Page 69 of Robin and Marian
“Oh? You think this is from me?” Robin desperately tried to think of a way around that. “I’m just delivering it. Just pay it forward when you’re in the position to help someone else. That’s all you’ve got to do.” He tried to retreat while he could. “I’ve got to meet my girlfriend. We’re trying to beat the sheriff to the next place. He’ll be here any second to call in the debt.”
“Your girlfriend? Who would date you?” Logan walked him down the driveway just in time for Marian to come careening down the other side in that ridiculous jumpsuit. It drowned her, but she still looked amazing. “They get it?” Logan asked.
She nodded with a shy smile then straightened. “Looks like you got Robin instead. Should I leave him here with you?”
Logan laughed. “Hmm, I like her.”
“Yeah, me too. Don’t ruin this for me.” Robin joined her in the Engler F.F. while Logan blustered his innocence and illuminated its shiny sides with his light.
“What is that thing?”
“Not mine either.” He revved the engine while Logan saw them off. They were ahead of the game now. Driving to their last destination, Robin felt like he was in his element. Maybe he was born to be like his namesake—besides running from dogs and falling in the mud, giving back to the community felt good.
The last place on their list was a little nicer than the others—it was a quaint cabin resting near the woods by Elinor’s mountain. It was sizeable property owned by people Robin didn’t know as well. They’d come into town after he’d left for college. It was also in King County lines. He felt Marian’s hands tighten over him in warning, but he sped the bike over the border anyway. Robin had no intention of allowing the terms of his parole to interfere tonight.
“Robin!” she hissed in his ear.
He sped up and she fell silent. The drop-off ended up being simple in comparison to the risk. The dogs tried to give them away, but as soon as their owners saw what they’d been given, they allowed Robin and Marian to stay anonymous behind the mulberry bushes.
Driving back, Robin realized he’d been holding his breath until he let it out in a whoosh as soon as they made it safely through county lines. He leaned forward, feeling the relief wash all over him as he turned up the radio. Johnny Cash blasted all over them along with the cool mountain wind. Finally, it was over! And not a moment too soon. He spotted the sheriff’s patrol car coming up the other way with its drooping beams. Instead of passing them on the road to the cabin that they’d just left, the sheriff turned into the long driveway leading to Elinor’s lodge.
Marian lurched up in her seat behind him. “What’s he doing?”
Robin slowed the vehicle. There was only one explanation. “Does your aunt owe Guy money too?”
“She said nothing to me!”
They had more jewelry in the trunk, but her property taxes would be through the roof. Would their measly offerings even cover it? “I thought that Guy was trying to get in good with you so he could buy up your aunt’s property?”
She sighed loudly behind him. “It never crossed your mind that he was actually interested inme?”
His heart sank. He’d been stupid not to think it. There was a possibility that Guy had held off foreclosing on Elinor for as long as he’d thought he still had a chance with Marian, and if she still didn’t go for him, he could use it as a threat against her… if he didn’t callallElinor’s debts in tonight as revenge. “I was an idiot,” he said.
Without another thought, he yanked on the handles and took a hard turn into the long driveway to follow the sheriff to Elinor’s place. He had no idea what he was going to do since he couldn’t be within ten feet of her.
Chapter 18
“Go! Go!”
They couldn’t get to Elinor’s fast enough. Marian had watched in horror as Robin had put himself in danger—he’d been reckless, impetuous—but now that her aunt was in trouble, she was the one urging him on. She tried to piece everything together. Guy had said that he didn’t want anything getting in the way of the business between him and her aunt. She’d assumed he had merely wanted her help to sweeten up Elinor. Had he been hinting about foreclosing all along?
As they neared her lodge, Robin shut off his headlights, but he shouldn’t have bothered since the Engler was mind numbingly loud. Loose bark and gravel flew up past the wheels. The sheriff’s patrol car was parked in the driveway. He’d already gone inside and Marian’s nerves tingled at the risk. Robin would have to stay out here.
He turned off the engine, finally leaving them in blessed silence as he squeezed her arm. “We can use the rest of what we have for Elinor, but I have a feeling it might not be enough.”
“How much do we have left?”
“Maybe $90,000?”
It depended on how much Elinor’s failed investments had ruined her. If she was struggling to pay back a small amount, they might have a chance. Marian leaped out onto the gravel and wriggled out of her jumpsuit, her clothes damp with sweat beneath, but no way would she come to the door looking like she’d come back from a deer hunt. As soon as she was somewhat decent, Marian made her way to the front doors and rang the doorbell.
Elinor’s little miniature schnauzer went crazy inside, and within moments, her aunt was standing in the doorway, immersed in a glow of loveliness. She wore a pink, ruffled top, gray trousers, and a thread-like necklace with a jewel so small that it was almost invisible. The gray fluff of fur at her feet continued to yap and bristle in indignation until Elinor waggled her finger down at it. “Now shush, shush, Bobby.” The dog sniffed, offended into silence, and her aunt ushered her inside. “Marian!” I thought you would be at the party!”
Marian stepped into the tastefully-decorated lodge. It was like a high-end high-rise in Manhattan with its willowy flights of white stairs, crystal chandeliers, and Persian rugs. But there was no hint of the sheriff. She looked back at her aunt. “I came to see how you were.”
“Oh dear! No need to be worried for me. I didn’t want to be unsociable, but I couldn’t stand to see… well, we won’t talk about that. I saw you withhimand frankly, I’m surprised. The very sight of him makes my skin crawl.”
Marian bristled.Robin?But perhaps she meant Guy?
