Avalanche (15 page)

“Okay.” Pamela bit her lip in frustration. She hadn’t felt
so confined since childhood.

“Great,” Kendra jumped in, eager to create a diversion.
“Let’s play Scrabble. We need to take our minds off of this creep.”

“I’m game, if you are.” Red smiled at Pamela, offering his
hand. “By the way, I noticed the wood pile is low. I’ll have a load delivered
tomorrow. From the way the temperature’s dropping, it wouldn’t surprise me if
we got an early snowfall this year.”

“Thanks, I hadn’t even thought about the wood.” Pamela took
his hand. “A snowstorm can easily knock out the power around here, sometimes
for days,” she explained to Kendra. “We have to be prepared.”

“Got it,” Kendra nodded, accustomed to harsh winters from
her childhood. “Keep the pantry stocked, and the electronics charged.”

“Something like that,” Pamela smiled, thinking how grateful
she was to have such a competent assistant.

“Did you remember to call Mac about the new barns?” Dana
asked Robert, after checking the table setting. Throwing a dinner party was
nothing new, but she wanted everything to look nice, the first time she met
Pamela.

“Yeah,” Robert called from his office. “He said it would
take about two weeks. He’ll have a crew on sight in a couple of days.”

“So soon? That’s great,” Dana called back, adjusting the centerpiece.
She had so hoped the weather would hold, and that she could entertain outside,
on the verandah. But it was much too cold for that, so they were dining
indoors.

“Will you stop fussing with that?” Robert asked, coming to
join his wife. “It’s only us. You’d think you were hosting a state dinner.”
Patting his wife on the backside, he walked past her, into the kitchen.

“I know it’s just us, but Pamela has never been here. I want
to do things right for Red. If we make her feel comfortable, maybe she’ll hang
around Starsdale, after this stalker mess is over.”

“Dana, I wish you wouldn’t meddle in Red’s love life. If
it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”

“Hogwash. Love needs a nudge, every now and then. Red
deserves to be happy, and you told me that he still loves her. So, as his
friends, it’s our duty to help them find their way back to each other.”

“He’s living there, isn’t he? If that doesn’t help them find
each other, then nothing will. Besides, Justin said they were like oil and
water. I’m not so sure she’s the one to make Red happy.”

“So we help him keep his options open. If she likes us,
feels comfortable as part of the group, then she’s more likely to stay. Jade
really likes her, so do Chelsea and Sharon. I’m just doing my part to help the
cause.”

“Red is not a cause, he’s our friend.” Robert shook his
head, knowing that his words were useless. Once Dana got something in her head,
that was it.

“I know that,” Dana told him, coming to kiss his cheek. “But
he’s lonely. And he misses her, you said as much, after the accident.”

“I did not,” Robert began to protest. “I only said that he
mentioned her, on the plane.”

“Same thing. Who were you thinking of, when you were facing
death?”

“You and Molly,” Robert answered without thinking.

“There you go. And Red was thinking of Pamela. Doesn’t that
make it clear that he’s still in love with her?”

“No, I don’t know,” Robert gave up. “Just don’t be too
obvious, okay? I’d like to stay on Red’s good side.”

“Yes, dear,” Dana smiled and tweaked the candles.

~~~

“When Red said we were coming to a farm, this is not what I
imagined,” Pamela looked out the massive living room window, across mostly
dormant fields. “This place is huge, and your home is lovely.”

“Thank you, we’re comfortable here. As for the farm, it
definitely keeps me busy,” Dana laughed. “But I love it.”

“Red said you have a daughter, Molly?” Pamela asked, turning
her back on the view. “Will she be joining us for dinner?”

“That’s right, my other handful. She won’t be joining us
tonight, she’s at a sleepover. I’m sure that you’ll meet her another time. She
thinks Red hung the moon.”

“I think the feeling’s mutual,” Pamela laughed, remembering
how Red spoke of the fiery little girl, on the trip up to the farm.

“I thought your assistant would be joining us, Kendra,
right?”

“Yes, that was the plan. But she felt ill, and preferred to
stay home tonight. I’m sorry if that’s an inconvenience.”

“Not at all,” Dana assured her. “I’m sorry to hear of your
trouble. It must be so comforting to have Red in your corner.”

“Thanks, it is. I feel safer, just knowing he’s around.”
Pamela surprised herself with the admission.

“We all sort of feel that Red is our angel,” Dana lowered
her voice, in case Red and Robert came into the room. She knew that Red would
hate hearing the description.

“You mean since the accident, on the cliff?” Pamela asked.

“You heard,” Dana nodded. “I don’t know what would have
happened if Red hadn’t been there that day. He knew exactly what to do, and he
managed to get everyone home safe. He’s a good man to have in your life.” Dana
looked at Pamela, a question in her eyes.

“I know.” Pamela turned away and changed the subject. “What
made you move to Starsdale?”

“We wanted a small town life, somewhere safe to raise our
daughter. Robert and I came here on vacation, and fell in love with the place.
Moving here was the best decision we ever made.”

“That seems so strange to me, or at least it would have, a
few months ago. Now that I’m home again, I’m seeing charms that I never
realized before.”

“You sound like you might be tempted to stay,” Dana probed.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Pamela smiled to take the sting
out of her words. “Starsdale is lovely, and I love all of the changes. It’s as
if Starsdale is finally living up to its surroundings.”

“There you are,” Sharon called, coming into the living room
with Chelsea. “Robert said he thought you were giving Pamela a tour.”

“We did that already,” Dana told them, coming to greet her
friends. “I’m so glad you both could make it.”

“Hey, I rarely turn down an invitation when someone else is
doing the cooking,” Sharon laughed, kissing her hostess on the cheek.

“And I love coming here, no matter the reason,” Chelsea told
her, doing the same. “Hi, Pamela,” she said, coming to the window. “You look
great!”

“Thanks, but anything would be an improvement over the first
time,” Pamela laughed, feeling very relaxed. Chelsea had a way of making
everyone feel at home, no matter the circumstances.

“Where are Jade and Justin?” Sharon asked, coming to give
Pamela a hug. “Did they flake out on us again?”

“Not yet,” Dana answered, heading to the bar. “They might
actually show up this time. Wine?”

“Please,” Sharon and Chelsea answered in unison, then
laughed.

“Those two can’t seem to keep their hands off of each
other,” Sharon explained to Pamela. “New love, and all that.”

“We had dinner there the other night,” Pamela told them,
coming to join them on the sofa. “Those two definitely have something special.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Dana rolled her eyes. “That man
was a goner, the first time he laid eyes on our Jade. I think the feeling was
mutual.”

“Love at first sight, that’s pretty rare,” Pamela offered,
sipping her wine.

“I think it was more like lust at first sight,” Sharon
added. “Didn’t they fight the first few times they were together?”

“Yep, but I think it was more like they were both resisting
what was happening between them. Jade wasn’t ready, or she didn’t think she
was, and Justin, well, he was Justin. Playboy extraordinaire.”

Everyone laughed.

“Not anymore, those days are gone,” Jade told them, hearing
Dana’s last few words as she entered the room. “Don’t you know it’s not nice to
talk about people behind their back?”

“We were only bringing Pamela up to speed,” Dana stood and
greeted her with a hug. “I’m so honored that you decided to join us tonight.”

“Bite me,” Jade told her, laughing as she headed to the bar.
She was as much at home at Dana’s as anywhere. “You guys need to find something
else to gab about, I’m hereby making mine and Justin’s love life off limits.”

“Sorry, you can’t do that,” Sharon told her with a smile.
“You’re fair game, just like the rest of us. You too, Pamela.”

“Me? I don’t have a love life,” Pamela shook her head.

“Of course you do,” Sharon gestured toward Pamela with her
wine glass. “I saw the way Red looked at you, whenever he came to the house.
And he stayed there, night after night, until JB or I came home. That man loves
you, Pam. It’s as plain as the nose on your face.”

“You’re mistaking duty for love. Red is protecting me.
That’s it.” Pamela really wished they would change the subject.

“Speaking of, where are the guys? Robert snagged Mac and JB
when we arrived.” Chelsea came to Pamela’s rescue. She could see how
uncomfortable the other woman was becoming.

“He wanted to show them something down the hill, at least
that’s what he said when Justin and I arrived. He said to tell you they would
be back in a few,” Jade supplied.

“That’s code for taking out the four wheelers,” Dana rolled
her eyes. “We’ll be lucky if they show up for dinner.”

“More for us,” Sharon smiled, unconcerned. “JB’s been
working so hard lately, it will be good for him to cut loose a bit.”

“I forgot to ask you, did he and Artie see anything last
weekend?” Chelsea asked.

“Nope, nada. But they’ll be out there again in a few weeks,”
Sharon shook her head. “JB is on a mission.”

“Speaking of missions, can we ask about the stalker, or
would you rather not talk about it?” Jade asked Pamela.

“There’s really nothing new, that’s what is so frustrating.
This waiting could go on indefinitely, but I’m not sure how much more I can
take. He’s threatening Red and Kendra now, too.”

“Has he been back to your house?” Chelsea asked, feeling
Pamela’s frustration.

“Once, we think. Kendra saw someone at the edge of the woods
last night, he disappeared before Red could get out there. He’s also sent a few
texts, made a call. But we haven’t picked him up on any of the cameras since
last weekend.”

“You were so sure that it was your ex. Have you pinpointed
anyone else it could be, now that you know it isn’t him?” Sharon asked.

“No, no one,” Pamela answered. “I’ve wracked my brain, but I
don’t know of anyone who hates me this much. It’s possible that I don’t know
him at all. That’s even scarier, in a way.”

“Sometimes it’s someone you’d never suspect,” Sharon told
her, thinking of her own near-death experience, a few months ago. “Someone
close to you.”

“The thing is, there just aren’t many people I’m close to.
My clients, my work staff, that’s about it.”

“And you’ve vetted everyone?” Dana asked, concerned.
“Background checks, the works?”

“My employees, yes. But I never thought to run background
checks on my clients. Besides, Red has taken to cyber-stalking everyone on my
client list, just to find out where they were this past weekend. Most of them
are photographed often, so it’s pretty easy to keep up with their movements.”

“Where’s Kendra? Isn’t she supposed to be here?” Jade asked,
suddenly realizing the woman was missing.

“Yes, but she didn’t feel up to it. We left her at home,
with a guard posted outside the door.” Pamela bit her lower lip, still
uncomfortable with Kendra’s decision to stay at home.

“I’m sure she’s fine. Red would never leave her, if he
thought she was in danger,” Chelsea assured her.

“I know. He said that we could check the camera feeds as
often as I liked,” Pamela held up her cell phone, showing them her screen.
“I’ve been monitoring them, but so far all is well.”

“It must be so hard, living in constant fear,” Dana said,
her heart going out to Pamela.

“It is, but I try not to think of it all the time. When he
sends a text, or calls, it makes it worse.”

“It’s psychological torture,” Jade nodded. “He likes knowing
that you’re in fear. It means that you’re thinking of him.”

“Well hello, Dr. Jade,” Dana smiled, raising her glass to
Jade.

“I did a little research,” Jade shrugged. “But it makes
sense. He’s obsessed with you, he wants you to be obsessed with him.”

“We’re all assuming that it’s a man, couldn’t it be a
woman?” Chelsea asked, frowning.

“Sure, it could be anyone, that’s the problem,” Pamela
sighed, sipping her wine. “But the earlier messages were sexually suggestive.
And the gifts are things that a man would send a woman. It just feels like a
man.” Pamela shuddered.

“Okay, enough about that. Let’s talk about something fun, we
came here to relax, right?” Jade shot Pamela a look of support. She could tell
that Pamela was starting to stress out again.

“Absolutely,” Dana jumped in to help. “Chelsea, tell us
about the wedding, have you decided on a venue?”

“Yes, Mac’s mom’s garden,” Chelsea answered, her face
softening. “We’ve even set a date. April 18
^th
, 2015.”

“Chelsea wants an intimate ceremony,” Jade helped to
explain. “Then a big party on the Sunday when they return from their
honeymoon.”

“You’re trying not to tick off the town, right?” Dana
nodded, understanding all too well how folks in Starsdale would feel, if they
were shut out of the event.

“Exactly. I want my wedding to be special, private. Not a spectacle.
It will be just you guys, our closest friends. And the minister. Oh, my God,
Jade. The minister. I totally forgot about getting someone to marry us!”
Chelsea looked distraught, all of a sudden. “Mac is not an avid church goer,
neither am I. Who will marry us?”

“It’s okay, Chels,” Sharon rushed to assure her. “Don’t
freak. I’m sure that any one of the ministers in town will be honored to do the
job. If not, I’ll get myself ordained online, and perform the ceremony for
you.”

“You would do that?”

“Of course. What’s a maid of honor for, if not to handle the
nuptials,” Sharon laughed. “Or if you’d prefer, we can let Red do it. Can’t the
Sheriff marry people?”

“I don’t think so,” Jade laughed, loving being a part of
this close knit group of women. “But he could get ordained as well. Seriously,
Chelsea, don’t worry. We’ll take care of it.”

Pamela observed the natural, loving way these women
interacted. Feeling a pang inside her chest, she realized how much she missed
being one of the girls.

~~~

“Sorry to make you cut the ride short,” Red clapped Robert
on the back. “But I don’t like being away from Pamela for too long.”

“You don’t think the stalker followed you up here, do you?”
Mac asked, climbing off of the four-wheeler.