by V. A. Dold
“We assume so. I haven’t bothered to ask him,” Joe answered for the both of them.
The sheriff read Larry his rights and cuffed him. “Lucas, do you have anything we can use as a tourniquet? He’s bleeding pretty badly.”
“I’m sure there is something we can use.”
The sheriff grabbed his radio and called for an ambulance and then helped Lucas dress Larry’s wounds as best they could.
Finally, he turned and removed his hat to address Carol. “Miss Duffy, are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m sure I’ll be bruised from the fight and the fall from the hayloft, but I’m relatively unhurt.”
“You fell from the loft?” Joe asked, his voice raising an octave.
“Yeah, but I landed in a bit of straw.”
“Are you feeling up to giving me a statement?” Sheriff Dansby asked.
“If it’s all right with you, I would like to do that after I’m sure my dog will live. Larry stabbed him. He also killed Roy, and threatened Tracy with sexual assault.”
The sheriff glanced around. “Where is Roy?”
Lucas stepped forward and cleared his throat. “I tell the sheriff what I can. Carol, why don’t you and Joe go up to the house and check on Tug.”
He waited until Joe and Carol were out of earshot and then waved for the sheriff to follow him. “Carol says he’s up there.”
Lucas remained at the bottom of the ladder. “Is he dead?”
He heard a heavy exhale. “I’m sorry, Lucas. It looks like Larry ambushed him. I counted four stab wounds. Of course, the autopsy will be able to tell us more.”
He scrubbed his face with his hands. “Let me know when you’re ready to move him, and I’ll help you lower him down.”
“Thanks, Lucas. But this will take a while. Do you think maybe someone could make some coffee?”
“Sure. I’ll ask Krystal to start a pot.”
“Krystal? You know I haven’t met her yet.”
Lucas pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll make sure she’s the one to bring the coffee so you can meet one another.”
Doug zipped an evidence bag closed and glanced at Lucas. “As much as I’d like to meet her, are you sure seeing the crime scene is a good idea?”
He glanced up at the loft for a moment. “Krystal will take it like a trooper. She may look fragile but she’s one tough cookie.”
Hay rustled, and the sheriff grunted. “I guess I’ll have to take your word on that.”
Lucas tapped his phone and made the call.
“Hello, Lucas? Is everything all right out there?” Krystal asked, worry lacing her voice.
“As okay as it can be. Roy was murdered.”
He heard a sniffle through the phone. “I heard.”
“Are you, okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Do you have a minute to make some coffee and bring it out here?”
He waited while Krystal blew her nose. “Sure. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
“Thanks, cher.” He ended the call and leaned against Oreo’s stall. The horse nickered and nudged his shoulder. He turned and stroked her muzzle. “You had a tough night, didn’t you girl? Don’t worry about your human. She’s strong and will be just fine.”
A few minutes later, Krystal joined them with a carafe of coffee, cream, sugar, and three cups. “Goodness, It’s a mess in here.”
Lucas glanced around at the broken and strewn tools, trails and pools of blood, lengths of rope, and a banged up bucket. “Yeah, it does.”
“Don’t touch that, darlin’,” a voice called from the loft as Krystal reached for the broom. “I haven’t checked the main floor for evidence yet.”
“Oh. Sorry,” she said as she glanced up and gasped.
Lucas frowned and touched her arm. “What is it?”
Wide-eyed, she looked from Sheriff Dansby to Lucas and whispered, “He’s my mate.”
Lucas’s brows rose. He looked up at the loft and then stared at Krystal until she nodded yes to his unspoken question. “I’ll be damned.”
Krystal’s hands shook, making the cups rattle. “Yeah. You can say that again. I need to sit down.” She handed the tray to Lucas and sat down hard on a nearby bale of straw.
About an hour later, Lucas stood with the sheriff and Krystal as the ambulance pulled away with Roy’s body. “It’s been a hell of a night. Would you have Carol and Joe come to my office tomorrow morning and give me their statements?”
Lucas held his hand out to Doug. “Absolutely. I know they want nothing more than to see Larry behind bars.”
Then Sheriff Dansby glanced at Krystal and cleared his throat. Lucas grinned when the man flushed a deep pink.
“Miss Krystal, I know this isn’t the time, but when things settle down, and you feel up to it, I would be honored if you would have dinner with me.”
Lucas covered his mouth to hide his grin. He’d never seen his cousin act so shy. Then again, he’d never known Krystal to date, so how would he know if she was shy around men.
“Thank you, Sheriff. I’d like that.”
“We’d better check on Carol and Tug. Drive safely, Sheriff.”
Doug nodded and tipped his hat. “Good night, Lucas, Krystal.” He walked to his car, glanced one last time at Krystal, and drove away.
“Goddess. This is not going to go over well with my mother,” Krystal mumbled as they walked to the house.
Lucas grunted. “Screw your mother. He’s your mate, and she has no say in the matter.”
He chuckled when she rolled her eyes at him. “Do me a favor and tell her that.”
They found Carol and Joe sitting with her sedated dog. Kensie waved them over to sit with her at the other end of the dining room. “It was touch and go, but he’ll make it.”
“Thank the Goddess,” Krystal whispered as she took the seat across from Kensie.
Lucas pulled the chair next to his mate. “How’s Carol holding up?”
He watched as Kensie glanced at Carol and back. “She’s one heck of a woman. Most people would curl up in a ball after what she went through. She’s more concerned about Tug and Tracy than she is about herself.”
Krystal tilted her head and seemed to study him and Kensie. “I’ll stay with them. Why don’t you guys get some rest?”
“Thanks. I’m so tired, I’m ready to drop.” She held out a large plastic cone and a bottle of pills. “When the dog wakes, make sure Carol puts this on him. I don’t want him to chew at his stitches. These are painkillers. Tell her to give him one pill twice a day. I’ll check on him in the morning.”
“Got it. Now off with you.”
Krystal sat quietly at the back of the room. From what she could hear, Joe and Carol were having a private conversation, and she didn’t want to intrude.
Joe held Carol and whispered into her hair. “I can’t thank you enough for saving my daughter. I’m just sorry Tug was hurt in the process.”
“Yeah, me too.” Carol stroked her dog’s ear and her voice became a whisper. “I knew when I gave him the command there was a chance he would be hurt. During the training program, they drill that into you so you don’t carelessly give your dog commands that can get him killed. But Tug was my only shot at getting Tracy away from Larry. There was no way in hell I was going to let him brutalize your baby girl. I’ve gone through it a hundred times in my head and there wasn’t anything else I could have done.”
He clasped her free hand and gently rocked her. “I know, baby. The way you handled him, making use of what was around you for weapons. Well, you blow my mind. That man had to have sixty pounds on you and you had him on the ground at your mercy.”
Carol glanced at Joe and gave him a weak smile. “After Larry attacked me all those years ago, I was scared all the time. I was tired of being afraid of my own shadow so I started taking every self-defense class I could, but I still didn’t feel completely safe. Then I read an article about attack dogs for personal protection. I went out the next day and
bought Tug, and when he was old enough I found a class.
Knowing I could defend myself and having Tug at my side gave me peace of mind for the first time in many, many years. I think that’s why Terry took him from me when he left town. He knew it would undermine my sense of security.”
“That man needs to have his ass kicked,” Joe snarled.
Carol chuckled softly. “Kensie already did that.”
Joe lifted her hand to his lips. “I can’t stop shaking. I almost lost you today. You and Tracy, the two most important women in my life.”
“I can’t either. When he grabbed her, I thought I would lose my mind. I love that girl like she’s my own.”
“She loves you, too. She told me yesterday that she wished you were her mother.” He paused. “Carol, look at me.”
She turned her head toward him, a slight crease between her brows.
“I wish you were her mother, too. I know my timing sucks and this isn’t a proper proposal. Not by a long shot. But I can’t get past almost losing you today. When Larry’s trial is over and our lives settle down, would you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?
Carol smiled and shook her head. “You’re right, your timing sucks. And yes, I’ll marry you.”
Joe let out a loud whoop and then cringed and whooped again quietly. He took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Thank you. Can I ask you one more thing?”
“Of course, you can ask me anything.”
“Would you consider adopting the kids and being their legal mother?”
Carol lifted a shaky hand to her mouth. “Do you mean it? You would let me be their mother?”
“The kids and I would love for you to be their mother.”
She nodded, tears running down her face. “Thank you, Joe. That means so much to me.”
He wiped her tears away and held her as they watched over Tug’s sleeping form.
Voices and the sound of boot heels disturbed the quiet of the dining room. They must have sat there all night. Kensie breezed up to the table and gave Tug a quick examination. “Come on, you guys. It’s time to relocate. They can’t serve food with a dog in the room. He should come to in the next few minutes. Let’s get him settled at your cabin.”
Joe carried the dog like he was made of china, unwilling to cause further pain to the animal. He eased sideways through the cabin door and laid Tug out on the bed.
When he glanced at Carol, he saw Kensie checking her watch. “What time is it?”
“Seven thirty. Sheriff Dansby needs your statements before he can finish processing Larry. If you take care of that now, you can sleep the rest of the day away.”
Carol looked from the dog to Kensie. “I would, but I can’t leave Tug alone.”
“I’ll stay with him until you get back.”
“All right, if you’re sure you have time.”
Kensie waved her off. “Krystal and Lucas can take care of things.”
“Thank you. I’ll just change out of yesterday’s clothes and then we can go.”
“I better change, too. After I check on the kids, I’ll be back with the truck and we can get this over with.”
*****
Giving their statements went faster than they’d expected. Carol covered her mouth as a yawn escaped and leaned her head against the headrest. Retelling the attack had taken a toll, and she was ready to collapse.
Joe reached across the center console and rubbed her thigh. “Hang in there, darlin’. I’ll have you home and back in bed in a matter of minutes.”
Eyes closed, she nodded and yawned again. She had hoped to give her statement and be done with the entire affair. Wishful thinking and she knew it. As the victim, she would be called to testify at the trial. A shudder ran through her body at the thought. She didn’t relish being in the same room with Larry.
She knew from experience, he would glare at her and make gestures to intimidate her while she was on the stand. He could try. She wasn’t a scared teenager anymore. That didn’t mean she had to like it.
Kensie met them on the porch with Tug by her side. Even with more bandages than fur, the dog wagged his tail in greeting.
Carol sank down to sit on the top step and cuddle Tug as best she could without touching any wounds. She touched her forehead to his and yawned.
Joe chuckled and offered her his hand. “Okay, time for bed. You can commune with each other in about eight hours. And if you’re a good girl, I’ll make you dinner at my house.”
She laughed and let him pull her to her feet. “You drive a hard bargain.”
Kensie smiled and waved as she made her way down the porch steps. “I’ll leave you to tuck her in. I’m sure Lucas could use a break from the front desk.”
“Thank you!” Carol called before Joe could shut the door.
*****
Carol hadn’t slept the full eight hours, but she was sure Joe wouldn’t complain when he took a bite of her mother’s famous brownies. She was the third generation to receive the family recipe. Maybe Tracy would make it four. She grabbed the pan she’d made for dessert and gave Tug a pat on the head. “I’ll be back soon, big guy.”
She knocked on Joe’s door. A heartbeat later, she heard excited shrieks and running feet. “Miss Carol’s here!” she heard Tracy call from behind the door.
Troy pulled the door open and Tracy grabbed her free hand. “Is Tug feeling better? Did he come with you? Is the bad man in jail?” she asked without taking a breath.
She laughed and let the kids pull her inside. “It’ll take Tug a while, but he’ll be ready to play in a week or so. He’s at home resting. And yes, the bad man is in jail.”
“Good. We helped Daddy make dinner. I stirred the sauce,” she said, as she patted her chest.
“I put the bread in the oven,” Troy added proudly.
“Wow. You’re good helpers.”
“They sure are,” Joe called from the kitchen.
“Joe! The table is beautiful,” she breathed, as her fingers traced the edge of an antique willow blue china plate. Two white candles in leaded Chrystal candlesticks and an empty vase graced the center of the table. She glanced up to see Joe give Troy a nod. The little boy scurried from the room and a moment later, Nat King Cole’s voice sang softly in the background.
When Troy returned wearing a huge smile and Tracy asked if it was time yet, she raised a brow at Joe. “What’s going on?”
He grinned and pulled a chair for her at the table. “You’ll see.”
She hesitated but took the offered seat and waited for an explanation.
“Ready?” he asked the kids.
“Ready,” they both said with a nod.
All three of them went down on one knee. Joe pulled a velvet box from his pocket as Tracy and Troy each held six red roses out to her.
Carol covered her mouth with her hands and stared at them.
Quietly he counted off. “Three, two, one.”
“Will you marry us, Miss Carol?” they all asked as one.
“Yes,” she nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks. “Yes, I will.”
“Yay!” The kids shouted and jumped up and down excitedly.
The kids put the roses into the vase as Joe popped the ring box open and slid the stunning multiple diamond band onto her finger. “I love you, Carol.”
“I love you, too,” she sniffled through her happy tears.
Unseen to the human eye, Stacy and Jacob high-fived and faded away.
He kissed her, wiped her tears away, and whispered, “I can’t wait to make you my bride.” Then louder he said, “Take your seats kids. It’s time to celebrate.”
Tracy scrambled to her chair and looked expectantly at Carol. “Are you our mommy now? Daddy said you would be.”
Carol took her tiny hand and squeezed. “Not yet. Are you sure you want me to be your mommy?”
Both kids nodded vigorously.
“There are legal steps we need to take to make it official,” Joe said as he placed dinner
on the table and took his seat. “I’ll call my lawyer tomorrow and get him moving on the paperwork.”
Their smiles fell away and Tracy sighed. “I guess I can wait a little longer.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Carol said, as she looked from Joe to the kids. “While you’re waiting, you can call me mom if you want to, and tell your friends that I’ll be your mom soon. Does that help?”
“Can we, Daddy?” both kids asked in stereo.
Joe passed the salad to Carol. “Absolutely.”
Tracy put a piece of garlic toast on her plate and passed the basket to Troy. “Can I be the flower girl at our wedding?”
Carol paused as she passed the salad. “I wasn’t planning on having a big wedding, sweetie. I only know your family and a few people on the ranch.” She looked at Joe unsure of what he would say.
“How do you feel about going to the courthouse to get married? The few people you know can attend the civil ceremony. And if it’s okay with you, Tracy and Troy can stand up with us along with Lucas and one of your girl friends.”
“I like that idea better than a church wedding with all of the pews empty.”
“Can I still wear a pretty dress?” Tracy asked with a worried look on her face.
Carol ruffled her hair. “Sure you can. I’ll pick out something pretty, too.”
“Okay, I approve,” Tracy said and started eating.
Troy sat quietly, scowling at his plate.
Joe passed the lasagna and picked up his fork. “Is something wrong, son?”
Troy grimaced. “I don’t have to wear a suit do I?”
“Well, that’s what people normally wear to a wedding. Don’t you want to look nice for your mom and dad?”
He sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I guess I can do it this one time.”
“Thanks, Troy. I appreciate your cooperation.”
Six months later…
Joe held Carol’s hand as they walked into the courthouse. It had been a very long six months of depositions and testifying. They were finally going to hear the verdict and put this nightmare behind them. Lucas caught his attention. They’d all met for lunch and driven separate cars to the courthouse. He and Kensie must have beaten them and were saving two seats in the front row.
