Page 27 of Finding Silence
“In any event, I’ve done my due diligence and made the required calls, so now I can go back to my peaceful existence, blissfully free of bloodsuckers and other parasites,” she finishes with feigned disinterest, effectively dismissing him.
But she’s not fast enough and he’s able to get one last, vile word in.
“Don’t think you can brush me off that easily, you sanctimonious cunt! Don’t think I don’t know where to find you.”
There the recording abruptly ends, leaving the definite threat hanging in the air.
“He’s dangerous,” I tell her straight out, not mincing words. “Perhaps more so now than before your call.”
I see stubborn indignation settling into her features, but cut her off before she can voice her objections.
“I realize that may not have been your intention, but it’s the result nonetheless. You and he; did you always have a reactive relationship?”
She pulls her eyebrows together in a frown, maybe surprised by my question. It takes her a moment to contemplate her answer.
“I guess so. It always felt more like what I would imagine a sibling relationship would be, not that I really have any frame of reference. On a creative level we meshed, but away from the music he was mostly a pain in the ass little brother. But…” she adds with a pained look in her eyes. “It sure sounds like he didn’t simply see me as a nagging older sister. I’m starting to wonder if he’s always hated me.”
I don’t like the defeated look on her face, and I don’t think the offer of a horseback riding lesson is going to do much to remove it, but I have an idea what might.
Buck called when I was about to leave here, wanting to know if I would take on another rescue. I blew him off, knowing he’d probably show up with the animal in a day or two anyway. But maybe this one isn’t meant for me, but for Phil. Not only am I hoping it might put that smile back on her face, but provide her with some added security as well.
“I want you to come with me,” I tell her, sliding off my stool and heading for the front door.
“Wait. Where are we going?” she calls after me, staying put in the kitchen.
“You like animals, right?”
Her face lights up, confirming what I had already been able to observe from the way she was around my animals yesterday. My question intrigues her enough she follows me to the front door, picking up her phone and her purse before stepping out on the porch.
“Lock up,” I remind her, which earns me a roll of her eyes.
“Can I get a hint?” she asks, settling into the passenger seat of my pickup.
I take her hand and bring it to my lips.
“Sure,” I mumble, already smiling. “It has four legs.”
Chapter 9
Phil
* * *
He’s so sweet, I can’t stand it.
If nothing else, it’s those unique blue eyes that won me over.
I’ll admit, I was a bit thrown by the sheer size of the animal. I’d never heard of a Daniff which, according to Buck, Brant’s friend, was the cross between a Great Dane and a mastiff.
Of course, I wanted to bring Diesel home right away, but Buck said he was still waiting for the last test results to come back and would prefer keeping him at the clinic until he was sure he was completely healthy.
So now Brant is driving me to Spokane to shop for dog necessities.
I’m excited. I haven’t owned a dog since Bitty died when I was sixteen. She was the cocker spaniel I grew up with. I loved that dog and was heartbroken when we found her one morning, curled up but stiff and cold in her little bed. She was my age and had died in her sleep.
I’d thought about getting another dog at one point, but after college came the band, and it hardly seemed fair to submit an animal to my crazy schedule. It’s crossed my mind a few times since the band dissolved, but I guess I’ve never felt settled enough to take one in.
Until now, that is.
