“I know,” he whispered. “We’ll talk about everything when you’re feeling better. Dillon went to get help.”
“You’ll never know the pain you caused,” she said, trembling. “I watched as they loaded your brothers in separate cars. Cade and Dillon stood by watching them take their brothers away, feeling helpless. Wyatt cried like a baby. Elias didn’t say a word as they loaded him into the car. As it drove away, he glanced back, hit the windows, and screamed.”
“Stop, Leslie,” he softly admonished, unable to imagine what they went through while he workedhimself hard in basic training until he fell asleep the moment he hit his cot.
Owen dropped the towels on the floor, lifted her from the water, and sat her down. He wrapped her in towels and removed the underclothing.
“Stay here. I’ll turn down the bed,” he said, running into the next room and peeling the covers back. He returned and dried her off. “Can you make it to the bed?” he asked.
Leslie rose and weaved unsteadily. Owen placed an arm about her waist and guided her to the bed. He liked holding her in his arms, but by the expression on her face, she didn’t seem appreciative of his attention.
Her teeth chattered as he removed the towel from around her body and covered her.
“Can you drink some water?” he asked.
“I’m thirsty,” she replied, sighing into the blanket.
Opening the bedroom door, he yelled for someone to bring him a glass of water, then returned to the bathroom to clean up the towels and the soaked floor.
Conner walked in, glancing fearfully at the bed, holding a glass of water.
Owen took the glass as Tucker entered and helped Leslie sit up while keeping her covered. She greedily drank, and he pulled the glass away, not wanting her to drink too fast.
“Will she get better?” Conner asked.
“Yes, baby,” she said, holding out her wrapped arm to him. He gently climbed onto the bed and lay against her.
“We’re scared, Mom. We didn’t want you to die,” Tucker said, with tears in his eyes.
“Come here,” she said, patting the bed. “I’m running a fever. It’s no different than having strep throat. I’ll rest a bit and feel better in no time.”
“Really?” Conner asked. “My mom didn’t want me. If something happens to you, I won’t have anyone.”
Leslie smiled sadly and closed her eyes, unable to stay awake.
Gently sitting beside Conner, he smoothed the boy's hair and peered into Tucker’s eyes.
“I’m proud of both of you,” Owen said. “You did a great job taking care of her. She’ll probably be tired over the next couple of days, and then she’ll be as good as new because you stayed with her.”
Conner gulped. “Will I have to leave Leslie and Tucker and go with one of you? We went to the grocery store after Dad died, and one of the ladies said she felt sorry for me.”
“Did she say why?” Owen asked, rubbing Conner’s back at seeing him visibly upset.
“Because she said, ‘Who wants a bastard kid? Even his own brothers never visited him in all this time, I’d end up in an orphanage like them,” he sobbed.
“No, you won’t,” Tucker said. “My mom will nevermake you leave us. We’re brothers. We come from a long line of Wolfes. Nothing can tear us apart.”
Owen picked Conner up and placed him on his lap, tilting his chin to meet his gaze. “Listen to me. We didn’t know about you.”
“Mom told us. She said you went on special missions, and it’s why she didn’t reach you,” Tucker told him.
Owen glanced at Leslie. She protected his image when he didn’t deserve it.
“Yes, I did. But I moved and never came back to visit. I promise you we’ll make this right. I don’t know what will happen, but you’ll never be alone,” he promised. “We’re a family. I guess we forgot after spending so much time away.”
“What about the man who attacked her?” Tucker asked.
“We’ll find him and make him pay,” Owen vowed. “It’s almost lunch time. Why don’t you ask Uncle Cade to rustle us up some sandwiches while we wait for the doctor?”
