Page 39 of Guarded Secrets
Awkward. Keeley hated she’d made things awkward with Owen. They remained that way through closing. After walking out with Dion, she was glad when she could drive away from all those emotions. She turned into the driveway of her parents’ home, mind still on her conversation, or rather lack of conversation, with Owen, when she brought the vehicle to an abrupt stop. A flash of light had caught her attention. She peered through the windshield at the neighbor’s yard. Having no streetlights wasn’t unusual in residential areas in the mountains. Sisters had mandated all streetlights along Main Street be Darksky Approved. Away from the business corridor, drivers had to rely on their headlights and knowledge of the area to navigate safely.
She searched for the flash of light, what she’d thought was the glow of a phone visible from under a grouping of trees. She waited, but it didn’t reappear. She continued down the drive to park next to her little cottage, the security light at the corner of the building coming on. Recent events were making her paranoid.
She sat for a minute and let the quiet soothe her. Asking Owen whether he had feelings for her hadnotgone well. Not that he’d actually responded to her question. He’d been grumpier than usual for the rest of the evening.
Maybe she should have fessed up and admittedshehad a crush onhim. That probably would have freaked him out. The truth of the matter was, as much as she might wish otherwise, Owen Hardesty wasn’t going to be her future. She’d have to double down on her efforts to carve from her heart all the messy feelings he pulled from her.
Keys and phone in hand, she walked past her attached garage to the corner of the cottage where a stone pathway led to her door. The sound of running feet had her head whipping up.
Again? Memories of Sunday flashed through her mind. She spun around and spied a dark form hurtling toward her. A surge of panic and a moment to brace herself and then impact. Her body slammed into the wall, her head colliding with the corner of the building hard enough she saw stars. She was trying to figure out what’d happened when her attacker grabbed her purse and ripped it from where she’d hung it on her arm.
Keeley stared in dazed disbelief at the figure fleeing down the drive toward the street. She was too stunned to give chase. Figuring it better to sit before she fell, she slid down the wall with a groan, landing on her butt. Blinking to clear her vision, she brought her hand to her head and felt the stickiness of blood.
Eyes closed, she tried to gather her thoughts. She’d been assaulted, but the attacker had fled. She was okay, or at least mostly okay.
Blue fleece jacket. Blue and green New Balance shoes. Phone in the side pocket of stretchy pants. She worked to commit the details she’d only had seconds to note to memory.
Opening her eyes, she leaned forward to gather her phone from where it’d fallen on the walkway and tapped the screen to make the call.
An engine turned over, the sound coming from up the street. Tires screeched as a vehicle raced into the night until the sound faded to nothing.
Moments later Abby rushed across the courtyard from the house to crouch beside her daughter.
“Oh my god, Keeley, you said you weren’t hurt but you’re bleeding.” Abby turned Keeley’s head to the light. “I called 9-1-1, but I need to call back and have them send an ambulance.”
“I don’t need an ambulance. I’m hurt, Mom, but not badly enough to go to the hospital. They stole my purse.”
“Let’s get you out of the cold. I want to see if you need stitches.” She pressed a folded tissue to the cut. “If you do, you’re going to the emergency clinic, young lady, and without an argument.”
Abby rose to her feet and looked around. She looked fierce, like she was ready to take down the assailant.
“Whoever it was is gone, Mom. They ran toward the street, and I heard a car start and take off.”
Abby stooped to help Keeley to her feet. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you inside. I asked dispatch to tell the responding officers to come in without sirens and to go to your cottage. I don’t want your dad to wake up. He has such a hard time sleeping.”
“Good thinking.”
Headlights flashed as a vehicle turned into the driveway coming to a stop with a crunch of gravel. Keeley recognized Owen’s Bronco.
“You called Owen, Mom? Why?” Her voice shook.
“Because he cares about you, that’s why. Didn’t he protect you from that young man with a knife? He’s involved, and so I called him. Plus, dispatch said the sheriff’s deputies were tied up with a car over the side of the road at the other end of town. Possible DUI. They’re sending someone, but it’ll be a minute.”
The driver’s door of the Bronco slammed shut, cutting off Keeley’s retort. The security light showed Owen moving toward her like a predator stalking its prey. Or like a man whose woman was in danger.
Wishful thinking on her part, but no matter what she’d said to Abby, she was glad to see him. He was strong, capable, and withouta doubt, he’d protect her at a time when she was feeling particularly vulnerable.
Owen joined them, his gaze boring into Keeley with single-minded intensity. He wore his heavy wool Pendleton over the long-sleeved shirt with the Easy Money logo he’d worn that evening. From either the adrenaline or the cold night air, she wasn’t sure which, she began shivering so hard her teeth chattered.
“Darn it, a light’s come on in the house, which means Bruce is up.” Abby turned to Keeley. “I need to get him settled or we’ll be up all night.” Abby grasped Keeley’s hand. “I’ll check on you when I can.”
“I’m okay, Mom. I’ll text you how I’m doing.” Keeley still held the tissue to her forehead.
Abby hugged her daughter, then for a brief moment leaned her head on Owen’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here, Owen. Take care of my baby.”
“I will. Don’t worry, Abby.”
“I know you will.” Abby pulled her robe tight and scurried back to the house.
