The Four Stages of Loving Dutch Owen - Debra Kayn Page 0,9
arms, and had the same kind of vest on that Dutch and the men at the pool hall always wore.
She put one foot on top of the other and hung from Dutch's hand.
Dutch's grip on Marla tightened. "How's she doing?"
"She's curled up on the couch and keeps crying." The man glanced at her. "What's with the kid?"
Dutch pulled her arm. "Go sit on the step."
"I want to stay with you."
"Do what I said." He tugged her forward and pushed her down until she plopped on her butt. "Don't move."
Rejected for someone Dutch's age, she cupped her chin and looked at the step. A black ant crawled toward her on the concrete. She put her finger in its path and watched it turn around and walk off the step.
Dutch walked with the man over to the truck. She stood, ready to run to him if he got inside and tried to drive away without her.
Dutch talked with the other man. She couldn't hear what they were discussing. After a while, her legs got tired, and she sat down.
The door opened behind her. She scooted to the corner of the step and looked over her shoulder. A woman wearing a robe stared down at her. Her long hair hung over one shoulder. Marla turned away and went back to watching Dutch.
The woman had a red face and nose as if she'd yell or cry. Marla pulled her legs up and propped her elbows on her knees, cupping her chin in her hands. She wished Dutch would leave and take her to a bathroom.
She liked it when they were alone. Even riding in the truck was fun. There was a lot to see, even deer.
"Who are you?" asked the woman.
She scooted off the step and sat on the sidewalk to the driveway, closer to Dutch. The lady was a stranger.
"Dutch?" The woman took two steps. "Who is this girl? Why is she so filthy."
Marla turned, putting her back to the woman. Her eyes burned, and she rubbed her face, then tried to brush her hair off her shoulders. She needed a bath.
At first, she liked not washing her hair and wearing the same clothes day after day. She sniffed, rubbing her arm under her nose. But she hated how the dirt rolled into little balls on her arms when she rubbed her skin. Her head hurt from the knots in her hair.
Dutch walked toward her with the other man. She scrambled to her feet. As soon as he was close, she went to his side and leaned against him.
Tilting her head up, she whispered, "I want to leave."
He put his hand on her head and looked at the woman. "She doesn't have a mom, sis. She's alone."
The woman stepped closer. Marla shifted and hid behind Dutch. She didn't want him talking about her mom or telling other people about her.
"Is she your kid?"
"No." Dutch grabbed on to her shoulder and pulled her out from behind him. "She's been living in a shed by herself and needs someone to look after her. I thought maybe you'd want her."
"I can't..." The woman hugged herself. "She's not —"
"She's a kid who needs a mom, Rach." Dutch gripped Marla's shoulder, holding her in front of him. "If not, she's going to end up in the system."
Marla turned and wrapped her arms around Dutch's waist. "I want to stay with you."
The adults talked, ignoring her. She understood what Dutch was telling them. He wanted to leave her here. This wasn't her house. The people were strangers. She needed to go back to the shed. Her mom would come back, and she needed to be there. Her mom always came back.
"Did you kidnap her?" asked the woman.
"Skull will fill you in on what went down. I need to get over to the clubhouse and try to catch Woody." Dutch paused. "Do you want her or not?"
Marla broke free from Dutch and ran to the truck. All she needed to do was get inside. He'd have to take her back to Moses Lake.
An arm wrapped around her before she reached the passenger door. Her feet left the ground. Screaming and hitting, she tried to get away from Dutch.
She was wrong. He wasn't a nice man.
He wanted to give her to the mean lady.
Her mom would never find her here. It was too far away from home.
Dutch shook her. She froze, terrified he'd leave her.