After being dismissed, walking home a step or two ahead of Tad, Dixie happily flipped through Will's cards.
"I can't wait to show these to Lanie before Will gets home from baseball."
Looking over her shoulder, she gave Tad an adoring smile.
"Tell her you went and stole 'em back for me."
"She'll be happy about it too?"
"Oh I know it."
When they reached the driveway, Tad broke into a run leaving Dixie to catch up. So far when they raced like this she hadn't been able to beat him to the front door, but Tad had a feeling it was only a matter of time.
"Ha! Win again!"
"It's not fair, Tad! I'm shorter than you 'cause your legs are longer!"
Snickering Tad looked down at his legs.
"Well will you look at that, I guess they are!"
"Momma!", Dixie whined, trudging inside the house.
"Tell Tad it's not fair when we race 'cause he's got longer legs than I do! Momma?"
Frowning not seeing Bess in the kitchen, Dixie looked in the living room, then turned down the hallway to the bedrooms.
"Momma?"
"Ms. Cooney?", Tad echoed, before noticing the door to Bess' and Della's bedroom was open.
Pointing down the hallway, he led Dixie inside the bedroom where Bess was standing over Della's empty crib, holding a handkerchief to her face.
"Ms. Cooney? Everything alright?"
"What? Oh..Tad, you startled me.".
Wiping her eyes, Bess managed a small smile.
"Momma, what's wrong? Where's Della?"
"Oh your Aunt Sophie's watching her for awhile, sunshine."
"Oh, but I wanted to show her the baseball cards!"
"She'll see 'em, baby. Don't worry."
Taking Bess at her word Dixie nodded and moved closer, before eying the handkerchief.
"Why are you crying, Momma?"
"Oh, honey it's fine. I just was tidying up in here and got a little dust in my eye. That's all."
"Oh, okay."
"So, how was school?"
"Tad stole back my baseball cards! Er, Will's baseball cards.", exclaimed Dixie, getting a nudge from Tad.
"Stole? What do you mean stole?", asked Bess, raising a brow.
"Well, see the teacher thought Dixie was trading the cards in class when she wasn't and put them in her desk. So, Dix told me what happened and I got them back for her at recess.", Tad said proudly.
"Well that's an awful lot of trouble to go to for a few measly cards. I hope you two didn't get into any trouble."
"Well we didn't get caught if that's what you mean."
Shaking her head, fighting not to smile, Bess led Tad and Dixie to the kitchen for a snack. Right as Will walked through the front door.
"Will!", Dixie greeted.
"Hey kiddo! So, how'd my cards work out for show and tell?"
"Pretty good. 'Cept Tad and I had to steal them out of Ms. Laypo's desk when ev'ryone was at recess."
"What!", Will sputtered.
"No but we got 'em back and didn't get caught and they're all right here! See!"
Taking the cards, after counting them Will shot Tad a glare, then turned back to his sister.
"Dixie, kiddo you shouldn't steal anything, especially from a teacher! What if you'd gotten caught!"
"Yeah but we didn't! We didn't!", Dixie assured.
"Tad was careful, Will, and he was real quick about it! Weren't you, Tad?"
Set to answer but catching Will's glare, Tad sighed and shook his head.
"Your brother's right, Dix. I shouldn't have let you come in the classroom with me."
"You shouldn't have been in the classroom in the first place!", Will scolded.
"Hey you got your cards back, right?!"
Rolling his eyes Tad excused himself from the table, leading Dixie to follow him outside.
"Will..", Bess sighed after the scene played out.
"What Momma? I'm just trying to do what you've always asked me to do. Protect my little sister!"
"But honey, you don't need to protect her from her best friend."
"Best friend? Momma they've known each other less than a month!"
"And look at how close they've become! Dixie would move heaven and earth for that boy. Same as he would for her. They're best friends, baby. It's high time you see that and stop griping about it."
"Momma I'm just worried he's gonna get her into trouble. That's all."
"Now Will, you think for a second I'd let that happen? Let a troublesome boy anywhere near my baby girl? Tad's one of the good ones, babe. I know it. I trust him with your sister. How could I not after seeing the impact he's had on her?"
"What do you mean?", Will asked.
"After that girl next door, Claire, moved, and after your daddy left the first time, Dixie was good and ready to mope around the house with her animals all summer long. After she found Tad in those woods though, that little spark found it's way right back in her eyes. As close as you and she are, I'd have bet you'd noticed it too."
"So, what then? Tad's the only one who can make her happy now?", Will grumbled.
"No, her big brother can too! Honestly, Will you know damn well how much Dixie loves you! How much she looks up to you!"
Shrugging, Will turned to leave but felt Bess' hand on his shoulder.
"There's no reason to be jealous, baby. Tad's a good boy but you're my boy. And the best one I could've hoped for at that."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah! And don't you forget it.", Bess demanded, hugging Will tight before letting go.
"Say how about you put those baseball cards back in your room. Stash 'em in some special secret hiding place of yours."
Grinning, Will nodded and left the kitchen. Leading Bess to walk over to the phone and dial with trembling fingers.
"Sophie, it's me. Bessie. Listen you, you may need to watch her awhile longer. Yeah, Seabone, he..he ain't back yet. No I don't know if it'll be as long as before. Now you know I wish I could just bring her home, forget this whole thing! I just, can't afford to yet. The bill from the grocery alone's gonna set us back the rest of the month. Trust me though, once that old goat of mine's back, puts some money back in the bank everything'll be fine. I know it. Everything will be fine."
Repeating herself in hopes she'd believe it, after thanking Sophie again Bess hung up the phone. All the while trying not to cry.