Navy SEAL Protector

by Bonnie Vanak

  Nick looked at Shelby, the softness on her face, the sparkle in her eyes and the flush on her cheeks. How could he leave her, after discovering how much he’d started to care?

  Nick didn’t want to think about it today.

  * * *

  They were all ready to go.

  Shortly after four o’clock, the crowds started to arrive. Minivans filled with children, big pickup trucks rumbling down the road to park in the pasture.

  Felicity proved surprisingly clever at organizing the event. Nick had hired men to bulldoze the ruins of the burned barn, but debris still remained. They’d built a wood fence to hide it and Felicity and Shelby painted colorful pumpkins on the planks.

  At the ranch’s entrance, Felicity placed hay bales with pumpkins and corn stalks. Right inside the entrance, where clerks sold tickets from booths Nick had rented, she and Shelby had set up rocking chairs, hay bales, corn stalks and dolls with farming overalls before a sign that read Anderson’s Pumpkin Patch. A photographer snapped family photos at the exhibit, selling the digital prints to those who wanted a memento of their special day’s outing.

  Nick checked the tractor to make certain it was properly hitched to the wagon. He straightened his Stetson and looked back at the children and their parents clustered together on the bales of hay lining the wagon that served as seats.

  He stood by the wagon, and tilted back his hat. “Hi, everyone. I’m your driver, Cowboy Nick. I’m taking you on a ride through some of the prettiest country God ever created in these parts. As the sun starts to set behind those mountains, it’ll get a little spooky, so hang tight. Be sure to keep a look out for the scarecrows. They have a habit of jumping out of the cornfield.”

  “I’m not scared of scarecrows,” one tyke yelled out, and everyone laughed.

  Nick leaned his arms on the wagon’s side. “You’re a brave soul. You scared of ghosts?”

  The boy shook his head.

  “Good, because we’re headed to the old cabin, where it’s said Henry buried his treasure. You may catch a glimpse of his ghost. Everyone ready?”

  “Yes!” a chorus yelled back.

  “Okay, everyone say, ‘Giddy up, Cowboy Nick!”

  Giggles and laughs. “Giddy up, Cowboy Nick!”

  Grinning, he started the tractor and with a jerk, the wagon pulled forward. Humming a country tune, he waved at the children picking out pumpkins in the fields. Shelby was in charge of the little ones near the bounce house, and Jake was overseeing the corn maze. Mario, Hank and John ran the petting zoo and the pony rides, while Felicity was in the large tent he’d rented, supervising the craft fair and farmer’s market. Big stalks of corn, apples and fresh cider were sold as well.

  Local vendors had set up food and drink stands, where one could purchase a refreshing soft drink or bottled water. The delicious smells of fried dough, cotton candy and steak sandwiches dripping in cheese and onions wafted on the breeze.

  Corn stalks, bales of straw, pumpkins and gourds decorated the trail as they chugged along the trail. Jake had even erected a few skeletons set up as scarecrows, rigging them to wave their arms as the wagon passed. Even the weather cooperated, with temperatures in the sixties and no rain in sight.

  The crowds had been bigger than anticipated, but Nick had hired extra hands for security and for crowd control, just in case. He’d nearly drained his savings account, too. But if it meant saving the ranch, and finally seeing the debt cleared so they could finally operate in the black, it was worth it.

  “Are we really going to see old Henry’s ghost?” one of the kids in back shouted at him.

  “I bet you will. He hangs around the cabin to guard his treasure,” Nick yelled back over the roar of the tractor’s motor.

  “That treasure is a myth, Nick Anderson,” shouted Harvey Glen, the town mayor. He laughed as he slung an arm around his wife as their two young children laughed and bounced up and down on the hay bales.

  “That’s what you think, Harvey.” Nick grinned and slowed the tractor as they came to the first of Jake’s skeleton scarecrows. As the tractor rolled close, the motion sensor on the skeleton triggered and the skeleton waved its arms. Children gave delighted shrieks.

  The waning sunshine felt good on his face as he headed across the pasture to the cabin. It was a good day, and everyone was enjoying themselves. No more threats, for the security guards patrolling ensured that.

  We’re going to make it. For the first time, he truly believed he could do what his father had asked.

  Nick glanced backward at the parents and their children enjoying themselves. Maybe this wasn’t his calling, but it was a welcome change, and it felt good to make people smile.

  The hum of an ATV roared in the distance. He turned his head, saw someone following him, motioning to stop. Nick frowned and slowed the tractor and then stopped. Dread filled him as the rider climbed off. Jonah Doyle in full green uniform. Not smiling, either.

  “Jonah.” Nick jumped down from the driver’s seat. “Odd time to pay a social visit. Unless you wanted to hitch a ride on the wagon?”

  The sheriff compressed his thin lips. “I’m sorry, Nick. I have to shut you down.”

  Protests rang out from the children, and the parents exchanged confused looks.

  “Why?” Nick gave him an even look, even though he already suspected the reason.

  “I don’t have a choice, Nick. Your permit got canceled due to lack of insurance.”

  “What lack of insurance?” he demanded. “I bought a liability policy four days ago!”

  Doyle shoved a paper at him. The words seemed to dance on the paper before him. His insurance policy had been canceled. No explanation, just words promising a refund in the mail.

  “You’re telling me all these people are going to have to leave, right now? The insurance covers us for today’s events.” Thinking fast, he locked gazes with a startled Mayor Glen. “I would argue in court that I didn’t get a twenty-four-hour notification.”

  Mayor Glen cleared his throat. “Jonah, surely you can grant an extension, at least for tonight. Give people a chance to enjoy themselves.”

  “Not up to me, Harvey. Without a permit, the town council will be on my case. Unless you can assure me otherwise.” Jonah exchanged knowing looks with Nick.

  Nick fully understood. If the mayor agreed to keep quiet, they could keep running the pumpkin patch at least through tonight.

  “What do you say, Harvey?” Nick broadcast his most charming smile. “You don’t want to disappoint all these good folks who came here for fun tonight.”

  “No, I don’t. I’ll handle this with the council. As long as you promise you won’t open again tomorrow, Nick.” Harvey puffed up his chest. “I’m taking a huge gamble here.”

  Nick breathed a small sigh of relief. “I promise.”

  “Tonight only. It’s all I can do.” Jonah looked at the wagon, his jaw tight. “Enjoy your ride.”

  His smile more forced, he continued running the tractor along the trail, trying to keep up the friendly guise of Cowboy Nick. All the while inside him, Navy SEAL Nick wanted to find Chuck Beaufort and beat the living crap out of him.

  When he returned the hay wagon to the entrance, and handed over responsibility for driving the tractor to Mario, Nick headed into the house to make phone calls. A short time later, he emerged. No luck. No insurance company would issue an emergency rider to the ranch’s liability policy.

  Beaufort must have found out about the insurance policy Nick purchased from one of his companies.

  He headed into the tent. Beneath it, Felicity and Shelby sat at a picnic table, eating roasted ears of corn. His heart sank as he looked at Shelby. So pretty and animated, she fit right in. She looked so happy; he hated delivering the news.

  “Look what I found,” he drawled, walking up to them. �
�Two of the prettiest ladies in Nature County.”

  “Oh, pish.” Shelby waved her hand with the corn. “You old charmer.”

  “How’s business?” he asked.

  “Excellent. Tomorrow will be even better.” Flushed, Felicity set down her corn. “I got so many compliments on my peach jam. I sold all fifty jars.”

  Nick lowered his voice. “I’m afraid you won’t, Felicity. Tonight was our last night. Our insurance policy was canceled.”

  Felicity’s prim jaw dropped, while Shelby’s eyes filled with tears. “No, Nick. We can’t!”

  He squeezed her hand. “I’m afraid we have no choice.”

  * * *

  When the last visitor had left, and the vendors were packing up, unhappy at losing business over the weekend, but agreeing to a partial refund of their fees, Nick held a meeting under the tent. Tomorrow it would be packed up and returned to the rental company.

  The only person absent was Jake, who’d agreed to watch over Mason and Miles as they stabled the ponies and fed and watered them for the night. Felicity, Dan and Shelby sat on chairs at the rented tables. Shelby had tallied the night’s intake and while they had made a decent amount of money, some of it had to be refunded to pay back the vendors.

  He was too upset and restless to sit. Almost all his savings was gone. And for what?

  Loser, a little voice inside him whispered.

  He told the voice to shut up and turned to face the others. “Jonah and Harvey did us a huge favor by allowing us to remain open tonight. Otherwise, we would have had to shut down entirely and anger a lot of people who paid good money for a fun evening.”

  “Who shut us down?” Dan demanded.

  “It was Beaufort. Lyon Freedman may run the insurance company, but it’s owned by Beaufort, and as soon as he found out, I assure you, he canceled the insurance policy. I couldn’t get a rider on the ranch’s policy to cover us and keep the permit.”

  Dan muttered under his breath. “I wish we could get back at that bastard.”

  “Language, honey,” Felicity told him. She twisted her hands. “Is there anything we can do to buy more time?”

  Nick had already considered the options. “It’s time to pay him back at his game. Dan, when is that town council meeting on the zoning change? The one Beaufort needs to build Countryville?”

  Dan pulled out his cell phone. “Monday at five. The council usually meets at seven, after dinner. Odd they called this special meeting so early.”

  “Maybe so hard-working folks wouldn’t come to it.” Anger filled him. “Dan, start making phone calls to everyone you know to let them know about the meeting. Beaufort can’t get off that easily.”

  “I can do one better.” Dan’s eyes narrowed. “Mayor Glen’s an old fishing buddy. I’ll call him and ask him to push back the meeting until seven. Suggest that if he doesn’t those with an interest in bringing new business into town won’t have a chance to hear all the reasons why the land should be rezoned.”

  A hard smile tugged up the corners of Nick’s full mouth. “Do it. Shelby darling, cancel all your plans for Monday. We have a date.”

  Shelby looked at Nick. “Are we storming the castle?”

  “You got it, Sweet Pea. You and I are going to that meeting. And come hell or high water, or both, we’re going to stall Beaufort in getting his precious theme park.”

  Chapter 17

  Nick had a plan, and it involved her.

  On Monday, after breakfast, they headed into town. For the next few hours, they shopped at the local stores, and chatted with people Nick hadn’t seen since his father’s funeral. Each time Shelby spotted someone she knew who’d done any kind of business with Silas, she and Nick stopped to talk.

  They went to lunch at Flo’s café, where Nick turned heads. He was handsome in his long hair, and even the scar on his cheek gave him a mysterious flair. As they sat at a corner booth, Nick facing the door and his back was to the wall, Shelby heard other patrons whispering.

  “They’re all speculating about you,” she murmured, glancing at the menu Flo had personally brought over to them.

  “Hope it’s good.”

  “With you, it’s always good.” Her gaze went to his scarred cheek. Nick was solid here in town.

  And even though she’d spent the past eighteen years living here, and all her adult life working hard at the ranch, she still felt slightly insecure around some town leaders because of her parents. Nick might be branded a nomad and a prodigal son, but they welcomed him back with open arms.

  Not speculative looks, as some did with her, as if waiting to see if she’d order a beer and pass out drunk on the floor as her daddy sometimes did. Or shoplift clothing, as her mother once did at Sally’s Fashion Barn. Silas had to pay her bail on that one, and her mother promised to never do it again.

  Silas had been a godsend to Shelby and her sister, Heather. But even he could not erase all the suspicion people like Natalie harbored simply because her parents hadn’t been respectable.

  At a booth across from them, two town council members sat, eating lunch. They kept giving her suspicious looks, as if expecting her to steal the salt and pepper shakers. She overheard one say loudly, “Thank the good Lord her parents are gone, at least. Worthless drunks.”

  A blush lit her cheeks. “I’m never going to be good enough for some of the town officials,” she muttered, glaring at the glass of ice water Flo had set before her.

  His hand reached over, covered hers. “You are good enough, Sweet Pea. Don’t mind their opinions.”

  Nick picked up her hand and brushed a soft kiss across the knuckles. His mouth warmed her, and her nerves tingled from the contact. Shelby smiled, but his words failed to reassure. Her family’s reputation had been forged in alcohol and public fights.

  His family’s reputation was forged in reputable business relationships and long-standing roots in town.

  Shelby looked at Nick. In his plain blue T-shirt, leather jacket, faded denim jeans and biker boots, he looked tough. A stranger, who might breeze into the café and get hostile looks from locals who were protective of their own. But this was Nick, and clothing mattered little compared to his family name.

  On the other hand, her outfit was stylish, yet not lavish. The beige knit sweater fell past her hips, combined with tight jeans, knee-high brown leather boots and a soft cashmere scarf around her neck. Shelby knew she looked good, and her clothing was as fashionable as Natalie Beaufort’s wardrobe.

  I might as well be wearing sackcloth. Because some in town, like Mayor Glen, will always eye me with suspicion, as if I’d steal the salt and pepper shakers off the table.

  “Well, hello, stranger. Haven’t seen both of you in a while.”

  The familiar drawl cheered her. Shelby looked up as Ann stood at their table in a waitress uniform, a big smile on her face.

  “What are you doing here?” Shelby jumped up to hug her friend, who laughed.

  “After you quit, there was no point in staying at that greasy spoon.” Ann snapped her gum and tapped her pencil on the pad as Shelby sat down again. “Natalie was mighty angry, but there was nothing she could do.”

  Touched by her friend’s loyalty, Shelby felt a lump in her throat. “Thanks, hon. Maybe I could get a job here as well.”

  “You? You’re too smart, Shelby. You could easily work in Nashville as an accountant. Or find a job in a little art boutique. Why stay here in this dump?” Ann swept the café with a visible sneer. “There’s nothing here for people our age. That goes for you, too, Nick Anderson. You’re too young to get stuck in a backward town like Barlow.”

  “I’m an old soul,” Nick joked.

  “Barlow isn’t backward,” Shelby protested.

  A cynical look came over her friend. “Oh? The same town that labels you only because you h
ad loser parents, Shel? No, it’s not backward. It’s stagnant. Why you stay here is beyond me. You have a college degree, a chance to make something of your life.”

  She sighed. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “You know I am. You can get a career outside the farm and Barlow. Me?” Ann shrugged. “All I can do is get jobs waiting tables.”

  “Don’t say that.” Her tone came out sharper than intended. “You’re very smart, Ann. And with a little luck and searching, you can find a better job.”

  A distant look came over her friend. “Yeah. Maybe someday I will.”

  Shelby and Nick gave their orders. As Ann lowered her hand, Shelby grabbed her friend’s right wrist.

  “Whoa, where did you get the sparkler?” The princess-cut diamond had to be a full carat. Surrounded by baguettes on either side, the white gold ring looked mighty expensive. “Did you get engaged and fail to tell me, girlfriend?”

  Ann tugged her hand away, a flush covering her cheeks. “Wrong hand, silly. It’s a little gift from my new boyfriend.”

  She felt guilty at neglecting their friendship. “I didn’t know you were dating someone special.”

  “They’re all special. This is just my flavor of the week.” Ann laughed and winked at Nick. “Want to be next?”

  Nick returned the wink and slid his hand over to cover Shelby’s palm. “Sorry, darling, I’m taken.”

  Ann gave a big smile. “Well, good for you both. You’d better treat Shelby right, Nick Anderson. Or I’ll have my new boyfriend beat you up.”

  “I’m scared,” Nick quipped.

  “You should be, big guy. He weighs all of a hundred and twenty-five pounds, and most of that is in his glasses.” Ann laughed and they joined in.

  Ann waved her pad. “Be right up.”

  He gave the departing Ann a thoughtful look. “Her boyfriend must either be in love or have plenty of disposable cash. That ring is at least six thousand dollars.”

  Shelby was glad of it. “She deserves a decent man who will treat her right.”

  Nick gave her an intent look. “So do you, Sweet Pea.”