The Seal's Second Chance Baby. Laura Marie Altom

      “Who’s Wallace?”

      “Let’s just say he’s a neighbor and leave it at that.”

      “Why haven’t you mentioned him before? You had to have known him, right?”

      “Girl, leave it alone.”

      “I’m intrigued.” Effie fitted the stopper in the sink, turned on hot water, then added a squirt of dish soap. “This sounds like a good story.”

      “Ha! He’s got a fresh mouth.”

      “This just keeps getting better...” Effie didn’t try hiding her grin. Mabel might be a great-grandma three times over, but that didn’t stop her from flirting up a storm every Saturday night she went square dancing. “What did he do?”

      “Poor Dwayne had barely been in his grave a year when Wallace showed up at the Grange Hall for dancing and told me I was shakin’ my behind like a wet dog.”

      Effie tried not to laugh—really, she did—but Mabel’s pinched scowl was too funny.

      “How’s that funny? The man’s a scoundrel.”

      “Grandma, even you have to admit that when you’ve had a few beers—”

      “I don’t imbibe in spirits, and shame on you for inferring I do. I might have had cider, but that’s all.”

      “If you say so.” Effie winked.

      “Girl, you’d better be glad you’re too big for a spanking, or else.”

      “Sorry, Grandma. But do you have Wallace’s phone number? If so, I’ll give him a call to save you the trouble.”

      “Why would I have the old coot’s number?”

      “We could try calling information or looking it up online.”

      “Girl, I’ve got no patience for your fancy detective work. Go see him in person. It’s that rock house a fair piece down the road with the leaning barn. Not only is the man foulmouthed, but lazy.”

      “I’ve never heard you say a bad word about anyone. Is this Wallace character really so bad?”

      As if on cue, Cassidy spit out her last bite of pears.

      “See?” Mabel said. “If even hearing about the man left a sour taste in this sweet baby’s mouth, then you know what I say is true.”

      * * *

      THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Effie had finished cleaning the lunch dishes, gotten the sulking twins started on their afternoon chores and allowed her grandmother to coerce her into visiting this supposedly wretched Wallace who might or might not have kin named Marsh Langtree.

      She now stood on the man’s front porch, wishing for even a hint of a breeze to cut the oppressive heat.

      At least his yard sported three cottonwoods. She welcomed the shade.

      Effie had just raised her hand to knock on the peeling red front door when it opened. Startled, she jumped back, pressing her hand over her pounding heart. “You scared me.”

      “Good. I don’t need religion or a new vacuum, so you’d best be on your way.”

      “No, sir. I’m Effie Washington—your neighbor from down the road. My grandma says we share a property line with you, and—”

      “Mabel’s your grandmother?”

      “Yessir...” Effie held her breath. If he harbored half as many hard feelings toward Mabel as she did toward him, this visit might turn even more unpleasant.

      “Well, why didn’t you say so? Come on in.” He stepped back to hold open the door.

      She entered, and nearly purred with pleasure from a humming window-mounted air conditioner’s chill. “Wow, does this feel nice.”

      “Mabel doesn’t have AC?”

      “No, sir.”

      “Humph.” The tall, slender man with a shock of white hair and an impressive handlebar mustache wandered to a sagging brown recliner. A massive Maine coon cat took up the entire seat. He hefted it up to toss onto the sofa, then settled into his chair. “Have a seat.”

      The offended cat glared before starting a tongue bath.

      Effie chose a simple oak rocker, unsure how to broach the matter that had brought her here.

      “How is Mabel? I trust she’s okay?” Interesting. Far from being the monster Mabel had portrayed, Wallace seemed cordial enough—at least once he’d confirmed she wasn’t witnessing or selling unwanted items.

      “She’s good.”

      “Does she talk much about me?” He leaned forward. “The last time we met at the Grange Hall, we’d both had a few spirits and I’m afraid I may have said something to offend her.”

      “I’m sure not.” So much for Mabel’s claim to never imbibe. “In fact, she’s the one who suggested I come over, to—”

      “Does she want me to come for supper? I’m available most any night of the week. My grandson’s living with me, so he’d probably enjoy a good meal, too. Lord knows, neither one of us cooks.”

      “Actually—” now Effie was leaning in “—would your grandson happen to be named Marsh?”

      “Yes. Why?”

      She forced a deep breath. “I’m not sure how to say this, but I was working on our roof when I spied a horse carrying a man slumped in his saddle. Making a long story short, the man’s hand was a mess, and showed signs of having been snake bit. I called an ambulance, and paramedics took him into La Junta.” She fished Marsh’s wallet from her back pocket, along with his broken wedding ring. “He should be fine, but—”

      “Take me to him.” He stood, holding out his hands for his grandson’s things.

      “E-excuse me?” She gave him the two items.

      “I don’t drive, so you’ll have to take me to him.”

      “Oh—sure. Have trouble seeing?”

      “Hell, no.” He’d already stood and took a black leather cowboy hat from a rack next to the front door. “I got so many damned speeding tickets that the law revoked my license. Don’t get it back till next month.”

      * * *

      THE ANGEL HAD RETURNED.

      Marsh winced from the too-bright lights when he tried focusing on her. She sat quietly by his bedside, staring down at him as if he was no longer a man, but a museum exhibit.

      We’ve administered forty-six units of antivenin. It’s too soon to give an accurate prognosis of the probability of lasting damage.

      That didn’t sound good.

      In fact, nothing sounded good except for the angel’s soft, nonsensical hum. The tune soothed him in a way that he didn’t understand, but welcomed.

      His wife hadn’t been in to see him, but his son had assumed a large role in Marsh’s dreams.

      The two of them played Frisbee with the dog and made sand castles on the beach. Tucker must not have drowned, because his smile reminded Marsh of his reason for living. His job as a SEAL was important, but being a dad was his life’s true calling.

      “Are you awake?” the angel asked.

      “I—I think so?” His mouth was so dry that his tongue protested forming even the simple words. Do you have water? He might have asked the question, or maybe he’d only touched his lips?

      “Thirsty? I’m not sure if you’re allowed to have anything to drink. There was talk of you having surgery, but I’ll go see.” She stood, as if planning to leave.

      “No,”