He frowned. “Since when are you moving to Cheyenne?”
Garnet flopped down on a kitchen chair. “It’s not a move out of choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“Not according to my son. He’s says I’m incapable of living on my own. He’s hired professionals to pack my stuff up. I don’t know when he plans to sell the house. But it won’t matter because I’ll be gone. Playing tiddlywinks in the assisted living place until I’m actually gone for good.” She ducked her head to hide her face.
Where did Garnet’s son get off meddling in his mother’s life and making her cry? As far as he knew, neither the man nor anyone in his family had ever set foot in this house. “Miz G, can you listen to me for a moment?”
She nodded and dried her cheeks with the only clean corner of her apron.
“No one can drive you out without your consent. And if a moving van shows up, you call the sheriff and have him arrest anyone who puts a toe on your front porch. You hear me?”
“Easier said than done. I’m just a little old lady living out in the country by herself. The moving van guys could knock me out and get all my stuff loaded while I’m lying in the gravel drooling. It’d be their word against mine. They could claim I fell and hit my head and I don’t remember what was said. Shoot, they could even say I invited them in. If I argued that I didn’t, well, that’d give my son more reason to have me declared mentally unfit to care for myself.” Garnet put her sticky hands on Tobin’s arm. “I don’t wanna leave here and move to a place where I don’t know anyone. Am I really so bothersome just being in this house living my life?”
“Of course not.”
“I tried to explain the special circumstances about how I landed in jail and how the gun was more of a prop, but my son refused to listen. He said he’d call me after he sends the movers.”
“He’s not coming here to personally handle this?”
“Nope. Too busy ‘lawyering’ in the big city.” She snorted. “I wonder if he’s throwing other old people out of their homes in the big city this week. I wish I could fight back. But even Pearl doesn’t think warning off the moving guys with a loaded shotgun is the way to do it.”
“I agree with Pearl. No guns.” He squinted at her. “Promise me no guns, Garnet.”
She waved her hands in the air. “Fine, fine, fine. No guns. I wish Tilda’s dog hadn’t died. I coulda sicced him on ’em. He was one hairy scary.”
Tobin scrubbed his hand over his face.
Before he spoke, Garnet said, “How long does it take them performance-enhancing drugs to kick in? I could be pretty intimidating if I had ’roid rage.” She jumped to her feet and struck a Hulk-like pose, complete with gritted teeth and crazy eyes. “How’s this?”
He kept his features schooled. “I don’t know that taking steroids is a good option either.”
She flopped back down into the chair, dejected. “Dadgummit. I need someone bigger, stronger and scarier than me living here to tell them moving guys to take a hike when they show up.” Garnet blinked at him. “Would you consider moving in to help me fight off a coup?”
Don’t do it. Do not get involved.
“It’d be temporary,” she added hastily, “since I know you’re moving on. You wouldn’t have to worry I’m trying to trick you into staying here with me forever because I’ll miss you so durn much.”
Such a sweet soul. “We both know the forever thing wouldn’t work out because you play your music too loud for my taste, rappin’ granny.”
Garnet’s smile was there and gone.
“You’re not worried what everyone will say? Even though it’s short-term, rumors might get nasty.”
“Would it ruin your reputation as a stud if you’re babysitting an old fart like me?”
Tobin laughed. “I don’t have a reputation to ruin, Miz G.”
“Me neither.” She snapped her fingers. “Hey! We could tell everyone you’re my bodyguard!”
“You wouldn’t prefer having your Mud Lilies pals holed up here with you? You ladies have most folks in the county running scared anyway.”
She shot a look over Tobin’s shoulder. “Between us? I think there’s a mole in the Mud Lilies.”
“Why?”
“Because how else would my son have known about all of this stuff?” she whispered. “I didn’t tell him nothin’. So someone close to me had to have tattled to him. It’s not like they let any of the stuff we do make the papers.”