by CJ Murphy
Chance nearly spit beer out her nose. She coughed as she laughed. “A bit. Honey, I’d follow you to the ends of the earth.”
Jax leaned in and nuzzled her neck, sending a shiver through Chance’s body. Chance put an arm around her shoulder and held her, waiting for Rhebekka. Within seconds, Jax’s smile grew wide. Rhebekka started playing When You Say Nothing At All. Chance stood and led Jax out onto the wide planked floor. “I’ll follow your lead.”
“I love you, Chance.”
“Love you back.”
They swayed together until the end of the song. Jax left her side to whisper in Rhebekka’s ear. Chance watched the grin on the musician’s face grow wide as she nodded. Rhebekka beckoned a young woman to come onto the stage and join her. Jax returned to her arms and Chance squinted at her. “What are you up to?”
“You’ll see. Now dance with me, my love.”
Immediately, the familiar melody of Etta James’ “At Last,” filled the room. The young woman on the stage began the iconic lyrics. Chance drew Jax close to her. Amen to that. “You never cease to amaze me. No matter how many times I think I couldn’t love you more, I do.”
“Just keep practicing those words, honey.”
“Which ones? I love you?”
Jax kissed her softly. “Those, and the I do part.”
“I’d say them tomorrow and every day after that if it means I get to spend the rest of my life with Jax Fitzsimmons.”
Jax quirked her mouth. “And what if I want you to be Chance St. Claire?”
Chance rolled her head left and right. “Has a nice ring to it.”
Jax cupped the side of Chance’s face. “I’ve wanted to be Jax Fitzsimmons since I was nineteen years old. I’ve lost enough years.”
Chance leaned down slightly and whispered in Jax’s ear. “How about we go home and practice the wedding night.”
Jax chuckled. “Let’s finish this dance, then you can carry me across the threshold and straight to our bed.”
“Deal.”
They continued to sway as Rhebekka and her companion finished out the song. They bid their goodbyes and made their way to the truck. Chance immediately knew something was wrong. The Tundra dipped on the driver’s side. As she made it around the truck, Chance diagnosed the problem. Something sharp had been driven into the sidewall of her front tire, and the back tire had been punctured as well. Chance fumed as she contemplated who might have perpetrated the vandalism. Mighty long list.
She pulled her phone out of her pocket, as Jax stood and gaped at the vehicle.
“Who the hell would do this?”
Chance shook her head as she spoke to the telecommunicator on duty. “Max, this is Sheriff Fitzsimmons. My personal vehicle has been damaged. I’ll need a report and a tow truck at Redemption’s Road on Appalachian Highway.”
“State Police Unit 207 is on duty. Let me give her a call.”
Chance could hear him dispatching Harley to the scene.
“Any tow preference?” Max asked.
“Someone with a flatbed, I have two flat tires on the driver’s side, with punctures to the side walls.”
“Damn, Sheriff, who’d you piss off this time? Okay, we’ve made the call. Sergeant Kincaid is on the way, and Ben Watson is bringing his flatbed. Anything else?”
“That’ll do for now, unless you’ve got a pound of Advil in your pocket. Thanks, Max.”
“No problem, Sheriff.”
Chance hung up and pulled Jax under her arm, before using her phone to take several pictures. Let’s go back inside for a minute. I need to check with Tank and see if they have surveillance cameras on the parking lot.”
Jax wrapped an arm around Chance’s waist. “Any ideas?”
Chance sighed as she opened the door. “A long list that will need to be sorted through.”
Tank furrowed her brow at Chance. “Forget something?”
Chance shook her head. “No, unless you mean I should remember I’m not always liked everywhere I go.”
Tank came out from behind the bar. “What’s wrong?”
“Somebody popped two of my tires. A trooper is on the way here. Anyway, I know you’re busy, but can we talk somewhere private?”
Tank waved her off. “Karmen, can you take over for a minute?”
Once Karmen had slid behind the copper bar top, Tank ushered Chance and Jax into her office. “What can I do to help?”
Chance led Jax to the couch and took a seat beside her. “I need to know if you have any surveillance cameras out in the parking lot. Someone stabbed my sidewalls. I’ve got a wrecker coming, but I need to find out if we have any photographic or video evidence of the culprit.”
“That’s one of the things I insisted on. I was part of Rhebekka’s security team back in the day. I know how important it is to have clear evidence.” Tank turned to a laptop on the desk and began tapping on the keyboard.
Chance’s phone beeped with a text from Harley. “I need to step out. All right if Jax stays here for a moment?”
Tank nodded, as Jax leaned over and kissed Chance’s cheek. “I’ll see if I recognize anyone.”
“Partners in all things.” Chance rose and walked through the back door.
Her truck was about fifteen feet from the door, and Harley pointed to the tires. “You definitely peed in someone’s Cheerios. They got you good. The bar have any surveillance?” Harley looked around for cameras.
“Tank’s in there pulling up the footage with Jax. We’ve been here for a couple of hours. I didn’t notice anyone with an ax to grind. My truck isn’t marked with any stickers or indicators, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t known around the county as my personal vehicle.”
“We’ve stirred a lot of shit lately with the mass overdose investigation. Hell, we’ve busted three small-time dealers in the last week. None with any heroin, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t in the chain.” Harley walked over to her vehicle, retrieved a camera, and began taking pictures of the damage. “Tucker Comm tells me there’s a wrecker on its way.” Harley grabbed the metal clipboard from the hood of her vehicle. “Let’s go see the footage.”
They knocked on the door and Tank let them in, and they followed her back to the office.
“I’ve got a few things for you, but you’re not going to like it.” Tank clicked the mouse to start the video.
The quality of the video was excellent. The group watched a figure in a black, hooded sweatshirt, face covered with a skull balaclava, look in the direction of the front door, then drive a hay hook into the Tundra’s rear tire. The individual pulled the hook free and walked forward to drive the hook into the front tire with greater force. The subject turned to the camera and flipped a gloved finger toward the lens, before turning and running off.
Chance studied the footage. “Well, white male, approximately six-foot, slender build.” Chance continued to watch before she pointed. “Let’s get back outside and look at that muddy area off to the side, see if we have a clear shoe impression. I wonder if the Sunoco has a camera pointed toward that alley?”
Tank spoke up. “It’s possible. After that break-in they had last year, they installed more security. There’s a back door that points to the alley, maybe they caught what direction that asshole went. Hell, if you’re really lucky, maybe he stopped in and bought beer. It looks like there is some kind of design on his hoodie, there on the back.” She pointed to the screen.
Harley squinted and studied the frame. “Looks like a skeleton hand giving the finger.”
Chance closed her eyes and felt Jax squeeze her hand.
“What is it?” Jax asked.
“Trying to remember where I saw something like that.” Chance searched her memory, knowing she’d seen that design. She just couldn’t put her finger on it.
“It will come to you. Just think about all the assholes you’ve dealt with over the last month, and something will come to you. Tank, can you make me a copy of that footage?” Harley marked a few things on a report form attac
hed to her clipboard.
Tank reached for a CD and slipped it into the laptop. “Can do, I’ll email you a copy as well, Chance. I’m sorry your evening ended this way.”
Jax rubbed across Chance’s back. “It is a pretty rare occurrence for us to even go out.”
“And now you know why.” Chance drew Jax into her arms. “I texted Mom. She’s on her way to pick us up after the tow truck takes off.” She felt Jax nod against her chest and pulled her tighter. “You leave California and come back to this. I’m sorry, baby.”
“None of it matters, we’re together. Come on, let’s get this done. I’m betting Harley needs some vehicle registration information.”
Chance laughed and looked at Harley. “I might have to hire this one with all the procedural information she knows. I’ll be right back.” Chance squeezed Jax a little tighter, as much for herself as to reassure Jax.
Life was changing in her small community, and she didn’t like it one bit.
Chapter Sixteen
JAX LOOKED UP FROM the examination table to make eye contact with Molly, a spitfire of a woman who was the local coffee hostess at the convenience store downtown. Jax was examining her dachshund, Doxy, who was as big around as she was long. “Molly, we’ve got to get some weight off Doxy. She’s limping because of the stress on her joints.”
Molly looked everywhere except at Jax. “I don’t feed her that much dog food, she only gets a cup in the morning and one in the evening.”
“And a hundred treats and bites from your plate.” Jax smiled to lighten the chastising. “Doxy, your momma is going to love you to death.” She scratched the red wiener dog behind her ears. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. No more treats except for an occasional apple slice or a carrot. Cut her food in half and add half a cup of cooked green beans in with it. Dogs like the taste of them, and they’re a great filler. Twice a day, you and Doxy, are going on a walk. I want you to go down to the park and make a lap in the morning and one in the evening. Even if you have to stop several times. She needs the walks, every single day.”
“Well,” Molly patted her own belly. “I guess we’re both going on a diet.”
Jax chuckled as she listened to Doxy’s heartbeat. “Just think how much longer you’ll both be around to love each other. Okay, we’ll have you go see Lindsey while l put some medications together for you.”
Molly shook Jax’s hand. “Thanks, Doc. I’ll really try to do better.”
Jax squeezed back. “I have all the faith in the world in you.” She left the room and found Lindsey out front. She handed her the chart.
“Need me to do anything for them? Doxy okay?” Lindsey took the chart and opened up the program that allowed her to ring up Molly’s bill.
“She’s going on a diet, but otherwise, our Doxy’s fine. I’m going to grab the meds Molly needs and be right back out. After that, we’ll go take care of the barn call at Dogwood Flats.”
Lindsey nodded and spoke to Molly as she rang her up. Jax stepped into the medicine dispensary and pulled out a three-month supply of flea, tick, and heartworm medicine before stepping back to the counter.
“See you in a few months for a checkup, Molly. Remember, no extras and a slow walk twice a day.”
Molly gave her a thumbs up. “Thanks, Doc.”
Jax walked back to her office and sent a quick text to Chance telling her where they would be going and making arrangements for a long horseback ride in the evening. They hadn’t had near as much time to ride as Jax wanted. After the vandalism, she knew Chance’s nerves were on edge. A little moonlight ride is exactly what the doctor is ordering.
***
Jax chuckled to herself. Trying to wrangle a small herd of goats was one of the most challenging jobs of being a farm vet. She’d been to Kidd’n Around Goat Farm a few times. The adorable Nigerian dwarfs were great milk goats, and the couple that owned the farm used the milk to make soaps, lotions, and other beauty products. Andrew and Kitt had moved to the area five years ago and now had almost a dozen goats. Four of which were young kids.
“The good thing is they already have headstands, which will help in the examinations. I want to check the adults’ feet to make sure the Halsteads are taking enough off the hooves when they trim them, so they don’t end up with problems. Sometimes people are timid about how much to take off, and it leads to issues. The four babies are about six weeks old, so we should have fun trying to catch and examine those little buggers.”
“I love baby goats. Megan promised me we can have a few when we build. Dad said he’ll help build their pens to keep the coyotes away, but I’m really going for a Great Pyrenees for the protection factor. With Meg’s frequent night shifts, I’d feel better knowing there was a dog outside keeping the four and two legged predators away.”
“I can’t blame you there. Knowing Zeus can hear things we can’t gives me a sense of security that I miss when Chance is out at night. Maybe I’d sleep better if there were still a dog in the house on those occasions. I don’t know about a Great Pyrenees, though. Maybe something a little smaller than one of our horses.”
“I don’t sleep.”
Jax wasn’t sure she’d heard Lindsey right. “You don’t sleep? Ever?”
Lindsey stared out the window, not turning to Jax. “No, not if Meg’s not home. Not since Leland came back in town. It’s been worse since that day at the office. Most of the time, I go to stay with Mom and Dad.”
Jax’s heart ached. She’d done everything she could to make Lindsey feel safer about being at work. More than once, she’d watched Lindsey reflexively reach for the panic alarm around her neck when she was startled by the office door chime.
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Not unless you can force Leland to leave the state and never come back.”
That would be a relief but was unrealistic. Leland still had close family in the area, according to Chance. “I wish I could. Instead, we’ll keep our security on and rely on the women we love to keep him in line, okay?”
Lindsey nodded.
Kidd’n Around Farm sat on a peak near the county line. A panoramic view of the mountains and valleys jutted up and dropped off into rolling tongues of fire, tipped in scarlet, burnt orange, and umber. The leaves rippled as the wind blew the ocean wave of color. Jax spoke out loud without even realizing. “There’s nothing like autumn in the mountains.”
“I agree.” Lindsey pointed. “There’s Kitt.”
Jax pulled the mobile vet clinic up to the barn and shut off the engine. She marked the mileage down on her log before exiting. Immediately, four dogs surrounded the vehicle, tails wagging. Jax and Lindsey stepped out and joyfully greeted the pack of two Great Pyrenees, one border collie, and one Heinz-57.
“Hey, guys, how are ya?” Jax patted sides and stroked heads as she accepted wet dog kisses to her cheek and neck. “Okay, okay, I’m happy to see you too.”
Kitt came over to the truck and started pulling the dogs off them. “Sorry. You know how much they adore you two.” Kitt clapped her hands together and pointed. “Back to work, you guys.” With the command, all four dogs went back inside the fence, where Andrew directed them into the field with the goats.
“I take it Heidi and Rex are working out well?” Jax stood with her hands on her hips, watching the dogs.
“Better than I could have imagined. We haven’t lost a single kid to the coyotes since we got them. I never thought dogs would be happier being outside at night, but those two”—she pointed to the field—”take their job pretty damn seriously.”
Lindsey raised her hand to shade her eyes. “They were bred as protection dogs to watch the flock and deter predators. So many people see this fluffy, white puppy and have no clue they’ll turn into a hundred-plus-pound dog, whose back might be taller than some people’s hips.”
Jax smiled with pride; Lindsey was going to make a great vet someday. Lindsey had helped Kitt and Andrew find the dogs through a rescue group.
They meander
ed to the enclosure to watch the hysterical group of little goats running around. The babies were bouncing off the adults and jumping sideways as they played. “The babies look good. Anyone showing any issues?” Jax leaned against the fence and eyed each of the little ones, looking for anything that seemed amiss.
Andrew put his arm around his wife. “Nope, everyone looks healthy and seems fine. We’ve got the head harness set up at the milking stand.”
Jax stepped back. “All right, let me get my bag and we’ll get this show on the road.” Once at her truck, she donned her coveralls and Lindsey did the same. Jax pulled her long hair into a high ponytail and tucked it into the back of her coverall. She slipped on her boots and put a set of disposable covers over the top. Jax made it a priority to take every precaution against bringing some parasite or disease to the goats that she might have picked up from another farm.
“Ready, Jax?” Lindsey met her at the front with a bag full of equipment to trim the goats’ hooves.
“Let’s do it.”
***
An hour and a half later, they were on their way back to the clinic on a backroad. They’d decided to take in some scenery to soak in a few more minutes of fall’s beauty. It was after four, and the temperatures in mid-October dropped off quickly.
Jax rested her arm on the edge of the driver-side window. “Did you text Meg that we are on our way back to the office?”
Lindsey nodded. “She’s going to pick up dinner and meet me at home. She had court today and is off for the next two days, before she moves to day shift for a week.”
“I’ll bet you’re looking forward to that. You have less than a month until your wedding.” Jax caught a quick glance in Lindsey’s direction and saw the smile.
“I know. I can’t wait. We’ve been dating since high school. Meg wouldn’t even consider us getting married until she was a trooper.” She waved a hand around. “She said something about being old-fashioned and wanting to be able to take care of me. I never needed her to do more than to love me. Meg wanted my dad to know she could support me. Pissed me off for a long time, but that’s just Meg.”