“That’s enough,” Cara interrupted. She turned pleading eyes on Josh and then Summer. “Please. Let me handle this.”
“What about the boy he roughed up?” Hal demanded, not yet ready to give it a rest.
“That’s right,” Mindy concurred. “Annie saw it, too. We were helping to decorate for the reception.”
“That boy,” Josh said, “was also my son. And I can assure you he wasn’t roughed up by Quinn, on that day or any other one. He stepped on a nail, and Quinn was trying to get it out of his shoe.”
Hal confronted Summer. “And I suppose you were there, too. Like you’re always with him.”
“Don’t make this personal, Hal,” she answered, but it was too late for that.
“I’m going to take my son out of the program,” Mrs. Gonzales said.
“Me, too,” another agreed. “Unless you fire him.”
The parents were on an unstoppable roll. As if connected by a wire, they craned their necks to stare at Quinn. Was Summer the only one who could see he’d cut off his own arm before hurting a child?
“That isn’t necessary,” Quinn said, pulling down on the brim of his cowboy hat. “I’ll save you the trouble and quit.”
“Wait.” Cara lifted a hand. “We’re going to sort this out. Just give me some time.”
“Don’t bother.”
Summer ached for Quinn. It was obvious he didn’t want to be the cause of any trouble for his family and if that included taking the brunt of the responsibility for something he didn’t do, then he would.
How did Jenny feel? Did she see the huge sacrifice he was making?
“It’s past time for the lesson to start.” Cara looked around. “That’s what really matters and why we’re all here. For our children’s sakes. Let’s everyone go to the arena. I promise, this will be resolved to your satisfaction, and I’ll personally address all of your concerns.”
“We want that man gone,” Mindy reiterated.
“I said I’d sort this out.”
No one moved—except Teddy, who chose that moment to have the mother of all outbursts.
Dropping to the ground, he began rocking back and forth and emitting a strange, high-pitched sound.
“Cripes.” Hal groaned and clamped a hand to the side of his head. “Can’t you stop him?”
“Sweetie,” Summer said softly. “Let’s go, okay? Mommy will drive us home.”
She wished she had his oversize cowboy hat with them. Maybe she could run to the car and grab it. Or send Hal.
“No, no, no!” Teddy couldn’t have spoken clearer.
“All right. We can ride Stargazer if you want.”
He flung his arms, pushing Summer away. She inwardly cringed at the grumbles of disapproval from the other parents. They had all of them probably experienced similar public outbursts from their children. Today, however, Summer and Teddy were on display and received no sympathy. Only censure and that was because she’d defended Quinn.
“Can I help?” The offer came from a surprising source. Hal’s wife. It was also delivered with kindness, not rancor.
“Thank you. If you could—”
“Man, man, man.” Teddy scrambled to his feet, sent Hal a searing glare and barreled straight for Quinn.
“Whoa, there.” Quinn held Teddy with both hands and steadied him.
Teddy’s finger found Quinn’s belt loop. “Staaa.”
Summer felt Hal’s stare burn into her like the blast from a thousand suns. Jenny’s stare, on the other hand, dripped icicles. Summer didn’t understand either of them. Quinn had been nothing but good to Teddy.
“Leave my son alone,” Hal barked.
“He’s not hurting Teddy.” Summer stared in confusion. Was everyone blind?
“I told you before—” Hal started for Teddy “—I won’t allow a criminal and child abuser near him.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“Look, Hal,” Quinn said. “I’m only trying to help. Teddy’s stressed, and you’re adding to it.”
The nearer Hal got to Teddy, the more agitated he became. Panic filled his eyes, and his humming intensified until it resembled a swarm of bees. Summer had seen this once before. Teddy had worked himself into such a state of distress, she had feared he’d have a seizure and need to be taken him to the emergency room.
“Stop crowding him.” She tried to block Hal. “Give him some space.”
“The hell with that.” Hal grabbed hold of Teddy’s arm. “I’m getting my son out of here.”
Hal’s touch had the same effect as setting off an explosion. Twisting and screaming, Teddy wrenched free of Hal and threw his arms around Quinn’s waist.
“Enough.” Hal spoke sharply.
Teddy had never responded well to force, even before he was diagnosed, and dropped to his knees, sobbing and cowering.
“Will someone call the police?”
Summer steeled her resolve. These types of meltdowns were hard to handle when they were alone. In front of an audience, it was excruciating. If she didn’t get herself and Teddy out of there this instant, they might be making another trip to the ER.
“Please, Hal,” she begged. “Leave him alone.”
She must have appeared desperate, for Quinn suddenly picked up Teddy and held him close.
“Easy does it, son. There you go.”
Teddy slowly quieted, Quinn’s secure embrace working as well as the oversize hat.
“Jenny,” Quinn said. “You and Corrine wait for me here. I’m taking Teddy to his mother’s car. After that, I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll be in the apartment.” Jenny pressed Corrine’s head to her chest and walked away.
Summer used to hold Teddy that way when she was trying to protect him from danger or from something too awful to see.
“You’re not taking my son anywhere,” Hal barked.
“Yes, I am.” Quinn started forward. “You’re more than welcome to come with us.”
Hal turned to his wife. “Get our attorney on the phone. Now.”
She stared at him as if he were a stranger. “No.”
“What did you say?”
She spun on her heels and addressed the group. “I think we’ve all had enough for one day. Let’s leave them alone and go about our business.”
Good for her, thought Summer. The woman had more backbone than she’d originally given her credit for.
Hurrying after Quinn and Teddy, she caught up to them at her car.
“I’m sorry. What Hal and the other parents said was unforgivable. He’s jealous of you and how much Teddy likes you. You must know that. Did you see his wife? She really put him in his place.”
“Let’s get Teddy settled so you can take him home.” Quinn opened the car door and sat Teddy in his booster seat. Finding the hat, he plunked it on Teddy’s head.
Summer didn’t waste any energy wishing Hal exhibited half the care and affection with Teddy that Quinn did.
“Will you come over tonight?”
“I’m not sure.” Quinn’s tone worried her.
“We should talk about what happened. Cara isn’t going to fire you even if the parents stage a protest.”
“I have to get back to Corrine and Jenny.” He buckled Teddy’s seat belt.
“Yes, of course, but—”
“Not now, Summer.”
“I should have done more when Mindy approached me.”
Quinn stopped, his hand on the rear passenger door. Teddy still clung to a belt loop. “Yes, you should have.”
Summer would have approached if not for fear of agitating Teddy. “I, ah... When Mindy mentioned the petition, I honestly didn’t think she’d go through with it. She seemed undecided.”
“Why didn’t yo
u tell me? You could have prevented a lot of trouble. Those parents are out for blood.”
“The whole thing was absurd.” Summer blinked back tears. “I didn’t want to worry you, not with the wedding looming and with Corrine and Jenny coming for a visit. When nothing came of it, I forgot.”
He was right to blame her. What had she been thinking?
“Come over tonight. Please.”
“I’ll call you.”
Was that a polite way of saying no?
Summer felt empty inside and debated about what to do next. This wasn’t how their day was supposed to end. Quinn should have taken his daughter and Jenny to the airport, had a cheery goodbye and then come over to Summer’s where they’d talk, cuddle on the couch and get to know each other better.
“Tell me everything’s going to be all right.”
He pulled her into a hug, but it lacked warmth.
“Kiss me.”
He did, briefly, his gaze on the horse stables. He didn’t need to tell her he was thinking of Corrine and Jenny in the apartment.
His distraction was understandable. She should be supportive and not needy.
“See you later?” She studied his expression.
“Yeah.”
Time. That was what he needed. The chance to calm down and put the past hour in perspective.
She drove off, unable to get the scene with the parents out of her mind. Surely Cara would see reason and do the right thing—that being keeping Quinn on the program staff.
“Man, man,” Teddy said mournfully from the backseat, his voice muffled by the cowboy hat.
“Yes, man,” Summer repeated.
If Quinn didn’t call her, she’d call him. Perhaps drop off Teddy at the sitter’s and go over to Quinn’s.
With a plan in place, she expected to feel a sense of relief. It was slow coming.
Chapter Twelve
The security lines at the airport weren’t bad, probably because it was Sunday night rather than Monday morning. Quinn stood with Jenny and Corrine at the entrance to the checkpoint. Their flight wasn’t due to leave for another ninety minutes. It wouldn’t take them long to clear the security line, especially as Jenny had used express check-in and had only carry-on luggage.
“Don’t leave yet.” Quinn had been carrying her luggage and didn’t let go when she reached for the handle.
Jenny stiffened and withdrew her hand. “I told you on the way here, we have nothing more to discuss.”
They’d discussed very little, in fact. She’d cut him short every time he started to speak.
“It isn’t what you think,” he said. “Cara explained—”
“Save it. My attorney will be in touch.”
“Really, Jenny?”
“You’d better get used to it,” she scoffed.
She was making this much harder than it had to be. Quinn thought the boyfriend, Andy, might be responsible. All the talking Jenny had done was mostly on the phone with him.
“You haven’t changed one bit, Quinn,” she continued. “You still have a temper that you can’t control.”
“I haven’t lost my temper in years. No more than most people.”
“How can I trust you with Corrine?”
He stared down at his daughter and her pretty cherub face. She’d tucked the purple pony beneath her arm and wore a pink-and-turquoise backpack. This was completely the wrong time to let loose and rage, proving to Jenny she was right. Instead, he bit down hard, cementing his teeth together.
“You can trust me with her,” he said evenly as he reached down to stroke Corrine’s hair.
The little girl beamed up at him and, for a moment, he tried to imagine everything working out, the two of them riding Hurry Up in the arena and eating at the café with Summer and Teddy. The picture promptly evaporated when Jenny spoke.
“I was wrong to come here.” She compressed her mouth into a thin, stern line.
Quinn remembered her doing this before. It had always annoyed him because it signaled her refusal to listen. That had been one of their downfalls. Jenny didn’t always have to be right, she just wasn’t ever wrong.
“Coming here was absolutely the right thing to do.”
She stiffened. “I’m so sorry I had to subject Corrine to that scene earlier.”
“No more sorry than I am.” She had no idea.
Jenny grabbed hold of Corrine’s hand. Tight, as if afraid Quinn would snatch the little girl away. “I shouldn’t have to protect my child from an angry mob when she’s at her father’s.”
“Our child. And she was never in any danger.”
“I’ve heard this before from you.”
“You can’t possibly be referring to the night in the bar. It’s been proven beyond a doubt I had nothing to do with that assault.”
“But you wanted to hurt that guy when he flirted with me. How do I know you didn’t want to hurt the boy, too?”
“You’re upset, and you’re talking irrationally.” Their conversation reminded Quinn of the one they’d had immediately following his release on bail. Jenny had shut down then, too.
“I’m going to have my attorney investigate.”
“Great. I welcome an investigator getting to the bottom of this. Make sure he calls the boy’s school. I’d bet money he’s beaten up other kids besides Nathan.”
“You’re actually going to pin this on a child?”
Quinn couldn’t help himself and raised his voice. “That child is a bully. I may have been in a few fights during my lifetime, but I never picked on someone half my size and half my strength.”
“Which I suppose makes fighting okay in your opinion.” She gaped at him as if he’d spontaneously sprouted devil horns. “You can’t see Corrine again.”
He counted to ten. Eleven. Twelve. “I will see her. Soon. At my parents’ in October.”
“You think I’ll... I’ll...” She sputtered, unable to continue until she collected herself. “I’ll take Corrine away again. You won’t find us.”
Corrine must have sensed the discord between her parents for she began to whimper. “Mommy. I wanna go home.”
“Shh. It’s all right.” Quinn reached for her again.
She immediately quieted and took his hand, holding it between her two tiny ones. Quinn felt every drop of anger drain from him.
Unfortunately, their tender exchange set Jenny off, and she grabbed Corrine. “Leave her alone.”
People were starting to stare at them. Quinn decided to back off. He couldn’t resist one last warning, however.
“Don’t go into hiding again—you could be accused of kidnapping. I have rights, and I won’t hesitate to take legal action.” All right, he wasn’t entirely sure of the kidnapping thing but was glad to see Jenny flustered. “We can work this out. I want that more than anything.”
“Is that why you threatened me?”
He almost said she’d threatened him first, then thought better of it. “I’ll call you in a couple of days. Text me when you’ve landed.”
“Forget it.”
“Why do you always have to be like this, Jenny? You automatically assume I’m guilty and never give me a chance. It isn’t fair and it isn’t right. You’re just like everyone else at the ranch today. Look at him, he’s an ex-con. He must have done it. Who needs proof?”
She inhaled sharply. “You weren’t entirely innocent, Quinn. You did get into a fight with that guy.”
“A verbal altercation. Not physical.”
She ignored him. “If you hadn’t, he wouldn’t have accused you, and you wouldn’t have gone to prison.”
“You think I don’t know that? It haunts my dreams. But my mistake wasn’t nearly as terrible as the ones committed against me, including those committed by the paren
ts today and you if you keep Corrine from me.” He paused, trying to slow his heart rate. “Give me a chance, Jenny. You owe me that much.”
He thought for sure she’d say no and walk away, dragging Corrine behind her. Instead, some of what he’d said must have gotten through to her, for she nodded slowly. “One chance. One last chance.”
Quinn was bothered by her attitude; however, he chose not to antagonize her. Sometimes it was better to take a small victory and retreat until another day.
“Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
“We’d better go. The line is getting longer.”
He didn’t hug Jenny, but he did pick up Corrine and hold her close for several long moments.
“I’ll see you soon, honey. I’ll miss you.”
“Goodbye,” she said in his ear.
He consoled himself with the knowledge that October was only a couple months away and by then Corrine would learn he was her father.
He watched them until they were through the security checkpoint and out of sight. Then he left, hurrying through the airport and outside to the parking garage. He hardly noticed the people he passed or the cars stopping for him in the crosswalk.
At his truck, he pulled out his phone. He’d shut it off when he drove Jenny and Corrine to the airport, not wanting any interruptions. Once on, the phone displayed three missed calls, all of them from Summer. There were also two voice-mail messages.
He decided not to listen to them until he got home. His mind needed a rest before tackling the next set of problems, and the list was a lengthy one.
Regardless of how it turned out with the students’ parents, Quinn could count on having lost his job with the therapy program. Even if the full story came to light, and he hoped it did, the parents wouldn’t allow him within a mile of their kids. That left Quinn without any income and few opportunities.
He briefly recalled the conversation with Assistant Warden Tedrowe regarding the work release program. He’d yet to mention it to his cousins. Maybe he should.
Or not. Why was he even considering the job? If the parents didn’t want him, an innocent man, near their children, what would they think of a busload of prisoners? The idea was ludicrous.
Rescuing the Cowboy Page 17