This ought to soothe her nerves. She’d earned it. She set the book on the edge of the tub, then leisurely stretched her legs and slid down in the water until her neck was submerged. Wiggling her toes in the sparkling bubbles, her mouth curved into an unconscious smile, as she enjoyed the pleasant scent of orange blossoms.
Chapter Ten
It was getting late by the time he left work. Driving up to Pinewood Hills at this time of the night was nothing. The hard part would be walking in from the rest stop again, but this would be the best time. It’s now or never, while the twins were still gone. He figured they went with Dan and Shannon, when he’d found out where the Millers had vanished to. Now, as he carefully trekked through the woods, he carried a flashlight in one hand and a knapsack with a six-pack of beer in the other.
When he reached the halfway mark, he sat down on a log and opened a beer. He looked up through the trees at the full moon shining brightly. It shed just enough light to help guide his way through the rustic woods. Leave it to Cassandra to find such an intense area to hibernate. He could hardly wait to see her face when she became aware of the fact that he’d found her enchanting little hiding place.
He finished his third beer, then stood and continued on. After trudging a few feet further, the toe of his boot caught on a dead branch, and he flew headfirst, landing in a puddle of mud alongside the trail. “Damn! She’ll be mighty sorry for putting me through this,” he said, spitting mud from his mouth. His thoughts raced dangerously. “She’ll regret this.” He remained in the puddle of mud and popped open another can of beer.
As he approached the dirt drive, he turned off the flashlight. The house appeared to be dark. She must have turned in early. He stepped out from behind Cassandra’s SUV and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. Bright lights suddenly flashed on, temporarily blinding him. He made a quick move backward, and his boots slid on the gravel, causing him to grab hold of the rear door handle on the SUV. The hard jerk caused the vehicle’s alarm to go off, and he made a mad dash back into the woods.
In the confusion, a can of beer fell from his knapsack, rolled under the vehicle, and came to a halt on the driver’s side, but he didn’t dare risk retrieving it.
He hurried a bit further into the woods, then sat down to rest, and reached into his sack for a beer. “Shit,” he muttered, “I only have one left.” He opened his last can and consumed it all in three gulps, let out a loud belch, and stood. His back was beginning to ache from that slip on the gravel, and he tread slowly. She’s going to pay for this, big time.
He finally reached his truck, massaged his hands along his lower back and groaned. If it had been winter, he would’ve had ice for his back. He climbed painfully into the truck, and decided he’d have to find a bar on his way home. That would stop the pain.
*
Awakened from a deep sleep, Cassandra leaped from her bed at the loud blare of the alarm coming from her SUV. She peeked around the edge of her curtain and saw that the spotlights were on, but there was no sign of movement. Apparently, whatever it was either took off or found a place to hide.
She quickly threw on the clothes she’d hung over the arm of her chair. When she peeked round the edge of the bedroom curtain, she noticed lights from a truck coming up the drive. She knew it was Nick when he blinked the headlights three times. She tried to pull on her boots while hopping over to the bedroom doorway; more haste, less speed, Auntie Em always said. She finally got them on. Her hair was sticking out all over from a fitful sleep. She tried to comb it down with her fingers, while she pulled the door open.
“Are you okay?” He stepped in to look around.
“Yes, I’m fine. Did you see anyone out there?”
“No; I even drove over with the spotlight turned on, but saw nothing unusual. I looked around before coming to your door, but nothing seemed out of place. Get your keys for me, and I’ll go out to turn off the alarm on your SUV. I don’t know who’d be trying to get into your car. It’s just not the norm for around here.”
“I’m coming with you.” She grabbed her keys and slipped on her windbreaker.
The spotlights on the exterior of the house were very bright. There was no need for a flashlight, although Nick carried one, so he’d be able to peer into the woods along the driveway.
“I noticed some footprints along the edge of the drive leading into the woods,” he said. “They looked like they were heavy boots, identical to the prints you’d previously discovered along the house.”
Walking up to her vehicle, Cassandra spotted the beer can lying in the gravel on the driver’s side. She picked it up and knew right away who’d been here. When Nick walked over, she showed him the beer can.
“I’m sure it was Jeff. Who else would leave such familiar evidence behind? Although it’s quite unusual that he hadn’t consumed it first,” she said, and shook her head in disgust. “I guess, the lights scared him off, so it was definitely a good idea to install them. Thank you, Nick.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I placed them all the way around the house. The lights would come on no matter which direction anyone approached from.”
“We certainly had a good trial tonight. How in heaven’s name had you been able to hear the alarm way up at your ranch?”
“I just happened to be out in the barn checking on the horses when it went off. I’m sure you’ve noticed how quiet it is up here. No city noises, no cars, no shopping centers. It makes the air fresh and clear. You can hear the coyotes from miles away. Do you think you’ll be okay now?”
“I don’t think he’ll be back, now that the lights and the alarm surprised him; not for a while anyway.”
“You should get a dog, Cassandra. Even if you don’t plan to stay here, a dog would keep you company and protect you. Besides, the kids told me they’d be off to college before too long. You’d appreciate having your best friend following you around the house. A guard dog would also help you feel secure when the twins are away. You need one with a deep, ferocious bark.”
“I just might do that. I’ll think about it. You have a good night and thanks for coming over.”
“No problem. Get some sleep and maybe we’ll get together next time under better circumstances.” He walked her back to the house. “Make sure you have all the doors and windows locked.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
She waved at him and then shut and locked the door. She walked through the house to double-check the lock on each window before she headed back to bed.
Chapter Eleven
Cassandra pulled into a parking space at the Pinewood Hills Food Market. She was getting excited about the twins arriving home. They’ll be here in two more days. She’d invited the Millers to stay until Sunday. Dan had taken a vote, and it came out at six to nothing. They decided it would be relaxing to spend a couple of days here, after the long drive from Colorado.
The weather had been perfect for the past two weeks, and she hoped it would remain that way during their visit. Nick offered his horses to ride on Saturday, and they could have a bonfire Saturday evening.
The scent of food lingered in the air, and made her hungry. She decided to have lunch before getting groceries, and headed over to the café next door. When she entered, she noticed it was crowded, but fortunately, there was an empty table at the window. Cassandra walked over and sat down. The waitress placed a menu in front of her, and went to get her some coffee. Idly glancing over the lunch crowd, she noticed Nick enter, and waved him over to her table.
“Good morning,” Nick said. “Well, I guess it’s actually afternoon,” he added, looking at his watch.
“Have a seat, if you’d like. It’s pretty crowded in here today.”
“It’s always a madhouse at lunch time,” he said, and pulled out a chair. “But their food is great; just like grandma’s home cooking. They’re especially busy at this time of the year with everyone passing through on vacation.”
“I can understand that. It’s a great vacation spot.”
<
br /> When Cassandra closed her menu and glanced out the window, she noticed a blue pick-up truck stopping for a red light on the corner. It looked like Jeff’s truck, and she watched it drive by slowly, as if the driver was searching through the crowded parking lot. Though her appetite had abruptly vanished, she placed her order of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and coffee. The waitress asked Nick if he’d like anything. He ordered a burger, fries and a cola. She smiled and said she’d return shortly with their beverages.
Nick looked over at Cassandra. “What’s wrong? You look disturbed.”
“Oh, I don’t know. A blue pick-up truck just drove by very slowly. It looked like Jeff’s, but I’m not sure.” She gazed out the window, and Nick gently patted her hand when she added a little too much sugar to her coffee.
“As I said before, you really should get a dog for protection. They truly are man’s – and woman’s – best friend. They would do anything for you. When my collie and my lab both start barking, they could scare anything or anyone away.”
“I think I probably will, but I’m going to wait for the kids to get home. They’d want to help pick one out. I thought about it last night, and I think we’ll go to the Humane Society over in Huntington. If we find one, we’ll get him to bark just to find out how loud it is.”
They both laughed.
“Well, a dog’s bark is a lot different when it’s a friendly bark. When there’s danger, that’s when they sound vicious.”
“Would you like to come with us? Maybe you’d be able to help us choose the right one.”
“Sure, I could go next week. Just let me know when.”
“I guess getting a dog would be about as much as we can do. We now have a security system, thanks to your brother; security lights, thanks to you; I have my pepper spray, and we’ll be getting a dog. Hopefully, that’ll be all the protection we’ll need.”
“And don’t forget, I’m always right up the road. I have my rifle, if needed, though hopefully, it would never go that far.”
They finished eating and enjoyed another cup of coffee, when she noticed the blue truck drive by again. This time she could see the driver. It was Jeff. Growing cold, she turned to Nick and he obviously saw something in her face and looked out the window. Jeff spotted the two of them from his truck, and he threw a look of hatred. He then stomped hard on the gas pedal, peeled down the street, ran a red light, and sped out of sight.
“Thank God there wasn’t a pedestrian in the street,” Cassandra said, and cradled her head in her trembling hands.
“Or another car approaching from the east,” Nick said.
She raised her head, her cheeks blazing hot with sudden anger. She stood up and walked over to the cashier. Nick left a tip and stood behind her. He placed his hand on hers and told her he’d take care of the bill, and then escorted her back to her vehicle.
“What did you need from the store, honey?” he asked. He knew she was too upset to be driving right away.
“I was going to get the groceries needed for the weekend.”
“Why don’t we go in together, and I’ll give you a hand. That will allow time for your nerves to settle before driving back.” She nodded, and let him guide her into the food market.
Nick loaded her groceries into the back of her SUV, and when he closed the back door, he heard a loud gasp.
“What happened, are you okay?” he asked, when he walked quickly toward her.
She stood with one hand covering her mouth and the other pointing at the side window. She felt screams of frustration at the back of her throat, as emotions raged within her. She just stood and stared wordlessly, as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Jeff had used red spray-paint on the window. It said: Bitch! You’ll be sorry!
“Oh no, he’s an idiot. You have to report this. I just wonder how he could get away with it in broad daylight.”
“He’s very sneaky. He can get away with almost anything, if and when he sets his mind to it.”
“I’m calling the police.” He flipped open his cell phone.
*
She’d calmed down by the time the officer had written the report and left the scene. Nick told her he’d follow her home in his truck.
When they arrived at the cabin, he got out and walked her to her door. She unlocked it and invited him in.
He shook his head. “I think it would be a good idea for you to stay over at my ranch tonight. Parking your car in one of the barns would prevent it from being visible if he should show up again. If he comes back out here, he’ll think you’re gone.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I really don’t think he’d show up with all of this security I have now.”
“But he might. Do you really want to take a chance? You can sleep in the guest room until your friends return with the twins. I really don’t think you should be here alone.”
She wandered restlessly around the living room, more shaken than she cared to admit. “Okay, maybe you’re right. Let me gather a few things and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Good girl. You’ve been through a lot in the past two weeks. You’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep, just knowing you’re safe.”
*
Cassandra woke up and stretched, feeling refreshed after having a very comfortable night’s sleep. She’d slept soundly in a queen-size bed with a canopy, something she’d always longed for when she was a little girl. A bedside table held a reading lamp and a variety of books on the shelf beneath. The guest room also had its own bathroom and a walk-in closet.
A small window next to the bed was open just a crack and a light breeze softly swayed the curtain, letting the sun peek in at the bottom.
The aroma of coffee drifted down the hallway, and she realized how late she’d slept; she jumped up, and washed, then dressed quickly.
When she stood in the kitchen doorway, she became aware of just how grateful she was that Nick had convinced her to stay.
He already had coffee waiting and was engrossed in preparing breakfast, frying strips of bacon and diced potatoes. He looked up and threw her a warm smile across the room. “Good morning, beautiful. How would you like your eggs?” He made a slight gesture with his hand for her to sit down.
“Over-easy, please,” she answered, and slightly pushed the sleeves of her sweatshirt up to her forearms. It was a bit warm in the kitchen. “You know, you really didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
“Ah, it’s no bother.” He set a mug of coffee in front of her. “I had to make myself breakfast anyway, before heading out to the barn. I’m also going to be mending some more of the barbed wire fencing at the far end of the pasture. But first I’m going to follow you to your place after we finish eating.”
She pulled out a chair, then sat at the table and looked up at him. “You don’t have to take the time to do that. I’m sure everything will be okay.”
“After what he did yesterday, I’m going to go with you to check your place out. Just to make sure, for your safety,” he added, and placed their bacon, eggs, potatoes, and toast on the table. He sat down, then tipped back on his chair and reached for the butter dish on the counter behind him. “I really doubt that he’d return, now that he knows about the security lights. However, I thought I’d check on your woodpile also. I’ll make sure you’ll have plenty on hand while your guests are here. It’s still been getting a bit chilly at night.”
“Okay, thanks.”
When they’d finished their breakfast, she stood up to clear off the table. “It’ll take me all day to wear off all the food I just ate. It was delicious. I’ll clean up the kitchen for you before we leave.” She rinsed off the dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher.
Walking out to the barn, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, surprised when she saw that her car was no longer paint-daubed. Nick came up behind her, and she turned around fast and smacked right into him. “Oops! Sorry,” she said with a wide grin on her face. “When did you remove the paint? Thank you so much. I really didn’t want the ki
ds to see it when they return.”
“I got right on it after tending to the horses. It only took a bit of soapy water and a razor blade. It didn’t take long. I figured as long as I had the hose out, I might as well wash it, too.” He opened the door for her. “I’ll be right behind you.” He turned and headed for his truck.
She drove up alongside the cabin and hopped out of her SUV. Evidently, Jeff hadn’t been there. Everything looked to be just as she’d left it. Nick made sure there was plenty of wood stacked next to the shed, and told her that all appeared to be okay.
Cassandra waved to him when he climbed back into his truck. Admiring his muscular bare arm resting on the open window, she realized what a wonderful sense of protection he gave her. “Thanks a lot for all you’ve done. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” he yelled above the noise of the engine. “But come back to my place again tonight, okay?”
“We’ll see. I don’t think there’ll be any problems here though. I’ll call you when I’m done working,” she said, then went back in the house, and locked the door behind her.
Chapter Twelve
Cassandra slept soundly until her alarm went off, and then she immediately hopped out of bed. The Millers would be arriving with the twins today.
Her decision to stay at the cabin last night proved a good one; everything was just fine. She really didn’t think she’d have any problems. Jeff was probably trying to come up with another plan but even so, she didn’t think he’d return for a while.
Next week she must drive down to Woodland to visit her lawyer. Maybe she could get a restraining order on him. Auntie Em made the suggestion. At least she said it was just a suggestion, although Cassandra knew her demands when she heard them.
She wasn’t quite sure how the kids would react, but they hadn’t been happy with him since the accident. She knew they’d each be wearing a smile on Monday, when she’d let them know they’d be out looking for a dog.
The Sunny Side of the Mountain Page 6