Page 105 of A Cowboy's Trust
He held his hand to her. “No Tansy Dance Scale tonight.”
Aiden winked. Petra grinned. Even Declan looked as if he knew what was up, but Jake ignored the rest of the room and guided Tansy toward the bedrooms.
She wobbled when he led her to the right instead of the left. “Okay?”
“I want to check in on Jeffrey,” Jake offered.
Jinx had taken him away during the meeting and tucked him in for his own nap. “He’s probably asleep.” Tansy peeked in the door then hummed softly. “You’re not asleep.”
Jeffrey sat upright on the mattress they’d temporarily placed in the corner of Jinx’s room so he wouldn’t be alone.
He looked nervous, and Tansy hurried to his side the best she could. “Hey, bucko. You should be sleeping.”
He glanced past her to Jake. “I have something for you.”
It took some coordinating, but Jake helped, and in the end Tansy sat on the mattress beside a very wiggly Jeffrey.
Jake settled on the other side, an accepting smile in place. “Go ahead,” he encouraged.
Jeffrey took a big breath then slid his hand under his pillow. He pulled out a shiny silver and gold bracelet that was strangely familiar?—
“Oh. I found that before.” Tansy frowned. “Wait, I found that a long time ago and forgot about it.” She glanced at Jake, but he was smiling reassuringly at Jeffrey. “I don’t know who it belongs to.”
“I do,” Jake said quietly. “Go on, Jeffrey.”
“I didn’t steal it.” Jeffrey wrinkled his nose. “I mean, Ididsteal it, but I didn’t give it to her. It’s yours. I wanted to give it back.”
Tansy’s brain buzzed. “I found that—Sheesh, the day the girls discovered Logan. It was under the couch. What with one thing and another, I put it somewhere safe then forgot about it.”
“It was in your bathroom.” Jeffrey looked ready to cry. “It’s yours.”
“Oh, sweetie. Thank you. I’m glad you gave it back. Come here.” She opened her arms and Jeffrey wormed in tight. She glanced at Jake, hoping for a few more clues. “You said you know who the bracelet belongs to?”
“It was my mom’s,” Jake offered softly.
Wow. “How did it get under the couch?”
“Not sure, but that part doesn’t matter. Jeffrey made a choice to do what’s right, and that’s what’s important.” Jake leaned in and peered at Jeffrey. “Good job, buddy. It’s not easy to do what’s right, but you did it. I’m proud of you.”
The tear factory turned up to high. Tansy felt a little weepy herself.
“Hey, I don’t mind a little tears, but I do need your help. So if you can, let’s do the next thing, okay, Jeffrey?” Jake clapped his hands softly.
Jeffrey wiggled free, wiping at his face with the backs of his hands. “‘Kay.”
“Like we practiced,” Jake prompted.
The little guy nodded vigorously then turned to Tansy. “Jake says he’s my daddy now.”
Oh God.Tansy held it together by a thread. “Yes, he is. And he loves you very much.”
Because being loved had made all the difference to her, and it would to Jeffrey as well.
The little guy waved the fist that held the bracelet. “This is a mommy bracelet.”
Her heart leapt, pounding against her ribcage.
Jeffrey opened his palm, offering the trinket like a sacrifice. “It’s for you.”
