Foxfire

by Carol Ann Erhardt

  “Sure you can.” He set his rocker in motion. “I've got a fresh batch of ice cream in the freezer.” He continued to work on the corn without looking directly at her.

  Tiffany's ears lifted as if she understood.

  Grace dropped the clean ear of corn in the pan. “I suppose I could eat a bowl.”

  Brad rose to his feet “Then let's have at it. I'll finish the corn later.”

  They followed an established ritual of Grace getting the bowls, while Brad retrieved the ice cream and began dipping it out. They sat across from each other and Grace took a bite before meeting Brad's gaze. He gave her a slight grin.

  “We had to put Mr. Jacobson's dog down today.”

  His smile disappeared. “That's too bad. Will is a good man. Lost his wife not long ago, too. Must have been hard on him.”

  Grace swallowed the lump that rose in her throat. She would not cry. What was with her lately? She’d never felt like relieving her emotions with tears before. She nodded, keeping her eyes on her bowl.

  “Must have been hard for you, too.”

  Again, Grace nodded without speaking.

  “Course you could always check the Foxfire Animal Shelter. Bet they've got a lot of unwanted dogs.” He scratched his chin. “Yep, that just might be a nice thing to do.”

  Why hadn't she thought of that? She'd ask Tyler tomorrow. He could help her pick out a perfect dog for Mr. Jacobson. It would be just the thing, no matter how Will had rejected the idea today. No animal could take the place of Spanky, but having a new dog to care for would give him something positive to focus on.

  Grace jumped up and ran to Brad. She kissed his weathered cheek and hugged him tight. “You're a genius.”

  Brad chuckled. “You'd have thought of it yourself, hon.”

  “You think he'll accept a new dog?”

  Brad patted her on the arm. “I'm sure. You might want to wait a spell though. Give him a few days to grieve for Spanky.”

  Grace attacked her ice cream with fervor. “Do you want to go to the shelter with me?”

  Brad's eyes twinkled. “Three's a crowd, hon.”

  Had he read her mind? “What do you mean?” she asked trying to look confused.

  He winked. “You and Tyler can take care of it.” He laid his spoon beside his bowl. “How about you two coming to dinner tonight? I've got a dozen ears of corn out there on the porch. Harri's bringing the main course, though Lord only knows what that'll be.”

  Grace still felt kind of hollow inside. She didn't think she could keep up a happy front for a whole evening, especially with Tyler there to remind her of what they'd done today. All she wanted tonight was to soak in a hot tub and curl up with a good book with Tiffany for company.

  “I think I'll take a rain check, but thanks for asking. I'm kind of washed out.”

  “Sure, hon, I understand.”

  She looked up at him. “Did you read the article in the paper about the body behind the restaurant?”

  He clunked his spoon on the table. “Terrible. Just like the others she was murdered somewhere else and her body was left there. What kind of evil person can do such a thing?”

  She shivered. “It's scary. I mean this makes it personal, doesn't it? It's not like something happening far away. It's right here.”

  He reached over and patted her arm. “It didn't happen here, honey.”

  “We don't know that. For all we know all those women could have been killed here and moved to Knoxville or other places afterward.”

  “Enough talk about it. I'm not into speculation. Besides, there's no one in Foxfire who would do such a thing. This is a quiet, safe community. We have a zero crime rate.”

  They finished their dessert in comfortable silence, then Grace took her leave.

  She walked more slowly back toward her cabin. Rounding a bend in the path where she could no longer see Brad's house behind her, she felt a chill despite the heat of the day. She increased her pace. She felt certain someone was watching them, but Tiffany seemed unaffected. It had to be her imagination.

  When she reached her house, she stopped in surprise.

  Tyler rose from the front steps and dusted the back of his jeans.

  “Hi,” he said. “I didn't feel like being alone. Could I keep you company?”

  “Great,” Grace mumbled. She'd finally pushed the sadness far enough away that she no longer felt like crying, but seeing Tyler brought it all rushing back.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “If you'd rather be alone?”

  “No, it's fine. I mean, I could use some company.”

  Tiffany jumped up, resting her paws on Tyler's chest and licking his face.

  “Down, Tiff,” Grace ordered.

  Tyler laughed, tilting his head away from the dog's tongue. “It's all right.” He pushed Tiffany gently to all fours.

  “Come on in,” Grace invited, leading the way to the front door. She mentally ran through the items in her fridge, wondering if she should call Brad and take him up on his earlier offer.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked.

  “Not really.” He looked around her sparse living room. “You know, I do like your house.”

  She grinned. “I don't entertain much. Tiffany doesn't require much in the way of furniture. We can sit in the kitchen if you want.” She gestured toward the open doorway.

  “No, I meant what I said. It's simple, but warm.” He seated himself on the hearth and picked up a rock that had been painted into a sleeping kitten. He picked up several others, dogs, rabbits and turtles, examining them carefully. Finally, he smiled up at her and wrapped his arms around his knees. “You're very talented.”

  “Thanks.”

  Grace sat in the rocker.

  Tiffany came out of the kitchen, her jowls dripping water. She walked to Tyler and leaned against him. He ruffled her fur and she dropped to the rug at his feet.

  Grace felt awkward. What could they talk about to avoid the issue forefront in both their minds?

  He met her gaze. “The first time I had to euthanize an animal, my dad was with me. Later we sat and talked about it. He helped me understand what I'd done was the humane thing.” Tyler shook his head. “I still have a hard time dealing with it. No matter how prepared you are, it always hurts to see life fade away.”

  Grace swallowed. The lump kept rising in her throat. She wouldn't resort to tears in front of Tyler. She bit the inside of her mouth, a trick that always worked. She watched Tyler's fingers absently stroking Tiffany's ears.

  “I suppose you get hardened to it,” she said.

  “Never.”

  Grace lifted her head and met his gaze. They stared into each other's eyes, and her stomach flipped. Her heart seemed to stop, then picked up speed, thumping erratically. “I...it was hard for me.”

  Tyler unfolded his arms and rose to his full height. “For me, too.”

  She had to force her gaze away, regain control. She'd let Tyler get past her protective shell again. She'd never allowed anyone but Brad to see her soft side.

  “I was talking to Brad. He suggested getting Mr. Jacobson another dog.”

  Tyler moved closer. “That's a great idea.”

  ****

  Tyler watched the emotions cross her face. He'd known she'd be hurting. He'd spoken the truth when he said he never got over putting an animal to sleep. He wanted to take Grace in his arms and comfort her, and draw comfort from her, but he kept his distance, knowing she wasn't ready. Neither was he. He still had a job to do, and that job required him to stay focused on one thing. Catching a killer, a killer who wanted to murder Grace, and that scared the hell out of him.

  She looked down at Tiffany, avoiding his gaze.

  “Want to go for a walk?” he asked.

  Grace shook her head.

  “A drive?”

  She shook her head again. He needed to find a way to break through the walls she'd put up. He told himself it was all to maintain his cover, but he knew better. If he walked away now, she'd break do
wn, have her cry and it would help. He should respect her right to do that and head back to his lonely apartment. But he didn't want to leave her alone. And it had more to do with his feelings than Grace's. With Grace, he'd begun to believe that he could move on with his life. The grief that had kept him awake night after night, month after month, year after year, had begun to heal. He felt the hard ice of his heart chipping away, bit by bit as he settled into his new life. He reached out and squeezed Grace's shoulder.

  “The animal shelter is open until seven.” The words popped out surprising him. He shouldn't let himself get personally involved, but what was happening between them had nothing to do with catching a killer.

  Another chunk of ice melted when Grace lifted her gaze to his.

  “Brad said we should wait a few days.”

  Tyler grinned. “We could pick out a dog and keep it at the clinic. That way I can make sure it has all the required shots and is in good health before we hand it over.”

  “You'd be willing to do that? Keep it at the clinic, I mean.”

  He placed a hand on his heart and gave her a look of feigned surprise. “How could you doubt me?”

  Her eyes lit and a smile tilted her lips upward. God, she was beautiful when she smiled. She didn't need makeup or any artificial enhancements. Her beauty came from within.

  “I'd love to go,” she said.

  “Let's do it.”

  “Let me grab my purse. I'm sure the shelter accepts donations.”

  Every male hormone came into play as he watched her walk down the hall, her hips swaying in subtle rhythm.

  He called out, “We can stop for a bite to eat first. That is if you've gotten your appetite back.”

  She stuck her head around the doorway. “Brad invited us to dinner, but I told him I wasn't in the mood to be with anyone. I'll call him back and tell him I've changed my mind. That is...if you want to. Harri's going to bring the main course.”

  He didn't want to share Grace with anyone tonight. He preferred to think of the two of them in his bed sharing a glass of wine and a plate of strawberries. He hid his disappointment behind a smile. “Psychic casserole?”

  She laughed and a moment later returned with a purse slung over her shoulder. “Whatever it is, it'll be scrumptious. Harri's a great cook.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She called Brad and told him she and Tyler would share dinner with him and Harri after all. When she hung up, she said, “I'm ready. Let's go get that dog.”

  So was he. Ready to carry her off to bed. He concentrated on banking the fire she'd started in his loins. “I'll get the truck and pick you up.”

  “No need. I can walk down with you.”

  There went that smile again. He reached for her hand and she didn't protest. It felt right snuggled inside his.

  Twenty minutes later, he held open the door while Grace entered the shelter's noisy reception area. Cats roamed freely in a large cage, bumping against the bars as they passed. One reminded him of Muffin. He still had no idea who the cat belonged to, but he wasn’t complaining. He'd gotten used to her company.

  An elderly woman with chipmunk cheeks and little round glasses riding on the end of her nose greeted them. She reminded him of Mrs. Claus. She led them to a room in the back. “What kind of dog are you looking for?” she asked.

  Grace said, “A big one “

  “A mutt “ Tyler said in unison.

  Tyler laughed. “We're looking for a big lovable mutt.”

  They perused the cages, stopping to pet and talk to each animal. Tyler knew it would be hard to choose. Grace kept moving back to a brown speckled mixed breed. The animal was less than a year old, and hadn't yet grown into its rather large paws. Tyler scratched behind the dog's ears and received a wet puppy kiss in return.

  “We'll take this one,” Tyler said. He looked for Grace's approval. She gave him her hundred megawatt smile in answer.

  Decision made, Tyler filled out the paperwork and left a generous donation. Before leaving, he handed the woman his business card.

  “Oh, my. You're the new veterinarian.”

  “That's me.” He leaned down as if to share a secret. “I'm offering my services if you need a volunteer.”

  Her face lit with pleasure. “Oh, thank you, Doctor. I'll talk to the manager and he'll get in touch with you. You don't know how grateful we are. The shelter survives on donations alone. Sometimes it's difficult to come up with the money to pay for emergencies. We could offer you a small compensation.”

  He patted her hand. “I wouldn't dream of taking a penny.”

  “You're the answer to a prayer,” she responded.

  And so the wheels had been set in motion. Tyler would be staying in Foxfire when his assignment was finished. Looking down on Grace's shiny red curls, he decided his life had finally taken a turn. A turn for the better.

  Chapter Nine

  Three days later, Grace opened her mailbox and removed a large brown envelope. Her name and address had been printed in neat block letters, but there was no return address. She studied it for a moment, wondering who had sent it. It weighed next to nothing. What could it be?

  Curiosity got the best of her and she pulled the strip to open the envelope. Peering inside she saw a silk ivory scarf.

  “What in the world?” She pulled it out and a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. The scarf draped luxuriously across her arm. The silk shimmered in the morning sunlight. She ran her hand down the length, its simplistic beauty mesmerizing her. She loved the feel of silk. Her one vice was silk lingerie, though she kept that secret to herself.

  Last night, Tyler had kissed her goodnight after walking her to the door. Could this be a present from him? He said that her skin looked and felt like silk. A rush of pleasure warmed her. No matter that she had fought against it, she was falling for Tyler. He made her feel beautiful, not outside, but inside where for so long she'd felt soiled.

  She lifted the silk to her cheek, closed her eyes, and rubbed its smoothness against her face. Today they were taking the dog they'd adopted to Mr. Jacobson. They'd named him Shane. Her heart beat a little faster at the thought that soon she'd see Tyler. She placed the scarf around her neck and looped it, letting it drape across her chest. What did it matter that she was dressed in jeans and a cotton t-shirt? She'd wear it to show Tyler how pleased she was with his gift.

  Tiffany sniffed at the paper that had fallen at Grace's feet.

  Grace stooped and picked it up. The words scorched her vision. Printed in block letters was a name that made the bile rise in her throat. Gracie Jo. Only one person had called her that. The man she'd been hiding from for three years Max Clayton. She read the note again. Gracie Jo. I know you like silk. This is for you. A gift. Like old times. How did you like the roses? Weren't they pretty? Such a vivid shade of red. The color of fresh blood.

  “No!” She ripped the offending article from her neck and tossed it to the ground. Her hands trembled and she spun in circles, staring into the trees, wondering if he was watching. He'd found her. He'd found her. Oh, God, he'd found her.

  She wanted to run back to the house, lock herself inside, and cower under the bed. She had thought she'd be safe here, but nowhere was safe. Not even Foxfire. And that meant...tears stung her eyes...no one was safe. Not Brad, nor Harri, nor Tiffany. And God forbid, not even Tyler.

  Grace snatched up the horrid scarf. “Come on, Tiff.” Holding her chin high, Grace led the way back to her house.

  She had a job to do. She and Tyler were taking Shane to Mr. Jacobson today. Tonight she'd deal with the issue of Max. He was taunting her. He wanted her to cower, and she wouldn't allow him to have that control over her. She wouldn't run away. Not this time.

  Tiffany seemed to sense Grace's fear and stayed close by her side as she walked behind the house, lifted the trash can lid and tossed the scarf and envelope inside. Grace slammed down the lid, feeling a bit of relief having it out of sight.

  She splashed cold water over her face
and neck and changed shirts before heading down to the clinic. Tyler had asked her not to schedule any morning appointments. He'd given Shane a clean bill of health, purchased a new collar, and attached an identification tag and the rabies tag, which jangled whenever the dog moved.

  When Grace reached the clinic, Tyler was waiting for her beside the truck. His face lit with a boyish grin. “Ready to surprise Mr. Jacobson?”

  She nodded, eager to be on the way. She pasted a smile on her face, hoping she showed no signs of the stress twisting her stomach. Tiffany ran to the truck when Tyler lifted Shane inside the cab.

  “No, girl, you can't go,” Grace said.

  Tiffany sat down, a forlorn look on her face. “We'll be back soon. You go visit Brad.”

  Tiffany's ears perked at the sound of Brad's name.

  Grace pointed at the path. “Go.”

  Tiffany whuffed and bounded off.

  Sitting next to Tyler, Grace felt the darkness begin to lift. Of course it was the anticipation of surprising Mr. Jacobson, not because Tyler kept glancing her way. She pretended not to notice, but each time his arm brushed hers, she received a jolt of awareness. Shane sat quietly between them, but Grace kept her arm securely around the dog's midsection, steadying him on the seat. The drive was endlessly long and entirely too short. Her cheeks ached from the smile frozen on her face when Tyler finally pulled into Mr. Jacobson's driveway.

  Will came outside the moment Tyler stopped the truck.

  “Hi, Doc.” He shaded his eyes with one hand. “Something wrong?”

  Tyler opened Grace's door. She jumped down and Shane followed. She held tight to the leash as the dog strained to reach Mr. Jacobson.

  “We brought you a visitor,” Tyler said.

  The old man stepped carefully down the last step. “Visitors are always welcome. Come on in.”

  Shane sniffed Mr. Jacobson's trousers, then licked his hand.

  Will chuckled. “Well, now, you're a good lookin' dog. You can come in, too.” He glanced at Grace. “Welcome back, young lady. You folks feel up to some home made lemonade?”

  Grace kissed his cheek. “It's good to see you, Mr. Jacobson.”