Robyn Carr - Down by the River

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

D r. June Hudson awoke to the ringing of the phone. It was still dark as pitch, but when she rolled over to look at the clock it read six-fifteen. Shed slept in, it seemed. She clicked on the cordless. June Hudson.

Who was that man? her eighty-four-year-old aunt Myrna wanted to know.

June glanced over her shoulder at the man in question. Jim. He yawned largely and began to scratch his chest. Ah. So she hadnt dreamt it after all. He was here, beside her, in the flesh, after being away so long.

Aunt Myrna wasnt the only one who knew nothing at all about her secret lover. With just a couple of exceptions, the whole town had been kept in the dark. She was going to have a lot of explaining to do.

His name is Jim and Im going to bring him over to meet you the first chance I get, Aunt Myrna. Hopefully this very morning. Youre going to approve, I promise.

Wheres he from? Whats he do?

I havent figured that out yet, June thought. Later, darling. There are too many details and I have to get ready for work. Ill see you soon.

She disconnected and returned the phone to the bedside table. This time when she looked at Jim, she shook her head and sighed, but she smiled. The phone rang again. Im not on call, she said. Well let the machine pick up.

He lifted one brow, amused. Too many details? he mimicked.

Yes, and well probably have to make them all up. She jumped out of bed, naked as the day she was born. Im going to shower. Would you listen to the messages, please? If anyone calls for emergency assistance, bring me the phone. Okay?

From the kitchen came the sound of Junes fathers voice, lifelike enough to make her flinch and grab for the sheet to cover up. Elmer Hudson was one of the exceptions who knew, but he didnt know everything. Well, youve really stirred up a hornets nest this time, havent you? Elmer asked, then laughed his wheezy laugh. I think Ill take my coffee at the caf this morning, just to be on hand if theres any excitement.

Hes a character, isnt he? Jim asked.

A laugh a minute. June made a face. See if you can think up a good story while I shower.

While she waited for the hot water, she looked at her profile in the mirror. Her waist was fast disappearing.

A year ago she was the thirty-seven-year-old town doctor, single and without a prospect in sight. Six months ago, though she had a hot prospect, she was pretty sure shed be childless. A few months ago, her prospect became even more serious and words of love were said along with desperate goodbyes. Two weeks ago her tummy was reasonably flat, but the moment she found out she was four months pregnant, her middle began to strain at her waistband. Then, approximately the second Jim returned home for good, home for her, she blossomed. Now she had a nice little round belly growing.

Last night, as the weekend Harvest Festival was breaking up and the last revelers were dancing, he appeared out of nowhere. It was as though the entire festival, the entire town had disappeared, and it was only the two of them, embracing, touching, kissing. And then, without making any proper introductions, theyd gotten out of there as quickly as they could. But how naive. The town hadnt disappeared; the town had watched.

She heard the phone ring again and knew the whole town was going to call her this morning, asking for the facts. She should probably be grateful they hadnt started calling last night.

The actual truthwhich they wouldnt be telling anyonewas that June had met Jim last spring when he brought a wounded man to her clinic, late at night, wearing a disguise, and held a gun on her while she removed a bullet from his comrades shoulder. Call it intuition, but she had never quite believed this big handsome man with the beautiful sparkling blue eyes could be a criminal, though he certainly appeared the part. Shortly thereafter, right about the same time she fell helplessly in love with him, he admitted the truthhe was an undercover DEA agent, working inside a cannabis farm deep in the mountains, a farm they were getting ready to bust. After the raid, Jim was sent on one final assignment before retiring from a successful career in law enforcement. Neither June nor Jim realized they already had a baby started.

June, a small-town doctor raised by her father, the town doctor before her, was always busy thinking about the health and welfare of other people. Even though shed been nauseous, sluggish and suffered through crying jagssomething shed never before experiencedshe hadnt suspected a thing. By the time she described her symptoms to her business partner, John Stone, she was well along.

She got out of the shower and, while toweling dry, went into the bedroom. She wrapped the bath sheet around herself. Her wet hair hung in dripping curls to her shoulders. Remember just before you left on that last assignment, I told you I thought I probably couldnt have children.

I remember, he said, giving his head a nod. He was sitting up in the bed, sheet to his waist, and he held a cup of coffee. Junes collie, Sadie, who was not allowed on the furniture, was curled up on the bed at his feet. When she lifted her head to regard June, she seemed to have taken on regal airs. Shows what you know, he said.

I was already pregnant. I just realized that.

For a doctor, you dont pay such close attention to details.

Well, about other people I do. You made coffee?