My Deadly Valentine (10 page)

“You will?”

“Elva Sharp called, said you told her you would pick up her stuff for the auction and thought you would need help. Apparently my dad volunteered me when she came to visit him in the hospital a couple of weeks ago. She called this morning to let me know.”

Holly was in charge of collecting the “treasures” to be auctioned off. She groaned. “I’d forgotten all about that.”

“I’ll be by to pick you up after lunch, all right?”

Her smile felt weak. “Right.”

He left and Holly turned to see that her mother had slipped back into a doze. Not bothering to get her to move to her bed, Holly tucked the blanket a little tighter then checked all the doors once more.

Moving to the window where she’d seen the masked man shortly before, she tilted an eye-level blind and looked out at the darkness. Her stomach rolled with remembered fear.

Who had it been? Why was someone so intent on either scaring her or robbing her? Were the incidents at the store and the one here at home related? Or were they just mere coincidence?

Too many questions and not enough answers.

Holly flipped the blind closed and sighed, wondering if she’d get any sleep at all—in spite of the exhaustion dragging through her and the aching throb pounding in her head.

However the night went, sleep or no sleep, she’d leave the floodlights on tonight.

THREE

A
s the sun finally made an appearance to Eli’s left, the morning was as beautiful as all the ones he had remembered growing up. The barn lay straight ahead, rolling hills a backdrop to the red-and-white structure. Picture perfect. He’d missed it more than he ever thought he would.

He reached the barn and climbed down from the saddle to hand the reins over to Buckeye. “Thanks. He’s responding great. I think he’s ready to sell along with the other two.”

The horse snorted as Buckeye patted his neck. “So, you still remember how to break a horse even after all these years?”

“I was breaking horses before I could walk.” Eli smiled at the gray-bearded man who’d worked on the ranch ever since Eli could remember.

Buckeye laughed then cleared his throat. “I know that, boy. I was the one that taught you.” Buckeye turned serious. “Your daddy needs you to take over this farm, Eli.”

Eli studied the man. “I’ll keep it running until Dad’s back on his feet, but after that…”

“Well, whatever you decide, it’s good to have you home.”

Eli sucked in a lungful of the fresh mountain night air. “It’s good to be here.”

“You gonna miss being a big-city detective?”

Would he? Maybe parts of it. Definitely not other parts. He shrugged. “I don’t think so, Buckeye. I had my reasons for taking a leave of absence.” Caring for his father was only one of them.

“Reasons you ain’t sharing, huh?”

Eli shot the old man a look and turned his attention to digging his keys out of his pocket. “Guess I’ll head on into town. I need to pick up a few things I didn’t have time to get last night.” He looked at his watch.

Plus, he wanted to check on Holly. After her crazy evening last night, he hoped she got some rest. She hadn’t called again so he assumed the remainder of her night had been peaceful. He patted the horse’s neck. “Working with Stargazer here took me a lot longer than I’d planned.”

“When’s your dad’s next doctor’s appointment?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“He busted that leg up pretty good.” Eli’s father, Mitch Brodie, was too stubborn to admit he was too old to be competing in the rodeo. Two weeks ago, he’d been bucked off a grumpy bull. It certainly hadn’t been the first time, but it had been one of the most painful. The bull’s hoof had come down hard on Mitch’s femur and broke it before the clowns were able to distract the angry animal. “One day your daddy’s going to admit he’s an old man.”

“He’s only forty-eight years old, Buckeye. That’s looking younger every year to me.”

Buckeye laughed again. “You’re what? Twenty-eight? I remember the day you were born. Don’t tell me what looks young.”

Eli grinned. “Listen for Dad for me until I get back, will you?”

“You bet.”

He left the horse in Buckeye’s efficient care and headed for the house. After a quick shower, he popped his head in the den to find his dad in his wheelchair grumbling over a crossword puzzle. “Hey, I’ll be back soon. Buckeye can help you with anything you need.”

“I don’t need a babysitter, you know.”

“Right.” He grinned and left knowing Buckeye would be along in a few minutes.

Eli climbed into his truck and made his way toward town. Four minutes later, he passed the turnoff to Holly Maddox’s home. His mind went to her as it did every time he drove this way.

Holly. His high school sweetheart. The one girl he’d never forgotten. And he’d certainly tried.

When he’d said goodbye to her six years ago, he hadn’t realized how much it would hurt. But it had been the right thing to do, he’d rationalized. After all, he had a career to think of. At least that’s what he’d told himself. And when Holly had refused to go with him, he’d decided he didn’t need her, that if she had loved him enough…

Eli grimaced. He’d been so full of himself. He’d thought if he broke up with her and moved off, she’d come chasing after him. When she hadn’t, his ego had been badly bruised.

The way he’d treated her had been wrong. But he hoped to set that right sometime soon.

He spun the truck into the parking lot of John’s General Store. A combination gas/grocery/general store, it had been in the same family for over a hundred and fifty years.

And next door was The Candy Caper.

No small red truck in front, but he knew she’d arrive before too long.

He wondered what she’d do if he waited so he could go over to speak—to apologize for being a jerk after high school—and beyond. Would she even be interested in listening?

So far, she’d been pretty mellow but she’d also had a rough day yesterday. She’d been thankful for his presence last night. But now that the danger was past, how would she react if he brought up their relationship as the topic of conversation?

Probably toss him out on his ear. Which he would deserve.

With a sigh, he glanced at his watch. Eight-thirty. Already people meandered down the sidewalk, entering and exiting the line of shops.

On his way into the store, a flash of red caught his eye.

Holly’s truck.

Pulling into the sheriff’s office parking lot.

Holly sat in her truck tapping the steering wheel and debating what she needed to do. The two-story building in front of her boasted oversize wooden doors and tall windows with wide sills.

Bright and early, before she had to meet Eli to pick up the auction items, Holly had decided it was time to talk to Alex Harwood. She’d known for a while now that she needed to do this, however, she’d made excuses to delay the confrontation and that wasn’t fair to Alex. She felt like she might be guilty of leading him on by keeping the gifts. It was time to set him straight.

Movement in her rearview mirror caught her eye. Jumpy and on high alert since last night, she inspected every car that crossed her path, determined to be ready if danger came knocking again.

A black sedan had just pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store. Eli’s truck sat beside the gas pump.

Focusing back on the sedan, she thought she saw cigarette smoke curl from the window.

Who were those guys?

No time to worry about it right now.

She looked at the bag on the seat then back to the door of the sheriff’s office. She grimaced. Confrontation wasn’t high on her list of favorite things to do.

But the longer she kept the gifts, the longer he might hold out hope she’d consider dating him again. That she was just going through a phase and would eventually come around. And she definitely didn’t want that.

After she’d told him she didn’t want to see him anymore, he’d continued to ask her out. She’d turned him down, but hadn’t been as blunt as she should have been.

Two weeks ago, the gifts started arriving and she had to admit, because she was lonely, wanted marriage and children, she’d thought about resuming the relationship. About settling for Mr. Good Enough. But soon realized that she just didn’t have the feelings for Alex that she’d once had for Eli. And if she continued the relationship with Alex she’d be cheating him out of finding the one meant for him. Not to mention cheating herself. And now Eli was back, and her reaction to him last night brought everything into clear focus.

Alex wasn’t the man for her.

Lord, what’s happening to my life? First, Mom’s cancer comes back, I’m being harassed about selling my childhood home and I’m going to have to hurt a nice man. I really need Your help, please?

Holly huffed a sigh and glanced at the clock. She’d been sitting in her truck for a full ten minutes.

Firming her jaw and gathering her courage, she grabbed the bag from the back and climbed out.

The jail might look like a place Barney Fife might work, but she knew the officers inside were all business. She had gone to school with four out of the five. Alex had been elected sheriff in the last election and so far had done a good job from all that she could tell.

She really hated to hurt his feelings, but couldn’t continue letting him believe they might pick up their relationship. She’d been on the receiving end of that kind of hurt and had resolved a long time ago never to do that to someone else.

You’re stalling, Holly. Get in there and give this stuff back to Alex, tell him thank you very much, but no thanks.

She made her way up the steps. Pushing open the door, she stepped inside to inhale the smell of strong coffee and disinfectant.

Alice Colby sat at the receptionist desk working on the computer.

“Hi, Alice.” Holly shifted the small bag to her other hand. “I need to give this to Alex. Is he around?”

“Right back through there at his desk. Working on the burglary at your shop, he said.”

“Thanks, I’ll just walk this back there and give it to him.”

“Go for it, girl.” The woman wiggled her eyebrows. It was no secret Holly and Alex had gone out. The town had them practically married off before the first date had even been finished. Not bothering to set the record straight, Holly walked through the metal detector and headed back to find Alex.

It wasn’t hard.

His desk was at the front of the large room. Four other desks sat along the permanent walls, separated by five-foot-high movable walls. A phone rang to her left; printers whirred. Conversation ceased at her entrance.

All eyes centered on her as she walked over to Alex’s desk.

He looked up and smiled. And she felt nothing even remotely romantic toward him. Why? His eyes? Eli’s warm green ones flashed through her mind and immediate guilt hit her. She wasn’t doing this because of Eli.

Well, not completely.

“Hi, Alex.” She looked around. She hadn’t expected an audience. “Hi, Joel, Harlan, guys.” They nodded their greetings and she looked back at Alex. “Um, is there somewhere we can talk privately?”

At her words, everyone suddenly had something to do. Joel and Harlan grabbed their keys. Joel said, “I’ll be patrolling the north end of town, Harlan’s got the south.”

Alex nodded. “I’ll be out there soon.”

Joel shot a glance at Holly. “Hey, Leigh-Ann wants to know when you’re going to give her a call.”

Leigh-Ann, Holly’s best friend since middle school and Joel’s wife of two years. “Tell her I’ll try to call her today.”

The men disappeared and the other two deputies vanished behind their desks.

The room gave the appearance of being empty, but Holly knew she had other ears there. Keeping her voice low, she said, “Here.”

She dropped the bag on Alex’s desk.

He frowned. “What’s this?”

“Your gifts.”

The frown faded, but she saw his jaw clench. Hurt flashed in his eyes. “What do you want me to do with them?”

She kept her tone even. “They’re very nice gifts and I’m sure the next girl you date is going to be thrilled with the fact that you care enough to go all out for her. But—” she took a deep breath “—we’re just not right for each other, okay?”

He eyed her, storm clouds building in his eyes that suddenly looked more gray than blue, his hurt spilling over into his words. “What is it with you, Holly? I’m not good enough for you? Because you knew me before we went out. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t known each other for years.”

She closed her eyes briefly. “It has nothing to do with being good enough or not good enough, Alex. It has to do with having things in common. I was very flattered when you asked me out and you’ll be a great guy for some girl, just not me, okay?”

That said, she turned and did her best to walk calmly from the place instead of bolting into a run—which is what she wanted to do.

“Bye, Alice.”

The woman’s goodbye echoed behind her as she shoved open the heavy wooden door and stepped outside into the freezing cold. Shivering, she pulled her coat tighter around her neck and gripped her keys in a gloved hand.

A hand on her arm jerked her around and she nearly stumbled. “What?” The word squeaked out.

Dark eyes glared down at her.

Eli topped off the gas tank then replaced the nozzle in its handle. Pulling out a twenty, he handed it to the man behind the glass.

“How ya doing, Eli?”

“Doing all right, Mr. Pearson. How about yourself?”

“Could complain, but I won’t.”

The grizzled man laughed at his own words and Eli smiled. Nothing ever changed much in this town. A fact he found himself more and more grateful for each day.

He shook his head. A year ago, if someone had told him he’d be standing in this very spot, or living on his father’s ranch, he’d have laughed himself silly.

“Let go of me!”

His head shot up and he spun on his heel to see Holly arguing with a man in front of the police station.

Eli’s temperature shot up as he watched the stranger manhandle her. “Hey!”

His shout went unheard as Holly continued her struggle to get away from the hand that held her upper arm. Her foot kicked out and caught a shin. Eli heard the man swear then Holly was free and running for her car.

Eli raced after her. “Holly!” She either didn’t hear him or ignored his shout as she jumped into her car and squealed away from the sheriff’s office.

The man looked up and pinned Eli with a malevolent glare that made his skin crawl. But he’d dealt with scum like this before.

Eli came up beside him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“It’s business and none of yours. Back off, Brodie, or you might find yourself in a heap of trouble.”

Eli narrowed his eyes. “Who are you and how do you know my name?”

A finger in his chest pushed him back and made him reach for the weapon he hadn’t put on this morning. Dropping his hand, he held on to his temper.

“Keep your nose where it belongs. Put it in my business again and you’ll be behind bars.”

Seething, Eli grasped every ounce of self-control he could find and kept his hands—and words—to himself. But he’d be doing a little digging. Like finding out this guy’s name and anything else that might be important.

It didn’t take a genius to realize that Holly might need to be a little more concerned about the strange things happening to her.

Silently he promised to keep tabs on the strangers in town and a protective eye on Holly. Watching the stranger leave, Eli loped back to his car, climbed in and went to find Holly.