Chapter Thirty
As light broke through the dark, early morning clouds, Raven looked toward her window, feeling wonderful.
Still cuddled beside Cane and wrapped in his arms, she stayed as still as possible so as not to wake him.
The man needed his rest after the last few days.
And the truth was that she relished these precious moments of peace before having to face reality.
Loving the warmth of his close body and gentle hands holding her, she let dreams of their future begin to take shape.
This man could be the one she’d been waiting for.
Her heart said yes, but her brain sent warning signals.
Wait. Give him time. You know he needs space…
you’ve felt his withdrawal more than once.
Feeling the collapse of her dreamworld, she knew facts had to be faced, and she wasn’t one to shy away from the truth.
Since she’d met Cane, he’d given out signals of having no interest of any kind in romance.
Not once had he flirted with her to get her into his bed.
The times when they’d connected had been moments where being alive and caring for each other’s safety had been paramount.
Sure, they’d shared their thankfulness over those occasions, and he’d been protective, but he’d kept his distance as far as taking their relationship in any other direction.
Had she built their sexual encounter as a romance in her head?
Thinking back to the night before, she tried to remember him saying her name or acknowledging that it had been her in his arms. Jesus, had he been dreaming of his wife?
Suddenly, him waking and finding her here like this couldn’t be borne. Time to split.
Taking her own advice, she gently moved his hand aside so she could leave the bed.
Soon after, she slipped from the room to join Nana and the kids for breakfast. Before she stepped out where they would see her, she hesitated and crossing both hands over her chest, she said a quick prayer.
Please, let him acknowledge what we just shared. I want him to be the one… please.
Shaking off her mood, she walked toward the stove so she could kiss her nana’s cheek before rounding the table and giving each of the kids a hug they seemed to expect.
.. that’s if their excitement while calling her name and arms lifted in her direction was any indication.
Before she’d even taken her seat, Nana placed a mug of hot coffee in front of her, and Raven smiled her “bless you” response.
While the kids ate their pancakes, Raven regaled them with modified stories of the day before, explaining that their dad would be out to see them later.
Being used to their father’s job obligations, they nodded, accepting her words.
Soon, Winona gathered Koda’s dish and filled it with her dogfood, asking Josh and Ami to take it out to the impatient animal.
“Make sure she has clean water from the outside tap too, please.”
“Okay.” Happily running to do their chores, they remembered to take their dishes to the sink ahead of putting on their outdoor clothes.
Excited to see Koda, they rushed, slamming the door just as the words – don’t slam the door – were drowned out.
Both Winona and Raven chuckled at the memory of her doing the exact same thing.
Silence followed while Raven tried to decide how to open the subject of Palmer.
Before she could reach for Winona’s hand to soften the blow of the impending news, Nana shocked her quiet.
“Palmer passed over last night, didn’t he?
” The sorrow in her voice had turned it huskier than usual, showing that her grief had been harsh.
“I felt him close, saying goodbye. My poor boy finally seemed to be at peace.” Winona’s eyes were glassy with pain and held a world of sadness.
“I’m so sorry, Nana. It’s the same criminal we were trailing earlier who killed him. He escaped from his cell, stole Brody’s gun and truck after putting Dwayne and Brody both in the hospital. Thankfully, they’ll recover.”
Winona clasped Raven’s hands tighter while she spoke, her dismay highlighted by the worry on her pale face and the narrowing of her eyes. “God love us all, he’s a bad one, ain’t he?”
“Yes, the sicko must have found Palmer’s house lit up as one of the few that had power.
We’re thinking he went searching for food, and Palmer got in the way.
Carlos Garcia went over when he noticed someone lurking around and also got gut shot for his trouble.
When the ambulance took him away, he was arguing with Alice, so we figure he’ll make it. ”
Winona smiled at her granddaughter’s way of explaining and reached to force Raven’s face from turning aside rather than holding her gaze. “Were you in any danger at all from the killer?”
Smiling reassuringly, Raven spoke the truth. “No. Not really. He’d left by the time we showed up. But he isn’t getting away with this behavior, Nana. We have to find him before he messes with other folks. You know that, right?”
Gratified that Raven spoke the truth about her safety and didn’t try to downplay the situation, Winona’s voice hardened. “I’ll keep my rifle ready just in case. He shows himself around here, and he’ll be very sorry.”
“Just be careful. Don’t forget you have the children.”
A male voice interrupted as Cane stepped into the room. “Wouldn’t you feel safer in town, Winona?” He pulled the chair out across from Raven, keeping his gaze on the older woman. “I’d feel a hell of a lot better if you went to the schoolhouse with the others from the flood.”
Winona looked at him and smiled. “And I’d argue with you if not for those two angels outside. What do you think, Raven?”
“I agree with Cane. Let us bring you into town. There’s so much you can do for those folks. Bring your medicines and whatever you can spare in the way of food and clothing. Their needs are great.”
“Right. Okay, I’ll go and pack my ointments, salves, and special teas while you make breakfast for Cane and yourself.
The kids need some different clothes, and I have a few bags for the thrift store I’ve been gathering that I can bring with me.
” Talking out loud, Winona bustled from the room, leaving behind a vacuum filled with discomfort.
Shyness attacking, Raven sauntered to the stove where the breakfast batter waited. She stirred it while the cast iron frying pan heated and then poured four nice sized pancakes into the sizzling butter. As the silence grew, tension built until they both began talking at once.
“I’m sor—” Cane got cut off.
Words erupting, Raven didn’t turn around, just spoke over her shoulder. “Hope you’re hungry. Nana’s pancakes are to die for.” She flipped them, pretending to be so occupied by her chore that she couldn’t face him.
He cleared his throat and began again. “I’m starved and they smell wonderful. Have you eaten already?”
“No. Just got out here and told Nana about Palmer. She already knew.”
“Excuse me? How did she find out so quickly?”
“He visited her last night. She said he felt at peace. If you like orange juice, there’s lots in the fridge. We have a couple of trees growing in the main greenhouse and they thrive under Nana’s care.”
“Don’t change the subject. You say Palmer visited her. How?”
“Yes. Well, his spirit came to say goodbye before leaving for the afterlife. She loved him, and he always knew he had a home with her. In fact, I grew up with him in and out of my life. One of my fondest memories after I first arrived was Palmer showing up like he owned the place. Of course, in those days I was still acting out, but one day during a particularly bad time, he shoved me up against the fridge and stuttered his disgust at my atrocious behavior. Said my gramma was the best thing could ever happen to me, and I should k-kiss the g-ground she w-walked on.” Raven spoke like Palmer and chuckled at the memory.
“Still don’t know why I didn’t knee him in the family jewels like I would have done to any other boy who touched me like that back then. ”
“Because he was harmless?”
“No. Because of his sincerity. He meant every word… he loved her and needed me to see her goodness.”
“Did you back off after that?”
“Hell, no. Gave her a hard time for another few weeks before she issued the final warning. Her place and her rules or a foster home.”
“Winona acted that harsh?”
“Oh, yeah. You can only push my Nana so far before she turns to ice. After that, what she says… she means.”
“So, you chose her.”
“God, no. I took the foster home. Spent a week in the city with a dysfunctional family from hell and then begged her to take me back.” Raven chuckled.
“She must have drove like a demon. Showed up a few hours later and asked me, “Why did it take you this long, you stubborn girl?” Then she hugged me so hard, I thought my back would break, and I found myself hugging her too.”
Cane nodded, his face wreathed in smiles while he ate the last piece of food and looked for more. “I’m glad you saw the light. And you were right. These are the best flapjacks I’ve ever tasted.”
Thank God, sharing a meal had helped the discomfort both experienced, if their shying away from looking at each other was any indication. Raven felt herself relax, and they eventually drifted back into their old relationship of working partners.
As soon as they had everyone packed and ready to go, Raven headed outside to bring the jeep closer. And the shock of what she found filled her with dread. As if he sensed her reaction, Cane stepped out behind her to hear her whisper, “Son of a bitch, the jeep’s missing.”