Page 32 of Defending Casey

Hale’s smile returned full force. “Yes, Sir. I mean… Francis.”

He turned to David and was suddenly unsure of himself. “Are you okay with me coming to dinner tonight?”

David gave a casual shrug. “It’s my daughter’s house as much as it is mine. If she invited you over, that’s good enough for me.”

“Okay.” A little bit of the tension Hale carried dissipated. “Thank you.”

Before he could step away, David spoke again. “Are you doing anything this Friday evening?”

Hale felt a muscle pinch between his shoulder blades. “For Casey’s birthday? I was hoping to talk to her about that tonight.”

David shook his head and leaned forward on the counter. “She thinks it’s just a quiet family thing. It’s how it’s always been since she had Nora. I’m hoping that things might change now that you’re back.”

Hale didn’t know what to say. There was a lot unsaid in what her father had just told him.

“I hope to change a lot of things, sir.”

Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but the look on David’s face held more welcome than a warning. His lips thinned for a moment, almost becoming a pale line before he relaxed and almost smiled. “I hope so too, Hondo. I hope so too.”

With that, Hale walked out of the feed store and took a deep breath of the clear Colorado air. He was starting to feel like he was finally home.

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