Slay Bells

by Hildie McQueen

  “We just spoke yesterday,” Gabriela replied, laughing at her friend’s appearance. “You shouldn’t answer like that, I about screamed.”

  “Ready to head home? Bringing the cowboy with you?” Mila spooned ice cream into her mouth and stared at her through the screen.

  “About that. I’m dreading leaving. Ready for warmer weather where eating ice cream doesn’t seem so strange. But I am going to miss him.”

  When tears threatened, Gabriela was startled. “I mean he’s so hot and great in bed.”

  “Yeah right. There’s more than just looks and sex. I think you’ve fallen for Mr. hot cowboy. That’s horrible. Scandalous.” Mila loved to put the word “scandalous” in a sentence for emphasis.

  “It does suck. I can’t possibly live here and there’s no way he would survive in San Diego. He’s planning to retire here on the ranch and maybe even run the Winter Festival.”

  Mila blinked.

  Gabriela sighed.

  “You are aware,” Mila said after swallowing her ice cream. “That you can work from anywhere.”

  “He hasn’t asked me and he’s aware I’m about to leave. Besides, why should I be the one to move?”

  “Maybe cause you live in a clinical apartment without one thing on the walls. Or maybe because every time we talk, you gush about how beautiful Montana is. Oh, and also because every conversation starts and ends with a mention of Jeremy Hawkins.”

  “I do not,” Gabriela explained. “I can’t possibly leave all my friends and my family is there.”

  Mila leaned closed to the screen and whispered. “Honey, you only have one friend.”

  Gabriela blew out a breath.

  Mila blinked.

  “I better get ready for bed. I have this sandwich to eat.” Gabriela held up her meal.

  “It’s two o’clock in the morning here. I probably should crash myself,” Mila replied pulling the mask off. “Brandon is snoring, I can hear him from here, so I better take a pill,” she said referring to her boyfriend.

  Gabriela laughed. “He needs a breathing machine or something.”

  “Nah,” Mila replied. “He’s tired. We played cops and robbers for a couple hours.”

  “Who was the robber this time?”

  A grin split her friend’s face. “He was.”

  After they ended the call, Gabriela looked around the cozy space. She’d grown to really like it. What Mila had said was right, her apartment in San Diego was devoid of any personality. She’d needed something sterile and without memories at the time she moved in. It was a perfect place to start a new life. Upon returning, she’d decorate and make it more like a home.

  “Good morning.” Gabriela walked into the Hawkins’s kitchen the next morning.

  Jeremy stood and neared. The man was drop dead gorgeous even that early in the morning. Gabriela wasn’t sure she was mentally prepared for that much sex appeal so early.

  “Now that you’ve had more time, can we return to cabin number six? I need you to try to remember again what you saw.”

  “Um okay. But first I need a cup of coffee…. or two.”

  One cup of coffee later, Gabriela climbed into the passenger seat of Jeremy’s truck and they headed toward the cabins.

  Gabriela looked to Jeremy, his brows were lowered and lips in a thin line. “Did something happen? Someone have more questions?”

  He nodded. “Mark Rutledge’s been arrested. There still a few things don’t make sense. We can’t get straight answers from him.”

  Unsure she’d remember anything new, Gabriela tried her best to mentally return to the day she’d stumbled on the horrible scene.

  “I hope they will resolve things so we can remove the police tape soon. If you look close enough, you can spot the crime scene from the main area,” Jeremy said.

  Gabriela nodded. “The bright yellow does stand out.”

  Jeremy grunted. “I know it sounds insensitive since it’s there because someone died.”

  “I totally get it. It’s also an awful reminder of bad things when people will be coming to enjoy themselves and forget the real world and any worries.”

  He frowned at her. “Thanks for trying to save me, but those thoughts hadn’t even crossed my mind.”

  When they arrived at the cabins, Williams was already there.

  “Where does he live? In the woods here? He always arrives so quickly,” Gabriela asked.

  “He likes to patrol out here, it’s part of our route,” Jeremy replied. “Plus he’s always hoping Mom will invite him over for a meal. His wife, Patty, is always pregnant and moody.”

  They had Gabriela retrace her route and point out where she’d spotted what she thought had been a wild animal.

  Gabriela looked through the trees. “You know now that I think about it. Whatever it was had either a white fur hat or was blond.”

  Are there blond whitish animals around here?

  At her questions, the men looked at each other looking as if they tried to keep from laughing.

  “No ma’am,” Glen finally replied. “Not that I can think of.”

  Finally, they stopped asking her questions and she hurried to the warmth of the truck while the men walked slowly from the cabin, through the trees, scanning the area.

  Meanwhile Gabriela sat in the truck and checked her messages on her cell.

  An hour later, the forensics team was back, more yellow tape had been put up and Jeremy remained talking with Williams.

  Gabriela climbed out of the truck cab. “Unless you need me for anything else, I’m walking back.”

  Detective Sanders hurried to her. “Just a few more questions.”

  And so she remained for another hour.

  Chapter Ten

  Jeremy was glad that Glen had brought them coffee from the local café. The coffee at the police station seemed to get worse every week.

  While they reviewed the data on their prospective cases, Jeremy admitted to wanting to continue to date Gabriela.

  “I could transfer to San Diego,” he suggested.

  “You can’t be serious,” Williams said, shaking his head. “Do you have any idea how different being a cop in San Diego will be? Who’s to say they’ll take you on as a detective? Not only that, but you’ll have to learn everything the local boys know. No contacts, no support system, per se.”

  Everything Williams said made sense. However, Jeremy wasn’t sure what to do. He wasn’t about to demand Gabriela be the one to move. Although she could work from anywhere, it wasn’t fair to assume she’d leave her family. It would be hard for him to move to California, but he planned to propose, and it would be lame to do so and then ask that she leave everything.

  “I’ll have to take a chance. Not sure how else to go about this.” Jeremy leaned back in his chair. “This long distance shit is for the birds. Only a month and it’s killing me.”

  Someone walked by pulling a drunk by the arm. The man smelled as if he’d taken a dump in his pants and Williams gagged. “Hate to know what your car smells like. Take him to the shower area,” Williams called out after the cop who replied with a middle finger.

  He then turned back to Jeremy. “What about the festival? Has it been decided who’s going to do it next year yet?”

  “No. Molly keeps hemming and hawing over it and I’m waiting for her decision. In a way I don’t want to do it, but then I think of all the memories and how it can be a tradition for our kids.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Hawkins, Williams, come ‘ere,” the captain called out from his doorway and they rushed to find out what their next assignment would be.

  He stood by a column at the Missoula airport and waited for Gabriela to appear. Finally, after Jeremy began to wonder if she’d made it, he spotted the head of curls and her bright smile. His chest expanded and he rushed to envelop her in a bear hug. She giggled, but didn’t protest. Thankfully, she only brought a carry-on, so they could go straight to his truck and leave.

  “You look different,”
Gabriela said inspecting him. “Haircut and a bit thinner. Did you stop eating or something?”

  It was hard to explain that lack of appetite was one of the side effects of her leaving and returning to California. Even his mother had begun asking him to come over on the weekends, so she could try to feed him.

  “I’ve been working out a bit more, so I guess it’s been burning up extra calories.” It was true, he did hit the gym in an effort to distract himself. It didn’t help that work was slow and even Henry, who’d been spending more time at the VFW, didn’t need him as much.

  “You’re still the hottest man I’ve ever met.” Gabriela leaned over and her tongue darted out. She licked up the side of his neck and nipped his ear. “Perfect.”

  And now he wasn’t sure how to keep from pulling over and yanking all her clothes off. “Thanks.” He grinned. “Mom wants us to come for supper tonight. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Gabriela checked her watch. “We have the entire day to do stuff. What do you want to do?” She gave him a mock innocent look complete with batting of lashes.

  Jeremy laughed. “Is that all you think about?”

  “Pretty much.”

  Of course, he wasn’t hard to convince, and they passed the next couple of hours wearing nothing but smiles at his place.

  He sighed as Gabriela snuggled against him. “I’m staying a week this time.” Her husky voice made him inhale. How he enjoyed the sound of it. The silkiness of her skin was another distraction. One of the things his mind returned to over and again while she was gone.

  “Gabriela, we need to talk,” Jeremy said, his heartbeat immediately picking up.

  Perfectly impersonating Dracula rising from his coffin, Gabriela was up and standing next to the bed. “You’d better not break up with me right after sex. I will find your service piece and unload it.”

  He couldn’t help finding the humor in the situation. “You’re going to shoot me?”

  Gabriela rolled her pretty eyes. “No, but I’ll shoot up everything in this room.”

  Admittedly, he’d started the conversation off wrong. On second thought, perhaps he’d wait and propose fully dressed. The ranch would make a good backdrop, and he could ask his mother to take a picture or something. Damn, he was turning into a mushy bastard.

  Fingers snapping got his attention. Gabriela had yanked on her panties and was now fastening her bra. “Talk. What is it?”

  He sat up and was glad he’d been working out when her gaze traveled down his chest to his flat stomach.

  “On second thought, we can talk later. I’m considering how to see each other more often.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Gabriela’s eyes narrowed. “You’re up to something. Is it that woman Carol?”

  “Cassandra?”

  “Whatever. You’re on and off again relationship hootchie.”

  He chuckled. “No, I haven’t spoken to her since she walked up to the table that one night.”

  “Hmmm.”

  They finished dressing; the entire time Jeremy kept kissing Gabriela as she remained annoyed. It was wrong, but he enjoyed it tremendously. Damn, he was in deep.

  His cell rang.

  “Hey man.” It was Henry. When he called it meant something was up. It was never good.

  “What are you up to?”

  “I’m at the station. Got arrested for…”

  “He’s a public nuisance,” Williams said, obviously taking the phone from Henry. “He was in the grocery store parking lot telling people not to buy oranges.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” Jeremy asked.

  “He was stabbing the fruit and making a mess. Scared the crap out of my Aunt Betty.”

  “What do you want me to do about it?”

  “Nothing, I’m not sure why he called you.”

  “Drop him off at the ranch. I’ll warn Mom.”

  “What’s for supper?” Henry called out.

  The entire drive to the ranch, Gabriela slid him questioning looks. “Are you going to tell me you’re gay?”

  “Nope.”

  “That you’re not into being long distance anymore?”

  “Nope.” He leaned over and grinned. “It’s really not that big of a deal.”

  “Promise?”

  “Nope.”

  They walked into his parent’s house and immediately Gabriela was pulled into tight hugs by both his parents. As per usual, they congregated in the kitchen where coffee, tea and cake was always available.

  “What is wrong with you?” His mother joined him by the counter where Jeremy was pouring coffee for himself and Gabriela. “You’re acting jerky.”

  “Jerky?”

  She gave him a bland look. “If you are breaking up with her, I’m going to kill you.”

  “Why is everyone assuming I’m breaking up?” He lowered his voice. “Don’t scream.” Digging in his pocket, he pulled out the diamond ring he’d had in there since picking Gabriela up at the airport.

  “Oh. My. God,” Natalie whispered, hands over her mouth. “When are you doing it?”

  “In a bit, maybe sunset?” Upon saying it, he couldn’t help but grin.

  “Don’t act crazy, she’ll notice.”

  “Notice what?” Henry pushed between them.

  Gabriela and his parents sat about chatting naturally, the trio often discussing movies and television series that they’d taken up to watching together online. Her mother had also joined in, which had given them an opportunity to get to know each other.

  When his mother motioned to the doorway with her head, Jeremy realized he’d procrastinated long enough.

  “Let’s go out to the porch and watch the sun set; it’s pretty nice from here,” he told Gabriela, who smiled and allowed him to guide her outside.

  The sun cooperated perfectly, the bright colors on the horizon were breathtaking.

  “Oh my goodness. That’s just too beautiful for words.” Gabriela stretched out her arms as if trying to touch the colorful rays. “I can see a partial sunrise from my apartment, but it’s nothing like this.”

  Jeremy took advantage of her distraction to dig out the ring and lower to one knee. It took a moment for Gabriela to realize what happened. She looked down at him, then over to the group now gathered in the doorway. Her eyes then widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands.

  “Gabriela Diaz, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?” The last words caught in his throat. Everything else he’d practiced saying exited his brain and he stared up at her wondering why she hesitated.

  When she hugged him around the neck, he realized she’d said something, but he’d missed it over the thundering of his heart in his ears.

  “Did you say yes?” he asked.

  Teary eyes met his as Gabriela nodded. “Yes, Jeremy Hawkins. I will marry you.”

  Her parents and Henry erupted into cheers and clapping while all he could do was hold the precious woman close, not wanting to ever let her go.

  Back in his apartment a few hours later, they lay in bed, his arms around her as she admired the ring on her finger.

  “It’s perfect. You made a good choice. It’s exactly what I would have chosen.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” He kissed her temple. “I wouldn’t have minded if you wanted to exchange it.”

  Her eyes widened. “No, it’s special that you thought of me when you bought this. I would never exchange it.”

  “Not even for a bigger one?” Jeremy chuckled.

  “Nope,” Gabriela said adding several nods for emphasis. She lifted her face up to his. “My parents didn’t seem surprised at the news. You spoke to them, didn’t you?”

  Jeremy had called and spoken to her father and mother several times. They had given him their blessing, which meant a great deal to Jeremy. “Yes. Your father’s main concern was whether he could come out here and spend summers at the ranch.”

  Gabriela was quiet for a beat. “So you
’re assuming we’re going to live here?”

  “Not at all.” Jeremy was quick to assure her. “I plan to come to San Diego and apply at the police department there. I can’t demand you leave everything and come here.”

  “How can you be so perfect? I love you so much. I want to marry you so bad.” Gabriela lifted up and began planting kisses all over his face. Every inch of his chest filled with pride at her exclamations.

  When she fell over him and kissed his throat and neck, emotions took over and he let out a sigh. No matter where he lived, it would be perfect as long as they were together.

  Gabriela looked down at him. “Let’s take it one step at a time. Come to San Diego and spend a couple weeks. Let’s see how it feels to you. I can work from anywhere. I can’t lie, I do miss Missoula and the ranch when I’m away.”

  The next day, Gabriela decided to go into town and get a manicure. She planned to plaster pictures of her engagement ring all over social media and send one to her boss. Mostly just to annoy her.

  It was best if her nails were long and beautiful.

  “Get long, bright red, rounded tip nails. It will show off your ring better,” Mila suggested over the phone. “Ask them to add some bling to your ring finger.”

  Gabriela giggled. “I won’t be able to type.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Get them cut down once you get back here.”

  Her friend was so smart. It was a fabulous idea.

  She found a salon and parked in front. Hopefully they’d take walk-ins. A tingle went through her as the sunlight hit her diamond and it sparkled.

  A smile on her lips, she opened the door with the words Essence of Beauty etched on the glass.

  “Good afternoon.” A short woman with a sleek bob cut smiled at her. “What can we do for you today?”

  It was an elegantly serene place that smelled of flowers and lotions. “I’d like my nails done please.”

  Just then a woman emerged from a back door, her heels clacking on the floor reminding her of her boss back in San Diego. The woman smiled, and then upon seeing Gabriela, her expression became more alarmed than welcoming.