Winner Takes All

by Judy Kentrus

  Dixie Bell Grote, recently promoted to sergeant, raised a brow. “You’ve got to be kidding. We’re supposed to put our faith in a cocky rooster wearing a top hat and follow him through cornstalks that are higher than our heads?”

  “Don’t knock it. He’s the best we’ve got.” Cindi said, wishing she’d had time to go into the house and put on her jeans before heading into the cornfield. “Go, Cookie, go!”

  “This is a corn maze, so everyone stay together,” Sergeant Grote ordered as Laurel Heights’ finest followed Cookie, cock-a-doodle-doing all the way.

  A half hour later, they found the missing critters close to the newly installed natural gas pumps. The ducks started quacking in answer to Cookie’s alert that help was on the way. Someone had confined them in three animal carriers. After a very tearful reunion and being subjected to a thorough going-over by their human mothers, the critters enjoyed peanut butter cookies and decided they’d had enough adventures for one day. They took refuge in the house on the rug in front of the cold hearth.

  It was late morning when Cindi finally made it into the office. She really wanted to talk to Lincoln, but he was in a private meeting with his door closed. She was halfway through checking her e-mail messages, when his office door opened. Jessie, in full uniform, walked out.

  “Are you all right?” Jessie’s voice was filled with concern. “Laurel Heights is all abuzz with what happened to your animals. Edie heard the transmission on my police radio before she went to the soccer camp they are having at the middle school. She was upset and announced she had to go to the farm and help look for the critters. As soon as I learned they were safe, I called the school and had them send a message to Edie that all was well.”

  “What about your car?” Lincoln asked.

  “I’ve already notified my insurance company and let them know I’ve filed a police report. Paul’s Garage towed Pansy into Stevensville to the body repair shop. I’m using Sam’s Jeep, and she used her Harley to get to work.”

  “I sent a crew out there to upgrade the exterior security.” Lincoln said. “There will be twenty-four-hour surveillance on all the outbuildings.”

  Jessie stood in front of Cindi’s desk. “This situation has gotten out of control. I’m going to add the garbage incident and the criminal mischief to your vehicle to the file I started on the embezzlement of funds. I’ll also include the stuffed animal episode. Detective Donnelly will be contacting you for a follow-up investigation.”

  “My first instinct is to argue with you, but this is out of my hands. I hope it doesn’t get out and we lose volunteers and supporters. We are so close to completing the track. They are hooking up the utilities to the concession stand and restrooms at the end of the week. The bleachers and reviewing stand are being delivered and installed next week, along with the marquee. I have to talk to the other board members, but I don’t know who to trust, other than my brother and the people in this room.”

  “Cindi, this is going to happen. The supplemental account is already set up so you can pay the distributors and contractors on your signature. You’ve set a date for the dedication next month and we are not disappointing those children.” Lincoln sighed heavily. It had been a morning and a half. He tapped the brim of his wife’s cap. “I need a boost of caffeine. Can I talk you into joining me for coffee?”

  “No thanks. I’ve got to get back to work. I just wanted to stop by and tell you about the plumbing problem in the garage. Preston is not going to like living in the Last Chance Motel.”

  “Why will I have to move to the motel?” Preston asked, walking into Cindi’s office. Guilt had him avoiding all eye contact with her.

  “I was just about to call you,” Lincoln said. “My darling wife stopped by to tell me they had to shut the water off in your apartment. After you left this morning, my mother-in-law went into the garage and noticed water running down the side wall. Two pipes burst, and the plumber said the repair job is going to be quite extensive because all the galvanized pipes should be replaced.”

  “That means I’ll be homeless for a while.” Preston pursed his lips. “I really don’t want to stay in the motel. I could always bunk in my office.”

  “What about the finished space above Sam’s barn?” Lincoln looked at Cindi. “Do you think she’d mind if Preston stayed there till the repairs are made in the apartment?”

  “I don’t see why not, but you would have to get Samantha’s permission since it’s her property. The only furniture is a bed.”

  Jessie patted her husband’s cheek. “I knew I married a smart man.”

  “I can eat here since the cafeteria is open twenty-four/seven,” Preston said. “There is always the Spoonful or Jack’s Pizza or his new Trattoria. I won’t starve.”

  “I’ll call Samantha right now,” Lincoln volunteered and pulled out his cell phone.

  This was happening too fast, Cindi decided, studying the three people in her office. They were more like actors on a stage. They talked too fast and their lines were perfectly executed. This plumbing problem needed a little more investigating. Her heart beat a little faster when she realized Preston would be living so close.

  “We’re all set.” Lincoln grinned. “Samantha thought it was a great idea, and I told her my workers were already at the farm, upgrading security. She has plenty of bed linens and towels.”

  “Looks like I have new digs.” Preston enjoyed a secret smile. Step one had gone more smoothly than he’d anticipated.

  “Can you stick around for a few minutes?” Lincoln asked. “There is something I need to discuss with both of you. First let me walk Jessie to her car.”

  “No problem.”

  Preston adjusted the knot on his blue paisley tie that really didn’t need adjusting and shoved his hands in the pockets of bullet-gray dress slacks. Step two, asking for Cindi’s forgiveness, wasn’t going to be as easy. The hours he’d spent alone in the woods Saturday evening had given him time to think about his life. Cindi had been right when she said he was selfish and didn’t care about anyone but himself. He’d enclosed himself in his own hellish world, shutting his parents and sister out of his life.

  Cindi couldn’t stand the lingering silence that filled her sun-brightened office, so she spoke up. “Did your sister get off okay?”

  “Yes. She said to tell you to keep in touch and she couldn’t wait to move to Laurel Heights.”

  “Jennie gave me her card with her e-mail address.”

  “The green streaks in your hair are gone,” he blurted, searching his brain for the right words.

  Cindi brushed a nervous finger down the length of her hair. “Finally.”

  “It’s a good thing you got rid of them, or the Jolly Green Giant might have fallen in love.”

  “I’m not that lucky.” Cindi smirked.

  “You removed the tattoo.”

  She glanced down at her bare arm, disappointed that he never got a chance to nibble on the lollipop. “It came off after a good scrubbing.” This small talk added to her frustration, and she reached for her Slinky.

  I never did get a chance to nibble on it, he silently noted and began to pace. There was so much he wanted to say, but he didn’t know where to begin. “Cindi, I—” he started, but she cut him off.

  “I owe you an apology,” she blurted, just as the Slinky slipped out of her hands and rolled under her desk. She bent down to retrieve the toy and knocked her head on the underside of the desk. “Ouch.” She winced, rubbing the back of her head.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll live.” Why did she always appear to be a klutz in front of him?

  “Back to my original question. Why do you owe me an apology?”

  “It was my idea to have the special ceremony on Saturday night. I should have told you beforehand. But once again, I put you in an embarrassing position.”

  Cindi Pearl was his first priority in making necessary changes in his life. He walked around her desk and put his hands on her shoulders. She was trembling. �
��No, you are wrong,” he said softly. “I owe you an apology for running off. The ceremony was beautiful and touching, and I was proud to stand beside Lincoln and honor those who served with us. Saturday night helped me face and accept quite a few things in my life. I’ve finally accepted that I have a form of post-traumatic stress disorder. I need to resolve a few issues and plan to talk to one of the psychologists on staff.” He shifted his hands to her face. The sun had brought out the few freckles on her cheeks. “You helped me do something that I haven’t done in a very long time. I laughed, really laughed and joked with my sister. My smile and laugh were genuine, not forced. So you see, Cindi Pearl Sullivan, I should be thanking you.” He tipped her head forward and kissed the raised lump on her head. “All better.”

  “Best medicine in the world,” she said with a heart-melting smile. Too bad I didn’t bang my mouth.

  “Do you have a problem with me living in the loft apartment in the barn?”

  His neck was the perfect place to rest her cheek as her arms slid around him. He felt so good, so damned good. “No, I’ll like having you close. And thank you, thank you, for not being angry with me. I just wanted you to know how special you are.” To me, she silently continued. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I need a hero to help me get through all the problems I’m facing.” Cindi didn’t care that she was babbling. “I was scared to death when we couldn’t find Cupcake, Muffin and Donut this morning. I wish you had been there. My car is another problem.”

  “What are you talking about?” Preston’s arms drew her closer. She felt so good, so damned good.

  “I thought you might have heard, since it’s all over town.” Cindi told him about the kidnapping and the graffiti on her car. “The stupid idiot called me a whore and cunt and spelled it count and hor along with a bunch of other curses.”

  “The bastard!” Preston wanted to take her mind off her worries with a loving kiss, but he hadn’t earned the privilege. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there, but that is about to change, as of this evening. Any chance you can give me a hand moving my stuff?”

  “I’d be glad to.” Cindi raised her head from his shoulder. “I was sorry you didn’t get to see the fireworks.”

  “Oh, I saw them,” he admitted with a genuine grin.

  Cindi’s heart leaped with gladness when his smile reached his eyes. “I wasn’t wrong! I saw a dark shape, like a person sitting close to the ground. My heart—I mean, my gut,” she quickly corrected herself, “said it was you. Were you watching us?”

  “Yes.” So I was right thinking my feelings aren’t one-sided.

  “Why didn’t you join us?”

  “I wasn’t ready,” Preston truthfully admitted.

  Cindi put her hands to her hot cheeks. “That means you saw what I did.”

  Preston lifted his fisted hand. “I caught it, but Cindi Pearl, I intend to collect.”

  She reached for his other hand, kissed his palm and folded his fingers closed. “Now you have two.”

  Lincoln chose that moment to return and grinned. “It’s about damn time.” He continued into his office but didn’t close the door. “When you two are finished playing kissy-face, I need Preston first and then Cindi Pearl.”

  Chapter 8

  Cindi glanced in the rearview mirror, checking to see if Preston was still behind her. After work, they’d stopped by the apartment and packed up his clothes and few personal belongings. She’d volunteered to collect the toiletries from the bathroom. Sure enough, there was a good-size hole in the wall under the sink, exposing old galvanized water pipes. Two of the connections had been removed, so the water problem wasn’t a fabrication. Sam had called earlier to say the bed had been made and the place was livable. Cindi asked what Sam meant by livable. Samantha only laughed.

  When she turned down the drive, two older pickup trucks and a minivan she recognized as Sallie Mae’s, were parked to the side of the barn. She managed to pull around the vehicles and stop in the equipment shed. Preston parked his Aston Martin in Pansy’s spot.

  “What’s going on?” he asked the moment he stepped out of his car.

  “Beats me. Come on. Let’s find Samantha.”

  As was his habit, he took her hand, and they headed for the barn. The double doors were wide open and two men walked up the ramp, balancing a rolled-up carpet on their shoulders.

  “Are you having some kind of rummage sale?”

  “If we are, no one told me,” Cindi said.

  They found Sam sitting in one of the wicker rocking chairs on the side porch, drinking a glass of iced sweet tea. Sallie Mae occupied the other chair and munched on a large chocolate chip cookie.

  “Are we having a garage sale no one told me about?” Cindi helped herself to one of her favorite cookies and, as an afterthought, passed one to Preston. They’d never stopped for dinner.

  “It’s just the opposite,” Sallie Mae said. “When the town found out Preston had to move into the unfurnished apartment, everyone decided to pool extra pieces of furniture.”

  “People have been arriving since I got home from work,” Samantha added.

  “Everyone brought me furniture?” Preston couldn’t get over the town’s generosity. “Is that okay with you?”

  “I have lived here long enough to know that when the people of Laurel Heights want to help out someone in need, they cannot be put off,” Samantha said. “When you move out, people will pick up their donations so they can be used for the next guy. Think of it as rent-free furniture. Are you ready to see your new apartment?”

  Sallie Mae pushed up from the wicker armchair. “I’m going to head home. Call Northrup if you need anything else, and he’ll open the store.” She kissed Preston on the cheek. “I am very proud of you, my boy.” Then she whispered something in his ear.

  He smiled and nodded in return.

  “What was that all about?” Cindi asked.

  “That’s between Sallie Mae and me.”

  Preston shook hands with the two men who were just leaving and thanked them for their help. The women held back and suggested he go up the stairs first. When he got to the previously bare space, his mouth dropped open in wonderment. What they’d done to make the place livable was mind-boggling.

  The furniture fairies had set up a makeshift kitchen in one corner of the room. A square table, inset with black-and-white mosaic tiles and four white ladder-back chairs, sat atop a woven area rug in a rainbow of colors. A sky-blue vase, filled with pale pink mountain laurel flowers, sat in the center of the table beside a wood napkin holder. They’d filled the apple-shaped caddy with white paper napkins. A small microwave, electric teapot and coffee maker sat atop a waist-high white cabinet. The open doors revealed an assortment of mugs, plates and eating utensils and a set of salt-and-pepper shakers in the shape of Siamese cats. Someone had donated a bar-size refrigerator.

  The so-called living room’s designer must have been color-blind or had a panic attack. A seashell-pink fan-back chair shared a corner with a square end table that matched the green streaks in Cindi’s hair. The table lamp had been made from a lava light, currently spitting kelly-green globs. The black-and-white stripes on a mustard-gold chair rivaled the pelt of a jungle tiger. An oval glass table, supported by refinished driftwood, fronted the persimmon-colored couch with black picture frame arms. They’d finished off the living room by adding a burnt-orange-and-gold area rug patterned in exploding sunbursts.

  “Oh my God! This is unbelievable!” Cindi cried.

  Preston took a hesitant step into the psychedelic-themed room. “I’m afraid to enter the bedroom.”

  “You are pretty safe,” Sam assured him, trying not to laugh. “I donated the white pine night tables and dresser. The two wrought iron bed lamps were made by the same blacksmith who designed the ornate lights in the barn. They managed to put an old stuffed armchair in one corner. It’s actually quite comfortable. I made up the bed and put towels in the bathroom. Anything else you’ll have to pick up on your own.”

&nb
sp; Preston turned about and gave his new living quarters a cursory inspection. It was going to take getting used to. “I am truly overwhelmed.”

  It was the sound of a cuckoo clock that was their undoing, and they burst out laughing. Overwhelmed by the sight of the cacophony of furniture, they had failed to notice the wooden Black Forest clock on the wall beside the stairs. Below the clock, the furniture donation committee had hung a handmade needlepoint sign that read, “Home Sweet Home.”

  To celebrate his new living quarters, Preston volunteered to drive into town and pick up dinner and a bottle of red wine. They opted for a loaded pizza and an antipasto from Jack’s Pizzeria. Mrs. Flach, the owner’s wife, added a couple of napoleons, one of her specialty pastries.

  They enjoyed dinner sitting on the side porch. Preston felt relaxed, and right at home, especially in the company of two beautiful women. “Thank you for letting me stay here. I insist on paying some kind of rent, and don’t argue with me.”

  “We’ll work something out, but we appreciate you being here to help keep an eye on things.” Samantha didn’t remind Preston she was well trained in hand-to-hand and re-qualified in weaponry every six months. She stood up and downed the rest of her wine. “Thanks for the dinner. I’m going to check on the critters and then go to bed. Have a good evening and don’t stay up too late.”

  “Yes, Mom,” Cindi teased.

  Flickering candles, protected by two glass chimneys, gave off a soft glow, and the gentle breeze moved the heavy evening air. Cindi pressed a hand to her very full stomach. “I don’t know about you, but I’d like to take a walk.”

  “Me too. Any special place you like to go?”

  “The pond is my favorite place on the property. There is a bench so we can sit by the water. Some nights, Sam and I build a fire in the man-made fire pit, so we can make s’mores.”

  No sooner had they stepped off the porch when something butted his shin. Fortunately, Donut chose Preston’s left leg. “We have a chaperone.”

  “Cupcake and Muffin won’t be far behind. You will soon realize that the three amigos rule the roost around here. Cookie, our rooster, hangs out with them during the day, but prefers to stay in the barn with Cream Puff, his main squeeze, when it’s dark.”