“Indeed.” Kit squeezed Charles’ arm. “God bless you.”
“The two of you would do the same for me if I had need. Don’t worry. I’ll keep everyone under this roof safe, so sleep soundly—as soundly as you can, that is.”
Jackson ushered her out, and once the cool air of night hit her cheeks, Kit wrapped her arms tight around her middle to give herself something to hold, for she ought to be cuddling her little girl right now…and it was all because of Carky she wasn’t.
Blast the woman!
Kit stomped ahead of Jackson, ignoring his “Hey! Hold up!” She’d use all this sorrow, this grief, this emptiness, to fuel her rage at a woman who never should have messed with her. Carky had better watch her back.
Because Kit was out for blood.
Chapter Twenty
Jackson strode the pavement leading up to the station, Kit at his side, the early morning air around them crackling with a sense of purpose. Dark clouds scudded overhead, matching his mood. A storm would soon break—and he welcomed it.
He cut Kit a sideways glance. “How are you holding up?”
She peered at him, hat askew, hair trailing down her back. “Judging by the bags under your eyes, about the same as you.”
True. Neither of them had slept, not with Bella’s empty crib staring them in the face all night. Wrapping his arm about her shoulder, he gave her a little squeeze. “If all goes well, we’ll have Bella back by tomorrow. I promise.” He tipped his head down the block. “There is your father now. This will all be over soon, and life will be back to normal. Well, at least as normal as it can be with you.” He winked.
She kicked him in the shin with her heel.
“Daughter. Jackson.” Graybone nodded as he drew close.
“Good morning, Father.” Rising to her toes, Kit brushed a light kiss to his whiskery cheek.
Jackson trotted up the station stairs and held open the door. “I wager you thought you’d seen the last of this place when you retired in April.”
“Indeed.” His father-in-law paused on the top step. “It seems you can take the man out of the station, but the station never quite lets go of the man.”
“You mean I’m doomed?”
“From the day you crossed that threshold as a rookie constable, my boy.” Graybone sailed inside.
Kit hooked her arm through Jackson’s. “Well I, for one, am happy you did so, else we’d never have met.”
“That was a fateful day, was it not?” He gazed down at his wife’s lovely face, and the spark in her eyes sent a charge through him like it always did. One day such feelings might wear off, yet until then, he’d cherish every moment of reveling in her affection. He sighed. “But for now, we have work to do. After you, Wife.”
He followed her inside the busy station, dodging constables and civilians alike as he and Kit caught up to his father-in-law at the front counter, chatting with Smitty.
“Not the same without ye, Sarge, and that’s God’s truth.” Smitty slapped the counter.
Jackson narrowed his eyes. “Have you any complaints, man?”
Smitty glanced away from Graybone, his eyes widening as they landed on Jackson. “Em—Er—Why, none a’tall, Chief. I were jes’ ramblin’.”
“Perhaps you need more work? Because if that is the case, I’ll be happy to fill your time.”
“No, no. Nothin’ o’ the sort, sir.”
“Well then, carry on.” Jackson gave him a sharp nod.
Graybone chuckled as they strode towards the stairs. “I can hardly believe you’re the same green recruit who stumbled in here a few years ago.”
In truth, he could hardly believe it himself, especially every morning when he woke up next to a woman he still could scarce imagine was his.
Several more greetings and cuffs on Graybone’s back followed them all the way up to Jackson’s office, where he opened the door.
