Elderberry Croft: The Complete Collection

by Becky Doughty

  Willow rested the handheld mirror face down on her lap and closed her eyes. Pru ran her fingers through the red curls, gently massaging Willow’s scalp. The girl took a deep breath and opened her mouth to continue.

  A sharp knocking interrupted the moment and Willow flinched like she’d been struck. Her shoulders went up, her back straight, and she stared wide-eyed at the door.

  Chapter 4

  “It’s just Carney. That’s his car parked out front, see?” Pru pointed at the long hood of the el Camino visible at the edge of the bay window. “He always parks right there so I can see it’s him. He doesn’t like that I don’t have a peep hole or a window by the front door, and he’s always warning me about opening it without knowing who’s on the other side.”

  “Sounds like a good guy.”

  “He’s a great guy.” Pru fluffed her hair and twirled once in front of Willow. “How do I look?”

  Willow grinned, her posture relaxing a little, and gave her two thumbs up.

  Pru pulled open the door and launched herself at the man who stood there. His arms encircled her, pulling her up against his stocky frame, crushing her to him. This. This was what she’d missed the most; being surrounded by Carney.

  “Hey, Doll.” His voice was gruff against her ear.

  “Hey, you big stud.” She reached up and cupped his face in her long-fingered hands. “Kiss me and tell me you missed me.”

  As he came up for air, he noticed Willow sitting in the kitchen, and Pru felt his whole body tense. She turned slowly, trying to gauge his reaction, then introduced them. “Carney, Willow. Willow, Carney.”

  Carney dropped his arms from around her waist and stepped back from their intimate embrace. “Nice to meet you, Willow.” His voice was still gruff, but Pru thought it was more from embarrassment than passion. He was rather conservative, not prone to demonstrate his affection publicly. His eyes darted back and forth between the two women before landing on Pru, his brows raised in question.

  “I invited Willow over for coffee this morning. She brought scones and jam to die for, and I supplied the coffee and scissors.” Pru winked at Willow who seemed uncertain of how she should respond.

  “I apologize for interrupting. I can come back.” Carney took another step back.

  “Please,” said Willow, standing quickly. “You’re not interrupting. I was just keeping Pru company until you arrived.” She reached up to release the cape from around her neck.

  “Don’t be silly, Willow. Sit!” Pru commanded. Grabbing Carney’s hand, she laced her fingers with his and pulled him bodily inside. “Come in, honey. You’re letting the air-conditioning out.” Indicating another stool tucked up to the counter, she told him to sit, too. “And have a scone. You won’t be sorry. Coffee?”

  “Of course,” he replied, letting her push him down onto the seat only a few feet from where Willow sat. He took the mug of black coffee she handed him.

  “Look,” Pru declared. “You two already have something in common. You both like your coffee black. There must be something to that!”

  Carney studied them both while methodically slathering butter and jam on the largest scone from the platter Pru placed on the counter nearby. Pru went back to snipping, but she, in turn, watched curiously as Carney adjusted to the presence of the beauty in the room between them.

  After a few moments of silence, Pru spoke. “So what did your doctor say?” She assumed it would be clear who the question was aimed at, but neither one responded. “Carney? Did you get your medical card renewed?”

  “Who, me?” He straightened in his seat and took a gulp of coffee to wash down the huge bite he’d just taken.

  “Yes, you.” Obviously, the man was still distracted, but Pru wondered if it was for the same reason he’d been distracted on the phone this morning, or if perhaps it might be Willow now instead.

  “Nah. They have to wait for my lab results.” He held up a tree trunk arm to show off the cotton ball held in place at the crook of his elbow by a strip of medical tape. “They all but drained me this morning, and that was after the juvenile delinquent stabbed me three times. Come on. How hard can it be to find one of these things puppies?” He flexed uncharacteristically, and the crisscrossing blue lines running the length of his forearm popped out as they began to fill with blood. It was Pru’s turn to raise her eyebrows.

  “Wow! You’ve got great veins, Carney!” Willow’s exclamation seemed just as out of character as Carney showing off his muscles. “My dad became a phlebotomist later in life, and he used to point out great veins to me all the time. In public. We got some weird looks, I’m telling you, especially with this vampire craze the last several years.” She snickered. “He’s in a retirement center, and the women he dates all have great veins.”

  Carney laughed out loud. Out loud! Pru almost dropped her scissors.

  “Well, next time I need my blood drawn, I’m bringing your dad in with me. The kid was having a worse time than I was, though. By the third jab, he was sweating like a race horse and looked like he might cry before I did.”

  “Really? I wouldn’t think a few pokes would be a problem for you, not with all those tattoos.” Willow waved the mirror in his direction, her smile teasing. “Isn’t that what it’s like to get one of those things? And you’re covered in them!” As Pru worked quietly and watched her gorgeous neighbor interact with her beloved boyfriend, a sinking feeling began to settle in the pit of her stomach.

  “I got these when I was a lot younger, Willow,” Carney tapped one forearm. “Pain doesn’t register for a twenty-five-year-old the way it does for a fifty-five-year-old, isn’t that right, Pru?”

  Prudence’s mouth fell open at his insensitive remark. Why would he highlight the difference in age between her and Willow? “I wouldn’t know, Dear. I’m still enjoying my thirties,” she retorted, trying to keep her voice light and airy.

  Willow laughed out loud, a guffaw that filled the room and brought out another grin on Carney’s face. “Oh Pru,” she exclaimed. “That’s why I feel so comfortable around you. You’re so confident, so sure of yourself. I wish I was like you.”

  “Like me? An old maid?”

  “If you’re an old maid, I’m Rumpelstiltskin,” Willow chortled.

  “Well, you have the right color hair,” Carney quipped. “But I don’t suppose you’re the type to steal people’s children from them.”

  Willow’s expression sobered instantly, but she replied without hesitation. “No, that I wouldn’t do. Not to anyone. Not for anything.”

  Pru rolled her eyes at Carney, knowing Willow couldn’t see her. Carney did, though. His shoulders went up as if to ask, “What did I do?” It was time for Pru to intervene and rescue them all.

  “So the reason I made Willow stick around wasn’t so she could witness you flexing and pointing out how old I am. We have a favor.” Pru kept snipping; the girl had so much hair!

  “What’s up?” Carney got up to refill his coffee, and loaded up another scone with elderberry jam. Pru stayed silent, waiting for Willow to explain.

  “Well, it’s a long story. I don’t quite know where to begin.” She paused, peering down at her reflection in the mirror in her hand. “I’m married, I guess.”

  “You guess?” Carney paused mid-bite.

  “No, I don’t guess. I know I am. But I don’t want him here. I moved here because we’re separated. But now he’s here. At my invitation.” She glanced out the bay window, and Carney followed her gaze with his own. Then he turned to look up at Pru for clarification. She laughed at the confusion in his eyes.

  “Look, Carney. The guy is over at Al’s right now. Willow just needs to get home without being seen by him. She doesn’t want any trouble, but if she heads out the front door alone, he might try to catch up with her. We need you to walk her home—you’re intimidating until you start talking, but he probably won’t brave getting that far.” Pru threaded her fingers through the length of Willow’s hair and shook out the ends, crescents of cut curl
s falling to the floor around her. “All done.”

  “So what do you want me to do if he doesn’t think I’m as scary as you do?” Carney didn’t look very pleased with the mission at hand. “Shall I put him in a headlock? What’s he doing over at Al’s, anyway?”

  Willow stood up after Pru slipped the cape from around her shoulders. She pursed her lips, clearly hesitant to explain. “He’s an attorney. He’s helping Al deal with some legal issues.”

  “You want me to rough up a lawyer?” Carney looked appalled. He stood up and went to the window to stare at the trailer in Space #4 across the way. “Is that his fancy car out there?”

  “Yes. That’s his fancy car,” Willow acknowledged.

  “Wait.” Pru paused, dustpan in hand. “Didn’t he drive a big truck before? Isn’t that what Eddie warned us to watch for?” She made quick work of the snipped hair on the floor; even her broom had a leopard and hibiscus patterned handle.

  “Yes. He used to have a truck. He sold it because I told him to.”

  Carney turned around so his back was to the window and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Are you telling me this guy is the stalker? Shadowman?” His eyes narrowed at Willow. “Little lady, I’m all for helping a dame in distress, but I think I need a few more facts before you loop me into whatever it is you got going on here.” When she didn’t immediately respond, he continued. “You don’t have to give me your life story, but I need something more to chew on.”

  Chapter 5

  Pru watched Willow in silence, holding her breath, waiting. Carney had asked the questions she hadn’t dared put to words—would the girl open up?

  “You’re right,” Willow finally said, her words soft, but not timid. “I shouldn’t involve any of you in this stuff. This is between me and Christian, and God, and really, no one else can solve it. You’re right,” she said again. “I’m so sorry.” She reached for her purse again. “What do I owe you for the trim, Pru?”

  Pru snorted. “I don’t want your money, Willow. I want your trust. Your friendship.” She crossed over to stand in front of Willow. “I’ve wanted to be your friend since I first saw you twirling your way to the mailbox. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to offer, honey, but from what I can see, you need a friend, maybe even worse than I do.” She reached out and patted Willow’s cheek.

  “Thank you, Pru. You don’t know how much that means to me.” Willow smiled softly, sadly. “I just…can’t. I can’t talk about all this. I’m sorry.” She slipped the wide strap of her bag over her shoulder and pointed at the platter that still held a few scones. “The jam is yours, and the rest of those scones. I’m so glad you liked them.”

  Carney moved quickly for a big man; he crossed the room and stepped between Willow and the front door. “I can’t let you go like this. Is the guy dangerous?”

  Willow laughed out loud, but this time, the sound was harsh, like dead reeds rattling along a dry creek bed. “He’s only dangerous to me, Carney.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel any better.” Carney didn’t budge, his large body effectively blocking her exit. Pru came over to stand beside him.

  “Willow, please. Let us help you.”

  Willow studied them both in silence, pressing her full lips together as though trying to keep the words from slipping out. Finally, she nodded, ever so slightly. “I promised Christian I’d not talk about our trouble without him being here to defend himself. But I can tell you this.” She turned and made her way to the window that faced Al’s place, lifting a hand to press it to the pane. Pru brought her fingertips to her lips at the expression on Willow’s face.

  “I can’t be with him. I love him, I love him, I—” Her voice caught and she finished in a broken sob as the man in question stepped onto the front porch of Al’s trailer, still talking to Al who came out behind him. The older man was nodding solemnly, but he wore a slight smile.

  “I love him. But I can’t be with him,” she whimpered. “It hurts too much.”

  At that moment, Christian turned, and like a magnet, his eyes were drawn to the window that framed Willow.

  “Oh my,” Pru murmured empathetically, the longing in the young man’s eyes a tangible force, even from fifty yards away. He took two halting steps across the porch, then stopped, his gaze never faltering. Al stared down at his shoes; Pru was sure the look in Christian’s eyes was mirrored in Willow’s, and if she knew Al at all, the man wouldn’t be comfortable with that kind of raw emotion.

  Pru grabbed Carney’s hand and pulled him across the room to where Willow stood, her hand still on the window, as though glued to that spot. Tears rolled unhindered from the corners of her unblinking eyes. Pru didn’t care anymore about knowing all the answers; it was devastatingly clear that Willow’s pain was real, that Christian’s was, too, and neither one of them knew how to build a bridge over the chasm of suffering between them.

  Carney reached up and laid an arm across Willow’s shoulders, tucking her into his side, and Pru, on her other side, slipped an arm around the girl’s waist. Pru watched Christian’s expression shift, his eyes take in the scene, first glancing at her, then over at Carney, then back to Willow. Carney stared hard at the man, but his face was an expressionless mask; Pru wondered what he was thinking at the moment, what he was communicating to Christian, man to man. Then together, they drew Willow away from the window.

  “I need to go home,” she whispered, her husky voice breaking Pru’s heart. “I’d appreciate it so much if you’d walk with me, but I understand if you can’t.”

  Then it hit her; Willow needed them, their friendship, and the best way they could give it to her was by giving her their trust. It was exactly what Pru had asked of Willow, and the girl had been as honest as she could be with them, while still staying true to her promise to the man she loved. I love him. It hurts too much.

  Carney was clearly feeling the same way. He gave the girl’s shoulders a quick squeeze, then stood with his back to the door again. “We’ll walk you home, Willow. We’ll him know you’re not alone; that you’re being looked out for. But I need to say something before we do.”

  Pru looked up at him, her arm still around Willow’s waist, curious at what Carney felt compelled to say. He’d been remarkably effusive, at least for him, in Willow Goodhope’s company.

  “I’m a man.” He paused long enough that Pru snickered.

  “I think we know that, Carney.”

  Willow hiccupped.

  “I’m a man,” he began again, and Pru thought he might be blushing. “I’m not all emotional and stuff, not like you women.” She rolled her eyes. She’d known him to shed a tear or two during certain movies, especially those starring loyal, but doomed animals.

  “But I saw that man’s face.” He shook his head and glanced toward the window over the women’s heads. Pru peered over her shoulder, too, and watched Christian reach out to shake Al’s hand before making his way down the steps toward his car.

  “That’s not the face of a man who wants to hurt you.”

  Willow nodded. “I know.”

  “You two can’t go on like this.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re going to have to talk to him.”

  “I know.”

  “How long has it been since the two of you sat down together?” Pru interjected.

  Willow didn’t look at her. “Since Christmas. It was the worst Christmas of my life.” She sounded like a lost little girl.

  “Oh, honey.” Pru put her other arm around Willow and hugged her hard. She’d never forget her own worst Christmas—the Christmas her daddy didn’t come home. When she stepped back, Carney spoke again.

  “I think it’s time, Willow. I think it’s time to talk to him; to put you both out of your misery. I want you to promise me—us—that you’ll talk to him. Soon.”

  “I know.” Willow nodded slowly. “I will.”

  “When?” Carney was going to be stubborn, Pru realized, recognizing the way he was digging in his heels over
this situation; stepping out of his comfort zone to make the world—Willow’s world—a better place, to right the wrongs that he could.

  And in that moment, something settled into place in Pru’s heart, too, like the chambers in a combination lock lining up to let the door fly open. This strong, usually silent man was as steady as the sun, as solid as the earth, as anchored as the Rock of Gibraltar. He didn’t want her to change, he never expected more of her than she offered. In fact, even though he used few words to express it, he always made a point to appreciate what she did for him, to acknowledge her efforts, and to make her feel special in little ways.

  Maybe that’s why his tension on the phone this morning had bothered her so much. He was quiet, but not rude. A man of few words, but those few were usually important.

  Pru watched him with her new awareness, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Carney. Why had she ever doubted his commitment to her?

  Willow finally spoke. “I asked Christian to give me until the holidays. I know I can’t face another Christmas with things up in the air like they are now, but I’m not yet ready to face him. I don’t have answers for him yet. At least not answers he’s willing to accept.”

  “If your answer is ‘no’ then he should accept that.” Carney couldn’t tolerate a man who didn’t understand the word.

  “It’s not that kind of situation, Carney. He wants to talk now, and I’m not ready. That’s what I mean when I say ‘no.’ He’s not the kind of guy to force himself on me, but he doesn’t like that I’ve forced him to step back, either.”

  “That makes me feel better, but he still needs to respect your wishes and give you the time and space you need.”

  Pru nodded in agreement, imagining how Carney would respond if she asked him to leave her alone for a year. She didn’t think he’d be too happy either.

  The walk across the bridge was a little unsettling. Christian sat in his car watching them as they passed by. Carney moved from beside Willow to walk behind her and Pru, all but blocking the man’s view of his wife. Pru shot an appreciative glance over her shoulder at Carney—he winked at her and reached up to brush her back with the tips of his fingers.