“I’m fine, Aunt Becky. Just wet. I think Penny wanted to visit her mom. I want to visit my mom, too.”
Cal looked at Becky Lee, who nodded.
“Okay, kiddo. I’ll take you to see her tomorrow. She’s still… sleeping, but we’ll go see her.”
“You hear that Penny? I get to see my mom, too.”
~ * ~
Becky Lee watched as Cal picked up the boy in his arms and carried him out to her waiting car. She followed behind them. Scotty buried his face in Cal’s neck. Cal held the boy close, murmuring assurances in his ear.
She’d swear her heart swelled in her chest at that very minute. These two, she cared about them so much. She was pretty sure a finer man had never been born than Cal Gray. She drove them home and watched as Cal got a sleepy Scotty out of the car. He carried him to his bedroom, shucked off the boys wet clothes and helped him into his pajamas.
Penny jumped up on the bed and settled down next to Scotty. Well, it couldn’t hurt, right? Just this one night the dog could sleep on the bed.
Cal sat on the edge of the bed, brushed Scotty’s hair from his face, and leaned over and kissed the boy’s cheek. He sat there quietly, watching as Scotty drifted off to sleep. Cal’s face was cloaked in low light from the bedside lamp. His strong jaw was etched into the shadows. A day’s worth of whiskers darkened his cheek. Scotty’s small hand clutched Cal’s.
Cal continued to sit on the bed, not moving. Becky Lee couldn’t pull herself away from the doorway, so both of them stayed and watched the boy sleep. Finally, Cal slowly stood up and walked towards her. She would swear electricity crackled through the room between them.
At least she could feel it. It stabbed through her like a bolt of lightning, shocking her, numbing her… and making her feel so alive at the same time.
He stood close to her and touched her face. She reached up and covered his hand. They stood in silence for she didn’t know how long. She wanted him to kiss her. She should kiss him. But that wasn’t really part of their agreement, was it?
Though he had kissed her once when no one was around.
The thoughts tumbled through her head and she didn’t quite have the nerve to stand on tiptoe and kiss him.
Coward.
Cal pulled away and the spot on her face, where his hand just was, felt empty and cold.
“We should probably call it a night.” Cal scrubbed his hand over his face and his rough whiskers.
“Yes, we should.” But she didn’t want that. She didn’t want to go into her lonely room by herself, didn’t want to be away from him.
Cal walked down the hall, and a chasm of loneliness filled her. She stepped into her room and closed the door softly. She leaned against the door and stared at her bed. How did things get so messed up? She knew that Cal would be on his way as soon as Theresa Jean woke up. Go back to his nomad lifestyle. Pop in to see them every once in a while. He was probably counting the days until he got his freedom back. Counting the days when he wouldn’t be saddled with so much responsibility. Well, she was going to do nothing to stop him. He’d given up so much for Scotty. He deserved to get his life back as soon as he could.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The next morning Becky Lee felt slightly guilty that she was making fried biscuits rolled in cinnamon sugar for Scotty’s breakfast. She’d been really good about healthy meals, but she remembered how much she’d loved the fried biscuits when she was a child.
Cal and Scotty waded into the tantalizing breakfast. She swore the two of them never stopped eating.
“This is the best breakfast ever.” Scotty reached for another biscuit.
Becky Lee heard a knock at the front door. “I’ll get it. You guys keep eating.”
She opened the door to see Sheriff Dawson standing in the doorway. “Hi, Mark. Did you come to check on Scotty? He’s fine. Doing great this morning.”
“No, sorry Becky Lee, I’m here on official business.”
“What is it?” Becky Lee could feel her forehead crease.
“Is Cal here?”
“Yes, he’s eating breakfast.”
“Could you get him for me?”
Becky Lee hurried back to the kitchen and motioned for Cal to come with her.
He got up from the table. “Be right back, kiddo.”
They walked to the front door.
“Cal, this is Mark Dawson, the sheriff.” Becky Lee stood at Cal’s side, wondering what this was all about.
“I hear you wanted to talk to me.”
“There is no other way to put this, Mr. Gray. I have a warrant for your arrest.”
Becky Lee’s eyes flew open wide. “What are you talking about? Arrest him. Why?”
“It’s an outstanding warrant that was brought to our attention. I have to take him in.” Mark looked uncomfortable but sure in doing his sworn duty.