Page 62 of Kevin's Destiny

Ryan gave him the stink eye with his one good eye, but only asked quietly. “You wearing your vest?”

“Yes.” He reached up and rapped his knuckles on his chest, then lifted his shirt to show him.

“Where’s Pru?” Kevin asked to distract himself from the nerves that were starting to creep in. According to the last time he looked at his watch, he still had an hour to wait.

“At Broken. She’s working with one of the horses, and keeping an eye on Jason and Ilsa.” They were silent for a long time, then Ryan turned to him. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“I know my sister was the biggest bitch of the entire world, but the two of you seemed to be in love when you first got together.”

“True, then she changed.”

“Was that before or after Caleb came along?”

“After, well after. I believe Caleb was in pre-K when the changes began, and it didn’t happen overnight. It turned out, there was a rich family that lived on the other side of town, andshe wanted to impress that mother. She started acting like her, wanting to get her nails and hair done monthly, things like that. It was a couple of years later that I realized what was happening. I’m not saying I didn’t have any fault in the relationship, but I had just gotten my detective shield, and was trying to make a name for myself there. She liked that my promotion awarded more money for her. Looking back, I think I worked all the overtime I could to avoid going home to her. Though I never neglected Caleb. Why do you ask?”

“I want to have kids, and Pru wants them too. She asked me the other day when we can discuss trying to have them.”

“What’s holding you back?” Kevin asked in genuine concern.

“I don’t want to turn out like Karen did after Caleb was born.”

“You won’t.” Kevin was firm in his answer.

“How can you say that?”

“Because Karen was fundamentally flawed. Karen thought the world revolved around her from birth. What she wanted, she could have, regardless of anything around her. She was also extremely selfish. She never did anything unless it benefitted her. You are not like that at all. If you were, you never would have served in the military, nor would you have done most of the things in your life that makes you who you are. Personally, I think you would make a wonderful father, and I can’t wait to become an uncle.” He grinned and saw relief come across the other man’s face at his words.

“I think that once this is over, you should sit down and talk with Pru. Be honest, and who knows, maybe by this time next year, you’ll be a dad, or close to being one. Just remember one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” Ryan nodded as he got the reference and they froze when their communications started to crackle.

“Cogburn just called.” Yvonne’s voice came through their ear. “Subjects at gas station on outside of town, coming this way.”

“Roger,” several people said, and they all shook off the laziness and took up their positions. It was still almost an hour’s drive to the ranch, but they wanted to be ready.

“Show time,” came a voice forty minutes later, and everyone was ready, but they acknowledged the warning.

Yvonne steppedout of the building, held up her hand to the approaching vehicle, and looked down at her clipboard. There was nothing written on it, but she had to play her part. She also had her gun and security badge in plain sight, so these assholes couldn’t say they were entrapped when they were arrested.

“Hi, security, can I have your name and purpose for being here?” Yvonne used a bubbly voice, but felt anything but.

“Chen Shredrick, I have an appointment to see about a horse?”

“Let me check.” She looked at the clipboard, nodded, and looked back at him. “Yes, thank you. Let me call ahead and have someone come out to meet you.”

“I’ll just drive back there.”

“No, you will not. One, that’s not how this ranch operates. Two, do you even know where you’re going?”

“I thought you’d give me directions.”

“You thought wrong. I’ll call the owner, and he will come out and get you. Wait here.” She started away, then turned back and gave him a cold look. “You move, and I’ll shoot out your tires.” She had put her hand on her gun when she said that. It took everything she had not to sneer at his shocked expression.Thankfully, one of the FBI agents was inside the cabin with a bead on the truck.

Yvonne went inside, exchanged nods with the agent, and pulled her cell phone from her pocket to call Cole.