Page 29 of Maverick

Mabel sighed, another sign that she wasn’t happy with me. “Because, boy, it ain’t your business. And because it’s not something you could possibly understand, if you were so inclined to try.” She gave me a pointed look that made me feel about two inches tall.

“Grandma, it’s not like that.”

“It is. Listen to me,” she shouted when I was about to speak again. “If this, living with an old woman and getting paid cash week to week, was her alternative, imagine just what she was running from, Dylan.” She huffed out a laugh and shook her head. “See? You can’t. And to make matters worse, you’ve gone and scared the poor girl.”

“I didn’t,” I insisted, suddenly annoyed. “I’m trying to look out for you, Grandma. My family.” She wasn’t convinced. “What happens if whatever it is that Ruby is running from comes here, to your house? What if that trouble sees you as an obstacle to overcome?”

“That’s the flaw in your thinking. It’s not what she’s running from, it’s who. Do you get that?” She shook her head without giving me a chance to answer. “She’s got all the markers of an abused woman.”

“You’re wrong,” I insisted, even though I couldn’t possibly know one way or the other.

“No, you’re wrong, Dylan. I’ve seen some of the old scars. The bruises that never quite go away because one bruise covers another and another, leaving a muddy spot. The broken bones that don’t heal properly because her abuser won’t let her seek medical help for the damage he’s done.”

I looked away, feeling angry and ashamed. “And I suppose she shared all of this with you?” Of course she did. Mabel was a sweet old woman who loved a good sob story.

“Hell no, she didn’t tell me anything, wouldn’t confirm anything, which is a form of confirmation on its own. But I didn’t need her to confirm what I already knew because I lived it.” She nodded, a wistful smile on her face. “That’s right. I had a man like that myself before I met your grandfather, and he saved me.”

“I didn’t know.” My legs felt weak, and I shot a hand out to the wall to hold me up when I felt like faltering.

“I know you didn’t, because it wasn’t your business to know. It’s not the kind of story time a grandmother shares with her boy now, is it?”

“I guess not.” My gaze bounced around the room before it landed on my grandmother, the best damn woman I knew. “What’s his name, the man before grandpa?”

She laughed. “Don’t worry about it. He’s long dead now and no concern of yours or mine. Now, I love you, Dylan, with every beat of my heart, but you better fix this and you better do it fast.”

“She’s manipulating you.” Despite her history, there was no way Mabel could possibly know all of that if Ruby hadn’t been crying in her ear all morning.

“Oh, is she now? Poor old and feeble Mabel, can’t possibly think for herself, is that right?”

“No, that’s not it at all, but she came to you because you’re a lot nicer than I am.”

“Shows what you know,” Mabel shot back. “She didn’t tell me anything. I heard every word spoken between you two last night. In case you forgot, the reason you never got away with anything as a teenager was because my bedroom is right above the front porch.”

“Fuck.” The word shot out automatically without thinking.

“Watch your mouth, boy.”

“Sorry, Grandma.”

“You should be, but not about your filthy mouth. You should be sorry that you’re running that woman off when she’s just trying to keep her head above water. I like her and I like Sophie, so fix it. Or else.”

“Your safety is my primary concern, Mabel.”

“And mine is saving another woman from a life I was lucky enough to escape, before it is too late.”

“Now you’re just trying to make me feel bad.”

“That’s not my goal, but I hope you do feel bad for bullying a woman in a difficult situation.”

Well, shit.

Thankfully, the front door shot open, and Sophie bounded in wearing a bright smile as she skipped towards Mabel. “Grandma Mabel, I got you a treat.” She held out the bag like it was a rare gem, a sweet smile on her face as she leaned in to whisper, “It’s got bacon and maple on it too.” The kid needed a lesson in whispering, but she was too damn cute.

“You got this for me?”

Sophie nodded. “It’s very yummy and I hope you like it.” That’s when Sophie realized they weren’t alone, and she gasped at the sight of me. “Hi, Mr. Maverick. Sorry, I didn’t get you one, I didn’t know you would be here.”

“That’s all right, Mabel will share hers with me. Won’t you, Grandma?”

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