20. Sadie
SADIE
Gerald made a mistake.
Actually, several mistakes.
The first was threatening me.
The second was threatening me in Eagle River.
The third was assuming nobody was paying attention.
Everybody was paying attention.
I discovered that the following morning.
The diner was packed.
Not unusual.
The way people kept looking at me?
That was unusual.
I slid into a booth.
Immediately, Carol appeared with a coffee pot.
And a cinnamon roll.
"On the house."
I blinked.
"You don't have to do that."
She snorted.
"Honey, half the town is worried about you."
Wonderful.
Exactly what every woman wanted.
To become a community project.
The bell above the door jingled.
Three ranchers entered.
They spotted me.
Waved.
Then chose a table where they could apparently keep an eye on the entire restaurant.
Subtle.
Very subtle.
The door opened again.
Two older women walked inside.
Both smiled when they saw me.
One patted my shoulder as she passed.
The other handed me a small container.
"What is this?"
"Banana pudding."
Then she kept walking.
I stared after her.
Eagle River was weird.
A shadow fell across the table.
I looked up.
Beast.
Of course.
The giant former Ranger sat across from me.
Coffee already in hand.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Did the Magnolia Ladies send you?"
"No."
"You're lying."
"No."
"You're terrible at it."
He looked offended.
"I am excellent at lying."
I laughed.
He looked entirely too pleased about causing it.
The bell jingled again.
The diner went silent.
Not completely.
Just enough.
Conversations slowed.
Heads turned.
A stranger stood inside the doorway.
Male.
Mid-thirties.
Baseball cap.
Sunglasses.
Nobody recognized him.
This immediately made him suspicious in Eagle River.
The man looked around.
His gaze landed on me.
Stayed there.
Too long.
Every muscle in Beast's body tightened.
Across the diner, three ranchers sat straighter.
Near the register, Carol picked up her phone.
Probably texting the sheriff.
The stranger seemed unaware of any of it.
He walked toward the counter.
Ordered coffee.
Then sat alone.
Watching.
Not hiding it.
Just watching.
The entire diner watched him back.
I leaned toward Beast.
"Do you know him?"
"No."
"Could he be?—"
"Maybe."
The answer wasn't reassuring.
Not even a little.
The stranger drank his coffee.
Looked around.
Then stood.
Walked out.
Just like that.
Gone.
The second the door shut, the entire diner erupted.
Questions.
Theories.
Opinions.
Carol was already on the phone.
One rancher headed outside.
Another started his truck.
Apparently to follow him.
The third announced he was calling his cousin.
I had no idea why.
Nobody else seemed confused.
Beast sighed.
"Small towns."
"What was that?"
He looked at me.
"That was Gerald's problem."
Later That Afternoon
The sheriff's truck rolled into the ranch.
Mason climbed out, shaking his head.
"Well?"
Beast asked.
The sheriff looked annoyed.
"Visitor checked into the motel last night."
My stomach tightened.
"Who is he?"
"No idea."
"Great."
"He used cash."
"Better and better."
The sheriff leaned against his truck.
"The good news?"
"There is good news?"
"Oh yeah."
He pointed toward the road.
A dusty pickup approached.
Then another.
Then another.
I counted six trucks.
"What is happening?"
The sheriff grinned.
"Hank mentioned he was short on help."
The trucks pulled into the yard.
Men climbed out.
Ranchers.
Neighbors.
Friends.
People I'd known my entire life.
One of them tipped his hat.
"Heard there was trouble."
Another nodded.
"We'll help."
A third looked toward Beast.
"Figured you could use backup."
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Because everyone understood what this really meant.
Nobody was saying Gerald's name.
Nobody had to.
The message was clear.
If Gerald wanted Sadie Walker...
He was going to have to get through Eagle River first.
Beside me, Beast folded his arms.
The smallest smile touched his face.
The dangerous one.
The Ranger smile.
The one that promised bad things for bad people.
"Poor Gerald."
The sheriff laughed.
I laughed.
Even Hank laughed.
Because for the first time since this started...
Gerald wasn't the hunter anymore.
He was the one being hunted.