better solution presented itself.
If in the process it helped the Marine with her recovery, more the better.
He frowned. She was work. Maybe more than work.
So were Bobby and Abby. But the truth was, sometime since the children's arrival, he'd discovered he didn’t want to turn them over to a system that might not have their best interests at heart.
And to be honest, in the darkness of a sleepless night, he’d realized he had his own answers to find. Answers he had an unsettling feeling these kids and one feisty Marine could help him with.
He dialed the number Beth had given him when she found out he’d bought a place in her county. An assistant took his name and put him through to her office.
“Chase. What a pleasant surprise. I hope you’re calling to make a lunch date.”
“Lunch would be great, but that’s not why I called. I need a favor.”
“Does it have anything to do with the woman you’ve got staying at your place?”
“How do you know about her?”
“News travels fast in a small town.”
Chase gulped his lukewarm coffee. “Gunnery Sergeant Jane Donovan. She’s here on leave.”
“A girlfriend you haven’t told me about?”
“A job for my Uncle.”
“Really?” The one word was ripe with speculation.
Chase refused to discuss the Marine. It was bad enough he couldn’t keep her out of his dreams, without fighting daytime fantasies as well.
“She’s not why I called.”
“Too bad. But, if you ever want dating advice...” It was an old offer that went way back. Married now, with a kid of her own, Beth thought he should join the club.
“I’ve got two runaway kids staying here.”
Without breaking stride, she went from teasing friend to focused professional. “Where did they come from?”
“I’m still trying to find out. I’ve threatened to chain them in the dungeon, but so far, they won’t tell.”
Beth laughed. “What are their names?”
“They’re going by Bobby and Pete Jones. We found out yesterday the younger one is a girl, Abby.”
“We?”
Chase ignored her curious probing. “They’re brother and sister.”
“When can you bring them in?”
“That’s the thing. I want to keep them here. Just until we figure out who they are and why they’re on the run. I’ll sign whatever papers you need.”
As director, Beth had the leverage to make things happen that were outside the standard operating manual. He was counting on the fact that she was inclined to bend the rules if she thought it would benefit her kids.
“The only way you could keep them is if you became their temporary foster parent. That's not as easy as signing your name on the dotted line.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Fill out an application. Attend orientation. Go through the certification process.”
“I get it. Training classes, background check, health screening, home study. I had a client once who wanted to adopt. I imagine it’s a very similar process. How long will it take?”
“Four to eight weeks.”
“We don’t have that much time. I have a feeling, the minute you take custody of these kids, they’re going to run. I think housing them here on the ranch will keep them safe for awhile.”
“I could probably push the process along. You’re certainly qualified. And your background check won’t be a problem.” She paused. “This could turn out to be not so temporary. Are you prepared for that?”
Good question. He’d left Seattle to start a new life, one that had nothing to do with what he’d left behind, but here he was, getting involved.
What other choice did he have?
Thinking he was loco, but also thinking of Jane and the bit of childhood she’d revealed to him, he made his decision fast. “Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.” In his mind’s eye, Chase looked into a pair of inscrutable blue eyes that had seen more of the dark side of humanity than they should have, and hoped he was doing the right thing. “I’ll have help.”
“I’ll need
If in the process it helped the Marine with her recovery, more the better.
He frowned. She was work. Maybe more than work.
So were Bobby and Abby. But the truth was, sometime since the children's arrival, he'd discovered he didn’t want to turn them over to a system that might not have their best interests at heart.
And to be honest, in the darkness of a sleepless night, he’d realized he had his own answers to find. Answers he had an unsettling feeling these kids and one feisty Marine could help him with.
He dialed the number Beth had given him when she found out he’d bought a place in her county. An assistant took his name and put him through to her office.
“Chase. What a pleasant surprise. I hope you’re calling to make a lunch date.”
“Lunch would be great, but that’s not why I called. I need a favor.”
“Does it have anything to do with the woman you’ve got staying at your place?”
“How do you know about her?”
“News travels fast in a small town.”
Chase gulped his lukewarm coffee. “Gunnery Sergeant Jane Donovan. She’s here on leave.”
“A girlfriend you haven’t told me about?”
“A job for my Uncle.”
“Really?” The one word was ripe with speculation.
Chase refused to discuss the Marine. It was bad enough he couldn’t keep her out of his dreams, without fighting daytime fantasies as well.
“She’s not why I called.”
“Too bad. But, if you ever want dating advice...” It was an old offer that went way back. Married now, with a kid of her own, Beth thought he should join the club.
“I’ve got two runaway kids staying here.”
Without breaking stride, she went from teasing friend to focused professional. “Where did they come from?”
“I’m still trying to find out. I’ve threatened to chain them in the dungeon, but so far, they won’t tell.”
Beth laughed. “What are their names?”
“They’re going by Bobby and Pete Jones. We found out yesterday the younger one is a girl, Abby.”
“We?”
Chase ignored her curious probing. “They’re brother and sister.”
“When can you bring them in?”
“That’s the thing. I want to keep them here. Just until we figure out who they are and why they’re on the run. I’ll sign whatever papers you need.”
As director, Beth had the leverage to make things happen that were outside the standard operating manual. He was counting on the fact that she was inclined to bend the rules if she thought it would benefit her kids.
“The only way you could keep them is if you became their temporary foster parent. That's not as easy as signing your name on the dotted line.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Fill out an application. Attend orientation. Go through the certification process.”
“I get it. Training classes, background check, health screening, home study. I had a client once who wanted to adopt. I imagine it’s a very similar process. How long will it take?”
“Four to eight weeks.”
“We don’t have that much time. I have a feeling, the minute you take custody of these kids, they’re going to run. I think housing them here on the ranch will keep them safe for awhile.”
“I could probably push the process along. You’re certainly qualified. And your background check won’t be a problem.” She paused. “This could turn out to be not so temporary. Are you prepared for that?”
Good question. He’d left Seattle to start a new life, one that had nothing to do with what he’d left behind, but here he was, getting involved.
What other choice did he have?
Thinking he was loco, but also thinking of Jane and the bit of childhood she’d revealed to him, he made his decision fast. “Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.” In his mind’s eye, Chase looked into a pair of inscrutable blue eyes that had seen more of the dark side of humanity than they should have, and hoped he was doing the right thing. “I’ll have help.”
“I’ll need
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