Page 77 of Refuge for Flora

Conor gave him a soft smile. “We’ve got this, Barrett. We’ll find them, and we’re going to keep her from ever being in danger from them again. You have my word that I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen.”

“Thanks.” Barrett glanced around the table. These were men he knew, men he’d worked with and around for some time. He trusted them. Hell, he even trusted Frankie, and that was saying a lot, considering how traditional law enforcement treated them. Conor would have questions later, but in that moment, every other man in that room knew him, knew what he’d been through, and it was time. “I’ve got something I need to say. You all know me. You know what’s happened to me over the last few years. I won’t lie?it’s been tough. He was over here yesterday, rattling my cage in front of Flora, even insulting her. This woman… She’s the closest thing to a tonic that I’ve found in a long, long time. I haven’t met anybody?anybody?I thought I could make a life with except for her. I lost the woman I loved. I’ve found the love of my life. I’mnotletting something happen to her. I won’t. I can’t. I don’t think I’d survive that. This time… This is my go-for-broke moment. I appreciate every one of you sitting here in this room. I really do.”

“We’ll do it for you because we know you’d do it for us.” Jonas reached out a hand and patted Barrett’s forearm.

“That much is true,” Kirby whispered.

Evan glanced around the table. “We all know what our roles are. Frankie, get a list of those vendors for that show so Conor can plan his circuit. Jonas, start planning the details?clothing, hair, footwear, lingo, accessories, anything that will make him look authentic. Conor and Barrett, you guys run through the script over and over until Conor’s a natural. Kirby, see if you can scare up a car for him.”

Barrett looked up and grinned. “I’ve got the car. It’s a 1973 Buick Regal.”

Conor laughed. “Sweeeeeeet! Can’t wait to seethat!”

Chapter 10

“What are you doing here?”

“Well, now, ain’t that a helluva way to greet me?” Barrett grinned and leaned over to kiss her. “Conor is with Jonas and Kirby. They’re working on the case. They told me to take a break, so here I am!” A bag of something dangled from his fingers.

“Tell them I said thank you. What’s in the bag?”

“Sub sandwiches, pickles, chips. I got Mrs.Murphy a club sandwich on regular bread. I figured the sub roll might be too hard for her to eat.”

“Thank you. I think you’re right on that. Mrs.Murphy, look who’s here!”

The old woman looked up and grinned. “Well, now, ain’t you a sight for sore eyes! Glad yore here. This girl’s been pining for ya something fierce.” Flora started to say something, but the old lady cut her off. “Don’t you lie. You know ya have.”

“I was just going to say that you’re telling the truth. I have been pining for him.” Flora grinned at Barrett. “Let’s get some paper plates and we can all eat in the living room.”

They laughed and talked all through dinner. “And then I took a step and next thing I knew, I was in it up to my knees and my boots were full of mud!”

Flora laughed. “And hog shit!”

“Yeah. And hog shit. God, that was rank. Took me three days to get the smell off me, and it lingered in my truck for like a month.”

“Ick!” Flora took a look at her elderly charge. “Mrs.Murphy, you need more to drink?”

“Please. My mouth is so dry.”

Barrett hopped up from his seat. “I’ll get it. What do you want?”

“Just one-a them soft drinks’ll be fine, boy.” As Barrett disappeared into the kitchen, she leaned over and whispered to Flora, “He’s handsome and right handy to have around too.”

“Don’t I know it! I think he’s a keeper.” She quieted as soon as he stepped back into the room.

“What? What did I miss? You two talking about me?” he asked as he poured the drink into Mrs.Murphy’s insulated tumbler.

Flora winked with a grin. “Only good things.”

“I said yore handsome and handy to have around,” Mrs.Murphy said around a mouthful of food.

Barrett laughed loudly. “Oh, handsome and handy to have around, huh? I guess that’s the perfect combination, right?”

“I reckon so. My late husband weren’t neither. Ugly as the back end of a boar and couldn’t hold a screwdriver if you glued it to his palm. Useless.” Flora was snickering, and she caught Barrett’s eye to find he was fighting laughter.

“So why did you marry him?” Barrett asked.

“What was we ‘sposed to do, live in sin?” Before either of them had a chance to answer, Mrs.Murphy broke into rollicking laughter. “Aww, hell, that’s a bunch-a shit. I married him ‘cause he said he had money. The only money that sumbitch ever had was mine.”

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