Chapter 30
THIRTY
The police arrived too soon for Archer’s liking. He would have preferred to have a few more minutes to bask in Scarlett’s kiss.
She loved him. She wanted him. She forgave him for being such an ass earlier.
These things were almost incomprehensible to Archer, but as Scarlett pulled away and stroked her hand over his cheek, he had no reason not to believe her.
“I love you,” he told her, unable to keep the words in.
Her smile was brilliant and beautiful, only interrupted by the cops’ arrival. They streamed into Scarlett’s house and entered the living room, cutting straight to the man groaning on the floor.
“You hurt?” Rick barked, taking in the scene at a glance.
“Scarlett’s cut, but I’m fine,” Archer replied.
Rick nodded and gestured behind him. Paramedics came in, attending to Frank and Scarlett. Meanwhile, Archer was led outside where he gave a statement to an officer about his part in the story. Scarlett sat on her stoop as a paramedic bandaged her up, looking tired but happy. She met Archer’s gaze and shot him a quick smile, which made everything seem a little bit brighter.
It surprised Archer to see Ralph outside Scarlett’s house. He’d caught a ride with one of the cops, so as to not get stranded at the strip mall outside of town, and now leaned against the cruiser with his arms crossed. When Archer was done giving a statement, he joined the other man at the edge of the organized chaos of police and paramedics.
“You fix things with your woman?” Ralph asked gruffly.
Archer nodded, glancing at the woman in question. She was in the process of giving her own statement; otherwise, Archer would have her tucked to his side where she belonged. “Yes, I did,” he answered.
Ralph dipped his chin. “Good.”
The sound of an engine made them both glance down the street. A white sedan came into view, and Ralph straightened beside Archer.
Glancing at the older man, Archer frowned. Ralph looked shocked.
The white car came to a stop just across the street from them. Ada Lewis stepped out, glaring at her ex-husband.
“What in the world have you gotten into now, Ralphie?”
The woman was short, probably five-two or five-three, but her personality was like a punch in the face. She had snow-white hair that stopped in a blunt line at her shoulders, and she wore thick-framed black glasses. In her arms, she carried Jumbo the dog.
Ralph studied her suspiciously. “Nothing to do with me. I’m just here to make sure Archer’s all right.”
“Greta Moore told me you killed that woman.”
“Greta Moore’s got no idea what she’s talking about.”
Ada scowled at him, stomping toward them until she stood just two feet away. Jumbo snoozed happily in her arms. She pointed a finger at Ralph. “You pawned your wedding ring.”
Archer tilted his head. Why would she care if he got rid of his ring?
Ralph clenched his jaw, staring at the woman he’d been married to for over half a century. “Had no choice, Ada.”
“Baloney.”
Ralph flinched. There was a short, sharp silence, and then he jerked his chin at the dog. “Thanks for taking him yesterday.”
“That was just like you, Ralphie. Showing up at my door with your silly little dog, saying the police were taking you in for questioning.”
“Except this time, I didn’t do nothing.” Ralph’s voice was tense as he spoke, crossing his arms.
“For once!”
Archer watched as Ralph dropped his gaze to the asphalt. He looked angry for being chastened, but there was something else. Some edge of tenderness that entered his eyes when he lifted his gaze to look at Ada.
The woman didn’t seem to notice as she petted Jumbo’s head, her voice cutting. “I should have known you’d be lost up there in the woods on your own. All you know how to do is tinker away in that workshop of yours. Have you been eating? You look like skin and bones, Ralphie.”
“I’ve been eating fine, hon. Go down to Bussy’s for a hot meal once or twice a week.”
Ada clicked her tongue. “That’s the whole reason this mess started in the first place. Just like last time!”
Archer frowned. “Last time?”
He regretted his words when both of them swung around to face him. They’d been so caught up in each other, they’d forgotten he was there beside them.
“Yes, last time,” Ada said in that same sharp voice. Then her gaze softened. “How are you, Archer honey?”
“I’m okay. Glad this mess seems to be over.”
“Of course. And here’s your sweetheart. How are you, girl?”
“I’m okay,” Scarlett replied, slipping her hand into Archer’s.
He squeezed it, something settling in his heart at her closeness. Then he turned back to Ada. “What did you mean, last time?”
“Last time Ralphie got in trouble.”
Archer and Scarlett exchanged a glance, and it was Scarlett who finally said, “The axe incident?”
Ralph snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Archer cleared his throat. “I thought that was a, um, domestic issue.” He glanced at Ralph, then at Ada, not wanting to accuse the old woman of infidelity to her face.
“Believed the hogwash in the papers, did you?” She rolled her eyes. “They loved making me into the villainess when it was Edgar Wills who came onto me. My Ralphie was just protecting me, wasn’t he?”
“He shouldn’t’ve touched you,” Ralph growled in response.
Ada’s shoulders softened, and her lips twitched ever so slightly. “Still. Caused an awful mess, didn’t you? Nearly got yourself locked up.”
“He shouldn’t’ve touched you,” Ralph repeated, slightly more emphatically.
Ada straightened, her chin lifting. She harrumphed softly, then closed the distance between them and dumped Jumbo into Ralph’s arms. Then she turned on her heels and went back to her car. Archer caught a flash of devastation on Ralph’s face.
Archer’s own chest ached. Ralph was a grumpy old bastard, but he loved his wife. To live out his days all alone in that house in the woods, with nothing but his dog for company…
Ada opened the door to her vehicle, then paused, turning. She arched her brows at Ralph. “Are you coming or not?”
Ralph started. “Coming where?”
“You think I’m going to leave you all alone in that house of ours when you obviously can’t take care of yourself? First you starve yourself, then you get wrapped up in a murder. And you pawn your wedding ring! Honestly, Ralphie. It’s a wonder you made it this long without me watching over you. Now get in the car. We’re going home.”
Archer had never seen Ralph move so fast. Holding Jumbo cradled in one arm, he paused at the passenger side and glanced at Archer and Scarlett over the roof of the car. He gave Archer a nod. “You take care of that woman, son.”
“Will do,” Archer replied, squeezing Scarlett’s hand.
Ada’s window opened. “You two will come to dinner at our place next week sometime. Understood?”
“Yes ma’am,” Archer agreed, grinning.
Ralph’s lips curled ever so slightly, and then he got in his wife’s car. Archer and Scarlett watched it disappear around a corner, and Scarlett let out a low hum.
“So Ada never cheated on him?”
“Doesn’t sound like it.”
“But Ralph did chop a guy’s fingers off.”
“That’s what the papers said.”
“Ralph didn’t seem too upset about being bossed around.”
Archer turned to face her, sliding his arm across her lower back to pull her tight to his body. “I think when the right woman comes around, even the most stubborn man doesn’t mind a little bossing.”
Scarlett’s lips twitched, her hands sliding across his shoulders to wrap around his neck. “In that case, you should know that your house is boring, and unless we do some serious redecorating, I’m not giving up my cottage for anything.”
Archer chuckled, touching his nose to hers. “I think we can work something out.”
“Good.” She nodded, a motion not unlike the one Ada had made when she’d seen Ralph rush to get in her car. Archer kissed the smile that curled her lips, hoping he’d get half a century—and longer—with this woman by his side.