The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas Page B

free. Two weeks later her father would park the big rig in front of their trailer and Ruby would cry, sad to see their time together end. She and her father’d had a special bond, and that’s why she’d been devastated the summer of her sophomore year in high school, when he’d canceled their road trip.
    She closed her eyes against the memory—still painful after all these years. Her suitcase had been packed for days, and the list of roadside attractions was safely tucked inside her purse. The night before she and her father were to leave, her parents had gotten into a shouting match. Then the next morning her father had called off their trip. Her mother would say only that something had come up with her father’s job and Ruby had to stay home. She didn’t buy the lie for a minute, but each time she pressed for answers, her mother locked herself in the bedroom.
    That morning was the last time she saw her father until Labor Day weekend. After that summer her relationship with Glen Baxter had gone downhill. He’d spent more hours on the road, adding extra deliveries to his schedule. Hurt and angry, Ruby had sought comfort elsewhere, which she’d found in the backseat of Dylan’s car.
    â€œHow often do you see your dad?” Hank asked Mia.
    â€œMy mom said he used to stop by our trailer when I was a baby, but I don’t remember that.”
    Thinking back on their relationship, Ruby conceded that she’d never been in love with Dylan—only the attention he’d given her. She’d put up with his sporadic visits after Mia was born because she’d wanted him to bond with his daughter. But Dylan had only dropped by when he’d wanted sex or money for cigarettes and booze. Once she’d booted him out of her life for good, she’d set her sights higher, determined to find a decent boyfriend—not an easy task when educated guys wanted nothing to do with a teenage mother.
    â€œDoes your mom have a boyfriend?”
    â€œShe just broke up with Sean, and he was really nice. He watched TV shows with me and helped me with my math homework. He didn’t do anything wrong, but she made him move out of our trailer.”
    This was the first time Ruby had heard Mia voice an objection to Sean’s leaving.
    â€œYour mother must have had her reasons if she told him to go.”
    Hank’s comment was hardly a glowing endorsement, but Ruby appreciated his support.
    â€œMy mom doesn’t like you.”
    â€œI’m not surprised.”
    â€œWhen she found out you were her real dad, she called you a stupid old asshole.”
    â€œGirls shouldn’t swear.”
    Why was Mia attacking her? Did she want Hank to hate Ruby?
    â€œI earned that bad name because I gave your mother up for adoption. But she raised you. Made sure you had a roof over your head and food on the table.”
    â€œOnce we leave here, my mom’s never gonna visit you again.”
    â€œMaybe not.”
    â€œHow much you wanna bet she won’t let me visit you, either?”
    â€œMothers usually know best.”
    â€œHank?” Mia’s voice trembled.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œPromise you won’t let my mom keep me from coming to see you and the horses?”
    â€œYou’ll always be welcome at the Devil’s Wind.” Hank stepped into view, pressing his shirtsleeve against his sweaty brow. He didn’t act surprised when he spotted Ruby—maybe he’d known she was listening.
    â€œIf I don’t like Elkhart, then I’ll run away and come back here.” Mia raked a pile of soiled hay out into the open.
    â€œI see you’re working hard,” Ruby said.
    Mia’s eyes widened. “I’m mucking stalls.”
    â€œNice of you to help.” Ruby looked at Hank. “Did Joe mention you might have a visitor today?”
    â€œHe said the deputy was stopping by.” Hank pushed the wheelbarrow farther down the aisle, and