could tell her they couldn’t.
“Of course, but like Jax said you can’t come alone, it’s too dangerous. Now who’s ready to check out the town before we get some sleep?” Reven asked, seeing that neither girl seemed thrilled to leave.
“Ha! Check out the town my foot! I’m driving through the ice cream parlor and grabbing a hot fudge sundae with nuts before we head home. Who wants some?” Jax asked while the girls looked at her curiously.
“Ice cream?” Jax asked as the girls continued to look at her blankly.
“Well, it’s closed now anyway. But, I think I have some rocky road and vanilla at my place. Since we need to stop by so I can get some things, we can grab the ice cream as well.” Reven said, trying to change the subject and get them out of the sanctuary. He’d had more than enough of Cal the cat for one day; he thought as he returned the narrowed stare of the tiger.
Jax glanced up at Reven sadly, noticing that he was also trying to control his emotions. “That’s a much better idea!”
Reven looked worriedly at Jax when neither of the children seemed inclined to leave the cat sanctuary. Thinking quickly, Reven sighed dramatically, ensuring he got their attention.
“What’s wrong?” Melina asked as she looked around nervously.
“Oh! Nothing honey. It’s just I’m a little worried about Wolfen.” Reven said sadly, looking down at his feet to move some leaves around.
“Who’s Wolfen?” Melina asked curiously as Bayla looked at him quizzically.
“I bet he is scared.” Jax said, playing along with Reven’s game even though she knew Wolfen was fine and being cared for at Reven’s place by a vet tech until Reven could get there.
Melina stood up and looked around worriedly. Not wanting her to be afraid, Reven rushed to ease her worry. “Wolfen is the baby dog we found while we were looking for you. His mommy died bringing him to us. He’s at my place waiting for me to get home and take care of him.”
Melina looked up at him with wide, excited eyes as the baby cooed and swung her arms up to be carried. Jax gave her a big smile before swooping Bayla into her arms.
“He’s a beautiful puppy that I think is going to be a wonderful dog.” Jax told the girls as they bent to say good-bye to Cal.
Jax and the girls gave hugs and wet kisses to the tiger and promised to come back again before Melina followed Jax out of the sanctuary.
“How old is the puppy? You named him Wolfen? What does that mean?” Melina asked curiously as they headed out of the forest.
By the time they reached the car, Jax was more than ready to head home and get the girls settled. She knew the medibands on the children were providing them with additional nutrients to combat the malnutrition, and they probably weren’t hungry.
However, all she wanted to do was get them in some warm pajamas and feed them until they were stuffed and happy. No thirteen-year-old child, in this day and age, should have to ask what ice cream is, she thought sadly.
Getting Reven back into the car proved to be yet another adventure and this time Jax actually felt bad about it. She cringed when his knees cracked into the dash before he could pull them to his chest.
Jax shot him an apologetic smile before easing the car back onto the road. She made a really quick trip through the town, enough to show Melina around the area before parking in front of Reven’s cabin.
“I’ll grab the ice cream; Melina can get Wolfen; you get your things, and we’ll be homebound for ice cream!” Jax said as she got out of the car and started inside.
The giggling from the car drew her attention. “Shit! I mean, shoot!” Jax said before opening the back door of the car and getting Bayla out of her car seat. How she could forget the baby; she'd never know; she thought as she shook her head and ignored Melina trying to help pull Reven out of his seat.
She
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