Linda Warren - A Child's Gift

“No, but thanks for the offer.” Rico glanced toward the cell. “Can I take him home now?”

“Sure. Let’s see how Dustin feels about it.”

Before they could reach the cell, Stuart, the chief deputy, came through the front door. He had a duffel bag in his hand.

Stuart was born and raised in Horseshoe and was a dedicated police officer. “I brought some of the boy’s things,” he said.

“Good,” the sheriff replied. “Just leave it at my desk.” Then he whispered to Rico, “Don’t get too attached. They will find a home for him.”

Rico tried to remember that as Dusty practically leapt into his arms. “Can we go to my house now?”

Rico sat with Dusty on his lap and was glad Anamarie was there to give him support. “You can’t stay there by yourself, buddy.”

The boy went limp against him. “Oh.”

“Would you like to come home with me?”

Dusty raised up, his eyes bright. “My mommy’s gonna come get me.”

Rico was thrown for a moment. “What?”

“My grandma said she was sick and when she got better she would come and get me. She’s probably better now.”

Rico glanced at Wyatt, but he didn’t offer any advice. “Buddy, we’ll check on your mommy, but in the meantime you have to stay somewhere.”

The boy’s dark eyes grew thoughtful. “’Kay. I stay with you. Where do you live?”

“On a ranch.”

“Can Mickey come, too?”

“You bet.”

The little boy’s eyes brightened. “You got a horse?”

“Sure do.”

“Can I ride it?”

“You bet.”

“Can Ann-a-ma... I can’t say her name.”

Anamarie touched his cheek. “You can call me Ana.”

“Can Ana come, too?”

Rico looked into Anamarie’s blue eyes. “You bet.” He got to his feet, feeling a little unsure of what was ahead of him, but he could do no less.

“That’s so nice of you to take him.”

Rico placed Dustin on his feet. “Go tell the sheriff thank you for letting you stay with me. Then we’ll go.”

“’Kay.”

Rico needed a minute to talk to Anamarie. She picked up the sippy cup, which hadn’t broken or leaked onto the floor. “I might need your help. Are you available?”

She smiled one of her custom smiles. “You bet.”

They walked back to the bakery with Dusty between them. Mickey trailed behind. Rico carried the duffel bag and quilt over his shoulder, and thought this was a slice of heaven being together with Anamarie and Dusty. It was almost like a family. It was almost real. The almost kept him from thinking any further. Happy ever after wasn’t in his future. It never had been.

ANAMARIE WAVED GOODBYE and hurried into the bakery. People in line were waiting for kolaches. “Good morning,” she said to everyone.

Margie was at the counter and mouthed, “Sorry.” Anamarie thought it was about being late, but then she nodded toward the kitchen and she knew it was about something entirely different. Her mother was there.

All the wonderful feelings inside her vanished as she walked into the kitchen. Her mother’s gray hair stuck out in all directions as if she hadn’t taken time to comb it, and fury tightened every line on her sixty-seven-year-old face.

“Where have you been?” Her mother aimed the question at her like a dagger. “People are waiting to be served and there’s only Judy and Margie here. It is your job to run this bakery.”

Anamarie gritted her teeth and reached for her apron on a peg. Don’t react. Don’t react , she kept repeating to herself. “I’m well aware of my job description, but there was an unforeseen incident this morning that needed my attention. And it was more important than selling kolaches.”

“I’m sorry about Wendy. She was a good woman, but her grandson is none of your concern.”

Anamarie fingered the cotton of the apron in her hand and fought to keep words from spewing out. “A little boy walking around in the dark looking for food is everyone’s business. He didn’t know his grandmother had passed away. He only knew she wasn’t waking up. I went over to the jail to help tell him about his grandmother. If that offends you, then you have a problem.”

“You were with him . Don’t deny it.”

“If you mean Rico, yes, I was with him.”

“Bubba said he comes in here early before the store opens.”

Anamarie took a long breath. Thanks, Bubba . “Yes, he comes in early to pick up kolaches for the Rebel family.”

“Before six in the morning?”

“Yes.”

“And you let him in?”

Anamarie nodded, getting tired of this conversation, but she wasn’t going to lie to soothe her mother’s judgmental attitude. “We have a cup of coffee and talk. He’s a very nice man.”

“You know nothing about him.”

“I know everything that counts. He’s warm and caring and wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“I won’t have this, Anamarie.”

“Have what?”

“Have you getting involved with that man. He’s an ex-con. Have you forgotten?”

“No. I see him as the man who risked his life to save all the kids in this town without thinking about himself.”

“That was Elias. You’re fantasizing about this man.”

“Elias couldn’t get all those kids out by himself. Rico was right there with him and if you can’t see that, then I’m not talking to you anymore.”

“I don’t like your attitude. I own this bakery and you will do what I tell you. You will not let that man in this bakery before six. I’ll call Miss Kate about it.”

Anamarie waved a hand. “Call Miss Kate and you’ll find out how much the Rebel family loves Rico. Once you make that call the Rebel family will not come back to the bakery, and do you remember Rachel, your daughter Angie’s best friend? She’s married to Egan and they will not be back in here, either. Miss Kate has a lot of power in this town and your customer list will dwindle. So please make that call.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed to a steely foreboding. “I forbid you to see this man. I will not have you getting involved with an ex-con. That’s my last word. You will not bring disgrace to our family.”

She turned to hang her apron on the peg and saw Rico standing in the doorway. He held the quilt she’d given him for Dusty in his hands. Without a word, he laid it on the counter and walked out.

No! No! No!

She ran after him but she wasn’t quick enough. She saw his truck leaving the parking lot. Not a sound could be heard as people stood there watching and waiting for their orders. Anamarie didn’t acknowledge anyone. She calmly walked back to the kitchen, seething.

The apron lay on the floor where she’d dropped it. She picked it up and hooked it over the peg. The moment she saw the hurt in his dark eyes she’d made a decision and she had to have the courage to follow through.

“It’s better he heard it this way.” Her mother went on as if nothing had happened. “There are a lot of men in this town who would go out with you. All you have to do is fix yourself up and lose some weight. You can find someone better than Jericho Johnson.”

The seething turned to a full-blown rage, which threatened to explode right into her mother’s face. But she was raised to respect her parents and she calmly reached for her purse and said. “As of this moment, I no longer work here. I quit. And I will not be coming back.”

“What are you talking about? You run this bakery.”

“But you own it, as you so rudely told me. Now run it.” Turning on her heel, she headed for the back door.

“Anamarie, come back here. Don’t you dare leave this bakery!”