Shane rolled her eyes. “Dennis, Emma Jean is Haley’s maid, but honestly, she’s more like her caretaker. You’ll probably see her coming and going. She’s super sweet, and an excellent cook. If you waited for Backwoods Barbie, you’d starve to death.”
“Nice,” Haley muttered.
“Now…now, ladies. Let’s place nice today,” Rich said.
“Don’t get me started. I know why you’re here, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,” Haley grumbled. “I’m not doing it.”
“Doing what?” Dennis asked.
“Good Morning America wants to interview me about the new album, but really, they just want the scoop on all of the shit that’s been going on for the past two months with the letters.”
“I think it’s great publicity, especially with us postponing the tour right now,” Rich pleaded. “Besides, the label is all for it.”
“I’m done kissing their asses, Rich. I’m not doing it. It’s not happening. If I didn’t go on Nashville Morning News, why the hell would I fly to New York City? I don’t care about the album. I don’t care about the label. Right now, all I care about is…” She trailed off. “He hasn’t even been caught! I’m not traipsing all over creation,” she snapped, grabbing her breakfast plate and walking away.
Shane shook her head. “You had to go and piss her off, didn’t you?”
Rich finished his breakfast and tossed the plate in the trash. “I’ll call you later,” he yelled on his way out the front door.
“I won’t answer!” she replied loudly from the den.
Dennis just sat on his stool, staring at the food on his plate.
“Welcome to my world, buddy. Eat up,” Shane said, plopping down next to him with her plate.
Chapter 33
“May I come in?” Shane asked from the doorway of the music room. Haley had disappeared in there later in the day.
“Sure. How are you feeling? Do you need anything?” Haley asked. She was sitting on the old leather sofa where they’d first slept together.
Shane paused for a second, wondering just how many people had actually had sex on that couch. She grimaced thinking about it. “I’m fine…you know that song you sang at the Hillbilly?”
“Which one?”
“Your song.”
“What about it?”
“I thought it was really good. Can I hear it again?” Shane asked.
Haley shrugged. “Only if you sit down.”
Shane nodded and took a seat on the other end of the same couch.
“I’m not sure I’ll remember all the words. That’s the only time I ever sang it anywhere. It’s just something I wrote while on the road,” Haley said as she grabbed her acoustic guitar from the nearby stand and strummed a few chords.
Shane stayed silent as she watched her pick the strings, and listened to her sing the melody. She was pretty sure Haley Nielsen could play a banjo with one string and sing bible verses and still sound amazing. She was by far the most talented person Shane had ever met, and working as a deputy marshal, she’d met presidents and dignitaries from all over the world, including some of the most mastermind criminals. But, nothing and no one compared to the woman sitting next to her.
Haley finished the song and kept her guitar in her lap. Her pretty, bluish-green eyes danced as she looked at Shane.
“I hate to interrupt,” Dennis said from the doorway, sounding a little frantic. “But, there’s a horse in your backyard…on the pool deck, to be exact.”
Haley laughed. “Oh, that’s Wilson. Marvin will be over to get him once he realizes he’s gone. Wilson comes to visit quite a bit. He’s too old for us to ride him anymore, but Marvin lets him out to run the pasture. He knows how to open the gate with his muzzle, so you have to keep an eye on him.”
Dennis looked at Shane, who simply shrugged.
Haley set her guitar back on the stand. “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
“To Wilson?” Dennis questioned.
“Marvin, Emma Jean’s husband,” she laughed. “They live in the house on the other end of the property,” she explained as they walked through the living room. “All of this used to be my grandparents beef cattle ranch when I was a kid. This was their house. It was a couple thousand square feet smaller back then. Anyway, they struggled with the economy and the bank took everything from them when I was a senior in high school. After college, I signed my first record deal and bought the property back from the new owners. The bank had split it and the person who bought that side, built a house. I made them an offer they couldn’t refuse, and gave the house to my parents. Emma Jean and Marvin were their best friends, and when my parents passed, they sort of took over looking out for me, I guess. Anyhow, I gave them the house a few years back. Marvin keeps up with the outside of everything, and Emma Jean handles the inside. She’s also a pillar at the local church, just like my momma was.”
“It’s a beautiful home,” Dennis said.
“Thank you,” Haley replied. “Oh, here comes Marvin now,” she said, seeing the tractor. “He must’ve been out mowing and Wilson snuck off.”
Dennis and Shane followed her out of the patio and onto the pool deck, where a large grayish white gelding stood. It had a beautiful white mane and tail.
“Wilson, I haven’t planted anymore flowers since you ate the last ones,” Haley said with a laugh as she walked up, petting him.
A large green tractor came to a stop ten or so yards away, and a man wearing faded jeans, an old denim shirt, worn boots, and a tan cowboy hat, climbed down.
“That damn horse is going to drive me crazy,” he said. “Hey, kiddo,” he added, coming up and giving her a hug. “Emma Jean said you’re doing okay after that mess a few days ago. Did they find the guy that attacked your friend?”
Haley shook her head and smiled. “No, not yet. Here she is actually,” she said, taking a step back. “This is Shane Crowley. She’s the one who was stabbed, and that’s her boss, Dennis. This is Marvin Blackburn.”
Shane and Dennis both shook his hand.
“I hear you’ve been taking good care of our girl on the road,” Marvin said.
“Yes sir.” Shane nodded.
“She can be a downright handful, but she’s worth every penny. She’s every bit as much of her momma as she is her old man.” He beamed. “Anyway, thank you for looking out for her. I’m glad to see that you’re okay. Emma Jean has taken a liking to you like a shiny new quarter, so you must be alright.”
Shane smiled.
“Come on, horse. I’ve about had enough of you,” he said, smacking Wilson on his hind quarter to get him moving in the right direction. “Take some time to smell the roses, kiddo,” he said with a wink in Haley’s direction. “Before you know it, you’ll be an old timer and wonder where the hell your youth went.” He started walking away, then turned back around. “I thought you had flowers out here.”
“I do,” she laughed. “Wilson ate them all!”
“Well, I’ll plant you some more!” he called as got back up on the tractor and started it up.
The horse began slowly trotting back towards the pasture gate on the other side of the property. The tractor putting along behind it.
“That was interesting,” Dennis said.
“You city folks don’t go around us country folks that often, do you?” Hayley chuckled.
“Memphis has its country side, don’t let anyone fool you,” Dennis said with a grin. “I’ve just never had a horse come visit me before. Have you, Shane?”
“I’m from Arizona. It’s like a different planet compared to Tennessee altogether. I’ve told you that.”
“Yeah,” Dennis nodded. “On more than one occasion.”
“You feel like taking a walk? I can show you around a little bit,” Haley said.
“Fresh air is great for the healing process,” Dennis said, looking at Shane. “I need to get back to my computer. Your contact with the marshals is supposed to be sendin
g me some information.”
“I guess it’s just us.” Shane shrugged as he walked away. “So, how big is your property?” she asked, falling in step next to Haley.
“Oh, it used to be about a hundred acres at one time. My grandparents sold off some of it to help when money was tight, but the bank split it up pretty good after they got a hold of it. As things are now, I own about thirty-five acres. I gave ten acres to Marvin and Emma Jean when I gave them the house. That’s how it was parceled. It’s all rolling hills full of thick grass and scattered oak trees, some of which are quite old. In fact, this one right here is probably over a hundred years old. It’s the largest tree on the property.”
“Really?” Shane looked at the large tree. It had willowing branches that spread wide and hung low.
“Yeah. I got married under this tree…a long time ago,” Haley said, sounding nostalgic.
“I never knew you were married.”
“Only four people ever knew about it: me, Junior, Billy Jack, and Anna Leigh. See, I was twelve, and the second oldest of the group by about three months.”
Shane smiled.
“Junior and I were married right here. Billy Jack did the ceremony, and Anna Leigh was my maid of honor.” She smiled, placing her hand on the tree. “That silly day was also my first kiss. Although, it was more like being kissed by a seal, as Junior had no idea what to do other than stick his tongue out and squish our lips together.”
Shane laughed.
“It was awful,” Haley giggled. “What about you? How was your first kiss?”
“It certainly wasn’t as eventful, and I definitely didn’t get married,” Shane said. “I was about fourteen. Anyway, I was outside, hanging out with my friend Maeve. “I asked her if she knew what it was like to kiss someone. She said no. I said, ‘Well, maybe we should try it out so we know.’” She shrugged. “We went behind the bushes and locked lips. I remember it being wet and weird.”
Haley laughed.
“It took us a couple more tries and by the end of the summer, we’d gone all the way.”
“No shit?!”
“Yep.” Shane nodded.
“Wow. So, did you actually go steady or date when you got older?”
Shane shook her head. “Her father was in the Air Force. They moved away after the next school year. I looked her up once when I first became a deputy marshal. She was living in California, with a husband and two kids.”
“Wow,” Hayley exclaimed. “That’s interesting.”
“Not really. We were just kids ourselves, experimenting on each other one summer.” Shane shrugged. “I learned a lot that year.”
“It sounds like it.” Haley smiled as her eyes landed on Shane’s.
“Do you want to make a new memory for your tree?” Shane murmured.
“Are you asking me to get married, Deputy Crowley?” Haley grinned.
“I’m proposing…” Shane said, still locked onto her eyes. “You have a real kiss under your beautiful tree.”
“I definitely know you do not kiss like a wet seal,” Haley replied, moving closer.
“Is that a yes?” Shane asked, inches away from her.
“Kiss me, Shane,” she whispered.
Closing the distance, Shane pressed her lips softly to Haley’s. She parted them slowly, and gently touched their tongues together, before pulling away, leaving them both breathless.
“That was definitely better than my first go around at this tree,” Haley murmured.
Shane smiled. “We should probably get back to see if Dennis has heard anything.”
“Yeah,” Haley agreed, clearing her throat. She glanced over her shoulder, looking back at the tree as they walked away.
***
“Are you sure?” Shane said into the phone, shaking her head.
“I’m positive,” the man replied. “Listen, Shane. My offer still stands. What happened to you doesn’t change anything.”
“Now…is just not the time, Paul,” she sighed.
“I can’t hold the door open forever.”
“I know,” she said, ending the call.
“Was that your contact with the U.S. Marshals?” Dennis asked, walking into the den. Shane had her laptop open with several different pages up on the screen.
“Yeah, Paul Rutledge. He’s a good friend. We went through the academy together,” she said. “Funny, he’d be my superior now. He was promoted four months ago.”
“Is that why he’s trying to get you to go back?”
Her gray eyes met Dennis’s questioning brown ones. She nodded, and changed the subject. “The fingerprints match the letter writer, which I knew. However, the knife is a war relic. It was issued to certain regiments of soldiers during the Vietnam War.”
“No shit?” he uttered, looking at the picture she’d pulled up on the screen. It matched perfectly with the one the doctor had taken of the knife he’d removed from her chest.
“I need you to start checking military antique dealers in and around the Nashville area. See if any of them have sold one in the past six months, or come in contact with someone wanting to sell one.”
“I’m on it,” he said, getting up to go get his computer and his phone.
“Hey…how are things in the office? I’m okay here, if you need to get back.”
“Everything’s good, and right now, you need me here. You can’t protect her, and you can’t do all of this legwork yourself. The office will be fine,” he reassured her before walking away. What he’d failed to mention was, this was the only life-threatening case his firm had ever dealt with. That was the main reason he’d assigned it to her. She was the only person with enough experience to take it on. He had no idea it would ever go this far, though.
Hearing the piano brought a smile to Shane’s face. She wanted to go see what Haley was doing, but decided against it. She was back to playing music on her own. That’s what mattered. With Dennis working on the antique stores, Shane started compiling a list of Vietnam Veterans. Using several sites she found on Google, she was able to find the information for the platoons that came out of the Nashville area, as well as surviving Vietnam Vets who currently lived in the area.
“Holy hell,” she said, realizing there were several thousand names listed. This is like trying to find a needle in a damn haystack.
***
Haley hadn’t intended on playing any music. She was more focused on writing. The tour was postponed, but it hadn’t been canceled. When all was said and done, she’d have to go back on the road and finish the last leg. There was no way the label was going to forfeit the millions of dollars they were scheduled to make off those venues.
She’d sat at the piano, messing around with a few tunes, before picking up her acoustic guitar. With her eyes closed, and a smile on her face, she let herself forget what was going on around her as her fingers strummed and picked chord after chord. It felt good to hear music in her ears and feel the strings under her finger tips.
After the kiss with Shane under the shady branches of the old oak tree, Haley couldn’t get her off her mind. The entire day had gone by, yet she could still feel the tender touch of her soft lips.
Her fingers worked the frets while her other hand strummed the strings with a pick and her barefoot tapped the floor. The guitar chords came together, forming the melody of Smoke by A Thousand Horses, a song that had reminded her of Shane for some time now. “She comes rolling right off the tip of my tongue so easy,” she began the lyrics, playing and singing a slower, acoustic version of the normally upbeat song. “She’ll be the first damn thing I want when I start drinking,” she continued.
Chapter 34
Bright orange rays of sun slowly rose up over the ranch, cascading light through the blinds and curtains covering the windows of the large house. Shane was lounging on the couch in the den, watching the slivers of light dance on the wall, when she heard the back door open. The area she’d been stabbed in a week ago was s
till a little tender, but it had healed nicely. She got up without so much as a grimace and walked through the dining room.
“Good heavens!” Emma Jean gasped, holding her hand to her chest. “You scared the dickens out of me.”
“My apologies. I heard the door and—”
“Out of instinct, you went into security mode.” She smiled. “I only wish that one upstairs cared half as much about herself as you do. I keep telling her anyone off the street could come in here and she’d have no clue.”
“You have the code to get into the house, and you live next door, so you cut through the pasture without using the gate at the street,” Haley yawned.
Emma Jean and Shane both turned to see her leaning against the entrance wall.
“Besides, I always know it’s you when you come in,” she added, walking towards the stove to start the kettle for her tea.
“I can do all of that,” Emma Jean said, shuffling both of them out of the kitchen. “Breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes.”
“You really don’t have to cook for me, Ms. Emma Jean,” Shane replied.
“Well, no…I don’t. I have to breathe, and one day I have to die, but I like cooking and I most certainly have to keep this one fed,” she said, flicking her thumb in Haley’s direction. “You’re here, so you’re included. Now, leave this old woman alone and let her work.”
Haley stood with her arms crossed and a brow raised at Shane.
“What?”
Haley shook her head. “I told you to leave her be. She’s never going to let you win that argument.”
“I see that,” Shane sighed. She moved into the formal living room, across from the open kitchen. “Hey, do you have any small, sharp scissors? You know, like the ones used to trim facial hair?”
Haley eyed her suspiciously. “Why? Are you growing a beard?”
“Funny,” Shane deadpanned. “I need tweezers, too.”
“Now I’m really curious.”
“It’s nothing exciting. I’m just taking my stitches out.”
“The hell you are!” Haley exclaimed. “The doctor said to call in a week to make an appointment.”
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