Emma looked at Sandy. Her face reflected shock that slowly transformed into anger. Emma sat back in her chair, forcing her tight muscles to relax. She needed to let Sandy deal with Carson. She knew her friend would do the right thing.
Sandy wound her arms around her son and brought him against her while he sobbed. “Emma, we’ll talk, and I’ll call you later with the third boy’s name. Then all four of us need to talk. This can’t continue.”
“I agree. Bullies in our neighborhood and school can’t be tolerated.” Emma rose. “I can see myself out. Thank you, Sandy. Goodbye, Carson.”
“I should be thanking you for bringing this problem to my attention.”
Emma left the O’Neils’ house. Hope seeded in her heart, and she prayed it would grow. That they would come up with a solution to help their sons and others.
Emma drove to Jake’s place in ten minutes and parked in the driveway. Josh had wanted to bring Buttons over to see Jake and Shep, but she’d told him maybe some other time. When she’d gone in to wake her son for church, Buttons had been sleeping right next to Josh, his arms lying over the terrier. This was one animal she decided she wouldn’t train for Caring Canines, and she knew Abbey would understand, especially with what was going on in her son’s life right now.
The sounds of her son and Jake talking came from the backyard. She headed for the gate and let herself in. When she rounded the corner of the house, Josh hurled a baseball the farthest she had ever seen and Shep ran to fetch it.
Emma approached Josh and Jake by the deck. “I don’t think you’re going to need me to be a fielder. Shep’s doing a great job.”
“He loves to get the ball, Mom. I’ll teach Buttons to do the same thing.”
“So I can leave and come back when you’re through?”
Jake shook his head and smiled. “You can be the cheerleader.”
For the next half hour Jake patiently worked with her son to show him the correct way of throwing a baseball. As she cheered on Josh, she watched Jake and saw the traits of a good leader—he provided honesty when Josh needed instruction, support even when he didn’t quite get the move right, confidence as they practiced again and again.
When Jake sat on the deck steps, Josh plopped down next to him, breathing hard from his exertion. Shep joined the pair and lay down on the grass nearby.
“I’m changing hats. I’m going to be the water girl. You all look like you could use some.”
Jake leaned back, bracing himself with his elbows. “Sounds good. How about you, Josh?”
Her son followed suit, relaxing against the stair behind him. “Yep, with lots of ice.”
Emma mounted the steps between the two and went inside the kitchen. After serving and cleaning up the night before, she was familiar with Jake’s setup and in no time found the glasses and a bowl for Shep. She filled a pitcher with ice and water, put everything on a tray, then returned to the deck.
“How did the self-defense lesson go?” After passing the drinks to everyone, including the dog, she sat down behind her son at the top of the stairs.
Jake slid her a glance. “Good, but it’s not easy to practice with Josh when I’m so much taller. Maybe I can show you a few moves, and you two can go through them. It wouldn’t hurt for you to know these in case you’re ever attacked.”
Josh’s eyes grew round and his body tensed.
Emma hurriedly said to her son, “That’s nothing for you to worry about. It never hurts to be prepared. Just as a precaution, hon.”
“Mom’s still a lot taller than me.” Josh’s stiff posture eased, and he gulped down most of the water in his glass.
“Jake, are you back here?” Marcella Kime came around the corner with a basket. She smiled. “I thought I heard you.”
Out of the corner of his mouth, Jake murmured, “Sunday afternoon is always one of her days to bring some food to fatten me up. She thinks I’ve lost too much weight.”
“I heard that, and I’m right.” Marcella set the basket down on the step then bent over to pet Shep. “He’s adorable. It’s about time you got some companionship.” His neighbor’s gaze flitted from the dog to Emma. “Nice to see you here. Jake is way too introverted. That’s my vocabulary word for today.”
“What’s it mean?” Josh peeked into the basket, licking his lips.
“You can have one, kiddo. She brings enough to feed an army. I’ll let Miss Kime explain since it’s her word.”
“Introverted means someone who likes to be alone. Jake, all my goodies can be put in the freezer to enjoy another day. Dig in, Josh. It’s my cookies with both white-and-milk chocolate chips and walnuts.” Marcella lifted the basket for Emma’s son.
“Mmm. Thanks, Miss Kime. This is great,” Josh said with his mouth full.
“Josh.” Emma gave him “the look” to remember his manners, then took a bite of a cookie, savoring its rich taste. “I hope I can get this recipe. These are delicious.”
Marcella nodded. “I have all these great recipes and no children to pass them on to. Come by one day and you can take what you want and make a copy of it.”
“Love to. I’ll give you a call.”
Marcella set her hand on her waist and peered at Jake. “What do you think?”
“Since I’m an introvert, I thought I should keep quiet.” He grinned and popped the last bit of his cookie into his mouth and chewed it. “Perfect as always.”
Marcella beamed. “Music to my ears. That’s why I bake. I love hearing how much people enjoy what I make.” She started for the gate. “Share with your friends. I’ll make you some more tomorrow.” As she went around the side of the house, she waved.
Reaching for another cookie, Jake laughed. “I’m not sure there are going to be any left to share.”
Josh looked from Jake to Emma. “I worked up an appetite. I should have asked Miss Kime to help me demonstrate my moves.” He hopped up. “Maybe I should ask her—”
“No,” both Emma and Jake said at the same time.
Emma looked at Jake who added, “She may be the right height, but if you accidentally broke one of her bones, you would feel awful.”
“Older people have more brittle bones and aren’t in as good shape as—”
Marcella popped her head around the corner of the house. “I heard that. I may be having trouble with the lock that keeps sticking on your gate, but I have strong bones and would love to help.”
Josh stood to his full four feet ten inches. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You aren’t going to hurt me. I’m in tip-top shape.” The older woman strolled back to the group. “What have you learned?”
The boy swung his gaze to Emma then Jake, mouthing the words, Help me.
Jake pulled himself up and with his cane approached Marcella, gesturing for Josh to join them. “I showed him how to block some punches by forming a triangle with his arms. Since it’s such a large discrepancy between my height and his, it’s easier for him to practice with a person closer to his height.”
The petite neighbor, still wearing her church clothes—a flowery dress, a hat and one-inch high heels—said, “I’m ready and willing. What do you want me to do?”
“Grab the front of his T-shirt near the collar.” Jake demonstrated.
Marcella rubbed her palms together, her eyes gleaming. When she made her move toward Josh, his expression was wary. Marcella clutched the cotton by his neck and moved in closer. Leaning back, he brought his arms up as though to ward her off and crossed one over to clasp his forearm, then brought the locked move down on his “attacker.”
“Good, Josh!” Jake said. “You broke the hold. Depending on the circumstances you can go for various vulnerable spots or hopefully, since you’re already leaning back, you can turn and run. Get to a place where there are people.”
Emma watched as Jake put Josh and Marcella through a couple of different scenarios using the triangle hold. Her son’s attention stayed totally focused on Jake.
At the end, Marcella str
oked her chin. “You know, I have some friends who would love to learn how to protect themselves. Me, for one. Then there is Bertha, Florence and—”
Jake’s expression went blank. “I don’t mind your participating when I work with Josh. You two are close in size. But I don’t have time to do classes. I…” His voice sputtered to a halt. He pivoted and started for the deck stairs. “Thank you, Miss Kime, for helping us. I’m afraid all of this activity has tired me out.”
“Remember, call me Marcella.”
“Josh, go with Miss Kime and help her with the gate and make sure she gets home all right. I’ll meet you out front by the car.” Emma gestured toward the side yard.
Josh’s forehead creased. “Okay.” He watched Jake who was opening the back door, Shep on his heels. Josh went to Emma and whispered, “Is he okay?”
“Yes. You know how Uncle Ben would get when he was recovering from his injuries. He may have overdone it today. I’m going to check with him about Shep then I’ll be out front.”
As her son and Marcella left, Emma snatched up the pitcher with the three glasses and hurried after Jake before he closed the door and locked her out. Worry nibbled at her. The sight of him shutting down reminded her of Ben. She didn’t give up on her brother; she wouldn’t on Jake, either.
Chapter Six
Emma stepped through the entrance into the kitchen as Jake was swinging the door closed, stopping him in midmotion.
He frowned. “I’m really tired.”
“I won’t keep you but a few minutes. I wanted to put these in your dishwasher and check with you about Shep.”
Jake glanced at the dog, noticing he’d followed him into the house. “I want to keep him. But would you do me a favor?”
“Sure, anything. Josh has really responded to what you’re teaching him.”
“So did Marcella—too much.” The thought of going somewhere and teaching self-defense had sent a bolt of panic through him. It was one thing to help Josh with a few moves, but he didn’t want to be responsible for instructing others—not when he’d been unable to save his men from walking into an ambush. Their deaths felt like a bombed building crushing him beneath the rubble.
Emma put the pitcher and glasses in the dishwasher, then faced Jake. “What do you need me to do?”
He dug his wallet out of his back jean pocket and gave her some money. “If you’ll get me everything that Shep needs, I’d appreciate it. You know what he’s used to. Any toys. Treats. Food.”
“We’ll go after we leave here. Do you need anything for his bedding?”
“No, that’s been taken care of.” He remembered waking up this morning with Shep stretched out inches from him on top of the cover. His fingers instinctively went to stroke the dog’s fur, and he’d known in that instant he didn’t want to return Shep. A calmness flowed through him as he petted the German shepherd. If there had been any doubt left, Shep’s eyes, conveying instant affection for Jake, would have erased it. The dog had low crawled what space had been between them and placed his head on Jake’s chest, forging a bond that went straight to his heart.
Emotions swelled in his throat, and he turned away from Emma. “I’m going to take a nap so if you’ll leave the items on the porch, I’ll get them later. Please lock the door as you leave. Thanks for your help.” He limped down the hall toward the living room.
From the foyer Emma said, “Bye. Thanks for helping Josh.” Then the sound of the front door closing echoed through the house.
Total quiet, finally. Today the level of noise had strained Jake’s nerves, yet working with Josh had made him feel good about himself, as if even with the shape he was in, he could still help someone. When he felt tension begin to take hold of him, he put his hand on Shep and the stress melted away.
Then the sight of Emma when she returned from seeing Carson’s mother lifted his spirits. Her bright smile and twinkling eyes reminded him of the sunrays peeking through a bank of storm clouds.
He stretched out on the long couch, and Shep lay down on the carpet near him within reach. “I wonder how Emma’s meeting with Sandy O’Neil went. Maybe I’ll call her later and find out,” he said to the dog, who cocked his head as he listened. “She’s a special lady. Too bad we met at this time in my life.”
*
All the way home from work, Emma tried to think of a way to check on Jake. It had been two days since she’d seen him. She had been Shep’s trainer, so she should see how he was doing with the dog. Yeah, right. That wasn’t the main reason she wanted to see or at least talk to him. She cared. The last look he had given her before hobbling out of the kitchen was a resigned one, as though he had come to the conclusion he would fight panic attacks for the rest of his life, that he wouldn’t be able to deal with change easily or crowds. But that wasn’t the case. People worked their way through PTSD. It wasn’t easy, but it could be done, especially if he had a support system—people who cared. He had isolated himself.
At home Emma paced her kitchen, holding her cell and deliberating between calling Jake and putting her phone in her pocket. Josh would be home soon from Craig’s. She’d stayed longer than usual at work, and Craig’s mother had picked both boys up at school and taken them back to her house to work on a project for science. She appreciated her network of friends and parishioners who would help her if she needed it.
Jake was alone. Did he even turn to the Lord for guidance and strength? She couldn’t have made it through Sam’s death without God.
Staring down at her cell, she recited Jake’s phone number, surprised she could remember it. Usually she had trouble recalling one unless she used it a lot. She’d only called him twice in the ten days she’d known him. She started to punch in a nine when the doorbell rang.
Odd. Josh had a key and would let himself into the house. Maybe it was Jake. She had no reason to believe that, but she hurried toward the entry hall, peered out the peephole and frowned.
When she swung the front door open, concern surged to the forefront. “Sandy, what’s wrong?”
Her friend’s swollen eyes indicated she’d been crying and right behind her was Carson, sniffling. One of his eyes would be black-and-blue by tomorrow.
Emma stepped to the side to allow them in. “Let’s go into the living room, and you can tell me what happened.”
Sandy sank onto the couch with Carson right next to her, his head hanging down. “I had a long talk with Carson last night about what we discussed on Sunday and told him he needed to apologize to Josh today at school for what he did. I also told him I’d better never hear that he’s done that to anyone again.”
As Sandy talked, her son’s shoulders slumped, his chin now resting on his chest.
“I appreciate that, Sandy. Carson, why are you hurt?” The thought set alarm bells off in her mind.
“Tell her what happened at school, Carson.”
The child started crying.
Sandy’s forehead pinched into a frown. “That isn’t going to help. You should never have become involved with Sean Phillips and Liam Rogers.” She looked at Emma. “That’s the third boy and the leader. He moved here this summer and should be in sixth grade but was held back. He is in Josh’s class.” She stopped for a few seconds, drawing in a deep breath.
Emma used that pause to say to Carson in a gentle voice, “Tell me about today. I haven’t seen Josh yet. He’s at Craig’s house and should be home soon. Please help me to understand what’s going on.”
Carson sniffed and lifted his tear-streaked face. “I found Josh at recess and told him I was sorry about what happened in the park. I didn’t want to hurt him, but if I hadn’t, they would have turned on me. Liam likes to pick on smaller guys. When he didn’t with me, I couldn’t believe he wanted to be friends. Then he started going after Josh. I tried to back off. Liam said I was either on his side or against him.”
“How can one or two boys have so much power over you all?” Emma knew Sean was about four or five inches taller than Josh, but Craig, her son’s best fr
iend, was almost that much taller, too.
“It’s not just Liam and Sean. There are two others, both sixth-graders. They’ve got lots of kids scared. It’s getting bad. They said no one better rat on them. They saw me talking with Josh and heard I told him I was sorry. They didn’t like that. They paid me a visit.” He touched the area by his eye and winced. “This was my warning.”
“This has got to stop for your son and mine,” Sandy said, twisting her hands together. She shook her head. “But I don’t know what we can do. I’ll talk with his teacher as well as the principal tomorrow about Liam.”
Fear gripped Carson’s face. “No, don’t, Mom. Please.”
“That’s what Josh kept telling me. But we can’t stand by and let boys like Liam get away with what they’re doing.”
The sound of the front door being unlocked then opened announced Josh’s arrival. Emma wasn’t sure if she was glad for his timing or not. She wished Jake were here to help her with the situation. He might have some more insight that would aid them.
When Josh came into the living room, he stopped a few feet inside and stared at Carson. Her son’s face went pale. “What happened?”
“Liam,” Carson mumbled, and lowered his head again.
Thunder darkened her son’s expression. “We need to take our school back.”
Emma’s mouth dropped open. His fierce tone shocked her. “What do you have in mind?”
“We’ve got to stand up to Liam and his buddies.”
Carson shot a look at Josh. “How? They’re bigger.”
“I have a friend that’s teaching me how to defend myself. Mom, do you think Mr. Tanner would help Carson and Craig? I talked to Craig about it.”
“Honey, I don’t know.” Especially after his reaction to Marcella’s request.
“Can you ask him?” Sandy inquired, all three of them staring at Emma.
She gulped. “I will.”
After Carson and Sandy left, Josh turned to his mom. “Do you think Mr. Tanner will help us?”
“I don’t know. Do you want to fight the bullies physically?” She still felt bothered about having Josh learn moves, even self-defense ones.
Love Inspired December 2013 - Bundle 2 of 2: Cozy ChristmasHer Holiday HeroJingle Bell Romance Page 28
