Page 35 of Wayward

“You and Harper have some place to stay tonight?”

She shook her head.

“They’re going to stay with me,” Linda apprised the deputy. “For as long as they need to.”

“Oh no, Linda. I can’t put you and Thad and the boys in danger if—”

“Thad?” Linda scoffed. “My Thad? Letting any of us be put in danger?” She chuckled. “Come on, Vi, think about what you’re saying.”

Viola opened her mouth to argue, thought about it a second, and then closed her mouth.

“Listen,” the deputy began, “Bruce and his cousins aren’t getting out tonight, and Bruce, certainly, is going to prison on parole violations, plus what happened with the dogs.”

Viola nodded quickly.

He looked at Linda. “While I know Thad is a scary man, between his training and those dogs of his, the fact remains that—”

“All our dogs are angels,” Linda said defensively.

“And scary as all hell,” he countered. “But still, if you have any trouble, call the station, you understand?”

She pressed her lips together tightly. “So you’re saying if anyone scales the perimeter fence with the razor wire on top, you’d like us to give you a jingle?”

He groaned loudly as Viola dissolved into tears, and Linda moved quickly to take the younger woman into her arms.

“You should have taken me up on my offer the first time this happened, Vi, but now you’re gonna be just fine until you get back on your feet. That family commune you live on isn’t a good place for you or Harper or your dogs.”

“Auntie Linda,” Harper asked, walking up beside her, “your doggies won’t eat Delilah and Peanut, will they?”

Linda chuckled, cupping the little girl’s bruised cheek gently in her hand. “No, darling, they love other dogs, just not people who trespass on their land.”

Harper nodded, smiling.

“And we have six altogether now. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”

“Good Lord,” the deputy groaned.

Linda shot him the fakest smile I’d ever seen.

He grunted. “Viola, you and Harper both need to go to the hospital. When Tan comes back in after they load up all three of those guys, he’ll take you on over to the Medical Center.”

She shook her head. “Deputy, I don’t have insurance, only Harper does.”

“We’ll take care of it. That’s what victim resources are for.”

Quick nod of her head.

Viola looked over at Dr. Coleman then. “I don’t have the money to—”

“I’ll take care of it,” I said, cutting her off. “Not to worry.”

“Oh, but you’ve done so much already and—”

“It’s fine,” I said in a gentle yet firm tone, trying to soothe her while also conveying that I was not taking no for an answer.

She caught her breath. “You’re sure?”

“I am.”