“I’ve gotta get to the farm before anyone misses me.” Her boots lifted Charlotte enough to plant a kiss on Lucky’s cheek without rising up on her toes.
Lucky forced his gaze to meet hers. “You don’t really believe Daytona, do you?”
“I believe that he believes.” She placed a hand against Lucky’s cheek. “But I also believe you. You wouldn’t hurt him or the rest of the family. Besides, like you said, you’re too cheap to spend so much money on something you can’t drive.”
Truth there. Plus, Victor’s generosity knew no bounds as far as possessions went, but he’d doled out only modest amounts of cash.
Still, what happened to Daytona couldn’t be erased. The truth needed to be found out and told. Even if it did piss off a few people he’d have to be crazy to mess with. No one ever accused Lucky of sanity.
Not even the counselor he met with weekly.
Charlotte tapped a fingertip against her cheek. “Now, gimme some sugar.”
God, how long since Lucky last heard those words? He planted a kiss where she pointed.
A hug for Bo, head scratches for Moose, and Charlotte got into her car.
Lucky watched her drive away, the warm day suddenly much colder until Bo dropped an arm around his shoulders.
He trudged back into the house and sagged down onto the couch. Bo never said a word, just held him. Moose laid his head on Lucky’s knee, rolled his big, brown eyes upward, and gave a bit of a whine.
Lucky laughed despite his heavy heart and gave the petting whore a nice ear rubbing. A black and white fur ball squeezed into his lap and began to rumble.
If the critters and Bo felt the need to be close to him, he’d let them for a while.
Maybe forever if he got that long.
***
The gloomy gray morning and light drizzle matched Lucky’s mood.
Bo loaded his computer bag into the car. “Got everything?”
No. Not really. But taking the house with them wasn’t an option. “I reckon.” He handed Cat Lucky to Mrs. Griggs under her umbrella big enough for six people. He wouldn’t say, “Take good care of him,” but settled for a good chin scratching for Cat Lucky.
Moose sat beside Lucky, whining and tugging at his leash. “Is there room in there for this beast?”
Bo eyed his loaded-down Durango and the ninety-plus pound, slightly damp dog. “We’ll get him in there somehow.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take very good care of your kitty.” Mrs. Griggs touched noses with Cat Lucky. “Won’t I, snookums?” With the expert motions of long practice, she secured the spoiled critter in a cat carrier and lugged him to her car. One down, one to go.
“Ready to do this?” Bo threaded the leash through the vehicle and out the other side. “On the count of three, I’ll pull, you push.”
Five minutes later Lucky still had his back to the truck, pushing with his legs to get Moose inside. Funny how they’d had to restrain the beast to keep him out of Charlotte’s car, and now couldn’t get him in their own.
The neighbor stopped by with his beagle on a leash. “Try this. It’s what I do when my dog won’t get in the car.” The man reached into his pocket, pulled out a brownish lump, and strolled around to Bo’s side of the car. “Here, boy! Want this?” He waved the offering.
Lucky staggered from having the unmoveable object behind him suddenly move. He whirled around. Moose sat in the backseat, chomping the treat.
“Thanks,” Bo said.
The neighbor bobbed his head and waddled on down the sidewalk, tugging the leash to get the beagle moving.
“Let’s go.” Bo jumped into the driver’s seat. “It’s about ten hours, give or take, allowing gas and lunch stops and dropping Moose by the Smiths.”
Moose stuck his head between the seats, licked Lucky’s ear, and proceeded to drool all over his T-shirt.
At this rate, he’d have to shower and change clothes once he reached the Smiths.
