Finders Keepers by Nicole Williams Read Free Book Online Page A

chuckled, ignoring Rowen’s impressive glare.
    “Two words, Black,” she said, all tough sounding. “Or.
Else.” Lifting her fist, she circled it around.
    That, of course, only made me laugh. “I sure am glad I have
you two here for moral support. I’ve never felt so uplifted and surrounded by
warm fuzzies in my life.”
    “We love you too, buddy.” Jesse slung his arm around Rowen’s
neck, the other around mine, and pulled us together for some sick version of a
group hug. I was protesting with an exaggerated groan when I heard a few others
coming down the trail. It probably shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did.
    Mr. and Mrs. Walker, followed by their three daughters, made
their way toward us. Neil had a solemn expression, Rose had a small smile, and
the girls all looked a bit red-eyed. Go figure. Three Walker girls who’d barely
even met Clay had been crying, but his own son had yet to shed a single tear. I
told myself the only reason they were able to muster up a few tears for him was
because they didn’t know Clay like I did.
    Neil clapped my shoulder as his family fell in line beside
him. “It’s a hell of a thing, son. One hell of a thing.”
    I nodded once then indicated the chaplain. I had planned on
being wrapped up already, not greeting guests I hadn’t invited. Despite not having
invited them, I was glad they’d invited themselves. The chaplain had been
right—it felt good to be surrounded by loved ones, or as close to loved ones as
I had. I’d never openly admit it, but it was the truth.
    The chaplain rolled his shoulders back. “We are brought
together today by a great tragedy. A life ending before its time. A man—”
    “Hold on. Wait! I’m sorry. Just hold on one more minute!”
someone hollered from the trail.
    My initial response to hearing Josie’s voice was to smile.
So I went with a drawn-out sigh. When she came into view, I saw what was to
blame for slowing her down.
    “Damn these heels. Why can’t they make a pair more suited
for rough terrain?” She glanced at me just long enough to acknowledge me with a
smile before going back to watching the ground like it was about to reach out
and grab her. With the heels she had on, it was a miracle she’d made it that
far without breaking her neck.
    Jesse nudged me. I didn’t get what he was hinting. Then he
elbowed me. I still didn’t get it. Finally he sighed and said, “Why don’t you
go help her before she breaks a heel or a leg?”
    Riding in on the white horse and saving the day was Jesse
Walker’s thing, not mine. That’s why I hadn’t picked up on his hint. When I
stayed glued where I was while Josie hobbled over a few more rocks, Jesse shook
his head. Before he’d taken one step toward her, I grabbed his arm. “I got it.
Hey, stilts, let me give you a hand before you go and break your neck.”
    If she wasn’t so busy watching the ground, I knew she would
have glared at me. “I don’t know what I was thinking wearing these things.
Where’s a pair of boots when a girl needs some?”
    I’d seen Josie in a pair of shoes other than boots maybe a
dozen times since I’d known her, but seeing her in a pair of heels with the knee-length
dress she had on made me wish she’d wear them a lot more.
    Unbelievable. I was at my father’s funeral and having
moderately inappropriate thoughts about a girl’s legs. I didn’t have many, but
I knew I’d had finer moments than that one.
    “Yeah, but they sure look nice.” I forced my eyes up right
about the time Josie stumbled over a rock Hell, maybe she stumbled over her own
two feet. I’d gotten to her just in time. I broke her fall right before
swinging her into my arms. We didn’t have much farther to go, but I didn’t want
to wait another decade for her to maneuver her way there.
    “What are you doing?” Josie asked, her tone as shocked as
her expression.
    I shrugged, asking myself the same question. “Blue moon.”
    Josie’s forehead lined. “Come