Chapter Eighteen
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Katy and Doug entered the restaurant he noticed a few people having an early dinner, but he was pleased to see there were no customers at the bar. As they settled into the bar stools, he impulsively put his arm around her and pecked her on the cheek.
“What was that for?” she asked, beaming up at him.
“That was for havin’ such a big heart.”
“Doug…”
“You do. Now what do you want to drink…speakin’ of which, where’s the hot chocolate you were carryin’?”
“Oh, I finished it when I was picking up the meals. I just tossed the paper cup on my way out.”
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked as she finished speaking.
“Beer for me. What about you, Katy?”
“I’d just like a cup of coffee, please.”
“Comin’ right up.”
“Was that Matt Monroe I saw leavin’?” Doug asked, making up the name as he spoke.
“Who?”
“Matt Monroe, the actor.”
“Never heard of him,” the bartender replied as he placed the coffee along with cream and sugar in front of Katy.
“He’s supposed to be the new Tom Cruise. He does all his own stunts.”
“Huh. Well I have no idea if that was him. He charged the drinks to his room but it’s in her name. Maybe that’s so he can remain incognito. Except his girlfriend called him Craig and they were asking about the Bigfoot that’s been sighted. Amazing how word gets out so fast.”
“Did you say Bigfoot?” Katy interjected. “I’ve heard rumors, but I didn’t realize there were people actually showing up to look for it.”
“They were the first, but something like that can take on a life of its own. Draft or bottled beer?” he asked, turning back to Doug.
“A Bud Light bottle if you have it.”
“Sure do.”
“Were you able to help them?” Doug continued
“All I know is what some hikers told me and I passed it along. They saw a creature upright and walking like a man, and he was covered in black fur. I also told them to be careful if they planned on going into those woods. There’s all kinds of wildlife up there, and it’s easy to get lost.”
“Did the hikers say which part of the woods? It’s a huge area.”
“They’d left near the lake and had been walking for a couple of days when they spotted it, so my guess is, they would have been somewhere above those ranches by then. They ran all the way down and had to go quite a way before they met up with the road.”
“Did this fella Craig say he wanted to hunt it down?”
“He did. He even asked about guides, which we don’t offer, but the woman seemed skeptical. I think she was scared.”
“I don’t blame her,” Katy exclaimed. “There’s no way you’d get me in that forest looking for some furry wild man.”
“To be honest, it doesn’t hold any appeal to me either,” the bartender quipped with a grin. “Excuse me, duty calls.”
As he moved to the end of the bar to take an order from a waitress, Doug downed a few mouthfuls of his beer then let out a heavy sigh.
“That’s it,” he announced, speaking quietly. “Beth Green and the guy she’s with are after Jim.”
“So…what do we do?”
“There’s nothin’ we can do except wait until Jim’s recovered enough to talk to us. Hopefully he’ll open up and speak to Sheriff Cooper. I can’t see him gettin’ far without help.”
“I wonder why he’s so worried about that. Don’t you think it’s a bit weird?”
“Yep, but I trust him. He wouldn’t be holdin’ back unless he had a good reason. Finish your coffee and let’s get back to the ranch. I’m ready for dinner, and I bet you are too.”
“I am, I’m starving, and poor Butch must be too. Just as well we left him at the ranch though. We’ve had a busy afternoon.”
* * *
Peeling off the clothes Doug had lent him, Jim stretched out on the comfortable bed and let out a long, heavy sigh. He was safe and warm, and he was hopeful the nightmare was finally coming to an end. But the fact that the woman he once loved had been poisoning him was horrifying.
While he had to admit their marriage had lost its magic, he’d never stopped caring. He knew the lack of children had been difficult for her, much more than it had been for him. He had his practice and found it deeply fulfilling. But Beth didn’t have any interests outside taking care of him and the house. She’d always claimed it was enough, and volunteered at the local church when they had fundraising events, but over the years Jim had sensed her unhappiness. He’d often told her if she wanted to travel he would take time off, but she was afraid of flying, and long stretches on the road didn’t appeal to her.
A frown crinkled his brow.
She had recently been visiting her sister in Dallas and spending weekends there. When she came back she was usually a bit cheerier. Suddenly swept up in a wave of exhaustion he closed his eyes and began to drift off. But the questions remained, the answers to which remained a mystery.
Why did she try to poison him?
What did she have to gain?
Their money?
Sure she knew he would have given her anything she wanted.
It just didn’t make any sense.