At least, he was before Daleigh came into it. If she left—when she left—her absence in his life would be like Hertford without the Perquimans. It just wouldn’t be the same.
“That’s some good pot roast, if I do say so myself.” Ryan looked up and saw Mildred standing there with her hands on her ample hips. “So, if it tastes good but you’re not eating it, something must be the matter.”
He stabbed a carrot. “Nah, I’m fine.”
“Does this have something to do with that McDermott girl?”
Ryan cringed and scanned the restaurant, wondering how many people were listening to their conversation. Mildred’s hearing aid needed to be turned up a couple of notches.
“You mean, Daleigh?”
“Yeah, the real pretty one. Heard about your accident yesterday. Glad you’re still in one piece.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Henry Snelling turned around from another booth. “I heard that boyfriend of hers came into town again last night. I hope she gave him the what for and sent him on his way.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Ryan took a sip of water, trying to put the conversation out of his head.
“You’re much better for her than that Vince Torres,” Faye yelled from two tables over. “He came into the general store to get something, and I’ve never seen someone with their nose so high up in the air.”
Why did the whole town always insist on knowing his business? Maybe Nashville would be a great place to live. Anonymity suddenly had its appeal.
“They catch the guy who tried to run his boat into yours?” Faye asked.
“Not that I’ve heard.”
“How about the person who cut her brake line?” Mildred asked.
Ryan jerked his head back. “How’d you hear about that?”
She shrugged, as if this was just a day in the life of someone living in a small town. “Word gets around.”
Ryan sighed. “I appreciate your concern more than you can ever know, ladies—and Henry—but I don’t really want to talk about it anymore.”
Begrudgingly, Faye and Henry turned around and Mildred got back to work. Thankfully, the gossip session was over. He glanced out the window in time to see Willa walking past with Trevor. He started to wave when he saw Thorn approach them. Ryan furrowed his brows in curiosity as he watched them.
Willa’s smile quickly faded as she stared up at the man, and she shook her head. Thorn continued to say something. Finally, he threw his hands up in the air and walked away. What was that about? Ryan started to rise, to check on her when Pastor Pete from the church slid into the booth across from him.
Ryan gave a curt nod to the pastor, realizing his dreams of eating peacefully would not come true. He glanced out the window and saw Willa and Trevor walking away. He’d have to ask about that exchange at another time.
For now, he glanced up at the man across from him. “Hey there, Pastor.”
“You looked like you needed a friend.” Pastor Pete leaned toward him on both elbows.
Ryan shrugged. “Who doesn’t need a friend?”
“What’s going on?”
Even though Ryan told himself he didn’t want to talk about it, he found himself pouring out everything about Daleigh and her career and even Vince. Pastor Pete nodded and grunted throughout the whole conversation, not offering a word until Ryan leaned back in the booth, clearly finished.
Pastor Pete took his “pastor” stance again and leaned toward Ryan. “If I could give you some advice. Don’t worry about Vince Torres, or Daleigh’s career, or how your lives can fit together. Just be there for her. That’s what she needs. Remember, two are better than one. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Or should I say, in your case, pity anyone who falls into the river. If they have no one to help them, then they drown.”
Uncertainty squeezed at his heart. “I appreciate the advice—and the bad analogy—Pastor, but I’m not sure I’m the best one to be there for her.”
“She needs someone, Ryan.”
Ryan dropped some money on the table. “I know. But right now I need to take Trevor for his therapy at the pool in Elizabeth City.”
“Promise me you’ll think about it?”
Ryan nodded. “I promise.”
But even as he walked away, he knew he had to give Daleigh space.
***
After Daleigh made a quick stop to replace her cellphone, she decided to keep walking. She meandered up and down streets until she finally reached her father’s grave. She knelt there and talked to her father until the sun began to set.
She hadn’t just been talking to her earthly father, though. She’d lifted up prayers to her heavenly Father as well. She needed wisdom in abundance. She yearned for peace and joy to become present in her life again.
She had so many decisions to make, decisions that would greatly alter the direction of her life. Her emotions only made those choices even harder and clouded her thinking. She needed resolution, at least for a few areas of her life.
She hated to leave Hertford before someone was arrested for her father’s death. She had no evidence to give the police to prove that Danny Harris had done anything and, though she hated to admit it, she doubted the chief’s abilities.
Then there was Ryan. She’d tried to call him today, but he hadn’t answered his phone, nor was he at the garage. He seemed to get close and then pull back, which only left Daleigh’s emotions in another tailspin.
Of course there was Hannah. Without Dad around, Daleigh wouldn’t have any reason to come back to Hertford. Well, Ryan had been a possibility, but unless he made up his mind about their relationship, then she wasn’t going to keep up this on-again, off-again status. Without Hannah in her life, Daleigh really was flying solo.
Did it matter if you had all of the success in the world but no one to share it with? And how did one define success exactly? Daleigh knew how the world defined it. Wealth. Prestige. Awards. Popularity.
But what about the Bible?
She glanced at a slip of a paper in her hands. She’d jotted down a Bible verse earlier from Colossians 3:15. “Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other.”
She knew all about keeping things in tune, about the beauty of harmony. How did she apply that to her life and not just her music?
When Daleigh finally wandered back home, she saw a white piece of paper had been slipped under the door. She picked it up and unfolded it.
Daleigh, meet me at my garage at 7:30. It’s important. Ryan.
Why had he left a note instead of calling? Then she remembered that her cell phone had been lost in the boating accident yesterday.
She stared at the paper. She didn’t imagine Ryan to have the scrawl that scratched across the paper. Out of curiosity, she brought it to her nose, expecting to smell motor oil. Nothing.
Daleigh glanced at her watch. 7:00. Only thirty more minutes until she could explain everything to Ryan and hopefully help him to see what was really going on. Maybe they could finally have some clarity about their relationship.
As Daleigh stepped outside, she noted that the nighttime air had a chill to it. She slipped back inside and grabbed an off-white sweater before starting toward Ryan’s garage. She needed to sort out her priorities—including God and her career. Things were going to change, one way or the other. After life settled down, she thought there was a real chance that she and Ryan could make things work.
His shop came into view, and she pulled her sweater tighter as a breeze came from off the water. The sun had sunk below the horizon and the only light came from the street lamps above her.
She looked for Ryan’s truck, and when she didn’t see it figured he parked around back. The two garage doors were shut, so Daleigh went to the door leading to his office. She knocked but heard nothing except that radio blaring country music that always seemed to be on.
She twisted the knob. The door was unlocked. She pushed it open and the
music became louder.
“Ryan?” Dread pooled in her gut. Why would Ryan leave the lights off? Had he planned a candlelight dinner or something?
“Ryan?” she called again into the darkness. Could he even hear her over the music? No way was she taking one more step into this building until she heard Ryan’s voice.
“I’m in here!” someone called from the garage. The tension eased in her shoulders. Of course Ryan was here. Her adrenaline was working overtime after all the events of the past week.
She stepped through the doorway and into the waiting room. The door to Ryan’s office and the door to the garage were both closed. Where had his voice come from? The music blared from the garage. Hesitantly, she twisted the knob. The music became louder as the door creaked open. Darkness slithered through the crack.
Why would Ryan wait for her in the dark?
Her instincts told her to retreat. But her heart told her Ryan could be trusted. And that he had answers. She desperately needed those answers.
“Ryan, where’s the light? I can’t see anything.”
Suddenly, a hand covered her mouth. She tried to scream but couldn’t. She kicked and squirmed. Her captor easily immobilized her. He tightened his grasp.
“Listen,” he said, his voice raspy and snarled. “Get out of this town and stop asking questions. Your father died. It was an accident. You keep snooping around and you’re going to get hurt.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
After Ryan dropped Trevor off at home, he plodded into his own house and dropped his keys onto the kitchen counter. He pulled his cell phone from his back pocket and glanced at the screen. Daleigh had called again. That made twice today.
He frowned and lowered the phone. That woman was like forbidden fruit that he just kept coming back to again and again. He had to step back and use some logic.
Just as he plugged the cell in to be charged, the phone let out a shrill ring. He paused and glanced at caller ID. Whose number was that? Hesitantly, he put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“Ryan, it’s Hannah.” Her voice came out quick and high. Ryan’s grip on the phone tightened.
“Hannah, what’s wrong?”
“I went to see Daleigh when I got home because I wanted to . . .” Hannah’s voice cracked. “She didn’t answer the door so I went inside. I found a note from you, saying to meet you at your garage at 7:30. Ryan, you were at the pool at 7:30.”
Ryan’s mind raced. “Call the police, Hannah. I’m on my way to the garage now. Hurry.”
He grabbed his keys, ran to his truck, and cranked the engine. He forced himself not to go too fast on the country roads. Carelessness would only cost him more time. But the thought of someone using his name to draw Daleigh out sent fire through his veins. Finally, his garage came into sight. He threw the truck into park and ran to the door.
It was unlocked. He’d stopped by briefly when a customer wanted to pick up their vehicle, and he knew he’d locked it before he left. He always did.
He stepped into the eerie silence inside.
“Daleigh?” he called.
Nothing.
He flipped the lights on, but nothing happened. Through the dark, an empty waiting area came into sight. Crossing the room, he opened the door to his office. Everything was as he left it.
A shuffling in the garage alerted his senses. He darted toward the sound, throwing open the door separating the two spaces. His heart pounded.
Please let her be okay, God. Please.
He scanned the space. Two cars waited on the hydraulic lifts. An air pump sat in the corner. On oversized toolbox stood beside him. A movement in the corner caught his eye.
Daleigh.
Tape covered her mouth, bound her wrists and ankles. He darted toward her, searching her for injuries. Not seeing any, he ripped the tape from her mouth.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Now I am.”
Ryan pulled out a pocketknife and cut the tape binding her hands and feet. She let out a groan. He remembered the injury to her rotator cuff. She winced and slowly moved her arm in circles. Her other arm flew around his neck, and she buried herself in his chest.
He sank to the floor and held her. Gently, he stroked her hair, her back.
Thank you, God, that she’s okay.
“I knew you’d find me,” she whispered between cries. “I knew you’d find me.”
“Daleigh, you know I didn’t write that note.”
“I should have known.”
“Police!”
Chief Rollins and Officer RJ burst into the garage. They lowered their guns when they spotted Ryan and Daleigh.
“It’s clear,” Chief Rollins shouted.
Hannah ran through the doorway, mascara running down her cheeks and her hair mussed. She rushed over to Ryan and Daleigh.
“Daleigh!” Hannah knelt on the floor and threw her arms around her sister. “Are you okay?”
“Just a little shaken. Otherwise fine.”
The chief squatted beside Daleigh while RJ looked around the garage. “Any idea who did this?” Rollins asked.
Daleigh shook her head, her eyes still lined with pain. She rubbed her shoulder, and Ryan could only imagine how uncomfortable she felt. “I have no idea. I thought I was coming here to meet Ryan.”
“What happened?” the chief asked.
“Someone told me to get out of Hertford and to stop investigating my father’s death. Then they tied me up and left me here.” She trembled and Ryan held her tighter.
“Someone wanted to scare you.” The chief stood and looked into the distance. “Ryan, I take it you didn’t leave that note?”
“No, ma’am.”
“I saw him at the pool in Elizabeth City from 6:30–7:30,” Hannah said. Her hand remained on Daleigh’s uninjured shoulder. “I can vouch for him.”
“Hannah, did you see anyone by Daleigh’s cottage today?” the chief asked.
Hannah straightened and closed her eyes. When she opened them, fire loomed in their depths. Her gaze fell on RJ. “As a matter of fact, I did. Why don’t you tell us all what you were doing at Daleigh’s house, RJ?”
***
Daleigh watched as RJ shook his head. He stepped back, colliding with a wall full of hubcaps. They clanged together. “I wasn’t leaving a note, if that’s what you’re implying. I simply stopped by at the chief’s orders to see how she was doing.”
“I told him to stop by,” Chief Rollins said, her hands on her tiny hips. “Wanted to let Daleigh know there were no new developments.”
“Now do you believe me when I say there’s more to the story than meets the eye?” Daleigh pulled away from Ryan’s embrace and immediately missed his warmth and strength. She rubbed her raw wrists, grateful that Ryan had found her when he did. Too much more time alone on the concrete floor and her personal demons may have driven her to insanity.
“Something’s definitely going on.” The chief’s chin jutted out, and her gaze looked far away. “We’re going to find out who did this to you, Daleigh. You have my word on that.”
“Have you checked out Danny Harris yet?” Ryan asked.
Daleigh tried to stand, but she’d been cramped for too long. Her legs gave out, and she found herself back in Ryan’s arms.
The chief shook her head. “Who’s Danny Harris, and why would I check him out?”
Ryan glanced at Daleigh. “You didn’t tell her?”
Daleigh shook her head. “The recorder is gone, washed away in the river. I have no proof of anything.”
“Fill me in here.”
Daleigh told the chief about everything that had happened yesterday. RJ stopped her near the end of her story. “Did you say something about a maroon sedan?”
Daleigh nodded. “That’s right.”
“I saw a sedan pull away from your house just as I drove up.”
The chief looked at RJ. “Let’s see if we can get a warrant to check this Danny Harris’s place. We’ll also send off that tape to s
ee if there are any prints or particulates.”
Hannah stood. “I’ve gotta get back home to the girls. I’m glad you’re okay, Daleigh.”
“Thanks, Hannah.”
“I’ll swing by and check on you tonight, okay?”
Daleigh nodded, and Hannah sniffled again before walking away.
“Are we free to go?” Ryan asked. One of his hands still firmly gripped her arm, as if he feared Daleigh might fall over.
The chief nodded. “I’ll call you, Daleigh, as soon as we know something.”
Ryan tugged at her hand. “Come on.”
With a steady hand on her elbow, Ryan led her to his truck. Neither said a word as they walked. After Daleigh was safely inside, Ryan climbed in. Still quiet, he cranked the engine and drove her home.
They sat silently in the truck for a few minutes. Ryan cracked their windows just an inch, and the sound of crickets and gentle waves wafted into the truck, along with a chilly breeze. Then he cut the engine.
She stared at the water, replayed the events of the night, fought tears and anger and confusion. Ryan sat beside her, somehow understanding her need for quiet companionship.
“I’m ready to go inside,” she finally said.
He nodded and ran to the other side of the truck to open her door. His hand went to her waist as they walked through the inky dark to her cottage.
“I’m going to check out your place before you go in.” He took her keys and let himself inside. A few moments later, he appeared in the doorway, declaring everything clear.
The light shone from behind him, making him appear like a superhero to Daleigh. “Thank you, Ryan.”
They stepped inside and settled on the couch beside each other. Daleigh could tell Ryan wasn’t happy by his tight muscles and his inability to do anything but sit upright.
Finally, he shook his head. “I don’t like leaving you here by yourself.” His jaw flexed, and he crossed his arms.
“I’ll be okay. I’ll lock the windows, pull the shades, and sleep with the phone beside me. They should be checking out Danny Harris tonight. Maybe this will be everything they need to lock him up, or at least to bring him in for questioning.”
Home Before Dark (Christian Romantic Suspense) (Carolina Moon Book 1) Page 19