Chapter Ten
Dani didn’t text Sammy again, and Gard kept his nose out of the trafficking case. Sammy was a little moody over the course of the week, but spending last Sunday with Lia had certainly evened out some of her reaction to Dani’s text.
So they made it through the week without any big incidents. A little bit on eggshells, but they made it.
He’d managed to sneak one measly kiss out of Lia in the process of dropping Sammy off or picking her up over that time. A shame, but he’d have her to himself tonight.
Once he got through a few of the stipulations he’d set out in letting Sammy go to this party. Like he would drive her out there and see the house and meet Sarabeth’s parents for himself.
Sammy complained about this stipulation bitterly as he drove out to Wilde, and then beyond. But she bounced in her seat, as excited as any elementary schooler heading to a birthday party.
Even though worry had wrapped around his lungs, and he probably wouldn’t be able to take a full breath until he picked her up tomorrow morning, he smiled. Sammy was happy, and after last weekend? That was big.
The Thompson place was a big house. Old, but looked like a lot of work had been done to it lately. Still, it was out past the Wilde town limits—and Wilde was hardly a bustling metropolis. Gard couldn’t decide if middle of nowhere was good—what could the kids get up to way out here? Or bad—whatcouldn’tthe kids get up to way out here?
The problem was, he’d spent over ten years dealing withallthe trouble kids could get up to in Bent County—in town or out of it.
Gard pulled the truck to a stop in the big gravel drive in front of the Thompson house and killed the engine. He opened his door.
“Gard, you can’t embarrass me like this,” Sammy hissed as he moved to get out of his truck.
“I just want to meet Sarabeth’s parents in person. That’s the deal.”
“It’ssocringe.”
Gard was hardly worried about beingcringe. There were two adults standing near the porch, while teenagers seemed to roam the yard. Gard made a beeline for the woman with a slight baby bump and a man who Gard would have clocked as military from a mile away.
Sarabeth was holding court in front of a couple teenagers in the yard—wearing what looked like some kind of princess crown and eye black like she was getting ready to play softball or baseball. Gard reallywasglad Sammy had a friend who was so unapologetically herself, because he wanted that for Sammy.
Didn’t mean that girl didn’t scare the hell out of him. But for now, he focused on the adults. Sammy trudged behind him, still muttering about howcringehe was.
“Mrs. Thompson?”
The woman smiled at him and held out a hand. “Call me Jessie. This is my husband, Henry. You must be Sammy’s Uncle Gard.”
Gard shook both their hands. “This is a nice place you’ve got here.”
“Thanks. We’ve put a lot of work into it,” Henry said.
“Sammy!” Sarabeth called from across the yard, waving wildly. “Come over here.”
Sammy sent Gard a questioning look and he gave her a little nod. She was clearly reluctant to leave him with the adults in case he wastoo cringe, but eventually she gave in and walked over toward Sammy and her group.
Gard turned his attention back to Jessie and Henry. “I’m not trying to be…” He didn’t even know the right word. Obsessive? Overprotective? “I’m kind of new to being the guardian of a teenage girl. I’ve been told by the teenage contingency I might be overstepping.”
Jessie smiled kindly. “We try not to betoooverprotective here because Sarabethisgrowing up, but…” Jessie began.
“But we fail. Consistently,” Henry finished for his wife. “I’d keep her locked in the house if I thought it’d do any good,” he grumbled, gesturing at Sarabeth.
Gard figured he might like this guy.
“This is the first time we’ve let Sarabeth have a party like this,” Jessie said with a little sigh. “Usually we just do family, or just Izzy, but it’s her sweet sixteen and…” Jessie shrugged, one hand resting on her bump. “There’s going to be adult supervision at all times—we’ve got four adults to make sure the kids don’t go sneaking off. No alcohol on the premises. Guns are locked in a safe where the kids won’t be. The boys leave at ten sharp, and Henry or Dunne—that’s my brother-in-law—will drive them home if their parentsforgetto pick them up. So no chance for stragglers.”
Gard couldn’t find fault with any of it, and he’d been…well, maybe hoping to. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” he said, trying to sound polite and not frustrated.
“Sarabeth has let me in on a little bit about Sammy’s background,” Jessie told him gently. “There’s a reason Sarabeth and Izzy get along so well. They understand each other. They’ve had it rough, and I get the impression Sammy has too and that’swhy they’ve folded her into their little group so easily. We’ll take good care of her. I promise.”
Gard knew he’d still worry, but at least he’d have a better chance of convincing himself it waspointlessworry.
