Chapter 1 #2
“Hal would put you up at the horse ranch also. He’s a deputy sheriff, also, and a rancher. That would be out of town too, and he has several ranch hands and a foreman that would be there to protect you,” Dan said. “Not to mention Hal would also.”
“Same with us,” Chet said, and gave Ava a hug and kiss before he left with the guys and Lacy.
Lacy never imagined living in a cougar-run town, but despite Mrs. Fitz’s assurances that they would keep her safe, she had her doubts. Mostly because Lacy had thought she was safe before, only for Timothy to show up again and force her to run.
No one had been able to keep her safe before this. She was grateful to the shop owner for taking her in.
“I can stay with Mrs. Fitzgerald, if that would truly work for her,” Lacy told the sheriff. She couldn’t believe they found a tracking device in her car, but it explained how Timothy had found her so quickly.
She figured it would be a good idea to stay with someone who was law enforcement trained.
If she stayed at Chase’s cabin, she would be alone at night, and she could see Timothy breaking into it and putting her life in danger.
If she resided at Hal’s ranch, she figured the ranch hands who visited her at the shop would pressure her to date, and she was off the dating scene for now.
Though they’d all been sweet. And she couldn’t help but be flattered that they’d shown her all that attention.
“Okay, well, if you can do without Lacy for a little while, we’ll check the rest of her property to see if tracking devices are on anything else of hers,” Dan said.
“No. This needs to be done pronto. We can move your property to my house. Dan has a spare key. I have two guest bedrooms you can choose from,” Florence said.
“Thanks.” Lacy put on her coat and went with Dan and Chase to have her property scanned for tracking devices at the motel.
“So what brings you to Yuma Town?” Dan asked her on the way over there.
“I saw that it was a small town in the middle of nowhere on the map, and I thought Timothy wouldn’t be able to locate me. Boy, did I have that wrong.”
“We’ll take care of you,” Chase said.
“Right,” Dan agreed. “You're one of us now.”
She couldn’t believe how everyone was so welcoming to a perfect stranger.
They arrived at the motel, all decorated in Christmas lights, with a big Christmas tree in the lobby, next to a large window, showing it off beautifully. Chet and Ricky had followed Dan there.
Dan parked, and she used her key to unlock her motel room door.
She really hoped there wouldn’t be any more tracking devices on her property.
She worried that Timothy would already know she was stopped in Yuma Town.
Not only did Ricky locate a tracking device in her luggage, but Chase found an audio listening device that could have captured conversations she’d had if Timothy had been close by.
At least it was on a bag she wasn’t keeping close, so all Timothy would have heard were news reports or Christmas music on the radio when she’d been driving. She was grateful that he hadn’t put one in her purse, or he would have heard her conversations if he’d been within hearing distance.
Dan made hand signals, not wanting her to speak when they found the listening device. They removed that and the tracking device.
Dan destroyed the listening device first. “A couple who ran the bank in town are driving to Denver. I’ll ask if they can take the tracking devices with them.
And then place them on another vehicle that has out-of-state plates.
That should help to confuse your location.
” Then he called them and told them they would meet at the service station.
They packed Lacy’s property in the trunk of Dan’s hatchback and drove to the gas station to meet up with the couple.
Lacy just hoped her ex wouldn’t catch up to the couple and put them in danger.
As if they understood her concern for their safety, the woman said, “I’m Yvonne Mueller and this is my husband, Rick. We’re both retired FBI agents and run the bank in town now. If the ex-boyfriend harasses us, he’ll wish he hadn’t.”
Lacy smiled, thinking she might have truly found a safe haven.
“Okay, we’re off,” Rick said, and they drove off with the two tracking devices in their car.
Lacy felt a bit of relief that they were going far away, but she was a little nervous about dropping off her personal belongings when they arrived at Florence's beautiful, two-story Victorian house without her being there, though the guys were all with her.
Dan said, "Her guest rooms are on the second floor, second and third bedrooms to the right at the top of the stairs. She has a master bedroom suite to the left."
"Thanks." Lacy admired the beautiful Christmas tree, decorated with a multicolored array of balls, lights, and decorations.
Garlands with big red bows hung from the fireplace mantle, draped over bookcases, and the banister leading upstairs.
Reindeer in brass, ceramics, and even wood were situated under miniature pine trees as if the deer had been welcomed into her miniature forest. The scent of cinnamon filled the air as Lacy noticed Christmas candles situated around the living room and kitchen.
She headed up the stairs with one of her bags while the guys carried the others behind her, and she appreciated all their help.
Then they set them in the bedroom that was also decorated for Christmas.
A tall, skinny Christmas tree stood in a corner of the room next to a window.
The bed was covered with a quilt depicting a Christmas tree and packages.
Towels were rolled up in a red wicker basket.
Complimentary soaps, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste were collected in another.
Mrs. Fitz was truly ready for guests to stay the night.
The bedroom even had a bathroom, which she was surprised by but grateful for, giving her more privacy. Then she left the room with the guys and headed down the stairs.
"Mrs. Fitz will enjoy the company," Dan said. "I'm glad you decided to stay with her."
"Though my wife, Shannon, and I would have loved for you to stay in one of our cabins, the one closest to the main house," Chase said again. "But I agree with Dan."
"Does she often have stay-over guests?" Lacy asked. Because everything was ready for one, she wondered if she did.
"If we have a blizzard, she's prepared to open her home to anyone in need," Chase said.
"Oh, how lovely." Lacy couldn't imagine doing that, afraid she would meet dangerous people, if she did, at least with her luck.
They headed back to the shop, ordered special lattes and scones when they arrived, then wished her well, Chet giving another hug and kiss to Ava, and left.
"Your home is beautiful, and thanks so much for giving me the chance to stay there," Lacy told Mrs. Fitz.
"I'm so glad to have the company." She was all smiles, looking like she genuinely meant it. "We can decide on what we want to eat for dinner when we get home."
"Or we can make something here," Ava said.
"True. I often do that. It's easy to fix something light here and take it home for dinner," Mrs. Fitz said.
Later that afternoon, while Lacy was cleaning pots and pans, she heard one of the ranch hands had returned.
"You're back, Rory," Ava said, sounding surprised.
"Uh, yes, uh, I thought I would get one of your hot Reuben sandwiches.”
"Okay, sure. So what would you like with that?"
Rory kept looking back at the kitchen.
Ava chuckled. "All right.” Without waiting for him to answer, she said, “Potato chips and a pickle." Then she headed to the kitchen. "Hey, I think Rory is here to see you, Lacy."
Lacy shook her head. "I'm not dating. Not after what I've been through."
"He just wants a Reuben and chips. Ask him what he wants to drink. You'll make his day," Ava said.
"All right." Lacy didn't want to get Rory's hopes up because she really had no plan to date anyone anytime soon.
What if Timothy thought she was still here, even though the tracking devices were on their way to Denver?
She had stopped here. He might try to locate her—shoot, her car.
Timothy could see it parked out in front of the shop. "I need to hide my car, Mrs. Fitz."
"Of course you do. I should have thought of that right away. Ava and I can't leave the shop. We’re too busy this time of day, but Rory can go with you and return you here in his truck. Just park your car in the garage. Here are the keys to the house."
"Thanks so much."
"No problem. I should have thought of it when Dan and the others were here."
Lacy hated to ask Rory for help. He might feel that she wanted him for more than that, or that she was a damsel in distress, which she was, but she hated feeling that way. She left the kitchen and greeted him. "Uhm, I have a request for you if it's all right with you."
"I overheard. Sure, I'll drive over there with you and then come back for my meal."
"Thanks."
"My pleasure." He followed her in his pickup truck, and when they arrived at the house, she went inside, found the garage, opened the door, and parked her car.
Once she closed the garage door and locked up the house, she climbed into Rory's truck.
"I guess you're having a bit of trouble," he said.
"Some."
"Well, we're all here for you." Rory didn't press her to learn what it was all about, and she appreciated it.
"I can't thank everyone enough. It sure is different being in a cougar-run town."
"For sure."
When they arrived at the shop, she expected Ava to have Rory’s meal ready for him, but she hadn't started it.
"I didn't want it to get cold in case there was a delay. You know how to make one, right?" Ava asked.
Lacy knew Ava was setting her up to spend more time with Rory.
"Sure." Lacy got to work on the Reuben and figured that would be good for dinner tonight.
It just appealed. Then she made the sandwich and added chips, realizing she should have asked him what he wanted to drink.
And if he wanted this to go so he could return to the ranch to work.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Just water."
"Do you want this to go?"
"Nah, Ted, our ranch foreman, wants me to pick up some feed for the horses because we have a snowstorm on its way, and so I have more time to spare."
She hurried off to get him some water, then returned to his table with it. “Do you want anything else before I bring your meal?”
He smiled, looking like he was trying to figure out something to say, and then he finally said, “Are you free for dinner tonight?”
“Uh, no.” She was, but she wasn’t going to date right now while things were unresolved with her ex-boyfriend. She didn’t want a new boyfriend to have to deal with him, not as volatile as Timothy could get.
Then she served up Rory’s lunch, and she swore he wasn’t giving up on her that easily.
After hanging around as long as he could, he popped his head in the kitchen and said goodbye, making Lacy smile. He headed out into the snow.