The woman continued to chat eagerly as she led the way out of Ashley’s yard and down the street to her house. Most of the things she said made little sense, and Vin walked quietly next to her, content to let her do the talking.
A dull ache in his gut was a reminder that he shouldn’t have stretched to lift the heavy box with the rifle in it from the shelf. It didn’t matter. He was done being cooped up in the house, and if Ashley wanted to throw a fit, so be it. He’d heal a lot quicker getting out and moving around, no matter what those doctors said. He glanced at the little old woman shuffling along next to him. The cat was out of the bag about his presence, anyhow.
The shrill yipping of a dog that could only be Mrs. Filmore’s furry critter grew louder as they approached her house. Vin eyed the dense bushes that grew alongside one section of the home. The shrubbery with the sparse little leaves and purple flowers looked foreboding. The branches were thin and gnarled, and pin-sized needles grew from the ends.
“I don’t know how Buttercup got down under there, with all those thorns,” Mrs. Filmore chimed on. “I hope he didn’t gouge an eye out.” She leaned forward and peered into the bush. “It’s all right, Buttercup,” she crooned. “This nice young man is going to get you out. No need to be frightened anymore.”
Vin glanced at the woman, then at the bush. Why had he agreed to this? The only safe way to get the dog out was to take a hatchet to this bush. As if she’d read his mind, Mrs. Filmore handed him a pair of large gloves made of some kind of canvas material.
“That’s so you don’t scrape your hands on those nasty thorns. I love my Smokebush, but it’s sometimes hard to harvest the leaves and flowers. The flowers make a good cough and cold remedy, you know.”
Vin slipped the gloves on and got down on his hands and knees, peering into the bush. It didn’t matter what the flowers were good for. Injury from those thorns could easily be as bad as the stab wounds in his gut.
Two little eyes stared back at him behind a dense tangle of branches as he leaned in closer, carefully prying some of the layers apart. The dog replaced its shrill yips with a deep, menacing growl, belying its little size. He frowned. Now he had biting teeth to contend with as well as razor-sharp thorns. He should have stayed in the house as Ashley had advised.
Behind him, Mrs. Filmore crooned to the dog as if it were a little child. None of her well-meaning words had any effect on the tiny beast. Vin gritted his own teeth and cursed under his breath as perspiration trickled down his face from the relentless heat of the day. His patience with the dog was running thin. Each time he reached through the passage he’d created by spreading the branches apart, the dog backed up further, while simultaneously snapping at him.
“I’ve about had enough of you, Buttercup. If you don’t cooperate, I’m going to wring your little neck,” he mumbled under his breath.
Not that he’d follow through with his threat. More than likely, the old lady would pull a shotgun on him for harming her dog. He wasn’t going to crouch under this bush any longer, however. His gut was starting to hurt more with each passing minute. It was now or never. If he got a few scrapes from the thorns, it would be worth it.
Taking a deep breath, Vin reached through the tunnel of wooden vines and thorns, and grabbed the little dog by the scruff of its neck. The animal let out a surprised yip and dug its paws into the ground, but Vin held on to it like he’d done as a boy when he’d pulled a possum out of a hollow tree. Yipping and snarling, the dog flailed its little legs. Vin dragged it out from under the bush, unmindful of the thorns that tore into the skin on his arm. At least wearing the glove kept his hand safe from sharp teeth.
Mrs. Filmore reached for the dog when it emerged from under the bush. Vin struggled to his feet with the flailing critter in his grasp, and handed the little devil to its owner.
“Buttercup, are you all right, my little sweetie pie?” the old lady crooned. The dog shivered in her arms, but immediately settled down, its wide and fearful eyes on Vin as if he’d been responsible for it getting trapped under the bush in the first place.
After showering the dog with kisses, the old woman directed adoring eyes to Vin.
“You’re a hero, young man. Thank you for saving my little Buttercup. He’s all I have left, you know.”
Vin removed the gloves and swiped at the sweat on his forehead. He grimaced when he moved his arm. One of the thorns had poked him like a hot needle, and it stung. A trickle of blood oozed from the hole it had created.
“Happy to help,” he mumbled, ready to head back to Ashley’s house and run some water over the wound.
“What is all the commotion about over here, Agnes? If I didn’t know any better, someone was slaughtering a pig.”
Mrs. Filmore’s neighbor, the one who complained about the barking dogs, hobbled up the path, leaning heavily on her cane.
“Buttercup was caught under my Smokebush, Ethel, and this nice young man came and saved him.” Mrs. Filmore beamed, smiling adoringly at Vin. The woman she called Ethel, on the other hand, shot him a disapproving look, her eyes lingering on his long hair.
“He’s probably the one who made your dog hide under the bush in the first place. Good for nothing hoodlums, shooting off their fireworks.”
Mrs. Filmore shook her head. She was quick to defend him. “Oh, no. Vin isn’t one of those boys. In fact, he’s going to make sure they don’t do it again, aren’t you, Vin?”
Vin glanced from Mrs. Filmore to the other lady, who scrutinized him suspiciously.
“I’m gonna try, ma’am.”
Mrs. Filmore giggled with delight. “Isn’t he the politest young man you’ve ever met?” She took a step closer to the other woman. “He’s Ashley’s new friend.” She placed special emphasis on the word ‘friend’, as if it had a double meaning.
The conspiratorial gleam in her eyes was unmistakable. The woman named Ethel shot a sharp look at him. She didn’t seem any more pleased with that news than she’d been at hearing that he would deal with the men causing trouble at night. She stepped closer and lifted her cane, pointing it directly at his chest.
“So, you’re the new boyfriend? Has Ashley finally had enough of that guy who makes all that racket with his motorcycle when he comes over?” She shook her head in disapproval, directing her next comment at Mrs. Filmore. “That girl needs to settle down and get herself a husband instead of bringing a new boyfriend around every six months.”
“Mind your own business, Ethel,” Mrs. Filmore chided. “Ashley’s a nice girl, and look what she did for her grandma. She hasn’t had it easy.”
Ethel cackled. “That doesn’t mean she needs to bring a new man around all the time.”
Vin’s eyes narrowed at the exchange between the two old ladies. This was the first he’d heard about Ashley having a beau, and these two were saying she had several men who came to call? He mentally shook his head. Unless he’d completely misjudged her, Ashley wasn’t a loose woman. These old bats were simply gossips who liked to talk.
“Beggin’ your pardons, ladies, but I’d best be getting back.”
He tipped his fingers to his forehead as if he were wearing his hat, interrupting their discussion.
Ethel nodded, and mumbled she had to get back home, now that the noise and commotion was over. She cast another curious look at Vin, then shuffled back to her little pink-colored house. Mrs. Filmore came up to him before he had the chance to leave.
“I sure hope you’re the one, Vin. Ashley deserves a good man, someone who cares for her and stays the course. She’s been abandoned too many times in her life. Please say you’ll make her happy.”
Vin’s brows rose. He was cornered this time, but good. What could he say to this old lady? Hadn’t he already thought that he could see a possible future with a woman like Ashley? He was already attracted to her like he’d never been attracted to anyone. He cared for her more with each day he’d spent in her company, but was it enough? He ran his hand along his whiskered jaw, and smirked.
> “I’ve got no idea how to court a lady, Mrs. Filmore. I’m not sure Ashley would be interested in the likes of me.”
The old lady grabbed his arm. Her little dog’s lips twitched in warning for him to stay back. “You’re perfect for her. All you have to do is be yourself, and she’ll absolutely love you. Trust me. It’s about time that girl has a steady man in her life. I know you won’t disappoint me.”
With those words, she patted his arm and let go, then turned her attention back to her dog.
“Let’s get out of this heat, Buttercup, and get you some cold water. You look parched.” Glancing up at Vin, she added, “And you, young man. Would you like something cold to drink? And you look like you need a bandage for your arm.”
Vin shook his head.
“No, thank you. I’d best be getting back to Ashley’s house.”
Mrs. Filmore smiled and nodded. “Remember what I said,” she whispered, then turned toward her own front door.
Vin stared after the old woman as she shuffled to her house. After she disappeared inside, he walked across the street. Time to get the rifle out of the garage and take it apart. He had a lot of thinking to do, and cleaning a firearm had always given him plenty of time to let his mind wander.
Chapter 12
“I could use another fill-up over here, Ashley.”
Ashley let out a heavy sigh, nodding to the man sitting at the counter. Her hand went to her back to rub at the knot along her spine. She straightened and moved her head back and forth to relieve some of the kinks and tension in her neck. What she desperately needed was something for her headache, but Jim’s Diner had been busy all through dinnertime, and Samantha had called in sick again.
It was already ten o’clock, but people kept trickling in for a late-night snack or even a full meal. Luckily, Jim didn’t like to stay late, and his other cook had the day off. He would no doubt tell her any moment that he was done cooking for the day.
“Order up,” Jim hollered from the kitchen.
Ashley grabbed the plates of food, and rushed to the table across the dining room. Plastering a smile on her face, she set them in front of the family of six who were crammed into the booth. What was a family with young children doing, eating at a diner so late, anyhow?
“Can we get some ketchup?”
“And a refill on my soda?”
Ashley nodded, still smiling. “I’ll be right back with that.”
She rushed off to grab the coffee pot, poured another glass of soda from the fountain, snatched up a full bottle of ketchup, and returned to her customers. She glanced up when the door opened.
Please, let it stop. No more customers.
Three boys, who looked to be in their late teens, swaggered in, glanced around, then took one of the booths. Swiping her hand across her forehead, Ashley greeted the new arrivals. She ignored their sniggers and the crude remarks they whispered. She’d heard it all before. Taking their orders for burgers and fries, she handed the ticket to Jim.
“That’s the last one. I’m closing the kitchen,” he hollered, his face red from sweat after a full day’s work standing over hot stoves.
“Thank God,” Ashley mumbled.
“I’ve got burgers on the griddle, and the fries in the fryer. I need you to take care of it, Ashley. I’ve got to be somewhere.”
Jim removed his cook’s apron without waiting for an answer.
Ashley stared at him. “What about closing?”
“I know you can handle it. I’ve already cleaned most of the stoves. All you have to do is make sure everything is shut off in the kitchen, and wash the rest of the dishes. I’ll put up the closed sign on my way out.”
Ashley gritted her teeth and forced her mouth shut, or she would have had some choice words for her ungrateful boss. She’d been here for over ten hours already, and it had been a horrible day.
She blinked back the sudden sensation of tears. An overwhelming urge rushed through her to rip her name badge off her uniform and toss it at Jim’s back, yelling at him that she was quitting, then walking out and never looking back. She was sick and tired of being taken advantage of and treated as if she didn’t matter.
Earlier today, during her short break Zeke had called again. She’d finally answered, which had been a big mistake. He’d acted as if he had no idea what he’d done wrong.
“What’s the big deal? I thought you’d like the attention? Nothing wrong with a guy letting everyone know that he thinks his woman is hot, is there?”
“What else do you like about me, Zeke?”
There had been a deafening pause at the other end of the line before he’d said, “What do you mean?”
Ashley had inhaled a calming breath before answering. “Other than being hot, as you like to constantly remind me and everyone else, is there anything about me that you like? What if I was old and gray, with a shriveled face and bags under my eyes, and stretch marks and twenty extra pounds after having three kids? Would you still think of me as hot?”
The nervous snigger was all the answer she’d needed.
“That’s what I thought,” she’d huffed.
“Hold on a minute, Ashley. No one said anything about kids. Aren’t you jumping the gun a bit? We have a good time together. Isn’t that enough?”
That’s all it ever was. A good time. Ashley had closed her eyes to hold back the tears she could no longer keep from falling. Jim had stormed from the kitchen at that moment and told her to keep her personal issues at home, and to get back to work.
“Fun’s over, Zeke. I’m done. Please don’t call me again.”
Zeke had yelled some unflattering names at her through the phone, to which she’d simply hung up. She’d finished her cry in the bathroom, where Jim wouldn’t follow her and yell at her some more. Facing customers and pretending to be happy and cheerful had been impossible at that moment.
Now, her late night was ending on the same note, and she was expected to take care of the remaining customers on her own, along with closing the place down for the night. Tired from a long week already, she yearned to be at home. Before, she’d always dreaded leaving work to go to her empty, lonely house.
Except, she wasn’t alone anymore. Vin was there, waiting for her, as he’d done every night since she’d brought him home. As unlikely as it seemed, they had started to form a fragile, but cordial friendship. Lately, however, it had started to feel like much more than that. While she’d talked herself into the idea that Vin was merely a roommate until Scott and Amber returned from their honeymoon, or until Moira came back to get him, her mind seemed to have other ideas.
She thought about him constantly, whether she was at work, or trying to fall asleep at night. What a complete contrast to Zeke, or every other guy she’d dated. Ashley shook her head. There was definitely attraction in his eyes whenever he looked at her, but there was also admiration – something she’d never seen from other guys. Not once had he tried to make a move on her. Quite the opposite, in fact.
After their awkward encounter in the dark hall several days ago, he seemed to have gone out of his way to stay out of her way. Despite his rough and rugged appearance, Vin Kincaid was the politest man she’d ever met, or at least as well-mannered as Gabe McFarlain. He was respectful of her space, and he didn’t ask her any personal questions, even though he’d told her a lot about himself.
She’d been surprised the other day when she’d come home to put her car in the garage, and many of the boxes that had always blocked her way to the side door had been stacked in a different place.
“Should you really be lifting heavy boxes already?”
He’d smiled smugly, as if he’d known she was going to confront him and say exactly what she’d said.
“I’m glad to hear that you’re concerned for my health, but I have to keep busy, Ashley. Sitting in this house all day long is worse than being in prison. I’m no longer bed-ridden. I hope you can understand.”
She understood all too well. Feeling useless and unapprecia
ted was her specialty, after all. There was nothing she could do for him right now other than letting him clean out her garage. There were plenty of repairs to make around the house, but they required the knowledge of a professional craftsman, not a wayward cowboy from the eighteen hundreds. For now, he seemed content with working in the garage.
Along with the change of having Vin living with her, odd things had started happening in the neighborhood, too, over the last few days. Agnes Filmore from across the street had come out of her house each morning at exactly the time Ashley left for work. Each time, the old woman had waved to her and smiled broadly. Ethel, in the pink house next to Agnes, had come out and watched her drive off as well on several occasions. Their behavior was definitely odd, since Ashley had rarely seen the two old ladies in several years, except when they bickered at each other across their adjoining fence.
The fireworks at night had completely stopped. She’d heard a single firecracker go off a couple of nights ago, but then silence. The noise had only lasted a minute, which had been unusual, and then all was quiet, but it had been enough to wake her and prevent her from going back to sleep.
Her mind had drifted to Vin, as it did most of the time when she was alone or had time for her thoughts to wander. It was time to talk to him about what he planned to do about his future. They had both avoided the subject, it seemed. Part of her wanted to know if he wanted to stay like he’d said, or if he was simply waiting to go back to Texas, and from there, to the past.
If he was going to stay, Scott had said he’d offer him a job in Montana. She’d already thought about selling the house and moving closer to Amber. The thought seemed even more appealing now, especially with the possibility of Vin staying and moving there as well.
Vin telling her about his past had come as a surprise. He’d clearly loved his parents, and they’d been a happy family until they were killed. He had every right to be angry at the man responsible for their deaths, and Ashley had made it her mission to help find out what had happened.
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