Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Violet stared at Grant, David, and Deacon, who’d been dropped off after school at the daycare. Violet was clenching her teeth because she’d learned the first time she laughed about the farting—it only encouraged it.
But seeing Deacon have friends with whom he was giggling and smiling was priceless. Well, if there was a price, it was the stench coming from the three little boys’ noxious fumes.
“Oh my gosh, who needs their pants changed?” Locks said, pausing in the doorway. She wouldn’t come into the room either if she had a choice. Maybe they could open a window or two to air out the room.
“Nobody needs their pants changed, Papa Locks. We were having a contest,” Grant said.
“I’m not sure which one of you won but I know all of us adults in here are the losers. At least my sinuses will be cleaned out. It’s strong enough it’s making my eyes water,” Locks said.
“Violet Jones, what the hell did you do? It smells like shit in here,” a voice Violet hoped she’d never hear again said. Violet wanted to tell her to not cuss around the kids, but a lifetime of holding her tongue stole her words.
Locks turned toward the woman, holding up his hand to stop her from entering the room.
“Ma’am, I don’t know who you are, but you are not authorized to be in the daycare and definitely not to talk to one of our people that way. Did you check in with the receptionist up front?” Locks said, blocking Violet and the kids from the woman’s sight.
“Listen, that’s my daughter and I’ll talk however I want. Violet, get your fat ass out here. We need to talk,” her mom said.
Violet wanted to tell her mother to go to hell, but her throat was tight, her face was flushed, and she despised that the kids were hearing this.
A growl and then three little boys pushed her mom’s legs to make her move.
“You leave my Lettie alone, you big meanie,” Deacon said.
“You’re mean. Leave Lettie alone,” Grant yelled.
“You’re a poopy head. You smell worse than our farts. Get out and leave her alone,” David yelled.
Violet couldn’t stop her laughter. Three little boys had yelled at her mother better than Violet ever had.
“Back off, you little snots. Somebody needs to beat some sense into you,” her mother said.
Locks had been standing still, letting the boys school her mother, but at her mother’s words, he stepped closer. Violet was not letting her mother hurt the sweet, stinky little boys who had stolen her heart.
“You back off. No one needs to beat them. You are not welcome here. You need to leave,” Violet said, her voice growing in strength with each word.
“Aww, fatty thinks she can stand up to me,” her mother said.
“Violet, you know this would be a perfect time for that pepper spray and stun gun that we talked about you needing,” Speedy’s deep voice said from the hallway.
Violet looked away from her mother to see Speedy’s smile and eyebrow cocked.
In the short time she’d been around him, she’d memorized all his looks and what they meant.
He was going to let her handle it unless she told him to step in.
“It would, but if I used either, she wouldn’t be able to take her scrawny no-good negative attitude off of the property. Leave now. You are not wanted here,” Violet said.
Her mother reached out and grabbed Violet’s arm, squeezing tight.
“You’ll walk outside and listen to me. This is nonsense. You’ll go back to work in Dodge City, got it?” her mother said.
Speedy’s hand reached for her mother’s, removing her tight grip finger by finger.
“Let me help you with that since you seem to not be listening. Violet has asked you to leave. I’m guessing you’re her mother. Locks, is Mrs. Jones wanted on your property?” Speedy asked, keeping a hold of her mother.
Violet appreciated him protecting her.
“Theodora Jones, you are not allowed on the property of Franks and Daughters Bail Bonds. If you do not leave of your own free will or return after being told you are not allowed, we’ll be completing a trespass complaint against you,” Locks stated.
“You know my name?” she asked.
Violet wondered that too. She hadn’t spoken to anyone about her mother and the things her mother had said or done.
“Of course. I know everything about anyone I consider family, and Violet is my daughter Beth’s friend, which makes her part of my family. And just in case you’re wondering, I don’t let anyone hurt my family. Now, get out of my building and off my property,” Locks said.
Violet shivered at the tone of Locks’ voice and was glad it wasn’t aimed at her. Deacon slid his arm around her.
“Yeah, get out of here,” David and Grant yelled.
Her mother glared. Violet knew her mother well, and her mother despised being thwarted. This wasn’t over, and Violet worried what would be next.
“Fine,” her mother said.
Speedy watched Violet’s mother walk out, escorted by two of the bail bonds employees. His heart was still thundering in his chest.
When Scoop had come running into the garage and said Violet needed him at the daycare, he hadn’t known what he was walking into, but he’d raced over.
Despite his best efforts to keep Violet at arm’s length, each minute he spent with her had him falling more for her. He kept reminding himself she was too young for him, but today, all he’d cared about was getting to her.
Speedy walked to Violet and the boys.
“Everybody okay?” he asked.
“The bad lady called Lettie names and hurt her arm,” Deacon said.
“Well, you guys were brave for stopping her from hurting Violet,” Speedy said. He hadn’t realized his son had a nickname for Violet.
“Nobody hurts my Lettie,” Deacon said, hugging Violet tighter.
“That was very brave of you boys. How about you head back into the room so I can make sure Violet’s okay?” Speedy said.
“I’ll take them and see if we can air out the room too,” Locks said, the boys giggling at his words.
Speedy wasn’t sure what was going on, but he’d worry about that later. He needed to know how Violet was.
He reached for her shaking hand. “Are you okay?” he asked.
The look in her eyes was killing him. He couldn’t imagine how her mother’s words had hurt—especially from the woman who was supposed to care for and love Violet.
Her arm trembling had him saying to hell with keeping his distance. He tugged her closer until he could wrap his arms around her.
“It’s going to be okay,” he whispered against her hair. Running his hand up and down her back—hoping the constant reassurance would help her.
“I should be used to it,” Violet whispered against his chest, her lush curves pressed against him.
“You shouldn’t have to be used to it,” Speedy said, deciding maybe reciting fractions or how to skin a deer would keep his body from reacting to her nearness.
“I figured when she couldn’t get to my money that she’d be mad,” Violet said.
“Did she get to your money before?” Speedy asked.
“Yes, she helped me set up the account so she’d take money out whenever she needed. Sometimes I wonder why she had me,” Violet said, the despair in her voice making Speedy want to hit the woman who dared to harm Violet.
“Did that change recently?” he asked. Maybe if he asked questions, he wouldn’t be focusing on how Violet felt right in his arms. He couldn’t explain it, but she was different from any other woman he’d known.
“When I moved here, Beth suggested I use the credit union that the bail bonds does because it’s easier,” Violet said.
He patted her back and fought not to run his fingers through her hair that smelled faintly of vanilla.
“You shouldn’t have to worry about her stealing from you,” Speedy said.
“I know that now. Before, I just thought that was how all parents acted, but once I moved, I realized Bluff Creek was different.”
Speedy was glad that the family at Bluff Creek had opened Violet’s eyes, but he wasn’t sure how to help her stand up for herself. She deserved to know she mattered and that she was special.
Keeping himself apart from her was proving to be a lot harder than he’d thought. But having Violet in his arms was calming him down.
“Hey, Violet, after the excitement we’ve had, Deacon, Grant, and David are being picked up for a play date at Winnie’s house.
I’ll deliver the other four to their parents.
You can have the rest of the day off and take Tessie with you.
I’ll add your mother to the no admittance list at the front gate.
I want to check out security and maybe add a security door that requires being buzzed into the daycare,” Locks said.
“Oh, I don’t want to be a bother,” Violet said.
Locks patted Violet’s shoulder. “You are not a bother. You are amazing, and I’m blessed to get to call you one of my bonus daughters. Now, relax and have a good afternoon. Maybe I’ll mention to Winnie to talk to the boys that farting contests are only allowed outside,” Locks said, grinning.
“I’d appreciate that,” Violet said, smiling back.
Speedy was thankful Locks was helping Violet relax.
“Let’s get your stuff and Tessie. I’ll ride back with you on the side-by-side.”
“Maybe you could drive us back. I’m feeling a little shaky,” Violet said softly.
“I can do that,” Speedy said, wondering how the heck, after he’d held her in his arms, he could go back to nanny and boss. Friggin’ fudgesicles.