Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
M
ae was waiting on the front porch when Willow and Tripp returned from the woods with Rufus. “I saw the sheriff’s vehicles and came straight over. What’s happened? What’s wrong?”
“Long story.” Willow hugged her and put Rufus in the house. “I’m okay. Just tired.” And more afraid than she’d been half an hour ago.
“You sure?”
“Yes. Come inside for a cup of tea, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Mae came in without any argument, went straight through to the kitchen, and grabbed the kettle herself. “Sit. Talk to me while I make the tea.”
Tripp shot Willow a little smile and gestured to the table. “After you.”
Willow sat, didn’t bother protesting as Mae moved around the kitchen like she owned the place. It was nice to have someone take care of her for a little bit. “It’s been a long night.”
“Start talking. Lemon zinger okay?”
“Sure. Rufus and I found something really weird in the back woods this morning.”
“Oh?”
“He sniffed out a buried ammunition cache.”
Mae turned to her, eyebrows raised in surprise. “What kind of ammunition?”
“Bullets, for pistols and rifles. A lot of it. Filling one of those big, heavy-duty plastic storage trunk lockers.”
“That’s...a lot.”
“I know. And there was a weird message on a piece of paper in there too. I got pictures, sent them to Rafe, and took the paper with me. I went into town for the afternoon. Then tonight when I got to my car, I found out someone had smashed the window and taken the backpack with the paper in it.”
“Someone broke into your car? That’s awful.” She shook her head. “Our island is changing, and not for the better.”
“I know. Tripp drove my car over to the claim center for me then brought me home. Rafe showed up with some deputies soon after, and I went to show them where I found the ammo. Except someone had already dug it up and moved it. It was big and would’ve been insanely heavy, so it had to be a few people.
There’s no way they would’ve been able to get a vehicle in there, not even an ATV.
A motorbike maybe, but that makes no sense because they wouldn’t have been able to haul the trunk out on bikes, and there’s no way they could have dragged a trailer behind one. ”
Mae frowned as she dropped two teabags into the mugs she’d set on the counter. “So whoever it was must have seen you earlier?”
“Maybe. And the break-in and stolen backpack might have been connected to it, not random.” That worried her most. As a woman, she’d never felt unsafe here before.
But now it was hitting home just how vulnerable she was, living alone up here as a single female in this quiet spot with dense forest behind her.
“Oh, dear...” Mae poured boiling water from the kettle into the mugs, added a bit of honey to each. As she went to pick them up, she knocked one over. “Damn.” She jerked her hand back.
Willow jumped up to grab her wrist. “Are you all right?” The thin skin across the back of Mae’s hand was turning an angry red where the nearly boiling water had scalded her.
“I’m fine.” Mae turned away, switched the faucet to cold, and ran her hand under the flow. “Stupid old age. I get clumsy sometimes when I’m tired.”
Willow got the distinct impression that Mae was hiding something, but she fixed the tea and brought the mugs to the table, setting one in front of her and the other in front of Tripp. “Careful, it’s hot.”
Mae joined them a few moments later.
“Is it okay?” Willow asked.
“It’s fine.” Mae waved away her concern. “Drink your tea. It’ll help settle your nerves.”
“Thank you,” Willow murmured, wrapping her hands around the ceramic mug to absorb the warmth into her chilled fingers.
The inside of the mug had paint stains on it.
She should know better by now than to have a mug sitting on her desk when she was painting.
Many a brush had gone into her tea rather than the water container used for cleaning them.
“And how did Tripp get involved in this?” Mae asked. “You called him when you saw your car had been broken into?”
“No, we’d been out whale watching together and then had dinner after.”
“Did you now?” Mae sat back, a pleased smile on her face. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. You had fun?”
“Until I saw my car, yes. We had a great time.” Well, she had. She glanced at Tripp.
“You want to sleep at my place tonight?” Mae asked, bringing Willow’s attention back to her. “I’ve got someone staying in the guest room right now, but you’re welcome to the pullout in the living room. Or I can stay here with—”
“I’ll stay with her,” Tripp said. “Make sure everything’s secure.”
Willow exhaled a breath, wanting to hug him. He had been incredible with her tonight, calm and decisive and helpful. She felt safe with him here. “Thank you. I was going to ask you.”
His caring smile made her insides flip. “No need. I got you.”
Warmth curled inside her, and a little pang twinged in her chest. It wasn’t just the chemistry between them. She cared about him. Always had. But now her feelings were growing into something much bigger. Deeper. It scared her a little how into him she was already.
“All right then, I’m gonna go home and put some ointment on this. But if you change your mind, let me know.” Mae hugged her goodbye. “I’m just next door if you need me.”
“I know. Thanks. Love you.”
“Love you back. Try not to worry too much. You’re safe with Tripp here, and Rufus. I’ll check on you in the morning.”
Willow saw her out and returned to Tripp, who was still sitting at the kitchen table.
It was just the two of them now. She was alone in her empty house with the most irresistible man she’d ever known and never quite gotten over.