by Lynn Patrick
A particularly mean-looking guy in a black leather jacket seemed to be in charge. “What do you want?” he asked.
Not a very respectful way to address a policeman, Kristen thought.
“I’m here to pick up some minors from Sparrow Lake.”
“No minors here that I know of.”
“Let me be more specific,” Alex said, his voice calm, authoritative, not wavering. In no way did he appear alarmed or afraid. “I’m here to get Brian Lange and Andy Eccles.” He looked directly at the boys before turning his gaze back at the leader.
The man in the jacket definitely wanted to seem threatening. He stood on the edge of the porch so he could tower over Alex. “What if they don’t wanna go?”
Brian didn’t speak up, though he was watching everything closely. He glanced at Kristen where she stood, his expression apprehensive. She felt a thrill of fear herself, since the people occupying the farmhouse didn’t seem inclined to back down easily.
Alex stated, “They’re coming whether they want to or not.”
Mr. Leather Jacket wasn’t impressed. “Who gave you the right to come and arrest guests on my property? Got a warrant?”
“This lady can identify the boys as troublemakers who vandalized some property,” said Alex.
“Yes,” Kristen spoke up, as the man’s attention swung her way, his gaze insolent. Glad Alex could make use of her presence, she pointed at Brian and Andy standing on one side of the porch. “Those are the kids.”
Alex told the boys, “Get a move on. We’re getting in the car.”
“Yes, sir,” said Brian. Instead of taking the steps, he jumped off the low porch, Andy following.
The man in the jacket wasn’t about to shut up. “I don’t like this.”
Alex didn’t bother responding, just turned to walk away casually, flanking the boys.
Kristen stayed where she was for a moment, wondering if the group on the porch would pull something. She had no idea if they had weapons or not. As Alex neared her, he reached over and took her arm. She turned to accompany him.
Unbelievably enough, some creep in back of them made a kissy sound and said, “Hey, Momma.”
She ignored the remark, relieved Alex had Brian and Andy. Alex opened the cruiser’s back doors and the boys got in. She made haste to climb into the vehicle herself, and Alex slid into the driver’s seat. He backed up the cruiser and headed out onto the gravel road.
They were at least a mile away before Kristen let out her breath. “Whew!”
She looked back at Brian, and his expression suggested he felt the same way.
“That guy was unpleasant,” she told Alex.
“He’s pushing his luck,” Alex said. “I think I heard about somebody like him and his group being wanted by the state police. Maybe they’ve even got a sting set up.”
“They seemed up to no good,” Kristen agreed.
Alex glanced in the rearview mirror at Andy, who was sitting quietly in the backseat. “Know much about that guy?”
“Only that his name is Jerry,” Andy said. “They’re selling small electronics out of that house. Don’t know any specifics about how they got the stuff. They didn’t talk in front of me. But it was a truckload.”
“When I get back to the station, I’ll put a call in, see if someone doesn’t want to clear out that viper’s nest.”
Brian looked directly at Alex via the mirror and said, “Whatever. Thanks, man.”
Alex half smiled, but he didn’t press for more.
Kristen realized he would have to deal with Andy and the problems the kid had gotten into when they returned to town.
The farther they traveled, the more relief Kristen felt. The police car was a refuge, an area of safety provided by Alex. He had come to her rescue, to her brother’s rescue, without a moment’s pause. No matter how he felt about her, or whether or not he was still interested in pursuing a relationship with her, he had taken responsibility for a situation that was above and beyond his job.
She couldn’t help but be moved.
CHAPTER TWENTY
BACK IN SPARROW LAKE, Alex took Andy and Brian to the police station, where he and Owen went with them into a private office for a talk. Kristen waited in the small seating area outside. Cars and pedestrians passed by. She tried to read a magazine but finally tossed it aside.
In about a half hour, Brian emerged from the office alone. He walked over to Kristen and gave her a hug. “Thanks, sis.”
She was also pleased that he’d thanked Alex in the car. “I’m happy you’re all right. And that your friend is all right. Is Alex questioning him?”
“He’s doing paperwork, signing Andy up for community service. Andy also needs a place to stay, other than with his family. Just in case that guy Jerry decides to come to town looking for him. He probably needs to keep off the streets for a while.”
“Should you be careful, too?”
“I’ll watch out, though I wasn’t really hanging with that bunch,” he explained. “Jerry demanded that we do some errands for him today. What, I don’t know. He told us we’d be sorry if we didn’t do what he said. That’s why I called you.”
“I’m so proud of you,” she said. He seemed to be growing up in just days. She hoped it was the family’s influence, but she knew it was also Alex.
Brian seemed a bit embarrassed by the attention she was giving him. When she reached out to hug him again, he said, “Let’s not get too sticky about it. I’m almost a college freshman, after all.” But he smiled. “You know that I’m going to be attending the same community college as Heather, right?”
“You are? When did this happen?”
“Aunt Margaret said I could stay in Sparrow Lake if I wanted to. I think I’d like to have a more familiar place to begin with.”
So Aunt Margaret had been talking to him, too. “That sounds great, Brian.”
“It’ll be good to have some family around.” He looked at her. “I know I told you if you want to go to Chicago, you should…but, well, if you want my vote on it, I hope you stay here.”
“Thanks for your input.” In the past couple of hours she’d made a decision herself, but she wanted to talk to Alex first.
Brian and Kristen turned to look when a small redheaded woman in glasses came in the front door. She was sniffling as if she had been crying. “Is Andy Eccles here?”
Janet, at the front desk, told her, “He’s talking to Chief Novak, Mrs. Eccles. Just have a seat. He should be out soon.”
Probably noticing that she’d arrived, Andy came out of Alex’s office to hug his mother. Kristen thought about introducing herself but decided to give the pair some room. They had personal issues to work through.
Alex and Owen also emerged from the office. Alex stretched, looking tired. No wonder. Kristen had learned on the ride back to town that he’d gotten off the night shift just before she’d come to find him. “Can you give me a lift back to my car?” she asked Alex.
“Sure.”
“I’ll walk home,” said Brian. When the police chief frowned at him, he pointed out, “It’s broad daylight.”
“I think you should be escorted home,” Alex told him.
“I’ll take him,” Owen offered, perhaps to give Alex and Kristen some time to talk privately.
Because Kristen certainly intended to talk. She had so much to say, the air seemed filled with tension. She only hoped it wasn’t a bad sort of tension.
The first thing out of her mouth when they climbed into the cruiser was “I truly appreciate your courage.”
“It’s part of my job.”
She’d known he would say that, so she insisted, “You didn’t have to do what you did. As you said, that deserted farm isn’t even in your territory.” Just as coming to the aid of the elderly couple in Chicago hadn’t been his responsibility.
“It’s still my job.” He looked stern as he drove toward his house, passing shady streets and green lawns. Quite a few people were out mowing today. “Though it
wasn’t your job, Kristen. You shouldn’t have been out there when I picked up the boys. You wouldn’t even stay in the car. But then, you’ve been skirting danger all day.”
She wasn’t surprised by the lecture. “What do you mean, skirting danger?”
“I saw you doing wheelies in the street in front of Sew Fine this morning.”
She snorted. “I wasn’t doing wheelies. Though I guess I did make an illegal U-turn.”
“I heard that car beep at you. You were being reckless. Then you jaywalked all over the place, could have gotten yourself run over. What got into you?”
“I’m not sure.” She shrugged, giving a mock sigh. “But being a lawman and all, you should know I’m rotten to the core.”
“Your safety isn’t a joke.”
“I just was trying to figure out whether or not I should talk to you.”
“You didn’t have to act crazy. If you needed to talk, you could have come into the restaurant and faced me.”
“My, you’re prickly.” And he wasn’t making it easy for her.
“I’m tired.” He looked it, the tiny lines at the corners of his eyes appearing deeper and more numerous. They reached his home and he turned the cruiser into the driveway, which was shaded by a big elm. Her car waited in front. “And I don’t want to play games anymore.”
“Well, neither do I. Though games can sometimes be fun,” she teased.
He slid his arm across the back of the seat. “You didn’t act like it was that much fun when I had to arrest you.”
She was happy he didn’t seem eager to get out of the car. “Right, I definitely needed to be arrested.”
“According to the law—”
She broke in, “Oh, come on. I know you had ulterior motives. Well, maybe not for the shoplifting incident or the 911 call.” She admitted, “But I like your sense of humor, Alex. I always have.”
He seemed to be suppressing a smile. “Sometimes we need to be serious.”
“At the moment, I think you’re just trying to be grouchy.”
“I told you I’m tired. I haven’t even slept in…well, a long time.”
“That makes it even more impressive that you threw everything aside when I needed your help.” From the corner of her eye, Kristen noticed a neighbor working on a flower bed and watching them.
“Oh?”
“I could trust you to do whatever was necessary. You take responsibility.”
“We’ve talked about this before. I’m a responsible type of person.”
“Which others are sometimes not. Responsible, that is.” She told him the truth, “I’ve been thinking about my father a lot these past few days. He ran off and left us, you know.” She might have mentioned it before. She couldn’t remember.
“I heard something about that, but I don’t know the particulars.”
“Having a family to support was too much for my dad.”
“That’s terrible,” he said, disgust in his tone. “I would never desert my family.”
“I know.” She had realized that even more profoundly in the past few hours. “Dad just took off when my brother was still little. My mom had to work several jobs to keep us afloat. She was always working. She came home late at night a lot.”
“And so you took care of the younger ones.”
“To the best of my ability, which you’ve seen is limited.”
“I don’t think so. They turned out pretty good. Even Brian—he’s going to be okay now.”
She hurried on, wanting to get everything out in the open. “When I was a teenager, I swore that what happened to my mom was never going to happen to me. I was going to earn a degree that would make me independent and enable me to get a good job.”
“Which you had.”
“Until the recession. But I was able to find another.” She added, “More than one. I have choices. I always wanted to make a lot of money.”
“Which you can.”
Alex still made no move to get out. Neither did Kristen.
She admitted, “I thought money and a fancy condo were my goals.”
“Thought? As in past tense?” He looked very interested. At least she hoped he was still interested.
“I’ve changed my mind, Alex. I would be even more of a stubborn, crazy person than I already am if I wasn’t able to recognize my opportunities.” And recognize who she wanted to be with.
He just watched her. Waiting.
“Why not stay here and manage my aunt’s business?” she went on. “And get to know my siblings all over again?”
“You know I’ve always thought that was a good idea.”
“It doesn’t matter if I live here or in the city.” She went on quickly. “I like both equally. What I really have to consider is the people I care about.”
His expression shifted, became expectant.
“You’re one of a kind, Alex. I know I won’t find you anywhere else.”
His smile broadened.
“I hope your offer is still open.”
“Which one?”
“Dating a lot. Maybe 24/7.” She touched his face and met his warm gaze. “I want you to know I have serious feelings for you. I—I love you, Alex.”
He let out his breath slowly, his eyes speaking volumes. “Wow. Something I never thought to hear. You continue to surprise me.”
“Is there an ordinance against public affection?” she asked, noting that the curious neighbor at the flower bed was still watching them.
“I’m not sure. Why?”
“Because I want to sit here and make out in your driveway.”
They might as well fuel more gossip, she thought, as his lips covered her own.
EPILOGUE
ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, Kristen picked up her sister and the twins to take them to the Sparrow Lake parade, along with a couple of lawn chairs for the adults and a blanket for the children. She smiled as she passed some stock trailers lined up in an empty lot, transportation for the cows that would be trotting down Main Street later on.
“There really are cows,” she muttered, half to herself.
“Yes, and there will be cheese, too,” said Heather. “People on the floats throw little wrapped wheels of cheese, along with candy, to the kids as they pass by.” Then Heather indicated a crosswalk. “Turn here. Let’s head for the corner near the ice cream shop where there’ll be shade.”
“Ice cream?” piped up Addison hopefully from the back of the car.
“No ice cream today, honey,” Heather told her. “You’re going to collect candy and stuff when the floats go by.” She held up a large pink shopping bag. “You can put it in this.”
“Candy. Yum,” said Addison, with Taylor chiming in.
Kristen raised her brows at the size of the bag. “That much?”
“As many pieces as their little hands can scrabble up. I don’t let them eat it all, though, at least not today. They’d get sick.”
As Kristen slowed and pulled into a parking spot, Heather asked, “Are you meeting Alex afterward?” Her tone was mischievous, ripe with meaning.
Kristen grinned at her. “Of course.”
At the moment, Alex was busy overseeing the parade and clearing its route down Main Street. He’d asked her if she wanted to accompany him, but they’d decided she ought to view the parade from a spectator’s viewpoint, at least the first time.
Soon they trooped out of the car carrying the chairs, blanket and a cooler with drinks. Taylor and Addison ran ahead, shrieking when they saw some of their playmates from camp.
As they set up the chairs in a shady area, more spectators arrived. The sounds of the high school band tuning up could be heard from a few streets away.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Heather told Kristen after they’d sat down and settled Taylor and Addison on the blanket in front of them.
Kristen knew her sister meant “here” as in Sparrow Lake, not just for the parade. How many more parades would she be seeing? Kristen wondered happily. She looked forward to them,
along with the change of seasons and other minutiae of small-town life…as long as Alex completed the pictures in her mind.
“I’m glad to be here, too.” She decided to broach the topic she’d been thinking about for a few days. “You know, we’re getting quite a few orders online now.”
“We sure are.” Though this time Heather didn’t sound tense about it.
“I think the online business will continue to increase. The craft bus tour is set to stop at Sew Fine in August. They’ll be back once a month through December.”
“Uh-huh.”
Then Kristen put forth her idea. “I think we could use an online manager and an on-site manager.”
“Oh?”
“The online manager can work at her own home, set her own hours….”
“If you’re talking about me, I’ll be happy to do the online stuff, but I don’t have to be called a manager.”
“Well, I don’t want to usurp your role,” Kristen said, not wanting to push her sister aside.
“Usurp all you want,” Heather told her. “I don’t even care if I cut back my hours. I’ll be happy to have some time for classes. There’s a great internship I heard about that’ll be available next summer.”
Heather went on about what she’d be doing, quickly explaining the basics of something called sustainable landscaping. Kristen didn’t understand all of it but realized how enthusiastic her sister was. Heather hadn’t sounded this happy since Kristen moved back to Sparrow Lake.
“But enough about all that.” Heather reached over and patted her arm. “Thanks for being so thoughtful.”
With a trill of trumpets and the thud of bass drums, the high school band marched around the corner up the street.
“The parade is beginning,” said Heather, grabbing Addison and Taylor who’d jumped to their feet. “Sit down, girls. Let them come to us.”
Led by the parade marshal in a convertible, the band came down the street to a chorus of cheers. Following were floats, mostly simple and created by those who were affiliated with the stores and clubs and organizations that had entered them. Among the group was the Sparrow Lake Community House. The float featured crepe-paper streamers, posters and some of the community house staff waving to the crowd. A couple of teenagers—Brian and Andy—walked alongside the vehicle and threw wrapped candy to the crowd.
