Path of Secrets

by D. F. Hart

  And according to the ambulance crew that had transported him to the closest hospital, he’d been very, very lucky that the deer hadn’t traveled up the hood and through the windshield after impact. Little comfort that was, though. He’d suffered a concussion, three broken ribs, a cracked sternum, and a bloodied nose in addition to scratches and bruising from the airbag’s deployment.

  Add to that the doctor’s refusal to turn him loose just yet, and his mood was sour to say the least.

  “Guess the game has to wait,” he grumbled under his breath as the nurse approached with more pain medication.

  ***

  “May I use my recorder? Do you mind?” Grant had asked her before Kelly started their tour.

  “Not at all,” she’d replied, and showed the dimples he had already grown fond of.

  He pulled out the tiny recorder and turned it on and was secretly grateful.

  Now I can focus one hundred percent on her instead of trying to take notes.

  They walked the entire site, and Kelly proved to be the ultimate guide. Listening to her descriptions, Grant could almost see smoke rising from the bakery’s chimney as it was run around the clock to provide bread for as many as 560 men each day. He could almost hear the morning reveille sounding from the bugler, the barked cadences as soldiers marched their drills on the parade grounds, the laughter of children as they left the stone schoolhouse building each afternoon, and the whinny of the horses attached to the two cavalry companies that were routinely part of the fort’s personnel.

  As late afternoon began to descend, Grant found himself disappointed that their time together was drawing to a close. When they returned to the visitor lot, he shut off the recorder.

  “So...,” he began shyly, “thank you so much for spending time with me today. I really enjoyed the tour. No wonder General Sherman called this place the ‘prettiest fort in Texas’.”

  “You’re welcome,” Kelly replied, flushing a deep pink. “I, um, had a lot of fun with you, too.”

  “You wouldn’t want to get dinner or something, would you?”

  “I’d really like that,” she said, and it was Grant’s turn to smile and blush a little.

  “Cool,” he blurted out. “Um... where would you like to go?”

  “There’s a place in town that’s really good, and has a wide variety,” she answered. “Follow me there?”

  “Absolutely.”

  ***

  It was just after six o’clock on Saturday evening when Donny and Lizzie pulled into the driveway of her house in Pantego. They retrieved one suitcase each – “the rest can wait until morning, honey,” Donny told her – and Donny unlocked the front door, then stood aside for Lizzie to enter.

  As soon as she flipped on the light, the living room erupted with noise and movement.

  “Happy birthday!” her friends shouted and broke into raucous cheers and applause.

  She looked over her shoulder at her suddenly very guilty-looking fiancé.

  “This is why we took our time coming back, isn’t it?”

  He shrugged. “Only partly. I really did enjoy having you all to myself.”

  “It’s a nice surprise,” she murmured, and kissed him. “Thank you, husband-to-be.”

  “You’re welcome, wife-to-be,” he murmured back, and watched with contentment as she set down her suitcase and walked forward to receive hugs and well-wishes.

  Not even sixty seconds later he heard and saw Faith look at Lizzie’s left hand, squeal with excitement and throw her arms around Lizzie. He noticed movement to his left and turned his head to see that Rick had joined him at the edge of the room.

  “Hey there,” Rick said, clapping his hand on Donny’s shoulder. “I’m assuming from Faith’s reaction that you and Lizzie got engaged on the way here.”

  “Yep,” Donny grinned. “I just couldn’t wait anymore.”

  “Nice! What about the rest of what you had going?”

  “We talked about all that, too. And I have a favor to ask.”

  “Whatcha need?”

  “Wanna road trip with me? I’m flying up to Vail tomorrow to pack up and I could use the help.”

  “I bet I could get Micah to run the bookstore for a couple of days. Sure, I’ll go with you.”

  ***

  Once they’d settled into a booth, Grant took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and said, “Tell me about yourself.”

  Kelly grinned. “Let’s see. I’m almost done with my Masters’ degrees. My externship ends next week, and I’ll graduate the week after that.

  “Degrees? More than one?”

  “U.S. History and Texas History.”

  “Nice! I majored in creative writing, with a history minor.”

  “I knew there was something about you that I liked,” she teased, and watched his ears turn red. “Anyway, once I graduate, I’ll be working for Texas Parks and Wildlife up at Fort Richardson.”

  Grant froze, his iced tea glass halfway to his lips. “Beg pardon?”

  “Fort Richardson,” she repeated. “Up in Jacksboro.”

  “What are the odds?”

  “Of what?”

  “I grew up in Jacksboro. Wandering around Fort Richardson is what got me interested in history to begin with.”

  Her eyes went wide with surprise. “Really? Cool!”

  She took a drink of her own, then asked, “So, um, do you still live up there?”

  “I live in Pantego,” he said. “By Arlington.”

  “Oh.”

  “But it’s not far at all,” he hurriedly continued. “An hour or so.”

  “Oh,” Kelly repeated. “That’s not so far.”

  She blushed furiously and began scrutinizing her menu.

  I’d love to know what she’s thinking right now, Grant thought to himself as he scanned his own menu.

  ***

  “So,” Faith said, her eyes bright with excitement, “did he surprise you?”

  “He really did,” Lizzie admitted. “He proposed in New Orleans.”

  “Aww,” Faith exclaimed, and hugged her again. “Lizzie, you’re glowing. It’s so awesome to see you this happy.”

  “Thanks,” Lizzie giggled. “I think so, too.”

  She turned and looked across the room at Donny and Rick in conversation. “Wonder what they’re up to.”

  Faith tried her best to be nonchalant. “Oh, you know. Guy stuff, I’m sure.”

  “He’s moving down here. For me,” Lizzie confided, her smile revving into overdrive. “Can you believe that?”

  “I can, since he told us he was planning to,” Faith revealed, and Lizzie gasped.

  “Really? How long have you known?”

  “A while. Remember that night ya’ll were on the phone but didn’t talk very long?”

  “Yes. What about it?”

  “He was down here. He’d just taken the licensing test and we took him out to dinner at Mama J’s to celebrate and to plan your birthday party. He freaked out a little bit when you called; he was trying to keep it all a surprise for you.”

  “Oh. Well, that explains it,” Lizzie said, her eyes warming with affection as she gazed at Donny. “I knew something was up but had no idea what it was.”

  “There she is! Hey, birthday girl. It’s good to see you,” Renee walked up with outstretched arms.

  “Hey, Renee! How are you feeling, mom-to-be?”

  “Not bad today,” she admitted as she hugged Lizzie. “Today’s been pretty good. Girl. You are glowing! And is that an engagement ring I see?”

  “It is.”

  Renee took her hand and looked at the ring.

  “Hey Atherton!” she called out.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “You did good. This is gorgeous,” she told him, and he grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

  Renee turned her attention back to Faith and Lizzie.

  “Now, I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving. This kid already has me eating just about twenty-four hours a day. I’m headed t
oward the food.”

  “Lead the way, we’re right behind you,” Lizzie said with a laugh. “How’s your doctoral program going?”

  ***

  He shifted position on the thin mattress, trying his best to get comfortable, but it was no use. Probably should have accepted those pain meds, he admitted to himself. But he didn’t like the deep fog they brought him even as they alleviated the pain.

  The pills also made him dream... if nightmares could even be called dreams. The entire span of his childhood bubbled to the surface during those moments; he’d already come awake screaming once, causing the nursing staff to rush to his room with concern.

  One older, more experienced nurse whose name tag read ‘Mary’ started to ask him about his nightmares, looked into his eyes, and had – wisely, in his opinion – changed her mind.

  And he’d been grateful. He’d spent years tamping those memories down enough to lock them away for good...

  Quit wallowing, and focus. What are your next steps? Build a plan. This isn’t a jail. You have the ability to sign yourself out of here any time you like, you know. Think. You need a plan of action.

  ***

  They fell silent again while the waitress placed the desserts they’d ordered on the table.

  Grant’s mind raced with questions, none of which felt safe to ask her. He was surprised when Kelly looked across the booth at him and blurted out, “This is nice. We should do this again sometime.”

  He smiled as he stretched out his hand toward her. When she slipped her hand into his, the spark he felt nearly melted his brain.

  “I was just thinking the same thing, I just wasn’t sure how to bring it up,” he admitted.

  She laughed, a light, airy, tinkling sound that warmed his soul.

  “Sorry if I put you on the spot,” she offered.

  “You didn’t,” he replied. “It’s just... I, um... don’t date much...” his voice trailed off as his face flushed a deep dusky pink before he shared something with her that no one else knew. “Although some of my readers have been quite determined to set me up with somebody. There’s this one lady in particular who is convinced that her granddaughter and I would be great together.”

  She laughed again. “Really? That must be awkward.”

  “It really is,” he agreed, his brown eyes alight with mirth. “Extremely.”

  “I don’t date much either,” Kelly confided.

  “Really? You must be joking. I mean, look at you. You’re smart, funny, beautiful...”

  Her dimples appeared again even as she shrugged. “There’s not very many guys around here my age that like what I like. Most are into sports, not history, and I am most definitely a history nerd.”

  “Well, I love that about you, personally.”

  She beamed at him, squeezing his hand.

  “So, what’s next?” he asked. “It sounds like we agree we’d like to spend more time together. But I’m up there, and you’re down here. How do we do this?”

  “Well... do you have any plans for Memorial Day weekend?”

  “No,” Grant confirmed. “Do you?”

  “Actually, I’m supposed to be up in Jacksboro that weekend. Would you want to hang out with me? If you’re not busy with some lady’s granddaughter, that is,” she teased.

  He gazed into her blue eyes.

  “Absolutely.”

  They lingered over their desserts, laughing and talking.

  Kelly glanced at her watch, then said, “I’d probably better get going. I have a guided tour tomorrow at ten a.m. Fifty Cub Scouts. I need to get a good night’s sleep.”

  “Fifty, huh? But you’re a pro. You’ll have them hanging on every word you say.”

  “You’re biased,” she pointed out.

  “Maybe I am, a little,” he told her. “I find you fascinating, to be honest.”

  He settled their tab, then walked her to her car.

  “So, see you in Jacksboro, I guess.”

  She paused.

  “You might as well stay in town tonight. Driving around in the dark out here can be dangerous. How about we meet here in the morning for breakfast before you go?”

  “I’d like that,” he said.

  Kelly rummaged in her purse and pulled out a slip of paper and a pen.

  “Here,” she said, handing it to him. “You called the main number before. This is my cell phone.”

  He entered it in his phone, then sent her a text.

  “And there’s mine,” he announced.

  “Okay, then,” Kelly spoke into the awkward silence before she closed the distance to kiss him goodnight.

  When she stepped away from him again, she whispered, “So, meet here at seven?”

  “You bet.”

  He watched her drive away, a goofy grin on his face.

  “Huh,” he mumbled. “Talk about a perfect day.”

  He sighed with satisfaction, then pulled up a Google search for the closest place to spend the night.

  ***

  Nathan carried a sleeping Charlie in from the car.

  “Let me go put Charlie in bed right quick. Meet you on the couch?”

  “Yep.”

  Ten minutes later they were snuggled side-by-side.

  “That was a nice party,” Bella observed. “And I’m so happy for Lizzie and Donny. They’re so good together, don’t you think?”

  “I do,” Nathan agreed. “And the way they met was classic! Bet that doesn’t happen very often.”

  “I would imagine not,” his wife countered. “Dating psychotic siblings can’t be that common.”

  Nathan laughed. “Lord, let’s hope not.”

  His cell phone ringing broke up their conversation.

  “Thomas,” he said, his voice shifting to the brisk tone that meant it was a business call.

  Bella watched as his face changed from lighthearted to full concentration as he said, “Really... Hang on, let me grab a notepad,” and launched himself off the couch to move into the home office.

  Sounds serious, she thought to herself. I guess the string of calm days has finally been broken.

  Forty minutes later he returned to the couch.

  “I’m gonna have to travel,” he told her with a grim look. “Two shootings with identical ballistics, one in Abilene, and one in San Angelo.”

  “Two?”

  He nodded. “That was a conference call with the detectives working each case. They compared notes and decided to request a full profile since they can’t find any direct links between the two victims.”

  “When are you leaving?”

  “Might as well head out in the morning.”

  “Why?”

  “Honestly?”

  She nodded. “Always.”

  “Because,” Nathan said as he put his arm around her, “my gut tells me this is only the beginning. The sooner I get them the data the sooner they can catch this guy.”

  “Your gut’s never been wrong yet.”

  “I know,” he agreed, placing a kiss at her right temple. “And that’s what worries me.”

  ***

  On Sunday morning, Lizzie and Donny unpacked the rest of her items from her SUV. Then Donny switched gears, hefting his suitcase onto the bed.

  “It’s nice that Rick agreed to go with you,” Lizzie said as she watched Donny put away his things into the two bureau drawers that she had cleared out for him.

  “I thought so. Any spare hangers?”

  “Tons,” she answered, and retrieved a handful for him. “When will you be back?”

  Donny calculated in his head.

  “Well, I’m not moving the furniture or anything. At least, not most of it. Everything I need to bring down should fit in the back of my truck. I’m thinking we’ll be back down here by Thursday, at the latest.”

  “You excited about tomorrow? First day on the new gig,” he asked once he’d zipped up the empty suitcase and stored it in the closet.

  “I really am,” she admitted. “Looking forward to gett
ing started.”

  Donny noticed her look. “You all right?”

  “Yeah,” she exhaled and smiled. “It’s just finally sunk in.”

  “What has?”

  “That you’re going to be here all the time. No more nightly phone calls and missing you like crazy.”

  “Sounds like someone might have a crush on me,” he teased, and she swatted his shoulder.

  “We blew past a simple crush months ago. Weren’t you paying attention?” Lizzie teased back.

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly.

  “You’re the love of my life. You realize that, right?” he asked, all teasing gone now.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Definitely.”

  “I think I can live with that. Provided you demonstrate, that is.”

  He picked her up and growled, “It’s a good thing I moved the suitcase out of the way,” in her ear as he walked her over to their bed.

  ***

  “Good morning, beautiful.”

  The words were out of his mouth before Grant could stop himself. Not that Kelly seemed to mind. Deep dimples were flashed his way as she walked over to him.

  “Good morning, handsome. I take it you found a place to stay?”

  “Four blocks from here.”

  “Nice! You hungry?”

  “Famished. Let’s do this.”

  They walked into the café they’d spent three hours in the night before, and the owner glanced over at them and smiled.

  “Good morning, you two,” she drawled, adding lovebirds to the end in her head. “Have a seat anywhere you’d like.”

  Grant was surprised that somehow, Kelly seemed to have gotten even more beautiful in the few hours he’d been apart from her, and it was all he could do not to stare.

  She noticed almost immediately.

  “You okay?”

  “Better than okay,” he assured her, and decided not to hold back as he took her hand. “I’m having breakfast with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’m fantastic.”

  ***

  Nathan made good time to Abilene, arriving just before ten. Paul Ricard was ready and waiting.