A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [41]
“Weren’t you afraid you might get hurt?” AJ asked.
Dare wondered if AJ was aware that he was now as engrossed in the story as Morris and Cornelius were. “No, AJ, at the time the only thing I could think about was that an innocent victim was at risk. Her safety became my main concern at that point, and whatever I did, I had to make sure that she wasn’t hurt or injured.”
“So what did you do?”
“In the pretense of paying for my gas, I entered the store at the same time the guy was forcing the woman out. I decided to use a few martial arts moves I had learned in the marines, and—”
“You used to be in the marines?” AJ asked.
Dare smiled. The look of total surprise and awe on his son’s face was priceless. “Yes, I served in the marines for four years, right after college.”
AJ smiled. “Wow!”
“My daddy says the marines only picks the most bravest and the best men,” Morris said, also impressed.
Dare smiled. “I think all the branches of the military selects good men, but I do admit that marines are a very special breed.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s a little over an hour, guys. Do I need to call any of your parents to let them know that you’re on your way home?”
All three boys shook their heads, indicating that Dare didn’t have to. “All right.”
“Sheriff, do you think you can teach us some simple martial arts moves?” Cornelius asked.
“Yeah, sheriff, with bad people kidnapping kids we need to know how to protect ourselves, don’t we?” Morris chimed in.
Dare grinned when he saw AJ vigorously nodding his head, agreeing with Morris. “Yes, I guess that’s something all of you should know, some real simple moves. Just as long as you don’t use it on your classmates for fun or to try to show off.”
“We wouldn’t do that,” Morris said eagerly.
Dare nodded. “All right then. I’ll try to map out some time this Saturday morning. How about checking with your parents, and if they say it’s all right, then the three of you can meet me here.”
He glanced at his watch again. Shelly didn’t know it yet, but he intended to see her again tonight, no matter what excuse he had to make to do so. He smiled, pleased with the progress he felt he’d made with AJ today. “Okay guys, let’s get things moving so we can call it a day. The three of you did an outstanding job and I appreciate it.”
“Mom, did you know that the sheriff used to be in the marines?”
Shelly glanced up from her book and met AJ’s excited gaze. He was stretched out on the floor by the sofa doing his homework. “Yes, I knew that. We dated during that time.”
“Wow!”
She lifted a brow. “What’s so fantastic about him being a marine?”
AJ rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Mom, everyone knows that marines are tough. They adapt, improvise and overcome!”
Shelly smiled at her son’s Clint Eastwood imitation from one of his favorite movies. “Oh.” She went back to reading her book.
“And Mom, he told us about the time he caught two men trying to rob a convenience store and taking a hostage with them. It was real cool how he captured the bad guys.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it was.”
“And he offered to teach us martial arts moves on Saturday morning at the police station so we’ll know how to protect ourselves,” he added excitedly in a forward rush.
Shelly lifted her head from her book again. “Who?”
“The sheriff.”
She nodded. “Oh, your father?”
Their gazes locked and Shelly waited for AJ’s comeback, expecting a denial that he did not consider Dare his father. After a few minutes he shrugged his shoulders and said softly, “Yes.” He then quickly looked away and went back to doing his homework.
Shelly inhaled deeply. AJ admitting Dare was his father was a start. It seemed the ice surrounding his heart was slowly beginning to melt, and he was beginning to see Dare in a whole new light.
Nine
D are walked into Coleman’s Florist knowing that within ten minutes of the time he walked out, everyone