Identity (23 page)

Shay smiled. “Come up here and hold me, you crazy gardener.”

Liza moved to turn them into a spooning position.

“Wait!” Shay cried. “Don’t disturb Peaches.”

Liza laughed and shook her head from side to side. This was going to be interesting.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

“Isn’t she just the prettiest thing?” Shay stated the next morning. Peaches was daintily eating from one of Shay’s china soup bowls. “We’ve got to go shopping and get her some things of her own.”

They sat at the kitchen table, early morning sunlight bathing the kitchen in a mellow mushroom of color. Peaches ate near Shay’s feet and both women had their attention focused on the new addition.

“A little...different, maybe, but pretty? I dunno…” Liza sipped her coffee and pressed the warm cup to her cheek. They’d had a surprisingly uninterrupted night, but Peaches was starting to fidget. She had finished her food and was eyeing the two women expectantly.

“I guess we’d better take her out,” Shay said, standing and slipping her feet back into her slippers and retying the belt of her robe. She attached the lead to the dog’s collar. “Let’s take her down below so we can check out the area for the kennels.”

Liza agreed and, carrying her coffee, followed Peaches and Shay out through the mudroom door. Both women looked toward Rosaries’ house, toward the high veranda, but she wasn’t out there. No doubt sleeping late, needing to rest from the hectic activity of the past two days. Peaches’ tail wagged her svelte body with renewed glee when she finished relieving herself and came back close to Shay’s side.

“So I thought I’d orient the buildings this way,” Shay said, using her arms to manifest her vision for Liza. She went on to describe the novel way she wanted it constructed, even adding the possibility of focusing on the lemon yellow color she had envisioned earlier.

“I want the outside runs to have vinyl floors because they’re healthier, but I think I still want concrete underneath so there’ll be less shifting and fewer bugs.”

Liza nodded. “How many kennels would you build?”

Shay paused thoughtfully, an index finger pressed to her lips. “Well, since it’s mostly a dog
sitting
service, I don’t want to just shove the babies off into kennels. I want to interact with them, you know?” She turned to Liza, seeking understanding. “I want to have dog-friendly common rooms, like a house, with doors and rooms but with lots of room to exercise.”

“You could build it like a long barn,” Liza said excitedly. “Like horse stalls with lots of common rooms. Maybe even get away from chain-link fencing.”

Shay smiled and smoothed Peaches’ coat. “Right! And we could have the whole building enclosed so there would be a long play and run area in between the stalls. That way all the dogs could visit even if they are separated by wooden fencing.”

“I don’t know,” Liza said doubtfully. “What about fighting? The shelter keeps walls between their kennels.”

Peaches left their side, moving toward the woods. She looked back toward the house.

Shay nodded, her mouth firm. “Dogs are territorial, true. But they can be taught to accept certain other dogs on their turf. We had to train for that in the dog competitions because they’re often crowded into the same room. It’s pretty standard. There are usually some that just can’t relax, though, even with training, and those we would have to separate off into their own rooms.”

They fell silent, listening to mockingbirds calling to one another. A squirrel, or perhaps a chipmunk, scurried through the leafy undergrowth nearby. Peaches’ ears perked and she turned toward it, chuffing a warning.

“I like the idea of caring for the dogs in a group. I’ll have to make sure they are all up to date on their shots and just watch out for belligerent behavior,” she added. She chewed a thumbnail as she surveyed the lay of the backyard.

Liza watched Shay, admiration and gentle love shining in her dark eyes.

“I think that would be perfect,” she said softly. “And when it’s all built, you could put an ad in the local fish wrap, and we could get Arlie to make you a nice wooden sign to put at the end of the drive. She’s so good with that kind of stuff.”

They discussed what materials Shay would use, leaning toward treated pine with an animal safe stain.

“You can get Al Jonas, from over at the sawmill, to help design and build it,” Liza offered. “He’s reasonable and might cut you a deal because he’s a real animal lover.”

Shay brightened considerably, dispelling her thoughtful mood. “That would be so great! I love what he did with the shelter. Do you think he would take the time to do it?”

“Why not? I’m sure of it,” Liza replied. “Isn’t it great to have something new to work on?”

“It really is,” Shay agreed. “And it’s exactly what I need now that I’m trying to let go of all this Pepper crap.”

Liza laughed, causing Peaches to come closer, tail wagging, to see what all the fun was about. “Pepper crap? What a picture that evokes!”

Shay blushed and, seeing it, Liza laid an arm across her shoulders, pulling her closer. “Seriously, I am so glad to see you getting your life back. It’s the greatest thing of all.”

They kissed gently, then, hand in hand, spent a good while walking around the yard and enjoying the cool Alabama morning. Later, refreshed, still eagerly discussing the new project, they walked back into the house through the mudroom.

“I need to go,” Liza said, placing her coffee cup in the kitchen sink. “I need to go home and put on the fancy duds so I can attend the annual board meeting at Meadows.”

“Oh no.” Shay was disappointed. “Is that today?”

Liza sighed. “Yep, and I dread it. I just like the gardening end of the company, not the business part. I am going to pitch the Meadows South idea today, though, so that’s something.”

“Have you talked to anyone about it?”

“I called the number cruncher after I got the idea from you, and he was all over it, loving the idea. He saw a lot of growth potential.”

Shay smiled shyly and looked at Liza from beneath lowered lashes. “We’re a pretty good team, aren’t we?”

Liza pulled Shay close, cupping the back of her head into one firm hand. “Yes, we are, without a doubt,” she said. She kissed Shay with gentle longing, then hurried to dress.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

After waving goodbye to Liza and checking the locks, Shay made her way to the bedroom, realizing suddenly that Peaches wasn’t by her side. Figuring she was dozing in a patch of sunlight somewhere, she went into the bedroom and gathered her clothes together preparatory to taking a shower. After just a few moments however, she missed the boxer’s company and went looking for her.

She found her in the guest bedroom, sprawled next to the closet door, her nose pressed to the crack along the bottom. When Shay entered, Peaches whined and sat back on her haunches, looking at her expectantly.

“You just went out, sweetie and, besides, that’s a closet. Can you wait just a little longer? I’m only half dressed now.” She motioned for Peaches to follow her and the dog did, all the way into the bathroom.

After a quick shower, Shay stepped from the stall and playfully splashed water on the dog. Peaches licked water from Shay’s legs as she wrapped her hair in a fluffy towel and her body in her favorite thick terry robe. Peaches moved to wait patiently beside the door to the bedroom.

“You are such a good girl,” Shay crooned as she rinsed her mouth and dabbed her face with sunblock. “Waiting for Mommy, so patiently. Let’s go in the other room and after I’m dressed, we’ll pop outside for another walk.”

Peaches stood and shook her body as Shay opened the door. Shay stepped through and stopped abruptly when Peaches growled. A short, plump woman stood in the bedroom.

“Who are you?” Shay said, her voice trembling.

“Yeah, I know. I look a sight, don’t I?” the woman said and Shay’s heart plummeted in her chest until she couldn’t catch a breath. She’d know that clipped British voice anywhere. Pepper.

“I’m gonna fix it though,” the woman continued, indicating the plastic grocery bag held in her hand.

Shay was paralyzed and could not respond. Thoughts inundated her, however. The eyes watching her with such amusement were brown, not blue. The hair was long, unkempt, and graying in the front. The woman was also heavier than Pepper, by about forty pounds. How could Pepper’s voice be coming from this woman’s mouth?

Shay tried to speak, only to discover her mouth filled with cotton. Trying again, she moistened her tongue and pressed one hand over her rapidly thumping heart. “Who...who are you?”

The woman looked heavenward. “How quickly they forget.”

She moved toward Shay with astonishing speed and grabbed the collar of her robe, pulling her face close. “You bitch,” she snarled. “How dare you presume to forget me, after I rotted in that prison, thanks to you.”

Shay saw it then. It was her, disguised somehow but definitely Pepper.

“Pepper,” Shay stammered. “How...how did you find me?”

Pepper released her, as if satisfied that Shay’s memory had returned.

“That prissy shrink,” she replied, looking around the bedroom possessively.

“You killed her, didn’t you?” Shay’s mind felt numb. One thought did penetrate, however, and that was relief that Pepper no longer had the sensual hold on her that she’d had in the past.

“Her fault. If she’d left me alone...” She shrugged and placed the bag on Shay’s bureau.

“But...how did you get in here?”

“I knew you’d have to take the damned mutt out at some point. I just waited until the door was unlocked.” She smiled a strange gap-toothed smile that was foreign to Shay. “You and that Amazon were down the hill and never even saw me.”

“But...” Shay tried to wrap her mind around this. After all her precautions, it had been that easy.

“Okay, enough of this foolishness. You still belong to me and don’t you forget it.”

With lightning speed, one thick arm wrapped around Shay’s neck, knocking the towel askew. Pepper ripped the towel off, dropped it to the floor, and then mussed Shay’s long, wet tresses, entangling her hand in them.

Shay cried out but was powerless to prevent Pepper from dragging her to the bed. Pepper pushed Shay down and jumped to sit on top of her. Taking her time, avoiding Shay’s battling limbs, Pepper deftly looped and tied scarves around each of her wrists, then fastened them securely to the bedposts. She moved off and stood back as if admiring her handiwork. She had not bothered to tie the feet and Shay bucked, kicking, eyes wide in terror, a strange huffing gurgle coming from her throat.

Peaches, who had been watching them and wagging her tail playfully, suddenly became antsy, sidestepping and whining quietly. She licked her chops and looked from one woman to the other.

“Now, you stay there a minute,” Pepper said absently. She moved toward the bathroom, lifting the bag from the bureau. “I’ve got some great plans for us. I kind of like it here and this house is perfect. Good choice.”

Shay could hear water running in the sink. Though still numb with shock, she realized she needed to escape
now,
so she writhed against the scarves, trying to loosen the knots Pepper had tied.

“What made you pick this town?” Pepper continued conversationally. “I heard what y’all were talking about. We could do well, being in business here. One thing I learned at that damned shelter. People in the South love their bloody canines. They’d pay big to have somebody babysit them.”

Shay could hear strange sounds that she couldn’t identify. Peaches came to the bed and laid her muzzle on the mattress, looking at Shay with confused brown eyes. Shay looked back, sorrow filling her as she thought of what Pepper might do to her new friend.

“I’m so, so sorry,” she whispered to the dog, tears cascading from the corners of her eyes and down along her cheeks.

“What’s that?” Pepper stuck her head around the door and peered at Shay. She had cropped half her hair close to her head while the other half still hung long. She looked comical, if only Shay could have found levity in this moment. Pepper disappeared again, but her voice floated out to the bedroom.

“Since we like it here, maybe we could start training dogs again too. I see you got the new mutt. The minute I laid eyes on her, I knew you’d go apeshit over her. I was the one who put her in Carol’s office that day. I wanted to make sure you saw her.”

Shay stilled suddenly. How long had Pepper been here? “I...I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”

Pepper laughed. “Oh yeah, I been watching and waiting. You know I’m the soul of patience, as you like to say.”

“But...but,” Shay began, staring at the bathroom door. “How could you? I was there.”

Pepper’s voice became angry and Shay quaked inside. “Get a grip, Virginia Faith! No one notices people working in the background. I learned that real quick in prison after getting beaten up a few times and having my teeth knocked out. Stay in the background and wait til the time is right. Good lesson.”

Pepper appeared suddenly and Shay gasped. The transformation was remarkable. The brown eyes, obviously contacts, were gone, the bright blue had returned and the hair, as short as Shay remembered it, no longer shone bright blond but the gray lent a similar lightness to it. It
was
Pepper. She was heavier and missing a few teeth, with a new, jagged scar above her left eyebrow, but it was unmistakably her.

“I hate you!” Shay blurted without thinking. “You’re a monster! I hate what you did and I hate who you are. Why can’t you just go away and leave me alone?”

Pepper stared at her a long moment, eyes turning steely. With a growl, she pounced on Shay and curled her hand around the front of Shay’s neck. She squeezed, choking the smaller woman.

“You...are...
such
...a...
bitch
,” she ground out. “I come all the way down here just because I still,
still
fucking love you, and you have the nerve to talk to me like that.”

Peaches growled low in her throat, and Shay felt new alarm stir.
Oh, God, please be quiet, sweet baby, oh, Jesus, please don’t make her notice you,
Shay’s mind shrieked.