11
Jamie
The house is finally quiet.It’s two in the morning, the kids fell asleep long ago, and Gavin drifted off about five minutes ago. The mumbling, cursing and tossing and turning has stopped, and I can hear his even breathing under Scooter’s snores. I push the quilt to the side and carefully slip out of the bed. The mattress springs squeak and I hold still, waiting to make sure that I didn’t wake Gavin.
When I hear a soft snore, I step off the bed and tiptoe to the living room. The moonlight filters in through the window and bathes the room in soft light. Even tiptoeing, my steps still make the floor creak. Scooter is sprawled over Gavin’s legs, and when the floor groans, Scooter opens one eye and looks at me. I hold my finger up to my mouth.
“Shhh.”
He blows out a breath and closes his eye.
Scooter sure does stink. He didn’t just eat the chicken poo, I think he rolled in it too. I’ll have to give him a bath tomorrow. I swear, hounds are some of the nastiest-smelling dogs in the world. They’re also bed hogs. Right now, Scooter takes up so much of the couch, I think Gavin will fall off if Scooter rolls over. But maybe not. Gavin has a tight grip on the old thin blanket I gave him. It’s wrapped around him and pulled up to his chin. Probably because it’s cold tonight and the cedar walls let in a nasty draft when the winds blow.
I curl my toes on the cold floor and take a good long look at Gavin Williams.
Even wearing Grandpa’s pajamas, with a purple bruise that covers half his face, and a swollen eye, he still makes my insides twist. He’s that good-looking.
Before Gran left, I know she sensed what I’m feeling because she pulled me aside and hissed, “Lay down with dogs, come up with fleas.”
Apparently, I can pretend Gavin’s my husband, but I can’t “lay” with him. Not that I was going to. No way, no how. He’s an awful, selfish bully who thinks he can walk all over people. He can’t. Not on this mountain.
That’s how Gran described it to the kids. She kept it simple. “Kids, we’re going to get a man that did your mom wrong.”
“Are we going to send him up the flagpole?” That was Tanner.
“No.” Granny said. “He doesn’t remember who he is. He doesn’t remember he did wrong. He owes your mom money. We’re going to have him work it off. It’s like a game of pretend.”
“Meow!” That was Shay.
“But what are we going to pretend?” This was from Elijah, who is more cautious and thinks things through before doing them.
Granny smiled. “We’re going to pretend he’s your pa. He’s going to live and work here. He’s going to learn that you can’t just stomp all over people and get away with it.”
“But I don’t want another pa.” Elijah crossed his arms and stuck out his lower lip.
“I do.” This was from Tanner.
“Meow!”
I pulled all three close. “It’s just for a short time. He’ll work off what he owes me. He’ll learn his lesson and then we’ll send him on his way.”
And that was that. Growing up here, the kids already knew the rule of the mountain. Never, ever show weakness. Never let anyone get away with taking advantage. Always give as good as you get. If someone hurts one of your own, hurt them back. And always stick together.
The kids understood. This was just another Cody Thorn situation. We’re taking care of it in our own way.
I tiptoe close to Gavin and lean in near enough to see the stubble on his jaw, the smile lines at the corner of his eyes, and the softness of his hair falling over his bruised forehead. This close I can smell the tang of the bar soap he used in the shower.
There’s a hollow feeling in my chest, one that takes me a moment to recognize. But when I do, I draw in a sharp breath. My mouth twists in self-derision, because that’s yearning I feel. And there’s no reason I should be feeling yearning for this man.
I reach up, about to brush his hair from his eyes, then stop myself when my fingers are an inch away. I don’t have any business touching this man. I don’t have any business wanting him.
“Do we like each other?” he’d asked me.
I shake my head. “No,” I whisper. “Never. Never and not at all.”