Every Vow She Breaks (31 page)

“At this point, I’m okay with anything that doesn’t move.”

After they ate, Claire downloaded the photos she’d taken in Crescent City onto her laptop and tried to organize the first section of her story. The pictures were beautiful, but as she wrote the text to go with them, her mind wandered. All the constant pounding from the rear of the house didn’t help her concentration. Pressing her hands to her head, she stared at the cursor blinking in the empty space.

Her vision blurred, and she closed her eyes. Sleep had been almost as elusive the previous night as the one before that, leaving her tired and on edge. Lying in Jed’s arms, his even breathing had accompanied her churning thoughts. Paramount among them was how much she cared about him, how broken she’d be without him. He’d held her close but hadn’t pushed to make love. Without her saying a word, he’d understood her need for comfort rather than sex…even when he’d woken up with a raging hard-on he couldn’t begin to hide.

Opening her eyes, Claire smiled. If Scoop hadn’t whined to get out, she would have rolled over in his arms and forgotten all about the stalker turning her life into a nightmare.

She slammed the computer shut. Most of what she’d written was garbage. Maybe after stocking up at the grocery store, she’d suggest going for a hike. Straining her muscles was surely a better use of time than straining her brain with so little to show for the effort. Jed had volunteered to clean the upstairs after their painting marathon, giving her a chance to work. Surely he’d be ready for a break by now. Just one more reason to love the man.

Leaving the motor home, she headed toward the house and climbed the new steps to push open the front door. “Jed?”

“Up here.”

She ran up the stairs, pausing at the top to poke her head into each room. The fresh colors she’d chosen perked up her spirits. All the remnants of masking tape had been removed, and the glass panes sparkled.

“Oh, my God, you washed the windows.”

Jed stepped out of the master bedroom holding a wad of paper towels. “Why not? There’s not much left to do in the bedrooms. I figured I’d brighten up the place by letting the sunshine in without streaks—at least on the inside.”

“Thank you.” She pressed a smacking kiss to his cheek. “It’s a gorgeous afternoon. No fog. Let’s get the shopping done and then go for a hike. I could use a little exercise.”

He caught her around the waist and responded with a kiss that made her knees quiver. When he finally released her, she pressed a hand to her chest.

“I really do love the way you think.” He tossed the filthy towels into a garbage bag he twisted shut. Heaving the sack over his shoulder, he followed her down the stairs. “When’s the tile guy coming to start the bathrooms?”

“Tomorrow.”

“On a Saturday?”

“It’s the only day he had time.”

“Cool. Once that’s done, the upstairs will be habitable.” He tossed the trash into a half-full dumpster beside the driveway before wiping his hands down his jeans.

“I can’t wait. Living in the RV is getting a little old.”

“It
is
a tight fit. Let’s change, load up the dog and go. I’ll put a cooler in the SUV for the perishable groceries.” His eyes brightened. “Hey, maybe we can pick up some stuff for dinner and have a picnic under the stars. There’s no rush to get home, right?”

“Right.” Warmth curled around her heart. When Jed referred to her house as
home
, she could almost believe they might have a shot at a future. Together.

A half hour later, Claire pushed a cart down the aisle of Hansen’s General Store while Jed chose food for their picnic at the deli counter in the back. She pulled a half gallon of milk from the cooler then let the door swing shut. Turning, she nearly dropped the carton.

“Sneak up on a person, why don’t you! I almost had a heart attack.”

Ian scowled. “You deserve more than a scare. The damned cops hauled me in for questioning. Me! I ought to sic my father on them to sue for police harassment.”

“I’m sorry about that. I told them you weren’t the one stalking me.”

“Obviously you weren’t very convincing.”

She set the milk in the cart then gripped the bar across the front with both hands. “Why were you on my property last night?”

“Not to spray-paint your door.” A vein at his temple throbbed. “They’d already questioned me about my whereabouts the previous afternoon. I went to the house to talk to you—okay, maybe to yell a little. I was pissed. How was I supposed to know you were still in Crescent City?” The angry color faded from his face. “Seeing the message painted on your door shook me. Whoever wrote that shit is a complete lunatic.”

“You think I don’t know that.” Her voice rose. “The police aren’t even searching for the man responsible because they believe it’s you.”

His face twisted into another frown. “They told me not to leave town. Un-freaking believable. Not that I would even if they’d let me. I saw one, Claire.” His gray eyes glittered silver beneath the fluorescent lights. “I saw a Bigfoot.”

Her heartbeat quickened. “You captured one on film?”

“No.” His shoulders slumped. “I was sleeping out in the woods about a half-mile from camp. Something woke me, and I scrambled up out of my sleeping bag to catch a glimpse of the creature in the moonlight just as it disappeared into the trees. Big. Shaggy. Lumbering.”

Maybe a bear, not a Bigfoot.
She clamped her lips shut on the thought. No need to piss him off even more. He obviously believed what he was saying.

“I heard raised voices. Claire?” Dallas rounded the end of the aisle and glanced toward Ian. His eyes widened. “Why you—” Lunging forward, he grabbed a handful of his shirt and jerked him off his feet. Arm raised, he clenched his fist.

“No!” Claire pushed the cart aside and wrapped her hands around Dallas’ bicep. “Don’t hit him.”

“Why not?” His grip didn’t loosen. “I heard he’s the bastard who spray-painted your house, the one who’s been stalking you.”

“Dallas, let go!”

Ian’s face turned an ugly shade of puce.

“Dallas!”

“Oh, what the hell.” He let go, and Ian collapsed onto the linoleum floor. Gasping for breath, the color changed from purple to an angry red.

Claire squatted beside him. “Are you okay?”

“
He
won’t be. Where the hell are the cops when you need them? I want to file charges.”

“Pansy boy. Man up and face me.” Dallas stood over him. “What’d you ever see in this loser, Claire?”

“Me, a loser? Look in the mirror, asshole.” Ian rose to his feet and grabbed the cart for support.

“Will you both please just stop!”

An older woman paused at the end of the aisle to crane her neck. After a few seconds of unabashed staring, she hurried away.

Claire ran a shaking hand through her hair. “Terrific. That lady probably just went to get the owner.”

“Good. Stan Hansen will back me up when I tell him I found this piece of shit harassing you.”

Taking a deep breath, she laid a hand on Dallas’s arm. “I know your intentions are good, but he wasn’t threatening me.”

“The cops arrested him for—”

“They didn’t arrest me!”

Claire’s temples throbbed. “Dallas, I honestly don’t think Ian was responsible—”

“Couldn’t have been.”

She spun around, and her mouth gaped as she stared at Preston. “I didn’t know you were still in town.”

He shrugged. “I came for a story, and I’m not leaving until I have one. I’ll get a picture of a Bigfoot or die trying.”

“Are you kidding me?” Ian took a step forward. “Have you been following me around, even after we told you to get lost?”

Preston’s eyes narrowed. “You should be thankful, Rutledge. I was keeping an eye on you out in the woods while the guy harassing Claire was in Crescent City. That means I can give you an alibi.”

Ian stopped. “How do you know about that?”

“I had lunch at the diner. Half the town knows about it. Augusta filled me in on all the details while I ate my burger. Her cousin has a police radio and—”

“What the hell is going on?” Carrying a brown paper bag, Jed pushed past Preston and moved in to slide an arm around Claire’s waist. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and leaned against him. “I’m fine. Ian and Dallas had a bit of a misunderstanding, but we’re working everything out.”

“Like hell!” Ian’s face still held tinges of crimson. “The man tried to strangle me.”

Dallas’s cheeks darkened. “I thought you were going to hurt Claire.”

A throat cleared behind them. Claire turned.

Stan Hansen crossed his arms over a paunchy belly. “Do you mind moving this discussion outside, folks? You’re upsetting my other customers.”

“There’s no reason to. We’re done now.” She reached for the cart. “I need to finish my shopping.”

Dallas took the hint and backed away. “I just came in to grab a soda. Screw it. I have to get back to work.” Turning, he walked past the store owner. A moment later, the bells over the door jingled.

“I have shopping to do, too.” Preston smiled at Claire. “I’m just relieved to see you’re no worse for wear after the problems you’ve had lately.”

“Wait a minute. You aren’t going anywhere but to the police station with me.” Ian grabbed his arm. “If you can vouch for the fact I was out in the woods when I said I was, you have to tell the cops to get them off my back once and for all.”

“Whatever. I can shop later, I suppose. See you, Claire.” Preston nodded at Jed then walked away with Ian matching him step for step.

Hansen followed, and Claire slumped against the cart. “What a fiasco. I felt like the star in an Abbott and Costello routine. If I hadn’t been so afraid Dallas was going to kill Ian, I would have shouted,
Who’s on first?
”

Jed grinned. “Sounds like I missed the good parts.”

“They weren’t good. They were actually a little scary.”

He rested his hands on her shoulders and kneaded. “Let’s grab the rest of the groceries and get the hell out of here. You can give me all the details while we hike.”

“Sounds good to me.”

They finished the shopping then apologized to Stan Hansen for the disturbance before leaving the market. Jed stored the groceries in the cooler then shoved the dog out of the way to take the driver’s seat. “Where do you want to hike?”

“Somewhere isolated. At this point, I don’t want to see a living soul besides you and Scoop. Not even a Bigfoot.”

“Huh? Since when are you a true believer?” He started the engine and pulled out onto the street.

“I’m not, but Ian claims he saw one in the woods a couple of nights ago.”

“You don’t think he did?”

She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “Honest to God, I don’t know what to believe…about anything.”

“If Preston was out in the woods with Rutledge while the stalker was taping up those pictures, then Ian can’t be guilty. Preston, either, for that matter.”

Her head jerked around. “Preston? We were never more than friends. Why would you consider him a possible suspect?”

“He was a co-worker, which in my opinion makes him a more likely candidate than a casual acquaintance or an old neighbor.”

Claire frowned. “I suppose, but if he was with Ian—”

“He can’t be the stalker.”

“Thank heavens. Preston is one of those guys who tries hard at everything…and rarely succeeds. I hope he gets his Bigfoot picture,
if
Ian actually saw one out there.”

Jed turned onto a dirt track, and they bounced along in silence for several minutes. Thick trees closed in around them on all sides.

Claire frowned. “I don’t think I’ve ever been up this road.”

“It isn’t on a map. I discovered it by accident a while back. Maybe it was made for logging at some point but went unused for whatever reason.”

“Probably when the government cracked down on cutting old growth trees.”

He nodded. “Could be.”

When Jed stopped at the end of the road, Claire climbed out and turned her face up to the sky. Not much light filtered through the thick overhead branches. “Beautiful.”

“Like you.” He stuffed the bag filled with their dinner into his backpack. “There’s a trail along the creek about a hundred yards from here, overgrown but passable.”

She was still basking in his complement as she followed him into the trees. They hiked for two hours, until the vegetation became too dense to push through. Jed extended a hand to help her down the shallow creek bank then stepped carefully over rocks to cross to the other side.

“Can you make it?”

“I’ve got this.” Leaping from the final bolder studding the creek bed, she landed next to him. “Good thing the water is low, although I’m not sure why this bank is superior to the other side.”

“See that mossy patch.” He pointed. “It’ll make a soft place to sit and eat…among other things.” His eyebrows wiggled.

Claire snorted then broke into full blown laughter. “You can’t be serious. I bet it’s soaking wet.”

“It hasn’t rained in a while. Anyway, I brought something to sit on.” He dropped his backpack, unzipped it then pulled out the paper bag of food and a red wool blanket.

“You must have been a Boy Scout, always prepared.”

“You bet.” He unfurled the blanket. “Sit. The smell of rotisserie chicken has been driving me crazy for miles. There’s potato salad, too, and brownies.”

They ate while Scoop lay at their feet, drooling. Every now and then, Jed tossed him a bite.

“You’re a softy when it comes to my dog.”

“Maybe.” He threw the chicken remnants back into the bag and bit into a brownie. “You’d watch him starve?”

Her lips curved. “Hardly. He’s gained weight since we hooked up.” She patted her stomach. “I have, too. No brownie for me.”

His eyes darkened as his gaze ran the length of her. “If you were any hotter, I’d incinerate.”

Claire’s toes curled in her hiking boots. “Eat your brownie.”

He set it aside and made a move toward her. “You would taste a whole lot better.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “Jed…oof.”

She landed on her back, the deep moss and blanket cushioning her fall. Smiling, she reached up to caress his cheek.

“Are we really going to—”