If only it would go that smoothly, Patsy thought wistfully, but this was Will they were talking about. He didn’t give up anything he considered to be his that easily.
* * *
Justin stood idly by as Will Longhorn signed himself out of jail. Tate made it a point to remind the lawyer of his agreement to be gone by the next day. For a brief instant, the man’s arrogance threatened to erupt, but he finally set his jaw and nodded.
“If you’re ready, I’ll take you by Patsy’s,” Justin said when the last paper was signed.
“I can get there on my own,” Will said, dismissing him.
Justin stood his ground. “Afraid not.”
“More rules?” Will demanded sarcastically, but he followed Justin to the waiting patrol car. “What kind of town is this? Do you all just make up these regulations as you go along? Or are you taking particular pleasure in tormenting me?”
“We believe in the kind of justice it takes to get the job done,” Justin said evenly as he drove the few blocks to Patsy’s and pulled up to the curb in front. “If it requires a little creativity, so much the better.”
Will glared at him. “Believe me, I know exactly what your agenda is. You think you’re so smart, don’t you? You think you’ve won.”
“Where you’re concerned, I don’t have to win. This is all about your wife and son and what’s right for them. If you’ve got a shred of decency in you, you’ll set them free.”
“It’s not up to you.”
Justin feared prolonging the debate would only make the other man’s hackles rise. He was clearly spoiling for a fight and Justin was a handy target. If Justin thought about accommodating him, it might be enough to cause him to back out on whatever deal he’d agreed to with Janet. To prevent that from happening Justin remained tight-lipped.
“Nothing to say to that?” Will taunted.
“Maybe you should stop worrying about me and concentrate on your boy,” Justin said mildly, gesturing toward the window where Billy was watching for them.
Even as they looked, Billy scrambled down and raced out the front door.
“Daddy, Daddy,” he shouted as he toddled unsteadily down the walk.
To Justin’s surprise, Will Longhorn bolted from the car, knelt down on the sidewalk and scooped his son into his arms. There were tears in his eyes as Billy’s arms locked around his neck.
“I missed you, Daddy. I missed you lots.”
“I missed you more,” Will murmured, his voice thick with tears.
Justin felt his throat squeeze tight as he watched the two of them. The sight had shaken him more than he cared to admit. It was yet another reminder that not everything was as black-and-white as he’d always believed. His view of Will Longhorn had been colored by what he knew of the man’s shabby treatment of Patsy. Now, seeing him with his son, he realized that whatever his faults, Will Longhorn loved his son and Billy returned that love. It wasn’t a bond that could be broken lightly.
He glanced up and saw that Patsy was watching the scene with tears in her eyes. He went past the man and boy to stand beside her.
“How can I do it?” she wondered aloud. “How can I keep them apart? Billy still brings out the good in him.”
“That’s a heavy burden for a two-year-old. Will needs to find the good in himself some other way.”
She sighed. “I know you’re right, but—”
“No, darlin’. You’re doing the right thing. I suspect if he’s honest with himself, even Will sees that.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said as Will stood up with Billy in his arms and started toward the house. Despite whatever trepidations she might be having, she managed a smile for them. Justin had never been prouder of her.
“Daddy’s going to stay for dinner,” Billy announced. “S’ghetti.”
“That’s right, munchkin. Your favorite.”
Justin hid a smile. He’d seen the damage Billy could do to the surrounding area with a plate of spaghetti. He wondered how Will would feel when it wound up splashed all over his fancy clothes, even if they were a little the worse for wear.
He was in for a surprise on that score, too. Will never batted an eye when sauce splattered off Billy’s exuberantly wielded fork. Patsy started out of her chair at the sight of the red stain, but Will waved her off.
“It’s a suit,” he said mildly. “It’ll clean, or I’ll get another one.”
She stared at him in blatant amazement. Even Will grinned