Page 9 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Five
Fee guessed the direction of Tom’s thoughts and made the choice for him. ‘I’m ready for a quiet evening. I’ll get out at your cabin and walk on up.’
‘You sure? I’ve all this food and only me to eat it.’
‘Absolutely.’ Fee needed to put a polite stop to whatever “this” was right now. She told herself she didn’t need a friend and wasn’t looking foranother lover. ‘I’ll see you around.’
He parked but made no move to get out.
‘Thanks very much for the ice cream and for showing me around town. It’s kind of you to be so welcoming to your guests.’
Tom’s eyes darkened and he turned away. Quickly opening his door he leapt out, striding around the truck to open hers before she could beat him to it. ‘You’re welcome.’ He steppedback to let her out. ‘Always happy to make guests feel at home. I’d better get on with the paperwork. It doesn’t do itself.’ Tom gave her a taut smile. He slammed her door and strode away, taking the couple of steps in one leap and disappearing inside his cabin without another word.
Fine. Be pissed off. I don’t care. So much for his mantra of leaving guests alone. She should have saidno to ice cream and the stupid Pine Ridge expedition in the first place. Fee slung her worn leather tote bag over her shoulder and headed along the path. Lights shone in the cabin next to hers so she hurried on by, anxious to reach the safety of her own porch. She didn’t need any more well-meaning friendly people today.
Fee’s hands shook and she struggled with the key before managing tounlock her door. Inside she rested her back against the smooth wood before taking several slow, deep breaths to steady herself back down. Before she left London her therapist helped her put together a timetable to structure her time here. So far she’d ignored it but now she snatched up the copy she’d abandoned on the coffee table earlier. Fee studied the instructions with a sinking heart.
Five o’clock. Half an hour of yoga practice followed by meditation.
Six o’clock. Prepare a light healthy supper.
Seven o’clock. Read from the approved list of books.
Eight o’clock. Take a warm bath with essential oils.
Nine o’clock. Go to bed and sleep without medication.
At this moment Fee wished herself anywhere on the face of the planet except stuckin this cabin with no one but herself for company.
Tom sat at his desk, kicked off his boots and slipped on his reading glasses before sorting through the mail. He put the bills to one side, tossed the junk mail in the recycling box and scanned over the one envelope left. An invitation to a police function in Knoxville.Wonderful. He wished they’d quit sending them. He’d no intention ofsitting around with a bunch of fellow cops rehashing the old days because there wasn’t much in the way of good memories where he was concerned. Sandy asked recently if he missed the job and Tom’s cynical laughter made his brother wince.
Surely you’re not happy babysitting a few dumb tourists?
When he assured Sandy he was perfectly content he’d got a disbelieving look in return.While he’d kept busy renovating the cabins his family stayed off his back but now the work was pretty much done they were getting on his nerves. Sure it was a quiet life but he found he didn’t mind. There was time to fish, hike, dabble in a little guitar playing on long winter evenings and study up on the history about what had brought the Chambers family to the local area. If he wondered whetherhe’d soon be settled in the role of slightly eccentric uncle, Tom didn’t let it consume him.
Forcing himself to get back to work he ploughed on and in an hour had his desk clear. Tom glanced out at the fading light and realised he’d missed the chance to walk off his excess energy. He pushed back his chair and headed into the kitchen to reach for the bottle of Jack Daniels, then grabbeda glass and wandered back out onto the porch.
The warm, muted light drifting out from the cabin was soothing and Tom dropped down into his favourite rocking chair. The early evening air had morphed into the crisp October temperatures he relished. Tom poured a measured amount of whisky into the glass and sipped the deep golden liquid, allowing it to trickle down his throat so he could savourthe long, slow burn. He’d never been much of a drinker apart from in the months after Gina’s death. Falling apart hadn’t suited him and after a hefty mental kick in the backside from his father he’d put a stop to his weakness as easily as if he’d never touched a drop. After a while he was able to allow himself the occasional glass but with self-imposed restrictions he never broke.
Mary-Jo’srevelation rolled around his brain and he was glad there was no internet coverage up here or he’d be tempted to poke around and find out things it’d be better not to know. The small amount his cousin revealed was enough to make it clear why Fee was one messed-up lady. When he couldn’t face staying around Pine Ridge another day after Gina died he’d spent two years doing security work in Iraq.Plenty long enough to be haunted at night and give him a hint of what Fee must’ve seen and been a part of. Afterwards it’d taken all his time to get somewhat back on even ground and maybe that’s what she was striving for by coming to Black Cherry. Tom polished off the rest of his whisky and picked up the bottle, eyeing the level carefully before setting it back down.
A loud buzzing noisefrom indoors startled him and he realised it was the radio. Tom hurried in to hear his father’s booming voice.
‘I’ve got some news, son. Two prisoners escaped the Knox County Jail this afternoon. One is the Kemp boy and the other was his cellmate. There’s been a possible sighting of them in Chattanooga already and my guess is they’re high-tailing it south. It’s unlikely they’ll head backour way but keep your eyes out and alert your guests just in case.’
‘Will do, Pop. I’d recognise Pete but what’ve you got on the other one?’
‘The name’s Randy Watling. Age thirty-five. Heavy-set. Caucasian. Light brown hair. Blue eyes. Got a rattlesnake tattoo on his right arm and a jagged scar on his left cheek. He’s dangerous and up for three murders.’
‘Three murders?What the hell was he doing there in the county jail with all the two-bit criminals?’
‘He was being moved to Riverbend maximum security tomorrow. I guess he persuaded Kemp to escape with him for his local knowledge. You know Pete will do anything anyone tells him. The boy’s dumb as a bag of rocks.’
They both remembered the weak-willed youngster who’d caused more trouble in PineRidge than anyone in recent memory but always swore nothing was his fault.
‘Thanks for the heads up. I’ll have a wander around right now. I’ve only got two cabins occupied so I’ll make sure the guests are warned.’
They said goodnight and Tom returned to clear up the porch before pulling his boots back on and grabbing a powerful flashlight from his desk.
