A few minutes later he stood behind Jenny with his arms wrapped around her. The others talked about the plan for tomorrow and how everyone would be watching, checking, on alert. Ben thought about only one thing. He was holding his family in his arms.

Ketch suggested that the brain-dead gang may have given up on their prank, but LeRoy said he still wanted to catch them. A crime had been committed at the hospital, and he planned to see that they paid for frightening sick people.

Hank said he’d already called in and told his Houston office that he planned to stay a few more days. The cop agreed with the sheriff. These guys needed to be caught and they’d need more evidence than Bull’s account of a conversation.

Pecos and the sheriff headed home, but the other three couples settled on wicker chairs scattered around the porch. Simon had fallen asleep on the couch with Rambo cuddled against the top of his head.

Ben didn’t say much as the others talked. He knew he needed to worry about a bomb going off, but he also wanted to map out the rest of his life.

When he finally drove Jenny home they were silent during the ride, but her hand never stopped brushing his leg.

Once they were in the darkness of her cabin, she whispered, “Tell me what you feel, Benjamin. I need to know where your mind is tonight.”

He kissed her lightly and said simply, “I love you. I have since we met. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. A baby is going to complicate our lives and I plan to enjoy all of it. But, Red, I got to tell you right now; I’m a marrying kind of man. I want to go to bed with you every night and wake up with you every morning.”

She looked up at him and answered, “Well, I’m not a marrying kind of woman. I’ve always thought of myself as a free spirit. I’ve never believed in growing roots.”

She frowned at him and he dropped his head as if he was broken before the fight began.

Finally he leaned down and kissed her softly as he tried to think of what to say.

She kissed him back and he felt warm tears running down her cheeks.

“I love you too, Benjamin. I really do.”

He braced for the blow.

“And”—she pressed her forehead into his chest—“I guess this once I’ll make an exception to my rules.”

“You’ll marry me?” Ben didn’t breathe.

“Sure, but you have to promise to give me space.”