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“You see that shit?” he whispered.
“I’m so sorry, gentlemen! I’ll be on my way now,” the man said, back away.
“Smart,” I grumbled. Mags and I both watched him climb into his vehicle. As the truck pulled off the road, Mags read out the plate.
“Zero, two, alpha, bravo, six, six, nine. Texas plates. What a coincidence,” he deadpanned. He had the plate number memorized, and we would give that information to Chase.
“Yes, I saw the tattoo,” I said, looking at my friend.
Mags’ shades faced me. “Wanna know why it looks so familiar?”
I already knew the answer. When Valerie was doing research on Moonie, the article about the boy being hazed also included photos of the high school football team. There was a boy in the back of the photo flexing his arms, and on his right bicep was a rifle tattoo. He must’ve added the skull later.
“Looks like we might be burning someone after all,” Mags deadpanned.
“Not today, but soon.”
On the ride back to the house, I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket.
I didn’t answer it with the intention of calling the person back. I knew it had to be Joseph Grayson. I was expecting an update today on my brother. When we got back to the barn, I heard Valerie’s laughter coming from inside the bunkhouse. Jigs and Nancy were in the middle of a card game. Jackie was standing behind Jigs, giving signals to Nancy, and Valerie was leaning up against the kitchen counter with her head thrown back.
My woman.
My Valerie.
My enchantress.
I never called Grayson back.
Instead, I enjoyed a night with my family.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Valerie
“Denver.”
“It’s done, baby,” he said firmly, folding his arms over his bare, damp, perfectly sculpted chest. Damn me for confronting him about this when he was fresh out of the shower.
Jackie left for Texas three days ago. Beau had driven her to the airport. She swore to up and down she was going to get that man to fall in love with her. Mom reminded her that Beau was twenty years younger than her, and that earned Mom a glare. After saying our goodbyes, we went inside and played a boardgame with Caleb. Denver didn’t participate, but he watched from his spot on the couch. It had been a good night. Three blissful days later, the local doctor returned to Hallow Ranch for the second time.
Three days ago, I had been in town with the twins, buying groceries and clothes when he came. Apparently, Mom asked if he could return on a different day, one where I would be present.
He took her upstairs into her room this morning and a few minutes later, they asked me to join them. After signing some paperwork, my mom granted him permission to discuss her health with me. He explained to me that he would be performing her chemo treatments here, once a week, to save her to the trouble of travelling into town. I could see the cost and the numbers rising in my head.
Then I asked him about a payment plan…
Dr. Martin was sweet man. You could see that just by his warm, brown eyes.
“Doctor, forgive me for interrupting, but I need to discuss a payment plan with you,” I said, pulling out my planner and pen. “Do I need to discuss that with you personally or your billing specialist at your office?”
When I looked back up at him, there was a kind smile plastered on his face. “Sweet girl, let’s talk in the hall,” he said, standing up. I shot a look at my mother. She was reading again, unbothered by everything going around her. I followed him out into the hall. Dr. Martin was down by Caleb’s room, looking inside when I shut the door behind me.
A chuckle left him. “You know, I’ve been the doctor in this town for over thirty years and I will never forget the day Caleb was born,” he remarked. “I took one look at him and knew he would be a life changer.”
I leaned against the wall. “He’s something,” I whispered, my voice filled with love.
Love for that boy.
