“Here, catch this, Reno.”
To Reno’s horror, Ace just tossed one of Fancy’s nicer plates. With a sidestep and a jump, he managed to catch it. “Watch out, boy. You’re gonna get us both walloped.”
“That’s right,” Fancy chastised them. “You have to be careful with my breakables. Nice things help make a house a home.”
“She’s wrong, men.” King came forward to give his wife a kiss and a hug. “A woman’s love makes a house a home.”
Amelia blushed prettily at the thought. “I hope I have a home someday.”
“You will.” This assurance came from Gentry who’d come into the kitchen right behind King. “I know you will.”
His declaration made Amelia blush even harder. She couldn’t look at Gentry, but she moved a few inches closer to his side. “Did you have a nice wedding, Reno?”
“Small, but very nice. We married in the rose garden just outside of her aunt’s home. Kota, an Apache friend of mine, married us in a beautiful ceremony.”
Fancy sighed as she dried the coffee mugs. “I just wish I could meet Journey. I’m sure we’d get along famously.”
“I wish you could meet her too.”
For a few moments all grew quiet, until three of the Stanton kids came rushing in breathlessly from outside. “Reno! Reno! Come quick!”
It took Reno a second, but he realized Emory was the one who was missing. “What’s wrong?” He rushed behind them out the door, followed by everyone else.
“Emory fell down the well!”
“What?” Fancy exclaimed as they ran toward the well. “How did that happen?”
Reno raced to the barn to get some rope. He didn’t know how much water was at the bottom, but it wouldn’t have to be much for the little boy to drown.
“He was playing with his turtle on the curb of the well and the turtle fell in. Emory went in after it.”
“Oh, my Lord.” Amelia started crying.
“He’ll be okay. Reno will save him,” Gentry assured her. When she moved a little closer to him, Gentry drew her into his arms. “It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”
Praying harder than he ever had before, Reno raced back with the rope and a harness. King was waiting to help him. “Here, fasten this around me, I’m going in.” No one challenged him, Reno wasn’t to be argued with. “Do you hear anything? Is he crying out for help?”
“Emory! Emory! Can you hear me?” Saul cried into the well.
“He’s drowned. He’s drowned.” Tess fell on her knees to cry.
“No, Reno will save him,” Ace promised as he picked up the small child.
“Back up,” King directed as Reno got ready to go over the side.
“Just hold on. Don’t let go.” He looked up into the eyes of his Captain, knowing his words of caution were unnecessary.
As he went over the side, Reno looked down into the water. Unfortunately, the way the sun was in the sky and the people standing around the rim, he could see very little. “Emory! Em! Can you hear me?”
At first, he heard nothing – and then his ears detected a faint moan. “Emory! I’m coming, son. I’m coming.” Holding up his head, he yelled at King. “Faster! I hear him. Faster, King!”
Gentry was helping King hold the rope and together they lowered Reno at a faster rate. When his feet broke the surface of the water, he felt something with his boot. “Oh, Emory. Are you all right, boy?”
“I don’t know.”
Reno breathed a blessed sigh of relief. “You don’t know?”
“I think I’m okay. I’m a paddlin’ with one hand and kicking with two feet.”
Reno thanked God for the day he’d taught the boy how to dog paddle. “Good, I’m almost there.”
“I got her, Reno. I don’t think she’s dead.”
A few feet more and Reno had Emory in his arms. “Gotcha.” He kissed him on the head. “I got my boy.” He held him close all the way to the top.
Once they were standing on God’s good earth again, Reno kissed Emory once more, then sat him down to be smothered by more kisses from everyone else. Through the crowd, his little arm snuck out with his turtle held in his head. “Reno, is she dead?”
Reno took Doe and tapped on her shell. When she wiggled a foot, he laughed. “No, Doe is good.” He, on the other hand, was weak in the knees. How in the hell was he ever going to be at peace leaving these children behind?
…Later, he’d calmed down enough to talk to them. At some point during the last week, he’d spoken with everyone about his coming departure. The children, he’d saved until last.
Now, they were gathered around the fire and he was a loss for words.
“What is it, Reno?” This question came from Saul.
“When I was gone before, some wonderful things happened to me.”
“Really?” Huck asked, his eyes big. “Like what?”
“I traveled far, far away to the future.” Everyone looked entranced, but Saul – and he looked entirely confused.
“On a magic carpet like in the Thousand and One Nights?” Tess asked, her eyes round and shining like bright buttons.
Reno mentally thanked Fancy for her nightly reading sessions. “Almost. I rode Traveler, but it was magical. While I was there, I found out some amazing things about you. All of you.”
“Like what?” Saul asked, his mouth a tight line. Reno could tell he wasn’t buying this for a minute.
“You become a lawyer, Saul.” He pulled out the notes he’d taken to Wallace. “This information came from a case you worked on. When you thought I was gone, you decided to save my brother Cole. You researched and found out all the evidence needed to clear his name. I
