Page 5 of Defending Casey

Given the tense line of her father’s jaw, Casey knew that he’d seen Hale. It was the same expression she’d seen every time he talked about Hale. Every time he’d threatened to hunt him down. Every time he’d promised to kick his ass. Every time he’d reminded her that he had guns and knew how to use them on coyotes.

“Dad,” Casey stood and shushed Nora in front of her so that they were both looking toward the back of the store, “Hale is here. I was wondering if you could take Nora for some ice cream so that I can talk to Hale.”

She felt Nora tense up and made a quick amendment to her request.

“Alone, please.”

Casey could feel Nora’s frustration and disappointment, but her daughter had always been ridiculously perceptive, and it was only a mild surprise when she didn’t argue about staying.

Her father lifted his chin in acknowledgement and tapped his hand against the right side of the doorframe. She didn’t want to acknowledge the movement although she knew exactly why her father had drawn her attention to the spot. He kept his rifle, loaded, but the chamber empty, just on the other side of the door.

“I’ve got some other business in town, so I need my best helper.” Her father reached out his hand and like magic, Nora ran to grasp it. He picked her up in his arms and settled her on his hip making her laugh.

“I can walk, grampa!”

“I know, cowgirl, but I want you close, okay?”

“Okay.”

Just before they stepped into the back, Nora’s hand caught at the door frame, and she looked back, first at Casey and then Hale. “You’re not going to leave, daddy, are you?”

To Hale’s credit he was much more diplomatic than Casey thought he’d be given his first few words to her.

“I don’t know about today, yet.” He managed to keep his voice even too. “But I know that this isn’t the last we’re going to see of each other, okay, squirt?”

Nora’s face beamed at the new nickname. “Okay then. I’m glad.” She lowered her eyes for a moment and then looked back up at him. “I’m glad you’re home, daddy. I’ve missed you forever.”

The room wassilent for what seemed like ages after the back door shut and they heard her dad’s old clunker chug back onto the road.

She turned around, her shoulders back and her chin tilted up, ready to face whatever he threw at her.

But instead of anger, she saw tears.

“What…” He shook his head, the movement almost imperceptible, but she was looking so hard at him she saw it. “What do you mean my father knew?”

He sounded so broken hearted that she lost a bit of her indignant anger. Then again, she knew what a broken heart sounded like. She was still putting the pieces of hers back together.

“I mean what I said, Hale.”

God, even saying his name felt like she was reopening the wounds she’d inflicted on herself.

“I told him I was pregnant, and he said he’d pass on the message.”

“No,” he shook his head and paced a few steps away, putting more distance between them. “I don’t believe it. He would have said something to me.”

“You think I’d lie about it?”

“You told me you didn’t love me, Case! You told me to go on and leave!”

The truth hurt.

“Yeah,” she nodded and felt her stomach twist, “I told you that.”

“You told me you wanted someone else.”

She’d said that too. She’d said so many things because she thought they were hurtful enough to get him to leave her behind, but those words were double edged. They’d cut her as deep as they had apparently cut him.

She’d done her job too well.

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