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“I haven’t and I won’t. Now, do we have that settled once and for all?”
“Yeah.”
Ty jerked his head toward Cassidy, who was lugging two scraggly potted rosebushes—nary a leaf or bud in sight—down the sidewalk. “Then shake a leg. We can’t let your mom do all the work.”
It didn’t take long to load the boxes that contained the sum total of the Lonigans’ meager possessions. With the exception of the computer, which had been carefully stashed by Hutch on the back seat, it was a pitiful collection. Even so, one large box didn’t fit, no matter how many times Cassidy tried to forceit.
“It’s the books,” she said to Hutch. “Maybe we should leave them for Mrs. Walters to donate to the library.”
Ty folded his arms across his chest. “Or you could ask me to hold on to them until you’re settled into your new place.”
“I really don’t want to impose...” she began, then ground to a halt. Something in his expression must have given a hint to the anger smoldering inside. With a quiet word of thanks, she turned the carton over to him. “I’ll let you know where we end up.”
“No need. I’ll follow you to the motel.”
“That’s not necessary...” She released a gusty sigh. “You’re going to pull the man thing, aren’t you?”
“If you mean, am I going to make sure you get to a motel safely, then yes, I’m pulling the man thing.” He eyed her vehicle in disgust. “Considering your car—and I use that term loosely—is held together by rust and sheer faith, it’s the least I can do. And, no doubt, the least you’ll allow me to do.”
To his intense satisfaction, her expression revealed a hint of consternation. “Thank you,” she murmured again. “I owe you. Come on, Hutch. Climb in.”
To Ty’s amusement, the boy didn’t utter a single word of protest. Nor did he offer any words of farewell. Interesting. Sudden suspicion held Ty in place. Sure enough, when Cassidy turned the key in the ignition, nothing happened. Not a cough. Not a whimper. Not even a bellow of smoke and gasping death rattle.
“Gosh, Mom,” he heard Hutch exclaim. “What’s wrong?”
“I...I don’t know.”
“Well, pop the hood and let me take a look.”
Burying his amusement, Ty braced his shoulder against a convenient tree trunk and waited. Hutch climbed out, Miz Mopsey in tow. Cassidy joined them at the front of the car. She opened the hood and locked it in place while her son climbed onto the fender and peered into the greasy mass of wires and steel. Ty bit back a shout of laughter as the dog wriggled her way up beside the boy, snuffling beneath the hood as though offering her opinion on the matter.
“Need help?” he called, knowing before he even spoke what the answer wouldbe.
“No, thanks,” Hutch hastened to reply. “I see what it is.” He glanced over his shoulder at his mother. “It’s the caliper switch. Burned clean out.”
She sighed. “Crud. Can it be fixed?”
“Not tonight.”
Ty strolled over for a peek. Never having heard of a caliper switch, he was curious to see what the kid had done to the car. It only took a second to discover that the battery had been disconnected. He slanted a glance at Cassidy. She was totally oblivious. No question, mechanics weren’t one of her strong points. Fortunately, mind-blowing kisseswere.
“Sure you don’t want some help?” he offered casually.
“Oh, no. Hutch can deal with it,” Cassidy insisted.
Ty shrugged. “Okay by me.” Hell if he’d argue. If she’d asked, he’d have told her the truth about the battery. But since she chose to be stubborn, she could suffer the consequences—especially since those consequences worked to his advantage.
“Well, damn.” She ran a hand through her hair, turning the straight, dark sheet into an attractive tumble. “I wonder how expensive caliper switches are?”
That brought him up short. “I don’t expect the repairs will cost you much at all,” he hastened to reassure her. He’d be damned if he’d let the kid add to her financial worries.
“Really?” Relief surged through her voice.
“At the risk of stepping on your independent nature, could I offer you a place to stay tonight?” He strove for humble and came within spitting distance of it. “I have a cabin between the main house and the bunkhouse that’s not in use.”
“Oh.” She brightened at that little tidbit. “That would be lovely. How much is the rent?”
White hot anger shot through him. He managed to control it through sheer dint of will. Barely. “Maybe you better take Miz Mopsey and go wait in the pickup,” he advised softly. “Hutch and I will move everything over.”
