Second Chance Family

“I came home from going to the store and found her on the floor in the den, passed out. I don’t know what happened, and when she came to, she didn’t, either.” Shane stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I sent Jason into another room so he wouldn’t see the paramedics take my aunt away. He left the house instead. I didn’t even hear the front door opening. When I couldn’t find him…” What little color he had leached completely from his face.

The urge to comfort strong, Whitney placed her hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry. I can only imagine the horror of finding your child gone.” And he still had his aunt to see about. “Let me help you. I can watch Jason while you go to the hospital if you want.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. Look at all you have to do.” He gestured at the stacked boxes.

“First, you didn’t ask me. I’m volunteering, and I don’t volunteer unless I want to. Second, I have to go to Stone’s Refuge today, and I think Jason would enjoy it. I want to show him the animals in the barn.”

“You’re going to the farm when you have all this to unpack?”

“I do every Sunday afternoon, and this will be here when I get back. It isn’t going anywhere.” She grinned, remembering how neat and tidy his home was and wondering if it was Shane more than Aunt Louise.

“I can’t imagine living out of boxes for more than a day. I don’t do well with chaos.”

“And I have acquired more chaos than I thought possible this past year.” Because her brother had showered her with gifts until she’d had to cry uncle. “Chaos, that is, if I emptied every one of these,” her arm swept toward the stacks in the living area, “and didn’t put anything away. However, a little chaos is okay sometimes.”

He arched an eyebrow. “If you say so.”

“Has Jason eaten?”

“No, in fact, that’s why I made an emergency run to the store. He had gotten into the jam and bread sometime since yesterday so there wasn’t any for a sandwich for him.”

“What does Jason like to eat?”

“Two things. Peanut butter and strawberry jam or a hamburger from Lucky’s Drive Thru.”

“Oh, he has good taste. Nothing beats Lucky’s hamburger. Don’t tell Noah I said that.”

“I’m trying to expand my son’s tastes to other foods, but I’ve not had much success yet.”

“That’s all he eats?” Whitney again looked over at the boy who was still happily doodling on the yellow pad.

“For lunch. He’ll only eat certain dishes for each meal.”

“Interesting. I don’t know much about autism.”

“Routine and order is very important to him.”

And to Shane? Her life had never had much routine or order to it. Since coming to Cimarron City, however, she’d acquired some of both.

“I’d better be going. I told Aunt Louise I would be there for her.”

“Go. If I run into a problem, I’ll let you know.”

“If anything happens, I can be there in twenty minutes.”

“It shouldn’t. We’ll go to Lucky’s then Stone’s Refuge. We’ll be there most of the afternoon.” She covered the few steps to her door while Shane strode to his son and knelt in front of him.

Clasping both upper arms, Shane waited until he had Jason’s attention. “I need to leave for a while. Whitney is going to watch you. She’s taking you to Lucky’s for a hamburger then to see some animals at a farm. Okay?”

His son peered at her. “Like yellow hair.” Then he dropped his head and began drawing again.

Shane came toward her. “I think everything will be all right. Call, if it’s not. Aunt Louise will understand if I have to leave.”

“Will do.” Whitney stepped out onto the stoop with him. “Don’t worry about him. If he loves animals, he’ll enjoy the farm.”

“Thanks.” He glanced toward the entrance. “Are you sure about this?”

“My brother keeps telling me I need to learn to accept help. Guess what? You should, too.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, my aunt tells me that. I’ve had to learn with Jason.”

She turned him around and gently pushed him toward the stairs. “Go. Make sure Louise is all right.”

Down below Shane peered up at her. “What if this takes longer—”

“Dr. McCoy, goodbye. I’m going inside.” She determinedly pivoted away from him and headed back inside, but before closing the door, she glimpsed him jogging away. What happened to Shane’s wife? How had she died? There was a lot about him that was appealing and attractive. Were Jason and his problems the reason Shane hadn’t remarried? Or something else? It was clear he hadn’t moved on after five years because he still wore his wedding ring. Did he use it like a suit of armor to protect himself?

She wouldn’t ask those questions aloud. It wasn’t her business. But that didn’t stop her from wondering about them.

The second they entered the barn at Stone’s Refuge, Jason saw a large mutt near the tool room, eating his food from a metal bowl. The boy raced toward the dog before Whitney could grab him and hold him back. Plopping down on all fours by the animal, Jason stared at it. The mutt fixed his gaze on the child, only a few inches separated their noses.

Whitney started forward to get Shane’s son before the dog bit him. A hand stopped her. She glanced back at Peter Stone, the man who had founded Stone’s Refuge for children in the foster-care system. He and Noah had bonded while they lived together in a foster home as teens.

“Wait, see what the dog does. He’s been gentle and good so far with the kids here.”

“I didn’t see him last week. How long has he been here?”

“About five days, but you should have seen Jacob’s son hanging off him yesterday. Took it like he’d been doing it all his life.”

The mutt and Jason assessed each other for a good three minutes before the dog buried his head in his bowl and ate his food. Still down on all fours, the boy just watched and waited. When the mutt finished with his meal, he swung toward Jason and licked his face. The child laughed.

That sound, loud and robust, wormed its way into Whitney’s heart.

“Are you going riding with the kids today?”

Since the spring when Peter had taught her to ride a horse, she’d been going with a group of children from the refuge each Sunday afternoon and whenever she could work some time into her schedule. “I don’t know with Shane’s son here.”

“I can watch him. Shane goes to my church, and I’ve been around Jason for the past several years. But maybe he’ll want to go riding, too.”

“Does he know how?”

“Not that I know of. He’s never been here, and Shane’s hasn’t said anything to me about it.”

“Then is that a good idea?”

Peter nodded toward the child. “It’s obvious he loves animals.”

Jason patted the mutt, rubbing his face against the dog’s.