The Surgeon's Christmas Baby

Alonso’s eyebrows lifted.

“Luke’s at the jail.”

Alonso moved behind her chair and massaged her shoulders. The tender act brought a lump to her throat. “Is he okay?”

“I assume so, or Sheriff Miller would have said something.” If only Alonso’s gentle touch could wash away her fears. Fear that she was failing Luke. She wanted so badly for her brother to succeed—why was he rebelling?

“Did the sheriff say what happened?”

“No, but I’ll find out soon.” The eggs on the plate in front of her began to blur.

Alonso knelt next to her chair and tipped her chin until she looked him in the eye. “If you want, I’ll go with you to see the sheriff.”

Her gaze shifted to his duffel bag by the door. She was dragging Alonso into her problems again, but she was so tired of handling Luke on her own. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Let’s go.” He dumped the eggs back into the skillet, then slid the pan into the fridge.

Alonso drove and Hannah sat in the passenger seat, trying not to worry—fat chance. All she’d done the past two years was worry. If she hadn’t let her ego get the best of her last night, they’d have stayed home and eaten chili and Luke wouldn’t have been able to sneak out of the house.

Alonso parked in front of the jail and they went inside. Sandy—part-time secretary and part-time dispatcher—sat at her desk talking on the phone. She pointed to the sheriff’s door, then cupped her hand over the mouthpiece. “He’s expecting you.”

When Hannah and Alonso entered the office, the sheriff set aside a file he’d been reading and stood. “Hannah.” He eyed Alonso. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you around town before.”

Alonso shook hands with the lawman. “Alonso Marquez.”

The sheriff’s gaze swung to Hannah, and when she didn’t offer an explanation for Alonso’s presence, he said, “Have a seat.” He cleared his throat. “Luke’s in hot water.”

Hannah swallowed hard and prayed her fear that she wouldn’t always be able to save Luke’s butt hadn’t finally come true. “What did he do?”

“He didn’t commit the crime but he was with the troublemakers who did.”

“Crime?” The word squeaked past Hannah’s lips.

“The convenience store was robbed at 2:00 a.m. this morning. Luke sat in the car while the other two boys held the clerk up at gunpoint.”

Hannah gasped. She’d been prepared for petty theft or even slashing someone’s tires, but not armed robbery. “What are the names of the boys?” And why weren’t their parents here?

“The gun belonged to Kenny Potter. He and his buddy T. J. Templeton are both from Cañon City. High school dropouts with rap sheets a mile long.”

She’d never met the boys and Luke had never mentioned their names, but she had a feeling they were responsible for her brother suddenly wanting to quit school. “Was anyone hurt?”

The sheriff shook his head. “Maybe it’s time to call in social services, Hannah. I know you’re trying your best, but Luke may be too much for you to handle alone.”

No way would she allow her brother to be put in a group home or sent to live with a stranger.

“I had planned to phone you tomorrow to discuss another situation that came up with him, but now is as good a time as any.”

Hannah braced herself for more bad news.

“Matt Connelly stopped by my office to chat on Friday.”

Hannah looked at Alonso. “Mr. Connelly is the principal at the high school.”

“Luke skipped classes again on Friday,” the sheriff said.

She hadn’t known. Usually the school sent out automated messages when students didn’t show up and their absence hadn’t been reported by a parent or guardian. Hannah had never got the message.

“That makes eleven days in two months.”

“Eleven?” She only knew about six.

“Matt said the school quit contacting you to schedule conferences, because you never returned their calls.”

“I have a ranch to run, but I’m more than happy to speak with someone on the phone.”

“That’s neither here nor there.” The sheriff shrugged. “Matt’s hands were tied, Hannah. He had to expel Luke.”

Hannah felt nauseous. “Expelled for...a week or two?”

“The remainder of the semester.”

“But he’ll fall behind the other kids in his grade.”

“Some students need more time, Hannah. You and your brother have had a lot to deal with the past few years. People are sympathetic, but if Luke doesn’t turn the corner soon, he’ll end up in juvenile detention.” The sheriff walked out from behind his desk. “I’ll get him.”

Hannah felt a headache coming on and rubbed her brow. The school and the sheriff blamed her for Luke’s wild ways—but that wasn’t fair. Luke was sixteen—old enough to know what he was doing. Old enough to know right from wrong. She couldn’t beat him into making better choices. He had to do it on his own.

Alonso squeezed her hand. “It’ll be okay, Hannah. The main thing is Luke isn’t hurt and no one was injured in the robbery.”

Hannah clung to his words, wanting with all her heart to believe things would be okay, but she felt as if her world was spinning out of control and she couldn’t do anything to stop it.