The Hard Way

by Jill Sanders

  “I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t around,” he admitted when they were done eating. “I mean, I would have obviously had to hire someone to do what you do around here, but I doubt Haven has anyone as capable as you.”

  He had meant his statement to be a compliment but when a worried look crossed her eyes, he reached out and touched her hand.

  “That was meant as a compliment,” he said softly.

  “I know.” She sighed. “It’s just…” She glanced away from him. “I’ve been thinking.”

  He felt his heart sink to the bottom of his gut as fear of her leaving surfaced.

  Just then his phone chimed with his lawyer’s response.

  “Go on, read it.” Mel motioned to his phone. “I should get back to work anyway.” She stood up and started to clear their table.

  He stopped her by taking her hand. “Later?”

  She nodded and then left. He sat there for almost a full minute before he finally looked down at the message.

  “Yes, the front part of the land is zoned commercial, the back five acres are residential. You could very well open an RV park on the land behind the bar and grill. There are some codes you’ll want to watch out for. We can go over them the next time we meet.”

  He set his phone down and glanced out at the field behind the place. The view alone was worth a lot to him, and he knew that if he set aside some of the land for an RV park, people would probably pay to stay there just for the same view.

  It would be an added bonus that they had a place where families could sit down and eat meals. If he added a swimming pool and hot tub, it would make it even more highly desirable. He could build a small gift shop and playgrounds for added draw. Maybe put some of those small portable cabins near the back of the property for people who didn’t have RVs. Make it a cross between a B&B and an RV park.

  He sat there for another few moments, dreaming about it, until his phone chimed one more time, breaking him from his dreams.

  “You think this is over?” the text message read. “Screw you, McCaw. I’m coming for you and yours.”

  He punched Dale’s number into his phone.

  “Think you can swing by before you clock out?” he asked the man.

  “Sure, what’s up?” Dale asked.

  “Just got a nice threatening text message I’d like to officially report,” Brent said casually.

  “From?” Dale asked.

  “Who else. He didn’t even try to hide who it was from.” He chuckled.

  “I thought his dad and brother were dumb,” Dale said with a sigh. “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

  “Thanks,” Brent said and hung up.

  Just then Darla stepped out onto the back patio and locked eyes with him, then set her empty tray down and moved towards him. Shit. The day had just gotten worse.

  Chapter 20

  Even though she trusted Brent completely, it still caused her some concern when she saw him sitting outside talking to Darla.

  Over the past three weeks, Darla had been nothing but a perfect employee. It wasn’t until after she’d hired her that she had overheard some of the horrors the woman had inflicted on the townspeople. But, for the most part, everyone seemed to deal with her just fine.

  Actually, she was one of their better employees at this point. Besides the Alaqua family members. She’d gotten along great with the woman and, after several conversations with her, she knew just how much the woman had gone through. She figured she was the last person who should judge.

  Still, it weighed heavily on her to know that someone could change so much. She wondered if it was possible for Ethan to change. After all, it had been over a year since she’d seen him last.

  Had her parents changed? Could they? Did they even want to? She doubted they even had an idea that they needed to. After all, the entire time she was growing up, not once had they apologized for forcing their beliefs on her or for how they had treated her.

  There had been a time in her youth when she’d actually fallen for some of the stuff her father had preached at her, some of his stronger beliefs about how women and girls shouldn’t get too many ideas. How they were destined to fit into certain roles in life. Even with his power, he’d believed other men’s lies over the word of his family.

  “Trouble?” Jamie asked, taking a moment to stop and look out the back window, where Mel had been watching Darla talk to Brent.

  “No,” she answered quickly and turned away, but Jamie stood there watching the pair for a moment.

  “You know, there’s nothing there,” Jamie said, friendly bumping her hip against Mel’s.

  “Yeah, I know.” She started wiping the bar top.

  “I mean it,” Jamie said, moving closer to her. “There was, at one point. The entire town stood back and watched that train wreck happening. We all held our breaths, expecting the explosion that never came. Instead, Brent scurried out of town, and Darla moved out shortly after and disappeared until recently.”

  “And now she’s back a changed woman,” Mel said firmly.

  “Yes,” Jamie agreed. “For now,” she added as she walked away.

  Just then Mel turned towards the door as Dale walked in. She still tensed each time she saw the uniform, but she relaxed just knowing it was Dale. The man was not only the nicest cop she’d ever met, he was the most trustworthy and honest man that she knew in town, besides Brent.

  “Afternoon,” she said, smiling at Dale. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked, knowing that he’d ask for an iced tea.

  “I’ll take my usual.” He leaned against the bar and glanced around. “Your man around?”

  She arched her brows. “My man?”

  Dale smiled. “Unless you don’t want him. I hear there’s a line forming…”

  She chuckled. “He’s out back talking to Darla.” She waved towards the doorway and watched Dale’s eyes narrow. The man’s entire attitude changed in a heartbeat, so she took that moment to turn around to grab him his iced tea.

  Whatever Darla had done to Dale in the past, she figured it had nothing to do with her.

  She handed him the tea and went back to work as he headed out back to talk to Brent.

  She wanted to know what happened, but she was stuck helping deliver a tray of food to a large family in the dining room instead, taking away her chance to spy on them through the window.

  Actually, for the rest of the afternoon, she was too busy to hunt Brent down and ask him anything. She’d passed him as he’d headed up the stairs just before the dinner rush and didn’t see him again until just before closing time.

  He helped the crew do the final clean and close up and then grabbed a couple plates of TK’s chicken cacciatore. Since the weather had grown chilly and she’d overheard several people mention there was rain in the forecast, they sat at the bar and had dinner.

  “I had a nice text message from Mark today,” Brent said.

  “Nice?” she asked.

  He chuckled. “Nice enough that I had to show it to Dale.”

  She nodded. “That’s why he stopped by.”

  “Yeah, that and to argue with Darla, apparently.” Brent rolled his eyes.

  “Oh? I thought he acted strange when I mentioned that you were talking to her.”

  “Dale and Darla go way back. Their rivalry started long before he became a cop, and she became…”

  “A stripper?” Mel supplied. She’d heard all the rumors and stories. She didn’t care. Darla was nice to all the customers and kept things clean. If she didn’t, Mel wouldn’t have any problem tossing her out of the place.

  “Yeah.” Brent nodded. “She has a dark past.”

  “Sounds like you’ve forgiven her for poking holes in your condoms?” Mel said, running her eyes over him.

  She could tell that whatever had been said between him and Darla, it was going to stay between them. Not that she was a prying sort. She understood the need to keep your past to yourself.

  “No, but that doesn
’t mean I can’t move past it like she has. Like you said, everyone deserves a second chance, if they’re willing to take it themselves first.”

  “So, what happened?” she asked.

  “Dale took my report and then asked for a moment alone with Darla.” He shrugged. “I left them alone and headed up to start this.” He pulled out a piece of paper from his back pocket.

  She opened it and started reading the long list of things that would have to be done to start the RV park plans.

  “What’s this?” she asked, pointing to a few items on a side list.

  “I figured we could have some of those small portable wood cabins. You know, the tiny home kind. We could rent them out for people without RVs.” He shrugged. “After my parents sold ours, we would have loved to still take family trips and stay in places like this is going to be.”

  “Not a bad idea,” she admitted. She still grew tense every time he talked about their future. He used the words we, ours, and us a lot, and even though she didn’t tense as much as she had at first, it still caused her stomach to knot each time.

  “So, you’ve decided for sure then?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I think so. It’s a solid idea. No one else has anything like it for about a hundred miles. I checked,” he said with a smile.

  “What will you need to start the ball rolling?” she asked, pulling a pen from her pocket and flipping the piece of paper over to start jotting down some notes of her own.

  She was happy to use some of her knowledge to help Brent come up with a business plan. Actually, in the past two months, she’d really enjoyed her work. It was a lot different than just having a job where she showed up, worked, and then left after.

  For the first time in her life, she felt invested in something and it felt wonderful. Really wonderful.

  Every time she thought of leaving Haven and the Hard Way, she felt her insides twist. Yet part of her knew that sooner or later she would have to go. If not for her sake, then for Brent and everyone else in Haven.

  Ethan Melbourne would not be ignored or give up that easily. There was no doubt that he was out there, searching for her. His anger building. His calculated mind plotting his revenge.

  She just hoped that when he found her, no one else would get hurt because of her.

  The next day, the weather took a turn, and they spent most of the day in bed. They spent some time working on his laptop, looking at RV parks and trying to create a list of items they wanted or needed.

  They retreated to the television room and watched an old movie after lunch, then made love and fell asleep in each other’s arms. When she woke, Brent was nowhere to be found. He’d laid a blanket over her and, after dressing, she made her way downstairs and heard him banging on something.

  When she walked into the kitchen, he was just taking a pan off the stove.

  “Dinner will be ready in five,” he called over his shoulder.

  It had become their standard Sunday evening date. Brent would make some sort of dinner, which they would enjoy out on the patio.

  “How about some coffee?” she asked, knowing that he often drank a cup in the evening. She walked to the large coffee station. Frowning, she turned back to him. “It’s raining.”

  “Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “I know. We’ll have to eat inside tonight.”

  “I didn’t even hear it,” she said, keeping her eyes fixed outside. She was still a little groggy from her afternoon nap. When she spotted a dark figure standing just on the other side of the tree line, she tensed. Her entire body went on guard as the figure moved slightly towards the building.

  She didn’t remember screaming or dropping the coffee mug, but suddenly Brent was lifting her up in his arms and carrying her until she sat on the countertop.

  “You’ve cut your foot,” he said softly, and she watched, still in shock, as he dabbed at a large gash on the top of her foot. She hadn’t even felt the sting of the cut. Hadn’t even noticed it. Instead, her mind was locked on the figure moving closer to her, to them.

  “He’s here,” she said, her vision turning grey around the edges.

  “Who?” She felt Brent tense.

  “Ethan, I saw…” She motioned towards the window.

  Brent rushed over to the window and looked out. “Where?” he asked her.

  “By the tress.” She closed her eyes. “I saw… someone.” She took several deep breaths and tried to slow her heartrate down.

  “There’s no one there now,” he said, coming back to her. “I’ll go out and—”

  “No!” She grabbed for his hands. “Stay here with me.”

  “Okay,” Brent said after a moment. “I’ll call Dale.”

  Mel relaxed slightly. She doubted that Ethan would harm one of his own. He was many things, but he was a patriot through and through.

  She sat there breathing through the fear as Brent called Dale and asked him to swing by and check out someone on his land.

  It wasn’t until she heard him mention the Phillipses that she calmed down. Of course. She was such a fool. It wasn’t Ethan coming after her, it was one of the Phillips men sneaking onto the land to cause problems.

  Jumping down from the counter, she winced when the sting of the cut became obvious to her for the first time. Walking over, she dabbled it with a paper towel until Brent got off the phone.

  “Here, sit down.” He helped her into a chair. “I’ll go get the first aid kit.”

  She sat down and waited until he returned with the kit. Then she held still while he cleaned the cut and dabbled ointment on it before carefully putting a bandage over it.

  “There, that should hold you over.” He leaned up and kissed her. “Feel better?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “I’m sorry I freaked. I wasn’t thinking about it being one of the Phillips men.”

  “I didn’t either until Dale brought it up,” Brent admitted as he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sure it was just one of them checking on how they can cause problems.”

  “Think they can?” she asked, already feeling better.

  “No. If they get too close to the place, they will be seen by my new security system.” He smiles.

  “Right.” She’d helped him install the new cameras a few weeks back. “So, what now?”

  “Now, we eat our dinner and enjoy the rest of our day off as planned and let Dale and the rest of Haven’s finest do their jobs,” Brent said easily.

  She helped him carry the steak, rice, and steamed broccoli into the other room then waited as he returned to get them each a glass of wine.

  “No coffee for you today?” she asked.

  “No, I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day. This’ll do.” He held up his glass.

  “Thank you for the dinner,” she said. “I think it’s my favorite so far.” He’d brought a bottle of barbeque sauce with him that was so good, she’d had to check the bottle just to see the brand name of it.

  “It’s a local company,” he said when he noticed her reading the label.

  “If we had that gift shop, you could sell all sorts of local items,” she suggested. “Have you thought about offering breakfast? I mean, I think we have lunch and dinners covered.”

  “Yes and no. I like opening later for now, but yeah, I get the need for being open earlier. Of course that would mean I’d have to hire another chef and crew to work the extra hours.”

  “Maybe TK has another family member that needs work?” she said with a chuckle.

  He smiled. “The Alaqua family is very extended, for sure. I think they have more cousins than any other family in town.”

  “I think they easily rival the McGowans,” she added with a chuckle.

  “True.” He relaxed back. “I always wanted a big family. You know, cousins, grandparents. The whole works.”

  “Same here. At least you have Dylan,” she said with a sigh and felt the same pain over her heart she always got when she thought about her empty childhood.

  Suddenly, he jumped up fro
m his spot.

  “I forgot.” He turned and started walking away, but then stopped again and held up a hand. “I have a surprise. Stay right there.” He disappeared into the back room. She heard a few things bang around and then he cursed loudly. She chuckled. A few moments later, he rolled out a large object covered in one of the tablecloths, a large silly grin on his face.

  When he removed the cloth with a flourish, she gasped and jumped up from her spot.

  “You got it?” She rushed over to the classic jukebox that she’d been eyeing at an antique store he’d taken her to on their last day off.

  “Yes,” he said, bending down to plug it in. “What do you say we try this thing out?” He motioned for her to pick a tune.

  It took her a few moments, but finally, she settled on the first song, “At Last” by Etta James.

  She stood there and watched the old forty-five-inch record being loaded.

  She laughed when Brent took her hand and whirled her around and started moving with her towards the small dance floor.

  The laughter died in her throat when the music started, and they began to sway slowly together under the soft lights.

  She’d attended a lot of school dances before, but it had been years since she’d danced with a man. Never in her life had she felt so… connected to someone before.

  Resting her head on his chest, she listened to his heartbeat and felt her own beat settle to match. She felt her entire body moving along with his and wondered how she was ever going to let him go.

  For now, she was determined to enjoy as much of Brent as she could.

  Chapter 21

  Brent had felt the change in Mel over the last few days. She’d slowly tried pulling away from him, which only made him try harder to keep the smile on her face.

  He’d even worked out a deal with the antique shop owner to get the expensive jukebox that she’d liked. For the next year, Betty and George Kincaid were getting free meals at the Hard Way.

  He liked the older couple and could vaguely remember them from his time in Haven. They seemed to remember him, which is why they hadn’t agreed to the deal at first.