Walter looked up. “Yes?”
“Oh, sir, your daughter is on her way.”
“I don’t have a daughter.”
“Oh, he has a daughter,” Stetson Asshole said. “Excuse me.” And he turned to leave. Kyle grabbed his arm on instinct. He didn’t know what was going on, but he sure as hell didn’t like it. “Hey, stick around for a minute,friend. You want to be neighborly don’t you, and see Mr. Sanders home safe? I’m sure that’s what you were doing out here,friend.”
“Matter of fact, Iamlooking out for Walter. Now take your fucking hand off me before I sue it off.”
The falling snow turned red as a high-pitched ringing filled Kyle’s ears. “I can send you to the ground with one punch. The second one’ll keep you there indefinitely.”
“Make my day.” The asshole looked Kyle up and down. “The fuck are you, a drifter? Shitbags like you disappear all the time.”
The roaring grew louder. He gripped the snow shovel handle tightly. Just one swing.Deep breaths. In, hold, and out. He’s not worth jail. Not when you’ve got Camo now.Kyle lifted his hand from the man’s arm, disgusted at Stetson Asshole’s triumphant look.Oh, we are so not done.
The woman reached the bench and shaded her eyes against the wind and snow, trying to make everyone out. Her squint looked more than defensive, it looked pretty damn angry.
“Thought I recognized that hat, Rick. Get the hell away from my dad.” She cut her eyes to Kyle. “And take your muscle or whoever this is with you.” She laid her hands on Walter’s shoulders. “Dad? We need to get you home.”
“I need to get to Peggy.”
Well, this is going sideways fast. Kyle lifted his hands, palms out. “Ma’am, I am not associated with this asshole. I was walking from my car back up to Arden Volker’s ranch and I thought your dad might need some help. Can I assist you?”
Walter looked Kyle over like he was seeing him for the first time. “Little Ardie Volker?” He dismissed Kyle with a wave as he looked away. “Too old for her.”
The woman had dropped to her knees in front of Walter. “Dad, Arden is in her twenties now. I’m your daughter, Ellie. Do you recognize me?”
Walter smiled at her. “You look like my Peggy.”
“Dad.” Ellie’s voice sounded resigned. “It’s Ellie. Your daughter. You’re having a hard day. It’s Ellie.”
“Told you, those hard days are just going to get harder and more frequent,” Rick said. “Lucky for you, I was plowing my drive and saw him out here. But what’s going to happen next time?”
Ellie stood and looked at Rick with an expression that turned the day colder. “You. Stay away from. My father.” She glanced at Kyle. “And you… What’d you say your name was?”
“I didn’t. It’s Kyle McGuire, ma’am.”
“Ellie? I’m cold.” Walter’s voice sounded lost.
Her face went from angry to anguished. She turned back to her dad. “Okay, Dad, let’s get you back to the house. You want your coffee? You didn’t drink your coffee this morning.” She reached for his hands.
Kyle went around behind Walter. “Let me help.” He set the shovel aside and slid his hands under the man’s armpits and supported him as he stood. Rick the Dick only watched and shook his head. “It’s only going to get worse. You really want this for your dad? I can make all these problems go away.”
Ellie whipped her head around. “I told you to get the hell out of here. We’re not interested.”
Rick put his hands up in surrender. “Okay, fine, have it your way. You know where to find me when it gets too much.” He turned and started diagonally across the road, heading uphill. Kyle noticed a truck with a plow on the front of it just sticking out from the end of a lane.What the hell is he up to?
Kyle tightened his grip on Mr. Sanders. “I want to make sure Mr. Sanders doesn’t slip and fall.”
Her eyes softened. “Thank you.” She looked her dad in the face. “You walked all the way out here by yourself. Can you walk back with me?”
“I can help,” Kyle offered. Ellie looked to be in her late forties, early fifties. If Walter fell, He didn’t think she’d have an easy time getting him back on his feet.
“We’ll manage, thank you. House isn’t that far, though you can’t see it right now. A lot closer than Arden’s place.”
“Ma’am, it’s no trouble, I promise.”
She squinted at him. “All right, but I won’t be responsible for your frostbite.”
