Page 31 of Keg's Revelation

“Ry, why don’t you save some questions for tomorrow?” Raven chuckled.

“Alright.” He sounded almost disappointed in not getting to find out more right then. I would answer any question the kid had, it was nice thinking he wanted to know just as much about me, and the people around me, as I did about him.

“That works. Well, I guess I’ll head home and see you tomorrow.” I placed my helmet on and mounted the bike. I glanced at Raven, where her and Ry stood after stepping away from the bike. “You and Reagan are welcome to come along, too,” I said, thinking Ry might be more comfortable with them tagging along.

She smiled, and I knew she understood. “If Ry doesn’t mind us butting in on his time, then yes.” She looked and Ry. “Is it okay with you?”

I could see Ry’s body physically relax. I didn’t know how long it was going to take for him to be comfortable being alone with me. But as long as I was able to spend time with him, I didn’t care.

“It’s cool.”

“Then we have a plan. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I fired the bike up, and after I maneuvered away from Raven’s car, I threw up my hand up and headed down the driveway.

Once I reached my house, I pulled through the garage door and pulled out my cell to give my dad a heads up on tomorrow. After filling him in on the stuff I’d learned about Ry, I locked up and headed to bed. I closed my eyes, already looking forward to spending more time with Ry. And if I was honest with myself, Raven and Reagan, too.

Chapter Ten

Raven

Afour door truck Ididn’t recognize sat off to the side of the garage. I figured it had to belong to Reed. It was after eleven, and I wasn’t sure when he was coming to pick us up. I parked in the drive and made my way inside. Hearing the kids laughing lightened my mood.

It was always hard losing an animal. The female dog from the shelter Gramps had worked on, and even stayed with the first night, died. Gramps said she made it through the first night and looked to be on the mend, though she had a way to go. Every day she survived her chances increased. I went in this morning with Gramps to help since we had three staying over for various medical reasons and several dogs and cats that were boarding with us. When we got in, Matt, the weekend helper, met us at the door. He’d gone in the room where the medical-kept patients were to clean up any messes in their kennels, and the female dog was struggling to breathe.

We immediately put oxygen on her while giving her a mild sedative so she wouldn’t fight it. After examining her, we concluded she had a bleeder and her lungs were filling up with fluid. I prepped her for surgery, and Gramps got everything needed together. Gramps found the bleeder and was preparing to fix it when she died on the table. The poor baby had given up the fight.

“Hey, Mom,” Ry said as I walked into the living room. Keg sat on the couch with Gran, and Ry and Reagan were on the floor.

“Hey. Sorry, I’m running a little late. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

“Nah, you’re good. Only been here about fifteen minutes,” Reed said and looked back at the others. “Ry and Reagan were telling me about their teachers and school while we waited on you.”

“Good. Let me wash up and change my shirt, and I’ll be ready to leave.”

“Where’s Gramps?” Reagan asked and leaned as if to see around me.

“He had a few things to finish, then he’ll be home.”

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