Chapter 2 #2
He hadn’t purchased the land early enough to plant late summer vegetables like corn, beans, cucumbers and tomatoes, but he’d hired workers to put in lettuce, beets, carrots and broccoli in early fall.
As the years went by, he’d enlarge the operation, but for now, he settled on one decent-sized field.
He turned to his finances. Things were tight but he’d saved enough to make it through several months here on a small income.
After checking he was on track with his plan for the farm and making some notes, he got up and walked outside to inspect the field.
The late August sun beat down on his head and bare arms, warming him inside and out.
He walked up and down the rows that had been tilled and made ready for planting by his four hired workers.
The scents of the rich loam of the earth settled him like it always did.
He looked forward to the crops going in.
He went back inside to shower before he returned to Scarlet’s. He checked the time. He planned to be back when she returned at noon.
* * *
Daisy and Scarlet walked out together and when they reached her car Daisy said, “Hold on a sec. I want to ask you something.”
Scarlet smiled. Daisy loved seeing her friend so happy. “Sure.”
“I forgot to tell you earlier with all the guy stuff going on, but my condo is finally settled like I want it to be. I’m planning to have a cookout for our collective. Finn helped me move, you shared your barn with me, Oliver and Elise gave me ideas to decorate…you get the gist.”
“Super.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket. She had to shade it from the sun. “When is it?”
“Next weekend. I checked with everyone else earlier. They can come.”
“I can, too.”
“You can bring him, you know.”
“I’ll ask. But he has a son and I don’t know any babysitters.”
“Bring him. Liam’s sixteen but I saved all his toys so they’ll keep him busy. And there’s always the TV.”
“Joe’s kind of shy. Not exactly shy. Reserved, I guess.” Scarlet giggled. “Except in bed.”
“Don’t rub it in, girl. I haven’t had sex since the divorce.”
“You’ll find somebody else.” She squeezed Daisy’s arm. “What can I bring food-wise?”
“Dessert.”
“Great. Thanks, Daisy.”
Daisy got in her car and watched Scarlet drive away. She wasn’t jealous of her friend, just nostalgic. She’d been happily married for eleven years, then the last few were a slow disintegration of her marriage. Not to mention her ex’s cheating.
She shook all that off and before she headed home, she drove to her church to pick up the brochure for the Laity Fair she was organizing there.
Community Christian Church was small, but it was gorgeous inside with wooden pews, high ceilings and stained-glass windows.
The narthex and fellowship hall had just been renovated.
The congregation was active and collegial.
She liked knowing almost everybody who belonged here.
She parked next to the pastor’s Hyundai and used her key to get inside.
She entered the general office in the narthex and found the trifold sample in her mailbox like Reverend Nick had promised her.
From behind, she heard, “Hey, nice to see you.”
She turned. “Hi, Nick.” For a brief moment, she admired the pastor. Tall, lanky but not too thin. His blondish hair was tousled but it was his green eyes that stood out. They were always warm and friendly. “I just stopped to proofread the brochure for the Laity Fair.”
“I read it over but thanks for taking another pass at it.”
“Of course. I’m in charge of the fair.”
“You have my undying gratitude for that. It’s more work than I knew.”
“It’ll go off without a hitch.”
“Like everything you do.”
She felt herself blush.
“You don’t take enough credit for things you do here, Daisy Taylor.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
“I’ll be in my office. Stop and say goodbye when you’re done.”
“See you then.”
He turned and walked out. Daisy watched him go.
* * *
Scarlet got home at noon sharp. Joe stood in the kitchen staring at some food on the counter. He turned at the sound of the door. “Hi, beautiful.” His hair was damp and he had changed his clothes to clean jeans and a dark brown dress shirt.
“Hi.” She went over to him and he slid his arms around her. She sniffed. “Hmm. You smell like heaven.”
“I forgot I had cologne. I never use it anymore.”
“It’s very male.”
She drew back and gestured to the counter. “I love charcuterie boards.”
“You had all the stuff so I figured you must like them. There’s pepperoni for you.” He gestured to the bottle next to it. “Do you want some wine first? It’s chilled. I assume you won’t be driving anywhere.”
“I do. But not yet.” She took his hand and led him out of the kitchen, through the dining room to the bedroom. Once inside, she whispered, “I want to make love.” Not have sex. Make love. Even if their relationship could only last for a few days.
“I do too.” He fiddled with the tie at the front of her dress, then unbuttoned it and eased the straps off her shoulders. He kissed the space between her breasts. “No bra?”
“I buy dresses with built in support.”
“Ah. I didn’t know such things existed.” He nudged at her breast with his nose. “Less for me to get you out of.” He took a nipple in his mouth.
Her eyes closed. “Ah, that feels so good.”
He pushed down the rest of her dress, along with her lacy red panties and sandals. Then he stood.
She fumbled at his buttons. Kissed the skin she bared. Dropped to her knees and nuzzled his abdomen.
“Holy hell.”
Releasing his belt and tugging down his zipper, she found he wore no underwear. “You went commando.”
“Like I said, less to remove.”
She giggled and kissed his groin. Then he shed the rest of his clothes and sandals, too.
He drew her up. Ran a finger from one side of her shoulder to the other. “I’m going to love you well, and slowly.”
She threw her head back. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
By the time they got to the charcuterie board, the wine was lukewarm.
* * *
Another bomb? Another beating? How about a second murder?
He hadn’t killed the freaking guard at the collective but he had killed before.
More than once. Who would he hurt next? He’d gotten to McKenna.
And Ricardi. He teased Sullivan with the snake, but that wasn’t enough for her.
He’d framed the guy who was arrested for the Elsworth Medicine bombing when he himself had done it.
And Smith’s horse had been easy to tranq.
Ah, he’d done nothing to Taylor. She was kind of pathetic after her divorce and the sassy teenager who gave her all kinds of trouble, so maybe he’d wait on her. And maybe not. No one at Harmony Healing Collective would escape his wrath. Not after what they did to him.
He decided to target Sullivan again then leave this alone for a while. Unsuspecting victims were the best kind. He’d go on the Dark Web and see who was available and maybe get some ideas for his future plans for them. This was too much fun to quit now.