Chapter Twenty #2
“We have some new leads on a local trafficker. He’s expecting a shipment soon, and we plan to grab him then. Rachel took Delaney to the doctor. She’s experiencing some Braxton Hicks, and she’s ready for this baby to make an appearance.”
“I’m sure she’s uncomfortable,” Caroline sympathized, cutting her chicken.
“Rebecca asked me to give you this,” he said, handing her an envelope.
She put her silverware down and took it from him. Opening it, she grinned at the invitation to a baby shower. Rebeca and Rachel sent her a little note.
Caroline,
We miss you! Come and have dinner with us, spend the night, and help us with the shower.
Rachel and Rebecca
“They invited me to Delaney’s baby shower. They asked me to spend the night and help them put it together. It’s a couple of weeks away,” she told Jameson.
“Let me know the day, and we’ll follow you to the ranch,” Jameson assured her. “They miss you.”
“I miss them, too,” she confessed. “We get along.”
“Why don’t you visit them sooner?” Thomas asked. “They’re welcome here.”
“I hoped if I came here, my life might feel like it did before…it seems I can’t escape it,” she faltered. “I’m working on it, Dad. Don’t worry. Finding you alive counts as my biggest blessing.”
“I know you’ll find your way back, Honeybee. Don’t ever give up. Your mother made me promise to never stop searching for you. Then, Jameson brought you to my door,” Thomas said, squeezing her hand.
“I won’t. I promise,” she vowed, turning her attention back to her food. “It’s as good as I remember.”
“How did your training go with Victoria?” Jameson asked.
“She showed me some self-defense moves, and I’m supposed to practice them tonight,” she explained.
“Then I say we forgo the card game until tomorrow. Victoria tells me it’s important for you to protect yourself,” her father said firmly.
“No. I have plenty of time. Victoria’s letting me sleep in until six tomorrow. She’s so…generous,” she said, laughing.
Thomas grinned. “Do your homework first, young lady.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll run through them, and then we’ll play. Right after, I clean up dinner.”
“I’ll handle clean up,” Jameson volunteered. “What does she have you working on?”
“How to hurt someone if they come at me or grab me from behind,” she said, finishing her pasta.
“I’ll come out and ensure you’re doing it correctly once I’m finished. Victoria’s known for adding a punishment if you didn’t pay attention. She cut Kassie’s wrist during training because Kassie lost focus. She takes this very seriously.”
“Thanks,” she said, rising from the table. “Will you be alright until I’m done?” she asked her father.
“I’ll have you know Nancy acts like a taskmaster when you’re not here. She makes me wash my own dishes. Why don’t you two practice and get it done faster? Then I’ll relish beating both of you.”
Jameson followed her outside. “It appears your father plays to win. Where do you want to practice?”
“Out here. I don’t like the feeling of someone restricting my movement. The cool air helps me,” she told him.
“Then, let’s begin,” Jameson said. “I’ll come at you. What’s your first move?”
“First, she taught me how to do the groin kick.”
Jameson groaned. “Of course, she did. I’ll come at you fast. Show me what you got.”
He moved toward her, and she kicked out at him, holding her arms out in front of her.
“Good, don’t forget to bend your knee more,” he instructed.
She waited for him to strike again and used her knee.
“Good job. Put some force behind it. Remind me, tomorrow I’ll wear a cup. If someone tried to attack you, you won’t be practicing. Don’t hold back. We’re building your strength.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said, sucking on her bottom lip.
“You won’t. Let me see what you can do,” he encouraged before he came at her out of the blue.
Automatically, her knee came up, and he deflected it.
“Again,” he ordered.
Caroline repeated it six more times, appearing more confident with each kick.
“You’re a fast learner,” he complimented her. “Let’s try your next move.”
“It’s using my heel and palm,” she informed him.
“Show me how,” he instructed. He moved her hand into position and readjusted her foot. “Try again.”
They practiced for another hour. Once Jameson felt confident in her abilities, he called a halt.
“Victoria will be impressed in the morning. You can hold your own,” he said as he grabbed his hat, placing it on his head.
“You didn’t go easy on me, did you?” she asked.
“No, Caroline, I didn’t. I want you to defend yourself. If anything, I went harder on you,” he said honestly.
His answer seemed to delight her as she bounced on her toes.
“Will you play cards with us?” she asked, opening the door to her father’s house.
“I’ll do a perimeter check first, and then I’ll join you,” he assured her.
Closing the door, Jameson watched as she knelt by her father’s chair and showed him a few of her new techniques. The older man smiled and touched her cheek, and Caroline lovingly leaned in to kiss his hand. The two held an undeniable bond, making him envious of her father.
Jameson checked the pool house and went around the house, scanning the yards and the quiet street. When he felt satisfied of no threats, he returned to the dining room where Caroline shuffled the cards and dealt them.
“What are we playing?” he asked.
“Hearts,” she informed him, picking up her hand. “Dad loves Spades, but we’re down a person.”
The garage door opened, and Nancy entered the kitchen. They heard her put her things on the counter before searching for them.
“Ah, my dear,” Thomas greeted her as she bent to kiss him. “You’re in time to play a game of Spades. You and I can show these youngsters how it’s done.”
Caroline glanced at Jameson. “If he wins, he gloats about it for days. Can I depend on you to have my six?”
Jameson leaned in, his eyes never leaving hers as he murmured, “Always.” He watched as a shiver went down her spine and her cheeks turned a light pink.
Flustered, Caroline picked up the cards, reshuffled, and dealt them again for the new game. They laughed and played their hands, enjoying the game.
“Hey, I caught you,” Caroline exclaimed, pointing at her father. “You’re cheating. It’s the second time you’ve scratched your nose after getting a hand dealt. You’re signaling to Nancy.”
Thomas rumbled with laughter. “And did you think I didn’t catch you blinking at Jameson?”
The four of them burst into giggles as they accused each other of cheating. Jameson checked his watch.
“I’m afraid we need to call it a night. Caroline must rest for tomorrow,” he announced. “It’s getting late.”
Caroline glanced at her phone. “Oh my gosh, I didn’t realize the time. Dad, you must be exhausted,” she said, picking up the cards with Jameson’s help.
“Never mind me,” he assured her, beaming from ear to ear. “This feels like old times. I can never get tired of spending time with my daughter.”
She knelt beside him, pressing her forehead to his. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, Honeybee,” he whispered, kissing her cheek.
Jameson waited to walk her back to the pool house.
“I enjoyed playing cards tonight,” he said as they made the short journey.
“Yes, I did too,” she said, grinning. “I forgot to tell you, half the fun involves trying to figure out how my dad cheats.”
“Did he always play like this?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“Yes. He used to let me win, and it made me mad. My mother scolded him, telling Dad he didn’t do me any favors by letting me win at everything. I started getting better, and he found ways to cheat to win. It became more fun than the game itself.”
“I can tell,” he chuckled. “Be sure to go straight to bed. Victoria may have taken it easy on you today, but it doesn’t mean she will tomorrow.”
“I will,” she answered as she entered the house. “Goodnight, Jameson.”
“Goodnight,” he called before turning around to do another check. It startled him to see Thomas on the patio watching them. He walked toward the older man, wondering what kept him from retiring for the night.
“It seems you and my Caroline make a great team,” he said, greeting Jameson.
“We do,” he agreed. “You didn’t come all the way out here to congratulate me on cheating with your daughter, did you?”
Thomas sat for a long moment before speaking.
“She doesn’t know it yet, but she smiles more when you’re around.
Caroline’s scared of what it’ll mean if she falls in love with you.
I’m afraid she hasn’t realized she already has.
When the time comes, promise me, son, you’ll take care of my little girl.
Don’t let her fear of her future get in the way of finding love.
It’s the only thing which kept me going, and it’s the one thing that can set her free. ”
“I won’t leave her, sir. You have my word,” he said, meaning it with all his heart.
Thomas maneuvered his wheelchair back into the house, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Did Caroline love him? He saw the battle in her eyes as she tried to decide whether he was her friend or her enemy. It nearly killed him. If Thomas saw a glimmer of hope, then Jameson might have a chance.