Do Not Forsake Me(57)

Little Jake ran off. Jeff and Jake looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“Oh, Lord, if Evie heard what he said, she’d have a conniption. She is always preaching at me to watch my language around that kid because he picks everything up.” Jake laughed again, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Well, as you can see, I’ve taught one grandson how to cheat at cards and taught the other one how to swear. See what I mean? I’m the bad guy however you look at it.”

“You aren’t angry with Little Jake for running out in the street the other day? He’s the reason you were almost killed.”

Jake shook his head. “No. His love for me is the reason. That kid didn’t do one thing wrong. I don’t believe in spankings or slaps on the hand or any other kind of physical scolding for children. I just hope the kid doesn’t use that word around Brian and Evie, or I’ll get an earful.” He chuckled again as he pulled the side table closer. He began moving the gun parts to the coffee table so he could reach them better. “There is no such thing as a bad kid, Jeff. No such thing.”

Laughter came from the kitchen, and Jake paused. “You hear that?”

“The laughter?”

“The sound of family. I love that sound. I never got the privilege of just being a kid. I never heard laughter, never felt…safe.” Jake paused, putting a few more parts together. “I hit a child of mine only once, but he was grown, and he threw my past in my face like scalding water. I reacted because I saw myself in Lloyd in that moment, and it terrified me. I just wanted to stop him. I punched him. The look on his face hit me in the gut like a sledgehammer. I was in prison. He left, hating me, and I turned around and pounded my right fist into the prison wall until I broke bones in it. I almost crippled myself, but I can use my hand now. Lloyd could have hit me back—he should have hit me back. I damn well deserved it, but he didn’t slug me. He still loved me but didn’t want to admit it. He was too angry and too ashamed at the time. He just left, and he went on a rampage to prove he was just as worthless as his father was. I’d never told him about my past and that was a big mistake, just like Randy always warned me it was. I lost my son for a while, but it all worked out. I got out of prison and he learned the truth and…things are a lot better now. He’s a good kid, a devoted son. He’s more than I deserve.”

Jeff took his notebook from his jacket pocket, sensing a darker mood moving into Jake. Randy returned just then, carrying a tray with two cups of coffee and two plates of pie.

“Jake, where am I supposed to set this, when you have gun parts scattered all over the coffee table and end table too?”

He nodded toward the side table. “You can move some of that stuff aside and set the tray there.”

“Honestly, you need to work on those things someplace else. The whole sitting room smells of gun oil. And how can I keep a clean parlor, when you’re getting that oil all over my coffee table?”

“Well, when I can move this damn leg, I’ll do this in the kitchen. You and Brian are the ones who won’t let me up off this sofa.”

“You just swore again.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll work on that.” Jake glanced at Jeff. “Is there a married man alive who doesn’t have a nagging wife?”

“I…I don’t know.”

Randy handed Jeff his coffee and pie. “Since you’re going to be obstinate, Mr. Harkner, I’ll let you get yours when you’re ready,” she told Jake. “And if you don’t stop cussing in this house, I’ll quit waiting on you all together.”

“Yes, warden.” Jake wasn’t smiling. The remark was almost cutting.

Randy hesitated. “Jake?”

“I’m okay.” He kept working on the guns, refusing to look at her. “And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so ornery.”

Randy glanced at Jeff. “What has he been talking about?”

“Leave him alone, Randy. We were just talking about the sounds a real family makes…good sounds…laughter.” Jake whirled the chamber of a gun he’d just finished putting together.

Randy moved behind him and began rubbing his shoulders. “Well, maybe since today is a good family day, that’s all you should talk about—the family you have now and how good things are now.” She looked at Jeff pleadingly, and he could see she wanted him to change the subject.

“Sometimes I think I should call this book Never a Dull Moment,” he told Randy. “From all the bedlam around here on family day, combined with the kind of life Jake leads as a U.S. Marshal, it’s pretty fitting.”