What About Them Apples? #2
Cheers and whoops followed that announcement.
When he turned, Wyatt realized Esme had taped some of that.
“See what you’re missing, folks? A fun day of picking apples means a reward of food prepared by the inn’s incredible cook and baker.
I don’t know what they’ve made, but my stomach is growling already.
Thanks for watching from everyone here at the No Phailed Apples Inn.
After a fun day of apple picking, we’re off to eat like royalty. ”
When she pocketed her phone, she smiled at him. “Do you want to help with the sorting? I imagine that will take a few people, and I’d like to see how it’s done.”
His eyes lit up, and he brushed a kiss over her lips.
“Good idea.” And it would keep Esme away from the brunt of the crowd.
Throughout the day, they’d been introduced to everyone.
They’d received invitations to visit Midnight Lake, and he thought Esme might burst with excitement when she met one of her favorite artists, Josie Ellis, who lived there.
At the apple barn, they worked with a dozen people to sort the apples onto conveyor belts.
Perfect apples on one, anything with a bruise on the other.
There were surprisingly few of those. Mara and Seth planned to use them in their baking.
All the scraps would go to the cider-making division or the Worminator. Not much waste on this farm.
On their way back to the inn, Esme jerked at the same time that Gomez howled from where he walked along at Wyatt’s side.
Esme whispered. “Someone’s watching us. I can feel it.”
Having learned from their military experiences, none of the men questioned her. He, Knox, Ford, and Lawson all drew their weapons. While the others weren’t armed, everyone turned alert and moved to surround Esme with their bodies, hiding her from prying eyes.
Gray had gone to the inn with Amber to help Seth and Mara set up the food for everyone, so they didn’t have Boomer’s experience to help them.
Bibi, Dani’s huge Newfoundland, plopped beside Gomez and joined in the howl.
Lawson’s grin was fierce. “That’s it, Bibi. Let’s get him.”
Wyatt handed Gomez’s leash to Esme. He and Lawson exchanged a look and raced off toward the bush separating the orchard from the neighbor’s land.
He’d met Sally and Greg earlier, a nice couple who lived off the grid next door to the farm.
They were currently at the inn, so whoever was watching Esme, it wasn’t them.
Marcus had promised to give them a heads-up when he released Downey, so it wasn’t him either. Another paparazzi? Whoever had attacked Esme before?
They raced through the trees, but a large fence separating the two properties slowed the dog. The fence stood over five feet tall and was impossible for Bibi to cross.
Without hesitation, Lawson crouched and cupped his hands beside one of the fence posts.
Wyatt stepped onto his friend’s hands and used the fence post to steady himself as Lawson launched him over.
Knowing his buddy would inform the others and have someone head to the road in a vehicle, he raced through the woods, searching for a clue or someone running ahead of him. The Newfoundland dog was as sweet as they came, but her bark sounded like a demon had escaped from hell.
If whoever had been on the other side of the fence had any functioning brain cells, they’d be retreating in a hurry.
Wyatt’s advantage was that the jerk would assume the fence would slow him down.
Army training at its finest meant he’d only lost a few seconds of momentum.
The fury boiling inside him would help him recover that.
Not knowing the property was a definite disadvantage, so he angled himself toward the road. Whoever was surveilling Esme would look to escape that way.
Had the choice of property been a coincidence, or had the person known that Lorraine and her dogs lived on the other side?
She’d brought several of her Bernese Mountain Dogs with her to pick apples, but the former trainer never left her property unprotected, and her boxers wouldn’t let anyone use her land to catch photos of Esme.
When he heard a motor fire up, he cursed. The extra speed he poured on didn’t do him any good because the car was gone by the time he reached the road. Not even fumes to give him a direction.
He spotted Gray, Boomer, Marcus, and his Great Dane Finch on the road and headed their way. “I was too slow. Did you see anything?”
Gray shook his head. “Nothing.”
They called Sally and Greg for permission, then searched the woods back to where Wyatt had crossed the fence. Boomer nosed out where the jackass had probably waited, but they found nothing this time.
Marcus frowned. “This wasn’t Downey. He’s locked up tight. He’ll be on his way to Burlington to deal with the judge there as soon as space opens up. The only person he’s contacted is his lawyer. I’ve still got his cell phone in evidence, so he didn’t post anything new about Esme’s presence.”
Wyatt growled. “Another paparazzi in town seems unlikely unless Downey has partnered up with Spina or someone else.”
The police chief was pissed. “Two assholes hiding in the woods is two too many. We need to ensure Esme is safe here.”
“She won’t be alone.”
They headed back to the inn. Esme waited in the kitchen with Gomez and a few of their friends. As soon as he entered, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. “You’re okay? Did you get hurt?”
“I’m fine. Didn’t even catch a glimpse of the bastard.”
“I’m sorry this keeps happening. Maybe I should—”
“Don’t finish that sentence. Please. We’ll keep you safe and figure this out. We’ll find the bastard and toss his ass in jail, too. Please don’t leave.”
She shuddered in his arms and looked up with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want anyone here getting hurt because some jerk is trying to get pictures.”
“So far, there’s been no physical threat. We’re surrounded by the best military guys I’ve worked with. We’ll get the asshole.” He didn’t think there were many places where she’d be safer.
She nodded slowly. “Okay.”
He didn’t try to convince her that the asshole was only trying to get pictures of her. It was a possibility, but taking her previous attack into account, it wasn’t the only one.