Page 2 of Love, Untangled

Pen waited, breath held, for the pronouncement that she’d called the police.

Instead, the older woman said, “Good for you. I was going to clock him myself, but you probably had more power in your swing. He dropped like a rock, the big jerk. So, where are you headed?”

“Um…”

“I’m not going to tattle, so you don’t need to worry about that.” She waved her hand, sending the bracelets clinking together again. “Didn’t you hear me? You did the area a service. Plus, me turning up with an alpaca would have caused a lot of questions I don’t want to have to answer. You having him though… Do you know a lot of people in the area?”

Pen shook her head, too dazed by the jumps in conversation to truly comprehend what was happening.

“Good. Now, I’d appreciate it if you’d kindly give me a lift into town. My tire blew out.”

Pen frowned, trying to keep up with the older woman’s story. “Right here?”

The woman frowned. “What?”

“The tire? Did it go flat? Right here? That’s why you saw me…”

“Oh! I see what you’re asking. No, I stabbed it with my Swiss Army knife up in one of the treads. Stubborn bugger. I had a terrible time pulling the blade out of the rubber. That’s why it took me a minute to get over here. Thank goodness the poor dear needed to be calmed, otherwise I would be walking and my knees aren’t what they used to be. Now, let me in the car. My name’s Birdie. Birdie Dupre.”

The name rang vaguely through Pen’s mind. She had a tick of a memory but it faded quickly. Best Pen could come up with was that Birdie had known her grandmother.

Pen pursed her lips as she appraised Birdie. She might look like a sweet granny, but she was cunning—and honest. That wasn’t a combination Pen was used to. Alpaca Man had been much calmer following the incident than Pen, but she didn’t think mentioning her current anxiety would help. Pen’s head spun as she struggled to orient the fast-paced speech and shifting topics. “Um…”

“Look, my dear, I’m giving you an alibi in case anyone comes asking about what happens when that guy wakes up and starts hollering. Because he will. You stopped near his property, and he’s not going to like that you took away his trophy. Leon loves to shoot and stuff animals. Everyone around here knows that.”

Pen squirmed in her seat, her stomach knotted. “I didn’t. And I don’t like to lie.”

“Then don’t. Just tell everyone that man accosted your alpaca when you let him out to do his business. You were on the side of the road, not in a fenced area. See? That’s all true. We just won’t mention the part about being near, possibly on, his land. Leon keeps a shotgun in his truck and has been known to pick off unsuspecting creatures before. With a history like that, who’s going to know any different?”

Pen had no clue. “Um…I suppose…”

“Good. See? The truth. Now, let me in the car, please. My knees are aching, and I’m worried Leon will wake up and catch me here.”

Clearly that wouldn’t be good for the older woman. From what she’d said, Leon seemed mean-tempered and obsessed with taxidermized pets.

Pen’s stomach flipped at the thought. A man who could beat an animal wouldn’t think twice about hurting a woman. No way Pen could leave the older woman out here alone with him. She sighed, wondering if she was being played, as she unlocked the door. “That’s the guy’s name? Leon?”

“Yes. Leon Charger. And I highly recommend you steer clear of the man. Lucky for us, he’s not much for coming into town. He’d scare all the children and a good number of the tourists we depend on each summer.” She slid into the passenger seat, cradling the tree branch Pen had hit Leon Charger with, and thankfully Alpaca Man remained calm. Her jewelry sparkled as it caught the sunlight. She appeared to be wearing a velour tracksuit with sparkly stones across her bosom. Her tennis shoes were sensible. Somehow Pen thought this must be her get-into-trouble outfit. “I’ll burn it tonight. No sense in leaving the weapon.”

Pen shivered at the weapon comment. What had she done? Could she really justify her actions?

“Oh, look! There’s some blood and hair here. Let’s make sure that doesn’t touch the car anywhere. We don’t want any DNA evidence and what have you. I heard about that on those true crime podcasts. This gives us plausible deniability and all that.”

The older woman winked as she settled the branch in her lap with great care. She buckled her seat belt before leaning forward, around the long stick, to rub her left knee. She grimaced a little before flashing Pen a smile.

“You’re a doll. Trekking back to town wasn’t going to be easy.”

“You could have avoided that by not puncturing your tire,” Pen responded.

“Possibly. But then I wouldn’t be riding here with you, and I’ve taken a real shine to you. I sure have.”

“Thanks.” There was nothing else to say. Pen focused on the road for a few moments. “Do you spy on mean men and save animals often?” Pen asked

“When needed,” she replied dryly. Then she pursed her lips, wrinkles deepening around her eyes. “But don’t tell the girls, okay? They’d be upset. They’d think it was dangerous too.”

“It is dangerous,” Pen said, blowing out a breath. “Probably stupid. No, definitely stupid.”

“You braining him sure was. I worried for a minute he’d turn on you,” the older woman said. “Glad he didn’t. Leon can be a mean bugger. Holds a grudge. Are you going to tell me your name?”

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