***
Ace wished he’d just walked on by without stopping. He probably would have, except that Sam had spotted him and alerted Kristy. “Is this a bad time?” he asked, walking over to the freshly dug flower bed where she was kneeling.
“No. I’m just planting flowers.” she sat back on her heels and dusted the dirt off her hands.
“They look nice.” He smiled down at her and shielded his eyes from the sun.
“Is something wrong? Did the vandal hit again?” she stood up and brushed the dirt from her knees. With her T-shirt, shorts, and blond ponytail sticking out of a baseball cap, she looked sporty. Like the kind of girl who could run a marathon or beat him in tennis. And despite the smudge of dirt on her cheek, Ace was mesmerized.
“No. Nothing’s wrong. I dropped Owen off at the visitor center and ended up hanging out there for a while. Then I thought I’d walk down here and see if you wanted me to take a look at your fence.” He walked up to the window and pecked on it where Sam looked out at him, still excited to have a visitor.
“Why was Owen with you today? it’s not his day off.” she gathered the empty flower containers and placed them inside one of the trash cans sitting at the side of the house.
“He took his lunch break early and went with me to church.” Ace tapped again at Sam.
She looked at him with wide eyes. “Oh?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “We went out for steaks last night, and I asked him if he attended services anywhere. He said he hadn’t in a long time, so I invited him to go with me.” He wished he knew what she was thinking.
“Wow. That’s great. He stopped going after his wife died.” she put the lid on the trash can. “It’s odd, isn’t it? How, for some people, the death of a loved one brings them closer to God, but for others, it seems to take them further away.”
Ace had been one of the latter at first, so he could at least empathize with Owen. Blaming God had been the easy way out. Except that once he turned his back on his faith, his entire life seemed devoid of meaning. Thankfully, he’d gotten back on the right track. And now maybe he could help Owen find the way.
“Yes. But I guess sometimes people don’t always cope with things in the right way. Owen seemed happy to be there this morning, though. I’m pretty sure he’ll go again sometime.” He glanced over at her. “And you’re welcome to come with us if you ever want to. Since I moved here, I’ve been going to church in Jacks Creek. It’s a small church, but the people are wonderful. They’re all really friendly and made me feel right at home.” Jacks Creek was a small community about twenty minutes away. He’d stumbled upon the church one afternoon as he was driving around trying to adjust to his new surroundings.
“I go to church in Savannah. I used to attend the church here until...” she trailed off, and a touch of sadness flashed across her face. “Until recently, when I started going with my mother. But thanks for the invite.”
He figured he knew why she was attending a different church. “no problem. So, anyway, do you want me to take a look at your fence?” he asked, suddenly uncomfortable. He didn’t want to force his friendship on her. Was it just because she didn’t like him that he was so drawn to her? He almost wished he could be sure that was it. Less chance of getting his heart broken that way.
She hesitated long enough to make him nervous. Maybe this wasn’t his best idea. So much for spontaneity. He opened his mouth to retract the offer.
Before he could speak, she looked up at him. “I’d actually be glad for you to look at it if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“Great. Just let me run home and change into work clothes first.” He motioned toward his crisp khakis and navy-and-red-striped polo shirt. “These are my good clothes, and I’d better not mess them up. I’m not used to the concept of having to drive quite a ways to get to a store. And since most of my wardrobe is gray and green, I don’t have an abundance of dressy clothes.” inwardly, he groaned. Could he be any more of a geek? Like she cared about his wardrobe.
She smiled, and Ace was pretty sure it was the first genuine smile she’d ever given him.
“I understand completely. It’s the plight of the park ranger. Why have a lot of clothes when you wear the same uniform every day?” she treated him to another grin.
“Exactly. See you in a bit, then.” He watched as she went inside and heard her call to Sam as she closed the door.
Finally. He felt a small victory as he walked back to the visitor center. Maybe he could show her that even though he’d taken her job, her office, her paycheck, oh, and lest he forget, her Junior Ranger Program, he wasn’t such a bad guy after all.
CHAPTER 20
Kristy grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and held it against her forehead. Why had she agreed to let him look at her fence? she could probably fix it herself. But during this morning’s sermon about forgiveness, Ace’s face had been one of the many that had flashed through her mind. So even though she wasn’t happy he had her job, she knew she should at least try to get along with him. After all, it wasn’t his fault.
Sam’s wild barking announced Ace’s return.
She peeked through the blinds and saw him, still sitting in the cab of his truck. Hoisting Sam in her arms, she stepped outside and sat on the porch swing. Ace unloaded various tools and equipment out of his truck. This was a man ready for anything. He’d probably been a boy scout as a kid.
“Wow. I didn’t know you were such a handyman kind of guy,” she called.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” He looked up from his toolbox and met her gaze. “Maybe we can change that.”
Kristy felt a blush rise up her face. Did he just flirt with her, or was it her imagination? since her flirting skills were a little rusty, she decided to chalk it up to imagination. But even so, she walked through the house and out onto the back deck. Just in case he needed any help.
In the backyard, Ace immediately found the spot where Sam could shimmy underneath. He dropped his tools down and started working.
Kristy watered every plant on her deck, the hardy ones more than once. Then she snagged a broom from the small plastic closet against the wall and started sweeping. Slowly. Occasionally, she couldn’t help it if Ace came into her line of vision. Seeing the backyard was an occupational hazard of sweeping the back deck.
Sam had no inhibitions, and he scampered around Ace, running over his tools and even his legs. Kristy couldn’t help but notice how patient Ace was with the hyperactive pup.
“Can I get you something to drink? All I have is sweet tea and bottled water.” Martha Stewart she might not be, but she could at least get him a drink.
“Tea would be great. I’m starting to get used to perpetually sweet tea.” He grinned at her and brushed the sweat off his tanned forehead. “And I think this little guy might need a drink, too.”
They both looked at Sam, who happily ran in circles around Ace’s toolbox, his pink tongue hanging out and his stubby tail wagging. He loved nothing more than having an audience.
The front doorbell rang just as she got the pitcher of tea out. She set it carefully on the counter. She went months with no company; then suddenly today her house was the place to be. She put her eye up to the peephole and bit back a gasp.
Mark was standing on her front porch, holding an envelope in his hand.
***
The second doorbell ring shook Kristy back to reality. She took a deep breath and steadied herself against the door. Her heart was pounding so hard, she was sure Mark could hear it even through the heavy wooden door. This day certainly wasn’t turning out the way she’d planned. But then again, lately they rarely did.
Ace stepped through the back door just as the doorbell sounded a third time. He looked at her frozen form inquisitively and opened his mouth to speak.
Before a sound could escape his lips, Kristy rushed to where he was standing and clasped her hand over his mouth. Her eyes locked with his as she shook her head and silently tried to convey her desperation. Once s
he was sure he’d gotten the point, she removed her hand. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Please don’t make a sound. I don’t want him to know I’m here.”
Ace gazed down at her, close enough that she could feel his breath against her face. He bent down and put his lips near her ear. “Don’t worry.” He reached out and took hold of her trembling arms. “Just breathe. He’ll leave soon.” barely a whisper, but she took comfort in the words.
Kristy nodded. She closed her eyes and let Ace hold her steady. Finally, the doorbell ringing stopped. She heard a rustling sound at the door, then the motor of Mark’s vehicle.
Ace let go of her arms, and Kristy sank onto the couch. Why today? Why while he was here? Ace set a glass of tea in front of her. “You should probably drink this. You’re really pale.”
She took a sip and looked up apologetically. “Sorry about that. I’m just not ready to talk to him yet.” she looked over at him. “I guess you know who that was, right?”
He nodded. “I’ve heard about what happened. I’m sorry.” He sat on the overstuffed chair across from her. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I just wish you hadn’t seen me react like that. I’m not usually so weak.” she took another sip of tea and set her glass down on the mahogany coffee table. “It was a surprise for him to show up here, and if there’s one thing I’m not a fan of anymore, it’s surprises.” “I guess I can’t blame you.”
“So anyway...” Kristy trailed off, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the scene Ace had just witnessed. “He sent me an e-mail a couple of days ago, saying he’d be in the area visiting family. I didn’t respond, though. I never thought he might stop by. He probably only wanted to see if I still had any of his stuff. Or something like that.”
Ace nodded. “But you know, I think I heard him leave something out there. Do you want me to see what it is?” “no. I’ll do it. Thanks, though.” no need for him to get any more involved.
Sam’s bark let them know he was ready to be let in.
Kristy opened the patio door, and the dog bolted inside, headed for the water bowl.
“I finished the fence.” Ace motioned toward the backyard. “The little guy shouldn’t be making any quick escapes now.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate your helping out. And again, I’m sorry about ... before ... with Mark.”
“It’s not a problem. I’d be glad to help you any way I can. And don’t give it a second thought. We’ve all been in situations like that before. Well, maybe not exactly like that, but you know what I mean.” This time, his grin showed a tiny dimple Kristy hadn’t noticed before. “Let me just get my tools, and I’ll be out of your way.” He strode through the patio door and into the yard, Sam at his heels.
Kristy watched from the patio as he collected his things. She wished she didn’t care what he thought about her. But for some reason, the fact that he’d seen her fall apart at the thought of facing Mark made her feel sick. Throughout the whole ordeal with Mark, no one had seen how shaken up she was. Even her mother had assumed she was dealing fine with the breakup because of her stoic exterior. But to Kristy, it was just the best way to keep it together. It would’ve been easy to break down and cry to her family or friends. But she couldn’t stand the thought of them pitying her more than they probably already did. So she’d held the tears inside, put on a brave face, and waited until she was alone to let her emotions go. And although today there were no tears in front of Ace, she was sure she’d worn her feelings on her sleeve.
“I’ll just go out through the gate,” he called. “Enjoy your day off tomorrow. See you at work on Tuesday.”
“Thanks again.”
As soon as Ace’s truck pulled out of the driveway, Kristy flung open her front door to see what Mark had left behind. An envelope with her name on it lay halfway underneath the welcome mat. She reached down and grabbed it, wondering what else Mark had to say to her. In her opinion, his actions had already said it all.
Curiosity overtook her, and she tore into the envelope, shaking the contents onto the couch. Three savings bonds in her name were paper-clipped together, her name on a sticky note on the top one. She looked inside the envelope. No note or anything. Her grandparents had given her the savings bonds several Christmases ago, and Mark had insisted on putting them in his safe-deposit box because he said she’d lose them. Number eighteen on the list.
He always said I was scatterbrained and made fun of me for losing my keys and other items.
Kristy’s irritation bubbled to the surface. He could’ve easily just mailed them to her. But no. He’d probably come today expecting to see her still beaten down and broken. Maybe he thought she would beg him back or something. Now she was even more certain of her earlier decision not to open the door.
CHAPTER 21
Ace hadn’t slept well the night before. His dreams were laden with images of a casket sprinkled with yellow daisies and a blond figure running from Rhea springs. He didn’t need a shrink to tell him who’d been on his mind last night. Caroline as usual, but Kristy was a new character in his dream world.
Pulling his truck into the visitor center parking lot, he glanced through the trees toward her house. After yesterday’s near run-in with Mark, he wondered how she was doing. And what it was that Mark had left for her on the porch.
“Mornin’, man.” Owen greeted him as he came through the door.
“Good morning.” Ace put his hat up on the stand and joined in the necessary activities to open the center.
Matthew came around the corner, holding the movie remote. “The theater is ready,” he announced.
“Great.” Ace glanced in the seasonal office. “Hey, Mason,” he called.
Mason looked up from the binder he was reading and waved in greeting.
Ace stepped through the swinging doors to the front desk. It looked like they were nearly ready to open.
Owen whistled a few bars of “Rocky Top” as he closed the cash register drawer.
“You’re in a chipper mood.” Ace slid his master key into the front door and unlocked the bolt. They were ready for business.
“It might be your Monday, but it’s my Friday.” Owen chuckled.
“Right.” in order to stay open seven days a week, the rangers’ days off were staggered. “Big plans?”
“Heading to Knoxville to visit my mama. I’m hitting the road as soon as I’m off work.”
“Sounds fun.”
Monday was typically a slow day at Shiloh, as the small number of visitors attested. Ace was relieved to get out of the building to lead a walking tour.
“Welcome to the Shiloh National Cemetery.” This was only the second cemetery walking tour he’d led, and he felt a familiar nervous twinge, especially since Matthew was standing in the back taking notes. Ace had tagged along on a few of Kristy’s ranger programs. She was so at ease. He wondered if he’d ever feel like he knew the material the way she did.
“The poem you see on the plaques along the cemetery path is entitled “bivouac of the Dead” by Theodore O’Hara. It is the only poem of sorts allowed in any national cemetery. The interesting part is that Mr. O’Hara was a Confederate. So while his poem may lie between the hallowed walls of the cemetery gates, he himself cannot.” Ace had incorporated some of the tidbits he’d heard Kristy relay to the visitors into his own program. He knew she would only see that as unfair copying, but he hoped maybe at some point she could see it as flattery.
The visitors followed him dutifully along the cemetery path, asking questions and stopping to take photos. Before he knew it, it was time to wrap it up and head back to the visitor center. His next program wasn’t scheduled until late in the afternoon, and he was looking forward to spending some time in the library. He’d spent the weekend reading about the battle and the formation of the park, but there were other details he was interested in learning more about.
“Learning about the generals here, huh?” Owen asked later as Ace emerged from the library, b
ook in hand.
“Yep. I know the basics of who was here but am hoping this will tell me more about them.”
“Good idea. As you learn more, we’ll increase your program load. And have you given any thought to the Junior Ranger Program?”
The Junior Ranger Program was the thorn in his side. He wanted nothing to do with it, considering it was Kristy’s pet project. But he’d never been one to shirk duty. “I’ve been looking over it. I think there are a couple of changes I’d like to make, but it looks pretty good to me.” He knew she was going to have a fit, but he felt like some of the activities required of kids trying to earn a Junior Ranger badge were too hard.
“Good luck with that.” Owen snickered and walked back into his office.
Guess Owen knows a touchy subject when he sees one. Ace looked down at the book he’d just checked out of the park library. Would this one have the information he needed?
***
Kristy frowned at the notice posted on the bulletin board. Big red letters told her there was to be another stakeout. It seemed the monument bandit had struck again. What luck she had.
“What’s the deal?” she asked Hank as he came through the back door.
“This time they hit the Kentucky Monument. Arnie is fit to be tied. We’re short-staffed right now, too. With Steve out of the country and Owen in Knoxville, we’ll all have to be extra diligent.”
“What’s the plan?” she asked.
“He wants you and Ace to cover the Bloody Pond tonight. Arnie and I will be out at Fraley Field. It seems like the vandal is striking pretty late. We’ll be out from ten until midnight.”
She groaned.
“Sorry, kid. Just focus on all that overtime pay.” Hank guffawed as though he’d made a funny joke while he made his way to the staircase leading to his office.
“Bad news?”
She turned to face Ace, who was leaning against the door frame of her former office. “I guess we’ll be staking out again tonight.”
Love Is a Battlefield Page 10
