Chapter Seventeen
K eira kept her gaze from Vicki and stayed busy. She didn’t want to answer the questions she knew Vicki wanted to ask. Keira had come back with lunch for her but nothing for herself, knowing she wouldn’t be able to get anything down. She’d told Vicki she’d eaten it on the way back, but she had a strong feeling Vicki hadn’t believed her.
The afternoon sped past. Every so often, she found herself spacing out, her thoughts running in circles. What did she do now? How was she supposed to deal with this? She wouldn’t, couldn’t call Layla. Not yet. She knew Layla would run back to help, and it would ruin her honeymoon. She and her sister had so little joy in their lives. She didn’t want to take this, something Layla’s always talked about, away from her.
The shocking thought of buying a gun ran through her mind several times. As much as she’d always disliked guns, she knew it might be the best way of protecting herself. Keira needed to buy one. She couldn’t do it in this town. She was afraid someone would stop her or tell Daniel, so she’d have to go to the next large town and try there. She didn’t know how to use one, but maybe the salesman would know someone who could train her.
Keira felt a little better. She had a plan of action. She wasn’t going down without a fight. A lot had happened in her life that she’d survived, and she could get through this, too.
She and Vicki closed down the shop. Keira took a few minutes in her car on her cell phone to find the nearest gun shop that wasn’t in the county. She then called Daniel, relieved when it took her to voicemail. “Daniel, it’s Keira. I won’t be home tonight. I have several errands to run, and I probably won’t be back until late, so I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night.”
She wasn’t on the outskirts of town before he called back. She was tempted not to answer, but didn’t want him to ask too many questions or be angry or suspicious. “Hello.”
“What the hell are you doing?”
Keira cringed and paused a moment. She didn’t understand that his tone was one of concern, not anger. “I’m sorry, what are you asking? I already told you I had errands.” She tried to put some firmness behind her words, but didn’t think she succeeded. Keira thought she should be angry at him for the terse way he was talking to her or about him talking to his cop friend without telling her, but she didn’t have the energy.
“Where are you going?”
She named a few towns over that had a Super Walmart.
“Why?”
“To get some things I need for the shop and my house.” She hated lying, but decided she didn’t want to hear all the reasons she shouldn’t get a gun. She waited for him to say something. “It’s no big deal. You should be happy to have some quiet time to yourself. We’ve been together every night, and I’m sure you’re probably sick of it. One night apart isn’t going to hurt anything.” She started getting nervous when he didn’t say anything for a long moment.
If truth be told, she was actually a little surprised he hadn’t walked away already if he thought she was crazy enough to make up a stalker. Keira already surmised his feelings for her didn’t come close to the way she felt, so this shouldn’t anger him this much. He had yet to talk about anything personal with her. Daniel never discussed their relationship, or lack thereof, and for whatever reason, he’d never invited her to his place. That alone told her more than words how he felt.
His silence was wearing on her nerves. “Listen, Daniel. Maybe it would be a good idea for us to cool it.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” he snapped.
She cringed at the anger in his voice. “I don’t mean to make you angry.”
“Then don’t say that shit again.”
“Daniel, think about this. I’m giving you a way out of a relationship that has no trust, and I think you’ll agree without that, it can’t really go anywhere.”
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. I will not talk about whatever the problem is over the phone with you, Keira. What time will you get back?”
“I don’t know.” Keira pressed her fingers against her temple hoping to relieve some of the tension that had lain there for days.
“Dammit. I don’t want you by yourself.”
“Go home, Daniel. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
How was he going to get through to her without making her fear worse? “You sound tired.”
Keira paused, then admitted, “I am.”
Daniel gritted his teeth against the frustration racing through him at that moment. “Then why the hell are you driving? Wait until I can go with you.”
“No. I’m not going to wait. I have things to do. I promise not to get in an accident.”
“You can’t promise that. You have no idea if you’re impaired. What about your stalker?”
Keira drew in a long breath. “What about him?”
He couldn’t understand why she was being so blasé about it. “I don’t think you should be alone until we figure this out.”
“There’s nothing to figure out, Daniel. I have to go. I want to pay attention to the road.”
He must have heard the defeat and fatigue in her voice which made Daniel pull back from arguing with her anymore.
“Call me when you get home.”
“All right, I will if it’s not late.”
“No, you call when you get home. Promise me, Keira.” Daniel paused for a moment but heard only silence. “ Keira ,” the dominance in his voice was unmistakable.
Keira sighed. “Okay.”
“Good. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Keira hung up the phone and put it on the passenger seat. She needed to concentrate on the MapQuest directions. She should be pulling into the town in less than a half hour. The sooner she finished this venture and got home, the better.
Keira pulled into the gun shop, parked, and looked around. She had never been in a gun store in her life, and she hadn’t realized how intimidating it would be. It didn’t help that a bar with a rowdy crowd was right next to the building.
The gun shop’s building was big, grey, one story, and had thick bars on the windows. She couldn’t remember seeing a building quite so cold before. Even with the sunshine, it still looked like something she’d only seen in movies where bad things always seemed to happen.
She took a deep breath. She didn’t have a choice. She had to protect herself. She had no one else to depend on.
The bell over the door chimed as she walked over the threshold. Keira stood and looked around the large, dim room, trying to find the strength to move forward.
“Can I help you, Miss?”
Keira looked around until she found the person attached to the voice. She walked toward the back of the store where a long counter stood, and behind it were boxes and boxes of bullets and a wall of guns. From small ones to long scary ones she doubted she’d be able to lift.
“Miss?”
Keira focused on the older thin man behind the counter. His smile instantly put her at ease. “Yes, sir. I’m looking to buy a gun.”
He eyed her thoughtfully. “Have you ever owned a gun, Honey?”
She pulled her eyes away from the gun wall and focused on him. “No, sir.”
“May I ask, why now?”
“Honestly ... I’m being stalked, and the cops can’t do anything about it because they have no evidence.”
“Damn, girl. I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s see if we can get you set up, okay?”
Keira released the breath she’d been holding since she walked through the door. “Thank you.”
He pulled a small gun off the wall. “Let’s try a .22. Here, put this in your hand.” He showed her how to fit a gun into her hand and where her fingers should be.
The piece of metal wasn’t heavy, but it looked so foreign in her hand that it shook her. “Is there anyone who can teach me how to use this?”
“Absolutely. We have an instructor here every day. He has classes every week, but if you’re in a hurry, he gives private classes.”
“That would be great.”
He had her hold a few others, but she always came back to the .22. It was lightweight, and the trigger was easily accessible for her small hands. He showed her how to fill out the application while he filled out the gun registration.
“This application will take three days to process...”
Keira’s heart stopped. A lot could happen in three days. “Three days?”
“Yeah. Sorry, but it’s the law.”
“I didn’t realize that. Is it ever refused?”
“Are you a felon?”
She sputtered a laugh. “No. I can’t remember if I’ve ever even gotten a ticket.”
“Well, then, I don’t see a problem. I’ll call when you can come in and get your gun, then we can set up a time with the instructor.”
She paid for the gun and several boxes of bullets.
The store owner put two boxes of bullets in a bag. He looked up at her for a moment before walking away and coming back with a little spray can. “I’m going to give you a can of this,” he said and handed it to her.
“What’s this?”
“It’s pepper spray.”
For the first time in days, she felt a ray of hope, and tears came to her eyes. She hadn’t ever thought about something like it. “Thank you so much.”
He showed her how to use it. “Look, this is what you do. Try not to use it downwind, or you’ll get hit, but you may not have a choice. Spray and then run and scream. Can you do that?”
Tears burned her eyes, but a wide smile spread across her face. “You have no idea how much better you’ve made me feel.”
The clerk cleared his throat. “That’s really good, Honey. I hope they find the bastard, pardon my French, who’s bothering you. I’ll call you in a few days. Be safe.”
Keira reached across the counter and shook the man’s hands. “Thank you so much.”
“Take that with you everywhere. To work, at home, in your car. Keep it in your hand when you’re out on your own.”
“I will. Thank you again.”