Maggie’s eyes widened.“Sounds like he made quite the impression.What did he do to make your dad want to hit him?”
Cindy looked toward the thick line of trees, lost in thought.“He was eating dinner with us.He got upset when I spilled my drink in his lap.He called me a bitch.”
Maggie’s mouth dropped open.“In front of your dad?”
Cindy shrunk into herself a little.“Yeah.My dad jumped up and said nobody speaks to his daughter or any woman that way.My mom was holding him back and told Tony to leave.”
Walker walked over to Cindy, sensing her sadness, and rested his head on her knee.
“What happened then?”Maggie asked carefully.
“He left.I was crying and my parents were upset.They tried to tell me that Tony was no good and abusive.But they didn’t see him on the days he was nice and kind and loving to me.I told them they didn’t understand.A week later I ran off with him in his truck.I made one call to them telling them Tony and I loved each other and that I was okay.I just knew they would understand in the end.After that call, I heard nothing from them.”
Maggie studied the girl.“You haven’t heard from them since?”
Cindy rubbed Walker between the ears.“Tony threw my phone away.I don’t have a way to contact them.I doubt they would want to see me anyway.Tony said they called his number and told him they never want to see me again.”
Maggie narrowed his eyes.“Tony’s lying.”
Cindy looked at her.“No, he’s not.You didn’t hear how mad they were at me for leaving.”
Maggie shook her head.“Cindy, your parents aren’t mad at you.They are mad at Tony.He’s abusive.Anyone who would lay hands on a woman and call her names is abusive.He lied to you so you would be cut off from your family and depend only on him.He’s managed to isolate you from the people who love you.”
Cindy stood up suddenly and crossed her arms.“You’re wrong.He loves me.He’s just trying to protect me.”Shoving her hands in her jeans pockets, she didn’t look at Maggie.“I’m going for a walk.”
As she walked off, Maggie wondered how Cindy was so blind not to see who Tony was.
Her mind drifted to Mason.He might not have laid hands on her, but he certainly had emotionally abused her by cheating.
Maybe she and Cindy were not as different as she thought.
Chapter20
Walker finished sniffing the grass and quickly did his business.
He loved this time of night, right before bedtime when the grass was cool and damp.Tonight he was camping outside with Maggie.
Since the sun went down, the temps were cooler, and Maggie had even put on a hoodie before setting up the single tent.
As she walked him back to their campsite, he watched Cindy as she stared into the dwindling campfire.
He could smell the sadness on the girl.She was so different from his Maggie, and it made him sad as well.
Cindy stood and got into the van.
What Cindy needed was a good dog.A dog that would cuddle with her at night and always protect her.Especially from that man named Tony.
The hair on Walker’s back stood on end at the thought of him.
“Are you settled for bed?Need anything?”Maggie poked her head inside the open van door.
Walker sat at her feet and waited.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to sleep in the tent and you sleep in the van?”Cindy’s voice was quiet and unsure.
Maggie nodded.“Of course.I think Walker will enjoy sleeping outside with me tonight.Isn’t that right, boy?”
Walker looked up at her and wagged his tail.There was nothing better than being outdoors.He might even have a chance to sneak out of the tent and catch one of those squirrels that kept running away from him.
