Page 63 of For the Love of the Lawyer

Terry hopped up from the floor and pulled Megan up on his back. "This is the part where we work for our supper, Meggie. Let's go help Mick. When we get done, can I watch the baseball game with you?"

"Everybody can watch the game, right, Papa?" Megan asked Ham as she held onto Terry's neck. Jon saw his father take a deep breath and nod, seemingly overcome at the child's words.

"How about we watch the game and after it's over, we can build a fire in the pit outside and roast hotdogs for dinner. How's that sound?" Jon's mother suggested.

"Yay!" Everybody liked that idea. Jon grinned as the kids and Mickey left the house through the back door.

Jon turned to his parents. "So, what do you think?" He was anxious for an assessment since they'd spent most of the day with the kids and definitely had gathered enough information to offer an opinion.

His mother seemed to take him in for a moment before walking over to him to pull him into a tight hug. When she pulled back, Jon saw the tears on her cheeks. "They're wonderful, Jonny, but I'm worried you're biting off more than you can chew."

He'd expected something of the sort from her because it was true, he likely had bitten off more than he could chew—alone. But, with Mickey, the possibilities were endless.

"I knew you'd worry about that, but if I make a few changes in my life, I think we can give them a good home, Mom. Dad?" He turned in his father's direction, waiting for the man’s words of wisdom.

Like always, Ham didn’t disappoint. "Megan's going to need the best help you can get her, son. She's very bright, but I noticed she seemed to have some sight issues. She picks things up lightning quick, though. Have you seen the paperwork regarding her assessment? Based on the few cases I've had regarding children in similar situations, she has lower support needs. Are you ready for any health-related issues which may develop as she ages?"

"A doctor checked her out after she was dropped off at the firehouse, but a more thorough assessment needs to be taken soon. I have the name of a pediatrician who is familiar with children with Down's. I noticed the vision thing and plan to get her to an eye doctor next week. The doctor at the hospital didn't mention anything heart-related in the report, but that doesn't rule out much, does it? I know it's a lot…" As Jon said the words, he was suddenly overwhelmed.

"Jonny, what Dad means is it's a lot for you to take on by yourself, what with your practice. I, however, don't think it's insurmountable. I think, if you and Mickey were to share the load, it would be better for everyone. I watched Terry with Mickey. That boy needs to be somewhere with people who will love him and provide boundaries.”

Yes, Mickey had a way of making people feel at ease. Jon wondered if it was related to working with horses. The man had the patience of a saint.

“Mickey was so kind and patient with him when they were getting the horses ready, explaining everything he was doing, and why he did it. Even when they got back and it was time to clean them up, he explained to Terrence about brushing the horses down was like saying thank you for taking them for a ride. It was such a great approach to take with both kids. I'd say between the two of you, those children couldn't be in betterhands, Jonny.” His mother’s assuring words were a salve to Jon’s panicked heart.

Jon nodded, grateful to hear his mother’s assessment, but he had to be honest about the situation because it wasn’t all rainbows and roses. "I know you're right, Mom, but I have no idea how to make that happen. My job is in Richmond, and Meggie needs to be there until we get her all checked out and make sure she's in the best health with all the resources she needs to thrive. I agree, Terry would be better suited out of Richmond, but I don't know how to make it happen yet.

"Besides, I couldn't ask Mickey to leave his job at the Circle C. That whole family has taken him in, and he thinks of them as his parents, brothers, best friends. I can't see Mickey doing well in Richmond. He's just started taking classes at the community college, and I don't want him to lose momentum. I just…" Jon stopped speaking, feeling the frustration consume his soul.

His mother smiled and snapped her fingers. "Move in here. Dad wants to fire Clyde anyway. Mickey could run the farm while Terry goes to the public school in town, which is very good. You could make the commute every day in an hour and take Meggie with you. I'd help with doctor's appointments and the like when you're in the city, and you can all live here. What do you think?" Allison’s solution was so simple, but Jon was too stunned to answer.

Chapter Twenty-four

Mickey was sitting at the glass-topped table on the back patio of the Wells' farm, listening to Jon and Ham discussing a case at the firm. It was a particularly messy divorce situation, and as Mickey listened, he knew why someone like Jon wouldn't be too keen on marriage. After listening to the things peoplewere fighting over… boats, vacation homes, Jet Skis, book collections… He finally had to ask, "Do they have children?"

"Yes. Fourteen, eight, and four," Ham answered him with a kind look on his face.

"Are they fightin' about who gets the kids?" Mickey didn’t bother to hide the disbelief in his voice. Children were the most important gift God could give. How could someone value a boat over a child?

Jon glanced down at the table as his father cleared his throat. "The mother's taking the four-year-old girl with her, and the father's sending the fourteen- and eight-year-old boys to boarding school.” Mickey noticed a pained look on Jon's face, and he saw the way Ham looked at his own son.

"Shit, I'd give up all that other crap to keep the kids together. I mean, the rest of that stuff is just stuff. Those are their kids—their babies. How can they just…?" Mickey was too overcome to continue his sentence. His own upbringing weighed heavily on his mind. He knew exactly how selfish people could be, based on firsthand experience.

Without another word, and to save from embarrassing himself, he got up and walked down toward the barn. Allison had Megan inside the house giving her a bath, and Terrence was watching something on television in the room that Allison had told him was his when he came out to the farm for a visit. The teen was excited because it had a big-screen television mounted on the wall.

Mickey walked into the large, beautiful barn, slowly taking in the sight of the high-class mares and foals Allison owned. The only horse that didn't really seem to fit was Kennedy, the dun gelding Ally had bought off the neighbor.

It was a quarter horse and likely trail broke, based on the calm demeanor the horse possessed and the way he followed other horses around the pasture. There wasn't anything prize aboutthe horse, and he sure hadn’t seemed to mind moving into the elite neighborhood of the Wells' barn. Josie seemed to be right at home in a stall in the back near the birthing stalls.

Mickey walked back to where Josie was settled and took in the sight of the little jenny, smiling because she appeared to be snoozing until he walked up to the gate. "This ain't so bad, is it Josie girl? It was nice of Ryan to let you make the trip so Meggie could ride. I might have to make him an offer on you, but I'm not sure where we'd keep ya.” Mickey was talking to the little donkey, and she knew it. She walked to him and put her head over the top of the gate, nuzzling into his chest.

Tim had sent along a saddle Mickey knew was given to Ryan by Josh and Katie. He believed it had belonged to their son, Shane, when he was a boy, but Tim said Ryan had outgrown it, so it was fine for Meggie to use that weekend.

The jenny was used to it, and Mickey was happy it worked out for the sweet little girl around whose finger Mickey was tightly wound. She'd enjoyed riding that day, and he planned to take her and Terry out the next day, maybe coaxing Allison to go with them to show them some of the more adventurous trails.

"We could keep her here if Ryan will sell her.” Mickey turned, seeing Jon leaning against the gate of Kennedy's stall. He was in a pair of jeans and sneakers with a tight T-shirt. He looked perfectly edible to Mickey, who'd missed him during the week apart.

"Your momma wouldn't want the likes of little Josie slummin' up this fine neighborhood. Why on earth did she buy that dun gelding?" Mickey walked over to pet the horse with its head over the gate too.

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