Glancing at his painting, I smile. “Looks like you’ve got some talent. Grace said so. Keep at it. I think that Grace is going to reopen her shop for local artists. She’ll be looking for product.”
“What do you do now?” Joe asks.
“I kicked around a couple years to get my head on straight, then I trained to become a hotshot firefighter. I work for the unit closest to this area. The local fire department is also hiring me part time. Get healed and I’ll help you look for options.” I glance at the canvas again. Dark of night in the middle of a battlefield.I’ve been there. It’s real. Maybe this is cathartic, just a purging. But the depth in his painting is real. “I don’t know much about art, but what you’ve done moves me. Grace thinks you have talent. I’d trust her opinion.”
We both stand and exchange a bro hug. I realize he’s not healed by this encounter, but he can choose to be on the way. “I’ll try to make it back next week if I’m not working. We can take on the others in Rummy.”
He only nods, but I see a flicker in his gaze. Maybe a light. Maybe hope.
CHAPTER 12
Grace
My heart is so full, I have to fight the tears. Caleb exposed his own scars to help Joe accept his.
I remember the day Joe’s family came after he was transferred to us. Jaxon went out of his way to get his family to visit. His mother took one look and walked out. His father shook hands and stood talking for maybe ten minutes looking everywhere but at his son, then left. They haven’t been back.
Caleb pulls something out of a bag, hands it to Joe and it’s obvious they are talking about their scars. Maybe it’s also a start in Caleb’s own acceptance.
The soldier working clay with me draws my attention. Another thirty minutes and I start packing up. Caleb is by my side immediately carrying the empty art bags to the truck.
“Where do you want to eat?” he asks.
“There’s a new Indian food restaurant that just opened, Mumbai Palace. I’ve only had Indian food once in Grants Pass. I’d love to try it again.”
“Sounds good. It’s a little early for dinner. Would you like to shop a little or stop at Muggs Up?”
“Mugg’s. We need to buy more coffee beans anyway.”
When we walk in, we see Sheriff Harker. He waves us over to his table. Maizie meets us and takes our order.
“Learn anything new?” Caleb asks.
“Seems a couple other families closer to the main road west of Grace’s area have noticed people crossing in the woods. Have you had a chance to check out the woods behind Grace’s yet?”
“No, but I will tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I don’t like the thought that there may be some troublemaking vandals out there. If they start a careless fire, we’ve got trouble. Checked with a couple other towns to see if they’ve had fire issues. But none so far. Bigger issue is runaway kids. They asked us to keep our eyes open.”
“Do you have a tracker on staff?” Caleb asks.
“Couple amateurs.”
“Preach’s rafting season is almost over. You might want to talk to him. He was one of the best when we served together. He grew up on a remote mountain and knows his way around in the wild. He may be open to doing some work for you. Knowing Preach, he’d do it for the hell of it, just to stay out of town.”
“Thanks. Let’s see what you find first. How do I leave Preach a message?”
“He’s a little anti-electronic. He keeps a phone but rarely turns it on. He and I were planning on sharing the cabin Jaxon owns that’s up the mountain from Grace. I’ll drop a note off for him there and tell him to call you when he gets back. Fair warning. If you ever want him to contact you again, you need to be specific. ‘Call me oh-six hundred hours.’ He’ll only try once. Another one of his quirks.”
“Got ya.”
Before we leave, Caleb stocks up on more of his favorite Muggs coffee and we head to the restaurant. He seems well versed on the menu and when I describe the red stuff with chunks of cheese that I liked before, he knows just what to order.
I loved it all: Paneer Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, and the vegetable Samosas he ordered. And I am totally hooked on the Mango Lassi.
He promises to take me to Grants Pass or Rogue River soon so we can try other foods that aren’t typical in our little town of Kennedy.
It’s after nine by the time we get home. He checks the house and the studio before telling me he’s going to do a perimeter check.
