A Fragmented Journey (The New York Journey Book 1)

by Gracie Guy

  “Of course. Why?”

  “Well Laurie and I used a case of voommm to get all the paths around the barn done.”

  “I thought you Yankees used something called a snowblower?”

  “Have you ever seen a manure ball become a projectile object?”

  His laughter made her smile.

  “No, but I can see where it might be a problem.”

  “Yep, that’s why the barn area has to be shoveled. My shoulders are still a bit sore.”

  “Oooh, poor sweetie.” His voice dropped a few octaves, enhancing the sexiness of his accent. “Don’t worry. Santa’s elf will bring you a massage for Christmas.”

  “Ha! I’ll bet.”

  “Is that a yes to me coming north?”

  Instant warmth spread through her groin in response to his promise, surprising Kara. You are so fickle. One minute you want him, the next you’re thinking about someone else.

  “I don’t know. Things get so crazy. My mom expects me at her house and I want to go up north to see Robin and her kids.”

  “I’ll take that as a maybe. Let me know, okay?’

  “I’ll call you in a few days. Good night, cowboy.”

  “Good night, gorgeous.”

  Kara’s mind was still spinning when she settled on the couch with a cup of tea and a bag of butter cookies. “Mmmm, I love cheap Christmas cookies,” she mumbled to the dogs after popping one in her mouth and tossing a few to them. She turned to the television just as Cris Collingsworth cried out, “Touch down, Green Bay.”

  “Go you cutie, Aaron Rodgers.” She pumped her fist while tossing a few more cookies to the dogs, leaving stray red and green sprinkles everywhere.

  ***

  Several hours later, teetering on the brink of waking, Kara thrashed in her bedding, moaning unconsciously, cognizant of the dream unfolding before her.

  “No Dan, don’t make me.”

  “Kara, you will if you love me.” Kara teetered on the edge of a room full of broken glass. Her husband stood in the middle with an outstretched hand beckoning her to follow.

  “No Dan, look at you.” She pointed to his feet. “You’re bleeding.”

  “I love you Kara. I want you to do this with me.”

  “No, no, nooooo.” She cradled her head in her hands, gasping for air in between her sobs.

  “Kara. Gorgeous.” The deep timber of Mark’s Oklahoma accent calmed her momentarily. But when she looked up at her husband, sparks flew from his eyes as he pointed over her head. Turning, she saw Mark standing on a rock outcropping. He tipped a black cowboy hat in her direction. Kara shook her head in confusion.

  “Mark, what are you doing out there?”

  “Come with me beautiful. We’ll go riding,” his arm pointed to thin air.”

  “But it’s a cliff, Mark. We can’t jump off a cliff. We’ll get hurt.”

  “Kara, ignore him.” Dan’s angry voice boomed behind her. “You’re my wife. Do as I say. Come to me.”

  She spun back to challenge him. “Do as you say? What am I, your slave?”

  “I know what’s best for you. Now come with me.” He took two steps toward her on the shattered glass, blood streaming from his bare soles.

  Kara felt herself shrinking in fear. Stepping backward without looking, she lost her balance. Her panicked screams intertwined with the shouting voices of Dan and Mark as her pin-wheeling arms sliced through nothingness. Just as she thought I’m going to die, she landed.

  “Oh. Oh.” She ran her hands over her face and arms. “I didn’t die?”

  “No, Kara. I caught you. You’re safe with me.” She turned her head just enough to see John Harley’s face.

  “Oh, John. They both wanted to hurt me.”

  “Who Kara? Who wanted to hurt you?”

  “Dan and Mark.”

  “Kara, Dan can’t hurt you. He’s already dead.” Gently he ran his finger down the side of her cheek.

  “And Mark?” hesitantly she asked.

  “He’s too far away. Leave him there.”

  Kara sat up straight and looked into his eyes. “But John, how do you know about Mark? I’ve never mentioned him to you?”

  John took her hand in his. “I don’t Kara. I don’t know anything about him. But you do. You already have doubts.” He pulled her back into his arms, settling her head on his muscular chest, lightly petting her head. “Now go back to sleep Kara. You’ll work it out.”

  Kara rolled in her sleep, clutching the spare pillow on her bed, mumbling. “Thank you John.”

  The next morning, Kara’s head was pounding when she awoke. With her palm on her forehead, she tried to make sense of it. A dream. I had a weird dream. She tried moving her legs but they were wrapped with the cover sheet. And there were men in it. She furrowed her brow trying to get things to come into focus. Dan wanted to hurt me. Her free hand clutched her rib cage. Mark wanted me to jump off a cliff with him. Sitting upright, she dropped her hand to her lap. And John saved me. Smiling, she freed her legs of the tangled sheets and got out of bed. Reaching down to pet the dogs, she scuffed to the kitchen to make coffee. “Wow, what a dream.”

  ###

  She spent most of the day deep in thought about her dream. The conversation with her cowboy the night before had awakened a deep sensation in her. The warm timbre of his voice tempted her with the possibilities of what they would do in bed, even though she had yet to convince herself that she wanted him to visit.

  Because, it isn’t just the sex. She missed living with someone. Someone who left the TV remote in a stupid spot. Someone she planned meals for. Someone she could hug whenever she wanted to. She was lonely for daily companionship. And now, she realized, she missed being married.

  With all of that in her head on Monday she chose a red silk blouse and a black pencil skirt for her dinner with John. She’d spent so much time in barn clothes in the past few months she’d forgotten how sexy she felt in heels.

  When it was time to leave for Albany, she found herself swearing at the early darkness of winter as she left her house. Even though the State Legislature wasn’t in session, holiday gatherings were plentiful downtown and she wasn’t interested in walking very far. She planned plenty of time to get there and find a parking spot.

  When she entered the restaurant, the hostess, a tiny older woman, offered to rid her of her black cashmere coat. Gracefully sliding out of it, she bent at the waist to pick up the clutch purse she’d placed on the leather bench near the coatroom, absent-mindedly smoothing her skirt. She turned around when she felt a cold burst of air from someone new coming in the door, and was delighted to find her date smiling appreciatively at her.

  Moving forward two steps, she extended her right hand. “Hi John. Merry Christmas.”

  He enveloped her hand in a gentle squeeze with both of his, pulling her another step closer to kiss her cheek. “Merry Christmas, Kara. And might I just say you make this holiday bright?”

  She felt her cheeks cherry-up from his compliment, all the while admiring how handsome he was in his suit and trench coat. Without breaking eye contact, he put his leather gloves in the pockets before handing his coat to the expectant hostess, who returned momentarily to seat them.

  “Your name?” The woman looked at John but it was Kara who answered.

  “Maloney.” She saw John blink at her response.

  “Yes, right this way.” Kara immediately followed the diminutive woman through the restaurant to a surprisingly private table near the window. “Is this alright?”

  Looking at the snowflakes eddying around on the sidewalk as more fell to join them, she smiled broadly at the hostess. “Yes, thank you. This will be lovely.” And she settled into her chair with John’s hand warmly holding her elbow.

  ***

  Sitting across from her, John couldn’t believe she’d gotten prettier since the night he met her. He remembered how her raw beauty and strength struck him in the face of tragedy. But now, her smile—something he’d only seen a few times—wa
s delightful. A row of beautiful teeth flashed at him, a dimple playing on one side of her face, the freckles dancing as she chatted lightly with him.

  Her beauty distracted him so much that the subject at hand eluded him, something she brought to his attention.

  “I’m sorry, was I rambling?” She was leaning her chin on one hand, the other one held her glass of Riesling.

  “Ah, no. Sorry.” He felt himself stuttering. “I was simply enjoying the view.” She treated him to fresh blush on her cheeks, licking her lips slightly in embarrassment. But all it did was further enhance her beauty. John felt his slacks tighten from the erection building in his lap, pleased a large linen napkin camouflaged his desire for her.

  “What do you have for me about the search and rescue program?”

  Reaching inside his suit coat, John handed her some folded up papers, many of which were dotted with his handwritten notes. “The program starts the second week of January. It’s four days a week, Fridays off. You and the dogs can be fully certified by early March.”

  He watched as she quickly read through the information, admiring how she chewed on her lower lip in concentration. After a minute she looked up at him.

  “This is very exciting. How do I register?”

  “Since this is a new program, they’re still working on details. Normally they wouldn’t have civilians taking classes at the Academy.” She looked down at the paperwork again as he continued to speak. “Basically, you require someone on the inside to sponsor you for it.”

  She cocked her head questioningly to one side, her eyes returned to his, a spark of challenge brightening the hazel of them.

  “Yes.” A smile played at the edges of her full lips waiting for his answer. “I’ll be happy to be your sponsor.” She let out a delighted squeal, leaning across the table to grasp his hand.

  “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  He couldn’t believe the shot of fire travelling through his body from her touch. Not that she needed to know, but he’d walk through fire for this woman. Silently he cursed her foolish late husband for hurting her. But then again, he never would have met her if it weren’t for that fateful night.

  Trying to bring his urges back to earth, he forced himself to remember the name she’d used for their reservations.

  “Did you use your maiden name for our reservations?”

  “Yeah, yeah I did.” He waited patiently for her to finish her explanation. “With all the changes over the last few months, I’m not the woman you first met. “ She swirled her wine, causing fingers of it to line the crystal. “I’m a widow with no connection to my late husband’s family.” She looked up at him, her eyes free of tears. “And I’ve got a life to live.”

  “I admire your courage.”

  She pushed away his compliment with her free hand. “Ah, posh. You do what you’ve gotta do, that’s all.” She pursed her lips, as if she were holding more thoughts inside. “Besides, think about it. Why do women change their names when they get married? I’ll be Kara Maloney until the day I die, married or not.” Her eyes locked on his. “I’ve got a good job, my own property, and I make my own decisions. So why wouldn’t I use my own name?”

  John felt himself grinning at her streak of independence. He thought she had the potential to be a real firebrand. Note to self: do not piss this woman off! The arrival of their dinners saved him from answering her rhetorical question.

  They spent the remainder of the evening getting to know one another without touching on the subject of her late husband. However, he did learn about her parents, her life growing up near Saratoga, and everything he never cared to know about the tech industry. In turn, he told her about his large family, growing up in the City of Albany, going to Catholic schools, and playing lots of basketball. The grin on her face when she realized the commonalities of their Irish background was priceless.

  Just before they were ready to leave, Kara excused herself to use the ladies’ room. Gracefully she rose from her chair, turning slightly to face him as he held the back of it for her. The light scent of her perfume reached his nose as she stepped away. Breathing deeply, he watched her walk, one foot placed squarely in front of the other, causing a dizzying sway to her hips. The sheer black stockings and heels she wore accentuated the stellar muscles in her calves. He shook his head and returned to his seat, again thankful for the large napkin covering his lap.

  Later, walking Kara to her parking spot, John debated how to end the evening. What he wanted to do was invite her to his hotel three blocks up the hill. But, he truly respected this woman and wasn’t interested in a quick roll in a rented room. In the end, he gracefully kissed her hand goodnight, promising to call her with all of the registration info for the search and rescue program and watched her drive away.

  Once back in his room, John stripped off his suit, being careful to hang it, then turned on the television. He grabbed a beer from the mini-fridge and flopped on the bed. Flicking through the channels, nothing seemed to hold his interest. He simply couldn’t get images of Kara out of his mind. The tilt of her head, the sprinkle of freckles across the delicate rounds of her cheeks, and, the undeniably sexy shape of her derriere and legs as she walked away from the table.

  Even with the constant chatter coming from the TV, he heard her voice. One minute challenging him with peppery independence regarding her last name, the next minute the sweet honey of it giggling with him about their childhood antics. Finally, he gave up on watching the television and shut if off in favor of falling asleep while her words surrounded him.

  ***

  For a few days after dinner with John, Kara felt like she was glowing. Who would have guessed this man I met on the worst night of my life could make me smile so? She tried being patient waiting for his phone call about the search and rescue program. She knew it was more than just the classes she was excited about, it was him. But am I imagining an interest on his part?

  When he called her, he sounded tired. “Hi Kara, its John.”

  “Hi John. Am I fully enrolled?”

  “Yes, you are. They’ll send you a bill for the tuition.” She heard traffic in the background. “Also, there’s a mess of paperwork to be filled out by your veterinarian. Apparently you can come in with the creeping crud, but your dogs need a clean bill of health before arriving on campus.” A little chuckle escaped with the end of the sentence.

  “Thanks John. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, just exhausted and distracted. There was a fatal house fire deep in the woods outside of Schroon Lake last night. The fire crews and other first responders had trouble getting in there because of the snow. Some tracks around the area make it all pretty suspicious.”

  “That’s too bad. How many people?”

  “Just two. Two too many for the emergency workers. Nobody likes to lose a patient.”

  “I agree. Can’t imagine the helpless feeling.”

  “Well you better toughen up with the program you’re heading into. You might not find them all alive, you know.”

  “I do. But I’m going to try.” She worked to bring the conversation around to something more positive. “I really enjoyed dinner the other night.”

  “Yeah. Me, too.” Kara heard his voice soften in response.

  “Will I see you when the classes start?” She held her breath waiting for his answer.

  “Yes, actually, you will. The first day the program starts with a big introductory luncheon for the handlers, dogs, and sponsors.”

  “Excellent. The boys and I will see you then.”

  “This should be interesting. Most people are only bringing one dog.”

  “Don’t you worry about the little love triangle my dogs and I have going on.” She delighted when he burst into laughter. “We’ve got our threesome all worked out.”

  “I’ll just bet.”

  When he finally stopped laughing she said good-bye. “Hey John, please remember, you can’t fix the whole world. Try to have a Merry Christmas.”

 
“The same to you Kara. Merry Christmas.”

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Excitement coursed through Kara’s veins. By the end of the week following their dinner, she’d received the information packet for the search and rescue program from the Academy. John was correct about each week having four days of intense training—in the field for the dogs, in the classroom for her.

  The next day, Michael Corbin called to say he’d broken ground and expected to have the foundation finished before Christmas. Eager for someone to share her excitement with, Kara decided to call John. Looking at the wall clock, she was pleased to see it was almost noon, maybe he’d enjoy a quick call at lunchtime. Her stomach flipped a little when he answered on the third ring.

  “John Harley.” His voice sounded professional.

  “Hi John. It’s Kara. Is this a bad time?” Nervously she waited for his response.

  “Yeah, sort of. I’m in the field. Can I call you back in five?”

  “Oh, sorry to interrupt.” Kara struggled not to sound flustered but his clipped response threw her. “Sure. That’ll be fine.”

  “Ok.”

  She stared at the phone for a second after he ended the call. Wow. He didn’t sound very happy to hear from me. A little demoralized, she shook her head in self doubt. Flip. I hope I didn’t piss him off.

  Intent upon occupying herself until he called, she started pulling baking ingredients from her pantry and fridge. “Hey, it’s Christmas time. Make some cookies!” The dogs raced into the kitchen to see who she was shouting at. “Easy killers. Just psycho Mom talking to herself. Again.”

  Reaching for her battered Tupperware container that held all of her favorite recipes, she let out a big sigh. Thumbing through the assortment of newspaper clippings, 3x5 cards and handwritten notes, Kara realized how much she loved to bake. But for the first time in her life, there was no one to enjoy the chewy, cinnamon comfort of Snickerdoodles with her. Another thing to wrestle with in her year of firsts.

  She hoped John would call soon, but the cookies were a good distraction while she waited. Reluctant to miss hearing the phone, she started mixing the dry ingredients rather than whipping the butter and eggs. Moving slowly, double checking all her measurements, she drew the process out at least twice as long as normal. Finally, after putting the eggs and butter in the big stainless bowl, she acquiesced. Lowering the heavy stand mixer down into the bowl, she was about to flip the power switch when the ringing of the handset on her counter interrupted.