Page 72 of Saving Veronica
“Try me.”
“I did my normal chores, went into town for groceries. All this was done before nine this morning. When I got back with the groceries, I shoved the perishables in the refrigerator, and freezer, then went back out to work with Lieutenant.”
“Who’s that?” The deputy asked as he took notes.
“My buckskin.” At his frown, she sighed, “A horse.”
“Ah.”
“Anyway, when I was done, I came inside to make some lunch, I had planned to spend the afternoon doing farm paperwork and school homework.” At the deputy’s frowns she elaborated. “I’m in my last semester at the college to become a vet.” She was thankful he only nodded.
“I was putting the paper products away, when there was a knock on the door and this happened.” Ronnie leaned forward and rapped her knuckles on the table and everyone jerked when they heard, “AWK! Come in! AWK!”
“I knew Grandma was coming over, so I called out for them to come in. No, I did not go to the door to see who it was. The door opened and Steve walked in. I asked what the fuck he was doing here, and he backhanded me. Before Captain here attacked him, he hit me twice more. I don’t know how many times he hit me before Major came to my rescue.” She laid her hand on the dog’s head, as he rested it on her leg.
“Who is this Steve?” the sheriff asked. “And why would he attack you?”
“He’s Steve Hill, I dated him years ago. I broke up with him three years, ten months, and fourteen days ago. I have not seen nor heard from him since I kicked him out of my life.”
“How did he take the breakup?” the deputy asked.
“No clue, we were out to dinner, I told him I was done. Told him not to contact me again, I stood and left, never looking back.”
“Did he say anything before he attacked you?”
Ronnie frowned. “He said something about me dating other people and he had strictly forbidden it.” She tried to rub her forehead again, and glared when Finn stopped her.
“Are you dating anyone?”
“No.” Ronnie frowned again.
“We went out to dinner together last night,” Finn spoke.
Ronnie waved it off. “That was only one date, it’s not like we were dating.”
“Where did you go?”
“Why?”
“Maybe we can check to see if Hill was there. I don’t know,” Bronson said. “Maybe seeing you with another man set him off. Never can tell with men like that.”
Everyone turned when there was a knock on the door and chuckled when the bird called for them to enter. The EMTs had arrived and after they examined her, it was determined they wanted to take her to the hospital to see if she had a concussion.
“I’ll ride with you,” Lorna said. No one said anything and she looked back and grinned. “Whoever comes to pick up Ronnie, could you bring my car also? Then I can leave from the hospital to go home. I’m sure Ronnie’s going to want to come home and crash.”
“I probably will, but I won’t be able to.” She sighed. “I have too much paperwork to do.”
“Maybe we can help.” Gerald said.
“I have to balance the books and find enough money to make a lean-to for the horses for winter. Then I need to do homework.”
“I think you need to listen to Grady,” Finn said, and frowned when she stiffened and climbed off. He reached out to steady her, but she jerked away from him, causing her to stumble. Lorna was the one to guide her over to the EMTs and she was taken out. Before she left Lorna turned back to him.
“I’ll explain later.” She hurried away and Finn looked around and saw confusion on everyone’s faces, so he shrugged, and after the sheriff left, he helped Maggie clean up the mess that had been left behind.
“Do you know why Veronica stiffened when I told her to listen to Grady?”
“No,” Maggie frowned, then sighed. “Shit, yeah, I might.” She didn’t say anything after that until she made a cup of coffee. By then Marc had left, Hector took Gerald and Grady out to the barn to show him his idea about the lean-to for the horses. This left Maggie and Finn alone. After they settled in with their coffee, Maggie studied the man across from her, before she began. “I’ll try to explain it as much as I know. But I probably won’t get it all.”
