Page 46 of Blackwood

He dabbed at his mouth with his napkin and rose. “Special delivery.”

“Of what?”

“Come and see.” He smiled and held out his hand.

I took it, and he pulled me to my feet. In all the time I’d been at Blackwood, only Bonnie or the sheriff ever visited. I couldn’t imagine what a “special delivery” entailed.

We walked down the middle hallway and out the front door into a bright, cold morning. A large white truck idled in the driveway, a flatbed trailer attached to the back. Two red ATVs sat on the trailer, their new chrome shining in the sun.

Garrett hopped down the front steps as a man opened the truck door and stepped out.

I peered at the trailer. “What’s that?”

“What’s it look like?” Garrett called over his shoulder.

I slid on my sneakers and walked out behind Garrett. My t-shirt and jeans did nothing to keep the chill at bay, but my curiosity overcame the temperature.

“Mr. Blackwood?” The man tipped his camouflage ball cap at Garrett.

“That’s me. You Gene?”

“Yes, sir.” He paused for a second, then continued, “This may sound odd, but man, nice beard. I been trying to grow mine out.” Gene rubbed his graying patches of scruff.

“Thanks, I’ve had it for about two years. Low maintenance.” Garrett shot me a sly smile. “Mostwomen seem to like it.”

The beard had grown on me, but I wasn’t about to admit that to Garrett, so I said nothing and walked past to look at the ATVs. They had every bell and whistle imaginable, and I could cover a lot of ground on one of them.

“If the missus saw you, she’d be all for the beard. Me, though.” Gene shook his head and shrugged. “I’ll probably be back to shaving in a few days. Anyway, these are the ones you paid for. Top of the line, brand new, and fast as lightning. I just need your John Hancock.”

Garrett took a clipboard from Gene and signed a sweeping signature.

I leaned forward on the trailer and stared at the nearest vehicle, disbelief almost overwhelming the gratitude that welled up inside me. Had he really done this for me?

“You like them?” Garrett walked up to my side, our arms touching lightly.

I stared into his eyes, their blue tinted lighter by the bright sky. “Are they for me?”

“Well, one of them is, but you can have both if you want to get greedy.”

“Thank you.” The words felt inadequate on my lips.

He didn’t seem to notice the shortcoming, because he smiled, his eyes sparkling with genuine joy. “You’re welcome.”

“No, I mean it.” I covered his hand with mine.

He looked at my hand, then locked eyes with me again. “It’s my pleasure.”

“This is too much.”

Gene unfolded the back of the trailer with a clank and rolled the ATVs down onto the driveway.

“I don’t want the liability of you falling in the woods or getting attacked by wild boars again.” Garrett ran a hand through his unruly hair. “Insurance rates and all that could be a real pain with you wandering around the property. That’s why I got these.”

“That’s the only reason? Liability?” I walked over to the nearest ATV and tried to fight back my smile. The smile won.

“Give her a try.” Gene patted the ATV. “Key’s in the ignition.”

I threw a leg over and settled onto the black leather seat. “It’s really big.”

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