Page 2 of Redemption

His daddy pats him on the shoulder. “Sure, son. You two go ahead. I’ll find you when I’m done with Mr. James here.”

I pull on Beckett’s hand and lead him out of the barn. “The fishin’ pond is my second favoritest place on the whole ranch! You can go fishin’ and swimmin’, but Mama says I’m not allowed to go in the water by myself ‘til I’m older.”

“What’s your first most favoritest place on the ranch?” Beckett asks.

“Oh, that’s easy. The horses are my most favoritest things in the whole wide world. One of ‘em just had a baby. Daddy let me name her after my favorite flower! He says when she’s a little bit older, she can be all mine, and I can ride her anytime I want! Do you like horses, Beckett?”

“I dunno.” Beckett’s shoulders lift. “My dad was a cattle rancher ‘til we moved here. They had some horses on the last ranch we lived on, but only the grown-ups were allowed to ride ‘em.”

“Where’d ya live before? I’ve been in Georgia my whole life.”

“Brownsville,” he says. “That’s in Texas.”

When we reach the pond, I run down the fishin’ dock and pull my shoes off. I like stickin’ my toes in the water. It’s funny when the fish tickle my feet. “How come you moved to Hope?”

Beckett takes off his socks and boots and hangs his legs over the edge like me. “Mr. Wakefield sold the ranch we were livin’ on. He moved away and took my mommy with him. Dad says it’s time to make new memories, just us boys, so we came here. He said livin’ in a town called Hope was a sign from God that everything was gonna be okay.”

“How come she left if she’s your mama?”

He runs his finger along the wooden edge of the dock. “My dad says sometimes people aren’t fit for bein’ mommies and daddies, so he’s just gonna have to love me enough for both of ‘em.”

I kick my feet and giggle when water gets on my face. “Are you sad you don’t have a mama no more?”

“Sometimes.”

“Well, my mama’s real nice. I’m sure she can be your mama, too. She makes the best peach cobbler in all of Georgia. Plus, if I get a boo-boo, she fixes me all up and gives me ice cream after. She’s a real good mama.”

Beckett kicks the water just like me. “I like peach cobbler.”

“It’s the yummiest.”

“Hey, Presley?”

“Huh?”

“Do you wanna be my friend? My friends call me Beck, so you can, too, if you wanna.”

“Okay, Beck.” I nod. “I’m gonna be your bestest friend in the whole wide world!”

Chapter Two

Presley

“Mrs. Winters? Is it okay if I come in?”

My eyes follow the sound of the deep voice, and I find a middle-aged man standing in the doorway to my room. I don’t know who this guy is, but he looks like some sort of official, which has me instantly on edge. He must sense my discomfort because he digs into his suit jacket’s breast pocket and withdraws a wallet.

He flips it open to reveal a badge, but he’s too far away for me to see any details. “My name is Derek Simmons. I’d like to ask you a few questions about your attack.”

I narrow my good eye in suspicion. “I already gave a statement to the police.”

Mr. Simmons nods to the plastic chair that sits against the wall. “May I? I promise I won’t take too much of your time.”

I give him a slight nod.

“Mrs. Winters—”

“Presley,” I insist.

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