Special Delivery. Laura Browning

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ rental were just the thing. But now, here was this dark-haired, hazel-eyed hunk of a police officer standing on her front porch quizzing her. It made her nervous. He made her nervous…and way too aware.

      She needed to send him on his way. As soon as Tyler scooted into the kitchen, she gave the lieutenant as much of a smile as she could muster. “Look, thanks for giving Tyler a ride. I don’t want to keep you. I’m sure you must be anxious to get home.”

      Holly started to turn away, but when he spoke again, she paused.

      “Your brother said you hadn’t been here long.” He pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Look, you’re in Sam’s—Sheriff Barnes’s—jurisdiction, but I’m out this way a lot. If you need anything, give me a call. I’m happy to help.” He shifted, sneaking a glance at her. “You know, not in any official capacity.”

      She took the card, her brow furrowed. As much as she wanted to get back to the safety of her little house, she had to know. “Why? I mean. We’re not your concern.” She made a face. “I’m sorry. That was rude. We’re fine. It was kind of you to give Tyler a ride.”

      His eyes narrowed on her for another heartbeat as if he wanted to say something, but then he just slapped his cap against the side of his powerful thigh a couple of times and swallowed. Was that a flush on his cheeks? “No problem. Just remember. Call if you need anything.”

      Holly watched him go. When only the retreating glow of his taillights remained, she shut the door and leaned against it, willing her heart to calm. She wasn’t sure if Jake Allred was the cause of that flutter or if it was just relief it wasn’t Spence who’d arrived. They were still safe. Her poor judgment hadn’t caught up with them yet. When she opened her eyes, Holly met her brother’s innocent expression.

      “Don’t give me that look. You have some serious explaining to do, Tyler. I sent you out for just a few things.” She eyed the bags on the table before staring at her brother. “Then you’re gone for hours longer than you should have been, and you come back with way more than I gave you money to buy. I think that calls for some explanation.”

      “Come on, Holly,” he protested. “Don’t go all big sister on me. I just wanted to help. You should be lying down. What are you doing?”

      She stared at him in exasperation. “Don’t distract me. What did you expect would happen when you disappear all day, then show up at the door with a police officer? You weren’t buying groceries all this time. How do I take that lying down?”

      He pulled on her hand, guiding her to the couch. “I had to do something. Did you think I didn’t notice how your back’s been botherin’ you? Be honest. Thanksgiving sucked. Now Christmas is comin’ and…” He flung his thin arms out. “I just wanted to help. The Tarpleys asked about you, and we started talking, so I asked them for a job.” He finished in a rush, maybe hoping she wouldn’t hear what he’d said.

      Holly sat. “Tyler! You’re too young to work.” She knew from doing the payroll for the pallet company teenagers were forbidden to work in any hazardous jobs. There were a few exceptions to the law that would allow someone as young as Tyler to work—but working at a grocery store wasn’t one of them.

      He bit his lip as he stared at his sister and began the whole story. “It’s not anything full-time….”

      “It’s not anything legal, honey,” Holly protested. “Mr. and Mrs. Tarpley could get in trouble.”

      “Well, I’m not like an employee, you know?”

      Holly shook her head. “No. I don’t know. I think you’re going to have to explain. Does that mean they’re not paying you?”

      Tyler’s gaze flicked to the groceries and understanding dawned. When he took the money she’d given him out of his pocket and put it in her hand, she swallowed.

      “I talked to them yesterday after school,” he admitted. “Mr. Tarpley said he couldn’t pay me money, but if I wanted to stop in, he would find odd jobs for me to do and we could trade. You know. I’d do some stuff for them; they’d give me groceries in return. I didn’t want to lie to you, Holly, but I was afraid you’d say no.”

      She sighed, staring at the groceries. “And I would have. You’re eleven, Tyler! I’m supposed to care for you, not the other way around.”

      He sat next to her and knotted his hands together. “I wanna help. If I can do some odd jobs, you know for Mr. and Mrs. Tarpley, maybe for some other folks, too, after school and on weekends, maybe it will help make up for you having to cut your hours.”

      Holly wasn’t sure whether to laugh, yell, or just cry. “But Tyler…a job?”

      He blinked at her, batting his thick lashes over his big chocolaty eyes. “Come on, Holly! You know we can use the help. It’s only for a couple of hours a day.”

      Holly thought about the mounting bills and the meager amount of money still in her account. The truth was it would be a help. Doc Owens mentioned she might be able to get public assistance, but Holly feared it would provide a paper trail leading Spence to them. She needed to keep as much of their finances as she could on a cash-only basis.

      She blinked back tears. After a gulp or two, she whispered in a choked voice, “Okay. You’re the best brother I could ever have, Tyler. I just worry about you trying to walk home from town so much.”

      He shrugged. “I’ll find a ride with somebody headed this way, like I did today. Will that make you feel better?”

      Yes and no. Although she knew he should be safe with most of the people around here, they were still new to the area. “Just promise you’ll get rides from people you know, okay?” At his nod she smiled. “Beans are on the stove.”

      They were having pintos for supper…again. Tyler didn’t say anything, and Holly appreciated that. She knew he was tired of them, but until her next paycheck they had few options. Now, thanks to Tyler, they had milk and cereal they could eat for breakfast. There also would be some variety to lunch and dinner.

      His dark head was bent over the bowl of beans. He was a nice kid, just like Lieutenant Allred said. Plenty of cornbread and sweet tea rounded out the meal, and Tyler ate like a horse. He must be hitting another growth spurt. Halfway through his bowl, he stopped in midscoop.

      “You not hungry?” he asked around a mouthful of beans.

      She grimaced. “My appetite’s been off. There just isn’t much room inside anymore for anything but the baby.”

      “Holly?”

      She glanced up, exhaustion dragging at her. He looked so grown with his serious dark eyes, so like their mother’s. He’d tucked his longish brown hair, darker than her own, behind his ears.

      “What are you going to do if the baby comes while I’m not here?”

      “I’ll call 911, or your cop friend,” she joked.

      “I’m serious, Holly,” Tyler said, his brows drawing together.

      She smiled to reassure him. He’d gotten so protective of her. It had been that way ever since the accident that had killed Mom and Dad. Holly understood. They had only each other now.

      “That’s a long СКАЧАТЬ