The guys ordered burgers along with local brews. River opted for the French Onion soup and an Old Fashioned, with a double shot of bourbon.
When the drinks arrived, she took a large gulp. She raised her glass again when she noted the three men were watching her.
“What?”
“Are you all right?” Kevin asked.
“I will be in a minute,” she said, this time taking a smaller sip. She pressed her back into the cushioned booth and waited for the buzz to kick in.
Troy picked up her drink and took a whiff. “Whoa. We’d best get this show on the road before she slides onto the floor.”
“Ha, ha. I’ve had stronger and I think I earned it after facing Zeke Englehart today.” She visibly shivered at the statement.
“Can’t argue that,” Troy said. “The guy was enough to make my skin crawl. If there hadn’t been a barrier between us, I would have pounded the shit out of him for the way the lecher ogled you.”
“You agreed my presence might prompt a response. We got one.”
“One you turned to our advantage.”
“I still don’t see how I helped. He didn’t tell us anything useful.”
“You made him nervous. He didn’t have any reason to be jittery unless you’d touched a nerve,” Troy said.
“You think he knows what’s been going on and his family is involved?” Colt asked.
“He knows something.”
“Did you dig up anything on Roxbury?” Kevin asked Colt. “Rick says he’s reached a dead end.”
“There’s something definitely off with the Reverend. I found a couple of locals who said they were invited to attend his church, but never went back after the first service.”
“Why?” River asked.
“They didn’t go for his dark take on Christianity. He appears to be a “fire-and-brimstone” theologian rather than a “love-your-neighbor” kind. Both of them used the word ‘uncomfortable’ when they discussed his sermonizing.”
“Those are individual opinions,” Kevin pointed out. “There are plenty of wacko preachers out there who see more evil than good. It doesn’t tie him to River.”
“No. It doesn’t. He did have a rifle propped against the wall of his barn.”
“Which means nothing,” River said, fighting with a string of cheese from the top of her soup. “I’d bet at least ninety percent of North Carolinians own guns. There’s not a person who lives in the country who doesn’t own at least one. A rifle comes in handy for hunting and chasing away unwelcome visitors.”
“If he is involved with the harassment, how did he hook up with the Engleharts?” Kevin asked. “According to the prison authorities the Engleharts reached out to Roxbury—not the other way around.”
“How would they know to reach out to him? There’s got to be a connection,” Colt said. “My gut tells me Roxbury is involved. Troy? You up to some stake-outs?”
The question cut through the pleasant haze the alcohol and warm food had provided. “Stake-outs?” River cocked her head toward Colt, but her movement was restricted. Kevin’s arm rested on her shoulder, holding her in place. When had that happened?
“Are you serious? I’m no investigator, but it doesn’t sound like you have much more than a hunch about the guy. Is that reason enough to sit out in the cold?”
“You’re back in town. If Roxbury is connected, he’s going to know. If he’s connected, he’s going to react to the news. Is that your thinking?” Kevin asked his friends.
“Exactly.” Troy took a sip of his beer. “If he found out about the visit to the Engleharts, he may be getting nervous. We need to find out if any of the Engleharts made calls after your visit.”
“That’s a lot of ifs,” River commented. “You’re not positive if Roxbury or the Engleharts are involved in this shit.”
“If not them, then who?” Colt asked.
River’s head dropped back against Kevin’s arm. “I don’t know.” She left her head resting against Kevin’s muscular forearm and closed her eyes. Her head hurt. Whether it was from the potent drink or the long, stressful day, she didn’t know or care. She wanted to go home.
“How the hell did Roxbury connect with the Engleharts?” Kevin asked. “No way we can get his phone records, I assume?” he asked, glancing from Troy to Colt.
“Not going to legally happen with what little we have,” Colt confirmed. “And we don’t have anyone who can do a bit of surreptitious snooping this time.”
River raised her head and let out a long breath. “Why don’t I go see Roxbury?”
“The hell you will,” Kevin blurted out.
She straightened her back at the comment and shuffled in her seat, putting a little distance between them. Sadly, it was only a few inches, but she was making a point. “Don’t start telling me what I can and can’t do,” she said. Silence. Apparently, Kevin was smart enough to hold his tongue.
“You believe I got a reaction out of Englehart which was helpful,” she said to Troy. “Why can’t we use the same tactic on Roxbury?”
“The situation is a bit different,” Colt began. “As badly as he put it, Kevin’s insinuation is correct. This time there wouldn’t be any plexiglass protecting you.”
“One of you would be there,” she said. She sure as hell didn’t plan on meeting the guy on her own.
“Of course,” Colt told her, “but assuming he knows you’re here, he’ll be expecting you. His reaction could be practiced. A visit might tell us something, but it’s nothing worth putting you in danger.”
“But what if he doesn’t know I’m here? His reaction would be genuine.”
“If he doesn’t know you’re here, then my bet is he isn’t involved.”
River rubbed her forehead between her thumb and forefinger. “And, therefore, he wouldn’t have any reaction to seeing me. Wouldn’t that, in itself, tell you something?”
“It’s possible,” Troy answered her question.
“She’s been put through enough without adding another face-to-face meeting with her possible stalker,” Kevin argued.
“I agree,” Colt said. “Give us some time, River. Rick is trying to persuade the warden to review the Engleharts’ mail and call logs to see if there are any red flags. I think Rick has him convinced that you might be in danger due to the Engleharts’ association with Roxbury. If he agrees, we may learn a lot more about the connection between the reverend and the Engleharts.”
“Plus, Josie’s still digging, and something may turn up while Colt and I are on recon,” Troy added. “We’ll give your idea consideration if we don’t get anywhere. I don’t think we need to shove you out there just yet.”
“I don’t like sitting around.”
“Go figure,” Kevin muttered.
She caught the comment as he moved closer to her once again. She reached for what was left of her drink, but Kevin nudged it away. She glared at him. “I also don’t like being told what I can and can’t do.”
“Another news flash,” Kevin said. This time not hiding his sarcasm. “Are you always a mean drunk?”
She was ready to tear into him when Colt and Troy slid out of the booth.
“We’ll catch up with you guys tomorrow,” Troy said, making a quick retreat.
River was torn between being polite and pissed. She opted to remain silent until the two men had left.
“What the hell is your problem?” she asked Kevin.
“I don’t have one. C’mon. Let’s get you to bed. You’ve had enough for one day.”
She stumbled as she got out of the booth. The action had her grabbing at Kevin for support, but when he caught her, her immediate instinct was to push him away. He was getting way too bossy, but his arm steadied her on the uneven surface, so she swore at him silently instead as they made their way toward the door.
As soon as they stepped outside, she forgot she was mad at him. Instead, she was glad for his warmth. She was shivering when Kevin lifted her into a massive pick-up truck and buckled her in.
Kevin followed the GPS route to River’s cabin. Fortunately, it was in memory since the guys had, apparently, done the same. While her cabin was a straight shot through the woods, the road bypassing the national preserve took them away from her home before turning back toward it. River wasn’t available to give directions. She’d fallen asleep—or passed out—the minute the heat in the cab cranked in. He suspected it was a bit of both. The double shot of bourbon would hit a small-framed woman hard. Add in the stress of seeing Zeke Englehart, and her body had reached its limits for today. Her breathing was steady, and her color was good, so he wasn’t particularly worried. She’d simply hit the metaphorical wall.
From what Troy had told him, she’d put Englehart in his place. Better yet, she’d instilled some fear in the bastard—but not near as much as he deserved. Kevin couldn’t imagine how tortuous the meeting had been for her, but she’d not only handled herself well today, but given back better than she got. His chest puffed out a bit in pride.
He shouldn’t be getting this close, but while he’d waited for River and Troy to emerge from the prison, he admitted it was already too late. Whatever happened between them happened. They’d have to deal with it. He wasn’t turning away from his emotions any longer.
The sun had already set when he pulled up to the cabin. Kevin glanced at River. She was out cold. Her head rested in the space between the seat rest and window. Her hands lay limply in her lap. He opted to leave her rest while he made a quick check of their surroundings and the house.
Retrieving his weapon from the center console, he left the engine running and the heat on. After hitting the lock button on the key fob, he trotted around the side of the home. There was no reason to suspect they had a visitor—and no reason to be assured they didn’t have one.
He circled the cabin, checking the doors and windows. All remained closed and latched. The flashlight on his phone wasn’t that strong and limited his distance vision, but he saw nothing to set off his radar as he skirted the perimeter.
Making his way back to the front of the cabin, he unlocked the door. He entered the code he’d been given for the security system. River hated the electronic warning system. She’d told him it stole something from the serenity of the place.
The cabin had a limited number of rooms, but they were spacious enough for the family of four who spent their summers here. He did wonder how they managed with two kids and one bathroom. It must have made for some interesting mornings. An open kitchen and dining area were to his right. He didn’t want to leave River alone much longer. He made a quick search of the bedrooms, one of which obviously served as her workroom while she was here. There was no place to hide in the bath.
Kevin trotted back to the vehicle. River was still asleep, her head lolling slightly to the side. She was going to have a crick in her neck in the morning. She didn’t stir when he opened the passenger side door. Unclipping her seat belt, he lifted her into his arms. She squirmed a little, but those ice blue eyes never opened. Instead, she snuggled closer. His heart warmed.
Shoving the cabin door closed with his foot, he carried River into the bedroom. He’d lock up after he got her settled.
Tossing back the covers, he laid River on the queen size bed. He should get her out of her clothing. She’d be more comfortable in her night clothes, or better yet, nothing at all—which was a selfish thought. His mind was already wandering, imagining tracing the series of goosebumps on her normally smooth and silky skin. He turned away and began quietly searching her chest of drawers. He found a pair of cotton pajama bottoms and a well-worn, large t-shirt.
He took his time, savoring the act of undressing her. He promised to repeat the action when she was an active participant. He managed to get her into the loose-fitting clothing. He stopped at one point, concerned that nothing seemed to disturb her, but her vitals were good. As he suspected earlier, either the liquor or exhaustion, or a combination of both, had taken their toll on her today. Pulling the covers over her, he left the room. He’d wanted to climb in bed with her, but he had a few things to take care of before he settled in for the night.
He found a large flashlight under the kitchen sink. Locking the door behind him, he made a thorough recon of the area. Colt and Troy would have checked the grounds this morning, but that was no guarantee the property hadn’t been visited in the meantime. Other than a few critters scurrying about, he saw nothing that got his guard up.
Even at night, it was easy to understand the appeal this place had for River. There was solitude in addition to the sounds and fragrances of nature. The earthy smell of decaying leaves mixed with the rich soil that created nutrients for the plants. He caught the slight whiff of some early blooming flowers. While many would claim this place devoid of any noise, Kevin could hear night creatures scurrying through the woods along with the rustling of coniferous branches as the cold breezed brushed them against one another. There was the trickle of water nearby. Similar to being at the beach as the waves rolled gently onshore, it gave him a sense of peace.
When he returned to the cabin, he set the alarm and nudged up the thermostat a notch before returning to the bedroom. Stripping down to his boxers, he draped his clothes over the footboard, then crawled into the bed beside her. Pulling her close, he fell into a light sleep.
31
Taking a sip of the hot coffee Kevin had brewed, River rested her forearms against the log railing which surrounded the front porch of her cabin. Anger, sadness, and fear wrestled within her. She battled each one into submission. She wouldn’t allow her stalker the satisfaction of rattling her. Her heart had ached when she’d left this place. It would shatter if she sold it.
This had been her home in spite of the fact that she should have died here—would have, if she’d hadn’t been a disobeying, obstinate adolescent all those years ago. She pushed the deathly images aside once again.
River scanned the woodlands surrounding the cabin, listening to the mountain breeze as it tickled the leaves of the towering evergreens. Water, no longer frozen solid, bubbled over river stones in a nearby stream, hidden by mountainous terrain. Birdsong would soon be filling the air.
It wouldn’t be much longer before the flowers at the base of the birdbath would push their way through the damp earth, reaching for the light. Their fragrance and colors would attract butterflies and other nectar seeking insects throughout the summer. The garden and birdbath were located where the detached garage once stood. Years earlier, in anger and pain, she’d torn the building down—slat-by-wooden-slat. Her hands were bloodied, but the act had been cleansing. Later, when she’d dug up the soil and planted the flowering perennials, she’d cried buckets, but the ground that had once been saturated with death, now welcomed life. Despite all that had happened, she couldn’t picture anyone else living here—or God forbid, level the place.
In spite of her isolation, she was aware many of the locals saw the memorial as a sad reminder of what had happened. To River, it was a homage to her family. Their deaths did not erase them from this earth. They were still here, pushing her forward.
She tugged her sweater tighter against the chill. Spring came grudgingly to these mountains. It would have been hard to imagine a year ago, but the warm Florida sunshine had its draw, especially this time of year.
She expected Kevin to come storming out any minute. She gotten dressed, grabbed a cup of coffee and stepped outside while he was in the shower. She didn’t expect he’d be in the bathroom long. His protective instinct wouldn’t allow it, which was both annoying and endearing. Taking care of herself was something she’d been damn proud of until recent events. Now someone cared about her—someone she shouldn’t care about in return. He’d be leaving soon. God knew, she didn’t need the heartache any more than he did.
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself,” Kevin scolded her a few seconds later when he stepped out onto the porch. Surprisingly, steam wasn’t streaming from his ears, but those dark, worried eyes bore into hers. Lordy, he wa
s magnificent.
“I needed a little time alone out here,” she found herself responding. Her heart stopped fluttering and the ache returned. She and Dan had exchanged the exact same words the day she’d left for Sanibel.
“You okay?” Kevin asked, those eyes narrowing.
Sucking in a breath, she exhaled slowly. Dan would lecture her if he were here. He’d constantly reminded her to honor the dead—not dwell on their deaths, but had she honored them, or had she come up short in that area? How would she honor Dan? What would he want her to do?
“I’m going to take a shower,” she said, stepping around him. He laid his hand on her shoulder.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
River raised her hands to cover her face. When had she become so insensitive of others? Her silence and disregard for his obvious concern was selfish.
“I’m fine,” she said, letting her hands fall. “I was piling one thought on top of another. I’ll sort it out.”
“Sometimes voicing your concerns or worries helps. I’m a good listener.” Kevin opened the door, guiding her inside.
She raised herself to her toes, kissing him on the cheek before laying her head on his chest. He pulled her closer.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” he asked again. “I appreciate the show of affection, but you have me a bit concerned.”
“Which is why I love you.” The words were out of her mouth before her brain had engaged. Oh, shit. Maybe he didn’t hear her. Maybe she imagined she’d said it. Her emotions were twisted up in knots this morning. He didn’t release her but continued to hold her firmly against his chest. In the silence she heard the beat of his heart as it ratcheted up. Crap. She hadn’t imagined it and he’d definitely heard her.
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