Bright Eyes Read Free Page B

something bad enough to get his father’s attention.”
    “Does his dad live out of town?”
    She shook her head. “No. Right here in Crystal Falls. He’s just—busy.”
    With the blond harlot? Zeke couldn’t imagine any father worth his salt letting a woman take precedence over his child.
    Natalie’s slender throat convulsed as she swallowed. “Look, Mr. Coulter.” Her gaze chased off to the fields. “I’m sure you’re not interested in our family dynamics. Suffice it to say that I know Chad did the damage to your house and garden. No contest.” She looked him straight in the eye again. “It’s just—well, I’m not in the best position right now to make restitution. Things have been tight.” She swung her hand at the table behind her, which told him the yard sale had been prompted more by sheer necessity than a need for revenge. “I’d like to say I could pay you next month—or the month after that.” She straightened her shoulders. “But the truth is, I honestly don’t know when I’ll be a thousand dollars ahead. Would you let me make installments?”
    Zeke understood that this must be a difficult time for her. He’d overheard enough to know that her ex-husband wasn’t fulfilling his responsibilities, and supporting two kids without help couldn’t be easy. On the other hand, though, her son had damaged Zeke’s property. Zeke didn’t want to be a hard ass and call the cops, but there was no way he could let it slide, either. When a boy inflicted costly damages, he had to be held accountable.
    Zeke rubbed his jaw. He didn’t want this prank, if it could be called that, to go on Chad’s record. “How about if we strike a deal?”
    Her eyes filled with suspicion. “What kind of deal?”
    Zeke almost grinned. She was a tempting package, but he wasn’t into bargaining for a piece of ass, as appealing as the prospect might be.
    “I was thinking that Chad could work off the debt. It’ll be cheaper if I do the repairs myself. Why can’t he come over and help me?”
    “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
    The more Zeke considered the solution, the more he thought it was a great idea. Inspired, even. The kid had a problem. A little hard work might be good for him. “The way I figure, paying minimum wage, he owes me”—he broke off to do some quick calculations—“about a hundred and forty hours. Calculating on a forty-hour week, that works out to be”—he paused again—“three and a half weeks.”
    She looked distressed. “But he has camp. ”
    “Camp?”
    “At the Lake of the Woods the last week of August. He goes every year.”
    Zeke arched an eyebrow. “Isn’t camp expensive?”
    “It’s church camp. The kids raise the money themselves with bake sales and car washes. So much else has been turned upside down in his life. I can’t take that away, too.” Her expression grew pensive. “Could he work for three weeks? I’ll come over and finish up for him, no problem.”
    Zeke couldn’t believe she was offering. He’d seen her check her watch more than once. She worked swing shift somewhere. What did she mean to do, get up after a few hours of sleep and work all day for half a week, paying off her son’s debt? No way.
    “This is the boy’s mess to clean up.” It seemed simple enough to Zeke. If you screwed up, you had to pay. “He’ll work off the debt himself, or I’ll call the law, your choice.”
    “But—”
    Zeke had been raised by his father’s iron hand. Right was right. If he’d been in Chad’s shoes, he’d have gotten a whipping and still been made to work off the debt. “Let me make myself clear, Mrs. Patterson. I’m bending as far as I intend to bend.”
    “Chad is very—” She broke off to fix him with an imploring look. “He’s been through so much, Mr. Coulter, things you don’t understand. He’s very delicate right now.”
    Delicate? The kid was a bank robbery waiting to happen. “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
    “I