Page 56 of Nomad

“I know.” She looked up at Brant. “I’m really grateful…”

“Now I already told you, there’s no need for all that. It’s simple. We got a job and a place to stay. You need a job and a place to stay. After a week, you may decide you’d rather take your chances elsewhere.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I can recognize a bird nest on the ground.”

Brant treated her to a lopsided grin that let her know he’d been a heartbreaker sometime before she was born. “That’s commendable. Not everybody knows when to grab what’s right in front of them. Cann said you’re a worthy girl.”

“He did?” Garland had to smother her laughter at the eagerness in Bud’s tone.

“Yeah,” said Brant. “Don’t read too much into it. Like I said, special handlin’.”

“You think they’re gonna let him go?” Bud asked.

Brant nodded. “Oh, yeah. I know it. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but…”

“The next day,” she put in. “Three days. That’s what he said.”

“If I understand the story the way you told it, that wasn’t a promise. It was a wish.”

“Same thing.”

Brant shook his head. “No the hell it’s not…”

Garland put her hand on Brant’s forearm to stop him. “Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t for her. Let her live her life and find her own way. In good time she’ll either prove that up or adopt another view.”

He smiled at his wife. “When did you get to be a font of sage wisdom?”

“I always have been and if you don’t know that, you haven’t been paying attention.” Garland winked at Bud.

Brant scoffed at his burger basket and took another enormous bite.

CHAPTER Eleven

It was about four o’clock when they pulled into the SSMC compound.

Brash came out to meet the car. He opened Garland’s door, helped her out and gave her a kiss on the cheek with a shy smile that looked completely out of place on a wickedly handsome biker. He still wasn’t completely used to having a mom who doted on him and thought he was just plain wonderful head to toe.

“Brash, this is Bud,” she said.

“Welcome.” He gave Bud a glance and then turned his attention to his dad.

“You got news?” Brant asked. Brash nodded slightly. “Okay then.” To Garland he said, “Can you show her around?”

“Of course,” Garland answered.

“Oh. And I need one of you women to take her shopping. Cann said she doesn’t have any clothes, but she does have some money.”

Garland practically squealed. “My favorite sort of circumstance. When need and money meet, there’s a good time to be had by all.”

Bud smiled, but said, “I don’t think I ought to spend money on…”

“Don’t be silly,” said Garland. “No right-headed woman turns down clothes. It’s a rule.”

“Well…”

“The subject is closed. We’ll go shopping tomorrow after your appointment.”

“I…”

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