Holding On

by Jill Sanders

  “What?” He frowned. “Cry?”

  When she nodded, he shook his head. “That’s not normal. People should get their frustrations out regularly.”

  “Do you?” Suddenly, her sadness was replaced with interest.

  “Men get their frustration out differently than women.”

  When she laughed, he couldn’t help but smile. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

  “You. I didn’t take you for the kind of guy to believe in stereotypes.” She moved closer to the fire and stood with her hands reached towards the flames. He moved closer to her.

  “I’m not. But living with three brothers in a house ruled by the woman who just left, I learned quickly.” He chuckled.

  “How do you get your… frustrations out?” She glanced over her shoulder at him.

  He shrugged. “Lots of different ways. Running, working, chopping wood, sex.” He smiled. “Haven’t used that one in a while though.”

  Her eyebrows arched slightly. “Sex can be a great outlet if done right.”

  Damn, was she teasing him? Whether she was or not, his body was responding just the same.

  He moved slightly closer. “Oh, I’ve never had any complaints.”

  She turned towards him, her eyes raking over him. “No, you wouldn’t.”

  This time, it was his eyebrows that shot up. “Doubt me?”

  She shook her head as she chuckled and held up her hands. “I know when to back down from a challenge.” She turned back to the fire.

  “Why the tears?” he asked after a moment of silence.

  She took a deep breath before answering him.

  “I guess it just really hit me that I never felt comfortable hugging my mother.”

  “She wasn’t a hugger?” he asked. He’d always gotten affection from his parents. They hadn’t been a perfect family, but when it mattered, they had always been there for one another.

  “No, none of us are.” He noticed the face she was making and closed the space between them.

  “Now what?” he asked softly.

  Her eyes traveled up to his. “I was just wondering how awkward it would be to get a hug from Brent.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, Tyler, Trent, and I don’t hug one another much, either.”

  She smiled and, once again, the sadness was replaced with humor. “Thanks.”

  “For?” His hands had moved up to her shoulders and her softness was intoxicating.

  Her eyes moved past him. “All this.” She shrugged. “The job, the car, the house, listening to me. Need I go on?” She chuckled.

  “A man’s ego is something to be stroked, and often.” He smiled. “You’re welcome. I did have some selfish motives, though.”

  “Oh?” It came out as a whisper as her smile fell away.

  Instead of answering her, he leaned in and placed his lips softly over hers. He couldn’t have expected how that simple first touch would rock him. Instantly, his fingers tightened, and he pulled her closer. Once again, she was in his arms, only this time, he wasn’t thinking of comforting her.

  Dylan melted against him, causing his body to react even more.

  “I didn’t plan this,” he said after nibbling on her bottom lip.

  “Course you did.” She chuckled. She pulled back slightly. “We both did from the moment we saw each other.”

  “Okay, true, but not this, here, tonight.” He glanced around and realized that from an outsider’s perspective, the place was set up for a romantic evening.

  Running his hands through his hair, he wondered why he’d thought he’d hadn’t planned it. Just then, his cell phone rang. Seeing Tony’s number, he knew he couldn’t miss the call.

  “Hold that thought.” He took a step away from her and answered the phone. “Yo?” It was a stupid way of answering, but it was a tradition with his friends.

  “Trey, you’d better get to your new site.”

  Trey’s stomach sank. “What?”

  “It’s not bad, but I called your other brothers first. Sorry, you’re low man on the totem pole.”

  “Be there”—he glanced at his watch and calculated— “in fifteen.”

  “I’ll keep an eye out for you.” Tony hung up and he turned back to Dylan.

  “Care to go for a ride?” He walked over and stifled the fire, shutting the glass doors to the fireplace so no embers would break out.

  “What’s happened?” She rinsed their plates off quickly and set them in the drying rack.

  “I’m not sure, but they called in the big guns. Both my brothers are already on their way up to our new site.”

  “New…” She looked confused.

  “The land we purchased for the school.” His stomach sank again at the thought of something happening, but then he remembered they didn’t even have a generator up there yet.

  “Oh.” She pulled on her gloves and when she reached for her coat, he beat her to it and helped her slip it on.

  “Not how I wanted the evening to end, but…”

  She turned around and, to his surprise, kissed him again.

  “Thank you, again.”

  He wished he could go on for the rest of the night, enjoying her next to him, but there was a fifteen-minute drive up the hill.

  “I could take you home.” He silently hoped she’d say no.

  “Why? So, I can watch my brother watch sports on the TV and drink beer he bought with the money he stole from my purse?” She rolled her eyes. “No, thank you. You’d be saving me, actually.” She took his hand. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 8

  As Trey drove through the snow, he told her all about the drama his family had suffered the previous year. She already knew about Kristen’s kidnapping, but he filled her in on the details, as well as telling her what Addy had gone through.

  “So, is it a theme? The women the McGowan men fall for are always in jeopardy?” She meant it as a tease but could tell that worry flooded him when he thought about it.

  He turned slightly towards her, frowning. “No, I… hadn’t looked at it like that before.” He drove in silence for a while. “I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. It’s not like Addy’s issues were directly tied to us. I mean, her father’s death had more to do with Darla than anything.”

  Dylan shivered. “I can’t believe that woman faked being pregnant just to spite Addy. I haven’t met Addy yet, but no one deserves that.”

  “Especially her,” Trey said, pulling off the main road. They had been driving up into the hills for almost ten minutes straight. Now, there was a heavy gate that sat open in front of them. “It’s normally locked. We’ve been paying the local police to make nightly visits to various sites to check up on them since… well, since everything started.”

  They bumped up the dirt path. “Better hold on,” he said, pulling the truck to a stop. “Switching into four-wheel drive.” He reached down and flipped a lever and then looked over at her. “Do you like mudding?”

  She chuckled. “I should, I’ve been enough times with Brent when he took a wrong turn.” She held onto the dash as he started. Unlike her brother, Trey went slow and avoided the bigger holes in the path.

  He pulled in behind two other trucks and a police SUV. She had been wondering how a cruiser would make the trek up the hill.

  “You can stay in the truck if…”

  “I’ll go.” She started to open the door, but he stopped her.

  “Then at least pull these on.” He pulled out a pair of rubber boots from the back seat. “I’d hate to wreck those pretty ones.”

  She glanced down at her boots and nodded. “Thanks.” It took her a minute to pull her boots off and put on the rubber boots, which were much too big for her.

  Still, when she jumped out of the truck and sunk about an inch in the muddy snow-covered ground, she was thankful.

  “How can it be so muddy when it’s been snowing for days?” She reached for his arm as she started walking. She lifted her right foot and squealed when the boot pulled right off her foot.<
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  Chuckling, Trey helped her stick her foot back in it, then quickly hoisted her up into his arms. She had to admit, it felt wonderful to be carried. His coat was thick, so she couldn’t really feel his shoulders, but she could imagine what they were like under there while he made his way towards the lights.

  As they rounded the second truck, they heard voices and Trey called out.

  “Over here,” someone responded. Trey walked towards the sound.

  A bright light shone in their eyes and Trey cursed. “Get that damn light out of our eyes.” There wasn’t any real anger behind his words.

  They were met with laughter. “Now why does that look familiar?”

  She knew from the photo at the office that it was Tyler who’d spoken. All four men standing in the mud were looking at them, smiling.

  Trey set her down gently in a high spot. She was thankful when she didn’t sink into more mud.

  “Hi,” she said nervously.

  “Dylan, this is my other brother, Tyler.” She reached out and shook his hand.

  “As nice as it was for you to bring our new secretary…” Tyler started, but Trent jumped in.

  “Office manager.”

  Tyler rolled his eyes. “Whatever title you want to give out, I don’t think this is a good place for her to get her feet wet, so to speak.” He glanced down at her boots. “With this sort of thing.”

  “What’s happened?” Trey ignored his brother.

  There were two officers dressed in large rubber boots and heavy black jackets. The older man stepped forward. She’d met him before, at the diner. His name was Tony, and he was dating Trey’s mother.

  The man was as tall as the three brothers but had a head full of grey hair and a day’s growth on his face that matched it. He reminded her of the actor Sam Elliott. He and Gail made a very cute couple.

  “It’s strapped to the inside fence.” Tony’s eyes moved to her. “She’d better stay here.”

  She didn’t know why, but she was even more determined to go along. “I’m fine.” She smiled.

  “No offense, ma’am, but you’re wearing a dress.” Tony nodded to her outfit.

  “I’m wearing a sweater and leggings,” she corrected. “And I’ll be fine.” She started walking to where the lights from the trucks were shining. When she slipped on the mud, she was thankful Trey was there to grip her elbow.

  “Easy, you don’t want to prove them right,” he said softly.

  “Men.” She sighed, and then her eyes landed on what they were there to see. She gasped and covered her face. Instantly, her stomach rolled, and the pizza threatened to surface.

  “Take her back to the truck,” one of his brothers said quickly.

  “I’m fine.” She dropped her hands. “I just hadn’t expected…” She narrowed her eyes. “What is that?”

  “From the looks of it, several different animals,” Tony said. “Normally, I wouldn’t have bothered, but seeing as it’s strapped to the fence…”

  “Yeah.” The two older brothers moved closer to the tortured creature that had been hung up for display, while Trey stayed next to her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her softly.

  “Yes, go.” She nudged him. “I’m fine.” She took several deep breaths and the chill in the air helped soothe her stomach. Still, she avoided looking at the thing hanging up.

  “It’s all the shit parts of kills, strapped together,” someone said. Without looking, she had a hard time telling which brother was speaking since they sounded so much alike.

  “Coyote, bear, moose, hell, I think there’s even some parts of a beaver in here.”

  “The question is, why strap it up?”

  “Well…” This time she knew it was Tony speaking. “The Indians have power animals. The bear could mean aggression, the moose for someone who’s headstrong, the coyote is stealth or mistakes, the beaver…”

  “We don’t need a full school lesson. I got enough of those as a kid,” the other cop said, breaking in. “It’s obvious by the way it’s strapped up that it’s a warning. Some people around here don’t like what your family has planned for up here.”

  It was then that Dylan noticed that the other police officer was of Native American descent. Every eye turned to him.

  “Have something to say to us, Dale?” Tyler asked. She could see the humor in his eyes from where she stood.

  Dale chuckled. “If I did, I’m man enough to say it to your face. After you buy me a round of beers.”

  “Damn right.” Tyler reached out his hand and the other man took it easily.

  “Still, I’m smart enough to read between the lines,” Dale added. “It’s meant as a warning. Mark my words, it won’t stop here. We’d better spend the rest of the night checking your other sites.” He turned to head back to the truck.

  “What about this… thing?” Trent asked, motioning to the symbol.

  “We’ll take it down and bag it,” Tony offered. “There might be something left behind that will lead us to whoever did this. Besides, it’s not bear season, so whoever did this broke more than one law tonight.”

  “We can each take a site,” Tyler said, eyeing Dylan before turning to Trey. “You can take the two on the other side of town, so you can drop Dylan off at home first.”

  Dylan almost told them that she didn’t want to go back home but decided everyone else didn’t need to know her problems. Besides, she was pretty sure Trey would let her ride along.

  As they made their way back to his truck, he once again lifted her easily in his arms and carried her through the thickest of the mud.

  “You want to ride along with me?” he asked.

  “God yes.” She sighed as he set her down comfortably in the passenger seat of his truck.

  He smiled and nodded. “I figured you might.”

  * * *

  He tried to keep his excitement hidden, but the truth was, he was hoping that Dylan wanted to ride along with him for more reasons than not wanting to spend another evening locked in a small hotel room with her brother.

  Still, they rode in silence back to town. “Why are there so many strip clubs in Haven?” she asked as they drove through the back streets.

  He chuckled. “It started more than three decades ago, or so the story goes.”

  “Okay, I’ve got time, tell me the story.” She shifted and looked like she was getting comfortable, so he started the story his father had told him more than half a dozen times growing up. The town had been failing until oil was discovered. There was influx of men who came to work, and there were so many fights that the town almost failed once again. Until the first strip club opened. After that, more and more opened and the town became what it is today, a peaceful town that a lot of good people happily call home.

  “We’re down to only a dozen clubs now. With more and more closing every day.” He finished the story as he came to a stop outside the first site’s gate. He shut off the engine and looked at the gate. “Everything looks good here, but we’ll drive up to the trailer and check it all out.”

  He jumped out, used the code to unlock the gate, and swung it wide. He was a little surprised when the truck rolled slowly through the gate. Dylan was behind the wheel. He could barely see her over the steering wheel.

  Shutting the gate behind the truck, he climbed back up into the driver seat, chuckling. “I don’t know how you even touched the gas pedal.”

  She smiled. “I didn’t really, I just threw it in gear and let it roll.”

  The snow was falling faster now as they made their way to the trailer half a mile up the hillside. The land was vacant, but there were old outbuildings sporadically placed on the nearly twenty acres of land.

  “Is that your trailer?” She pointed to the lone light in the darkness.

  “Yeah. We’ve got cameras installed here, but no internet, so I have to be close to log in on my phone. He pulled to a stop in front of the small trailer and used his phone to log in. “You can download the app.” He showed her. �
��We use it for all our security cameras. If we have internet access on site, you can log in from anywhere and check out what’s going on. Sites like this, where we’re lucky to have power, you’ll need to be within one hundred yards.”

  He showed her the screen where the truck was sitting in front of the camera. She glanced over to where the camera was.

  “It’s in the tree. I would have thought you’d put it on the trailer.”

  “Yeah, we’re hoping everyone else would think that too.” He smiled. “If they don’t see a camera…”

  She nodded. “Smart.”

  He ran the camera back a few hours until the time the crew left for the night and was satisfied everything was untouched. “Let’s roll to the next location.” He turned the truck around and headed back down the hill.

  This time, he was ready when Dylan rolled the truck through the open gate. Locking up behind him, he jumped back in the truck and headed towards the other site on this side of town.

  “How many sites do you have?” she asked.

  “Currently eight. Normally there’s more, but we’ve pulled back slightly while we’re ramping up for the groundbreaking.”

  “Have any of the other sites been tampered with lately?” she asked.

  “No, not since last spring.”

  “Then maybe it’s just the site where your school is going to sit,” she suggested as he drove. He thought about it and agreed with her. Whoever was doing this opposed the school site only. Only one name came to mind.

  “Your uncle didn’t seem too keen on the school.” Dylan broke into his thoughts.

  “No, he’s not.” He sighed. “I’ll have a chat with my family about it tomorrow, but for now”—he pulled up in front of yet another gate— “this one’s up hill.” He nodded to the gate area.

  “I can reach the pedal, really.” She smiled and scooted over after he jumped out.

  The site was untouched, still, they ran through the footage before leaving.

  When he pulled into the parking lot at the hotel, he handed her a set of keys.

  “What are these for?” she asked.

  “Your new home. My mother expects you to move in tomorrow, so after work, if you need any help, let me know.”