2. Out Of Left Field
Chapter 2
Out Of Left Field
E lina grinned when she spotted the I-Phail tower as she rounded a curve that led to town. The water tower displayed the moniker proudly, and she was smiling when the town came into view.
She slowed her speed as she passed a few streets that led to clusters of well-kept homes on both sides of the road.
The business sector popped up after a few intersections. Flower pots lined both sides of the road, and the businesses were painted in cheerful colors. More flowers hung from baskets on the street lights.
Phail Fire.
Yoganna Love It.
The Saloon.
Doc’s.
Phail General.
Phail Way Park.
No Fail Diner.
Phail Phoods.
She was laughing as she reached more side streets leading to homes, and then she was driving through farmland. Apparently, Phail was a very small town. But it sure had personality.
Elina turned around on a side road and headed back into the town. Even if Arrow and Epic weren’t here, she knew she’d want to stay for at least a few days. Her second pass didn’t show any motels. She wondered if there was anywhere for visitors to stay at all.
A parking sign pointed down a street on the side of Phail Way Park, so she followed it and parked near a large plain board that stood upright in the park.
She grabbed her bag, locked up, and moved closer to read the sign posted near the large wall. It told her an adaptation of one of her favorite Agatha Christie mysteries would be playing in a few evenings. Apparently, the board was for communal movie nights. Another reason to stick around this quirky town.
A young boy and his puppy zipped across the park toward her, with a woman following behind. The puppy’s ear flopped up and down as he tried to keep up with his buddy. Some kind of spaniel, she’d guess, but she didn’t know enough about dog breeds to be sure.
The boy waved at Elina and then ducked around the back of the movie wall. The woman she assumed was the boy’s mother called out. “Careful, Owen.”
“I’m always careful, Mom.”
The woman laughed. “Says the boy who had a cast taken off last week.”
Elina couldn’t see the boy, but she’d bet he was rolling his eyes. “That fall was ages ago, Mom. I’m taller now.”
Curious about what was happening, Elina walked to the edge of the wall and peeked around. Brightly colored shapes covered the wall at various heights and distances. Rock climbing holds, she assumed, as Owen, now wearing a helmet he’d grabbed from a nearby bin, stretched his arm for a purple shape. Piles of hay covered the ground beneath the wall in case of falls. “Very cool.”
She hadn’t meant to speak aloud, but Owen grinned. “It is. You want to try it?”
That made Elina laugh. “I’m not the most athletic person. Maybe I’ll just watch for now.”
He turned his focus and reached the purple shape. The puppy barked in excitement as the woman reached the wall. She smiled at Elina. “Hi, I’m Rachel, mom to the terror climbing the wall.”
“Mom.” Owen turned and stuck out his tongue, a twinkle in his eyes.
“Nice to meet you both. I’m Elina.”
Owen moved another few paces. “I’m halfway there, Mom.”
“You’re doing great. Use your brain before you move.”
He nodded and searched out the holds while his mom moved closer. Probably in case he fell.
Elina hadn’t been around kids much since returning from overseas. She’d focused on producing her comic strips and building up her courage quotient. When she’d first arrived in Seattle, she’d taken a job in a coffee shop instead of a daycare or a school. Anonymous strangers were easier to deal with than remembering the sadness in the faces of the kids who’d watched their school collapse and their fields burn. All because some idiots didn’t want girls to learn and wanted more workers for their drug empire.
She swallowed her guilt at not being able to go back overseas to help kids get an education. Her comics aimed to soften the world, but her impact was negligible. Once again, she wondered how disappointed her parents would be in her choices.
“Look, Mom. I’m higher than I’ve been before.”
The boy’s feet were as high as Elina’s head, and her heart thumped.
Rachel smiled. “You’re awesome. How’s it feel up there?”
Owen looked around and then down. “Flups is so small from way up here. Hi Flups.”
The puppy, Flups, wagged his tail and bounced as if trying to reach his friend.
Rachel smiled at Elina. “He’s a floppy puppy. So Flups.”
“I love it. I’ve only been in town for a minute, but I think Flups’s name fits in nicely.”
Rachel kept her eyes on her son. “I agree. Are you visiting someone?”
Elina wasn’t about to tell a total stranger that she’d been driving across the country for the better part of a year looking for a man named Arrow. “I don’t have a current destination in mind. I saw the town’s name on a map and had to check it out. Are there any motels near town?”
“No motels, but we have a fantastic B&B that’s a couple of blocks away. It’s almost leaf-peeper season, but I bet they’re not fully booked until then.”
“I’m sorry, it’s what season?”
Owen rang a bell at the top of the wall. “I did it, Mom. I did it, Flups. Did you all see me?”
Elina and Rachel applauded while the puppy barked. Rachel pointed at her son. “Don’t get all puffed up with pride and fall on your butt. That would ruin the effect. Going down is a little tougher, so make sure you concentrate. If you need help spotting a hold, let me know.”
He nodded and started his descent. Rachel kept her eye on him but spoke to Elina. “People who come to look at the beautiful leaves in autumn are called leaf-peepers. Tourists come from all over the world to see Vermont in the fall.”
She hadn’t thought of the time of year, but it appeared her timing was good for a change. “I think I’ll be one of them. Can you point me toward the B&B?”
Rachel did, and they chatted until Owen was safely on the ground. Elina hopped back into her car and found the B&B exactly as advertised. The huge Victorian, with gingerbread trim and pots of flowers exactly like the ones outside the businesses on Phail Way, looked incredibly inviting.
She pulled into a small lot off the driveway and climbed the steps to a wide porch. Rocking chairs, a swing, and small tables graced the area. Welcoming and a perfect place to enjoy an evening.
A small sign pointed to the bell. “Welcome to Phail B&B. Please ring.”
The chime reminded her of a happy classical music piece and suited the atmosphere. In a few moments, a middle-aged man opened the door with a charming smile. “Welcome to Phail B&B. Come on inside.”
Chocolate scented the air as she followed the man into the lobby. A gorgeous antique roll-top desk served as a reception area. Everything was clean and inviting. A peek into the main room showed a huge fireplace, comfortable couches and chairs, and a grand piano. A perfect refuge.
“I don’t have a reservation. I actually drove here on impulse after seeing the town name on a map. I’m wondering if you have an available room for a few days.”
The man grinned. “Welcome to Phail. I’m Jim. My husband, Carl, and I own the B&B, and we most definitely have a room for you. I’m so glad you’ve found our town. You won’t be disappointed.”
In no time, she’d paid for three nights, and Jim was giving her advice on where to start her explorations. “We don’t have our official dinner service on tonight but the Saloon is open. And if nothing there appeals to you, Carl can whip something up for you. He won’t mind.”
Another man swung through a door in the back of the lobby carrying a tray of cookies. “What won’t I mind?”
Jim laughed and introduced them. “Elina booked in for a few nights. I told her that if nothing at the Saloon appeals to her, you wouldn’t mind fixing her up something to eat later.”
Her face flushed. “I’m not fussy. I’m sure I can find something at the Saloon.”
Carl held out the tray of cookies. “I bet you can, but if not, our kitchen is always open. I enjoy cooking for people who appreciate it, and I’m cooking for us, anyway. Have a few of these to tide you over. Then we’ll get you settled and let you explore our town.”
The two men bustled her up the stairs, insisting on carrying her duffel and showing her all the amenities. “Our friend Piper has a town website up if you want to check anything out but it’s not a big place. You can probably find everything on your own. If you get turned around, just ask anyone to point you in the direction of the B&B. Everyone knows where we are.”
Head and heart swirling a bit at the fatherliness of the two men, Elina decided to explore on foot. Phail Way Park appeared to be the center of town activity, so she headed back that way.
The pulled-together look of the town surprised her. Between the flower boxes, the cheerful shops, and the ridiculous names, it exuded small-town friendliness. It was more put-together than most of the places she’d explored over the last few months. Small-town America at its best.
The scenes had her fingers itching to create a comic. Several of them, actually. She moved across the street and sat on a bench under a maple tree. Its leaves were edged with the barest of red, and she imagined it would be glorious in a few weeks. The leaf-peepers would be impressed.
She pulled out her tablet and opened an empty strip. She’d refine the ideas later, but for now, she sketched the wall where Owen climbed and added him clanging the bell in triumph.
Bending reality, she moved her bench and maple tree closer to the wall. It was the perfect place to hide her critters who could cheer on the boy.
Lobo, the wolf, curled up beneath the bench. Zorro, the fox, peeked around the tree. Those were her two most frequent animals. They also received the most fan mail.
Grinning, Elina sat back to check out her sketch. She’d expand it to a four-panel later, showing Owen’s progress up the wall and the animals’ fear when he wobbled. But this would be the basis for the final panel. A boy’s triumph that brought joy to the onlookers.
Another addition to her quiet, happy comic series that brought in more money than she’d ever expected.
She pulled up a fresh strip and sketched in a group of leaf-peepers checking out the leaves. Maybe she’d have the leaves all green and the locals telling them to return in a few weeks. Or maybe one where the autumn colors rendered them all speechless. With the town name of Phail, she wondered about incorporating that into the comic. Phailed Leaf-Peepers for the first one? The second could be Phail-tastic. But the joke would be lost on people who didn’t know the town. And she’d bet very few of her readers had ever heard of Phail, Vermont.
She made a few notes on the side for other titles and other strips. Satisfied, she turned off the tablet. Her body was stiff from sitting in one place for so long, so she stretched before reaching for her bag. Somehow, she’d knocked it off the bench, and the contents had spilled on the ground.
Not unusual. When she was caught up in her drawing, she didn’t notice much, and she might have been sitting there for hours.
She reached for her wallet when a rich, male baritone voice had her stumbling.
“Let me help you with that.”
A voice she knew.
Elina looked up to confirm she wasn’t imagining things. Nope. Arrow squatted in front of her wearing a deputy’s uniform and looking as wonderful as she remembered.
“Arrow?”
He dropped the notebook he’d picked up, and those wonderful, cocoa-coloured eyes widened as he lifted his gaze to her face.
“Elina? Is it really you?”
A rrow had never hallucinated in his life, but he wondered if his thoughts about Elina yesterday were causing him to do so now.
As soon as he’d exited Phail General, he’d been pulled to the woman working intently on the bench. She’d ignored her hair as it had blown around her shoulders. Masses of rich brown curls. Her belongings had tumbled out of her bag but she hadn’t noticed until she’d finished whatever she worked on and looked up.
She’d been facing away from him, but he’d crossed to help her, unable to do anything else.
“Arrow. It is you.” Her voice was only a whisper.
He grinned, hearing his call sign from her lips. “It’s me. I’m thrilled to see you. I was thinking about you just yesterday, wondering how you were doing. Made me wonder if I was imagining you being here.”
Her eyes sparkled, and her smile grew. “I wasn’t sure you’d remember me if I ever found you.” Then her eyes widened, and her golden skin flushed.
“I could never forget you.” Not with the chemistry that had arced between them with every look and encounter. Something warm filled his chest at her words. She’d been looking for him. She hadn’t forgotten him, either. “What are you doing here in Phail?”
She shrugged and ducked her head. “I’ve spent the last year exploring the northern part of the country.”
And looking for him? Them? That had been implied in her earlier words, but he wasn’t pushing for an explanation. He wasn’t taking a chance of scaring her away, not when they’d finally reconnected. “I’m thrilled your explorations brought you here. When did you arrive? Do you have a room at the B&B?”
She smiled. “I left Albany this morning and saw the name Phail on the map. It made me laugh, and I decided to visit. Jim and Carl have me in a great room at the B&B.”
He grinned. She was staying for at least a while. “Jim and Carl are amazing.” He handed her the last notebook and then moved to sit on the bench with her. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
She laughed. “Me too. I’ve been hoping to find you. I never had a chance to thank you for saving my students and me that day. You looked in bad shape when they choppered you away. I wanted to make sure saving us didn’t cost you.”
He shrugged that away. “I’m fine. We lost Shaggy that day, though.”
Her eyes flooded with tears, and she reached over to squeeze his hand. The zip he felt was inappropriate for the conversation, but he couldn’t squash it.
“I know. I’m so sorry. Shaggy was an amazing dog. My students and I loved her. If it hadn’t been for you and her, Damsa wouldn’t have survived that day. Scooby was devastated. I don’t think he spoke more than a dozen words in the time before your team had to leave.”
Marcus nodded. He knew losing his partner had nearly broken Garrett. Until very recently, Marcus hadn’t been sure his friend would ever recover. “It took him a long time to come to peace with Shaggy’s death. He’s in a good place now, though.” That made Marcus smile. “In more ways than one. He’s learned to live with Shaggy’s memory, and he’s here in Phail.”
Elina’s eyes widened. “Scooby’s here, too?”
Marcus laughed. “We all are. Troy finally got his way. The entire team lives in Phail now.”
Her laugh was like sunlight bursting through rain clouds. “That’s amazing. I assume Epic’s name is Troy?”
He nodded. “Troy Phail. His ancestors built this town once upon a time.”
Another laugh filled him up. “I love it. Now all the puns and jokes you all made around the word fail make sense.”
That made him laugh, too. There were always going to be fail jokes around Troy. And his buddy would be making half of them.
Elina’s eyes sparkled. “So, are you going to tell me your name, Arrow?”
“Are you telling me you don’t know my name or anyone’s name, but you still found us?” That seemed like a healthy dose of luck mixed up with a shit-ton of determination.
Elina shrugged. “None of you ever used anything other than your call signs. At least, not that I remember. One of the pilots almost messed up but stopped himself. I think either your first or last name starts with Mar . Am I right?”
Damn, she was amazing. “Marcus Ramirez, at your service. Now, you’ll have to tell me your last name.”
“Vasquez.”
He held out his hand. “Hello, Elina Vasquez. I’m Marcus Ramirez, and I’m very pleased to see you again.”
That heady smile widened as she took his hand. Her eyes sparkled, making him grin. The zip of chemistry definitely wasn’t one-sided, which was a relief. He hadn’t imagined a single thing.
“I’d love to keep you to myself tonight.” Marcus felt his face flush and was thankful he wasn’t light-skinned.
Elina’s eyes widened at his words.
He held up his hands and shook his head. “Wait. That sounded creepy. What I meant was that I’d love to take you to dinner at the Saloon and have the team and their ladies meet us there. What do you think?”
Elina laughed, and he wondered if maybe his inadvertent innuendo hadn’t been totally misplaced. He would like to keep her to himself. For a hell of a long time. After they got to know each other again. For now, dinner with the team was the right move.
“I’d love to go to dinner with you.”
“I’ll text everyone to meet us there in thirty minutes, but I’m not telling them why or that you’re here. I’ll just say I’ve got a surprise.” He smiled at her. “A very good surprise.”
After he sent the text, he silenced the phone. Something he never did. Ever. But he wasn’t going to answer the nosy texts. He wanted to spend every moment of those thirty minutes finding out more about Elina.
He set the phone on the bench. Maybe to keep an eye on the texts in case there was an actual emergency. Maybe to keep himself from crowding her. “So, tell me what you’ve been doing these past few years. When did you get back from overseas?”
Joy slipped from her eyes at his question, and he wanted to kick his own ass. He knew as well as anyone that what happened overseas wasn’t always pleasant. A high percentage of people returned because of trauma. Elina might not have been in the Army but the threats she’d faced had been as real and as dangerous as any of them. Maybe more so as a woman in a country that didn’t always respect that.
He reached for her hand again and squeezed. “I’m sorry. That was too intrusive. You don’t have to answer that but know I’m here to listen if you want to talk about it. And I’m even more sorry that I wasn’t there to help you out, to keep you safe.”
She blinked rapidly until her eyes were clear. “Sorry. I’m fine. Things got a little rough for a bit, but I’m fine. I was very lucky.”
He kept his gaze on hers and waited.
After a few seconds, she blew out a breath. “I’ve been back in the States for a few years. I first headed to Seattle because that’s where my parents had once lived.”
He hated that she’d been through something, and while she said she was fine, he knew there was more. Knew that she’d been through her own version of hell.
He also knew that he wanted to fix it for her. Even if it was just to be a shoulder to cry on, he wanted to fix it. Now, he just needed to get her to stay so he could get on that.