The Bloodline

Chapter 5, The Bloodline

Chapter 5

A car horn honked, and Laura brushed aside the kitchen curtain, seeing the city cab from Columbia Falls parked and waiting out front.

"I don't want you to go!" Gabriel said, standing in front of Andy as he said goodbye to the kids. Chelsea had her arms around Andy's neck, and Jeremy was clutching his arm as he squatted down.

"I'll be back before you know it, just a few nights. You help your mom out here. I'll call you tonight before you go to bed." He kissed the twins and pulled Gabriel to him, kissing his head and holding him before standing up and putting Chelsea down.

"Andy, you have to go," Laura said. "Your cab's here."

He just nodded, looking at the kids and then over to Sarah, who was asleep in her baby swing, going back and forth. Then he ran his hand over his mouth. She could see the anxiety all over him, oozing from him, and she also knew he needed her not to add to his worries, because whatever he was walking into, he needed all his wits about him.

He gestured her to him. Of course she didn't refuse. Her body would hate her if she tried. She walked right into his arms, her cheek pressed to his chest, and breathed him in, the sunshine, the masculine scent that had her never wanting to let go. He pressed a kiss to her head, his hand holding her to him. Then she stepped away, smiling up into the worry reflecting back at her.

"We'll be fine," she said. "Call me when you land. Let me know you're okay."

That brought a smile to his lips. He started to leave, brushing his hand over her arm, and then he surprised her when he pulled her closer and bent down, brushing his lips to hers. It was so soft and tender and so unlike the Andy who kissed her with passion, with bruising kisses meant to possess her and mark her as he often did. She reached up and touched his face, and he pulled away, his gaze connecting with hers a second or two when the horn honked again.

"Coming," he said, but she also knew the cabbie couldn't hear it. "You call Kim and Bruce if you need anything. My men will handle the cattle. Gabriel doesn't go on his horse till I get back."

Laura was holding his hand as she walked Andy to the door. This was the first time she felt as if he didn't want to let her go. Maybe that was what gave her the confidence to get him out the door. "We'll be fine," she said. "You just go and take care of what you need to, and then come back to us."

He kissed her again as Chelsea and Jeremy latched on to both her legs. Andy reached for his bag and coat resting on the front porch and started down the steps, depositing them in the backseat of the cab. He waved just as Gabriel slid his hand into hers. She lifted her hand to Andy, watching as he climbed in the front seat and then the cab pulled away.

Just watching her husband drive away had her chest tightening and her eyes tearing, so she pulled a breath to hold it together, missing him so much already.

"Why did he have to go back, Mom?" Gabriel asked. A quick glance down at her little boy, who loved Andy so much, told her he remembered everything.

"He had to, but it'll be okay. You know your dad can handle anything," she said to Gabriel as he watched the only man who'd been a father to him leave. Then he raced down the steps, waving after Andy and the cloud of dust that trailed the cab.

It would be just two days. He needed to do this, to go back and take care of his past, and then he would come home, where she'd be waiting.

"Okay, let's go in. Gabriel, don't stay out too long." She followed the twins in and lifted a sleeping Sarah from her swing, cuddling her baby, Andy's baby.

She would be okay,she knew she would, but as a shiver caressed the back of her neck, she also realized that as strong and capable as Andy was, he was walking back into the pit of the lion—and that had her holding her baby just a little bit closer.