Three Year Rule (The Rule Series Book 1) (4 page)

Elizabeth backed up the car and turned it toward the stables. They sat in silence watching for movement. Amy shook her head after a few minutes and said, “I swear I thought I saw a person walking into the stables, but in this darkness I suppose it could have been a deer or just a shadow.”

They both jumped as Elizabeth’s phone rang. Amy laughed and patted Charlie’s head when she stuck it between seats to check on them.  Elizabeth answered the phone; it was Randy.

His deep voice resonated from the earpiece. “Elizabeth, this is Randy.  I’ll be there in about 5 minutes.” Elizabeth put him on speaker as he continued, “I just want to make sure you are both staying in the car.”

Amy answered, “Randy, its Amy. We are in the Mini, but I thought I saw someone go into the stables.”

Randy’s voice deepened, “Just stay in the car. Is Charlie with you?” As he finished his question, Charlie began to bark at the back seat window on Amy’s side.  “I’m almost there. It might be a good idea for you to head toward the road.”

Elizabeth answered as she reached back to pat Charlie. “The headlights are shining on the barn, but we haven’t seen anyone, and there aren’t any vehicles here. I think Amy and Charlie are just spooked. We’ll stay put unless we see someone.”

Randy’s voice softened, he said, “I’m almost there. Don’t move the car again unless you need to leave. If someone was there, I want to look for tire marks.” Josh said, “Do you have weapons on-site?”

Elizabeth glanced at Amy and said, “Josh gave me a shotgun. It’s on top of the kitchen cabinets.  I don’t think anyone would see it if they didn’t know it was there.”

“Good to know,” Randy answered, “Okay, ladies. I’m turning onto the side road that leads to your driveway. See you in about 2 minutes. Call me if anything changes.”

Elizabeth disconnected the call and they sat in the darkness listening to the windshield wipers move back and forth. The rain began to fall in sheets as the wind grew stronger, whipping the treetops into a frenzy. It was a very long two minutes before Randy’s flashing red lights lit up the darkness around them. He drove past them and shone his searchlight into the small stables before returning to the cabin.  He shone the searchlight on the front door and climbed out of his truck carrying a large flashlight.

He walked to their car as Elizabeth rolled down the window.  He flashed a smile at them as he leaned against the car. Elizabeth smiled back; Amy was right. He had a sexy smile.  He said, “I’m going to check the house.  I need you lovely ladies to stay right here until I back.”

“Anything you say, Sheriff,” Amy answered with a smile.

Randy nodded and disappeared into the house. They sat in nervous silence as the lights in the house slowly came on one by one.  Joshua’s truck roared up the drive as the upstairs lights came on. Joshua was out of his truck in an instant and at Elizabeth’s window.

The look of concern on his face sent Elizabeth’s heart racing. He asked, “You two okay?”

Elizabeth nodded at the sight of him; a large knot developed in her throat, and she couldn’t answer. He smiled and reached out to touch her arm adding, “Okay, I’m going to check with Randy. I’ll be right back.” Elizabeth nodded, noticing the handgun stuck in his belt.

They watched Joshua disappear into the house.  Amy sighed and said, “I’m beginning to feel like a foolish girl. We should have manned up and checked the house ourselves. It’s probably nothing. We lived in the theater district of Manhattan for two years and never had a problem. Why are we such wimps now?"

Elizabeth turned to Amy and said, “I know you. If you said you locked the door, the door
was
locked. As you said, we lived in New York for two years, we aren’t a couple of careless females. Frankly, we’re out of our element here.  We have no idea what to expect out here on our own.  In New York everyone in the building watched out for each other.  Here we don’t have any neighbors to hear our screams and come running. Now I understand why Joshua brought me that gun.”

Randy and Joshua appeared in the doorway.  Joshua was holding the shotgun he gave Elizabeth. They talked for a minute then Randy headed for the stables. Joshua went to his truck and opened the door.  A large black and white malamute with a mixture of gray spread throughout his longhaired coat bounded out to greet him.  Joshua motioned toward the stables and Kilo dashed off after Randy. Joshua watched Kilo until he caught up with Randy, then came to the girl’s car.

He met Elizabeth’s questioning gaze with a soft smile and said, “It’s all clear, but Randy thinks someone did break in. Let’s get you girls and Charlie inside, and we’ll talk about it.  Randy doesn’t believe they are around, but he’s going to check the stables just to make sure. Why don’t you leave the headlights on until he’s finished, and I’ll come out and move the car later.” He opened Elizabeth’s door and offered his hand.  Then opened the back door and whistled for Charlie, who eagerly jumped out into the rain to greet him.

Elizabeth and Amy followed Joshua inside. They stood frozen in the entryway as they glanced around the room.  Joshua returned from a small bathroom off the kitchen with a towel for Charlie. He stopped when he saw them and stared for a minute.  Realizing they were terrified, Joshua came back over to them.  He put his arm around their shoulders and escorted them to the sofa.

He took their jackets and urged them to sit down.  He said, “Don’t worry. It’s safe. No one else is here, and we are not going to leave you alone tonight.”  Joshua sat down in the armchair across from them and called Charlie over. He threw a towel over her back and began to rub her down. He chuckled and asked, “Did you have much of an adventure tonight Charlie?”

“Are you joking?” Elizabeth gasped, “I nearly killed her! Who knows how long she ran wild in the darkness? She made it all the way out to the road. She ran right out in front of my car. I could have...” Elizabeth’s voice broke, and she began to sob.

Joshua was instantly at her side. Pulling her into his arms, he held her close. Amy moved to Elizabeth’s other side and embraced them both. Randy walked through the door and stopped to stare at them.

He asked, “Do you three want to be alone or do you have room for one more?”

Amy jumped up and rushed across the room to embrace him as Kilo dashed through the door and bounded up to Charlie. Amy and Randy scrambled to catch the pair of wet dogs and herd them into the bathroom.  Joshua and Elizabeth remained on the sofa.

Joshua pulled back and cupped her chin saying, “Charlie’s lucky to have someone like you in her life. She’s a sweet dog. I’m sure that whoever broke in just put her outside. Golden's are just about as far away from a guard dog as you can get. She probably wagged her tail and greeted them. There was no reason to hurt her.”

Elizabeth wiped away her tears and met Joshua’s gaze. She said softly, “Someone violated my home. Your home is supposed to be a safe haven.”

“I know,” Joshua brushed a stray hair from her cheek and said, “It’s scary, but you aren’t alone. Randy will figure out who did this, and when he does I’ll personally kick their butt.”

Elizabeth laughed at the completely serious expression on Joshua’s face.  He raised one eyebrow as if to question her belief of his sincerity. Finally, he smiled and chuckled, then said, “Why don’t I leave Kilo here for a few days.  Charlie could use a playmate, and it will help you relax.”

Randy and Amy reappeared from the bathroom with the dogs. Elizabeth and Joshua rose to greet them. Amy came to Elizabeth’s side and gave her an encouraging smile.  Amy said, “Randy wants us to take a look around and see if we can tell what is missing.”

Elizabeth glanced at Randy, and he added, “It appears they concentrated on the bedrooms, but we should start here on the main floor and work our way upstairs.”

Elizabeth and Amy’s eyes went straight to the kitchen table. Amy rushed over and immediately sighed with relief. She turned to Elizabeth and said, “The laptops are still here.”

Elizabeth relaxed a bit with that news and glanced around the room. She said, “The flat screen TV and Blue Ray are here, as well. Everything seems fine on this floor. What did they do upstairs?”

Randy and Joshua exchanged glances then Randy answered, “They went through the drawers and closets. Do you own any expensive jewelry?”

“Jewelry…”Amy gasped and ran up the stairs, the others followed. Amy ran into her room and moaned, “Oh no, my grandma’s jewelry box!”

Randy followed at her heels. When Elizabeth and Joshua reached the room, Amy was sobbing in Randy’s arms. Elizabeth was shocked at the disarray before her. Amy’s dresser drawers lay scattered about. Her clothes lay strewn across the floor.  Her mattress lay halfway off the bed.  Shreds of her pillows littered the floor. The contents of Amy’s closet pulled out and trampled in the search.

Elizabeth turned and ran to her room.  She found the same confusion. Clothing and drawers scattered; pillows slashed and her dresser turned on its side. Joshua came up behind her and touched her shoulder.  She pushed him away as anger filled her.

“Beth, I know it looks bad.”   He began, “But they are only material things, you need to concentrate on what’s important.”

Elizabeth spun to glare at him and growled, “Important?” When their eyes met the compassion she found there shook her to her core. She didn’t know how to respond. The men in her past had always been so judgmental and self-concerning, just as her father had been. One look at this room and her father would have lectured her for hours on her carelessness and reckless attitude toward her own safety. Yet Joshua wanted to comfort her, protect her.

Elizabeth had no idea how long she stood there staring at Joshua. Finally, she glanced down at the floor and said, “I’m sorry, this isn’t your fault.”

Joshua reached out and took her by the shoulders. He whispered, “It’s going to be alright.” He pulled her against him and they held each other in silence.

******

The next morning Elizabeth woke up on the sofa in Joshua’s arms. She glanced over to the recliner and smiled when she saw Amy cradled in Randy’s arms sound asleep. Joshua opened his eyes and pulled Elizabeth back down as she attempted to sit up.

He rolled her over on her back and climbed on top of her saying, “Where do you think you’re going?”

Elizabeth stared up into his deep blue eyes and smiled.  Before she could speak, Charlie jumped on the sofa on top of Joshua, followed by Kilo.  Elizabeth let out a squeak as Joshua dove protectively on top of her laughing. Randy bolted upright in the recliner, jolting Amy awake. The dogs bounded off the sofa and went to the front door, desperate to go outside.

Randy scooped Amy up in his arms as he rose from the recliner and said, “Amy, I certainly hope you don’t expect me to find a way to make our second date more eventful than our first.”

Amy laughed and responded with, “Would it help if I promise the next time we spend the night together, it won’t be in a recliner?”

Her comment seemed to shake Randy up a bit.  He flashed a nervous smile and set her down gently on her feet. He glanced at Joshua for assistance. Joshua flashed Randy a huge smile, climbed off Elizabeth, and headed for the front door.

He called over his shoulder as he went, “I’m going to take the dogs and check out the stables. Sheriff, Want to join me?”

Randy stumbled across the room in his rush to reach the door.  Joshua smiled and winked at Amy as the dogs dashed outside.  He followed Randy out the door into the bright morning light. Amy turned a questioning glance at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth rose from the sofa and reached out to touch her shoulder saying, “He’s a widower.”

Amy frowned at her and asked, “So what? Does that mean he’s broken, He’s scarred for life,  He’ll never have sex again, He’s suddenly gay? What?”

Elizabeth gave Amy a hug and answered, “It means you may have to take this slowly. He’s a sweet man, but he has some baggage. You’re going to have to allow him some time to adjust. It’s possible he’s feeling guilty for being attracted to you.”

Amy sighed and headed for the kitchen.  She said, “I don’t want to marry him. I just want to date him. Let’s make breakfast for the guys. I bet they would like steak and eggs.”

Elizabeth watched in awe as Amy walked across the room and opened the refrigerator.  She crossed to the kitchen and said, “Amy, you are marvelous. You find out your latest romance has a secret past, and you don’t ask one question about it. Not only are you not curious, you move past Randy’s hesitation for involvement and dive right into the breakfast.  How do you do it?”

Amy turned to Elizabeth and offered in a mild tone, “I take people at face value. I don’t expect any more than they give, and I don’t anticipate their reactions.”

Elizabeth reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of eggs.  She asked as casually, not taking offense, “Are you criticizing me?”

Amy smiled and added, “I love you, Beth. You are the big sister I never had, but you and I are complete opposites.  I guess that’s why we get along so well. You analyze everyone; you can’t help it. You have this grand idea on how life is supposed to evolve. I actually do think there are many people out there acting just as you say. However, I think life is a mixture of mystery and confusion. Nothing is ever as it seems, and then again, it is precisely as it seems.”

Elizabeth pulled a bowl out of the cabinet and whisk out of a drawer.  She began breaking eggs into a bowl.  She tipped the bowl slightly to one side and attacked the eggs with fury.  Finally, she said, “You aren’t making any sense. Chaos and predictability don’t make good partners.”