Blindside

might kick me on my butt. Now, I’ve finished with Katie, if you want a recommendation.”
    Miles said, without hesitation, “Katie, are your feet better?”
    “She put iodine on all the cuts and they stung for a bit, but yes, now they’re better. Trust Sherlock.”
    Miles smiled down at her. “She’s always been a rock, just like her old man. I’d trust her to make doubly sure I’m really croaked before she let anyone pull the plug.”
    “That really makes me feel special, Miles,” Sherlock said, and patted his knee.
    “Okay, that was a bit much,” he said to Katie. “I’d trust her enough to play net in tennis doubles. How’s that?”
    “Not as dramatic,” Katie said. “How good are you, Sherlock?”
    “She’s a killer,” Savich said, and smiled at his wife.
    Sherlock just grinned. “Now, hold still, Miles. Goodness, you’ve got big feet. What, size twelve?”
    “Just about.”
    “Well, you’ve got a big body to support, so that’s okay.”
    “What size does Savich wear?”
    Sherlock patted his arch. “A twelve.”
    Katie stretched out her long narrow bandaged feet in front of her. “Well, I’m nearly five-ten, not all that much shorter than you guys. Maybe someday I can wear a twelve, too. Just three sizes to go.”
    Savich watched his wife putting Band-Aids on Miles’s feet when he wasn’t watching Sam and Dr. Raines. He wanted to move from the chair to that very comfortable sofa to relieve the pain in his back. He also wanted some tea. He took everyone’s order and went to the kitchen. He saw Katie start to follow him and held up his hand. “Nope, you just sit there and let those size nines recover. If youabuse them, they just might never grow. I’ll find everything, and I won’t make a mess.”
    Dr. Sheila Raines, holding both of Sam’s hands, said quietly against his temple, “Your papa is so scared I think he’s going to start howling at the moon.”
    Sam gave her a long look and said, “Clancy’s not going to come back anymore, is he?”

20
    T hat stopped the show for about ten seconds. Then Sheila answered him. “No, he’s not, and that’s a very good thing. He was a criminal, Sam, and criminals shouldn’t be allowed to terrorize us. What do you think about him and Beau being dead?”
    Sam thought about it, bit his lower lip, shot a look toward his father, and said at long last, “It’s just that one minute he was yelling and then . . . he was just . . . gone. There was this gunshot, and he was dead, just like my mama. I’m not glad my mama’s dead.”
    Oh dear. At least Sam was talking, thank God. Sheila leaned her forehead against Sam’s and said not an inch from his nose, “Trust me on this, Sam. Your mama’s in Heaven and I’ll bet she’s kicking up her heels that you’re okay. All the angels are cheering and I’ll bet you there’s even a big smile on Saint Peter’s face.
    “As for Beau and Clancy, they’re probably so deep in Hell that the Devil doesn’t even know where they are.”
    Sam thought about that, pulled back and smiled at her. He said, his little boy’s voice sounding strong again, “Nexttime Mama talks to me, I’ll ask her if she’s heard anything about Beau and Clancy.”
    “That’s a great idea. You can tell the sheriff what your mama says.”
    Miles wanted to shout when he saw that smile and heard Sam’s words. He had no idea what Dr. Raines had said to get Sam speaking again, but she’d done it and he owed her forever.
    He said, “Sam, would you please come over and hug me? I’m really on the shaky side. You’d better hurry before I fall over. I don’t want to drop Keely. You don’t want me to do that, do you?”
    Slowly, Sam slid off the sofa and walked to his father. He stood there a moment, his hand on his father’s knee, and he patted Sherlock’s shoulder. “Hi, sweetie,” Sherlock said, and kissed his cheek. “Just look at your father’s poor feet. You want to put on this last Band-Aid?”
    With great concentration, Sam went down on his knees beside Sherlock and smashed the Band-Aid down. At least it covered most of the cut.
    Miles picked him up and settled him on his other leg. He held both children close and began rocking slowly. He whispered against Sam’s ear, “You are the bravest boy I have ever known. I am so proud of you.”
    Sam released a long breath and settled against his father’s shoulder. “Don’t drop me, Papa. Don’t worry about Keely, she’s not as heavy as I am.”
    “No,