by Rhavensfyre
“I didn’t want this, but I can’t undo the last week now,” Ransom told the trees what she couldn’t admit to anybody else.
The stalker had just upped the stakes on what was already a dangerous game. Attacking the PI like that, it didn’t make any sense. Or did it? The PI was staying at Victoria’s house…living in her home. Somewhere they didn’t belong. That they had lashed out that violently showed a disturbing level of possessiveness that went way beyond jealousy.
Ransom jumped up and headed for the ATV. She needed to get back to Victoria. Her days of running around the farm by herself were over. From now on, she needed to keep Victoria close to her. The stalker had just made a huge mistake, losing control like that.
The stalker knew Victoria was gone now, that left only one question of any importance. How long would they wait before they went looking for her?
***
That felt so good. The sound of her body hitting my car, the way she screamed. I had no idea that would happen. She deserved it. Sleeping in Victoria’s bed, acting like she belonged there. She made a huge mistake, following me like that. My only regret was not being able to make her talk. She might have known where Victoria was. I won’t make that mistake again.
Chapter Thirteen
The familiar tinkle of old brass bells announcing the presence of a customer, along with the scent of ancient wood and dusty shelves always brought a smile to Ransom’s face. She loved this place.
“Ransom Greathouse, it’s been ages since you’ve been in. What have you been up to, girl?” The hearty greeting came from somewhere inside the maze of aisles and cubbyholes that made up the old country store.
“Hey, William.” The grizzled older man emerged from out of nowhere, close enough to touch Ransom’s sleeve. When she didn’t jump, the lines around his eyes crinkled in amusement. Damn, he’s still quiet as hell.
“I’ve been telling you to call me Buddy for years now, Ransom, when you gonna listen to me?” Buddy held out his hand and she took it. The firm handshake was their idea of a hug, and it held just as much warmth as one, even if it did feel like she was gripping a piece of gnarled oak wrapped in barbwire. Buddy was tough as hell, no matter how gray he was getting or how many wrinkles were carved into his face.
“That’s what my dad called you. I’m barely comfortable calling you William. And it hasn’t been forever, I was just here a month or so ago,” Ransom responded, grinning as they went through the same programmed banter they always did before getting down to business.
“Six weeks, but who’s counting?” Buddy grinned back at her. Merry blue eyes that saw and noted everything danced beneath tangled eyebrows that still retained his original hair color. Fuzzy caterpillars in startling black that contrasted with a gravity defying crop of salt and pepper hair that stood at attention across the top. Once a month he went into town for a regulation high and tight, and he would probably do that till the day he died. That was Buddy in a nutshell. Literally, the best friend you could ever ask for and the worst enemy you could ever possibly have. That sort of life balance wasn’t something you saw every day. Buddy was unique.
“You are, evidently. Good to see you’re keeping a close eye on everything and everyone still.”
Buddy didn’t deny it, he just shook his head and winked at her. “You got it. What brings you in? I think you’ve outgrown sneaking off to buy too much candy.”
Buddy had owned the country store for as long as she could remember, it was only a couple of miles down the road from where she grew up, which meant it was close enough for her to reach on her bike as soon as she could ride that far. Her parents never caught on, or maybe they just chose to look the other way, so her trips to the country store always felt like a forbidden adventure. The inevitable stomach ache that followed was part sugar overload and part fear factor. She never knew what her parents would do if they caught her and that made it more fun.
It was easier to disappear during summer break, when the sun didn’t set until prime time and she was pretty much allowed to roam free as long as it wasn’t full dark by the time she wandered back into the house. She would sit at the long bench near the check-out counter and listen to Buddy, he always had the most interesting stories even if some of them were scary.
He had been in the Marine Corps during Vietnam and was one of the few who actually seemed to like being there. There were a lot of rumors about Buddy. Some say he went back after his discharge to become a mercenary, but he never confirmed or denied the allegation. Either way the compact, nondescript man didn’t seem like much to look at, but he could be deadly when the situation warranted it, especially when someone he cared for was in trouble. No one ever considered robbing his store, and that was exactly why she was there.
“You’re right, although I might be persuaded to take some of that Salt Water Taffy you keep hidden behind the counter before I go. But, really…I have something special in mind that I think you can help me with.”
Buddy leaned forward against the counter, cocked his bad leg up on the bottom shelf and waited. He knew exactly what Ransom meant by something special. “Oh, really? What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”
The bells rang again, followed by the sound of the door creaking shut. Buddy stood up straight, shedding the mercenary gaze and attitude between one blink and the next. A seasoned actor couldn’t have done it any better.
“Afternoon,” he called out, busying himself behind the counter. A second woman entered the store, someone he’d never seen before. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ransom stiffen up. From the way the two women’s eyes met for a second, their gaze holding more familiarity than a casual acquaintance, he found himself instantly curious.
Ransom had been holed up at the Johnson estate for a couple of years now, to find her in the company of a beautiful woman today was something he would have bet against any day of the week. Flipping his gaze back and forth between the two, he had to admit that they were as different as two people could be. Ransom was fair under her tan, with blonde hair and green eyes gracing a lithe but powerful body. Her companion, on the other hand was petite and dark, her brunette hair almost black in the dim light of the store. Her skin had that translucent feel to it that someone with naturally tan skin held when they spent most of their time indoors. Light and Dark, he thought, fascinated with the contrast. They made a most impressive couple.
“Victoria, why don’t you just wander around for a bit, I need to talk to William for a sec.”
“Of course, Dear.”
Ransom paled a little before turning back to Buddy. She really had expected Victoria to make good on her threat to sit and sulk in the Jeep.
“She’s a little pissed right now,” Ransom explained when she saw Buddy looking at her funny. “Really, just a little misunderstanding, I asked her if she wanted to come with me to do some shopping, and I guess she assumed it meant going into town.”
“Uh huh. You said you wanted to talk? Does she have anything to do with our little talk?” Buddy nodded in the other woman’s direction.
“Yes, no…not in the way you think.” Ransom couldn’t seem to make up her mind.
“Right,” Buddy drawled. “Are you trying to send the Town Elders into a mass heart attack?”
“Hell, no. No one knows she’s here, except for you.” Ransom started to make excuses then wondered why she was bothering. “Although you might have something there. Maybe they’d leave me alone if their little pet project was persona non grata, eh?”
“She’s cute, I give you that. You always did have good taste.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, William.” Ransom held up her hands when he glared at her. “My bad, Buddy. She’s in trouble and I agreed to hide her out here, keep her safe until things blow over.”
“And you want me to keep an eye out for anything strange?” Buddy asked.
Ransom sighed in relief. She did the right thing by coming here. “Thanks, Buddy. I can always trust you to know exactl
y what’s needed.”
The object of their conversation had disappeared somewhere in the store. Ransom couldn’t find her, but she could hear footfalls somewhere in the back.
“She’s shopping. I think I’m going to have a good day’s sales from what I’ve heard so far. Let me just lock up and we’ll get down to business. While we’re doing that, you can tell me all about this mysterious woman and why you’ve decided to take on a case after all this time. If you want me to keep an eye out for you, I need to know what it is I’m looking for.”
Ransom nodded. “I’ll pay for everything today, including her purchases.”
They headed farther back into the maze to gather up the supplies she needed while she explained why Victoria was staying with her. As she explained, Buddy stood there quietly. He wasn’t fazed in the least bit, and he even had a few pointers on how to keep the farm secure while she was there.
When Buddy straight out asked Ransom if she had told Victoria that she was falling for her, Ransom almost choked on her lies. He just smirked at her denials as he handed her the last box of ammunition.
“Ransom, that woman in there really likes you,” Buddy said, “and you must think I am an old fool if you think I can’t see it. You are just as much into her as she is into you.” He let Ransom sputter and carry on for a minute before holding up his hand to silence her.
“Stop trying to bullshit the bull-shitter, Ransom. What I want to know is why the two of you are still batting eyelashes at each other instead of taking advantage of your time together. You obviously want to.”
“Yeah, I do. It’s just not that simple, Buddy. What happens if I let her back in and something happens to her? I don’t think I could handle losing another person.”
“You can’t live in the past, Ransom. I’m not saying you can’t honor the memory of your friends and family, but you can’t use the past as an excuse to keep running from your future.” Pausing to let that sink in, Buddy’s face softened perceptively at the anguish crisscrossing Ransom’s face. He didn’t want to cause her pain, but he couldn’t let her keep wallowing in the past, either. Not if there was someone in her life that could bring her back to her former self.
Buddy spoke softly but urgently. Victoria could only walk around the store for so long; eventually she would find them or get upset at being left alone for so long.
“You can’t blame yourself for still being here, Ransom. You didn’t do anything wrong, so why do you keep blaming yourself for other people’s actions? Dammit, Ransom, you aren’t living your life. You’re just existing, waiting until the day you die and not even realizing you are acting like you’re dead already. You don’t offer any honor to those who did die. Do you think they would want you to be this way?”
Buddy felt awful, putting it out there like that.
Ransom’s eyes shone with long overdue tears, still unshed, she blinked them away as rapidly as they formed. “No.”
“Now like I said, that pretty lady out there seems mighty keen on you and from what I’ve heard, you seem pretty keen on her, too.”
Ransom didn’t speak, she just nodded, accepting his appraisal of the situation.
“I may be old, but I’m no prude, and if she makes you happy, well, you need to embrace whatever the future holds between you two.”
“And what happens when this is all over and she’s ready to go back home? What do I do then?”
“Well, then…at least you will have new memories, good memories to combat the bad. You never know. Just because she may leave, doesn’t mean she won’t come back. From the way she is looking over at you now, I don’t think she could stay away from you for long.” Buddy’s gaze shifted past her, warning her that Victoria was heading towards them.
She needed to wash her face; it wouldn’t do if Victoria found out that she’d been crying. Mumbling something about needing fencing supplies, Ransom escaped before Victoria found her way around to them.
“Hello, Victoria.” Buddy took it upon himself to make introductions, grabbing the slightly shocked woman by the hand and leading her farther into his store. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
By the time Ransom was able to compose herself and pick up the fencing supplies she said she needed, she found Buddy and Victoria hanging out quite comfortably together. Without a single ounce of guilt for commandeering her house guest, he sidled up to the cash register to check her out. They said their goodbyes, and he helped bring out some of the bulkier supplies to the waiting Jeep.
Before Buddy headed back inside, Victoria walked up to the old man and hugged him. His face told Ransom that the unexpected gesture was just as shocking to him as it was to her. They weren’t demonstrative people.
“Thank you, Buddy,” Victoria murmured, then turned and climbed into the Jeep, apparently ready to go.
Ransom noticed that Victoria was holding a small paper bag on her lap, and while she didn’t seem angry at her anymore, she was unusually subdued.
“What's in the bag?” she asked curiously.
“I don’t even know. Buddy handed it to me right before we left. He said it was something special for dinner?”
“Huh, I guess we’ll find out when we get home.” Ransom didn’t have a clue, but it wasn’t unlike Buddy to do something extravagant when the mood hit him.
***
I have to think smarter. There has to be a way to turn this to my advantage.
Chapter Fourteen
A brief summer storm popped up, soaking both Ransom and Victoria down to the skin and making the drive home much more interesting.
Victoria held up her hands so she could feel the rain beat against her. The rain was warm. Giant, soft blobs of water that made her feel alive…a part of nature.
“What are you doing?” Ransom yelled. The whooshing sound of the rain falling through the trees, added to the road noise of wet tires, made it hard to hear anything else.
“Enjoying this. It’s magnificent!” Victoria yelled back, grinning like a fool.
“You’re nuts.” Ransom shook her head at the foolish woman sitting in her passenger seat, enjoying getting rained on. The open cab of the Jeep hadn’t spared either one of them. Her jeans were a sodden mess from the thighs up and her shirt was plastered to her body—just not as nicely as Victoria’s was. Ransom swallowed and concentrated on the curves ahead of them before a different set of curves ran them off the road.
She glanced sidelong at Victoria’s face once they hit a straight away and had to admit to herself. She looked happy today.
Damn, and all I have is bad news.
Ransom bit her lip. They were close to home now, and she was pretty much driving on automatic, shifting without having to think about it. That freed up too much of her brain, which meant it wanted to have another chat about what she was doing and why.
She hadn’t told Victoria about the PI yet. Yes, she was still waiting to hear back from Samuel for an update, but that was no excuse. Neither was the fact that she was operating on pure instinct when it came to the nature of the woman’s injury. Victoria should know what had happened and be allowed to form her own opinion. Forewarned is forearmed, and Ransom wasn’t the type to hold back information from one of her charges.
So why was she waiting now? There had been plenty of time to tell her when she came back from her rounds, then on the drive out to Buddy’s. Both missed opportunities.
Laughter broke through her troubling thoughts.
“Look, Ransom. It’s so beautiful.”
The sun had come out, transforming the world into something fresh and new. Every drop of rain seemed to gather the bright light and reflect it back into a world that actively breathed around them. Small tendrils of steam rose out of the ground and curled around the rocks like fog, adding to the heavy, almost ethereal haze softening the distant landscape.
“It is,” Ransom absently agreed, plucking at her wet clothes and trying not to fidget. The sun trying to steam dry your clothes while you were still in them was an unpleasant se
nsation, it tended to dampen her enthusiasm for enjoying nature’s delights.
“Pish. Party pooper,” Victoria continued, then twisted in her seat towards Ransom. “I want to have a picnic. It’s too gorgeous of an afternoon to crawl back inside that house.”
“It’s too wet to have a picnic,” Ransom replied, drolly reminding Victoria that it just rained.
“Okay, a barbecue then. I know you have a grill. I saw it the other day. And, if it rains again, there’s the covered porch.”
Victoria’s sudden enthusiasm was infectious but Ransom couldn’t help but feel the teensiest bit suspicious. What had she and Buddy been chatting about while I was gone? On the other hand, when am I not always a bit suspicious about everyone’s motives? Maybe she just wants to forget about all this stalker crud for an afternoon and enjoy herself.
“Please, Ransom? I just need a few hours to destress,” Victoria practically pleaded. “If you don’t think it’s safe, I understand, but you’ve put up all those cameras and no one’s heard a peep from the stalker in days.”
That’s not true, Ransom grimaced, keeping that unpleasant knowledge to herself. Victoria did get one thing right. She had this place locked down tight. Unless this stalker was some world class hacker-slash-secret agent type, there was no way they could find this place so soon.
“Yes,” Ransom agreed to the barbecue before she could change her mind. Let her have one evening of fun. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will tell her about the PI…and a few changes I have in mind. It’s time Victoria learns how to defend herself.
“Yes to which one?” Victoria asked, unsure what question Ransom was answering.
“Yes, we can have a barbecue.”
Victoria leaned back in her seat and smiled. The wind had already started to dry her hair, and she just wanted to enjoy the feel of it while she could. “Wonderful. It’s been ages since I’ve done this.”