About That Man by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

you figured out why that is and changed it,” King told him, shaking his head at the pitiful admission. “What kind of sheriff lets a little slip of a woman walk all over him?”
    â€œOne who’s smart enough to know when to cut his losses,” Bobby suggested.
    â€œExactly,” Tucker agreed.
    King threw up his hands. “I swear to God I am calling my lawyer right this minute and changing my will. I’m leaving everything to a bunch of blasted bird-watchers. They’re bound to have more gumption than you two.”
    â€œGlad to see we’ve made you proud yet again,” Tucker said, giving him an unrepentant grin as he headed for the door with the pie plate in hand.
    Bobby gave his shoulder a squeeze as he passed. “See you, old man.”
    â€œI’m not old,” King bellowed after them, then sighed. He might not be old at fifty-nine, but his children were going to send him to an early grave. Every one of them seemed to be flat-out dedicated to it.

4
    D aisy had spent the past few hours preparing Tommy for meeting his uncle. She had really tried to put the best possible spin on things for his sake, but he wasn’t any more thrilled by the prospect than she was. She had no answer for all of his questions about why he’d never even known of the man’s existence. Frances hadn’t been willing to share a single detail when Daisy had tried to pry a few out of her.
    â€œI’m telling you I ain’t going nowhere with no cop,” he said flatly as he spooned soup noisily into his mouth late Thursday afternoon as they awaited the arrival of Walker Ames. Molly meowed plaintively, as if she understood his distress.
    She had allowed Tommy to stay home from school, and she had taken the day off as well. It had probably been a mistake, since they’d spent the entire time sitting around the house brooding about whatever was to come. And when Frances had called midafternoon to report that Walker hadn’t even shown up yet, Daisy had been ready to take Tommy and vanish. What sort of man was late to a first meeting with his own nephew?
    But he was in Trinity Harbor now. Frances had calledfrom the Inn a few minutes ago and said they’d be by around six. Daisy had fixed Tommy a bowl of soup and a sandwich to distract him, but she hadn’t been able to touch a bite of food herself.
    Tommy’s declaration hung in the air, adding to her stomach’s queasiness. How could she in good conscience send him away with a man he didn’t know? How could she not, when that man was his only living relative?
    Finally she met Tommy’s belligerent gaze. “Tommy, do you trust me?”
    â€œSome,” he conceded grudgingly.
    â€œThen believe me when I tell you that you won’t go anywhere unless it’s for the best.”
    He eyed her warily, his blue eyes far too skeptical for a boy his age. “Who gets to decide what’s best?”
    The question made her pause. The truth was, she supposed that Social Services or the court would have to make the call. But Tommy was ten. He ought to have some say. And she intended to have quite a lot to say herself once she’d seen this Walker Ames with her own eyes. She considered herself to be a very good judge of character, although there was the matter of Billy Inscoe to contradict that fact.
    â€œAll of us,” she said finally. “You, me, a judge, the social worker and, of course, your uncle.”
    When the doorbell rang, Daisy froze. Tommy dropped his spoon, sending splatters of soup every which way. For once, Daisy ignored the mess. For one wild moment, she considered grabbing Tommy by the hand and hightailing it out the back door, but that would only postpone the inevitable. She reminded herself that her students—rambunctious teens, at that—considered her quite formidable. A mere policeman would be no match for her at all.
    â€œYou can stay in here and finish your