by Sable Hunter
This last thought gave him such peace, he drifted off and slept like a baby.
…The next morning Canyon was ready and raring to go when Seren came to the kitchen.
“I remembered you don’t like coffee, so I warmed some milk for hot chocolate.” He handed her a to-go cup. “I need to take you to the Sheriff’s office for a statement before we go to work.”
“Thank you!” She took the sweet drink and took a taste, licking her lips.” After giving Canyon a quick glance, she found him staring at her openly. “What?”
“You look lovely.”
His compliment was so unexpected, she almost dropped her cup. “Uh, thanks.” She glanced down at the lacy top and flowery skirt. “Avery’s taste is a bit on the Bohemian side.”
“Looks good on you.” He started walking toward the door, holding it open for her to pass through. “How did you sleep?”
“Good.” Actually, this was no lie. She’d slept peacefully, almost like she’d come home. The only thing missing was Canyon in her bed. “What do you think the sheriff will ask me?”
“Just for what you know about the situation, nothing else.” As always, he helped her into his truck. “Tell him the details of the encounter in the hall and how it made you feel, what he said to you. Those details will give them an idea of his motivation in stalking you.”
Seren shivered. “Stalking me. I hadn’t thought of it in those terms before.”
“Yea.” Canyon chuckled. “Totally different than the kind of stalking I’ve been doing. I have your best interests at heart.”
His self-deprecating comment melted Seren’s heart and she spoke before she thought, “Your stalking is the welcome kind. Makes all the difference.”
“Good to know.” He gave her a wink as he steered the truck toward the main highway. On the way, he bought breakfast sandwiches for them. Seren couldn’t help but bask in the wonder of being cared for by Canyon. “Here.” He handed her a napkin. “I called Jacob and told him I might be a little late.”
“I’m sorry.” She wiped her mouth on the paper napkin he gave her. “Just drop me off. I can walk to the bar from the sheriff’s office.”
Canyon eased down the road, giving Seren a sideways glance. “Fat chance, buttercup.”
“I know you have things to do,” she muttered under her breath.
“It’s no problem,” Canyon assured her. When he saw that stubborn little chin of hers rise, he relented a bit. “When all of this is over, I’ll talk to Jonah to see if he can keep an eye out for a good, inexpensive car for you.”
“I can’t drive.”
Canyon was confused. “You have a driver’s license.”
She shrugged, but offered no explanation.
“What?” He chuckled. “I guess they were just handing them out to pretty girls where you’re from.” At her frown, he laughed again. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you, it’s not hard.”
She didn’t argue with him, she didn’t want to.
“Did Jacob say how his son was doing?” Seren had no doubt that Canyon had asked about Bowie.
Smiling, he nodded. “He’s much better. Probably a twenty-four-hour bug.”
Inside the sheriff’s office, he led the way, making sure the officers knew why Seren was there. When she was taken into one of the side rooms to give her statement, Kane came out to speak to Canyon.
“Brady. Want some coffee?” He ambled over to a small room with a coffee bar inside. “Follow me.”
Canyon did so. “Just black will do. Did you apprehend Valencia?”
Kane shook his head, sipping his own cup of coffee, taking off his Stetson to crease the brim between two strong fingers. “Nope. The trailer he was living in over at the Bar X is empty. He didn’t report to work and no one has seen or heard from him.”
Canyon slapped the flat of his hand on the wall. “Damn! He’s probably in Mexico by now.”
Kane shrugged. “Maybe. We’ll keep looking. You just keep a close eye on your girl. Seems like she’s his main target.”
“No worries. I plan to.”
The sheriff started to walk away, then turned back, snapping his fingers. “By the way, there’s something else that might interest you.”
“What’s that?”
“We got the report back on the duck boat incident.” He leveled a look at Canyon. “It wasn’t an accident. The boat was sabotaged.”
“Really?” Canyon was shocked. “Everyone thought it was a combination of the storm and negligence.”
Kane crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I’m not saying those things didn’t contribute to the outcome, but sabotage set the ball rolling.”
“What kind of sabotage?” Canyon asked, intrigued.
The sheriff was about to answer when he was paged. “Sorry.” He answered his phone. “What’s up?” Canyon could hear them playing back a frantic 9-1-1 call. “Gotta go.” Kane tipped his hat at Canyon. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Count on it,” he mumbled, letting what he’d learned sink in. When Seren was finished, Canyon escorted her out. “Everything okay?” he asked, noticing her pensive expression.
“They can’t locate him. He’s still out there somewhere.”
Putting an arm around her shoulders, he reassured her, “They’ll find him. In the meantime, you’ve got me.”
Seren gave him a grateful smile, wishing she could have him longer than just in the meantime.
After driving to Hardbodies, Canyon walked her inside. “I’ll be here before closing time. All right?” He was tempted to kiss her, but refrained. They just weren’t there yet.
“Okay. Thank you.” She wanted to hug him again, but knowing they weren’t alone, she resisted. “I’m sure this will be over soon.”
“I just don’t want you to worry about it, okay?” He paused in front of her, giving in to the temptation to touch her cheek with the tip of one finger.
“I won’t.” This was no lie. As she watched the big blacksmith leave, Seren knew she was far more concerned about what was happening between them than any threat Diego posed.
“Oh, wow.” Doris sighed behind her. “You have caught yourself one fine specimen of a man.”
“He’s not mine.” Seren scuffed her shoe on the floor. “We’re just friends.”
“I’ve heard that one before.” Doris patted Seren’s back. “Sorry about the trailer out back. I understand you lost all your belongings.”
“I did.” She waved her hand. “No big deal. Nothing that really mattered.” Seren laughed wryly. “Except my cash.” She sighed dramatically. “Teaches me to get a checking account.”
“Yea.” Doris tossed her a dish towel. “Help me wipe down the tables. They’ve had the doors open today bringing in bales of hay. There’s a coat of dust on everything.”
“Sure thing.”
As they went to work, Doris kept up a steady stream of conversation. “You’ll be able to make up some of your lost dough at the party. It’s always a heavy tipping night…if you wear the right costume.” She gave Seren a knowing look and a wink.
“The right costume?” She frowned, bending over to wipe the seats of the chairs before she pushed them under the table. “I don’t have a costume and no money to buy one.”
“No worries. Sofia brought in a whole collection from her shop for us to choose from. She’s been featuring handmade costumes for the Day of the Dead celebration. Some of them are spooky…and some are downright sexy.”
“Who’s Sofia?” Seren didn’t recognize the name.
“Noah’s mother,” Doris announced. “You know, Isaac’s brother, Noah.”
“They didn’t have the same mother,” Seren mumbled, a distant memory resurfacing.
“Right. Long story and I don’t know it all. I think it was a big deal when the truth came out, but the family rallied around one another like they usually do…” Doris shrugged. “And all is well. Some families weather storms easier than others do.”
Seren nodded. Weathering her own sto
rm was proving difficult. “So, we can pick out a costume?”
“Yea, they’re in Avery’s office. When you take a break, go see what appeals to you.” She gave Seren a wink.
An hour or so later, after everything was ready for the club to open, Seren went to check with Emma to see if she needed anything. “Can I get you something from the storage room, barkeep?” Even though Emma was able to do amazingly well without sight, there were a few things she couldn’t manage on her own.
“Uh…I could use a fresh bottle of Jack Daniels, if you’re going that way,” Emma said as she finished placing a line of fresh beer mugs on the sidebar for the evening’s use.
“You got it,” Seren called as she took off for the back. As she passed Avery’s vacant office, what Doris said about the costumes came to mind. Making a U-turn, she flipped on the light and walked in, her eyes widening at the sight of the rack full of clothing. “Oh, my stars and garters!” Seren smiled as she began pushing the hangers apart to see each garment more closely. The choices were varied. “Saloon girl. Good one. Bright red. Too low cut.” She picked up another one. “Supergirl! Neat!” The next one she discarded quickly. “Zombie. Uh-uh.” The next one…not so fast. “Oh, my…” Seren grinned at what she held in her hand. While chewing on her bottom lip, she inspected the pink bunny costume, complete with a pair of bent furry ears. “This is just like mine.” Her eyes gravitated back to the Supergirl red cape as she made a grab for it. “Now, my costume is complete.”
…After an uneventful work day, Canyon hurried to his truck. He hurried because he was anxious to leave. For the first time in a long while, he had someone to go home to.
On the way to Hardbodies, he made his plans for the evening. Seren’s shift wouldn’t end for a few hours and he didn’t intend to take his eyes off her. What he could do while he bided his time was work on a couple of football pools. A lot of the guys he knew enjoyed playing the harmless gambling game. His plans were to concoct one for the next Longhorn game and one for the next Texans game. At five dollars a square, no one would break the bank, and there would be several chances to win. With a hundred squares, the pot would be five hundred dollars. Each quarter would get a fifth and the final score two-fifths. When he drew near the Dollar General, Canyon whipped in long enough to grab some paper and markers. While inside the business, he decided to get Seren a surprise. “Hmmm.” What will it be? The retail store specialized in inexpensive items, so the selection wasn’t huge. As he perused each aisle, a smile broke on his face. “She’ll like this.” He picked up a plastic Jack o’ lantern and began to fill it with all sorts of candy and little prizes. “Halloween is coming up and we’ll play our own version of trick-or-treat.”
…Back at the bar, Seren was aware of the time. For the last hour, her pulse rate had begun to pick up knowing Canyon would be making an appearance soon. Unless…he’d changed his mind about her staying with him? “No, he wouldn’t do that,” she mumbled as she placed a mug of beer in front of Jonah Callan.
“Wouldn’t do what?” the mechanic asked as he cracked open a peanut from the basket in front of him.
“Nothing, I was just thinking aloud.” Seren blushed at being caught talking to herself. “How’s your father?”
Jonah raised one eyebrow, surprised to hear the waitress asking after his dad. “Oh, he’s…about the same.”
“Tell him Seren said hello.” She gave him a kind smile.
“I’ll do it.”
She was about to walk away when the next word out of Jonah’s mouth caught her complete attention.
“Canyon!”
Canyon. Standing on one foot at the moment, Seren pivoted to catch a glimpse of the man who’d occupied the center of her universe for as long as she could remember. To her surprise, his eyes immediately locked with hers – and he smiled. A welcoming greeting that sent an electric thrill right up her spine.
“Get my friend a beer too,” Jonah directed her.
“Right away.” She glanced at the mechanic, then right back at Canyon. Giving him a shy smile, she hurried away to fill the order.
“Sit. Take a load off.” Jonah pulled out a chair for the blacksmith. “You have a good day at work?”
“So. So.” Canyon piled the papers and marker on the table. He’d left the plastic pumpkin full of candy in the truck for later. “You?”
“Not as good as you, apparently. You’re grinning like a mule eating briars.” Jonah cut his eyes back to the pretty waitress making her way across the room with their beers. “Could it have anything to do with the new girl?”
“Maybe.” He waited on Seren, taking the tray from her to place it on the table. “Sit with me for a second or two.” He took his seat, pulling Seren into his lap.
“I have to work,” she protested weakly, her heart pounding at the unexpected treat. “You’re here early.”
“Nah, I’m right on time.” He tightened his arm around her waist as he sipped his beer. “Everything okay with you?”
“Yea.” She knew what he was asking. “No problems here.” In other words, no sign of Diego. “I picked out my Halloween costume for Wednesday.”
“Can I see?”
The look of joy on his face pushed aside every doubt. “If you come to the party.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” he assured her, completely ignoring the leer Jonah was giving him.
“Are you going to dress up?”
“Hmmm. I don’t know…” He looked at Jonah. “How about you?”
“Delaney says I should be the doctor from back to the future. She even bought me some crazy hair to wear.”
“Delaney, huh? She seems to have made herself at home.” Canyon commented to Jonah in an amused tone, before turning to Seren to ask her opinion. “What do you think my costume should be?”
With his hand skating up and down her back it was a bit hard to think. “Well, with a hammer as big as yours, I don’t think there’s any better option than Thor.” Seeing Doris waving at her from the bar, she eased from Canyon’s arms. “I’d better get busy.”
When Seren rose to go back to work, she left Jonah and Canyon sitting in their seats with their mouths open.
“Did she just say what I think she said?” Jonah asked with something like awe in his voice.
“Yea, she did,” Canyon muttered. “Although…I’m sure she didn’t mean…”
“I don’t know,” Jonah countered in a hushed voice. “Women can surprise you sometimes.”
For the next couple of hours, Canyon filled the football pool squares as word filtered around the club. Five-dollar bills rained down like confetti as every cowboy and biker present wanted in on the deal. Denver and Cruz joined them, even coming up with a few games of their own. Alcohol flowed and things got crazy. In the midst of the hullabaloo, Canyon didn’t think Jonah realized he bought a square on a pool betting on the day he would succumb to the wiles of his father’s attractive caretaker, Delaney. “Hey, dude. Did you even read what you were signing?”
“What?” He drained his latest mug of beer. “Don’t kill my buzz, Brady. I’m feeling lucky.”
Canyon shrugged, then chuckled. “You know best, big man.” He was just glad no one had created a pool about him and Seren. All night, no matter what had been going on at his table, he’d always known right where she was and who was around her. “Do you need someone to drive you home?”
“Negatory.” He stood up and walked the straight edge of a plank of hardwood flooring. “I’m fine.”
“Be careful anyway,” he called as Jonah went to pay his tab.
“Tonight’s on me, bud!”
“Thanks, Callan. I appreciate you.” He shuffled the papers and put away the pool money in a bank bag he kept stuffed underneath his truck seat. All the while, he watched Seren as she finished up the last couple of tables she was tending. He couldn’t help note the strings of the apron she’d tied around her small waist were dangling down the middle of her heart-shaped ass. “Yea, my big hammer’s getting bigger, baby.�
�� Shifting in his seat, he tried to make room for his aching cock behind the strained denim material of his jeans. “Calm down, bud. As much as we’d like it to be, tonight’s not the night.” He'd no sooner finished consoling his eager dick than his cell phone buzzed. Seeing Bull’s name, he grinned as he hit ‘accept’. “You ready to come home?”
“I’m straining at the bit.”
Canyon liked the sound of that. “You’re feeling better.”
“Like I got a new lease on life.”
Considering how his friend almost died, Canyon was so grateful to hear his upbeat tone. “When you come home, we’ll party. Any word when they’re going to spring you from that joint?”
“Not yet, I’m hoping tomorrow or Wednesday. Whenever it is, Isabella wants to have you and Seren over sometime soon. Apparently, your girl made quite an impression on mine.”
He started to correct Bull with a ‘we’re just friends’ line, but he didn’t do it. “As soon as you’re settled, just say the word.”
“Oh, and thanks for the gift. A friend of Isabella’s found the piece you left on the porch and picked it up for safekeeping. She sent a photo of it to us over her phone. It’s amazing, man.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.” By the time he was through with the call, Seren came to join him.
“Hey, I’m finished.”
“Good!” Canyon stood to gather his things. “I’m ready to head out. What are you hungry for?”
“Tacos,” she muttered, yawned, and smiled. “I’m craving tacos.”
Her simple answer amused him. “Tacos, it is. I like a woman who knows her own mind.” Canyon wasted no time escorting her to his truck, then driving them both to the local Tex-Mex restaurant for takeout. “Do you mind eating in the parking lot? By the time we get home everything would be cold.”
“Not at all.” Seren clutched her jacket tighter around her. “Feels like late October, doesn’t it?”
“Yea, it does.” He adjusted the heater, angling the vent to blow more fully on her. “Better?”