Wholehearted

by Ronica Black

  Synopsis

  Healing, respect, and empathy are what the H&S Ranch promises when helping troubled juveniles. Madison Clark hasn’t had much trouble in allowing teens to help care for her recovering horses. But then in walks Jake, a know-it-all thirteen-year-old with a smart mouth and a strong penchant for trouble. What’s worse is what’s behind him—his uptight, opinionated lawyer aunt, Grace Hollings. Madison does her best to ignore her, but focusing solely on Jake isn’t always possible.

  Grace Hollings is convinced nothing can help her nephew, especially Madison Clark and her feel-good horse ranch. Unfortunately, Jake’s presence there is court ordered so Grace does her best to keep an eye on him, and on Madison, who is way more than she originally gave her credit for. Her calm strength and good looks are powerful and just the tip of the iceberg, leaving Grace green with jealousy. Not just because Jake is thriving and has taken to Madison over her, but because Grace is beginning to be taken by the ranch owner as well…

  Wholeheartedly so.

  Wholehearted

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Wholehearted

  © 2012 By Ronica Black. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-60282-630-4

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: February 2012

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editors: Cindy Cresap and Stacia Seaman

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design By Sheri (GraphicArtist2020@hotmail.com)

  By the Author

  In Too Deep

  Deeper

  Wild Abandon

  Hearts Aflame

  Flesh and Bone

  The Seeker

  Chasing Love

  Conquest

  Wholehearted

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, as always, for supporting me and taking this book on. A big thank you to my editors Cindy and Stacia. And to all those at BSB behind the scenes, much love and gratitude to you all, always.

  Dedication

  For Cait

  Chapter One

  The juvenile justice courtroom was small, windowless, and strangely stifling for such an early morning hearing. It felt as though a hundred bodies had already been gathered and then herded through, depriving the room of much-needed oxygen. The gray carpet seemed to shadow this feeling with its well-worn dinginess, made more apparent by the harsh fluorescent bulbs. One blinked and buzzed in the front corner. Attorney Grace Hollings didn’t know whether to squint or to widen her eyes to try to focus better. Instead, she glanced to her right and squeezed her nephew Jake’s hand as they sat at the defendant’s table. To her dismay, he pulled away and turned to stare at the wall. For a second it looked as though he could see through it.

  “Are we ready to proceed?” the judge asked from her elevated bench.

  “We are, Judge,” the assistant district attorney answered from the next table.

  Grace studied the petition under her palm. Her nephew, Jake Hollings, was charged with theft and resisting arrest. This didn’t include his priors back in Ohio, which were numerous, though not violent, and mostly consisted of truancy. She fought a sigh and listened as Judge Newsom, who happened to be a friend, spoke to her.

  “Ms. Hollings?” Judge Nancy Newsom’s voice betrayed nothing, certainly no recognition of the fact that they knew each other.

  “Your honor, I call Jake Hollings.”

  “Jake?” Judge Newsom said. “Please have a seat up here.”

  Jake walked with his shoulders slumped to the witness chair. He seemed so small in his oversized navy dress slacks and men’s oxford shirt. The sleeves of his shirt were folded back into thick rolls, causing his arms to look gangly. But he’d insisted on a men’s size, refusing a boy’s, which would have fit him better. That was the way it was with Jake. His way or the highway. And he’d told her countless times that he had no problem hitting the highway himself if he didn’t get his way.

  As he sat, he gave Grace that familiar pinched look, as if he were annoyed or in pain. With or without it, he looked so much like a cross between her and his mother Gabrielle, it sometimes took her breath away. With his blond hair, fair skin, and light brown eyes, he could’ve easily passed for her son and often people assumed he was, which irritated him no end. He would always insist, “I have a mother, I don’t need another one.” As if he’d said the words again, he continued to glare at her, fanning his long lashes at her as he waited. He was so very handsome but so very wounded.

  “Jake, I need you to answer my questions loudly and clearly, okay?”

  He shifted as if still trying to be Joe Cool, too good for any of this.

  “Okay.”

  At least he answered. Thank God juvenile court was less formal compared to adult court.

  “Did you skip school on March seventh of this year?”

  “Yeah.”

  “To date, do you know how many days of school you’ve missed since starting at Rio Grande?”

  “I didn’t, but they said it’s like twenty.” He motioned toward the district attorney’s table.

  “Twenty-two,” Grace clarified.

  “Yeah.”

  “Why don’t you like school?”

  He shrugged. “I do. I just—I get bored. And somebody always has something better to do, you know?”

  “Jake, did you and your friends go to the Pizza Shack at approximately eleven a.m. on March seventh of this year?”

  “After we took off from school, yeah.”

  “Did you eat at the Pizza Shack?”

  “Yeah. I had two slices and a Coke.”

  “Did you pay for your food or drink?”

  He shifted again as if uncomfortable in his chair. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Harrison paid. Then Frankie and I ate off his plate.”

  “And this was a buffet your friend Harrison paid for?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So Harrison paid for one buffet and one drink, and you and your other friend Frankie used his plate and drink cup to eat and drink for free?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Was this the first time you had done this at the Pizza Shack?” This wasn’t going to be easy, but they had to do it. For his sake.

  “No.”

  “How many times had you stolen food and drink like this from them?”

  He sighed, obviously not liking the question or the answer he was about to give. “Two times before this.” He hadn’t liked the word steal, but she’d discussed it with him and made him see how it was indeed stealing. Even if Harrison paid for one. He’d reluctantly agreed and apologized.

  “When the manager called the police on March seventh, what did you do when you saw the police pull up at the Pizza Shack?”

  He shifted and turned red. “We took off.”

  “What specifically did you do?”

  “I ran out the side door and down the alley.”

  “Did the officer tell you to stop?”

  “Yeah. He yelled and cursed and stuff. Said stop.”

  “But you
kept running?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  Again the pinched look came. “Because it was the cops, Aunt Grace. I didn’t want to get in trouble.”

  “Were you afraid?”

  He shifted some more and stared beyond her and she knew she’d lost him. “Jake? Were you afraid?”

  Come on, Jake. Just admit it. Admit the fear. It’s okay.

  “I was afraid of getting in trouble.”

  She resisted a sigh, knowing he would fight her on this.

  “When the officer tackled you, what did you do?”

  “I—he arrested me.”

  “Did you fight him?”

  “No.”

  “You went limp, correct?”

  “I—”

  “Jake?”

  “I didn’t fight, okay?”

  “Why not?”

  “Because—because it was stupid. He was heavy.”

  She wanted to close her eyes. Jake was even too afraid to admit he was afraid. He just couldn’t let his guard down, not even when his freedom was on the line. The truth was he had been afraid, and he had gone limp as soon as the cop had touched him. She moved on, hoping he would at least admit to what was next.

  “Jake, are you sorry for what you did at the Pizza Shack? Are you sorry you stole?”

  “Yeah. I mean, I didn’t really think about it at first. Harrison paid, you know? But yeah, it was wrong. I can see that now. And—I’m sorry.”

  Grace looked to Judge Newsom, who had been watching them both closely with her dreadlocks swept back in a ponytail and reading glasses on the tip of her nose. Grace hoped like heck she’d give her and Jake a break on this.

  “Your honor, Jake has admitted to the charges and has expressed his sorrow for committing them. He also has paid the Pizza Shack for the March seventh incident and the two times before. The money was taken from his own allowance.”

  The judge nodded and looked to the assistant district attorney.

  “Anything further?”

  “Yes, your honor, if I may?”

  “You may.”

  Grace sat and chewed her lower lip nervously as the opposing attorney, Ally Murphy, began. Like Judge Newsom, Grace also knew Ally. But their relationship had been more than friendly colleagues. They’d only seen each other twice and it had been two years ago, but the memory of their encounter was still as fresh as a morning rose, causing Grace to shift uncomfortably in her chair. Ally showed no discomfort, however, which was to be expected, considering her job. She’d only given Grace a polite nod when they’d entered the courtroom. One which Grace had returned and then fought a blush. Why did Ally have to be assigned this case?

  “Jake, you said you were sorry for stealing from the Pizza Shack?”

  “Yeah.”

  “But you stole from them three times.”

  He sighed. “Yeah.”

  “You also missed twenty-two days of school and you ran from the police. Is this correct?”

  He looked to Grace, who nodded, encouraging him to tell the truth.

  “Yeah.”

  “So really, it’s just like you said, Jake. You’re just sorry you got in trouble. Sorry you got caught.”

  “No—I…”

  “Nothing further.”

  “Your honor, may I re-approach?”

  “You may.”

  She was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but she had no other choice if she wanted to keep Jake out of juvenile detention.

  “Jake, is it true you’ve only been here in Phoenix for six months?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you were in Ohio before this, correct?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Where your mother lives?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where is your mother today, Jake? Why isn’t she here?” Her voice cracked as she mentioned Gabrielle, her younger sister.

  “She’s—in rehab.”

  “She’s been in rehab a lot, hasn’t she? For drugs?”

  He swallowed. “Yeah.”

  “And when she hasn’t been in rehab, she’s been on the streets, or at whereabouts unknown, right? Leaving you alone for days at a time?” It was difficult for her to get the words out. She’d only recently found out how bad things had been. Gabby had always been good at putting on a show when she visited. And their mother, who was better at sweeping things under the rug than Gabby, had always made sure to keep the house afloat with rent and food. But the rest had been left to a young boy. A young boy all alone.

  He swallowed and nodded, looking away.

  “Your mother’s been addicted to heroin for many years, hasn’t she, Jake?”

  His voice was soft. “For as long as I can remember.”

  Dear God, had it been that long? How could she have missed it? How could her mother have ignored it?

  “But you’re here now. With me. Your aunt. Hopefully, we can change things, right?”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Please tell the court why you don’t like school, Jake. The other reasons.”

  “Do I have to?”

  She nodded and moved forward. “Jake, have you been attacked at school?”

  “Aunt Grace,” he said.

  “Jake, please. Just answer yes or no.”

  “Yes.”

  “Back in Ohio? You were physically beaten?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And after that you haven’t liked going to school, have you?”

  “No.”

  Judge Newsom cleared her throat. She’d obviously heard enough. “Please be seated.”

  Jake followed Grace to their table and buried his head in his hands. He often tried to hide his emotions, but when they did come out they took forms of what she saw now. His body shook and he began to sweat. She touched his shoulder, but he flinched and wouldn’t look up. If things continued like this, he would most likely bolt from the room and curl up in a ball to cry.

  Judge Newsom spoke. “Ms. Hollings, I trust you read the psychological examination?”

  “I did, your honor.”

  “Based on this and what I’ve heard here today, I would have to suggest that Jake enter therapy and attend a supervised rehabilitation facility.”

  Jake shook harder.

  No. Please, no.

  “I’ve also taken into consideration his previous truancy and curfew charges in Ohio. Just prior to you getting him, Ms. Hollings, Jake was taken into the custody of child protective services due to serious neglect at home. Is this correct?”

  “It is,” Grace replied.

  She continued. “However, he admits to these latest charges and, Ms. Hollings, as his guardian, you are willing to take responsibility as well?”

  “Yes, your honor. I am and I have. Jake has only been with me for six months and we’re still learning each other. But I can assure you he is loved and cared for here.”

  “Very well, I see no need for this to go to trial. However, I am sentencing Jake Hollings to a ranch for boys for a period of two months. He must complete the program and wear a monitoring bracelet until the program is completed. At such time Jake is to return to school and attend daily. If you fail the program or fail to go to school, Mr. Hollings, you will be placed in juvenile detention. Is this understood?”

  Grace placed a hand on his back and he jerked.

  “You have to answer her.”

  “Yes,” he muttered through his fingers.

  Grace felt like crying. A ranch for boys? He was being taken away from her?

  “Very well. Jake will attend the Healing Soul Ranch daily for two months. He will return home with you nightly, Ms. Hollings. And afterward he will go to school and return right home for a period of six months. After which he can attend school and do as he and you please.”

  Grace too placed her face in her hands as court was adjourned, but she did it out of relief. He could come home! It was done. It was over. This case had worried her well beyond any other she’d ever faced. Jake. He was going to be ok
ay. She stood, gathered her things, and as Jake stood, she hugged him. He wasn’t being locked up!

  “It’s over,” she said as he stiffened beneath her. “We can go on now.”

  “Wrong,” he said, his eyes distant and cold. “I have to go to some ranch.” But his shaking had stopped and some color had returned to his face. At least he wasn’t going to collapse on her or run away and curl into a ball. She touched his face, trying to get him to focus, but his cool brown eyes avoided hers.

  She led him out of the courtroom and noted that, as usual, he never seemed to be happy. She’d noticed it a week after he’d arrived. Nothing made him smile. Not even when he did well on his video games. He would just shout “Yes!” but there would be no grin or anything more said. He also didn’t like to be touched. But she kept trying, knowing he needed love and affection.

  “Ms. Hollings?”

  Grace turned in the main lobby area to find a bailiff heading toward her. “Ms. Murphy would like to see you.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on Jake.” He nodded toward him and Jake sighed and shuffled to a nearby chair. Around them, other juveniles waited with loved ones for their hearings. She felt for them, knowing what that wait was like. She also wondered what Ally wanted. Grace followed the bailiff’s instructions and wound her way down the hall to an empty meeting room where she knocked and entered.

  “Grace Hollings,” Ally said, rising from behind a round table. Her smile was broad and bright and she was just as beautiful as ever with tanned skin, flashing dark eyes, and long midnight hair. Her lavender blouse seemed to caress her skin just right, and Grace at once smelled her lotion as she approached. Ally gave Grace a lingering, breathy kiss near her ear.

  “Still as beautiful as ever,” she said, pulling away slightly.

  “So are you,” Grace said.

  “So why didn’t we continue seeing each other?” She held Grace’s elbows, her eyes dancing with intensity.

  “I don’t know. I think we’re just too much…”