by Stacey Wilk
“Everything all right there?” Badger said.
“Everything’s fine. Chase fixed the heater earlier, but it’s making a knocking noise. I don’t want to go banging on his door at this hour. I thought a call would be better.”
“It’s a might cold up there. I understand. Hang on.”
The knocking got louder.
Please hurry. She kept her eyes on the door and the knife gripped in her hand.
“Mom, why do you have a knife? Is it the bad guys? Are they here?”
“Ssh.”
“Here you go.” Badger rattled off the number. She hung up with a quick good bye.
Her fingers shook as she punched in Chase’s number. “Please answer.”
“Shepherd.”
“There’s someone banging on my door. I don’t know who it is and they won’t go away.”
“Raine?”
“Yes. Can you come over?”
“I’m already on my porch. Where are you?”
“In the kitchen with Landon.”
“Stay there. Don’t open the door for anyone, but me.”
“Thank you.” But he’d hung up.
No questions asked. He came running. Definitely a cop. Her whole body shook. Whoever was at her door wasn’t Matt or one of his men. They would’ve crashed the door open, or cut their way in through the window. Still, her heart clamored to be set free. Landon gripped his monkey and continued to stare at her with wide eyes.
“Don’t worry, buddy. It’s probably just someone who’s lost. Chase will take care of it.” She held him close and breathed in his chocolatey scent.
But sitting still, waiting wasn’t her. “You stay right here with Walter. I’m going to see if Chase needs any help.”
He gripped her sleeve. “Don’t go. What if it’s the bad men looking for Dad?”
She leaned down to look him in the eye. “Those men won’t find us. Dad won’t lead them here?” She had created a monster when she made up that story, but she couldn’t think of any other reason they would have to leave town. She should’ve said Matt died, but Landon was smart enough to ask about a funeral. He’d been to them before.
“Okay.” He sniffled. “I’ll protect Walter.”
“That’s my brave boy.” She kissed the top of his head.
Most of the lights were out in the front part of the house. Walking past the windows was mostly safe, but she ducked and ran behind the couch anyway. Chase’s muffled voice drifted through the door.
Someone pounded on the door shaking it on its hinges. “Raine, open up.”
She held the knife poised and ready. “Chase? Is that you?”
“Yes, open up. It’s okay.”
She pulled the door open slowly. Chase gripped the man with the ski hat by the neck like a cat with its kitten. The man’s feet were almost off the ground.
“This is Charlie. He works at Acker Propane. Apparently, Mr. Badger put in an urgent call this morning and Charlie here is working overtime to help customers.”
“He doesn’t look like he works for anyone. Aren’t they supposed to wear a uniform or something?”
“Well, Charlie decided to stop at home for a quick bite to eat and then thought after he was done helping you he’d go to his girlfriend’s house. He’s not supposed to take the work van anywhere but to work sites. Mr. Acker has a GPS tracker on the van. So, Charlie didn’t see the harm in coming in his street clothes and using his own truck. Isn’t that right?”
Charlie nodded. “Could you put me down, Mr. Shepherd?”
Chase dropped him. Charlie’s knees buckled under the weight of the fall or from relief. He righted himself before he face planted on the porch.
“What do you have to say to the lady?”
“I’m real sorry I scared you. And I’m sorry I’m here so late. This cold weather has everyone’s heaters on the fritz. The whole town heats with propane practically and Mr. Acker has the best prices so he’s got the most customers. I’m only one of three guys working for him. We’re always working long hours.”
Raine put her hand up. “Charlie, put a sock in it. Next time, call before you come out late at night. You scared the living daylights out of me. Now, please go. I’m freezing standing in the doorway.”
“You heard the lady,” Chase said.
Charlie ran to his truck and backed down the driveway.
“Come in so I can shut the door.”
Chase hesitated, but only for a second. “Do you want to tell me who you’re running from?”
“Mom?” Landon stuck his head around the corner.
“Excuse me a second.” She ran to her son and ushered him to his room. “It’s all okay, buddy. That was a guy who fixes furnaces. Chase took care of everything. We’re safe and sound. You and Walter can go to sleep.” She tucked him in, kissed his forehead, and turned out the light.
Chase stood in her kitchen taking up a lot of space in the small room. He had on a faded blue sweater over a flannel shirt, tan pants and his work boots were untied as if he’d shoved his feet in them and hurried out the door. He looked good in her space. She was suddenly aware of her worn pajamas and the fact she hadn’t showered after her workout. She probably smelled.
“Can I make you a cup of coffee?” She needed something to do with her hands.
“No, thanks. Do you want to answer my question?”
“What question is that?” She pulled mugs from the cabinet.
“Do you want to tell me who you’re running from?”
“What makes you think I’m running from someone?” She tried to laugh off the comment, but Chase’s face didn’t budge.
The night had stretched past the reasonable time to have a cup of coffee, and not suffer from staying awake till dawn. She reached for the canister and yanked out a tea bag instead. The last thing she needed was to be up all night thinking about what could’ve happened if someone else had been at the door. Or thinking about Chase in that sweater and what might be underneath it.
“Let’s just say I’m skilled in the area of people’s behavior.”
“You’re a psychiatrist?” Did she have him figured all wrong? She didn’t think so. He had that alpha male quality cops had. Big, strong, powerful, narrowed suspicious eyes. The way he handled Charlie didn’t say I’m a guy who sits in a chair all day and asks a lot of questions.
“Look, you can tell me to mind my own business, but I can connect the dots enough to know you’re freaked out about someone showing up at your doorstep. Is it your husband?”
“Why does it matter?” She flopped into the chair at the kitchen table and kept her gaze on the steam coming out of her mug.
He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. His knees almost touched hers. He leaned forward on rested his arms on his thighs. Her heart quickened. “Did he hurt you or Landon? Does he know where you are?”
“You’re wrong. I’m not worried about any husband coming after me. I don’t have a husband. It’s just me and Landon. I don’t like strange men banging on my door late at night. That’s all.” She forced her gaze to meet his. If she looked anywhere else, he’d know she was lying.
He leaned back and she missed his nearness immediately. “Okay, you don’t have to tell me, but if there was someone looking for you, would you know how to protect yourself?”
She hadn’t shown him tonight she could. Instead of standing up to whomever was at the door, fear had paralyzed her. All those boxing classes might have been for nothing. She was strong, but was she any match for a man twice her size and weighing twice her weight? She’d need to get a gun if she was going to keep her and Landon safe.
“Were you a cop before you became the cook? Did you get hurt on the job or something like that?”
He turned his gaze away this time. “I wasn’t a cop. I just don’t trust people.”
He had a secret too.
“You didn’t answer my question. Do you know how to keep you and your son safe?”
She jumped up from the chair to p
ut some space between them. His closeness was only making her heart speed up. She kept smelling his woodsy scent. “I don’t have any reason to worry. I told you. No one is after me.”
He stood too and shoved his hands in his pockets. “What brought you to Silent Water?”
“The quiet. Which I’m not getting. Look, thank you for coming over here when I called. I really do appreciate it. I just got a little spooked is all. I don’t know anyone yet and being the only adult around with a child you have to take care of gets exhausting. Sometimes I could use someone else to bounce things off of. Like when a stranger knocks on the door.” She tried to smile hoping he’d get the point.
He narrowed his eyes. Was he trying to decide if she was telling the truth? That story was as close to the truth as he was going to get.
“Lock the door behind me.” He turned and headed for the door.
She hesitated hoping he’d turn around, but he kept going without a look back. She was thinking earlier about telling him her secret. After tonight, that thought had taken root and sprouted branches. Could her handsome neighbor be the one person capable of keeping her and Landon safe?
Chapter Six
Chase scraped grease off the grill. The General had been filled with the usual morning customers, and a few extra who didn’t stop by as often. He and Jim had made more eggs and bacon than they had all week. He hadn’t had much of a chance to look up from the grill or to think about his neighbor who was due in to work the lunch shift.
She didn’t look like someone who could wait tables. He suspected her fancy clothes were from a life that meant people waited on her – a life she was running from no matter what she told him last night.
Who was this woman and who would she bring near his home? He’d worked very hard to stay out of the way of danger. He’d had enough of it. Silent Water for him was the place he needed to move on from his past, not get tangled up in someone else’s troubles.
The phone on the wall jangled splitting his thoughts wide open. Mandy yanked the receiver. “The General Store. Hang on. Chase, it’s for you.” She dangled the phone from her pink polished fingernails.
“Shepherd.”
“Your resignation isn’t accepted. The team needs you.”
Deke. When was he going to get the point? “Screw off. I’m done.”
“You’re a lousy cook.”
“Bite me.”
Deke laughed. “I still need you for the birthday detail. Easy. Remember?”
“When are you going to get the point?” Deke was trying to help him, but he wasn’t ready to work. Not work that involved pointing a gun at someone. He’d lost everything because of the job. Living in Silent Water was enough for him.
“You don’t belong in that town. How can you stand not having internet access? I know you’re bored as shit out there. You just won’t admit it.”
“I’ve got to run. The breakfast crowd is here.” He beat eggs in a bowl.
“Oh yeah. Who? Two people?”
“See ya.”
“Friday.”
He put the receiver back.
The bell above the door announced another customer. A stocky guy with long, dark hair stepped across the threshold and took the place in. The top half of his hair was tied in a man-bun at the back of his head, the rest hung past in shoulders in straggly waves. His beard and mustache were scruffy, and his eyes were close together. The leather jacket he wore was worn at the shoulders, and the waist. That guy either loved the broken in feel of his coat or he couldn’t afford another one.
The stranger came straight for the counter with his hands in his pockets. He didn’t care for strangers with their hands in their pockets once they were inside. Usually someone clapped their hands together or blew on them. What was he hiding?
The temperatures had barely made it above freezing outside. The guy could be cold, but Chase wasn’t so sure. Man-bun took a seat at the end of the counter and tapped his fingers on the laminate. He continued to soak in the General. The place was full of customers unaware they were being watched.
Jim stood behind him and whispered. “Who’s that?”
“No clue. If you’ve never seen him, maybe he’s lost.”
“Strange place to get lost.” Jim went back to the line of dupes in front of him and started breaking eggs on the grill.
Mandy sashayed around the counter from her spot talking to the customers at table four. She grabbed a pot of coffee, then placed a mug in front of the new stranger. “You ready to order?” Her voice was pocked with gravel. She’d been smoking longer than he’d been walking the earth.
Man-bun shut the menu and returned it to its spot behind the ketchup. “Two eggs over easy, toast, and some hash browns.” He smiled at Mandy, but from where Chase stood he couldn’t see if Mandy flashed her grin reserved for eligible bachelors or kept her face the way of stone.
“Jim, two over easy.” Mandy slapped the bell.
“I hear ya, Mans. You don’t have to keep whacking my bell.”
She tilted her head. “Honey, if I was whacking your bell, you’d know it.” She flipped her hair and sashayed back to her friends at table four.
Jim shook his head, but a hint of a smile tipped his lips up. Chase suspected Jim had a crush on Mandy. When Man-Bun’s eggs were ready, Chase took the plate over himself.
“Do you need anything else?”
“I’m fine. Thanks.” Man-Bun rubbed his hands together. Finally.
“Can I give you directions?”
“On how to eat eggs?” A hint of a Spanish accent dusted his voice. If Chase hadn’t been listening for it, he’d have missed it.
“You’re not from around here. I thought you might be lost. Silent Water isn’t exactly off the main highway.”
“Well, you’re right. I’m not from around here. I drove up from Florida. I’m doing some camping at the bottom of the Dark Mountains before I head into Canada. Relocating for a new job.” The man smiled, but the light didn’t quite penetrate his black, beady eyes.
“Camping in the winter?”
“I enjoy the quiet, and I’m hoping for some cross-country skiing on those trails. Most people don’t go camping in the winter which means I have the trails to myself. Besides, who doesn’t like to play in the snow?”
“Enjoy your trip. And your eggs.”
Man-Bun didn’t look like someone ready for a winter camping trip. That leather jacket would keep him warm about five minutes in the Dark Mountains. Of course, he could have his gear somewhere else. He didn’t say he was going to the mountain right from the General. Could be nothing, but his gut said otherwise. He had lived his life by his gut. Was Man-Bun a possible skell or was he just paranoid?
He stepped outside and let the cold air freeze up his lungs. He was just off his game. Raine Kennedy had his head spinning in circles. When she called last night with fear in her voice, he raced for the front door wanting to help her. He’d nearly fell down the stairs trying to get to her. He wasn’t a hero anymore. In fact, he’d never been one. So, why he was trying to play one last night was beyond him.
She looked so damn sexy in those flannel pajama pants with her hair in waves around her face. If she wanted help from whoever was bothering her, he’d be tempted to give it. He could show her how to use a gun. Something small that wouldn’t have much kick for her like a twenty-two pistol. A gun like that wouldn’t do much damage, but as long as she hit her target, no one got up and ran from a gunshot wound. Except maybe a grisly. She needed to be able to keep Landon safe. He could help with that. He didn’t want anything to happen to her boy.
The familiar beat up Camry pulled into the lot. She was here for her first shift, and his heart picked up speed. She pushed herself out of the car and stopped when she saw him. She had her hair pulled back and a dark green scarf wrapped around her neck. He offered her a small wave. She showed him her palm, but she smiled too. That nothing much smile shot across the lot and poked at his chest. What the hell was happening to him? He hadn’t
noticed a woman in years, not since Denise left him, and trampled his heart on the way out the door.
“Ready for work?” His grin tugged at his lips. Stupid.
She stopped right before him. Probably because he was blocking the doorway. Kind of on purpose. “Ready as I’ll ever be. I haven’t waited tables in years.”
She didn’t look like someone who had ever waited tables. “The morning rush is over. You’ll have a couple of hours before things pick up for lunch. You’ll be fine. Where’s Landon?”
“He started school this morning. He wasn’t too happy about that, but I can’t keep him out any longer.”
“I’m sure he’ll make friends.”
She hiked her tote up on her shoulder and shrugged. He wanted to keep her talking just to have a few more minutes with her, but he couldn’t delay her any longer.
He followed her inside, showed her where to store her things, and returned to his spot at the grill. Mandy took Raine and showed her the ropes. A quick glance around told him Man-Bun was gone. He’d barely touched his food.
“What happened to the stranger?” he asked Jim.
“Beats me.”
Mandy came into the kitchen area with Raine. “He left before I could give him the check, but he dropped a twenty on the counter. Way too much for eggs, but I’m not complaining. That’s the best tip I’ve got in weeks.” She turned back to Raine. “Jim likes to keep a clean kitchen. After every breakfast shift we clean the meat and cheese slicer, wash the floor mats…”
He pulled his attention away from the to-do list. Where did the winter camper go in such a hurry? Did he remember a piece of equipment he needed? Was the mountain calling him? Chase would keep an eye out. Maybe even check with the rangers about anyone registered to camp in the park. Law stated campers needed a permit and couldn’t stay longer than fourteen days at once. Unless Man-Bun had plans on bypassing the rules and taking to the trails up the mountain. If he wasn’t a skilled hiker, Man-Bun wouldn’t be Chase’s problem.
“Jim, are you running those security camera videos like I told you to?”
“Yup. I start a new loop each week like you said.”
“After lunch I want to take a look.”