Chapter Twenty-One
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
When they neared home they spotted the deputy’s car parked on the side of the road across the street from the gate. As Brody pulled his truck beside it, Annie lowered her window.
“Hi, Brody,” the deputy called.
“Hey, Luke.”
“I’m Luke Carson,” the deputy continued, smiling at Annie. “It sure is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Baker.”
“Please call me Annie, and thanks for being here. Can I get you some coffee or something to—”
But before she could finish a bolt of lightning flashed overhead followed by a thunderous roar.
“Dammit, we need to get the horses in,” Brody exclaimed, pressing the remote to open the gate.
“I’ll help you,” the deputy offered.
“Jump in next Annie. I’ll drive up to the paddocks.”
“You’re already cramped with your dog between. I’ll follow in my car.”
“Sounds good, and thanks.”
“Oh, no,” Annie muttered as rain started splashing against the windshield. “We’re too late. At least there’s only six of them.”
“With the lightnin’ they might get antsy. I’d rather have Luke help me. We’ve become friends over the last year and he knows what he’s doin’. But if you could put a flake of hay in their stalls that would be great. And stay there. No sense all of us gettin’ wet,” he declared as he rolled to a stop.
As she climbed from the truck and ran into the barn, Bella ran after her, while Brody and Luke hurried into the paddocks.
“Take the grey, the chestnut and two dark bays over there,” Brody yelled, trying to be heard over the downpour as he pointed to the pasture closest to them. “They go in the first four stalls.”
Picking up the halters looped over the gates, Brody jogged to the second paddock and was opening the gate when another crack of lightning lit up the sky. River, a nervous black colt, began bucking and running. Moving up to Luna, his calm mare, Brody slipped on the halter, then returned to the nervous horse and managed to herd him into a corner. Slowly approaching and still holding Luna’s lead rope, Brody stood in the pouring rain and stroked his neck.
“It’s okay, River, just nature havin’ a tantrum.”
“I can take Luna.”
Though Brody heard Annie’s voice he kept his attention focused on the colt.
“Easy, fella, I’m here now.”
When he sensed the young horse beginning to settle, he moved the halter slowly into place.
“I can take Luna?” Annie repeated as Brody continued working with the frightened young horse.
“Okay, but don’t wait for us. Just keep walkin’.”
Taking the lead rope Annie hurried through the paddock with Luna keeping pace beside her, but River continued to toss his head and prance. As Brody began leading him forward, the nervous horse began to settle. Finally reaching the barn, Brody found the other horses already happily munching their hay.
“Wow, that was crazy,” Luke exclaimed as Brody led River into his stall, “but they were pretty good considering this wild weather.”
“They’re used to the flash storms, but not this boy, not yet,” Brody remarked. “You’ll find some clean towels in the tack room.”
“Ah, great, thanks. I’ll bring a couple out for you, then I’d better get back to my car.”
As the deputy marched away, Brody grabbed Annie’s arm and pressed his lips to her ear.
“You know you’re going over my knee, right?”
“Uh…but when I glanced out I saw you—”
“We’ll talk about this later,” he said firmly as Luke strode towards them carrying some towels.
“I don’t know why I bothered dryin’ off,” Luke remarked. “I’m about to get drenched all over again. I should’ve brought my overcoat.”
“There are slickers in that cupboard,” Brody offered, nodding towards a free-standing, tall cabinet as Luke handed him the towels. “You’re welcome to take one.”
“Great! Thanks. By the way, I’ll be relieved at midnight,” Luke continued as he hurried to the cupboard and pulled on the waterproof coat. “It’s been great to meet you Annie, and try not to worry. I’m sure we’ll catch that man soon.”
“Thanks, Luke,” Annie replied. “Take care, and drive safely when you leave.”
“Sure will. Bye, Brody.”
“Bye, Luke.”
As the deputy left the barn and started running down the drive, Brody and Annie began toweling themselves off.
“This is ridiculous. We need to get out of these clothes,” he declared, taking her hand and leading her into the tack room. Rummaging through a trunk, he pulled out a fleece track suit and a pair of thick socks. “Put this on. It will be big on you, but at least they’re dry.”
“What about you?”
“I have an extra pair of jeans and a sweater in here as well.”
“Why?”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve brought horses in during a sudden storm,” he replied as he quickly changed. “Now we need to get blankets on them. I can feel it gettin’ colder.”
“Can I help?”
“Sure. Then we’re goin’ into the office to wait until this rain passes. There’s a heater in there…and you and I will have a little talk.”
* * *
As Geoff had sat at Brody’s kitchen table and thought about his situation, it suddenly dawned him he could return to his cabin at the campground. He had been seen at the bar, but the reservations for the cabins weren’t in his name, and it would be assumed he’d stopped into the restaurant by chance. All he had to do was park his car at the back of the cottage, and stay out of sight. Relieved, and angry at himself for panicking, he poked around the house, then decided he was pushing his luck and it was time to leave.
He was stepping out the kitchen door when the storm hit.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
Peering through the curtains he saw Brody’s truck and the deputy’s cruiser drive up to the barn.
Quickly checking the hall closet and finding a decent umbrella and a long, black raincoat, he pulled it on, then hurried from the house. But he made sure to lock the kitchen door and put the key back under the frog, before trudging through the downpour back to his car.