Chapter 54

"What should we do? I don't want him hurt! I really wasn't prepared to love the little guy because of Palmer and all, but now that he is here none of that seems to matter! He is ours, and that's all that matters now!"

"I agree with you Jordie, and together we will make sure he is safe! We just have to talk about who we are going to tell."

"Your mother!" she gasped.

"Yeah that is the first big question. Do we tell her or not?"

"Woody, I have to leave that up to you. She is your mother and you should make that choice. The only thing I will say on it is that I know you, and how much you value honesty. It was why I was so surprised you didn't tell her from the beginning. I know you were trying to protect me, but I am a big girl and am used to facing the mistakes I have made in life."

"Wow! For having only one thing to say you sure hit it on the head with a mallet, don't you?!" he grinned ruefully, knowing she was right.

With a quick supportive embrace they went into the dining room to tell Evelyn the whole story.

Surprisingly Evelyn took the fact of Riley's parentage and the trouble Palmer had caused pretty well. As a mid-west farmer's wife she had seen more than Woody knew about and her main concern was for Jordan and Riley's safety. "You just tell me what this scallywag looks like so I can be on the watch for him! Believe you me, if he even comes within spittin' distance of my grandson and daughter-in-law he will be sorry!"

Woody shook his head, wondering how his mother could continue to surprise him, but he was also proud of her for her support. "That's just it mom, as a spy, Palmer is a master of disguise, he could look like anyone."

"Well then why don't we just pack up things and you three can come back to Wisconsin with me?" Evelyn suggested.

"Thank you Evelyn, but I want to be in town for my father's wedding and besides that I won't let Palmer scare us into changing our lives that way! We just need to make sure Riley is protected every minute of the day and go on with out lives as normally as we can!"

"We need to protect you too my dear, Riley isn't the only one in this picture," Evelyn pointed out.

"Woody is in it too!" Jordan protested.

"Yes, but he doesn't have any reason to harm me Jordie."

"Oh?! Really?! What about the fact that you are someone I love? If he were out to hurt me, the best way to do that would be to hurt someone I love like you and Riley! Then, if that were not enough, there is the fact that you are raising his son as your own! If Palmer isn't out to hurt me, but instead wants Riley for himself then the fact you are here with him puts you in danger too."

"That may be, but as a cop I am trained in how to take care of myself," Woody assured her.

"And you don't hear on the news about cops getting killed all the time?!" she snapped.

"I have to agree with Jordan on that one Woody, dear. You do hear about police getting killed. You may be trained, but if the bad guys are really determined they will find a way," his mother started. "We just need to try and figure out what this Palmer fellow wants and that way we can be prepared." She paused for a moment to think and then went on, "Now if he had wanted just Jordan you would think that if he is as clever as you claim he would have found a way to stay with her. I am sorry for saying that Jordan, but I don't mean to hurt you with that."

"No, Evelyn you are right. Plus I didn't start getting the feelings of being 'watched' until quite late in my pregnancy. So, whatever his plan, I am sure it has more to do with Riley than me."

"I have to agree with that," Woody concluded. "So then we need to figure out if he wants to kill or kidnap Riley."

Jordan had moaned slightly when Woody mentioned Riley's possible murder, but even as he reached out to take her hand, she knew they had to consider all possibilities.

To be continued…