Violet couldn’t stop her laughter. Three little boys had yelled at her mother better than Violet ever had.
“Back off, you little snots. Somebody needs to beat some sense into you,” her mother said.
Locks had been standing still, letting the boys school her mother, but at her mother’s words, he stepped closer. Violet was not letting her mother hurt the sweet, stinky little boys who had stolen her heart.
“You back off. No one needs to beat them. You are not welcome here. You need to leave,” Violet said, her voice growing in strength with each word.
“Aww, fatty thinks she can stand up to me,” her mother said.
“Violet, you know this would be a perfect time for that pepper spray and stun gun that we talked about you needing,” Speedy’s deep voice said from the hallway. Violet looked away from her mother to see Speedy’s smile and eyebrow cocked. In the short time she’d been around him, she’d memorized all his looks and what they meant. He was going to let her handle it unless she told him to step in.
“It would, but if I used either, she wouldn’t be able to take her scrawny no-good negative attitude off of the property. Leave now. You are not wanted here,” Violet said.
Her mother reached out and grabbed Violet’s arm, squeezing tight.
“You’ll walk outside and listen to me. This is nonsense. You’ll go back to work in Dodge City, got it?” her mother said.
Speedy’s hand reached for her mother’s, removing her tight grip finger by finger.
“Let me help you with that since you seem to not be listening. Violet has asked you to leave. I’m guessing you’re her mother. Locks, is Mrs. Jones wanted on your property?” Speedy asked, keeping a hold of her mother.
Violet appreciated him protecting her.
“Theodora Jones, you are not allowed on the property of Franks and Daughters Bail Bonds. If you do not leave of your own free will or return after being told you are not allowed, we’ll be completing a trespass complaint against you,” Locks stated.
“You know my name?” she asked.
Violet wondered that too. She hadn’t spoken to anyone about her mother and the things her mother had said or done.
“Of course. I know everything about anyone I consider family, and Violet is my daughter Beth’s friend, which makes her part of my family. And just in case you’re wondering, I don’t let anyone hurt my family. Now, get out of my building and off my property,” Locks said.
Violet shivered at the tone of Locks’ voice and was glad it wasn’t aimed at her. Deacon slid his arm around her.
“Yeah, get out of here,” David and Grant yelled.
Her mother glared. Violet knew her mother well, and her mother despised being thwarted. This wasn’t over, and Violet worried what would be next.
“Fine,” her mother said.
Speedy watched Violet’s mother walk out, escorted by two of the bail bonds employees. His heart was still thundering in his chest.
When Scoop had come running into the garage and said Violet needed him at the daycare, he hadn’t known what he was walking into, but he’d raced over.
Despite his best efforts to keep Violet at arm’s length, each minute he spent with her had him falling more for her. He kept reminding himself she was too young for him, but today, all he’d cared about was getting to her.
Speedy walked to Violet and the boys.
“Everybody okay?” he asked.
“The bad lady called Lettie names and hurt her arm,” Deacon said.
“Well, you guys were brave for stopping her from hurting Violet,” Speedy said. He hadn’t realized his son had a nickname for Violet.
“Nobody hurts my Lettie,” Deacon said, hugging Violet tighter.
“That was very brave of you boys. How about you head back into the room so I can make sure Violet’s okay?” Speedy said.
“I’ll take them and see if we can air out the room too,” Locks said, the boys giggling at his words.
