by Barbara Gee
“The scumbag didn’t think twice about trying to shoot a child last night, so I wouldn’t put anything past him.”
Ryan and the detective shook hands. “You have my number. Let me know if there’s anything I can help with. I’m sure it’ll be a while before the trials for this guy and Anthony are scheduled, but keep me informed, if you would.”
“Definitely. Have fun with your little guy. You’ve been blessed with a good, smart kid there.”
Ryan thought about the man’s words as he and Hank left the station and got buckled into the truck. Blessed. An interesting choice of words, but Ryan had to agree it was fitting. He hadn’t done anything to deserve a son like Hank, and yet he had been blessed with him.
He sighed. Would he ever be able to count his blessings without Luke, Jamie and Wade coming to mind and weighing him down? Did the families they left behind ever feel blessed, or were they still struggling with grief and loss?
“Come on, Dad. Let’s go to the stores.”
Ryan shook it off and smiled at his son. “Your wish is my command, Hank. Let’s go buy stuff.”
After they’d both stocked up on ranch appropriate clothing, they went to a toy store for things to keep Hank occupied while they traveled. Ryan planned to take their time, not driving more than five or six hours a day, stopping to see interesting parts of the country on their way. As far as he knew, Hank had never been out of North Carolina, and he wanted his son to have his eyes opened to the vastness and variety of the country he had been so fortunate to be born in.
Their last stop was a grocery store, where they stocked up on bottles of water and juice, a cooler to keep them in, and lots of healthy snacks and fruit. Also a few not so healthy choices—they were guys on a road trip, after all. As they rolled their loaded cart to the checkout, Ryan noticed a book rack at the end of an aisle. Thinking it might be nice to have a book to read in the evenings after Hank was in bed asleep, he stopped the cart and looked over the books. He realized belatedly it was one of those inspirational book racks and he started to turn away, but a group of books with “Grace” in their titles caught his eye. Before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed three of them. Might be a waste of money, but for whatever reason he felt compelled to buy them.
Whether he’d read them or not was a question for another day.
CHAPTER 26
Libby hung up her phone and stuck it in her back pocket. She grinned down at the little gray, white, brown, and black spotted fluff ball circling around her feet, biting at the strap on her flip flop. Plopping down on the grass, she picked up the excited little puppy and held it up to her face.
“What do you think, little guy? Are you ready for your boy to come see you? Huh? You ready to meet your boy?” The puppy tried to lick her face but she pulled back, laughing. “I’ve told you a hundred times, not the face!” she scolded. Undaunted, the pup tried again and this time she put him back down in the grass. “Five days or so, buddy, then you’ll have a face to lick.”
The front door of the house opened and Maddy’s head emerged. “Dinner is ready, Lib. Did the little fur-ball get his business done?”
“Sure did.” The pup followed Libby back inside, where Tuck scooped him up for a quick cuddle.
“Hey, pooch. You good to go now for a while? Any more puddles and Kay’s going to kick you out of the house.”
“As if,” Maddy said, rolling her eyes. Virgil and Kay had quickly become attached to the little Australian Shepherd pup, and he was fast becoming a very spoiled little animal.
After they sat down to eat and said grace, Libby told the others that Ryan and Hank would be there in five or six days, depending on how many driving hours they put in each day.
“Let me know as soon as they have a firm arrival date,” Virgil said. “I’d like to put on a good old Full Heart barbecue the day after they get here. I’m hoping they’ll stay for a while, and it would be nice for Ryan to get to know some of the neighbors.”
“Oh, that’s a terrific idea,” Kay said. “It’s been way too long since our last one. I’ll start planning the menu tomorrow.”
“I think Jolene will be here, too,” Maddy said. “She’s planning to come next Friday, and will hopefully stay for a week.”
“It gets better and better,” Kay declared. “I love when Jolene comes to visit. And I can’t wait to have a child on the ranch. How did little Hank sound when you talked to him, Libby? Was he still subdued?”
Libby laughed. “Hardly. I don’t know what flipped the switch, but honestly, I could hardly get a word in edgewise. He was begging me to send him a picture of the puppy, but I told him he has to wait and see him in person. I think it’s safe to say he’s very excited about coming here. It was so good to hear him babbling like a five year old boy should. Ryan sounded good, too. He said he has a lot to tell us when they get here.”
“I hope they have a line on the guy who shot Byron,” Tuck said. “It would be nice to take that worry off Ryan’s shoulders.”
Virgil nodded. “It’ll be good for them to be here, away from it all. I think the man is real smart to give the boy a change of scenery.”
Libby smiled. “You guys are going to love little Hank. And I can’t wait to see his face when he sees this place, and the puppy, and the horses.” She raised her dinner roll. “And tastes Kay’s cooking.”
“I won’t let him go hungry, that’s for sure,” Kay said, chuckling.
Libby continued chatting with the others through dinner and clean-up, but her mind was spinning. In five days, maybe six, she would once again be faced with the man who was seemingly made for her, but not meant for her. It was frustrating and scary…...and she could hardly wait.
She didn’t think that was an especially good thing.
***
On Thursday evening, Virgil was manning the grill in the back yard. Tonight he was using the regular gas grill for hamburgers and hotdogs. The following day, for the community barbecue, he would be using the huge fire pit and his impressive rotisserie contraption to slow cook the dry rubbed briskets that Kay would then shred and sauce to make the best barbecue in the county.
For now, though, they were getting ready for a simple backyard picnic to welcome Ryan and Hank, who would be there any minute. Libby was carrying a vegetable platter out the back door when she heard car doors slam.
“I think they’re here,” Virgil said, heading for the front door.
Libby froze for a moment, then kept going out the back, her heart pounding painfully. Needing a little time to compose herself before she saw Ryan, she busied herself with the ice bucket, putting cubes in the waiting glasses. She carefully counted four cubes to a glass, not because the number mattered, but because she needed something to focus on.
In minutes she’d be face to face with Ryan. Was it too much to hope that when she saw him again, she’d find her intense feelings for him had faded and he no longer affected her as he had before? That’s what she’d been praying for. She wanted so badly to be able to be friends, without all the angst. Surely that was possible, right? Right?
Ryan walked out the back door.
Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. The angst wasn’t going anywhere. It was all Libby could do not to run into his arms. Their eyes met and held, and for that moment she was unaware of anyone else in the yard, even the puppy. Then Hank’s voice cut through her trance.
“There he is!”
Libby forced herself to break eye contact with Ryan as Hank ran out into the yard.
“Hi, Libby! Is that my puppy?”
“Sure is, Hank,” she said, kneeling down as the boy ran toward her. “You have to give me a hug first, then you can meet your dog.”
Without hesitation Hank stepped into her arms and gave her a hug. It was the first time he’d hugged her without acting shy and self-conscious, and Libby glanced up at Ryan, sharing her delight with a happy grin.
The puppy nuzzled between them, wanting in on the loving. Hank laughed when his wet nose went under his
shirt to his tummy.
“Hey!” he cried. “What’s he doing?”
“He’s trying to give you a kiss,” Libby said. “This little guy loves to give kisses, let me tell you. Only he usually gives a big slurpy lick along with it, so watch out. His favorite thing to lick is faces.”
“Ahhhh,” Hank squealed as the puppy did just that. Not that Hank minded. “Look, Dad! Look at my puppy. He’s all different colors!”
Libby stood up and looked around, seeing that the others were all watching the little boy meet his very first dog. Ryan was standing over his son, reaching down to pet the squirming ball of fur.
“He’s a great dog,” Ryan said. “Are you going to have a hard time coming up with a name? I don’t think Blackie is going to do it.”
“I’m going to name him Buzz,” Hank said decisively, choosing a character from a movie he had watched four times on the trip.
Libby gave a delighted laugh. “Buzz is a great name. Now how about if I introduce you to my friends, Hank? Then you can play with Buzz a little longer while Uncle Virgil finishes up the burgers and hotdogs.”
Hank turned shy as she told him the names of everyone, but began giggling again when he was free to go back to playing with the puppy. Ryan walked up behind Libby and put his hand on her shoulder.
“Thanks for the dog. It’s great to see him so carefree, exactly like a five year old should be.”
“I’m happy it helped.” She looked back at him, realizing suddenly that they were now alone in the yard, except for Hank and the puppy. His hand tightened and he slowly turned her to face him. She exhaled a shaky breath. “One hug, Ryan. I’ll allow myself one hug because I’m so glad you guys are here, but that’s it.”
He pulled her tight against his body, his cheek against the top of her head. “It’s not enough,” he said gruffly. “I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you.”
Libby wrapped her arms around his lean waist and held on, pressing her face into his shoulder, inhaling the tantalizing scent that was Ryan Anderson. For one long, wonderful moment she absorbed the feel and smell of the man, then she resolutely stepped away. He dropped his arms, not protesting, but his dark eyes bored into hers, showing his frustration and need.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Libby said softly. “It’s where Hank needs to be, and Tuck is thrilled to have you back. It’ll be good.”
He nodded. “I know it won’t be easy for you and me, but I’ll try to behave myself around you. The last thing I want is for you to start avoiding me again.”
She smiled bravely. “I won’t.”
The others came back out, carrying food that smelled divine. Virgil brought a big pan to put the meat in, and when Hank wandered over to watch, he let the little boy carefully use the tongs to transfer the rest of the sizzling burgers and hotdogs from the grill to the pan.
They sat at the table and bowed their heads. Hank’s grandparents always said grace, so he wasn’t confused about what to do, but he also didn’t quite close his eyes all the way. The puppy and the food were just too hard to ignore.
Virgil’s prayer was heartfelt, as he thanked his heavenly Father for bringing Ryan and Hank safely to them. Libby peeked at Hank when Virgil mentioned his name, and the little boy was looking at Virgil with surprised wonder in his eyes. For a child who had never had a lot of people in his life to love and appreciate him, hearing this stranger say how glad he was to have him come to his ranch was a big deal. Libby couldn’t stop her smile. Little Hank was about to experience love Full Heart style.
As the evening went on, Hank gradually warmed to the others. Buzz was a great ice breaker as he zipped from one person to the next, with Hank chasing him and interacting with everyone almost without realizing it. The whole group lingered in the yard long after they ate, the weather too beautiful to go inside. When Ryan caught Hank yawning repeatedly, he gently told the boy that it was time to get a bath and go to bed, easing the sting by reminding him that tomorrow he would have the entire day to play with Buzz.
“Everything is ready for you upstairs,” Kay said. “Libby, you want to take them up while the rest of us clean up here?”
“Sure.” Libby held out her hand to Hank. “Want to go upstairs and see your room?”
“But what about Buzz? Can he sleep with me?”
“No, Buzz has a bed downstairs in the laundry room, and he needs to stay in there. You see, Buzz is still kind of a baby, and he has a lot to learn. He doesn’t always remember to go to the door when he needs to go potty. So sometimes he goes on the floor, and the floor in the laundry room is tile and it doesn’t hurt if it gets wet.”
“Can I see his bed?”
“Of course. It’s real comfortable. He likes it.”
The three of them went inside, letting Hank inspect Buzz’s sleeping quarters first. When he gave his approval, Libby asked Tuck to restrain the puppy from following Hank while they went upstairs. Ryan grabbed their duffle bags, and when Hank scampered up the stairs ahead of them, Libby put her arm on Ryan’s arm and slowed him down so they could talk.
“Don’t get mad about this Ryan, but I thought it would be best if I moved out to your old cabin while you’re here. I’ve been staying out there for a few nights already, and it’s fine. I’m perfectly comfortable there.”
Ryan stopped and frowned. “Ah man, Libby, I hate that. Hank and I could have stayed out there. We could fit a small mattress for him in the front corner.”
“You’ll both sleep better if you have your own rooms, like you’re used to. We’re putting you in the room Tuck used to use, and Hank will be next door, where our office was last time you were here. We put up a new office on the job site, a prefab building thingie. It’s so much better than the bedroom office.”
“The new building sounds great, but I feel really bad about kicking you out of your own home. Are you sure we can’t all stay up here? You can trust me, you know. I’ll respect your privacy and won’t step foot in your room.”
Libby started walking again, giving him a wry smile over her shoulder. “It’s not you I’m worried about,” she said candidly. “Better to be out in my cozy little cabin, safe from temptation.”
He winced but didn’t reply.
“Is this my room?” Hank called from down the hall. “The first one looks like a girl’s room.”
“You’re right on both counts. The first one is my room when I stay in the house, and yes, the next one is yours. And your dad’s is beside it.”
“Hey, there’s a bathroom in here,” Hank said. “Is that just for me?”
“Yep, you have your very own room and bathroom. Try out the bed, see if it’s comfy.”
Hank climbed up on the high bed and bounced, then laid down. “It feels great. Try it, Dad.”
Ryan lowered himself down to lie beside his son. “Very nice. I could go to sleep right now.”
“Nope,” Hank said, pushing at his dad’s long body. “This is my bed.”
Libby chuckled and went to run his bath. “Kay got soap and shampoo and toothpaste and toothbrushes and anything else she could think of that you might need.” Hank and Ryan joined her, and she showed them where the extra towels and toilet paper were. “You guys all set?”
“We’ll be fine. I’ll get Hank tucked in, then I’ll come back downstairs and fill you all in on some things.”
She smiled. “Sounds good. Can I have a hug goodnight, Hank?”
He willingly gave her a hug, albeit a short one. He was much more excited about the bubbles starting to build up in the tub. Ryan raised a brow.
“A bubble bath?” he asked.
“It’s okay. The bottle is in the shape of a race car, which makes it a manly bubble bath,” Libby replied with a smile. “See you in a bit.”
Ryan joined the rest of them in the living room about thirty minutes later, reporting that not only was Hank in bed, he was already fast asleep.
“That puppy wore him out. Thanks for having everything ready for us upstairs, Kay. He felt right
at home and didn’t complain once about going to bed.”
“It does my heart good to hear that,” Kay said. “We’re going to enjoy having that child here. You have a wonderful son, Ryan.”
“No thanks to me. His mom did a great job with him, in spite of everything.”
“You’re not doing too shabby yourself, Ry,” Tuck said. “He’s only known you a few weeks, but he’s happy and he obviously adores you. Don’t downplay how important you are to him.”
Ryan sat down in the chair they had left for him. “A week ago it was a different story. He was so traumatized by what happened at his grandparents’ house he stopped talking. I couldn’t get through to him no matter what I tried. Thank goodness Libby was able to. When we Skyped she showed him the horses and the house, and told him she was going to get a puppy. When he saw that little horse, Ozzie, the words just started flowing, and after that he started to come out of his shell again.”
“He needed to have something else to think about,” Libby agreed. “But even I didn’t expect him to be so exuberant. He’s a whole new kid.”
“Yeah, he’s finally free of his worries. That’s what I want to tell you guys about.” Ryan proceeded to tell them everything that had happened a week ago, not sparing any details. When he got to the part about Big shooting up Hank’s bed, Libby choked out a sob and buried her face in her hands, and a tearful Maddy went and grabbed some tissues for both of them. Ryan continued on, reassuring them that Hank was still completely oblivious to everything that had gone down that night. All he knew was that the police had caught the mean man, and he was in jail and wouldn’t be hurting anyone anymore.
“Once I told him that, he became a completely different kid. That guy obviously treated Hank badly when he went to the house. All Hank said was that the man told him to stay in his room and stop spying on them, but I suspect there were nasty threats involved, and Anthony didn’t care enough to stop it. I believe Hank was worried about that man all along, and having him arrested was a huge relief. Between that and his excitement about coming out here, he just blossomed.”