The SEAL's Return

by Patricia Potter

  Andy showed him the sections. “We’re closing early because of the pageant,” she said.

  He found two books, one on quarter horses and another titled Modern Ranching dated thirty years earlier.

  He took them both out to Andy. “How do I check them out?”

  “You don’t. It’s the honor system.”

  “This is a weird town,” he observed.

  “It took me a few more days than you to discover that,” she replied. “I suppose someone told you about the Monday night poker games?”

  “They did. It was the carrot in Clint’s invitation, and a few others have mentioned it since then.”

  The phone on the desk rang, and she picked it up. He gave her a wave, then left.

  He reached the cabin a little after one and found a tin on the steps to the porch. He picked it up, opened it and found brownies. No note, but he suspected Mrs. Aubry. He was hungry after the long day and tried one. Then a second. He forced himself to put them away. He had been warned to expect such gifts. He hadn’t expected them to be quite so good.

  He headed for the bathroom. A layer of dust had caked on his body, and he smelled like horse. He took his second shower of the day, dressed in an ancient pair of jeans, grabbed one of the last beers and made a sandwich. Then he took both—and the book on quarter horses—outside and settled down in the lounge chair. He’d always been obsessive about preparing for any job or mission. He wanted to know everything that could go wrong because it usually did.

  Whether he stayed here a week or longer, he’d made at least a short-term commitment to Luke and he wanted to be prepared.

  He was through the first chapter and well into the second when his instincts kicked in, and he looked up to see the kid turn the corner of the cabin and approach him. He had a fat folder clutched in one hand.

  Jubal put down the book and looked at his watch. It was ten minutes until two. Progress.

  “You have something for me?” he asked.

  Gordon shifted from one foot to the other and mumbled, “Thanks for not telling my sister the other night...”

  “I probably should have.” Jubal took the folder, opened it and slowly scanned the pages. Gordon had included three designs. Clipped to each one was a list of materials required. He’d even added a note to one design with a suggestion of ways to improve it.

  What pleased Jubal was that only one design was a simple one. The other two had wide armrests and slanted backs. Both would be more difficult to build but would be more comfortable and better looking.

  After a moment’s silence, Gordon spoke up. “I figured a six-foot-long bench so two people could sit. You would need treated lumber for the bench and carriage bolts to fix it to the dock.”

  “That sounds about right,” Jubal said. “What kind of lumber?”

  “It’s all there on the paper,” the kid said rebelliously.

  “I want you to tell me.”

  “Treated pine. Amount depends on which one of those benches you want.”

  “Which would you want?”

  “None,” Gordon muttered.

  Jubal smiled. “Don’t like the water?”

  “Not that water.”

  So he remembered how cold it was. “It’s really not bad,” Jubal said.

  “Maybe for crazy people,” the kid mumbled.

  Jubal ignored the comment but inwardly smiled. The boy hadn’t lost his spirit. “You think you can build any of these?” he asked.

  Gordon nodded. “We’ll be even then?” he asked. “You won’t tell Chief Morgan? Or my sister? About the fire?”

  “Won’t your sister wonder where you are or what you’re doing?”

  “I told her I was looking for a job. I’ll tell her I found one.”

  “Slick,” Jubal said, hating the fact he was becoming complicit in what was, at the very least, a deception. But he’d made a deal and the kid, thus far, had held up his end.

  “It’s the truth,” the kid defended. “It is a job.”

  “I’ll keep my part of the bargain if you build the bench and stay out of trouble.”

  Another rebellious look, but the kid held his tongue.

  “When does school start?” Jubal asked.

  “Monday.”

  “Then after school Monday, meet me here and I’ll tell you what comes next.”

  Gordon started to turn away.

  “Aren’t you going to ask which one I want?” Jubal said.

  “I figure you’ll tell me when you’re ready.” He disappeared around the corner. Jubal looked at the plans again and realized the kid was a lot smarter than he wanted anyone to think.

  When the phone rang, he recognized Clint’s number. “I hear you’re working for Luke,” Clint said.

  “For a short time.”

  “I didn’t know you were that much into horses.”

  “I hate to tell you this, but there’s probably a lot of things you don’t know,” Jubal replied.

  Clint chuckled. “I saw the way your eyes fastened on that buckskin. But that’s not why I called. What time do you want to go to the Rusty Nail tonight? Also, Josh is having a steak fry at his house tomorrow night before the pageant.”

  “Can I say no?” Jubal said.

  “It would be rude,” Clint said cheerfully. “And you are living in the cabin he owns. Hell, you might even enjoy it once you get used to the chaos.”

  “That’s a real incentive,” Jubal groused.

  “Supper will be very simple, very informal, and Josh does grill a mean steak. Baked potatoes, salad and a pie from Maude’s. Minimum fuss.”

  “What time?”

  “Six p.m. The pageant is at eight so no one will linger.”

  It was the last thing he wanted to do. Particularly the pageant. He didn’t like crowds, but Josh was his host and he’d liked him when they’d met.

  “You’ve convinced me,” Jubal agreed after a short silence.

  “I’ll pick you up at six.” Clint hung up.

  One thing about Covenant Falls, it wasn’t boring. He’d thought it would be. He’d thought it would be relaxing. Spend a couple days with Clint up in the mountains, then leave in search of...what?

  Instead, he felt tentacles begin to wind around him. The kid. Luke. Clint. The lady doc. And all that, God help him, was just in the first few days. No telling what would happen if he didn’t run like hell.

  He went into the bedroom and looked over his pitiful wardrobe. It consisted of jeans, more jeans, warm-ups and sweatpants. He remembered then that Luke had told him he needed riding pants and boots.

  He looked at his watch. He just had time to drive to town and pick up some riding clothes and maybe a decent shirt for the steak fry tomorrow night.

  * * *

  IT SEEMED EVERYONE in Covenant Falls had a cold, rash or aches on Friday. Mainly, Lisa decided, they wanted to take her measure. She felt lucky to leave at six.

  She picked up Kerry at the veterinarian’s office. She tried to call Gordon on his cell but there was no answer. She made a note not to pay his bill next month.

  She stopped by Maude’s and ordered takeout salads for herself and Kerry. Gordon would have to do with what was in the fridge.

  He sauntered inside a few minutes after they arrived at home with a folder in his hand.

  “Would it be too difficult to answer the phone?” she asked.

  “I got a job.”

  Nothing could have shocked her more. “Doing what?”

  “I’m going to build a bench,” he said.

  “You don’t...” She stopped before saying something she might regret. She amended the sentence. “For whom?”

  The phone interrupted them. It was Eve inviting them for steak dinner the following night. “If you come
half an hour earlier, we can introduce Kerry and Gordon to the horses.” She added, “We’ll be going to the pageant afterward.”

  “That sounds great. Kerry will be thrilled. We’ll be there at five-thirty. Can I bring anything?”

  “No. Everything is under control. Oh, and I heard you adopted one of Stephanie’s rescues. Bring her if you want. She’ll have plenty of canine company, and people take dogs to the pageant. I’m sure Josh will bring his. See you then.” Eve hung up.

  Gordon was looking at her. “Where will we be at five-thirty?”

  “We’ve been invited to dinner at Mrs. Manning’s.”

  “I don’t know them. I’m not going.”

  “You will go, and you will be polite,” Lisa said. “I’ve given you a lot of room but you are on probation, and I want a little cooperation. Frankly, I’ve had enough of your miserable attitude. So has Kerry. Now where is this job?”

  “The guy in the cabin at the end of that road around the lake,” he said reluctantly.

  “Mr. Pierce?” She couldn’t tame the surprise in her voice. “What are you going to do for him?”

  “I told you. Building a bench on his dock.”

  “Why?’

  “How should I know? Maybe because he wants one?” Gordon replied.

  “I’m getting very tired of those smart remarks, too,” Lisa said. “Why you?”

  “Because I asked if I could do something,” Gordon said sullenly. Anger flashed in his eyes. “And I knew I could do it. You don’t think I can do anything right!”

  “That’s not true, Gordon. I’ve always known you’re really smart. If anything, I find it frustrating to see you not using that brain.”

  “I’m using it now,” he said. “And all you do is interrogate me like I’m public enemy number one.” He took the stairs two at a time and slammed his door.

  She followed him, and opened the door without knocking. “I want you to come tomorrow night and be polite, or I’m cutting your allowance in half. Indefinitely,” she added for emphasis. She wondered about the wisdom of dragging an unwilling Gordon along, but it was time they had an understanding.

  He stared at her defiantly for a minute. “I don’t know why you want me around now,” he said. “You were never there when Mom was sick and now you’re trying to take her place. Well, you can’t.”

  There they were. The unspoken words that had been buried under grief and resentment.

  “I couldn’t take her place,” she said quietly. “I wouldn’t even try. She wanted me to finish that residency. She wanted it more than anything. It was why she asked Aunt Kay to stay with you guys. I didn’t...”

  She stopped. Lisa had spent every moment she could with her mother, but she knew her siblings and her aunt had borne the brunt of watching the person they loved most slip slowly away.

  Gordon had a bleak look in his eyes as he turned away. Her heart broke for him, but she knew from the bottom of her soul that if she didn’t do something, she would lose him and he might lose himself.

  “Gordon.”

  He turned around.

  “Please go with us tomorrow night.”

  He shrugged in what she considered agreement.

  “Thank you,” she said softly, and turned away before he changed his mind.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  JUBAL WAS READY when Clint arrived in a police car Saturday night.

  “You didn’t say we would be going in a police car,” Jubal said as he slid into the front seat.

  “Makes you a bit nervous, does it?” Clint asked.

  “You didn’t drive it last night.”

  “I was drinking last night.”

  Indeed he had been, but not to the extent they once had. The Rusty Nail was everything Clint had said it was. It had been full, but a table in the corner had been reserved for them. A few people—all vets—had walked over and introduced themselves, but for the most part they had been left to reminisce about past meetings.

  Jubal had found himself smiling, even laughing. It had been a good time, but he had no such hopes for tonight.

  “It’s your driving that makes me nervous. I seem to remember some interesting rides...”

  “I’m the world’s safest driver these days,” Clint said with the grin Jubal remembered.

  They drove by the park, which was bustling with activity. Picnic tables had been moved back, and what looked like a large structure on wheels was being moved in front of the lake.

  “They’re setting up for the pageant tonight,” Clint said.

  Jubal heard a woof from the backseat and looked behind the screen that separated the back from the front. “I see you’ve brought your police dog with you.”

  “Please don’t make fun of Bart.”

  Another woof came from the back.

  “Sorry. I didn’t know he was sensitive.”

  “Well, he is,” Clint said. “If you had a dog, you would know that. Now Stephanie has a few—”

  “I’m thinking more about a horse,” Jubal blurted, much to his own surprise.

  “You gotta be kidding. I thought you were dead set on wandering. Can’t wander with a horse.”

  “Don’t know why not. All you need is a trailer.” Jubal had absolutely no idea why he said that, either. Clint was right. The last thing he needed was a horse.

  He tried to explain. Even to himself. “I’m enjoying the riding gig at Luke’s place. I guess I just have horses on my mind.”

  Clint stole his gaze from the road for a second and glanced at Jubal. “Does that mean you’re going to stay longer than you planned?”

  “No...well, maybe a few days. I figure while I’m here, I might as well learn something. And horses don’t talk.”

  “Is that a hint?” Clint said as he turned into a driveway. Several cars were parked there, including a silver sedan with Illinois plates. Jubal felt a jolt of electricity run through him as he saw the back of a slim figure at the fence of the pasture. Lisa Redding was watching her sister, who was sitting atop a white horse. He spotted Stephanie standing next to the girl, talking to her.

  The doctor had apparently heard the car approach, because she turned around and seemed startled to see Jubal as he exited the car. Apparently she hadn’t known he was invited.

  Clint noticed his surprise. “Eve likes all the newcomers to feel at home,” he said.

  Feeling trapped, Jubal walked over to the fence. “Dr. Redding,” Jubal said.

  “Mr. Pierce,” she replied. “You seem to have recuperated nicely.”

  “It’s Jubal,” he corrected as their eyes met. Hers were such a rich, expressive dark brown, he felt torpedoed by the same powerful attraction he’d felt before.

  She nodded. “And call me Lisa.”

  She looked like a Lisa. Like a portrait. Her dark hair was tied back with a blue ribbon. The sun overhead tinted the dark brown with copper. She wore a light blue blouse and dark blue pants that fit her perfectly. She used a light shade of lipstick and just a little blush on her cheeks, although it just as easily could’ve been the sun. She looked young and fresh and pretty and completely wrong for him.

  He forced himself to look away and watch Stephanie hold the horse while Kerry Redding dismounted. They walked over to Clint and Jubal.

  “Thank you again for what you did Wednesday,” the girl said shyly. “For me and Susie.”

  “Where is the little culprit?” Jubal asked.

  “Inside with Eve’s dogs,” Lisa said. “Where hopefully she can’t get in trouble. How are your injuries?”

  “Gone,” he said.

  “Yeah,” Clint said. “I hear he’s been going for long swims at all hours and riding horses.”

  The doctor looked at him quizzically. “Swimming with those cuts?”

 
“In that cold water?” Stephanie added.

  “Hell, he’s a SEAL. Can’t keep them out of the water.”

  Jubal wanted to kick Clint where the sun didn’t shine. He wasn’t fond of the attention a SEAL sometimes received. In any event, it wasn’t anyone’s business.

  Stephanie cast a sympathetic look at Jubal. “My husband has a big mouth, but the water is still freezing.”

  “A navy SEAL?” Kerry said in an excited voice. “Like on the news?”

  “Ex–navy SEAL,” Jubal said shortly, and glared at Clint.

  Lisa broke in, changing the subject. “Kerry retains everything she sees and reads about. She’s a walking encyclopedia.”

  Clint gave Jubal an apologetic look when another car arrived. Jubal recognized Andy from the community center. She didn’t wait for the driver to get out before coming right over to them.

  “I’m glad to see you both again,” she said. She turned and introduced Jubal to the man who’d exited the car behind her. “Meet Nate Rowland. He’s also a vet. Army. The Strykers. He’s a partner with Josh at the inn.”

  Jubal and Nate shook hands, each sizing up the other. “I hope you play poker,” Nate said.

  Jubal nodded but his gaze went back to Lisa. She was frowning. Because of what Clint had said about being a SEAL?

  “I smell charcoal burning,” Clint said.

  “And I have to help Eve,” Stephanie said. She turned to Lisa. “Clint with the big mouth can take you and Jubal to the backyard. Can I get you a glass of wine or a beer?”

  “Wine would be great,” Lisa said. “Can I help?”

  “Eve and I have this down to a science,” Stephanie said. “Everything is ready but the steaks, and that’s Josh’s responsibility, anyway.”

  Clint and Bart led the way to the backyard. Jubal stood back to allow Andy, Lisa and her sister to go next, and he followed behind. He wanted to clock Clint. The last thing he’d wanted was to advertise what he’d been but no longer was.

  As he turned the corner, he saw the kid—Gordon—hovering next to Josh, who was rearranging hot coals while a huge plate of steaks waited on a nearby table. Josh’s dog, Amos, and a young boy of eight or nine played with a ball.