Page 114 of Bad Seed

She glanced up, her eyes dancing. “Cheese? The kind that squirts out of a can?”

He grinned. “Cheese it is. Any particular crackers that please your gourmet palate?”

“Anything but saltines. Those are the ones I use for peanut butter,” she said.

He shook his head. “If I hadn’t already lost my heart to you, this would have been the tipping point. I don’t suppose you like Vienna sausages?”

“Dipped in whole-grain mustard? Yum.”

“Well, now we know what to serve at our wedding. Be back in a bit.”

Harley’s laughter followed him out the door.

Brendan made a quick run through the supermarket and then headed for the Serenity Inn. He parked in the visitor parking lot and went into the hotel, and through the lobby to the boutique jewelry store on-site. They didn’t have huge selections of fine jewelry, but they had some. He knew what he wanted and was hoping they’d have it in her size, and after a diligent search, he found it.

As they were ringing it up, Liz Devon walked in.

“Brendan! I’m so glad to see you. How’s Harley?”

“Great now that the feds finally found their man. She’s still got a groove in her scalp, but it’s healing, and she’s regained her balance, which was huge. For a whilethere, she was bouncing off chairs and walls like a ball in a pinball machine.”

Liz shuddered. “I won’t soon forget them taking her out on that gurney. I was so scared for her, and I know you were, too.” Then she eyed the small bag he was holding. “Anything interesting in there?”

He grinned. “I couldn’t say. Tell the crew in the kitchen that I’ll be back soon, and I appreciate their help more than they know.”

“Of course,” Liz said. “Oh…Wolf Outen is due to move in tomorrow and step into the managerial role, and it’s none too soon for me. I don’t know how he plans to integrate the security he travels with, but that’s all on him to figure out now.”

“Good to know,” he said. “Gotta go. See you soon.”

They walked out of the boutique together, then went their separate ways.

Brendan noticed the wind picking up as he headed for his car. It didn’t seem to matter what time of year, or what the weather was like, tourists still came to Jubilee. It was good for business, and even better for the families on Pope Mountain. PCG Inc. had turned Jubilee into the tourist attraction it was today and saved their way of life.

By the time he got to the car, he was running. The first drops of rain were beginning to fall, and he had the sudden urge to hurry. He dropped the bag from the jewelry store into the seat beside him and then started the car and headed home. Just knowing Harley wouldbe there waiting for him made his heart skip a beat. Tonight, he was putting a ring on her pretty finger—one step closer to being his wife.

As he was driving, he got a call from his mom. He answered on Bluetooth so he could keep his hands on the wheel.

“Hey, Mom. You’re getting rained on, aren’t you?”

“We sure are, and it’s really coming down. Good thing we went out this morning to look at land instead of waiting…and that’s why I’m calling. Uncle John came with his dowsing rods. I drove him out to the place, and it didn’t take him any time to walk the area. He swears there’s good water under your land. You’ll drill deep to get to it, but it will be a strong, continuing source.”

“Great news, Mom. Can’t wait to tell Harley. We’re both still in disbelief at such a loving and generous offer. Love you. Tell Uncle John we said thanks.”

“Will do. Take care. Love you, too.”

***

Unaware of Brendan’s plans, Harley had been wading through emails and making plans of her own. She’d contacted the leasing company about her Chicago apartment, informing them that she was moving out of state. With only a month left on her existing lease, and the fact that she’d been a tenant for almost eight years, they agreed to let her go without a penalty. She informed them she’d be sending her furniture to anauction house, and she would forward the name of the company so they could give them access to the apartment, and that another company would be packing her clothes and personal belongings to ship to her. And, after she mailed back her personal keys to the place, they would refund her deposit.

She’d just shut a door to her past, and without one regret. No more lonely days and nights in the apartment. No more solitary walks down the block to the local sports bar. Her solitary life was over, and Brendan Pope had made it worth the wait.

She was getting hungry and wondering when Brendan would be back when she heard a rumble of thunder and, at the same time, the garage door going up. She got up and headed for the kitchen. The man had timing down to an art, in more ways than one.

He was already coming in through the utility room with his arms full of grocery sacks when she walked into the room.

“You went after groceries and came home with rain, too. Was that on sale, or did it come for free?”

He put the sacks on the island, turned on the radio and swooped her up in his arms, and started dancing her around the kitchen. “Everything I have is yours, including this slow Kentucky rain.”

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