Chapter 33
On Sunday night Blake sat out on the back deck listening to his mom and Paradise banging around in the kitchen as they cleaned
up after dinner. The night sounds of nearby crickets and frogs mingling with the roars of the big cats out in the park reminded
him how life went on even when it seemed impossible to find a way through the muck.
He buried his face in his hands and tried to pray for wisdom, but marshaling his thoughts and heart was impossible with the
weight of responsibility bearing down on him. His mom hadn’t been happy they hadn’t turned over the will, but after talking
to Wade and Elowen, he no longer believed it was real. God had brought up the right doubts at the right time, but had that
been his decision because he wanted to believe it?
The slider onto the deck opened, and Paradise came to join him. Her plumeria scent enveloped him, and her presence strengthened
his resolve to find out the truth and do the right thing.
She didn’t wait to be pulled onto his lap but curled into her usual spot there with her head on his chest. “What’s going on with you? I can see the wheels turning. Did your mom’s reaction upset you?”
“A bit,” he admitted. “I thought she’d see the wisdom in getting to the truth. We have a little time to figure this out. It’s
not like we had to turn that will over today. There are two weeks left. I think you’re right though—this will isn’t real.”
“Could we get the signature checked for forgery?”
“Hez would probably know who to contact, but we’d have to get a copy of Allen’s real signature. That might be difficult if
Mary is in on this.”
He buried his face in her hair and inhaled her sweet scent. How had he survived without her? He pulled his face back, cradled
her in his arms, and kissed her. Her lips softened under his, and he drank in her love and passion until they were both breathless.
“I’m glad you’re with me to figure this out.”
She palmed his face. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Maybe you should talk to Abby about Mary. I could talk to her dad. The Dillards were neighbors of theirs for many years.
They’d know Mary’s character better than most. I don’t want to accuse her without some evidence.”
“Good idea. And maybe Roger would have a sample of Allen’s handwriting. Over the years he could have sold him hay or something
else for the animals.”
Blake kissed her. “We can go over tomorrow after work.”
“I hope Elowen brings Tessa soon. I want to hear what she knows that she’s hiding from Wade.”
“She may not tell you.”
“I felt a kinship with her. I think she might if she knows how important it is.”
He curled a strand of her hair around his finger. “You plan to tell her what’s going on?”
“At least some of it.” Her head cocked to one side when a big cat growled, and she frowned. “The cats are acting up tonight. Maybe we should check on them. They seem particularly upset.”
He’d been so engulfed with questions he hadn’t paid attention, but she was right. Roaring from tigers wasn’t unusual, but
growling usually meant they were warning off another animal or even a predator keeper. The tigers had already been fed for
the night, so what was out there upsetting them?
She slipped off his lap and stood waiting for him. “I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have to.” She still hadn’t fully gotten over her fear of the big cats, though her terror had lessened as she’d
tended to their health issues.
“I’m okay. Let’s grab a tranq gun from the medical building, just in case.”
He got up and opened the sliding door. “Mom, we’re going to check on the cats. They’re a little raucous tonight.”
His mom sat at the table with a mug in her hand and her Bible open next to a plate of cheese and crackers. “I heard them and
was going to ask you to check on them. Let me know if you need me for anything.”
“Will do.” Blake closed the door. At least she wasn’t still mad at him. He took Paradise’s hand, and they walked toward the
medical compound. He left her at the door and grabbed two tranq guns and two big flashlights. When he returned she took one
of each. The roaring of the tigers had increased by several decibels. Someone definitely had upset them.
He picked up the pace, and Paradise’s long legs kept up with him.
He smelled the big cats before they reached their enclosures.
They’d been spraying, which meant they were marking their territory.
None of the males were kept together since they were solitary animals, so either another predator had gotten in with a tiger or they sensed an intruder.
He paused at the outer fence and flipped on his big flashlight. The powerful beam probed the dark and highlighted the big
cat growling on the inside of the fence. All seemed well and he spotted no breaks in the fence.
Did they have an intruder?
The scent of the big cats and their growling set Paradise’s nerves on edge. “Do you see any reason for them to be riled?”
“Nothing.” He consulted his phone and frowned. “There’s someone moving around by the barn. It could be an employee, but I
can’t tell. You go back with Mom and I’ll walk over to check it out. I suspect it’s someone unfamiliar to the cats, and they
don’t like it.”
“You’re not going by yourself. I can call for help if something happens.”
He squeezed her hand. “I know better than to argue with you.”
She walked with him toward the barn. The stars twinkled brightly in the dark sky, and the tigers had quieted. Lights shone
out of the windows of the small employee cottages they passed, and it felt too peaceful for there to be much going on out
here. Until an invisible hand shoved her.
Something lifted her feet off the red dirt and threw her to the ground on her backside.
Almost immediately a boom sounded and flames shot up ahead.
Dazed, she got up and searched for Blake, who had been tossed to the dirt as well. He had red mud on his face as he leaped up and rushed her way. “Are you all right?”
“I—I think so. What was that?” She turned toward the fireball and clutched Blake’s hand. “That’s Clark’s trailer!” She escaped
Blake’s grip and ran toward the flames. “His propane tank exploded.” She cupped her hands to her mouth. “Clark!” She yanked
out her phone and dialed 911 to report the fire. She declined to stay on the line and ended the call.
Blake ran past her, shouting his friend’s name, but the heat drove him back. Paradise watched for any movement from the trailer,
which was nothing but burning rubble and twisted metal. She prayed that Clark wasn’t inside. No one could survive a blast
like that.
“Clark!” Blake shouted. His face was blackened with soot and mud, and he again attempted to move toward the destroyed hulk
that used to be a home.
“I’m here,” Clark said from behind them.
Paradise whirled and Blake leaped past her to grab Clark in a bear hug. He patted Blake awkwardly on the back with one hand
while his other arm, holding a plastic bag, hung at his side.
Tears of relief stung her eyes. Clark didn’t have a scratch on him and there wasn’t so much as a smudge of soot on his face.
“Where were you?”
Clark held up the sack. “Groceries.” He stared at his former home. “It’s all gone, and I didn’t have insurance. My tent is
still in my truck though.” The words were matter-of-fact with no trace of self-pity.
Blake stepped back and wiped his streaming eyes. “I couldn’t bear to lose you too, buddy. Praise God you’re okay. And don’t worry about the trailer. We have an empty cottage at the other end of the lane.”
A self-conscious smile hovered on Clark’s lips, and he looked down. “I haven’t had a man hug me like that since Kent died.”
Blake passed his hand over his eyes. “That brought back way too many bad memories.” He turned and stared again at the remains
of the trailer. “What happened?”
“The fire marshal might be able to figure it out,” Clark said.
Paradise was finally able to get her knees to hold her, and still shaken, she walked to Blake’s side. “Was it an accident
or a diversion?”
Blake’s mouth dropped open, and he turned to look at the barn. “Let’s go find out.”