Page 54 of Gideon

“Let me help you,” I offered. “I’ll feed the kids, and you can get your computer ready for class.”

He eyed me skeptically. “Do you even know how to feed kids?”

I chuckled. “You’d be surprised how many kids I’ve fed. On missions overseas, we often come across children who’ve lost their parents. We do what we can to help them until proper care is available. What are these two called?”

“This is Lily, and that’s Jeramy,” he replied, softening. “They’re good kids, but I have to stay here to protect them. She’s... not good to them.”

“Who has custody of the kids?” I asked.

Ryan hesitated, his jaw tightening. “I guess my grandparents did. When I turn eighteen, I’ll take custody. That’s the only reason we’re here. When Brenda found out they’d died, she sold their house. That left us homeless. Nobody wants to rent to a seventeen-year-old with four younger siblings. She blew the money in Vagas in two weeks.”

“Is it okay if I hang around for a few days?” I asked.

“Sure,” Ryan agreed, surprising me. “That would be great. My classes end at one forty-five. Maybe you could pick us up, and we can hang out at the lake.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll make you guys dinner tonight.”

I drove to the larger grocery store in the next town, stocking up on essentials. Diapers cost more than I expected, so I bought ten boxes, along with other necessities.

When I returned to pick them up, I heard shouting as I approached the house. Brenda’s drunken voice cut through the air, and the sound of crying children twisted my gut. I stepped inside to find her hitting Ryan while the little ones screamed in terror.

“Stop!” I barked, striding toward her. “Get away from him. Who do you think you are? Being drunk doesn’t give you the right to attack my son and these kids. You don’t deserve them.”

The kids flinched at her every movement, their small faces streaked with tears. Fresh bruises marred their skin—marks they hadn’t had this morning. Fury surged through me.

“I’m taking them with me,” I said coldly. “If you so much as touch these kids again, I’ll make sure you end up somewhere where you can’t drink for a long, long time.”

“You can’t threaten me,” she slurred.

“That’s not a threat,” I replied, my voice hard. “It’s a promise.”

Brenda stumbled back, her drunken bravado faltering.

I turned to Ryan. “Are you ready?”

“Let me grab some diapers,” he said.

“No need—I already bought some.”

“Then yeah, I’m ready.”

“You can’t take them!” Brenda screeched, nearly falling in her drunken haze. “They’re my kids!”

I stared her down. “You haven’t raised these kids. Ryan and your parents did. You didn’t even raise my son; I’m grateful for that. If you ever want help, call me. I’ll pay for you to go to a clinic. But until you’re sober, you won’t see these kids. Otherwise, you can go to jail for child abuse.”

Brenda’s defiance crumbled, replaced by something that almost looked like regret. “You’re a bastard, Gideon Archer,” she muttered. “But I know they’re better off with you. Take care of them.”

I ignored her as I guided the kids to the car. Thankfully, I’d already installed car seats. Once everyone was buckled in, Ryan sat up front with me.

“We’ll stay at the cabin tonight,” I said. “Tomorrow, we’ll head to my home. I’ll help you, Ryan. You deserve to go to college and have a life full of laughter. And these kids deserve a safe, happy home.”

Ryan didn’t respond right away, but when he did, his voice was filled with quiet gratitude. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Dad, what about the kids? Who will take care of them if I’m in college?”

“I’ll hire a nanny and a housekeeper to help with the kids,” I assured him. “They’ll live with us, and those kids will get all the love they need. You don’t need to worry about a thing. I also bought a bunch of supplies at Walmart. Tomorrow, we’ll stop and get your computer—I know it has all your important stuff on it.”

“I grabbed it on the way out,” Ryan said, “but the kids don’t have any clothes.”

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