Page 44 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“I’m telling you because it’s dangerous, not because it’s cool.An ordinary thing like a toy or a key can become a weapon.You have to be careful.”
“Can you teach me more stuff about fighting?”
“I’d better not.”
“Mom doesn’t like it.”
“Right.”
“Are you going to marry her?”
“It’s a little early for that question.We just met.”
“Would you take her to Montaina?”
“Montana.”
Marcus repeated it.
“I don’t live in Montana anymore.I moved.”
“Where to?”
“San Diego.”
“Is that in Mexico?”
Jason chucked at the hopeful question.“It’s close.If I took your mom anywhere, you’d come with us.”
“For real?”
“For real.”
Natalie had to leave the table to get a tissue for her weepy eyes.By the time Marcus came back inside, her emotions were under control again.He asked her to read him a story before bed.She’d never been happier to comply.
After he fell asleep, she went outside to sit with Jason.Her irritation with him had faded.She couldn’t fault the way he’d handled the conversation with Marcus.He’d been patient and deferential to her.Even so, the larger problem remained.She was still worried about Marcus getting emotionally attached to Jason.She was worried about herself too.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” he said.“I overstepped.”
“I overreacted.”
He shrugged off her admission.
“Thank you for talking to him and for not telling him who Billy was bothering.”
“No problem.I didn’t want him to get riled up again.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Boys are protective of their mothers.”
“I suppose you consider this a valid reason to fight.”
“It is in Montana.Not sure about Texas.”
She sighed, shaking her head.
“I thought of something that might help, but I wanted to run it by you first.”
