Chapter Twenty

Jeb was just pouring the last bucket of water into the barn trough when a strong pair of arms slipped around his waist.

He moaned as he leaned back into Gilliam's chest and smiled. "You're gonna start something, Gilliam," he warned as warm lips caressed his neck.

Jeb felt Gill smile against his skin. "That would be my goal."

"Aren't you the one always telling me that I've had enough," Jeb questioned, spinning around and nipping at Gill's neck.

The other man chuckled. "Never enough."

Jeb let out a hungry growl and attacked Gill's lips. His hands roamed over the strong body that he knew like the back of his hand. The heat in the barn was overwhelming and Jebidiah was losing himself in it—until a squeak sounded from the barn door.

"Oh great golly gee! Oh my. Oh fiddlesticks...."

Without releasing their hold on each other, the two men turned toward the barn door. "Elmer?" Jeb demanded. "What are you doing here?"

The telegraph and postal clerk from town wrung his hands and shifted his feet as he flushed bright red beneath his hat. "I uh... well I..."

"Does this make you uncomfortable?" Gill asked, moving a slight distance away from Jebidiah.

"Well..uh.. I mean. That is to say..."

Jebidiah sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Stop stuttering, Elmer."

Elmer's mouth slammed closed. Jeb and Gill shared an uncomfortable glance. While they never denied a relationship between them, they also never flaunted either. And they always did their best to avoid public displays of affection that could be witnessed by anyone outside their family.

"I'd heard that you.. that is to say that two of you uh..." Elmer continued.

Jeb put a hand on Gill's arm to silence the man when his mouth opened. He recognized the look on Gilliam's face that said he was going to cause mischief and poor Elmer didn't appear as if he could handle it.

"What brings you way out here so early, Elmer?" Jeb asked while Gill huffed about having his fun interrupted.

Elmer looked very relieved to have the subject changed. "Yes. I was just waking up this morning and about to head out for breakfast when this came." Elmer held up an envelope. "I knew you'd want to have this message real quick."

Jebidiah took the letter and scanned over it quickly. His heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. "Thanks, Elmer," he mumbled before striding to his horse to ready it.

"What's it say?" Gill demanded.

"It's from Craig. He caught up with Wyatt and Zachariah and was riding with them. Apparently Wyatt's been taken by the men Zachariah was after."

"Taken?" Gill growled as he too began readying a horse. "That damn Zachariah better hope we get Wyatt back alive or I'll be after him for not keeping him safe."

"Remember who we're talking about," Jebidiah gently warned. "Wyatt has a tendency to do what he wants."

"I'll go get Preston. He can stay with Maria while we're gone," Gill said as the two men led their horses from the barn. Elmer had already made a mad dash back toward town.

Gill adjusted his gun belt. "We'll stop by Pete and Janes on the way to town. They'll want to know what's going on."

***

"Taken?!" Jane exclaimed, her blond hair blowing wildly in the wind as her head whipped around. "What do you mean, 'taken'? Taken for what?"

Jeb shrugged. "I don't know. Craig didn't explain why they took him."

Jane opened her mouth but Pete gently placed his freckled hand over her full lips He received a nip for his troubles. "Calm down, sweetheart," he warned, before laying a hand over her swelled midsection which appeared ready to burst at any time. "You don't want to get worked up."

"Worked up?" Jane's eyes flashed and Jeb, Gill and Preston took a step closer to the door. Jane had always had a snappy temper but the babe in her belly had caused her to be unusually short fused.

Pete held up his hands and flashed her a crooked-toothed grin. "I know you're a strong and capable woman who doesn't need to be told what to do, Jane, but I'm thinking of the nugget in your belly."

Jane rolled her eyes and dismissed him, turning her attention to Gill and Jeb instead. "Are you going after him?"

"Hell yeah, we're going," Gill assured her.

Pete frowned. "I can't go. Jane could have the baby anytime."

Jane shook her head. "You can't stay here. Wyatt needs you."

But what if you need me?" Pete asked, taking her hands in his and pulling her as close as her bulging midsection would allow.

Jane's expression softened as she gazed up at her husband. "Me and this babe'll be just fine."

When Pete still didn't seem convinced, Jane signed. "How about I go stay with Preston at Maria's? Will that make you feel better?"

Pete glanced over at Preston. "Can you promise to take real good care of my woman?"

Preston pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Yessir."

Pete winked. "But not too good. I want her to come back to me when I get home."

Preston stifled a laugh.

"We'll give you two some privacy and ready your horse and wagon," Gill offered before leading Preston and Jeb out the door.

"Gill?" Preston's quiet voice asked once they were in the sunshine.

Gill glanced down at the boy. "Yeah?"

"You and Jeb and Uncle Pete are coming home, aren't you?"

Gill smiled and squeezed Preston's scrawny shoulder. "Of course we are," he promised. "And we're bringing Uncle Craig and Uncle Wyatt back with us too."

Preston smiled with relief. "I'll make sure I take good care of Granny, Jane and my new cousin if it comes. You just make it back safe and keep a close eye on Uncle Pete. I'm too young to take care of a woman and baby forever."

Despite the tension they were feeling, both Gilliam and Jebidiah chuckled at the pale waif of a boy.

Jeb ruffled his hair. "We'll do our best, son."

***

Gill, Jeb and Pete headed down the road out of town after dropping Jane and Preston off at Maria's. Jeb had checked and double-checked Preston's supply of medication before deciding to order more just in case he was gone longer than he anticipated.

"I know the three of us riding together could get a bit awkward," Pete announced with a knowing nod. "But Jebidiah, you just have to understand that Gill was mine before he was yours so showing your jealousy would only cause you to embarrass yourself."

Jeb shook his head. "Trust me, Pete. I have no reason to be jealous of you."

Pete scoffed. "What that an insult? What's so bad about me. My hair? The freckles? Maybe my teeth?"

Gill reached out and kicked his best friend in the leg. "Don't insult yourself, Pete. You're beautiful."

Jeb nearly choked on the laugh he did his best to suppress. "I'm not jealous of you because I know you aren't dumb enough to try anything. That cousin of mine would string you up by your innards."

Pete stroked at his chin thoughtfully a moment before sighing. "I suppose he's right." He sent Gill a sympathetic gaze. "You should have grabbed me up while you could, Gill. I'm in high demand and you took your time."

Gill's lips twitched. "I'll have to make do with Jebidiah."

"I'm afraid you will," Pete replied with a nod.

"Alright you two, that's enough," Jeb scolded. The men were out of town and the time had come to see just how fast their horses would fly. "Time to go find Wyatt."