Riding Shotgun. Joanna Wayne

the bedroom door. “If all goes as planned, Dan will finish the assignment and we’ll be back in the States within six months.”

      “So you worked out all the details before you even ran this by me?”

      “It’s come up suddenly. I haven’t even mentioned this to Jaci yet.”

      Pierce stabbed his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans. He was angry, frustrated. And now he was confused. “When do you plan to spring it on her, when you’re boarding the plane?”

      Leslie sighed and shook her head. “If you’d just let me explain.”

      “Go right ahead.”

      “Of course, I had planned to take her with me. I had no other choice, since you were never around.”

      “I’m here now.”

      “Yes, and Dan and I have talked about that at length. If you’re willing to care for Jaci until I’m back in the States, we can work out a temporary custody arrangement that puts you in charge of Jaci’s care.”

      He couldn’t have heard that right. “You’ll give me custody of Jaci?”

      “Shared custody, actually. But she can live with you, that is, if you think you can be a reliable full-time parent. It is time she gets to know her father.”

      Jaci would live with him. Full-time for the next six months. He’d be responsible for her. When she was sick. When she cried. When she had nightmares. When she was hungry.

      She was only five. She probably still needed help with even the little things like her bath and getting dressed. And with brushing her hair. He’d never brushed anyone’s hair in his life. He wouldn’t know how to start.

      “If you don’t want her—”

      “No,” he interrupted quickly. “It’s not that.” His head was spinning. “Jaci barely knows me. She clearly doesn’t like or trust me. How will it affect her if she thinks I took her away from you?”

      “She won’t think that. We’ll tell her of the decision together, convince her this will be a great adventure for the two of you to share. I need this, Pierce. Dan wants me with him. I want to be with him.”

      Her voice had taken on a desperate edge. Obviously, new man Dan wielded a powerful influence over her.

      “I’ve raised Jaci practically by myself, Pierce. It’s your turn to take some of the responsibility for our child.”

      He couldn’t argue with that and deep inside he didn’t want to. He’d come home to bond with his daughter, to be a real father like his father had been before death had claimed him years before his time.

      Jaci would live with him. He would be solely responsible for her care, her health, her happiness. It was the scariest challenge he’d ever faced in his life, and that was saying a lot.

      He might no longer technically be a SEAL, but he was in his heart. Now it was time to put that same energy and commitment into being a full-time father.

      Failure was not an option.

      Bring it on.

       Chapter Three

      “You have got to be kidding. Your wife, who barely let you speak to your daughter on Skype, much less on the phone for the past six months, is suddenly going to toss her to you like a deflated football?”

      “Poor analogy, but that’s about the size of it,” Pierce said as his brother Riley questioned the current scenario. He changed his phone to his left hand, picked up his half-finished beer with his right and took a swig.

      “But I can’t say much against Leslie. I know she loves Jaci and I think she really wants our daughter not to be traumatized by the divorce.”

      “I hope that works out for all of you. When did this custody offer come down?” Riley asked.

      “Two days ago when I arrived in Chicago.”

      “You’ve been back in the good old USA two days and you’re just now getting in touch with me?”

      “No. I texted you two days ago and again yesterday. Do you ever check your messages?”

      “Every now and then.”

      “Where are you anyway?” Pierce asked. “Tucker said last he heard you were in Colorado.”

      “That was four or five months ago. I’m in Montana now. Too long in one place and people start thinking you’re permanent.”

      “By ‘people’ you mean women?”

      “And the occasional employee. Actually, I’ve been on a cattle drive up into the mountains. Wide-open spaces and the biggest, bluest sky you can imagine.”

      “Tucker said you’d be somewhere hanging out with cows and horses.”

      “It’s in my blood. And his, I might add. How is our younger brother anyway?”

      “Still chasing the next rodeo, but having a pretty good year according to him.”

      “If he admitted that, he’s probably headed to a world championship. But back to the issue at hand. What’s Jaci’s reaction to being deserted by her mother?”

      “She seems okay, though Leslie says Jaci is being excessively clingy since we told her about the arrangement. She sees this as more my fault than her mother’s. None of this would be happening if I hadn’t come home.”

      “I hope Leslie isn’t feeding into that.”

      “Not to my knowledge. Leslie keeps assuring her that this is only temporary and that I am going to take her on a grand adventure.”

      “So what’s the adventure?”

      “I wish the hell I knew.”

      “Better come up with something fast. I can’t quite picture you playing with her Barbie dolls and going shopping for frilly dresses.”

      “Neither can I.”

      “Here’s a thought. Forget the little-girl stuff. Get her some jeans and cowboy boots. Take her to a dude ranch.”

      “She does like cowboys.”

      “I like the kid better already. You could probably use some new boots and a winter Stetson yourself. Pick up a couple of Western shirts and you’ll be good to go. You’ve always had the swagger.”

      “And the looks in the family.”

      “You’re delusional. Wait a minute. I’m getting a brain jolt here. Forget the dude ranch. I know exactly where you and Jaci should go on your adventure.”

      “Hit me with it.”

      “Texas. Go spend some time with the Kavanaughs. God knows Esther and Charlie were lifesavers when we lost our parents. Not that Jaci has literally lost her mother the way we did, but it must feel almost that way to a five-year-old.”

      “You know, that’s not a half-bad idea. I’d love to see Esther and Charlie. Haven’t heard from either of them in almost a year, maybe longer.”

      “Me, either, but Tucker spent a few days with them last summer when the circuit took him to San Antonio. Said they were still holding the Double K Ranch together and doing fine. Claimed it was just like old times. Except for getting a little older, they hadn’t changed a bit.”

      Pierce considered the option. Spending a few days with Esther and Charlie might be the best place to start his six months of bonding with Jaci. He’d truly love to see them and there was no one’s advice on child care he’d trust more than Esther’s. She was love itself.

      And Charlie. Well, there was no one else like Charlie, either. Contrary as a mule,