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“Good idea. Follow the sheriff, guys.”
They all drove off, and Mathias shook Milo's hand. “Thanks for tonight.”
“Anytime. You’re officially a bro.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll see you in the morning. Not too early, though.”
“Breakfast at…eleven?”
“Perfect.”
Mathias headed for his trailer, and Milo went inside. He turned off the lights, then went to Wilda’s room. He stepped inside, sat on the edge of the bed, then leaned over and kissed her.
She stirred. “Milo?”
He laughed. “Who else?”
“What time is it?”
“Late. But I promised to say goodnight.”
“Will you lie down for a minute? I could use a cuddle.”
Milo took off his shoes, then lay down next to Wilda and took her in his arms. “How’s this?”
“Perfect.”
He kissed her. “I should get upstairs while I still can.”
She snuggled into his chest. “Will you stay?”
“Are you sure?”
“I want to sleep next to you.”
“I’ll stay.”
“Mmm. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
When the sun coming through the windows woke Milo, Wilda was still in his arms, and Caleb was lying on his other side. Wilda opened her eyes and smiled.
“He has a habit of doing that.”
“What do you say we get to work on that upstairs room this week?”
“I say that’s a great idea.”
Chapter twenty-nine
“A creative, free spirit.”
Mathias stepped out of his trailer with a cup of coffee in his hand and sat on the small metal step. A squirrel chittered in a nearby pine tree as it leaped from branch to branch. It paused at the end of a branch, looked down to scold him for a moment, then moved to a higher branch.
“Do your thing, man. I’m not bothering you.”
It was still early, and Wilda, Caleb, and Milo still seemed to be asleep. Milo had mentioned breakfast at eleven, but Mathias was hungry now. The only things he had in the trailer were coffee and a few cans of soup. He’d fallen into the unhealthy habit of eating fast food after his long days at work. He’d occasionally order pizza or Chinese food, but mostly it was burgers or tacos on his way home.
