Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

NEELY KATE

I knew Rose thought I was going overboard with Christmas, and I couldn’t say I blamed her. I mean, I was making such a big deal out of going to Ned’s X-mas Tree Farmpozium when even I knew the place was a disaster. But I’d never had much of a Christmas as a kid. For the first twelve years, it had just been me and my mother, and whichever loser boyfriend was her flavor of the month. Most years, we never even had a Christmas tree, not unless her boyfriend wanted one. We didn’t have any stored decorations, so if we got a tree, we’d make paper snowflakes, glitter-covered construction paper ornaments, and string popcorn garlands, although my mother would quickly grow tired of doing any of the crafting and left it up to me. (I supposed those Christmas ornaments helped form my love for bedazzling. The shinier the better.)

There were no stockings hung by the chimney with care—not that the places we lived ever had chimneys. There were definitely no presents.

The exception was the year I’d turned ten. My mother had somehow managed to pick herself a nicer boyfriend. When he realized my mother hadn’t planned to give me a Christmas, he’d brought over a real tree that somehow looked even worse than the one on the Charlie Brown Christmas special. He’d even bought a few decorations. The topper was when he came home on Christmas Eve with two presents—one for my mother and one of me. On Christmas morning, there was an extra present under the tree for me that said it was from Santa.

O Come, All Ye Faithful was playing as I opened it—a baby doll who pottied on the provided plastic toilet. I was ten going on twenty at that point, and I thought I was too old for dolls, let alone dolls that peed, but it didn’t stop my tears of gratitude. I gave him the biggest hug, and kissed his cheek, and he told me Santa had noticed I was a good girl. I knew it was from him, but I played along, catching the dark look in my mother’s eyes.

She broke up with him two days later.

It was no secret why. She’d claimed she was protecting me because he was a pervert for giving me a gift like that, but we both knew it was because he’d given me more attention than she ever had. Jenny Lynn Rivers was an attention whore who always wanted the spotlight on herself, and she saw me as competition.

Less than two years later, she dropped me off at my grandmother’s farm and she never looked back.

Christmas at Granny’s was different than with my mother. There was always a tree and plenty of stockings and lots of food—a luxury that had often been in short supply with Jenny Lynn. But there were also lots of people and lots of noise and lots of confusion. Sometimes, I felt lost in the crowd.

My cousin Witt was closest to me in age, and we were friends when we were younger, but he was a rowdy boy who was rough and tumble with our older cousins. Christmases with the Riverses were better, but I still didn’t feel like they were mine.

So, this Christmas, I’d decided it was going to be the Christmas I’d always dreamed of as a child. I swore that Daisy would have everything I hadn’t—trees with store-bought ornaments, cookies, carols, and lots and lots of presents.

Which meant I was going overboard on everything.

So, I knew Rose thought I was being ridiculous even if she was too kind to say so. I suspected Jed secretly did too. Sure, Ned’s X-mas Tree Farmpozium was bound to be lame, but cutting down a Christmas tree had always been one of my dream Christmas activities, and once Jed found out, he swore he’d make it happen.

But he still refused to wear the bedazzled hat I’d made him.

There was only so much a man could do for the woman he loved before he had to draw the line.

I had to admit that Rose’s idea for the shirt had been a brainstorm, and I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of it. Maybe it was because I’d been too busy bedazzling everything that didn’t move.

Nicholson’s Farm Supply was on the way home, so I pulled into the parking lot then headed straight for the flannel shirts in the men’s section. I was shuffling through the rack when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Well, well, well. I’m surprised to see you here, Neely Kate Colson.”

I spun around and propped a hand on my hip, giving Carter Hale a good-natured glare. “It’s Neely Kate Carlisle now, and before that it was Neely Kate Rivers. You, of all people, should know I hate that name.” He’d been my divorce attorney, after all.

“My apologies,” he said, making a slight bow.

I narrowed my eyes. “What on earth are you doin’ slumming at a farm store, Carter Hale?”

He shrugged as a cheesy grin lit up his face. “Maybe I’m finding a flannel shirt, same as you.”

“Doubtful.” I shook my head. “I struggle to see you in a flannel shirt…although maybe a flannel tie.”

He let out a deep laugh. “I’ll have you know I’ve worn flannel shirts in my day.”

“When did you ever wear a flannel shirt?”

“I wore plenty of them when I was a boy. My mother used to shop here regularly.”

That caught me by surprise me, although I wasn’t sure why. I’d heard that Carter was raised in these parts. In fact, I was pretty sure his family lived close to the Louisiana border, and most people down that way didn’t have money. I supposed I’d imagined Carter being born in his suit and tie.

“Maybe so, but that doesn’t explain what you’re doin’ here now.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I’m looking for a Christmas present. It ’ tis the season, after all.”

I gave him a saucy grin. “You’re tellin’ me you have someone who you actually buy Christmas presents for? Your receptionists don’t stick around long enough to warrant a Christmas gift.” I tilted my head. “Can Skeeter Malcolm wear flannel shirts in the federal prison?” I motioned up and down my body. “I thought he was strictly wearin’ orange jumpsuits.”

A serious look crossed his face, and he quickly tried to cover it with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I still have family in these parts.” He studied my face for a long second, then surprised me when he asked, “Are you happy with Jed?”

My mouth parted in shock. “Why would you ask me that?”

He looked grim as he turned to the clothes rack and started sorting through shirts, moving the hangers one by one. “Just checking on my favorite client,” he said. “Giving you part of the whole customer care experience.”

I knew it was more than that. Carter had been interested in me at one point, but I couldn’t help thinking that this had something to do with his loyalty to his boss. Was this because Jed left Skeeter? Was Skeeter out for revenge because he’d been arrested and Jed had gotten off scot-free?

But Carter had gone above and beyond to help me find my wayward husband, Ronnie, even if his attempts hadn’t been unfruitful. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. “I’m good. I’m happy,” I said softly. “I love my life with Jed and our baby.”

He nodded slightly as he continued to look at the rack, shuffling the hangers, metal screeching on metal. “I was going to call you,” he said, still keeping his gaze on the hangers. “I feel like I should warn you…the FBI will be contacting Jed after the first of the year.”

I felt like I was going to pass out. Suddenly, every dream I had of my life with Jed felt like it had been tossed onto a funeral pyre and Carter was holding the torch. “What?” I asked breathlessly. “Why?”

He glanced at me. “The real question is, why haven’t they already? Haven’t either of you wondered? Jed Carlisle was a known associate of James Malcolm for over a decade. Seems to me they’d think Jed had plenty of dirt to bury Skeeter.”

I shook my head. Sure, we’d worried that they’d question him, mostly because Jed’s hands weren’t clean. He’d done things, some of which he wasn’t particularly proud of, and there was no statute of limitations on some of them. But Skeeter had been arrested last June, and after so many months, we thought we were in the clear.

“Are you sure?” I asked, my voice shaky.

He turned around to face me. “About ninety-five percent sure.”

I drew in a sharp breath. “Are they gonna try to pin something on him?”

He hesitated. “Jed should get an attorney.”

My head started to become fuzzy. “I thought you were his attorney.”

“I’m Skeeter Malcolm’s attorney. If Jed uses me, it will look guilty by association, and even if he was complicit in this mess, he still couldn’t use me. It would be a conflict of interest.”

“How is it a conflict of interest?” I asked in dismay.

He leveled his gaze and said firmly, “He needs to get an attorney, Neely Kate.”

I backed up a few paces, and Carter followed, gripping my elbow. “Do you need to sit down? You look like you’re about to pass out.”

I didn’t respond, but he gently guided me to the boot section a few feet away and helped me sit on a bench.

I took several breaths to calm down, but my panic continued to rise. “What are the chances they’re gonna charge him with something?”

Carter squatted in front of me, compassion filling his eyes. “I suspect they’re gonna want dirt on Skeeter. They might threaten him with charges, then offer him some kind of immunity deal to get it. Which means he’s gonna need a shark of a lawyer. I’d ask Deveraux for some suggestions.”

My eyes flew wide. “Mason?”

He nodded.

“But Mason’s not even around here anymore. Last I heard, he got a job with the secretary of state up in Little Rock, not to mention he’s on the prosecuting side of the law.”

“Neely Kate, this’ll be happenin’ up in Little Rock. Mason may not be Jed’s friend, but he’s your friend. He’ll help you.”

I tried unsuccessfully to swallow the lump of fear in my throat. “Just like you’re helpin’ me now.”

He nodded. “I tried contacting Jed, but I think he’s blocked my number.”

“That was stupid,” I grunted.

Carter laughed. “I always liked you, Neely Kate. You never held back any punches.” He paused, then said, “Skeeter liked you too.”

I made a face, then after a second said, “My feelings for that man are complicated.”

“That’s fair.”

I gave him a sad smile. “Isn’t this where you threaten me that Jed shouldn’t rat Skeeter out…or else?”

He slowly shook his head. “No. I’d never do that to you, Neely Kate. You deserve every bit of happiness that you can get. I hate telling you this, especially so close to Christmas, but I didn’t want you to be caught unaware. Jed needs to find a lawyer fast and come up with a game plan.”

Tears filled my eyes, and I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder. “You’re a good friend, Carter. Thank you.”

“Shhh!” he said, glancing around. “Don’t go ruinin’ my badass reputation.”

I laughed, just like he expected me to, but he’d said what he had to say and gave me what comfort he could. The rest was up to me and Jed now.

I stood and he stood with me. “Thank you,” I said, my voice breaking.

“Ah, Neely Kate.” He tapped the underside of my chin. “Chin up. Get a badass attorney nearly as good as me, and you’ll both be okay.”

“You sayin’ I shouldn’t find one better or equal to you?” I teased, surprised I had it in me given the news I’d just heard.

“There’s no one equal to me, let alone better,” he scoffed.

“Humility was always a good look on you, Carter.”

“I just call it as I see it.” He walked over to the rack and grabbed a red flannel shirt with black plaid stripes, then handed it to me. “Here, this’ll be tight on Jed’s arms, but you’ll appreciate the view.”

“Who said I was lookin’ for a shirt for Jed?”

He grinned. “Who else would you be buyin’ a men’s shirt for?” I started to tell him I could have been buying a Christmas gift for my brother, but he’d already turned and headed for the exit. I hadn’t even had a chance to thank him. Which, I suspected, was how he preferred it.

It wasn’t lost on me that he hadn’t bought anything. And it also wasn’t lost on me that he’d likely followed me here, so we’d be alone when he shared his dreadful news.

Now I had to go home and tell Jed.

No, not yet.

I didn’t want to spoil the weekend. Carter said the Feds would be calling after the first of the year, which meant I had time to tell him later.