Next Door Daddy by Debra Clopton Read Free Book Online Page B

She wouldn’t have to face her son’s anguish again. Not today.
    She glanced over at Nate. His strong jaw was set just as it had been when he’d focused on Gil balanced on the edge of that roof. She let his presence comfort her.
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    If someone had told Nate yesterday that today he’d be in the pasture cockatiel hunting, he’d have told them they’d been in one too many rodeos. But here he was doing exactly that.
    As he guided the truck along the trail through the trees he marveled at the turn his life had taken in the short few days since his neighbors had arrived.
    Gil and his mother, with their faces upturned, were anxiously scanning the trees in search of their lost bird. He hoped they found it for Gil’s sake. The poor kid was growing more and more agitated with every moment that the bird didn’t show up.
    When Gil glanced his way, Nate’s heartstrings tugged at the desperation he saw there. “I think we need to walk,” Nate said abruptly, settling his boot firmly on the brake.
    â€œYeah,” Gil said, nodding hard and blinking back what Nate knew were tears. “I might hear him talking to himself because he’s scared. You know how he gets, Mama.”
    â€œYou’re right. When he’s scared, Pepper talks to anything that’s around.”
    Nate could hear desperation cloaked in Pollyanna’s soft words.
    Gil grinned at her words and looked at Nate with too bright eyes. “That bird can talk. Nate, have you ever wanted to stuff a sock in a bird’s beak?”
    His earnest question took Nate by surprise and he laughed for the second time that day. It came out sounding more like a cough from sucking in too much dust.
    Gil’s eyebrows crinkled and his eyes sobered. “I’m serious. If you’re ever around Pepper long enough, you’ll know what I mean. My dad, he taught him how to talk, and, boy, was he a good teacher.” His voice faltered and his gaze skittered back toward the trees. “We gotta find him.” His voice cracked. “H-he hates being outside.”
    Nate met Pollyanna’s worried gaze. This little bird had a deeper connection with the boy than he’d first realized. He had already stopped the truck and now he opened the door. “Come on, kiddo, let’s find your bird.”
    â€œCome on, Mama,” Gil boomed, sliding off the seat. Pollyanna and Bogie got out on the other side and they all met at the rear of the truck. With the loud sound of the diesel engine not blotting everything else out, the woods now seemed to echo with silence. Of course they weren’t, there was the rush of wind through the leaves and, among other mellow sounds, the soft warble of a songbird. Not the right bird.
    â€œI think we should walk and listen first,” Pollyanna said. Gil nodded, already plodding forward. Bogie followed along behind him, holding his head up so his collar didn’t hang on the tall grass.
    â€œJust be careful to watch your step and stay on the track first,” Nate warned, feeling a wave of protection pass over him.
    â€œThank you,” Pollyanna said, falling into step beside him, watching Gil race forward. “I seem to be saying that to you on a regular basis. But he loves that bird. Pepper was Marc’s and if we’ve lost him, it will be terribly hard on Gil. I don’t think I could bear it.”
    Again Nate felt an overwhelming wave of protection for mother and son. It swept over him so strongly he was stunned.
    But then, he understood attachment very well.
    â€œWe’ll find him,” he promised, and realized that he hadn’t said anything in three years that he meant more.
    They hadn’t gone more than twenty feet when he heard something that didn’t fit with the still quiet of the woods. He touched Pollyanna’s arm and pointed east.
    â€œThat’s him!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands in her excitement and grabbing Nate in an