Page 79 of Outlaw Ridge: Griff
On either side of the bed stood his adoptive parents, Melissa and Eli Davidson. Melissa was petite and dark-haired, her expression a blend of fierce relief and residual worry. Eli stood a head taller, broad-shouldered with graying hair at the temples and steady, watchful eyes.
“Deputies,” Melissa said, her voice quiet but sure. “Thank you. For finding our son.”
Eli nodded, stepping forward to shake Griff’s hand. “We’re grateful. More than we can say.”
Griff returned the gesture. “We’re just glad he’s safe.”
Lily moved closer to Caleb, offering a soft smile. “You okay?”
Caleb nodded, rubbing his thumb over the edge of the blanket. “Yeah. Just… sore. My wrists. From the zip ties.”
Melissa smoothed his hair back gently. “The doctor said you’ll be just fine. They’re keeping you here overnight to be sure, but tomorrow we’re heading home. And we’ll talk to someone, like we said. A counselor.”
Caleb’s gaze drifted past her, landing on Griff and Lily. “That woman… Margo… Was she really my birth mother?”
A beat passed. Griff exchanged a glance with Lily, then looked to the Davidsons.
Eli stepped in, his voice calm. “Yes. She is.”
Caleb blinked a few times, absorbing that.
Melissa touched his arm. “You always knew you were adopted, sweetheart. But Margo… she didn’t want her name shared. We honored that.”
“But… why did she take me and hold me like that?” Caleb asked.
Griff saw the question land hard on the boy. Confusion, anger, betrayal, all fighting for space behind his tired eyes.
“Sometimes people make choices they can’t explain,” Melissa said gently. “It wasn’t your fault. None of this was.”
Caleb took a couple of moments, probably trying to process that, and he looked at Griff again. “And my… real dad?”
Griff hesitated, just long enough to glance at Eli and Melissa. Eli gave a subtle nod.
Griff stepped forward. “His name was Bobby Ray Moore. Was,” he emphasized. “He died a short time ago.” And Griff went ahead and added the rest since Caleb would no doubt be hearing it anyway. “Bobby Ray was convicted of killing Margo’s sister. But he didn’t do it, Caleb. We believe Margo did it.”
Caleb looked down at his hands. “And now Margo… what will happen to her?”
No one rushed to answer. There would be time for truths and counseling and grief later.
For now, Griff stepped a little closer and said what the kid needed most. “You’re safe. That’s what matters. And Margo won’t be able to get near you again.”
Caleb looked up at him and nodded.
Griff felt Lily brush against his side, her quiet presence grounding him in that moment. The storm had passed. But the pieces left behind would take time to heal.
And they’d be there for that, too, if Caleb had more questions.
Griff gave Caleb a nod, and Lily reached out to squeeze the boy’s hand gently.
“You’re going to be okay,” she said softly.
Caleb managed a faint smile. “Thanks… for coming to get me.”
Melissa and Eli both murmured their thanks again as Griff and Lily stepped out of the room and into the quiet hallway. Thedoor whispered shut behind them, and for a few seconds, Griff just breathed.
The air still smelled like antiseptic and stale coffee, but there was something different about it now. Something lighter. The danger had passed. The kid was safe.
Down the hall, Jemma and Hayes were waiting near the nurses’ station. Jemma stepped forward, her dark ponytail swinging as she moved.
