All Bets Are Off

by Marguerite Labbe

  Eli ignored the fisher cat’s shrieks as he knelt down on the ground and set his shotgun aside. Jabbers whimpered, his big eyes sad and filled with pain. “Come ’ere, buddy. Where did it get you? What were you doing outside, huh?”

  His heart raced with fear. Fisher cats could be vicious, and their jaws were strong. He’d have to call the game warden and have him come out to make sure this one wasn’t rabid. God, please, not that. There would be no telling how injured his dog was if that was the case. Jabbers limped over to him, and Eli ran careful hands over his body. His stomach clenched as he felt the warm blood slicking the beagle’s fur from scratches and bites.

  He continued to speak to Jabbers in a soothing croon as he carefully picked him up. Soon Jabbers was wrapped up in a warm towel, nestled in the front of Eli’s Jeep with his favorite toy under one paw. “Dr. Gemma is expecting you and she’s going to yell at me for not taking better care of you. Want to go see Dr. Gemma?”

  Jabbers lifted one ear at the familiar name, though all he did was whimper. He loved the vet because she always made much of him every time she saw him. He tolerated the shots and the examinations for her lavish affection afterward.

  Jabbers couldn’t have broken out of the house on his own in the middle of the night. He’d always saved such escapades for when Eli wasn’t paying attention. He’d dash through his legs to go tearing off through the woods. He loved it and wouldn’t stop unless he was exhausted or until Eli called him off. But he’d never gotten outside in the middle of the night.

  So the only way Jabbers could have gotten out was if someone had let him out. No matter how clever the beagle was, he didn’t have the ability to unlock a deadbolt, and all the windows were shut tight. A midnight intruder didn’t make any sense either. Jabbers should’ve bayed his head off. Unless he knew the intruder, especially if the intruder was in the habit of bringing treats. Jabbers was smart, he’d stay quiet for treats if asked to by someone he trusted.

  Eli scowled, hating the direction of his thoughts as he headed down the mountain. He hated the sound of those pain-filled whimpers even more. Ash was right: it did all point to Wayne. He had the ability to make a new key for the lock. And if it was money he was after, he certainly had the motivation, even if Eli couldn’t figure out what the man wanted from him. A sick sense of betrayal mingled with his fury.

  What Eli didn’t understand was, why him? He hadn’t heard of anyone else in town plagued by break-ins. And there were plenty of other people with more money than he had. One thing was for certain: it was past time he sat down and had a long talk with Wayne Grayson. And the man had better hope that Jabbers would be okay.

  Eli walked into Dingers the following night and was enveloped by the scent of damp wool, stale beer, and wood smoke. He really loved this time of year. Actually, he enjoyed all of the seasons, except for the middle of spring when everything was cold and muddy, and winter didn’t seem like it would ever ease its grip. By then he was ready to run off to a place where it was ridiculously hot and dry.

  Right now those scents were a comfort. They were familiar and warming after his long, exhausting night. Jabbers would have to remain with Dr. Gemma until tomorrow. He looked ridiculous with one ear shaved and stitched up, a cone around his head. He’d had a deep bite on his backside too; one that she wanted to keep a close eye on to make sure infection didn’t set in. Every time he thought of it, his fists clenched again.

  At least the fisher cat hadn’t been rabid. Finding that out had been a relief, and it was the only thing that kept Eli from going to Cooper like Ash wanted him to. He’d invited Wayne to meet him for dinner to give the man a chance to spill his guts. If he didn’t confess, then Eli would go to Cooper and not feel one damn bit of guilt for the situation that Wayne was in. Asshole. Coming after him was one thing. Last night had been something else altogether.

  “Hey, Eli. Sorry about Jabbers.” Neil waved him over from the bar. “Ash joining you tonight? I wanted to see if we could have poker night at his place instead of mine this week.”

  “What’s wrong with your place? You’d have to clean up?” Eli followed the direction of Neil’s gaze to his cousin, and when he looked back at Neil, the bartender was polishing and examining a beer mug, his attention entirely fixated on it. “Or you don’t want the others to know that you’re shacking up with Lu?”

  “You don’t comment on that, and I’m not going to comment on what you were doing over the weekend and who you were doing it with.” Neil gave him a level look that brought to mind memories of past transgressions as a teenager.

  “I’ll keep my mouth shut and go sit in my usual seat.” Eli started to turn away before looking back at him, unable to help himself from teasing. “Except to say about damn time, and as her closest male relative, I approve.”

  “You just wait until you fall for someone, Eli,” Neil growled, shaking a bar towel in his direction. “Just wait. I’m going to give you so much shit about it.”

  “You give me shit anyway, my friend. Ash isn’t joining me tonight, but I can pass along a message in class tomorrow.” Though the thought of seeing Ash tomorrow gave him mixed emotions.

  It didn’t help that he felt guilty for not telling Ash what had happened with Jabbers. Only he knew exactly what Ash would’ve done if he had. Ash would’ve gone to Cooper immediately, without knowing for sure whether or not Wayne was behind it or why. Ash would also be pissed if he found out that Eli planned on confronting Wayne without him, which was why he’d decided to do it here instead of someplace private. That ought to cool Ash’s overprotective temper.

  “How’s Jabbers?” Lu asked, coming up and plunking a bowl of popcorn down on the table. “That dog doesn’t have the sense God gave a gnat.”

  “I think I can say he’s lost his fascination with fisher cats. He’ll be okay. He’s a fast healer.” Eli dug in the bowl and pulled out a chair for his cousin. “Sit with me for a little bit?”

  “Maybe later. If I sit now, I might not get up again. Let me get you a glass of wine. You can bring the rascal to my place while you’re at work if you want to.”

  “Thanks, I just might do that. I was thinking of setting up a doggie bed in my office, but your place would be better.” Eli squeezed Lu’s hand. “And no wine, please, I’d probably pass out. I didn’t get any real sleep last night.”

  She sat down next to him. “On second thought, I need a break. So tell me what’s going on with you and Ash? I like that one, Eli. He makes you smile.”

  “Neil makes you smile too, when he’s not driving you crazy.”

  “What are you trying to say? That Ash drives you crazy or that I should start dating Neil?”

  “Start?” Eli teased, casting Neil a quick glance. The man stood behind the bar, absently drying a mug with a towel, and his eyes were all for Lu. “You can’t fool me, cousin mine.”

  “Oh, you’re impossible.” Lu rose to her feet with a huff. She leaned down and wrapped her arms around Eli’s shoulders, giving him a hug. “I know why you’re playing it quiet, but I wanted you to know that I approve of that one.”

  “I said something just like that only a few minutes ago, but Neil growled at me.”

  “I wasn’t talking about me, Elijah. Stop changing the subject.” Eli smiled as she walked off. It wasn’t easy to impress Lu, especially when it came to him. She’d only liked one of the men he’d dated. Too bad Ash wasn’t going to be sticking around.

  His thoughts continued to whirl between Jabbers, the situation with Wayne, and what he was going to do about Ash, until he saw Wayne come through the door. Their eyes met, and Eli’s heart sank when the other man jerked his eyes away, as if he couldn’t look right at him. Oh, man, he really hadn’t wanted to believe that Wayne could be capable of anything like this.

  “Wayne, please, sit down,” Eli said as the other man reached him. “We really need to talk.”

  “How’s the dog?” Wayne mumbled as he dragged out a chair.

  “Jabbers,” Eli said, stressing
his name and getting angry all over again, “will survive, but he’ll always have scars.”

  Wayne flinched and clasped his hands together on the table. “I’m really sorry about that. To hear that, I mean.”

  Eli pressed his lips together as Lu dropped off his tea and took Wayne’s order. Maybe he should’ve gone elsewhere. His cousin liked to insert herself in most conversations, and he didn’t want her to get involved with this one. “How’s your dad’s rehab going?”

  “Slowly, but he seems determined to get back on his feet and his speech is better.”

  “Must be rough.” Eli studied him for a minute, and Wayne’s nervousness only seemed to increase. He tempered his anger and leaned forward. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. And not just the worry over him recovering, I know money’s been scarce.”

  Wayne’s face tightened as he nodded. “Yeah, but I think it’ll be looking up soon.”

  Eli went through all the conversations they’d had since the stroke. There weren’t that many. To his surprise, Eli realized that Wayne had distanced himself. He’d been too caught up in the craziness of his own life to notice. Then he remembered the question that had seemed to come out of nowhere.

  “You once asked me to show you the baseball cards our dads collected.”

  For the first time since Wayne sat down, he met Eli’s gaze directly and he couldn’t hide the desperation in his eyes. “You said you didn’t have them. Did you find them?”

  “I’m curious about the way you phrased it. If they both collected them, then why would my dad or I have them all?”

  Anger flashed in Wayne’s eyes and his nostrils flared.

  “Wouldn’t your dad have half of them?”

  “He should,” Wayne snapped bitterly. “But your dad cheated him out of them. One of those cards was worth $12,000.”

  Eli frowned, holding onto his temper with an effort. He might have issues with his dad, but he’d always known him to be an honest man. “How did he cheat him?”

  “They had a bet going, and your dad rigged it because he wanted that card. And when my dad called him out, the bastard refused to give it back. I could’ve sold that card and used the money to save the business. I wouldn’t have to worry about taking care of Dad. We’d be set.”

  For a little while at least, but even if the card was worth that much, with Mr. Grayson’s medical expenses it wouldn’t go far. It wasn’t Eli’s fault that Mr. Grayson hadn’t had medical insurance or that Wayne was having a hard time holding the store together.

  One thing he did know: his dad wouldn’t cheat. He also wouldn’t give something back if another man foolishly bet it away. In his head a deal was a deal, even if it killed a friendship.

  “So you think that gives you the right to break into my house and office and destroy my belongings?” Eli snarled low enough that only Wayne would hear him. “You think it gives you the right to put Jabbers in danger by letting him out in the middle of the night?”

  Wayne’s mouth dropped open, and he half shook his head. “Wha— I don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “You broke into my house looking for those cards, and when you didn’t find them you sent that blackmail note.” Eli wanted to grab Wayne by his shirt and shake him. “That book you threw on the ground was worth a nice amount. So it seems to me like you’re the one who owes me money, not the other way around. Not to mention Jabbers’s vet bill.”

  “You’re crazy,” Wayne burst out, jumping to his feet, his face red. “I don’t have to take this from you.”

  Eli rose as well, as Neil came around the bar with a look of alarm on his normally dour face. “Jabbers could’ve gotten killed. What the hell possessed you to come snooping around last night?”

  “I don’t have to answer these ridiculous accusations.” Wayne looked around wildly. “You stay away from me.”

  “One more incident and I’m going to Sheriff Cooper,” Eli snarled.

  Neil jumped between them as Eli took a step toward Wayne, and the bartender shoved them both back with a hand to their chests. “I haven’t had a brawl in two years and I’m not about to allow one now. Both of you calm down.”

  “That’s okay, I’m leaving.” Wayne turned tail to run before Eli could reach him.

  “No you don’t,” Neil growled, grabbing a hold of Eli’s arm. “You’re not going after him until you’ve gotten a hold of your temper again.”

  “My temper is just fine, thank you.” Eli jerked his arm away. Dammit, he’d fucked up that confrontation from the start. The sight of Lu standing near the bar with her hand over her mouth and worry in her eyes made him a little ashamed of himself. He really could’ve handled that better.

  At least Dingers wasn’t that crowded, though he was sure the story of him making a fool of himself would spread before morning. “Why don’t you come sit in the kitchen and have a bite to eat, and we can talk?” Neil took his arm again.

  “No. I need to get home and call Dad.”

  Neil’s eyes flashed as he steered Eli toward the kitchen. “You put tears in Lu’s eyes, you’re damn well going to give her an explanation.”

  Eli gave in to Neil’s manhandling and let himself be led to the warm kitchen. At least it was out of the way of prying eyes. Neil gave a few snapped orders, and Eli found himself sequestered in the man’s tiny office feeling even more like a fool until Lu rushed in. Dear God, it was like the few times he’d managed to fuck up enough to get these two mad at him as a teenager.

  “Okay, before you start in on me, hold up. I know the argument between Wayne and me seems to have come out of nowhere, but I have my reasons for what I said to him.” He looked between their worried faces and decided that he couldn’t give them the whole story. Not until it was resolved, or else they’d really fret, especially Lu.

  “We’re listening,” Neil said, rubbing Lu’s shoulder with his large hand.

  “Lu, do you remember the fight my dad got into with Wayne’s dad?”

  She blinked in surprise and then frowned. “Good God, Eli, that was a long time ago. They were in high school then. What does that have to do with Wayne getting Jabbers hurt or you going to Sheriff Cooper?”

  He hadn’t realized he’d said that part loud enough for anyone else to hear. “He’s been snooping around my place looking for Dad’s baseball cards so he could sell them to pay the medical bills. I guess he thought I was still out of town last night, and when he broke in, Jabbers took the opportunity to streak outside. You know how he is.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Neil muttered and then cursed again when Lu elbowed him in his ribs. “I’d known your office was broken into but you didn’t say anything about your house too.”

  “Because I didn’t know for certain anyone had broken into the house. Ash thought so, and I thought he was just being paranoid. But there’s no other way Jabbers could’ve gotten out last night. Wayne must think Dad left the cards behind when he went to college and they’re stored in the house, or that he gave them to me or something asinine like that.”

  “The only thing your dad ever gave you was criticism, stupid fool.” Lu patted Eli’s shoulder. “You should’ve come to us sooner.”

  “I just started believing it myself. I’m going to talk to Dad and find out what happened to them so this can stop. I swear, it’s absolute idiocy to lose a friendship over a bet. Even if they are worth what Wayne claims, Dad doesn’t need the money and Mr. Grayson does.”

  “Good luck with that,” Neil muttered. “Well, now that you’ve cornered Wayne and let it be known you’re onto him, he’ll probably drop it. He hates confrontation.”

  “That was my thought, but I could’ve handled it better. Ash wants me to go to Cooper, but things are rough enough for Wayne without adding police trouble. I’m just hoping this has knocked some sense into him.”

  “It’d better. Or I’ll have a talk with him,” Neil said.

  “Forget that,” Lu cut in. “I’ll go to Cooper myself. You hear me, Eli?”

  �
�Yes, ma’am.” Eli didn’t know how much longer he could hold Ash off, not to mention resist him. Yesterday had been hard enough, waking up next to him, with Ash looking so damn sexy without even trying. Tomorrow was going to be even harder, sitting across from him in class with the memory of the weekend vivid in his head. Ash wouldn’t even have to make eyes at him for Eli to feel the heat.

  “Thanks for the talk. I’m going to go check on Jabbers and call Dad. ’Night.” Eli kissed Lu’s cheek and got out of there before she recovered enough from her surprise over Wayne to remember how Eli had made her worry, and even worse, kept things from her.

  “Eli? Is something wrong?”

  Eli winced at the faint note of concern in his dad’s voice. Did he really only call if something was wrong or to plan those brief visits in the summer? He needed to do better than that. “Actually, no, everything is good here. We’re expecting our first snow this week.”