grabbed Jakob here and started dragging him through the store.”
He kept Jakob behind him and did his best not to grin at the way Susannah kept baring her teeth at Mrs. Whitehouse.
“He’s a filthy, unkempt man! No way would a cowboy allow this creature to watch his children.”
“Ask him yourself. He’s on his way. Hell, ask Jakob!”
“Okay, now.” The manager looked him over. “He looks clean enough to me. Hi, Jakob. Are you okay?”
“She tried to hit Susannah,” Jakob said, clinging to Trace’s pants. “Why is she so mean? We’re shopping for supper with Dad-O! He’s making waffles and sausage for all of us!”
“All of us?”
“Uh-huh. Me and my sisters and Daddy Brent and Curly and Bald Harold!”
Trace was so proud of Jakob he could bust. He bounced Daisy to stop her crying, then tried to smile at Mr.—Keane, according to the nametag. “She accused me of stealing Brent’s children, sir. He’s on his way to help clear this up, but I promise you, not one of these kids is somewhere they don’t belong.”
“And I am too Susannah’s sister!” Caroline glared. “Me and sister are best friends!”
“Susannah and I recently moved in at the ranch,” Trace said. “She and Caroline are very fond.”
“How can that be his baby!” Mrs. Whitehouse leveled a shaking finger at Susannah. “She’s—”
“I think that’s enough. Luke, why don’t you take Mrs. Whitehouse to the office and call her husband? I’ll wait here with Mr.…?”
“Redding.”
“With Mr. Redding until Brent comes.”
“I will not! I’m protecting these…”
Luke started to ease the woman away, and Trace turned to check on Jakob. “You okay, son?”
“I’ll be okay.” Jakob was fighting tears with all he was.
“I’m sorry about that. It was awful. You did a great job.” He was going to have the manager call the police.
“Susannah bit her,” he whispered, “to help me.”
“She loves you.”
“I love her too.” Jakob looked at the manager. “Mrs. Whitehouse was so nasty. Why did she call you dirty, Dad-O? Is it your hair?”
Jesus. “Probably.” His hair was becoming a real source of contention.
“Dad-O. Your hairs are pretty.” Susannah was so serious.
“I know, baby.” But they weren’t letting him fit in. Even the fucking bird noticed.
“I’m very sorry about this.” The manager sighed. “You said Brent was on his away?”
“Yes, sir. He was at the ranch, that’s a good drive, but I can guarantee he’s hurrying.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” The guy was all red in the face, but he guessed people had to take kidnapping claims seriously.
“Can I buy the kids a juice, please? We’re supposed to stop and get Dairy Queen on the way home.”
“Oh, let me get everyone a drink, and we’ll sit. Apple juice?”
“That would be a blessing, yes.” Oh, thank God. That was what he needed, a little care.
“Come on, let’s go over here to the deli, hmm?” There was a little sitting area with booths, and the manager got everyone juice and popcorn. Trace had stuff for Daisy in the diaper bag.
“Lord, did you guys say thank you for the goodies. That was super nice of Mr. Keane, wasn’t it?”
Susannah and Caroline parroted their thanks, but Jakob stared at the man. “Thank you for not letting that evil woman steal me. I don’t like her.”
“She was pretty upset,” Keane murmured. “But I don’t think y’all are doing anything wrong.”
“No. And my Daddy Brent will kick her butt if she hurts me again.” Jakob bristled with righteous rage.
Trace bit back a smile, and Keane sort of chuckled too. The man was trying, Trace would give him—
“What the ever-loving hell is going on here!” Brent came storming in, eyes blazing.
“Daddy Brent!”
The kids set up a ruckus, and Trace and Keane stood.
“Brent. Good to see you,” Keane said.
Jakob ran to Brent. “That mean old woman hurt me in the arm, and Susannah bit her hard, and Caro cried, and Dad-O cussed and chased her. She was trying to steal me from you!”
Someone was fixin’ to have a major, major blowout.
Brent picked up Jakob, stroking his back. “Someone was hurting my kids?”
Keane flushed dark. “Mrs. Whitehouse was concerned.”
“Daddy Brent! Look at my arm!” Jakob stuck out his arm, and sure enough there were little crescents where her nails had dug in. “I don’t lie! She hurt me! She called Dad-O filthy. She tried to hit our Suzy and said she couldn’t be Caro’s sister!”
And there it went. Pure-D screaming fury from their so-steady boy.
Trace hated that bitch for pushing Jakob to this.
“Shhh. Shhh.” Brent patted Jakob’s back. “I believe you, baby boy. I do.