After the Midnight Hour

by Linda Randall Wisdom

  “That is a very kind offer, but we do not need you to find a place for us,” Rachel said. “We have always been able to take care of ourselves.”

  He still had trouble believing her. Deep down, he felt as if there was a lot more to her story than she cared to reveal. He knew if he had any common sense, he’d get hold of a car so he could drive the women to a local shelter and turn them over to the first social worker he came across.

  Jared had never taken in strays or befriended people down on their luck. He was a loner, only looking out for himself. For him to worry about Rachel’s situation suggested a chink in his armor.

  He thought of explaining to her that he was happier when he was alone.

  Then he looked at her.

  There was something in her eyes that tugged at him. They held a calm resignation, as if she’d read his mind and knew exactly what he was going to say to her. As if this was something that had happened to her before. Not that he could imagine anyone ever rejecting her.

  But there was also something there he couldn’t read as easily.

  The lady had secrets. He’d bet she had a lot of them.

  He didn’t like secrets, even if he had more than a few of his own. He’d learned the hard way that he couldn’t trust people with secrets.

  He knew he should stick to his guns and get them out of his house, but there was something else bothering him. He didn’t know why, but he had the sensation that he’d met her long before that night she’d tended to him.

  Once Jared made a decision, he never backed down. It was one of his few hard-and-fast rules. The only other one he had was that he refused to talk about his father.

  He looked at Rachel, who sat there quietly, as if she knew her future hinged on his next decision. He sighed heavily. He knew he wasn’t going to borrow a car and drive them to a shelter, and he wasn’t going to talk to a social worker about them. At least, not yet.

  “This is still no place for you, but I’ll help you clean up one of the rooms for you two to use until you can find a new place. It’s still only temporary,” he warned her.

  “We will be no trouble,” she assured him.

  He never thought anything could warm his scarred soul—until Rachel smiled at him.

  Chapter 3

  Jared’s shoulders burned, his legs ached and he was positive his back was broken in a multitude of areas. He wanted nothing more than to lie down somewhere and not get up for at least a year.

  He kept himself physically fit by running most mornings and he made regular use of the weight room at the station, but he hadn’t realized that lifting weights didn’t make a difference when performing hard physical labor. He thought longingly of the spa at his former apartment building. What he wouldn’t give to sink down in that hot bubbling water until the kinks left his body. He wouldn’t mind having one out here. It would be nice to relax in, with only the night sky and stars for company.

  He’d tied a bandanna around his forehead to keep the sweat from dripping into his eyes. His leather work gloves were good protection, but he still suffered a couple blisters on his palms. Maya had studied his damaged hands that morning, muttered something under her breath and went off for a few minutes. She’d returned with a jar of some evil-smelling salve that she’d slathered on his hands, then had wrapped strips of cloth around each palm. Jared had fumbled his way through breakfast and gingerly put on his work gloves. He’d been surprised to discover the salve seemed to have taken some of the pain out of his hands, to the point he could comfortably use them.

  When he asked her where the salve came from, she shrugged and said it was something she had made up from the plants outside. He didn’t ask if she believed it would work. Knowing the woman, she wouldn’t use anything that didn’t work the way she intended it to.

  “No one in their right mind would do this for a living,” he muttered, after sinking a replacement post.

  The anguished howl of an animal in pain snapped him to attention. He swiftly headed in the direction of the sound and stopped short at the sight before him. Because the three men had their backs to him, they hadn’t noticed his approach. Jared frowned when he saw they were alternately teasing and poking at a young dog with sticks, while one of the men tugged on a rope tied tightly around the dog’s neck. The puppy whimpered and strained at the rope, trying to get away, but his tormentors blocked any hope of escape.

  “Dammit,” Jared growled under his breath. Then he raised his voice. “Hey, guys! You’re on private property.”

  The three men stopped their game and turned around. The fact that he was outnumbered three to one didn’t bother Jared. Old habits died hard. Along with his work gloves, he didn’t leave the house without making sure he had his weapon tucked in the back of his belt. For backup he carried a wickedly sharp knife secured in a sheath in his boot. He recognized the men as regulars at The Renegade. He’d even beaten one of them at pool one night. Not that that made them all friends; hell, for all he knew these guys could have been the ones who’d tried to turn him into a punching bag the other night. If that was the case, he was damn glad he was armed and ready for payback.

  The man holding the rope tightened his grip. The young dog struggled and howled a canine protest as he dug his paws into the dirt and backed up on his haunches, attempting to free himself from his tormentor.

  “We’re not doin’ anything,” one man argued in the raspy voice of a heavy smoker.

  “Yeah, you are. You’re on my property and you’re scaring the dog,” Jared pointed out in a careless tone, although inside he seethed at the idea of anyone harming a defenseless animal. He didn’t want the men to know how he truly felt, because he wouldn’t put it past them to try something he wouldn’t be able to stop in time. “Tell you what, set the dog free and the three of you can go off wherever you want.”

  The man holding the rope opened his mouth as if to argue, but one of his friends poked him in the ribs with an elbow.

  “We didn’t know anyone lived around here,” he said, again tightening his hold on the rope until the puppy whimpered in distress once more. “But the dog comes with us. He’s mine.”

  “Not anymore.” Steel crept into Jared’s voice. “Like I said, you can go, but the animal stays here.”

  He held his angry gaze until the man tossed the rope to one side.

  Jared ignored their mutters as they took their time walking away. He waited until they were gone before he walked over to the puppy and took the rope off his neck. He chuckled when the pup jumped up on oversize paws and licked his face in gratitude.

  “I know I said I should get a dog so I wouldn’t be talking to myself all the time,” he told the puppy. “That didn’t mean I was actively looking for one.” He lifted one paw and shook his head at the size. “Especially one who’s going to grow up to be the size of a small horse.” He noted the rough coat and jutting ribs and backbone that indicated the dog hadn’t been properly fed for a while. “It looks like they forgot to feed you too. At least that’s something I can handle. Let me give you some advice. Look pathetic and I just bet the wicked witch guarding my kitchen will put out some food for you.”

  It didn’t take much persuading on Jared’s part to get the pup to follow him. As if sensing he was now safe, the dog happily loped alongside as Jared headed back to the house.

  “Damn, what did I get into? I have a house, two women living with me and now a dog,” he muttered. “At this rate, I’ll soon be driving one of those yuppie minivans and coaching Little League.”

  The puppy yipped excitedly as they reached the weedy front yard. Maya stood on the porch with a broom in her hand, furiously sweeping, as if pushing the devil himself off the porch. She looked up at the sound of the puppy’s barks.

  “Dios mío,” she breathed. “What have you done now? Why did you bring this animal here?” She jumped backward as the young dog raced up the steps and bounced up on his hind legs, planting his muddy paws on her skirt.

  “He’s just a puppy,” Jared ex
plained.

  She made a face as the dog dropped back down to all fours and pushed against her legs. “He is dirty and probably has fleas.” She shot Jared a knowing look when the puppy sank back on his haunches and lifted his rear leg to scratch behind his ear.

  Jared sighed. Maybe she was right—perhaps he should take the puppy into town and drop him off at the local animal shelter. He was positive the young dog would be adopted right away. But a part of him couldn’t do it. Maybe because there had been a time when he’d wanted a dog and wasn’t allowed one. His dad had insisted he had enough trouble looking after a snot-nosed kid without the hassle of a dog, too.

  “So we get him a flea collar for now and some of those pills to keep the fleas off him. Some soap and water will take care of the dirt.”

  The puppy suddenly nosed past Maya’s skirts and ran into the house. They could hear him emitting high-pitched barks.

  Maya muttered what could have been prayers, curses or both as she ran after him, with Jared following her.

  The puppy stood in the middle of the living room, barking at thin air.

  “He’ll be a good watchdog,” Jared said in a mild tone.

  Maya shot him a dark look and shooed the puppy into the kitchen.

  “I will not bathe him. You will do it outside and do something about his fleas so he will not bring them in here,” she ordered over her shoulder.

  Jared grinned. “Done.”

  “He will grow up to be as big as this house, perhaps even bigger,” she predicted dourly. “It will cost you much money to feed him. More than to feed you.”

  “Since I’m paying the bills you don’t need to worry.” He watched the puppy fall over paws too big for his body and plop backward on his haunches. What surprised him was seeing the animal look toward a section of the room, as if staring at someone. His tongue lolling, he lifted a front paw to bat at the empty air as he yipped several times in greeting.

  Maya stared at the puppy for a moment, then looked up at Jared. Whatever she was thinking was masked behind stoic features.

  “Yes, I see how well he will protect me from nothing.” She kept her dark eyes fastened on Jared. “Puppies make messes unless they learn to go outside. I will not clean up after him.”

  Jared didn’t miss the look on the puppy’s face that warned of an impending accident. He quickly snatched up the dog and carried him out, praising him lavishly for waiting until he was outside in the dirt. The puppy jumped up against his legs and happily yipped.

  “So what were you barking at in there, fella?” Jared asked, scratching the puppy’s ears. “The house ghost?” he joked. He looked up to see Maya standing on the porch. “I’m going to take him into town to see a vet and get him his shots and such. I guess you need more cleaning supplies? Any groceries I need to pick up?”

  She rattled off a list of items that still surprised him.

  Maya’s mouth turned up at one corner. “You will take him on your machine?”

  Jared cursed under his breath. He hadn’t thought about the dog having to ride on his bike.

  “I’ve seen dogs on bikes before,” he replied. “Plus he’s small.” For now.

  “His feet are not. I will make stew for dinner.” She turned around and walked into the house.

  Jared looked down at the dog. “Maybe I need to take her in along with you for shots.” He sighed and picked up the dog. “Trust me, you’ll like the other one a hell of a lot better.”

  “It is not good that he is living here now,” Maya proclaimed, waving a large spoon in the air as she stirred the stew. “No one has lived here for years. Why did he have to come here?”

  This is his land. Rachel knew the older woman couldn’t hear her, but it didn’t stop her from answering.

  “He does not appear to be dumb. If he stays here much longer he will find out the truth. What will happen then?” Maya knew she couldn’t hear Rachel, either, but the scent of jasmine always told her when she was nearby.

  Maybe he will not find out. What happened to him as a child turned him into a bitter and lonely man, even if he will never admit it. Maybe if we are here he will not turn out to be dark as Caleb was. Look how Jared is with the puppy.

  As if Maya heard her, she mumbled her opinion of the young dog, then she muttered, “Señor Caleb treated his dogs better than he treated you.” She paused in her work. “Oh, niña, what if he refuses to believe the truth?”

  He will have to understand, especially when he sees I cannot leave the house. Besides, it is not as if he can hurt me.

  A strange light appeared in Maya’s eyes. “Then perhaps it is meant for him to be here now. He may be the one the gods have decreed will help you find the key that can free you.”

  If Rachel had been able to sigh, she would have. She wanted to tell Maya that she was convinced the story of the key was just that, a story. Either that or the legendary key had disappeared years ago and would never be found. Maya told her the gods did not lie. While Rachel wouldn’t accuse them of lying, she believed that they might hold back parts of the truth when it suited them.

  Maya looked up when she heard excited yips from outside. She also sensed the sun dropping down behind the mountains.

  When Jared stepped into the kitchen with the puppy stumbling after him, Rachel stood near the stove, turning down the heat under a pot emitting mouthwatering smells.

  “Hey, Rachel.” He greeted her with a broad smile that she found easy to return. Even tired and dirty from hours of physical labor, there was something about Jared that touched a part of her deep inside. Sometimes, the intensity of the feeling almost frightened her. She’d never felt anything like it before. “What have you been up to today?”

  “Exploring,” she replied, leaning over and holding out her hand. The puppy immediately ran over and sniffed it. Her smile hitched up a few notches when the puppy licked her fingers.

  Jared noticed the exchange. “He’s not too happy with me after having a bath and flea dip, plus getting all his shots, along with an appointment for some special surgery.” He confided the latter in a low voice.

  “I always wanted to have a dog.” She didn’t take her gaze off the puppy, who heaved a huge sigh and leaned against her legs.

  “You couldn’t have one?”

  She shook her head. “I was always told that dogs were meant to herd sheep and cattle. They were not meant to be pets inside the house.” It was clear she recited someone else’s words.

  Jared took a chair, turned it around and sat down, resting his arms along the back. “My old man said I cost enough money and was enough trouble without having any pets that would just make more work for him. As if he bothered with me all that much, anyway. When I thought about it later, I realized it was better we didn’t have a dog. Who knows what he would have done to one?” he muttered darkly.

  “Where did this little one come from?” Rachel asked.

  “I came across some jerks teasing him. I ordered them off the property and told them there wouldn’t be any trouble as long as they left the dog. So now I guess I have a pet,” he said wryly.

  “You should give him a name, so he feels as if he belongs.” She buried her fingers in the dog’s fur.

  Jared nodded. “I’m thinking of calling him Harley. He sure didn’t mind riding on one today when I took him into town.”

  She looked confused. “You are naming him after your vehicle?”

  He pretended to be shocked. “Honey, we’re talking about the motorcycle to end all motorcycles. Harley-Davidson, to be exact. The ultimate riding machine. I’ll take you on it one day so you’ll know just what I’m talking about.”

  She looked pensive. “I do not think I would be comfortable on something like that.”

  “Sure you would,” he declared. “Believe me, once you ride a Harley you’ll never want to ride in a car again.”

  “Maya calls it a devil’s machine,” she murmured.

  Jared leaned toward Rachel. “If you want to talk about a devil…” he raised
and lowered his eyebrows comically “…truthfully, the woman scares the hell out of me.” He grinned at the sound of Rachel’s giggle. He’d noticed that her laughter seemed rusty, as if she hadn’t had much cause to laugh. He couldn’t understand why, since he considered her laughter one of the most beautiful sounds he’d ever heard.

  Domestic crimes weren’t part of Jared’s job, but his work as a homicide detective brought him in contact with victims of abuse. He knew all the signs of physical and emotional trauma. And as a homicide detective, he’d seen more than his share of what happened if an abuser wasn’t stopped in time. Jared could see that Rachel displayed some of those signs. He hadn’t missed the wariness she sometimes displayed around him or the time she’d flinched when his temper got out of hand when he’d hit his thumb with a hammer fixing a bedroom door one evening.

  Jared was positive a man had mistreated her, and he’d bet everything that the abuse had been physical as well as verbal and emotional. He wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t faded bruises hidden under those long sleeves and ankle-length skirts. She’d said her husband was dead, but she could be lying because she was hiding from him. At the same time, her abuser might not have been her husband. If she was hiding from someone, Jared knew he couldn’t take her to a shelter. At least, not until he had a chance to learn her story and find a way to help her. He knew about abuse firsthand, but he also knew he could ask Detective Celeste Dante for help. She worked Domestic Crimes and would know what to do.

  “No one is ever going to hurt you again, Rachel,” he said quietly.

  The small smile that flirted with her lips moved up to her eyes. He was relieved that she didn’t pretend to not know what he was talking about. He worried that meant the abuse was more recent than he’d like to think.

  “Thank you, Jared Stryker,” she murmured in her honeyed drawl. “I have not felt safe in a long time. But I feel safe with you.”