A Hopeful Harvest by Ruth Logan Herne

Author:Ruth Logan Herne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-10-08T16:47:27+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The local news labeled Jax a hero for finding Cleve and bringing him to safety.

A small group of local news media had shown up as Rescue One pulled away, and the reporter had done a clever job of winnowing information out of the people there. They’d interviewed the responding sheriff, added in a doctor’s warning about safety precautions to employ when caring for Alzheimer’s patients and the cameraman had gotten several shots of him holding CeeCee in his arms.

He hadn’t needed to say a word because he was no hero. If he hadn’t delayed his return to the house by kissing Libby, he’d have been there and the old fellow wouldn’t be fighting for his life right now.

CeeCee was tucked into bed, sound asleep. The bungalow-style house was quiet around him, and the chill of the autumn air quieted the night, a sure sign that change was in the air.

He’d cleaned up the kitchen and straightened Cleve’s sitting area. Cleve liked his magazines just so, and his reading glasses to the left of them, although he didn’t seem to do much actual reading these days. Still, he liked his personal order of things, and Jax understood the importance of that.

He’d just folded Cleve’s favorite afghan when a knock sounded at the side door. He crossed the two rooms and checked the driveway from the kitchen window.

His father stood at the door, waiting.

Jax crossed to the door and yanked it open. “Dad.”

“Getting cold out here.” Richard Ingerson stepped into the side entry. “Got any coffee?”

“I can make some, sure. I don’t generally drink it this late.”

“Me, either, but tonight promises to be one of those times I make exceptions.” His father clapped him on the back. “Any word on Mr. O’Laughlin?”

“Holding his own, they’re raising his temperature gradually.” He knew that because Mortie had texted him. Not Libby. “How did you know?”

His father hooked a thumb toward the small television across from Cleve’s chair. “Caught half the news alert on Channel Nine. Saw you. And when you weren’t at the cabin, I figured you must be over here or at the hospital.”

Jax indicated a magnetized picture of CeeCee on the fridge. “Her mom’s with Cleve. There’s no family around to watch her and it didn’t seem right making a five-year-old sit around a hospital for hours.”

“So you stepped in.”

“Wasn’t much choice,” he told his father as the coffee brewed. “And even if there was, I’d have done it.”

“You’ve been that way since you were born, Jax.” Richard took a seat at the worn kitchen table and seemed quite comfortable there. “You’re a protector. A nurturer. Great qualities to have.”

“Well, I messed up today.” The rich scent of fresh coffee tempted him. He didn’t drink caffeinated beverages after two in the afternoon because he had enough trouble sleeping at night. Why risk more? Sure, maybe the circumstances offered an allowance tonight, but he’d been scripting his life and habits with care for three years. The firm schedule kept him grounded and focused.

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