Free Into His Keeping by Gail Faulkner Page B

up?”
     
    Holden grabbed a pair of sweats and tugged them on over the shorts. “No, she’ll be fine.” He barely glanced at the boy as he pulled a T-shirt over his head. “It’s my business too and I take it seriously. But I’m glad to see you’re concerned,” he complimented gently while establishing a right to Jill.
     
    Drifter nodded and turned to leave. “Hey, so what are you checking on?” Holdin asked as he picked up shoes and socks to follow.
     
    “I need to check the car. I heard a sound outta the brakes,” Drifter supplied as his long gate took him down the hall to the stairs.
     
    Both of them descended as Holdin asked, “Think the pads are goin’?”
     
    “Yeah, maybe. Not sure. The guy in your equipment garage said I could use the hydraulic this morning.” Drifter glanced at his father. “Got a problem? I’m not taking your mechanic’s time. I’ll do the work myself.”
     
    “Course not. Mind if I look too? The Taurus ‘bout seven years old?”
     
    “Eight. Look at it if you want. I don’t need any help.” Drifter jammed his hands into his pockets as they headed for the back of the house where the kitchen door was the shortest route to the garages.
     
    In the kitchen, Holdin dropped his shoes and socks by the table and detoured to open the fridge. “Want something?”
     
    “Whatcha have?” A little of Drifter’s defensiveness fell away as he peered into the fridge behind Holdin.
     
    “I’m getting orange juice.” Holdin grabbed it and stepped away from the open door. “Get whatever you want.”
     
    Drifter stood there a moment looking at the contents and then flipped the door shut. “I’ll have a glass too.” Holdin was already getting two glasses from the cabinet.
     
    “Not hungry?”
     
    “Naw. I’ll have something when Mom gets up.”
     
    Holdin brought the glasses and juice to the table and sat to put on his shoes and socks. The move encouraged Drifter to participate by pouring the drinks. If they both were involved in some activity together, Holdin figured it wouldn’t feel as if he were infringing on Drifter’s space.
     
    Drifter drained a tall glass and put the orange juice jug away after he’d shoved the other glass across the table to Holdin.
     
    “You keeping track of her diet?” Holdin asked around his orange juice.
     
    Drifter shrugged. “She likes coffee and caffeine is on the ‘No’ list.”
     
    “There’s a list? The doctor gave her a diet plan?” Holdin asked as they left the kitchen through the mudroom and stepped out into the damp morning air.
     
    “Yeah.”
     
    “She doesn’t stick to it?”
     
    “Doesn’t like it.”
     
    “So? It’s good for her.” Holdin scowled. “How often does she go off it?”
     
    “None.” Drifter answered as he glanced around the large yard and outbuildings.
     
    “Then why’re you worried?”
     
    “She forgets things. I just make sure. I gotta drive the car around to the garage. Since you’re here, you could open the door for me.” Drifter pulled the car keys out of his pocket, turned away to lope around to the front of the house where Jill had parked.
     
    Holdin watched him, frowning. What had that been about? Was the boy afraid he wouldn’t let him drive the car around to the garage? Not likely, Holdin had been driving equipment around the ranch when they visited from the time he could reach the pedals. Or was Drifter embarrassed about admitting he kept an eye on his mother? Another thing Holdin had no problem with.
     
    Holdin shook his head and took off at a jog to make it across the nearly three acres of lawn to the garage before Drifter got there with the car. Entering the equipment garage, he activated the electric door. Drifter backed the car onto the lift skids as if he’d been doing it for years. Jumping out, the boy adjusted the fit and operated the hydraulic lift with an obvious knowledge of its workings. Holdin stood back as the car went up. He didn’t offer