Broken Canvas

Chapter 3

Authors Note! 

Please tell me on if I was able to portray Jake in this chapter. It was hard for me to show a guys point of view and also tell me if doing his point of view is worth it. Please Comment and Vote! You can even Fan me! :) I like fans! Happy Reading! :)

-BibliophileForLife

Chapter 3

Jake’s POV:

I wiped the sweat from my brow. Of course, it had to be hot as hell on the day one of the horses decided to jump the fence. A smile overcame my features at the hot-blooded colt pulling on the rope as I brought him back to the corral.

Waving at the ranch hands that passed me, I ushered the colt inside the corral.

“Jake.” I looked over my shoulder to the house as Lena yelled my name from the front door with the phone in her hand.

Holding up my hand, I told her that I’d be right there. Carefully I untied the rope from the colt and then ran for the fence before he tried anything funny. Laughing I jumped over the fence and stared at him as he pranced around the corral as if he owned it. I knew this one would be trouble.

Dustin off my hat I made my way to the house. Walking into the house, I smell the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. Following my nose, I see a plate of cookies on the counter.

Grabbing one, I stuff it in my mouth. Who could resist my Momma’s chocolate chip cookies? Feeling a sting come from the back of my head, I look at my Momma standing behind me.

“How many times did I tell you that those cookies aren’t for you?” Raising an eyebrow, I stare at her as she tries not to smile at the obvious lie.

“I didn’t steal one.” I say as she smacks me again on the side of my head.

“Jake Sanders! Don’t you lie to me! I’m your mother, I know when you lie. I raised you.” She tells me as she takes the remaining of the cookies and puts them in a container. I smile at the twinkle in her eyes as she hands me another cookie. Taking a bite out of it, I can’t help but moan on how delicious it is.

“Do you know where Lena is? She told me she needed me earlier?” I ask.

“She’s in the office.” Nodding I walk out of the kitchen. Opening the door to the office, I hear Lena talking on the phone to someone.

“Okay, well I didn’t know, but Jake will be here in a moment.” She says to the person. Clearing my throat, I smile at the sight of Lena grabbing her chest from the unexpected sound.

“Well, he’s here now Officer, I’ll hand him the phone.” Upon hearing Lena, say Officer I lift an eyebrow, now I’m curious on why the police is calling for me. I don’t remember doing anything wrong.

Grabbing the phone, I sit on the edge of the desk.

“This is Jake Sanders, what can I do for you?”

“Hello Mr. Sanders this is Officer Katy and we seem to have a problem.”

“What problem is it ma’am?” I ask. After a pause from the Officer, I look over at Lena and ask her what’s going on. Giving me a shrug, she turns her chair away towards the big window that showed the farm.

“Mr. Sanders I don’t know how to say this, but you have a daughter.” Says the Officer, I stare at the phone as if the woman is off her rocker.

“Excuse me, ma’am did you say daughter?” I ask. Then I start to laugh.

“Is this a joke? Did Lena put you up to this?” I asked in between laughs. A sigh comes from over the phone.

“I’m sorry Mr. Sanders, It’s not a joke.” She says in a weak voice. I feel like a cold bucket of water was poured over me as her words finally sink in.

“Are you telling me that I have a daughter? I know you said it, but I was never informed that I had a daughter, that is until now.” I told her.

“Would I be on the phone with you right now if I was not certain? You are on the birth certificate and she has your last name Mr. Sanders.” Taking off my hat I run my free hand through my hair as the news hits home.

“Okay, what do you need me to do ma’am?” I ask.

“I need you to be her official guardian. She came into our office bruised and battered. She had run twelve blocks to get here. Her mother told her to run after she had knocked out her stepfather while he was chocking your daughter. I’m sorry to say this, but we lost her mother on the way to the hospital. We’ve already checked you out and you are fine to take her home without us involving any other people, other than a few pieces of papers to sign she is all yours.” I feel the blood in me boil from what the Officer had said. I might have not known that I had a daughter until now, but the thought of someone touching my child made me mad.

“Is the bastard in jail?” I state with anger evident in my voice.

“Not to worry. We have him.” I hear a similar anger in the Officers voice at the thought of that man.

“I only have two more questions, one who was her mother? The second one ma’am is when can I come pick her up?” I ask. I hear the rustling of papers as the Officer finds the right papers on who the mother of my child was.

“Her name Mr. Sanders is Molly Michaels.” My heart constricts as I picture Molly in my mind. I could never forget my Molly it may have been twelve years since we last met, but I can still hear her laugh.

The pain intensifies at the thought that she had kept from me that we had a daughter together. I may have been young, but I would have stepped up to my responsibility.

“Are you still their Mr. Sanders?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. That is my daughter.” I tell her. Even if she turned out to not be mine, I’ll still take care of her. I at least owe that to the child.

“Okay, well Mr. Sanders we currently have your daughter here with us in Houston. She’s as we speak sleeping in an office on a cot in our station.” Says the Officer with happiness laced in her voice. I write down the address to the station as it’s given to me.

“I will be seeing you in a few hours Mr. Sanders, have a nice drive and if you can bring a woman with you. She’s still a little skittish and maybe a woman would help with the situation.” The Officer says before she hangs up the phone.

Putting the phone in its cradle, I hold my head in my hands as the tears escape. Lena hugs me as I cry over the little girl that I have let down all of these years.

“Jake, you have to go. Take Momma with you. She’ll know what to do.” I nod at the truth in Lena’s words. Standing up I grab my hat and go to find her.

“Mom.” I yell throughout the house until I see her walking towards me from the kitchen with a worried look.

“What’s wrong?” She asks as she notices the traces of tears showing on my face.

“Long story short: I have a daughter and she needs me. I need you to come with me to go get her.” I see the confusion in her face, but knowing that my Momma can take on anything. I watch as she stands straighter and starts running around the house collecting things for the trip.

Going outside I tell the men that I have to go to Houston and won’t be back till late tonight and to make sure that someone does my work for me.

Sitting in my Dodge I watch as Momma jumps into the truck. Starting the truck, I begin to tell her about the child that I never knew about and on why we needed to get her. Momma sat there and listened to the conversation I had on the phone with the Officer.

I stare straight ahead, as I finish telling her all that I know.

“Oh Jake, that poor child, but not to worry she’ll be fine. It will be tough at first, but if she’s a true Sanders then she’ll be just fine.” A smile lights up my face as she pats my knee.

“Besides I now have another grandchild! It’s about time!” Momma says as she grabs her sewing out of its bag. Chuckling I turn on the radio and sing along to a country song as we hit the highway towards Houston. Only three hours until I get to see my daughter for the first time.