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More than forty in all.
Most of them left in tears, ashamed of falling out of touch with the woman who rescued them when no one else cared. Every single one brought a photo of them in their new life as Rowan had requested.
Twenty-six days after sharing her news, Miss Jeffries asked the nurse to call Rowan and Nina to her side. They left the children with their fathers and went to her.
When they entered the room and went to either side of the bed, she smiled. Her voice was weak. She’d dropped weight rapidly. Her blood pressure was too low.
Still, she smiled.
“Thank you for what you did. Bringin’ all those girls to see me. It feels good to know at least half of them made it. That’s not a bad success rate.”
“No, ma’am,” Rowan said through her tears. They each held one of her hands.
“In the bottom drawer of my dresser, I have things for your sweet children. I left my house to you, Nina. If wildness takes you and you burn it down, I won’t blame you.” She chuckled weakly. “I was always secretly fascinated by the jungle cat pacing inside you. Tried to tame her but...some things should never be tamed. You roar through your life and don’t let nobody take you for granted.”
Turning to look at Rowan, she said, “When I was a young woman, I received an engagement ring from the only man I ever loved. Like your lost memories, most of mine are faded from that time...but I never forgot the love. I left you the ring so you never forget either. Keep my Bible with all the names of the girls inside. Someone should remember they existed. I’ll take my worn copy with me.”
Her hands were frail as she squeezed theirs. “I’m ready to have a little sit-down with the Lord. Been doin’ a lot of thinkin’ about things. Too many broken, bleedin’, hurtin’ children at the mercy of monsters and I have some words.” She seemed to struggle to inhale. “I sure love you girls. Sure do. Ain’t never cheered for nobody in my life like I cheered for you two. Bright and kind.”
“I love you, too,” Rowan managed.
“So much love for you, Miss Jeffries.”
“I-I did what I could. Somebody…” her voice trailed off and the nurse moved closer. “It’s somebody else’s turn now. Love you, love…”
The breath left her in a long whisper.
Then Miss Jeffries was gone.
Nina kissed the back of her hand, tucked it under the quilt, and walked around to catch Rowan before she fell.
They sat together in the living room, holding hands tightly as the funeral home came to collect the outer shell of someone who was larger than life and stronger than most men.
They held a memorial and it seemed most of the town came to pay their respects. For a woman who’d never married or had children of her own, she’d sunk roots to the bedrock.
The world was darker without her.
Chapter Twenty
2006 - Age 29
Picking her girls up from school one day, Nina was approaching the turn toward their home when bullets riddled the SUV from the wooded area at the four-way.
The armored SUV was a gift from Rowan.
As her 8-year-old daughters screamed in the backseat, Nina took the turn hard and gripped the wheel in white-knuckled fists as the vehicle rocked violently before settling.
Pedal to the floor, she removed one hand to call her husband.
He picked up on the first ring and she yelled, “Shots fired. Get everyone inside! We’re coming in hot.”
By the time she approached the gate to Gage’s place, there were heavily armed men waiting to wave her through. As she slammed to a stop, a cloud of dust blew around the vehicle.
James and Gage opened the rear doors to unbuckle the twins and pick them up. Nina ran beside them with her drawn weapon pointed at the ground.
A gift from her man on their wedding day.
Rowan held Benji while standing beside Mary-Margaret in the grand foyer, but Nina couldn’t talk to anyone or deal with anything until she made sure her daughters were alright.
