Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“I’ve heard some crazy things in my day,” Slater said later that afternoon, sitting across from Mina in a booth at the café, “but that might just take the cake.”
Next to him, Jackson nodded after taking a bite of a buttered roll. “Damn crazy,” he agreed.
Mina had shared what had occurred at the meeting, and Slater was worried. He didn’t know a lot about the court system, but he knew rich folks always seemed to have the upper hand. He didn’t know if that would be the case here, but if Mina’s theory was right, and Hugo Sparks had a group backing him? It seemed like odds were high they’d be able to pull some sort of fast one.
That thought made apprehension creep in, mingling with the excitement he felt over being with Mina once again.
She was adorable. There was no doubt about that. Especially dressed in her pink shortalls and white t-shirt, and her hair in pigtails. She’d clearly acclimated to the vibe of Big Cedar, and it made his heart happy.
“I’m going to find out what’s going on!” Mina declared. “You know, when I accepted this job, I figured most of it would be spent announcing various community activities and Little playdates and stuff in the paper.”
“That’s a fair assumption,” Jackson said.
“Yep. But look at me now? I’m getting to do some actual investigative journalism!” She ducked her head sheepishly and blushed. Speaking more quietly, she continued, “Will anyone take me seriously? I’m a Little. I mean, look at the way I’m dressed.”
It was Slater who responded first. “Honey, Littles can do anything anyone else can. You’re smart, capable, and qualified.”
“What he said,” Jackson agreed.
Slater smiled as Mina sat up straighter and beamed with pride. It appeared as if his words had gotten through. Good. He’d meant every one of them. He had the utmost faith in her journalistic abilities.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Where are you going to start?” he asked.
“Online. In journalism school, some of my professors had been in the field for a long time. They told us all about how in the old days you had to go to courthouses and stuff like that, digging through old records and archives. Now, though, almost anything can be discovered online.” She paused long enough to take a drink of tea. “But sometimes people hide themselves well. Behind shell corporations and stuff like that. In that case, I might have to rely on some old-school tactics.”
“In which case,” Slater said, “we’ll be going with you.”
“You will?”
“Uh-huh. I’m not saying this Hugo fella is dangerous. He might just be a douche. But I know how some folks can be if you try and get in their way. Especially when lots of money is on the line.”
“He’s right about that,” Jackson chimed in. “In fact, might be a good idea if we stick close to you. Just to make sure you have someone watching your back.”
Slater studied Mina, waiting to gauge her reaction. He was relieved when she smiled and giggled.
“Well, ain’t she the cutest?” Jackson posed.
“We done settled that,” Slater replied.
“You did?” she asked.
“Sure did,” he said. “Last night, when we were talking about you.”
“You were talking about me?” Mina repeated incredulously. “Maybe that’s why I dreamed about you two.”
Slater arched an eyebrow and shot her a wry smile. “Oh you did, did you? And just what did you dream about?”
The Little looked even more adorable, if that was possible, as she covered her mouth and started giggling while her cheeks glowed a bright red.
When she didn’t answer, Slater shifted a little in the booth to look at Jackosn. “What do you suppose was taking place in that dream of hers, brother?”
This drew a laugh from Jackson. “Oh, I think I know good and well what was going on. Just look at the way she’s blushing.”
“Stop it!” Mina said through her giggles.
Every Daddy instinct Slater possessed stirred in his soul. It was all he could do not to stand up, scoop Little Mina into his arms, and shower her with a thousand kisses right then and there.
But he resisted those urges. Just barely.
“So you’re going to start by poking around on the computer?” he inquired.
“Yep. I bet I can overturn something.”
“I admire your confidence.”
Before anyone could say anything else, a loud shuffling noise interrupted them and they all looked up to see a gang of Littles running across the café toward them.
“Don’t run in here, cuties!” Marsha called from behind the counter. “I’ll tell your Daddies and they’ll give your booties a walloping!”
The women all slowed, saying in unison, “Yes, ma’am.”
They arrived in front of the booth at a much more measured pace.
“Hey!” Alyssa said. “We’ve been looking for you.”
“Yeah. We want to know if you want to play with us,” Grace blurted out in breathless tones.
Apparently, Slater thought, the Littles had been running all over town because they were out of breath.
He looked across the table to see a look of contemplation on Mina’s face. Realizing her dilemma, he said, “It’s okay to have a little bit of fun before you work.”
“You think so?” she asked.
He nodded. “I know so.”
Jackson agreed. “Run around and have a good time. Then you’ll be ready to go later this afternoon and can do all that research.”
She tapped her chin, clearly thinking it over.
Finally, she relented with a smile that warmed Slater’s heart.
“I could use some playtime,” she said.
“I bet you could,” Slater said. “And you know, we said we’ll watch your back.” He grinned even wider before speaking again. “So I guess that means Jackson and me will accompany you to the playground.”
* * *
The Littles seemed to be having the time of their lives as they ran around the gated playground that rested just off Main Street.
“Look at how much she loves that,” Slater noted as he and Jackson watched Mina come off the large, swirling slide. “This is the highlight of my week.”
“Mine, too,” Jackson said. “And it’s been an eventful one.” He looked at his friend, his gaze loaded with meaning. “Lots of stand-out moments.” He cleared his throat, thinking about their kiss, then added, “Of course, every moment we’ve spent with Mina sorta stands out, if you ask me.”
Slater nodded.
They returned their attention to the Littles for another moment—and one Little in particular—before Slater broached a subject that had been on his mind.
“I didn’t want to say anything in front of the little cutie. Not sure why. She’ll find out, anyway.” He chuckled. “But this town stuff has me a mite worried.”
“Me, too,” Jackson admitted. “We just put down roots in Big Cedar. And now this town might be taken over by some greedy developers?”
“Exactly,” Slater said, looking at his friend once again. “And you know as well as I do that they won’t keep it the same. No, once they get their grubby hands on it, it’ll be just some generic resort area. Won’t be for our kind anymore.”
“Yep. Reckon they’ll run all the Daddies and Littles clear out of Big Cedar,” Jackson agreed. “Or try to, at least. But we’d put up a fight.”
“What if we put up one now?” Slater proposed, leveling a very pointed gaze at his best friend. “We take matters in our own hands before it comes to all that nonsense we’re worried about.”
Jackson stared at him for a moment, clearly contemplating what he’d heard. “What do you have in mind?”
Over the cheers and laughs of happy Littles, Slater shared his proposal.
“I’ve been keeping up with things on the circuit. And if I’m doing the math right—and I think I am—a feller could win him about two hundred and fifty in prize money.” He nodded, looking Jackson in the eyes, before adding, “That’s a mighty big purse. And enough to give this town what it needs to pay those taxes.”
“Whoa there,” Jackson said, shaking his head. “It sounds like you’re telling me you’re considering getting back on some wild, bucking horses.”
“I did it the other day,” Slater defended. “And you saw the results. Rampage gave up. I won.”
“You did what you had to do in the moment. And I didn’t like it one bit, if you’ll remember correctly.”
“Oh, I remember.” Slater laughed. “You threatened to spank my bottom.”
“And I’m of a like mind to do so again,” Jackson snapped.
Slater just chuckled and brushed the threat off. “Well, I’m not talking about riding broncs.”
“Good!”
Slater grinned again. “I’m talking about riding bulls.”
He watched as Jackson’s face turned stark white for a few seconds.
“That’s even worse! How long has it been since you’ve been on the back of a bull?”
“Too long. I miss it,” Slater told him.
“Do you miss getting tossed around and coming close to having your guts stomped in the ground? And surely you remember what happened the last time! I sure do, being as how I’m the one who nursed you back to health.”
Slater put a hand on his friend’s arm and spoke in a calm voice when he said, “I’m a champion. You know how many buckles I have. I can do this.” He let a few moments pass before adding, “And I think I need to do this. For Big Cedar.”