The Cowboy's Texas Family. Margaret Daley

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       Chapter Three

      Darcy didn’t even know Corey, and still she wanted to do everything she could to take care of him. Make sure he was warm and fed a proper meal. There was something about the child that drew her—more than family ties. There was a lot of anger in Corey, but beneath it she sensed a need to be loved, or maybe she was just putting herself in Corey’s situation and projecting her emotions onto him.

      As they drove away from Dry Gulch, where they’d left Corey with the neighbor, Darcy turned to Nick. “Where I live, I volunteer at a shelter and work with children to find solutions for their situations. I’ve seen families deal with a member who is an alcoholic and the toll it puts on them, especially the children. Some of the kids have to grow up so fast because they are left to fend for themselves. It breaks my heart.”

      Nick waited at a stoplight to turn onto the highway that would return them to Haven. He slid a look at her, his expression still full of worry. “Me too.” Unspoken emotions dripped from those brief words.

      “What do you think will happen to Ned?” Darcy asked the question she was sure was on both their minds. They had left Dry Gulch after the sheriff arrested Ned and hauled him to jail.

      “He’ll probably only get a slap on the wrist. I’m more concerned about Corey. At least he’s with Mrs. Scott for the night.”

      “Are you upset that Ned wouldn’t let you take Corey home?”

      Nick gave her a tired smile. “Am I that transparent?”

      “Well...yes.”

      “Ned doesn’t want to be the father he should, but he feels threatened by my relationship with Corey. I’m glad Ned let Mrs. Scott take Corey without much of a fight. She’ll take good care of the child, and I’ll go to her house tomorrow morning.”

      “But you wanted to take him home.”

      “Yes, I feel responsible for him,” Nick said, although she hadn’t asked a question.

      “Because of the promise to Doug?”

      “Yep. When I give my word, I mean it. But it’s more than...” Nick’s voice trailed off in silence. “He’ll be all right. I’m glad she called the sheriff earlier. All Corey had with him was a thin blanket. He could have frozen tonight.”

      There was something Nick wasn’t saying. What? “Ned could be looking at child endangerment and neglect. The state could step in.”

      “I hope they do something this time.”

      “What do you mean, this time?”

      “I have reported Ned’s behavior before, but nothing was done. He left Corey alone overnight. Corey called me afraid because he heard a noise outside. I came over to be with him until his dad showed up in the morning. That’s when my precarious relationship with Ned turned from bad to worse. Thankfully Mrs. Scott has been able to step in more, but she’s had health issues. She’s a temporary solution but not a permanent one.”

      “How about the boys ranch for Corey?”

      “I know they have room for one more boy, and I’d much rather see Corey there, but Ned would never go for it.”

      “Unless this time the state does something about it.”

      “I volunteer at the boys ranch, and it’s done a lot for the kids who live there. I’m there several times a week. It would be so much better for Corey than living with Ned. The boys ranch isn’t like what Fletcher says. They aren’t hooligans but kids who need extra help.”

      She wasn’t surprised that Nick would volunteer at the boys ranch. In the short time she’d been with him, she’d seen a man of action and heart. “Then I’ll pray to the Lord something is done for Corey.”

      “In my experience He hasn’t helped much.”

      There was something in Nick’s voice—pain—that touched her. Who did he turn to when he was in trouble or upset? She started to say something in reply to Nick’s last statement, but the tense set of his jaw and rigid posture indicated this wasn’t a good time. He wouldn’t hear her.

      She didn’t want to leave Haven until something was done for Corey. How could she walk away from a child in need, a child she was related to?

      She relished the silence as Nick drove toward Haven. Exhaustion weaved through her body, and she had to fight to keep her eyes open. But she perked up when he neared the place where her car had stalled. “Good. Slim must have towed my car.”

      “He’ll be able to give you an estimate for fixing the car early tomorrow morning.”

      “I hope he can fix it right away.” She only had a few weeks to discover what she’d come for, and after what Nick had told her about Fletcher trying to shut down the boys ranch, she wanted to see it too.

      “At least the Blue Bonnet Inn is near downtown and within walking distance of most places, but Slim is gifted when repairing anything with a motor. The only thing that will hold him back is if he has to order a part. We don’t СКАЧАТЬ