Authors: Kathleen Brooks
"I saw lights at the end of the county property, down by the stream that connects to the Wyatt property. I stopped the car as soon as I saw something and Cade was about to radio in when they started shooting at the cruiser. They must have had sentries posted. I told Cade to take cover and returned fire to the general area the shots were coming from. It scared them and suddenly there were people everywhere in the distance. Huge trucks, small cars… everyone was starting their engines and taking off in the opposite direction. I was losing all my evidence so I took off towards the action only to see two people running like crazy with a large duffle bag. They appeared not to have a car, so I took off after them until
someone
grabbed me."
"Excuse me, if ya'll don't mind my interruption. Passing time? You were just passing time? I should’ve saved one stick of dynamite to shove up…" Katelyn took a deep breath and looked into Marshall's wide shocked eyes.
"I believe I’ve given my report and in my
delicate
condition I better get home before I’m consumed with the vapors and faint dead away. Katelyn, would you like a ride?" Annie asked with a forced smile.
"I’d love one, thank you." Katelyn stepped forward and stood next to Annie.
"I hate riding in the back of cop cars. It always makes me feel like a criminal," Cade whined.
"I know," Annie smiled. "That's why you can get a ride home with your brother."
Annie pivoted on her heel and Katelyn followed suit. She might really need to get to know Annie better. She liked this feisty redhead more and more.
Katelyn and Annie didn't talk on the short walk back to the cruiser. She opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat. Maybe Annie would be nice enough to pull over so she could put her shirt on correctly.
"Katelyn, I’m so sorry about pointing out your shirt. I was just so angry and I totally didn’t mean to embarrass you, but it came rushing out anyway. I am just so…so…so sorry," Annie said as she maneuvered the car onto the nearest dirt road.
"It's okay. I’d have said something too. Do you mind if I change my shirt real fast. My grandma has already walked in on us once. I don't want her to get any ideas that this is more serious than it is. Especially since it's over now."
Katelyn couldn't help the feeling of being crushed. Her heart felt as if it were being torn in half.
"Anyway, thanks for the lift home. I don’t think I could’ve looked Marshall in the face again. It would hurt way too much right now."
"You're welcome. I thought I might shoot Cade if he went on any longer. He’s under the belief that you become totally useless and unable to perform even the simplest daily functions when you’re pregnant," Annie told her with a roll of her eyes that showed Katelyn she might be angry, but she loved him for it.
"At least Cade loves you. Marshall thinks I’m pretty useless overall, except for sex apparently. All the other times he just gives me this stern, unhappy look."
"I know that look well!" Annie laughed. "But, that's not the 'you're useless' look he’s giving you."
"Then what is it?" Katelyn asked.
"That's the 'I love you, and must protect you look'. Cade has the same look."
Katelyn laughed when Annie tried to impersonate Cade and Marshall. But there was one problem.
"That's funny. But, Marshall doesn't love me. I think we all know after what he said what he thinks of me."
"I think it's because he can't express himself. These Davies men aren't too good at connecting to and then expressing their feelings. But, I guess it doesn't matter." Annie shrugged.
"Why not?"
"Do you really care? You've made it really clear by rejecting him so many times that you're only going out with him out of pity. I mean, you can only say no so many times, right?"
Katelyn was taken aback, "I don't know. It just seems like we're so drawn to each other, but a relationship can't be built on lust alone. I said no because I think he just wants to
pass time
and I don't want to let myself fall head over heels for someone who thinks of me as a booty call."
"And if he showed you that you weren't a booty call and that he cared for you?" Annie asked quietly as she pulled up to the Wyatt house.
"It would be a dream come true. I've never had a man in my life who actually cared for me. Thanks for the ride. I enjoyed talking to you."
Katelyn slumped her shoulders and went inside the old house. She picked up her phone and dialed.
"We have an issue and I have an idea. Let's gather at Dani's and make sure Ahmed is there."
A plan was formulating in her mind as she drove the short distance to Dani's farm. The front door opened then Paige and Dani stepped outside.
"Is Kenna here yet?"
"She's just feeding Sienna. That's probably her." Dani pointed to the headlights in the distance. "What's up?"
"I had an interesting talk with Katelyn I want to tell you all about."
"Gossip, it's what makes the world go round," Paige said as they watched Kenna get out of the car.
"What's this about? Is everyone okay? Ahmed didn't get picked up for weapons charges, did he?" Kenna asked as she hurried over to the group.
"No, he did not." Ahmed materialized out of the darkness to join them.
"Well, now that everyone is here, tell us what's going on," Paige said, her voice full of excitement.
Annie told them what happened in the woods and what Marshall said. The girls all hissed as Ahmed's jaw tightened. Then she told them about her conversation with her in the car and their outraged faces turned soft.
"So, what do you think Paige? You know them both the best."
"It's true. Katelyn has really only had Beauford and Ruth on her side. Shelly too. But, that's it. Most of the men who dated her just wanted to use her for one thing or another. But, I also know that Marshall wouldn't mess with a woman like Katelyn unless he really liked her. And she's definitely not someone he'd have a one-night stand with."
"Two," Ahmed said simply.
"Two what?" Paige asked.
"They've been together twice." Everyone looked around, shrugging in confusion.
"Would you care to elaborate?" Kenna asked.
"The night of Cade and Annie's wedding." All the women's mouths dropped open.
"That's who she went home with?"
"How do you know?"
Everyone tossed out questions until Ahmed held up a hand. "I have my sources. So, what's this idea you have?"
Annie outlined it and then looked right at Ahmed, "What do you think?"
"I like Katelyn. You all know we went out a couple of times. But, I have to agree with Paige. Marshall loves her and I’m pretty sure she loves him. I'll do it."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes. It would give me pleasure to see her happy. Marshall too. I respect and like them both. I would never stand in the way of their happiness."
"You're a good man, Ahmed," Dani told him.
"Maybe this will help make up for some of the dark things I have had to do in my life."
Before anyone could say anything, Ahmed walked off and disappeared into the darkness. Annie sniffled and Paige let loose with her tears.
"Enjoying pregnancy ladies?" Dani joked as she tried to wipe away a tear before they saw.
Kenna pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number.
"Bed and Breakfast," a tired voice mumbled.
"Gather the ladies, we have a mission."
Chapter Thirteen
Marshall was having the worst day imaginable. He'd been a horrible ass last night, well, early this morning, and Katelyn hadn’t given him any chance to apologize. On top of that, he hadn't gone to bed yet, it was now five thirty at night, and things just kept getting worse.
He had tried to apologize at seven this morning when he finally wrapped up the scene at the demolished house and fighting area Annie had found. Mrs. Wyatt told him she was at work. Shelly wouldn't budge from the front door of the clinic. Bekah wouldn't move from the back either.
He was going to go home to take a quick nap when he got an emergency call and had to break up a fight at the PTA over reserving chairs for the concerts and plays the kids put on. Just when he was ready to go home again, he got called out to the farmers’ market for a fight over a cut of pork being organic or not. Ironically, he then got called over to old man Tabby's farm to settle a dispute over a pig he had bought.
Now he was two miles from town and he'd blown a tire. All he wanted was a whole pitcher of Miss Violet's special sweet tea and for Miles or Pierce to get done with work so they could drive his sorry, soon to be drunk, ass home.
* * *
"That bitch ruined everything! I can't believe they found us. I knew nothing about this, I swear." She had never been so angry.
She had closed her books and grabbed whatever cash she could the second she heard the first shot. People had grabbed their money, dogs, guns, and drugs and hightailed it out the back of the park faster than she thought possible.
"You better do more than swear. You and your partner get paid to keep us informed. If you fail at that job, there's no reason to keep you around."
"Don't threaten me Watkins. I have information and I’ll use it. Just remember that."
"Stop it you two. What are we going to do?" Camilla asked.
"We're criminals, aren't we? So let's go back to our roots and wreak a little havoc." Andre smiled and opened a large trunk that sat in the living room.
* * *
Katelyn's day sucked. She tossed and turned for the remaining hours of the night before getting a phone call at six from Bekah. A dog was hemorrhaging and needed emergency surgery. After a two-hour surgery, she started seeing her clients. Everyone was talking about last night too. They all wanted to know every detail. Somehow, luckily, Marshall's comments hadn’t made the rounds yet.
"Katelyn?" Shelly poked her head into her office.
"What?"
"There was a phone call for you earlier."
"I told you, unless an animal was critical, push all phone calls to tomorrow."
"I know. That's why I went ahead and accepted it."
"Accepted what? You're not making any sense."
"It was Paige and she invited us to a girls' night dinner at the café tonight. Miss Violet is making us a special dessert dinner. Nothing but dessert and her special iced tea! Doesn't that sound perfect? And a table of girls to help ward off all gossipers who want a reenactment of last night. So, I’m your driver for the night. Grab your purse, it's time to go."
"Shelly, I’m tired…"
"Hush. It's just what you need. Now move." Shelly used her best mom voice and Katelyn instinctively complied.
Within minutes she was walking into the café with Shelly leading the way. Miss Daisy had put together two square tables for Shelly, Dani, Paige, Kenna, Annie, and herself.
"Katelyn! I’m so glad you two came!" Paige got up and gave them both a hug. "We’re going to have so much fun!"
"Hi everyone." Katelyn smiled and sat down in an empty chair.
"Here you go hon, turtle brownie and a glass of special iced tea." Miss Daisy set both in front of her.
Carmel oozed over the dark chocolate brownie with walnuts, whipped cream, and a cherry on it. It was heaven.
"Thank you. This is just what I needed."
Conversation flowed and after a couple glasses of iced tea, Katelyn finally managed to laugh along with the stories the girls were telling. Dani was trying her best to do an impersonation of her father-in-law and her mother-in-law demanding she have a baby. She wasn't getting any younger after all!
Katelyn's laughter stopped in her throat. She guessed she'd known she'd have to see him again, she was just hoping it wasn't so soon. She watched as Marshall made his way to the table.
"Hello ladies." He looked horrible. Good. "I just wanted to say have a good evening." He tried to smile and then walked to his usual booth.
He didn't even look at her. He also didn't try to apologize. Yup, she'd been an idiot. He was only using her as his booty call. Next time he came around she'd send him packing in no uncertain terms.
"Ahmed!" Dani shouted as she raised her glass. "To Ahmed!"
The girls cheered and took a drink as he made his way to the table smiling. She felt the room raise ten degrees as all the women melted.
"Ladies," he said in a soft accented voice that caused Shelly to fan herself.
Ahmed kissed Dani on the cheek, then Kenna, Paige, Annie, and Shelly. Katelyn found herself laughing at the glazed look on her friend's face.
"Katelyn." Was it just her, or was his voice much lower and husky?
"Hi Ahmed," she smiled up to him.
She tilted her head up and tapped her cheek with her finger teasingly. She was grinning and looking at Annie's laughing face when she felt his finger under her chin. She turned her eyes to his and in that split second saw his lips descending onto hers. He pulled her up against him and kissed her hard. Katelyn's mouth only opened because she was so shocked and he took full advantage moving his tongue into her mouth.
He was there, with her pressed against his body and then he was gone. She opened her eyes right in time to see Marshall's fist connect with Ahmed's face. Marshall looked at her shocked face and then turned and walked toward the door.
"Dammit! A man can only take so much," he mumbled before disappearing out the door.
Katelyn still hadn't closed her mouth and she certainly couldn't say anything. In fact no one could. The whole café sat in silence and watched the door slam. In unison, they all turned to where Ahmed sat on the floor with an already swollen black eye.
"Well," Miss Lily said from her seat by her neighbor Edith, "I do believe Ruth can book the church now."
"Uh-huh, that's a man in love right there," Miss Daisy announced.
"That was just the most romantic thing I ever saw," Tammy sighed.
The café agreed as Tammy hurried to help Ahmed up. He smiled at her and gave Katelyn a wink with his good eye before heading out the door himself.