9. Scar
CHAPTER 9
SCAR
Evelyn has her interview today, and this will be the first time she's been away from me. Even when she was shopping with the girls, I was nearby, catching glances of her, even though she didn't know.Though I insisted on driving her, so at least I’ll know she gets there and home safely.
“You are going to do great. You already know Luna, and I'm sure you two talked about what to expect,” I say, wanting to get her talking.
“Yeah, she is pretty sure I have the job in the bag as long as I don't flub the interview.”
“Well, I can say your outfit is perfect and I can't wait to peel it off of you later.” I wink at her and enjoy the blush that coats her cheeks.
Even with everything we have done in the last few days, she still blushes when I talk about anything to do with sex. I hope that never changes.
I pull up to the school admin building, which is next to the elementary school. “You got this. Call me when you’re finished and let me know how it went,” I say, leaning in to kiss her.
“Don't forget Luna and a few of the girls are taking me shopping after so I can get you a Christmas gift,” she reminds me.
“I know. I'm going to hang out with Atlas and the guys. Call me when you are done,” I say, smiling.When Atlas suggested I come help at the clubhouse to take my mind off leaving her, I took him up on it.
She wanted to get me something, but was hesitant about taking money from me. Reassuring her, I told her she can pay me back when she gets the job. She agreed. Like hell I'll take money from her. It's a privilege to take care of her and eventually, she will learn it.
She kisses me again before getting out of the car, and I watch her head into the building before I drive off. With her distracted, I take the opportunity to go to the Merc and chat with Ruby. I figure she will be the perfect person to help with what I need.
As soon as I walk into the store, it's like being slapped in the face with Christmas. Peppermint and pine fill the air, Christmas music plays, and holly jolly decor is everywhere.
“Scar, hey honey, you here for some coffee? Where is your bride to be?” Ruby asks, stretching her neck and looking behind me.
“She is at her interview with the school board.”
“Oh, she’s going to be teaching?” she asks hesitantly.
“Completely her choice. She loves it. If I had it my way, she'd be attached to my side every minute of every day.” I walk over to her.
“That sounds about right. So now you are just waiting for her to be done?” Ruby asks.
“Actually, I came to talk to you.” I look around and there are a few people doing some shopping.
Sage has a basket of what looks like Christmas gifts, and one of the girls that works at the hair salon is looking at chocolate.
“Can we chat in the back really quick?” I ask. Ruby may be a gossip, but she can keep a secret when needed. I can't say that about other people in town.
“Of course. Just come on back to my office,” she says, leading me to a makeshift desk area in the back room. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, but I need to get Evelyn a ring, and I'm hoping you can help me because I want to surprise her with it.”
Ruby's eyes light up right before anger takes over.“You proposed to that girl without a ring? What is wrong with you?” She swats my arm.
“Most of our relationship has been online. Until she moved here the day before you met her, we hadn't spent much time together.” I tell Ruby what I had worked out in my head last night.
It’s close enough to the truth without lying, but far enough away from the truth that it shouldn't embarrass Evelyn.
“Well, okay then. I'm glad you are making it right. How can I help?”
I pull out one of Evelyn's rings I saw her wearing on her ring finger the other day and hand it to Ruby.
“This is her ring size,” I say and then pull out my phone. “This is what I'm thinking as far as rings.”
I show her the links I had bookmarked.
“Since I can't get away into Helene without her asking questions, I'm hoping you can. You have great taste and there isn't anyone else I'd trust,” I tell her, pouring on a bit of sugar I know she will eat right up.
“Well, of course. All I need to do is tell Orville we need to go there tomorrow for some shopping. Then we will go our separate ways because I know he hasn't bought anything for me yet, even though I got his gifts last month. Just leave it to me!” she says, the smile back on her face.
“I need it in a week or less and will pay the rush fee.” I hand her my credit card.
“That will be a nice hefty rush fee. Do you want a wedding band to go with it?”
“Yes, and one for me, too. She wants to be married before Christmas,” I say, giving her my ring size.
“All right then, you work on the rest of the plans and leave these to me.” Ruby winks.
She loves being involved with anything love-related in this town. Because of everything going on with the Savage Bones this past year, she hasn't been able to be as involved as she likes. So, I'm happy to enlist her aid with this, and I’m glad that I can get the ring in time.It’s a win-win.
With a final hug, I head out to meet Atlas at the clubhouse. Evelyn calls just as I get there.
“Hey, how did the interview go?” I ask.
“It went really well. It was more like friends talking than any interview I've ever been on. Right there on the spot, I got offered the job. Best yet, it pays more than my job back home. I didn’t even have to think about it, I just accepted the position. Luna is waiting outside for me, and we are going to do some shopping here in town,” she says in what sounds like one breath.
“I'm happy for you. We will celebrate tonight. Have fun shopping and call me when you are done, and I'll come get you. Right now, I'm at the clubhouse checking out the renovations.”
“Okay, be safe,” she says.
“You too.”
“I thought you’d end up staying there gossiping on your phone all day,” Atlas says when I walk in.
“It was Evelyn. She called to tell me she got the teacher position on the spot. A few of the girls are with her, and they’re going shopping now. So, you have me for at least an hour.”
“I'll take it. I wanted to talk more about the party and about the hot springs deal, too. After I read the email you sent me with the details, I talked to Sheriff Lawson, Orville, and even Ruby. They all thought it was weird that no one else from Mustang Mountain attended. I went to the cafe and asked around, but no one even knew about the event,” he says, taking a seat on one of the folding chairs that have been brought in.
“It almost felt intentional,” I say. “The way that woman reacted when Orville introduced us. Evelyn told me later she had a fake smile when talking to us, but a real one when she was talking to the others.”
“Which is odd, since you need the mayor on your side to do anything here. It's a historical building so they can't even change the paint color without Orville and the historical committee's approval,” Atlas says.
“And Ruby is on the historical committee.” I voice what we are both thinking. “Maybe that’s why only the two of them were invited. They didn't expect them to bring Evelyn and me, and then when the sheriff showed up, I bet it made them tense.”
"We looked into the company and there is nothing. They popped up out of nowhere and purchased some land in Silver City before buying the hot springs and then nothing. There is no income source,” Thunder says, joining us.
“Which means they are funded by another company,” I say.
“Or by someone else,” Atlas says. “I could be wrong, but my gut is saying not to dismiss this. After the year we have had, maybe I'm just on edge, but this isn't adding up for me.”
“Did you check to see who this company is registered to?”
“Yeah, it led to some shell company in the Caribbean and that led us to a dead end. It will take some work to figure out where the shell company leads to,” Thunder says. “We will keep digging, though.”
There is a pause in the conversation before Atlas smiles.
“I just found out Shane plans to move home after the first of the year. He says he's going to get the ranch up and going again. With everything that had been going on and with Savage Bones, he stayed away. Now he's ready to start over,” Atlas says.
“Well, you know the club will welcome him because he's important to you,” I say.
“I know, I just hope the rest of the town will be so welcoming.” The smile fades from Atlas’s face.
“Well, I'm sure it's because Shane served some time behind bars. In my mind, he's done his time and ever since he’s working to make things right. He's been nothing but helpful, like at Thanksgiving.”
“Remind the town we owe him for Thanksgiving. He saved many lives and the town thousands if not millions of dollars by stopping that bomb Savage Bones planted,” Thunder says.
“I will. Couldn't hurt having you guys speak up for him, too. I have a feeling he has an uphill battle ahead of him,” Atlas says.
Then both mine and Thunder’s phone go off at the same time.
We look at each other as we reach for our phones.
I relax when I see it’s Evelyn.
“Hey, sweetheart. How’s the shopping?” I ask.
“Fine. We are done and on our way to the train station,” she says, hanging up abruptly.
She’s either angry or something is wrong. Whatever, my gut is screaming.
I look up at Thunder and know his girl was on the phone, too.
“I have to go get Evelyn. Something is off.”
Then I'm out the door before either of them can speak. In record time, I'm in my truck and at the train station in town.
When I walk in and spot Evelyn, I can tell she's mad. She sees me, but won't meet my eyes. With her arms crossed, she looks at me, but doesn’t move. No greeting or anything. Instead, she walks by me and straight for the door, gathering a few shopping bags on the way.
When I look over at the other girls, none of them will meet my eyes. I don't waste any time following Evelyn out to my truck.