Her Broken Wings by D.K. Hood
Twenty-Seven
Friday morning
Jenna ducked and then spun on one foot, aiming a kick at Kane’s head. The next moment his large hand gripped her foot and flipped her face down. The mat made a whooshing sound as Kane’s two-hundred and fifty pounds landed beside her, pinning her with ease. “Dammit, Kane, let’s try that again. I’m getting slow.”
“It’s to be expected.” Kane rolled to his feet and offered her his hand. “You can’t expect to be in top shape when you work on cases half the night.”
She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. “You do.”
“True but I’m used to surviving on no sleep.” Kane pushed a hand through his damp hair. “I just need food and I’m good.” He grabbed a towel from the back of the chair and smiled at her. “I’ll hit the showers. The horses are squared away and it’s your turn to cook breakfast.” He glanced at his watch. “Then I guess it’s a meet-and-greet with the handyman.”
Jenna watched him walk away and then headed to her bathroom. Although he hadn’t said another word about allowing Tom Dickson to work at the ranch, he’d spent a great deal of time checking the security on her house and his cottage. They both had installed a home security alert on their phones. If Dickson decided to wander near either home, they’d know, and he’d be under CCTV surveillance. She wasn’t in the least worried, but she’d seen the concern in Kane’s eyes. The thing with Kane, he was always on the job. It would’ve come from his time protecting POTUS, no doubt, but she wished sometimes he’d just loosen up. She’d seen his gentle side and he had a vulnerability. He’d place his body in front of a bullet to protect the innocent and she feared, one day, someone would use it against him.
As Jenna closed the dishwasher door and set it working, she glanced at the clock. “Dickson will be here in about thirty minutes.” She turned to speak to Kane but he held a finger to his lips and pointed at Duke.
She stared at the dog. It was as if he’d frozen in time, and from his raised hackles and the low rumbling growl, something was wrong. She pulled her weapon, slid to the back door, and checked the locks. When she returned to the kitchen Kane indicated with hand signals to move along the hallway and into her home office. Keeping her back to the wall, she eased inside. She studied the array of CCTV cameras, showing all the external areas. Only the horses moved around in the corral; she couldn’t see anyone near the house. “All areas clear.”
“He’s indicating toward the front door.” Kane moved to her side. “I can’t see anyone out there either, but I trust Duke—he senses more than people.”
A shiver of a memory caught Jenna unawares. She’d once hit a tripwire and set off an explosive device, sending them sky-high. “A bomb?”
“No one could get in here undetected unless they dropped something using a drone.” Kane frowned. “I’m pretty sure that’s the only way in unless someone used a chopper, and then they’d have tripped the motion sensors.”
When Duke barked and ran at the door, Jenna exchanged a puzzled look with Kane. “Do you figure he’s ill or something? Do dogs go crazy?”
“Only with rabies and he’s had his shots.” Kane walked to the door, peered through the window, and then turned and raised both eyebrows at her. “I’ve found the problem. It’s that black cat. It just peeked its head out from under the porch.”
Jenna frowned. “Poor thing is probably starving.”
“Not likely—they are superb hunters and there are plenty of mice and rats in the barn.” Kane looked again and then frowned. “It might be hurt. It’s covered in blood.”
“Blood? Hold onto Duke.” Jenna hurried to the door and opened it. “Puss, come here, puss.” She bent and held out one hand.
Instead of coming to her, the cat bounded away and she could see its tail waving above the long grass in the direction of the Old Mitcham Ranch. Jenna straightened and stared at Kane. “It’s not acting as if its hurt. I hope nothing has happened to its owner.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to check.” Kane stared in the direction the cat had gone.
“Okay, we’ll drop by the Old Mitcham Ranch on the way to the office. We haven’t met the new owner yet.” She trunked back to him. “I wonder if they’ve gotten a pile of black cats for Halloween and left them there?”
“Maybe.” Kane glanced at his watch. “I doubt the owner would stay there. There’s a crew working out of trailers turning it into a Halloween attraction.” He grinned at her. “Woo woo. Let’s hope the curse hasn’t taken them yet.”
Jenna shook her head. “That’s not funny.”
The buzzer sounded at the gate and Jenna went to the small screen set beside the front door. She peered at the man staring at her from the window of his truck. “It’s Dickson.” She pressed the button to unlock the gates. “I’m glad he’s early. I want to get over to the Old Mitcham Ranch just in case something has happened. The cat was upset about something.”
“Hmm. It was making enough noise.” Kane frowned at her. “Unfortunately, I don’t speak cat.”
Jenna grabbed his coat from the peg in the mudroom and tossed it to him before getting her own. “Neither do I.” She set the alarm and opened the front door. “Cats are more intelligent than you think.”
“Yeah, but if it’s witnessed a bloody murder, getting it to testify in court is gonna be a problem.” Kane chuckled and followed her down the steps.
They greeted Tom Dickson and Jenna explained what they needed him to do. She pointed out the sandwiches and drinks she’d left in the refrigerator. “See how you go. Get as much done as you are able but I don’t expect you to work all day. We’ll finish up this weekend. I’ll leave cash with Maggie at the front desk, same deal as before.”
“Thanks, Sheriff.” Dickson touched his hat and talked slow. “I’ll be working alongside Deputy Rowley on Saturday, and next week Maggie has found me a few days’ work out at the livery stable.” He peered at her over his glasses. “You’ve all been mighty kind to me, ma’am.”
Jenna looked at the old man and smiled. “That’s great. We’ll leave you to it.” She walked away and heard low voices behind her but didn’t turn around and headed for Kane’s truck.
“Hmm.” Kane slid behind the wheel.
Jenna turned to look at him. It was obvious from his grim expression he was annoyed. “What?”
“Nothing for you to worry about.” Kane started the engine and drove down the driveway, staring straight ahead.
“Uh-huh, so I’m going to get combat-face Kane all day, am I?” Jenna sighed. “Loosen up, Dave. It’s me, Jenna. He said something to you, didn’t he?”
“Oh yeah, he said something.” Kane glanced at her and then looked back at the road. “Nothing for you to worry about, he’s just an old man is all. Probably going senile and lost his filter.”
Jenna sat back in the seat and stared out the window. It was a short drive to the next ranch and Jenna’s mind was running at maximum speed. “If he said something about me, I need to know. I’m recommending him for employment. My reputation is on the line.”
The truck stopped with a jolt and Kane turned in his seat and looked at her. Annoyed by his stubbornness, she met his gaze. “Don’t go all macho on me, Dave, it doesn’t work. I can order you to tell me.”
“Yeah, I guess you can. Fine. He asked me how I kept my cool with you ordering me around all the time.” Kane’s gaze didn’t leave her face. “And how I felt being kept in my own little house like your prize stallion.”
Shocked, Jenna stared at him. “After all we’ve done for him, he said that? He’s a strange one. He probably never had a filter. He was likely raised to believe women should be chained to the kitchen sink.” She frowned. “Do you want me to ask him to leave?”
“Nope.” Kane turned the truck back on the highway. “He’s just an old man, and I’m sure he was just teasing me.” He snorted. “I’m not easily provoked but he got under my skin is all.”
Mind reeling, Jenna looked at him. “You don’t think that, do you?”
To her surprise, Kane laughed.
She turned in her seat. “What’s so funny?”
“I’m the luckiest man on Earth.” Kane flicked her a glance. “I came here broken and you gave me a place to live. You nursed me back to health when I’d lost my memory. I’m not perfect but you don’t care. Most women would’ve given up on me after six months but you understand me.” He turned into the Old Mitcham Ranch. “You don’t care you’re living with a killer, albeit, a government assassin. There are no secrets between us—well, apart from my real name—and we’re happy. So, who cares what people think?”
Jenna sighed. “Well, I sure don’t give a damn and I don’t believe the townsfolk do either.” As they drove past the line of trailers, she looked at him. “I thought this place would be a hive of activity. Where is everyone?”
“Not sure.” Kane moved the truck closer to the dilapidated ranch house. “Maybe it’s finished or they’re working inside.”
Jenna’s attention moved over the elaborate Halloween decorations on the front porch of the Old Mitcham Ranch. A skeleton hung inside the window, and the ghoulish mannequins sitting upright in chairs looked so real among the grinning jack-o’-lanterns. She stared as they got closer and her stomach did flip-flops at the sight of a blood trail on the front steps. It looked too real somehow, and the next moment the smell of death seeped into the cab. “Err, Dave, I don’t think the dead bodies are Halloween decorations.”