A Place to Call Home

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

She nodded her head toward Hannah’s direction. “Hannah? Interested, huh?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh come on, you can’t take your eyes off of her. I’ve seen you striking up conversations with her in town, too. What’s the deal?”

  “I’m the sheriff. I need to know everyone around the town.”

  “Ahh, so men are already asking you for guardianship of her or something?”

  “Not yet, but I’m sure soon enough they will be.”

  “And what will be your response?” she pushed, and he shook his head.

  “My usual, I’m sure. That I need to see a shared interest from all parties and know it’s something that will last and not some sort of game.”

  “I know you’ll do a good job. She’s real sweet, and to be honest with you, I don’t think you need to worry about her accepting anyone any time soon.” Harper glanced at Hannah.

  “Why is that?” Kane asked.

  “She isn’t interested,” she replied, and then looked him over and stared at him in a way that made his gut clench and feel like Harper knew something or believed she did.

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “I run a safe town here, Harper. I make sure my men look out for the community members, old and new.”

  “Which is why I think right here in Cherry Hill is where she belongs,” Harper said, and squeezed his shoulder.

  When he looked past her to where Hannah was, she was looking right at him, then at Harper’s hand as she released his shoulder and walked away. Hannah looked sad, or maybe jealous? Or did he just imagine that? He exhaled and then waited for her to come by again. How did he feel about the fact that other men might be asking him for guardianship of Hannah, or to pursue a relationship? He knew the answer. Hell, he felt it. He was jealous and that was it. Holy fuck. Who is Hannah Murphy, and what will Culter think of her? What about Fox and Chase? Holy Christ.

  Athena was pretty tired, but she actually enjoyed working at Harper’s. What she didn’t like were certain men staring at her with bad intentions. It just made her want to quit and go hide in the apartment, but she couldn’t. She was on her own. She had to make money, train hard, and be prepared. What was throwing her for a loop was the sheriff. When he showed up tonight in his plain clothes looking sexier than a man had the right to look, it shocked her. So did her body’s reaction and her eyes. She was staring at him. Hell, drooling. Then came the fear. She wasn’t normal. She had a past. A terrible, painful past, and deep down inside she felt like she would never be able to let down the walls, the protective force field she had over her body and heart.

  There were so many attractive men around this town and in Central Valley. The thing was, they did things differently. They claimed guardianship of women, and some shared. She couldn’t imagine being involved in any kind of relationship with one man, so forget about multiple. If she had been able to seek some kind of counseling or therapy to deal with her fears, the effects of being a prisoner and a victim, then maybe she would not only have someone to talk to about these feelings, but also a way to cope. Instead, she chose to put her energy, her therapy into training. Even after the dojo and during any free time she had, she would work out and train. She watched some videos at the library in Central Valley about self-defense moves, military hand-to-hand combat moves, and other things. She taught herself the techniques and also relaxation and therapy exercises. Things like breathing, clearing her body, her mind and soul of negative forces, very cool and different martial arts techniques that warriors traditionally practiced. She trained herself to believe she was a warrior, and one without a troop to back her.

  Perhaps all the therapy, the training, and time itself could help her resist the appeal of such an amazing and good-looking man like the sheriff.

  The reality was that she truly wasn’t free. That day would only come when Matias was dead. When his men were all dead. Then she would be free. Knowing he was alive and well directed her decisions. Intimacy, even a kiss could send her mind back into the fearful thoughts and actions. The thought of being so close to another man, to such a large man like the sheriff, after someone just as big like Matias, brought on panicky sensations. It was like it was fine to admire him or another good-looking guy from a distance, but close up was a totally different story. Certain things set her off, and a man even one she may feel an attraction for, would definitely set her off.

  As uptight as she felt having the sheriff there watching her, engaging in conversation with her every time she went past him, made her like him, and respect him even more. She felt like he was watching out for her. By the time the evening ended, she smiled at the thought that he offered her a ride, which she declined immediately, and then said Harper would drop her off. Meanwhile, she rode her bike here.

  “Not so fast. I’m not going to let you ride your bike home at this hour.”

  “Harper, I’ll be fine. I even have a flashlight,” she said, and pulled one out of her backpack.

  “No way. Flashlight or not. Too many dangers,” Ade said.

  “You should have accepted the sheriff’s offer of a ride,” Maya added.

  Harper gasped. “He offered you a ride home?”

  “He might have,” Athena replied.

  “Holy shit. Well ain’t that something,” Harper said, and then nodded for her to follow. They locked up after turning out the lights. Ade and Maya said goodnight and then Harper and Athena headed to the truck.

  “I feel badly that you’re having to drive me home. I live in the opposite direction,” Athena said as she grabbed her bike, and Harper helped her put it into the back of the truck.

  “It isn’t a big deal. You aren’t far at all, but too far to ride a bike in the dark at past 3:00 a.m. No way is that happening, safe town or not.” They got into her truck.

  “Well thank you.”

  “No, thank you. You did awesome and everyone loves you and the drinks you make. You’ll do well.”

  “I actually felt pretty good about the job tonight and the tips were great. I’m shocked. I think I should have given this a shot sooner than Spark’s place.”

  “Waitressing at the diner there isn’t good?”

  “It’s okay, but not the same atmosphere, and the tips are not even close. Plus a couple of the girls look at me like I’ve taken hours from them.”

  “Well, you can always work for me more nights.”

  “Seriously?” Athena asked her.

  “Sure thing.”

  “I guess it’s something to consider, but I can’t expect you to drive me home all the time. I’m used to handling things on my own. Even riding my bike in the dark late at night. It isn’t that far really.”

  “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Just because Cherry Hill seems perfect, and Kane, the sheriff enforces the law and has established quite the reputation, doesn’t mean that some people won’t try to commit a crime or go after a young woman who’s made herself accessible.”

  “I’ve been taking care of myself for a while now, Harper. Been halfway across the United States actually, and wound up here. I don’t have much of a choice, so I need to take those chances. Rest assured I’m prepared.”

  “Hmm…well there’s this thing called rules, and I can guarantee that once word gets out that you ride your bike to and from work, you’ll be getting offers for a lift all the time.”

  “Well, I’ll decline.”

  “We’ll see, perhaps you’ll let down your guard for the right person and make a friend. One you can trust.” They pulled into the driveway and Harper helped Athena get her bike out of the back.

  “See you tomorrow night. Remember, it’s the big fight night so get rested up. Don’t overdo it at the dojo.”

  “I’ll be ready. Thanks again, Harper,” Athena said, and then put her bike against the side of the garage door out of the way, and then headed upstairs to the apartment. She couldn’t help but smile. She got inside, locked the doors, and then turned on the light. She looked around the place, checked every spot. The
closets, her bedroom, the bathroom, doing a thorough evaluation of the place like she did every time she came back here. Nothing was out of place. She sighed in relief and then went to take a shower.

  When she was done, she lay in bed and listened to the quietness of the apartment. She thought about the new job. The people she worked with and those that came in to enjoy the place. Harper’s was actually pretty cool. A dance hall for country music, a large bar to the right, dining to the left, all the old memorabilia from Harpers’ family hung on the walls. She could just imagine the type of town it was to grow up in. She had seen a lot of kids around, and there was a park she had yet to explore, some ball fields for sports. Her life would have been so much different if she lived in a place like Cherry Hill.

  Instead, she grew up in Boston. Her mom died of cancer when she was only twelve. Her mom was gorgeous, and Athena shared her same color eyes, her olive complexion, as well as her love of music. She exhaled as she thought about how long it had been since she danced. Since she just put on some music and listened, let it consume her body and just dance. Matias wouldn’t allow it. He said she looked too sexy. That too much attention was brought to her body. Tears filled her eyes as the memories danced in her head one after the next. She felt the need to dance. To move her hips, and as she did, with her eyes closed, she hadn’t even realized that she was drawing attention to herself. When the strong arm came around her waist, gripping her so tight she lost her breath, and then he used his large hand to cup her breast, hard as he reprimanded her, the tears fell.

  “This body is mine. These breasts, these hips, this pussy all mine. You’ll be punished tonight for this, Athena. Punished.”

  Athena cried as one memory, one nightmare and incident after the next invaded her mind and took away the small feeling of happiness, almost peace, she felt after working at Harper’s tonight. She wouldn’t work more nights. She couldn’t lose focus that she was in hiding. That Matias was out there searching for her. She rolled onto her side, tucked her knees to her chest and sobbed as the feelings of loneliness, of fear, of desperation to truly be free consumed her into exhaustion. Tonight, the nightmares would win over her determination to put it all behind her.

  “Holy shit. We didn’t expect you to make it here today. Thought for sure you wouldn’t be in until Sunday,” Culter McCabe said to his brothers Chase and Fox.

  They hugged and then slapped one another on the back. Kane joined them.

  “Well we did, and we are looking forward to some R&R and having a few beers with the crew. Everyone still going to Harper’s tonight?” Chase asked as Fox took a seat by the kitchen table and exhaled. He looked like he was in a bad mood as usual. Both of his brothers looked hard, like they went through hell and back, and it wasn’t the first time.

  “Yeah, it should be pretty crowded too, but we reserved a table near the bar,” Kane said.

  “Great. We can catch some sleep and head out with you guys,” Chase said.

  “You okay, Fox?” Culter asked.

  He nodded. That was Fox. A man of few words.

  They all shared similar features. Their distinguished noses, firm jaws, and dark brown hair all gave away that they were related. Fox and Kane however, had darker, more intense demeanors, where Chase and Culter could hide that a little, and smile a bit more around the right people. They were really approachable, where it took quite some time for Kane to actually converse with everyone he met. He wasn’t always like that, and definitely not after he retired from the Marine Corps.

  “How’s the dojo?” Chase asked.

  “It’s been super busy. As soon as you guys are rested up I could use your help. Nash has been helping when he isn’t working, and his brothers have stepped in to cover some classes.”

  “Well, we should be good to go by Monday. It will be nice to roll around on the mats a little,” Chase said.

  “I don’t know if I’m up for it tonight. Maybe I’ll catch the next one,” Fox said, and stood up. He walked by the back door and looked out toward the land.

  Culter looked at Chase, then Kane. If their sister Charlie was here, she would be worried, and pushing to talk to him. She was a therapist and counselor currently working with retired soldiers and training other therapists starting out in the field. She had been gone for six months, but had called just two weeks ago to check in.

  “Whatever you want to do, Fox, but it’s going to be fun. Could help to get out, see the gang and just kick back a little. Decide later on. We got all day,” Kane said, and then looked at the clock.

  “I need to head to out. I’ll be home by 5:00 p.m. to shower and change, and then we’ll head to Harper’s. Glad you guys are home and safe,” he said, and then nodded before he left.

  “Isn’t he leaving a little early?” Chase asked.

  Culter nodded. He’d heard that the mysterious brunette everyone in town was wondering about, was pretty damn hot. Then he got a text last night from one of the guys saying his brother was at the bar all night talking to her. He wondered if Kane actually liked the woman, and his curiosity about seeing her up close was another reason he was looking forward to tonight.

  “Hello, any reason he’s leaving early?” Fox now asked.

  “Well, it could have something to do with the mysterious brunette everyone in town has been talking about. She leaves about twenty minutes from now to take the bus into Central Valley to the dojo there.”

  “What mysterious brunette?” Chase asked, eyes narrowed, and now his arms were crossed in front of his chest. They were all very protective of one another, and their history with women wasn’t exactly good. Didn’t seem to pick the right women, and certainly that caused some problems. Had a few that stalked one of them, then all of them. It wasn’t pretty.

  “She’s been around for months. Didn’t venture into town much, and had started working at Spark’s a couple of days a week, and goes to the dojo. Then I heard last night she started working at Harper’s. Harper talked her into it and she was good. The bar was extra crowded last night, her second night, if you know what I mean.”

  “She’s that hot?” Fox asked.

  “Apparently so, because Montana texted me that Kane was by the bar all night talking with her. Said he definitely had his eyes on her and not just as the sheriff.”

  “Who the fuck is she?” Fox asked.

  “Don’t know, and I never really got a good look at her, so tonight I will.”

  “Kane doesn’t date, doesn’t hook up and draw attention to himself when it comes to that because he’s the sheriff. Maybe he was talking to her because some other men want to be her guardians?”

  “She turns down every offer, whether coffee or a date. She rents the apartment the Gaynors’ have over their garage. Takes the bus to Central Valley then walks the mile back to her apartment. Heard she has these stunning, deep green eyes.”

  “Why isn’t she working out in your dojo?” Fox snapped at him and then leaned against the counter by the sink. He looked lethal, pissed off, and still not fully down from whatever operation he and Chase completed.

  “Corey Mullen’s dojo is three times the size of our place because the town is that much bigger than Cherry Hill. They offer more classes, too.”

  “Sounds like a mysterious woman to me. So he left early to what? Meet her before she goes to the dojo there?” Chase asked.

  “I don’t know. Probably see her before she takes the bus. Not sure. We’ll see what the deal is tonight. I need to head to the dojo now. I’ll catch up with you guys later and we’ll all head out together.”

  They nodded and he grabbed his things and went to his blue pickup truck. On his way into town, he was curious about this woman, as well. When he got there, he saw people still waiting at the bus stop and his brother Kane talking to a young woman by his patrol car. He quickly parked, glanced at his watch and knew he only had a few minutes. So maybe a quick introduction. As he got closer, he could see the way she shyly nodded, and Kane stood there with one hand on the butt of his gu
n and the other on his hip. When his brother reached out to stroke the woman’s hair and she stepped to the side, his gut clenched.