Although Samantha assumed Bobby Joe’s history of drug abuse would keep him out of the military, she didn’t argue.
Instead, she leaned to the side to peer into the house. “Is Marty home? I’d like to say hello to him, too.”
“Nope. I reckon he’s at work.”
“Where does he work?”
“Here and there. Times are tough. I told him to stay in school but he wouldn’t hear of it. And now look at him. Can’t hardly find a job, let alone keep one.”
“When do you expect him home?”
The old woman shrugged. “Beats me. He’s usually with Bobby Joe, but since…”
Samantha tensed and once again lightly patted Opal’s shoulder through her snagged, fraying sweater. “I know you did the best you could with all your grandchildren. Anybody can see that. But right now I have a problem and I don’t know who else to ask for help.”
Looking into Opal’s keenly focused blue eyes she caught a glimpse of the strong person who had accepted a responsibility that was not hers and had sacrificed her own comfort to make a home for her abandoned grandchildren.
The older woman reached for Samantha’s hands and clasped them both. “Ask away. If there’s anything I can do to help you I will.”
“I’m afraid it all goes back to when little Jess was brought to the hospital. Somebody seems to think Bobby Joe gave me a package when he was there and they’re doing all kinds of awful things to get me to give it back. Only I don’t have it. I never saw anything like that.”
“What can I do?”
“I don’t really know,” Samantha said. “I was hoping you or Marty might have some idea who was giving me such grief.” Her voice broke and she cleared her throat before continuing. “They stole my dog, Miss Opal. I’d do just about anything to get him back but I can’t hand over something I don’t have.”
“’Course you can’t. You leave this to me. I’ll find out what’s goin’ on or know the reason why. Mark my words, if Marty’s involved he’ll have me to deal with.”
“Thank you,” Samantha said. A solitary tear trickled down her cheek and she swiped it away before signaling John to join them.
“I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine, Miss Opal.”
The wrinkles around her eyes tightened and she peered at him as he jogged up to join them. “Hah! I know you,” she said. “Used to be a scrawny kid.” With a grin she eyed him, head to toe. “Filled out pretty good, if I do say so myself. No wonder Sam’s out and about again.”
John offered his hand and Mrs. Fox took it. “Again?”
“Yep. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of her in years and here she is, right on my doorstep. I figure somethin’ musta changed.”
“I told you. I just want to find my dog,” Samantha insisted.
Opal cackled. “I heard you. See that you stick to that story and maybe other folks won’t think anything of it but I ain’t no fool. I’ve been around the block a few times. I know romance when I see it.”
“You’re wrong,” Samantha said. John echoed her denial.
However, as soon as they bid the elderly woman goodbye and headed back to the truck, they heard her start to chuckle again.
“See what I meant before?” Sam said. “That’s exactly the kind of thing we can expect if we’re seen together too often.”
“Are you trying to tell me to get lost?”
“No! I never meant anything like that. I was just saying…”
“That you don’t relish being seen with me. I heard you loud and clear. And as soon as you get Brutus back and we figure out who’s trying to hurt you, I promise I’ll keep my distance.”
That had not been her aim when she’d spoken, yet at this point she didn’t know how to contradict his erroneous conclusion without admitting how she really felt. There had been times since John’s return to Serenity when she had wished he’d stayed away, but those instances were getting more and more rare. Now, she found herself looking forward to seeing him again, to hearing his voice, to feeling the strength of his hand holding hers.
Sneaking a quick peek at him she noted the firm set of his jaw, the stiffness of his posture, the way his strong hands gripped the steering wheel. His feelings were hurt, all right. And she had been the direct cause. Never mind all the times she had cried herself to sleep and blamed him for her unhappiness. That was then and this was now.