threw it on the counter. “I’ll lock up and go with you. Sally’s going to need me there.”
“Before we go, there’s something else you need to know.”
Sam eyed him, the look on his face telling Jake nothing could be worse than the news he’d already brought.
“I’ve already talked to Judge Parker.”
“And?”
“Since Will is so young and this is his first offense, Judge Parker wants to sentence him to a few months in jail at night and let him work off his debts with the merchants during the day.”
A spark of hope ignited Sam’s features. “Do you think it will do any good?”
“Maybe. If we can get him away from the crowd he’s been running around with, we might be able to save him from himself.”
Sam swiped at the tears swimming in his eyes. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes if it will help him stop drinking and gambling.”
“I’ll keep a close eye on him.”
“Thank you, Jake.” Sam flipped the closed sign over.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Livy opened the door to find Jake standing on the porch. He stepped inside. “How’s the boy?”
“Better.” She smiled. “His fever broke about an hour ago. He’s still asleep, though.”
“That’s good.”
He slumped into a kitchen chair. Livy watched him as she finished wiping down the table. She slid into a chair and touched his arm. “Jake, what’s wrong?”
“I arrested Will McIver this afternoon.” A worried frown creased his brow. “You were right. Will’s the one who’s been stealing from the merchants, not the street kids.”
“Oh no.” She hadn’t wanted to be right, not if it meant the thief was another kid. “Do Mr. and Mrs. McIver know?”
“They know.” Jake nodded, his expression grim.
“What’s going to happen now?”
“Judge Parker’s going to go light on him, give him a chance to turn around. Maybe this will be a wake-up call.”
Livy rested her hand on his arm. “I’ll pray that it is.”
His gaze flickered over her face and softened. Livy’s heart hitched in her chest. He gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m sorry I was so hardheaded about the street kids.”
“You couldn’t know. No one did.”
“But you believed in them.”
Livy shrugged. “It’s not like street kids to put themselves in the limelight like that.”
“Livy, come quick,” Mrs. Brooks called from the other room. “He’s awake.”
Livy tossed the dishcloth on the table and headed toward the bedroom, Jake close on her heels. She slowed, glancing at him. “Don’t scare him.”
Jake scowled. “Give me some credit, won’t you? I won’t bite the kid.”
Livy eased into the room and found Mrs. Brooks smiling at the boy. Cautious eyes stared back at her, shifted to land on Livy, and quickly jumped to Jake and the badge on his shirt.
Livy’s heart squeezed in dismay at the way the boy’s thin frame shrank against the feather tick, as if he wanted to disappear under the covers until they all went away.
“Hello.” Livy injected a friendly, soothing tone into her voice. “I’m Livy O’Brien. This is Mrs. Brooks and Deputy Russell.”
A quick flick of his eyes at Jake confirmed that the boy was more terrified of him than anything.
Livy stepped between the two, forming a barrier. “It’s all right. You’re not in any trouble, and the deputy is not going to arrest you for anything. We want to help you, okay?”
He stared at her, silent. No way did he believe her. Livy sat on the edge of the bed. He tried to scoot away, but pain contorted his features. Instinctively Livy reached out a hand, and he froze, looking like a mouse being stalked by a cat.
She dropped her hand to her lap, all too aware of the caution that thrummed beneath his rib cage. Should he trust her? Should he tell a tall tale and try to somehow worm his way out of here? Should he play on their sympathies? Or should he keep his mouth shut?
“Bobby?”
His gaze ricocheted to Livy; his mouth opened, then snapped shut, forming a thin line.
“Your name is Bobby, isn’t it?”
He dropped his eyes to the quilt covering his legs. Finally he nodded, the movement so slight Livy almost missed it.
“How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” he mumbled.
Livy glanced at Mrs. Brooks. “Maybe we need to send for the doctor now that he’s awake.”
“I’ll send Mary or one of the boys for him.” Mrs. Brooks left the room.
“Bobby?” Jake stepped forward. “I know you’re feeling pretty rough, but we really do want to help you and the other children. To do that, we need some information.”