Dani entered her uncle’s home with little Sarah in tow. The deputy’s heart started to beat a little faster once she crossed the Baptist Flats county line. Her thoughts were scattered and uneasy. Her aunt was dead. Otis was left wounded to deal with his loss alone. She knew Ruby and Rafe were at the house, but she also knew they couldn’t offer much support to her uncle. He wouldn’t have it. He wouldn’t open up to them like that. He was as reserved as they come in regards to showing emotions, and Dani knew that his soul was crumbling in silence.
Sheriff Royal jumped from his chair and doubled over in pain, clutching the wrist of his right arm. He adjusted his sling, stood up straight, and forced a smile. “Goddamn. Goddamn. Goddamn.”
Rafe grinned. “I believe that’s Otis speak for ‘Glad to see you.’ ”
Dani carefully wrapped him in a hug. “I’m all right. We’re all right.”
Spotting Sarah, Otis said, “You got her. Double goddamn.”
Dani motioned for Sarah to come closer.
Sarah slowly complied. “We thought we’d stay with you for a while,” Dani said.
“We?”
“Her momma, she’s…”
“Momma’s dead,” Sarah said.
Dani was taken aback because no one had told her what Randle had found in the trailer.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Otis kneeled down and looked Sarah in the eyes. “Would you like to stay here?”
Sarah gave his question some thought and then shrugged sheepishly.
Otis rubbed his chin and said, “Tell you what. Why don’t you try it out for a day or two to see if it suits you?”
Sarah nodded.
Dani patted the little girl’s shoulder and then said, “Where’s Ruby?”
“The kitchen,” Rafe said. “Cleaning up—” He cut himself off, not allowing himself to say, “Cleaning up your aunt’s blood off the wood floor.”
Dani turned to the kitchen and then back to her uncle. Hugging him again, she said, “I’m so sorry.”
He hugged her back with his good arm, unable to respond any other way.
She released him. “I hate to leave now, but I’ve got a message to deliver.”
Sensing Dani’s uneasiness, Otis said, “Go. Sarah will be all right with us.”
She smiled and turned to Sarah. “Would that be okay with you?”
Sarah looked past her and studied Otis’s face for a few seconds before nodding. “That’d be okay.”
Dani brushed the little girl’s hair back and then headed for the door.
Just before she exited, Otis barked out, “Tell Randle and Friar that just because I’m home don’t mean they don’t have to show up for work. Someone’s gotta police this town.”
“About Randle,” Dani said.
Otis held up his good hand. “He’s gotta be dealt with for what he done, I know, but he’s family. Family enough, anyway. Call me crazy. Call me stupid. Call me what you want, but I ain’t sending him packing. Bottom line is he showed up to help clean up the mess he made. He stays. You got a problem with that…Well, just learn to live with it. That’s all I’m saying on the matter.”
Dani didn’t bother to tell her uncle she agreed with him. She just smiled and walked out the door.