Chapter 14 #2
Frowning, Caitlyn stumbled to the window and peeked out.
Her breath hitched. There in her backyard, pushing a lawnmower, stood Daniel wearing an old ball cap.
He was bathed in the soft light of the rising sun, the white T-shirt clinging to his broad frame, emphasizing the easy power of his movements.
What was he doing here? She couldn’t remember them setting a time. They’d come too close the other day when Silas and his old pals came to the range.
The sound of the mower ceased, and he looked toward the house. He waved in her direction. Heat flooded her cheeks. She should probably call down to him, but she watched his biceps flex with each push of the mower.
Caitlyn grabbed the old cotton robe hanging from the open drawer of her dresser. She rushed down the stairs, fumbling to tie the belt. The cool air nipped at her bare legs, but she didn’t care.
Daniel came around the side of the house, pushing the mower. His movements sent a subtle ripple across his biceps.
“Daniel?” she called out, her voice husky with sleep. “What are you doing here?”
He shut off the mower, and the look of surprise faded when he grinned back. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”
“You really don’t have to do that,” she mumbled, glancing around toward the garage apartment nestled discreetly behind the house. There was no sign of Pops’ motorcycle or any of the Ghost Riders near the garage, but worry gnawed at her.
“I know. I want to,” he said, pushing the mower closer to the porch. “Besides, a beautiful morning like this deserves to be spent outdoors. Not cooped up inside.”
He stopped in front of her. The scent of freshly cut grass and something faintly citrusy mingled in the air.
“Actually,” she began, searching for the right words. “About the other day…”
Daniel lifted his ball cap, wiping sweat from his brow with his arm, then settled his cap back on his head.
For a split second, she caught a lighter tone of his hair near the roots and attested it to the sun, catching the strands at the right angle.
She imagined his hair lighter with the intensity of his blue eyes, so different from her Hispanic inheritance.
“Don’t worry about it,” Daniel waved it off, but Caitlyn saw the flash of disappointment cross his features. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Her stomach sank. “Would you like a drink? I might have some sweet tea.”
“I’ve got water in the truck, but thanks.”
She noticed Yeats’ landscaping truck for the first time. “Did you mow my entire lawn?”
“You must be a deep sleeper, or you worked late last night.” Daniel leaned against the porch. “I’m sorry I woke you all up. I almost brought you coffee, but didn’t know if you were a drink it black, cream, sugar, or fancy coffee type.”
“You don’t need to bring me coffee or mow my grass. We work together, Daniel, and I don’t want to spoil our friendship.”
“Ouch...” He placed a hand against his heart. “She pulled the friend card.”
“It wouldn’t be wise for me to lead you on,” she said, unsure if she believed herself. A thousand what ifs ran through her mind, and none of them led to a place that changed the here and now.
Daniel rounded the porch and placed his foot on the first stair. “I’m asking you to go out for a fun afternoon, and you can bring Owen. Or we can meet for coffee and get to know each other. If you want to be friends, I’m okay starting there.”
Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and Owen piped up. “Finally. You’re awake. Are we going to the store? You promised.”
“We’re going. Give me a few minutes.”
“Hey, Dan! Are you coming, too?”
Caitlyn’s heart melted at Owen’s inclusion of Daniel. Her son was spending more time with Daniel online, and a part of her worried. What if Daniel decided their life was too complicated or dangerous for him? Owen was attached to Daniel, and losing him as a part of their lives would crush her son.
“Sorry, bud. I’ve got three more stops today before I’m free to play.”
Owen’s face fell.
“Daniel and I were just discussing going on a tour of the battlefields,” Caitlyn said, trying to distract Owen.
“Been there. Did that. On horseback,” Owen huffed.
“There’s a place close to here, less than an hour’s drive, where we can race go-karts if you’re down with that?” Daniel asked, offering an alternative.
Owen’s face brightened. “H—Yeah!”
“Hey!” Caitlyn whirled around toward Owen. “We don’t talk that way in this house.”
“Pops and Papa…Silas do,” Owen challenged her.
“Whatever your mom says goes, else we can’t hang more if she doesn’t approve,” Daniel said, a look of confusion on his face.
“What I don’t approve of his language.” She pointed at Owen and realized she’d been speaking in Spanish. No wonder Daniel was confused, but he followed enough to know she wasn’t happy with her son.
“I’m sorry.” Owen glared at her, a deep scowl on his face. “Can we still go with Dan to drive the go-karts?”
“I’ll think about it while you change out of your PJs and get ready to go to the store.”
As Owen turned and went back inside the house, Caitlyn sighed.
“Alright. Text me when you’re done for the day, and Owen and I will meet you at La Rosa’s.
We can go from there on this adventure you’ve proposed.
” Hopefully, it was somewhere out of town where Silas or his buddies wouldn’t be able to spy on them.
Daniel’s gaze lingered on her for a beat too long. With warmth in his eyes, he said, “Deal.” Before she could savor the feeling, a sharp crack from the garage ripped the air.
“That’s my cue to get out of here.” He winked and went to retrieve his lawnmower.
She stood on the porch, her heart caught in her throat as Silas sauntered out of the garage.
He paused, glancing at her, then at Daniel, who kept his head down and loaded his lawnmower on the back of the trailer attached to Yeats’ truck.
Silas headed in her direction. Her lungs froze as he neared. “You can cancel the lawn boy. I take care of what’s mine.”
Daniel got in the truck, tilting his head away from them so as not to see his face.
“This isn’t your lawn.” Caitlyn’s heart hammered against her ribs. Relief washed over her as Daniel pulled away in Yeats’ truck and trailer. He made it away without encountering Silas. That was something, but the respite was short-lived.
Silas grabbed her by the chin. “I get done taking care of business here, and we’ll be moving to a place of our own. You find out where Daniels is?”
Caitlyn’s stomach churned. Moving? With Silas?
She didn’t want to anger him. “Sammy hasn’t heard from her brother in a couple of years.” Caitlyn avoided looking at him, not wanting him to see the lie. She hadn’t asked Sammy anything more about her brother.
“A man doesn’t leave his family and not stay in contact. Sooner than later, he’ll turn up, and you better hope your friend tells you where.”
“Ready!” Owen burst out the door on the porch and slowed at the sight of Silas.
“What’s the hurry?” Silas asked.
“Mom’s taking me shopping. I’m getting new boots and trading some of my old games for a new one.”
Silas ran his gaze over her. Caitlyn pulled her robe closer together, the thin fabric offering little comfort against the sudden chill that had settled over her.
“Is that so?”
“Give me a minute to change,” Caitlyn said, her gaze darting between Owen and Silas. “Owen, you need to go inside and make sure your room is clean before we leave.”
“What?” Owen glared at her.
“Let the boy be, woman.” Silas reached in his front pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. He pulled a few bills loose and handed them to Owen. “Keep your old games. You play them?”
Owen nodded, his eyes wide.
Caitlyn’s skin crawled as she watched the exchange.
“This should be enough to get a new one and those boots.”
Caitlyn opened her mouth to protest, but Owen took the money and looked at her expectantly.
She rushed up the stairs to change, knowing better than to ask where Silas had come across that kind of money.
Arguing with Silas in front of Owen could only escalate the situation and cause Owen to have questions she wasn’t sure how to answer.
Giving Owen a nudge into the house ahead of her, she vowed to keep her son from falling into the same life as his father.
As she changed, a small voice of doubt whispered in her ear.
Was she making a mistake by letting Daniel get involved in her life?
She had to be careful to walk the tightrope between protecting her son and keeping them all safe. But for now, she had to focus on getting them out of there, away from Silas’s watchful eyes.