The Still of Night by Kristen Heitzmann Page A

this, Morgan.” Her tone was sincere. Just his luck that by the time she begged him to stay, she was already married to Rick and carrying his child. He knew very well where her heart was, and what did that leave for him? Pity? He swallowed the bitterness in his throat. He needed to get control, and he couldn’t do it with Rick preaching and Noelle worrying.
    She rested her hand on his arm. “That’s not all your things. Are you coming back?”
    He shrugged. “I might.”
    “Morgan …”
    He bent and kissed her cheek, then remembered another just as smooth, accented with feathery blond hair. What if he’d kissed Jill last night, taken her into his arms as he’d wanted to when he saw her approach—just stood up and pulled her into his arms and kissed her? His pulse raced as he slid his hands from Noelle’s shoulders. “Be good.”
    Her eyes held his. “Can I say the same to you?”
    He smiled. “Gotta have fun doing it.” He chucked her chin lightly. “Tell Rick good-bye.”
    She didn’t try to stop him, just watched as he went out the door with one last wave, then headed down the stairs and outside. The sun tortured his eyes as he reached the gravel. The ache in his head defied the aspirin he’d swallowed. He squeezed his shoulder blades back with a low grunt, then opened the trunk and put in his soft leather travel bag. He turned when Todd sauntered up.
    “Where are you going?”
    Morgan eyed the kid. “Not sure.”
    Todd’s pointy face glared. He leaned close, staring, and sniffed, then backed off. “You’re messed up.”
    “No.”
    “Yes you are. I smell it.”
    “I brushed my teeth.” Who was this punk kid to jump on his case?
    “It’s in your skin.”
    Morgan scowled. “I showered.”
    “It comes out anyway. I remember.”
    Expelling a hard breath, Morgan rested his hands on the open trunk frame. “Your dad?”
    Todd kicked his toe into the dirt. “Why’d you get drunk?”
    Morgan squinted. Why in heaven’s name had he come to Rick’s ranch? “I don’t answer to you.”
    “Yeah.” Todd’s face was all snarl. He walked away with a bigger chip than he’d come with.
    “Todd.” With a sigh, Morgan caught up to him, grabbed his arm, and turned him. “You’re right. I got messed up last night, drank more than I should, and right now I feel like something you don’t want to step in.”
    “Why?”
    Morgan looked at the angry, defensive kid. He did not have an answer. He had no answers at all.
    Todd’s eyes darted to the side. “I wanted you to talk to Stan.”
    Morgan’s head throbbed. “What about?”
    “You and me doing stuff.”
    Doing stuff? Morgan swallowed. This kid was not his responsibility. Some undersized, overcharged kid … Then he realized Todd had not sworn even once. His chest squeezed. “What sort of stuff?”
    Todd shrugged. “I’ve got all these chores now. Like they think it’s gonna help me get responsible.” He shot him a glance. “But after … we could talk or somethin’.”
    What had he started? “Don’t you talk to Stan?”
    Todd shrugged.
    “Why not?”
    Todd kicked his toe into the dirt in a steady rhythm, raising a little cloud. “He gets all mad if I swear or say something he doesn’t want to hear.”
    Morgan sagged. He did not need this. He looked at the car waiting to carry him away, somewhere, anywhere.
    “Go ahead.” Todd must have followed his gaze. He turned away.
    “Where is Stan?”
    Todd glanced over his shoulder. “What do you care?”
    Nothing . Morgan almost turned and headed for his car. Instead, “I’ve got time if you want me to talk to him.”
    “What difference does it make if you’re leaving anyway?”
    Morgan sighed. “Todd, would you get Stan?” Why was he standing there begging the kid?
    “He’s in the cabin. Hold on a minute.”
    Morgan waited. Todd came out of the cabin with Stan, and Morgan took another good look at the man. Taller than average height, though he stooped, sandy hair thinning, perpetual