21. Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-one

Later that afternoon, Tim and Matt were in the carpool lane just as the school bell rang loudly. They were watching for Ryan to come bursting out the door so they could take him shopping for Christmas decorations because the boy was chomping at the bit to decorate the house. He'd only asked about it a hundred times since Black Friday.

Tim had found a tree lot near a big discount store by the highway. He and Matt had decided that after they picked up the decorations and got everything home, they were going to put up the tree. He'd put chili in the slow cooker that morning, just as Aunt Katie had instructed when he'd called her, so they'd have a nice dinner waiting for them when they were ready to eat that evening.

They were scheduled to make the drive to Richmond to finish their Christmas shopping for friends and family after Matt met with his lawyer on Friday afternoon to discuss the custody case Mona had filed against him. Tim was damn worried about the outcome, but after the meeting with Jon Wells, he was hoping they could put all the nastiness and negativity out of their minds until after the New Year.

"There he is," Matt pointed as Ryan walked out of school with a boy who was about six inches taller than him with rich brown skin. Both boys were smiling as they headed toward the school buses, so Matt honked the horn.

Upon hearing the familiar sound, Ryan turned in their direction, so Tim rolled down the window to wave. It was still unseasonably warm in southern Virginia, and they counted every day in light jackets as a blessing.

"Who's the boy he's talkin' to?"

Tim smiled. "Based on the coat, I think it's Rocky Whipple. Ryan's really a remarkable boy, Matty. He's trying to be a good friend to Rocky. For a boy that age, it's really an incredible undertaking."

Just then, a boy bigger than Rocky walked up to the two of them and jerked Rocky back by the hood on the coat he was wearing—the coat Tim and Ryan had purchased for him and left anonymously on the front porch of his home.

They watched as Ryan dropped his backpack and lunch box, turning to the bigger kid and yelling at him. Ryan planted his feet, obviously readying himself for the altercation.

When the bigger boy face-palmed Ryan and shoved him to the ground, Tim rushed to get out of the truck and break it up. He wasn't about to allow his partner in crime to be bullied when he was right there to stop it. Matt grabbed him by the arm, taking him by surprise. "Just wait one second."

Tim looked at Matt like he'd lost his damn mind, struggling to get away. "You can't seriously tell me we're going to sit here and watch Ryan get the shit beat out of him?"

Without turning to look at Tim, Matt pointed. "No, we're not, but this right here is when you decide if you're gonna let a bully run ya. Look at him. Ryan's diggin' in, and he ain't gonna let that bigger boy mess with him or his friend. If we go rushin' up there, we'll embarrass him and set him up to be a target for every bully at this school, Timmy."

Tim turned to see Ryan take off his jacket and push the bigger kid back, knocking him on his ass. Just as the bully was about to charge Ryan, Rocky Whipple took off his coat, tossing it on the sidewalk before he laid into the bigger boy, who was no match for Rocky.

Tim could sense Matt was holding back throwing ghost punches in support, and although he didn't believe in solving any problem with violence, he had to resist the urge to move his arms in support of Rocky Whipple, too.

The two men watched as an adult came to break it up, but before Tim knew what was happening, Matt hopped out of the truck and trotted over to the crowd that had gathered. Tim quickly scrambled to follow.

When Tim ran up to the scene, he heard, "Rocky, I'm going to have to call your mother and make her come to school. This is unacceptable behavior, young man, and if you don't know better, we have a problem." Tim didn't like the way the older woman was speaking to the boy, and that finger she had in Rocky's face was the last straw.

"Mrs. Danbury, it wasn't Rocky's fault. Jerry came up to him and tried to steal his warm coat. Rocky just got it, and we weren't gonna let Jerry take it. He started it, ma'am." Ryan was talking fast as he pointed to the boy with the dirty-blond hair who appeared to be at least three years older than Ryan or Rocky.

"Ryan Collins, you head right to that principal's office as well. Jerry Kelly didn't do anything to start this fight, and you know it. You're an instigator, that's what you are." The snarl on the woman's face had Tim's blood boiling.

Just then, Matt walked up to the little group and gave his best lazy grin. "Hello, Mrs. Danbury. I s'pose you remember me." Matt's friendly greeting was surprising, especially since Tim could see the bull rider's hands were shaking in anger.

The silver-haired woman looked at him for a moment, her confusion quickly morphing into an ugly scowl. "I shoulda put it together, Matthew. It figures your son would be as much of a bully as you used to be." There was a superior tone in her harsh voice.

Tim stepped forward. "Excuse me, but Ryan and Rocky were merely walking toward the bus when this boy came up behind them and jerked on Rocky's coat. Ryan was standing up for his friend, not being a bully, ma'am. You've got it all wrong. We were right over there, watching the whole thing." Tim pointed toward the F-250.

Tim watched as she gave him an up-and-down, scoffing at him. "Who might you be? I don't remember you from school."

Tim had dealt with his fair share of bullies over the years, all of them thinking they were better than him. The woman's attitude didn't put a chink in his armor. He even laughed a little at her, judging her to be a bigger bully than the dirty-blond boy.

"That's because I had the fortune of going to a school where teachers didn't side with bullies. Ryan was defending his friend who, after Ryan got shoved down by this kid, tried to defend him in return." He pointed to the boy who was smirking at the whole thing. "Rocky stepped up to stop it." Tim stepped toward her so she knew he meant business.

The boy, Jerry, moved in front of the woman and turned to face her. "Gram…Mrs. Danbury, I didn't do nothin'. Ryan and Rocky always pick on me." The big kid actually produced a pout.

Just then, a woman of about thirty walked up. She was close to Aunt Katie's height, with a short, brunette bob. She wore wire-framed glasses, and Tim would be hard pressed to say she wasn't attractive. She was wearing a skirt, sweater set, and tights, and she had a cute smirk on her face. "Hello, everyone. What's going on?"

"Rocky and Ryan were picking on Jerry." The older woman pulled the big kid closer to her.

Just as Matt and Tim were about to provide another argument regarding the turn of events, the attractive woman turned to them and smiled. "I'm Miss Blankenship. My stepdad owns the feed store, Mr. Collins."

She then turned to Tim with a welcoming smile. "You're Mr. Simmons' nephew, right? I worked with you setting up the direct link to our order system." She extended her hand to shake Tim's.

Tim laughed. "Tim Moran, Miss Blankenship. It's truly a pleasure to put a face with a name. I'm about to call you again to set up another link from the Circle C to the feed store. I just need to put a few finishing touches on it to make it easier on your end. When are you available to discuss it?"

Matt cleared his throat to get Tim's attention. "Sorry, Timmy, but we kinda have an issue here." He gestured toward Ryan and Rocky before turning his unhappy gaze on the older woman and the other boy.

Miss Blankenship giggled. "No, we really don't, Mr. Collins. See those windows? That's my classroom, and Ryan and Rocky are my students. Every afternoon during the school week, I stand at the window when I don't have after-school duty and watch as my kids go to their buses." Miss Blankenship pointed to the windows directly across from the place where the group was standing.

Miss Danbury scoffed loudly. "Of course, you would stick up for them ." She pointed to Ryan and Rocky, so Tim stepped behind them, putting a protective hand on each of the boys' shoulders to let them know he was right there for them and that awful woman wasn't going to hurt them if he had any say in the matter.

Miss Blankenship stepped forward. "Polly, Jerry's your grandson, but as we all know, he's not an angel. And by the way, Jerry's in fourth grade, and Ryan and Rocky are in first. Explain to me how those two boys pick on your grandson.

"Take your prejudices back into the school and wait for me in the principal's office. I'm tired of Jerry cornering my students on the playground and hurting them because everyone's afraid to go up against you regarding his behavior. I've spoken with you about it before, but this time, I have parental witnesses whom you can't intimidate." She pointed to Tim and Matt.

"We'll see about this, Cecelia." The older woman stomped off with the bully in tow. Tim wanted to hug the teacher for her big heart, but he was sure it would be inappropriate. He stayed next to the boys, squeezing their shoulders in support.

Miss Blankenship turned to the group and offered a big smile. "I'm sorry I missed meeting you at the open house, Mr. Collins. Ryan is such a great student, and he and Rocky are becoming the best of friends." The teacher brushed her hand over Ryan's hair bringing a giggle from the little cowboy.

Matt's face flushed at her words, and he knew Matt hadn't bothered to go to the open house to meet the teacher. It was too late to worry about it at the time, but it wouldn't happen again if Tim had a say in the matter.

"That's great. When's the school Christmas party? I'm pretty sure Ryan's grandmothers would like to contribute." Tim offered Matthew a scathing glance, daring him to make a comment. Of course, Matt didn't say a word and barely met Tim's eyes as he squirmed.

"Ryan has the schedule in his green folder. He has a solo part in the Christmas concert this year." Miss Blankenship giggled as Ryan's face turned red.

Much to Tim's surprise, Matt cleared his throat and spoke. "That's great to hear, ma'am. We'll definitely be there. I want to thank you, Miss Blankenship, for helping with that mess. I'll talk to Ryan at home." Matt pointed toward the doors of the school where Mrs. Danbury had led away her grandson, the future convict.

Miss Blankenship turned to Rocky and smiled. "Sweetie, go ahead and get your bus. I'll see ya tomorrow, and you and I are going to have our special lunch. You did great on your worksheet, and we have a date, young man. Don't forget to write in your journal tonight." She walked Rocky over to bus number four.

Rocky nodded before he got on the bus, sitting in the front seat behind the bus driver. He waved through the window to Ryan as the bus pulled away, and the little cowboy waved back before he picked up his coat, backpack, and lunch box, staring at his dad for further instruction.

Miss Blankenship led them out of the path of the buses before she turned to Ryan. "Would you mind going back to the classroom to make sure they left the light on in the turtle tank? I'll be in to get my stuff in a minute, but the turtle tank is the class project so I can't really check it myself." She had a big smile as she talked to Ryan.

Ryan looked up at Tim and held out his things. "Can you hold this? He's our turtle, Simon, and we're ‘sponsible for him. I'll be right back." Ryan handed off the backpack and the lunch box, pulling on his coat.

Tim nodded with a grin as Ryan ran off toward the building. Miss Blankenship turned to the two of them and exhaled as if she had a heavy heart. Finally, she spoke. "I've been wanting to call you, Mr. Collins. Ryan has been so good for Rocky, sharing his lunch and helping him with this classwork when necessary.

"Rocky should actually be in third grade, but he has a few difficulties. It's really nothing serious, and we're working through them with a psychologist from the Board of Education, but since Ryan has taken him under his wing, Rocky's shown remarkable progress."

Tim saw Matt stand a little straighter and his chest puff up at hearing about his son's amazing capacity for kindness. It was a beautiful thing to witness.

Miss Blankenship continued. "Ryan takes him into the bathroom in the mornings and talks about brushing teeth and washing up. He's brought soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste from home for Rocky. Nearly every day, I struggle to keep from crying because Ryan's compassion for his classmate is amazing. He must have great role models." She looked from Matt to Tim.

Tim couldn't hold the tears, and when he glanced at Matt, he saw tears in his eyes as well. They had a remarkable boy on their hands. Matt nodded at him and Tim knew the two of them would ensure Ryan wouldn't let go of his tender heart. He'd be supported when he wanted to help someone, and the two of them would always protect him. There was so much to nurture in the boy, and Tim was sure they would, together.