Free Cradle Of Secrets by Lisa Mondello Page B

“You won’t understand what I’m trying to say.” His voice was low, betraying a worry that Tammie was sure he felt every day. If someone she loved went missing, she didn’t know how she’d handle it.
    â€œWhat’s the problem?”
    He stopped stirring the eggs, turned off the burner and grabbed the plates Tammie had put down next to the stove. “It’s not that easy to explain the kind of man Cash is. Without that, I’ll end up sounding like I’m defending him. He doesn’t need defending. There are those who’d just as soon hang him as look at what I see in him.”
    Startled, she turned directly to him. “Hang him?”
    He stopped short, pausing with the pan over a half-filled plate of eggs, then resumed. “That’s just a figure of speech. But trust me, sometimes it feels like a lynching. You see, despite Cash never being in the military, he had a way about him that always reminded me of a code. Honor and respect are at his core.”
    â€œBoth are traits to admire.”
    â€œYes. Even though he’s always been good at taking care of himself, I’m afraid he let his judgment of others slip.”
    She lowered her eyes and then raised them back to him. “You mean with Serena.”
    â€œAmong others. If you don’t know him like I know him, it’s easy to come to the same conclusion as everyone else.”
    â€œI’m not like everyone else.”
    â€œI believe that about you.” And then he looked at her directly and smiled.
    Tammie fought hard to keep from showing her surprise. Bill always challenged her thinking. Told her she was being ridiculous where her suspicions were concerned. It was refreshing to hear someone say he believed her.
    â€œTell me about Cash.”
    â€œHe’s a good man, Tammie. I’m not saying he didn’t get into his share of mischief when he was a kid. We both riled up our parents pretty often with our pranks, and my mom attributes all her grays to us.” He flashed a quick grin.
    â€œThat’s just kid stuff. I’ll bet most mothers of boys will say the same thing.”
    â€œExactly. But there are some people in the DEA that are trying to paint Cash in a bad way.”
    â€œHe was in the Drug Enforcement Administration?”
    Dylan nodded. “What they’re saying just doesn’t add up to the man I know.”
    She smiled. “It does sound like you’re defending him. You don’t have to do that.”
    Dropping the empty pan into the sink, he picked up the plates of scrambled eggs. “Well, there are a whole lot of people judging him. Or they would be, if they could find him.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œLet me back up. Sonny—that’s my kid sister, Sonia—had written to me when I was overseas that something funny was going on with Cash. She couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was and for a long time I just thought she was exaggerating. I mean, she was a kid, just finished high school. I thought it was just drama.”
    She took a paper plate and stacked the buttered toast she’d prepared while Dylan talked. She put it on the table, and poured the black coffee. She motioned to indicate the milk in her hand.
    â€œA little bit, thanks,” he replied.
    After stirring the coffees, she brought them to the table and sat down opposite him.
    â€œHe never said anything to you about what was going on?”
    â€œNot a word. Not to Sonny, my parents or me. It’s hard to read between the lines in letters. So Sonny made it plain one day, sending me a letter that just said I needed to come home. Now.
    â€œThe timing was right. I was getting ready to reenlist for another four years. Had the paperwork all filled out, just not submitted to my CO. I decided to come stateside instead. It wasn’t until I got here that I saw how right Sonny was.”
    Tammie was struck by how openly Dylan talked about his