by Lee Hollis
They were alive, but still in grave danger.
They ducked down into a crouch to stay hidden.
“What’s going on? Who is that?” Matt asked.
“One of Tony Molina’s bodyguards. It’s a long story, but he thinks you’re having an affair with his wife and he wants to kill you!”
Matt’s eyes widened in shock.
This was not what he was expecting to hear.
Suddenly they heard Griffin’s gruff voice. “Flowers!”
Poppy clutched Matt’s arm. “Don’t say anything! You’ll give away our position!”
“Flowers! I think you’d better answer me!” Griffin yelled. He waited a few seconds before adding, “I’ve got something of yours that you might want back!”
They were now lying flat on the ground, behind some bushes, trying to keep out of sight, but Poppy couldn’t resist and lifted her head just a bit to get a good view and gasped, horrified. “He has Violet!”
“What?” Matt raised his head and grimaced.
Griffin had his rifle in one hand and was clutching Violet with the other. “If you don’t come out now and face me, I’m going to have to shoot this little bunny rabbit!”
“Don’t do it, Matt!” Violet cried. “He’ll shoot you!”
Matt made a move to stand up, but Poppy grabbed his sweatshirt. “No, Matt!”
“I can’t let him hurt Violet,” Matt said, and then he bravely stood up, hands in the air, and stepped out in the middle of the trail.
Poppy watched, terror stricken and trembling, as Matt slowly walked down the trail toward Griffin and Violet, about to get himself killed.
It happened in slow motion.
As Matt approached, Griffin pushed Violet aside, so hard she tripped and fell to the ground. Griffin raised his rifle, aiming it right at Matt’s chest. Poppy couldn’t see Matt’s face but she envisioned him closing his eyes, preparing himself for the inevitable.
Poppy, in that moment, felt so helpless, so despondent.
And then, out of the shadows, appeared a wild woman, screaming like a banshee, brandishing a thick tree branch. She came up behind Griffin Goodwin in a flash, and whacked him in the back of the head with it. Griffin dropped to the ground with a thud, allowing Violet to crawl over him, grab the rifle, then haul herself to her feet and scamper away.
Matt lowered his hands as he stared at the woman in utter shock. Where had she come from? She had just swooped in at the last minute and saved the day. He squinted to get a better look at her. She was older with white hair and bright pink lipstick and she had this perpetual look of annoyance.
No, it couldn’t be.
But it was.
Poppy was on her feet and walking toward Matt, who was turned enough now that she could see a smile creeping across Matt’s face. “Iris?”
“You can thank me now!” Iris shouted.
And then she promptly turned and threw up in the bushes.
Apparently she still hadn’t adjusted to the high elevation yet.
Chapter 50
When Poppy opened the door to her apartment and found Rod Harper standing outside, she was surprised to see him looking so relaxed and refreshed. After all he had been through with his daughter recently, with her arrest and impending trial, she had expected him to appear more worn and worried. He had called earlier, asking if he could come over to talk to her, and she had agreed. It was noon, and she had a lot of errands to do, but he said it was important and couldn’t wait and so she told him to drive right over. It had taken him only fifteen minutes, and now he was here, reaching out with his muscular arms and drawing Poppy in for a long hug. He raised his hand and gently placed it on the back of her head, which rested on his broad chest. Poppy felt safe in his warm embrace but was the first to pull away, and, with a bright smile, welcomed him into her home. After offering him a drink, which he declined, she led him into the living room and they both took a seat next to each other on the couch.
“Is Heather working?” Rod asked, glancing around.
“No, today is her day off. She and Matt went on a hike around Andreas Canyon on the Cahuilla Indian Reservation.”
“I’m happy to hear Matt is hiking again after what happened.”
“Matt has always been one of those get-right-back-up-in-the-saddle type of people,” Poppy said with a laugh.
“And he and Heather are good?”
“I believe so, yes. Taking things slow, but I’m hopeful they can make things work,” Poppy said confidently before adopting a more somber tone. “And Lara? How is she?”
Rod shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Still defiant, still refusing to admit to any wrongdoing. Her lawyers have been trying to cop a plea deal, but Lara’s having none of it. She wants to go to trial. I’ve been trying to reason with her, her lawyers are adamantly advising against it, but Lara is going to do what she is going to do. I’m afraid this is all going to end with a hefty sentence.”
Poppy reached out and took Rod’s hand, not as some kind of romantic gesture, but as a longtime friend who wanted him to know that she would always be there for him.
There was a long pause. Rod looked deep into Poppy’s eyes, and she was afraid he might try to propose marriage again, and she would have to gently shut him down, but he didn’t. He just shook his head and, with a sad smile, said, “How did we both reach this point, Poppy? Both our daughters so adrift and so troubled?”
Poppy bristled, but deep down she knew Rod had meant no offense. He was just trying to find someone who understood his dire situation, his only daughter on the verge of being sent to prison for a long incarceration. However, Poppy could hardly compare the devious Lara Harper with her own daughter Heather’s situation. The circumstances could not have been more vastly different, and Heather had owned up to her mistakes almost immediately and wanted to make amends and serve her time. It was her only path to living a normal, happy life. Lara was going to fight doing the right thing until the bitter end, and that’s what made the two women so stark in contrast. But Rod did not need a lecture about his morally bankrupt daughter, so Poppy chose to stay mum and just be a friend during this terribly turbulent time he was going through.
“On a brighter note, that network pilot I was in negotiations for is apparently a go. They need me in New York in two weeks to start shooting.”
“Oh, Rod, that’s wonderful!” Poppy cheered. “Congratulations!”
“My first starring role in a network series since Jack Colt, if you can believe it,” he said, almost not believing it himself. “I thought my days as a TV star were over, which is a big reason I made the decision to move out to the desert permanently. Now I have to close up the house or rent it. I’ve already found a place I like in Manhattan, right near Central Park. The network is very bullish on the show, and they are hinting about a golden time slot, Monday nights at ten.”
“Rod Harper is back!” Poppy declared, squeezing Rod’s hand, genuinely happy for him.
“Of course, I told them I needed to be back here if Lara’s case goes to trial, and the producers have offered to work with me to make that happen.”
“I’m sure Lara will appreciate it.”
Rod looked down at Poppy’s hand holding his and without looking back up at her said softly, “I was hoping you might consider coming with me.”
Poppy slowly let go of Rod’s hand and she could tell at that moment that he knew her answer. “Rod . . .”
“I know. . . .”
“It’s a tempting offer. . . . You know how much I care for you. . . .”
Rod sighed, his head bowed. “But there’s someone else. . . .”
Poppy nodded.
“I guess I knew all along.... But you know me . . . Rod Harper, always one to give it the old college try.”
Poppy lovingly touched his cheek with her hand. “You’re a good man, Rod.”
“Will you at least come visit me in New York sometime?”
“Of course.”
“Maybe consider a guest spot? The
role of my wife was cut. Now I’m a widower. You can play my new love interest. If I can’t have you in real life, maybe we can date on television. . . .”
“Every Monday night at ten on CBS.”
They both laughed and hugged each other again.
There was another long beat before Poppy spoke. “Rod, if you need someone to come with you to the trial, if it comes to that, I want you to know I would be happy to be by your side so you don’t have to go through this alone.”
“I appreciate that, Poppy. Thank you.”
She couldn’t tell if he would actually take her up on the offer, but she was glad she had made it.
Rod finally stood up. “I should go.”
He was halfway to the door before he turned back around. “By the way, Sam Emerson turned down the consulting offer. I’m not sure why. Maybe he’s got something more important here in the desert. I just thought you should know.” Then he gave her a knowing wink.
She beamed, happy they were parting as good friends, and then he was gone.
Poppy waited a few moments before crossing to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of wine from the fridge, and then scribbling a note for Heather. Gone to Big Bear. Don’t wait up. Love, Mom.
And then, after packing an overnight bag, she headed out the door.