Chapter 9 Zach
Zach
“You get out of here!”
Zach’s eyes popped open at the low growl that was unmistakably coming from right outside the hotel room door. He opened his mouth to snarl at whoever was rude enough to make noise in the hallway, when the roses distracted him.
Then it all came back to him. Not a hotel. The sheriff’s house. Damn good thing he hadn’t snarled. Still, why had someone shouted?
He looked around and, Jesus Christ, it was like a florist’s shop had exploded in here.
The wallpaper was a wash of huge cabbage roses in pinks and reds.
There were flowers on the bedspread, on the sheets, on the weird-assed pitcher and bowl on the dresser.
Even the chest of drawers and headboard had roses painted on them.
“Don’t you two track that mud on my clean floors!” a woman yelled. “I will beat you both! Out. Get out. You let that little boy sleep and go to work!”
He slipped out of the bed, the hardwood creaking under his feet, and peered out of the—rose-covered, of course—curtains.
It was pouring down, the trees heavy with the water, the sight of green just going on and on, nothing but barns and fences to break up the color.
Colton and his cousin…. Gary… George…. Greg! They hustled across the dirt and jumped into their pickups.
Damn. Not only did he want to see Colton, but he also felt awkward as fuck having to leave the room. He was in the sheriff’s house. The freaking sheriff, for Christ’s sake. What was he supposed to do? Wander down, open the fridge, and help himself to food?
He looked at his feet and dug his toes into the fluffy rug. Even with all the roses vomited across the room, this was the nicest place he could remember spending the night. Sure beat the heck out of the cot in the tiny space he had in the tent.
It even had a bathroom with a real shower. With no roses. Daisies, yes, but no roses. That had been heaven. The one thing that would have made it better is if Colton had been there with—
Best not go there or he’d tent his shorts real fast.
He needed to get dressed anyway; he had to pee, and he wasn’t going out in just the T-shirt he shrugged on and the running shorts.
Grabbing his duffel, he dug out some jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He tossed the black button-up aside. Too wrinkled. Pushing a bit deeper, he found a navy pullover that was passable.
Maybe after he washed his face and combed his hair he’d figure out what to do next. He snorted as he quick-stepped for the bathroom. Sure he would.
The noises from the kitchen got louder. He figured that was a sign or a hint or at least a clue, that people were up and about. After making himself presentable, he looked in the mirror. He didn’t look as freaked out as he felt, which had to be good.
His feel-good moment ended when Zach opened the bathroom door and came face-to-face with three little girls. They all had wild black curls, button-black eyes, and wore various Disney princess nightgowns. The littlest one had her thumb in her mouth.
They stared at him for a second, then the oldest tilted her head. “Mamaw’s making oats with strawberries. I’m Kenzi. She said to come down.”
Then she led them down the hall, as if it was normal for a stranger to appear out of the daisies like some fiddle-playing elf with a need for caffeine. Had he fallen into Wonderland?
The awkward embarrassment of coming into a complete stranger’s home amplified a thousand-fold when Kenzi led him into the kitchen. Nanette was cooking as expected, but Zach didn’t expect the elderly couple sitting at the table.
“I got him, Mamaw,” his chaperone announced.
The pair at the table studied him. The woman had silver hair, and her blue eyes sparkled with kindness. A far cry from the hard once-over he got from the gentleman. It wasn’t a sneer, but he didn’t seem impressed with Zach.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice not as steady as he wished.
“How’d you sleep, Zach?” Nanette turned from the stove and smiled. Whatever she thought, it didn’t stop her from making him feel welcome.
“Better than I have in forever, ma’am.” He bowed his head to her. “Thank you again for your kindness.”
“You’re welcome, and call me Nanette. Sit.” She pointed to the open seat across from the old guy. “This is Betty and Jerry Hanlon, Ted’s parents.
“Pleased to meet you both. I’m sorry to be intruding on your family.” He extended a hand, and the old guy softened a bit.
“Nan told us about what’s happening,” Betty said. “Nice that Colton and Greg were there to help you.”
“They were…” he eyed the littles, “extremely helpful, ma’am.”
“What happened?” Kenzi asked like the eight or nine-year-old she was.
Zach felt sure they didn’t want the wee ones knowing the details. “I got lost, and my people at the festival left without me. Colton gave me a ride.”
“Why’d they leave you?” the middle girl in the Princess Sophia nightie asked.
He searched the table trying to think up a good way to end this conversation. “They needed to go, and I wasn’t paying attention to the time. It’s fine. I’ll catch up with them later today.”
“Colton says you’re the best fiddle player he’s heard,” Kenzi said. “Cousin Tyler is learning to play.”
This was better than tiptoeing around what had happened at the fair. “I don’t know that I’m the best fiddle player, but I’ve practiced hard all my life.”
Nanette cut off the conversation by placing bowls in front of the girls. “Here you are, girls. Dig in.”
They ate as if there was chocolate pudding in the bowls. The sweet aroma and hint of strawberries made his stomach rumble.
“Can I help, ma’am?” He moved to get up, but she put a hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you for asking, Zach, but you’re a guest.” Something passed between her and her father-in-law.
“Colton’s a good judge of people,” Jerry’s comment was about more than music. “If you have time, maybe you can play for us after supper?”
He’d planned to leave as soon as he could, but wanted the rain to stop. Otherwise, it would be a wet walk into town. “I don’t plan to impose on your family that long, sir, but I can play after breakfast if you like.”
Jerry side-eyed Nanette as she brought more bowls to the table. Zach knew he’d missed something important.
“Ted wants you to wait until he gets home,” she said. “He said he’ll call before lunch.”
Betty snorted. “That boy has never once missed a meal if he wasn’t forced to, and he likes a good story even better. He’ll be back here before Nanette finishes making beds.”
“You’re not wrong,” she said, smiling. “Who all wants toast? I made a panful, and there’s strawberry, apricot, huckleberry, and… plum jelly in here.”
“Toasts!” The littlest girl lit up like a candle. “With purple!”
“Huckleberry it is!” Nanette winked at Zach. “I hope you’re used to a little insanity. We’re a busy house.”
“I’ve lived with the festival most of life. Can’t be more crazy than that.”
Zach cleared the table over Nanette’s objections. He knew better than to offer them money for their hospitality—not that he had any to spare—so helping was all he had.
“You don’t need to do that,” Nanette said again.
He ignored her, and went back to the table for the rest of the dishes. Jerry and Betty disappeared after eating, and it didn’t seem right to leave Nanette to clean up for seven alone.
“My granddad might have been a tough old coot, but he taught me better than to sit and let others wait on me.” Mostly, Pop expected Zach to wait on him, but no matter. “Besides, I have nothing else to do.”
The tone was harsher than he meant, and it certainly wasn’t directed at Nanette, but he was riding a bull without a rope.
She gave him a sympathetic glance. “Ted’s got his reasons for keeping you here, and it’s not because he wants to lock you up. There’s a jail for that. This is about keeping you safe.”
“No offense, ma’am, but if I’m in danger, leaving me here is the worst thing for you and the little ones.” Not to mention Betty and Jerry.
“That’s sweet of you to think of us, but there are two dozen hands on the ranch who’ll shoot anything that doesn’t belong. Jerry was sheriff for thirty years before Ted. He knows how to keep his family safe.”
That was comforting and disturbing at the same time. “In that case tell me what I can do to help? You’ve got some insanity to corral, and I’m good at following directions.”
“If you really want to help, go get your fiddle and play with Jerry.” She put the last pan in the drying rack and opened the dishwasher. “He’s bored most of the time and gets in the way. Keep him busy, and I’ll owe you before the day is out.”
The way Jerry had watched him scared Zach, but he’d asked. Nanette inserted a touch of humor, but he got the idea she wasn’t kidding. Keeping Jerry busy would be the kindest thing he could do for her. It would also help pass the hours until Colton returned.
Lord that man set him on fire like no other. The way Colton saw him made filthy thoughts seem tame. He couldn’t go there, but he could soak in enough details to last a long time.
“Yes, ma’am. I can do that.”
“Thank you.” She swatted him with the towel. “Now get to it. I need to get started on lunch for the grands, and he’ll be in here in ten minutes if you don’t distract him.”