made him uncomfortable. Clay kept giving him the eye. Hell, he didn’t know what to do. His heart ached so much that his brain wasn’t working. “I look forward to spending time with them this morning. I know they’ll be surprised.”
When Jericho moved on, emptying his plate to start his day, Boone and Domino came to take his place across the table. “Sorry about Ela, Reno,” Boone drained his cup to sit it down rather hard on the table.
Reno swirled the coffee in his almost empty cup. “Thanks. Do they have any idea who is responsible?”
“No.” Domino studied Reno’s face with intensity. “Have you been ill?”
“No, I haven’t.” What to say? What to say? “I’ve been away.”
“Where?” Boone asked. “Where have you been for a damn month?”
“Far away.”
“Were you kidnapped?” Boone kept pressing.
“You could say that. I was taken somewhere against my will.” Well, that was true. Basically.
“Who kidnapped you?” Domino narrowed his eyes as he assessed Reno’s words.
“I don’t know. Today was the first chance I had to get back.” Again, somewhat true.
“Did they hurt you?”
“No, Domino. They didn’t.”
He stood up and pushed his chair in with his knee. “Then I’d say you were one lucky bastard.” With a slap to Reno’s shoulder, Domino took his leave. “Whatever happened, I’m glad you are home.”
Boone wasn’t as accommodating. He pointed a finger at Reno. “I’ve known you a long time. I’ve just never known you to lie before.”
Shit. “Boone, I’d tell you if I could. I promise.”
He stood and waved Reno off. “Like Domino said, I’m glad your home. When you get ready to tell me the truth, I’ll be ready to listen.”
Fancy walked up to whisper in his ear. “I’m about to get the kids up. Are you ready?”
“Sure. I can’t wait.” He gave her a weak smile, then took off his hat with a shaking hand. He was going to have to do a better job with the kids than he’d done with his friends.
He didn’t have to wait long. About a half minute later, a sleepy Tess came pitter-pattering down the hall with the doll Amelia made for her under her arm. She spotted him, stopped, rubbed her eyes, then squealed at the top of her lungs. “Reno!”
Her shriek alerted her brothers and they also came running. They all dove on top of him like ants on a cookie. He’d never received so many hugs and kisses in his life.
Except from Journey. Stop. Stop. You can’t do this to yourself right now.
“Oh, Reno. I knew you weren’t dead; I just knew it.” Emory hiccupped the words through his sobs.
“Hush. I’m here now. It’s okay.”
“Where have you been?” Saul asked. “We thought we’d never see you again.”
“Yea, we’ve missed you something terrible.” Huck sat down on the floor to hug Reno’s leg.
“I’m so sorry. I got held up. I came back as soon as I could. I hate so much that I worried you. It wasn’t my choice. I wouldn’t have hurt you for anything in the world.”
Luckily for Reno, the children were easier convinced than his friends. Even Amelia and Ace bought his sketchy story. He was glad to see Amelia looking more at ease. She even gave him a welcome back hug. Reno knew that was hard for her. She was pretty scared of men. “It’s good to see everyone. You’ll never know how much I missed all of you.”
Or how much he missed his Journey.
When Fancy called the children to eat, Reno finished his own plate of food. Just as he stood to take his plate to the dishpan, he saw King standing in the door. He crooked one finger to indicate he was to follow.
“Oh, hell. Another moment of truth.” Frankly, he didn’t know how much more of this he could handle.
As he left the kitchen to go into the back room that King called his office, he felt a rising sense of panic. He felt like the damn walls were closing in on him. Everything seemed darker than it used to be. The last month of living in an electrically lit world made him notice how dim the log cabin seemed with its small window and kerosene lamps. Each step he took seemed to echo his heartbeat. What was he going to do? How would he return to Journey? What would he tell her in the letter he promised?
So sorry. Stuck in the past.
Oh, hell no. He’d figure something out. He had to.