“You, sweetheart,” Hannah answered, “are getting a little girl who is your age to play with for a whole week. Once you get acquainted you might even get to have a sleepover in your room. But Sophie, when we get this kind of company, you need to know that they cannot go outside, so you will have to stay in the house if you want to play with the little girl.”
Sophie’s hands flew to her cheeks in a dramatic gesture. “You mean it? My very first sleepover in my whole life.”
“But only if the little girl’s mama says it’s okay,” Hannah said.
“I hope she likes Lullaby and my room,” Sophie said. “Is she coming right now?”
“In about an hour, so you better clean up that plate. Especially if you want to have time for strawberry shortcake,” Hannah said.
“Why does the baby bed go in your room?” Travis asked.
“She has a broken leg and can’t climb stairs, especially with a new baby. I’ll take one of the upstairs rooms,” she answered.
“And I’ll take one of the others,” he said. “I’ll move back tonight.”
“That’s not necessary,” Hannah argued.
“Yes, it is,” Aunt Birdie said. “And I’ll feel better if he’s there, so do it for my sake if not for yours.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t tell Aunt Birdie no, not after all the wiry little lady had done for her through the years.
Travis, sleeping in the room across the hall or right next to her. Travis, using the same bathroom she did. Travis, leaving the scent of his aftershave lingering behind him. It scared her, and yet, it kicked an extra little thump into her heartbeat at the same time.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The woman hardly looked old enough to have produced two children. She towered above Hannah, and although she couldn’t be classified as overweight, she was certainly one large woman. Hannah wondered what man would have the nerve to hit her.
Where fear had filled every fiber of Elaine’s body, this young mother looked like she could chew up railroad ties and spit out toothpicks. She held her baby with one arm and had a crutch firmly planted under the other one. Her older child had a firm grip on the crossbar of the crutch and kept her eyes on her mother.
“I’m Jodie and this is Laurel and the baby is Bella. Thank you for letting us stay here.” Her eyes bored right into Hannah’s.
Every situation was sure enough going to be different, Hannah decided. “We are glad to have you. This is my daughter, Sophie, who is very excited to have a playmate this week, and this is Travis, our bodyguard.”
Jodie scanned Travis from boots to hair and then back down. “Brad will eat him for lunch and still be hungry.”
“He’s a lot stronger and meaner than you think,” Hannah said. “And there’s a shotgun in his bedroom that could even the score pretty quickly. You don’t worry about a thing. We’re out in the boondocks, and the only way anyone comes here is if they live here. You will be safe.”
“I’m Sophie. Would you like to come and see my new room? It’s got a rainbow and a star on the wall and I’ve got Barbie dolls if you want to play.” Sophie took the little blonde-haired girl’s other hand in hers.
Blue eyes, as big as saucers, looked up at her mother for an answer.
“It’s right next door from where you and the baby will be staying, and we’ll leave both doors open,” Hannah said quickly.
A slight smile turned up the corners of Jodie’s wide lips. “You can go play, Laurel.”
“Here’s her suitcase and a package of diapers for the baby,” Gina said. “I should be getting back.”
“Thank you,” Hannah said. “Now let’s get you settled, Jodie. Maybe you and Miss Bella would like a nap?”
Jodie’s whole demeanor changed. “It’s been months since I’ve slept without worry. He’s crazy when he’s mad, and the last time he threw Laurel across the room and gave me a choice. She could take the whipping for my sass or he’d give it to her,” Jodie said. “That’s when I’d had enough and started making plans to leave him. But I shouldn’t be whining. I got away. Now if only he don’t find me for a week, I might even get back to Kentucky in one piece.”
Hannah said, “You can tell as much or as little as you want. We can sit up with sweet tea or hot coffee until midnight or you can keep it all to yourself. But know one thing—I’ve walked that mile in your shoes. My divorce isn’t even a month old.”
“You are so lucky that it’s over,” Jodie said. “When my brother gets me back into those Kentucky hills, I’ll feel a lot better. Brad knows better than to come after me there. Those folks don’t mess around with men like him.”
“Then we’ll keep you safe until then. Travis, will you get that suitcase?” Hannah led the way to her bedroom.
Jodie gasped. “This is so beautiful and quiet.”
Two little girls’ giggles wafted from the next room.
Jodie stopped in her tracks and spun around, baby still in her arms. “I haven’t heard her giggle like that in a long time.”
“It’s the house.” Travis smiled.
The baby started to wiggle and fuss. Travis held out his hands, and Jodie hesitated.
“I love babies.” Travis’s smile was so honest and kind that Jodie turned her baby over to him.
I have done that, Hannah thought. Travis is just that trustworthy.
Bella gave him a toothless grin and cooed.
“He’s like that with children.” Hannah laughed. “But rest assured he can shoot the eyes out of a rattlesnake at thirty yards.”
“My daddy got upset if I wasted ammo,” Travis said as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “And Miz Bella, when you get into the hills of Kentucky, I bet you’ve got a grandpa who will teach you how to shoot.”
“No grandpa, but she’s got a great-granny and tons of cousins and great-uncles. We’ll be living in my old home,” Jodie said.
“She’ll have folks to love her, and that’s what’s important. Would it be all right for Travis to take Bella over to Sophie’s room and give you some privacy to unpack?” Hannah asked.
Jodie nodded but didn’t take her eyes off Travis as he carried her baby into Sophie’s room. “It’s hard to trust. I put my faith in Brad, and look what it got me.” She leaned her crutch against one side of the bed and hobbled over to open the suitcase. “Should I leave this stuff in here?”
“I’ve cleaned out two drawers for you, and there’s space in the closet for your things. And Jodie,” Hannah said, “we’ll get you through this week and you can go home to your Kentucky home and heal.”
Laurel dashed into the bedroom with the kitten hanging over her arm like a limp dishrag. “Mama, Mama, look, Sophie’s got a kitten and its name is Lullaby.”
Jodie rubbed the gray fur. “She is a beautiful kitty cat. And I like her name.”
“Sophie says it’s because this house is named Lullaby Sky, but they can’t make a sign for the porch. Sophie has her room all fancy. Come and see. Can I paint my room when we get to ’Tucky?” Laurel tugged at her mother’s hand.
Jodie picked up her crutch and hobbled to Sophie’s bedroom. “Oh. My. Goodness. What a lovely room. And I think you should have a rainbow and clouds and a star on your wall in Kentucky.”
Hannah followed, awe filling her just as it had Jodie, only for different reasons. There was big, tall, strapping Travis sitting in the rocking chair humming a lullaby to the baby. He looked up and winked at her, and Hannah’s heart melted. Someday a woman would come along and Travis would fall in love with her. She’d get the best man on Earth, and he’d be a wonderful husband and father.
A shot of pure old green jealousy danced down Hannah’s spine. She wasn’t sure she could ever be friends with a woman who got the privilege of his love.
“Look, Mama.” Laurel pointed. “Sophie’s got Barbies like the ones I had, and now we’re going to play with them.”
“That’s my cue to take Bella to the living room. She’s too little to play with Barbies and the girls need their privacy.
Is that all right with you, Jodie?” Travis drawled.
Jodie nodded without hesitation this time. “I can unpack my few things if you want to go with him.” She glanced at Hannah.
“I’ll make a fresh pitcher of sweet tea and a pot of coffee. There’s some leftover cupcakes, too,” Hannah said.
“Laurel will love that. She’s got a sweet tooth just like my brother’s. I’m so glad that he can take a two-week leave from the service and help me go home. Should’ve never left.” Jodie sighed.
“Hindsight and all that . . .” Hannah paused.
“Shit!” Jodie said under her breath.
“Yes, ma’am.” Hannah nodded.
Hannah had just gotten the tea made when Jodie showed up in the kitchen. Without a baby in her arms, she looked even taller. Her blonde hair had been short at one time, but it had grown out into several different lengths. Brown eyes were set into a round face that could be pretty if it didn’t have so many worry lines etched into it.
“Tea?” Hannah asked.
“Yes, please and maybe one of those cupcakes. I didn’t have much supper. I don’t like to take charity, but I couldn’t figure out another way to get back to Kentucky without going through the shelter.” Jodie pushed up the sleeves of a knit shirt that were frayed at the wrists.
“It’s a good sign that you’re hungry now. And this is not charity, Jodie, so get that idea out of your head.” Travis had brought a wooden rocker from the living room and was letting Bella chew on his cell phone.
“She’ll ruin your phone,” Jodie said.
“Who cares? She’s teething. Got one of them ring things for her?” Travis asked.
Jodie shook her head. “Left everything behind. Walked out without even a diaper bag, caught a bus to Gainesville, and called Gina. I have a friend who works at a health clinic. She noticed some bruises and handed me a phone number. I kept it for over a month before I finally had enough of his shit.”
“Smart woman,” Hannah said. “I’ve still got a couple of those rings that you freeze. I found them shoved back behind a bag of frozen peas the other day. My ex-husband did not like canned peas, so I kept frozen ones for him at all times. Long story short, there are two in the freezer. Do you mind if I let her chew on one?”
“Not a bit. It’ll feel good on those swollen gums.” Jodie sipped her tea as she slumped down in a kitchen chair.
Hannah dug around in the freezer side of her refrigerator and handed a pink pretzel-shaped teething ring to Travis. He put it in Bella’s chubby little fingers, and she promptly stuck it in her mouth.
“How old is she?” Travis asked.
“Three months. She was a big accident. I didn’t want any more kids when I found out what I’d gotten into, but the pill failed. Even so, I wouldn’t want things different. She and Laurel are the reason I found the courage to leave. I couldn’t stay and put them in harm’s way every single day.”
Hannah could hear the Kentucky accent coming through in Jodie’s voice as she got a little more comfortable in her surroundings.
Hannah wished she had half of Jodie’s spunk and sass. “I was lucky. My abusive husband decided he wanted out of the marriage and divorced me. But I did try to run twice. He caught me both times and threatened to take Sophie from me.”
“That’s why I’m going home. If he ever shows up there, well, it’ll be like the lyrics of that old song—he’ll never leave Harlan alive. If I can make it through this week and get home, I’ll be safe,” she said.
“Does he know that?” Travis asked.
“Oh, yes. He’s terrified of my relatives. He could never survive the wilds. Lord, he can’t even shoot a gun,” Jodie said. “He’s a big man. Six feet, five inches and broad across the shoulders. That’s what drew me to him, I guess. I didn’t feel like a big giant sunflower in a bed of pretty little delicate flowers when I was with him. I found out real quick that I wasn’t any match for his fists when he was mad, even if I am a big girl.”
“How did you meet?” Travis asked.
“He was in Kentucky doing construction work on a bridge. He came into the café where I worked and I came back to Texas with him when he left. I was six months pregnant with Laurel when we married.”
“So you do have a place to live when you get to Kentucky?” Hannah asked.
Jodie nodded. “I’ve got a two-bedroom cabin, and my brother will be taking care of us until I get my first paycheck. My granny has a job lined up for me at the café where I used to work.”
“We could fix you up with some clothing to take along from our church clothes closet. It’ll be used stuff, but it’s been washed and it’s clean,” Hannah said.
Jodie inhaled. “I guess that would be all right. I wasn’t raised to take charity, but it’s nice of you to offer and to take us in like this. Maybe someday if you are in Kentucky I can repay you with some fine home cookin’ and a room to stay in.”
“Maybe you can.” Hannah smiled.
It was well past midnight when Hannah heard a strange sound and sat straight up in bed. What if Jodie’s sorry ex-bastard had gotten into the house? From what she’d said, Travis wouldn’t be a match for him. Hannah wasn’t even sure a bullet could put a man like that down.
Her feet were on the floor and she was halfway across the room when she realized what she’d heard was Travis’s deep voice right outside her door.
“Okay, but I really think I should go, too,” he said.
And then he rapped on her door.
She swung it open immediately, and the look on his face, lit up only by the screen of his phone, said something was badly wrong. “Is it Aunt Birdie?” she asked.
“No, it’s Liz. The ambulance is on the way to the hospital with her, and the police have Wyatt in custody. She keeps asking for you. Aunt Birdie is already dressed and waiting on her porch, so I’ll stay here until Miss Rosie arrives. That way there will be a lady in the house when Jodie wakes up in the morning,” he said.
“Oh, Travis,” she said with a heavy heart.
He opened his arms, and she walked right into them. He rubbed her back and hushed her with soft sounds that spread warmth to her neck and face. “I’m so sorry, darlin’. I should have been staying with them at Miss Rosie’s house tonight instead of here.”
“Hindsight,” she murmured.
“Get dressed. We’ll hold the fort down until you come home. If Liz needs you, stay with her as long as necessary.” Travis tipped her chin up.
She saw worry for Liz in his eyes, but something else, too. She didn’t have time to analyze it, because his lips met hers in a kiss that made the house tilt under her feet. Her arms snaked up around his neck, and she rolled up on her toes for a second kiss. A rap on the back door made her step back, and Travis headed down the steps to let Miss Rosie inside.
“We’ll talk later,” he threw over his shoulder as he disappeared into the darkness.
She hurriedly threw off her nightshirt, suddenly blushing at how little she was wearing when she’d pressed up against him so tightly. Shoving a leg down into the jeans that she’d worn that afternoon, she hoped that Jodie wasn’t uncomfortable with Miss Rosie and Travis. By the time she started zipping her pants, anger had set in.
“It’s a damn good thing that Wyatt is in jail. If Aunt Birdie didn’t shoot the sorry sucker, I would,” she said aloud to herself.
Miss Rosie shuffled into the bedroom with her. “You’ve got a daughter to raise. I’d do the shootin’ if there’s any to be done. Now get on a bra and a shirt and get out of here.” She wore a bright-red sweater over a floral nightgown and a pink-checkered cotton robe and carried a tote bag full of clothing. “I’m going to sleep right there.” She pointed at the unmade bed. “You call me, no matter what time it is when you find out how Liz is. I want to know if she is dead. If the latter is the case, then Travis will have to cook breakfast for your guests, because I’m going to the jail with my pistol in my purse, and honey, it will be loaded.”
“Let’s hope you cook br
eakfast instead.” Hannah put on a bra and grabbed the first T-shirt out of her dresser drawer. “Lord, I’m glad I brought a few clothes up here. It would terrify Jodie if I had to go into her room in the middle of the night.”
“Birdie is waiting, so hurry up, child.” Miss Rosie dropped the sweater and housecoat and crawled into the bed.
Hannah did hurry, but she stopped long enough to plant a kiss on Miss Rosie’s forehead before she left the room.
“Take a sweater. Them hospitals is always cold,” Miss Rosie said.
“I can’t. They are all in my room and I don’t want to wake Jodie,” she answered.
“Then take mine. I can get dressed before I go down to make breakfast. And don’t worry about what goes on here. Me and Travis can take care of things just fine.”
Travis was in the kitchen, and as she passed through he handed her an insulated cup of coffee. “Call me as soon as you know something. I’ll have the phone right by my side. Aunt Birdie said that she left a note for Cal. I expect he’ll be at the hospital as soon as he wakes up. Darcy will meet y’all there.”
“Thanks, Travis, for everything.”
He brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “You drive safe and call me when you get there.”
Aunt Birdie was waiting on the porch, just like Travis said. When she saw Hannah back the car out of the driveway, she hurried out to the side of the road and had the passenger’s door open before the car even came to a complete stop.
“I packed us a few things in case we have to spend the rest of the night and tomorrow at the hospital.” She slipped the tote bag through the space in the front seats and gave it a shove. “Don’t matter if it falls out. I can put it all back in a jiffy.”
“What do you know?” Hannah asked.
“He was supposed to be home tomorrow, but he called about ten when me and Liz were about to go to bed and said he was coming in early and he’d be here at eleven. I had a bad feelin’, so I called Rosie and we waited up for Liz after she went to the house. At eleven thirty Rosie got worried and drove down to check on things. I should’ve gone with her, but we figured I’d stay at the house. That way if Liz came back I’d call Rosie and she could turn around and come on back home. She found Liz in her front yard with Wyatt still beating and kicking her, even when she was down. Rosie called nine-one-one and held him off with her pistol until the cops and ambulance got there.”
The Lullaby Sky Page 16
