by Cate Beauman
“Okay.” She kissed his cheek and took his hand, walking with him into the bedroom as she settled Faith and he gathered clothes for her.
~~~~
Reagan sat by Jenny as she lay on the bed in their hotel room, feeding Faith in the crook of her arm.
“It just doesn’t seem safe goin’ back there.” She sniffled.
Reagan handed the teenager another tissue, still trying to calm her down after the long, tense drive to Lexington with Chase following behind them in the second Pajero. They’d settled into the room over an hour ago, but Jenny was still too worked up to get some much-needed rest. “Shane and Chase are working it out. They’re on the phone with Ethan right now.”
“Do we have to go back when the sun comes up?”
She shook her head. “I’m not sure, but what I do know is Shane and Chase haven’t let us down yet.”
Jenny nodded. “I know.” She balanced the bottle against her side as she wiped her eyes. “I imagine when I’m not so scared I might think Shane and Chase looked mighty fine kickin’ in doors with their shirts off.”
Reagan laughed, a good solid laugh. “Jenny Hendley, what would I do without you?”
Jenny gave her a small smile. “I’m just speakin’ the truth.”
She chuckled. “And I won’t argue. Shane and Chase are certainly mouthwatering.”
“But what about the guardian lady?”
And they were back to this again. Reagan suppressed a sigh. “My attorney’s going to file an emergency hearing as soon as the court opens tomorrow,” she reminded Jenny for the umpteenth time.
“What if that doesn’t work? The Guardian ad Litem can’t exactly come to the cabin and see that you take good care of me with the living room all burnt up.” More tears fell. “She’s not gonna let me go. She’s gonna tell the judge and they’re gonna make me stay with Mommy. Maybe we should really be thinkin’ about you takin’ Faith on back to California—”
She shook her head, pressing a firm hand to Jenny’s arm. “Stop.”
“Reagan—”
“We’re not leaving you here,” Shane said from the door of the adjoining rooms where he and Chase had been talking to their boss.
“I was just thinkin’—”
“That you need to get some sleep,” Shane finished for her.
Jenny huffed out a breath.
“We leave together or don’t go at all.” He grabbed Reagan’s hand. “I need to talk to you.”
“Okay.” She stood and pulled the covers over the girls as Jenny took the bottle from Faith’s mouth and nestled up next to her little girl. “Snuggle in.” She leaned over, kissing Jenny’s forehead then kissed her finger, touching Faith’s cheek. “Get some rest.”
“I’ll try.”
“You’re safe here. We’ll be in in a couple of minutes.” He kissed Jenny’s cheek. “Good night.” He turned off the lamp.
“Night, guys.”
Reagan closed the door joining the rooms, her smile for Jenny disappearing. “God.”
“Hey.” Shane wrapped his arms around her.
She hugged him back, absorbing the comfort he offered so freely. “What are we going to do?”
He slid his hand down her hair. “We’re going to figure this out.”
She shook her head as she looked up at him. “Optimism is for Jenny. I need real answers.”
“We spoke to Ethan. He’s going to fax documents to your attorney to send along with the emergency motion she’s filing with the court. It’s formal paperwork basically saying that as CEO of Ethan Cooke Security, he believes Jenny and Faith are no longer safe in the area. Chase and I added our two cents.” He kissed her forehead. “That’s a lot of weight coming from a security expert, former FBI agent, and an ex-US Marshall. Ethan is also going to get in touch with the officers who handled the issues up at the clinic and see if he can have them send something along too.”
She sat on the bed, more than half sick. “What if that doesn’t work? What if Jenny’s mother spins it around to work against us?”
He joined her. “I don’t see that happening. Jenny’s directly affected by the violence in the area. All of that ‘the town loves Jenny best’ crap from the Pastor doesn’t hold up against reality. If the town was so in love with Jenny they wouldn’t have tried to burn her and her baby alive.”
“Yeah, I guess—”
“Here. Come lay with me for a second.” He pushed her down to the pillow, pulling her close. “I have a hard time believing any judge who’s looking out for the best interest of a minor will think it’s safe to let a young lady go back to a place where the house she’s living in has been set on fire—twice.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I hope you’re right.”
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you I’m always right?” He grinned as her eyebrow shot up.
“‘Always’ is a pretty definitive word.”
“And one I’m comfortable with.”
She chuckled and sniffed the skin of his neck as she kissed him. “Mmm. You smell much better than you did when we got here.”
He laughed. “Thanks.”
She smiled. “Sorry but it’s true.”
“A guy puts out a couple of fires and he’s told he stinks. I took a shower. Chase is taking his turn.”
“Did I forget to mention you’re my hero?” She batted her lashes, kissing him again.
He grinned. “Suck up.”
The water shut off in the bathroom. “Sounds like Chase is finished.” He stood. “Let’s get out of here before he walks out buck ass naked.” He took her hand. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”
“Okay.”
They moved to their own room, closing the adjoining door most of the way.
Reagan tiptoed closer to Jenny and Faith’s bed. “She’s asleep.”
“Of course she is. She’s exhausted.” He pulled the covers back and they settled under the blankets. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” She kissed him. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Shane flipped off the lamp on his side of the bed. He pulled her close, and she gave him a smile.
“You really are my hero.” She kissed him again.
“Get some rest.”
“I will.” She closed her eyes because she knew that’s what Shane wanted and worried for the remainder of the night.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Reagan sat in the passenger’s seat, gripping Shane’s hand in hers as he drove them toward the courthouse. The day had been a whirlwind of tense phone calls with the lawyer and a long morning meeting with Nancy Bloom, Jenny’s appointed Guardian ad Litem. Luckily her attorney had managed to secure an emergency hearing in Judge Thompson’s full docket, citing dangerous and unforeseen circumstances for their twelve forty-five appointment in his chambers.
“…think it went okay today. Don’t you?”
“Yes,” Reagan said, trying her best to stay patient with Jenny when her own nerves were frayed. From the moment Jenny opened her eyes this morning she’d talked incessantly. Quickly after lunch, Chase had taken his leave, heading back to The Gap to speak with the police and get the mail, but also to escape the constant chatter of a teenager on edge.
“I mean Ms. Nancy seemed happy about me havin’ a job, and I think she likes that I’ll be startin’ school. And now that we’re gonna be livin’ with Shane—I definitely think that seems like a stable environment.” She paused to apply lip gloss. “Hopefully she met with Mommy and saw that living in The Gap isn’t good for me and Faithy. I mean—”
“Hey, Jenny?” Shane interrupted, looking in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah?”
“Do you ever stop talking?”
She huffed out a breath. “I’m nervous.”
“We knocked Nancy’s socks off. Look out the window for a few minutes…with your mouth closed.”
“I’m just nervous,” she grumbled, crossing her arms and stared out the window.
Reagan slid Shane a
look, and they grinned at each other in the now blessedly quiet.
“Here we are,” he said, switching on his blinker and parallel parked in the one open spot near the small courthouse. “Let me get out first.”
Reagan nodded, flipping down the visor, checking her makeup for the most important meeting of her life while Shane helped the girls.
Shane opened Reagan’s door with Jenny at his side and Faith’s carrier in his free hand. “Ready?”
“To get this over with?” She blew out a long breath. “Yes.”
He took her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Everything’s going to work out.”
She looked at Jenny and gave a decisive nod, even though she wasn’t so sure. “Definitely.”
Jenny opened the door to the awaiting security guards.
“Good afternoon,” the man said.
“Good afternoon.” Shane handed over Faith’s seat to Reagan. “Go on through, guys.” He pulled out his identification. “I have a weapon.”
“Remove it for me slowly, sir, and go on through the detector.”
Shane took his gun from his holster, gave it to the officer, and walked through the detector, taking his pistol back on the other side.”
“I know I’m not supposed to be talkin’, but I thought I should tell ya I’ve gotta go to the bathroom.”
Reagan looked from the mutiny in Jenny’s eyes to Shane’s raised brow. “Go ahead. We’ll wait right over there for you.” She pointed to the small alcove.
Jenny whirled and pushed her way into the women’s room.
Shane rubbed at his jaw. “There are few things I love more than a seventeen-year-old with her panties in a twist.”
“We’re all tired and on edge.”
He steamed out a deep breath. “Yeah, I guess we are.”
She walked over to the water fountains, setting down Faith’s carrier while the baby slept soundly. She paced a step away, and back again.
“Take it easy, Doc.”
She gave him a small smile. “I’m trying. This is it. Everything comes down to the next few minutes.”
He hugged her. “It’ll be okay.”
“But look at us.” She eased away slightly, gesturing to her clothes. “We’re in jeans. We should’ve saved time to go the store.”
“This is an emergency hearing.”
She shook her head. “Still. We’re not exactly presenting ourselves as two successful professionals showing up to the judge’s chambers in denim and sweaters.”
“Doc, we’re fine—even in jeans.”
She sighed.
“Hey.” He pulled her back against him. “Unless Jenny’s mother bought a new house, can suddenly provide her daughter with a college education, a job, and childcare for Faith, I think we’ve got this.”
“I just keep hearing Judge Thompson saying, “A parent’s rights are strong and binding.””
“Unless they interfere with a kid’s safety, which in this case they do.”
She nodded. “I’m terrified Mrs. Hendley still has the upper hand.”
“I don’t see how.”
“We can’t lose them. I don’t know what I’ll do if we lose them,” she whispered, her eyes tearing up as she stared at him, confessing her biggest fear.
“We won’t.” He kissed her. “Judge Thompson letting Jenny stay with Mrs. Hendley doesn’t make any sense.”
Pressing her lips together, she relaxed against him—as much as she could. “You’re right.”
“I’m pretty sure we came to that conclusion last night.”
She chuckled, kissing his chin as Jenny came out with her long hair smoothed and her lips slicked with more clear gloss.
Reagan untangled herself from Shane and took Jenny’s hands. “Are you ready?”
Jenny nodded.
“Then let’s go kick some butt,” Shane said, picking up Faith’s seat.
Within moments they made their way to Judge Thompson’s waiting area. Reagan’s muscles tensed further when her eyes met Mrs. Hendley’s across the room. She gave the pastor a polite nod.
“Jenny,” Mrs. Hendley said.
“Mommy.” Jenny stepped closer to Reagan and Shane.
“I’ve a mind to believe the Good Lord will be seein’ you comin’ home with Pastor McPhee and me.”
Jenny’s frightened eyes met Reagan’s.
“Why don’t we see what the judge decides?” Shane commented as Judge Thompson’s assistant walked into the room.
“Good afternoon.” She smiled.
“Hello again.” Reagan returned her greeting.
“Judge Thompson is ready to see all of you.”
They filed in after Mrs. Hendley and the Pastor.
“Go ahead and have a seat,” Judge Thompson said.
Reagan made eye contact with Nancy Bloom and took her seat on one side of Jenny on the couch, with Shane on the other. “Thank you for seeing us so quickly, Your Honor.”
“Let’s get right down to business. We’re here for an emergency hearing for Jenny Hendley.” He glanced over papers. “It looks like there’s been quite a bit of trouble in The Gap since our last meeting a short while ago.” He looked at Reagan, then Shane.
“I’m afraid so,” Reagan replied.
“Ms. Bloom and I have spent the last little while going over the findings of her expedited report. After reviewing all of the information set before me, I feel confident I can make a sound decision. I will grant Doctor Rosner temporary guardianship of Jenny—”
“She’s a murderin’ heathen!” Mrs. Hendley shouted as she rushed to her feet. “Child killer is what she is!”
“Mrs. Hendley, I’m going to ask you to sit down, or I’ll have you removed for contempt.”
“I have a right to my say.”
“And I have a right to put you in jail.”
Mrs. Hendley sat down, glaring at Reagan.
Judge Thompson leafed through papers. “Mrs. Hendley, you’ve referenced Doctor Rosner as a murderer on several occasions—”
“She killed a little girl! Devil killer!”
Judge Thompson’s eyes scanned a typed sheet. “I’m assuming Mrs. Hendley’s outburst is in regards to the June seventeenth death of Mable Totton.”
Reagan swallowed, hating that she was forced to relive her biggest mistake again and again. “Yes, I’m sure it is, Your Honor.”
“The medical board found no fault.”
“Yes, Your Honor.” She made eye contact with Pastor McPhee and looked away, taking Shane and Jenny’s hands in the support they offered. “I’m afraid Mable’s death was an accident of the worst kind.”
“Doctor Rosner, your background is nothing but impressive. Your former coworkers have nothing but wonderful things to say about you as a physician and as a human being in general. I don’t see the need to prolong this case any further. Jenny has passed her exams with flying colors, she has gainful employment waiting for her, not to mention the opportunity for a college degree, along with two upstanding adults ready and willing to guide her through the often turbulent roads of childrearing and adulthood.” He closed his file. “You are free to leave the state at your convenience.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
“Paperwork will be filed with the clerk and a copy will be sent to you.”
“Thank you,” Reagan and Shane said at the same time as they stood and left the room. Reagan immediately wrapped Jenny up in a hug as her eyes filled with the rush of relief. “It’s all over. I can’t believe this is really over.”
“Don’t you be thinkin’ you’ll ever be welcome on my doorstep again, Jenny Hendley. I’ll pray mighty hard for your sinnin’ soul,” Mrs. Hendley hollered as Pastor McPhee pulled her down the hall.
The commotion quieted when Jenny’s mother stepped outside.
Reagan pressed her hand to Jenny’s cheek. “Are you okay, sweetie?”
“Yes. I just want to go home—to my new home in California.”
“Let’s go back to the hotel and see what Chase
found out, and we’ll book flights for tomorrow.” Shane wrapped his arm around Jenny’s waist.
She returned the gesture. “I’m sorry I was talkin’ so much.”
“That’s okay. Next time I’ll just put you in a sleeper hold and put us all out of our misery.”
“Shane.” She bumped him with her hip.
“Jenny,” he said back, mocking her tone.
They looked at each other and grinned.
And just like that, Reagan had her happy little family back. Chuckling, she followed behind them, carrying the baby to the SUV.
~~~~
“I’ve never flown on a plane before. Okay, I’ve never actually even stepped on a plane before. When me and Reagan brought you to the airport it was only the second time I’ve ever been,” Jenny went on as she had since they pulled away from the courthouse. Her nervous energy had turned into giddy excitement, which meant her mouth hadn’t stopped moving since she apologized for talking too much the first time around.
Shane rolled his eyes at Reagan as he slid the keycard in their hotel door and let everyone in. “Here you go.” He handed over Faith’s seat to Jenny. “Why don’t you go read to your daughter?”
“She’s sleepin’.”
“Read to her anyway or watch some TV for a while. You’re driving me crazy, Hendley.”
She blinked, her eyes full of hurt. “You don’t have to be so grumpy about it.”
He was being a cranky ass. Having the custody issue resolved was supposed to have lightened the load some, but there was still plenty left on their plate to deal with. “I’m sorry.”
She gave him a jerking shrug, darting him a look from under her lashes. “I guess it’s okay.”
He sighed, his guilt not quite assuaged. “Why don’t you help me out and look up flights for tomorrow— something for mid-morning.”
She beamed, her hurt feelings clearly forgotten. “Really?”
Ethan would book their flights as soon as he and Chase gave him the green light to send them home, but having Jenny search would give her something to do. “Sure. There are no direct flights, so try and find us the shortest layover.”
“Okay.” She took Faith, settling the baby in the center of the bed with a blanket and went over to his laptop, getting right to work.
