“The cage is escape-proof,” John emphasized.
“So was Charlie’s cage,” Heather said under her breath.
“Snake bigots,” John grumbled at them.
Josie choked back a laugh.
JJ was watching them all and smiling shyly.
Cole and Heather exchanged a long look. Then they nodded. John beamed. Unless he missed his guess, he was about to gain a sibling. Josie also saw the byplay. As they walked inside, she smiled from ear to ear.
“How did the two of you meet?” Heather asked Josie, indicating JJ.
“We were sitting together up in the stands,” Josie said, smiling at the boy. “He told me about his dad and what a great bull rider he was...” She groaned. “I’m sorry, JJ,” she said gently.
“It’s okay,” he told her. “Dad was a great bull rider. He took real good care of me.” He swallowed hard and tucked back into beef and potatoes. “Ma’am, this is really good food!”
Mercedes stuck her head in the door. “Mil gracias!” she called in Spanish.
“De nada,” JJ replied, smiling. “La comida es muy sabrosa!”
“Hablas español!” Mercedes exclaimed.
“Si, un poquito,” he replied. “Esta familia es muy buena. Estas personas son muy simpaticas.”
“Es la verdad,” she replied with a smile. “Bienvenidos. Estas segura aqui.”
“Solamente esta noche. Tengo que salir mañana,” he added.
“Esa no es la verdad,” Cole said quietly. “Puedes quedar aqui para siempre, si lo quieres.”
JJ caught his breath. “Es la verdad?” he asked.
“Es la verdad,” Heather added with a warm smile. “No tenemos algunas niños aqui. Todos nuestros hijos son adultos. Nos gusta tener uno hijo mas,” she added with a hopeful smile.
JJ looked around the table. “Me gusta,” he said softly. “Muchas gracias.”
The adults all smiled.
Josie looked from one to the other. She was fluent in Spanish, but it suited her role to pretend she wasn’t. She managed to look confused.
“We offered him a position,” Heather told her with a grin. “He said he would have to leave tomorrow, but we told him that’s not true. We have an opening for a third son, and he can stay forever if he wants. He said yes.” She smiled from ear to ear and fought tears.
“But you don’t know me,” JJ said.
“That’s what you think,” Josie said and smiled tenderly. “You’re a good kid.”
“Believe her,” John said, swallowing coffee. “She sure knows the bad kind.” He looked pointedly at Josie.
“John!” Heather and Josie said together.
Everybody broke up. Except John, of course.
Four
JJ was put to bed in the guest room. He was fascinated by towels that matched and sheets that didn’t have holes. Heather even read him a bedtime story. He cried a little more over his dad and she comforted him. He was already in her heart. And vice versa.
Later, sitting in the living room, Heather wanted to know about JJ’s dad. Josie told her what she knew. “He lost his mother several years ago,” she said. “That was a talking point, because I lost mine a year ago. He said it was just him and his dad, no other family, and that he’d begged his dad not to go to the rodeo.” She grimaced. “But they didn’t have the rent, and JJ’s dad didn’t want him growing up living in a damned pickup truck,” she added, biting her lip. “Sorry, that slipped out,” she said in apology. “We’re the richest country on earth. Why are poor people having to live in cars or tents on the streets?” she asked. “Why is rent out of reach except for the one percent?”
