Chapter 10

Shaking fingers traced over the beloved face of a long dead mother. "I knew you didn't steal me Mama," Vin whispered. The news from Josiah had lifted a heavy weight from his soul, restoring the sacred memory of his mother to its rightful place. JD had tried to find information about the kidnapping and with it proof of his mother's innocence. Unfortunately there hadn't been much information to be found, only enough to confirm what Agent Price had already told him. JD said the case was too old and not high profile enough for much information to have been placed online. Even the FBI hadn't loaded the files to their computers yet.

Setting the picture aside Vin picked up his cell phone. "Chris I just heard from Josiah."

"Already?" Chris didn't know if news coming so quickly was good or bad.

"Mama didn't kidnap me."

Chris smiled. Vin's relief could be heard over the line as clearly as if he'd shouted it. "That's great news Vin."

"Yeah," Vin agreed as he glanced once more at the picture. He went on to tell the brother of his heart what Josiah had discovered. They talked for a few minutes, both men agreeing that there could be no condemnation of Mrs. Connor. Before they hung up Vin asked Chris to let the rest of the guys know the news.

He picked up the photo again, "She was really hurting wasn't she Mama?" He felt sorry for Pamela Connor. It didn't excuse the pain she had caused his birth family but at least her intent hadn't been malicious. Vin wondered what would have happened had she lived. Would she have regained her sanity as her grief eased? If she had would she have returned him to his family? He shook his head; there wasn't any point in asking questions that could never be answered.

McKenna Outfitters

Jack hung up the phone. He'd just received the news from Agent Price. "Thank God," he whispered. He had been very much afraid that Cynthia Tanner had been involved in his son's kidnapping. Though he couldn't imagine it he was sure it would have devastated Vin if that had been the case. Leaving the office he headed outside to find Brick.

"Hey Cas hand me the socket wrench," Brick requested from under the hood of his classic Mustang.

Cassidy released an aggrieved sigh as she moved to fetch the requested tool. She wasn't worried that her brother would be offended, they often teased each other. "Here," she said, laying the wrench in his hand.

"Thanks," Brick grinned never pausing in his work.

"How's it coming?" Jack asked. He grinned as Brick jerked upright hitting his head on the open hood.

"Damn it Jack," Brick cursed as he rubbed his sore head while Cassidy laughed.

"Sorry son," Jack apologized.

Brick glared, he didn't sound sorry. "You want something or you just like making me hit my head?"

Jack sobered instantly. "Actually I just got a call from Agent Price."

"What'd he say?" Cassidy asked.

In a few sentences Jack explained what had been discovered about their brother's kidnapping.

"Poor woman," Brick murmured.

"She kidnapped our brother Brick," Cassidy nearly yelled.

"She was mourning," Brick reminded his sister.

"But she took..."

"You're both right," Jack interrupted. "Yes Mrs. Connor stole Brock from us but she deserves our sympathy too. " Stepping over to Cassidy he took her into his arms. "I know you want to hate her Cas, I do too," Jack admitted, "but she didn't know what she was doing."

"Are you calling Brock now?" Brick asked.

Jack shook his head. "I don't want to push him away. Agent Price made sure he knows I want to talk to him, to meet him, but I'm letting Vin set the pace."

"His name's Brock," Cassidy protested.

"Honey your brother has never known any name other than Vin Tanner. We can't expect him to start using his birth name at this point."

"But he's not a Tanner."

"In a way he is," Jack said. "Less than a week ago your brother didn't know anything about us, didn't even know we existed. In his mind Cynthia Tanner was his mother."

"So we have to call him Vin and let him call her his mother? What about our mother?"

"I'm stubborn," Brick said.

Cassidy turned towards her brother. "What?"

"I'm stubborn, we're twins, what happens when you push me?" Brick quietly asked.

Jack smiled, his youngest son had grown wise in the years since coming home.

"You dig your heels in," Cassidy admitted.

Brick nodded.

"So if we try to make him use the name Brock or not call Cynthia his mother he'll get mad?"

"And maybe refuse to have anything to do with us," Brick replied in his slow drawl.

TBC...

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