Awesome. Finally some good news.
“From what Kirby told me, he was a great dad for a decade. I spoke with our contacts, and they’re going to see what they can do. Kirby’s old enough to make up his own mind. He could move in with his stepdad tonight.”
“But he won’t leave his sister.” Kam understood that.
By way of explanation, Tanner said, “She’s only twelve, petite, and she’s scared of the bastard. She loves the stepdad, though. He’s the only father she’d known for a decade.”
With PB leading the way, Kam wandered the yard. “Until that all gets worked out?”
“The boyfriend is out of town for a few days, so we have some wiggle room.” Tanner hesitated, then said, “I told Kirby he could bring his sis along if he wanted. Callie said she’d show her around, introduce her to the chickens and goats, then later, we’d all check on the horses. But now, with the storm, not sure how that’ll work.”
“Where’s their mom?”
“Sleeping. She works late at a bar and then sleeps away the weekend.”
Rough—not that Kam would excuse her. Parents should protect their kids, period. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“I need you to enjoy your Sunday. They’ll all be over to visit today, but Addie said they’d keep it brief. Says you’re due an actual day off, and I agree. Callie just wants to check on Glory, then she’ll head back here.”
Keeping news of the baby to himself wasn’t easy. Despitethe seriousness of Kirby’s situation, imagining how Tanner would react put a huge grin on Kam’s face. Addie would go bonkers, for sure. No telling how Liz would react.
Glory hadn’t shared with Callie, so he’d hold it together, too. “Hard to relax with Mike still out there.”
“The bastard will trip up soon. The cops are looking for him, and now both Kirby and Shara are on to him.”
That part bothered Kam a lot. “I don’t like it. It’s too damned dangerous for them.”
“Kirby has our numbers and knows to call if he sees anything fishy,” Tanner reminded him, then added, “Seemed to me that Shara was spooked enough to lay low for a while.”
“Guaranteed.” Shara was terrified, as much by what people would think as the threats Mike had made against her. “I wish she’d go to the police.”
“I’m not sure what good it would do. The cops are already doing all they can.”
PB finished investigating the yard, did her business, kicked some grass on it, and was ready to head in.
The idea of scooping dog doo-doo had him grinning again. Seemed Glory had him on a roller-coaster ride of feelings. “I’m new to this.”
“This?” Tanner asked.
“Caring so much about a woman.” With only PB looking at him, he still shrugged. “Worrying about some things, anticipating others. Enjoying most.”
With an amused grunt, Tanner said, “You’re handling it better than I did.”
It... being love.
“If it helps, it gets easier.”
“It’ll be easier when Mike is out of the picture.” Allowing PB to lead him in, Kam mused on love. Love for Glory—andlove for the baby they’d have. “If you hear anything, let me know. Otherwise, I’m heading inside to start my coffee.”
“We’ll touch base every few hours. Try to relax and enjoy a day off for a change.”
As if Tanner ever took a full day off. Shaking his head, Kam disconnected, looked up, and spotted Glory standing just inside the door. Her hair was sleep-rumpled, her eyes still drowsy, but she smiled at him.
He hoped to see that particular look from her every day for the rest of his life.
15
Teeth grinding and fists flexing, Mike strode from one end of the house to the other. Each step amplified his impatience. Even now, Glory should be withhim, but instead, she was with another man.
