Lucas addressed the large potted plant in the Juniper House lobby. "I asked you a question, boy. Get out from behind there."
Ronilyn watched as a young boy, whom she judged to be about ten or eleven years old, slowly emerged from behind the plant. He scowled up at Lucas, crossing his arms over his striped shirt in a gesture of defiance. "What?"
"What do you mean, what?" Lucas demanded. "What are you doin' out here by yourself?"
"Miss Holt don't know I'm here."
"Well, that figures. And they make her your guardian instead of me," the sheriff said, shaking his head. "Let's go, Caleb."
Caleb scowled even more and shook his head. "No. I came here to see Dr. Matt and I ain't gonna leave 'til I do."
Lucas raised his eyebrows. "You're gonna do as I say, boy. Now move."
"Who's Dr. Matt?" Ronilyn asked as she studied Caleb. The boy's face seemed familiar, yet she knew she had never seen him before.
Lucas frowned at her. "You mean you were tryin' to see a man and you didn't even know his first name? Just why were you goin' to see him then?"
"You mean Dr. Crower? That's your Dr. Matt?"
The scowl left Caleb's face as he looked up at her. "You mean you seen him? Is he alright?"
"Uh, I haven't exactly seen him," Ronilyn said, discounting the earlier fleeting glimpse of a pale face through bars. "I guess he's alright," she continued, remembering that Dr. Crower must have been aware of his surroundings enough to realize that there was a disturbance outside his door. "I tried to see him, but it's family only."
"That's what they keep tellin' me." Caleb glared at the information desk. "I keep comin' back hopin' somebody'll listen. I told 'em Dr. Matt don't have any family 'cept me, but..."
"You ain't his family, boy," Lucas interrupted. "You're mine."
"What?" Ronilyn's eyebrows disappeared up into her hairline. She crossed her arms. "Someone want to tell me what's going on? How is this boy related to me?"
"Who're you?" Caleb asked her.
"I'm Ronilyn Huntley," she said, extending her hand towards him. "I'm Lucas's cousin. His mom and my mom were sisters."
"Caleb Temple." The boy shook her hand. "So what does that make you towards me?"
"I don't know," Ronilyn said, glancing back at her cousin. "Lucas?"
"He's my son."
"Really." She looked from Lucas to Caleb and back again. "How come I didn't know anything about this until now? And how come his last name isn't Buck?" she asked. "Who's his mother? Do I know her?"
"You ask too many questions, Ronilyn," Lucas told her.
"Well, some questions just leap out and smack you right in the face, Lucas." She moved closer to him. "So how about an answer?"
"It's complicated." Lucas said, tight-lipped.
"It would be with you, wouldn't it? Then you can explain it to me at dinner tomorrow night. Your house. About six?" Ronilyn patted his vest and grinned. "Don't make any plans now." She glanced over at the boy. "I'll see you around, Caleb."
"Nice to meet you, ma'am."
"No ma'am, please. It's Ronilyn," she told him. "After all, we're family."
"Yes, ma...Ronilyn. You gonna be in town long?" Caleb asked.
Ronilyn looked at Lucas, who also seemed interested in hearing the answer. She smiled. "As long as it takes, Caleb. As long as it takes."