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“What’s going on here?”
Tessa saw Donna Turnbull standing to one side. She looked upset. Behind her, Mr. Affir shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He looked ready to run.
“I don’t think we have a problem, Mrs. Turnbull. This is Mr. Taylor, Jimmy’s father, and he was making some points about the textbooks we use being inappropriate or biased. He feels strongly about it.”
“I’m the principal at this school, sir, and I can assure you all the books are perfectly acceptable.” She sounded indignant. “They are selected by state-appointed experts.”
“Acceptable to you, maybe.” He turned to Ronan. “She’s another one,” he muttered. “She follows the party line to the limit.” He shared that last bit of information with Jett.
Donna looked up at him. “I remember you. You came to a school board meeting a couple of years ago.” She looked at Tessa. “He showed up and started shouting at people. He had to be ejected from the meeting.”
“I only shouted because they wouldn’t fucking listen,” Taylor muttered darkly.
“Language, Mr. Taylor,” Donna said sternly, moving closer and looking up at Taylor’s face. “I remember things differently. As I recall, they did listen but didn’t agree with you, and you weren’t willing to accept that.”
Tessa had to admire the way she was stepping up, even though she was clearly certain she was about to be killed. Coming between an irate parent and a biker had to be a new experience for her. “As this… as I overheard Mr. Vonn and Mr. Saylor say, you are entirely free to express opinions. In fact, we encourage that, but not when it interferes with the operation of the school. We’re supposed to be supervising the children now, not engaging in political debate. There are forums, times and places for exactly that. And I encourage you to avail yourself of them. You should come for a parent-teacher conference. Even then, however, if you can’t discuss things calmly, and without resorting to profanity, I’ll be forced to have you removed from the school grounds.”
“It’s a public school. My money pays your salary.”
“I’m paid to keep order and protect the children. Your anger upsets the children. They don’t understand what you’re angry about. And your choice of vulgar words is simply not allowed.”
Taylor looked about as if he expected the police to arrive at any minute. “You’re doing everything to indoctrinate the children with lies, not protect them. They should hear the truth.”
Donna stood her ground. “I think you’d better go, Mr. Taylor. I’ve told you this isn’t an appropriate discussion for the schoolyard. If you wish to discuss this matter, please make an appointment with my office or one of the teachers.”
“What if I don’t leave? Are you going to force me?”
“Actually, yes. If I must, I will call the police. If you refuse them, they will arrest you and call child protective services to ensure your son is taken care of.”
“Oh, I don’t think that will be necessary,” Ronan said calmly.
“No?” Donna looked at him closely for the first time.
“If he doesn’t leave peacefully, I’ll toss him off the school grounds myself.”
Jett nodded and cracked his knuckles.
“Are you threatening me?” Taylor raged.
“Actually, I’m just giving you the opportunity to consider how stupid you’ll look in front of your son when a little guy like me hands you your head. I don’t really want to embarrass you, but I will if I have to. I’d be delighted to spell out for you everything that’s not right about your actions, but then I’d probably get angry and say things that children shouldn’t hear.”
Jett said, “Yeah, we don’t want to have to do that as it sets a bad example, but I’m not as patient as Mrs. Turnbull clearly is, and my friend isn’t a fan of the police. I don’t have the time to wait for them to get here either. Kayla is supposed to be rebuilding a bike engine with Ronan for a guy who makes you look like a midget and has a real temper. We want to get on the job quickly, so I’m forced to be crude.”
“I would appreciate it if you refrained from violence.” Donna turned to the teacher behind her. “Mr. Affir, do you have your cell phone with you?”
“Yes.” His voice shook.
“If any fighting starts, please call nine-one-one immediately.”
Ignoring Affir, Taylor glared at Ronan and then Jett, who both stood there calmly, showing no sign they were worried. Tessa could see the conflicting emotions that flashed over Taylor’s face. He clearly wanted a fight, but part of him wasn’t so sure he’d win it even with his size, especially against two bikers who were an unknown quantity and not afraid of him.
After a long moment, he turned away. “Fine. I’ll leave, but this isn’t the end of this!” he roared. Grabbing Jimmy’s arm, he headed for the gate with his son glancing back at them.
Donna Turnbull let out a long breath. “Thank you for not escalating things, Mr. Vonn… uh, and Mr. Saylor. Under the circumstances, your show of restraint was admirable.”
“You’re welcome. I don’t approve of brawls in front of children any more than I expect you do. And if we got into it with him, it might be difficult to convince the police I was only lending a hand.”
Donna’s eyes smiled. “Ah, yes. Well, I could wish you hadn’t threatened him, but the way you did it… actually, you were a great help.”
