Sherryl Woods - About That Man

“I guess the gloves are off,” the other newcomer observed with a sigh. “Sis, you’re not helping matters.”

Walker grinned as she whirled on the other man.

“Bobby Spencer, you’re supposed to be on my side,” she said indignantly.

“I am, always,” he insisted. “And right now you need to keep your mouth shut.”

Fury danced in her eyes. “I most certainly will not.”

Walker grinned. “Don’t shut her up. I’m finding her comments enlightening.”

“Enough,” Tucker said firmly. “Let’s all settle down and establish what we know. Daisy, when was the last time you saw Tommy?”

“He was finishing his supper when his uncle and Frances arrived. I left him in the kitchen. That was around six.”

“And it’s nearly seven now. Why the delay?”

“I had a few questions,” Daisy said defensively.

Bobby rolled his eyes and shot a sympathetic look at Walker.

“How did Tommy feel about meeting his uncle?” the sheriff asked.

“I’ve already told you. He wasn’t happy about it,” she said.

“And I’m sure you did everything you could to see that he felt that way,” Walker said, surprised by the depth of his anger that someone who didn’t even know him would try to turn his own nephew against him.

“I did not. I told him he had to give you a chance, that I was sure there was an explanation for why he’d never even heard of you or why you’d never been to visit.”

“Phrased like that, I can see why he’d be anxious to meet me,” Walker snapped.

Daisy Spencer looked exactly the way he imagined a mother tiger would look right before it took on a predator threatening her young. Despite his exasperation with the woman, he couldn’t help admiring her fierce protectiveness when it came to Tommy. A part of him was glad that his nephew had someone like that in his corner.

“Shouldn’t we stop wasting time hurling accusations and look for Tommy?” Frances suggested mildly. “It’ll be dark soon, and I don’t like the idea of him being outside all alone once the temperature starts to drop. It gets cold along the river this time of year. And there are the cliffs…” Her voice trailed off, leaving the dire implication unspoken.

“Absolutely,” Tucker agreed. “Frances, you stay right here in case Tommy shows up. Bobby, you go search along the river. I’ll go door-to-door here in town. Walker, you and Daisy can drive up and down the streets and along the highway.”

“Together?” Daisy asked as if she’d rather eat worms.

“Yes,” Tucker said in a tone that didn’t permit an argument. “Walker doesn’t know his way around the area.”

“Fine,” she said. “But I’m driving.”

“Whatever,” Walker agreed, following her to a nice, sedate little sedan that suited her perfectly. No flash and dazzle for this woman. She probably never drove the car over the speed limit.

Her agitation was plain as she started the car, grinding the engine in the process. She threw it into reverse and shot out of her driveway in a way that had even a veteran of high-speed chases clinging to the armrest with a white-knuckled grip. It was the second time today he’d misjudged a woman in this town.

“Don’t take out your frustration with me on the car,” he suggested quietly as she skidded around the corner onto another tree-lined street. “Getting us killed won’t help anyone, least of all Tommy.”

“Oh, go to hell,” she snapped. “This is all your fault.”

“You’ll have to explain that one to me.”

“It just is.”

Walker bit back a grin. “Now there’s a rational bit of logic. How very female.”

She slammed on the brakes so hard, he almost banged his head on the windshield. When he’d recovered, he turned to find her staring straight ahead with what might have been tears glistening on her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

“What? I thought I heard you apologizing.”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” she retorted.

“Maybe we ought to start over. I don’t think we understand each other’s point of view here.”

“Probably not,” she conceded with a sigh. “It’s just that Tommy means a lot to me. I don’t want to see him hurt.”

“Believe it or not, Ms. Spencer, neither do I.”

She finally turned to face him. “Since it looks like it’s going to be a long night, maybe you ought to call me Daisy.”

Walker chuckled. “I always prefer to be on a first-name basis when I’m spending the night with a woman.”

“Yes, I imagine you do.”

He was pretty sure he saw a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. It wouldn’t do to focus on that, though. He had the feeling that thinking about those lips could get him into a whole lot of trouble.

“How well do you know Tommy?” he asked instead.

“Better the last few days, but even before that, he and I had a certain rapport. He was in my Sunday school class. He has an irreverent attitude that reminds me of the way I always longed to be when I was his age. Because of that I let him get away with quite a lot.” A full-fledged smile spread across her face. “I suppose this is payback for that leniency.”

Walker seized on the hint of wistfulness in her voice when she talked about yearning to rebel. “Somehow I can’t envision you ever having a rebellious streak.”

“You’d have to talk to my brothers and my father, then. They could tell you. Especially Tucker. He knows exactly how many times I came really, really close to trying to break free of my father.”

“But you never did it?”

“Not until now,” she confessed with obvious regret. “Well, my moving into town put his nerves on edge, but he got over that.”

“And what have you done recently?”

“I took in Tommy. Believe me, it has my father in an uproar, though he hasn’t shown his face around here himself. He’s sent everybody else to do his dirty work. I’m sure Tucker and Bobby showing up tonight was no accident. That pie they were carrying came straight from my father’s kitchen. They were probably here with yet another lecture on how I’m trying to ruin my life.”

“By taking in a little boy?”

“A little boy who tried to steal my jewelry,” she said.

This was the first Walker had heard about any jewelry being taken. His gut clenched at the thought. “Tommy tried to steal your jewelry?”

Her expression fell. “Damn, me and my big mouth. Yes, he tried to take it. He intended to sell it to get money for food in case I wouldn’t let him stay.”

“But you caught him?”

“Actually, Tucker caught him. It was incredibly inconvenient since it only added fuel to the fire, but I managed to assure them both that it would not, under any circumstances, happen again. I think Tommy got the message.”

Walker sighed. “I hope you’re right,” he said, envisioning his nephew well on his way to a life of crime.

“Tommy is not a thief,” Daisy said, as if she’d read his mind.

“What would you call it?”

“He’s scared and he’s acting out.”

“Stealing is stealing, no matter the reason. Don’t make excuses for him.”

“Spoken like a true cop.”

“I am a cop.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t make allowances for circumstances.”

“Making allowances is the reason petty thieves turn into career criminals.”

“Tommy doesn’t need a hard-liner in his life. He needs someone with a little compassion.”

Walker shook his head. Daisy’s soft-hearted, do-gooder nature had just come out into the open. The woman was too naive for her own good. He’d met a hundred others just like her, always eager to defend the juvenile offender as being “just a kid.”