The Cowboy Lawman (12 page)

“You know I can walk from here. It’s not a half mile.”

“Right, that’s what I’m going to let you do at midnight.”

“I’ve been worse places at midnight.”

“I’m sure you have.”

“I’ve been with people who would make my mother blush.”

“Do you want to go back to that?”

“Sometimes. There are still people who need to be taken off the street. That job has been my life. I’m not sure how to walk away.”

He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t argue. He wouldn’t want to walk away from his job. Her job required more. It required her to give up herself for weeks and months at a time.

“Let’s not get serious right now,” she whispered in the quiet of the night. “We’re being young and carefree.”

“I know.”

“You’re getting serious on me. You’re thinking about what I do and what it means to my life.”

“I guess I am.” He was thinking about what it meant to his life in regard to what he felt at that moment. He was thinking about what it meant to Caleb, who talked about her nonstop.

“We are who we are.”

“I know that, too.”

“You got bucked off tonight.” She laughed. “Because of a kid with an amazing paper airplane.”

“Thanks for the reminder. I think my back is broken.”

“Poor you.”

“Yeah, poor me.”

She looked at him and then back at the starry sky. “Did you see the shooting star?”

“I missed it.”

“Watch more carefully.” She giggled a little.

And for a minute they were kids again. Kids in the back of a truck after the rodeo ended. Sore. Happy. Confused. And wanting things they didn’t understand. If he thought back a little, this might have been how it felt to be young and falling in love.

Chapter Twelve

A
fter church let out on Sunday, Mia escaped the crowds and walked down the hall to the fellowship room to sign Caleb out of children’s church. His grandmother had brought him to church that morning but she had a meeting afterward and asked Mia if she would mind if Caleb stayed with her until Slade got off work. Of course Mia didn’t mind. When she saw him peek his blond head around the door, she waved. Madeline, Jackson’s wife, pulled him back inside.

“Hey.” Madeline smiled and waved. “He said you were going to sign him out. Are the two of you coming to the house for lunch?”

Caleb shook his head and Mia agreed. “No, we have a project we’re working on.”

“Is the project avoiding your family?” Jackson walked up behind her. “Afraid of the inquisition?”

“You know it, big brother. This show is called the private life of Mia Cooper.”

“Let’s change it to the ‘not so private life.’ What do you think of that, sister who stayed behind at the rodeo grounds Friday?”

She glanced down at Caleb. “Little pitchers have big ears.”

Caleb looked up at them, squinting and frowning at the saying he’d probably heard more than once.

“Right.” He ruffled Caleb’s blond hair and the boy glared at him. “Sorry, didn’t mean to mess it up.”

“Jackson, let it go.” Madeline’s soft voice of reason. They heard a faint cry from the nursery, and she turned. “That’s your son calling you.”

“Right, Mama Bear.” He kissed her cheek and headed for the nursery. “Lunch, Mia.”

“Not today. Next Sunday. I promise.”

“I’ll hunt you down and drag you to the house if you don’t keep that promise.” He returned with his baby boy.

“Got it. Now, let me sign this paper, and Caleb and I are history.”

As she signed, Caleb hurried to grab his jacket and backpack. “I’m ready.”

“Let’s go.” She looked back toward the sanctuary and opted for the back door.

Caleb hurried next to her, taking big steps for his little legs. “We’re gonna make cupcakes?”

She nodded. “Yep, practice run so we know what we’re doing for the party.”

An hour later they were standing over a bowl, looking at the mess in the kitchen. Caleb had accidentally pulled the beaters up while they’d been on high. Batter flew and chocolate specks dotted the cabinets.

“Cool.” Caleb looked around at the mess.

“Yeah, not so cool because you have to help clean this up. But first we put the batter in the cupcake tin. You might have to help because I’m not sure I can do this left-handed.”

He nodded solemnly. “Got it.”

She put the tin on the counter and handed him the liners to place in each hole. “Make sure you just put one in each.”

He went to work putting the pastel-colored liners in place. Mia found a measuring scoop that looked like it would make filling the cupcake liners easy. She hoped. She tried with her right hand, but it was still weak and uncoordinated.

Her left hand wasn’t much better. She got a few filled and handed the scoop to Caleb. “Fill it up partway and pour the batter in.”

“Got it.” Tongue in the corner of his mouth, eyes scrunched, he concentrated and filled the cupcake tin with batter, getting a cupcake’s worth on the top of the baking tin.

Mia handed him a paper towel. “Wipe that off or we’ll have a real mess.”

“Don’t you know how to cook?” He wiped, but mostly smeared the batter. She helped with a clean towel.

“A little. I’ve never really had time.” Or anyone to cook for.

“Aren’t girls supposed to cook?”

She laughed at that. “Well, I guess we are. But sometimes guys can cook. Like you’re doing right now.”

“I think it’s woman’s work.”

She hugged him tight. “Oh, little man, we have got to talk more.”

He watched from the stool as she put the cupcakes in the preheated oven.

“Now what?” His legs dangled and his boots were loose on his feet.

“Clean the mess. I’ll move your stool over to the sink and you can wash the dishes. I’ll wipe down the cabinets.”

“Wash dishes!” he said in outrage at what he probably thought was more woman’s work.

“You bet.” She scooted his stool across the tile floor and he held on tight, laughing and then laughing more because the sound vibrated as the stool scooted.

“What do we do after silly old dishes?” He got up on his knees and swished the bowl in the soapy water.

“We should probably go check on the mare.”

“Oh, yeah.” He scrubbed the bowl and then moved it to the other side of the sink, spraying it with warm water to rinse it. “Do you think she’s broke?”

“I think she probably is.”

“How long do cupcakes bake?”

She looked at the recipe. “It says eighteen minutes but that seems like a long time.”

“We don’t want them burned.”

“No, we don’t.” Mia set the timer on the stove for fourteen minutes. She cleaned the cabinets easily, and the dishes were done quickly, too.

“What time does my dad get here?”

Mia looked at the clock on the wall. “He went in at six this morning, right?”

“I think. I was sleeping at Grammy’s house.”

“Gotcha. Well, if he went in at six, he should be off by three this afternoon. I think.”

“Can we go put a saddle on the horse?” He slid off the stool and Mia shook her head.

“No, not with just the two of us here.” She looked in the door of the oven. “We have to take the cupcakes out in a minute. And then we put in the next batch.”

Mia’s phone rang. She picked it up and answered.

“Tina, what’s up?”

“Hi, Mia. I was wondering when you’d be in Tulsa again.”

“My next appointment is in two weeks. Why?” Mia waited for a response but none came. “Tina, what’s going on?”

“I’m a grown woman. I shouldn’t be, but I’m afraid. I don’t want to have this baby alone. I don’t want to be alone.”

“Has something happened?”

Mia heard moving, shuffling and Tina talking to her two little ones. “Mia, I think someone was in my house.”

“When?”

“While I was at church. I know I locked the door. I mean, maybe I didn’t. It could be that I forgot, but I’m sure I didn’t.”

“Was anything taken or messed with?”

“Not that I can tell.”

“I want you to come here. There’s an apartment at my parents’ place. There’s a hospital in Grove. We’ll work it out.”

“I don’t know.”

“You can’t stay there, Tina. Put the kids in the car. Don’t worry about packing too much. We can get what you need when you get here. Just get in the car and start driving.”

Tina sobbed on the other end of the line. “Mia, I don’t know, maybe it’s nothing. Maybe I’m just lonely and the baby is due soon.”

“Tina, I need to have you here so I can keep you safe. And if you’re here, you won’t be lonely.”

“I don’t want you to think I’m your responsibility.”

“I made a promise.” She closed her eyes, trying hard to block memories of Butch and of her telling him she would look out for Tina and the kids.

“I would like to come there.” Tina cried and the two of them stayed on the phone until her tears stopped.

“Leave now. Don’t look obvious. Just shove what you can in maybe the kids’ backpack, or even a laundry basket. Call 911 if you feel threatened in any way. I’ll be waiting for you to call when you get close to Dawson. And call me when you’re on the road so that I know you’re safe.”

“Okay, I’ll leave in fifteen minutes.” The call ended.

Suddenly the smoke detector was going off and smoke filled the air. Caleb ran through the kitchen, yelling that they needed the fire department. “Quick!”

Mia grabbed a broom and knocked the smoke detector off the wall before she opened the oven door. Smoke rolled out. “Calm down. It isn’t a fire.”

She turned off the stove and found an oven mitt so she could pull out the blackened cupcakes. The stench of burned chocolate filled the air. Next to her Caleb coughed and covered his mouth and nose. Mia carried the cupcake tin to the sink and dropped it in.

“Well, that proves one thing. I can’t bake.”

Caleb moved his hand from his mouth and nose. “We can buy cupcakes.”

“What in the world is going on in here?”

Mia turned and smiled at her grandmother. “We’re baking?”

Granny Myrna looked in the sink. “Land’s sakes, that’s a mess. I don’t think you can call that baking. More like you’re burning. Now, what it is it the two of you are up to?”

“Cupcakes for a school party next week,” Mia explained as she opened windows and turned on the exhaust fan over the stove.

“Well, why would you be making them this soon?” Her grandmother peeked at the batter and wrinkled her nose.

“This is a test run.”

“Good thing.” She mixed the batter with a spoon. “Did you put too much oil in this?”

“No.” Mia looked at the batter. She hadn’t noticed before that it looked oily. She looked at Caleb and he shrugged.

“I think this needs to go down the drain.” Granny Myrna carried the bowl to the sink and ran water in it, flipping on the garbage disposal. “What day do we need these cupcakes?”

“Next Thursday.”

“Well, when the time comes, the two of you come over and we’ll make the cupcakes at my house the night before. No sense poisoning little children.”

“Thanks, Gran.” Mia hugged her grandmother and then stepped back to give her a look. “What are you doing here?”

“Checking on my granddaughter, of course. Once again you skipped lunch at the ranch and I wanted to make sure you’re okay. And I can see that you are.”

“I’m good. Slade had to work and Caleb’s grammy had a luncheon.” She glanced at the clock on the stove. “Slade should be here anytime.”

“Well, since you’re doing so well, I won’t stay.” Her grandmother hooked an arm through Mia’s. “Walk me to my car.”

Mia glanced back at Caleb. “Why don’t you turn on the TV and we’ll have a snack when I get back in.”

Caleb didn’t have to be told twice. Obviously, little boys weren’t crazy about baking. But they were crazy about cartoon superheroes.

Mia walked out the front door with her grandmother. They took slow steps, her grandmother leaning a little more on the cane she seldom used.

“Gran, you feeling okay?”

“Of course I am.” Myrna stopped walking. “Don’t let this cane fool you. I’m not ready for the rocking chair.”

“Of course you aren’t. I just asked if you’re okay.”

“I’m good.” Her grandmother’s smile faded. “I’ll tell you the truth, Mia. I’m not as young as I used to be. And neither are you.”

“Ouch.”

“I guess I’m wondering what the whole family is wondering.”

“What’s that?” Mia should have gone to the family lunch, if for no other reason than to stop the talk.

“If you’re going to stay in Dawson and settle down. And I know that’s selfish of us. But we love you and want you here with us. You know how we worry when you’re gone.”

Mia kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “I do know. And Gran, I just can’t tell you yet what I’m going to do because I still don’t know.”

“Well, as long as you pray about it, and know that we’re praying for you.”

“I’m praying.” And she was finding faith. She was even learning who she was without her job. No matter what, she was still Mia.

They continued walking, reaching her grandmother’s car just as Slade pulled into the drive. “There’s that Slade McKennon. He’s a fine-looking man.”

“Yes, Gran, he is.”

“Well, I’m glad your eyesight is still good. I was starting to worry if you could see what was right in front of your face.”

Mia laughed a little and opened the car door. Myrna hesitated.

“Are you trying to rush me?”

“If I admit I am, will I be in trouble?” Mia glanced in Slade’s direction again. He had stepped out of his truck and was settling his hat on his head.

“Oh, I think you’re in more trouble than you realize.” Myrna patted her cheek and slid behind the wheel of her car. “You behave, Mia. Slade, don’t forget I have something I need for you to haul out of my house.”

Slade walked up to the car and leaned in. “I haven’t forgotten, Mrs. Cooper. I’ll try to get by there one day this week.”

“Good boy. Now close my door. And don’t eat anything this young woman cooks. I swear she’d poison you with that stuff she’s been mixing up.”

Slade closed the door and Myrna cranked the engine to life. They stepped away as she backed out of the driveway and pulled out onto the road.

“Your grandmother is a case.”

Mia smiled as she watched the car drive away. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“I take it the cupcakes were a success?” Slade asked as they walked up the sidewalk to the house.

“It depends on your definition of
success.
If you mean because I know for sure my smoke alarms work, yes, they were a success.”

“Good to know.”

They found Caleb sleeping on the couch. Mia smiled at the little guy and she tried not to think about the fact that he would be staying with his grandmother again. She didn’t want to think about not seeing him if she did return to work.

She didn’t want to think about not seeing Slade.

“Thanks for watching him today.”

“Anytime.” She watched as he bent to pick his son up. “How are you feeling?”

Slade hefted Caleb to his shoulder. “Better. Headache is gone. My back is still a little stiff.”

“Remember, if you need me to watch him, I’m here.”

“I’ll remember.” He eased through the front door and she held it open for him. “Are you trying to rush me out of here for some reason?”

“Nope. I mean, I have things to do. Like clean up the mess in the kitchen, but other than that...” She shrugged as if that was it, nothing going on.

He gave her a suspicious look. “Mia, is everything okay?”

She kissed his cheek and then Caleb’s. “Everything is fine. Take him home. He wants a nap and he mentioned riding that new pony of his.”

“Call me...”

“If I need anything. I know.”

She watched him leave and then hurried back inside to finish getting ready for Tina. She figured she had another hour, tops, to put clean sheets on the beds, wipe down the bathroom and sweep the kitchen floor.

When she heard a car pull in her drive she hurried out to help Tina. But it wasn’t Tina, it was Slade.