Where One Road Leads (16 page)

When her things were taken care of, she returned to the living room where Penny had set out the coffee and her famous—and Krista’s favorite—gingersnap cookies. The air was filled with the scent and warm sunshine.

“It feels so good to be here.” Krista sighed and took a seat that overlooked the street below. The cold, gray day pressed against the window, a stark contrast to the comfort inside. Already most of the tension that had gripped her over the past several days bled away.

“Well, it is more than good to have you back, Krista. Tell me now, what’s going on with that center of yours? I’d have thought you’d be neck-deep in work to get it going.”

“There have been some complications,” she replied reluctantly and took a sip of the black coffee.

The way Penny regarded her, her brows raised and expectant, told Krista she knew there was more wrong than what Krista had already revealed. Not that she’d ever lie to the woman, but there was no point in even trying to hide the seriousness of what had happened in Quail Ridge.

“Complications? What sort of complications are we talking about? I thought you said the people there were treating you well, considering.”

She gave a brief shrug. “It’s about what I expected. Sort of.”

“Well, some people are long on memory and short on forgiveness,” Penny agreed and bit down on a cookie. Her brows drew together in displeasure.

“Some were a little shorter than others,” Krista mumbled dourly.

Penny’s eyes narrowed. “So, what aren’t you telling me? Out with it or I won’t stop pestering you.”

Krista drew her breath in and held it. She looked outside to the busy street. She already missed Quail Ridge and the peace and quiet.

“Okay, it wasn’t so simple settling back in town and starting the center.” Keeping it as brief as possible, she filled Penny in on the troubles starting right from the beginning. The mystery stalker, the brick through her window; the vandalism at the mill. And the fires.

Penny shoved her coffee mug aside and leaned her elbows on the table, not bothering to hide the anger on her face, but her expression softened slightly when Krista told her about Matt.

She took Krista’s hand and squeezed it. “Oh, honey, you didn’t deserve any of this. How cruel some people are. Did they ever catch the person?”

“Working on it. Anyway, Matt and I slowly figured things out. I think the fact the other survivor of the crash was most likely the brick thrower helped my case anyway. I tried to get things straight with everyone. Some were easier than others. Some just didn’t want me around, period. If Ricky had just ignored my presence in town, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Outrageous,” Penny seethed. She let go of Krista’s hand and grabbed another cookie. “Now that’s someone who deserved to be locked up.”

“I’m hoping.” Krista nodded.

“This Matt fellow, the cop, he wouldn’t be Jay’s brother, by any chance?”

“The one and the same.”

“Well, at least you have friends there. And more, with Matt. He sounds like an honorable man.”

Krista grinned into her coffee before taking a sip. A warmth that could either be the sunshine washing in through the window, or the heat from the coffee, glowed in her cheeks. “He’s a very good man. I’m lucky he came around.”

“Then why did you leave him?”

“I didn’t want him hurt. I was afraid Ricky would come back. Ricky’s dad had dragged him to their house on the Cape after the opening. Unfortunately he’s disappeared since. His fiancée warned me that he’s searching for me. Wants to finish the job.”

“Oh Lord, Krista, the man must be crazy.”

She laughed humorlessly. “Crazy is right. I don’t know what he thought I planned to do to him. Blow his cover, maybe. I never intended to change people’s minds about the accident. After all these years it didn’t seem to matter. Hell, I didn’t even realize Ricky was still in town. I even tried to explain it to him. He didn’t believe me.”

“You think he’s really out to get you? Is that why you came here? To hide out?”

“Is that awful? It was part of my reason for being here. I also needed to be with a friend, someone who really knew me and knew what I’d gone through in those days.”

“I don’t care what reason brought you here, honey. You’re always welcome. Though I’m curious about what’s going on with you and Matt.”

“We’re kind of on hiatus. I don’t know, Penny. I can’t go back there until it’s safe. I won’t put anyone in danger. Any hint of it and I’m out of here.”

Penny waved her hand. “How’s this creep going to know where you are? Bring him here and I’ll show him a thing or two.”

Krista laughed. She knew getting it out would help alleviate some of her stress and fear. “You may look like a mild-mannered mom, but underneath you’re a tiger,” she noted with a wink.

“I take care of my own, and you’re like a daughter to me. I’d protect you to the death.”

“Well, I sincerely hope it won’t come to that.” Krista sighed and reached for another cookie.

“You’re no quitter, I know that for a fact.” Penny settled in. “Now tell me what’s going on with that center of yours and with your plans for the future.”

By the time they were done talking, the cookies and coffee were gone and the morning had passed into afternoon. Penny retreated to the kitchen and despite her protests, Krista joined her and they made lunch together while they chatted about old times and new.

It was so good to be back with her. Krista didn’t think she’d ever want to leave. Still, that night as she lay in bed, listening to the occasional traffic outside the window, she found herself longing for Quail Ridge and Matt’s arms. She squeezed her eyes shut and recalled the way his hands slid over her body, and how his lips touched every part of her.

How in the world would she be able to stay away from him?

Chapter 13

Matt pressed the play button on his answering machine for a second time, puzzled.

“Matt, this is Bill Rhodes. Can you come to my office if you get this before six o’clock? I’ve got something you need to see.” The machine beeped. Matt heard an edge to the man’s voice, but couldn’t figure out why.

He grabbed his keys and headed out, wondering why Bill needed him. It was already quarter to six and he figured Bill’s office would be closed by now.

The lights in the office were on when he arrived, though no clients were in the parking lot and the reception area seemed void of life. A woof from the back room caught his attention, followed by another higher pitched bark.

“Bill? It’s Matt,” he called.

After a moment, Bill came out from the back room. He smiled warmly and extended his hand. “Thanks so much for coming. Wasn’t sure who else to call. Come on back.”

Confused, Matt followed him to where the kennels and examination rooms were. He assumed he was there in an official capacity. Maybe someone had brought in a rabid animal, but he certainly didn’t handle animal control. Right about now he wanted to be home, get out of his uniform and into sweats and make something for dinner, even though it would be another lonely meal. Instead he was in the veterinarian’s office on a mystery mission.

When Bill stopped in front of a metallic kennel and opened it, Matt understood the reason. He sucked in his breath, knelt down on the floor and shook his head. He couldn’t suppress the grin that pulled on his mouth. For the first time since Krista left him, he felt a charge of elation.

“I don’t believe it.”

Gus lifted his head and gazed at Matt soulfully, the tip of his tail flipping with all the strength he could muster.

“Where in the world have you been, buddy?” He touched the dog’s neck gently.

“Someone brought him in. A guy out hunting this afternoon. He said he found him lying under a tree. He thought he was dead and almost left him there. Poor guy carried him out of the woods to his truck. I really don’t think he would’ve survived another night out there.”

Matt glanced away from the dog to the vet. “This is incredible. We thought he was in the house during the fire, thought he was killed.”

“Well, he has some burns, so he must’ve been close enough to suffer some damage. Most of his problems right now are exposure, dehydration, and hunger. I know he’s Krista Faye’s dog and I know she’s out of town. If you’re in contact with her, maybe you could pass the word along that he’s alive and should be good as new in a couple days.”

Matt stared at the dog, worse for wear, yet recovering. “I haven’t talked with her for about a week. I’m sure I’d be able to contact her. She’ll be thrilled.”

What an understatement. Losing Gus had been a huge blow to her, one of many she had to deal with. This could possibly bring her back to Quail Ridge. He could hope anyway.

“How long will he need to be here?”

“I want to keep him for a few more days, so as long as all goes well I don’t see why he’d need to stay longer.”

“Okay. Could I take him, if Krista can’t? He can stay with me until she can get back to town.”

Bill nodded. “I don’t have a problem with that.”

Matt gave the dog one more pat, then stood. “I’ll get in touch with her. Just in case I can’t right away, call me when he’s ready to go home. And send any bills to me.”

Bill walked him back out to the reception room.

“Thanks for calling me, Bill. It’s nice to have some good news for once.”

The vet thrust his hands in the pockets of his white lab coat. “That’s for sure. I take it this mess over at the mill hasn’t been resolved.”

“We’re getting closer and in the meantime, we’re rebuilding the place. I think there’s a lot of people in town who were pretty outraged by what happened and are kicking in to get the center up and running.”

“Well, it sure is good to see people come together over this.”

Matt smiled. “Just need to bring Krista home for it. Well, thanks again, Bill. Have a good night.”

She’d come home, he thought with determination while driving back to his house. She’d come back to town when and if she felt safe. But Ricky still hadn’t been found. He could be in another country by now and completely out of the way. If he were smart he should be. Lately, Ricky hadn’t been so clever, bent on some kind of destruction. Krista’s destruction.

Damn, he missed her. He didn’t think it was possible to miss her so much. Cameron would know where she’d be, but he hadn’t asked the other man, didn’t want to intrude on her seclusion. If she’d wanted him to know, she would’ve called him by now. Yet she hadn’t and he had to respect that.

He had the phone number of the place she escaped to. Maybe she’d been waiting for him to call her. She didn’t ask him to before she left. Maybe she assumed he would.

Now he had a reason to. He wanted to let her know about Gus. If it would help her out, then she needed to know right away.

In the house, he grabbed the slip of paper with her friend’s phone number off the refrigerator.

Matt dialed the number, suddenly nervous about hearing the sound of Krista’s voice again. If he heard her voice, he was bound to think about their last night together and the way she’d completely took his body over. He swallowed deeply and rubbed his eyes. As if he could rub away the memory of her body pressed against his.

“Hello,” a woman greeted.

Matt sucked in his breath and quickly composed himself. “Hi, is Krista Faye there? This is Matt Burgess.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Um, hold on, let me see.” He heard the murmur of voices. “Here she is,” the woman said after several seconds of conversation on the other end.

“Matt, what’s going on?”

Matt could detect the note of hope in Krista’s voice. She probably thought he had news that Ricky was behind bars. Well, he couldn’t give her that good news yet. Maybe the news he did have would be just as happy.

“I have some good news for you,” he replied.

“Is it Ricky? You have him?” Her voice lifted. He hated to burst her balloon when her voice held so much hope.

“No, honey, we haven’t found him yet, but we’re still searching. We
will
get him, don’t worry. No, someone found Gus today. He’s alive, honey.”

Matt waited for several long seconds for Krista to say something.

“Are you kidding me?” She didn’t sound as if she believed him.

“I’d never kid about something like this. I got a call from Dr. Rhodes. A hunter found Gus in the woods and brought him into town. He’s dehydrated, really hungry, and cold but the doc says he’s going to make a full recovery.”

“He got out of the house. Oh, Matt, I can’t believe this,” she exclaimed with undisguised joy.

“Neither could I. It’s true, though. He’s going to need you, honey. Can you come back for his sake? And stay? Please?” Restless, Matt stood and walked to the kitchen window. The blackness of night seemed denser than usual. For a moment, he wondered if it was a good idea to bring her home after all. He shoved the thought away with an annoyed shake of his head.

After another long pause, Matt expected her to say no, she wouldn’t come back until they caught Ricky. He couldn’t really blame her if she made that decision, but he mentally crossed his fingers she’d pack immediately to return to Quail Ridge.

“Stay where?” she asked, the joy slipping from her voice a bit as reality nudged its way back into the conversation. “I don’t have a home, Matt. Is the top floor of the mill ready for someone to live in?”

He should’ve realized she wouldn’t immediately agree to stay at his place. It was probably for the best. They weren’t exactly ready to move in with each other, despite the fact that physically they’d reached that point. Emotionally they had a ways to go, but he still held onto the hope it’d happen for them. If he could get her to stop running.

“We could have the utilities turned on in no time. You’d need furniture. The place is rather bare.”

“Definitely a problem,” she mused. “I should be there for him.” It seemed like she was talking more to herself.

“You can stay with me, Krista, at least until the loft is ready,” he told her quietly and closed his eyes. “No strings attached, no expectations.”

Silence took over once more.
Damn
,
what is she thinking?
That it would be as hard to make such a deal, as it would be for him to keep it? How impossible to have her under his roof without touching her, kissing her. Loving her.

He heard her sigh from the other end of the line. “If I can’t come up with anything else . . . Only as a last resort, Matt. I will take the loft. I just need to arrange for some furnishing.”

“Well, I’ll accept that,” Matt replied, feeling a bit disappointed. At least she’d be back in town. Gus would be much happier with her than with him anyway. And then they could figure out where their relationship was heading in a more leisurely manner.

“I’ll be back sometime tomorrow. Thanks for letting me know, Matt. I appreciate it. A huge weight’s been lifted from my shoulders.” Her tone of voice was stronger now she’d made up her mind, as if she were shoring her courage to come back. His admiration of her grew even more.

After he gave her the number of the vet’s office, they said their goodbyes, and Matt hung up, feeling only slightly better than he had before he made the call.

Early the next morning, before the sun barely cracked over the roofs of the buildings surrounding Penny’s house, Krista gave her friend a tight goodbye hug with a promise she wouldn’t spend so much time away. Then, with her Jeep packed with four old brown suitcases to replace the Wal-Mart bags, she headed out of town and back up north.

Her heart already pounded in expectation of not only seeing Gus again, but Matt as well. She shoved a tear off her cheek with the back of her hand and grinned as she thought of the old dog. Her smile dimmed a little. Matt waited for her, too. A completely different kind of joy filled her.

Different than she’d ever felt before and at the moment she refused to name it. Not yet. It had only been a week, yet it seemed much longer since she’d said goodbye to Matt and disappeared. Seeing him again would tell her for sure if their few days together had been a fluke or something real.

Her departure had been an attempt to put their relationship into perspective as much as it had been a way to escape the situation with Ricky. She’d figured out that fact not long after arriving at Penny’s. She’d been surprised at how much she missed Matt, her desire to put down roots in her hometown, and begin a real relationship.

She couldn’t jump right back into his bed.
Take things slowly.
No need to rush. If she wanted this to last they needed to ease into it. The only problem, she was having a hell of a time convincing herself of that fact. Instinct pushed her to go straight to Matt, full speed ahead.

Before leaving Penny’s, she’d called the vet who cared for Gus. The dog was recovering but would need to stay for at least another two days.

Krista made another call to book a room at a hotel outside town, then made a list of basics she’d need to furnish the loft. A bed, a table and a sofa. A secondhand furniture store outside Quail Ridge could provide those bare necessities. The rest of the stuff could be picked up as she needed.

Her first stop back in Quail Ridge was Dr. Rhodes’s office to see Gus. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She pushed them out of the way and sat on the hard floor next to Gus’s kennel. The dog lifted his head and his tail beat madly against the metal wall behind him. She held out her hand to him. He licked it enthusiastically.

“You don’t know how happy I am to see you, you old dog.” Krista’s cracked with emotion. “Why did you have to scare me like that?”

Gus reached out a paw and swatted Krista on the leg. With the back of her hand, she swept away the tears that blurred her vision, and grinned.

“Yeah, you’re going to be okay. I wish I could bring you home right now, but to tell the truth, I don’t have a home to go to yet, just a cold hotel room. I’m working on it.” Krista managed a shaky smile for the animal.

The dog scooted closer and rested his chin on her thigh, his brown eyes gazing at her. She stroked his smooth head, amazed that even after all he’d been through, he still loved her, trusted her.

“Oh Gus, what happened? I thought coming here would be good for us. Seems like everything has gone wrong. I think we can recover, though, and make everything okay. We just need a little time and no more setbacks. Right now I’ve got some things to do. Don’t you worry, big guy, I’ll be back really soon.”

Krista lifted the dog’s chin and tucked him back inside the kennel, then shut the door. She hated to leave him, and turned away from the sad expression in his eyes.
It’s only for a while.
On her way out, she thanked the vet.

The first bite of winter was in the air, crisp, clean, and with a chilliness that wouldn’t be retreating until spring. Krista pulled her gloves out of her pocket and headed toward her Jeep. She scanned the parking lot, empty except for her vehicle. She couldn’t shake the feeling she wasn’t alone. Fear crept through her veins with icy fingers. She tightened her grip on her keys and picked up the pace.

“Damn you, Ricky,” she muttered when she reached the Jeep. She steeled her nerves. She knew she wouldn’t be able to stay here if she was afraid he’d be lurking behind every tree, every corner.

As soon as she settled in the Jeep, the key in the ignition, she forced her mind away from her fears and to more important, more sensible matters. She had too much to do. Get the furniture, have it delivered to the loft apartment at the mill, talk to the contractors about where they were with the reconstruction and contact Cameron to let him know she was ready to push on.

Go see Matt.

She didn’t start the Jeep. She stared toward the grayish forest, where the land climbed to the ridge. Behind her, lower Main Street led to downtown Quail Ridge. It was her life fifteen years ago and everything in her heart told her this place was destined to be her future.

Her youth center would be rebuilt and she couldn’t hand it over to someone else and walk away. She had the land where her childhood home once stood. Emily might not agree, but why couldn’t she put a new house on it?