Page 24 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“Your mailbox is toast.”
Her mouth tightened with anger.“That’s it.I’m calling Wade.”
“Who’s Wade?”
“He’s a police,” Marcus said.
“I’ll wait out here,” Jason said, sitting on the glider.He didn’t trust Billy not to come back for another round.He also preferred being outside in the open air.
He’d enjoyed the meal.She was a fantastic cook, and damned fine company, but he hadn’t felt comfortable in her dining room.It wasn’t because of his indoor phobia.It was because of Mike’s presence.Jason noticed the American flag folded into a neat triangle, along with a picture of Mike in his dress blues, looking young and proud and handsome.Jason couldn’t meet his former friend’s eyes.
After making the call, Natalie plopped down next to him.She still seemed shaken by the incident, though she was doing her best to hide it.Marcus practiced karate kicks in the glow of the porchlight.He had a graceful way of moving, like his mother.
“Thank you for dinner,” Jason said.
“You’re welcome.”
“What kind of pie is it?”
“Apple.From the tree in the backyard.”
Jason had spent most of the past four months in complete solitude, and he hadn’t been a stellar conversationalist before that.He searched for a topic that would put her at ease.“Is the upstairs a separate apartment?”
Her brows rose.“Yes.It’s a two-story duplex.”
He’d noticed the stairs out back.“Do you own both stories?”
“My grandma does.The upper floor is empty.”
“Why is that?”
“My grandparents used to rent it out.Now it’s more of a storage space.”Her grandmother had become a bit of a hoarder.Natalie had been meaning to sort through the collection of items, but she hadn’t gotten around to it.
“Why don’t you rent it?”
“It needs repairs.”
“What kinds of repairs?”
“Why?Are you a handyman, as well as a mechanic?”
“I can fix anything,” he said honestly.Except himself.
She smiled as if she didn’t believe him.“For free?”
“For room and board.”
“You don’t need room and board.You like to sleep outdoors.”
“I’ll do it for some more of that fried chicken.”
Her laugh, full-bodied and genuine, told him she was more relaxed now.“I should warn you that Wade Hendricks is Billy’s brother.”
“Billy’s brother is a cop?”
“And his father is the sheriff.”
Jason remembered her saying that last night.
