Chapter 5
After Sawyer Duke had dropped her at the Circle Left, Libby had gone inside to book a room, but they were renovating and had none available. Nancy, the owner, had told her to “just wait right there” while she called around and found Libby a bed for the night, but seeing as her main focus was being independent, she’d called her thanks to the woman, saying she was fine, and left.
It hadn’t been the brightest move on her part, but then she’d not been thinking clearly since she’d run out of her wedding. She’d then walked in the cold weather back to town, dragging her suitcase, where she’d asked directions to any lodgings of the first person she saw. The man had said to head on up to Do-Si-Do Diner and talk to Linda because she’ll know if there’s anything, as she’s the nosiest person in town.
Linda from the Do-Si-Do had told her to sit tight and she’d call around. She’d drunk two cups of coffee and eaten really good fries and waited, but Linda couldn’t find anywhere for her. But she did tell her to go ask Ryder Duke, as he had plenty of spare rooms.
She’d rather sleep in a tree than do that, so Libby had nodded politely and left. Wandering along the main street, she stopped at the notice board, but most of the bulletins were about something called a Lynpicks event that was happening soon—whatever that was.
Passing a thrift store, she stopped and looked in the window.
Never, not once in her lifetime, had she stepped inside one, which was nothing to be proud of. She’d donated things, but her father’s staff had dropped them off.
Entering, dragging her suitcase behind her, she saw shelves filled with household goods and racks of clothes. More shelves held shoes.
“You looking for anything special?”
The woman coming toward her looked like everyone’s favorite grandmother. Her tracksuit was bronze velour, and her hair a silver bob.
“That jacket doesn’t look very warm,” she added.
“Just looking around, thanks,” Libby said.
“You follow me. We’ve got a jacket in that I think will be perfect.”
“I’m really just looking,” Libby protested.
In minutes she was stripped out of her jacket and sweatshirt and handed a thick, ribbed navy jumper that fit her perfectly and a long fur-lined khaki hooded jacket that came to mid-thigh.
“I really don’t think I can afford all this,” Libby said for perhaps the first time in her life.
“Don’t you worry, we’ll work that out. If you want to sell that jacket you had on, I’m sure we can do a deal. I’m June Matilda by the way. Nice to meet you, Libby.”
“How do you know my name?”
“Linda told me.”
She walked out of the shop thirty minutes after entering wearing her new jacket, which she’d traded for the old one, and June had given her the ribbed sweater for free. She’d said that was too generous, but the woman was determined. On her head was a striped woolen beanie with a pom-pom, which had also been free.
The clothes in Libby’s wardrobe had always been expensive, and not once had she thought about price when she’d purchased them. This, what was happening to her now, was completely foreign.
“I’m a spoiled brat,” she muttered as the reality of who she’d been smacked her in the face.
Looking at the sky, Libby realized it would be dark soon. As there appeared to be no accommodation in Lyntacky she knew where she could sleep tonight, but first she had to locate where her car was parked. A meal, and then she’d find it. If it was parked outside, she could sleep in the back seat without freezing now she had her new warm clothes on.
Entering the Courtesy Turn Cafe—another strange name in a town full of them—she took a seat.
“What’ll it be?” the young girl asked her.
“Coffee and the raspberry-chocolate waffles, please.”
Looking out the window, Libby watched as snow began to fall, which was just what she needed.
“Here you go.” The girl placed the waffles before her, along with the coffee.
“I’m Cherry. If you need anything more, just let me know.”
“Hey, you must be Libby.” A man in a police uniform slid into the seat across from her minutes later. “I’m Dan, Ryder’s brother.”
She saw it in his features; he had the look of the other two Dukes she’d already met.
“Found a place to stay yet?”
“Yes,” Libby lied and then shoved a large forkful of waffle into her mouth so she didn’t have to speak again.
Was telling a lie like that to an officer of the law a felony? Yet another thing you’ve done since walking away from your life, Libby.
At least if he arrested her, she’d have a place to sleep that night.
Never, not once in her life, had she not had a warm bed to sleep in and food to eat. She wished her father in hell for this. He wanted her to fail. Wanted to bring her back into line by cutting off her funds so she’d crawl home and beg for everyone’s forgiveness.
But that is not happening.
“Good?” Dan Duke nodded at the waffles she was eating far too quickly.
Libby nodded, still chewing.
“I’m picking up the order for my uncle and me. Don’t tell anyone, but other than Ryder’s place—which isn’t open, so I’m not being disloyal—this is my favorite eating spot in town.” His eyes went to her suitcase standing beside her like a sentry, in silent disapproval that still she had no place to put it for the night.
“You sure you’re all good for a bed tonight, Libby?”
She nodded again and still hadn’t spoken a word to the man.
“Okay, well, if you need anything or that place doesn’t turn out, you head to the police station, and we’ll help you out. I know Lyntacky is full tonight.” Dan Duke got out of his chair then and left with a smile. She watched him pick up a big order of take-out containers and leave.
How was it these people knew who she was when she’d never met them before and only arrived in town a few hours ago?
Libby sat and ate for as long as she could, lingering over her coffee. And then, when Cherry started wiping down the tables, she handed over some of her precious money to pay for the meal.
“Do you know where Bob’s garage is? I left something in my car that I need,” Libby said.
“Sure. Take the first left. You can’t miss it. There’s a big sign.”
“Thanks.”
It was colder outside now that night was approaching, and the fear that was always close to the surface began to claw at her again. She could pull out her phone and call Nancy from the card she’d given Libby or any of the other people who had offered their help.
Stubborn pride was a dangerous thing, Libby thought as she kept walking. But for so long she’d been supported and wanted for nothing; she needed to prove to herself she could survive alone.
Turning left, Libby walked until she found the sign for Bob’s garage. It was closed up tight, as expected at this time of the day. Walking around to the back, she nearly cried with relief when she saw her car parked beside three others.
Libby was always super cautious, and she’d had a spare key cut. Pulling it out of her bag, she hurried to the door. Getting in the back with her suitcase, she opened it and took out anything warm she could put on. When she was wearing two sweaters, her jacket, two pairs of socks, a scarf, and a hat, she zipped it up and put it in the front seat.
Libby then set the alarm on her phone for early because the humiliation of Bob the mechanic arriving to find her was something she would not face. She then lay down and let herself cry for the first time that day.
Life had been exactly where she’d wanted it to be a few weeks ago, and now she didn’t know her next move, and Libby liked to be in control. Andrew’s last words to her had changed everything because suddenly he’d put doubts in her head. Big enough doubts that she’d opened the door in her wedding dress and run out of that church and not looked back.
She’d gone to the hotel they were to stay in that night and changed. Grabbing her overnight bag, she’d then fled with her wedding dress under one arm and her suitcase in the other hand.
Just thinking about her ex made her warmer. Rage filled her body over what he’d asked her to do.
Libby had then rented a car for the month, and not stopped driving until she was tired. She then slept, and when she woke, she drove again. But today she’d had to stop because the car had died, and her money had run out because her father had cancelled her cards.
A small voice inside her said, “Just go home,” but she tamped it down. Libby hadn’t known she had the strength inside her she’d found in the last two weeks.
The roar of engines had her lifting her head. Rubbing a small hole in the misted window, she watched two motorcycles come toward her car. Libby slid back down again and held her breath for no other reason than suddenly she was terrified and doubting her decision for independence.
Nope! That rat deserved to be humiliated for what he did to me.
“No one’s here. Open it and get the parts you need.”
Were they going to steal from Bob? Libby didn’t know the man, but still, she surely couldn’t just lie here and let them do that. She looked out of her small peephole again. Both men had parked their motorcycles and were now standing before the roller doors. They were big, dressed in black with leather vests. Squinting, she tried to make out what the words on the back said.
“There may be an alarm.”
“Well, be fucking quick about it.”
Or leave? Libby voted for her last option.
The low hum of another engine had her sliding lower on the seat. Had Bob come back to work for something? Would these men hurt him? Pulling out her cell phone, she got ready to call the cops if trouble started.
“What the fuck are you two doing here?”
Ryder? Was that his voice? She looked out the window again. That was Ryder’s pickup and him getting out of it.
Stay in the vehicle! Libby screamed silently.
“None of your damned business, Duke,” one of the bikers snarled. “Get out of here, or we’ll make you.”
“It’s my damned business if you’re planning on doing something that may harm a friend.”
“No friends with you now, Duke. In fact, you’re all alone,” one of the bikers said, and Libby did not like his tone.
Drive away, Ryder. She had a bad feeling about this.
“Unlike you, Grill, I have friends and am rarely alone,” Ryder said, and Libby was fairly sure antagonizing the bikers wasn’t a wise move when he was alone.
“Come here and say that, baker boy.”
Libby watched Ryder walk to the man. She was just about to get out of her car—to do what, she had no idea—when the man swung a fist at him. Ryder ducked, then did a move that dropped the man on his back on the concrete.
“Next,” he then said in a hard voice.
Libby watched the other biker run at Ryder. He bent, threw his shoulder into the man’s waist, and flipped him to land with his friend. Both men staggered to their feet.
“Now get the fuck out of my town,” Ryder said, sounding nothing like the man she’d met in that cafe today and danced with.
The bikers struggled back to their feet. “Fuck you, Duke!” one said when he was straddling his bike. They then revved their motorcycles and roared away.
Heart thumping, Libby slid back down on her seat. Ryder was making a call now, but as he was walking to his pickup, she couldn’t hear what was said.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her face into the pile of clothes she’d made for a pillow. She’d never witnessed anything like that in her life before. Libby had been sheltered, she knew that, and now she was out in the world alone by choice.
The thud of a fist on the window had her muffling a shriek.