章 27: Chapter 27

“That was Bill the mechanic on the phone just now. He said my car’s finally ready.”

Jimmy got a stricken look on his face. Was he having a bad reaction to the cookie? He’d eaten them before without ill effect.

The breath was knocked out of Barry’s lungs when he was slammed into Jimmy’s chest, Jimmy’s arms clamping him in a fierce hold. “You can’t go! You can’t.”

It took a second or two for the penny to drop. Wrapping his arms around Jimmy, Barry rubbed circles on the cowboy’s broad back. “No, Jimmy, you don’t understand.”

Jimmy maintained his iron grip.

“Jimmy, it’s okay. Please, bud, let go. I can’t breathe.”

Jimmy reluctantly loosened his hold but didn’t let go completely. “You can’t leave us.”

Barry took in a couple of much-needed breaths. “I’m not going anywhere. Well, except to town to pick up my car. Then I’m coming back here.” He tried for humor. “Of course I’m coming back. Who else do you think is going to cook your birthday dinner this evening?”