Chapter Ten
CHAPTER TEN
When the successful session with Annie drew to a close, Cade insisted their musical synergy was due to their years of friendship and playing together, but Annie argued it was because he was such a great guitarist and always had been.
“You know you could have a career in the music business if you wanted to,” she said as they walked to his truck.
“And you know I’d never trade-in my ranch life and horses for a recording studio and life on the road.”
“But you can have both.”
“Not the way I do it. I could never leave for weeks at a time.”
“I get it. I miss this place after just a couple of days. But on another subject, let me know about Karen. I hope you can convince her to come over here tomorrow night.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem,” he replied with a grin. “Come on Jack! Bring your girlfriend and get in the truck. Dammit, is that rain?” he muttered, looking up at the sky as he felt a few wet droplets on his face.
“Sure looks like it. I’m going back inside,” Annie said hastily. “Call me.”
Opening the passenger door as she hurried away, Cade waved to his dogs waiting at the back of the truck for the tailgate to be lowered.
“You’re not gettin’ up there. You’ll end up all wet and make a mess in the house. Come on, you’re ridin’ shotgun with me.” Though Jack trotted up to him and jumped in, Diane stayed where she was and barked. “Typical woman. Why do you all have to be stubborn?” he said briskly, marching across to her and pointing to the open door. “Get in the front.”
She did as he ordered, and as he hurried around to the driver’s side and climbed behind the wheel the skies opened up. Relieved he’d made it in time, he headed down the driveway and started off for home. But as a bolt of lightning flashed through the sky, he decided to check in on Karen and called the number she’d given him.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Karen, it’s Cade.”
“Hi, this is a surprise.”
“Is this a bad time?”
“No, not at all.”
“I looks like we’re in for a heck of a night,” he continued as a rumble of thunder rolled overhead.
“It sure does. Oh, wow, the lights just flickered.”
“Does the cottage have an emergency generator?”
“I have no idea.”
“The main house probably does,” Cade said thoughtfully. “You can always drive up there if you need to.”
“Actually, there’s no-one home. Helen’s parents are away.”
“So…you’re on that big property alone?”
“Yes. I don’t mind, not really.”
“What if there’s a problem?” he asked as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky.
“What kind of problem?”
“I don’t know, any kind of problem. It’s absolutely pouring. That pond might crest its banks.”
“I never thought about that, though I imagine an estate like this would have allowed for—that’s weird,” she said, abruptly interrupting her own thought.
“What?”
“I’m standing at the window and I think I just saw a flashlight.”
“I’m two minutes away. I’ll stop in and check. What’s the gate code?”
“6116. But you don’t have to. It’s terrible out there. Crap, there it is again.”
“The flashlight?”
“Or whatever it is, but yes.”
“I’m almost there. I’ll stop next to the front door.”
“Thanks, Cade. Sorry to be a problem.”
“You’re not. I’ll be turning into the gates in about thirty-seconds.”
“Okay. I’m just going to throw on some clothes.”
“See you shortly.”
Accelerating through the driving rain, he saw the familiar gates a moment later, but when he rolled into the driveway his headlights illuminated a figure in a raincoat lumbering through the storm. Whoever it was stopped, then turned and began heading in his direction. With his pulse ticking up, Cade punched in the code, the gates swung open, and he sped forward, quickly stopping and lowering his window as the figure waved him down.
“If you’re lookin’ for the Rutherfords they’re out of town,” the man yelled.
“I’m here to see a friend who’s staying in the guest cottage,” Cade replied.
“Oh, I thought that was Helen. I’m Harry, the groundskeeper. I’m just here checkin’ on things. Especially that pond. Can’t be too careful in a storm like this.”
“Do you want a lift?”
“Much obliged. I’m in the wife’s car and I wouldn’t trust it drivin’ down that slope to the pond. It’s gravel but it can get a bit dicey.”
“Hop in, and don’t mind the dogs. The worst they’ll do is lick you to death.”
“Hah, I know that story. Thanks.”
Jack and Diane jumped into the rear seat making room for the drenched groundskeeper, and Cade continued on, relieved the man was not a mysterious stranger lurking on the grounds. When he pulled to a stop next to the front porch, Harry thanked him again, then climbed out and hurried towards the pond.
“Stay here,” Cade said, stepping out and hurrying to the front door, but before he had a chance to ring the bell, Karen had opened it.
“Come in, come in,” she said urgently. “Gosh, what a night.”
“That flashlight was just the groundskeeper here to check on the pond.”
“It was?” she replied with wide eyes.
“Yep. Why?”
“No reason, I’m just glad it wasn’t anyone—you know—snooping around.”
“I can’t imagine anyone wantin’ to do that on a night like this,” he replied, but as he spoke he realized she had been genuinely worried, perhaps even scared.
“Karen, would you be more comfortable in my guest room?”
“Uh…”
“Obviously no strings.”
“Honestly, Cade, yes, I would love that.”
“Then throw some things in a bag and let’s go.”
“Really? Thank you,” she said earnestly. “I really appreciate this.”
As she hurried away a frown crossed his brow, and his conversation with Annie floated through his head .
“Are you thinkin’ she has some psycho stalker, or maybe an ex-boyfriend is after her?”
“That would be my guess, and you need to find out. I know how horrible it is to feel alone with a monster chasing you. I felt completely helpless and I was scared all the time.”