continued.
When both connecting doors were closed, Reggie handed the sobbing Suzie to her mother. She pointed to the bathroom. “Better hide in there. I’m going to peak outside but I don’t want him to see you.”
Both children huddled under a protective arm of their mother looking terrified as they crouched against the tub.
CHAPTER 18
After checking the upstairs and finding it empty, Dylan walked down the steps behind Billy Clyde whose shoulders slumped more with each step they took. Dylan could imagine how horrible he felt. God, help me to help him.
The scent of fresh ly baked chocolate chip cookies enticed him back to the kitchen.
Mrs. Miller turned as they walked in.
“How’d you bake fresh cookies so quickly?”
T hree cups of tea and a plate of cookies sat on the kitchen table.
“Old family secret . I could tell you but then…” Her hand caressed the shotgun propped up on the counter beside her. “But then I’d have to kill you.” Her face crinkled into a smile. “Not really. Actually, I always freeze some dough when I bake and then I can stick them in the oven for a few minutes when I have unexpected guests. And presto. Fresh cookies.” She pointed to seats. They sat. “Now, you tell me what’s going on.”
Dylan shrugged and picked up a cookie. “Mmm. These smell great.”
“Don’t you try and sidetrack me, young man. I have questions and I want them answered.”
The woman must have been a teacher in her younger years. The tone and the look told him it had to be true. He smiled at her and bit into the cookie. “Tastes as good as it smells.”
Billy Clyde sighed. “Mrs. Miller, I can’t tell you very much , but I will tell you that someone made a call from your house to me. And they aren’t very nice people.”
Her silver curls shook. “Impossible. I’ve been here all day. Nobody was in here at all. Until you showed up toting a gun, scaring me half to death. Took ten years off my life. ”She picked up the fragile tea cup, crooked her pinkie finger, and took a sip. “And at my age that’s not a good thing.”
Billy Clyde pointed at the woman’s shotgun, now propped up by the kitchen sink. “You look as if you can take care of yourself.”
Her gaze shot to Dylan. “He doesn’t look well. He’s looks a might pale if you ask me. And considering his normal shade, something’s wrong.” She pointed at Billy Clyde’s shoulder. “What’s that wet spot there?”
Billy Clyde’s teacup clattered against the saucer as he dropped it and put a self-conscious hand to his shoulder. “Nothing to worry about, Mrs. Miller.”
She looked back and forth between the two men. Her narrowed eyes appraising each of them. After a few moments, she turned toward Billy Clyde. “Mr. Addams, did I ever tell you that my Daddy was a moonshiner?”
“ Yes, ma’am, I think so.”
“I’ve seen gunshots before.” She stood up, her voice firm. “Take your shirt off and let me have a look.”
Billy Clyde held up a hand to stop the woman advancing toward him. Dylan hid his smile and wondered who would win this battle. His money was on Mrs. Miller.
“I won’t insult you by lying to you , but with all due respect, I’m not taking off my shirt. My friend here tended to it for me. It’s fine.”
Her gaze landed on Dylan as he picked up another cookie. “How bad is it?”
“Not bad, ma’am. It’s a through and through and I put rubbing alcohol on it and it had stopped bleeding but it’s still seeping some.”
“Not surprising. He should be l ying down resting, not running around scaring old women.”
“I know that, but Billy Clyde has a mind of his own. He won’t listen to me.”
“ Eat a cookie, Mr. Addams.” She picked up the plate and set it in front of Billy Clyde. “Now, I know you and Theresa live out there in that cabin like you’re a hermit or something.” She looked at Dylan. “Do you know Theresa?”
He nodded.
“I’m not sure why she puts up with
When both connecting doors were closed, Reggie handed the sobbing Suzie to her mother. She pointed to the bathroom. “Better hide in there. I’m going to peak outside but I don’t want him to see you.”
Both children huddled under a protective arm of their mother looking terrified as they crouched against the tub.
CHAPTER 18
After checking the upstairs and finding it empty, Dylan walked down the steps behind Billy Clyde whose shoulders slumped more with each step they took. Dylan could imagine how horrible he felt. God, help me to help him.
The scent of fresh ly baked chocolate chip cookies enticed him back to the kitchen.
Mrs. Miller turned as they walked in.
“How’d you bake fresh cookies so quickly?”
T hree cups of tea and a plate of cookies sat on the kitchen table.
“Old family secret . I could tell you but then…” Her hand caressed the shotgun propped up on the counter beside her. “But then I’d have to kill you.” Her face crinkled into a smile. “Not really. Actually, I always freeze some dough when I bake and then I can stick them in the oven for a few minutes when I have unexpected guests. And presto. Fresh cookies.” She pointed to seats. They sat. “Now, you tell me what’s going on.”
Dylan shrugged and picked up a cookie. “Mmm. These smell great.”
“Don’t you try and sidetrack me, young man. I have questions and I want them answered.”
The woman must have been a teacher in her younger years. The tone and the look told him it had to be true. He smiled at her and bit into the cookie. “Tastes as good as it smells.”
Billy Clyde sighed. “Mrs. Miller, I can’t tell you very much , but I will tell you that someone made a call from your house to me. And they aren’t very nice people.”
Her silver curls shook. “Impossible. I’ve been here all day. Nobody was in here at all. Until you showed up toting a gun, scaring me half to death. Took ten years off my life. ”She picked up the fragile tea cup, crooked her pinkie finger, and took a sip. “And at my age that’s not a good thing.”
Billy Clyde pointed at the woman’s shotgun, now propped up by the kitchen sink. “You look as if you can take care of yourself.”
Her gaze shot to Dylan. “He doesn’t look well. He’s looks a might pale if you ask me. And considering his normal shade, something’s wrong.” She pointed at Billy Clyde’s shoulder. “What’s that wet spot there?”
Billy Clyde’s teacup clattered against the saucer as he dropped it and put a self-conscious hand to his shoulder. “Nothing to worry about, Mrs. Miller.”
She looked back and forth between the two men. Her narrowed eyes appraising each of them. After a few moments, she turned toward Billy Clyde. “Mr. Addams, did I ever tell you that my Daddy was a moonshiner?”
“ Yes, ma’am, I think so.”
“I’ve seen gunshots before.” She stood up, her voice firm. “Take your shirt off and let me have a look.”
Billy Clyde held up a hand to stop the woman advancing toward him. Dylan hid his smile and wondered who would win this battle. His money was on Mrs. Miller.
“I won’t insult you by lying to you , but with all due respect, I’m not taking off my shirt. My friend here tended to it for me. It’s fine.”
Her gaze landed on Dylan as he picked up another cookie. “How bad is it?”
“Not bad, ma’am. It’s a through and through and I put rubbing alcohol on it and it had stopped bleeding but it’s still seeping some.”
“Not surprising. He should be l ying down resting, not running around scaring old women.”
“I know that, but Billy Clyde has a mind of his own. He won’t listen to me.”
“ Eat a cookie, Mr. Addams.” She picked up the plate and set it in front of Billy Clyde. “Now, I know you and Theresa live out there in that cabin like you’re a hermit or something.” She looked at Dylan. “Do you know Theresa?”
He nodded.
“I’m not sure why she puts up with
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