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a soccer ball—two days of them coming in later than the four o’clock they’d agreed on—and three days he hadn’t seen them on the field as he drove by.
    Jacob and Abby ran through the door and stopped immediately when they saw him standing there.
    “It is four-ten.”
    “Yes, sir,” Jacob said moving in front of Abby as he often did when he was about to take blame for something.
    “We agreed you’d be home by four and this is the second day you’ve been late.”
    “I’m sorry, sir.”
    John moved toward him. “And what’s with the ‘yes, sir?’ You sound guilty of something.”
    Jacob shook his head. “No, sir,” his eyes widened when he said it. “I’m just being polite.”
    John looked at Abby who stood behind her brother with her eyes diverted. Oh these two were up to no good and he was going to catch them in the act.
    “Go get cleaned up and we’ll have dinner in a little bit. Jacob, get your homework started.”
    “Yes, si…dad,” he said as he took Abby’s hand and they ran down the hall.
    John’s mother poked her head around the corner of the kitchen with Cody balanced on her hip. “Why did you let him off the hook?”
    “Because I’m going to let him lead me right to the trouble he’s causing. I’m going to follow him right out of school on Monday and see where he goes.”
    “Why don’t you trust him?”
    “Did you see how he shielded her? She’s keeping his secret.”
    His mother laughed, set Cody on the floor and watched as he toddled off. “John Larson, I remember you turning this town inside out when you were little. You and Chris Douglas and even Wil caused more trouble than that boy.”
    “Why do you think I intend to stop him? I know the possibilities.”
    She shook her head. “You turned out just fine. So will he.”
    Again, she blew him a kiss and let herself out the backdoor.
    His mother was right. Chris and Wil came up with the best ideas when they were younger. But John was the one to carry out all the deeds. Oh, he’d had a switch to his rear more times than he could count. Then he thought about the time he’d punched Cade Carter right in the mouth because he’d made a move on his sister. Who would have thought the retired professional football player would end up teaching gym at the high school and marrying Olivia, the girl who had lived next door to Cade growing up?
    The town was small enough that everyone was close to everyone else, even if they hadn’t wanted to be. But there was still room for too much trouble. He didn’t want that for Jacob. He already had enough to worry about. John would do everything he could to protect his sons and daughter. If that meant following him and reprimanding him in public to make a point, he’d do it.
    Monday was going to be interesting.
     

Chapter Five
     
    Kym tied on her belt and studied herself in the mirror. She was ten years old the day her grandfather tied her first black belt around her waist. A day didn’t go by that she didn’t wear the belt and think of the hard work she’d put into it. Martial arts wasn’t just a sport—it was a way of life. As a teacher, she could share that with everyone—young and old. She had the honor of tying new black belts on children who had put eight hard years of work into it. She’d seen them sometimes transform from trouble maker into disciplined scholars and citizens. That was what she saw in Jacob Larson.
    There was trouble in his eyes, the kind that would turn a good kid into a troubled teenager and a misplaced adult. He needed some confidence. He needed inner strength. And somewhere, he needed to learn peace.
    What kind of father was John Larson if he didn’t know where his son and daughter were everyday after school? How was it she ever felt anything for the man? First impressions were right. He was just a rude, crabby man. Well, she thought as she tucked her hair up in a tie, if she was going to make a difference in this town she’d start with Jacob Larson. Maybe