Page 24 of Crewe (Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar #3)
Chapter Twenty-Four
T he last few miles were flying by. They’d celebrated their engagement with a fun family and friends party at the lodge.
After Quinton had gotten off the phone, he notified them he was going to ride back immediately, stop halfway, and stay in Lamar, then get up early so he could get to Dodge City by nine a.m. the next morning.
Because Quinton was concerned about Penny’s parents trying to pull something, he’d called his apartment manager on duty and had him set up an apartment for Penny and the babies to stay in until it was time for her to leave for the facility.
His apartment manager was heading over there immediately and would notify Quinton when she and the babies were safe.
Due to her issues in the area, the judge would only offer diversion of her jail sentence if she attended either of the two inpatient programs he listed—one in Kansas City or one in Oklahoma.
Quinton would have all the paperwork drawn up and ready for Penny, along with Crewe and Ry to sign and have notarized.
He’d also talked with Penny about a contingency if something happened to Ry and Crewe.
He didn’t anticipate anything happening, but he wanted enough contingencies that her parents wouldn’t even think of a court battle with how many people Penny wanted taking care of her babies in line before them.
Ry was excited and equally scared about what she was stepping into.
She was getting the man of her dreams, a father for her children, and she was going to be a mom to two twelve-week-old babies who needed her.
She and Crewe had stayed up after the kids had fallen asleep, talking about their plan going forward.
It didn’t make sense to live apart when they were both guardians of the babies.
Ry realized she didn’t even know the babies’ names yet, just that they were two little girls who were losing the only mom they’d known.
This morning, the family all had breakfast together before leaving for home.
Halligan, Schaefer, McClure, Dillon, and Gaines had left last night with Quinton because they planned on doing some moving of items around to make room for Ry, Freya, Wyatt, and the babies to move into the apartment over the bar.
An hour ago, when they stopped for gas, Freya and Wyatt had decided they wanted to ride with Ezra, Bailey, Whiskey, and Vivi.
Although Ry and Crewe wanted to introduce the kids to the babies as soon as possible, Quinton warned them that they were on the judge’s time today.
He worked Saturdays with some of his assistants, reviewing cases and fitting in items that the week had been too busy to complete.
He told Quinton to be there at one p.m. and he would fit them in sometime before two-thirty.
After the kids had been in the car for the ride back, neither Crewe nor Ry wanted to hope that they could behave for an hour and a half.
They would pick up the babies today or tomorrow, depending on how soon Penny was leaving for her rehabilitation facility.
Ry found herself tapping her fingers the closer they got to the courthouse. Crewe reached over and held her hand.
“We’ve got this,” he said.
“I’m so nervous,” she said.
“Oh, I’m so nervous I feel a little nauseous, but I know we can do this,” he said.
Ry smiled and bit her lip. “Was it really only a week ago we left town and were still only friends?” she asked.
Crewe chuckled, his shoulders shaking. “Hey, when we decide to move forward, it’s warp speed ahead with us.”
Warp speed was exactly how she felt. In no time, they were parked and walking into the courthouse. They met Quinton and Penny waiting outside the judge’s chambers. Two infant carriers were placed on the bench between Quinton and Penny. Penny stood.
“Thank you for doing this,” she said, sniffling.
“We’re happy to, though we’re sorry you’re having to go through this,” Ry said, walking to the woman and patting her shoulder.
“My fault, but I don’t want them to pay the price. My parents can’t get ahold of them. My father isn’t a good man, and my mother does whatever he says. I left as soon as I could,” Penny said.
Ry nodded and motioned to the babies. “What are their names?”
“This is Poppy, and this is Iris,” she said.
“Aww, flower names. Those are precious,” Ry said. The girls were so very tiny for twelve weeks.
“It’s been so long since my children were babies. Were they full term?” Ry asked.
“I had them at forty weeks, but they spent a week in the NICU because they were both four lbs. 10 ozs. They each weigh six and a half pounds right now. ”
“Quinton, he’s ready for you,” one of the judge’s assistants called from the doorway.
“Let’s go secure your babies’ safety, Penny,” Quinton said, picking up one of the carriers while Crewe picked up the other. Ry grabbed the diaper bag that was sitting on the floor.
Ry listened as the judge confirmed Penny’s wishes.
Besides the paperwork for them to be guardians of the children while Penny was in rehab, Quinton had a will for her, along with advanced health directives.
Whiskey and Vivi, along with Hennessy and Ellie, were listed as guardians if anything were to happen to Ry and Crewe before Penny was released from rehab.
Ry appreciated Quinton’s thoroughness and realized she needed to look at updating all her paperwork with her and Crewe being a couple.
Once the judge had approved the signed and notarized paperwork, he indicated everything was done. He wished Penny well at rehab and told her not to waste her second chance. As they walked out of the judge’s chambers, Quinton paused and handed the carrier he had to Ry .
He laid his hand along Penny’s back while looking at Crewe and Ry.
“I know we haven’t had a chance to talk about the transition yet.
Penny doesn’t want to drag it out. One of the transport drivers is heading to Kansas City, and I’ve confirmed with the facility that Penny can check in early.
I’ll be taking Penny by the trucking company, and they’ll be leaving as soon as she gets there.
You and I can switch vehicles so we don’t have to switch the carrier bases for the girls’ car seats until later today. ”
Ry stood, speechless, not sure how to react. Her heart was breaking for Penny having to leave her little ones.
Penny leaned over and kissed Poppy on the head, “Mommy loves you, and I’ll come back when I’m well,” she said. She kissed Iris, “I picked the best family to take care of you while I’m gone,” she said, tears trickling down her cheeks.
Ry wiped her eyes because she was crying right along with Penny.
“I will love them as if they were my own,” Ry promised .
“You get well, and these sweet girls will be waiting when you return,” Crewe said.
She nodded and then turned to Quinton. They headed down the hall.
As they got close to the front, Ry realized there was no way she could ride home without stopping at a restroom.
She’d had to pee when she walked in, but she’d been so nervous about the babies she’d pushed it from her mind.
Now that she relaxed, there wasn’t a choice.
She and Crewe could stop at the bathroom right by the entrance.
Penny and Quinton headed toward the doors, and Ry stopped Crewe.
“I’ve got to stop here first before we go home,” she said.
“Sure. Crap. I just realized Quinton and I didn’t switch keys.”
“Here, the girls can come in the family bathroom with me,” Ry said, taking both carriers and going into the bathroom, locking the door since the room didn’t have a stall.
“Okay, sweeties, let’s stay quiet so I can pee, then we’ll take you home. ”
Ry quickly did her business, washed her hands, and picked up the girls. She opened the door and saw Crewe walking back up to the glass doors of the courthouse.
The quiet afternoon was filled with the sound of what she at first thought were firecrackers, but as Crewe motioned for her to stay inside and dove for the ground, she realized it was gunfire.
She grabbed the girls’ carriers and ran back toward the bathroom, putting their carriers inside the door but staying in the doorway.
The sheriff’s deputy at the desk had called someone on his radio, then run toward the glass doors.
“Ma’am, stay down,” he yelled. He looked out the window and was updating people through the radio. She couldn’t see where Crewe had crawled to. Had Quinton and Penny already driven away before the gunfire started? And who was being shot at?
Gunfire filled the air again and then the sound of sirens. She waited to see if Crewe would come back inside. Then silence. Her heart was pounding, waiting to see Crewe and confirm with her own eyes that he was okay.
Her phone rang, and she relaxed at seeing Crewe’s name.
“Ry, I’m okay. Quinton was injured. An officer is going to take you and the babies to the hospital to be there with Quinton until I can get there. I have to give my statement,” he said.
“Penny?” Ry asked.
“Her parents and brother ambushed her and Quinton. She didn’t survive,” he said.
Ry couldn’t even think of the implications. All she could think of was Quinton was hurt and what kind of parents hurt their own daughter.
“What about her parents and brother?” she asked.
“Three SWAT officers were eating at the pizza place across the street. They neutralized all three of them,” Crewe said. “Baby, the officer is coming in to get you and the girls. Take care of them until I can get there. Once you know something about Quinton, call and let me know. I love you.”
“I love you too, Crewe. I’ll call when I know something,” Ry said.