Page 51 of The Map Home
“Are you adopting it?” Tad asked.
The Seed and Feed often worked with the Humane Society, finding homes for abandoned and stray animals. Once when Tad was about eight, they’d had a miniature pig. But Penny had put her foot down.
“Yeah, this is Henrietta,” Boone said quietly. “I’ve been missing Samwise.”
Tad suppressed an inner sigh because Boone loved animals, and almost without hesitation, they loved him back. No doubt the kitten had been feral until the moment it had laid its golden gaze on his brother.
“What are you doing here?” Boone repeated, giving the kitten a scritch under the chin.
Oh, right.Focus, Tad.“We found Grandma’s ring, so you can quit dressing up in Santa costumes and avoiding Amanda. And whatever else you’ve been doing. Stealing stuffed animals.”
Boone’s hand stopped moving, but the kitten just kept rubbing its cheek across his knuckles. “I don’t know wha?—”
“Knock it off. We figured it out, Dakota and I, so don’t even try to pretend otherwise.Boone, why didn’t you just ask for help in the first place?”
Boone caved. “Why do you think?” he asked. “Because I felt like a huge idiot. ‘Oh, hey Mom, I lost Grandma’s ring. And by the way, Amanda, I’m a loser.’” Instead of looking at them, he was stroking the kitten’s head.
Tad and Dakota exchanged a glance. Boone needed more help than either of them had realized. But they still needed to know exactly what had happened so they could plan the next steps.
“So, you… broke in and took the toys and then...?”
“I panicked,” Boone admitted, “looking for the ring. I thought it would be easy to find, but obviously it wasn’t. And anyway, the door was unlocked. I didn’t break in, I let myself in. How did you find it?”
Tad was biting his lip to keep himself fromnotgoing into the legal definition of breaking and entering. He was going to get enough of that from their parents and the sheriff.
“Somebody reported the mess,” answered Dakota. “Ben and I went and collected them all and took them to the station, and Ben thought to use a metal detector. It was kind of hidden and tangled up in the cotton stuffing.”
After glancing at Dakota, Boone returned his attention to the kitten. “How much trouble am I in?”
“I’m no expert on this kind of thing,” Dakota said, his expression impassive, “but I’d say Penny is going to be the sticking point. You need to start with her first. If your mom can look past your failings—” Tad punched him in the shoulder. Reluctantly, Dakota did not finish his thought.
“He meantwe, Boone. The best plan is to explain to Mom what happened, pretty much begging forgiveness, and then offer to pay for replacements. If you get Mom on your side, the mayorand sheriff will—okay, so I don’t know about the sheriff. Dakota, what do you think?”
Dakota shrugged. “Most likely, he’ll accept an apology or admission of guilt. He’s been on a community service kick lately, though.”
A gusty sigh escaped Boone, and the kitten squeaked.
“What about Amanda?” he asked in a small voice.
“Talk to Mom and Dad first. One thing at a time. But honestly, after talking to her last night, I think you don’t have much to worry about. And hey.” Tad pointed at the ball of fluff. “Now you have a new ring bearer. Much better than a teddy bear.”
“With my luck, it would run away, and I’d never see the ring or the kitten again.”
“Think positive, big brother.” Tad turned to the bins of cat toys, randomly picking out several colorful and fluffy gadgets and handing them over to Boone. “Go pay for these and then go home and talk to Mom and Dad. Your attack kitten will protect you.”
Together,he and Dakota watched Boone drive off with Henrietta tucked into a soft carrier on the passenger seat.
“Did that just happen?” Dakota asked.
“Yep,” responded Tad. “That really just happened. I kind of wish we could be there for the groveling, but I guess knowing it’s happening is just as good.”
“I’m never forgetting this Christmas, ever.”
“And I’m sure that’s because it’s our first together and not because Boone was… Boone.”
Turning his gaze from the road to Tad, Dakota’s lips curved into a smile, the special smile that was reserved just for him.
“Of course that’s exactly what I meant,” he said.
