Part 15 (1/2)

”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?” he exploded.

”Now, Justin...!”

But he was on his feet and the chair was on the floor. He grabbed onto the desk for support. His eyes were wild and there was a tremor in the lean hand holding his cigarette. ”A baby? Shelby's pregnant, and she didn't tell me?”

Abby was uncertain about what to do, so she rushed out of the office and found Calhoun.

”Come on.” She pulled at his big hand. ”I need you.”

He grinned. ”Now, honey, this isn't the place...”

”Justin's in shock.”

That wiped the smile off his face. He followed her into Justin's office. The older man was right where Abby had left him, still white in the face and looking as if he'd been stabbed.

”You need to take him to the airport,” Abby instructed.

”Airport, h.e.l.l, he needs a doctor. What did you do to him?” he asked in a half whisper.

”I told him Shelby was pregnant.”

Calhoun whistled through his teeth.

”And that she was on her way to Houston.”

”I can drive,” Justin said unsteadily. He started toward the door, but his eyes were dilated and his hand shook as he tried to put out the cigarette, knocking the glowing tip onto the desk.

Calhoun got it into the ashtray and took his brother firmly by the arm. ”Don't you worry, big brother, I'll get you there on time.” He glanced at Abby. ”Which terminal?”

She grimaced. ”Jacobsville airport only has one terminal.”

”You're a big help,” Calhoun muttered. ”Anyway, I think there are only a couple of flights to Houston during off-peak hours.”

”She's pregnant,” Justin said huskily. ”She didn't tell me. She knew and she couldn't tell me. It's all my fault. I failed her.”

”Everything will be all right,” Abby said rea.s.suringly.

”G.o.d, I hope so.” Justin glanced at her. ”Thanks, honey.”

”Don't tell Shelby I told you,” Abby returned. ”It's her place to tell you, but I was afraid you'd let her go if I didn't.”

He only nodded, and finally he moved away from Calhoun and went out the door. But he didn't argue when Calhoun gestured toward the Jaguar and got in under the wheel.

”What if the plane's already gone?” Justin asked, smoking like a furnace all the way to the airport.

”Then we'll get you a ticket to Houston.” He grinned. ”I'm going to be an uncle. Imagine that.” He glanced at his taciturn brother. ”And here I thought you and Shelby were living chastely.”

”Shut up,” Justin said, hiding embarra.s.sment in bad temper.

”Whatever you say, big brother.” He whistled to himself as he swung the car onto the highway and gunned the accelerator.

They reached the airport in record time. Justin was out the door almost before Calhoun stopped the car, half running to get into the terminal. They found the flight to Houston and Justin went to the ticket counter only to be told that the plane was scheduled to take off in less than five minutes.

Justin outdistanced Calhoun on his way to the concourse, his eyes fixed on the distant gate, his heart bursting with fear that she was going to get away before he got there. He broke into a run as the gate numbers got bigger, determined to make it in time.

Only another minute, he told himself, and he'd have her in sight. Then he could talk to her, he could make her understand how much he loved her.

He pushed past a group of departing pa.s.sengers from the concourse and made it to the empty ticket counter just in time to watch the clerk pull down the Houston sign and replace it with one for another city.

”The Houston flight,” Justin asked curtly. ”Where is it?”

”It left about two minutes ago,” the clerk said pleasantly. ”It's taxiing out to the runway now.”

Justin felt his heart stop. He moved around the desk to the window and looked out. Planes were taking off, and one of them had Shelby on it. Shelby and his baby.

He stood there, frozen, his heart shattering. It was his own fault. He'd driven her to this. But he didn't know how in h.e.l.l he was going to live with it. He could only imagine the anguish that had caused her to run away.

Calhoun touched his shoulder gently. ”How about something to eat? Then we'll get you a seat on the next plane.”

”I don't even know where to look for her, do you realize that?” he asked huskily. ”My G.o.d, Cal, I don't know where she's gone!”

”It will be all right,” Calhoun said firmly. ”We'll find her. I swear we will.”

Justin turned away from the window. ”Food be d.a.m.ned, I want a drink.” He strode off toward the flas.h.i.+ng Restaurant and Lounge sign down the concourse.

Calhoun followed, wondering how he was going to keep his big brother sober after his devastating letdown. Justin was shattered and Calhoun didn't quite know what to do for him. He'd said that they'd find Shelby, but he had no better idea of how to go about it than Justin did. It wasn't going to be easy to find one lone pregnant woman in a city the size of Houston. Especially if she didn't want to be found.

He stood out in the corridor, watching Justin go into the lounge and sit at a window table. He gave the waitress an order, and Calhoun sighed heavily. Well, maybe it would be a good idea if he went to the ticket desk and found out when the next plane left for Houston so he could get Justin a seat.

He was on his way down the concourse when a familiar face caught his eye. He stopped in the middle of the aisle and stared. He wasn't dreaming. That gray-clad woman with the small suitcase was Shelby, and she was coming straight toward him.

Chapter Eleven.

Shelby felt the ground shake under her at the sight of Calhoun barring her path. She'd been certain Maria wouldn't say anything, but now she wasn't sure. Unless, of course, Calhoun was here to meet a client.

”Uh, hi, Calhoun,” she said with a shaky smile.

He sighed. ”Hi, yourself, Shelby.” He noted the small suitcase she was carrying. ”Going somewhere?”

She s.h.i.+fted restlessly. ”Yes,” she murmured. She stared at his suit instead of his face. ”I'm leaving your brother.”

”I know. Maria called Abby. Justin knows, too.”

Shelby felt her face going pale, but a quick look around didn't produce Justin, and she sighed with relief. ”He isn't with you, then?”

He took her arm gently. ”I think it might help things along if you had a look at him. Come on, now, he won't bite.”