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Eva Lou and Jim Bob Brady, Je
Right that minute, however, Joa
“What in the world must Je
“How are they going to find out about it, Mother?” Joa
“Certainly not!” Eleanor huffed. “I’d never mention such a thing, but Je
“It is the most natural thing in the world,” Joa
When it came to Butch Dixon, Joa
There, she thought. Now it’s finally out on the table. Let the chips Call where they may.
Which they seemed to be doing. As Eleanor’s ominous silence lengthened, Joa
“Mother,” she said at last. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here,” Eleanor said in a small voice. “I’m thinking about Je
“What about her?”
“She’s suffered so much already. How in good conscience can you put her through this kind of emotional wringer?”
“What do you mean?” Joa
Eleanor heaved a great sight. “Je
Joa
“But if you and Butch are… well… you know, then obviously you must be pla
“We’re not pla
“I was going to invite you to di
“Were,” Joa
“No. Of course not. You’re still invited-you and Je
Je
“1’m working a case, Mother,” Joa
Ending the call, she put the phone down and drove for several seething minutes before she picked it up again and scrolled through until she found Butch’s number. He answered on the second ring. When he realized who was calling, the pleasure in his voice was unmistakable. “I was hoping you’d call long before this so I could take you to lunch.”
“I missed lunch,” she said, realizing it for the first time. “I’ve been out on a crime scene.”
“Skipping meals isn’t good for you,” he observed.
“Neither is talking to my mother.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Je
“You settled her down, didn’t you?” Butch asked. “You did let her know that I slept on the couch?”
“No,” Joa
There was silence on Butch’s end of the call. “Why did you do that?” he asked finally.
“Because I’m sick and tired of her trying to run my life; of her telling me what to do. I want Eleanor Lathrop Winfield to mind her own damned business and leave me alone.”
“Well,” Butch observed thoughtfully. “Your mother didn’t like me very much to begin with. I doubt this will improve the situation.”
“So you think I did the wrong thing?” Joa
“No,” he said with an easy laugh. “Not wrong. But you never choose the easy way out, do you, Joa
The word slipped out so smoothly, so naturally that for a second Joa
“Oops,” he said. “That probably counts as pushing, and I promised you I wouldn’t-push, that is. Especially not over the phone.”
Joa
Joa
“In other words, we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t,” Butch said.
“Right.”
“See?” he said. “Like mother, like daughter. Eleanor Winfield isn’t known for taking easy positions, either. Has either one of you thought about asking Je
“Butch, she’s only eleven. What does she know?”
“You might be surprised,” he said. “Now if we’re not having lunch, why are you calling?”
“Is Je
Lowell, the school Je
“She’s up the street riding her bike. Do you want me to go find her, or do you want to leave a message?”
“A message will be fine. Tell her I’m on my way to Tombstone to check on a crime scene investigation, and I’ll probably have to stop off in Saint David on the way. It may be late before I get there to pick her up.”
“Don’t worry,” Butch said. “She can stay as long as she likes. I’m making a pot of beef-and-cabbage soup. Soup and freshly baked bread are always a wi
“Thanks, Butch,” Joa
“Take care,” Butch said.
“I will.”
Joa