Page 76 of Home for Justice
“Gwen, hello,” Justice greeted.
Gwen turned with a warm smile and opened her arms for a hug. “Hello, my dear. I hope it’s okay that I brought dinner. I certainly don’t want to step on any toes.”
Justice waved her hand with a grin. “You’re not stepping on anything. I’m thrilled you’re here. And honestly? This gives me a chance to go out to dinner for once.”
Her dad sat nearby, his grin boyish and full of mischief. “With Tyler?” he asked.
“Yep. He’s going to pick me up from his place. You two can have a lovely dinner without me hovering.”
“That’s terribly sweet,” Gwen said. “But I brought plenty. I don’t want you to feel you have to leave.”
“Not at all,” Justice said kindly. “I haven’t had much time to go out with the person I’ve started seeing, so this is a treat for me.”
“Well then,” Gwen said with a pleased nod, turning back to the stove, “enjoy yourselves.”
Justice crossed the kitchen and kissed her father on his cheek. “I’m going to run over to Tyler’s and check on the goats. Tyler will pick me up over there. Behave tonight.”
He pulled her into a hug and gave a mock growl. “You know I always behave.”
She gave him a teasing look. “I’m not so sure Gwen believes that.”
With a final wave to her dad and Gwen, Justice stepped out into the cooling evening. The sun was starting to dip behind the mountains, casting fingers of shadow across the land.
She pulled into Tyler’s driveway, noting the house was quiet. She swung her vehicle around to the back, closer to the animal pens. As the tires crunched over gravel, the security lights blinked on, casting a harsh glow over the yard. The wind had picked up, rustling the trees and sending a chill across her skin. She tugged her sweater tighter around herself.
From the pen, a chorus of bleats erupted. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” she called, hurrying toward the goats.
The four of them jostled at the gate, pushing against one another in their eagerness. She laughed as she turned on the hose, watching them stamp in place while she filled the water trough. Then she scooped a generous portion of feed into their trough, chuckling as they crowded around it like it had been days instead of hours.
Crouching beside them, she gave each a scratch behind the ears. “Tyler’s got some friends coming this weekend to help build you a new shed,” she murmured. “And a bigger pen. Just hang in there a little longer, okay?”
As she stood, she glanced over toward the chicken coop. It had not been damaged, and Tyler had been able to entice them back into their enclosure. The low clucking from inside reminded her that their care wasn’t finished yet.
She walked across the yard, unlatched the coop door, and stepped inside. The hens blinked up at her, feathers puffed and rustling as they moved about. She checked the feeder and topped off their water, murmuring reassurances as she worked. The simplicity of the task calmed her, momentarily pushing away the tension that had gripped her all week.
By the time she stepped back outside and latched the coop, she knew Tyler would be arriving soon. Hurrying back over to the goats, she grabbed the small shovel and scooped some fresh hay into the pen.
Right on cue, she heard the sound of tires rolling slowly over the gravel. A smile tugged at her lips as she stood, hearing a car door shut.
“I’m back here, Tyler!” she called. “Just finishing with the goats!”
There was no answer. She hesitated, frowning slightly, but assumed he wouldn’t want to yell across the yard. Turning to walk around the side of the house, she stopped suddenly.
A man stood near the edge of the property, half shrouded in shadow, just beyond the reach of the security light. Her smile faltered. The shape wasn’t right. It was too lanky and short for Tyler.
A prickling fear crawled up her spine. Her fingers curled tighter around the shovel handle. She hoped the security cameras would have picked up anyone coming down the drive, and Tyler would have been notified.But he’s stuck in traffic.She took a cautious step back.
“Stop,” the man said, voice low and sharp.
Another shiver ran through her. She stiffened, willing her voice to stay calm as her grip tightened on the phone. “Who are you? What do you want?” Her voice cracked slightly as the fear weaving through it was impossible to hide.
“I didn’t think anyone would be here,” he muttered.
Something about the voice tugged at her memory. Familiar, but off. Slurred slightly. Not right.
The man stepped forward, and the motion triggered light now flooded his face. She gasped.
“John?” Her laugh was high and disbelieving. “Oh my God, you scared me. What are you doing here? Did Dad tell you I was over here?”
