Melvin Lee let go of the blanket and slid out of Cathy’s lap, but Duke was looking at Cathy. She was soaked to the skin and her ankle was bound to be throbbing. Her curls were even tighter and clinging to her head and down the back of her neck. But it was obvious her concern was solely focused on the little boy.

He handed the sack to Melvin Lee and picked her up and carried her into the house, then into the kitchen.

“You are something else,” he said softly, and put her down in a chair, then proceeded to get out plates and glasses and start dividing up food.

He poured half of his chocolate malt in a glass for the little boy, then put one of the chili dogs and some fries on a plate and scooted it toward him.

“Dig in,” Duke said.

Melvin Lee didn’t have to be told twice. He was chin deep in his chili dog and talking a blue streak.

As soon as he paused to take a breath and another bite, Cathy asked. “Want ketchup on your fries?”

“No, ma’am,” Melvin Lee said, talking around the bite he was chewing.

“So where’s your daddy working these days?” Duke asked, dunking his fry into a well of ketchup on his plate.

“Somewhere up in the Pennavanna.”

“In Pennsylvania?” Duke asked.

Melvin Lee nodded. “Yeah. That. He ain’t never home long. He says he has to keep a workin’ to feed us all. I wished he could find work closer to home so when Mama is having one of her bad days, he could stay home and take care of the youngins’, and I could stay in school.”

Cathy glanced at Duke. “His mama made an announcement this morning that kind of rocked his world,” she said softly.

Melvin Lee nodded. “Yep. I heard her talkin’ to Daddy on the phone. She told him she was preggers again and I decided it was time to move out. I ain’t takin’ care of no more babies. I gotta learn to read good and do my numbers. I don’t wanna be the dumb kid in the class no more.” Then he took another bite of the chili dog. “This here chili dog sure is good.”

Duke smiled. “I agree,” and then poured a little more of his chocolate malt into Melvin Lee’s glass.

Cathy was smitten with the both of them. The little guy’s view of the world was old far beyond his years, and Duke’s calm acceptance of what made little boys tick was endearing.

And then she heard a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it,” she said, and jumped up and rolled out of the room before Duke could do it for her.

* * *

Chief Pittman was standing on the threshold when she opened the door.

“Hello, Chief. Melvin Lee doesn’t know I called you, so…”

“I understand. That’s Duke’s truck in the drive, right?”

She nodded.

“Good. Just lead the way and let me do the talking,” Lon said, and left his raincoat on the porch swing.