Take a Chance _Josie Read online

  “I’m so sorry, Josie. If I’d known it would make you feel that bad about it, I wouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I know. It’s my pride talking.” Josie’s bottom lip quivered. “I’m sorry, Parker. About everything. I shouldn’t have been so awful to you about my insecurities…”

  Parker heard the apology and nothing more. He silenced her with a kiss.

  Josie gasped but didn’t pull away. Her lips trembled for a moment before they softened and she opened her mouth to kiss him back. Parker cradled her head gently. She was the most precious thing and he was almost afraid of what he was doing.

  Josie sighed and leaned into him, her arms going around his shoulders.

  Though he wanted the moment to last forever he knew that he must stop. Anyone could walk in and he would not do that to her. Reluctantly, he pulled back and smiled at her.

  Josie’s eyelids were heavy and she was a little dazed. She stared at him.

  “I forgive you,” he whispered. “And I support whatever decision you make. I am here for you for now and forever.”

  Josie’s smile started shakily but it widened and she looked like the beautiful, confident woman Parker knew she was. She grabbed him and pulled him in for another kiss. Then there was the sound of raised voices and a gunshot.

  Parker sprang back, his body tensing. A gunshot in the bank? That was never good. Screams and shouts came from the front of the building.

  A bank robbery was taking place. And he was in the back kissing a woman when he should be protecting his employees and his clients’ money.

  “Parker?” Josie’s voice trembled. “What’s going on?”

  Parker tried not to panic. He had never been involved in a bank raid before. Part of him wanted to get Josie out of there. To keep her safe at any cost but he couldn’t leave his people to face the robber alone.

  Gently, he raised her chin and turned her head from the door. When she was looking directly into his eyes he smiled as confidently as he could. “Go out the back,” he said in a low but authoritative voice and he led her to the door. “They’re going to come in in a minute.”

  “What about you?”

  “I need to stay here.”

  Josie was shaking her head.

  “No, I’m not going without you.”

  “And I’m not leaving my employees. You need to go to the sheriff and get reinforcements. That way you can help me.” Parker made Josie look at him. “Promise me that you’ll do this.”

  Josie’s face was so white and she looked like she might faint. She was shaking in his arms. But she squared her shoulders and nodded.

  “All right. I’ll do it.”

  Parker kissed her quickly. Then he opened the door and peeked out. There was activity going on in the front of the bank but they were situated where they wouldn’t be seen easily. Parker ushered Josie out and pushed her towards the back door. Then he started walking towards the front. The people raiding the place had guns but Parker wasn’t afraid of a gun; he was more afraid of losing the lives of the people still in the bank. People he knew and loved, he wouldn’t let that happen.

  As he walked out he could see one man. He had a Stetson low over his face and a neckerchief up covering his mouth and nose. A pistol was in his hand. Parker saw the paunch and felt the stench of cigarettes hit him in the face.

  It was Jack Norris.

  Norris’ eyes narrowed. Then he looked behind Parker and saw Josie running towards the back door. He raised the pistol at her back. Panicking, Parker darted in front of him.

  “Norris!”

  There was a loud bang that made Parker’s ears ring. Pain exploded in his chest and he was launched backward. It felt like he had been kicked by a pack mule and then he was falling. His head hit the floor, white pain exploding behind his eyes.

  Parker tried to shout for Josie but everything went black.

  Chapter 8

  Jack Norris and his friends had been the one to raid the bank. Josie couldn’t believe the gall of the men. They thought they would waltz in, show their guns and get the money. But none of them expected the employees to stand up to them. Two of Parker’s cashiers ended up with bullet wounds and another had her skull split open with a gun butt.

  Thankfully, all of them were still alive when Josie came back with Clay Blake and his deputies. The siege was already over and the injured were taken straight to the doctor while Clay set about catching Norris and his accomplices.

  Josie had checked on the wounded shortly after and while they were all unconscious, they were still alive. The doctor was optimistic they were going to recover well.

  But Parker was the one Josie was more concerned with. He had taken a bullet to the chest and was still unconscious even after the doctor took it out. He was so white Josie thought he was dead and that had sent her into a panic.

  When she asked she had seen the doctor’s worry. He hadn’t been too open but she knew he wasn’t sure about Parker’s outcome. At the last moment he tried to be optimistic, but that hesitation told her all she needed to know. Parker could die!

  Josie didn’t know what she could do if anything happened to him.

  Josie sat by his bed, holding his hand and just being there. It was all she could do. This man believed in her. Wanted her to take a chance and she had finally decided she would. Not only on her paintings, but she would also take a chance on him, if he survived. Parker had rushed into danger to save his people and he had pointed her to safety while he had gone toward danger. He was not boring but the most exciting and courageous man she had ever known. Now all she wanted was the chance to tell him.

  Sheriff Blake had come and told her that Jack Norris and his friends had left town. He had sent a telegram to the surrounding towns and, moments after they were received, Norris and the gang turned up in one. They were immediately arrested and thrown in jail, the money sent back to Rapid City. Josie was impressed with the speed of everything, especially Clay’s professionalism. It meant that Parker’s bank was going to be fine. The hard-working people of the town would not lose their savings and all his employees were going to recover.

  But would Parker?

  Josie refused to leave his side for the two days he was unconscious. She barely left the room and when she did sleep it was on a bed beside him. The doctor had protested at the start but had finally given in, deciding it was best to leave her be.

  Josie barely ate. She couldn’t, only managing a few mouthfuls when any of her sisters tried to get her to eat. All she could think about was Parker, until he was recovering her stomach couldn’t even think about food.

  Each night and day she prayed. He had to be all right. He had to pull through. So she sat and talked to him, bathed his brow and dribbled water into his mouth like the doctor told her. All the time she believed that he would make it, that the Lord would not let a man so good, so noble and selfless be taken from her.

  On the morning of the third day, Josie was trying not to fall asleep when she saw Parker shift and open his eyes. They were bloodshot and his face was still pale. But he was aware. Josie sat up, taking his hand.

  “Hey.”

  Parker moved his head and his eyes landed on her. They were glazed over but cleared quickly when he realized who was with him.

  “Josie.”

  “You didn’t think I’d not be here when you woke up, did you?”

  Parker managed a smile. Then he flinched.

  Oh, my chest hurts.”

  “You were lucky. The doctor said another inch to the right and the bullet would have pierced your heart.” Josie felt her throat close up. “You would’ve bled out before the sheriffs got there.”

  “Well, Norris wasn’t a very good shot,” Parker grunted. “I’m also glad you’re shorter than I am.”

  “What’s that got to do with anything?”

  “He was aiming at you. Trying to stop you from leaving. I jumped between you and the gun.” Parker raised a hand and touched the bandage with a wince. “I’ve never bee
n shot. I never knew it could be so painful.”

  Josie had already known he had saved her but to hear just how courageous he had been brought tears to her eyes. He had made a choice to jump in front of a bullet for her? Josie blinked back the tears. She had almost lost him for doing something heroic.

  “Maybe I should have stuck with the boring bank manager.”

  Parker managed a chuckle.

  “Trust me, Josie, when you’re in charge of a place that is in danger of being raided, I can hardly be classed as boring.”

  “I bet.” Josie squeezed his hand. “You were very brave, Parker.”

  “It was my bank. People I care about.” Parker’s eyes never left her face. “I had to protect what was mine.”

  Josie detected an underlying message there but she wasn’t sure. She raised her eyebrows.

  “That sounded very possessive.”

  “Take it whatever way you want.”

  “All right, I will.” Josie shifted from her chair to the bed, sitting by his hip. Parker’s arm went around her waist. It felt like the most normal thing in the world. “I thought you were boring, Parker. I was at a point a few weeks ago where I wanted to walk away. Then you tipped the balance for me.” She sighed. “And I fell the other way.”

  “Josie?” Parker’s arm tightened around her waist. “What are you saying?”

  Josie bit her lip. Now was not the time to dodge around what she meant.

  “I fell in love with you, Parker. I wasn’t expecting it. You took me by surprise.”

  Parker stared at her. Josie thought she had shocked him into silence. Then Parker slumped with a heavy sigh of relief.

  “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that.”

  “You thought you’d lost me, didn’t you?”

  “Several times.” Parker took her hand and kissed her knuckles, his eyes never leaving her face. “I had no idea how to say how I really felt or how to get you to feel it too. If I’d known doing what I did in the last two weeks would make you fall in love with me, I would’ve done it sooner.”

  Josie couldn’t help herself. She giggled.

  “That would’ve certainly put a smile on Father’s face.”

  Why was she mentioning her father now? Parker growled and managed to sit up.

  “Parker, your wounds.”

  “Not now.” Parker cupped the back of her neck. “I’m not about to thank your father for what he’s done by matching us up. This I want to share with the woman I love, not him.”

  Josie was still smiling when he kissed her. It was going to take a lot to get rid of the smile on her face.

  “I love you so much and I want to marry you. Will you be my wife as soon as I’m able to stand?”

  Josie was overwhelmed with joy. It bubbled inside her. Not only was Parker alive but he loved her and she was to be his wife.

  “I don’t want to wait,” she said. “Marry me now, as soon as we can get Pastor Keach here. Will you marry me now?”

  Parker laughed. “Yes, I want that too. Go now, my love, and arrange us a wedding.”

  It was two days later before the doctor would allow them to be married. Every hour Parker grew in strength. The color returned to his cheeks and he was able to sit up without groaning in pain. It would be a long road before he was recovered but he would have a wife to nurse him back to health. Someone to go home to who would give him every reason to recover.

  So, in her best dress, Josie filed into the little room with all her sisters, their husbands, the bank staff and what seemed like half the town. The wedding was performed quickly.

  Pastor Keach said the words and they repeated their vows.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” he said. “You may kiss the bride.”

  Parker pulled Josie down to him and took her lips in his. It was the most amazing feeling and filled him with love and joy. She was his and they had their whole life together. As he pulled back she clung onto him.

  “I’m all right,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m going to be fine.”

  “I know,” she said and her lips tickled his ear, her breath hot on his skin made him want to be out of the doctor’s house. “I want to tell you that as soon as you are better, we will put some of my paintings in the merchants for sale. If you want I will let you send them back East.”

  Pulling back he looked in her eyes and smiled. “No,” he said and she frowned. “Not the merchants, we will put them in the bank and we will send them to a gallery I know. They will love them. The way you bring the animals and the prairie to life it will let people feel as if they have been here. I am so proud of you.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her again until she was pulled from his arms.

  Sealy, Preston and Clay had pulled Josie away and pushed her gently towards her sisters. They were all hugging her and congratulating her.

  “Welcome to the family,” Clay said and the men all came around the bed to shake Parker’s hand.

  At the back of the room Abraham smiled and then, with a sad look on his face, he turned and left the room.

  Healing His Heart – Preview

  Healing His Heart – Preview

  Kitty Carmichael could hear the frenzied movements in Parker Young’s office from the lobby. The bank cashiers were getting on with their work but it was clear to everyone, from the youngest clerk to the little old lady taking money out of her account, were listening intently.

  Now Kitty was beginning to worry what was going on. She knew Parker wasn’t in his office with his wife – she had just left their house and Josie was still packing. So, what was going on in there?

  Going behind the counter when the chief clerk allowed her back, Kitty made her way to the office. She ignored the complaints from a middle-aged couple who wanted to know why she was allowed to go back to the manager’s office and they weren’t. Being the bank manager’s aunt did have its advantages and Kitty was known by name to all of the staff, who were pleasant and accommodating. Kitty was also Parker’s only living relative by blood and they were close. That wasn’t a secret.

  “Parker,” Kitty called as she knocked three times on the door to the office.

  A mumbled shout came back and she walked in. Whenever Parker was busy, he didn’t often respond to a knock at the door. He was intent on working and barely lifted his head when a client came in for an appointment. The only people who could get him to look up for more than a few seconds were Kitty and Josie.

  He was an excellent bank manager but not a very good people person. If it had been up to Parker, he would be holed up at home with his books and various papers and wouldn’t come out for months. Nobody would know he existed and he would love to just hide away.

  Kitty entered the room and saw the mess. Papers and files were everywhere. They were scattered across the desk, the floor, even the fireplace. Thankfully, it was a warm day so the fire wasn’t lit or the room would be up in flames.

  Parker was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the floor, his hair standing up on end as he read furiously through the stack of papers in his lap. Kitty was stunned at the sight. He was supposed to be getting his papers in order so he could go on his honeymoon, which had been delayed until he was fit to travel.

  Kitty understood, he had missed so much work while he recovered and now he couldn’t let it go. There was something about him that had to be in control.

  Kitty smiled as she remembered Josie’s instructions as he said he had to go into work. The words rang in her ears but it looked like Parker had forgotten Josie telling him to be quick about it.

  “Parker?”

  Parker looked up. His eyes widened and he scrambled to his feet, papers fluttered to the floor.

  “Aunt Kitty!” He gave her an abashed smile and tried to catch the papers but it was to no avail. “Sorry, I was trying to figure out if I’ve done everything.”

  Kitty looked around the room.

  “If you mean you’ve gone through your room like a hurricane when you were only
supposed to just organize a few things, then yes, you have.”

  Parker winced and stopped grabbing for the papers, all of which had landed on the floor.

  “It looks awful, doesn’t it?”

  Kitty didn’t need to answer that. Her nephew knew exactly how bad it looked. She put her purse down and knelt, gathering the stack of papers near her. “Come on, I’ll help you.”

  “But I haven’t got them in order!”

  “I’m sure your staff can figure out where they all go.” Kitty stood and took the stack to the desk. “Let’s just pick up enough so we can see the floor. When are you leaving with Josie?”

  “In two hours.” Parker looked at the clock and grimaced. “An hour and forty-five minutes.”

  “Then let’s get moving. Josie won’t want to delay her honeymoon longer than she already has.”

  That had been a stipulation of Josie’s. She wanted a honeymoon but only once Parker was recovered. He had been shot in the shoulder and while it hadn’t been as bad as they originally thought, he wasn’t in a fit state to celebrate his marriage when they tied the knot. It had been two months now, and Parker was much better, but clearly, he was still cuffed to his desk.

  Kitty knew Josie wouldn’t be happy if he spent too long, and made a decision to get Parker off on his honeymoon as fast as possible. She was sure the chief clerk could figure out the paperwork.

  It took fifteen minutes to gather all the papers off the floor and another twenty minutes to put it all away. Finally, Kitty stepped back and looked at the office. With a smile she decided it was looking even tidier than before. They had done a lot and she had controlled Parker’s panic at having to leave his job. She was pleased with her work. But it had been hard and she was sweating. As they stopped she realized her dress was sticking to her. Still, Kitty wasn’t afraid of hard work. It was how she kept up her business.