Early the next morning, he dressed in his best jeans and pulled on his sports coat, donned a hat and a pair of glasses. Looking in the mirror, he hardly recognized himself. He smiled and after a hearty breakfast, drove to the courthouse.
A quick conversation with one of the clerks gave him access to the public records and in there he started looking up names of property owners. It took him almost an hour to find it, but there is was in black and white, with the legal description of her land. After a little flirting with the clerk she finally got him the address. He slipped her a twenty dollar bill and headed to the door. He paused there and turned to smile one more time. “Sweetheart, could you tell me where the Post Office is?”
She gave him directions and he disappeared out the door. A few minutes later, he was parked on a busy street adjacent to the post office looking at a map of the county that he had purchased at a local gas station. Finding it completely useless, he folded it up and put it away in the glove box.
It might take a while to locate her after all. Then he thought about the feed store again. He could stake that out and wait until she came for horse feed! Of course, he didn’t want the man at the store seeing him watching it. That meant finding another vehicle to drive and looking a little different each day.
He smiled. No problem, he’d find a way. He spent the rest of the day driving around the south of the county and checking out east of town. On the east he found another big forest. He pulled out his county map and discovered it was connected to the area he’d found north of town. He turned onto a dirt road and spent the rest of the day, driving the dirt roads until he could pretty well find his way through the woods on little numbered forest roads. What a great discovery! He went back to his room that night elated.
The next morning he drove past the feed store very slowly. While looking around, he found a beauty shop just down the street. He could park in front there and pretend he was waiting for his wife. He sat there and pretended to read the local paper until a police car rolled past for the second time. When it turned the corner, he started his car and drove away.
He left for a couple of hours and when he returned to the area of the feed store, he parked at a different place of business. It appeared to be a parts store, so he raised his hood and every so often would get out and pretend to be working under there. He remembered that Jordan had always made it a point to buy her feed early in the day and so he figured his afternoon would be wasted watching the store. Instead, he drove around some of the rural roads, trying to figure out the addressing system.
The next day, he got lucky again. He stopped at a gas station and filled his tank and casually asked the man inside if he knew where Cedar Lane was located. The man nodded and gave him directions.
Lambert listened closely and walked out the door feeling elated. Jordan’s address was 1736 Cedar Lane. Look out Jordan! He thought silently. Here I come.
He remembered the man at the feed store had said she had a dog and knew it would take some planning to get around the dog, but by dark the next day, he had located the farm.
The house sat back off the highway and it appeared that it was in a very open space. The barn was in front of the house and there were only a few trees around it.
He must have driven past it a dozen times that day, savoring her nearness. He looked toward the barn each time and once thought he might have caught sight of her riding a horse. He reminded himself that he must be very cautious and make sure he was careful in his planning. He did not want to fail. Making another pass after dark had fallen, he was disappointed to see that Jordan had security lights that lit the area around the house and another that lit the barn and paddocks. Oh well, he’d find a way.
Chapter Twenty Three
The Rhodesian Ridgeback dog was restless and his restlessness communicated itself to Wolf. The three of them were sitting on the porch and it was almost time to feed up at the end of the day, but the dog had raised his head and sniffed the air several times. Each time, the dog would stand up and look toward the highway for a long minute, then he would nudge Jordan’s hand with his nose once or twice whining softly before he could relax again.
Finally she noticed his mood. “What’s wrong with you?” She asked him, wishing he could tell her.
“He’s been like that all day,” Wolf said. “Somethin’s botherin’ him and it concerns you.”
Jordan looked at him skeptically. “How do you know it concerns me?”
Wolf took a deep breath. He felt she had a right to know, so he told her briefly about his gift.
Her skepticism turned to doubt bordering on disbelief. She didn’t say anything, but stood and started down toward the barn. Wolf followed, enjoying the sight of her long bare legs walking ahead of him. He knew she didn’t believe him. At the barn, she began scooping feed into buckets and stacking them in the wheelbarrow as had become her routine. Wolf waited until the feed was loaded, then he pushed the wheelbarrow out into the barn and down between the stalls.
When that was done, he walked out to each paddock and opened the gate. Each horse knew their supper was waiting in their stall and trotted inside without halter or guidance. Jordan stood with the stall door open and as soon as the horse went in, she closed that stall and opened the next one. Soon, all five horses were eating quietly. Together, Jordan and Wolf tossed hay into each stall and made sure there was water in each of the automatic waterers. Finally they walked to the back of the barn and started toward the house.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” He asked as they walked toward the house.
She looked at him. “About what?”
“About my gift,” he replied, stopping.
She stopped too, facing him and shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Watch,” he challenged her. He looked toward the barn and appeared to be concentrating. Suddenly, the three horses whose stalls opened on that side, appeared at their windows and neighed toward them at almost the same time.
She gasped, knowing that each horse had walked away from either grain or hay to do that. It wasn’t something they would normally do. Her eyes turned to look at him searchingly.
He looked at Bhrandii and without a word, suggested that the dog return to the barn for one last sniff through. The dog turned and trotted to the barn.
“I asked him to check the area for strangers one more time,” he said.
Jordan’s chin dropped and her mouth hung open for a minute. “How do you do that?”
He shrugged. “It’s pictures and feelin’s. I can’t really explain it, but I’ve done it all my life. Feather tells people I have a way with animals, but that’s what it is. That’s how I know that Bhrandii feels there is danger to you. He doesn’t understand it, he just feels it. Animals trust their feelin’s. They don’t try to hide them or to change them, they just accept them and trust them.”
He often wished people were more like animals in that way.
Jordan looked at him, her eyes suspicious. “Does this….gift, extend to people too?”
He grinned sheepishly and looked down at the ground. “No, but over the years, I’ve gotten really good at reading body language.”
She turned and walked to the house. He followed, her body language telling him he had said something wrong again and not knowing what it was. At the door she turned and looked back at him. “Do you want to go get some supper, or do you want a bowl of soup?”
He shrugged. “I think I’d like to go eat, but it’s up to you.”
“I just need to change,” she said, reaching back to unclip her hair so she could re-braid it.
Unable to stop himself, Wolf caught a strand of those silky threads in his fingers and rubbed his fingers together over it, and then he lifted it to his nose and breathed in deeply, his eyes taking on a darker shade of blue as he looked steadily at her.
“You look just fine, to me.” He declared softly.
Jordan wondered what he would do if she stepped closer to him, but the look in his eyes held her where
she stood.
Reluctantly he released the strand of hair and turned away. He hoped she couldn’t see the way his heart was beating.
“Are you starving, or do I have time to shower and shave?” He asked.
She shrugged. “Suit yourself, but if you change, I guess I should too.”
“No,” he assured her quickly. “You look really fine. You smell really fine too. I don’t. It won’t take me long.”
Jordan watched him disappear down the hall. When he joined her a few minutes later, she couldn’t help smiling. He looked really good, the masculine cologne he wore was subtle but stirring, his jeans starched and creased, his hair slightly damp from the shower, a deep blue t-shirt with NATIVE POWER printed in black letters stretched across his chest. At the truck Bhrandii waited eagerly to hop in and was disappointed when told to stay.
They drove past Rich’s Barbeque and further into town. Together, they settled on eating at Applebee’s. It was nice enough but also casual enough.
Following the waiter to the table, Jordan heard her name spoken and turned to acknowledge the greeting of a couple she had trained a horse for.
Wolf proprietarily rested his hand on her back and nodded as they hurried to keep up with the waiter.
She was wishing she had put on jeans. When the waiter showed them the booth, she slipped in and was surprised when Wolf slipped in beside her, instead of across from her.
By the time they had given their order, the couple she had seen had left their table and arrived at the booth Jordan and Wolf occupied.
They explained that they were leaving, but wanted to tell her how good their horse was working for their daughter.
Jordan thanked them and invited them to sit, since there was plenty of room. They did, but promised it was only for a minute.
“Jason and Krystal, I’d like you to meet my friend, Wolf Cetan. Wolf, this is Jason and Krystal Olson. I trained a horse for their daughter, Sara, last year.” She sincerely hoped they wouldn’t stay long.
“She’s a wonderful trainer,” Krystal Olson said to the swarthy man sitting next to Jordan.
Wolf nodded and looked at Jordan possessively. “Yes, she is. She’s good with all animals.” He grinned mischievously. “People, too.”
The Olson’s chuckled uncomfortably. They were well aware of Jordan’s reputation of being all business, and weren’t sure what to make of the Indian man sitting beside her. They had never known her to have a boyfriend, but by his body language, it was easy to see that this darkly handsome man was more than a friend. He appeared politely rough, which was exactly what Wolf wanted them to think.
Jordan made an effort at small talk, but couldn’t keep her mind on the conversation because Wolf picked one of her hands up in his and carried it to his lips.
She pulled her hand away and frowned at him. “Control yourself,” she scolded him, trying to make it sound playful. He ignored her and since she had taken her hand away, he dropped his arm across the back of her shoulders, pulled her hair back and began making gentle tracks along the side of her neck with one finger.
As quickly as they could the Olson’s made their excuses and disappeared. When they were gone, Wolf’s finger stopped and he removed his hand.
“They were clients of mine, why did you run them off?” she asked angrily.
“We’re supposed to be in love, aren’t we?” He countered. “We shouldn’t want company. Just each other.”
“Well, when this is over, I still have to make a living.” She reminded him. “I can’t afford for my clients to think I’ve gone off the deep end.”
He looked down at her. “When this is over? When Lambert is in prison again?”
She nodded. What else did he think she was talking about? She smiled as the waiter sat their supper in front of them. Now they could eat and get out of here. She hoped they didn’t see anyone else she knew.
There was little talking as they ate, and soon they were through. The waiter picked up their plates and poured them another glass of tea. Wolf didn’t seem eager to leave. He was watching a baseball game on a television hanging above the end of the row of booths they were sitting in.
After a minute he looked at her. “Do you like baseball?”
She glanced at the set and shrugged her shoulders. “I like football better,” she admitted.
“I’ve always been a Mariners fan, but since I’m in the south now, I probably won’t see much of them.” He said, his attention clearly on the game on the big screen television.
“My father was a Braves fan. Once or twice a year he would take my mom to Atlanta to see them at their home stadium. I have occasionally watched a game with them, but football has more action.”
She could feel his arm against her shoulder and his leg against hers. She was wondering if he had any intention of leaving any time soon.
“That’s why more people like watching rodeos or gymkhanas as compared to equitation classes. Most people don’t understand the fine points of pitchin’ or the gamesmanship involved in baseball or horsemanship.”
Together they watched the final two innings of the game. Wolf pointed out some of what he had mentioned and Jordan began to see why her father had enjoyed the game. When the game ended, she was happy to see that the Braves had won, if only by one run.
Finally she bumped his arm. “Are you ready to go?”
He looked down at her. “I’m enjoying this. How about you?”
“Frankly, I would have enjoyed it more at home. I should have worn jeans. The backs of my legs have grown to this seat.” She replied firmly.
He sighed and slipped out of the booth. He stood politely, waiting as she worked her way across the booth toward the edge and was able to stand up, unfortunately facing him. He smiled as she stood, her body almost brushing against him. He slid one hand around behind her to steady her and in doing so, caused her to step closer so a couple of running children could dash past behind her. She was nearly leaning on him.
She put her hands up and pressed against his chest, then stepping back, but feeling the solid muscles burning against her hands before she removed them. She turned and they walked to the exit door, Wolf’s hand on her shoulders, his body so close behind her she could feel him.
At the door, he reached around her and pushed the door open, allowing her to exit ahead of him. She thanked him, softly and headed to the passenger door of her truck. As she reached it, Wolf reached around her and opened it, politely standing while she slipped up, into the seat, before he pushed the door closed and whistling a nonsense tune walked around to the driver’s side.
Returning to the farm, there was little conversation except when Jordan called Feather on her cell phone. The two women talked for a few minutes, then Jordan passed the phone to Wolf at his sister’s request.
As he talked, Jordan could tell his conversation was guarded and felt sure it was due to her presence in the cab of the truck. He was always so relaxed with his sister, she was sure it couldn’t be anything else.
In reality, Bhrandii’s behavior and some innate feeling inside told him things were moving toward a finish and he didn’t want Feather to worry about him or Jordan.
Dark was falling as they turned off the highway into her driveway and before they passed the barn she asked him to stop there, so she could make one last check on the horses.
Mischief glittered in his blue eyes as he stopped the truck. “Don’t you trust your watchdog?”
She shrugged. “Yes, it’s just that I’ll rest better if I look at them and know they’re settled down for the night.”
He joined her as she strolled through the barn without turning on the lights and disturbing the animals.
Satisfied that all was quiet, they returned to the truck and Wolf drove the short distance to the yard gate. Bhrandii met them there, his thin tail making circles of greeting. He was so glad to see them, he couldn’t restrain himself and jumped in the air, making sure he didn’t hit them in his exuberance.
Jordan allow
ed her dog to calm down, and then reassured him that she was glad to see him, too.
Wolf smiled as he felt the joy in the dog’s heart while she showered him with her love and attention. He knew she was right about depending on the dog to protect her. There was no doubt that the animal would gladly sacrifice his life to keep her safe.
The night was uneventful. Jordan found she didn’t feel even a little strange about Wolf being in the house with her anymore and felt more comfortable knowing he was nearby. Together they watched a little television and were surprised to find that they enjoyed the same kinds of programming.
Finally Jordan stood. Looking at Wolf on the couch, she smiled. “I’m going to go to bed. Please make yourself at home and if there is something you need that you don’t find, let me know.”
He nodded. “I appreciate your hospitality. I’m sure I’ll be fine. When you start to get in bed, please remember to open the door again. I will hear any unusual sounds easier that way.”
She nodded, understanding his request was due to a sincere desire to protect her. She felt his eyes follow her movement as she left the room.
A little later, snuggled down in her bed, her mind drifting on the edges of sleep, she smiled, feeling safer than she had since learning of Lambert’s escape. She never knew when he slipped out of the house and made a last, careful patrol around the premises.
In the darkness, Wolf blended into the night. He knew from the way Bhrandii had stuck so close to Jordan that the dog either sensed, or smelled something that made him wary. He had pulled on a dark shirt and had slipped out into the night by way of the shaded back porch, opposite the house from the barn and the security lights that illuminated that area around the front of the house. He also realized that anyone watching the house would be watching from the woods closest to the back porch. Having exited the house at a crawl, he lowered his body until he was on his belly, his movements were slow as he slipped along the floor of the porch and almost like water, allowed his body to move with unnoticeable stealth from the porch onto the ground. There, he lay in the quiet shadows, listening and watching. Only when he was assured that everything was as it should be, did he dodge from shadow to shadow at a hunkering run until he reached the edge of the woods. He found a comfortable place up in a tree and waited. With his still quietness, the insects and creatures that had been disturbed by his movements resumed their normal activity. He smiled, knowing he was now a part of their world.
Another Chance Page 15
