“Preppers,” Mad Dog told the others when they arrived.
Church nodded, but Sam asked, “What are preppers?”
“Survivalists,” Smoke explained. “They actively prepare by stockpiling things like food, fuel, and weapons.”
Sam furrowed her brows. “Prepare for what exactly?”
“Anything that might disrupt the social or political order of things. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks. Doomsday. Alien invasion. Take your pick,” Church answered grimly and looked to Smoke. “How prepped are they?”
“They’ve got two sets of barracks equipped to handle about fifty or so. Crates of MREs. Fifty-five-gallon drums of fuel. An assortment of weapons, everything from Bowie knives to semis and enough ammo to protect and defend.”
Sam nodded, looking concerned. “I can see it. Lots of the local guys like to hunt and have cabins in the woods. Even the local schools are closed the Monday after Thanksgiving for the first day of buck season.” She frowned. “But that’s not illegal, is it?”
“No, it’s not. But having that many weapons in the hands of those who might or might not know how to use them is something we need to be aware of.”
“Especially given what’s been happening around here. Some of those guys aren’t exactly fans of ours,” Heff said, exchanging a meaningful glance with Church.
Smoke pointed to the topographical map spread out on one of the tables. “The main compound is here, but they have access routes fanning outward in every direction, including a few that run along the southern and western edges of Sanctuary property.”
“How do you want to handle this, Church?” Heff asked.
“Sit tight for now,” Church answered. “Now that we’re aware, we’ll continue to monitor things closely. Cage, contact the Callaghans in Pine Ridge and see if they’re willing to lend us some eyes and ears. This is their backyard too, and my guess is, they’ll want to know about this.”
Cage nodded.
“Everyone else, it’s business as usual. Keep security tight and your eyes and ears open.”
Smoke wrapped his arm around Sam and led her out of the building. The rest of them remained.
Church looked pointedly at Heff. “You said Sandy shares a duplex with Petraski?”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know anything about this.”
“No, but he knows she’s been hanging around with you, and that might complicate things.”
Heff blew out a breath. “Fucking hell.”
Church placed a hand on Heff’s shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think she’s in any danger. You, on the other hand, had better watch your six.”
Chapter Forty
Sandy
Sandy forgot to change the alarm time on her phone, which meant she was up earlier than she needed to be Thursday morning. She was going to miss those early morning drives up to the ranch. On the plus side, it meant more sleep and more time for breakfast and a second cup of coffee.
She was pondering other changes to her daily schedule when she heard Lenny moving around next door. Expecting him to knock on her back door at any moment, she got up and pulled a coffee mug from the cabinet.
He didn’t though. When she heard his front door close, she peered out her front window and saw him walking to his car. He was showered and dressed in his uniform, looking more tired than usual at that hour. Then again, she’d heard him coming in very late, so he probably hadn’t gotten much sleep. She wondered if something had happened or if he’d just been having a good time with his cousin.
She’d find out soon enough. On those rare occasions when something interesting did happen, it would be the topic of conversation at the township building.
The morning was muggy and overcast, an appropriate match for her mood. She opted to make use of the extra time and walk the mile to the township building instead of drive. Her mind continued to churn, just as it had all night.
The truth was, she felt lost. Kevin hadn’t been around long, but he’d had a huge impact on her life. His departure left a hole in her life she hadn’t expected.
I’m going to miss seeing Tori every day too, she realized sadly. Especially their Friday afternoon coffee chats.
Tori had become an unexpected friend, one of the rare few who didn’t seem to think she was crazy for wanting to follow her dreams. For now at least, Sandy could use the ranch’s website as an excuse to contact her, but what would happen after that?
And Heff. Did losing Kevin mean she was going to lose him too? He’d said he’d call, but he hadn’t. She wished he would. Not only did she enjoy spending time with him, but she was also certain he’d be able to take her mind off of things and improve her mood for at least a couple of hours.
Unfortunately, it was a slow morning at the township office, which meant she didn’t have a lot to distract her from her gloomy thoughts. The most exciting thing that happened was Mr. Cherkasney came in, demanding to speak with one of the supervisors because Mr. Pollock’s tree had been dropping crab apples over his property line and allegedly ruining his lawn mower. He was quickly followed by Mr. Pollock himself, who argued that the tree was the result of Mr. Cherkasney’s mother—who did make an incredible crab apple jelly—dumping her apple cores out there, so it was really all her fault.
Sandy showed them both into a conference room and let them be. Everyone knew they just came for the free coffee and fresh cookies Mrs. Delvecchio brought in when she came to catch up on the local gossip. Sure enough, an hour later, they were on their merry way, talking about heading out to the nearby lake to do some fishing and debating the merits of grubs versus nightcrawlers as bait.
By noon, the next township newsletter was complete, the last of Mrs. Delvecchio’s filing fiasco had been rectified, and everything was once again organized and in its proper place. She left the office feeling none of the anticipation she had over the last several weeks, knowing there was no one to go home to.
To distract her from thoughts of Kevin and formulating theories on why Heff hadn’t yet returned her call, she came up with a to-do list, which included revisiting potential graphic design employers and reevaluating her portfolio. Now that Kevin was back home with his mother, there was no reason not to start thinking about getting her life back on track.
The thought didn’t excite her as much as it once had.
She was revising her list of contacts when the call came through. She frowned at the number, not recognizing it and assuming it was just another robocall.
She was therefore surprised when she saw the voicemail icon pop up. Telemarketers didn’t typically leave voice mails.
Intrigued, she checked the message.
“Ms. Summers, this is Della Phillips from Kensington Graphic Creative. I’m calling because you submitted an application for a paid internship position, and one has just become available. If you’re still interested, please call us at your earliest convenience.” The woman recited a number.
Certain she’d heard wrong, Sandy listened to the message twice more before she went online and searched the familiar name. Kensington Graphic Creative was a big name in the industry and a very hard place to get into. She had applied there months ago but hadn’t heard a thing.
Hand shaking, she tapped out the number and held her breath.
“Kensington Graphic Creative. Della Phillips speaking.”
“Ms. Phillips, this is Cassandra Summers returning your call.”
“Thank you for getting back so quickly. Does this mean you are still interested?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Excellent. Can you come in tomorrow afternoon to discuss the position?”
“Uh, yes. Yes, of course I can.”
After jotting down the information, Sandy hung up the phone and stared at the notepad for several long seconds before letting out a squeal of joy and doing a little dance right there in her kitchen.
She was still bubbling with excitement hours later when she arrived at Franco’s for the start of her shift.
/> “Something’s put a sparkle back in your eyes,” Jeannie noted. “What’s his name?”
Sandy laughed, an image of Heff flashing momentarily in her mind’s eye. “I got some potentially great news today, but I don’t want to jinx it by saying anything before I’m sure it’s a real thing.”
“Oh.” Jeannie looked disappointed. “Not even a hint?”
“Not even a hint. But”—she held up both hands, fingers crossed—“hopefully, I’ll be able to tell you tomorrow night.”
Chapter Forty-One
Sandy
Sandy’s head was still spinning as she tried to navigate her Civic out of the city and back toward Sumneyville. I have a job!
And not just any job, but paid internship at one of the biggest graphic design agencies on the East Coast! The pay wasn’t fabulous to start, but the potential for advancement was huge. More importantly, the position offered great perks, like a relocation consultant and a benefits advisor.
The only downside, she had all of two days to get everything squared away and move her ass to Manhattan.
Manhattan!
Thankfully, since she’d been expecting to leave only a few months earlier, she had been able to pull everything together quickly, and all that was left to do was say good-bye.
Jeannie and Rico were excited and supportive, but sad to see her go. They handled it much better than Lenny, who hadn’t even pretended to be happy for her. Sadly, she hadn’t expected anything less.
On Saturday, she finished up her ideas for the ranch website and called Tori before driving up to the ranch for a last visit. Like Jeannie, Tori seemed genuinely happy for her but a little sad too.
Danny came in at one point, his face falling when he saw she was alone.
“He really misses Kevin,” Tori told her.
“I do too,” Sandy admitted. “But Bianca said he’s doing well, and that’s what’s important, right?”
Tori nodded.
“And, for what it’s worth, I don’t think she’d be opposed to occasionally bringing him up on weekends. Maybe I could even drive in too. It’s not that far.”
“I’d like that,” Tori said. “Have you told Hugh yet?”
Sandy shook her head. She’d picked up the phone multiple times, but she hadn’t been able to complete the call. Despite his promise to call her back, he hadn’t. She didn’t know what to think about that, only that it wasn’t good. “I don’t think he’s too happy with me right now.”
Tori didn’t jump to deny it. “We were all caught off guard, but I’m sure he doesn’t blame you. He hasn’t been around here much the last few days either. Between you and me, I think there’s something going on with the Sanctuary.”
“Why? What’s happened?”
“I don’t know the details, but it has something to do with some Doomsday preppers who might be causing trouble for Matt and the guys. I overheard Brian talking to our friends in Pine Ridge about it.”
Sandy frowned, thinking of the last time she’d spoken with Heff. “Is it serious, do you think?”
“I don’t know,” Tori told her, “but I can tell you those guys don’t mess around. If there is a problem, they’ll take care of it.” Tori paused and bit her lip. “Sandy, I know it’s none of my business, and you can tell me to butt out, but what’s going on between you and Hugh?”
Sandy wished she knew. “It’s ... complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?” Tori smiled, but it was a sad smile.
They finished their coffee, and Sandy couldn’t stall any longer. She got up to leave, and Tori surprised her with a hug.
“Please, don’t be a stranger, okay?”
“Okay.”
“And, Sandy, call him. Better he hears it from you than from someone else.”
Tori was right.
“I will, thanks.”
When she got out to her car, she pulled up Heff’s contact info and hit the call button. He answered on the first ring.
“Hey, Sandy. What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you’d have dinner with me tonight. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
He hesitated and then said, “Sure, okay. Where and when?”
“Not Franco’s.” In fact, not anywhere in Sumneyville. She didn’t want anything to interfere with their evening, no distractions. “There’s a nice place farther up the mountain. They have an outdoor deck with good food and a great view.”
She didn’t mention the motel that was also there or that it was a popular spot for lovers looking for a quick, romantic getaway.
She calculated the amount of time it would take to run back to Sumneyville, take a quick shower, and do a little extra prep. “I’ll pick you up at six?”
Another pause.
“All right. See you then.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Heff
Heff disconnected the call, dread settling like a heavy weight in his chest. He knew what was coming. Now that Kevin was back with his mom, there was nothing in Sumneyville to hold Sandy back. Including him.
Did he want her to leave? Hell no.
Did she need to leave? Absolutely.
They were only a couple of years apart in age, but in terms of life experience, he was an old man in comparison. She needed an opportunity to flex her wings and fly, to experience life outside of Sumneyville. To try, to fail, to succeed. And to do it on her own, without him or anyone else influencing her decisions.
Maybe in time, she’d realize that the type of connection they had between them didn’t come around often. That wasn’t the kind of thing you could tell someone though. They had to feel the truth of it in their heart and then accept it in their mind. If he did try to tell her, he’d sound just like everyone else who’d shit on her dreams and made her feel bad for wanting a life of her own, wanting more.
He wasn’t going to be that guy.
Sure, they could continue to see each other in the meantime, and they could have fun, but that would just make it harder for her to leave—and harder for him to let go. He already knew he wanted more from her than what she was capable of giving, and that wasn’t fair to either one of them. That was what he was going to tell her when they met for dinner, assuming she didn’t say it first.
So ... yeah.
He took a shower, changed into some clean clothes, and walked down the long drive to wait. It was better than having the others see her coming—or worse, to have them questioning her about her next-door neighbor or the activities of his buds.
“You didn’t have to walk all the way out here,” she said as he slid into the passenger seat.
He was immediately hit with her sweet, fresh scent. Like honey and sunshine and blue sky. He didn’t know whether it was her shampoo or her soap or some kind of body lotion, but he would forever associate it with memories of her hot and naked against him.
“I know,” he answered. “I thought it might be easier.”
She smiled at him, and it speared right through his chest. “And here I thought, maybe you just couldn’t wait.”
“That too.”
He could tell the answer pleased her even if there was a shadow of doubt in her eyes.
They didn’t talk much on the way to the restaurant. Once there, they requested a table on the deck and were led to the outdoor dining area. The waiter took their drink order and left them with menus.
“This is a gorgeous view,” she commented, looking at the valley spread out before them. In the deepening twilight, the sky was painted in wide swaths of oranges and pinks against where it met the horizon.
“It is,” he agreed. It was a gorgeous view, but it didn’t affect him nearly as much as a glance at the woman next to him. He’d seen a thousand gorgeous sunsets, but he’d never met a woman who affected him as much as she did.
And he was letting her go. Did that make him selfless and noble? Or a complete fucking idiot?
“I can’t believe I’ve lived in Sumneyville all my life, and I’ve never been here before,
” she mused.
“Never?”
She shook her head. “I’ve heard a lot about it though. So far, it’s living up to the hype.”
Torches were lit around the outdoor deck, the flames flickering in the light breeze right along with the glowing candles on each of the two-person tables. During the day, the place had a welcoming family vibe, but as darkness fell, the setting became more intimate.
Conversation paused as they perused the menu. The waiter returned with their drinks, and they gave their order. There was tension between them that hadn’t been there before. A heavy kind of awkwardness. It felt wrong.
“So, how are you doing?” he asked finally.
“I’m okay. It’s weird. I really got used to having Kevin around, you know? But I know it’s for the best.” She stroked her finger along the condensation on her water glass. “Bianca said I could visit but suggested I wait a while, so he could adjust back into his normal routine.”
Ouch. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I think she underestimates him.” She shook her head and smiled. “But what do I know, right? She’s had him for fourteen years. I had him for part of a summer, and for most of that time, I was winging it.”
“You did great with him.”
“So did you. We did okay, didn’t we?”
He nodded. Their meals came, and their conversation lapsed back into a semi-awkward silence. The food was good, but he didn’t have much of an appetite. Judging by the way she was playing with her food, she wasn’t particularly hungry either.
It was torture, being so close to her, having the words that would push her away rolling around in his mind, fighting against being released.
“Sandy ...”
“I got a job in New York,” she suddenly blurted out, the words coming out in a rush. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”
He blinked in surprise, her announcement catching him completely off guard. “Tomorrow? That’s kind of quick, isn’t it?”
She nodded, pushing her plate to the side, giving up all pretense of trying to eat. “The position opened up unexpectedly, and they’re looking to fill it right away.”
Best Laid Plans Page 22