Cage looked up and spotted Linc and Kerry coming through the gate. It was to her that he addressed his comment. “We’ve got troubles.”
Chapter 11
Kerry struggled up from the swamp of despair into which she had sunk and asked, “What kind of troubles?” She lowered herself into the chair Linc pulled out for her. “Not Joe?”
“No, not Joe,” Roxie Fleming reassured her. “Physically he’s doing all right, but the doctor told us that he’s awfully depressed. Doc suggested that he be moved here this afternoon. He’ll recover faster if he’s not alienated from the other children.”
“Here? Jenny, won’t that inconvenience you?”
“Not at all,” Jenny told Kerry. “We’ll just move an extra bed into Trent’s room.”
“I’ll leave,” Linc said bluntly. “Then you’ll have plenty of room.” Jenny glanced at him with asperity. “I thought we settled that last night. We’re not going to let you leave, Linc. Besides, Joe will feel more at ease with you around.”
That argument made sense, so neither he nor Kerry countered it. “Well, if you’re sure,” Kerry said uncertainly. “It’ll only be for another day or so. J
ust until his adoptive family arrives to take him home.”
Gary cleared his throat too loudly. Roxie shifted in her chair. Cage and Jenny glanced uncomfortably at each other.
“Did I hit a nerve?” Kerry asked intuitively. “I must have accidently stumbled onto the trouble spot you mentioned. What gives? Have Joe’s adoptive parents had second thoughts since he was wounded in the escape? The doctor assured me that his leg suffered no permanent damage, if that’s what’s bothering them.”
“Actually, Kerry,” Cage said with noticeable reluctance, “Joe never was spoken for.”
Stunned, Kerry could only stare at him for a moment before crying, “What? That was a condition of my bringing the orphans out, that they would have a home ready and waiting for them.”
“We know.” Jenny’s normally serene face was filled with anxiety. “That’s why we didn’t tell you. Cage and I discussed it and decided that no matter what, we couldn’t let you leave any of the children behind.”
“Most prospective parents feel that Joe is too old for adoption,” Cage said gently.
“I see.”
Kerry’s shoulders slumped with dejection. According to the clock, it was still well before noon. But it seemed that she had lived a thousand years since she had gotten up that morning. Her heart had already been heavy, knowing that she had fallen in love with the wrong man. That’s why she had sought the solitary peacefulness of a horseback ride. Then, what should have been an exultant experience had been a nightmare.
And now this. Just when she was about to accomplish the only worthwhile endeavor in her life, she was met with failure. Poor Joe. He, more than the other children, realized what coming to the United States meant to his future.
“He can’t be sent back,” she said fiercely.
“You can count on that,” Cage said.
Jenny laid a hand on her husband’s shoulder as though to hold him back. “You didn’t know Cage before he settled down, Kerry,” she said, “but he’s a dirty fighter. He would take on the Supreme Court before he would let the boy be sent back.”
Kerry smiled at Cage. “Thank you. I’ll appreciate anything you can do.”
“I volunteer my services,” Linc said. “And I’d be willing to bet that I fight a helluva lot dirtier than Cage.”
“Oh, yeah?” The other man sized him up. Then he smiled broadly. “Thanks. I’m sure I can use your help.”
“Let’s hope it won’t go that far.” Kerry stood up. “As soon as I change, we’ll get to work on it. I have people in—”
“I’m afraid that’s not all,” Cage told her, indicating that she should sit back down.
She couldn’t imagine what news could possibly be worse than what she’d already heard. She eased herself back into the chair, mentally preparing herself for a blow.
“The couple who had spoken for Lisa called this morning,” Cage began.
The floor dropped out from beneath Kerry. “And?”
“And, it seems that the lady is pregnant. It was confirmed only two days ago.”