Page 136 of Surly Sheriff
“Come, Momma. Come!”
Jack grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the side door. Laughing, she followed, dusting her hands on her apron to get rid of the bits of flour.
Xena was already at the door, her entire body quivering, pawing on the mat. The dog knew the sound of the Bateman’s minivan, having taken a few trips in the Chrysler over the years. And she loved Pixy.
What followed were chaotic minutes of dogs barking, kids shouting, greetings exchanged.
And a goat fainting
“Jack warned me about this, but it’s pretty unsettling,” Beau muttered as they stared at the motionless goat. Just as quickas Pixy tipped over, he flipped himself upright. “Maa-aa,” he bleated, looking very confused.
Over coffee, Chance told Beau the story of how Pixy came into his and Aubrey’s life. “Nebraska has a special meaning to us. It’s where I met Aubrey. Saw the gorgeous red-haired woman with startling green eyes at this rest stop in the middle of nowhere, and I was smitten. Long story involving a bobblehead Obama souvenir, a malfunctioning Harley — mine, and a Beemer with a flat tire —Aubrey’s. I was on a tight deadline to get to California, and in exchange for changing said tire, Aubrey, um,offeredme a lift to California. And we ran into the goat. At the time, we figured we had hit it. Bugger appeared in the middle of the road, and the BMW ended in an embankment. Aubrey was driving—” Chance gave his wife a sly grin — “but in all fairness I need to take responsibility for distracting her. Anyway, we hauled ass out the car, and the goat did its fainting thing. Scared us shitless when it flipped back up. And then promptly knocked into the side of the car. Aubrey here picked up the smelly creature, called it Esmeralda, and—”
Beau hooted. “Esmeralda? That was the name of Rae’s Pontiac Firebird when we met.”
“Howdidyou meet?” Aubrey asked, looking at Rae.
It felt great opening up to a woman she considered a wonderful friend. “Strangely, it also involved me giving him a lift. Beau was hitchhiking—”
“You picked up ahitchhiker?” Chance glowered.
Rae pouted. “He had an injured dog,” she defended, pointing to the canine in question where he lay stretched out beside Pixy on the rug in front of the crackling fire. “Kismet. Gave them both a lift to the vet.”
Chance whistled. “Our story also involves a vet.”
“And a time apart,” Aubrey added softly, her eyes flitting between Rae and Beau.
Smiles dimming, their easy banter took a turn for the serious.
“I need to thank you both for taking care of Rae and Jack,” Beau said. “For being there when I wasn’t able.”
“It was our honor, mate,” Chance replied. “We could see from the get-go that Rae needed someone to look out for her.” His gaze shifted to her. “Your leaving left a big hole in our hearts, Rae, but being here, finally knowing your story, seeing you settled and happy …” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Brilliant.”
“We’re thrilled to still be part of your life, Rae,” Aubrey added. “And meeting you, Beau. And we hope you find your way to California and visit us.”
“You can count on it,” Beau said, his voice gruff and low. “Jack still talks about ’Mosa Beach.”
*
Laughter ran through the crowded room the next day. Rae looked around the table with satisfaction. The Batemans slotted right in, making fast friends with Nate and Bella, Oliver and Sunny. The only slightly reticent guests were Ronan and Felicity—
Where was Felicity? She was in her seat mere seconds earlier.
Frowning, she scanned the room. And caught a glimpse of Felicity slipping out onto the patio. She scraped her chair back and followed. The chill hit her the moment she stepped outside, but she ignored the cold, walking down the steps.
Rae blinked in surprise when Felicity lit up a cigarette. “I didn’t know you smoke.” The smell of burning sulfur from the match tickled her nose.
Her sister frowned, giving her a side-eye, inhaling deeply. She placed the matchbox on top of the cigarettes, tuning her head to blow the smoke away from Rae. “Did for years. Stress of being a cop. Gave it up when I moved here.”
“Why start again, Liss?”
Felicity shrugged, her stare fixed on the small playground Beau and Ronan — the latter was a genius with wood — had recently built for Jack.
“Come on,” Rae chided. “Something’s been off with you since returning from Hartford?” Although Felicity vehemently denied shooting Vasily, her behaviorhadchanged. “Are you no longer happy here?”
“What?” Felicity snapped, giving her a sharp look. “Wanna get rid of me now that the danger is done?”
“No,” Rae gasped, reeling at the antagonism in Felicity’s voice. “I love having you in my life. And Jack adores his Aunty Liss.”
