“Yeah, she kept my dog, but what does that have to do with whether she was pregnant or not?” A flutter in his heart jittered down to his gut, but he wasn’t worried. She’d assured him there was no kid. It had been a false alarm, or a blatant ploy to force him to marry her.
“She might have kept your dog to have a piece of you close to her.” Cait blinked, her eyes now watery. “Or maybe she wanted revenge, or at least your attention. I’m not blind. I sense a lot of angst and tension between you two.”
“Yeah, well, it’s all one-sided. I’m the innocent victim here.” Grady patted his thigh at Sasha, beckoning her to come with him. “I’ve got to be going. Just thought I’d let you meet Sasha and let you know what a snake Linx Colson is. Are you sure you two want to settle here? Her family owns the entire town.”
“It’s a charming town, full of potential,” Cait said. “Millions of people drive by on Interstate 80 on their way to Tahoe and Reno for their quickie weddings without realizing if they took a little more time, they’d have something more unique.”
“I wish you lots of luck then, but I have a feeling the Colsons like this place quiet and backward the way it is.” Grady headed for the door. “I’m wondering if someone in her family set fire to Mom and Dad’s place as a warning.”
“You mean they want us to stay away?” Brian asked, setting down his tablet. “Is that what you’re implying?”
Grady shrugged. “I heard around town that people are calling you two carpetbaggers. Seems Tami has a big mouth about how much money you have to invest in this town.”
“But, Grady, your cabin burned down, too.” Cait idly rubbed Sasha’s mane. “What if they’re trying to run you out of town? You’re the one who has the entire Colson family up in arms—about their sister, Linx.”
“Let’s talk about that fire way back,” Brian said. “Did they ever figure out who started it? Seems to me Linx is suspect number one.”
“Linx wouldn’t do something like that,” Grady said, his hackles rising. “She wouldn’t have endangered Sasha.”
“She could have saved Sasha before lighting up the place,” Brian said. “Fatal attraction meets dog lover. Just saying.”
“But Linx fought fires,” Cait said. “She told me once it was her first love, before taking care of dogs.”
“Someone’s burning down houses around here.” Brian picked up the tablet he was reading and woke it. “Did you see the news? Up north?”
“No, I’ve been working on my cabin,” Grady said. “More fires?”
“Yep, near Redstone Base Camp.”
“Redstone.” Grady grabbed the tablet and scanned the article. Redstone was one of the smokejumping camps he worked out of. It was a few hours north of Colson’s Corner.
“Right. In the last month, a bunch of men have had their houses burn down, even the fire chief’s.”
“You mean, Chief Montgomery?” Grady read the article. “Did they catch who’s doing it?”
“Not yet,” Brian said. “Guys go out on a jump and they’re busy fighting a forest fire, then come home to an ash heap.”
“Sounds like someone has something against firefighters.” Grady blew out a breath. “Or maybe it’s coincidental?”
“I heard people mention a curse.” Cait jumped in, her inquisitive eyes sharp. “The lady selling the Victorian we’re interested in says a woman died on a jump up there and they never found her body.”
“Bunch of baloney,” Brian said, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, I’m wondering if the arson at Mom and Dad’s cabin has something to do with what’s going on up at Redstone. If someone’s targeting firefighters, then our family is one big bull’s eye.”
“You think they blame us for not stopping the fire earlier?”
Brian crossed his arms and stared at him, nodding. “Maybe. Lots of people lost their homes.”
“Some people aren’t rational.” Cait put her hand over her belly, as if comforting her baby. “You never know what goes through people’s minds when they’re under stress.”
“That fire was wicked.” Grady sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. “Torched up out of nowhere and had wings.”
“Maybe their insurance claim got denied, or maybe it’s a coincidence, which I don’t believe.” Brian picked up his note pad. “Tim Olson’s trailer goes up in flames. Maybe he’d left a burner on, maybe he didn’t. Then Duane Washington’s place goes kaboom. He claims he had a leaking propane tank. Then it’s the chief’s house. Luckily his wife was out of town, or maybe the perp was considerate and didn’t want to hurt her.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Grady squirmed underneath Brian’s focused glare. “I haven’t been up that way since last season.”
“Yeah, well, thought you ought to know,” Brian said. “Right now, we have no leads. Todd’s been questioning the transients at the campground, and of course, no one saw anything.”
“You know? I have a thought.” Cait snapped her fingers. “Whoever burned down Mom and Dad’s place must have been watching us. They saw us go out for a walk and then started the fire. It means they didn’t want to kill anyone. Same way they didn’t want Sasha to die.”
“A compassionate arsonist,” Brian huffed, hooking a raised eyebrow at Grady. “How considerate.”
“Linx has an alibi.” The words jumped from Grady’s throat. “She was with her family.”
“Yeah, her family.” Brian scratched his beard and nodded. “The same ones who want to run you out of town.”
Cold sweat prickled Grady’s brow and he shook his head like a terrier shaking a rat. "No way did Linx have anything to do with this. Linx hates fire. She calls it the red dragon and she fights it with everything she has. No one works the fire line harder than Linx Colson. She’s brave and tough, and she’ll fight to her last breath.”
“She’s fascinating,” Cait sighed loudly. “And you’re totally and completely in love with her.”
The cabin felt empty without Cedar, but Linx didn’t have time to mope. Gold Rush Week was coming up and she needed to spruce up the center and get ready for the adoption auction in the town square.
They wouldn’t have live dogs up for auction, especially at a Fourth of July event with all of the noise and children popping firecrackers. Instead, the dogs would be safe in the barn inside their kennels. Instead, the auctioneer would hold up a picture of the dog, and people could look them over on their cell phones before placing a bid.
Potential adopters would need to come to the center to get pre-qualified and oriented, as well as have an opportunity to visit the dogs they were interested in.
Which was why Linx stood on the porch with her brows furrowed and hands on her hips staring at her mother’s deadly creation.
A skull with a railroad spike through the eye socket and a hand with a wire heart in its palm was not exactly the kind of artwork for dog lovers.
“What are you going to do with that?” Tami asked while watering the potted plants.
“Move it to my dad’s ranch,” Linx said. “I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but this thing’s going to scare people away.”
“Jessie doesn’t seem scared,” Tami said as Mrs. Patterson and Jessie sauntered up the walkway.
“Miss Linx! Is that for Halloween?” Jessie pointed to the rusted skull.
Mrs. Patterson’s eyes widened and she fanned herself. “That’s certainly unique. Is there a message?”
“Linx’s mother is an artist,” Tami explained. “She’s very creative.”
“I’ll say. Jessie, don’t climb on it.” Jean guided Jessie away from what she no doubt thought of as Satanic influences. “Bye, Jessie, and listen to Miss Linx.”
“I will.” Jessie waved to her mother. “I want to play with the puppy.”
“Great, because I need you to help me feed Ginger,” Linx said. “Her eyes are open and she’s pulling herself around.”
“She’s so cute.” Jessie squealed at the side of the playpen. “I want a baby sister just like her.
Look, she’s crawling.”
Linx picked the puppy up out of the playpen and handed her to Jessie. “Go sit on the sofa and I’ll bring a bottle.”
The little girl carefully walked with the puppy to the sofa, stepping over Cedar’s doggy bed. She climbed on and then looked around, blinking. “Where’s Cedar? Doesn’t she want to help feed Ginger?”
“Cedar went home to be with her daddy,” Linx said. She filled a bottle with warm puppy formula.
“Who’s Cedar’s daddy?” Jessie asked.
“He lost her a long time ago, and I kept Cedar safe. Now he’s back, and she has to be with him.” Linx shook the bottle and handed it to Jessie.
The little puppy squirmed and wiggled, nosing the bottle before latching onto the nipple.
Jessie giggled. “She’s so hungry.”
“Yes, she is.” Linx sat next to Jessie and stroked the puppy’s soft downy fur. Even the puppy missed Cedar, nosing around and sniffing for her.
Yes, Linx’s heart was broken, but she had to carry on. There were so many dogs needing love, and once the dust settled after the adoption event, she’d adopt one of the guests who was left behind.
In the meantime, she had to hang up banners and put up educational materials for the visitors coming for Gold Rush week, maybe even set up an activity.
“Do you think Betsy went to live with someone else?” Jessie’s expression turned serious.
“I think Betsy’s out there waiting for us to find her,” Linx said. “Want to go on a walk with me and look for her?”
“Okay. I wish we could find her right now. Can you wear your Wonder Woman cape?”
Linx was glad she only asked for the cape and not the costume. But then again, this was California, and the town’s residents loved dressing up in costumes.
Footsteps sounded on the wooden porch and the screen door opened.
“Yoohoo, can I come in?” Cait Wonder peeked through the door. She stood at the threshold with a plate of steaming hot muffins.
“Sure, come on in.” Linx opened the door.
Cait greeted Linx with a half-hug, then turned to Jessie. “Hello, are you Linx’s little helper today?”
“I sure am. I’m Jessie Patterson.”
“Nice to meet you.” Cait glanced from Jessie to Linx and back. “I bet you’re a big girl now. How old are you?”
“I’m five and a half.” She took the bottle out of Ginger’s mouth and put up five fingers.
Cait gave her a high five.
“Hi, Cait.” Tami waved from the desk. “You brought us gifts?”
“I sure did.” Cait waddled over to her. “Fresh from the oven. Mrs. Burris lets us use her kitchen. Isn’t that sweet of her? Maybe instead of a wedding business, I should set up a bakery, or I can do both.”
“Good idea,” Tami exclaimed, taking a muffin. “By the way, are you up for a few showings today? There’s a lovely Victorian that’s come on the market.”
Linx heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that Tami had distracted Cait from interrogating little Jessie.
Now that she and Grady were sworn enemies, a visit from Cait was like harboring a spy in their midst. What was Cait snooping around for?
Then again, there was no reason to keep the two retrievers from Grady. He was free to come and pick them up—from Tami.
Linx sent him a text message. The adoption for Molly and Rex is approved. Tami will process the final paperwork.
She might as well get used to having Grady in town. He was rebuilding his cabin. He got his dog back, and it was only a matter of time before he found himself a woman. He’d marry and have a family, and she would have to watch from the sidelines.
She would never make anyone a good wife, nor would she be a good mother.
She was too much like Minx, but unlike her mother, she wouldn’t make the mistake of starting a family only to abandon them.
She was better than that.
Chapter Eighteen
He wasn’t in love with Linx Colson.
He didn’t do love—didn’t believe in it.
Love always ended badly.
Like now.
Even though he got his dog back, she wasn’t the same.
She followed him around all day like she was a prisoner out on a chain-gang. And now, she plodded into his cramped fifth-wheel trailer looking like a dejected and homeless stray.
“What’s the matter?” Grady prodded Sasha, who lay on the floor of his trailer, her eyes wide open but resting her snout on her front paws. “I got steak for us. You want steak?”
The big dog wagged the tip of her tail and barely looked up at him. She’d been excited during their time in town, alert to her surroundings, but as soon as he headed up the mountain, her ears started to droop, and then her head. By the time they made the turn up his driveway, she was slumped on the bench seat.
She’d staggered from the truck and slunk to the trailer door, lapping listlessly at her water bowl. He’d tried throwing a tennis ball for her to fetch, but she only stared at it and then lay down on the floor with a resigned expression.
She obviously missed Linx.
Grady’s gut clenched, and his heart beat hollow at the memory of the day Linx dropped Sasha off. She was cold and resigned, and she’d spoken sternly to Sasha, ordering her to stay behind.
She’d then driven away without looking back. There would be no more dog deliveries with motel room hookups for him—no more favors, no more fights, no more heat and spark.
The fire had died, and now, Grady was relegated to dealing with Tami for new adoptions.
Rejection hurt, and he wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of it.
He bent over and rubbed the big dog’s neck. “I’m sorry you had to leave your mommy. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”
What had felt like a victory was now fool’s gold.
“I was mad at your mommy for so long,” he said, scratching Sasha’s ears. “But now, I’ve forgotten why I’m so angry. She hurt me, because she lied to me. When I found out she kept you, I blew a gasket.”
The dog lifted herself to a sitting position and rested her head on his knee the way she used to do. It should have been comforting, it should have made him feel warm and complete, but not now—not when he missed Linx with every fiber of his being.
He’d spent so many years denying her, running from her, drowning in casual flings, and convincing himself that she’d lied—and she had, one version or the other, and now, it dawned on him that she had ended it.
She was telling him it no longer mattered whether she’d lied or not.
It no longer mattered whether she’d had a baby or not.
It no longer mattered what he thought about her.
She was done, and this time, it was final.
As final as her leaving her very heart—Sasha, or as she called her, Cedar.
Well hell, it damn well mattered to him whether he was in love with her or not. He was supposed to hate her, but if his heart hurt so much, and love caused pain, then what did Cait’s words mean?
One thing was sure. Sasha loved Linx and Sasha was in pain.
He stroked the dog’s silky mane and rubbed her behind the ears. “Do you prefer Sasha or Cedar?”
The dog’s ears perked when he said, “Cedar.”
“Is it Cedar? Is that who you are?”
A light came back into Cedar’s eyes, and her head snapped up with an eager look.
“You want me to take you back to Linx, don’t you?”
Cedar wagged the tip of her tail and leaped to her feet, shaking herself as if to go right away.
Maybe his dog was right. Maybe he, also, should go back to Linx and ask for another chance. Swallow his pride and bury the hatchet.
He was hurting as much as the dog, and if he was honest with himself, he hadn’t exactly treated Linx fairly. True, he had no idea how a woman felt being pregnant and alone, and he’d always assumed they wanted to trap him, as if he were the big prize.
How wrong he was. He was no prize—just a has-been firefighter.
But he could still do something for her.
He could give Cedar back, and he could volunteer at the rescue center. He could be nicer to her, for a change, and then, maybe, he’d get over this big fat ache in his heart.
If he was in love, he was in trouble. It was going to hurt either way—with or without Linx, because the way his heart was, he could never fall out of it.
Damn his heart.
“Okay, let’s take you back to your mommy.” Grady hugged Sasha and let her lick his face. “I’m going to miss you. You were always my puppy. My little lost puppy.”
So much like Linx, a lost puppy.
Now, where did that thought come from?
Cedar’s worried, lost expression the moment Linx had left her was exactly the same as that crestfallen abandoned look Linx had given him when he told her their fairy tale was over.
She was nineteen and had her entire life in front of her, and he was twenty-two, at his physical peak. He couldn’t settle down, even if it was with a fellow smokejumper, and have her tagging along to all the stations around the world.
Respect for women wasn’t universal around the world, and the facilities were primitive in many of the outposts. Sometimes, they had to live off the land, hunting and fishing for food, and hike back to base, instead of being picked up by helicopters.
The men were gross and sexist, and he couldn’t have protected her everywhere they went.
Besides, he wasn’t the type to get tied down, especially so young. The excuses looped through his mind, sounding hollower and hollower.
He couldn’t get past the fact that her dates were off. If she was pregnant, it wasn’t his. Impossible since he was already halfway around the world at the estimated time of conception.
He’d plugged in all the possible dates at the online pregnancy calculator website, and there was no way, no how, he could have been the father.
Summer Love Puppy: The Hart Family (Have A Hart Book 6) Page 12