“I’m not sure yet, but I’m going to find out right now,” he said. “I dropped off Buck
last night to stay with Addie because she said she was scared. Then I called this
morning to see if I could come and pick him up and she said she was out running and
to give her an hour. I no sooner get off the phone with her than you call saying you
hadn’t been home yet. So I headed over there anyway and Addie’s not home. But I don’t
see her running around the neighborhood either. I’m at the school right now. I will
let you know as soon as I find her. If I can’t find her in the next twenty minutes,
I will call you back anyway,” he said.
He hung up with Kayla and headed into the school. Out of habit, he stopped off in
the gym first. He came up short upon noticing the principal talking with the cheer
squad. Buck stood next to Addie on his leash. The practice mats laid out gave Ronnie
a pretty good idea of what they were doing. Now that he knew she was safe, he was
going to kill her himself. He marched over to where she stood.
“See, Mr. Thompson, he’s right here!” Addie said, noticing him approach. “I told you.
He was just in the bathroom!”
Addie stepped close to Ronnie, linked her arm through his and smiled up at him. This
ability of hers to ring his bell was going to stop. The look on the principal’s face,
though, meant her death would be postponed until Ronnie dealt with the man first.
“Mr.…I mean, Sergeant Brown. It’s good to see you back and ready to help the kids
prepare for the state competition. I was a little worried when you didn’t call me
back that you weren’t going to coach them. You’re here now, though, and that is all
that matters. The gym is only open until noon today but if you think the team will
need to practice over the holiday break, just call and I’ll come down myself to let
you in. I left my number on your voice mail,” the balding man said, smiling and holding
his hand out to Ronnie.
Damn her. She’d roped him in yet again. The group of kids all stood staring at him
with a combination of pleading and hope in their eyes. The principal looked much the
same, and Ronnie found himself sighing heavily and shaking the man’s hand. There was
more than one way to make Addie sorry for manipulating him into this.
After Mr. Thompson left the gym, Ronnie turned to the kids. None of them would meet
his gaze except for Chase. The kid sorely grated on Ronnie’s nerves but at least he
was man enough to face him. Taking Buck’s leash from Addie’s hand and unpeeling her
fingers from his arm, he handed her his cell phone.
“Call and explain yourself to your mother while I make your friends sorry for being
your accomplices in making me worry. Soldiers aren’t supposed to worry. We don’t doubt.
We are the last line in the sand,” he said.
For the first time since he’d come into the gym, Addie looked ashamed as she took
the phone from his hand and turned away to call her mother. Ronnie stood with his
arms folded over his chest and stared the other kids down for several minutes.
“It was my idea, Sergeant Brown…not Addie’s,” Kaitlyn finally said.
“Actually, it was my idea, Sergeant, sir,” Chase said. As though he thought it would
really help his cause, the boy stood up a little taller and saluted Ronnie, which
immediately brought a snicker from his friend Stevie.
“No, it wasn’t. It was my idea, Ronnie,” Addie said from behind him. “I called mom
and told her the truth and she said that whatever punishment you felt was warranted
was probably deserved. When Mom called last night and said she would probably be at
the hospital most of the night and told me to call Tori to see if she could come and
get me, I figured I’d rather hang with you and Buck. I fell asleep while I was trying
to get up the balls to call you and that’s why it was so late when I finally did.
When you wouldn’t stay over so I could try to talk you into coming this morning, I
thought we could fool Mr. Thompson since we had Buck. I am really sorry, Ronnie.”
“Dishonesty and distrust are dark holes in which to find yourself. They are hard to
dig out of,” he said.
“Really? Then why did you tell me that Grandma bought the mix CD then?” Addie asked.
“Maybe I loaned her the money? Did you ever think of that? Don’t run off at the mouth
until you’re sure you have all the facts. Besides, I’m afraid this discussion will
have to wait for another day since we only have the gym until noon. I guess you all
better start off with five laps around the gym and then five sets of stretches,” he
said. Then upon hearing the kids all groan, he said, “Hey! You brought this on yourselves.
Get moving. You wanted the sergeant and me as your coaches? Well, you bought us, at
least for today. Now it’s time to pay the price.”
Rather than giving him more arguments, which was her usual modus operandi, Addie simply
smiled at him and started the lineup. After getting themselves together in the correct
formation, the kids took off running, and within a few seconds they were moving in
sync. At least all wasn’t lost, and he wouldn’t be forced to start this craziness
all over from the beginning.
He worked the team really well, and just when they thought he was done, he worked
them some more. Addie had shown him during the last competition that if they went
in prepared for the state competition, they would win the tri-county, and it had worked.
Maybe if he pointed them in the direction of national cheer competitions they would
do well at State. Always one step ahead…he was getting the idea that he
had
to be, at least with this group of teenagers.
When practice ended and the kids took off, he and Addie headed to Kayla’s house. “So
when are you and mom going to make up?”
“Look, you don’t get to ask any questions here. I, on the other hand, have several
questions that are going to be answered. Are you and Chase together?” he asked.
“That is way not fair. How about I answer a question and then you answer a question?”
she said. “Chase asked me out, but I really like Tyler. Now your turn. Are you and
my mom going to make up?”
“Tyler? The dipshit quarterback of your school’s football team? The one who couldn’t
pull off enough wins to even get his team to the playoffs? The boy who thinks the
rest of you guys are there to do his bidding and are beneath him? The kid whose biggest
muscle is his mouth? Seriously? Chase could annihilate him with one arm behind his
back!” Ronnie said.
Why was he rooting for Chase when nearly three hours ago he’d been ready to kill the
little punk? Punk or not, Chase was a far cry better than Tyler. Tyler’s dad was the
football coach and the only reason the little dweeb
was
the quarterback. If Ronnie were the coach, Tyler would play running back…if he was
able to fix his attitude problems and make it off the bench.
“Chase is just a friend. Now answer my question or this conversation is over,” she
replied.
He glanced at her and she crossed her arms over her chest in an imitation of him when
he was serious. Damn kid. He was the adult here, the coach, the soldier—the one in
charge!
“I’m not sure how to make this right with your mom, to be honest. How do you know
about me and your mom anyway?” he asked. “Oh, and what exactly do you have in common
with Tyler? I mean, if you went out with Chase you could talk about competition or
stunts or about the other kids on the team. What would you talk about with Tyler?
How to bow down and kiss his feet?”
“You could try kissing her. Mom is stretched pretty tight most of the time. Sometimes
you have to do something a little crazy to get her attention,” she said. “As for Tyler,
I don’t know what we would talk about, but he’s cute.”
Oh, he’d already kissed Kayla, and she was woman enough to get
his
undivided attention. Was it possible he hadn’t managed to get her complete focus
in return?
“Well, if looks are all you are interested in, why don’t you date Sergeant Buck? He’s
the best-looking ‘dawg’ I know,” Ronnie said with a laugh.
“Very funny. I hope stand-up comedy is your second or third career choice,” Addie
said. Then after a few moments of silence she added, “Can you stay for dinner?”
“I’m afraid not. I need to find a new place for Sergeant Buck to stay. My buddy, Rusty,
who normally keeps him, is out of town for the holidays. I can stay at Rusty’s place
with Sergeant Buck, but I really need to either find an apartment that takes pets
or see if I can find him a good home. He’s been staying with Rusty since before I
met you and your mom. It’s time I figure out something permanent for him,” Ronnie
said.
“No! You
can’t
get rid of Sergeant Buck! He’s like the good-luck charm for the team! We need him
for State! Promise me you won’t get rid of him, Ronnie. We love him!”
The child then leaned over and laid her head next to Buck’s. The dog, as though agreeing
with her, whined and licked Addie’s cheek. Then she looked up at Ronnie with her big
brown eyes and said, “You also have to be our coach for the rest of the year. Please,
Ronnie?”
Aw, hell. He could never say no to her.
Chapter Eleven
Kayla heard the sound of Ronnie’s truck in the driveway and stopped to check her appearance
in the hallway mirror before continuing to the door. Peering through the curtains,
she watched as Addie got out of the old truck and coaxed Sergeant Buck out, as well.
A small thrill went through Kayla when she heard the truck shut off and saw Ronnie’s
door open.
“Please, Ronnie? Just let me ask her,” she heard Addie say.
Kayla sat down on the couch to wait for whatever it was that Addie was about to ask
her. When the door opened, Addie came inside leading Buck by his leash.
“Mom, Sergeant Buck needs a permanent home because Ronnie’s landlord won’t allow him
at the apartment. Can he stay with us? Please, Mom. He did save Grandma’s life…please?”
Addie begged.
“Addie,” Ronnie warned.
“Why don’t I take him out back to check out the yard while you guys work out a deal?”
Addie said and then she led Buck down the hall toward the back door.
“I’m sorry, Kayla. I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth about Buck,” he said.
Her name on Ronnie’s lips brought back memories of him repeating it over and over
as he’d made love to her what seemed like a lifetime ago.
“Would you like to sit down?” she asked.
“I shouldn’t stay. You’re probably pretty tired after yesterday and then last night.
How is your mama?” he asked.
“They got her back to the nursing home and are putting her in a different wing, one
with locked doors. I hate to do that to her, but what else
can
I do? She would have died out there if you hadn’t…” Her eyes met his and he stared
at her in silence until she added, “She was sleeping when I left. They gave her something
for the pain and said she would probably be out of it for most of the day. I am going
to go back tomorrow to see how she is doing.”
“Did you eat yet?” he asked.
“I only got home an hour ago, and I needed a shower more than anything else. I should
probably make some lunch. Are
you
hungry?” she asked.
“I’ll make some lunch for you and Addie. You look really tired. Why don’t you go lie
down for a while? I’ll have Addie bring food up to you after a bit,” he said, kneeling
down in front of her so they were on the same level.
“We aren’t your responsibility anymore, Ronnie,” she said quietly. Even though it
needed to be said she wished she could have waited a little longer to say it. It felt
so good to be here with him, so close, talking. It felt right—like the perfect fit—and
she hated to break that feeling.
He stared at her for a moment. “Today, when I couldn’t find Addie, I felt a little…
crazy
because I didn’t know where she was or what she was doing. I figure you probably
feel that way, too, sometimes, with your job and then your mama and everything. Anyway,
I understand that now, and I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I should have told you
about the cheerleading thing.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked quietly.
Sighing, he stood back up and pushed his large hands into the front pockets of his
jeans. “A grown man doesn’t coach cheerleading for teenage girls, especially when
he doesn’t even
have
kids. It just seemed
weird
. And I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t, well,
manly
. I know it is pretty hypocritical to say this, but cheerleading is normally for girls.”
He looked like he might want to say more about his reasons, but he was cut off by
her giggle. The sound just kind of slipped out. Standing before her in his jeans and
bomber jacket he was everything that was masculine. With his large build and rugged
good looks there wasn’t anything about him that
wasn’t
manly. For him to assume she would think less of him for participating in a female-dominated
sport, especially since it was for her child, was amusingly ridiculous.
“There is nothing about you that isn’t all male. I just wish I could have participated,
too, by hearing about what she did at practice. What she talked about with her friends.
Who she was hanging around. It’s hard to get her to talk to me now that she’s older.
She wants her independence. I know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier to let
her grow up.”
“She does seem grown up in some ways, but in other ways not so much. This boy on the
cheer squad, Chase, likes her, but she thinks she likes the quarterback on the football
team, who is a real boob. She talks a good talk to her girlfriends about boys and
stuff but I don’t think she’s
that
kind of serious about anyone,
thankfully
. Her friends are good kids. None of them seem mean or like a bunch of partiers,”
he said. “Finding out about Buck earlier, she sounded just like a five-year-old, whining
and begging for what she wants. I think you have a few years left of her still being
a kid.”
“You’re not really going to give up Sergeant Buck, are you?” she asked quietly. The
dog was as big a part of Ronnie’s manliness as the clothes he wore or his sexy five
o’clock shadow. Addie was also right that the overly large dog had in fact saved Kayla’s
mother’s life.