Page 17 of Kevin's Destiny

“Where are you going to be staying?”

“At New Double, but I want to see Caleb first.”

“I know I have no right to say this, but why don’t you get settled into New Double, then have him come over for the weekend? I know he’s been getting new clients. Enough so that Katherine is now working for him full time most days. She’s only at Broken when Naomi really needs her.”

“Oh, okay. Yeah, I don’t want to disturb his job. Because I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing, how about we get groceries, then stop at Erin’s Way. Can you get a ride to your cabin from there?”

“I can.” He looked at Kevin with a grin. “My truck is there.”

Kevin remembered where the grocery store was from when he had been there before, and as they entered, he saw that Ryan had pulled out his phone. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” he said with a grin. “I sent a text to Pru and told her to take a picture of the grocery list on the refrigerator and text it tome.” He looked at him with a grin. “I then sent a text to Opal for her to do the same, and add anything else we might need.”

“Ah, smart. Does Lois still make the grocery runs?”

“Her or Laurie. It’s warm enough that we’ve been able to plow and disc the area for the garden. It should be planted by the end of the month.”

“Good,” he said with a nod as he grabbed his cart and started in the produce aisle. Because he didn’t know how busy he would be at his new job, or when he would get a chance to return to town for groceries, he stocked up, knowing he could make a couple of dishes with the fresh items, and freeze them.

“Carter,” a guy said to Ryan as they turned an aisle in the store, and Kevin frowned at him.

“Do I know you?”

“Not really, but you look familiar to me.”

“Kevin Lassiter, I’m Caleb’s father.”

“Ah, the Homicide Detective from Seattle,” the guy said and stuck out his hand. “Jake Cogburn.”

“Brotherhood Protectors.”

“Correct. Are you here visiting? Not that it’s any of my business.”

“No, I’m retired from Seattle, and here to take on the security position at New Double.”

“Here,” Jake said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out several business cards. “I still work closely with Manchester, and this is my direct line if you need anything. Erin will tell you that she will trust you with your background checks, but she also wants you to send the applicants our way so we can dig deeper.”

“I totally understand,” Kevin said as he slipped them into his own pocket. They made small talk for a few more minutes, then continued on with their shopping.

After they left the store, stopped for gas, then headed toward Erin’s Way. The closer they got, the more relaxed Kevin felt.He realized that his shoulders weren’t up around his ears. He chuckled, and looked at Ryan with a grin. “Maybe I’ll have to go over to Caleb and get him to adjust me. I don’t feel as tense as I have been for years.”

“The ranch will do that to you,” Ryan said with a chuckle. “I remember how I was when I first arrived.” He shook his head and recalled how he had met Pru, the fight in the parking lot, the knife wound, and how he had healed fast.

“Damn, Ryan. You got in a fight before you healed from your ordeal overseas?”

“Yes, it was three days after I stopped at your place to let you know I was alive and well.”

“Damn, and Pru helped you?”

“Yep, she’s a scrappy little thing.”

Kevin wasn’t about to comment from the look on his face. He did see that he loved his wife, and he was proud that he could find love after what he had gone through. He had a fleeting thought if he was too old to ever find love again. After his years with Karen, he wasn’t holding out any hope of it happening. With a shake of his head, he continued the drive to the ranch. He slowed down to pull into the driveway to Erin’s Way. He slowed down further for the sharp turn, then eased into the parking lot.

As soon as he exited the truck, he looked up and smiled when he saw Duane standing there.

“You made it.”

“Yeah, we took two days, but we’re here.” He shook Duane’s hand, and looked up when a vehicle came toward them, and it didn’t take long for Kevin to see Pru hop out of a truck, and rush to jump into Ryan’s arms. His heart hurt at the sight of the joy on their faces at seeing each other. He turned away when they kissed.