Watson - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,19

be one step closer to keeping everyone safe. Also, it’s a good way not to overload the hospital emergency room.” She told him what Elliot had told her. “I’ve noticed that too. With jobs coming in and all the other improvements being made around here, there are more homes being rented or bought up. Booker bought himself a home yesterday when I was with him.”

“That’s wonderful.” Her phone buzzed, and she looked down at it. “That’s odd. It’s my aunt. I’ve not heard from her in years.” Letting it go to voice mail, she smiled at Wats. “I think we need to discuss a few things. Going forward, I mean. I wanted to say this to you earlier, but I was chicken to do it. I’m falling in love with you, Wats. I know it’s soon and all, but you’re a wonderful person that simply makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. My heart is so full of happiness because of you. I sometimes have to pinch myself to make myself realize that I’m really with you. For however long you can stand me.”

“I love you too.” Her phone buzzed again. This time she didn’t bother looking. “I think the moment I saw you, I was in love. You’re nothing like I thought I wanted in someone to love, but so much better. I do love you, Rayne, and I cannot wait to spend time with you, getting to know everything there is to know about you.”

He kissed her then. Pulling her to him, Wats made short work of the distance between them. They didn’t paw at one another, as her aunts used to say about people dating, but the kiss made her hungrier for him than she’d been before. When they parted, it took several minutes for her breathing to even out. The alarm on her phone buzzed that she had twenty minutes to get back to the test.

“I’d better get back.” She still had ten minutes after he pulled up in front of the building. “Thank you for this. I love that you didn’t ask me about how I’d done. Or anything about the test. I didn’t realize I didn’t want you to do that until you didn’t. You’ve relaxed me enough that I can go in and feel good about finishing up.”

“I love you, Rayne.” He kissed her again, but this one was quick. “Now, get in there and knock them dead, my dear. So I can take you out to dinner and then ravish you later.”

She was laughing when she entered the room. The timer still had several minutes on it, but she didn’t care. Getting her test back, signing off on the file again, she was refreshed and feeling good about herself as she dove into the rest of the questions.

~*~

Wats found his uncle just where he said he’d be. The others, his cousins as well as uncles and his dad, were already at the big house. Wats and Abby had put out some finger food, but he wasn’t hungry just yet. The meeting had been called just before he’d gone to have lunch with Rayne. He didn’t mention it to her because he wasn’t sure if it would upset her. Sitting at the large dinner table, the others had already been served drinks, but he declined even that. For now, anyway. Uncle Clayton stood up.

“The prison called me earlier this morning to tell me they’re having some trouble with the women. They want their husbands, all of us, to come up there and get them out, as you might well have guessed. However, the warden said he thought it was more than that. That their adjustment was difficult for them because they didn’t have anything of their own with them. It took me a few minutes more of asking questions before I was able to figure it out. They just want out and aren’t cooperating with anyone until they get it in their heads that where they are is a place they’re going to be for a very long time.” Wats asked if he thought they’d ever get that into their heads. “Doubtful, I think. They haven’t so far. However, he wants me to go up there and try to explain to them that they’re in prison for the rest of their days. The government is going to decide on their sentencing when their day comes up. The warden told me he believes, from the stuff he’s been hearing, that they’re going to