The Intruder (12 page)

"Yes, I believe you, Jacob," Kari smiled. "I know you love me... a
lot
...!" she added with a giggle.

"Yes, I do, and I will love you a lot more if you give Kelly any grief whatsoever, Mrs. Tobias," he warned, his voice soft and all the more threatening for the quiet intensity.

"I will behave," Kari promised. "I am already sore enough to remind me I don't want another spanking ever!" She changed the subject. "How much farther do we have to drive?"

"Another five minutes," he admitted.

"Where are you going to be while I'm out here?" she asked, a bit frightened at the thought of being so far away from him.

"Searching for Darles until I find him, sweetheart. I can't run the risk of staying out here at night; I could lead him to you."

"Are you sure we're not being followed now?" she turned around in the seat to look out the back window for any sign of another vehicle.

"I'm positive. This car was searched thoroughly for any kind of bugs," he told her. "I had the car watched from a distance while I was inside getting you. I've been watching, and we've taken a scenic route to get out here. I'm doing my best to outsmart Darles, sweetheart. I want you keep you safe," he said solemnly.

"I hate the thought of being separated," Kari admitted, tears in her green eyes.

"I hate it, too," he admitted, and the look he gave her was sad. "I promise that I'll find him, sweetheart, and we'll get our lives back. Mr. McCrady gave me his word that he won't fire you or replace you. He says you are a good worker and he values you and wants to keep you."

"He said that?" she was pleased.

"Yes, he did," Jake nodded. "He knows this isn't your fault, and he wants you to be safe. So, please try not to worry about work right now. Just try to relax, and enjoy spending some time with Kelly. She said she had some ideas to keep you both busy while you have so much time on your hands."

"What about her husband and kids...? Surely she can't stay with me until this is all over...?" Kari protested. "That wouldn't be fair to her... or them!"

"She asked for the assignment, and Nevin supported her. They're acting as friends, sweetheart, and I trust them implicitly with your safety."

"I do, too," she agreed, and a couple minutes later they pulled into a long driveway. Two large dogs came running, barking and growling, until Kelly came outside and called them down.

"Queenie, Midnight, come here," Kelly patted her leg and the two animals came to her, wagging their tails. "This is Kari. She's a friend." She looked at Kari and smiled reassuringly. "Hold out your hand, palm up, Kari, and let them smell you. They won't hurt you, and want to say 'hello'. You can pet them now and they'll be friendly. Most of all, they'll protect you if need be."

Kari wasn't afraid of the dogs, and within seconds they were friends and the animals were in love with her. Kelly insisted that Jacob do the same, and the dogs fell in love with him, too, especially when he picked up a stick and threw it for them to chase. "It's a great idea to have the dogs here, Kelly," he told her. "Thank you for going out of your way for us."

"You and Kari are friends," she said simply. "The dogs are Nevin's idea. He knows that no one will get close to the house with them here to guard us."

"I feel better about that, too," he confessed. He then smiled at Kelly and asked, "As a friend who cares about you, do you have plenty of ammunition if you need it, Kelly?"

"Yes. Nevin made sure I was well stocked," she replied, and she looked at Kari and gave her a barely perceptible nod, but Jake saw it and asked, "What?"

"Kelly was telling me that she brought a weapon for me to use, too, if necessary," Kari immediately spoke up. "Now, don't look at me like that. I'm aware of what you think about civilians arming themselves, but I'm not a novice, Jake. Dad taught me self-defense, and that includes guns. Someday we'll go to a range and I'll show you, but Kelly trusts me to help out if need be, and don't worry, I won't shoot you or Nevin if you come in some night after dark."

"You didn't have a gun in your apartment," Jake said.

"Yes, I did. You just didn't know where to look, and it sure didn't do me any good where I had it, either," she confessed, and then admitted, "Darles and his men have it now, honey. It was taken when they trashed the place."

Jake wasn't happy and it showed for one brief second until he forced it down. "We'll discuss a better way of keeping a gun once this is all over, sweetheart, and just for the record, I'm glad you couldn't get to your gun that day. I wouldn't have been expecting it, and one of us could have been injured or killed." He kissed her, hard. "Be careful, and listen to Kelly. Trust her instincts. Don't argue if she tells you to do something. Do it as if it was me telling you. Got that, sweetheart?" he asked gruffly, grasping her shoulders and giving her a single shake.

"I give you my word I will do everything possible to keep us both safe," Kari promised, and then she grabbed his shoulders and tried to give him a little shake. "I want your word that you won't take any stupid risks with your safety, either, Jacob Tobias! I love you!"

"I promise," he grinned at her, then leaned down to kiss her. He turned to Kelly, and gave her a hug. "You be careful, too, little one. Thank you for your help."

They watched Jake drive down the long driveway and onto the road. Once he was out of sight, Kelly said, "Come on inside and I'll show you the house, Kari. I want you to memorize where everything is so that you could walk through here blindfolded. If something happens, we'll kill all the lights and have an advantage. Pretend that you are in school now. This house is old, and has lots of doors and little cubbyholes. And the floors are uneven in spots. Rooms added on, and at different levels. Just part of the charm, but dangerous in the dark if you don't remember."

Kelly was a relentless teacher and Kari proved herself an apt pupil. She didn't complain, even when Kelly put a blindfold on her and made her navigate the house without any help at all. Kari passed with flying colors, and then hugged Kelly. "Thank you for believing in me and treating me as a competent person capable of helping in an emergency. That means so much to me, Kelly. I'm so grateful to have you here with me, although I feel guilty at taking you away from Nevin and the kids."

"You're my friend, Kari. Even though I never ever want you to do it again, I was so touched when you came running outside when you thought I was in trouble. I don't think either of my sisters would have done that; they'd be too scared and afraid for themselves. You're special, Kari," she said emotionally. "Nevin thought it 'foolish but very brave,'" she imitated his deep voice, and then giggled. "I felt awful that you got into trouble with Jake because of me."

"It wasn't your fault, Kelly; it was all mine. And, it was just the last straw with Jake for the day," Kari admitted. "I earned the spanking I got, and I know it was given with lots of love," she said, although her cheeks were pink.

"He hated it, Kari. I could see the regret in his eyes; reminded me of Nevin when I've crossed that proverbial line."

"I know of a third lady who has discovered her husband loves her enough to spank," Kari confided without mentioning any names. "I'm beginning to believe there are lots of special husbands out there."

"Maybe we should form a club to pass out frozen peas and sympathetic hugs," Kelly grinned, then reached for her gun when the dogs started barking like crazy. "Go and hide where I told you, Kari," she said firmly.

Kari nodded and did as she was told. The farmhouse was very old, and one of the features was a secret hiding place that was used in case of Indian attack, and also has a place to hide runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. Now it was a safe place for her to hide while Kelly faced danger! Kari didn't want to remain hidden. She couldn't hear what was going on, but Kelly was back in less than ten minutes, a smile on her face. "Come on out, Kari. It was Mrs. Henderson from next door. She noticed the lights and decided to come and say hello. I've known her all my life. She brought us a loaf of freshly baked bread and it's still warm. You want some?"

"Of course!" Kari promptly agreed. She followed Kelly to the kitchen, and once they were happily eating their snack, she said, "I hate hiding and leaving you alone to face whatever, Kelly. It just doesn't feel right to me."

"I understand, but I want you to know that I expect you to do it anyway." She leveled her eyes on Kari. "I'll tattle if you don't listen!" That made both of them giggle.

Kelly talked about her grandparents and spending time on the farm, and said that of all the grandkids, she was the one who loved it most, and that was why her Granddad left it to her, much to her surprise and her siblings and cousin's envy. "He gave them some money each, but made it clear the farm was mine because he trusted me to keep it as a farm, and leave it to a child or grandchild of mine who would do the same. He wants it to stay in our family as it has since it was built."

"It's lovely, Kelly. Do you and Nevin plan to live here someday?"

"No. Nevin likes to come out here on weekends, but he's a city boy and uncomfortable with the idea of living here. I'm okay with that. We hire the farming done, and maintain the house and use it to get away. The extra income helps a lot with the kids, and now..." she suddenly broke off.

"Kelly?" Kari looked at her. "Are you pregnant?"

Kelly smiled and then nodded. "I just found out this morning, and I'm so excited!"

"Does Nevin know?" Kari couldn't believe he would let her take on this assignment if he did."

"No... and please don't tell him. He will want me to take a leave of absence right away, and I would go nuts at home right now."

"He's going to turn your bottom red when he learns you've kept this from him," Kari predicted.

"No he won't," Kelly grinned. "He won't spank me if I'm pregnant," she stated knowingly. "Please, Kari. I want to do this for you and Jake. After we know you're safe, I'll tell Nevin, and my Lieutenant."

"I'm not going to let you get hurt protecting me, Kelly," Kari stated firmly. "No more hiding unless you hide with me, or I tattle, too."

"Kari!"

"Kelly!"

"I feel as though we're sisters," Kelly said emotionally, and then hugged the other woman. "I can't imagine telling anyone else the things I share with you."

"I don't have any siblings, but I would be honored to be your sister," Kari answered. "Let's talk babies..."

* * *

"I hope the girls are behaving," Nevin said to Jake as he dropped into a chair across from the other man's desk.

"Do you think we need to check up on them?" Jake asked in concern. Nevin's uncanny instincts were legendary in the department.

"I already did... Just called and talked to Kelly. She's all bubbly; says they're having girl fun and talking. She had one visitor and Kari did what she was told to do," he told Jake. "Guess that little lesson you gave her took pretty well," he added with a familiarity that spoke of friendship.

"Not a good way to start a marriage," Jake grumbled, still feeling bad over the incident.

"She loves you; told Kelly that," Nevin shared with a grin. "Those two have a lot in common. Kelly considers Kari more of a sister than she does those two brainless wonders who are her biological sisters."

"So, why the frown?" Jake asked.

"Something is off," Nevin frowned. "I know Kelly. She's hiding something, but she doesn't lie, and they aren't doing anything they aren't supposed to be doing. They haven't been outside, aren't on the phones. Things seem normal. She gave me all sorts of instructions for laundry tonight, and on how to do Gracie's hair in the morning," he shook his head. "Like I'm going to do more than brush it out..." he growled.

"Do you want me to ask Jenna to come over and help out in the morning?" Jake offered. "It might give her something to do that won't get her read end paddled."

"Nope. You keep her at home. It's one thing if you or Jase whack her, but I don't have the patience you do, and she might not like it if I whop her one."

Jake hooted with laughter. "I need to find a guy who knows how to deal with her sass," he admitted, and then said, "Seriously, she's a handful right now. I don't trust her not to mix into this mess because she wants to get even to what Darles did to her friend Deborah."

"You'd better put someone on her, Jake," Nevin said at once, "or send her over to help with my girls. I can keep an eye on her that way," he offered.

"I put Officer Aiken on her, with strict orders not to put up with any of her crap."

"He's a green kid," Nevin said in surprise.

"And anxious to please. Jenna will find him cute," Jake grinned at his friend. "All he needs to do is turn those blue eyes on her and she'll melt, and hopefully behave."

"What if she tells him to go to hell and gives him the slip?"

"I warned her she might try that," Jake shook his head. "Jase is working, and I can't stick him with her, and I've got to find Darles. Aiken will have to do his best, and sit on her if she won't be reasonable."

* * *

"You're a cute little handful, honey," the man reached out to grab Jenna's arm.

"Let go of me, moron. You're drunk!" Jenna tugged on her arm, and when the man didn't release her, she made a fist and slugged him in the nose!

"You bitch!" the man roared and drew back a fist to repay her in kind. The blow Jenna expected didn't come, but instead she found herself freed.

"Leave the lady alone," her rescuer said by way of warning.

"Look, pretty boy, that girl slugged me and all I done was offer to buy her a drink."

"You put your hands on her. Now back off." The man lurched forward, but overbalanced and went crashing to the floor, out cold.

"Thanks," Jenna smiled at the handsome man who came to her aid.

"You shouldn't be in here, Miss Tobias."

Jenna's smile immediately disappeared. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"I'm Linc Aiken, and your brother is my Lieutenant. I've been assigned to protect you, and I sure can't do it in a place like this. We're leaving for your home right now," he said firmly.