“Hmm.” Beth smiled broadly and then chuckled. “That’s good to know.”
Forty-Three
“Dadeeeee, Dadeeeee.”
Kane stood and bolted out the door of Wolfe’s office as Jackson came running toward him, tears streaming down his face. Behind him his nanny, Raya, followed with Emily close behind. He swung his little boy into his arms, holding him close and rubbing his back. “I’m here. Mommy’s here. What’s wrong? Is your ear sore again?”
“What happened?” Jenna looked at Raya. “Did he fall?”
“Badeeee man took Daddy away.” Jackson pointed upward. “I see’d him.” He clung to Kane’s neck.
“Is everything okay?” Emily looked stricken.
Kane nodded. “I think so.”
“He woke when the chopper was leaving and saw you climbing inside.” Raya moved to Jenna’s side. “I’m afraid yesterday Tauri was talking about the time the cartel kidnapped him and took him in the chopper. I honestly didn’t think Jackson had heard him, and you did say it’s good for Tauri to discuss the incident, so I didn’t stop him.” She sighed. “Jackson has been hysterical since and I couldn’t settle him, so I decided the best thing to do was to bring him here so he can see you’re okay. I’ll be collecting Tauri from school in half an hour, so you’ll have plenty of time to settle him.”
“What’s up?” Carter poked his head around the door. “What’s wrong, little man?”
“No liddle man.” Jackson pointed to his chest. “Jackson. You silly, Uncle Ty.”
Kane explained, glad to see Carter’s arrival had soothed his son and then looked at Jackson. “Is Uncle Ty a baddie man?”
“No.” Jackson rubbed his eyes. “He silly.”
Nodding, Kane turned Jackson toward Carter. “It’s Uncle Ty’s chopper. He was giving us a ride, just like Uncle Shane does. Bad men can’t get onto the ranch in choppers anymore. I fixed it. You don’t need to worry about that ever again. You’re safe, Tauri. Mommy, Daddy, and Nanny Raya are safe.”
“Promise?” Jackson held up his pinky and Jenna linked hers.
“Promise.” Jenna took Jackson from Kane and cuddled him. She looked at Kane. “Maybe I should go home with him?”
“You wouldn’t want to set a precedent.” Wolfe leaned on the doorframe and raised both eyebrows. “How are you, Jackson?”
“Good.” Jackson high-fived Wolfe and leaned into Jenna and peered at him through his fingers. “No shots.”
“No shots.” Wolfe shook his head and went back into the office.
“Let’s go and see the dogs.” Jenna followed Wolfe into his office. “Nanny Raya is going to get Tauri and then you can go home.”
“Mommy working?” Jackson ran his chubby fingers across her sheriff’s badge.
“Yes, we’re all working today.” Jenna pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped his nose. “But I always have time to give you a cuddle.”
A lump formed in Kane’s throat as he heard one little shuddering sob from his son. Guilty that he’d been the cause of so much anguish, he leaned against the wall watching Raya leave. They’d sheltered him and Tauri from any talk about their work. Tauri had suffered nightmares over a long time after his kidnapping. Choppers still made him uneasy, but as time went by and he knew the pilots, things were getting a little easier for him. Kane hadn’t anticipated that hearing Tauri’s story would have made such an impact on Jackson. In the back of his mind, he figured that as his son knew Carter, Styles, Raven, and Wolfe, all of whom arrived in choppers at one time or another, things would be different. He ran a hand down his face. Working out and keeping combat-ready hadn’t prepared him for seeing his son so distraught for his well-being—it had torn out his heart. Being a father sure took a different type of strength.
He went back into the office and looked at Jackson with his arms wrapped around Duke. He smiled at him. “When Nanny Raya comes back with Tauri, would you like to take Duke home with you? Mommy and Daddy have a few things to do, and then Uncle Ty is going to fly us back home in his chopper. Is that okay?”
“Okay.” Jackson held up his arms to Kane.
Resting Jackson on his hip, Kane went to the counter and took out Wolfe’s cookie jar. “I’m sure Uncle Shane won’t mind if you have a cookie.”
“Yummy.” Jackson took a cookie and buried his head in Kane’s shoulder. “Tank you, Daddy.”
Moments later, Raven arrived.
“I’ve removed all the decals from my truck.” Raven smiled at everyone. “What’s the plan?”
Kane kissed Jackson on the cheek and handed him to Jenna. “We need a ride to the office. I’ll explain on the way.” He ruffled his son’s hair. “I’ll see you soon.”
