AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was about to give the pies a pass when an idea struck her—an idea so ridiculous and daring that it just might work. In any case, she had little to lose. Resolving to take a chance, she chose a frozen apple pie and added it to her cart.
Back in the trailer, she put the groceries away and set the frozen pie on the counter. She couldn’t be sure that Ferg’s spy had shown up, but since she’d complained about being watched, she had a feeling that Ferg would send him just to prove he could.
Keeping an eye across the creek, she gathered the eggs and weeded her garden. By the time she’d finished, she could see the willows moving in a way the wind wouldn’t have blown them. Ferg’s spy must be in place. Tanner had mentioned that he was very young and looked harmless. She could only hope that was the case.
Going back inside, she heated the small oven, put the pie inside, and opened the trailer windows. The pie took nearly an hour to bake, but by the time it was done, its mouthwatering aroma was drifting out of the windows, around the trailer, and across the creek. Rose set it in the open doorway. When it was co
ol enough, she cut a slice, put it on a saucer with a fork, and walked to the edge of the creek.
“Hey, you,” she called. “I know you’re there, keeping an eye on me. How would you like a nice, warm piece of apple pie? Can you smell it? Come on out and it’s yours.”
Scarcely daring to breathe, she waited. Was she taking a dangerous risk or playing a brilliant hunch?
The willows stirred and slowly parted. A skinny young man in a camouflage print shirt stepped into the open. Homely, with an oversized nose and bad skin, he couldn’t have been more than eighteen or nineteen. Not much more than a boy, and so shy that he could barely meet her eyes.
“Would you like this pie?” she asked again, more gently this time.
“Yes, please, ma’am,” he muttered.
“Come here and sit down.” She motioned to a cut log that served as a seat. He hesitated, then crossed the creek in the shallow place. Like a timid animal, he approached the log and lowered himself onto it. Rose handed him the saucer and the fork.
“My name is Rose,” she said. “What’s yours?”
“Reuben. Reuben Potter. This sure is good pie.”
“I’m glad you like it. Do you work for Mr. Prescott, Reuben?”
“Uh-huh.” Reuben spoke between bites. “He wouldn’t like it if he knew I was talking to you.”
Rose smiled. “Then we won’t tell him, will we? I know he pays you to watch me. But I want to be your friend. Would you like that?”
He hesitated. “I guess.”
“I won’t always have pie, but if you get hungry while you’re watching, I can make you a sandwich or something, and we can visit a little. Will you let me know when you come, so I won’t be afraid?”
“Sure. I don’t want to scare a nice lady like you.”
“Then there’s something else you can do. It can be dangerous, living alone like this. As long as you’re here anyway, will you watch my place to make sure I’m safe and that nobody comes around to make trouble? That shouldn’t be too hard, should it?”
“No, ma’am.” He finished the pie and handed her the fork and saucer. Rose was tempted to offer him another piece. He looked hungry enough to eat the whole pie. But no, one slice was enough. It would be best not to get his expectations up.
He rose from the log. “Thanks for the pie, ma’am. I’d better get back to work.”
“You’re welcome,” Rose said. “Let me know the next time you come around. And thank you. I’ll feel safer, knowing you’re there.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She watched him cross the creek and vanish behind the screen of willows. Had she taken shameless advantage of the boy? Or had she just shown him some needed kindness?
Never mind, she honestly liked Reuben. She even sensed a kinship between them. He struck her as something of an outcast, someone who didn’t quite fit in, not unlike herself. And she did feel safer, knowing that the person watching her was not a stranger.
All the same, she couldn’t deny a feeling of smug satisfaction. In her own subtle way, she’d finally gotten the better of Ferg Prescott.
* * *
Tanner’s new partner, Special Ranger Joe French, was a divorced man in his early thirties, friendly and easygoing. By the end of the first week, he and Tanner had settled into a comfortable routine, with one of them manning communications in the office and the other going out on calls. When a troubling situation arose, they went out together, each serving as backup for the other. By the end of the second week they’d closed two cases, brought five rustlers to justice, and recovered fourteen head of stolen cattle.
After Joe learned that his partner had a sweetheart, he was happy to cover the office and give Tanner an occasional night off with Rose. It wasn’t enough time to suit Tanner, but the work was satisfying, and he was as contented as he’d been in a long time. Someday he would have the means to marry Rose and settle in a cozy home somewhere, surrounded by the family they would have. For now, having a good job and an amazing woman who loved him would have to be enough.
