A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (24 page)

Remembering Chase professing his love to her, she smiles.
Wishing she had a girl friend to share news with, she quickly thinks
of Marty.
Maybe she needs to call her, see if they can have lunch.
She needs to find out how she is doing since Nick took her home.
Making a mental note to call Marty, she turns her thoughts back to
Chase.

Chase, just thinking about him makes her giddy as a girl on
her first date.
She thinks about him all the time and enjoys
spending time with him.
They talk for hours, about all topics.
They debate issues while respecting each other’s opinions.
Closing
her eyes, she recalls their love making; Chase makes her feel as if
she is the only woman in the world for him.
The expression of his
love is in each touch, each look, and each kiss they share.

Hearing the phone ring, Stephanie cuts her thoughts off;
turning from the window she sprints to the kitchen to answer it.
Before she can say hello she hears a male voice on the other end.
“You are dead bitch, you and your boyfriend the asshole Sheriff.”

Unable to move or speak Stephanie flinches when the other
phone is slammed down ending the call.
After a few minutes she
hears the dial tone, slowly she hangs up the receiver.
Standing in
the kitchen Stephanie feels a chill, as a shiver runs down her spine
she remember a saying her Mother use to say, “A shiver of cold,
means someone has walked on your grave.”
Not sure she
understands what her Mother had meant, but she knows this
explained how she feels at this very moment.

Shaken Stephanie staggers to the table, pulling a chair out
she sits down.
Wishing Chase was here she stares at the pictures
of her brother Mitch.
Tears form and trickle down her checks; she
knows the man on the phone is the same person who killed Mitch.
The same man who just threatened to kill her and Chase had already
committed one murder, had already tried to kill her once, and was
going to try again.
Admitting she is terrified, Stephanie covers her
face with her hands allowing the tears to flow.

The men enter through the back door, as they walk through
to the kitchen Chase runs to Stephanie, “Honey, what’s wrong?
Are you hurt?”
Worry fills his voice, as he kneels in front of her.

Removing her hands from her faced Stephanie turns tears
filled eyes to Chase, “I…I…he called here.
The awful man called
here.”
Tears streaming down her face she throws her arms around
Chase and burrows her face into his neck.

Looking over at the men, Chase rubs Stephanie back, telling
her she is fine.
Gripping her shoulders he pushes her back away
from him so he can look into her eyes.
Hating the fear he sees
there, he tries to keep his voice calm and soothing, “Honey, who
called here?”
Not taking his eyes off Stephanie he senses the men
move to the table sitting down, waiting.

Wiping her eyes with her hands, Stephanie sniffs.
“The
phone rang and I answered it.
A man said he was going to kill you
and me.”
Shivering, she feels tears forming again.

Pulling Stephanie back into his arms, Chase rubs her hair as
he makes calming cooing sounds.
Raising his eyes to Andy, Chase
allows him to see his anguish.

Rising from the chair, Andy walks to the phone, pressing the
ID button, he tells Chase, “The last call is ‘unknown’.”
He hits the
recall button, listening for a few seconds he hangs up the receiver.
Shaking his head he says, “Call back is blocked.”
Hitting the
counter with his fist he exclaims, “Nothing, we have nothing.”

Andy begins to pace while Chase continues to soothe
Stephanie. Thinking of the threats, Andy characterizes the man as
crazy and crazy is dangerous. Why did he call here? Did he know
Chase and he were outside and Stephanie would be the one to
answer?
Walking to Stephanie he stands behind Chase, he
understands Chase’s priority is Stephanie. Nevertheless, he needs
to question her, hating to put her through this but knows it is
necessary.
Clearing his throat he takes on his persona of Detective
Rogers, “Stephanie, I realize this is difficult for you, but I need to ask
you a few questions.”

Chase moves Stephanie back a little; having her lean back in
her chair, as he moves behind her he places his hands on her
shoulders.
Appreciation reflects in his eyes as he glances at Andy.
Chase massages Stephanie’s shoulders, he feels her tense as she sits
up straight and turns to look at Andy.

Andy looks into her redden eyes seeing tears still developing,
he also see determination and strength.
Both qualities he would
wager she didn’t fathom came from her; she is assuming Chase is
responsible for her capabilities.
Understanding a witness is a
requirement for a good Detective.
He knows she can do this, he
knows once she talks about it, she will be able to work through it.
Years of experience made him confident with his assessment.

Sitting down across from her, Archie remains silent.
Not
wanting to intrude with the Detective.
Feeling helpless to assist
her, wanting to do as Andy had done and hit something, instead
Archie waits giving an outwardly appearance of calm as Andy begins
to speak.

“Stephanie, I need you to tell me exactly what was said,
word for word.”
Flipping open his notebook Andy pauses briefly,
“Need to know what you said and what the man said.”
Flicking his
eyes quickly to Chase he conveys his sympathy for their
circumstances.

Taking a deep breath than releasing it Stephanie begins, “I
was watching you all walking outside, I starting thinking about
friendships.”
A slight twitch of a smile touches her lips as she
continues, “I heard the phone ring and I came in here to answer it.
I didn’t say anything; as soon as I placed it to my ear he began
talking.”
A chill runs down her spine as she concludes, “He said,
“You are dead Bitch, you and your asshole boyfriend the Sheriff.”
Then he slammed down the phone.
I was still holding the phone
when I heard the dial tone.”
Having the information out in the
open relief floods her system; wiping tears from her eyes she turns
to Chase, a slight smile conveying her thanks.

Chase moves to sit on the chair closes to Stephanie.
He
takes her hand in his; giving it a slight squeeze then releases it.
Shifting his eyes from Stephanie he looks at Andy, “You realize he
called knowing Stephanie was in the house alone.
He knew we
were outside and he would be speaking to her.”
Fury at the
bastard for causing her fright he declares, “I will kill him before he
ever gets close to her.”

Having been quietly listening Archie asks, “If he knew she
was alone in here, why call?
Why didn’t he try to get to her
tonight?”
Stephanie’s sharp gasp has him feeling guilty for voicing
the questions.

Andy addresses Archie, “He accomplished his goal, tonight
was about letting us know he is watching all of us. The threat to
Stephanie is just that, a threat.
He knows she is protected.
He
also knows we are not going to leave her alone long enough for him
to get to her.” Emphasizing for Stephanie, “The bastard thinks if
we are concerned for Stephanie we will overlook evidence, make
mistakes.
Giving him more time to do whatever it is he is doing.”
Rising his eyes to Chase he notices Chase has also come to the same
theory.

Nervous energy has Stephanie rising from her chair; she
moves to the coffee pot and begins to get it ready to brew, sensing
it’s going to be awhile before she can sleep, Stephanie decides she
needs coffee.
Once the pot is perking, she turns to the look at the
men, “So what do we do now?”
Determined to not be a victim she
stands with her shoulders straight, ready for battle.

Chase answers, “We do as we were.
Archie is going to
continue to patrol at night.
We will check out the area during the
day and you will stay in the house.”
He says this simply as if he
was discussing a common situation.

Watching Chase Stephanie remembers her earlier thoughts,
she approaches a subject she knows will put a wrench in his plan.
“I think we should have a cook out.”
Seeing the shock on all three
faces staring at her she smiles, “Hear me out, if we are going to
show the bastard we are not cowering in a corner, waiting for his
next move.
Don’t you think he will notice a party?”

Rising one eyebrow, Chase considers her plan.
“I think you
may be right.
He thinks he scored a major victory tonight.”
Moving to stand close to her as she fills three mugs, Chase cautions
her, “Make it a small gathering.
We need to make it look like we
are just having a day to relax, not thumbing our noses at him.”
Taking the tray from her hands he places it on the table.

Andy reaches for a mug, adding cream and sugar as he stirs
the liquid he asks, “So how many people is a relaxing gathering?
Not sure I like having a bunch of civilians here, protecting Stephanie
outside is not going to be easy, let alone protecting others.”

Setting a platter of cheese and crackers on the table,
Stephanie sits on the chair.
As she adds cream and sugar to her
own mug she discloses her list, “Not many, I think Chase’s parents,
Marty, Nick and Johnny if they are not working, I would like to meet
Karen.
I don’t know many people here; we could say this is a
house welcoming.”
Smiling at her idea she exclaims, “We can ask
the guest to bring a covered dish.
I always loved pot lucks.”

Andy rips out a piece of paper from his notebook sliding it
over to Stephanie, he hands her his ink pen.
Motioning for her to
write, he dictates, “If we are doing this I want a steak; a big one.”
Laughing at his expression, she writes the word steak on the paper,
and puts stars behind it.

Not sure how he feels about seeing Carrie and CJ again
Archie fades leaving the room.
For this part of the night events he
is not needed.
He reappears in the living room, as he stands and
gazes at Della; he allows thoughts of his forgotten friendship play
thought his mind.

Back in the kitchen, Chase is at the freezer looking at the
supply of meats.
Stephanie writes as he rattles off a list of items
they need to purchase for the cook out.
When he shuts the
freezer door, Stephanie looks down at the paper and in dismay asks,
“So how many people are we inviting?
I didn’t think we were
feeding the whole town.”
Laughing she holds up the list for Andy
to see. Seeing him shrug his shoulders in acceptance she laughs
vigorously.

Leaning against the counter, Chase observes Stephanie; she
is now laughing and enjoying the antics surrounding the party
planning.
For now the frighten phone call forgotten or at the very
least pushed to the back of her mind.
Knowing from experience it
would resurface, he vows to be there when it does. He can’t make
her forget the ordeal, but he can help her keep it in perspective.

Wanting to keep the mood light Chase pushes away from the
counter suggesting, “I think our party should be this Saturday.”
On
his way to the table he grabs the coffee pot, before sitting down he
refills their mugs.
Since the pot is now empty he sets it on the tray
with the cream and sugar.
As both Andy and Stephanie begin
adding the condiments to their mugs he takes his place at the table.

“Is four days enough notice for everyone?”
Stephanie asks
before taking a drink from her mug.
Placing her mug back on the
table she continues, “I really want Marty to come; she may not have
enough time to rearrange her schedule.”
Disappointment slips out
in her voice.

Watching her through half closed eyes, Chase brings his mug
to lips, before he takes a drink he smiles, “I will make sure Marty is
here, even if I have to find her a replacement myself.”
Moving his
eye brows comically he takes a gulp of coffee.
As Stephanie
giggles he sets his mug down.

Andy rises his hand to cover his mouth as he yawns, waiting
until he is sure he can speak he tells them, “I don’t know about you
two, but I am exhausted.
Not sure if it’s late or early, guess it
depends on how you perceive the time, but I am going to go lay
down and catch a few Zzs.”
Rising from the chair he walks towards
the door, without looking back he mutters, “If you need me, wake
me up.” Andy strolls out the door and continues walking upstairs
to his room.

Taking her hand in his, Chase suggests to Stephanie, “How
about we follow Andy’s example and go lay down for a couple of
hours?”
Bringing Stephanie’s hand to his mouth he kisses her
knuckles.
Rising from his chair, still griping her hand Chase tugs
her to her feet.
Releasing Stephanie’s hand, Chase slides his arm
around her waist and guides her beside him, walking to the living
room door, he peeks in, and seeing Archie standing in front of the
portrait, Chase informs him they will be upstairs.
Without waiting
for Archie to answer he pivots them around striding away.

Once in their room, Chase turns Stephanie to face him slowly
he pulls the t-shirt she is wearing over her head, he then slides the
jogging pants down her legs, when the pants pool at her feet she
kicks them out of her way. Chase takes her hand and leads her to
the bed, as she sits down on the edge; he lifts the comforter
allowing her to lie down after he covers her he then moves to his
side of bed.
Removing his clothes he joins her under the covers.
Chase moves across the mattress, stopping when he feels
Stephanie’s body against his, putting his arm around her, he prays
she will be able to fall asleep.
Spooning her Chase closes his eyes
as he listens for her even breathing.

Down stairs Archie begins patrolling the house.
Knowing
the occupants upstairs are drained he makes it his duty to keep
them safe while they sleep.
have been stalled for now.
clears his mind of everything but his task.
Moving from room to
room, window to window, he scans the yard.
Entering the living
room for the fourth time he glances at the clock, calculating in less
than three hours the sun would rise.
Knowing his responsibility
will end until the next nightfall, he stops at the north window again
scanning the yard.
Concentrating on the property line, he
examines the area where he had seen the light earlier, not seeing
anything he drifts to the next window. Finished with the living
room, Archie begins to leave, to begin the process over; as he
passes the fireplace Archie’s gaze is drawn to Della.