Chapter 14
Max paced down the row of kennels, clipboard in hand, checking each latch and water bowl the way he did every morning. Routine kept things steady and predictable.
It also kept him from thinking too much about everything that wasn’t.
But even as he worked, his mind refused to settle. It kept going back to Lyndee.
Had she really climbed that fence on her own? Or had she been pushed into doing so—cornered until leaving felt like the only option?
He’d seen that text on her phone. It seemed like a threat.
Sheriff Sutherland was still working on finding answers. Max knew that. Even if progress was slow, it was still progress.
Max still hadn’t been able to reach Stephen, but he would keep trying. Though he dreaded telling his friend the news, Stephen deserved to know.
Then there was Hadley.
The shattered window. The reviews. The calls. Too many things were happening at once to be coincidence.
Max didn’t like the feeling that something—or someone—was circling closer.
He reached Juno’s pen and paused.
The dog lay coiled around her puppies, her body relaxed and her breathing steady. The small cluster of chocolate-colored bodies snuggled close to her.
At least something was going right.
He crouched near the edge of the pen and watched them.
The innocence of the puppies eased something in his chest.
Puppies didn’t discriminate. They didn’t judge. They only knew that if someone took care of them and fed them they were loved. They gave their loyalty and devotion in return.
The door behind him opened, and Max turned, already anticipating who it was.
Hadley.
She stepped inside, a travel coffee mug in one hand and her bag slung over her shoulder. Her hair was pulled back, though a few strands had escaped, and she looked more rested than she had the night before.
He stood. “You’re here early.”
“I wanted to check on Juno before my first appointment.” She stepped closer, her gaze going straight to the pen. “How is she?”
“Doing well. All of them are.” He shifted to give her space. “Quirkle’s still keeping up.”
Hadley paused beside the pen, her attention focused on the puppies.
“That’s what I like to hear.” She studied them a moment before glancing up at him. “Any updates on Lyndee?”
“Nothing new. Not really.” He held her gaze. “You?”
“No. Last night was uneventful.”
“Uneventful is good.”
“It is.” Though she agreed with him, something in her expression suggested the word didn’t carry quite as much comfort as it should.
Max’s attention drifted toward the door, toward the world outside these walls. Uneventful didn’t mean safe. Not anymore. Not given everything that had happened.
The door opened again, and this time Naomi stepped inside. Her pace was quick and her expression tight as she headed toward them.
“Max,” she started. “I was looking for you.”
Max straightened. Something was wrong. “What is it?”
“Micah just called. A man who owns a private cabin out in the national forest called this morning. He went out to check on the place and found the door standing open.”
Max’s breath hitched. “And?”
“When he got inside, he said there were signs someone had been there,” Naomi said. “Signs there had been a struggle.”
Hadley went still beside him.
Max’s jaw tightened. “That’s not good.”
“No, it’s not.” Naomi hesitated before continuing. “He also said something had been left behind.”
“What’s that?” Max asked.
Naomi met his gaze. “A scarf. A bright and colorful scarf.”
Max’s chest tightened. “Let me guess. One that matches the one Lyndee always wore?”
Hadley lingered beside Juno’s pen.
Naomi and Max had stepped outside to talk about something. But even after they were gone, her thoughts still lingered on that cabin in the woods. She kept thinking about that scarf—Lyndee’s scarf.
She exhaled and forced her attention back to the present. Thankfully Juno and her puppies seemed unaware of the tension rippling through the air.
“Good news,” she murmured, more to herself than to them. “You’re all safe here.”
Hadley straightened and brushed her hands together, trying to shake the heaviness from her chest. She had a full day ahead of her. Animals to treat. People counting on her. She couldn’t carry everything with her—not if she wanted to do her job well.
The door opened again.
Hadley turned, expecting Max.
Instead, Kendra stepped inside carrying a bag of fresh linens. “Good morning.”
“Morning.”
Kendra deposited the towels on the counter. Then her gaze landed on Juno’s pen. “I didn’t expect to see you here. They’re going to have to start paying you.”
Hadley only laughed. “I don’t care about pay. I only care that the puppies are doing well.”
Kendra smiled as she gazed at them. “They’re so sweet. I still can’t believe Juno went into labor so early. I thought she had more time.”
“She handled it like a pro.”
Kendra watched the puppies another moment before glancing at Hadley. “You must be exhausted.”
Hadley let out a breathy laugh. “A little. But it’s a good kind of tired—mostly.”
“I get that. At least things seem calmer this morning.”
Calmer didn’t feel like the right word—not with everything Naomi had just told her. But compared to last night, maybe it was.
“Seems that way,” she finally said.
“Hey, I was thinking . . .” Kendra tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression open and hopeful. “Would you want to grab lunch together?”
Hadley blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Today?”
Kendra smiled. “I know you’re new in town, and I thought it might be nice to get to know each other a little more. There’s a place called Ember & Oak on Main Street. It’s really good.”
Hadley had been there before, and the food was delicious. But her first instinct was to say no. Her schedule was full. Her mind was full. And if she was honest, she still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Kendra. Something about her was hard to read.
But just as quickly, another thought pushed in. You’re new in town. You said you wanted to build a life here. That means people and connection. It means saying yes more than saying no.
And Kendra was reaching out.
Hadley softened her posture. “I’d like that.”
Kendra’s smile widened, genuine and bright. “Really?”
“Really. I do have a pretty full schedule today, but I’ve got about an hour break for lunch.”
“We’ll keep it simple then.”
“Perfect.” Hadley nodded. “What time?”
“Twelve-thirty?”
“That works.” Hadley reached for her bag. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good.” Kendra flashed a friendly smile. “I’ll see you then.”
Hadley gave her a small smile before heading toward the door.
She only wished she was looking forward to the meeting.