Incident At Elder Creek Page 18

  A bear would have clawed at the whole door, wouldn’t it? She didn’t know for sure. The gouges didn’t look evenly spaced enough to have been made by bear claws. They looked more like random chisel marks, made from positioning a tool at different angles. Maybe she should keep the information to herself right now. Maybe she’d say... “I think we should err on the side of caution and call the sheriff.”

  Tucker saw Leah’s eyes widened and she hastened to add, “It might’ve been a bear, but, you know, just in case. And if a bear is roaming around here, the sheriff should be alerted anyway. The neighborhood should be notified.”

  THE SHERIFF’S CAR parked in front of Leah’s house caused a bit of a stir in the neighborhood. Some of the neighbors came out and stood around on the gravel path for a while. One or two of them must have gotten bored when nothing exciting happened and wandered off to The Charlie, perhaps thinking a bottle of beer might be more interesting. It didn’t take long before Jackie knocked on the front door.

  Leah and the sheriff were finishing up with her statement, so Tucker answered.

  Jackie’s face, flushed from her sprint up the hill, looked drawn with worry. “Tucker, what’s going on? Matt Chandler came into the bar a while ago and told us about trouble here at Leah’s.” She scanned the room. “Is she all right?”

  Tucker noticed the remaining bystanders all shifted a little closer to the house, presumably trying to catch a bit of the conversation. She motioned Jackie in and closed the door, saying, “She’s fine. Everything’s fine. I called Sheriff Baker as a precaution.” Tucker looked back over her shoulder through the front window and watched people milling around in the front yard.

  “Damn gossip-mongers,” she muttered.

  “Well, what happened?”

  Tucker filled her in while trying to emphasize the marks may have been made by a bear trying to get to food or water. She knew Jackie wasn’t buying it.

  “What’s the sheriff going to do to the bear, Tucker? Arrest him—or her?”

  “No, but I thought he should know, in case, you know, he—or she—comes back—or harasses someone else in the neighborhood.”

  She glanced out the window again. There were only a couple of people left standing around. “Although I can think of a few nosy people I’d like to sic a bear on about now.”

  Jackie lost control and let out a belly laugh. Leah and the sheriff wound around in their seats at the kitchen table to see what was so amusing. Tucker shrugged at them, and she and Jackie went back to their conversation. Finally, Leah and the sheriff got up from their seats and walked into the living room.

  Tucker noticed the color returned to Leah’s face. She and the sheriff acknowledged Jackie, then he tipped his hat, saying, “Don’t worry Ms. Hudson, we’ll patrol the neighborhood and keep an eye on you. Make sure you keep the doors and windows locked.”

  Tucker said, “I’ll keep an eye on her, too. I’m staying tonight.”

  Leah raised an eyebrow at Tucker.

  In response, Tucker added, looking at the sheriff instead of Leah, “I’ll be sleeping right here.” Tucker motioned toward the couch. She caught Jackie’s smirk out of the corner of her eye and turned to give her a glaring look in return.

  Tucker walked Sheriff Baker to his patrol car.

  “So what do you think, Sheriff?”

  “I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a bear, Ms. Stevens.”

  “I thought so, although I’m sorry to hear it confirmed. A bear would be less scary at this point.”

  “I understand. I’m glad you’ll be staying here tonight. We’ll be driving by, too.” He hesitated before he added, “It’s all the more concerning because of the missing girl over in Portero. I’d hate to see something happen to her.” He dipped his head toward the house. “One night might not be enough for someone else to be in the house with her.”

  Tucker grinned. “I’ll talk to her, Sheriff.” She thought for a minute, then added, “I’m getting mighty tired of staying at the hotel. Maybe it’s time Miss Leah took in a boarder.”

  The sheriff smiled. “Maybe so, Ms. Stevens. Maybe so. But I have a feeling it won’t be easy talking her into it. She’s pretty independent.”

  Tucker’s grin widened. “We’ll see.”

  As Tucker watched Sheriff Baker drive off down the street, she whispered into the night, “We’ll see, indeed.”

  As she walked back toward the house, she glared at two hangers-on from down the street. They glanced down at the dirt walkway, trying to avoid eye contact with her.

  “Go home,” she ordered. “There’s nothing going on here. Go home.”

  They slinked back in the direction of their own houses. As Tucker watched them walk out of earshot, she spat her words at their backs. “Nosy, small-town bastards.” It made her angry to think rumors would be flying all over town by morning. Most of them wouldn’t be true.

  WHEN TUCKER ENTERED the house, she found Leah standing alone, staring out the kitchen window. Careful not to scare her, Tucker called her name softly. “Leah.”

  Leah turned and faced her. She gave her a weak smile. “The first time I walked into this house, it felt so much like home. I’ve loved living here.”

  “I’m glad. I want you to be comfortable.”

  Leah hesitated before she spoke again. When she did, Tucker faced eyes filled with apprehension—and questions. “I hope I still can be.”

  “Leah, look, this has been difficult for you. We can hope this bear or maybe kids making mischief is a one-off, never to happen again. I understand your unease, though, I do. So I have a proposal for you.”

  Leah looked wary, making Tucker hesitate. Maybe it’s not such a good idea after all, Tucker decided. Maybe, but it wasn’t safe to leave Leah alone, at least until they figured out what’s going on.

  If it turned out to be as she suggested, some kids messing around, everything would go back to normal quickly. If it were kids, then the sheriff’s car out front and all the commotion it caused would probably put the fear of the Almighty into them and there wouldn’t be any more trouble. Eventually, they’d both feel more comfortable about Leah living here alone again. Hopefully. Maybe by then, Tucker would buy a small trailer and live up on Tenderfoot Hill until her place could be built, presuming the approval for the sale of the land happened as she hoped.

  “I’m waiting,” Leah said, probing Tucker’s eyes with her own look.

  “Well, now, Leah, let me put it to you this way. I’ve been living at the National for over a month now. It’s starting to get a little old, living in a hotel. So, I thought, maybe, just temporarily you understand, I would come and stay here for a while. Until we’re sure everything’s okay around here. What do you say?”

  Tucker blew out her breath. Making her case proved tougher than she imagined. She didn’t want to impose on Leah. She did, however, want to watch over her, protect her. She struggled with the dilemma. She didn’t want Leah to feel incapable of taking care of herself, either. On the other hand, Leah did call her when she felt threatened. So maybe she wouldn’t flat out say no. Maybe.

  Leah watched Tucker with intense concentration.

  Tucker knew her inner turmoil must have shown on her face. It usually did. Her mother used to say she “wore her heart on her sleeve.” She hated it about herself. She never played poker because of it.

  “Well?” Tucker asked. “What do you think? Help a girl out?” One side of her mouth rose ever so slightly as she tried to project a smile full of charm.

  It worked. Sort of. Leah looked at her, a stern expression painted on her face, and she pointed toward the living room, “Are you saying you’re prepared for an extended stay on the couch? Because you know I’ve converted the second bedroom into an office. Or do you want me to take my stuff out of there and we can bring in a cot?” She poked a thumb over her shoulder, in the general direction of the bedrooms.

  “The couch will be fine. I’ve slept on it lots during my lifetime. And this is a temporary arrangement.”

/>   “Until...”

  “Until everything settles down. Until we know the bear—or whatever appeared at your back door—” She regretted the last part as soon as she said it, especially when Leah’s eyes widened. She began again, hoping to do better the second time. “Until we know the bear isn’t going to come back.”

  “Then what?” Leah asked. “Back to the hotel?”

  “No. I think I told you about Tenderfoot. I’m trying to negotiate some land up there. Maybe by the time we decide everything’s back to normal around here, I will have acquired the parcel up there, and I can get a trailer and stay there while the contractor starts to build. I’m hoping anyway. We’ll see.”

  Leah stood, pursing her lips, staring at Tucker. “What’s so special about that place, anyway?”

  “I don’t know. It’s always meant something to me. It’s beautiful up there, quiet, away from town enough so you feel like you’re out in the country.”

  Leah laughed, “Tucker, we are in the country. This is the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Elder Creek has a population of twenty-three hundred people. This town is pretty countrified if you ask me.”

  “I know, I guess I mean, well, it’s really special up there. Peaceful. And the view’s spectacular. You can see three-hundred and sixty degrees. You can look up at the mountains on one side, and see the lights of Elder Creek at night down below on the other side. And the night sky—it is so amazing. The stars are so bright. There’s nothing like the view up there.”

  When Tucker looked at Leah again, her eyes were dancing.

  “Will you take me up there sometime? To your Shangri-La? I’d love to see it.”

  A wide grin spread across Tucker’s face. “I’d love to, Leah.”

  They stared into one another’s eyes, and Tucker felt her spine tingle like a hundred tiny fingers were massaging her. It felt good to look into those sparkling blue eyes. Tonight, right now, they were deep and dark, almost denim colored. They were—beautiful, breath-taking. As she watched Leah’s face, her lips drew Tucker’s attention. Those soft, sweet lips. Those lips that kissed her. Those lips, she would love to feel on hers again.

  Leah cleared her throat. Tucker shook off the sensation of a swarm of bees buzzing around her head.

  “I’ll get some bed linens for you. Do you have something to sleep in?” Leah blushed a little at her question.

  Tucker said, “I always keep a case in the truck. I’ve done it for years. When I lived in Phoenix, on my own, and I plunged into the midst of writing a story, I’d just take off and go somewhere quiet. Change up the scenery. Sometimes I’d stay overnight, so I took to carrying a change of clothes and some other necessities. I’ll be right back.” She headed for the front door. Before she stepped outside, she said, “Oh, and by the way, this month’s rent is on me. I haven’t deposited your check yet. I’ll give it back to you tomorrow.”

  Leah laughed heartily now. It pleased Tucker to know she caused it.

  WHEN TUCKER RETURNED with her bag, she asked Leah when Jackie left. Leah told her Jackie said she needed to get back to the bar to help close up about the time Tucker walked with the sheriff to his car. “She said to tell you she’d see you tomorrow. Well, us, actually. She invited us to The Charlie to have dinner before the meeting tomorrow night. I’ve got some work to do on those character studies to be ready, though. I’m going to try to get to them during lunch tomorrow.”

  “And while you’re at work, I’ll check out of the hotel and store the rest of my stuff over here.”

  “I should clear out some space in the office so you have a place to put things.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Leah. I don’t have much. I’ve been living pretty simply these past few weeks. I can keep most of my stuff in my truck.”

  “No, Tucker. If you’re going to stay here, I want you to be comfortable. You need at least a little space.” Leah looked down at her hands as she twisted and untwisted her fingers. “I’m grateful for—you know—you wanting to stay. Thank you.”

  Tucker smiled and pulled Leah into an embrace. “Think nothing of it.”

  Leah looked up into her eyes, “Tucker?”

  “Yes, Leah?”

  “Kiss me?”

  Tucker didn’t think about it. She kissed Leah softly. They deepened the kiss and Tucker never wanted to stop. Apparently, Leah didn’t want to either. When Tucker finally mustered enough willpower to pull away, absence, emptiness quickly replaced the fullness of the emotion she felt while kissing Leah. She thought about pulling her into another kiss, not stopping this time, touching in places Leah might not want to be touched. She smiled apologetically for thinking things she shouldn’t.

  Leah gave her a bashful smile. “I’ll go get those bed linens,” she said.

  As Leah walked down the hall, Tucker watched her go, appreciating the view. Good grief, I’ve got to stop this. All I’m doing at this point is torturing myself.

  She chuckled and, from down the hall, Leah poked her head out from the linen closet and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

  “Irony,” Tucker said.

  Leah approached her with a stack of linens in her arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  It means, a couple of weeks ago, you were the aggressor in this relationship. Apparently, the tables have turned. “Nothing,” Tucker replied, “It’s my mind working out a paradox.”

  The couch felt a lot less comfortable than Tucker remembered. Of course, the last time she fell asleep on it she was a college student and probably a lot more fit than she was these days. A sharp pain radiated from her left hip down the side of her leg, but she tried to ignore it. She shifted her position and willed herself back to sleep. The pain subsided after a while. The charcoal dimness of early morning surrounded her. Tucker pulled the blanket up over her exposed ear and drifted back to sleep.

  Chapter Twelve

  TUCKER WALKED DOWN Main Street watching her boots scuff little clouds of dirt as she took each step. She’d have to clean all the dust from her boots before she went out to dinner with Leah tonight. Then, it hit her.

  She stopped mid-stride and looked around. No pavement. It meant only one thing.

  The groaning sound coming from deep in her chest expressed her frustration. Why the hell did she end up back here? She didn’t want to come here anymore—shouldn’t come here anymore. She might be a fugitive. If so, would she be thrown back in jail as soon as someone recognized her? She looked around again, trying to get her bearings.

  Strains of “Oh! Susanna” rode on the air from The St. Charles Saloon down the street behind her. She didn’t dare go in there. She risked her life in an encounter with Dunbar or Notch, or whatever name the guy went by. She glanced down the street trying to decide what to do next.

  Olivia. Maybe she’d be of some help. Then again, maybe not. Who knew? It might be worth a try. She needed to do something. Obviously, coming back here again meant something. Maybe there was some piece of information to glean from the goings on here in the last vestiges of the Old West of her town.

  Tucker’s stomach rumbled, giving her more impetus to march toward Olivia’s. She hoped once she got there, she wouldn’t be apprehended by someone. She looked around the Main Street again. Deserted. She looked up and saw blackness dotted with stars as bright as those visible only up on Tenderfoot Hill in her time.

  Her time. She wished herself back there to no avail. She didn’t care for this time very much anymore. Not since the jail incident. Not since the fire. She shivered and willed her legs to keep going toward Olivia’s. As she approached, she observed the few small oil lamps burning inside and Olivia’s form as she stood working at the stove at the far end of the room. Tucker stepped through the doorway and found the room empty except for Olivia.

  Olivia turned toward the sound of the footsteps behind her, her mouth drawn into a small “o” in surprise when she saw Tucker.

  Tucker smiled at her weakly. “Am I too late to get something to eat?”

 
; Olivia concentrated on the contents of the frying pan as Tucker drew closer and peered over her shoulder. The aroma from the mixture of potatoes, onions and spices wafted under Tucker’s nose, and her stomach growled again.

  “I’m making myself a little something before I go home,” Olivia said. “If you don’t mind the simplicity of it, I’ll share it with you.”

  “I don’t want to take your meal from you.”

  “Don’t concern yourself. There’s plenty. No charge tonight.”

  “I can pay, Olivia.”

  As soon as she said it, Tucker wondered if she could pay. She plunged her hand into her jeans pocket. At the bottom she found the coins she hoped would be there. She smiled at the discovery. “I will pay. No arguments.”

  “Suit yourself,” Olivia said.

  She focused on the cast iron frying pan, scooping the contents onto two plates with a large metal spoon. She carried them over to one of the tables and set them down. Tucker followed her and pulled out Olivia’s chair for her. Olivia gave her a wary look before she sat. Tucker joined her.

  An oil lantern lit the surface of the bare wood of the table, casting its light on the plates of food. They sat facing each other and began eating. Tucker savored her first bite before shoveling in the remainder of the potato concoction. They didn’t speak. Tucker didn’t know what to say. Should she refer to Olivia’s kindness at bringing her a meal while she sat in the Elder Creek excuse for a jail? She decided she’d better wait to see if Olivia brought up the topic first.

  She wanted to ask Olivia if she thought she was in danger of being thrown back in jail if she was discovered. Again, she thought it better not to bring it up. What if it never happened? What if her mind continued to play tricks on her and this was all nothing more than her brain’s twisted fantasy? But didn’t she already realize this whole experience was more than that. It contained truths and she needed to mine them in order to shed light on what she needed to know.