by Sharon Sala
“Okay everybody, I’m going back to my office to get this order in. If you have troubles, you know how to get in touch with me,” she said, then stepped outside beneath the awning to open her umbrella and made a run for her car.
* * *
It wasn’t power flickering that woke Cathy. It was the loud crack of lightning, followed by a distinct grumble of thunder that made her jump. The sudden movement not only hurt her ankle, but also made the cold gel pack she had on it slide onto the floor, taking part of her blanket with it.
“Oh crap, that hurt!” she moaned, and slowly lowered the footrest on her recliner.
It felt like she’d been asleep for hours, but it was only ten thirty. She managed to stand up, picked up the gel pack, and then put it on the seat of her walker before making her way to the kitchen to put it back in the freezer.
The coffee maker had shut itself off, and she was debating with herself about reheating some in the microwave when she heard a knock at the door.
“Who in the world would be out in this weather?” she muttered, as she turned the walker around and went to answer it.
The fact that Duke Talbot was standing beneath her porch roof and already shedding clothes did something for her heartbeat, but as it turned out, the only things he took off and left on her porch swing were a raincoat, his boots, and a cowboy hat with its own rain cover.
He gave her a tentative smile and then held up the carton of eggs.
“It is not my habit to go to anyone’s home unannounced, but I didn’t have your number, and I come bearing a gift. Hope sent you a dozen fresh eggs. Is that enough to get me in the door?”
Cathy grinned. “It’s more than enough.”
Duke was enchanted as he went inside and closed the door behind him. She had a dimple. Just one, and only visible when she smiled.
“Is it okay if I put these in the refrigerator for you?” he asked.
“Of course. I’m sorry I don’t have hot coffee, but I fell asleep and the coffee maker shut itself off.”
Duke frowned. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No. It was that lightning and thunder a few minutes ago. I was in the kitchen when you knocked.”
“Okay, then,” Duke said, and headed for the kitchen in his sock feet. Cathy went to the hall and turned on the central heat to take the chill off the house, then followed him and sat down at the table.
“If you don’t mind reheated coffee, pour yourself a cup and microwave it,” she said.
Duke glanced at her. “Do you want some?”
“Sure,” she said.
He filled two cups, popped them in the microwave, then brought them to the table and sat down with her.
“How is your ankle?” he asked.
“Still swollen and painful, but I’m managing just fine, thanks to you.”
Duke eyed the flash in her eyes and wondered what she was thinking. But instead of asking, he made a painfully boring comment.
“You make good coffee.”
The praise was so simple, but for Cathy, who’d rarely gotten a compliment from her ex other than how she looked, it pleased her.
“Thank you.”
Duke was trying to think of some witty comment that might prompt a conversation when his cell phone rang. When he saw it was from the County Sheriff’s office, he sighed.
“I’m sorry. I know this is rude, but I really need to take this call.”
“Do you need privacy? I can go—”
“No, nothing like that,” he said, and then answered. “Hello, this is Duke.”
“Good morning, Duke. Deputy Treat here. We just wanted to catch you up on the investigation. We did confirm the rustlers came directly through the Bailey property. We tried to locate a place where they might have purchased the feed sacks they left behind, but that brand is sold all over the state, and anyone with cattle might have purchased it.”
Duke sighed. “Have you been around to any of the cattle auctions yet?”
“Not yet. That’s on the agenda, but as you know, they’re only open on sale days, so the ones that were open yesterday aren’t open today. We’re going to take a quick run through the ones holding auctions today, and maybe we’ll get lucky and find someone with a slash on his boot heel who’s trying to sell six head of cattle.”
“We appreciate anything you can do,” Duke said.
“Sure thing, and we’ll be in touch,” Treat said, then disconnected.
Duke slipped the phone back in his pocket. “Sorry. That was one of the deputies who’s investigating our case. After I got home from Blessings yesterday, we discovered we were missing six head of cattle. The fence wires had been cut, and we found where the rustlers had loaded the cattle up and left through a neighbor’s property. The man who owns it is in a nursing home now, so it was way too convenient for them to come into the back of our property without ever being seen.”
Cathy gasped. “Rustlers? I didn’t realize that was still an ongoing thing for farmers and ranchers!”
Duke shrugged. “Yes, it’s a pretty big problem for people with cattle herds. Over the years, I’ve become something of a cynic. No matter what you own, someone will try to steal it.”
“I’m so sorry. Is there any chance of getting them back?”
“Slim to none,” Duke said. “I came into town to get some batteries to put up some game cameras, in case the rustlers try to make a return visit.”
Cathy reached across the table before she thought and put her hand on his arm.
“Are you in danger?”
“I don’t think so. But I always carry a rifle when I check cattle. Never know when I might run across a predator. But enough about our troubles. Were you able to get any sleep last night?”
Cathy frowned. She didn’t like knowing this was happening…and that he might be in danger. She hadn’t expected this kind of thing to be happening in a small town. This felt like big-city trouble. Then she remembered he was waiting for her to answer.
“Uh…oh…not a lot. But I’ve already had almost a two-hour nap this morning.”
“Is there anything I can do for you? Or any errands you need me to run? I’m totally competent to help with pretty much anything. Our parents died when Jack was still in college, and I kept the farm going and him in college on my own.”
Cathy was not only instantly empathetic, but wondering if family responsibilities like that had anything to do with his single status.
“I lost my dad when I was twelve. Mom died a couple of years ago. I got a divorce soon afterward.” She was silent a moment, and then added, “Something I should have done a long time ago.”
Duke hesitated. He wanted to know everything about her, but wasn’t going to pry.
“I remember you said you were backpacking when you got here. How did you learn that? Was it something you and your husband used to do together?”
“No. He’s a native of Las Vegas. His life is all money, women, and casinos.”
“He gambled?”
“No. He owns casinos and has interest in others. He played the women, not the odds.”
The bitterness in her voice was obvious, and Duke was sorry he’d asked.
“I didn’t mean to pry, and as I told you before, I always say the wrong thing around women. I’m sorry. So tell me about your backpacking. Have you been lots of places? What’s your favorite place?”
Cathy’s eyes were suddenly alight. She leaned forward, her elbows on the table, her chin resting in her hands.
“Alaska! I grew up there! Mother and I didn’t leave until after Dad died. But it’s so beautiful there if you don’t mind the snow. You were talking about growing up on your farm. We raised a garden, dried food, dried and salted meat for winter…that kind of thing. The land there is so fertile, but the growing season is short. We lived off the grid the first twelve years o
f my life. I learned a whole lot about surviving in the wild. It was only after we moved to what people call civilization that my troubles began.”
Duke’s eyes widened, trying to picture a little redhead in snow gear tromping around the Alaskan wilderness.
“That’s the most amazing thing anyone has ever told me about where and how they grew up,” he said.
Cathy smiled. It was getting easier and easier to be around this man.
Then Duke glanced at the time. “When I was putting away the eggs, I noticed there’s nothing in your refrigerator to make for your dinner…except the eggs. If you were able, I’d take you out to eat, but I think your comfort matters most. How about I go get some takeout and bring it here? My treat.”
“That would be much appreciated,” Cathy said. “But you’ve treated me enough. I have money to—”
“Nope. Just tell me what you’re hungry for. Granny’s has takeout for anything on the menu. We also have Broyles Dairy Freeze, with awesome chili dogs and fries, and a barbecue joint as well. Jack and Hope will tell you that I like everything, so what sounds good to you?”
“Chili dogs? I can’t remember the last time I had a chili dog. That sounds so good. I think maybe that, and fries.”
“They have really good malts and shakes, too,” Duke added.
“You’re tempting me now. Throw in that chocolate malt, and I’ll be toast for the rest of the day.”
Duke got up from the table like he’d been ejected from the chair.
“Awesome. One chili dog, or two?”
She laughed. “Only one, for sure.”
He sighed as the laugh washed through him. “I’m not locking the front door, and I won’t be long.”
He was gone before Cathy had time to say goodbye. It was still raining, and she could hear him out on the front porch putting his boots and rain gear back on as she began clearing away their coffee cups.
She was getting a frozen gel pack from the freezer when she heard him leave, but it didn’t deter her. She went back to the living room to ice her ankle. The sooner she got back on her feet, the happier she would be.
Chapter 5
Deputy Ralph Herman was hunkered down beside a car at the south end of Main Street, helping Peanut Butterman change a flat tire. Despite their raincoats, they were both soaked by the time the tire was changed. Peanut tossed the flat in the trunk and turned and shook Ralph’s hand.
“I sure do thank you for stopping to help.”
The deputy turned slightly against the rain blowing in his face.
“No problem. It’s just an all-around nasty day to have a tire go flat. I was happy to help. You take care,” he said, and got back in the cruiser, made a U-turn in the street, and drove back uptown.
Peanut drove straight to the service station at the other end of town to drop off the tire to get fixed, and called Ruby on the way, smiling to himself when she answered. Just the sound of her voice made everything right in his world—even a flat in a downpour.
“Hello, honey. Have you started home from the courthouse in Savannah yet?” Ruby asked.
“I’m already back in Blessings, but I had a flat just inside the city limits. Deputy Ralph stopped to help me, or I’d still be messing with it. I’m about to drop it off to get fixed, and then I’m going home to change into some dry clothes before I head back to the office. Do you want me to pick up lunch for you and the girls?”
“Oh, that would be awesome. We’ve already had power flickering here at the shop, so nobody is willing to take the time to go get lunch. We’re trying to finish up on our clients without leaving them with wet heads. I’ll find out what the girls want and call you back, okay?”
“Everything you do is okay with me,” Peanut said. “Love you.”
“I love you, too,” Ruby said, and then sighed as she hung up.
Vesta looked at Vera and giggled. “I wonder who Ruby was talking to just now.”
Ruby looked over at her and grinned. “You just hush. Peanut offered to get lunch and drop it off here for us, so figure out what you want. I told him I’d call him right back.”
When the twins’ focus shifted to food of any kind, all joking was set aside.
Vesta thought for a moment before offering a suggestion.
“What if we all order something from Broyles Dairy Freeze? That way he won’t have to get in and out of the car a bunch of times. He can just go through the drive-through, and if he’ll bring it to the back door and honk, we can go out to get it.”
“That is so sweet of you,” Ruby said. “He just had a flat coming into town and said he was going home to change into dry clothes first. He’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
Vera shook her head. “Bless his heart. A flat in this kind of weather.”
“I think I want a burger, fries, and a vanilla malt,” Vesta said.
“I want the same, except make my malt chocolate,” Vera added, and then tapped her client on the shoulder. “Time’s up, sugar. Let’s go rinse out that perm solution so I can get the neutralizer on you.”
Mabel Jean had already finished the mani-pedi on Clara and walked her to her car, holding an umbrella over both of them. But now she was chilled and nursing a cup of coffee.
“I’ll take one of their chili dogs and a package of potato chips. Thanks to the weather, I’m too cold for a malt, so I’ll stick to coffee.”
“Duly noted,” Ruby said. She’d just finished the shampoo and style on Rachel Goodhope, so she reached for the hair spray and gave Rachel’s hair a quick once-over, then removed the cape and handed her a mirror. “What do you think?”
Rachel took a few moments to check out the back of her hair and then nodded.
“Love it, but then I always do. Thank you, Ruby. I’d better get home. We have someone due to check in at the bed-and-breakfast around 1:00 p.m., so I need to make sure Bud remembered to put cookies in the guest room.”
As soon as Rachel was gone, Ruby texted their lunch orders to Peanut and then went to clean up her station.
* * *
Peanut got the text with their orders and was grateful they’d chosen the Dairy Freeze. As he drove into line at the drive-through, he saw several cars coming in behind him. It appeared everyone had the same idea in this miserable weather.
He’d already called in the order on the way down Main, and when he pulled up to the window, the woman working saw him and smiled.
“Hey, Peanut! We got your to-go ready. Do you need to add anything to it?”
“No thanks,” Peanut said, and handed over his credit card.
He got the card back and his order, and waved as he drove away.
He was just about to drive back out onto Main Street when a small rain-soaked dog ran across the street in front of him.
“Oh crap!” he muttered, wincing when the dog barely missed getting hit by a passing car. Then it dawned on him that he knew that little dog. Everyone in Blessings knew that little red King Charles spaniel. He rolled down his window and whistled.
“Mister! Hey, Mister! Come here, boy!” he called.
The little dog stopped, then turned around and looked back.
Peanut whistled again, and then got out in the downpour and opened the back door to his car.
“Come here, Mister. Come here, boy. Wanna go home? Let’s go home.”
The little dog took off running toward Peanut, and once again, Peanut was soaked, but this time for a good reason. Despite very short legs, Mister cleared the leap in one try, hunkering down on the floorboard, shaking.
“Good boy!” Peanut said. “Good boy, Mister. Sit down, boy. We’re gonna go home.”
The little spaniel was shivering, but his huge black eyes were fixed on Peanut in a grateful and trusting way.
Peanut jumped back in the car, and instead of turning left to go to the salon, he turned right an
d drove straight to Miss Earline Woody’s house. He pulled up beneath the portico where her 1980 Chrysler was parked and got out. Then he opened the back door and picked Mister up from the floor of the car and carried him up the steps.
Like Miss Earline, the grand old house had seen better days, but it had good bones and Miss Earline came from good stock, which was why they were both still standing.
He heard footsteps, and then the door swung inward. He could see the old woman had been crying, and when she saw Peanut standing on the threshold with her missing puppy in his arms, she threw her hands up in the air.
“Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus! My prayers have been answered.” Then she held out her arms. “Mister. My poor little Mister. Come to Mama.”
The little dog whined as Peanut handed him over.
“Oh, Peanut, thank you, thank you. He was out beneath the umbrella doing his business when a big old clap of thunder sounded, and before I knew it, he was running. I tried to catch him, but the gate was ajar, and I’m not so spry anymore, and he was gone. I didn’t think I’d see him again.”
“You almost didn’t,” Peanut said. “I saw him running on the street in front of Broyles Dairy Freeze. Traffic just missed him, but when I stopped and called him, he came back to me and jumped right in the car. I think he was ready to come home.”
“Well, God love you, son. You don’t know how much this little mess means to me. Now I need to get us both cleaned up and dried off. Thank you again.”
Peanut grinned. “You’re welcome. You might want to have that latch on your gate looked at.”
“Yes, yes, I surely will,” Miss Earline said. “You be careful, and I’m sorry you got your nice suit all wet.”
Peanut laughed. “It’s my second one today. All the more business for the cleaners. You take care now,” he said, then closed the door behind him and ran back to his car.
He drove up to the back of the salon, got the sacks of food, and went inside.