Second Chance Soldier

by Linda O. Johnston

  Chapter 25

  “Class dismissed,” Evan called, and Amber watched under the warmth of the July sun as the five cops who had come with their own police units’ K-9s, from different departments all over the western states, gave signals to their dogs. All five of the K-9s sat, but only for a minute. Evan and their handlers quickly threw a toy for each of them, and the various German shepherds and Belgian Malinois—including Bear, who’d helped Evan demonstrate the exercises—dashed after their rewards.

  Amber grinned widely, wishing she could throw herself into Evan’s arms and kiss him for another job really well done.

  Standing at the side of the top of the driveway where the training session was held, she found it hard to believe that Evan had been here for six weeks. The number of students had increased, so he taught a couple of classes most days, often with multiple students and generally with pets rather than K-9s, and he handled them all well. He’d even given a couple of complementary classes to the Halvens, who hadn’t received their second scheduled class after all that had happened while they were around.

  This was the first training and review class he had given for K-9 officers and their dogs, but he’d performed this vital part of his role here brilliantly, and Amber knew that publicity, including word of mouth, would lead to a lot more to come.

  Even Assistant Police Chief Kara had indicated again that she might be a candidate for basic K-9 lessons.

  That all meant they’d have to hire at least one training assistant for Evan soon.

  Hearing a noise, Amber turned to see her mother, Lola at her side, exit their house carrying a basket of dog treats they’d bought at Pets and Products as rewards for their canine students. Though Evan still frowned on food rewards at classes, he didn’t mind as much when they came from people other than the dogs’ handlers.

  Amber had kept Mirri at Pets and Products fully informed about all that had happened around here. She’d also made sure that Percy kept the ranch’s website up to date. There were additional things to add and change, like class descriptions and more training demo videos. And though the geeky guy had wanted to add something about the apparent solving of the murder of the ranch’s owner, she had made it clear she didn’t want it on the website.

  “Okay to take this stuff off?” Orrin had waddled his way in his bulky suit from the sidelines up to Evan. As always, he had acted as agitator and did well with it—being the apparent bad guy and allowing the dogs to attack and bite him on command.

  “Sure,” Evan told him, turning away from the officers he was speaking with. “Good job, Orrin.”

  “Thanks.” He sounded genuinely pleased about the praise rather than his old grumpy self. His parents had come for a visit recently, seen him in practice as an agitator and seemed quite happy with his progress. They were nice people and thanked Amber and her mother. Though his job was pretty much all physical and following instructions, and didn’t require a lot of thinking or planning, at least he was working.

  He’d also admitted his continued worry about being the man of the ranch after Corbin’s death, which was why he sometimes wandered at night in the hopes of protecting the two women.

  And his—and Percy’s—criticism of Corbin? Amber had asked, and they’d been embarrassed that they’d bad-mouthed the dead man, who’d been in some ways their benefactor. Even if he had been critical sometimes, it may have been justified. But, they’d agreed, Corbin had been a good friend and boss, even if he hadn’t been perfect.

  “Evan, may I pass out these treats?” her mother asked, holding out her basket.

  “Fine.” Evan was now surrounded by the officers with whom he’d been working. Each thanked him and said how much they looked forward to the rest of the week. They’d all come distances and were staying in the area, a couple in the ranch guest houses and the rest in town.

  Although the resort remained open, its future remained unclear with its owner incarcerated on a murder charge. Amber wasn’t sure when Nathan’s trial would be, but she and Evan and her mom would be required to testify.

  Not that there was much question about his conviction. The guy had a collection of burner phones and hadn’t discarded the ones used for the threatening text messages, though he’d hidden them. And he’d not been seen around his resort for a few days during the week after Corbin’s death, so investigators were looking into whether he happened to have traveled to Las Vegas and used a credit card stolen from Corbin there, then destroyed it. The dates appeared to correspond, but apparently the police department’s tech expert was still looking into how at least one of the texts appeared to come from overseas.

  Kara had been grateful for what Evan and Amber had done. She never apologized for the cops not having solved the case, but Amber hadn’t expected her to.

  “Hey,” said a uniformed cop, turning from Evan to Amber. “I’ve been here for classes before, when Corbin gave them. I’ve seen they’ve got a suspect in custody and the stories indicated that you had something to do with catching him.”

  “The media sometimes exaggerates,” Amber said noncommittally. She really didn’t want to talk about it.

  Not until Nathan was found guilty.

  And never in front of her mother.

  She glanced at Sonya now. Her mom appeared engaged in passing out dog treats, but she seemed to concentrate on it so much that Amber knew she had heard.

  The whole Nathan thing had been hard on her. It had been horrible for her to lose her husband, and then to be courted for nefarious reasons by the man who’d murdered him…

  Well, Amber had made it clear she was always there for her mom. So was Lola.

  And so, as it turned out, was Evan. In fact, he was the one who came up with the idea that Sonya should be the one to at least start writing the book they’d talked about regarding Corbin’s training methods. It was a goal, a distraction for her.

  Plus, sweet guy that Evan was, he’d started a couple of weeks ago to have Amber and Sonya over occasionally for a pancake breakfast.

  Right after the episode in Nathan’s home, Evan had not only shown the cops where he had found what was apparently the murder weapon and done all he could to help them gather other evidence against the resort owner, but he had also made it a point to keep Amber and Sonya informed, and to be there for them—for planning dog-training lessons, for eating with them, for…well, anything they wanted.

  Almost.

  Amber had been delighted that, though it still sometimes appeared difficult for Evan to be around groups of people and interact with them, he did a good job of it, even if he didn’t look most people in the eye. He had even begun teaching a new command at the end of each pet-training class, which particularly made his first students here happy. And after each class, he would glance toward Amber as if for her approval.

  Which she always gave.

  And more. In fact, it had become more than a habit for her to visit Evan in his house during the day…and often during the night.

  It was more private there than in her own home. She figured her mother more than suspected what was going on, but it was too soon to make a big deal over it.

  Although it felt like a big deal to Amber.

  And now, once the dogs were all given treats and the officers got ready to drive them back to wherever they were staying that night, Evan joined Amber and her mother on a walk back to the main house.

  “I need to do a few things at my place,” he said, “but I want to give your shepherds another quick lesson today.” As he’d done that morning after breakfast, before the K-9 officers arrived.

  “I’ll walk with you,” Amber told him. “I want to go over some ideas I have for scheduling next month’s classes, okay?”

  She glanced into his face and saw amusement—and more—in his eyes. “Okay,” he said.

  “We’ll be back for the shepherds soon, Mom.” The young dogs had made a lot of progress and soon could start their more vigorous K-9 training—and their new official handlers to acquire them for p
olice units would be sought. Amber would miss them, and gave them lots of extra hugs now. Eventually, though, Evan and she would seek more puppies to train that way.

  They’d all been walking in the same direction, and Amber watched as her mom and Lola walked to their house’s front door and entered.

  Orrin had gone to his place to change, so it was just the three of them, including Bear, who headed to Evan’s house.

  As they walked inside, Evan closed the door and grabbed Amber, just as she’d wanted.

  Their kiss was way hotter than the air outside, and she felt Evan’s hands begin their welcome, heated search beneath her T-shirt…then downward.

  “Oh, yes,” she said, but then forced herself to step away. She wanted him, really wanted him.

  But there was something she had to do first, and not for the first time.

  “Thank you, Evan, for everything you’ve done here to save the ranch and train our students and—”

  “And get to the point,” he said with a big smile.

  “You first,” she countered in her bossiest tone while letting her lower lip jut out in a pout.

  “Okay. Amber Belott, I love you.” His eyes danced in pleasure—and desire.

  “And Evan Colluro, I love you.”

  He bent toward her and kissed that pout away.

  Amber felt certain now that she had hired the absolute best trainer possible…and that their future together would involve a whole lot more than running the Chance K-9 Ranch.

  *

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  Chapter 1

  “Are you sure you really want to do this?”

  Beatrix Colton’s heart sank as Jennifer Sheridan nodded.

  “I have to,” the young woman said sadly. She gave the poufy white dress one last, longing look before pushing it across the counter. Bea grabbed the hanger and hung the dress on the hook next to the register, smoothing out the full skirt with the palm of her hand.

  Now came the awkward part. “I’m afraid I can’t offer you a refund, since you’ve already had your final fitting,” she said delicately.

  “I know.” Jennifer blinked back tears and shook her head. “I hate this,” she said, sniffing. “But Mark and I have talked about it, and I just can’t risk his safety.”

  “I understand,” Bea assured her. And, truthfully, she did. “The Groom Killer has us all scared. I don’t blame you for wanting to be careful, especially right now.”

  “Mark said I’m overreacting,” Jennifer confessed. She looked down, then met Bea’s eyes. “But I think he’s secretly relieved we’re
canceling the wedding. One less thing to worry about, you know?”

  Bea nodded sympathetically.

  “We’re being very public about the cancellation. That’s why I’m here—everyone has to see me return this dress.”

  “Of course,” Bea murmured.

  “I had hoped the police would have captured the killer by now,” Jennifer continued. She eyed Bea speculatively, and Bea realized the woman was waiting for her to chime in with a juicy detail about the investigation. Everybody in town thought Bea’s cousin, Demi Colton, was the Groom Killer who’d murdered two men the night before their weddings—one in January, and one last month in February. Bea herself wasn’t so sure; she didn’t know Demi all that well, but she hated to jump to conclusions about something so serious.

  “I’m sure they’ll find whoever is doing this soon,” Bea replied, trying to sound noncommittal. She wasn’t in the mood to discuss her cousin or any other topic related to the Groom Killer. She’d already lost a lot of business, thanks to panicked couples canceling their nuptials in the hopes of staying off the killer’s radar. If the police didn’t find the culprit soon, Bea’s Bridal Salon would have to close.

  It was a possibility that made her sick to her stomach.

  Forcing a smile, Bea changed the subject. After a moment, Jennifer realized Bea wasn’t going to reveal any family secrets, and she gathered up her purse to leave.

  “I really am sorry about this,” she said, pausing at the door.

  Just go, Bea thought, practically willing the woman to leave.

  “I understand,” Bea repeated. “I hope you’ll come back once your wedding is back on.”

  “Oh, I will,” Jennifer promised.

  Bea nodded, but the woman’s reassurance didn’t make her feel any better. The possibility of future business was nice, but it wouldn’t help her pay the bills now.

  And that was the problem.

  Since Bea’s Bridal Salon didn’t exactly offer a diverse array of services, there wasn’t much she could do to draw in clients while the shadow of the Groom Killer lingered over them all.

  Her father, Fenwick Colton, had offered to float her some funds until things returned to normal. But Bea refused to use his money. This was her shop, and she wasn’t going to take charity from anyone.