Ill bet you do. Ben let go of her hand. Thank you for showing up when you did. I think they were about to get the best of us.
I dont know. You were holdin yer own pretty well.
Ben didnt want to argue with the woman. Hed gotten his butt whipped and Kate would be in a world of hurt had Margaret and Eddy not come along when they did. Guilt with a hint of heartrending regret tugged at his empty belly. What made Hank think a washed-up cop was the right man for this job? It had taken an old woman with a shotgun to chase off the latest threat. Some bodyguard hed turned out to be.
Margaret smacked Ben on the back. Twenty-to-one odds needs a little more encouragement than bare fists. Dont let it get ya down. Question is why they were here in the first place.
Eddy stuck a long blade of grass between his lips and rocked back on his heels. Their leader shouted Dejar o te vas a morir as he left. The man had a decided Mexican accent.
Kate shook her head. I dont know Spanish. What does it mean?
Eddys gaze captured Kates, his lips tightening for a moment before he spoke. Leave or you will die.
KATES HEART SANK into her belly. Holy smokes, what the hell had she done to the bikers to warrant a death threat?
Well, now, isnt that a nice way to welcome the new neighbors. Marge turned to face Kate, the stiff, tough persona fading with the softening of her eyes. You must be Kate.
Kate held on to Lily, refusing to let her child out of her sight for even a moment. Her legs still shook and she couldnt keep her hand from trembling when she held it out to Margaret. Should I know you?
Kate Kendrick the woman folded Kates hand in both of hers youre the spittin image of your father.
Kate shook her head. I go by Kate Langsdon. She gripped the womans hand with her free one. Did you know myKyle Kendrick? She still couldnt manage to refer to him as her father. Throughout her life, her mother had told her that her father had died in a car wreck. Growing up without a father hadnt given her any practice saying the word. And for the past four years, Lily had been without a father of her own.
Know him? I worked for him until the day he was m The older womans eyes widened and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Sorry. Her glance moved to Lily, and her hand fell to her side. I worked for Mr. Kendrick until he passed. He was a good man.
Kate bit her lip, wanting to refute Mrs. Hendersons statement. What man would willingly walk away from his daughter and never have contact with her? In Kates mind, that didnt make a good man.
Thank you for coming to our rescue. Kate smiled and turned to Ben. Now, lets get you inside and doctored up.
The kitten Lily had been holding mewed.
An answering meow came from beneath the porch and a brightly colored calico cat stepped out of the shadows.
The kitten clawed at Lily.
Ouch. Lily held the kitten away from her shirt.
Kate pointed to the cat. That must be the kittens mother.
Lily hugged the fur ball to her, her brows pulling together in a mutinous frown. Jazzy is my kitty.
Honey, you have to let her go to her mama.
But I want a kitten.
Jazzy will be your kitten, but youll have to let her be with her mama until she gets bigger.
I want her to come in the house and sleep in my bed.
When she doesnt need her mother anymore. You can come and play with her outside until then.
The kitten dug her claws into Lily, scrambling to get to her mother.
See, she misses her mother. Kate leaned Lily away from her. How would you feel if someone wouldnt let you come to your mother?
Lily stared at the kitten and the calico mother cat, meowing over and over. Id feel sad.
And the kitten is sad because you wont let her go to her mother.
Lily wiggled in Kates arms, so she set her daughter on the ground.
Plucking the kittens claws from her shirt, Lily settled the animal on the ground.
As soon as she was loose, the kitten ran for her mother, curling in and around the cats long, sleek legs.
See how happy Jazzy is? Kate knelt beside her daughter.
Can I play with her after lunch?
You sure can. If the bikers werent back or an intruder wasnt rummaging through the only home they had to go to. Kates chest tightened. Well bring food out for Jazzy and her mother.
Lily slipped her hand into Bens and one into her mothers. Im hungry. Can we eat now?
Kate almost laughed at how quickly Lily forgot the bad men on motorcycles, all her concentration on eating and getting back outside to play with her kitten. How simple to be a child and forget about all the horrible things adults could do to each other.
Ben glanced over the top of Lilys head. Shell be all right.
The bikers warning echoed in Kates mind. I hope so.