She touched the bruise on her temple from the airbag. “Could’ve been worse.” She managed a smile. “Eb might’ve tagged me instead of Harvey.”
Wynn’s gaze shot to me, then switched over to Arthur. “Tagged?”
Arthur shrugged as he swapped the ice pack for heating. “A game his previous owner taught him, leaping on people. I’ll need to unteach it, again—because having a ninety-pound dog knock you to the ground isn’t a good thing.”
“Harvey?” Wynne grinned. “So that’s how he cracked his head? I heard they diagnosed him with a concussion, although I didn’t get a full report. HIPPA privacy, you know. I assumed that was the airbag.”
I said, “Probably both. Too bad it didn’t knock some sense into him.” I’d heard him howling about false arrest, illegal imprisonment, and how his militia was going to come and save him, even as they strapped him into the gurney. When the cop asked me if he was serious, I said about the first two, certainly. About the last? I couldn’t see community members driving across the country to break down the walls of the jail. Even people as…special…as my former family and acquaintances wouldn’t run that afoul of the law.
“He’s facing damn serious charges.” Wynn’s gaze settled back on Cheyenne. “The custody case is now a slam dunk. We already have them on tape promising to force you to marry Harvey. Now I heard he admitted your father sent him after you. Or, at the very least, provided all the information about where to find you. Your parents knew the kind of man they were sending, and they didn’t care. Judge Mathas will take all that into consideration. I know her, and she takes child-endangerment seriously. Brooklyn’s the only person who’s had your welfare at heart through all this. She’ll pick your brother.”
A tightness in my chest loosened a little. I’d been so fucking worried. Yes, things looked good enough to be cautiously optimistic. But that was a far cry from slam dunk. Wynn might be confident, but I’d wait until I had the papers in my hand before celebrating.
Wynn leaned forward. “I’m also going to suggest counseling—perhaps for all of you, but definitely for Cheyenne. Not just because it will look good, but because I truly believe you will benefit. You’ve been through a hell of a lot.”
She stiffened.
Since I’d retaken my place on the couch, I was able to reach over and grasp her hand. “Yes. Whatever we need.”
“Dr. Josiah Braithwaite counsels children and young adults?—”
“I’m an adult.” She jutted out her chin.
“I believe his practice is toddlers to twenty.” Wynn held her gaze.
I don’t want to know why a toddler might need therapy. “If you text me the doctor’s information, I’ll be happy to make the call.”
“Give the receptionist my name, and she may be able to expedite—this isn’t the first time I’ve called in a favor.”
As a lawyer in a small town, he probably saw a lot. Possibly more than I could’ve ever dealt with. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “Are you going to be okay? I mean, okay is relative…” His gaze traveled over all of us, but settled on Cheyenne.
She gripped my hand. “I’m safe.”
“You are.”
“I’m never going back.”
“No, highly unlikely.”
“Then yeah, I’m okay. Although that was scary shit.” She cut me a glance. “Mom and Dad would flip their lids at the idea of a shrink, but hey, if they hate it, maybe that’s a good sign. Talking to a professional wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
I offered an encouraging smile. “Nope. Not at all.”
“Then I’ll leave you be.” Wynn rose.
Cheyenne released my hand and popped up. “I’ll see you out and lock the door behind you.”
It didn’t surprise me that Cheyenne wanted to check the door locks herself tonight. Even knowing Mrs. Bollinger and her cell phone were on one side while trusty Roger was on the other, it’d be a long time before I left a door unlocked, even just to step outside a moment. Probably longer for Cheyenne. The shock of finding Harvey looming up inside a safe space would linger.
They exited the room.
“So, she’s staying.” Arthur said the words quietly.
“Yep.” I eyed him, spotting the uncertainty. “So are you. You think I can do this by myself?”
“Of course you can. You’re Brooklyn West—you can do anything, have anyone?—”
