Heart of a Hero (New Beginnings Book 4)

by Margaret Daley

  “Sure. A lot of the kids take to a certain animal and end up taking care of it.” Peter tapped his cowboy hat against his leg, then put it back on.

  “Any suggestions?” David relaxed as Joey came into the barn.

  “We’ve got several that are new. There’s a litter of kittens that just arrived this morning, the puppies over there—” Roman waved his hand toward the pen that held them “—that pig behind us and a goat.”

  “After he mucks the stalls, have him do something with a couple of those animals and we’ll see which one he responds to.” David lowered his voice as Joey neared them. “We don’t want him to know what we’re doing. He’ll fight us if he does.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Roman faced the teen. “Joey, before you go to the other barn, please take the pig back to his pen. He got out, and we found him in there.” He gestured toward the stall. “Make sure he’s secured. I’ll be there in a sec to check the pen. We don’t want him roaming around.”

  “Why not? He’s just a pig.” Joey’s lower lip stuck out.

  “Because dogs and pigs don’t mix. A dog can be a predator, the pig its prey.”

  Joey stared at the animal making rooting sounds in the hay. “How am I supposed to get him?”

  Roman walked to the tack room and returned with a leash. “Put this on him. He’ll walk with you. He was someone’s pet.”

  “Then why’s he here?” Joey took the link of chain and collar.

  Roman shrugged. “Someone left him on our doorsteps.”

  “He’s been abandoned, the—” Joey snapped his mouth close.

  “I thought you realized all these animals at one time were abandoned by their owners. We take them in and either keep them or find good homes for them.”

  Something softened in Joey’s eyes for a few seconds before he dropped his head, staring at the leash in his hand. Slowly he shuffled toward the stall. Lisa glimpsed him approaching the pig, mumbling something she couldn’t hear clearly. Kneeling in the straw, the teen looped the collar around the animal’s neck. The pig squealed but stood still while Joey sneaked a pat.

  “I’d better get my toolbox and see what’s wrong with the pen,” Roman said as Joey led the pig out of the stall.

  “We may have to move him into the stall if he keeps getting out. See you later. I’m heading into town to get feed.” Peter ambled toward the entrance.

  After the two men left, David turned toward Lisa. “I have courtside seats tonight at the university’s basketball game. Do you and Andy want to come? I’m taking Joey. I’m hoping to give him a reason to want to get back on the team.”

  “Back on the team? Why after what he did?” All she could think of was the problems the teen caused her son.

  “Because he needs a goal right now and the only thing he’s expressed that he likes to do is basketball. He can’t return without apologizing to his teammates, which I’m not sure he’ll do. Please trust me. I won’t put Andy in harm’s way.”

  “You can’t guarantee that.”

  David sucked in a deep breath. “Now who’s cynical?”

  “When it comes to my son, I have to look out for his welfare first.”

  “Joey needs people to care about him.”

  “And you think I should?”

  “Not necessarily. I certainly understand if you don’t want to go tonight.” David rubbed the back of his neck, his gesture full of frustration. “I just thought Andy would enjoy seeing the game from courtside. I know the coach. We went to college together and played on the same team.”

  “Oh, you don’t play fair. If Andy heard I refused that kind of offer, he wouldn’t be pleased at all. They named the colt after the University of Cimarron City Tigers.”

  “I won’t tell him I asked you.”

  Lisa stared toward the new barn off in the distance. “No, we’ll go. I don’t think Joey would do anything with both of us there. The charades game Thanksgiving evening went passively well. No blood was drawn, at least.” She looked back at David. “There is a chance Andy won’t want to go.”

  “Let’s go ask him now before I say anything to Joey.”

  “There’s also a chance Joey won’t either.”

  “True, but I have a feeling he’ll want to get out of his ‘prison.’”

  “You never told me how the jail visit went.” Lisa strolled toward the back entrance.

  “Okay. I’m not sure what effect it had on Joey. I had some of the prisoners talk to him about drugs. I showed him an inmate going through withdrawal, not a pretty sight. Joey grew very quiet after that, not that he was that talkative before.”

  “I could always talk to him,” she said before she realized what she’d really offered to do—open herself up to a teen who had terrorized her son.

  His gaze swept to her, and he slowed his pace. “I can’t ask you to do that. I have a feeling that wouldn’t be an easy conversation for you.”

  He was right; it wouldn’t be. She didn’t think she would ever totally get over being ashamed of what she did as a youth. “He already knows I took drugs.”

  “But not the details. I can find others who are used to talking about it if I need to.”

  Lisa found Andy alone in the pasture behind the new barn with Tiger and Belle. “Where’s Gabe?”

  “He had to go home to eat lunch early.” Andy ran his hand down the colt’s nose. “Mom, I’d like to stay this afternoon because we played our game last night. Is that okay?”

  “Sure, but…” Her voice trailed off into the silence as she glanced at David.

  He stepped forward. “I’ve got courtside tickets for the Cimarron Tigers’ game tonight. Wanna go? I’ve invited your mom and Joey, too.”

  Andy frowned and averted his face, nuzzling it against the colt.

  “Andy?” Lisa moved to the side and glimpsed the debate warring within her son. “It’s your call.”

  “I guess.”

  David grinned. “Great, I’ll pick y’all up. I’m glad you’re coming. I know the coach, Andy. He said you could go to the locker room before the game if you wanted.”

  “He did?” Her son’s expression brightened.

  “Yup. Maybe even shoot some with them during the warm-up.”

  “You’re kidding!” Andy threw his arms around the colt. “Tiger, did you hear what I get to do?”

  “Hon, I’m leaving. I’ll be back in a few hours to pick you up.” Lisa headed toward the fence.

  “Mom, I want to stay longer than that. Roman is going to give some of the animals their checkups. I want to help him. Coach, can you pick me up here tonight with Joey?”

  “I can if it’s okay with your mother.”

  “What about dinner?”

  “I can always eat at Gabe’s”

  The eager expression on Andy’s face was wonderful to see. She hadn’t seen that enough lately with all that had been going on. “That’s fine.”

  As she crossed the field with David next to her, hope blossomed in her. She was getting back the son she knew and also helping a friend. Now she understood where David was coming from. Although the killing of that thirteen-year-old was justified, he wasn’t the kind of man who would take pleasure in it. In fact, it had affected him deeply and adversely. The scars ran deep, and she hoped she could help him heal. And maybe along the way also lend a hand to a child in need. She needed to find the courage to bare her soul to Joey, give him the disgusting details of what it was like to live a slave to drugs. Just as Joey’s journey had become David’s, so it would be hers, too.

  Chapter Nine

  Lisa flung the door to her apartment wide open, waving David inside. “Come in. I’m running late. It won’t take me long to change.”

  “I’m a little early.”

  Lisa hurried into her bedroom and quickly changed into some jeans, a light pink sweater and comfortable brown half boots with two-inch heels. Pausing at the mirror over the dresser, she ran a brush through her short hair, fluffed it, then put on pink lipstick. As she left her roo
m, she snatched up her brown purse.

  Checking his watch, David whistled. “Under five minutes. I’m impressed. What have you been doing in here?” He gestured toward the stacked boxes in the middle of the living room.

  “Getting my Christmas decorations down. Andy and I are getting our tree tomorrow after church. We always decorate the first weekend in December. Well, not always, but these past few years it has become our tradition.” She made her way toward the door. “I have to admit this is our favorite time of year. How about you?” She remembered he’d told her once he didn’t care for Christmas. Maybe she could find out why.

  “Decorate? Never.”

  She slid a look toward him. “I guess not having children makes things different. Not even a little tree, a wreath, something?”

  “Nope. I don’t care for the holidays. The best I’ll do this year is tolerate it because of Max and Abbey.”

  “How sad.”

  “The shooting with the teen occurred two years ago right after the holidays. Christmas last year brought it all back. I don’t want that to happen again.”

  Maybe he needed to make new memories. That thought spurred an idea. “Andy and I could use some help chopping down a tree and getting it to the car.”

  “You’re gonna chop down your own tree?”

  “Yes. This is another tradition we started. Wanna come help us tomorrow?” Lisa locked her front door and headed toward the stairs leading to the ground level.

  “I guess so. What did you do in the past?”

  “Begged Noah or Jacob to help me. Last year Nathan at work did.” She grinned at David. “I like to spread the wealth. You’re this year’s victim.”

  He laughed, opening his passenger side door for her. “Okay. I’ll be your willing—victim.” After he rounded the front of his Jeep and climbed into the vehicle, he asked, “Why do you cut down your own tree? All you have to do is go to one of the places that sell them and buy one. I believe they’ll even load it into your car. Much easier.”

  “When Andy lived at the refuge, it was Christmastime. Hannah and Jacob took the kids into the field, they picked a tree, then Jacob chopped it down. Andy remembers that as the first real Christmas he had. I like to continue that feeling for him even if it’s harder to do.”

  “Then I’ll help any way I can. I do have fond memories of my childhood at Christmas. Kelli loves that time of year and forced me to participate as a child.” David pulled his car out into the traffic.

  “I can just see her twisting your arm.”

  His chuckles peppered the air. “Yeah, and it hurt.”

  “On a different topic. How did Joey respond to the invitation to the game tonight?”

  “With his usual blasé attitude. Actually blasé is a step up from his usual attitude.”

  “Ah, you’re making progress, then.”

  “Inch by inch.”

  “Did Joey gravitate toward an animal today?”

  David stopped at a light and looked over at her. “Would you believe the pig? I thought he would take to the litter of puppies or even the goat, but to my astonishment he helped Roman fix the hole the pig made under the fence during his ‘great escape.’ Roman overheard Joey muttering about wanting to make sure no dogs got it.” When the light turned green, David pressed his foot on the accelerator. “Roman told Joey he could name the pig if he wanted.”

  “What did Joey say?”

  “He’d think about it.”

  Quickly the town was left behind, and the neon brightness gave way to the dark landscape occasionally being punctuated with twinkling lights. David flipped on his radio, the station playing Christmas music.

  When he started to turn it, Lisa asked, “Will you leave it on? I love Christmas music, and I start listening right after Thanksgiving.”

  “You don’t get tired of it?”

  “Nope. There are so many beautiful songs. This is one of my favorites.” She closed her eyes and laid her head back, listening to the female vocalist sing, “What Child Is This?”

  Ten minutes later David turned into Stone’s Refuge and pulled up in front of Joey’s cottage. Lisa saw her son across the compound on Hannah’s porch. When the Jeep stopped, he raced across the yard toward the vehicle.

  “I’ll be right back.” David exited his car and hurried to the cottage.

  Andy slid into the backseat. “I can’t believe I’m gonna get to sit courtside at one of the Tigers’ games. They are supposed to win their conference.”

  Excitement filled her son’s voice and brought a grin to Lisa’s mouth. “And you get to shoot baskets with them during the pre-game.”

  “Yeah. The only thing about tonight I don’t like is who I have to share it with.”

  “Andy!” Earlier today she’d decided she needed to encourage her son to befriend Joey. The child needed reasons to seek a change. She knew that better than most. “Have you ever thought that just maybe Joey needs a true friend?” As she asked her son that question, thoughts of David instantly materialized in her mind. He needed one, too.

  Andy remained silent as David and Joey climbed into the Jeep. Peering into the back seat, she noticed her son hugging the door, keeping his distance from Joey. The darkness hid Andy’s expression, which she decided was probably a good thing. The wariness radiated from him as it did from Joey.

  “Let’s go. We should be there when the team comes out onto the court to warm up.” David pulled away from the cottage. “Joey, have you decided if you’re gonna name the pig?”

  “I guess so. That way he won’t be called some dumb name like Tiger.”

  Lisa tensed, biting the inside of her mouth. She held her breath waiting for Andy to lash out at Joey. Surprisingly, he continued to be quiet.

  “Do you have a name picked out yet?”

  From the tight sound of David’s voice, Lisa realized he, too, was keeping his anger under wraps.

  “Nope,” Joey finally mumbled.

  The rest of the trip to the arena seethed with silence, plausible and thick. It was going to be a long night, Lisa thought, if the start was any indication.

  After parking the Jeep close to the building, David climbed from the vehicle with Andy and Joey hopping out the second the engine was switched off. As though they were in a race for the entrance, both boys rushed across the asphalt lot toward the bright lights of the arena. At a more sedate pace David followed with her beside him.

  When Joey reached the double glass doors into the building and blocked Andy’s entrance for a few seconds, David sighed. “I love a good competition, but I think Joey and Andy will be taking it a bit too far before this evening is over with.”

  Finally, Joey burst through the doors with Andy on his heels. They weaved through the light crowd gathered early for the game, but both were halted by the usher who collected the tickets at the bottom of the escalator that led to the main floor. But not before Joey and Andy had managed to go ahead of some people.

  “Guess they can’t do much without these.” David waved the set of tickets in the air, then pulled the door open for Lisa to enter the arena first.

  “Good thing or we might not see them for the rest of the night. I have a picture of them racing from one point to the next, barely stopping long enough to catch their breaths.”

  When David reached the boys, he dragged them over to the side and let the other fans go ahead of them. “I think we need to establish a few ground rules before we go another step. If you two can’t follow them, we’ll leave immediately. No pre-game warm-ups, no courtside seats to watch the game. It’s all in your control if we stay or leave.”

  Joey wrenched his arm from David’s loose grasp, stuck out his lower lip and scowled at first David then Andy. Her son didn’t do much better. He returned Joey’s look with his own slicing one, his jaw set in rigidity as though they were drawing the line in the sand.

  “Here’s the deal. At all times you will walk from point A to point B. No cutting in line. We need to know where you two are. I will not chase
after you.” David took several steps toward Lisa, stopped and peered back at the still boys. “C’mon. Let’s go or the warm-ups will start without you.”

  She had to work to get such firmness in her voice, but it came naturally to David. The two adolescents walked to the back of the short line. Lisa stood behind them, trying to suppress her grin.

  David leaned close to her ear. “If they glare any harder at each other, their faces are going to permanently freeze in that expression. At least that was what my mother used to tell me when Kelli and I fought with each other.”

  His breath tickled her nape, and she shivered. “Then there’s hope that Joey and Andy will actually say something civil to each other. You and Kelli are such good friends now.”

  When she’d been a little girl, she’d always wanted a little sister or even a brother. As she grew older, her longing multiplied. She’d so wanted an ally against the girls who bullied her, against her mother who alternated between neglecting her to trying to treat her as if she were a friend she could take drugs with. She’d begged the Lord for a sister or brother, for someone. Now she was glad she didn’t have any siblings to share the kind of childhood she’d had. Thankfully, God knew what He was doing.

  David shuffled toward the usher at the bottom of the escalator. “Knowing Kelli loves and cares about me helps, but sometimes…” Silent, he looked around as though suddenly realizing they were in the middle of a crowd.

  She wouldn’t pursue the conversation now, but she would later. For just a second a twinge of hurt coated his words. It had to be connected to the shooting of the adolescent in Dallas. David was trying to be cynical and hardnosed, but she sensed deep inside him he wasn’t. And that fact was tearing him apart.

  David reached around Andy to hand the usher the four tickets. Her son started to bolt up the escalator when David cleared his throat. Andy glanced back and moved almost in slow motion, even letting Joey go first. He strutted past Andy.

  David chuckled. “This is gonna be interesting.”

  “I’m not sure that’s the word I would use.” Lisa stepped on the stairs while watching the glares return to both boys’ faces.