I swallowed hard. He was the first one since my discharge — Who was I kidding? He was the first one since all Hell broke loose – to offer anything more than platitudes.
“Thanks.” I drained my glass and set it on the edge of the desk. “I will. I promise.” I stood and thought for a moment. He’d made the first move and it was up to me to make the next. I simply didn’t know if I was ready. “Sam, did you have nightmares?”
“Sit.” He reached for the bourbon and refilled my glass. “And, to answer your question, I did. I still do, but not as often and not as bad.”
I dropped my head into my hands and closed my eyes. I’d known others suffered the same as I did but I hadn’t talked to any. Just knowing Sam had and that he wanted to help gave me hope I’d one day get back to normal.
“Meg, I didn’t mean to bring it back.” His hand was warm on my shoulder.
“You didn’t.” I looked up, not caring if he saw the tears that burned my eyes. “Sam, there’s a lot I can’t talk about.” I shook my head before he could interrupt. “I can’t.” His mouth firmed and he nodded, understanding. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk about it. I couldn’t, not without violating my oaths and more than a few federal laws. “But it was bad. Your worst nightmare short of being captured by the enemy. Members of my unit died because of the actions of our CO. That’s all I can say.”
And that was probably too much already.
Sam looked at me and I saw him pale. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. Then he tossed back his bourbon before pouring himself a second. I had a feeling he knew what I was talking about, but that didn’t make any sense. Command had buttoned the whole episode up as soon as they discovered what happened. Those of us who’d survived that last mission had been sworn to secrecy on penalty of court-martial and prison time. To the best of my knowledge, no one outside of a very few knew the whole story about what happened on that mission – or the ones leading up to it.
“You were part of the Black Wolves?” He spoke softly, as if afraid he might be overheard.
I nodded, not about to risk saying it aloud.
“Damn.” He shoved a hand through his hair, his expression troubled. Then, as if realizing I didn’t know whether to report him or run for the hills, he pushed away from the desk and dropped to one knee in front of me. “I won’t tell the others, mainly for the same reason you can’t. One day, I’ll explain how I know what happened. But to prove I do, let’s just say Major Stokoe should gotten the death penalty for what he did.”
“I wish.” Bitter anger filled me, and I fought to hold it in check. “And I think we need to have that talk sooner rather than later.”
“Agreed, but not tonight. I figure we have no more than another five minutes before the others come looking for us.” He stood and looked down at me. “What was your rank?”
“Captain.”
His mouth tightened, and anger flashed in his eyes. “Captain Margaret Sheridan. My apologies, Meg. I didn’t make the connection.”
“H-how?”
“Annie’s told you I’m a good investigator. I am. I’m a very good one and I used to be CID with I was in the Army. When they opened the investigation into Stokoe, they pulled me in to help.”
If true, it explained how he knew. I wanted to believe him but Stokoe taught me the folly of doing that without at least doing some checking on my own. Still, it would be easy enough to find out. I had contacts in CID who owed me after that case.
“I’ll keep your offer in mind, Sam, and thanks. But this, on top of everything else, is too much to take in right now. I hope you understand.”
“I do.” He helped me to my feet. “Even if you don’t feel comfortable talking with me, talk with Lucas. Or Quinn. Lucas was in the Marines and Quinn, while not being in the military, has seen more than her fair share of action.”
I nodded and once more set my glass on the edge of his desk. I’d think about it but not now. Not when it might prove to be a distraction when I least needed one.
“One more thing.” Sam suddenly looked uncomfortable.
“I’m not sure I can take much more,” I said honestly.
“Nothing untoward, I promise.”
So why did he look like he’d rather be talking about anything else?
“Drew was out of line downstairs.”
I nodded, wondering where this was going.
“He only acts like that when he cares.”
“He’s a cop. I’m sure he cares about all his cases.”
Sam blew out a breath. Then he seemed to brace himself. “No – yes, but that’s not what I meant.”
Oh man, was he trying to say what I thought he was?
“Meg, he’s a good man and it’s obvious he cares about you. I don’t know if you two will ever be more than friends but take it easy on him. Please.”
“Don’t worry, Sam.”
What else could I say. Apparently satisfied, Sam moved to the door and opened it. He waited until I walked out of his office before closing the door. Together, we made our way downstairs. As we rejoined the others, I knew two things. First, Quinn and Annie had taken Drew to task for the way he’d overreacted. Second, they had no idea why Sam and I had been gone so long and were worried something might be wrong.
“Meg, is everything okay?” Drew asked.
“It is.” I thought for a moment before making up my mind. “I haven’t made a secret of it, but I also haven’t discussed it since arriving here. About a year ago, I left the Army Reserves. Before that, I’d been active duty. Let’s just say Sam saw something in me he recognized and wanted to let me know he’s always here if I need someone to talk to.”
“Me too,” Lucas said.
“I know and thanks.” I turned to fully face Drew. “And I promise that I will let you and Lucas know if I ever feel like anyone is watching me or if anything feels off. But you have to promise to keep me in the loop about the investigation. Deal?”
He glanced at Lucas before responding. “Deal.”
“So now what?” Quinn asked as I returned to the chair I’d occupied earlier.
“Drew and Lucas keep investigating the wreck. I’m going to keep looking into my mother’s past. I need to find out why she wanted me to come here.”
“Are you going to start taking on clients?” Lucas asked.
I shook my head, a smile lifting the corners of my mouth. Of course, he knew about the judge appointing me as Annie’s co-counsel. “Let’s just say I hadn’t planned on taking on any clients. I’m learning what you want and what you plan on isn’t always what you get here in Mossy Creek.”
Annie snorted at that before laughing. Then she yawned. That was my cue.
“Quinn, why don’t we clean the kitchen?” I suggested as I stood. “Annie, no arguments. You put your feet up and relax. Your brother can bring you a cup of tea.” I shot Drew a look that warned him not to argue.
Half an hour later, Drew parked in front of Miss Serena’s house. I waited as he hurried around the pickup. He opened my door and reached up to help me out. The moment our fingers touched, that odd spark of electricity shot up my arm again. From the way Drew stood staring at me, I had no doubt he felt it as well. Before I could say anything, not that I knew what to say, he muttered something under his breath. The next thing I knew, he pulled me close. He lowered his head and paused, giving me time to stop him. Not that I wanted to.
That electric spark turned into a current as his lips met mine. The world narrowed to just the two of us. A moment later, I leaned against him, head on his shoulder, his arms around me.
“I’m not going to apologize,” he murmured.
“Good.” I tilted my head and smiled up at him.
He chuckled and hugged me close for a moment before stepping back. “Meg, I don’t know what to make of this.” Somehow, I had a feeling he meant more than the very real jolt we felt whenever we touched. “But I plan to figure it out.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I reached up and
lightly kissed him. “I’d better get inside.”
“Lunch tomorrow?”
I nodded. He grinned and watched as I climbed the steps to the porch. I watched as he drove off before turning to the door. It swung open and I felt the house welcoming me home in the back of my mind.
“I take it you had a good time tonight.” Amy leaned against the doorframe leading into the living room, a smile on her face. In one hand, she held a covered plate that smelled of freshly grilled steak and fresh veggies.
My face heated. “I did.”
“Relax, Meg.” She set the plate on the hall table and surprised me by giving me a hug. “Drew’s a good guy and he doesn’t go around kissing just anyone. In fact, it’s been a long time since I’ve known him to show interest in anyone.”
Since I didn’t know how to respond to that, I kept my mouth shut.
Amy laughed at the look on my face and patted my arm. Then she turned and retrieved her plate. Before leaving, she paused, her head cocked to one side as she studied me. “I guess what I’m saying it quit looking like a rabbit about to bolt for its hole and enjoy yourself.”
With that, she slipped out of the house, closing the front door after her. As she did, I turned to the staircase, wondering if I’d waited too long to escape Mossy Creek.
Chapter 13
Early the next morning, I was up and out of the house, a travel mug of coffee in one hand. I had a number of things to do that that morning and didn’t want to waste any time. Even though I’d talked about waiting until the weekend to find a car, sitting behind the wheel of the Land Rover reminded me I really didn’t want to delay. Not only was I afraid of something happening to the SUV while I drove it, I knew me. The more I drove it, the harder it would be to settle on anything else and there was no way I could afford even a used Land Rover.
That meant talking with my insurance company again to see where things stood on my claim. At least the accident report Lucas and Drew submitted made it clear I wasn’t at fault. Not that it guaranteed the adjuster would agree. Still, they already knew I wasn’t going to sit back and wait patiently until they decided what to do. The adjuster had been to the impound lot day before yesterday to see what was left of my Harley. That was more than enough time to make his recommendation.
As I turned onto Main Street, my mind wandered to my mother’s Chief. The classic motorcycle called to me. I couldn’t wait to ride it. Ready or not, I’d do just that. Lexie’s father would be out that afternoon to go over the cycle with me. Even then, I wouldn’t ride it. Before I did, I wanted to make sure Miss Serena really didn’t mind me taking it. After all, she’d spent years making sure the motorcycle was ready for the day Mom came back for it. I wouldn’t – I couldn’t just take it without considering how Miss Serena felt about it all.
Besides, I needed to change the title and get it insured. Even then, I’d not use it as my everyday bike. It was too fine for that. Hell, it was a collector’s item. It deserved to be babied and cherished, not ridden hard like I tended to do.
So, I’d get myself a rental until the insurance settlement came through. Hopefully, Miss Serena would understand. Then I needed to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I didn’t want to go back to Wichita, much less Maxon’s Mill. But where did that leave me?
I parked in one of the four reserved spots behind Annie’s office and switched off the engine. For a moment, I sat there, thinking. Even though I didn’t need to come into the office, for the third morning in a row, I’d been here by eight. If I were honest with myself, I looked forward to coming in. I enjoyed the morning cup of coffee at the café, seeing everyone and listening to the gossip. Working with Annie and Beth felt right, more than working with anyone in Wichita had. I still held out against accepting any clients, not matter how hard Beth and Annie tried, but I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before I gave in.
The judge had been right about one thing. I needed to earn a living. Maybe I should discuss it with Annie, make sure she was all right with me taking on a few clients. She’d been welcoming enough so far, but that was before I considered becoming what many would view as competition. Not that I expected her to object. Unless she was a better actress than all those in Hollywood, she actually wanted me to think of Mossy Creek as home.
The only problem with that was the fact everything seemed to be moving too fast. Mossy Creek might feel more like home than Maxon’s Mill or Wichita but that didn’t mean I had to like it. But, all I could do was roll with the punches, and pray they were metaphorical punches and not literal ones, at least until I figured out why Mom wanted me to come here.
And that meant getting serious about digging into Mom’s life. No matter how wrong that felt, I had to do it. Until yesterday, I’d never realized just how much Mom lived off the grid. It was remarkable considering how she made no obvious attempt to do so, at least not that I’d recognized growing up. But, as I ran the usual computer searches, it became clear. Maybe it was time to change tactics. Instead of looking into Faith Serena Sheridan, I needed to research Faith Luiseach and, since I was doing that, I might as well expand my search of her family a well.
A knock on my window startled me. Cursing, I looked over and saw Annie standing next to the SUV. She smiled in greeting. Amusement sparkled in her eyes as she waited for me to join her.
“You were awfully deep in thought,” she commented as I climbed out.
There was no sense in denying it. “I was just trying to wrap my brain around all I need to do.”
Annie’s amusement changed to understanding and she lightly rested a hand on my arm. “Meg, I really do understand and I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
“I know and I appreciate it.” I smiled and locked the Land Rover. “And, if you’re serious, I would like to discuss something with you.”
For a moment, she looked at me in concern. Then she nodded. Whether she’d guessed what I wanted to talk about or knew I’d tell her when I was ready, I didn’t know. But, instead of asking, she quickly crossed to the office’s back door. I watched as she unlocked it and stepped inside. As she did, the soft beeping of the alarm system sounded. I waited until she’d disarmed it and then stepped through the doorway.
As we walked through the work area, Annie switched on the lights. Entering her office, she placed her briefcase on her desk. After stowing her purse in the coat closet, she took a moment to check for messages. Then she turned and chuckled softly to see me leaning against the doorframe.
“Shall we talk here or at the café?”
“Here, if you don’t mind.” I wasn’t ready for everyone to know my plans. Not yet, at any rate.
She nodded and, to my surprise, moved to sit on the sofa against the wall to my left. Shrugging, I crossed the office and joined her. As I did, I recognized what she’d done. Without putting it into words, she let me know she would listen as my friend and not as my attorney. Hopefully, she’d still feel that way when I finished.
“What’s on your mind?” Concern furrowed her brow. “Sam didn’t say anything to upset you last night, did he?”
I sat back, surprised. That was the last thing I expected. “No, not at all.” I shook my head. When she looked at me, clearly unconvinced, I blew out a breath. “Annie, I mean it. If anything, Sam helped me last night. I’ve been having some trouble adjusting to civilian life, even though I haven’t been on active duty for several years. He saw something and realized what was going on. Last night was the first night in much too long, I didn’t have a nightmare.”
“So, what’s bothering you?” She rested her hands on her stomach and leaned back, waiting for my answer.
God, how to say it?
“You know how I felt when the judge appointed me to be your co-counsel.”
She nodded, a slight smile touching her lips. “You were about as pleased as I was when I realized I had to defend Mama.”
“Well, he was right about one thing. Since it looks like I’m going to be here for a while, I ne
ed to make some money. Would you object if I took on a few court appointments?” I waited, reminding myself to breathe.
Instead of objecting, Annie smiled. “I’d object if you didn’t.” She leaned over and grasped my hand. “Meg, I mean it. I have a feeling we’re enough alike that you aren’t comfortable not contributing in some way to help at Miss Serena’s. You’re also going to go crazy if you aren’t busy. Yes, looking into your mom’s life and trying to figure out why she wanted you to come here will keep you busy part of the time, but it’s the rest of the time you need to worry about. To make sure you understand, I have no objections at all to you accepting court appointments. In fact, I encourage you to do so.”
“Thanks.” Relieved, I relaxed. “I guess I ought to ask if I can rent office space from you.”
“No.” She shook her head.
Stunned, I looked at her, wondering if I’d misunderstood.
“I’m not going to charge you rent, but you will continue using the office here.” Before I could object, she waved it off. “If you decide you’re going to stay in town, then we’ll discuss it. For now, consider it a perk of being co-counsel on the Brumfield case.” She glanced at her watch and frowned. “Speaking of which, our client is due in two hours. Let’s go grab coffee and a quick bite at the café. Then we’ll come back, and I’ll bring you up to speed.”
“Sounds good.” As I stood, I glanced down at my jeans. I needed to do some shopping before going to court and asking for a few appointments. Damn. I hate shopping. “Short of going to Dallas, is there somewhere around here I can get something more appropriate for court than this?” I motioned to my jeans and boots.
“A couple of places. If things don’t get busy this afternoon, I’ll take you. Otherwise, we can go this weekend if you like.”
“Thanks.” I could do it. I’d survived combat conditions. I could survive a few hours shopping with a very pregnant Annie – I hoped. “And thanks for the rest of it.”
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