A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (5 page)

Standing up straight, Chase responds, “Now Mr. Wilson, I
think I have outgrown the ‘young Chase’ remark.
After all I am
now the Sheriff of this county.”
Seeing the smirk on Mr. Wilson’s
face, Chase knows he will always be ‘young Chase’ this is not going
to stop anytime soon, they have the same conversation every time
they run into each other.
Pulling Stephanie to stand in front of
him, Chase introduces her to Mr. Wilson.
Once the pleasantries
are over; Stephanie steps closer to the counter handing her
insurance card and prescriptions to Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson may be seventy-six years old, but he didn’t miss
much and he sure didn’t miss young Chase being possessive of Miss
Tuney.
He can’t wait to get home so he can share this news with
his lovely wife Elizabeth.
After he relates his part, she will continue
with the gossip mill.
This is the best gossip this town has had since
the rumors of Della falling in love with a Union Ghost.

Clearing his throat, Mr. Wilson informs them it will be about
an hour then suggests they go have a meal at the diner.
Glancing
at Chase he winks before he turns to start the process of filling
Stephanie’s prescriptions.
Eyes twinkling, Mr. Wilson decides
today may be a day to close early.
Hearing the tingle of the bell
over the door, knowing the young couple has left his store, he
continueswithhisprocess,grinninglikeafool.

Walking beside Chase along the sidewalk, Stephanie feels
the tranquility of the town.
Small towns, how many had her
Mother dragged Mitch and her too?
This one was the same as the
other small town she had been to, she bet her last dollar, Mr.
Wilson would be telling anyone that would listen all about her and
Chase coming to town together.
Just them walking together on
the sidewalk will be the dinner, oops sorry, the supper
conversations around town.
Smiling she decides she doesn’t mind
being linked to Sheriff Chase; however, today he is actually just
Chase since he is wearing casual clothes. He has on jeans, a dark
blue t-shirt and the pair of well-worn brown suede cowboy boots.
He looks like a sexy rancher.
Without meaning to sound conceited
she knows they make a good looking couple.

Continuing beside Chase, she glazes in windows of a few of
the stores as they pass.
Reaching the diner they go inside, locating
a booth in the back of the building.
The old fashion vinyl benches
are faded a light red, but looking around she sees the diner is clean,
even with it being stuck in decades from the past.
Inhaling deeply
the smell of greasy food cooking has Stephanie’s stomach growling.
Placing her right hand over her belly she laughs looking across the
table at Chase, “The smell in here is making me hungry.
I didn’t
realize just how much I need a hamburger and an order of fries.”

Smiling over the menu, Chase folds it without really looking
at the items listed and announces he will have the same.
When
the waitress arrives to the take their order Chase almost groans.
The woman taking their order is in her late forties, has dark brown
hair, with just a touch of gray, her eyes are the same green as his.
But where Chase is tall, right at six feet, this woman is petite just
barely five feet one inch.
Of all days for his Mother to be working,
clearing his throat before he speaks, “Hello Mother, I thought you
were off today.”
Not waiting for her to answer since she wasn’t
even looking at him, her eyes are focused on Stephanie, he makes
the introductions.
“Mother, I would like to introduce Stephanie
Tuney, Stephanie, this is my Mother, Carrie.”

Before either Chase or Stephanie could blink, Carrie leans
over to gives Stephanie a big hug.
“Oh my, aren’t you the prettiest
little thing.
No wonder Junior here has been missing supper at my
house.
I hope you are feeling better and can put that nasty
accident behind you.” Carrie straightens from hugging Stephanie
then stands looking from her handsome son, to beautiful Stephanie.
She can actually picture her wonderful grandchildren. After wiping
the tears from her eyes on her apron, she takes her note pad out of
her pocket inquiring about their orders.

“Before we order I would like to thank you for retrieving my
purse for me.
I really appreciate you doing this.”
Stephanie
honestly was enjoying herself.
Smiling she admits the fact Chase is
uncomfortable makes him seem more carefree, more down to
earth, observing the interaction with his Mother allows her to see
him in a new situation, as a son.

Huffing out a breath, “Oh poo, I enjoyed doing it.
I knew
Junior here wouldn’t think about you needing it and I was just happy
to help.” Glancing at Chase, “Now what can I get you two to eat?
Not that this food is as good as mine, but it will fill you up, that’s for
sure.”
Eyes twinkling she grins as she waits for their order.

Shaking his head to clear it, his mother always did this,
would ask a question but continue talking, not giving the person
time to answer, over the years he has gotten used to it, but
sometime when he is preoccupied it would confuse him.
Today is
one of those days.
“We will have the deluxe burger plate.”
Looking over at Stephanie he asks, “What would you like to drink?”

“I would love a diet soda," Stephanie smiles in responds.
Chase returns his attention to his Mother, “The lady will
have a diet soda, and I would like…..” he breaks off talking as his
Mother turns to leave, over her shoulder she informs him she knows

Even being in the back of the diner, Stephanie feels the other
patrons watching them; at least it wasn’t very crowded, with only
five or six customers at this time of day.
Sneaking a peek at
Chase’s Mother, she sees the resemblance; his eyes are the same
shape and color. Turning her head she looks at Chase, he is leaning
back in the booth watching her.
“I would apologize for my
Mother, but she would tan my hide if I did, she really means no
harm, she is just the kind of person that never meets a stranger.”

Hearing the love in his voice toward his Mother, Stephanie
shakes her head no, “You don’t have to apologize to me, and I think
your Mother seems sweet.
I can tell you love her, you two seem
close. Those are both wonderful quality. I can’t wait to meet
your father.” As she finishes speaking she looks at the door as if
waiting for him to walk through it.

Laughing out loud, Chase informs her, his Dad is out of town
at a tractor show, she is safe for now.
Covering her hand with his,
he sees the spark of laughter in her eyes.

Pulling her hand free of his, she places both in her lap,
looking at him now, the laughter is gone, “The last couple of days
have been fun, you have been keeping me entertained, and I
appreciate you, but you haven’t talked about how the investigation
is going.
The first day we met you informed me my accident was
no accident, since then you closed up.
If someone is trying to hurt
me, I need to know.”
The tension is back, maybe she should have
waited.
But not knowing the details makes her feel out of control.
And for her; being out of control is not an option.

Sensing her anxiety as much as seeing it, Chase feels like
kicking himself.
He had been trying to keep her mind off the
accident but instead he made the situation worse.
Leaning
forward he rests his elbows on the table.
“I don’t know any more
than what I have already told you.
I would never keep information
from you.
After having had your account of the accident I didn’t
really need any further information from you, unless you know
something you didn’t remember before.” At the shake of her head
he continues, “The witness is reliable, no reason to doubt his
account of the event.
I did show the photos to a state police
officer, he feels this is random, maybe someone with road rage, you
being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Reaching across the
table he lays his hand against her cheek.
He needs the physical
contact with her.
He wasn’t sure the state police are right but he
would keep an eye out for the SUV and he would make sure Deputy
Johnny adds Stephanie’s farm in his nightly patrols.

Feeling the tension drain away as she listened to Chase she
leans back on her seat making Chase remove her hand from her
cheek.
Rising her eyes to look at Chase she asks, “Do you think this
was random?”
She cannot allow letting her guard down if she is
still in danger.
Having lived in small towns and in a couple of big
cities, she realizes crime exists everywhere, gangs in the cities and
good old boys in the towns, they all have crimes, murders and
drugs.
With the power of the news systems you just hear about it
more in the cities.

Waiting for Chase to answer her mind drifted back in time,
she was sixteen years old, she watched as her boyfriend was gunned
down by a gang member trying to prove he was worthy of his colors.
A useless crime against a young man, a boy actually, a boy that
worked, went to school and tried to help his family pay bills.
Violence was everywhere a fact she knows first-hand.

“Stephanie, honey, I won’t lie to you.” Watching as her eyes
focus on him, “I don’t know if the state police are right or if
someone in my county or surrounding county did this.
I don’t
want to believe someone I know could do this to another human
being.
But I am honest enough to know through my police training
that people can change, snap as lack for a better word.
People can
snap causing them to do things they normally wouldn’t do.
I am
not making excuses, because if I find the person or persons
responsible for doing this to you, I will make damn sure they pay for
their crime.” Keeping eye contact, he tries to read her face, what is
she thinking?

Taking a deep breath then blowing it out, Stephanie knows in
her heart he is telling her the truth, he would never allow her to be
in danger if he could help it.
He takes his oath to protect very
seriously.
She allows the rest of the tension to seep away.
Knowing she will have to remain alert, at least until her ribs and
wrist healed; once they were healed she will feel better equipped to
protect herself.
Having lived alone for most of her adult life, she
learned to know her surrounding, know the best escape route, how
to use items in her home to defend herself.
She had been taught
this in the self-defense classes at the local YMCA.
When Mitch
moved out he knew she would be alone most nights; he made her
promise to take the classes.
Now years later, she may actually
need to use the training.

“Thank you for telling me everything.
I feel as long as I
know the situation I can be prepared to handle it.”
She places her
right hand on his arm, when she does he covers her hand with his.
Looking down Chase sees how tiny Stephanie’s hand is; he knows he
has to solve this crime, keeping her safe is now his top priority.
Because she may think she is prepared but he doesn’t think she
could hurt a fly.

At that moment they are interrupted with their food being
delivered.
His mother takes notes of them holding hands and
smiles, not realizing this is not a romantic moment.
She deposits
their meal before them without saying a word.
As she walks back
to the counter she gives a thumb up sign to the other customers.

Very little is said while they eat, both enjoying the greasy
burgers and fries.
When they finish; Chase takes out his wallet,
removing several bills he leaves a nice tip for his Mother, catching
Stephanie’s eyes he winks smiling when she grins.
Taking their
receipt to the counter he pays for their meal.
Holding her elbow
he escorts Stephanie out of the diner Chase feels all the customers
watching them as they head back to the drug store to pick up
Stephanie’s prescriptions.

After they leave the drug store with her medicine in their
possession Chase helps Stephanie in his car; again he adjusts the
seatbelt away from her ribs.
Feeling pampered she smiles at
Chase, upon seeing her smile; he leans over kissing her lips.
As he
walks around the front of his car he senses his Mother watching
from the window of the diner.

Once on the road he heads out of town.
Stephanie’s place
is just at the outskirts of city limits.
It only takes a few minutes and
they turn onto her driveway.
Not sure what to expect she can’t
believe her eyes; the house is beautiful, an old house, estimating
over a couple hundred years.
Turning to Chase her excitement
visible, “Oh my goodness, it’s wonderful.
I love it; I can’t wait to
explore the house and the grounds.”

Feeling like a kid at Christmas, Stephanie doesn’t wait for
Chase to open her car door; she exits on her own, standing in the
front yard she surveys the most beautiful house she has ever seen.
The house built in the 1700’s still has most of the original wood; it is
painted white with the trim a dark forest green.
The house is a box
farm house; it has three levels with a wraparound porch on three
sides.
Windows in the front are floor to ceiling.
The porch has
flower pots at each corner and the two wicker rocking chairs to the
left of the front door add to the old fashion charm.
The lawn has
recently been mowed and trimmed, presenting a beautiful area
surrounding the house.
The two weeping willow trees standing tall
and graceful at the end of the driveway seem as old as the house;
the numerous flower beds scattered throughout the yard add color
to the landscape. The cobblestone walk way leading to the house
shows signs of age, giving the impression the stones were placed the
same time period as when the house was built.

This house has charm, giving it character and adding to the
ambience of past generations; Stephanie feels out of place standing
in the yard dressed in her jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes.
She
imagine being dressed in a long flowing hooped dress while waiting
on the porch for her beau, Stephanie smiles at her whimsical
thoughts.