Chapter Three #2
“White’s ex-wife?”
Roby glanced away. “He called her a couple of times. She hates him.”
“Good.” Hud smiled. “Fewer loose ends.” He swung his leg over the chair and stood, leaning forward to press both hands flat on the table.
His voice dropped to a slow, measured growl.
“If any of this turns out to be a lie, I will walk back through that door and personally make sure every man in here knows exactly why you’re inside.
They’d open your throat faster than you could blink.
” He held Roby’s gaze until the man looked away.
“Animal cruelty has a price in places like this.”
Roby swallowed. “I’m telling the truth.”
“You’d better be.” Hud straightened and looked toward the door. “Guard.”
The heavy door swung open. The guard stepped in, expression bored.
“Take him back.”
The guard nodded, unlocked the cuffs from the table, grabbed Roby by the collar and hauled him upright, hustling him out. The door banged shut behind them, leaving Hud alone beneath the flickering light.
He walked out to the parking lot, the cool air sharp against his face after the stuffiness of the interrogation room. He slid into his dust-covered pickup, turned the key and called Dave, staring out through the windshield while the engine idled.
“I bet Roby nearly pissed himself,” Dave said, the grin audible in his voice. “Some folks just don’t understand how far people will go for animals.”
“He does now.”
“You headed back tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Call Creed when you get a chance. If White’s making for Canada we need to move before he crosses.”
“Will do.”
“Be safe. Talk tomorrow.”
Hud ended the call, shifted into drive and rolled out toward the highway under the afternoon sun.
****
Friday morning Blair pushed through the glass door of the office, her steps light at the thought of their one o’clock closing time.
The early dismissal stretched the weekend into a luxurious expanse of free hours.
Unless files piled up unexpectedly, everyone scattered at one sharp.
The morning’s workload looked manageable, and Blair could almost feel the smooth fabric of a new dress sliding over her skin for tomorrow night’s date.
“Counting down already?” Meridith called from her desk, twirling a pen between her fingers.
“The clock started ticking the moment I walked in,” Blair replied, dropping her purse into her bottom drawer.
“Got anything going this weekend?”
“I have a date.” She couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face.
“Spill it. Fresh blood in the dating pool?”
“Brand new. Met him at Dewey’s last Saturday. He rescued me from a pack of rowdy cowboys and walked me to my car across a dark parking lot.”
“Rescued? That sounds dramatic.”
“Just some twenty-something types who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Hud slid onto the barstool next to me and made them disappear without raising his voice.”
“Wait. Hud Anderson?”
“You know him?”
“Remember my OB/GYN I mentioned? That’s his aunt. He brought her lunch one afternoon, walked in carrying a bag from the diner.” Meridith shook her head. “Every woman in that waiting room sat up straighter.”
“He does have that effect,” Blair admitted, warmth creeping into her cheeks. “I just hope I know what I’m doing. It’s been so long since I’ve been on a real date I may have forgotten how they work.”
“Trust me, you’ll be fine. He struck me as genuine. The kind of man who holds doors without making a show of it.” Meridith laughed. “We all nearly fainted when he nodded goodbye and touched the brim of his hat. And that vest the way it hugged his chest?” She fanned herself dramatically.
“I totally get that. I saw him Monday at the diner wearing it, gun on one hip, badge on the other. It was just so sexy.”
“You’ve got it bad and you haven’t even been on a real date yet.” Meridith’s voice was warm with genuine affection. Sunlight slanted through the front window, casting golden patterns across the tile floor. “I really hope it works out. You deserve someone who treats you right.”
Blair smiled. “Thanks, Meridith. We’ll see. I’m meeting Celine after we close and heading over to Paige’s to find something to wear.”
Meridith sighed, folding her arms across her belly. “Paige’s is perfect for that. I just hope I can squeeze back in there once this baby arrives.”
Blair squeezed her hand. “You will. Those first weeks you’ll be so wrapped up in your little one that shopping can wait.”
Meridith’s eyes shone. “I can’t wait.”
“You’re going to be an incredible mother.”
“If I can be half as good as my own mom I’ll be over the moon.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Blair said, and Meridith’s smile lit the room.
When the clock chimed one the blinds were drawn, the last patient long gone into the cool spring air.
Blair locked up behind her and inhaled the brisk breeze carrying a hint of budding flowers.
She glanced across at the courthouse and wondered briefly if Hud was inside somewhere, bent over case files.
She crossed the sidewalk and pushed through the door of The Everyday Grind. The rich aroma of freshly ground beans rolled over her like a warm greeting. A line of customers snaked past the glass display cases, the afternoon rush in full swing, nobody leaving without their coffee order in hand.
“Hey, Blair!” Ainsley called from behind the counter, her apron dusted with cinnamon. “Celine’s in her office. She said to head back.”
“Thanks, Ainsley.” Blair slipped past the line, the low murmur of conversation and the hiss of steaming milk following her down the narrow hallway.
She rapped gently on the closed door and pushed it open. The scent of vanilla candles drifted out, and Blair’s eyes widened. Celine and Killian stood in an embrace, lips meeting in a kiss that had no awareness of the rest of the world.
“I did knock,” Blair said from the doorway, amused.
Killian straightened and touched the brim of his hat with a wink. “Just stopping by for a minute.” He brushed a loose curl from Celine’s temple, pressed a kiss to her forehead and strolled past Blair, boots clicking down the hallway. “Have fun shopping.”
“Have a good day, Killian,” Blair called after him.
Celine pulled on her soft gray sweater, cheeks still flushed, eyes dancing.
“Will you two ever stop?” Blair shook her head.
“You wish.” Celine laughed and grabbed her tote. “Come on. With your dark hair and eyes anything will look stunning on you.”
“I can’t wait to see her new arrivals,” Blair said, stepping into the hallway. “Paige has the best taste in everything.”
The coffee shop door swung shut behind them, their excitement spilling out into the afternoon air.
****
Hud sat at his desk going over the Harold White, Sr. file, the fluorescent lights humming overhead, when a shadow fell across the folder.
“Any weekend plans?”
He glanced up to find Eli standing there with a knowing smirk. Hud shook his head, the corners of his mouth twitching.
“Maybe.”
Eli chuckled. “That means you do. Is it Blair?”
Hud leaned back until his chair creaked, folded his arms and looked up at his friend. “Maybe.”
“Getting personal information from you is like pulling teeth without anesthesia.”
Hud grinned. “Yes. I’m taking her out tomorrow night.”
“Good. I hope it goes well.” Eli checked his watch. “I’m heading out. Probably won’t see you before Monday. Have a good weekend.”
“You too. Tell Lorna I said hello.”
“Will do.” Eli crossed the office, his boots clicking against the linoleum, pushed through the heavy metal door to the stairwell and disappeared with a hollow clang.
A moment later Killian passed by, coffee mug in hand. “You’d better not hurt her. Celine will be pissed, and trust me, you don’t want that. She holds grudges like a vault.”
“Damn, Doyle, it’s our first date.”
“You know what I’m saying.” Killian kept walking. “I’ll see you Monday. Heading to Spring City.” He strode out, leaving the scent of strong coffee behind him.
Hud ran a hand through his hair and got back to work.
“White’s ex-wife’s information.” Creed set a crisp sheet of paper on the desk.
Hud picked it up. “She’s not in Kalispell. She’s in Whitefish.”
“Yep. We can head there next week.”
“I’ll clear it with Dave. Thanks, Creed.”
Creed nodded and walked back to his desk, the worn leather of his holster creaking.
Hud pushed back from his desk and made his way to Dave’s office. The door was propped open. He knocked on the jamb and stepped in when Dave waved him through.
“Creed found White’s ex-wife in Whitefish. Do you want us to head there next week?”
“Yeah.” Dave’s voice carried the gravel of decades of cigarettes. “Let me work out the details. I’ll have two rooms ready for you and Creed by Monday.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hud returned to his desk, settled into the chair that had long since molded to his frame and rolled forward, the keyboard clicking beneath his fingers.
He was looking forward to tomorrow night. The thought of Blair’s smile made his chest tighten in a way he hadn’t felt in a while. She seemed warm and genuine, and if she was anything like Celine, he already knew she had good instincts about people.
Saturday morning, Hud tore out of the barn on his chestnut mare, the leather saddle creaking beneath him.
He tried to ride every morning, even before work, savoring the rush of wind against his face.
He’d been up since five, hands working the saddle straps in the dim barn light, and now they moved along the fence line through dew-dampened fields that stretched toward the mountains.
There wasn’t much he enjoyed more, except maybe a woman’s soft skin against his.
As the posts flashed by, he thought about tonight. He wanted to know Blair’s laugh, her thoughts, the things that made her tick. He’d never been drawn toward settling down, his bachelor ways worn comfortable as old boots, but Blair had him thinking things he probably shouldn’t be thinking yet.
It was possible she wasn’t looking for anything serious either. Might bolt like a spooked colt the moment things got complicated. He supposed he’d find out soon enough. Tonight was dinner, nothing more, and he’d see how it went before risking the burn of rejection.
The morning sun warmed his shoulders through his flannel shirt as he rode.
The sky was clear as glass and it looked to be a warmer day, which suited him fine.
Spring was his preference, its promise of renewal sitting well with him.
But this was Montana. All four seasons could arrive within a week and nobody in Clifton was surprised by that.
They were as tough as the land they loved.
After riding back, he led the mare into the barn, slid from the saddle and set about cooling her down.