Page 105 of Scrape the Barrel
“Without what?”
“You by my side. You ever heard of a sidekick?”
She nodded. “Like superheroes.”
“Yep. And I’m just thinking, one day, if you get really good at riding, maybe you can be my sidekick out on the ranch.”
She gasped. “Really?”
“Mhmm. But you can’t really be that if you don’t forgive me sometimes.”
“I forgive you all the time!” she said as a way of ensuring she’d get this role.
I chuckled. I really hoped so.
“Why don’t you go play with your ponies while I go talk to your mom, and I’ll let you know when dinner is ready?”
She wrapped her arms around my waist and I swallowed the lump climbing my throat. I never thought the adoration of a little girl would make me this emotional.
“Thank you for the enchiladas with extra red sauce,” Avery said, her voice muffled in my jeans.
“You’re welcome, Aves.”
She let me go and turned, running back to her toys. I headed out of the kitchen and down the hall to Sage’s bedroom. Her door was open, so I slipped inside and closed it slightly behind me, leaving it cracked in case Avery needed us.
Sage was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring down at her phone. I sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her, drawing her in closer to me.
“What’s wrong?”
She held the phone out to me and I took it with my other hand, looking at what was on the screen.
Unknown:Did you get the money?
My hand threatened to crush the phone in its grip, but I locked it, setting it on the bed next to me.
“They haven’t found him yet,” she said, confirming what I already knew.
“They will,” I assured her, running a hand up and down her arm.
Sage looked up at me, her eyes slightly glassy. “And if they don’t?”
“Then I will.”
She straightened. “Callan…”
My arm dropped from around her so I could grab her hand. “I’m not going to let him terrorize you, Sage.”
She stood, then slowly began pacing. “I didn’t want you in the middle of this.” A few more steps. “I’m sorry. I—”
Getting to my feet, I placed myself in front of her so she had to stop. “Sage, look at me.”
Her chest was rising and falling with the onslaught of anxiety as it crashed into her like a tidal wave, threatening to bring her under.
Her eyes met mine, and I saw the panic swirling in them.
“You don’t need to be scared. I’ve got you.”
“Yes, I do. Avery is vulnerable every day, I’m alone every day, and you can’t be there all the time.”
