Page 22 of Laying it Bare on the Run

We stepped down into my yard and walked the short distance to the creek that ran through my property and beyond to the neighbors’ houses for the next two miles.

“Did you plant any of the trees back here? Some of them have beautiful colored leaves. I wasn’t really paying all that much attention yesterday as I was pretty much a mess.” Harper paused on the grassy area before the edge of the water. “But it is really pretty out here. I’m sure you get your share of animals out here too.”

“The couple who owned the place before me had planted some of the trees here. I’m not sure which ones though. Some might have been here even before them. But I do like the view; there is a nice variety of trees but if you want to know the kinds, I’m at a loss.” I shrugged my shoulders. A few of the trees had purple-reddish leaves and a couple sported yellow and golden colors which interspersed nicely with the usual greens one would think of for a woodsy area. “I’m no landscaper so I’m glad nature takes care of them for me.”

Harper spent a few more moments gazing at the trees before her attention shifted to the creek. “Oh my gosh. You have fish in there.” She pointed at the burbling water as it bubbled and rippled over the rocks and branches in its path. Then she dropped my hand and crouched down to take a closer look. “That is so awesome. I always thought aquariums were peaceful and calming. You have that naturally in your backyard. How cool is that?” She dipped her finger into the water to make ripples. “And a frog. You have little frogs back here too.”

I smiled at her distraction. Most girls would have been complaining to go back inside because they were hot or these creatures were icky. But not Harper. She was mesmerized by nature’s beauty. And I was mesmerized by hers. And I was even more thrilled that I could provide her with some peace and remove her from the things haunting her, even for just a little while. I might have just met her and yes it was so cliché to just know when you met someone that they were the one, but I couldn’t help joining the cliché club. I was incredibly attracted to her and grew more drawn to her the more time I spent with her. She was beautiful on the outside – so who wouldn’t be attracted to her – but it was even more than that. She was kind, smart, resilient, brave, and fun. I wanted to make things safe for her again and also to make her mine.

With her captivated attention on my backyard, I couldn’t help but wonder how often she had done things like this at her home. Back in Tennessee.

I froze in my thoughts. Kurt, the new transfer, was from Tennessee. Why hadn’t I made that connection earlier? Because lately I had been thinking more with my man or dick brain not my cop brain. I was no rookie, so I shouldn’t have had a slip up like that. “Are you okay right here for a moment while I make a call?”

Harper turned her blue eyes to mine. “Sure. Is everything okay? Is it work related? I don’t want to keep you from what you need to do, although you are off today.” Her rambling confusion made me smile enough I could school my features and reassure her.

“Something I forgot to take care of my last day there and wanted to make sure someone noticed it. It’s really nothing and won’t take more than a few minutes.”

She nodded and then shifted her attention back to the water.

I stepped back toward my deck, pulled my phone out of my pocket, and clicked on the direct number for Sarge.

After several rings, Greg barked, “Yeah.”

“Sarge, it’s Cannon.”

“What the hell, asshole? Maybe I shouldn’t give you any days off anymore because you somehow still manage to be a pain in my ass.”

I released a humorless chuckle. Normally, his agitation made me laugh, but I was a bit on edge at the moment. “Why was Kurt transferred to our department? And why so quickly? Don’t they usually take a couple of weeks?”

“I know you don’t like newbies but remember you were once one also.” He responded with an annoyed tone, not answering my questions. “Does this have to do with your current piece of ass?”

Through my clenched jaw, I managed a response. “She’s not a piece of ass. She’s from Tennessee and shows up here terrified for her life around the same time we get a transfer from there. I don’t believe in coincidences, Sarge.”

“And I believe in thinking with your right head. Whether she is a piece of ass or not, we don’t throw accusations lightly around here.”

“I was just wondering if there was more to the story. And he raised my hackles when Joe first introduced me to him and that wasbeforeI met Harper.”

Greg released a huge sigh. “We had a need; they had an extra. Sometimes it works out that way. If I have some free time,” he let out a short dull laugh, “I’ll dig a little into his background. But we got all of his necessary paperwork and nothing threw up red flags. Being new at our station, he will have someone as a mentor but it won’t be like rookies just starting out. That’s the best I can do, Cannon.” A slight pause. “Try to enjoy the rest of your mini vacation.”

“Thanks, Sarge. I’ll see you Sunday.”

“I don’t want to hear from you again until you return to work. And maybe not even then.” His end went dead.

I shook my head. Kurt would have eyes somewhat on him and that provided me with a small semblance of relief. It wasn’t the ideal situation but I’d take what I could get. Shoving those aggravating thoughts aside, I switched my attention to the beautiful girl currently fascinated with the wildlife swimming about in the creek. I would find a way to keep her safe. Even if it ended up being from one of my own. But no more negative thoughts. It was time to enjoy the day with a gorgeous girl.

I strolled back over to her, pushing all negativity away. Remembering that she was planning to stay in my bed again tonight brought the smile back to my face.

She glanced up at my approach. “Did you get things taken care of? You look pleased.”

She had no idea how pleased or what my entire satisfied grin was about. “It’s all good. Nothing to worry about.” I reached down to grab her hand. “Let’s go take a closer look at those trees that grabbed your attention earlier.”

After she slipped her hand in mine, I tugged her to me and we walked down to where a narrow natural rock bridge crossed over the creek. Then we carefully made our way across.

On the other side, Harper raised her head to gaze at the tall foliage. “I bet this is breath taking in the fall.” She pulled me farther into the woods.

We trudged for a little while, avoiding upturned roots and fallen branches. However, about five minutes later, she jerked to a stop, putting my instincts on high alert.Did someone actually manage to follow her here? Squatting down, I got ready to pull the gun from my ankle holster. I never left my home without it, even just to hang out in my backyard.

And man was I thankful for that today, as my heart sped up and my adrenaline kicked into overdrive.Bring it Waik or any one of your goons. No one was taking her from me.

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