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“Yes, that’s it. And it looks like Abner’s expecting us. The lights are on, and that’s him waiting on the front porch.”
“I don’t see Trevor.” Cooper parked the Jeep in the front yard. “My guess is he’s probably hiding inside, and I can’t say I blame him.”
“Do you want me to wait here? I don’t want him to think you brought reinforcements.”
“No, come on. I want him to know this is serious.”
With misgivings, Jess opened the door and climbed to the ground. Abner came down the porch steps to meet them.
“Nice of you to come along, Miss Graver,” he said, greeting her before he turned to Cooper. “Your boy’s fine. We had a good talk while we were waiting for you. He’s promised to tell you everything.” He opened the front door. “Come on in.”
“Thanks.” Cooper took a step toward the porch, then glanced back at Jess, as if asking a silent question.
“I’m staying out of this,” she said, seating herself on the top step. “It sounds as if everything’s under control. What happens next should be between you and your son, Cooper.”
With a nod, Cooper followed Abner into the house and closed the door behind him.
The night breeze was chilly. Jess pulled her trench coat tight around her and watched the moon as it drifted through the clouds. A barn owl, unseen, screeched its hunting call through the darkness. A shaggy, pony-sized dog padded across the porch to settle beside her, its body warm and smelling of the hayfields. As Jess scratched its ears, the dog released a contented sigh.
Inside the house, Cooper would be doing his best to put things right with his son. She’d been wise to stay outside. Trevor didn’t trust her, and she was probably in deeper with Cooper than she’d ever meant to be. She’d gone from doing her job to caring for this man who was struggling to be a good father.
* * *
“So that’s the end of the story?” Cooper demanded. “You fell in with those boys who’d already tried to trick you. You vandalized people’s homes with them and helped them steal an illegal drink. Then when things got scary, they rode off and left you. What have you got to say for yourself?”
“I’m sorry.” Trevor looked as wretched as a skunk-sprayed hound. “I thought they were my friends. But I was stupid.”
“And what now? You lied to your father. You did things that could’ve gotten you arrested or worse. What will it take to teach you a lesson?”
“I guess you could ground me.”
“Yes, I could, and I probably will. And tomorrow morning we’re going around to the houses you egged, and you’re going to clean their windows. Anything else?”
“Yes, there is something else.” The boy looked at the old man, who’d taken a seat with them at the kitchen table. “Abner and I have an idea. You tell him, Abner.”
Cooper braced himself for whatever he was about to hear.
Abner cleared his throat. “Like I told you, Mr. Chapman, your boy and I had a good long talk. And we came up with something—some work he’d like to do for me.”
“Abner’s got a sleigh in the barn,” Trevor broke in. “A real sleigh like in Santa Claus pictures—only it isn’t finished. It’s just been sitting there, covered up by a tarp, for years. But it’s amazing. Wait till you see it.”
“Trevor wants to help me finish the sleigh,” Abner said. “There’s a lot of work left to do. He could come by some days after school and on weekends.”
“Please, Dad. Abner wouldn’t even have to pay me. I could do it instead of being grounded.” He gazed at Cooper with hope in his eyes—the first sign of hope Cooper had seen in a long time. “So what do you say?”
“I say that I need to know more about this project and more time to think. How about we start by taking a look at that sleigh? Can you show it to me, Abner?”
“Sure. It’s out back in the barn. But there’s no light in there. I’ve got a flashlight but it’s not the best. Have you got a good light in your vehicle? That would help.”
“It’s in the glove box. I’ll get it. Oh—and Trevor, Miss Graver is outside. She came along to show me the way here.”
Trevor rolled his eyes, as if to say,Oh, sure, she did.Ignoring him, Cooper headed out the front door and closed it behind him. He found Jess sitting on the step with the dog.
“I see you found a friend,” he said.
“Yes, I did. He doesn’t talk, but he’s warm, and he likes to have his ears scratched. So how did it go with Trevor?”
“No worse than I’d expected. Come with me to the barn. We’re going to see a sleigh.”
