The Terms of Release by BA Tortuga Read Free Book Online

know that’s your favorite.”
    “I’m having pizza….” He pondered that. “Hey, can I pick up a couple of pieces about 5:00 p.m.?”
    “Surely can. I’ll set two back for you.”
    “Thank you, ma’am.” Time to go put his uniform on and play cop for a few hours.
    Then he’d go get to know this town’s biggest news story in years.

C HAPTER E IGHT
     
     
    G OD , WHERE did Momma get all this shit?
    The yard was mowed and looked pretty good too, and Sage was organizing the workshop, sweat pouring down him like rain. He’d moved about ten thousand boxes of random crap, a million jars of old nails and screws, and killed a spider the size of Godzilla.
    Hell, he’d even gone through the old trunk that was like a rat colony on steroids.
    Still, it was starting to look like something reasonable, finally, something that he could make workable and keep shit safe in.
    He heard the crunch of tires on gravel and glanced outside, surprised it was so late. Well, damn.
    Actually, he hadn’t expected Adam to come back, and this tiny little voice whispered low that they were alone and Office Winchester had a pistol. Officer Winchester, who was Angel’s cousin.
    Sure enough, though, Adam stepped out of the truck, wearing jeans and a T-shirt and carrying a bag and a pizza box.
    “Hey. Hey, man. Sorry, I got busy in this trap.”
    He got a grin, Adam’s teeth white in his tanned leather face. The man looked like one of those Indians in the schoolbooks—maybe Geronimo or Crazy Horse. Angel used to say that their folks came from some tribe over by Louisiana.
    Angel had been a stubborn ass about not being Mexican. Hell, half of Texas was part Mexican, but whatever.
    Adam nodded. “Time gets away. Wilma called me again, asking when I was gonna come get pie. I was buried in paperwork.”
    “Come on, then. I got to feed real quick and clean up. I won’t be long.”
    “Sure. Pizza’s good and hot.”
    Sage grinned. Yeah, he could smell it, all garlic and spice.
    “My trailer’s over there, past the barn. I….” Sage paused. Should he send Adam over without him, have the man come with him to feed?
    “I can leave the food in the truck and help you feed.”
    Bless him, Win was pretty sensitive to the mood.
    “That don’t seem fair….” Sage had to feed, though. Had to.
    “What? That way we can both go in together.” Adam went and stashed the food right in the truck, then came back, hands in the back pockets of his jeans.
    “Okay. Did you have a good day?” God, he didn’t know what the fuck to say.
    “It was fine. I mean, I ended up getting work done.” Adam shrugged. “Show me what to do.”
    “Oh, you don’t have to. You can just….” He looked around, trying to search out something, anything for Win to do. Oh. Oh. “You want to fill that old tub with water for the pups?”
    “Sure.” Adam chuckled, getting the hose. “I’m sorry I’m not more familiar with what you’re doing.”
    “It’s not your job.” Sage poured out sweet feed and kibbles, the rhythm like a good country song or a train on the tracks. Right and solid and written on his DNA.
    “I guess not. I like to be useful, though.”
    “I can understand that.” He got everything settled, easy as pie. Life was starting to work the way he needed it to, now.
    Adam ran the water for the dogs and filled a bucket for the donkey and all. It made everything go faster.
    “Thanks for the help.” It took two more shakes to get things done, and then he nodded. “Come on, then. We’ll grab the pizza and head to my trailer.” He stopped. “Unless you’d rather go to the main house. It’s not as small.”
    “If you don’t mind, we’ll go to your place. Your folks’ house is weird if they’re not there.” He got a grin, Adam’s dimples carved deep.
    “Yeah. Yeah, it is.”
    They stopped at Adam’s truck again, then headed out. His Penny was on the porch, her tail thumping as she stared the stranger down.
    Adam waited, letting Sage