Page 48 of Her Saltwater Cowboy

She cast another glance at this knight sitting next to her, flesh and blood whocared.Wasn’t too used to that.

“They show up once,” he continued, “stir things up, then vanish before they can be held accountable. Not this time.”

She wrinkled her nose, thinking.

“She just can’t get evicted. I’ve got to keep that from happening.”

“You show them you’re doing everything you can to keep them informed, that you’ve notified the authorities too.”

She swallowed. “Hope it’s enough.”

He reached over, his hand rough, warm, gently wrapping around hers. “You’re not alone in this anymore, remember?”

She relaxed against the headrest of his truck, a sigh escaping her. “I-I remember.”

* * *

In the parking lot of the care home, Willow pushed aside her initial reluctance at coming here, realizing how very much she wanted to see her mother.

Unfortunately, she’d allowed her worries about her uncle to put a cloud over her plans. That and the lingering concern over another triggering episode.

Chance parked and turned off the engine. “Can I come in with you?”

In her heart, she knew he’d rather stay and watch for anyone suspicious. “No, but thank you. I’ll try not to be too long.”

He shook his head. “Stay as long as you’d like. I can handle phone calls from here … or whatever else might come up.”

She nodded, clutching the manila envelope until it creased in her grasp. Willow scooped up the basket of cookies from the seat, and hopped down from the truck before Chance could come around and open the door for her. She was on a mission to make sure that her mother knew she was safe—and to assure the care home knew she meant business when it came to her uncle.

Willow climbed the small rise of steps to the front door and stopped. She turned back toward Chance, and tossed him a wave. If her uncle dared to show up, Chance would be ready.

* * *

At the front desk, Jeannie greeted her. She wore red glasses and hair pinned in a swirl, the kind that’s designed to appears messy but actually looks amazing.

“Hello there,” Jeannie said, her smile animated. “I remember those cookies—molasses, right?”

Willow handed her the basket. “You got it.”

“Bribes are always welcome,” the nurse teased. Her expression grew more serious. “So glad you’re here.”

“How has she been?”

“Great! Gosh, you wouldn’t ever know about the episodes if I hadn’t seen them for myself.”

That’s what she’d heard from the doctor when she called a couple of days ago, but hoped the report had remained the same. Her shoulders lowered, a slight sense of calm rolling through her.

Willow handed over the manila folder. “Before I go see her, I wanted to make sure you had a picture of my uncle to post.”

Jeannie’s smile faded, but her kindness didn’t. “Of course, hon. Let me buzz Margie from admin. She’s already in this morning.”

Minutes later, Willow sat across from Margie, a supervisor with kind eyes and a nubby fleece cardigan that had a tiny, stitched bumblebee at the shoulder. Margie viewed the photo.

“That’s him, alright,” Margie said, voice soft. “Thank you for providing the photo and emailing the other one.”

“He’s—he’s harmless, as harmless goes.”

“Meaning?”

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