Chapter 13
Spade
I walk Jax to his vehicle.
He pauses in the open door. “Be careful. After she reported to the sheriff what she saw, we’ve been up to the old mine a couple times.
It’s obvious there’s been activity there but never any product or anything we could use to identify someone.
There have been more drug related deaths in the towns around us and heading upstate along the highway due to the drugs having lethal fentanyl cuts.
“We have no suspects. I’m hoping the photos you took might help. At least we now have an idea of who we’re looking for and how they’re bringing it in if it is indeed drugs.”
Glancing toward the cabin, he lowers his voice even more. “There have been a couple bodies. Low level drug suppliers murdered. Good chance a message was being sent. You might want more than your blade in those cargo pants.”
I nod. “Ten-four.”
After he leaves, I make a stop at the cabin then go to the barn and help with chores. The youngest goats have taken a liking to me and the carrot bites I share. One in particular follows me while I clean, head butting my leg until I lift her and let her nuzzle my neck.
Fawn looks at me shaking her head as I coo to my new found friend. Then I indicate the rest of her small herd. “Have you named the little ones?”
“Not all of them. The one with the black socks is Socks.”
“What about this one?”
She looks at me and smirks. “Your girlfriend? The one who runs to you when she sees you coming after only a couple days?”
“Yes, this little one.”
“No.”
“Good. She’s now BeeBee.”
“BeeBee?”
“Beautiful Baby.”
Fawns laugh fills the air. If I wasn’t full on in love before, I am now. Still holding BeeBee in my arms I cross the pen, lean forward and kiss her. “I love you, Fawn. I love everything about you. Get use to me, because I’m hanging around.”
Leaving her to her work, I finish with the kids then head to the chicken coup.
The rest of the day Fawn works with her wool: more carding and spinning. I’ve noticed one of the bookshelves is sagging and find wood scraps in the barn to shore it up. Next time I’m in town I’ll get more supplies to fix it properly and a few other little things I’ve noticed.
I add a few more supplies to the list I’ve started on my phone then ask, “Love, would you like me to mount the electric coffee pot under the cabinet, so you have more counter space? I know you don’t use it often.
I was also thinking of shelves above the washer and dryer unless you’d rather have a cabinet with doors. ”
She glances my way with a smile. “What are you doing?”
“There’re a few things I want to tighten up for you. Make more functional.”
“Can’t sit still can you? That’s why you like trekking so much and walked halfway here from Chicago.” She shakes her head. “Yes, to the coffee pot and I prefer a cabinet above the washer. What about an indoor opening to the wood box on the porch? I’ve seen pictures of them.”
“Already on my list.”
“Thank you, Spade.”
“I’m going to the barn. I want to check the loft see what’s up there.”
She nods. “Take Brownie with you, tell her to watch.”
I find two broken rockers that would be easy to fix for the front porch. I can imagine Fawn and I watching the sunset together.
Along one wall I find discarded wood planks, a box with screws, nails and rusted tools that would be like new with a little clean up, and rope like she used for the storm lead.
Descending the ladder, I drop the last two rungs. The goats are stomping around in the pen. A low rumbling growl hums in the air as I hit the ground and turn.
The taller of the two men I saw at the river stands before me, a rifle pointed at my chest. Thankfully Fawn taught me some of her hand signals for the dogs. With a casual move I give Brownie the ‘standdown’ hand command followed by the ‘go check’. She slinks away to do as instructed.
“Hi neighbor. Can I help you?” He squints at me with bloodshot eyes. His clothing is soaked, and he sways slightly on his feet. Shifting my feet a little to hide my side pocket where my knife is sheathed.
“Hands in the air,” he snaps, then squints at me. “I shot you. I saw you on that ledge. Can’t believe you ain’t dead.”
Ignoring his recognition, I study him. “You aren’t looking too good, man. Can I help you?”
“Shut up. Billy,” he yells, “get in here.”
The other man from the river stumbles into the barn looking even worse. He’s got what looks like a rucksack strapped to his back. Their eyes are off and I’m guessing they’re strung out on their own product.
Keep Fawn and the animals safe. “Man, you don’t look good. Let me drive you to town. Get you to a doctor.”
“Mic, I need food,” his buddy Billy whines. “You said there’d be food and we could get warm. There’s smoke coming from inside his cabin. Let’s go inside.”
“Pat him down from behind. See if he’s got keys to that truck.” He stares at me. “Make a move and I blow your head off. Maybe I should just do it and get it over with.”
“Ain’t no keys,” Billy cuts in after lifting my knife from its sleeve in my pants. He misses the sig in my boot.
He kills me now, I’m no help to Fawn. I have to play it cool. Brownie will warn Fawn. She’ll be ready.
“I’m so hungry, Mic. I’m gonna pass out,” Billy grumbles.
“We need the truck keys. Grab that rope hanging on the wall and tie his hands then hobble them to his ankles. We’ll get him inside and get some food, then see what else he has that’s useful.”