The Magic in Your Touch Ch. 14

“Thanks, Cain. I’ll be right back. Don’t let him talk you into selling him that car while I’m gone.” He left before Nate could protest.

When Brandon was gone, Lucas said, “You really want this car, don’t you?”

Nate didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, but I don’t really understand why. To me, a car’s always been a necessity. Something you had to have to get you where you needed to go. This is the first one I’ve ever felt like I just had to have. Do you know what I mean?”

Lucas grinned. “Actually, I do. My first car was a sixty-three Chevy Impala with the top chopped and the frame lowered to about three inches off the ground. I remember telling my dad I was gonna die if I didn’t get that car.”

Nate smiled back at him. “I think I’ll live even if I don’t get this car, but I do want it, make no mistake about that. How much are you asking for her?”

Lucas said, “Forty-six thousand, firm.”

“You take checks?”

Lucas whistled. “Damn. You are serious. You know that the Sheriff is gonna stick it to me if I sell you this car, right? I won’t be able to drive through town without getting a ticket from here on out.”

Nate shook his head. “Bran likes to talk tough, but he’s really a pussycat.”

“Uh-huh. If you say so, Doc.”

For the first time, Nate noticed the wedding band on Lucas’s hand. “How does your wife feel about you restoring cars for a living? I imagine it must be pretty time consuming.”

Nate saw the pain in Lucas’s eyes before he redirected his gaze to his foot, still perched on the running board. “My husband thought it was great. He was as big a car nut as the Sheriff is.” He looked back at Nate. “I was widowed three years ago, not long before I moved to Reed.”

Nate said, “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to bring up any painful memories.”

Lucas shrugged. “You didn’t. It all happened a long time ago, anyway.” He switched back to business mode. “If you’re sure this car is really what you want, I’ll start the paperwork. But I want to include a thirty day trial period. If you drive it for a month and find out it isn’t what you want, bring it in and I’ll give you your money back. In fact, I won’t even cash the check until the thirty days are up.”

“That’s very generous of you. Most car salesmen aren’t so understanding.”

Lucas said, “Yeah, well that’s dealerships for you. Modern dealerships—”

Nate cut him off. “You don’t have to say it. Brandon gave me a full rundown of his opinion last night and this morning.”

Brandon came out of the office and he wasn’t smiling. “Did I just here my name?”

Nate nodded. “Cain and I were just discussing your shared philosophy on car dealerships.” He studied Brandon’s face. “What is it?”

“The DA’s office called a few minutes ago. After I talked to Sam, I called them back.” He reached out and snagged Nate’s hand. “About an hour ago, your father had a meeting with his attorney. He’s gonna plead guilty, Nate. Calder just confessed to everything.”