CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“How do we prove that Darla set my Jeep on fire?” Addy asked Trent as they lay in bed that night.
“I’m not sure yet, but we’ll come up with something,” he said. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and she snuggled against his bare chest.
“Too bad there aren’t any cameras outside of the grocery store.” She yawned.
He was silent for a while, thinking—mentally tracking the path Darla would have taken from the Wet Spot to the grocery store more than two blocks away.
“Maybe Granger’s Market has cameras?” he said absently. “I have to make a run there tomorrow. I can check with them.”
She nodded and wrapped her leg around his. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her curled up against him.
“Did you enjoy the ride with my mother today?” he asked.
“Yes, I found out that I love horses. I just wish I could have one.”
He could tell she was on the verge of sleep. “Why can’t you?” he asked.
“Can’t,” she said, her voice slurred. “Won’t fit in my trailer.”
He held in a chuckle and decided to let her sleep as his mind ran over every step between the strip club and the grocery store.
First thing the next morning Trent walked the same path. Stopping at every business along the way, he even poked his head into one of the other local strip clubs and asked about cameras. They had cameras inside and at the back door but nothing out front. Since he was there, he asked to see the footage from the back door, just in case Darla had walked down the alley instead of the main street.
Trent made it all the way to the grocery store without any luck. Granger’s had a video of the front, but the manager told him that they recorded over each tape the next day when there weren’t any issues. Still, he was going to check with the owner to make sure the owner didn’t switch tapes out. The guy would let Trent know when he found out.
As he went along, the buzz in town continued to be his brother’s wedding. Everyone asked him about it, told him how excited they were to join in the festivities. And some even hinted at how he’d be next.
He laughed that thought off, but deep down, he questioned it. Why not marry? His mind kept nudging him at the thought. It wasn’t as if he wanted someone other than Addy. She was it for him. Of that he was 100 percent positive. So what was the holdup?
His mind thought about the new plans for McGowan. About how in less than a month they would be breaking ground for the Thurston McGowan Flathead Drilling Training Center.
Just thinking about it had his excitement building. He hadn’t yet talked with Addy further about her role in all that. He was hoping that her agreeing to stick around was her way of telling him she wanted to be a part of it.
He made his run to Granger’s, loading up the extra sod and a few more bushes that he planned to plant around his own land. Since Addy mentioned that she liked the wisteria trees, he got a few of them to plant around the trailer.
Just as he was coming out with a full cart, he noticed Dennis walking in. The man had a look on his face like he owned the town.
“Heard you had some bad luck the other night,” Dennis said.
Trent decided to keep going, but then Dennis stuck a boot out and stopped his cart from rolling.
“You still haven’t learned, boy, to keep that nose where it belongs,” Dennis said.
Trent felt his temper rise, though he realized that if he started something, it would be him sitting in the jail cell instead of Dennis. So he pulled the cart free and continued walking instead.
“I knew you McGowans were always pussies,” the man called after him.
It took all Trent’s willpower to suck up the anger and just load up his truck. Still, as he drove back home, the anger boiled under the surface, ready to burst free.
That was until he saw the small black blob sitting at Addy’s feet outside of the trailer. Her grin nearly reached her ears as the tiny puppy wiggled to get free from her hold. Addy’s fingers were tight on the end of the leash, but the puppy was tugging against the restraints.
“What’s this?” Trent asked, shutting the truck door and going directly to her.
“A gift,” she said, letting go of the leash. The black dot rushed to him. He knelt down to rub the tiny dog’s head, and the puppy proceeded to pee on his boot.
“For me?” She nodded and he stood. “It’s not one of those small portable dogs, is it?”
She shook her head. “No, he’s only two months old and, as I quickly found out, not house-trained yet.”
He picked the dog up and walked toward her as the dog tried to lick his chin.
“What’s his name?” he asked, sitting down next to her.
“I don’t know, you haven’t named him yet.” Addy laughed, reaching over and gently tugging on the puppy’s ears.
“Wow,” he said, thinking about it. “How about Happy?”
“Sure. He’s yours to name.”
“Why?” Trent leaned away and looked at her. “Why did you get him for me?”
“He’s not the only gift I got today. I stopped by the animal clinic to check in on that little Pekinese dog that my mother liked.”
“And?”
“Ralphie was very happy to see my mother when I dropped him off at her place.”
“How did your mother take it?”
“She was in love.” She smiled. “For the first time in my life, I watched tears come into her eyes.” Addy shook her head as her smile fell away slightly. “Funny. I never thought I could crack that shell of hers. Even when Dad died, she didn’t shed a tear.”
“Some people hide their emotions very well.”
“Yeah, I suppose. But today I could tell that she was genuinely happy.” Addy reached over and took the puppy from him, gave it a huge hug, then set it down so it could run around at their feet.
“Maybe that was just what she needed,” Trent said.
“What about you?” Addy asked. “What do you need?”
He smiled quickly. “You.” Her eyebrows shot up.
“And?”
“Is there anything more?” He drew her closer. “What do you need?”
She shook her head and sighed. “I still don’t know.”
He felt something close to fear close his throat. “Until you do, you don’t plan on going anywhere, do you?”
She shook her head again, causing the breath he’d been holding to release. “No, there isn’t any place else for me.”
“You make that sound like it’s a bad thing. Don’t you like it here with me?” he added after a very short pause.
“Yes, I do. But I just don’t know how long . . . things will last.”
“If I had my way, they’d stay like this forever,” he said, feeling a sudden need to convince her.
She nodded and leaned against his chest. “Did you find anything out today?”
He allowed her to change the subject given the sudden tightness in his chest.
“No.” He stood up. “But you’re not the only one who can give gifts. Come with me.”
His new dog, Happy, followed him to the truck and sat down with a small plop as Trent pulled out the first tree.
“For you.” He watched her expression turn from sad to happy.
“Oh, they’re beautiful,” she said, moving around to see the rest of what he had in the bed of the truck. “Where are you going to put them?”
“We are going to decide that together,” he said, reaching in and handing her a shovel.
Addy stood back and dusted off her hands. Two can play this game, she thought as she looked at the pot of flowers she’d just organized. Two massive silver pots stuffed with blooms sat on either end of their picnic table. When Trent came home from work, she had a few other surprises in store for him too.
She’d gone shopping at one of the small boutiques in town. Nothing fancy, but she’d found the prettiest dress for Kristen and Tyler’s wedding and had splurged to buy a new pair of heels.
Since the wedding was less than two days away, no one in town had anything to chat about other than who would attend, what they would be wearing, and who would be with who. Even gossip about the recent fires and Kristen’s kidnapping fell to the sidelines. Addy had been thankful that everyone had found something more positive to talk about.
She pulled out the water hose that Trent had purchased and wrapped up next to the spout and rinsed off the remaining dirt around the flower pots.
She stood back and smiled, then turned around when the sun peeked out from behind a cloud. Her breath caught in her chest at the beauty. The spot Trent had picked was slightly up on the side of a small hill so that they overlooked the same green fields his mother’s place did, just at a different angle. Thick trees covered the hillsides surrounding the opening. There was a small creek that ran directly through the grassy land. The view of the mountains was something everyone who lived in Montana would never get tired of, including her.
She could see the old red barn that held the horses, and if she wanted, it would be a short walk over to say hello to Grace and Hank. Glancing down at her watch she decided, with her few remaining free hours, to take the short walk. Grabbing a light jacket, she locked up and started across the sun-drenched field.
Trent had taken Happy with him to work that day, saying he wanted the dog to get used to going everywhere with him. He’d gone out and bought him a dog bed, forty pounds of puppy food, bowls for food and water, and toys. Tons and tons of toys. Now everywhere she stepped in the trailer, something squeaked under her feet.
Still, she didn’t complain. Especially after Happy crawled next to her and cuddled as she slept. She knew the dog was small now, but the vet had told her that he would end up being around sixty pounds. She just hoped the dog could wait until Trent’s house got there to do most of the growing.
The smell of fresh grass under her feet mingled with the scent of Douglas fir. She’d forgotten how much she loved spring in Montana. How large everything looked, how wonderful it felt to know the place you were in, the people around you.
Her mother had told her that since she was living out there all alone now, she had purchased a new cell phone. She had even texted Addy a few pictures of Ralphie with some new toys. The dog looked so happy and so did her mother.
Addy made it to the back gate and easily climbed over the fence. She had taken about a dozen steps when the two horses came running around the barn and headed straight for her.
Her first instinct was to run back the way she’d come, but then she realized that they were rushing to her because they were excited to see her. Just like big dogs.
She laughed as they came closer, both of them making plenty of noise. Hank had a huskier neigh, while Grace’s was higher pitched.
They didn’t slow down until they were a few feet from her, then both of them halted like someone had pulled on their invisible reins. They walked directly up to her and started rubbing themselves against her, almost causing her to fall over.
“Well, hello to both of you too.” She laughed and stood in the field, enjoying them both.
“I wondered what they were up to—they were making so much noise to get out of their stalls,” Trisha called out. “They must have heard you coming.”
She’d been so busy with the horses, she hadn’t seen Trisha approach from the barn.
Addy waved to the woman. “Yeah, I was pretty loud getting over that fence.” She nodded back to the gate area.
“No one can get past Hank, he has hearing like a bat,” Trisha said as she stopped directly next to the horse.
“I thought I’d come over and see these two. I’m trying to get used to being around horses.”
Trisha cocked her head. “Gail told me that she took you riding for the first time. If you ever want to go, just come on over. I can show you how to saddle them up and cool them off if you want.”
“That would be great. I don’t think I’m ready for solo riding yet, but . . .”
“No problem.” Trisha smiled. “Gail or I am always around. We always have time to take these two out.”
Addy sighed and leaned against Grace. “She’s such a sweetie.” She chuckled when Grace nibbled on her shirt.
“I heard you got Trent a puppy?”
Addy laughed. “Yes, Happy. It’s the dog’s name,” she added when Trisha looked at her in question.
“What breed?”
“Full-blood mutt. Dr. Shultz, the vet, says he’ll grow to about sixty pounds.”
Trisha and Addy started to walk back to the barn. Both horses fell into step and followed them. “He seems like a nice man.”
“Yeah, I never really knew him, or a lot of others in town. My mother didn’t like animals. At least, she didn’t while I was growing up.”
“Oh?” Trisha asked.
Addy stopped walking and instantly had Grace snuggling into her shoulder again.
“You may have heard the rumors.” She sighed. “My mother was very abusive to my father and me. Now, however, I can tell she’s trying.”
“I heard.” Trisha nodded. “How does that make you feel?”
Addy didn’t know why she felt compelled to open up to the woman. Maybe it was the kind look in her blue eyes. Or maybe it was the fact that Grace was letting her lean on her and showing Addy unconditional love, which made her feel so safe that something shifted inside her.
Either way, Addy swelled with a string of feelings that she hadn’t even really owned up to before, let alone wanted to say out loud to anyone.
She leaned against the gentle horse as tears streamed down her cheeks and told Trisha everything her mother had done to her in the past. How she felt about it and why she struggled with feeling secure in her relationship with Trent. Trisha stood there, listening to everything Addy said with kindness in her eyes.
When Addy felt her chest tighten and felt like she was out of breath, she stopped.
Trisha looked at her closely. “Don’t close your mind to the possibilities around here because of your family. From the sounds of it, you have your mother on the right path to being a better person. You deserve happiness, despite how the woman raised you.”
They both glanced over to the house. Sometime during their talk, the sun had sunk below the hills. Several lights had been turned on in the house, lighting the place up, making it look even more glorious. “This is a great place to heal, and a great family who love unconditionally.” Trisha placed her hand over Addy’s. “Come around anytime you like. Opening up is sometimes the best medicine for healing.” She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Addy’s cheek. “I’m happy your mother is learning to love from such a wonderful young woman.”
Addy thought about the conversation as she walked back to her trailer.
The floodlight Trent had installed a few nights ago acted as a beacon, directing her to their little home.