“Yes, ma’am. That’s the bail. But there’s also a fine.” The officer turned a document around for River to look over.
She did, then she closed her eyes and tilted her face to the ceiling. “I’m going to kill her.”
“I beg your pardon?” the officer demanded.
Mathew had his checkbook out of his pocket before River had a chance to say a word. “You said eighteen forty-seven?”
“Mathew! You can’t.”
He stiffened. Why did her saying his name like that grate on him like nails on a chalkboard? Ignoring her, he scrawled out the amount and pushed it forward.
River attempted to snatch the check before the officer grabbed it, but she failed. “Mathew!” she snapped. “You can’t just?—”
“River?” A soft voice tore River’s attention to the side of the room where a slight woman stood next to a female officer. The girl had long dark hair with vibrant red highlights throughout. Black makeup was smudged around her eyes and streaked down her cheeks as if she’d been crying. She fidgeted with her hands, wringing them together in front of her.
River must have forgotten her anger with Mathew because she abandoned her argument and strode across the room.
The girl stiffened as River pulled her in for a tight hug. There were muffled words that Mathew couldn’t hear, and he was only vaguely aware of the receipt he’d been offered. The girls couldn’t look more different. River’s long, blonde hair and green eyes were a stark contrast to her sister’s dark hair and blue eyes. But they were close. Why else would River drop everything to come help her?
He couldn’t help but think about his relationships with his own siblings. It was nice to see someone else so invested in prioritizing family despite the strained situation. The relief on River’s face quickly shifted to one of disappointment. Likewise, her sister’s shifted to defensive. While River’s hands remainedon her sister’s upper arms and she spoke in angry hushed tones, her sister made it clear she wasn’t willing to listen.
Mathew could only catch snippets from where he stood.
“…move in with me…”
“…crazy? I’m not moving to…”
“…don’t have a choice…”
Then River’s sister tore away from her. Her eyes clashed with his briefly before she pushed past him and headed out the door. For a moment Mathew wondered if he should go after her, to retrieve her so River wouldn’t have to chase her down.
It was River’s quiet voice at his side that stopped him from doing just that. “That… could have gone better.” Her voice was defeated, tired. She didn’t look up at him when he glanced in her direction. He could sense the strain in her muscles more than see it.
Mathew couldn’t say that he’d ever had to deal with something like this. His siblings had both been rather easy. They had stable jobs and, for the most part, good heads on their shoulders. Out of all of them, Penny was the only one with severe trauma, but it made her one of the best therapists in this part of Colorado.
He shifted where he stood, not knowing if River wanted anything from him or if she wanted him to pretend he didn’t witness any of that. There was a fifty-fifty chance that she would push him away if he attempted to help, but that was what his gut had him leaning toward.
“You hungry? Because I’m hungry.”
She snorted.
Biting back a smile, he cocked his head and gazed down at her with veiled amusement. “I think this calls for breakfast.”
Once again, she made a sound that could have been a laugh if she wasn’t so upset with the current situation. “It’s four in the afternoon.”
He folded his arms and turned toward her with mock surprise. “Have you never had breakfast for dinner? I thought you were the one well-versed in having fun.” Mathew loved the surprise that flickered in her eyes. A hint of light returned to those green irises, and with it came a stronger ache for something more between them.
The temptation to drape his arm around her shoulders and guide her toward his car was so strong that he actually reached out to her. Before he made a fool of himself, he managed to shift his movement so he could place his hand on the small of her back.
They found a diner near the station, and he ordered them both a stack of waffles along with some other things while she was in the restroom. When she returned, she eyed the dish of ice cream with a cock of her brow. “Breakfast for dinner and dessert before you eat your meal? What a rebel.”
He chuckled and shook his head. Then scooped up some of the ice cream and slathered it atop his waffle before pouring some hot syrup over the top.
She gaped at him. “What are you doing?”
“It’s better than butter. Give it a try.”
And that was how he got River out of her own head. He’d been able to see the worry etched in every line of her face. Practically heard the whirring of her thoughts.
