The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3)(72)

“Uncle Cody is coming around,” Sierra said.

Dakota rested the baby on his hip. “This brilliant baby gave me an idea,” he said. “I feel the need to install a nanny cam.”

*

When Dakota left, Sierra was a little overwhelmed by what she’d learned. Connie went back to puttering in the kitchen while she gave Sam his bottle. “This business with Neely sounds almost scary.”

“I think Dakota can take care of himself,” Connie said.

“Making up tall tales is one thing, but this woman sounds like a stalker.”

“It’s been known to happen,” he said.

“Has it ever happened to you?” she asked.

“Not like that, no. I mean, Alyssa was kind of a pest. I had to tell her to give up way too often, but she never did anything to hurt me or my property.” He grinned at Sierra. “I’m making you a treat. Your favorite. Stuffed mushrooms.”

“I love stuffed mushrooms. Sam wants to hold his own bottle,” she said. “He’s taking my job.”

“He’s feeling independent,” Connie said. “That’s good.”

Sierra started to cry softly. “I want to hold him longer.”

“You’re crying?”

“Sometimes I think about the fact that he’ll never know his mother and it breaks my heart a little. I mean, I so want him to be with us, but his birth mother, gone from his life at such a young age. He won’t remember her.”

“Sierra?” Connie asked.

“It’s been such a troubling day,” she said with a hiccup of emotion. “Am I supposed to tell someone Neely is drinking?”

Connie frowned at his wife. “I don’t know. I don’t know all the AA rules. Besides, what does it have to do with anything? Do you think it’s making her act the way she’s apparently acting? Dakota doesn’t even know for sure it was her, he just thinks—Sierra, why are you crying?”

“I don’t know. I find it so emotional. A lot of it, you know? Neely’s a nutcase, I think. And my brother—he’s been alone so long and he has a good woman in his life now, that makes me so happy.” She wiped her eyes. “But poor little Sam will never know his real mommy. That’s sad, don’t you think.”

“Honey, are you about to get your—?” She glared at him and he put his hands up as if he was being arrested. “I didn’t say it! I almost said it but I caught myself. Do you need a nap?”

“Maybe,” she relented. “Having a baby is a lot of work. He sleeps pretty well but he still wakes up sometimes...”

“Why don’t you take a little nap with Sam before dinner,” Connie said.

“Maybe we should. I’ve been a little off today. I might be coming down with a cold.” She sniffed. “Cody’s going to be all right, isn’t he?”

“He’s a big boy,” Connie said. “And we’re going to be all right, too. We’ll get pictures from Sam’s grandma so we can show him some of the family he missed knowing, but don’t cry over it—that kid hit the lotto when he got us because he’s gonna have a great childhood. He’ll have a good mom and dad. He could’ve been bounced all over the state, but we lucked out and found each other.”

“Oh, Connie,” she said, sniffing.

“Go take a nap,” he said.

She cuddled Sam against her and headed for the bedroom.

“Sheesh,” Connie said. But he said it very quietly.

*

Dakota stopped by the police department on his way to the bar and grill. With the damage to Sid’s car, he and Stan were becoming much closer than he would have liked—in a professional capacity. When he walked in, Stan smiled from behind his desk. “Get the smell out?”

“Pretty much, but I had to take it to Colorado Springs to get a good detail job and the ride over was grueling. My buddy from the county, the guy I ride the garbage haul with, came by after you took pictures and wrote up your report. He helped me empty that mess into the truck. It was easier to do that wearing our hazmat suits. Nastiest mess I’ve ever seen. Then I filled my sister in on some of the details—she already knew Neely was a nutjob. She caught her in some lies, I guess. Not in vandalism, but very colorful lies. So I took a side trip to Walmart and bought myself a surveillance camera.”

Stan just lifted a brow. “I guess the next time something happens around your place, you’ll have yourself a little movie. I hope there isn’t any more bullshit. Even if you had some proof, she’d probably just get a fine. Oh, and lying ain’t against the law, unless you’re under oath.”

“Just so you know, I have guns,” Dakota said. “A couple of rifles and a .45. I’m going to take the rifles to my brother’s house to lock up and keep the .45. Because... I don’t know... When someone trashes your car while you’re in the house... If I was burglarized, I’d hate there to be guns stolen. Even by some girl.”

“It’s just peculiar enough to get my attention. I’m doing a little of my own checking around. We’ll talk about that another time. For now, I don’t want you to get the idea that just because it’s a woman you suspect of giving you grief that means it’s not a real threat. And I like the idea that you’re storing the rifles at Cal’s for the time being, but lock your doors, anyway. And pay attention. That’s about all I can advise you. I’d hate for you to shoot her. That’d make a mess of paperwork.”