Peppermint Creek Inn

by Jan Springer

  Through the binoculars they watched the bright red car steam off down the dirt road. Two figures, a man and a woman stood in the parking lot waving at the quickly disappearing car. The woman turned and went into the house leaving the man to stand by himself.

  “That’s him,” she whispered to her companion.

  “I told you it was.” He took a deep drag on his cigarette. “Let’s get moving on this. All we’ve been doing is waiting for him to remember. For all we know he’s just handed those two the goods and they’re heading into town to turn it in.”

  The blonde woman dropped her binoculars into the open car and stood deep in thought. Her eyes never wavered from the lone figure. Hatred burned in her cobalt eyes. “If he had given them the goods he’d be going along, too. No—” she shook her head slowly “—he hasn’t remembered. But he’ll lead us to it, soon. In the meantime, I plan on jogging his memory. You stay here.”

  “But Pauline—”

  “Just be quiet! I know what I’m doing. I’ll be back for you. And put out that stupid cigarette.” Her long blonde hair floated behind her like a bride’s veil as she turned abruptly. Leaping into the car they’d hidden behind the nearby bushes, he heard the engine roar to life. In a split second the car disappeared behind a swirl of nearby evergreens.

  He did as she said and threw the butt onto the ground and stomped on it, muttering angrily to himself. “I hope that bitch sister of mine knows what she’s doing. Cause it’s our asses that are going to be kicked when Dad finds out we’ve just let two potential witnesses drive off.”

  He drew a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket and lit another one. His frown loosened somewhat as he watched the man standing in the parking lot. “On the other hand, there’ll be less competition for me with Sara once that guy is out of the picture.”

  —

  Tom watched the red tail lights of Jo’s apple red Mustang convertible disappear behind the puffy pine trees. Desperation preyed hell on his nerves and he felt as if a vulture was tearing at his midsection. He hoped Garry would find the evidence and Ballistics could ID the bullets and link them to Jeffries. Even then, they would have to prove the gun he’d showed up with actually belonged to Sam. On top of that, he had to worry about the murder rap of Robin. And this marriage to a woman he couldn’t even remember.

  There didn’t seem to be any easy way out of this mess. It was going to be a hell of a long haul.

  Suddenly the tiny hairs on the back of his neck prickled in alarm and he got the strangest sensation he was being watched.

  Squinting his eyes against the disappearing sun, he surveyed the darkening forest for any signs of movement. He couldn’t see anything. Nothing but birds flittering around the branches.

  Maybe Garry’s warnings had spooked him. Had made his imagination go haywire.

  Slowly he stepped onto the porch and heard the rattle of dishes through one of the open kitchen windows as Sara began to wash them before it got too dark. She was trying to act as normal as possible. Pretending nothing out of the ordinary was happening. God bless her for that.

  The last remnants of the huge orange sun slipping peacefully behind the tall, dark pine trees caught Tom’s attention. This would be their last sunset for quite some time or maybe forever. And he wanted to share it with the woman he loved.

  “Sara!” he called out. “C’mere. Check out this sunset.”

  Quick footsteps clattered against the wooden floor. The screen door swung outward with a creak of rusty hinges. And she was beside him. And he felt whole again.

  —

  The dusky air wrapped its chilly arms around Sara and she shivered. Tom came to her rescue by circling his arm around her waist and snuggling up beside her.

  Without speaking, they watched the colorful streaks of clouds expand throughout the sky.

  It was a beautiful sight Sara had to admit. She wished she could capture it on canvas. The dusty rose billows, thin streaks of turquoise, lavender and powdery sweetheart pink tumbled over one another in the lilac sky.

  Ever too quickly though, the fantastic sunset faded allowing tiny sequin stars to burst through the gray satin dusk.

  “Pretty wasn’t it?” Tom asked.

  Sara nodded.

  “Want to go inside?”

  “No,” Sara answered. “Let’s stay out a little longer.”

  He moved behind her. His arms wrapped tighter around her waist and he melted against her. She accepted the warmth his body gave so freely. Accepted the large bulge pressing intimately against her butt.

  His arms felt so comfortable and his chest so snug against her back, as if a favorite blanket had been wrapped securely around her. They stood for a long time, watching silently as the sky grew darker and the last pink wisps finally disappeared into the dark velvet sky.

  Then suddenly Sara gasped in delight as what she’d been waiting for flew across the inky darkness. Tom pointed excitedly to the spectacle.

  “Do you see it? Wow!” His voice echoed with wonder into the crispy night air as if he was a small boy and this his first falling star.

  “Quick, make a wish!” Sara shouted.

  Closing her eyes, she made her wish.

  “I made a wish, Sara,” he whispered huskily.

  As he spoke, his lips brushed teasingly against the back of her neck. Just a feathery brush. But enough for Sara to ache for more.

  She wanted to turn around. Wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him fiercely against her body, to explore his mouth, to make love to him but the sharp lights of a car’s headlights blasted through the almost darkness.

  “Cops?” she whispered, pulling at him, trying to get him to go inside.

  “No, the cops wouldn’t come alone. Looks like a woman,” he answered stiffly as a dark expensive-looking vehicle drove into the parking lot.

  She didn’t recognize the car. But a woman sat behind the wheel. When she stopped her car, the door opened slowly and a rather thin, sexy blonde woman emerged from the vehicle.

  “Definitely not the cops.” Sara sighed in relief. “She probably didn’t see the ‘closed’ sign I had out on the highway.”

  “Maybe,” Tom muttered. She didn’t miss his hand sneak around to touch the handle of the gun he’d lodged against the small of his back nor did she miss his worried frown as she bounded down the stairs toward the unfamiliar car. Tom followed close behind. She didn’t want to admit it, but his presence gave her that extra welcome sense of security.

  “Hello.” The newcomer’s delicate, airy voice was obviously directed at Tom.

  Sara bristled. Instantly she didn’t like this tall, honey-haired bombshell. Didn’t like the way she was looking at Tom all sweet and innocent. Didn’t like her at all.

  “Good evening. Can we help you with something?”

  He sounded too friendly. She wanted to punch him in the arm.

  The young, lithe thing pushed a wisp of stray hair off her forehead. Silvery blue eyes peered curiously at them.

  “Yes! Um. I’m lost. Can you direct me to the Johnson ranch?” she whispered seductively. The blonde bimbo’s question was unmistakably directed at Tom.

  Sara frowned. Her unease toward the woman grew and swarmed over her. There was something about her. Something familiar, but she’d never seen her before.

  Suddenly she envisioned pulling the woman’s false eyelashes off her face.

  “I’d say you’re quite lost,” Sara replied crisply as she stepped forward. The woman immediately backed away from Tom.

  “The Johnson ranch is about a thirty-minute drive to the west. Go back down the road you came from, and once you hit the highway, head west. Oh, I’m sorry,” Sara smirked. “Perhaps I should clarify the directions. When you hit the paved road, turn left. Thirty minutes at the maximum speed, you’ll see a large sign on the right side of the road. The Johnson’s, it says.”

  The woman cast a scathing glance at Sara.

  Sara shot one back.

  The lady returned her
attention to Tom. Her dark brooding eyes pierced into him. She noticed Tom shift uncomfortably beneath her stare. Danger lurked all around this woman and Sara didn’t like the feeling.

  Even the blonde’s bright, seemingly innocent smile did nothing to dissipate the uneasiness creeping under her skin. Suddenly she wanted this woman out of here.

  “You’re such a lovely couple,” the newcomer mewed at Tom who frowned at the comment. “Have you lived here long?”

  “Ages, my dear,” Sara said quickly. “Now you better run along before it gets too dark. It’s kind of scary out here in the big bad woods. You never know when you’ll have car trouble. It’s a very long walk at night. Especially since the houses are so far and few between.”

  The other woman smiled stiffly.

  “Why thank you very much for your concern and the info,” she replied crisply. “And for your hospitality. I’d better be going.”

  To Sara’s utter amazement, the woman blew Tom a kiss and quickly disappeared into her car. The car squealed as she gassed her vehicle. Wheels spun dirt high into the air narrowly missing both of them.

  “The nerve,” Sara gasped as she watched the tail lights dim into the night. Hands on her hips, she turned fiercely upon Tom. Why had the woman been openly flirting with him? Did he know her?

  Before she could ask him, his troubled gaze stopped her dead. Even in the darkness, she spied the sheen of sweat popping out on his face. When his hand flew up to swipe it away, she noticed his hands were trembling.

  What the hell was wrong with him? His face was as white as a sheet. As if he’d seen a ghost.

  “Do you know that hussy?” she demanded furiously. Her fists clenched into tight balls at her sides.

  “I-I’m not sure,” he whispered. His brow furrowed into a deep frown.

  “Well I don’t see how you could not remember meeting her before.”

  Her words bit deep into him. She realized it immediately. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  “You’re right, Sara. I should remember meeting someone like that.”

  She spun on him and caught the mischievous glint glowing in his green eyes and a disarming smile tugged at his lips.

  “Oh! You are a son of a bitch!” She attempted to take a swipe at him, but his hand gripped her wrist. He pulled her closely against his hot chest and pressed his hips against her, allowing her to feel his hot cock.

  “Are you jealous?” he teased softly into her ear.

  “I will not dignify that question with an answer,” she replied stubbornly.

  “You are jealous!” Tom laughed.

  “For Pete’s sake, wipe that smile off your face.”

  Pushing him away, she whirled around and tramped angrily up the walkway.

  Halfway up the stairs, she felt his hand on her arm and flames of desire erupted within her pussy from his touch.

  “Sara, sweetness. Admit it, you’re jealous.” Tom’s voice was low and seductive. Slowly, he turned her around. The knowing smirk on his face pissed her off.

  “I wouldn’t know jealousy if it came right up and bit me on my nose.”

  His finger gently touched the tip of her nose and he teased lightly. “There’s a big chunk out of it right here.”

  “Bastard,” she whispered and found herself smiling at his teasing glint. “You’re right, I am jealous.”

  “I know.”

  “It was silly of me to act that way toward her.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  Sara frowned. “Do you have to agree with me all the time?”

  He answered by bringing his deliciously crushing mouth over hers.

  Sara accepted his greedy, sweet tongue as it played against her teeth and opened to him. Fantastic jolts of electricity made her knees go weak. When he raised his head from the kiss, she felt totally breathless.

  A moment later, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms.

  “What about the dishes?” she whispered huskily.

  “Forget the dishes,” he murmured in a thick voice and stomped up the stairs.

  —

  After they made love, they lay in each other’s arms, the blonde woman still on her mind. And so was a whole bunch of other things. Things she needed to get off her chest.

  “Tom?” she whispered. “You awake?”

  “Mmm?” he replied sleepily.

  “When we went to town the other day, I went to visit a friend of mine.” It took a good few seconds for her confession to register, and when it did he tensed beside her.

  “You didn’t say anything about me, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t tell her about you.”

  He relaxed and to her surprise, he chuckled. “I guess I’m not so important to brag about to your friends.”

  “My friends ever see you, they’ll snatch you away from me.”

  He popped one eye open and stated firmly, “Never. I’m yours forever.”

  She sighed her contentment and snuggled closer to his wonderful naked body.

  “My friend. She was my psychiatrist.” She let the last word dangle a moment, but Tom didn’t respond, so she continued. “I asked her what she knew about amnesia.”

  His other eye popped open and he smiled at her. “You don’t have to worry about me, y’know.”

  “I know.”

  “So what did she say?”

  “Well, she said amnesia can be caused by different things. A blow to the head or a traumatic experience. She said memory could come back in pieces or right away. Or it could be triggered by something.”

  Tom moved, turned to face her. The muscles in his biceps bulged wonderfully as he propped his elbow under his head. “Just as I began remembering things when I saw Jackfish. I found the keys and the motorcycle, and remembered what happened in the basement of the cabin. And I know whatever those cops are searching for is somewhere in Jackfish. Just like I know the reason I didn’t stay here at Peppermint Creek Inn that first time was because I was afraid I’d bring trouble to you if I got caught here.”

  “On that map you found in your motorcycle bag, Jackfish was circled. You can’t remember who told you about the ghost town?”

  Tom shook his head. “I remember cruising around looking for it. But I don’t know how I knew Jackfish even existed.”

  “What if they already found what they were looking for in the cabin? I mean they ripped the house apart pretty good.”

  Tom shook his head. “It wasn’t in the house. It’s a strong feeling I have. It’s in a safe place.” His voice lowered to an endearing whisper. “I just wish you went with your sister and Garry so you’d be in a safe place, too.”

  “I am in a safe place when I’m in your arms,” Sara whispered. “And before I lose my train of thought there’s one other thing I need to warn you about.”

  “What’s that?” he said huskily as he reached out to wrap his arms around her, pulling her against him.

  “There’s a chance you might not remember me when you regain your memory.”

  “I’ll never forget you.”

  “But Smokey said—”

  He placed a gentle finger on her mouth. “Shh. I’ve already regained some of my memories and I haven’t forgotten you, right?”

  Sara nodded, suddenly feeling as if a million tons had just been lifted off her shoulders.

  Yes he was remembering his past, and yet he still remembered her. She wasn’t going to lose him. At least not that way.

  “Don’t worry, sweetness, okay?”

  “As long as I’m in your arms, I won’t worry.”

  Tom nuzzled against her ear, catching her ear lobe gently in his mouth. Sara gasped in pleasure.

  “You like?”

  “Very much. I didn’t know you were an ear man.”

  He didn’t answer as he trailed fiery kisses down the full length of her neck making Sara shiver with delight.

  “And a neck man.” Sara giggled.

  He showered her naked shoulder with light kisses.

  “And a shou
lder man, too,” he said huskily, and Sara watched his magnificent eyes darken with desire.

  Her breath quickened as his luscious mouth lowered hotly over her left breast. A low moan escaped from deep inside her throat and he smiled. A few moments later, for the second time in two nights, Sara threw caution to the wind as Tom’s mouth worked over her stomach, abdomen and beyond, working miracles on her body. Miracles she never knew existed.

  Chapter Seventeen

  A stiff, cool autumn breeze blew against Matthew McCullen’s face as he sat high in the bright red combine seat, staring in awe at the smooth creamy gold field of ripe grain awaiting him.

  The healthy crop extended for acres, fence to fence, as far and wide as his eyes could see. Deep into Montana’s foothills. He watched excitedly as the robust wheat, their heads fat and full of hard kernels nodded and waved to him in the wind.

  He jumped as Dad shouted at him to get a move on from the edge of the field. Hesitantly he started the engine of the combine and slowly moved forward into the lush, picturesque fields. It was almost a shame to cut all this beauty down. But it was harvest time.

  He smiled as the wheat fell before him under the header of the combine and he listened to the satisfying whisper as it rushed out of the auger into the truck box behind. They didn’t have to tell him twice this was the bumper crop. It was written all over his parents’ faces. This was the harvest of their dreams.

  Mom and Dad had been pretty tense all summer waiting for the crop, trying not to get their hopes up. Aside from a couple of close calls, the weather had cooperated. Now he was cutting down his last crop, the crop that would put money on the table, allowing him to head into the big city early next year.

  He’d been accepted into the police academy. His parents were both proud of him and sad to see their eldest son go. But he wanted some adventure in his life. He wanted to see the big city. He wanted to help people. What other way to have it all, than by being a cop?

  The police academy in Billings was waiting for him. Leaving didn’t produce too much guilt. His two younger brothers were still around to help out. Matt gave a happy howl and drove headlong into the swaying fields of gold.

  —

  Tears of pain washed out from beneath Sara’s lashes as hours later she lay awake in the early gray predawn listening to Tom’s uneven breathing. Only two short weeks ago, a bedraggled stranger had entered her dull life. A man covered in black leather and scruffy hair. Little did she know the beautiful feelings of life he would stir inside her.