Page 208 of Cowboy Daddies

“What? What happened?” The urgency in his voice had her eyeing him worriedly. “Is he all right? Yes, I’ll be there soon.”

Jeb ended the call and started up his truck.

“What are you doing?” she asked as he drove away from the motel. “You’re supposed to be dropping me off.”

“I’ve got to get to the school. Wyatt is in trouble.”

Oh no! She wondered what happened to him. “Just pull over and I’ll walk back to the hotel.”

“No. I haven’t finished with you yet. You’ll just have to wait in the truck while I go straighten it out.”

Great, just great.

When they pulled up outside the school, he quickly undid his seatbelt, then opened the door and jumped out. “Stay here.”

Sheesh.

Did he really think that she was going to just do what he said? Maybe she didn’t want to sit in his truck, waiting. She had stuff to do. Casey climbed over to the driver’s side and opened the door, getting out.

Urgh. Only one sandal. Oh well.

She looked around the school. She was so glad she didn’t have to go to school anymore. Not the best time of her life. Not that she’d been bullied. Nobody would dare with her brothers. Most people were more interested in using her to get close to them. But school had been tough for her. She’d never been good at learning. Reading, writing, mathematics, all of it had been a struggle. And she’d never quite fit in at school.

She could just leave. But she was worried about the small man-child. Maybe she’d just go and see what was going on.

Following the signs, she walked toward the school office and into a room to find Wyatt sitting on a chair in a small waiting room with his father looming over him.

This wasn’t a good start.

“What were you thinking? You hit another child? You can’t do things like that,” Jeb said.

This isn’t your business.

It’s nothing to do with you.

But as Wyatt turned and she saw the bruise on his cheek she felt her temper stir. Along with another feeling. Something that felt like protectiveness. Strange, she couldn’t remember ever feeling protective of anyone before.

“So what did the other kid do?” she asked as she strolled up to them, reaching into her pocket. She pulled a raspberry lollipop out of her pocket, unwrapping it. Then she popped it into her mouth.

Jeb startled, glancing over at her, then back to Wyatt. “The other kid did something to you?”

Wyatt remained quiet with a stubborn look on his face.

“He or she must have,” she said. “I’m sure Wyatt wouldn’t have gotten into a fight without a reason.”

Wyatt’s face was filled with surprise as he stared up at her. Had Jeb not thought about why Wyatt had gotten into a fight? It seemed to her like he didn’t understand his son at all.

“Wyatt? Did this other boy do something to you? Is that why you got into a fight?” Jeb demanded.

She sat in the seat next to Wyatt. Reaching into her pocket she drew out another lollipop. “Here, small man-child, you look like you could use this.”

Wyatt reached out, his hand trembling, and took the lime lollipop.

“I’m not sure that sugar is the best idea right now,” Jeb said.

“Of course it is,” she replied as she placed her leg over the arm of the chair and swung it back and forth. “Sugar is the answer to everything. Ask me a question. I’m certain the answer is sugar.”

“What’s the meaning of the universe?” Wyatt asked.