Page 70 of Landon

Stan’s gaze softened, his eyes glistening. “If I could’ve kept Big Mike from harm or spared you from witnessing it… I would have. I’m so sorry.”

Tad’s eyes drifted over to Penny as he spoke. “But you know… at least he had Noel with him at the end. She was calm, speaking to him so gently. Whatever she said seemed to bring him peace.”

The table grew quiet, and Penny expected the adults to nod in understanding. But instead, her granddad’s brow furrowed, and her dad’s eyes widened slightly. Margaret sat up a bit straighter, looking between them.

“Did Big Mike… talk to Noel?” Stan asked, his tone cautious.

Tad shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Penny added, “We couldn’t hear what he was saying. But he kept trying to speak until Noel leaned down close to him. After that, he just… relaxed. His face looked peaceful.”

“That was the last time we saw him,” Tad said softly.

Margaret cleared her throat, the calm in her voice returning. “Well, now that we’ve had our snack and discussed some options, I have a few phone calls to make. Thurston, I know you and Stan have work to do in the barn. Kids, we’ll have lunch ready in about an hour.” She rose, pressing a kiss to each of their heads before heading inside.

“We checked on our horses already, Dad,” Tad said.

Penny stretched, feeling some of the tension leave her shoulders. “I think I’ll spend the afternoon reading. We’re going back to school soon, and I want to be prepared.”

Tad nodded in agreement, and they both rose, walking around the table to hug their dad and granddad. As they headed back toward the house, Penny glanced over her shoulder, catching the solemn exchange between her father and grandfather, their expressions unreadable.

31

Noel walked out of the judge’s office with the Fugate attorney at her side. She stole a quick glance at him and offered a polite, almost weary smile, her emotions tightly controlled.

“Are you alright, Ms. Lennox?” he asked, his voice low and calm, as though he’d spent years perfecting the art of speaking gently.

“Yes, Mr. Barton.” She managed to keep her tone steady, though the strain of the day tugged at the edges. “These cases… the outcomes never sit easy with me, but I understand their necessity.” She paused, searching for the right words. “Actually, I’ve never had a case quite like this. Usually, when I recommend supervised visits or limited parental rights, it’s because of clear-cut abuse or neglect. But with Penny and Tad… they’ve been cared for by their mom in the past. Not perfectly, maybe, but they were safe and their needs met. But Pamela’s recent actions put the children at risk.”

Mr. Barton nodded, a soft sigh escaping him. “Pamela would certainly never win any mother-of-the-year awards.” He hesitated, his tone softening as he added, “Please, call me Roy.”

“And I’m Noel,” she replied, feeling a bit of the tension ease as she offered her first genuine smile since leaving the judge’s chambers.

“Oh yes, I’ve heard your name quite a bit these past few days,” he said with a knowing smile, holding open a door as they passed through another corridor.

She knew he wasn’t just their attorney but also a good friend of the family. She brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with Penny and Tad, though I wish the circumstances were different.”

A fond look crossed his face. “I’ve known those kids since they were born. I’ve been the family’s attorney for years, actually. My father was the Fugate lawyer before me, when Margaret and Thurston took over the ranch. Stan and I even went to college together,” he added, a faraway look settling in his eyes. “I remember Pamela from those early days.”

“Oh…” Noel didn’t know how to respond. The layers of history between him and the Fugate family ran deep.

He chuckled, the sound tinged with both humor and regret. “Pamela was… well, let’s just say she should have come with a warning label. But Stan was completely mesmerized by her. She knew how to play the part of the perfect girlfriend, but there was always more beneath the surface.”

Noel nodded as they made their way down another long, echoing hall in the courthouse. “The judge asked me to take on this case, which is how I ended up in Jamaica.” She let out a slow breath, her lips pressing together. “I never anticipated things to turn out this way… the security agent I was with used a term… FUBAR, I believe.”

Roy laughed as they walked outside and down the steps. “I’m familiar with that, and it seems apropos.”

Noel lifted her hand to say goodbye, but to her surprise, Roy hesitated. “Would you care for a cup of coffee?” he offered, gesturing across the street. “There’s a little bakery nearby. It’s small, but I’d like to at least offer coffee.”

She nearly declined, the urge to retreat into solitude strong. But she could feel the weight of the morning still lingering, and the thought of coffee—and maybe a sweet pastry—sounded like exactly what she needed. “That would be lovely,” she replied, her smile softening as she met his kind eyes.

They crossed the street at the corner light, their steps in sync as they made their way toward the cozy coffee shop. The scent of freshly baked bread and freshly ground coffee greeted them as they stepped inside, and Noel felt a small surge of comfort wash over her. The shop was mostly empty, and the lull between breakfast and lunch made it easy to find a quiet corner table where they could speak without interruption.

Roy stirred his coffee, glancing up with a thoughtful expression. “As relieved as I am that Penny and Tad were brought home so quickly,” he began, his voice soft, “I can’t shake the sorrow that Mike didn’t make it back with them.”

Noel felt a pang in her chest at his words. She hadn’t realized Roy knew him, but upon reflection, it would make sense if Roy was the attorney for the ranch. “I didn’t get to know him very well,” she admitted, her voice gentle. “But I could see how much he cared for Penny and Tad. When we finally found them, he was overwhelmed, just… so relieved to have them safe.”

“I know that filled his heart,” Roy said, nodding while sipping his coffee. “He was a little older than Stan and me, but as a longtime fixture at the ranch, he wanted to make sure the kids had a familiar face down there. Pamela had told Stan that if he showed up, she might not sign the papers.” He shook his head. “God, what a…”

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