Mercy

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Here's Daryl's house at the end of the road," Michelle said.

Theo would have parked by the curb, but there wasn't one. There wasn't a driveway either, and so he pulled up on the grassy slope and parked the car next to a battered old Chevy van. The two-story frame house was in desperate need of repair. The bowed steps looked as though they were about to cave in.

Daryl's wife, Cherry, was watching for them behind the screen door. As soon as they got out of the car, she came out on the porch and waved to them.

"Good of you to come by, Dr. Mike. DaryPs hand is giving him fits. He doesn't like to complain, but I can tell he's in considerable pain."

Theo took Michelle's medical bag and followed her. She introduced him. After Cherry wiped her hands on her apron, she shook his hand. She was a rather plain woman with a weathered complexion, around the age of forty, Theo guessed, but when she smiled, she was quite lovely. The nickname, Cherry, obviously was due to her bright red hair.

"I've heard all about you from our oldest boy, Elliott. I don't think I've ever seen him so excited," Cherry said. "You certainly did impress him," she added with a nod. "Come on inside. I was just fixing to set the table for supper. Oh, before I forget to tell you, Mr. Freeland might be passing by to say his hello. He rang up about twenty minutes ago."

"Mr. Freeland?" The name seemed familiar to Theo, but he couldn't remember where he'd heard it before.

"The music teacher at the high school," Michelle said.,

Cherry led the way through the living room and dining area. The furniture was sparse and worn-out. The kitchen was small

and crowded with a long oak table and ten chairs, none of which seemed to match.

Daryl was waiting for them. He was seated at the head of the table feeding a banana to the baby in the high chair next to him. The little boy had more of the banana on his face and hands than in his mouth. The baby spotted his mother and broke out in a toothless grin. Then he saw Michelle and immediately clouded up. His lower lip trembled.

She kept her distance. "No shots today, Henry," she promised.

The toddler burst into tears. Cherry patted the baby's hand and soothed him with a handful of Cheerios she placed on his tray.

"Every time Henry sees me, I hurt him," Michelle said. "When I can afford it, I'm going to hire a nurse and let her give the shots."

"Don't you mind Henry. He'll figure out you aren't here to mess with him in a minute or two," Cherry said.

Daryl stood and put his hand out to shake Theo's as Michelle made the introductions. The man's left hand and arm were

bandaged to the elbow.

"Why don't you sit down next to Dr. Mike by that stack of papers," Cherry suggested to Theo, "while she has a look at Daryl's hand."

Daryl wasn't too subtle as he shoved the papers closer to Theo. "Big Daddy Jake thought you might find these papers of mine interesting… you being a lawyer and all."

Theo knew a setup when he saw one. He nodded and sat down. Michelle knew what was going on as well, but she went through the motions of looking at Daryl's hand.

After checking the color of his fingers, she asked, "Are you changing the bandage every day?"

"Yes," he said, his gaze fully directed on Theo. "Cherry changes it for me."

"We've got enough of the gauze you gave us to last another week," Cherry said. She, too, was watching Theo closely and was nervously twisting her apron in her hands.

Theo wasn't sure what was expected of him. Michelle decided to fill him in.

"Daryl worked for the Carson Brothers' sugar mill."

"After the accident they let me go. Laid me off permanently is what they did," he explained as he rubbed his chin.

"Did the accident happen while you were at work?" Theo asked.

"Yes, it did," he answered.

"Daryl put in twenty-two years at that mill," Cherry interjected.

"That's right," her husband said. "I started the day I turned seventeen."

Theo did the math and was shocked when he realized Daryl was only thirty-nine or forty years old. The man looked ten

years older. He was as worn-out as his house. His hair was streaked with gray, he had deep calluses on his right hand, and his shoulders were stooped.

"Tell me about the accident."

"Before or after you look through those papers?" Daryl asked.

"Before."

"All right. I'll make it simple. I was operating a shredder, which is a big machine you just can't do without in a sugar mill, and

I told Jim Carson it wasn't working right and he needed to shut it down and get it fixed, but he wouldn't listen to me. He's hard

up for money, and I understand that, of course. Still, I wish he had listened. Anyway, I was doing my job, and all of a sudden the belt snapped and the whole darn thing came down on me. Crushed every bone in my hand, didn't it, Mike?"

"Just about," she agreed.

She was standing over him and thought she might be making him nervous, and so she pulled up a chair and sat down between

him and Theo.

"Did you do the surgery?" Theo asked Michelle.

"No, I didn't," she answered.

"Dr. Mike sweet-talked a hand surgeon in New Orleans into fixing me up," Daryl said.

"He did a good job too, didn't he, Daryl?" Cherry added.

"He sure did. Because of him, I'm going to keep all my fingers. I can already move them."

"It's a miracle is what it is," Cherry said.

"Jim Carson came to see me in the hospital. It wasn't a social call," he added. "He told me it was carelessness on my part

because I knew that machine wasn't working right, and I went ahead and used it. He called me a slacker and let me go."

"Is there a union at this mill?"

"Oh, no, the Carson brothers would close the mill down before they'd let a union in there. They complain they don't make

enough money as it is to make ends meet and make payroll, and if they had to put up with employees trying to tell them what to

do, well then, they'd just fold up."

"They're always threatening to retire and close the mill if anyone makes trouble for them," Cherry said. She let go of her apron

and went to the sink to wet a cloth to wash her baby's face.

"Have you got a pen?" Theo asked Michelle. "I want to make a couple of notes."

She opened her medical bag and sorted through her instruments. The baby, Theo noticed, was watching Michelle with what

could only be described as a comically wary expression.

"Henry doesn't trust you," Theo said, grinning. The baby turned to Theo and smiled. Drool dripped down his chin.

While his mother tried to wash the banana off his fingers, Michelle handed Theo a notepad and a pen. He put on his glasses

and began writing.

"What about worker's compensation?" Theo asked.

"Jim told me their insurance rates would go up if I put in a claim and that I didn't qualify anyway, since the accident was my fault."

"Daryl's worrying about the other folks at the mill," Cherry said. "If Jim Carson shuts it down, everyone will be out of work."

Theo nodded, then picked up the papers Daryl had collected and began to read. The conversation immediately stopped, and Daryl and Cherry waited expectantly. The only noise in the kitchen was the baby slurping on his fist.

It didn't take Theo long to finish. "Did you sign any papers about your termination?" he asked.

"No," Daryl answered.

"Don't forget to tell Theo about the lawyer," Cherry reminded her husband.

"I was just getting to that," Daryl said. "Jim sent over Frank Tripp to talk to me."

"Everyone calls him Maggot," Cherry said. She had moved to the stove and was stirring the stew she'd prepared for supper.

"We call him Maggot to his face," she added. "We don't go behind his back. We want him to know what we think of him."

"Now, calm down, Cherry, and let me tell it," Daryl said softly. "Frank's a lawyer over in St. Claire, and if I weren't sitting in my house, I'd have to spit after saying his name. He's a common thug is what he is, and so is his,partner, Bob Greene. They've got

a partnership together, and they work on a monthly… what's that word I'm searching for, Cherry honey?"

"Commission?"

"Retainer," Theo said.

"Yes, that's the word. Anyway, like I was saying, they get a monthly retainer from the Carsons, and it's their job to take care of any problems that come around, problems like me."

"That sounds like a sweet deal," Michelle said softly.

"We were wondering…" Cherry began, and then nodded to Daryl. "Speak up, honey. Tell him what's on your mind like Big Daddy told you to do."

"All right. Cherry and I were wondering if there might be something you could do about this, since you happen to be a lawyer yourself. We'll pay you for your time, of course. We don't take charity."

"But we don't want to get you into any trouble," Cherry said.

"How would you be getting me into trouble?" Theo asked, thoroughly perplexed.

"Since you haven't officially resigned from the Justice Department yet and signed the coaching contract at the school,

Big Daddy explained you can't take money."

"Because you get paid by the Justice Department," Cherry said. "Is that true? Or was Big Daddy just speculating?"

"If there is a fee, I need to know the amount so I can start figuring how I'm going to come up with the money," Daryl said.

"There won't be any fee," Theo said.

"Then what Big Daddy said was true?"

"Yes," he lied.

"Is there anything you can do about the Carsons?" Cherry asked again. Her voice was hopeful, but her face showed her worry.

"Without making the Carsons mad enough to shut the mill down," Daryl reminded him. "Big Daddy spoke highly of your abilities…"

"He did, did he?" Theo wanted to laugh. He couldn't imagine what Jake could have said about him. Jake certainly didn't know what Theo's abilities were. Theo and the older man had discussed fishing and little else.

"Yes, sir, he did, and he thought you could have a little chat with Jim Carson on my behalf. You know, get him to be reasonable. They take so much out of our pay for medical each month, and then they don't let us use it in an emergency. That doesn't seem right to me."

"It isn't right," Theo agreed.

"Maybe you could talk to Jim's brother, Gary. He's older, and Jim does whatever Gary tells him to do. Gary runs the place," Cherry said.

Theo nodded again. "I'm not familiar with Louisiana law," he began, and immediately noted that Daryl's expression went from hopeful to resigned. "Which means I need to do some research, talk to some friends who can give me some advice," he added,

and was pleased to see Daryl nodding and smiling again. "So here's what I propose we do. I'll do the research, figure out a course of action, and then you and I will sit down together and I'll give you your options. In the meantime, I don't think it's a good idea to tell anyone about this conversation. I don't want the Carsons or their attorneys to know I'm looking into this. Agreed?"

"Yes," Daryl said. "I won't say a word to anybody."

"What about Big Daddy Jake?" Cherry asked. "He already knows we're talking to you."

"He won't tell anyone," Daryl said to his wife.

A child shouted for his mother, disrupting the conversation. "Mama, Mr. Freeland's waiting on the porch. Can he come on in?"

Then another little boy around the age of five or six came running into the kitchen. His face was covered with freckles and he

had his mother's curly hair.

"John Patrick, bring Mr. Freeland into the kitchen."

The little boy wasn't paying his mother any attention. He had squeezed up next to Michelle and had latched onto her arm.

"We should get out of your way," Theo said as he pushed his chair back. "I've read through these papers, Daryl. You can keep them here."

"You can't leave," Cherry said. "Mr. Freeland came all this way to meet… I mean, it wouldn't be right for you to leave without meeting him."

"Since he just happened to be in the neighborhood," Daryl said. His gaze was directed at the table-top, but Theo didn't have to

look him in the eyes to know he was lying.

"Does Mr. Freeland happen to have a legal problem?" he asked Michelle.

She smiled, then promptly changed the subject. "John Patrick," she said to the hovering child. "This is my friend, Theo Buchanan. He came all the way from Boston just to go fishing."

John Patrick nodded. "I know who he is already. Everybody knows. Dr. Mike, can you tell your brother he's got to come

around again? And will you tell John Paul to hurry 'cause I left my kickball in the backyard and I need it. Okay?"

"Is Lois back?" she asked.

"The boy seems to think she is," Daryl said. "He's going to get an ulcer fretting about her."

"We haven't seen Lois in over a month now, but John Patrick's still worried about her showing up unexpectedly. He won't get

his ball out of the yard until your brother comes by again, and he won't let any of us go out there and fetch the ball for him either.

I have to hang my clothes out to dry in the side yard just to calm him. Our John Patrick's a worrier," Cherry added for Theo's benefit, as if that would explain the child's bizarre behavior.

"John Patrick's named after Dr. Mike's brother, John Paul," Daryl interjected.

"So will you tell him?" the boy pleaded.

Michelle put her arm around the child. "Just as soon as I see him, I'll tell him you'd like him to come back over. Now, you've got

to stop worrying, John Patrick."

"Okay," the child whispered. "The man sitting here…"

"Theo?"

John Patrick nodded.

"What about him?" Michelle asked.

"Could I ask him something?"

"You can ask me anything you want," Theo said.

John Patrick straightened and turned to Theo. Though Theo didn't have much experience dealing with children, he thought he could hold his own with a six-year-old.

"What do you want to know?"

The boy wasn't shy. He leaned into Theo's leg, stared him right in the eye, and said, "My daddy says Big Daddy Jake says

you've got a gun. Do you?"

The question surprised him. "Yes, I do have a gun, but I'm not going to be keeping it much longer. I'm going to give the gun back," he told the child. "I don't like guns."

"But you've got it now?"

"Yes, I do."

The kid's fascination was a concern, and Theo thought he should probably give a short lecture about the dangers and how guns weren't playthings. He was trying to figure out how to put it all on a six-year-old's level, but apparently John Patrick had already, moved on.

"So could you go outside?"

"You want me to go out into your backyard?"

John Patrick solemnly nodded. Theo glanced at Michelle and caught the twinkle in her eye.

"Okay?" the boy asked.

"Yeah, okay," Theo agreed. "And what do you want me to do when I get out there?"

"Could you shoot Lois for me?"

He knew the kid was going to ask that question, but it still shocked the hell out of him. He was speechless.

"No, Theo isn't going to shoot Lois for you," his father said in exasperation. "You don't want Dr. Mike's boyfriend to get into trouble with the law, do you?"

"No, Daddy, I don't."

"It's just as well," Michelle said. She patted the little boy as though she were consoling him. "If Theo shot Lois, he'd just make

her mad."

"She's mean when she's mad," the kid told Theo.

The screen door banged once, then again and again in the background. "Go and wash up for supper," Cherry told John Patrick.

The little boy gave Theo a look of disappointment and then went to the sink.

"He's kind of a bloodthirsty little boy, isn't he?" he whispered to Michelle.

"He's a sweetheart," she replied.

"If I were Lois, I'd run for the woods."

The screen door banged again, and suddenly the floor under Theo's feet began to vibrate. It sounded like a herd of buffalo was running through the living room. Then a slew of boys of various ages and sizes came lumbering into the kitchen. Theo lost count after five.

Mr. Freeland was the last to enter the crowded kitchen. Elliott had to squeeze against the refrigerator to let the man in.

Freeland could have been mistaken for one of the boy's friends, except he was dressed in a shirt and tie. He was just a little

over five feet tall and rail thin. He wore thick horn-rimmed glasses that slid down the bridge of his nose. He pushed them up

with his index finger.

"Mr. Freeland's the music teacher over at the high school," Daryl explained.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Freeland."

There were two of Daryl's boys behind Theo's chair, making it impossible for him to stand. He reached around to shake

Freeland's hand.

"Please call me Conrad," he insisted. "Cherry, Daryl," he added with a nod to each of them. Then he turned to Michelle and nodded again. "Mike."

"Conrad," Cherry said, nodding back. "How's Billie doing?"

"Billie's my wife," Conrad explained to Theo. "And she's doing just fine. The baby's only getting us up once a night now, so we're both getting more sleep. Billie sends her regards."

"Boys, move out of the way and let Mr. Freeland sit down beside Theo so they can talk," Cherry said.

There was a good deal of shuffling in the kitchen as the children took their places at the table. Theo moved closer to Michelle

to give Conrad room.

"I can't stay but a minute," Conrad said as he pulled the chair out and sat. "Billie's got supper waiting for me." Turning his full attention to Theo, he said, "Daryl and Cherry understand the importance of an education for their eight boys. They'd like to see

all of them go to college."

Theo nodded. He wasn't sure what more he was supposed to say.

"Now, Elliott has a four point in school. He's going to try to get an academic scholarship, but those are hard to come by,"

Conrad said. "He's a hard worker and a very smart boy."

"Thank you, Conrad," Daryl said, as though he and not his son had just been given the compliment.

"We're thinking Elliott could maybe get a full scholarship… with your help."

"And how can I help?" Theo asked, bewildered.

"By getting him a football scholarship."

Theo blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Elliott has what it takes to make the cut," Conrad said. "He could be good, real good, with the proper… guidance."

Everyone started talking at once then. "The St. Claire team was undefeated last year," Cherry told Theo just as Daryl remarked, "It sounds like an impossible goal, but you could do it. Big Daddy Jake spoke so highly of you."

"And your connections," Conrad supplied.

Theo turned to Michelle. "Why did I know your dad was behind this?"

She shrugged, then smiled. "Daddy likes you."

"Big Daddy was thinking that if they could see our boy shine on that field, well then, they'd make him an offer and pay his

college expenses," Daryl explained.

Theo put a hand up. "Hold on a minute…"

They ignored his protest. "They're always looking for good linebackers," Conrad said.

"That's right, they are," Daryl agreed. "But Big Daddy thinks that because Elliott is so fast, he could maybe run with the ball too."

Michelle nudged Theo to get his attention. "The scouts do go to the St. Claire games to see the talent."

Then Conrad nudged him to get him to turn to him. "Why don't we get started?"

"Started?" Theo asked as he rubbed his temples. He was developing one hell of a headache. "Doing what?"

Conrad pulled out some folded papers from his back pocket and put them on the table. Then he reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a smaller piece of paper and a stubby yellow pencil, and looked expectantly at Theo.

"Where did you attend college?"

"Excuse me?"

Conrad patiently repeated the question.

"Michigan," Theo answered. "Why do you want to know…"

"That's a big school, isn't it?" Cherry asked.

"Yes," Conrad answered.

"I imagine it's a fine school too," Daryl remarked.

Theo glanced around the table and noticed the others, including the children, were staring at him. Everyone seemed to know

what was going on. Everyone but him.

"Did Big Daddy suggest that you talk to me about schools?" he asked. Good God, now he was calling the old man Daddy.

No one answered his question. Then Conrad asked, "And you played football, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did."

"And then you went on to law school."

It was a statement, not a question, but Theo still responded. "That's right."

"Did you stay on in Michigan to get the law degree?"

What in thunder was going on? "No," he answered. "I got my MBA and law back east."

"What's an MBA?" Cherry asked.

Michelle answered. "A master's in business administration," she said.

"And law too. Don't that beat all." Daryl sounded in awe.

"Yeah, well, lots of people get-"

Conrad interrupted him. "Where exactly did you get these degrees?"

"Yale."

"Oh, my, that's a fine school," Cherry said.

Conrad nodded. "I imagine your grades were impressive. I'm right, aren't I?" he asked as he furiously wrote on his paper.

It all clicked, and Theo couldn't figure out why he'd been so slow on the uptake. The guy was interviewing him for a position

at the high school.

Theo decided he was going to have to have a little talk with Jake as soon as possible. Set him straight.

"I bet you've still got your old playbooks too, don't you?" Conrad asked him then.

"'Playbooks'?"

"Football playbooks," Michelle explained.

She was smiling sweetly, and she was thoroughly enjoying his discomfort and confusion. He decided he needed to have a

private talk with her too.

"Okay, this has gone far enough." His voice held a firm, no-nonsense tone. "There's been a misunderstanding that I need to

clear up right now. You see, I stopped for gas on my way to Bowen. And this kid-"

It was as far as he got. Michelle wouldn't let him continue. She put her hand on top of his and said, "You did keep your old playbooks, didn't you?"

"Why would you think that?"

"It's a guy thing."

"Yeah, well, as a matter of fact I did keep a couple of them. But," he hastily added, "they're packed away with all my other junk

in the attic."

"Couldn't you have one of your brothers send them to you? You could ask him to overnight them."

"And then what?"

"You could go to the next practice with me and look the team over."

Elliott pressed forward. "We sure would appreciate it."

Everyone started talking again about the team, everyone but little John Patrick. The boy was trying to get to Theo's gun. He

kept pushing the kid's hand away. He felt as though he'd just been dropped into the middle of a foreign land where no one understood a word he said.

"I'm not a football coach!" he yelled. When everyone quieted down, he nodded emphatically. "That's right. You heard me. I'm

not a football coach."

He'd finally taken control, and he felt inordinately pleased with himself as he sat back in his chair and waited for the truth to s

ink in.

The announcement didn't faze them. "These boys are mighty eager to learn," Conrad pressed. "But I'm not going to pressure

you, Theo. No, sir, I'm not. We don't do things like that in Bowen. Do we, Daryl? We're laid back."

"Yes, we're laid back," he agreed.

Conrad tore off a piece of paper, bent over the table, and wrote something down. Then he folded the paper and looked at

Theo again.

"The principal of our school is in Memphis, but I talked to him long distance before I drove over here." He pushed the folded

paper toward Theo. "We both think you'll be happy with this."

He stood and nodded to Cherry. "I can't keep Billie waiting any longer, and I sure thank you for letting me interrupt your

upper hour. Theo, I look forward to seeing you at our practice tomorrow. Mike knows the where and when."

He handed Theo the legal-sized papers he'd placed next to the folded note, shook his hand as he told him it was a pleasure

talking with him, and then worked his way through the boys to the door. He paused at the doorway. "You wouldn't happen to

have a teacher's certificate, would you, Theo?"

"No."

"I didn't think so, but I thought I should ask. It's all right. You needn't worry. The board of education will work with us on this,

you being a special circumstance and all. Good night, everybody."

Theo didn't rush after Freeland to set him straight. He decided he could wait until practice the next day to explain things. Without the chaos that surrounded him in the small kitchen, calmer heads would prevail.

"Mama, when are we gonna eat?" John Patrick asked.

"I'm putting it on the table right this minute."

"We should be going," Theo said to Michelle.

"You'll stay to supper?" Cherry asked. "We've got plenty."

He shook his head. "Ordinarily I'd take you up on your offer, but the fact is my stomach isn't up to a meal just yet. I ate some

of Jake's gumbo, and it was a little too spicy for me. My stomach's giving me fits."

It was a lie, but Michelle thought he'd told it well. Cherry was nodding in sympathy. Daryl looked a little suspicious.

"We always have enough to feed our guests."

"He's from the big city, Daryl," Michelle reminded him as though that explained everything.

"I forgot about that," he said. "I guess Jake's gumbo would upset your stomach if you weren't used to hot food."

"I could make you a cup of my special tea," Cherry offered. "It should settle you down in no time at all."

"I sure would appreciate that."

Daryl nodded. "Fix him up then, Cherry. Mike, do you mind changing this bandage for me while you're here?"

And so Theo drank hot, bitter tea in a hot, muggy kitchen while Michelle rebandaged Daryl's hand and Cherry fed her children. John Patrick insisted on moving his plate next to Theo, and by the time the child finished eating, Theo's stomach was growling.

It took extreme discipline not to grab one of the homemade biscuits out of the kid's hand.

They left the family after Theo had finished his third cup of tea. John Patrick took hold of Theo's hand and officially walked him onto the front porch. The little boy tugged on Theo's shirt and said, "Tomorrow's my birthday. Are you gonna get me a present?"

"That depends," Theo replied. "You have anything specific in mind?"

"Maybe you could come back with a bigger gun." He let go of Theo's hand and looked over his shoulder. "Don't tell Mama I

asked you for a present."

Michelle had already gone down the steps and was waiting for Theo by the car.

"That kid," Theo remarked as he backed the car onto the road. "I've got a feeling we'll be reading about him in about fifteen years."

"He's an angel."

"He's bloodthirsty," he countered. "I don't get it. He's got at least four older brothers… right?"

"Yes?"

"So how come they don't tell this Lois to leave him the hell alone? I used to look out for my younger brothers and sisters. I wouldn't let anyone mess with them. That's what big brothers are supposed to do."

"Do you still look out for them?"

"Do your brothers still look out for you?"

"They try," she said. "Fortunately, Remy is in Colorado, so he can't interfere in my life too much these days, and John Paul has always been a bit reclusive. Of course, he still shows up at the most unexpected times. I think Daddy sends out an SOS every once in a while."

John Patrick was frantically waving to them. Michelle rolled down her window and waved back to the little boy.

Theo put the car in drive and headed toward Bowen. Glancing back at the child, he shook his head and said, "I'm telling you,

that kid's just not normal."

She laughed. "He's a perfectly normal little boy."

"Lois isn't a neighbor, is she?"

"So you noticed there aren't any other houses on this stretch. No wonder you work for the Justice Department. You're very observant."

"Hey, I'm on vacation," he countered. "I'm allowed to be a little slow. So tell me, what exactly is Lois? A possum? No, I bet it's

a raccoon. God, it's not a snake, is it? They can dig holes and-"

"Lois is an alligator."

He slammed on the brakes and damn near wrecked the car, narrowly missing a big oak when he swerved off the road. Even though he knew alligators lived in the swamp-hell, he read National Geographic like everyone else, and he occasionally watched the Discovery Channel when he had insomnia-it still had never occurred to him that there would be any so close to a house.

And who in his right mind named an alligator Lois? "Are you telling me there's a full-fledged, live alligator living in that kid's backyard?"

The expression on Theo's face was priceless. He looked as though he'd just found out there really was a bogeyman.

"That's exactly what I'm telling you. The females are very territorial. Lois has decided their backyard belongs to her. She chases anyone who goes out there… or at least she did, until my brother moved her. And, by the way, I would appreciate it if you didn't mention this to Ben Nelson. Alligators are protected, and my brother could get into trouble."

"Do you people name all your alligators?"

"Just some."

He rubbed his forehead. "Jeez," he whispered.

"You ready to go back to Boston?"

"Not before I go fishing. So tell me, how do I get back to your place?"

She gave him directions, and before he knew it, they were in St. Claire, where there were actually sidewalks. When he turned

the corner at an honest to goodness traffic light, he could see the golden arches looming in the distance.

"Ah," he sighed. "Civilization."

"I'm still going to cook a healthy dinner when we get home," she said. "But I figured…"

"What?"

"You deserved a treat."

"Yeah? Why?"

"Because you were starving when you were sitting in that kitchen drinking hot tea… because you didn't grab the biscuit in John Patrick's hand that you were eyeing like a hungry wolf… and because…"

"What?"

"You let Daddy take advantage."