McKettrick's Heart by Linda Lael Miller Page A

slip knot, so Spud wouldn’t rattle around in that trailer like a dry bean in the bottom of a tin bucket.
    â€œThere’ll be fireworks later,” Jesse observed. “Lots of noise. Maybe we ought to take old Seabiscuit here out to the Triple M right now. Get him settled into a stall.”
    â€œI don’t imagine he’s too skittish,” Keegan observed. “Not after carrying a lot of screaming, kicking kids around in circles for who knows how many years.”
    â€œKeeg,” Jesse said.
    Keegan didn’t look at him. Didn’t answer.
    â€œYou’re taking it pretty hard—Psyche’s being so sick, I mean.”
    Keegan felt his backbone stiffen. “I guess Myrna told you that, too.”
    â€œNobody had to tell me, Keeg.”
    He and Rance and Jesse had grown up together, like pups from a barn litter. They didn’t have many secrets from each other.
    â€œI’ll be all right,” Keegan said, stepping out of the trailer to join Jesse in the road. He put the ramp up again, closed and fastened the doors. “Once I get over the shock.”
    He would be all right, he knew.
    But Psyche wouldn’t.
    And Lucas might not be, either.
    Jesse regarded him silently in the dim glow of a streetlight. Carnival music played, and the Ferris wheel turned, and little kids shrieked with delight on the spinning cars on the spider ride.
    â€œI’ll be all right,” Keegan repeated.
    Jesse rested a hand on his shoulder. “I know,” he said. “But the meantime is bound to be hard.”
    Keegan swallowed, nodded. Again, he didn’t trust himself to talk.
    â€œWe’ll be here, Keeg,” Jesse told him. “Rance and me.”
    Keegan was counting on that, though he couldn’t say so.
    â€œMcKettrick-tough,” Jesse said. It was one of a dozen such phrases, drilled into them from the time they could understand the spoken word.
    â€œMcKettrick-tough,” Keegan confirmed.

CHAPTER
5
    P SYCHE SAT ALONE under a tree, with Lucas snoozing on a blanket nearby. Seeing Keegan returning with Jesse, she beckoned.
    Keegan’s heart turned over. She was so brave. By comparison, he felt like a sniveling yellow-belly.
    Nonetheless, he approached. Jesse immediately bent and kissed Psyche’s cheek. “Hey, beautiful,” he said. “Welcome home.”
    She smiled. “I hear congratulations are in order,” she replied. “The uncatchable Jesse McKettrick has been caught.”
    Jesse chuckled, nodded. “Snagged, bagged and tagged,” he said.
    â€œI’d like to meet your wife,” Psyche told him. “I promise I won’t tell her what a rounder you’ve always been.”
    Jesse flashed that famous grin. “I think she suspects,” he replied. “I’ll go find her.” With that, he slapped Keegan once on the shoulder and walked away.
    â€œSit down, Keegan,” Psyche said.
    He sat cross-legged in the fragrant grass.
    â€œYou and Molly look wonderful together,” Psyche remarked, probably trying to be subtle.
    Keegan had known Psyche all his life, and he knew instantly what she was getting at. “No possible way,” he said. “Forget it.”
    â€œForget what?” Psyche asked innocently.
    â€œYou know damn well what,” Keegan answered.
    She grinned. “Okay, so I thought it would be nice if you and Molly fell in love and got married. Lucas would have a real family then—he’d be a McKettrick. I can just picture all of you beaming out of one of those photo Christmas cards—‘Happy Holidays from the Four of Us.’”
    â€œLucas can be a McKettrick,” Keegan said. “All you have to do is let me adopt him, instead of Molly.”
    Psyche sighed. “It would be much simpler if you married Molly, and the two of you adopted him together.”
    â€œI had one cheating wife,” Keegan retorted, without intending to. “I don’t