Page 19 of Protected By the Surly Carpenter

Ripping a page from my notebook, I make a quick note.

Just running to the grocery store real quick. Might stop by the bakery too. Don’t want to interrupt your flow state! I should be back by three. E.

My crappy old car makes pretty good time, since it’s downhill on the way to town. If I do move here, I’m definitely going to need proper snow tires for the winter, though.

If I move here…to the land of friendly people and fresh air, and a gorgeous man who I’m pretty sure is falling for me just as hard as I’m falling for him. It’s hard to keep my feet on the ground when it feels like all my dreams might actually come true.

I pick up the groceries, together with some things for breakfast tomorrow as well. Then I grab some fresh rolls at TheBakery on Main. After I put the bags in the trunk and close it, I notice the sign for Tidy’s Department Store.

On a scale of one to ten, how cheesy would it be if I picked up a couple of candles for our dinner?

After deciding it’s a solid eight but what the heck, why not, I wait for a few trucks to go by, then jog across the street to go into the super old school department store. They have exactly what I need – white taper candles, and simple glass holders.

Just as I am about to cross the street again, I hear a man’s voice hollering, “She’s right there!”

My head snaps to the right to see Lawney and that guy who must be Jeff’s son.

I can’t run across the street, since there’s a car coming from each direction. I’m frozen as I stare at the men striding toward me. I have no idea what to do.

Then an all-too-familiar figure comes out of the alley.

Dad.

He found me.

11

CLARK

Mom always makes me swear to keep my phone close by when I’m working, in case I ever injured myself. It’s usually in the charger by the door, but today I keep it right near me just in case Elena needs something.

Then I fall completely into the zone. The scent of fresh cut wood is calming, as is the feeling of the soft, fresh planks under my rough skin. The way the pieces fit together perfectly. Like me and Elena.

Jeez. There I go with the mushy again.

Several hours later, my head jerks up and checks the clock. Damn. I’ve gotten a lot done.

Checking my phone, there’s no message from Elena. Just as I began to send her a text asking how her day is going, the phone rings.

It’s Barrett – a local woodsman and occasional beer buddy. “Hey, what’s up?”

“I hate to bother you when you’re probably working, Clark, but this might be important.”

“Go on.”

“I was just downtown, and there were three guys searching for a woman named Elena. Isn’t that the name of the new server at Jim’s? I heard someone say they saw the two of you together at Betty’s Bistro the other night.”

“Three guys?” I ask, shutting down the power tools.

“Yeah. One of them was that Lawney guy – you know him? I’m not even sure what town he’s from, maybe Pinesley, but he often seems to be floating around when there’s trouble.”

“Yeah, I know him,” I growl. Striding toward the house, I’m already roughing out a plan to take Elena to my parents’ cottage for a week to get her out of here. “And the other two?”

“Didn’t recognize them. One of them was quite a bit older.”

“Shit. Thanks. I have to go.”

“Need help? I could turn around and meet you downtown.”

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