Page 47 of Brother In Arms

I let ’Bumpa Dragon’ take Harmony from me and he laid her down in her playpen in the shade to let her nap.

He joined us at the table where Data had taken up the seat next to Shelly, displacing Bailey who moved over by me.

“Okay, first things first,” he said fingers flying over the keys. “What’s the target’s name?”

“I’m really not sure about this,” Bailey stammered and I gave her a look like I knew she’d puss out. She frowned at me and said, “Caleb Marsden.”

“Cool, give me a minute.”

“What’re you thinkin?” Dragon asked.

Bailey reiterated her entire discussion with Mrs. Cranston and then subsequently with her mom, “I was really surprised. She was pissed, I mean, I’ve seen and heard my mom mad before, she’s always been sort of stormy but she was pissed. She didn’t even hesitate, she hung up with me and less than ten minutes later her lawyer called me. It’s Sunday, the retainer she put down must be huge.”

“Wait, your mamma is fronting the money for yer lawyer?” Dragon asked.

“Not like I can, every dime of what I make from the farm has been going right back into it just to keep it going. Caleb barely lets money enough go to feed the horses and keep the lights on.” Bailey sighed and stared off the back porch over the wavering green grass of Ghost and Shelly’s yard.

“You’re fuckin’ kidding me, right?” Shelly blurted and Bailey whipped her head back in her direction.

“I wish I was.”

“Oh now that’s some bullshit. I’ma kick somebody’s ass,” she muttered and refocused her attention on her laptop. “Data you better find me something to work with, dude.”

“Have I ever let any of you fuckers down before?” he asked and looked at Shelly like she done lost her mind.

Bailey watched them both with utter fascination as Shelly and Data bumped fists. Dragon laughed at them both and fished in his cut for a cigarette.

“Welcome to the family, sweetheart,” he said to Bailey and lit up. “This is what you been missin’, aint it?”

“Kind of,” she said softly and looked away again, eyes distant. I could tell this called to her and I was glad it did. I could also tell it was tearing her up some inside. I nudged her knee with mine and her dark chocolate eyes flashed to mine. I gave her a reassuring smile and winked at her.

“Relax, baby. We got your back.” I turned back to Shelly and asked, “What’s for dinner?”

“Steak if Ghost ever gets his ass back here to grill it.”

Cool.

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