First Date

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"Trickery and treachery are the practices of fools that have not the wits enough to be honest." Benjamin Franklin.

Thank you those who are sending reviews to me. They are much appreciated.

Chapter 8

Kanda heard the door open as she rolled over and was forced to remember the giant appendage attached to her right leg. Figuring Roy had returned with Jenny since her bus dropped her off earlier than Chris's she sat up and began the challenging journey up the stairs. Roy was right of course. Her staying off this foot was not something she was good at but then being dependent on someone else just drove her nuts. Hobbling down the hall on crutches she smiled as she heard Jenny calling out 'daddy' to him. Since his door was wide open she headed towards it until she heard him bark harshly at her. Reaching the doorway she saw him holding onto both her arms with Jenny crying as he kept asking her a question.

"Roy! Stop!" She hurried into the bedroom as best she could and only then did she see the look of sheer panic on his face.

Hearing her voice brought Roy back slightly to realize his hold on Jenny who he then took and held as tight as he could. How could he explain the unabaited terror that he felt for his only daughter after hearing what she had just said? Just the thought of some stranger having his hands on her both scared and sickened him.

He pushed her away a little, "How many times have I told you to never go with a stranger?" His voice was stern but he didn't yell.

Jenny just sobbed. She hadn't been afraid of the man until now. "He said he was Kanda's friend. I'm sorry Daddy." She fell into his arms and he held her like he would never get the chance again.

"Roy what happened?"

His voice was shaking, "I fell asleep. God, how could I be so stupid!?"

The fear he held was gripping her gut like a vice and putting her on the verge of tears as she sat down beside him, "Please tell me what happened."

He shook his head, "Some guy got Jenny off the bus and brought her home." He looked back at his little girl, "Honey, did you know him?

She shook her head, "No, but he told me that Kanda worked at the hospital and he knew that I like the horses daddy. He told me you said it was alright."

Roy fought back the fear and the anger. "Can you tell me what he looked like?"

She slowly stopped her crying and he could tell she was thinking about it. "Old like Uncle Johnny. He had brown hair like Mr. Thompson. He was real nice daddy but I didn't like that thing on his cheek." She took her finger and traced it down his cheek.

"A scar?" Kanda asked.

Jenny nodded, "Yea and he gave me this for you." She pulled off her little backpack and reaching in dug around for something. When she found it she pulled out a little envelope and handed it to him.

He looked at Kanda as his heart raced. "Jenny, go put your bag up."

She gave him a little smile and ran down the hall to her room as Roy opened up the envelope.

He read it silently and she watched his breath quicken. Roy stood up, "I have to go get Chris. Don't let her leave your sight and keep the door locked."

Leaving a frightened Kanda behind him he darted to the door throwing the note onto his dresser. His mind now focused on reaching Chris as fast as possible.

She stood up and went to his dresser. Her eyes locked on the note but almost afraid to pick it up. Something in it had sent a surge of fear through Roy that Kanda had felt it like a punch to the stomach. Picking it up, she held it for a moment as she swallowed hard before opening it. What it said was worse than she could imagine.

I can reach you. I can reach your children.
Stay away from Kanda or they will pay the price.

It was only a few minutes until Chris's bus arrived and when he stepped off Roy had to resist the almost overwhelming urge to grab him up too.

"What's wrong dad?" Chris could feel his dad's tension.

"We need to get back," he started walking all the while keeping his eyes scanning all around them for a black truck.

Unlocking the door he saw that Kanda had made it back downstairs and she was holding the note. Trying to sound as casual as possible he sent both kids upstairs to do homework and play for a while.

"Roy I'm so scared. What's going on? Who would do this?"

"The man Jenny described at the bus stop? It was the man from the truck Kanda. That damn couple that so conveniently showed up to give us a lift."

Her breathing quickened, "How can you be so sure?"

"The scar." He just shook his head. He'd been so worried about someone hurting her that he never thought about himself. And he never dreamt that he would have to worry about his own children.

"I have to talk to Chris," he said as he headed to the stairs.

"Roy?"

He turned to the pleading sound of her voice.

"This is my fault. They are doing this to you because of me." She had so much she wanted to tell him. "You. Jenny and Chris." The tears ran down her face, "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to any of you."

He came and sat down besides her knowing at that moment that she did love him as much as he loved her. Wrapping his arms around her he held her tight and whispered in her ear, "How do I tell you how much I love you?"

She took his face in her hands and kissed him, "I love you too."

Pushing her hair out of her face and wiping her tears from her cheeks, he said, "We won't let him win. From now on we're in this together."

She nodded as she tried to catch her breath and slow her racing heart down. "Together," she repeated.

"Now, let's go talk to Chris and see if we can find out what's going on." He helped her up and they headed to Chris's room.

"Chris, can we talk to you? Remember I told you we'd finish talking about something this morning?" He also remembered how reluctant Chris was to talk about it.

"Dad I don't…"

"Chris, listen to me. I think someone is doing things on purpose to us. It's important for me to know what you've been hearing. First I want to know what you're mom is upset about."

Chris looked over to Kanda.

"Chris, it's alright. You won't upset me. I understand your mom not liking the fact that your dad and I are seeing each other."

"She just says mean things that I don't like to hear." He looked at his dad with a silent plea to not have to say them. But Roy's look and nod told him it was okay. "She just complains about stuff like you're too skinny, that dad only likes you because you're Uncle Johnny's sister. She hates having to fix stuff around the house and says that dad should do it if he wasn't so busy doing stuff for you. And she calls you names."

Roy almost smiled. Joanne's ranting was petty. Annoying and they would have to stop in front of the kids but still just petty. That was the least of his worries right now. "Who else son?"

Now Chris looked really uncomfortable. "I heard some of the guys talking at the barn."

Kanda shifted in her seat, this was suddenly hitting too close to home.

"They didn't know I was in there." His eyes welled up with tears.

Roy went and sat down next to him on the bottom bunk bed. "We need to know."

"One was saying how he wanted her for himself then he started to say what he was going to do." The tears rolled down his cheeks. "They were terrible dad. How can they say things like that?"

Roy put his arms around him, "I don't know Chris."

"Then they started talking about you. One was mad that you liked Kanda and he said he knew how to run you off."

That was his answer but the question remained. Who?

"Chris do you know who it was talking?" Kanda asked the unspoken question.

Chris hesitated, "I don't know their names. They didn't know I was there because I hid when they started talking."

"You're alright now okay?" He looked over at her and nodded. "I've got some phone calls to make alright? Stay up here and play for a while until dinner is ready."

Chris nodded and worked to dry up his tears as quickly as possible. It was hard to tell his dad those things but even worse that Kanda would know. He loved his mom but he now loved Kanda too and didn't want to hurt her feelings.

Roy helped her up again and took her across the hall to his room. As she sat on the bed in a state of shock he picked up the phone. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Those were the people she trusted with something she held so dear to her. And the things they said. She just wanted to scream. As she looked over to the man that she just gave her heart to she knew it was her fault that Roy and his children were in the middle of this mess. She finally found her voice. "Who are you calling?"

"Johnny." He waited for it to be picked up. Knowing he couldn't tell everything that had transpired over the phone he simply said, "Johnny I need you back here right away."

Nothing else was needed and with a single reply he was on the way.

"What are we going to do?" She asked.

"I don't know. Do we go to the ranch and find out who it is?" He walked around at the end of the bed trying to figure out what to do.

She shook her head, "Roy, I have a really bad feeling about all this. Whoever it is isn't playing a game with us. They are serious."

"Okay." He knew her 'gut' feelings and learned a long time ago to trust them when they were this strong. But the fear that he saw in her eyes scared him, for her and for his children. "Let's wait until Johnny gets here then we'll decide what to do."

Johnny stood by the fireplace. Crap, he couldn't believe this was happening. "You have to call the police Roy. If you even think for one moment that any of you are in real danger you have to call them."

Roy silently agreed. Petty issues like slashed tires and towed cars were one thing but they were now messing with his kids. If anyone knew anything about him they should realize they picked the wrong man for this game.

He went to the kitchen to make the call.

He paced and thought in his office. He had been convinced that she would decide he was too much trouble after all the problems that happened and would dump the looser. But it irritated him beyond belief that instead of being upset with him she just seemed drawn to him even more. As long as he had known her why couldn't she see he was much better for her?

Sending out that fool of a nephew of his to do the next task made him smile. Damn if he was going to let that worthless fireman take her away from him. He had worked for too many hours by her side, wanting her for his own. Oh, she hadn't really noticed him much along the way but he sure knew everything about her. That would be fixed soon. All he needed was time with her. Time alone with everyone out of the way.

Once again he sent out his nephew to try one last thing. He was losing patience with the games. The other things were vague and non-threatening but this would hit that fireman close to home. It would let him know that if he stayed with her then he risked his own family. If that doesn't scare that hose jockey away then he would next take the matter into his own hands and put an end to the petty games.