Another Chance

by Sandra Cuppett

  When he awakened, it was six o’clock. He showered and started to shave, then thought better of it. An unshaved look might make him look more local. When people traveled, they kept themselves better groomed than when they were in familiar surroundings. He pulled on a pair of jeans and long sleeved shirt. No use advertising his pale arms while he was in sunny Florida.

  He ate breakfast and inquired about the location of the street one of the feed stores was located on. He left a modest tip and grabbed a local paper on the way out. After finding the street and then the store, he decided that parking along the street and remaining in his car might attract attention.

  He pulled his car to a stop in the big parking area by the feed store and got out, walked to the front of the car and raised the hood. He knew that in a place like this, he could account for most of the day with his head stuck under the hood.

  After a couple of hours, he walked into the store and slipped some change into the drink machine. Taking his soda from the slot he opened it and turned it up for a deep refreshing swallow as he looked around for a place to blend in. There were people coming and going taking care of their business, laughing and talking. The way people do in a town where most folks know one another.

  Lambert couldn’t help wondering what it might be like to be one of the insects, buzzing in and out of the nest. Each one totally absorbed in its own mission. Few of them even noticed him leaning against the wall just outside the door. Remembering that Jordan usually visited the store in the mornings, he drifted back to his car and when she hadn’t made an appearance by 1:00 pm, he closed the hood of his car and returned to the US 90 hub. He picked a different restaurant, had his lunch and went back to his room. He kicked back to relax for a while, then growing restless, he wondered outside. A long walk helped burn some of his energy. He knew that it was controlled excitement and anticipation that burned inside him that made him restless. Maybe he could hook up with a woman and expend some of his stress.

  He cleaned up and drove to one of the bars at a different hotel. Inside the lighting was subdued and the music was loud. He ordered a beer and sipped at it occasionally while he watched the people. After a bit, he noticed a woman sitting at a table in the corner. She appeared alone so after ordering another beer, he had a drink sent over to her table. Whatever she was drinking. When the server delivered it, he indicated who sent it. Lambert nodded and lifted his glass in her direction. She smiled and waved him over. He lifted his bottle and strolled over to join her. They left after a couple of hours, her leaning heavily on his arm. It was the last time anyone would see her alive and because bar pick-ups were not uncommon, no one would really remember the incident at all. Except Lambert.

  He drove out into the forest that he had located east of town and enjoyed the rest of the night, seeing his face reflected in the terror in her eyes as she died. Later, he dragged her body behind a thicket of gallberrry bushes and left it there, out of sight of the dirt road. He made a mental note to spend some time exploring other parts of this forest.

  When he was again safely locked inside his room, he took a shower and went to sleep. He was totally relaxed.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Jordan had the nightmare again and Bhrandii woke her as he usually did. She knew there was no going back to sleep, so she got up, did her Bible study and dressed. She had turned the television on when Bhrandii looked at the front door, wagged his whip like tail and whined softly. At almost the same moment, she heard a soft knock.

  Strangely, she wasn’t afraid. She knew if it was a stranger that her dog would be snarling and rushing the door. It couldn’t be but one person. She flipped on the porch light to be sure and then opened the door. She was right.

  Wolf’s breathe was almost snatched away when she opened the door. She wore her hair loose and no make-up and she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He swallowed before he spoke, his voice sounding coarse in the quiet of the still darkness.

  “I saw your lights on and wanted to make sure you were alright.”

  She smiled at him. He stood there in a pair of jeans, his shirt unbuttoned and his shirttail hanging out, wearing a pair of moccasins with his hair uncombed except by his fingers.

  She opened the door wider, an invitation to come in. “I had a nightmare and am not usually able to sleep after that. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  He nodded, stepping inside and pushing the door closed behind him. “If it’s not puttin’ you to any trouble.”

  Jordan led the way to the kitchen. Wolf followed her, enjoying the sight of her walking ahead of him.

  In the kitchen, she indicated a chair for him and moved about the room, gathering the cups, spoons, sugar and cream before filling the cups from a freshly made pot of steaming black coffee. She could feel him watching her and to her surprise, she discovered she enjoyed it. When the coffee was poured, she settled in a chair across from him. “That’s why I was awake so early. So why are you awake?” She asked.

  He lifted the cup, savoring the sight of her facing him from across the table. “I’ve always been a light sleeper.”

  “So you heard me flip on the lights?” She probed. Teasing with a man was an all but forgotten skill.

  He dropped his head and smiled. “I’m just awake. That’s all.”

  They sat quietly for a few minutes, each absorbed in their own thoughts, but relishing the company of the other.

  “Feather should not be here.” Jordan finally spoke. “She could get hurt.”

  He nodded. “I know. I just haven’t had the courage to tell her I’m sending her back to Clay and Sue until this is over. She’ll go on the warpath. She might even take my scalp.”

  Jordan enjoyed his humor. “I’ll explain it to her if you want me to. I’ll take the blame. Better that than have her caught in Lambert’s path.”

  Wolf wanted to just touch her face to see if it was as soft as it looked, but resisted. “Maybe we can work together on it. I’ll talk with her today and you back me up.”

  She nodded. As she did, a strand of long blond hair slipped over her shoulder and she brushed it back with one hand, tucking it behind her ear.

  Wolf looked away, not wanting her to see the longing in his eyes. He need not have worried. She was watching Bhrandii at the door, obviously wanting to go out. She rose and walked over to open the back door and let him out, then returned to her seat.

  “Jordan…,” he started at the same time she spoke.

  “I’m….,” they both stopped and laughed self-consciously.

  He lifted his cup and sipped silently from it. “Good coffee,” he said.

  “Liar,” she accused. “I’m not a real coffee drinker and it’s way too strong.”

  “I like it,” he insisted, drinking from the cup again, then holding it cradled in his hands.

  She caught herself looking at his hands, not all that far from hers on the table and remembered the heat that had radiated from them when they had exchanged that hand shake, just two days ago. That thought surprised her. Only two days? She couldn’t believe that she’d only known him that long and he was already one of her main topics of thought. Oh Lord, she prayed silently, You’re really going to have to help me through this, or I might make a fool of myself.

  When she looked up, he was looking at her.

  “How’d you meet your husband?” He asked.

  Jordan was a little surprised by his question, but smiled as she remembered.

  “At a Christmas party when I was in college. He was the star of the football team.” She hadn’t talked to anyone about David for years, but it seemed right talking to him.

  “And you were the head cheerleader?”

  She laughed easily. “Heavens, no. I was a lowly sophomore, planning to major in Animal Science. I was hoping that maybe someday I could be a horse trainer and maybe raise a few good Quarter Horses on the side.”

  “It seems you’ve almost accomplished your goal.” He just wanted her to keep talking.

  �
��I got side tracked for a while, but now I know what I want and I don’t plan to get side tracked again.” Then she realized she sounded like her marriage had been a mistake. “I guess that didn’t come out right. I’ve never regretted marrying David. We were happy and would still be together if Lambert hadn’t killed him. He’s the reason I’m able to do what I’m doing. David was a wonderful husband and a great provider.”

  He wanted to cover her hand with his, but instead, he cradled his cup tighter. “I understand.”

  “Do you?” She wondered out loud.

  “Yes. I’m thirty years old. I’ve been in love once or twice. I lost someone that I cared about, too. It sends your life in a different direction, but you learn to be happy again and that’s how it should be.”

  She nodded. “You do understand. Did your wife die?”

  “Not my wife. We didn’t have time to get married. She was a cop I met when I was a rookie. It was an intense, but brief relationship. She walked into a robbery one night and took a bullet for the clerk. She died because she refused to wear her bullet proof vest. We had only been datin’ a few weeks. It might not have worked out anyway, but it felt like it was movin’ in the right direction.”

  Bhrandii scratched at the door and Jordan went to let him in. Feather was with him. “I’m sorry, if I shouldn’t barge in, but when I woke up, I thought I was being mauled by a bear. Your dog likes my bed.”

  Jordan laughed and opened the door wider. “Of course you’re welcome here. Anytime. And I’m sorry that Bhrandii woke you up. Sit and let me get you some coffee.”

  Feather held up her hand in refusal. “Thanks, but no coffee for me. I find that an evil brew if I plan to ride. I can’t seem to stay on my horse.”

  Jordan looked at her, confusion on her face.

  “I keep having to dismount and find a bathroom,” Feather explained.

  Then Jordan laughed. She urged Feather into a chair next to her brother and opened the fridge. “How about some oj?”

  Now Feather looked confused.

  “Orange juice.” Jordan said.

  Feather nodded and looked at her brother. “Why did you leave the tepee open? That dog could have been a snake or something.”

  “In which case, I’d be down there now tryin’ to put the tepee back together again.” He leaned to the side toward her and bumped her shoulder with his.

  Jordan placed a glass of frothy orange juice in front of the girl and glanced into Daniel’s cup. “More coffee?”

  He covered the cup with his hand. “Thanks, no. But it was good.”

  “We’re going out for breakfast this morning, on me.” Jordan announced. “I used to be a good cook, but I’m kinda out of practice.”

  “Before we go, maybe we need to discuss that little problem we agreed to handle together,” Wolf said.

  Jordan nodded.

  Feather looked from one to the other her suspicions alerted. “I’m not sure, but I’m thinking I might not like this.”

  Wolf took her hand. “Do you remember how you felt when Captain Ferguson told you I’d been shot?”

  She pulled her hand away and frowned at him. “Of course, I do! Just what are you up to?”

  “I want you safe. You’re all the family I have.” He placed one hand under her chin and lifted her face so she was looking at him. “I also need to be able to concentrate on just keepin’ Jordan safe. I can’t split my attention between y’all.”

  “I am not leaving you down here!” She stated flatly. “No!” She turned her head and pushed his hand away. “If you try to send me away, I just might shoot you myself!”

  Jordan settled into her chair and her movement drew Feather’s eyes.

  “Feather, what if you could stay close, but just not be here? Would you be open to talking about that?” She asked.

  The younger woman studied her with eyes that were a rich deep brown. “We can talk about it.”

  “I have a couple of friends that I think you would like. I’ve known Mac and Mary….all my life I guess. They have this huge house with a beautiful barn and pastures. You could take your horse over there. Mac taught me a lot about working horses before I went off to college and Mary is just the sweetest person. They have three grown children but they are all out and about. I’m sure they would love having you stay with them for a while.”

  Feather frowned at her brother. She took a long minute to think about it before she spoke making her brother smile with Indian pride. “I do understand how it might not be safe for me to be here. I really do, but I’m not sure about this. Can I have a day or two to think about it?”

  Both Jordan and Wolf were shaking their heads negatively. Wolf was the one to speak. “I was plannin’ on puttin’ you on a plane to Idaho today, but if we can get you settled with these people instead, that should work. We just can’t take a chance on Lambert seein’ you and connectin’ you with Jordan or me. He could use you to get to either one of us.”

  Jordan retrieved her phone and placed a call to Mac’s number. She quickly explained the situation and Mac assured her that both he and Mary would love to have Feather stay with them. Then he scolded her because she hadn’t told him about Lambert having escaped from prison.

  “I already have one body guard, thanks to Sheriff John. But I knew you would want to help and this way we both benefit. You’ll both love Feather.”

  It was settled. Mary insisted that they all come to her house for breakfast and bring all Feather’s stuff, including her horse. It would make the transition easier on Feather than if she just walked into a strange home with people she didn’t know.

  Breakfasts went well and by the time the kitchen was cleaned up, Mary and Feather were making plans to go riding later in the day.

  Wolf warned her that she couldn’t come to Jordan’s for any reason but he promised to call her daily.

  It wasn’t until they were returning to her house that Jordan realized that now she no longer had a chaperon. She glanced at the man driving the truck. She wasn’t afraid that he would take advantage of her, but having other people knowing there was someone else around had made her feel that her reputation would remain intact. While she was still looking at him, he turned his head and glanced at her. She blushed for having been caught looking. She was glad she had insisted that he drive when they got in her truck to return to her place.

  She looked away. “It was good that you let Feather keep your truck. She’ll enjoy being a little independent.”

  He nodded. “I hope you remember when this is all over, that you didn’t buy breakfast this mornin’. You owe me a meal and I’ll be expectin’ to collect it.”

  She grinned at him. “It will be my pleasure. When this is all over has such an ominous sound, doesn’t it?”

  His lips lifted on one side into an almost smile. “That’s the way life can be, but we are both comin’ through this just fine. Lambert is the one who loses. Remember that.”

  The two of them had done morning chores while Feather was packing, so when they arrived back at the barn, Jordan retrieved Pride from her paddock and brought her into the barn. She spent some time grooming the filly and just admiring her before returning her to the paddock.

  Wolf had his own horse saddled and when she had brought in one of the two colts she was still committed to riding, he suggested that she show him some of the riding places around the farm. Jordan agreed and when she had the colt groomed and ready she saw him approaching with her saddle and pads. He placed them easily on the horse’s broad back.

  “I don’t know which bridle you use,” he said, making sure that the saddle was sitting straight and nothing was caught beneath it. While he finished adjusting the saddle, she ducked into the tack room and returned with the D-ring snaffle that she usually used on the colts she was starting.

  In just a matter of minutes, the two of them mounted. Jordan led the way up the lane, past her house and through the open gate of the large empty pasture in back.

  “This is where I’ll one day have
my broodmares and foals,” she explained. “I want to be able to look out the back window and see them.”

  Wolf nodded. “You might want to put up a run in shelter for them. One big enough that you can put hay under so they can enjoy it when it rains.”

  Jordan smiled, nodding. He thought like she did.

  “And a big water trough kept full of water pumped up by a windmill.” He added. “One you can swim in when it’s hot.”

  Now Jordan laughed. “I probably won’t have that many mares. Just four or five really good mares. A trough the size you’re thinking would get stagnant in the summer heat.”

  “Put in some koi. They’d keep it clean, but you could still swim in it.” He suggested.

  Jordan nodded. “They might, but I just ride down to the river when I want to swim.”

  At the back of the pasture they rode through another gate, Jordan opening and shutting it without dismounting. That was part of the training she did with all the colts she rode.

  To Wolf it seemed strange to ride such flat land. He and his horse were used to a few steep inclines to traverse. He was intrigued by the many oak trees and the planted pines that they rode through. He listened to the different songs of the birds and several times surprised Jordan by mimicking some of them with near perfection. He was totally absorbed with his surroundings and Jordan had a chance to study him without restraint. She continued to like what she saw.

  She couldn’t help herself. He was a completely masculine man, with all the looks that any man could wish for and as they rode, she felt she was seeing glimpses of the eager little boy he had been while learning to appreciate his Indian heritage from his grandfather.

  After they rode for about an hour, the woods became thicker and the land dropped gradually. Then there were some small sharp rolls of land that soon brought them to the edge of a dark brown swirling river.