Page 21 of Defending Casey

“I want you to really think about this, because he’s not a man who is going to make you happy, Casey. He’s just going to cut and run when things get tough.”

“Now, Brian, I-”

“I think I know what I’m saying, Casey. I grew up with Hale. He was always dying to get out of Fool’s Gold.”

“Yes,” she swallowed hard and thought about taking a drink to wet her throat, but she couldn’t seem to lift it to her mouth. “He left back then, but he’s back now. He has a job here.”

The noise that came out of Brian was mostly a snort followed by a hollow laugh. “That security thing. A start up of some sort.” He sat back against the couch cushions and shook his head. “Just what makes anyone think there’s enough of a need for some kind of personal security company here in Bumfuck, Colorado anyway?”

“Mom? What’s bumfu-”

“Nora!” Casey found herself on her feet, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest. “That’s not a word you should be repeating.”

Nora opened her mouth on a gasp and then seemed to think better of arguing the point.

Thank goodness, because Casey wasn’t sure if she had the strength to go through that at the moment.

It hadn’t been something she worried about before, but what Brian said had some truth to it.

Fool’s Good was a small town, one of the best that she’d ever heard of, but yeah, there didn’t seem to be a big need for security in a town this size.

They barely had a need for local law enforcement beyond some traffic violations, a few drunk and disorderly counts on his record, maybe some trespassing problems.

A security company certainly wouldn’t have much of a niche to fill. How long would they remain in Fool’s Gold anyway?

“Mom?”

Casey shook herself when she felt Nora’s hand in hers. “I’m sorry, baby. What did you say?”

“Are you and Uncle Brian fighting?”

It was a good question. Casey looked over Nora’s head at him. He was on his feet, too, and the look on his face said that he’d regretted raising his voice.

“No.” Casey shook her head and leaned down. “Uncle Brian and I were just having a discussion and we got a little loud, sweetie.”

Nora’s brow furrowed and Casey could see that her daughter was working through the information.

“Then,” she looked up into Casey’s eyes and frowned, “you were fighting, but you don’t want me to know.”

“Nora,” Brian moved closer and squatted down beside her, “I’m sorry you had to hear that. I just worry about your mama. I want her to be safe and happy. You too.”

Nora leaned closer to Casey and shifted until she held onto her mother’s arm with both hands. “You think my daddy’s gonna hurt us, don’t you?”

“Nora, no-”

Casey’s denial was cut off by Brian’s answer. “I don’t think he’d ever hurt you or your mama physically, but I’m not sure that he won’t hurt your feelings when he leaves again.”

Hearing Brian put it so plainly hit Casey like a physical blow, taking all the air out of her lungs.

Nora didn’t have that problem.

The first sob from her lips twisted Casey up inside and when Nora ran into her bedroom, Casey looked Brian square in the eyes and told him to go.

“You had no right to say that to her.”

He leaned in, close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheeks. “I have no right? Seriously? That’s what you have to say to me?”

“She’s my daughter.”

---