Saxon's Soul (Haven, Texas 5)

No. It wouldn’t be that. More likely it was because she felt insecure.

“Hey, congratulations, man.” Jake smiled at him.

Curt reached across and slapped his shoulder. He attempted a smile but he was too worried over what they’d just told him.

“Tell me all of it.”

He was silent as Jake went through the old bitch’s threats to take away the boys. Then amusement filled Jake’s voice as he talked about the town’s plan to run Mrs. Hartfield out of town.

“Molly and Jardin have several recordings given to them where Mrs. Hartfield has talked about how much she hates this crappy little town with it’s terrible food, perverted people, and poor accommodations. And how she can’t wait to get those little brats and leave town,” Curt told him. “Doesn’t sound like a loving and concerned grandmother, does it?”

“She doesn’t want them. She gave Aspen money to abort them.”

“Unfortunately, that’s Aspen’s word against hers,” Jake said.

“I doubt she truly cares where they’re living.” Although he hated that he was being used to hurt Aspen. “Do you think she’s got a case?”

Curt shook his head then reached for his phone as it beeped. “Jardin says no, but Aspen seems to think she’ll bribe whomever she needs to in order to get what she wants. Can’t understand why she hasn’t done that, though.”

Jake narrowed his gaze. “Wish I knew why she wants those boys.”

“I might have an answer to that.” Curt put his phone down. “Jardin just left me a message. Said that his investigator has discovered she’s in financial difficulty. Seems she’s got a gambling problem.”

Saxon raised his eyebrows. He hated that he’d been gone right when Aspen needed him most. She had to be beside herself. He needed to get back to her. Crap, he hoped Keira and Julian slept in. He wanted to explain to her about them first.

“So she’s here for money?” Jake asked. “But how does coming after the boys get her any money?”

He smiled grimly. “Seems like its time I paid her a little visit. I’ll give Jardin a call.” And then he’d go release some of his temper on the old bat. She’d learn that no one threatened his family.

She woke up alone.

For a few minutes, she wondered if it had all been a dream. But his scent was too strong, the pillow next to hers was rumpled. He was home. But

where was he? She jumped up and quickly got dressed, determined to track him down. A cry from the boys’ room interrupted that plan and instead she went to get them ready for the day.

She carried both boys downstairs and walked towards the kitchen. Disappointment filled her as she found it empty. Where was he? She needed to talk to him about Winifred before he found out from anyone else.

Not to mention she’d missed him. She wanted to feel his arms around her. To hear him tell her that everything would be okay. She sighed as she set the boys down in their high chairs and made them some bottles. She squashed some banana for them to eat and then settled down at the table to feed them. As often happened with her two rascals, more banana seemed to end up on their faces and hands than in their mouths. She rose to grab a cloth to clean them up.

“Well, hello there. Looks like you two have been having fun.”

She spun at the strange voice, looking over in shock as two people she’d never seen before walked into the kitchen. Well, one of them walked. The woman shuffled along on crutches, her right leg held slightly above the ground. The man with her hovered close by, his arms held out as though he expected her to fall at any moment. She gave him an exasperated look.

“Julian, I’m fine. I’m not going to fall.”

“You’re still not steady on the crutches. You need to build up your strength again.”

Had she been in an accident? That would account for the injury to her leg along with the bruises that Aspen could see on her arms and cheek. But would that explain how emaciated and weak she looked? As though she’d been through a long illness. And the man with her didn’t really look much better. He had a scruffy beard, dark circles under his eyes, and his cheeks were too sharp.

“Hello,” the woman said. “You must be Aspen.”

“Yes,” she said cautiously, moving back towards the boys. She didn’t sense any threat but she still had no idea who these people were and why they were in her house.

Wait. Did they have something to do with why Saxon had left? Were they the friends he’d gone to help?

“And these two must be Caleb and Jamie,” the woman said. “Enjoyed their breakfast, huh?”

“Enjoyed playing with it anyway,” she replied warily. “You’re friends of Joel’s?”