by Paty Jager
“If we get another call, we’ll have to leave,” Paul said.
“I understand. We’ll move her to Speaks car if that happens.” Ryan ran his hand down Shandra’s arm. “We’ll be on the way to your house soon.”
She nodded and he left her to the paramedics.
He opened his contacts list and touched his mother’s number.
“Hi Ryan. I was surprised you weren’t home today. Wasn’t it your day off?” His mother answered.
“It was my day off. I took a trip with Shandra—”
“Shandra! Oh, that’s wonderful. How is she?” his mother cut-in.
“We had an accident. I was wondering if you and Dad could drive my Mustang to a roadblock about thirty miles east of Warner on Hwy 9.”
“I thought you weren’t going to drive that old car until you had the rag top fixed.”
He ignored his mother’s tone. “I don’t have a choice. My truck is wrecked—”
“Are you okay? What about Shandra? Was she with you?” His mother once again interrupted him.
“We’re fine. Shandra has a sprained ankle, but we’re fine other than needing a vehicle to drive. Could you please come right away? It’s cold and the ambulance needs to get back on call.”
“Yes. We’ll be there in half an hour.”
His mom hung up. They wouldn’t arrive any sooner than forty-five minutes given the road conditions and the fact the Mustang didn’t have snow tires.
Chapter Twenty
Shandra watched Ryan. He had a phone conversation, then walked over and talked to the deputy she’d met when her neighbor was shot. She shivered. That was another event when Ella came to her in dreams, helping to solve that murder.
The cold seeped through the blanket, her clothes, her muscles, and deep into her bones. It was a cold that was both physical and mental. The woman paramedic had tried to make Shandra sit inside the ambulance with the doors closed. Shandra refused to go any farther in the vehicle than the back step. She wanted to see what was happening and not be carted away if she climbed into the vehicle any farther.
The radio in the ambulance crackled.
The male paramedic responded and called back to them, “We have a wreck on County Ten.”
“We have to go. Keep the blanket, Ryan can get it back to us later.” The woman paramedic helped Shandra onto her feet and closed the back doors of the ambulance.
The driver started up the lights.
Ryan glanced her way and walked toward her. “I guess they had to leave,” he said, taking a hold of her arm and helping her walk over to the deputy’s car. “I called my parents. They’re bringing my other vehicle. Once they arrive I’ll get you home.”
He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
Two State Patrolmen arrived.
Shandra leaned against Ryan to buffer the wind that had started up.
Ryan wrapped his arms around her.
The state patrolman in the front frowned. He stopped in front of them and nodded at Ryan’s arms. “I wish I worked for the county and could hug pretty ladies while on the job.”
Ryan chuckled. “I’m not on duty. We called this in since the truck blocking traffic is what ran us off the road.”
A long line of cars waited on both sides of the truck.
The other patrolman flipped open his notebook. “Show me what happened.”
“Can I put Shandra in one of your cars? She sprained her ankle in the crash and shouldn’t walk around.” Ryan slipped his arm under her knees, carrying her toward the patrol cars.
“I could walk,” she said only loud enough for Ryan’s ears.
“But you shouldn’t. Stay here until our ride arrives. I’ll get our things while I’m showing Pearce what happened.”
The man Ryan called Pearce, opened the back door of his vehicle, and Ryan placed her inside. He tucked the ambulance blanket around her. “Should only be another twenty minutes and we’ll get out of here.”
He closed the door on her and walked away talking to the patrolman.
She scanned the area. A long line of cars waited on both sides of the truck. Where could the driver have gone? And why did he run? They may never know. But someone needed to arrive soon and move the truck. The traffic was piling up.
Cars started honking their horns in the direction of Warner. Shandra peered down the long line and saw two vehicles coming down the side of the road the patrolmen had used.
The patrolman that wasn’t with Ryan strode forward. She could tell he wasn’t pleased with whoever it was that had driven up to the scene.
The first vehicle was an SUV. The second looked like an older model Mustang with a blue tarp for the top.
Shandra’s chin dropped when Mr. Greer stepped out of the Mustang and Mrs. Greer stepped out of the SUV. Shandra couldn’t open the car from the inside. She sat wrapped in the warmth of the blanket and watched Ryan’s parents.
Ryan’s mom had an animated conversation with the patrolman. He pointed toward the car Shandra sat in. Mrs. Greer waved and headed her way. Mr. Greer conversed with the patrolman a moment then climbed back into the Mustang and drove it over to the patrol car.
Mrs. Greer opened the patrol car door. “Shandra, I’d hope to see you again but not under these circumstances. Come along. We’ll get you in the Mustang.” She grasped Shandra’s arm, lifting her out of the patrol car.
“Ryan’s over there—” Shandra started to say.
“I’m sure he’s fine and doing what needs to be done,” Mrs. Greer interrupted her. “Ephraim, get that passenger door open for Shandra.”
Shandra was shuffled from one car to the other. She was skeptical of the tarp being used for the car’s top, but the heater was on full blast and the inside of the Mustang was warm.
Mrs. Greer said something to her husband and slipped into the driver’s side of the Mustang. “This is nice and warm. I don’t know why Ryan didn’t just have us pick you two up instead of insisting on us bringing him this old car.”
“It’s a classic. I didn’t even know Ryan owned a Mustang,” Shandra said, to keep the conversation on something other than their relationship.
“He bought this car in high school and has been slowly putting it back to its original state. He made sure the motor and transmission were fixed first. That way he can use it as a second vehicle when he needs to.” Mrs. Greer twisted in the seat to face her. “Where did you two go today?”
Shandra knew the question was coming the moment she’d recognized Mrs. Greer climbing out of the SUV. “We took a trip to Washington.” There was no need to tell Ryan’s mom the reason behind the trip. Even though Mrs. Greer had taught Ryan to believe in things he couldn’t see and gave him the ability to believe in Shandra’s dreams.
“I see. Did you have a good time?” The woman’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“I guess. I enjoy your son’s company.” Shandra peered into the woman’s eyes. “Ryan and I are good friends who are getting closer.”
Mrs. Greer’s grin grew.
“But neither of us is ready to commit to each other or anyone. Please, stop pressuring Ryan.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Has Ryan said I’m pressuring him?”
Shandra shook her head. “No. But he’s told me about conversations. He loves you and his whole family. But he needs space, not smothering.”
Mrs. Greer looked over Shandra’s shoulder. “Here he comes. I’ll talk to you another time.” Mrs. Greer slid out of the car.
Ryan walked up to his Mustang carrying his and Shandra’s overnight bags. His mother stepped out of the driver’s side. Shandra sat in the passenger seat. He groaned inwardly. What had his mom been telling Shandra?
“We brought your car,” Mom said, walking toward him.
“Thank you.” He walked around the back of the car and stopped in front of his mom. “I’ll call you tomorrow and explain everything.”
“Yes, you will.” She nodded toward the car. “Shandra cares about you. Don’t mess thi
s up.”
“What did you two talk about?” He knew Shandra wouldn’t say anything to make his mom think they were making wedding plans.
“That I need to back off and not smother you.” She pivoted. “This is me not smothering. Call me tomorrow.”
Ryan chuckled. Whatever Shandra said had clicked with his mom. He opened the driver’s door, pulled the seat forward, and deposited their bags in the back. Sliding behind the wheel, he glanced at Shandra.
She smiled. “Wouldn’t have pictured you as a collector of old cars.”
“I spent my first pay check to buy this car. It was rare then and even rarer now.”
She raised a hand, fluttering the tarp. “Especially with this classic cover.”
Ryan shook his head. “I’ve been saving. I’ll have enough to get the cloth top this spring. I usually store this in the barn at Dad’s for the winter.”
The semi roared to life, black smoke puffing into the air above the stacks. Ryan glanced over. His dad was behind the wheel, pulling the truck out of the middle of the road.
Before the staters and Speaks started the traffic moving, Ryan put the car in gear and headed down the road, passing the long line of cars backed up halfway to Huckleberry.
“You’d think they’d turn around and go home,” Shandra said.
“It would make sense.” Ryan had relayed all he knew about the accident to the law enforcement but something nagged at his mind. Why had the driver run?
His phone rang. Ryan pulled it out, noticing it was Speaks. “Greer.”
“Ryan, there’s something strange about the driver,” Speaks said.
“What?”
“We contacted the trucking company and this truck was reported stolen in Missoula about five hours ago.”
“What is it carrying?” That explained why the driver ran. He was driving a stolen rig.
“That’s the weird part. It was empty. And someone ten cars back toward Huckleberry said a man came out of the trees, climbed into the car behind him and that car turned around and headed back to Huckleberry.” Speaks voice registered his puzzlement.
“Thanks. Keep me posted.” Ryan hung up.
“Was that about the truck?” Shandra asked.
“Yes. The driver ran because it was stolen.” Counting back the hours, the truck was stolen about the same time they left the nursing home. He didn’t want to think there was a correlation but it was hard to ignore.
“Stolen from where?”
“Missoula.” He glanced over at Shandra. Was she having the same thoughts?
“What was it carrying?”
“Nothing.”
She shifted in her seat, facing him more. “Someone stole an empty truck?”
“Apparently. And the driver got in a car on the Huckleberry side. It turned around and headed back to Huckleberry.” Did he voice his thoughts?
“When was it stolen?”
“About five hours ago.” About the time we left the nursing home.
“So ten-thirty, eleven. About the time we left Sunnyside.” Shandra’s reserved tone, revealed she was having the same thoughts.
Chapter Twenty-one
Shandra’s chest tightened. Had Melody’s niece called someone? It didn’t make sense, but the facts couldn’t be ignored.
“I think we need to find out more about Melody,” she said.
Ryan’s jaw clenched. He glanced her way. “I was having the same thoughts.”
Knowing Ryan had the same suspicion made her feel they were getting closer to answers about her father’s death.
They drove through Huckleberry. Usually the silver Christmas bells hanging from the lamp posts and the Christmas displays in the store windows filled her with happiness. Growing up they had a fake Christmas tree and no other decorations. Her mother didn’t like the mess. So living in a community where they did everything they could to promote Christmas sales, she loved the gaudy and the sophisticated decorations.
Today, however, there was too much on her mind to let the holiday cheer into her heart.
“I plan to stay the night and leave early in the morning. If there is someone out there trying to stop you from discovering what happened to your father, I don’t want to leave you alone.” Ryan reached over and grasped her hand.
“You’ll get no argument from me.” Having Ryan in the house would make her feel better. But he’d have to go to work tomorrow, and she’d have to deal with the knowledge there could be someone planning to do her harm.
That would mean moving Lil out of the guest room and back to her room in the barn. “What about Lil? We can’t leave her out in the barn by herself.”
“I’ll sleep on the couch. No sense in sending her out to the barn when there could be someone lurking around.”
She sensed Ryan wasn’t happy to have the older woman in the house with them. And she was of the same mind. She hadn’t told Lil of her dreams and Ella. The woman was too grounded to understand.
The car started up her driveway.
The first bit of incline and the tires spun. “Damn!” Ryan smacked the steering wheel with the palm of his hand.
Shandra jumped. She’d not seen this kind of anger in him before. This was what she needed to see before thinking of a future with the man. She’d spent enough of her life in fear of making a man mad.
“Sorry. I knew we’d be lucky to get up the drive with the bald tires on this thing. I’ll walk up and get your Jeep. You shouldn’t be hobbling on that leg.” He opened the door.
Shandra nodded and sat in the running car as Ryan jogged up the driveway. Their earlier conversation ran through her head. She reached over, locked the driver’s door, and then her own.
The driveway ran through towering pine trees. The day was waning. The bit of sun that had filtered through the trees, faded, turning the world into grays and blacks. The dark didn’t usually make Shandra nervous, however, after the day she’d had, she couldn’t control the panic chilling her spine and making her glance all around.
She caught the glimpse of something moving through the trees to her right. Reaching over, she pulled the knob that turned on the headlights. The backlight of the headlamps gave her a bit of reprieve from the blackness outside the car.
Her fingers wrapped around her phone. Not sure who she would call if someone leaped out of the woods around her, but it gave her comfort.
Lights bobbed in the road ahead. Her Jeep stopped in front of the Mustang. Ryan stepped out of the driver’s door and hurried over to her side. Shandra pulled the lock up and opened the door.
“I’ll get you in the Jeep then get our bags and lock this up.” Ryan grasped her arm, pulling her up and out of the low car. When she stood, he scooped her up in his arms.
“I can walk. It’s just a sprain,” she protested.
“Not in this deep snow. You’ll just injure it worse.” He stopped at the passenger side of the Jeep. “Open the door.”
She grabbed the handle and swung the door open.
Ryan placed her on the seat. “Be right back.”
He returned to the Mustang, retrieved their bags, turned off the car, and came back to the Jeep.
“You’ll have to back all the way to the house. Lil’s made tall sides to this road by plowing it,” Shandra said, watching Ryan peer into the side view mirror.
“No problem.”
He was true to his word. They pulled up in front of the house without him bumping the Jeep into the piles of snow on the side of the road.
All the downstairs lights were on.
“Oh no! Hazel can’t get out with your car stuck in the driveway.” Where would Hazel sleep?
“When you’re settled, I’ll use your tractor and pull my car up to the house.” Ryan turned the Jeep off.
“Are you going to put the Jeep back in the barn?” Shandra asked. She’d made a promise to herself to take special care of the vehicle when she bought it. The Jeep had to last her many years.
“Yes. When I put the Jeep in the barn, I’ll
grab the tractor.” Ryan stepped out of his side.
Shandra popped the door open and slid to the ground, keeping her weight on her uninjured foot.
Ryan hurried over.
“You’re not carrying me into the house. You’ll give those two ladies gossip.” Shandra allowed Ryan to put an arm under hers to help keep the weight off the foot and hobbled up to the front door.
Hazel opened the door. “My, what happened to you two?”
“Shandra can tell you. I have to use the tractor to get my car out of the driveway so you can go home.” Ryan dropped their bags inside the door.
“I better come help you,” Lil said, using crutches to swing into the entry.
“You’re in no shape to help,” Shandra said, putting a hand on Lil’s arm. She motioned toward the door. “Go. You have to be as tired as I am. Get your car moved so you can come in and have a hot shower and cocoa.”
Ryan pivoted out the door, closing it behind him.
“What happened?” Hazel asked, helping Shandra into the great room.
“A truck jack-knifed right in front of us, and we ended up down an embankment.” Shandra eased down onto her couch and sighed. Sheba stood up from her spot in front of the fireplace and placed her head in Shandra’s lap. “This is what I need. Thanks, Sheba.”
“Who responded to the call?” Hazel asked.
“Deputy Speaks and two state patrol.” Shandra felt the chills coming on. “I should be out there helping Ryan.” She didn’t like the idea of him outside alone.
“He’ll be fine. He’s a man.” Lil stood by the hallway to the kitchen and guest bedroom. “You look like you could use a hot shower. Hazel, why don’t you take Shandra on into her shower? I’ll start some warm milk for cocoa.”
Shandra liked the idea of a hot shower. What she didn’t like was leaving Lil alone so she could slip outside.
“I think I’ll stay here. The fire and Sheba will warm me up. Lil keep me company while Hazel makes the cocoa.”
Lil grudgingly plopped down on the easy chair. Hazel smiled and left the room.
***
Ryan drove the Jeep into the barn, tucking the vehicle in the corner where he’d found it. The tractor and loader sat on the other side of the barn door. A chain was wrapped around the three-point hitch. One less thing to try and find. He climbed up onto the seat and reached down to turn the key. No key.