little boy.
Tommy threw himself into her arms and kissed her cheek as she bent down. “I’m having so much fun! Davy has some video games. He’s teaching me how to play.”
“I’m glad, sweetie. Don’t forget your manners during dinner, okay?”
He grinned. “Okay.”
She watched him follow Davy to the table.Her heart swelled with pride when he did as Elizabeth told him. He was a good little boy. And Kane was a bastard.
Thanks to Jim, she had her little boy back.
She helped with the serving, making herself useful where she could. It took her mind off her problems. The meal was almost over when the back door opened and the four Randall fathers, plus the sheriff and Griffin Randall, entered. Immediately the wives went to greet their husbands.
Even Camille, who had protested Griff’s decision to accompany his cousins, threw herself into Griff’s embrace. Patience couldn’t hold back a smile. It was good to see the love that existed between these couples.
After the greetings, the women quickly cleared the table and placed clean dishes on it. All except Megan. She remained in a corner, talking with her husband.
When they finished talking, Chad stepped to Red’s side and conferred with him. Then, to Patience’s surprise, Jim’s father turned to her.
“Patience, Megan’s told me about you saving Jim’s life. We can never thank you enough for that.”
“Mr. Randall, I owe Jim for saving me andTommy from Kane. You don’t owe me anything.”
“You’re a gracious woman, Patience. But we still owe you. Megan and I are going in to see Jim now. Do you want to come with us?”
Patience blushed. “Oh, no, I talked to him today. I’ll let you have some time alone with him. I think he’s doing very well.”
“We Randalls are fast healers,” Chad assured her with a smile.
“I’m glad.”
“Yeah. Any messages for Jim?”
“You can tell him again how grateful I am.”
Chad smiled and left.
Half an hour later Patience asked the sheriff, who’d just finished his meal, if she could talk to him.
He agreed and suggested they use Jake’s office.
She followed him, her knees shaking.
Chapter Nine
Once Patience was seated in one of the big leather chairs in front of Jake’s desk, she clasped her hands tightly together. Her voice strained, she said, “Sheriff, I killed a man.”
Sheriff Metzger had been a law officer for a long time and had seen his share of crime. Calmly he asked, “Did you?”
“Yes. We were trying to get away from Kane and his men. We were almost home when they found us and started shooting at us. This man had snuck up on Jim and was going to kill him. I couldn’t let him do that. I shot him.” She let out a sigh. “Are you going to file charges against me?”
“Well, seeing as how you didn’t seek these men out with the intent to kill and that you had been fired on first, no. All you did was try toprotect Jim and Tommy and yourself. I’ll interview Jim and if his story matches yours there will be no charges.”
“Are you sure? I feel so bad about it.”
“Patience, life is harsh. No decent person seeks to end someone else’s life. But there are times when you have no choice. This was one of those times. And if, as we think, Kane is still alive, it’s possible you’ll face him again. I hope you’ll seek legal recourse at once so that he can’t get hold of Tommy again.”
“Do you think I have a chance to get custody of Tommy?”
“Yes, I do. His father is obviously not a stable man. Go to Nick Randall and ask for his help.”
“He would be very expensive, but…” She began considering her options, hoping she could do as the sheriff suggested.
“Just talk to him. I’m sure he’ll offer you some good advice.”
“Thank you, Sheriff Metzger, for talking to me. I feel better now.”
“I’m glad you’re staying with the Randalls for a while, where you’ll be safe. I’ll let you know right away if I get any hint that Joseph Kane is back in
Tommy threw himself into her arms and kissed her cheek as she bent down. “I’m having so much fun! Davy has some video games. He’s teaching me how to play.”
“I’m glad, sweetie. Don’t forget your manners during dinner, okay?”
He grinned. “Okay.”
She watched him follow Davy to the table.Her heart swelled with pride when he did as Elizabeth told him. He was a good little boy. And Kane was a bastard.
Thanks to Jim, she had her little boy back.
She helped with the serving, making herself useful where she could. It took her mind off her problems. The meal was almost over when the back door opened and the four Randall fathers, plus the sheriff and Griffin Randall, entered. Immediately the wives went to greet their husbands.
Even Camille, who had protested Griff’s decision to accompany his cousins, threw herself into Griff’s embrace. Patience couldn’t hold back a smile. It was good to see the love that existed between these couples.
After the greetings, the women quickly cleared the table and placed clean dishes on it. All except Megan. She remained in a corner, talking with her husband.
When they finished talking, Chad stepped to Red’s side and conferred with him. Then, to Patience’s surprise, Jim’s father turned to her.
“Patience, Megan’s told me about you saving Jim’s life. We can never thank you enough for that.”
“Mr. Randall, I owe Jim for saving me andTommy from Kane. You don’t owe me anything.”
“You’re a gracious woman, Patience. But we still owe you. Megan and I are going in to see Jim now. Do you want to come with us?”
Patience blushed. “Oh, no, I talked to him today. I’ll let you have some time alone with him. I think he’s doing very well.”
“We Randalls are fast healers,” Chad assured her with a smile.
“I’m glad.”
“Yeah. Any messages for Jim?”
“You can tell him again how grateful I am.”
Chad smiled and left.
Half an hour later Patience asked the sheriff, who’d just finished his meal, if she could talk to him.
He agreed and suggested they use Jake’s office.
She followed him, her knees shaking.
Chapter Nine
Once Patience was seated in one of the big leather chairs in front of Jake’s desk, she clasped her hands tightly together. Her voice strained, she said, “Sheriff, I killed a man.”
Sheriff Metzger had been a law officer for a long time and had seen his share of crime. Calmly he asked, “Did you?”
“Yes. We were trying to get away from Kane and his men. We were almost home when they found us and started shooting at us. This man had snuck up on Jim and was going to kill him. I couldn’t let him do that. I shot him.” She let out a sigh. “Are you going to file charges against me?”
“Well, seeing as how you didn’t seek these men out with the intent to kill and that you had been fired on first, no. All you did was try toprotect Jim and Tommy and yourself. I’ll interview Jim and if his story matches yours there will be no charges.”
“Are you sure? I feel so bad about it.”
“Patience, life is harsh. No decent person seeks to end someone else’s life. But there are times when you have no choice. This was one of those times. And if, as we think, Kane is still alive, it’s possible you’ll face him again. I hope you’ll seek legal recourse at once so that he can’t get hold of Tommy again.”
“Do you think I have a chance to get custody of Tommy?”
“Yes, I do. His father is obviously not a stable man. Go to Nick Randall and ask for his help.”
“He would be very expensive, but…” She began considering her options, hoping she could do as the sheriff suggested.
“Just talk to him. I’m sure he’ll offer you some good advice.”
“Thank you, Sheriff Metzger, for talking to me. I feel better now.”
“I’m glad you’re staying with the Randalls for a while, where you’ll be safe. I’ll let you know right away if I get any hint that Joseph Kane is back in
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