Her Secret Sons. Tina Leonard

he’d turned out to be such a rat.

      Pepper had been an excellent student, determined to get into college and then medical school. Immediately following her high school graduation, after Luke had made his own departure from town—and before she really began to show—Pepper had fled to the North. Her aunt Jerry loved her in spite of everything, and helped her out with the twins while Pepper attended classes. She felt guilty for keeping the boys from their father, but knew from her brothers that Luke had never returned to Tulips, not even for a holiday. That salved her conscience somewhat.

      She’d recently purchased a house in Tulips, as well as a building she’d converted into a medical clinic to service the small town. It was her way of giving back to the people who had taken such good care of her over the years; it was her way of returning with grace and honor and hope for belonging.

      “Come on, boys,” she said, “it’s time to go home.”

      “I guess you’re sure this is the right thing to do,” Toby said.

      “No. I’m not.” She locked the door behind them. “But now I have my own clinic and so we’re moving to where my job and your family are.”

      “They don’t feel like family. Aunt Jerry is family,” Josh said.

      Duke and Zach might never forgive her for this. “Aunt Jerry may come live in Tulips next year.”

      “Really?” Both boys perked up.

      They all piled in the car, and Pepper nodded. “I think so. After I have some time to get us settled.”

      “So…will our father be there?” Toby, who sat beside her in the front seat, asked.

      Pepper swallowed hard. “No. He never returned to Tulips. I don’t know where he is. I’m sorry.”

      Toby shrugged and took a last look out the window; in the backseat, Josh had his face pressed up against the glass—two sad boys saying their goodbyes to the only home they’d ever known.

      “I love you both so much,” she said.

      “People are going to make fun of us. The kids are going to know we don’t have a father,” Josh stated.

      “I don’t think that will happen. I believe you’ll be embraced with open arms. It’s me everyone is going to be a little surprised by, but…” She took a deep breath…“I never said I was perfect. And you guys are my saving graces. My life is good because of you.”

      They accepted that in silence, and Pepper didn’t begrudge them their mood. At least she didn’t have to face the one thing she probably never could: Luke McGarrett. From him, she was safe.

      Although after she jumped this hurdle, she really was going to have to think about introducing Luke to his sons. Somehow.

      LUKE MCGARRETT HELPED three women onto the luxury yacht with his usual courteous smile. Then he assisted their father, the general, on board, as well, scanning the landscape to make certain they weren’t being followed by paparazzi, mischief-makers or beggars.

      It was a tough life having to guard beautiful, leggy blondes every day of his life, but someone had to do it, he thought with a grin. Being a world traveler and in the employ of the general definitely had its rewards. Mainly the scenery.

      The “scenery” was untouchable, of course, since protecting them was his job, but he had to admit he wasn’t attracted to the girls. If anything, he was attracted to the traveling and the money and the fact that he’d never have to return to Tulips, Texas.

      He sat at the stern once everyone was seated and pulled a letter from his inside shirt pocket to reread.

      Luke, you’ve been gone a long time. I’m getting older and need some help with the family real estate business. I’d like my only son to learn my profession and I’d like to spend some time getting to know you. I’ve missed that.

      Love, Dad

      Luke put the letter away, resisting the urge to toss it into the sea. There was nothing in Tulips for him. He didn’t care about the family business. The last thing he was ever going to do was find a wife and settle down and start having kids—and he knew very well that was on his father’s mind. Oh, no, sir, not me. I’m single and proud of it.

      One of the blondes smiled at him, and he felt much better. The scenery was just so damn good it nearly hurt.

      THERE WAS NO EASY WAY to do this. Pepper had thought long and hard for years about how to tell people her secret. Just imagining herself saying the words was difficult.

      But it was time. So Pepper called a meeting at the Tulips Saloon, knowing it was best to tell her family and friends all at once.

      Duke and Zach were seated in the antique chairs of the saloon with their wives, Liberty and Jessie, beside them, their children bouncing on their knees. Pepper turned her attention to their friends Helen Granger, Pansy Trifle, Hiram Parsons and Bug Carmine. This was her family, extended and otherwise, and the best thing to do when spilling a secret was to do it surrounded by people who loved her.

      She stood, and everyone smiled at her. “Thank you for coming today and spending your Sunday afternoon with me.”

      There were murmurs of “That’s all right” and “We’re glad to have you back, Pepper.” She felt tears prickling at the back of her eyes. Having left the boys in the car, instructing them to come inside the saloon in ten minutes, she wondered if she was doing the right thing. Had she ever?

      “Today I’m going to tell you something I possibly should have told you long ago,” she began. “I should have told you, but I couldn’t.” She glanced at her brothers for understanding and support. “I want to apologize to you in advance for that. A teenage miscalculation on my part, because you’re the best men I’ve ever known….” She stopped, not knowing how to continue. They were going to be so shocked, so dumbfounded….

      “Mom?” Toby said, walking through the door just ahead of his brother. “Is it time for us to come in?”

      The whole room went very still. Each face was riveted upon her sons, who looked back at them shyly, their expressions holding nervousness and maybe embarrassment.

      Thank you, Pepper thought. Always my heroes, riding in to rescue me from myself. “Yes, it’s time to come in, boys.” She went to hug them. Taking a deep breath, she held their hands and turned around to face the small assembly. “I’d like to introduce you all to my sons, Toby and Josh. They’re my family and the reason for my being.”

      No one said a word. Pepper thought she saw sympathy in Liberty’s and Jessie’s faces, but everyone else sat thunderstruck.

      Helen rose first, walking to Toby and Josh with an expression of determination and interest behind her black-rimmed glasses. “I’m Helen Granger,” she told the boys, with a solemn handshake for each. “We’re so glad you’ve come to live in Tulips.”

      “Oh, absolutely,” Pansy Trifle said, hopping up to join her friend. “This is a wonderful place for boys to grow up. You’ll really like it here.”

      The twins shook hands with each woman, but Duke and Zach couldn’t seem to move from their chairs. So their wives got up, dragging their husbands with them.

      “I’m your aunt, Liberty, and this is your uncle, Duke. He’s the sheriff of Tulips,” Liberty said. “You also have three small cousins.”

      “Uncle?” Duke repeated. “How old are you boys?”

      “Thirteen,” they said together.

      He nodded, giving Pepper a swift glance. “I’ve been an uncle for thirteen years.” Looking back at the twins, he shook their hands. “Guess I’m the lucky one.”

      “Me, too,” Zach said swiftly, following behind. “I’m your uncle, Zach, and this is your aunt, Jessie, and our babies, Mattie and James.”

      Everyone else in