by Bonnie Gill
“Yeah. Abby can act all stubborn when she wants to, but she’s a sweet person. I think you two would be good together. She has some other issues she’s trying to work through, but if you hang in there I think you guys could start something special.” Pepper’s smile gleamed.
His attention zeroed in like a sniper when Pepper mentioned Abby had other issues. How come she wouldn’t ask for his help? Even though they’d only been on a few almost dates, he’d rationalized they had been getting closer. Hell. He’d almost had sex with her.
“What kind of issues?”
Pepper’s smile went peanut butter sticky. “That’s something you need to discuss with her.”
“It’s not serious is it?” Was she terminally ill or something? Abby looked pretty darn healthy to him. Or maybe in trouble with the law? “Does it have something to do with her ex?”
“No.”
“I want her to confide in me. To trust me.” He didn’t want Abby to have any worries. He hadn’t been very truthful with her though. “She won’t hardly speak to me much less ask me to help her.”
“I doubt you can help.”
“Don’t underestimate me.” River always figured out a way to help those in need.
Except his brother. He scraped his hand down his face. His chest felt as if a fist reached in and squeezed his heart. Now was not the time to think about him.
He cracked his jaw to relieve some of the tension. “You should get some sleep. I’ll stand guard and look after your horses.”
Pepper vigorously shook her blond ponytail in disagreement. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll sleep out here with them.” She lifted an old, red, white, and blue wool blanket off a hook on the wall, then spread out some of the straw from an empty stall, curling up on the ground. A big white dog bounded over and snuggled up beside her. She looked up from her makeshift bed and eyed River with an accusation in her big blue eyes. “When’s Ottar going to fix my dinosaur?”
“Soon.”
Chapter 24
Abby looked at the calendar on the wall in the barn. Four days had passed since the Gnome attacked Pepper’s Arabian gray horse. Every night River showed up and slept in the barn watching them, protecting them. Abby moved a cot outside for him so he wouldn’t have to sleep on the ground. The summer evening temperatures were mild and pleasant for sleeping.
Pepper’s yellow pick-up truck pulled up the driveway and she popped out of the door to greet Abby. “Howdy, stranger. How was your day?”
Abby pointed with her chin to the wheelbarrow piled full with horse manure and held up the pitchfork, a horse’s road-apple skewed on one of the prongs. “Just keeping busy. These horses are pooping machines.” She kept watch on the farm all day long. To make the day go by faster, she busied herself cleaning the barn and playing with the animals, keeping a careful eye not to let them wander out of her sight.
“Thanks so much. I think all the animals are going to miss you when you come back to work.” Pepper smiled one of those smiles she used to conjure up when they were younger and she was up to mischief.
“I’m going to miss them, too.”
“River called. He’s sending Ottar over tonight.” Pepper’s lip curled and twitched when she said Ottar’s name and quickly changed subjects. “Any word from your mom’s neighbor?”
“He hasn’t located the journal yet. I’ve called him every day and he assures me he’s still looking.” The thread of what little hope she clung to slowly slipped away from her grasp. In a few more days her cycle would start, and if she couldn’t remove the curse, the horse pies would hit the fan.
“Hey, do you want to go out and grab something to eat for a change in scenery?”
A change would be nice. “Okay.”
“Great. River wanted to go out with us tonight. He asked Ottar to guard the horses.”
“Uh . . . Pass then.”
Pepper put on her pouty face, and her bottom lip protruded outward. “Oh come on, Abby, he really cares about you. Every time I see him, he asks about you.”
Too bad. “You’re forgetting a couple things. He’s going to kill me.” And the last thing she wanted to do tonight was to entertain all his questions.
“No, he wouldn’t kill you. I think you should tell him. Maybe he could help?”
“Oh great. That’s exactly what I want. I can see the headlines now. Local woman captured, taken away, forced to be an experiment. You know he would turn me in. This police and hunting career means everything to him.” Her worst nightmare had come true. She played the scenario out in her mind. Her lying in shackles on a stainless steel table, naked, and a bunch of doctors poking and probing her with cold—hopefully sterile—metal utensils. Her right eye twitched at the thought.
Pepper hugged Abby’s shoulders. “I’ll make sure they won’t catch you. Speaking of that, when is your next period?”
“When I get stressed it comes more often. And right now, I’m majorly stressed out. So it could be anytime. Maybe I should take a trip for a few days.”
“Don’t even think about it. I want you here, with me. I’ll keep an eye on you, and if I need to distract the guys, so be it.”
“I don’t want to risk your safety.”
“I’m not worried about it. I guess the huge tether I bought won’t work this month.”
Tether?
Pepper zeroed in on her confusion. “It’s a long steel corkscrew thing. You screw it in the ground with a chain to hook onto your collar. Though, I think you’ll be strong enough to pull it out.” She shrugged. “I can return it to the distributer. I don’t want to endorse tethering any animal. It’s just cruel.”
“Oh, so it’s cruel to torture an animal like that, but not me?” Abby liked to tease Pepper. She didn’t blame her one bit.
“Na, you know—I’m just trying to help. So what do you say? Want to go out to eat?” She bounced from one foot to the other.
Yes, she did want to go out. Even though she enjoyed the horseback riding, restlessness from staying at the farm all week settled in around her. But she didn’t want to eat with River. “Not really.”
“You’re going. Go inside and shower. I’ll let him know.” Pepper gave her a nudge toward the back door. “You’ll have fun. Wear something sexy.”
They arrived at the Russian Tea House restaurant and were seated before River arrived. Hand painted blue, yellow, and orange ceramic tiles adorned the restaurant’s stepped tray ceiling. Gilded pillars separated different eating areas. Several bronze statues of Gods and Goddesses scattered around a flowing water fountain. Abby especially loved the soft chiming music piped through the speakers.
“You should try some of their salads. They are to die for.” Pepper opened her menu when they sat at a colorful painted table.
Abby studied her menu. To die for were the last three words she needed to hear at this moment. “Okay,” she said, covering her dread with pleasantries. She’d decided in the shower that she would enjoy this meal. River or no River, she looked forward to getting out and about.
It might have been her imagination but it seemed everything in the place suddenly went quiet. She looked up.
River sauntered in. Saunter fit the man’s confident stride. He wore his navy blue button down shirt with the top three buttons undone, enough for Abby to see a peek of his tanned muscular chest. Dark blond curls swirled loosely around perfectly chiseled high cheekbones.
He pulled the chair out and sat across from them. “Abby.” His smile showcased his dimples, and he nodded to her. “Pepper,” he acknowledged. “This place looks great. Thanks for suggesting it.”
“Try the peach mimosas.” Pepper pointed to a picture of a tall glass filled with bubbly water and green mint leaves on Abby’s menu. “They’re my favorite.”
When a cute twenty-something waitress with s
hort spunky blond hair came up to their table, she gave River a look-over. Her eyes traced every contour of his magnificent body. The waitress’s smile was a jump-my-bones invitation addressed to River. “Hi. Are you ready to order?” Her gaze didn’t stray from the sheriff’s handsome face.
Abby clenched her teeth so hard a pain flared deep in her jaw. A jealously parasite gnawed at her hardened stomach. She swallowed and ignored the twinge, realizing she had no right to claim River.
They ordered their meals. Abby and Pepper both chose a green papaya salad with chili lime dressing. River picked a lamb shish kabob with peppers, onions, and a cucumber yogurt. The waitress left the table to place their order in the kitchen. River never looked twice at the woman.
Abby’s shoulders relaxed.
“So, any word on the Gnome?” Pepper asked. Nothing like diving right in. She knew Pepper was still concerned about the safety of her animals.
“We’re still looking.” River laid his forearms on the table and folded his hands, interlacing his fingers.
“Well, what’s taking so long?” Pepper sounded like a child in the backseat of a car during a cross-country road trip.
“We’re doing everything possible. It won’t be long.” Even though his words had come out positive, a small amount of defeat hid deep in his tone.
Pepper leaned toward Abby. “I was thinking of taking the day off tomorrow. Could you watch the store for me?”
A flutter of excitement twittered in her stomach. “Yes, I’d love to.” Even though she thoroughly enjoyed keeping watch on Pepper’s animals, she loved working in the pet store and talking to the different people that came in to shop.
“Done.” Pepper patted Abby’s hand on the table.
Her cell phone vibrated. She looked down to see her mother’s neighbor’s number and answered. “Can you hold on a minute?” She placed her hand over the receiver and jumped up from her seat. “I’ll take this outside.”
The man had found the journal.
River enjoyed the conversation with the girls, and after Abby’s mysterious phone call, her mood turned more positive. It was great to see her smile.
“Good news?” Pepper asked, her right eyebrow arched above her curious expression. He leaned over the table to hear more.
“Yes,” Abby said, not giving him any clues to what her business was about.
“Well, let’s celebrate. Drinks all around.” Pepper’s enthusiastic smile spread to everyone at the table.
“The vet came today and took out the Arabian’s stitches. He said the wound was healing with no complications. He doesn’t think it will leave a scar,” Abby said to Pepper.
“Poor Fred. I’m glad he’s recovering. I was worried about infection. The way that Gnome smelled, he must be covered in all kinds of germs.”
River knew that smell too well. The creature’s stench still lingered on his clothes even after he had washed them a few times.
“Remember, if you see the damn thing, run away. Don’t try to fight it again.” He didn’t want that thing anywhere near Abby. He pictured the ladies batting at the little bastard like a piñata. The courage the girls had shown impressed him.
These two could take care of themselves, sure, he just didn’t want to put it to the test again. That’s why he spent his nights in the barn. He needed to protect them from protecting the animals.
Hercules didn’t seem to mind. He loved playing with the other dogs when he brought him with him. He was the perfect guard dog, and would bark whenever he heard something outside the barn.
They finished their dinner and a young busboy cleared their dishes from the table.
“Abby, can we go out again sometime?” He hoped after the good news she’d received she might reconsider a date.
Abby’s eyes opened wide and her lips snapped together as if she had been caught off guard. She paused and composed herself.
“Not right now.” Her voice lost all its power and her words held regret.
“We could make it just coffee and a donut.” When he said the word donut, Abby licked her lips. Ah ha! She liked donuts.
Her gaze dropped to the table. “Maybe in a few days. I have something I’m working on.”
His heart rate increased and shot tingles through his limbs. At least she didn’t say no. Tomorrow he planned to stop by the pet store with breakfast.
They exited the restaurant into the peaceful warm night air. The girls slid into Pepper’s yellow truck and pulled out of the parking lot. Since it was dark, Ottar would already be stationed at their house. Relieved that the big Aussie would watch over them when they got home, River drove back to the office.
Later, he intended to scout the forest and hunt that brain-sucking Gnome. A never ending cycle of dead-ends. If only they could find the Gnome’s hideout, they could ambush the little bastard. Gnomes were crafty and smart but River prepared to out-maneuver the gross bugger. He just needed a break.
One big, huge, humongous break. His intuition niggled him in believing that break would come soon.
Chapter 25
River picked up a half dozen fresh donuts and two cups of vanilla cappuccino on his way to the pet store. He reached over and rubbed Hercules’s soft tan fur. “Ready to go visit Abby, big guy?” The huge dog’s tail wagged and banged against the dashboard of the squad car. He hung his massive head out the passenger window, drool spattering across the side of the vehicle.
The sun shone brighter than usual with brilliant oranges and pink hues. River suspected it was because he was on his way to visit Abby.
The night before, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He loved that she wore no makeup. Her natural beauty was undeniable. He loved the way she used her fork to poke at her food before she ate, as if she were testing it to make sure it wasn’t alive. He loved how when he’d ask her a question that flustered her, she always blinked several times before she swiped her lip balm across her lips. The aroma of cherries was his new favorite smell.
He pulled the squad car into a parking spot in front of the store. When he entered, Abby was working the cash register, waiting on a woman and small child who held a medium-sized wriggling black puppy. River plastered on his pleasant, friendly smile as they walked by.
“I see another puppy found a home.” River set the box of donuts on the front counter along with the coffee. “I’ll be right back.” He went back to the car to retrieve Hercules.
Hercules jumped on the glass shop window, leaving a jowl full of doggy slime smeared across it before River could get the door open. Hercules ran inside, his tail a weapon, smacking anything in three-foot-high radius, knocked some of the collars off a display.
Abby reached down and scratched him behind his big, dark floppy ears. “Hey, Hercules. Have you talked your daddy into buying you another new toy?”
A large pink tongue licked her across the face. River pulled back on the leash to control the mastiff.
“That’s enough, big guy. She doesn’t need a bath.” He glanced over at the drool trail on Abby’s chin. “I’m sorry. He gets so excited when we come in here.” Grabbing a tissue off the counter, he wiped her face.
“That’s okay. It’s just doggy kisses.” Abby flashed a love-is-puppies smile and gave Hercules a kiss on his massive head.
“I brought donuts and coffee. Would you like some?” He opened the box of donuts and handed her a paper cup with steam pouring out of the slit in the plastic lid.
“This is great. Thank you.” She picked out a chocolate frosted cake donut from the box and took a bite. Brown frosting smeared on her cheek.
More than anything, River wanted to lick the frosting from her face, but wouldn’t dare try. He pointed to his cheek in the spot that mirrored the smudge. “You have some frosting right here.”
She blushed a pinkish flush, pulled out a
napkin, and wiped off the frosting. “Oh jeez, I swear, I wear more food than I get in my mouth.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I think it’s cute.”
Big brown eyes blinked three times at him, and he thought he caught a glimmer of affection deep inside. As fast as the gleam appeared, it disappeared. She broke the contact when she looked away to the door and stared at nothing.
“So, what new toy would you suggest I buy for this guy?”
“We got in some new indestructible toys.” She strolled down the dog toy aisle, pointing at different rubber and rope ensembles. “This one is made from a fire hose with a plastic bottle inside so when he bites down it makes crunch noises.” She squeezed the red and black toy to demonstrate, then passed it to River to try.
Hercules’s ears perked when he heard the crinkle noise. The massive dog leaped up and placed his paws on River’s chest. “Do you want this one?”
The long tail swished back and forth like a whip.
“I guess we’ll take it.” He pushed the dog off his chest with gentle hands and patted the large pup’s back end. He handed the toy back to Abby.
“Great. Do you want me to take it out of the package?”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
With her scissors, she cut the plastic threads that held the cardboard on top. “It seems these packages are getting harder and harder to open.
“Here, let me try.” He took the dull scissors and freed the toy.
Hercules bounced up and snatched his treasure from his hands then ran to the back of the shop to give it a test.
“Looks like he couldn’t wait.” Abby let out a musical laugh that struck a song in River’s heart.
