Two Guardians for Little May (5 page)

"We'll
be back in a few," Layton said, holding the door for May's exit. He opened
the truck door and held his hand out to help her inside. She stiffened when
their palms met, and looked into his eyes with fear.

"I'm
not going to hurt you," he said gently. "Put your seatbelt on."

Layton
hoisted himself into the vehicle, checked the mirror and pulled out onto the
road. He followed May's pointed finger and began the trek into town.

"Are
you from this area?"

"Born
and raised up in Wichita Falls," May answered abruptly.

"We're
from Dallas. I spent seven years up in Baltimore working for a law firm, then
came back home when my mother got ill. She passed away two months ago."

"I
know. Lyle told me. He was so heartbroken. I guess it really took a toll on
him."

"It
was too much for him to handle. He just went straight downhill after she died.
He gave every bit of himself to her during her illness, and sacrificed
everything he had for her comfort. I never saw anyone so devoted in my life. It
was very humbling."

"I
can't imagine ever loving anyone that much." May's voice drifted.

"Me
neither."

"What
type of attorney are you?" May asked, changing the subject.

"A
boring one. Personal injury and malpractice."

"That
doesn't sound boring."

"Trust
me, it is. What do you do? Pitch for a woman's baseball league?"

May
slumped in her seat. "Sorry about that. I did rodeo for a while and won a
few trophies in lassoing."

"Why
did you stop?"

"My
father sold my horse so he could buy more booze."

"That
sucks."

"Yeah,
it does. I really don't want to talk about my past," May said
uncomfortably. "That's the pharmacy. You might want to watch out for
June."

"June?"

"The
clerk. She's what the locals call a man-eater. And not in a good way," May
giggled.

"That's
an awfully naughty thing to say. Why don't you go on over to the retail store
and pick out some jeans. I'll meet you there in a few minutes," Layton
suggested, helping her out of the high-cabbed truck. He watched her cross the
road before he entered the drugstore.

"Can
I help you, sir?" a bleached-blond clerk asked with a sultry voice.
"You're new in town, aren't you?"

"Here
for a pickup called in by Caine Marshall, M.D." Layton said, ignoring her
question.

"Is
that your wife waiting across the street for you?" The woman handed him a
bag with the medication in it, making certain to offer him an eyeful of
sunbaked cleavage.

Layton
glanced to where May stood, arms crossed and tapping her foot. "No, she is
just a friend of the family. What's this?"

"My
number," the woman smiled, her cigarette stained teeth contrasting against
the smudged dark red lipstick. "Call me when you get bored. I'll make sure
you enjoy your visit here. I am very well known for keeping good company."
She winked and leaned forward to give him an extra glance at her bosom.

"I
am sure you are very proud of that reputation. But, I assure you," Layton
said sourly, putting his credit card back into his wallet, "I will never
be that bored. You might also want to stop smoking. Those things will kill
you."

A string
of curse words followed him as he departed the drugstore and crossed the street
to where May stood impatiently. "Why didn't you go inside?"

"I
didn't want to. That stuff is way too expensive. These are just fine."

"Nonsense.
Those jeans have holes big enough to put your head through. March," Layton
ordered, pointing to the small clothing store.

"It's
really okay." May eyed the pharmacy. "Was June in there?"

"If
you are talking about the blond who reeks of cigarettes, yes. Just so you know,
Caine and I loathe cigarettes, especially after our mother died of lung cancer.
Don't even think about coming around us if you decide to indulge in that habit.
Caine would be even more pissed than I would be, and I will not be held
responsible for the fallout after he explodes into a billion pieces. Go on.
Keep walking."

May
grunted as Layton pushed her gently into the store. "Did she come on to
you?"

"She
tried and I warded her off."

"What
did you say?"

"None
of your beeswax, little girl. What size do you wear?"

"I
don't know. I always wear hand-me-downs from Goodwill."

Layton
turned her around. "Stop pouting. Are you telling me that you've never had
new clothes?"

"Don't
need them. These work quite well."

"Excuse
me, Miss? Please outfit this young lady with a couple of pairs of jeans, some
tops, and whatever else she might need."

"Like
what, sir?" The sales clerk asked, eyeing the length of Layton's body
hungrily.

"Unmentionables.
Whatever women require," Layton shrugged. "If she so much as utters
one word of not needing something, I expect you to inform me immediately."

May's
mouth hung open in astonishment. "I told you that…"

"And
I told you not to argue," Layton interrupted. "If you like, we can go
out to the truck and you will see how persuasive I can be. Well?"

May
hesitated for a moment. "Do you think you can always get your way by being
a bully?"

"I'm
an attorney. So, yes. I'm going to hit the tackle shop while you ladies do
whatever it is you do. I will be about a half-hour. Maybelle?"

"What?"
May pouted. "Don't call me that."

"It's
your name and I will use it. You are to get whatever it is that you like. No
more hand-me-downs. I want everything you are wearing tossed into the
trash."

"I'm
not throwing out my boots!" May yelled after him. "I just finally
broke them in."

"Then
keep the damn boots," Layton yelled back while still walking. "Toss
the rest. No arguments!"

***

"You
hit the jackpot, honey-girl," the clerk said to the stunned woman.

"How
do you figure? He's a bossy, arrogant…"

"Steaming
hot pint of spiced apple cider. Yum. How long have you two been courting?"

"We
are not courting, dating, going out or anything else. We just met, and he is
being generous for whatever the reason. Probably feels guilty because he knows
that he's a jerk. Can we just do this and get it done with?"

"Would
you like me to just pick out some nice things for you?"

"Better
you than me. I wouldn't know where to begin."

"Let's
get your size and then you can sit back and relax. Would you like some sweet
tea?"

"Sure.
Thanks."

Layton
returned thirty minutes later, his cell phone plastered to his ear. Without
acknowledging May (or her new outfit), he continued to talk while the purchases
were tallied. May's eyes widened in disbelief as he nodded his approval of the
total and signed off on his card.

"Layton!
You can't!"

"Excuse
me a second," Layton said into his phone. He looked at May. "You can
either say thank you, or stick your little freckled nose into a corner. Either
way, I will do whatever I want to."

May's
mouth opened and closed with silent words. The clerk elbowed her and whispered,
"Just say thanks," into her ear.

"Thank
you," she forced out.

"You're
welcome. Chuck, let me call you back later. Hold those contracts until I can
review them and change the court dates ASAP." Layton tucked the phone into
his shirt pocket and gathered all the bags in his hands. "Let's get going.
Caine has already called to whine about being hungry."

"Have
a good evening, Miss May! I hope you like your pretty new things." The
clerk waved goodbye as May numbly followed Layton out the door.

"You
spent too much money on me," she said quietly, turning towards the
passenger-side door. "Why?"

Layton
tossed the bags into the truck bed, and folded his forearms on the truck bed
rails to look across at her. "Because I felt like it."

"That
is not an answer." May's voice was soft as she rested her chin atop the
rails on her side.

"It's
the one you are getting. Any more questions?"

May held
back the obvious question that came to her mind. Why bother? He had not even
noticed the new clothes she was wearing. "Did you get your fishing
gear?"

"Sure
did," he gestured to the poles and tackle boxes.

"It's
really frustrating that I can barely get a word out of you. I would think an
attorney wouldn't know how to stop talking. Or, at least, have some
communication skills." May sulked. "I might as well be talking to a
damn tree."

"You'd
hate talking to a damn tree," Layton commented, the right side of his
mouth turning slightly upward.

"Oh
really? And why would you say that?"

"It's
simple. The tree wouldn't fight back. Hop into the truck and let's get
going."

"You
are so mean."

"Thank
you. I appreciate it when my strengths are acknowledged."

Caine
met them outside the house and immediately fussed over May's change in
appearance, while Layton carried her packages up to her room. She was wearing a
green gingham crop-top with a tied front, and a knee-length denim skirt. Her
worn brown leather boots still adorned her feet, drawing attention to her
well-shaped, lightly tanned legs.

"I
can't get over how absolutely adorable you are," Caine praised, turning
her around in front of him. "How's your thigh? Is the skirt rubbing
against it?"

"It's
really sore. He," she gestured to the house, "made me get all this
crap and didn't even notice the outfit."

"He
never does, so don't take it personally. I told you he was a pussycat,
remember? He bought fishing gear, and that always makes him feel better."

"There's
a boat out on the dock. Maybe if I drain the tank, he can get stuck somewhere
in the marsh."

"What
do you think he would threaten should he find out you did such a bratty
thing?" Caine's blue eyes twinkled playfully.

"Don't
men from Texas think of anything other than threatening to spank helpless
women?"

"I've
seen your aim, Miss May. You are the furthest thing from helpless I can
imagine."

May's
face dropped along with her voice. "Believe me, I'm helpless. My aim did
no good when, you know…"

"I
understand. Layton and I, well, we are going to do our best to help you with
that if you let us."

"You
boys certainly waste no time in insinuating yourselves, do you?"

"We
surely don't. Our family storms in like a Texas rain-storm. Let's take this up
to your room and then you can clean up for dinner," Caine said, holding
the bag containing her medication.

"I
know how to open a pill bottle," May said, following him up to her
bedroom.

He
closed the door behind him and sat on the edge of the bed to open the drugstore
bag. "Yes, I have no doubt that you do. It was essential that I ordered
this as well." Caine removed a small vial and a syringe. "It will
only sting for a second, honey."

"I
told you I am not getting a tetanus shot!"

"Ordinarily,
I would not be concerned. However," he drew the liquid into the syringe
and measured out the dosage, "given the environment, and the type of
injury you incurred, I feel it is necessary. You need to trust me on this as
your physician. Be a big girl for me and let's get this done."

"Fuck
you. You are not my doctor. I'm not doing it."

May
froze as Caine's eyes turned to an icy blue. "You know for yourself that
Texas boys like to spank. You also know that certain behavior, and words, are
inappropriate. This is the only time I will say this, so remember every word.
If you ever speak like that to me again, I promise to wash your mouth out with
soap, and sit you in the corner on a very sore, red little bottom. Understood,
young lady?"

"You're
yelling at me." May broke out in sudden tears.

"I
did not once raise my voice. Come here," Caine sighed, holding his long
arms out. He pulled the sobbing girl to sit on his lap, and held her tightly to
his chest. "What's wrong, baby? You need to learn to discuss things that
bother you instead of either clamming up, blowing it off, or trying to put out
someone's eyes with a pinecone."

"I
don't know," she wept. "You two treat me like you've known me my whole
life, and we just met. Your dad was the same. He was more of a father to me
than the sperm donor I had. He helped me learn to trust him because he was so
kind and loving, and never asked for anything in return. He just wanted me to
be happy, and no one has ever cared about my happiness before. He left me so
quickly, and now you guys are here and I don't want to be left alone again. I
know I'm rambling and sound so stupid! I don't understand why I feel this
way."