while, till they’re more independent. Apparently relocating four bears is quite a tall order. So tall an order, they might just…”
“You seem pretty upset…”
“Shoot her…they might just shoot her. Even if they do move her, a mother shouldn’t lose her children just because she got a little overprotective. And, God, brothers shouldn’t be separated…”
He just smiled at her. She could be so tough, but there were some issues on which she was completely tenderhearted. “Let’s go for a ride,” he said.
“I told you, I’m not really feeling like the bike—”
“I know, no problem. We’ll take the truck. Or better still—your