Page 86 of Defending Casey

And they understood that more than most.

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Casey felta bit like Alice in Wonderland as they climbed the stairs to the back porch at the home where Hale grew up. She knew she shouldn’t try to annoy Brian, but there was something inside of her that had to ask. “Is this something your uncle planned?”

“My uncle?”

Brian looked at her square in the eyes and she couldn’t help but see the glassy gaze staring at her. “You think that old coot could come up with a plan like this?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, he didn’t. I did!” Brian’s raised voice was loud enough to rouse Nora.

Casey tried to soothe her, but it wasn’t easy. She could feel the heat from Nora’s skin and sweat on her hair. The illness had become a full-on fever and Casey knew she had to get Nora someplace where she could rest.”

“You look tired, Casey. Nora’s a big girl now.” His expression softened and Casey held her breath wondering what version of Brian was about to show up. “Here,” he held out his arms to her, “let me carry her for you.”

Casey didn’t think.

Her reflexes were set on flight when it came to her daughter and danger. She stepped back and the concern in Brian’s eyes bled away.

“Suit yourself.”

He crossed to the door and banged on it with his fist.

Casey leaned against one of the porch posts and tried to ease the strain on her back. Carrying Nora was starting to hurt. She was tall for her age but given that Hale was over six feet and Casey herself was fairly tall, it was probably to be expected. When she grew up, she wouldn’t need a stepstool in the kitchen. In the future it would be great, but at that moment, it was really weighing on Casey, and she knew she had to preserve what energy she could. There was no telling what Brian had planned.

Or what he would come up with.

“Open up, old man!” Brian banged on the door harder and a moment later, Casey found herself looking at Hale’s father for the first time in years.

The older man narrowed a look at Brian. “What the hell are you doing? I told you I don’t want you on my land!”

Brian’s shoulders tensed and his jaw looked so tense it might break. “I brought you something.”

“Brought me what? Trouble?”

Stepping to the side, Brian swept an arm back at her and Casey saw Hale’s dad follow the gesture. She knew the instant he recognized her, instead of anger or hate, she thought she saw shame. But that was something she’d never seen on his face before so there was no way to be sure. It was just a feeling inside.

Hale’s father turned to look at Brian again. “What are you doing with her? Where’s Hale?”

“Hale?” Brian spat the name from his lips. “Why the fuck do I care? I’m here with her because this is the last place anyone would look for her. The last place anyone would come to for help.”

Brian looked down his nose at the older man. “How does it feel to know that everyone thinks you’re just a miserable old crotchety fool?” Nodding his head, Brian reached out his hand to Casey. And she stepped closer but remained out of reach. “Casey and I are leaving town together.” Brian seemed to miss the confusion that flickered over the older man’s face. “Hale doesn’t deserve to be happy with her. I’m the one who’s going to have the family he wants.”

Before Casey could understand what was happening. Brian grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the door.

Mr. Foster stepped back as she stumbled through the door. Casey looked in his direction when he started to speak. “Is the girl sick?”

She nodded. “She has a fever. I need to put her down somewhere she can rest.”

He nodded and gestured at the staircase. “Do you want to take… do you want to let her sleep upstairs?”

“No!” Brian finished locking the door and pointed a finger at the older man. “They both stay here where I can watch them. Watch the road.”

Hale’s father gave him a strange look and then gestured toward the couch. “Let’s get her settled on the couch then.”

Casey could hardly believe that Thomas Foster was rearranging pillows on his couch for Nora. When she set her daughter down, she took the handkerchief that Thomas’ handed her and gently swept it across her forehead and cheeks. “Thanks.”

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