Just Down the Road (31 page)

She nodded and moved to open her door. “Well, good night.”

On impulse, he swung his door open and was around the front of the truck before she stepped out on the running board.

“What are you doing?” She laughed, shoving wet hair back from her face as he lifted her down.

“I’m walking a lady to her door,” he said as he grabbed her hand and they ran.

They were both laughing when they hit the porch. Noah shook like a wet dog and said, “Well, at least I can skip the shower when I get home. Look at all the time you’re saving me.”

“Where’s home?” she asked.

“I forgot to tell you I cleaned up the old foreman’s
quarters at my place, well, at least enough that I can bunk there. I’m too old to stay at my parents’ house even with them gone.”

“With the way it’s raining, every field mouse, rabbit, and prairie dog will be rooming with you tonight.”

Noah shrugged. “At least it’ll be quiet. At the hotel in Houston my room was right off the pool, and I swear some people never slept.” He leaned against the porch railing and watched the downpour. The thought crossed his mind that he could probably ask to stay with her, but she’d offered only pie. If he went inside, he’d end up wanting more and she’d end up slapping him again. He shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to keep warm with his clothes already dripping wet.

“Noah.” She drew him back from his thoughts. “Good night.”

He turned into her kiss, surprised at how close she was behind him. Without touching him, she moved closer and gave him a kiss that had nothing to do with being best friends. He went along with the kiss but didn’t move otherwise. He wasn’t holding her. All she had to do was step away when she wanted what she’d started to end.

When she pulled back, he couldn’t help but ask, “What did that have to do with you and me just being friends?”

Reagan smiled. “I’m getting used to you.”

He grinned. “Then I’m coming home between every event.” He stepped into the rain, figuring he’d better run while he was ahead. “See you tomorrow.”

“It’s already tomorrow. I’ll see you later today,” she yelled.

He watched her go into the house, the old dog at her side, then turned toward the road looking for any sign of the car that had followed him all the way from the airport.

After driving down Lone Oak Road for an hour, he saw no other car. It was late and anyone with any sense would be home in bed. Only, Noah had never been known for having sense. He drove over to the sheriff’s office and told
Deputy Phil Gentry about what he thought he saw and what Reagan said she’d been feeling for days.

Gentry took the tip seriously. He said they were already patrolling Tinch Turner’s place. Now they’d add the Truman farm to their rounds.

“You think someone is hiding out in Harmony spying on Tinch Turner?”

“No, not exactly. We’ve checked everywhere in town someone would rent, so no one suspicious is staying in town, but still there is evidence Tinch is being watched.” Gentry frowned as if he’d already said too much. “This is not to go beyond you and me, Noah, but since you’re the sheriff’s brother and have already noticed something strange, I guess it would be all right to tell you.” He pulled out a list of makes and models of cars that had been spotted on the back roads the past several nights. “This is a list composed by both us and the highway patrol.”

“A few are scratched out.” Noah raised an eyebrow.

“Those are locals who live along one of the roads. The others seemed to have no reason to be on the road between midnight and dawn. We’ve tried following the cars in question but have to stay so far away, so as not to be detected, that we lose them. It’s as if they vanish in the night. Sheriff thinks they’ve probably got a base somewhere close, maybe Bailee or Twisted Creek. The back roads crisscross out here like a maze.”

Noah looked at the list of old cars. “If I were you, I’d look for a used-car lot. You must have a half dozen different cars on this list. Maybe the strangers are holed up in a car lot.”

Phil smiled. “Not a bad idea. If it’s the same people in different cars, that would explain it. But whoever it is has connections around here.”

“What do you think they’re doing?”

“Maybe just watching. Maybe waiting for something or someone to appear.” Phil smiled. “Maybe just building up their courage to take action.” Phil finished off his tenth Diet Coke of the day before adding, “I can’t say much
more, only whoever it is thinks Tinch Turner has something that belongs to them.”

Noah shook his head. “I’ve been to Tinch’s place. All he’s got is half-wild horses.”

“And a kid,” Phil finished more to himself than Noah. “I can’t say more, but if I were you I’d keep an eye on Reagan Truman. Someone might think her and Tinch are somehow connected.”

“I’ve been watching her for years,” Noah said as he thanked the deputy and walked out. He didn’t like the idea that someone was staking out not only Turner’s place but Reagan’s as well. He drove out the ten miles to Tinch’s ranch and then circled by the Truman farm. Tomorrow he’d ask for the list of cars the sheriff’s office was keeping, but knowing that it was all quiet at both places would help him sleep tonight.

A watery moon tried to show through the rainclouds as Noah felt adrenaline pumping in his veins as it did just before a ride. It was late. He should get home, but something didn’t feel right.

He turned his truck around and decided to make another pass of both farms, knowing he wouldn’t sleep tonight anyway.

O
NE MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT

O
CTOBER
12

T
YLER
W
RIGHT JUMPED OUT OF BED AND GRABBED HIS
phone before he realized someone was knocking at his door. No one ever knocked at his second-floor quarters at the funeral home. It just wasn’t done.

He shoved his legs, pajamas and all, into his trousers, forgot a shirt as he grabbed his jacket and rushed for the door. “I’m coming!” he yelled as the pounding sounded again.

When he opened the door, Willie screamed, “Hurry! The baby’s coming!”

Tyler zipped up his jacket, shoved his phone into the pocket, and followed Willie down the stairs. He was out of breath when they reached the kitchen, but this was not the time to slow down. “Where’s Autumn?”

Willie rushed past him and opened the door leading to
a large garage. “Big’s getting her into your Caddy. We decided it has more room if we have to deliver on the way to the hospital.”

Tyler tried to object, but no one appeared to be listening. Autumn seemed the only calm one, and she was breathing funny while she refused to climb into the backseat until she’d checked her bag to make sure she hadn’t forgotten something.

Big stood next to her, holding everything she pulled out like some kind of giant clothes tree.

Forgetting about the plan to take Autumn’s car, Tyler took charge. “Willie, you drive. I’ll call the hospital and tell them to have everything ready.” He calmed his voice as he faced Autumn. “How far apart are the contractions?”

“Four or six minutes,” she said. “Willie got so excited he lost count.”

Tyler frowned at Willie Davis, who until this moment Tyler thought had some brains. Before he could ask for the keys back, Autumn added in a whisper, “I think my water just broke.”

“Change of plans,” Willie announced, as if they were playing basketball. “Big, you drive. Mr. Wright, you call. Autumn, get in the back and lie down. We may be closer to the baby coming than we think.”

Everyone moved at once. Willie was the last to climb in. “I’m riding back here in case I have to deliver the baby. I watched the film five times. I think I can handle it.” He rubbed his hands together and flipped on the dome light.

Big started the engine and shook his head. “We’re four minutes away. She’ll make it.”

Willie, who’d always been the calm one, suddenly looked very pale. “Now, Autumn, you tell me if you need to push. I’ll try to get your pants off.”

Autumn had had enough. “I’m not taking my clothes off, Willie Davis. Not in front of you guys, and right now the only thing I feel like pushing is you out of this car.”

Rain tapped on the roof as they pulled out of the garage.

“It’s all right, honey. Mothers-to-be often get upset. I’m sure the storm tonight put you on edge.” His words were calm to her, but a second later he turned his head to yell in Tyler’s ear. “Tell them we’re coming in hot. Have everything ready for landing.”

Big, to his credit, drove the speed limit to the hospital. Tyler made the call, but he wasn’t sure he made any sense. If the hospital had caller ID, they probably figured out what was happening.

When they pulled under the emergency room entrance, two nurses and Dr. Spencer were waiting for them. A minute later Autumn was in a wheelchair heading inside and the three men were standing by the car trying to breathe.

“I’m too old for this,” Tyler said.

“I’m too young.” Willie shook his head.

Big laughed like he saw a joke no one else did. “Well, I’m just right, so how about we go check on our Goldilocks.”

Tyler didn’t even try to understand what Big was talking about. He just followed the two volunteer firemen inside. At least with the rain they probably wouldn’t be called out on an emergency.

By the time they found where the nurses had taken Autumn, she had changed clothes and looked to be resting comfortably.

Dr. Spencer let all three go in and say hello, then told them how proud she was of them for getting Autumn to the hospital. The firemen beamed with pride, but Tyler had the feeling the doctor used the same tone when talking to first graders.

Tyler wouldn’t have been surprised if the doc had patted them each on the head.

When the next contraction started, Dr. Spencer asked them to step outside. “We’ll take it from here, boys. Why don’t you all go have a snack? It doesn’t look like you’ll have too long to wait.”

Tyler wanted to just stand outside the labor room door, but Big thought they should take the doctor’s advice. None
of the three had ever been around a woman giving birth, and they had no idea how long the wait might be.

A half hour later Big called his next-door neighbor, Ronny Logan. She was Autumn’s best friend, and he said she’d want to know. Only Tyler noticed Ronny came in with a picnic basket of goodies she must have already had packed and ready. He suspected Big needed food more than company. Between Big and Willie, they’d already eaten through half the snack cakes in the machines.

“Evening, Mr. Wright,” Ronny said when she offered him a brownie. “Have you heard from Miss Kate?”

Tyler shook his head. He hadn’t thought of his Kate since he’d woken. “It’s been over three weeks. She should be home soon.” He tried to ignore the nagging worries in his mind.

He closed his eyes and made a deal with fate. Let her come home safe and sound and he wouldn’t pester her anymore about planning the wedding. He’d give her all the time she wanted if she’d just come home safe.

“You all right, Mr. Wright?” Ronny asked in her shy way.

He nodded. “I will be. I was just thinking Kate will be sorry she missed the birth.”

Ronny agreed. “If she were here, she’d have us all in line and organized. She’s a sweet lady, but there’s a general in her.”

“A major,” he corrected, missing her more than he thought it possible to miss anyone.

As the others ate, Tyler stood and walked to the window. The rain had slowed to a drizzle and the town looked newborn, as if asleep, without even a car moving along the streets. He loved this town, but he wasn’t sure Kate would feel the same. She’d lived all over the world. Harmony must look very small to her.

He passed the time thinking of Kate as an hour, then two crawled by. Big started counting the times Willie said, “How much longer is this going to take?” Ronny worked every crossword puzzle in every magazine in the waiting room.
No one bothered to turn on the TV in the corner. It was almost as if they all thought their job was to wait and they had to concentrate on just that.

Everyone jumped when Dr. Spencer appeared in the doorway. She smiled a tired smile. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a girl. Eight pounds four ounces.”

They all started asking questions at once, and the doc did her best to answer them all in order. Everything was normal. Mother and daughter were doing great. As soon as they got her settled in they could see Autumn one at a time, but only for two minutes each.

Tyler let the others go first. He stepped out on the little smoking patio and stared up at the moon, wondering if Kate could see the same moon.

“Autumn’s had her baby,” he said, needing to tell her even if Kate couldn’t hear. “I know you’ll want to hold her as soon as you get home.” He almost added,
If you come home
. With each day’s passing he felt less sure. She’d told him once that after all her years of being single, she’d become an expert at stepping away from people.

Was his Kate stepping away from him?

The phone in his pocket sounded once.