It was a long, uncomfortable night. After the limited amount of sleep he’d had last night, it should have been difficult to remain alert tonight. It wasn’t. Partly due to the surface he was supposed to be sleeping on. It was possibly the most uncomfortable bit of construction anyone had ever had the nerve to call a cot.
Holdin did wake up every time a nurse came in to check Jill’s temperature and other vitals. The nurse had to stay long enough to update the chart and Holdin never resumed dozing directly after she tromped out. But Jill slept though the night peacefully.
At four-thirty a.m. Coates pushed open the door and strolled into the dimly lit room. The tall doctor stopped at the foot of Holdin’s cot and grinned down at him. Holdin’s eyes had been open as soon as Robert touched the door. “Go home and get a shower. You look like shit. I can be here for a while.”
“You’ll stay with her?” Holdin questioned, not moving.
“Yes. I don’t start rounds ‘til six. Be back by then.” Robert picked up Jill’s chart, scanning the stats from the previous night. “She’s not had a fever. We’ll remove the catheter and have her out of bed a little later. Everything looks good.”
Holdin stood up slowly. “Thanks for the rack. It kept me awake nicely.” He acknowledged the uncomfortable cot with a grimace as he stretched sore muscles.
“Thought you’d appreciate it. Worse than a field bunk at a MASH unit.” Robert enjoyed handing out that information as he watched Holdin. “I’m here to help. It was the least I could do.” Robert chuckled and put Jill’s chart back.
Holdin exited the room, rubbing his back and feeling ancient. He was tired, sore and needed coffee.
He made it to the large estate on the north side of town in record time after a brief call to his father to ensure he made it into the house alive. He was out of the vehicle and opening the door from the garage to the kitchen before he came face-to-face with his father in nothing but boxers, holding a rifle high enough for a head shot. The gun quickly swung down, muzzle to the floor.
Holdin nodded. “Thanks,” he grunted as he hurried past toward his room. Charles Powell followed.
“Who’s with Jill?” Charles wanted to know before he asked for an explanation.
“Coates is with her. He’s aware there’s a threat though he doesn’t know the details. He’s military,” Holdin explained as he stripped and turned on the shower hurriedly. “Coates has to do rounds at six. I need to be back before then.”
“When the hell are you going to explain this?” Charles demanded over the sound of the shower, standing in the bathroom door.
“As soon as I can.” Holdin stepped into the steamed shower cube and started shaving under the warm spray.
“What’s going on?” Drifter had appeared beside Charles in the bathroom doorway. His eyes took in the weapon in Charles’ hand.
Holdin glanced at the two of them watching him shave through the foggy glass door and grimaced. “Nothing is wrong with your mother,” he reassured the boy, “but I’d like some privacy, guys. I’ll explain over coffee if the two of you can manage to make some. I’ll be there in under ten.”
When Holdin walked into the kitchen, he found Drifter fully dressed and sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal. Holdin’s mother and father, both in bathrobes, each had a cup of coffee and a steaming cup was waiting for him on the table.
“Thanks, Mom. I didn’t mean to wake everyone up.” Holdin sat down and took a grateful sip.
“Start talking,” Charles growled. “No one slept anyway.”
“What’s the problem?” Drifter wanted to know as he glanced around at the serious adult faces.
“There’s not much time but here’s what I know so far,” Holdin stated, looking at his son directly. “Your mother witnessed a crime when she was a girl. That’s why she and your grandfather were on the run. One of the men they were running from is still a threat. He’s on trial for a murder right now and in federal custody but it’d be bad if he’s acquitted. I don’t know all the details. Your mom hasn’t been in shape to talk about it. What I do know is if this guy figures out she’s still alive, no one she cares about is safe and neither is she.” Holdin finished the rest of his coffee, the three people in the room waited for him to continue.
Holdin glanced around as he stood up. “That’s about it.”
“No, it’s not.” Charles Powell scowled. “You know who and what the man is?”
“I don’t have a name. Really. My investigator wouldn’t name him over the phone. Said the trial was a big deal though, and it’d be all over the news when the jury came back in. I haven’t been watchin’ the news lately so that’s it.”
“Damn,” Charles breathed.
“I’m going back with you.” Drifter stood and followed Holdin to the garage door.
“You figured it out?” Holdin asked his father over his shoulder as he strode to the SUV. Charles and Carol were following them.
“If it’s who I think it is, be worried,” Charles replied as Holdin started the Navigator. Drifter strapped in beside him.
“Who?” Both of them asked through the driver’s side window.
“Stigzanno. Don of the East Coast supposedly. Get going. We’ll be there shortly.”
“Damn,” Holdin echoed Charles’ sentiments as he pulled out of the garage.
“What does it mean?” Drifter scowled and shifted uncomfortably as Holdin passed through the big metal gate at the property perimeter.
Holdin thought for a second and decided Drifter deserved the unvarnished truth. He had to be responsible to watch out for himself and his mother too.
“You know who Darth Vader is?”
“Yeah, really powerful bad guy.” Drifter frowned as Holdin pulled onto the main road.
“It’s like havin’ that guy after your mom if he figures out she’s alive,” Holdin explained. “Even if the guy is convicted, he’s still a powerful enemy. That’s why we have to change up a few things in the story we tell people. Think you can handle that?”
“Sure. What are you going to do?” Drifter wanted to know.
Holdin grinned. Drifter expected him to have a plan and that pleased him. It meant the boy accepted it was Holdin’s responsibility to protect both him and his mother. Perhaps it was unconscious, but it was still a step in the right direction.
“For right now I’m going to make sure the media does not get a hold of her real identity. If it looks like the guy might be figuring it out, I’m callin’ in the Jedi knights. I happen to know them.”
Drifter was silent as they negotiated the beginnings of morning traffic. “Why not just call the Jedi now and take care of it? Who are they?”
“Best option is not to draw this guy’s attention. Jedi are a last resort.” Holdin grinned at Drifter. “I could tell you who they are but then I’d have to light saber you.”
Drifter laughed then sobered. “Are you sure they’re the Jedi? Not just regular rebels?”
“Yeah. I’m sure,” Holdin confirmed confidently. “I’ve met Obi-Wan. He’s friggin’ scary. I don’t think he’d have regular guys in his crew.”
“Do I get to meet the Jedi?”
“If I call them, you’ll never know they were here. They’d be shitty Jedi if you could tell. This has to remain just between us, son. The fewer people who know the better. Dr. Coates is with your mother now. He knows to watch out for her but he doesn’t know the details. We can’t tell him or he’d be in danger too. You understand that. Right? A man has a responsibility to protect his friends too.”
“I’m not an idiot. I know that.”
Holdin sighed and glanced at his scowling son. “I wasn’t insulting you. We have to be very careful and I need you as a partner.”
“Then stop treating me like a baby.”
“If I were treating you like a baby, I’d have lied.”
Drifter hunched his shoulders a bit. “Okay, I get it. We’re cool.”
“Good. The family is counting on you.” Holdin pulled int
o the hospital parking lot. It was ten ‘til six in the morning and few cars were in the guest lot. At the front door he saw several photographers. “One of the things we have to change in our story is your age. People need to believe I met your mother a year later than I did so that makes you thirteen.”
“What?! Why can’t I be older instead of younger?” Drifter protested in disgust.
“Because then your mom would have been a minor when she had you and everyone in Connersville would have known all about it. They don’t so we can’t use that story,” Holdin explained quickly. “This is important.”
“Yeah, yeah. But I’m not going to act like an idiot.”
“You don’t have to act like anything. Just don’t say anything when we go by the reporters.”
“What reporters?” Drifter and Holdin were out of the SUV.
Holdin nodded at the front door. “Those guys. They’re waiting for us. Sorta put your head down so they can’t get a clear picture of your face. We can avoid them when we leave by using a side exit but the doors only open one way so going in has to be past them.”
Drifter glanced at Holdin with the ever-present scowl but did exactly as he’d been asked.
When they’d gotten past the reporters and were in the elevator, Drifter worried out loud. “You didn’t check if Ms. Carol or Mr. Charles had told anyone about Mom.”
“I doubt it. We’re not a chatty family,” Holdin returned with a similar frown. “I’ll ask as soon as they get here though. That’s some good thinking, son.”
Drifter nodded without looking at Holdin. His response to Holdin’s praise was only a shifting of his shoulders as he straightened a bit out of the customary slouch.
Jill was sitting in the chair when they entered her room and Holdin could almost feel the boy beside him radiate joy. Seeing her like this was so much more natural. There was only the IV in her arm. All the other tubes and monitor wires had been removed. She looked like his mother again, not a hospital patient.
“Mom!” Drifter exclaimed before he remembered to be bored. He rushed to her like the boy he was for once.
Robert Coates straightened off the wall where he’d been leaning. “Be careful,” he warned in doctor mode, causing Drifter to slow and be careful as he hugged Jill.
“Thanks.” Holdin nodded at Coates as Drifter straightened from Jill’s arms. Coates raised a brow at Holdin. “Nothing much interesting happened here. I trust your family is well?”
“No problems,” Holdin confirmed Robert’s question with a smile. “We’re a naturally careful bunch.”
“Yeah, thanks for lookin’ after Mom.” Drifter grinned at Robert while echoing Holdin.
Robert smiled and swung an arm around Drifter’s shoulders, giving him a quick squeeze. “I have to do rounds now. Make sure your mom gets back in bed soon. She’s being stubborn and insisted on waiting for you in the chair.”
Drifter glowed as he nodded. “No problem. When will you be back?”
“Not ‘til around noon, I hope. If you see me before then, it’s because she’s developed a problem.” Robert released Drifter and was at the door as he turned and looked at Jill. “Be good. If I have to come back early, you’ll be in trouble.” His tone was softly teasing.
Holdin gritted his teeth as Jill smiled at Robert and waved him out of the room with a saucy “In your dreams, big boy”.
As the door closed behind the departing doctor, Holdin rearranged his features to hide the jealous snarl. There was nothing he wanted Jill to know about Robert Coates’ dreams. “I believe your doctor just ordered you back to bed, mama lion,” Holdin murmured in apparent good humor.
“In a minute.” Jill reached for Drifter’s hand and smiled up at her tall son. “I’m enjoying seeing that face grin again, brat. Think you could fetch me the cup of water on the bed stand?”
“Sure,” Drifter beamed at her, “as soon as you get in the bed, I’ll hand it right to ya.”
“Oh so that’s how it is? Guys all stick together?” Jill pretended to tease as she shifted to stand.”
“Come on, Mom. Give it up.” Drifter grabbed her elbow to lift her as much as he could. “You know better than to ignore Robert.”
Holdin pulled back the covers and was on the other side of the bed to help her in as Drifter steered her to it. He remained silent and let her son do all the talking. Drifter needed to be the center of her attention and Holdin understood that. But he sure wished Drifter’s talking didn’t have to include Robert Coates as if he were some godlike figure. Holdin swallowed back the sharp remark to that effect.
Robert Coates had saved Jill’s life. Tolerating Drifter’s hero worship of the man was the least he could do. Holdin even liked the guy personally. The only thing he didn’t like about Coates was Jill smiling at him in that soft, teasing way. Even that shouldn’t have bothered him. Something was different.
Holdin gave himself a mental shake as he moved back from the bed. Drifter was pulling up the chair and getting Jill that drink of water. The two of them were doing some mock bickering about nonsensical little things. Holdin knew the sharp comments back and forth were about both of them connecting and making sure the other was okay. Drifter wasn’t the type of child who’d cling to her for a long time. So Jill got his long-term attention other ways. This was one of them.
Drifter needed his mother’s focus. He saw himself as too old to express that in any other way than to tease her.
Jill glanced at Holdin a few times throughout the morning, but she didn’t reach for him as Drifter filled her time. After Jill’s breakfast, Carol and Charles came in.
Drifter quickly asked if they’d called anyone about Jill’s coming back. The older Powells assured him they hadn’t and there was a lot of nodding and short sentences as everyone agreed they would discuss the issue later at a more appropriate location. His grandparents offered to take Drifter out to have a bite to eat. Holdin stepped in at that point.
“Thanks, but I’m starved. Drifter and I will grab breakfast.” He felt it was time to establish who he was to Drifter as well as Jill. Watching the boy with Coates had shown him how much he was missing if he couldn’t earn his son’s affection. Perhaps someday they’d find a way to be father and son. Letting everyone else take care of the boy was not helping Holdin move in that direction.
Besides, being near Jill and remaining politely distant was difficult. It felt as if some mysterious wall had suddenly gone up between them. He wasn’t sure where it came from, but it most certainly was there. It hadn’t been like this before her surgery. Then he’d been perfectly comfortable to express his need to touch her every time they were in a room together. Now he felt a subtle resistance from her. Intangible and eerily silent, the distance was troubling.
Her need to focus on Drifter today was natural. What Holdin didn’t understand was the feeling he got that she was defensive about that focus. Course, he was guessing at her emotions. They hadn’t spoken much this morning.
Holdin took Drifter to a little Tex-Mex diner full of locals. It was a couple blocks away from the hospital but in a firmly middle-to-lower-class section of town. A few people asked for Holdin’s autograph but mostly they left him and the boy alone. Several glanced between the two of them but no one was so impolite as to ask if Drifter were Holdin’s son. Not even the few who had asked for a signature.
Holdin knew the owner Benito Montez. A large Hispanic man, who made the best huevos rancheros in the city. Benito ran a small but prosperous business from breakfast through lunch. The service was fast regardless who the person was and the food was outstanding. Holdin and Drifter each received their heaping plate of the spicy breakfast and a tall glass of sweet tea in record time since Benito didn’t bother to wait for his waitress to ask what they wanted.
When Holdin and Drifter came through the door, Benito had glanced up from the grill and smiled. Holdin nodded and slid into the booth he usually sat in on Monday mornings. That’s when Holdin had come here most of the years he’d been with the team
. Monday he could physically afford this type of breakfast. Any other day it’d interfere with practice and he’d had himself on a very strict diet to enhance his abilities.
Breakfast was full of male-speak short sentences and wolfing down food. Deep conversation was a lot to expect of a guy when he was hungry. Especially a fourteen-year-old who could eat enough to feed a small village. Holdin simply wanted to spend time with Drifter. Start making a history with him. He fully understood that it was the little things that built a relationship. The big gestures were the result of all the little ones. It occurred to Holdin that he was jealous of Robert Coates on that score. Coates had a history with Drifter.
During the short drive back to the hospital, Holdin called his housekeeper. Petra and her husband Eduardo lived on his estate in a separate house at the far entrance from the main house. Petra handled Holdin’s house and Eduardo took care of the grounds and handyman needs for the large property. There was little need to instruct the busy guardian of his home. Part of the reason she and Eduardo had been with Holdin almost from the day he’d built the place was her take-charge attitude and her husband’s relaxed reliability.
Into His Keeping Page 24