Chapter Twenty
CHAPTER TWENTY
Back at the ranch Blake couldn’t relax, and chided himself for not taking Heather to the campground and picking her up when she finished her shift. There was very little traffic at night, and the creep who had followed her might do the same thing again, but this time run her off the road. Moving out onto the porch and seeing Doug’s truck, he broke into a jog and entered the barn.
“Hey, Blake, what’s up?” Doug asked, stepping out of a stall.
“Will you be here much longer?”
“Yep, it’ll take me a while to check that delivery of feed and supplements. Then I have to empty it all into the bins. Why?”
“I need to nip out for a bit.”
“Not a problem.”
“Have you seen Butch?”
“Last I saw he was staring at the ground near the side of the barn.”The moment Doug finished speaking, the big shepherd bounded into the aisle. “I guess he heard you,” Doug added with a grin.
“Can you keep your eye on him? I don’t like him runnin’ around at night. He might decide to follow a scent up Smoky Hill.”
“Hey, I hear ya. Sure, no problem. Stay with me, Butch.”
The dog barked as if understanding.
“Thanks, Doug. I’ll see you later.”
As he walked out to his truck and climbed behind the wheel he felt a few drops of rain. He wasn’t surprised. Fall was merging into winter, and when he turned onto the road the light sprinkle soon became a shower. But he was focused on what he’d do when he reached the restaurant. He didn’t want to cause a scene, but if the stranger was there, it would be difficult not to confront him.
It was a quick trip, but during the short drive the rain had become heavy. Entering the parking area and seeing Heather’s truck, he parked next to it and grabbed the jacket he kept in the back seat. Holding it over his head, he ran to the door, burst into the foyer and hung it on a hook.
“Okay,” he muttered, taking a breath and running his hands over his hair, “if he’s there just stay calm.”
* * *
Heather was coming out of the kitchen with appetizers for another table when she saw Blake walk in. Shocked to see him, she stopped short and almost dropped the plates. As he grinned across at her and moved to the bar, she smiled back, served her guests, then hurried to join him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked as she approached. “Is everything okay at the ranch?”
“Nice to see you too,” he quipped with a wink. “And yes, everything’s fine. I was just a bit worried. Whether you’re comin’ to my place or yours I don’t want you drivin’ back by yourself. Is he here?”
“Yes he is, and Blake, that’s so…I’m not sure what the word is…but thank you.”
Looking past her at the diners, he spied a sharply dressed man sitting alone by a window.
“I assume that’s him. Don’t worry, I won’t go over there and punch him in the nose, though I’d like to.”
“I’m sure you would. I have to get back to work, but I’m really glad you’re here. Would you like anything to eat?”
“Sure, surprise me.”
“Okay.”
Feeling comforted by his presence Heather headed back to check on her guests, but when she turned to glance across at Joe Meyer, he darted his eyes back to the window.
He’d been staring at her.
She was about to hurry back into the kitchen, but changed her mind. Striding through the dining room, she stopped at his table.
“Yes?” she asked. “What is it you need?”
“I don’t need anything. Why?”
“I thought you were trying to get my attention.”
“Uh, no.”
“Ah, my mistake. Your dinner should be ready shortly.”
As she walked away a grin curled her lips.
He’d turned pink.
“It’ll be a cold day in hell before I let you intimidate me, asshole,” she mumbled under her breath.
* * *
Though he couldn’t hear what was being said, Blake had seen the exchange and it was obvious Heather had somehow turned the tables. As he picked up his beer to take a swallow, he saw her walking towards him carrying a plate of appetizers.
“This is our sample platter,” she said happily, placing it in front of him.
“Thanks, darlin’. I know you probably don’t have time to stop, but tell me briefly, what just happened between you and Joe Meyer?”
“I caught him staring at me so I went over and asked him what he wanted.”
“Heather…” he muttered, shaking his head.
“What? He deserved to be confronted, and you’re always telling me to go for it.”
“Poking the bear is not what I had in mind,” he said, shooting her a disapproving look.
“I’m not sorry. He turned positively pink, and you know what? I’m not scared of him. He actually looked…timid. Yes, that’s the word. Timid. In fact, I’m wondering if we got this wrong. Maybe it was just coincidence that he was behind me.”
“Was it coincidence that he was parked under a tree down from the ranch?”
“But are we sure it was him? Think about it!”
“Yes ma’am,” he quipped with a grin.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound like an order.”
“It’s okay. I kind of like this side of you, though it does make me want to bend you over the bar and—”
“Stop it!”
“And there she goes again.”
“You’re impossible,” she retorted. “Now you’ll have to excuse me, I have to check on my customers.”
Glancing across at Joe Meyer, and seeing his eyes fixated on Heather as she walked into the kitchen, Blake lifted out his phone and called Doug.
“Hey, Blake, what’s up?”
“Can you stick around a while? I have a problem. There’s a creep here at the Moonshine Restaurant eyeing Heather and I don’t want to leave.”
“I can certainly understand that. Sure, Blake, no problem.”
“Go into the house and make yourself at home. Grab a beer, watch TV, whatever. And there’s some leftover lasagna in the fridge if you want to zap it in the microwave.”
“Damn, I love lasagna.”
“It’s yours, and help yourself to anything else in there that catches your eye. I really appreciate this.”
“Any time. I’d rather be here with Butch and the horses than sittin’ around at my place.”
“Hey, I get that. I’ll see you when we get back, and thanks again.”