Read Online Sugar Plums for Dry Creek & At Home in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad - Free Book Online Page B

ran through the town.
    â€œI understand you have been keeping watch, too,” Mrs. Hargrove said with a nod to Judd. She then lookeddown at Bobby. “And I expect you have a little helper here.”
    Bobby smiled up at the woman. “We’re guarding the ballet.”
    â€œSo you’re in the ballet, too,” Mrs. Hargrove said with an approving nod. “What part are you going to play?”
    â€œI don’t know yet. I might have to be a snow flake if we can’t get any other kids to be in it with us.”
    â€œAh,” Mrs. Hargrove murmured. “Snowflakes are wonderful things. Especially at Christmas. Each one is different.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Bobby said with out much enthusiasm.
    â€œWhy don’t you go help your sister with that costume?” Judd said to Bobby. Judd had a feeling that Mrs. Hargrove wasn’t going to tell him the news she had as long as either of the children were around to hear it.
    Bobby pushed his chair back from the table and left to follow Amanda.
    Mrs. Hargrove sat down in the chair Bobby had left. She didn’t waste time but got straight to the point. “Have you heard from the sheriff this morning?”
    Judd shook his head. “The kids have had les sons this morning, and I come in with them. I’ve been here.”
    â€œThat’s what the sheriff thought. That’s why he called me. He wanted you to know that they think they’ve arrested the kids’ father over in Miles City. The man won’t say who he is, but he had that picture Lizette de scribed with him.”
    â€œDid the man have a tat too of a snake on his arm?”
    Mrs. Hargrove nodded. “The sheriff said it was a cobra.”
    â€œThat sounds like it’s him, all right. Did he have a woman with him when he was arrested?”
    Mrs. Hargrove shook her head. “No, it was just him. Are you thinking your cousin is hooked back up with him?”
    â€œI don’t know what to think,” Judd admitted. “She should have been back here weeks ago, even if she’d had car trouble on the way to Denver. Besides, I don’t know how he would know where to find the kids if he hadn’t got ten the information from my cousin. Though I can’t understand why she’d be foolish enough even to talk to the man.”
    â€œShe must have had her reasons,” Mrs. Hargrove said.
    â€œWell, I hope they were good ones.”
    Mrs. Hargrove nodded. “The sheriff said they caught the man breaking into a gas station in the middle of the night.”
    â€œHow long will he be in jail?”
    â€œLong enough. They took him to the jail in Miles City for the time being. In a week or so they’ll take him to the jail in Billings. If he is the children’s father, apparently there’s an other war rant out for his arrest from the state of Colorado, so when they finish with him here, they’re going to ship him down there.”
    â€œHe’s a popular guy.”
    â€œI’d say so. The sheriff figures they’ll be sending him to Colorado some time after Christmas.”
    Judd nodded. “That’ll be some Christmas present for the kids.”
    Amanda and Bobby were starting to walk back to ward them with the fairy costume in their hands. Even from here, Judd could see the excitement on Amanda’s face.
    â€œDo you think it will upset them to know their father’s in jail?”
    â€œI wish I knew,” Judd said. “On the one hand, he is their father. But on the other hand, they’re afraid of him. Knowing he’s in jail might make them more comfort able even coming into town here. They seem a little nervous when they’re not at my place.”
    Mrs. Hargrove nodded. “I wondered if that’s why you haven’t brought them to Sunday school yet.” She didn’t leave time for Judd to think of the real reason he hadn’t brought the children. “But now that