Page 32 of Landon

Tad immediately knelt and reached inside the bag. He pulled out two pouches, and Landon nodded. “I forgot there were two. That'll give us plenty to sit on without having to be on the floor.”

Noel reached out and took one of the tarps from Tad. They unfolded them, then spread them out next to two walls. Tad and Penny sat on one with their backs against the wall. Noel sat on the other one and looked up expectantly at Landon.

Sharing a piece of tarp with her suddenly seemed like an excellent idea… and a bad idea. Good, because he’d be close to her. Bad, because being that close made him think of how sweet her lips were. Determined not to embarrass himself, he placed the weapons bag close and sat with his back against the wall beside her. They were sitting at a right angle with the kids,keeping them close together. Their clothes were soaked, and he hoped they’d be able to stay warm enough.

Noel dug around in the bag that was closest, pulling out another water bottle. “Tad. Penny.” Gaining their attention, she asked, “Did you have any water while you were away?”

Both shook their heads, so she handed them another bottle. “Make sure you stay hydrated.”

Penny blushed, and Noel leaned closer. “If you need to go, I’ll go outside with you.”

Penny’s lips curved as she nodded. Landon was glad Noel had thought of how a twelve-year-old girl might be embarrassed to ask about needing a bathroom break.

No longer needing his earpiece, Landon typed into his phone, giving their location and plans. He let LSIMT know they would spend the night in the small structure. He also told them that as soon as Cole and the others could get to Jamaica, he would get the kids and Noel west of the mudslide to meet up. The affirmative reply let him know that Logan and the others were in planning mode, and Landon had no doubt they’d be rescued tomorrow.

Looking down at the reply, he saw where Logan had spoken to both Stan and Pamela, each wanting to talk to the kids as soon as they could.

He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Your parents have been told that you’re safe, and they want to talk to you. We’ll play this however you want to.”

“I’ll talk to Dad,” Tad said without hesitation. He twisted around and looked at his sister sitting next to him. “What about you, Sis?”

Penny rolled her lips inward, pressing them tightly as she looked down at her hands. Finally, heaving a great sigh, her shoulders rounded, and she said, “I’ll talk to Dad, too. And I’ll talk to Mom.”

Landon was typing the request that LSIMT patch him to the ranch, knowing their satellite capabilities could bypass the storm wreaking havoc on cell signals and the internet.

“Wait,” Tad said. “Before we talk to our parents, I want to know how this went down.”

Landon believed in honesty and full disclosure, but he wasn't sure what to do when dealing with young people and children. Turning, he caught Noel’s gaze. “Are you comfortable handling this?”

Nodding, she straightened her back, and an air of determination rolled off her. She angled her body slightly to face the kids more fully. “Your mother didn’t have permission from your dad to bring you to Jamaica.”

“How did Dad find out so quickly?” Tad asked. “We just got here yesterday, so she must have told him by yesterday afternoon.”

“Yes, she did. Your mom called the ranch yesterday evening and talked to your dad. While the actual words spoken between the two of them are not known to me, she did make a demand?—”

Tad snorted, his voice tinged with bitterness. “She wanted more money, right? Mom brought us down here so Dad couldn’t just come get us, and she wanted more money.”

Penny’s head swung around, her eyes wide. Her gaze quickly darted to Noel and Landon, seeking confirmation. Landon held her stare for a moment but remained silent, allowing Noel to take the lead with the children.

Noel nodded gently, her expression calm but honest. “That’s true. She wanted your father to renegotiate the alimony agreement.”

The four sat silently for a few minutes while the storm raged outside. Landon waited and watched to see how the children would process the harsh reality. Tad’s shoulders tightened, his hands balling into fists on his lap. A low growl escaped him, asound that seemed to rise from deep within his chest. It was obvious that the revelation cut deeply.

Landon shifted his gaze to Penny, and his heart clenched as he saw a tear slide down her cheek. Her small body trembled, her breath hitching as the storm outside seemed to mirror the turmoil within. Tad noticed immediately. He jerked his head toward her, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, another sign that his protective instinct kicked in.

Noel’s voice remained soft but steady as she continued. “I don’t know your mother well enough to explain her actions or motivations. But I know she made demands, and your father and grandparents crafted a plan to handle the situation.”

“They sent you to come get us,” Penny whispered, her voice fragile.

Noel nodded. “Yes. Landon works for a security company. Your father and grandparents wanted to keep this situation out of the public eye, so they opted for a private solution.”

Tad’s sharp eyes turned to Landon, his voice probing. “Who do you work for?”

“I used to be an FBI agent,” Landon replied, his tone even. “Now I work for Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana.”

Noel added, “Your grandfather is friends with a judge in Montana. That judge knew I had experience working on custody cases as a social worker. I got a call from my boss to go to the ranch this morning, and the next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Jamaica to ensure your safety.”

“But you had no idea we’d been kidnapped,” Penny said, her eyes pinned on Noel.

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