Running Scared, page 22
“Steady on. Don’t get too carried away.” Jake looked around them. “People might talk!”
“Jake, my friend,” Gary pushed Jake away from him and smiled. “I’ve made a decision—I’m quitting the force—I’m going to run the holiday farm full-time.”
Epilogue
“I can ride the pony all by myself, Daddy. Let go.”
“I know you can, Squirt, but you’re not going to. It’s too dangerous.” Boy oh, boy! Five year olds sure are a handful.
“It’s my pony! I got him for my birthday, remember?” Sally held on tighter to the reins.
This fatherhood stuff is almost as dangerous as being an undercover cop!
“Look, here comes Uncle Jake.” Sally slid down off the pony with practiced ease. “He’ll let me ride my pony all by myself!”
Gary threw his hands up in the air. “Okay, Uncle Jake, seems you’re the pony expert.”
Sally ran to Jake and flew up into his arms.
“Hello darlin’—how’s my girl today?”
“Daddy won’t let me ride by myself.”
Jake covered his mouth so Sally wouldn’t see his grin. “That, young lady, is because you aren’t big enough to ride by yourself.” Jake put her down, and walked with Sally over to Emma, who was lying on a lounger.
“Mummy, Mummy! Uncle Jake’s here.”
“I can see that Sal. The rest of the family will be here soon, too—it’s Sunday, remember?” She brushed Sally’s blonde hair back behind her ears.
Sally turned to Jake excitedly. “Yippee! That means all the kids will be here.” She turned her attention back to Emma. “Mummy, will you take me to feed the ducks? Please?”
“No, Squirt,” Gary answered, “Mummy can’t. Your brother and sister will be arriving any day now, and Mummy is too tired to go feeding ducks.”
“Please, Mummy?”
“The terrible five’s?” Gary asked, exasperated.
“Do you mean the terrible two’s?” Emma wriggled about, trying to get comfortable. “There are no terrible five’s.”
“I beg to differ. What’s it going to be like with twins? Double trouble?” As much as he protested, Gary was looking forward to the twins’ arrival. “Or maybe double hugs, double kisses, double love.”
*
“Quiet, Squirt. Mummy might be asleep.”
Gary held Sally in his arms as they crept into the hospital room.
“But, Daddy,” Sally held the bunch of flowers they’d bought for Emma. “It’s daytime, Mummy won’t be asleep!”
“Listen, Squirt. Having babies is hard work...”
“How do you know, Daddy? Have you had a baby?”
Finn came up behind them, Naomi following close behind with her small baby in her arms. The older children were home with Joe and Queenie.
“Still making hard work of it, Bro?” Finn asked, as he slapped Gary on the back. “Congratulations anyway, Dad—there’s nothing quite like being a parent.”
Emma was awake, although still sleepy, and Gary sat Sally on the side of the bed.
“Mummy! Daddy says the babies are out of your tummy now. Can I see them?” She gave Emma a hug, and passed over the flowers.
“Come on, Sally,” Finn picked the tot up. “Let’s have a look at your new brother and sister, Tara and Joshua.”
“Oooh! Look, they’ve got orange hair.”
Gary leaned over and kissed Emma gently on the cheek. “Just like Mummy, Squirt,” he said, brushing Emma’s red hair back behind her ears. “Just like Mummy.”
The End
About the Author
Cheryl Wright is a multi-published Australian author. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Her short stories and articles have appeared in publications such as Arabella Romance Magazine, Without a Clue, The Grapevine, Executive PA, and Bad Girl’s Press, as well as being published in several anthologies. Cheryl is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, Melbourne Romance Writers Guild, Romance Writers of America, and the RWA KOD Chapter. She has won several awards for her writing, and her story Networking Masterpieces was chosen as the lead story in Writer Profits: How I Got the Gig.
Cheryl has taught writing for many years, and has appeared as a speaker at writer’s conferences in Australia and New Zealand. She is married with two grown children, and six grandchildren.
Visit Cheryl’s website: http://cheryl-wright.com
Also by Cheryl Wright from Books We Love
A Winter Sabbatical
Note from the Publisher
Thank you for purchasing and reading this Book We Love eBook. We hope you have enjoyed your reading experience. Books We Love and the author would very much appreciate you returning to the online retailer where you purchased this book and leaving a review for the author. Best Regards and Happy Reading, Jamie and Jude
Books We Love Ltd.
Vintage and New from award winning authors.
*
Top quality books loved by readers,
Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Young Adult
Vampires. Werewolves, Cops, Lovers.
http://bookswelove.net
*
If you are looking for something Spicier visit
http://spicewelove.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2Walking
Chapter 3“O
Chapter 4“D
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11“H
Chapter 12GMMF_ET_HR_BH_MJ_TMO_MK_
Chapter 13G
Chapter 14G
Epilogue“I
About the Author
Cheryl Wright, Running Scared
