John realized that, belatedly. “You’ll like Big Spur.”
“Okay, then,” JJ said. “Thanks, mister.”
“I’m John,” he replied, smiling.
“Okay. John. And she’s Josie,” the boy added, looking up at Josie with melting eyes.
At that point, she’d have barbecued Raines for him.
Heather was waiting at the front door with Cole. Apparently, John had also called them.
They got out of the truck. The boy hesitated.
“These are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Josie told him gently. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Okay?”
He was holding her hand tightly. “Okay.”
They walked up onto the porch.
“This is Jeremiah, called JJ,” John introduced. “He’s had a hard night.”
JJ pushed his lips together hard, and his eyes grew wet.
“I’m Cole,” the big man said, kneeling in front of him and smiling. “That’s Heather. You’re welcome to stay with us.”
Tears rolled down the boy’s cheeks. Cole pulled him close and hugged him. “None of that,” he chided softly. “Heather and I raised two boys of our own.” He pulled back, smiling. “Do you like horses?”
JJ wiped at the tears. “I like horses a lot. We used to have horses, but Dad had to sell them on account of we couldn’t feed them anymore.”
“We have cattle, too. Lots of them.”
JJ was perking up.
“And you can have a room of your own. It’s safe here.”
“Don’t tell him about the snake,” Heather said under her breath as she knelt and introduced herself, smiling.
“You look like a picture of an angel I saw in a book,” he said, fascinated.
“She is an angel,” Cole agreed, smiling at his wife.
“What about a snake?” JJ asked.
“You had to say that...” Cole shook his head.
“It’s okay,” Heather jumped in. “The cage is padlocked. And it’s in John’s room.”
“What about a snake?” JJ persisted.
“He has a pet rattlesnake,” Josie said with a sigh. “It minds him.”
“Wow!” JJ exclaimed, looking at John with new eyes. “Can I see him? Does he bite?”
“You can see him after supper,” Heather promised.
“And no, he doesn’t bite,” John added, glaring at the other adults.
“Yet,” Josie murmured.
