Page 15 of Defending Casey

Turning around with his daughter in his arms he saw the truck stop and the driver’s side door open.

He didn’t recognize the truck except for the fact that it was almost identical to his, but he knew the driver when he stepped into view.

“Brian.”

The smile on his cousin’s face wasn’t exactly welcoming.

“Hale.”

His cousin had changed over the last decade. Taller. Darker from time in the sun. He’d filled out too, but whether it came from time at the gym or time working on a ranch Hale wasn’t sure. Brian moved with a stiffness in his gait though that said he wasn’t happy to see Hale there.

Or at all, really.

Hale didn’t like the way Brian lifted his chin and stared down his nose at him. And he most certainly didn’t like the way Brian winked at Casey.

Pressing a kiss on Nora’s cheek, Hale set her down on the ground and pointed at Casey. “Go with your mom, sweetheart. I’ll be in soon.”

Nora could tell there was something in the air. The way she looked between him and her mother and then back at him said that she wasn’t all that eager to go.

“It’s okay,” Brian added his words to the mix, “go inside with your mom and let us talk.”

Nora took a few of the steps on her own and then paused, waiting for Casey to go with her, but Casey was still standing almost at his side, her eyes moving back and forth between him and Brian.

There was something going on and Hale didn’t like it one bit.

“Go inside, Casey.”

“You can’t tell me what to do!” She shot back at him a second later, her words almost tumbling into Brian’s.

“Don’t you talk to her like that!”

Before anything else could happen, Casey stepped in between them, and Hale couldn’t help but admire how she put them both in their place with a few softly spoken words.

“Both of you. Stop it.”

Hale ignored the smug look on Brian’s face, keeping his attention on Casey. “I’m sorry, Case. I just wasn’t expecting to see… him.”

Brian’s snort of laughter brought anger rising up inside of Hale. “You’re surprised? You’ve been gone for nearly a decade and what, you show up and want to play daddy? The fuck-”

“Brian, stop.”

Hale had to admit that his cousin was respectful enough to listen to Casey and back off, his hands held up in surrender.

“Sorry, Case. I just can’t believe he just waltzes right back into town and now what?”

“Well, that’s what we have to find out.” She gave Brian a nod. “Now if you two will excuse me. I have to get Nora to school and Hale, I’ll talk to you later, maybe at the feed store?”

Brian waved off the idea. “Why don’t you stay here and talk to Hale. Your dad can make sure that the Prodigal Son here doesn’t treat you like cr- like crud. And I’ll take Nora to school.”

Nora, who had been apparently listening in to the conversation piped up. “Awesome! I get to ride in Uncle Brian’s truck?”

Hale pulled back, looking at his cousin. “Do you have a child seat in the truck?”

Casey reached out and touched his arm. “He’s fine, Hale. Brian’s taken her to school before.”

Giving Hale a smug look, Brian walked between Hale and Casey toward the steps. “I bought one for my truck when Nora was a toddler. I know what to do to keep her safe, Hale. You don’t have to worry about her with me.” He stopped midway up the steps and took Nora’s hand in his as he spoke. “The question is, Hale, do you have one in your truck?”

Hale watched his cousin disappear into the house with his daughter and he fought down the urge to walk in after him.

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