Read Online Montana Creeds: Tyler by Linda Lael Miller - Free Book Online Page B

humor in the smile Davie gave then, or in his eyes. “Small towns. Word really does travel like wildfire.”
    â€œRunning away would be a bad idea.”
    â€œYou don’t know my mom’s boyfriend. The sheriff said he was going to track Roy down and warn him not to hit me anymore.” Davie gave a bitter huff of a laugh. “That ought to make things real nice when Mom and I get back to the old trailer after her shift.”
    Tyler’s gut churned just to think of what the boy might be facing, later that night and afterward. And he suddenly knew he couldn’t stand it, whether Davie was his or not.
    â€œI’ve been thinking things over,” Tyler said carefully. “Maybe I could use somebody to help out around the cabin.”
    Davie couldn’t hide his interest then, though he tried. He closed the book, set it down with a little thump and frowned at Tyler. “What kind of help?” he asked, almost suspiciously.
    This from the kid who’d practically begged to stay.
    â€œYou said it yourself, this afternoon. Taking care of Kit Carson, cutting grass, stuff like that.”
    â€œThat place is small. Where would I sleep?”
    â€œWe’d get you a cot and a sleeping bag.”
    â€œYou don’t even have a TV.”
    Tyler grinned. “You’re mighty choosy, all of a sudden, for somebody who wanted to move right in before.”
    â€œWould you be a foster parent?” Davie asked, sounding like a lawyer now. “Maybe collect a little check from the county or the state?”
    Tyler chuckled, enjoyed a sip of bad casino coffee before answering. “Hell,” he said, “no amount of money would be enough to put up with your attitude. It’s a neighborly offer, that’s all. And your mom has to approve, of course.”
    From the looks of Doreen, she’d been running interference between good ole Roy, the boyfriend, and her son for too long. Letting Davie bunk in at Tyler’s for a while would probably be a relief, with all her problems.
    â€œWhat changed your mind?” Davie asked grudgingly, but with a little less attitude than before. He was afraid to hope—Tyler could see that—and it galled him. Brought back way too many memories.
    Life shouldn’t be the way it was for Davie, the way it was for a lot of kids.
    The way it had been for him.
    â€œI just needed some time to think, that’s all,” Tyler said. The words felt as lame coming off his tongue as they probably sounded to Davie. “Of course, you screw up and you’re out of there.”
    Davie’s eyes widened. They were Doreen’s eyes, not Tyler’s own, or those of any family member he could recall, but still.
    Still.
    â€œYou mean it? I could stay at your place?”
    â€œI mean it. Long as you don’t cause trouble.”
    â€œYou’ll get a TV?”
    Tyler chuckled. “I didn’t say that,” he pointed out. “But once I see what kind of yard-bird you really are, I might let you use my laptop now and then.”
    â€œAnd all I have to do is take care of the dog and cut some grass?”
    â€œYou’ve seen the grass. It’s waist-high. I think there’s a lawn under there someplace, but I can’t be sure.” Tyler paused, considered. “Fact is, I’m thinking of building on to the place.” Had he been thinking that? Not consciously, but now that the idea had presented itself, most likely prompted by Dylan’s mention of razing his old house to put up a new one, and what little he knew about the restorations going on at the main place, under Logan’s direction, he kind of cottoned to the prospect. “That would mean some carpentry. Maybe a little plumbing and electrical work, too.”
    Davie looked worried. Maybe all that hard work would be a deal-breaker. “I don’t know anything about construction,” he finally said.
    â€œThat makes two of us,”