Chapter 75：Ch 75: Surprised?

He didn't know whether to hug him or punch him. "Surprised?" "Surprised is when you get a windfall on your tax return." He finally said finding his voice. "True enough," Joseph said and shifted his stance slightly.

"I didn't mean to startle you." Owen looked down the length of him. He was still in good shape but something about the way he was standing made him pause, "You have a leg injury?" he nodded toward his right leg.

He smiled, "Several—now before we go further, explain yourself." "Ah, Abigail." "I told you to watch her, not sleep with her." He said angrily. "We're married." He explained, "as of yesterday."

"Lord, you took this beholden to a friend thing literally," Joseph said arching his ebony brows all trace of his anger disappeared. "No, I do love her. I have for a while." He confessed easily.

"You?" Joseph somehow found that difficult to believe because of Owen's history with women, but if he had to form an opinion, Abigail was special. He shrugged, "Me." "Well, I think I need to hear this story."

His expression softened and he took a deep breath, "But first I've got to sit down. My leg is still killing me." He limped over to the table, "Did I freak her out?" "She's been having nightmares about you forever."

"Poor Abigail." He said taking a seat. "I would have stayed at the house, but it's not ours anymore." "No, she couldn't go back there. It was too hard on her." He dug in his pocket and pulled out Owen's key card placing it on the table.

"I still had this. I went into your room to tell you I was still alive and found you with my sister—I thought about killing you." He smirked, "I don't blame you, but my intentions with her have always been honorable."

I've got to get back to Abigail before she comes looking for me, and you give her a heart attack. She's still grieving over losing you and I won't have her any more upset. This conversation can be finished in the morning."

He turned back to him, "You have some explaining to do to." Joseph nodded. Normally he would argue, but really if the two were married, he couldn't be happier that Abigail was safe.

Also if Owen was telling the truth, and he was sure he wasn't responsible for her anymore. Not only that, he was tired and he felt it to the bone.

After he recovered from his injuries, it took him a week to catch a ride home, and that was on several stopovers and catching rides on several army planes, one was a Hercules. In all, he'd been awake for more than two days trying to get back to his sister. "I guess."

He walked to the entrance of the kitchen, "I'll see you first thing in the morning—" he paused, "—I'm glad you're okay." "You and me both buddy." He grinned as Owen left.

***

Owen made his way back to his room while the gears in his mind were going a hundred miles a second on how to present this to his wife. Her brother wasn't dead.

Did that mean that she wouldn't want him, his protection? He shook his head, no that wasn't possible. She'd told him that she loved him the first night they made love. She had given herself to him.

There was no way she would do that unless she meant every word. He paused at the top of the stairs as a warm feeling flushed through him. She was going to make him a father and nothing in his life could measure up to that euphoric feeling. Smiling, he made his way to his room.

When he opened the door she was still in his bed sitting up, light on, with the sheet pulled up to cover her breasts. She tilted her head slightly at seeing him and her hair was astray about her shoulders.