Page 37 of Coyote
Though I didn’t know where I would go. I was about to ask Reggie if he thought his nieces would let me stay, at least for one night, when he reached out and grabbed my arm. Giving it a little squeeze, he said, “Call Coyote. Let him help you. Will you do that for me?”
I nodded. “Yes. Of course. He’s a nice man. I’m sure he’ll take us in.” Glancing from Reggie to Thomas and back again, I told him, “I’m really sorry this happened. If you don’t want me around anymore, I’ll understand if you fire me.”
“Don’t be silly, honey. You’re like family to me,” his eyes went to Thomas who nodded.
I pushed myself off the ground with my free hand and repositioned my daughter in my arms, she’d calmed down and was watching the firefighters intently. I turned and walked towards our little house with the chief firefighter at my heels. The minute I got inside, I put Nessa down and grabbed my cell phone off the sofa where I’d dropped it in a mad rush to get my daughter out of the house.
She looked at me with wide eyes. “It’s a big fire,” she said not understanding what was happening.
“Go to your room and put your favorite toys in your pillowslip.” When she didn’t immediately get moving, I kneeled down and said, “We’re going to go visit your doggy friend. Gather up whatever toys you want to take, okay.”
Her dark expression brightened, and she ran off towards her room.
I dialed Coyote’s number. He picked up immediately. “What’s up, Bethany. Is everything okay?”
“No. Someone set Reggie’s house on fire.”
“Fucking hell. I hope he’s okay.”
“He’s going to the ER to make sure his lungs weren’t damaged by the smoke, but other than that, he seemed fine.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I know he’s been really good to you over the last couple of years. I’d to think of anything bad happening to him.”
“Since we live in his pool house, they don’t think it’s safe for us here.”
Before I could ask to stay, he offered, “The two of you can come to my place. I’ve got plenty of room and a state-of-the-art security system.”
“Yes. I remember that. “Whoever did this slashed both of our tires, so if it’s not too much to ask, we need a ride.”
“Not at all. I’ll bring my tow truck and grab your vehicle while I’m at it and we’ll get some new tires put on.”
Glancing at the firefighter standing in my open doorway with his back to us, I murmured, “I don’t think they will allow that since it’s considered evidence.”
“Gotcha. I should have thought about that,” he responded quickly. “I’m still at the auto repair shop. Give me about fifteen or twenty minutes.”
“Don’t you need the address?” I asked, worried that he would realize later that he didn’t know where I lived.
“Nope. I’ve got it.”
“I don’t remember telling you.”
“Ah, maybe I read it somewhere. You might have put it on the paperwork,” he added, sounding a bit strange.
“Yeah, maybe I did. I’ve been so busy these past few weeks…” my voice trailed off as I saw Nessa trying to stuff her favorite toy into the pillowcase, but failing spectacularly, “leave it, honey,” I called out.
“I’m sorry this happened to you,” Coyote cut in. “You must be terrified that an arsonist struck so close to where you live. Do the cops know what happened?”
“Not yet, only that it was deliberate. We’ll talk more about it when you get here, okay?”
“Yeah, pack up what you need, and I’ll be there shortly.”
“Thank you, Coyote. I really appreciate you being there for us.”
I felt numb as I walked into my room, pulled out a large suitcase and began loading it up with enough clothing to get me through a week or so. Then I carried it to my daughter’s room and nearly tripped over a large pile of toys on the floor. This child of mine had been busy. I began loading her clothing into the suitcase and we finished by filling it with the toys she thought she couldn’t live without. I threw in several story books and zipped it up. Since I had time to spare, I packed a duffle with all her favorite comfort foods and juice boxes.
By the time I was finished, Coyote had arrived to pick us up, not in his tow truck as there was nothing to tow, but in a panel van. He insisted upon carrying our bags so I could carry my daughter. I somehow remembered to thank the nice firefighter who showed us such kindness. This night had been an ordeal. By the time we walked past Reggie’s house it was smoldering. To be honest, it looked like it might be a total loss. I was crippled with guilt because if it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t be at the ER and he wouldn’t have just lost all his worldly possessions in a house fire. I’m no good. I draw the attention of the wrong kind of men, and I shouldn’t be doing the same thing to Coyote right now. What if whoever did this targeted his house next?
That thought had me so paralyzed with fear that I stopped in front of his van, hesitant to make my problems his. Coyote put our bags and suitcases into the van. When Nessa moved in my arms, I realized her safety had to come first. Coyote was the one man I believed could keep us safe. Peering into the van, it hit me that there was no child safety seat. I quickly handed Nessa to him. “I’ll be right back. I need to pull her car seat out of my vehicle.”