At Gems and Stones Appraisal, the building was dark, but voices echoed throughout the back-empty room."About time, you got here, Scruff. Where's Ralph? You both were supposed to meet with me here." The old man asked the guy standing in the doorway wearing a red and black jacket."I know, Mr. Soloman, but I got tired of Ralph showing off and running his mouth all the time. I'm not going back to the pen, so I had to take care of him. I pushed him off a cliff. I know he couldn't have survived," Scruff answered as he shuffled from one foot to the other."Oh, for god's sake. Can't you do anything right? Getting rid of Ralph wasn't in the plan. You're supposed to get rid of the son, Elliott, on the Bouchard property. What happened to my plan?" Mr. Soloman pushed back on his high back leather chair and crossed his legs. He wiped his hand across his tired face."I know, Boss, but this works out even better," Scruff said as he moved forward and stood behind one of the chairs in front of Mr
When Sam returned to her room, the sun was coming in through the window and onto the middle of the bed. She opened the drapes wider and the brightness seemed to warm the entire room. She lay on the bed, her face in the sun, and closed her eyes. Shortly, she fell into an exhausted sleep and slept soundly until late in the afternoon. Waking slowly, chilled, she tried to get a handle on everything that had happened to her since she'd arrived in the Hole, as she'd heard townspeople call the area. How much she had looked forward to finding someone like Elliott to spend time with and possibly even her life.She stretched her arms up over her head and yawned. She felt lazy and thought about ordering something to eat for delivery but instead she would have to go out.After all, she did want to see the sights and explore the small town. A few minutes later she ventured outside and strolled a short distance. The temperature had been abnormally hot today and just now it began to cool down. Sam
Sam returned to her room at the B&B in Saddle Creek early evening and made sure everything was secure, all doors and windows appropriately locked. She lay on the bed and checked her phone. No calls or texts from Elliott. She'd hoped she'd missed something but no such luck.Suddenly, startled by a knock on the door, her heart jumped in her chest. She stood beside the bed, when she heard another knock. "Sam, it's Elliott. Please let me in. We need to talk.""I don't think we have anything to talk about." Her hand clutched her chest as she slowly made her way to the door. Looking out the peephole she saw Elliott, handsome as ever, his black hat in his hand."Sam, please, I promise I won't take up much of your time, I just want to make sure you're okay," Elliott begged, his words somewhat muffled through the door.Sam unlocked the door and opened it wide. She stood still, expecting a slight kiss on her cheek but none came. As she looked him up and down while she watched Elliott do the
Elliott heard someone walking on the front porch. He peeked out the window."Sam's here. We'll have to tell her the truth. She's too smart not to figure it out," Elliott said, running his fingers through his wind-tousled hair.Mitch took his hat off and placed it on the kitchen counter, then nodded as Elliott opened the door.She stood, stock-still in the doorway, glancing first one way and then the other. Then her eyes settled on Elliott and she briskly stepped to him, hugging his arm. "WhWhat's happened?" Her free hand clutched her chest as she surveyed the damage of broken furniture and ravaged contents of his house."Someone ransacked Elliott's house while he was at the ranch this morning," Mitch answered."Do you think it was the same person who broke into my room and slashed my tires?"Mitch and Elliott exchanged glances. "It could be. We're not sure. No fingerprints were left behind so it could be a professional," Elliott answered her as he gazed around at the destruction
Rosie's was slammed during lunch, only one booth waiting just for them. Elliott escorted Sam to the seat, nodding and waving all the way to friends and neighbors."Wow, you must know everyone here," Sam admonished after they'd settled in their seats."Yeah, pretty much. I grew up 'round here though, remember. They probably know more about me than I do." He chuckled.A waitress named Jess came to their table with a pad and pen. They placed their orders and she brought them glasses of water."Can I get you anything else now?" Jess asked as she glanced between the two."I'd like a cup of coffee next time you're back this way. Okay?" Elliott took a sip of his water.Jess nodded. "I'll get it for you right away, Elliott.""So, how do you know Jess? Is she an old flame?" Sam asked with a smile."No, an old friend from school. Why? Are you jealous?" Elliott snickered."Of course not," Sam answered. Their food was delivered, and they concentrated on eating.Elliott put a quarter or t
Elliott lay beside her in his full-size bed in his room as a youth and in high school. He had gotten up during the night to put more wood on the fire and between the fireplace warmth and the heat from their exerting bodies they were plenty warm throughout the night. He turned his head to the side and studied Sam's face.Her long eyelashes lay on her alabaster cheeks as she slept. She was curled against him with one leg thrown over his groin. Her heat alone made him hard for her again. He couldn't seem to get enough of her. She had become an intimate part of him, an extension, of sorts.Elliott reached out a hand and ran his fingertip across her cheek. She wiggled her nose, then moved her hand toward her face, but she didn't wake up. He ran his finger to the tip of her nose and she grabbed his hand. She slowly opened her eyes. He stared into her brilliant blue diamonds in her eyes. "Good morning, sleepyhead." She smiled. "Was it as good for you as it was for me?" Elliott asked as he n
All the supplies packed away, they gathered again by Elliott's fire and he explained to them what he was doing with the leftover food to protect it from wild animals and what they should do if the camp was attacked. It was a rare event but being prepared was necessary. Don and Connie said their good nights and headed to their campsite."I couldn't leave you behind, keep you safe, and do this trip. I wanted to share it with you," Elliott said as he gazed into the sky at the trillions of twinkling stars, snuggling with Sam around the fire."It's too bad Scruff took off. I know the horse will make its way back down the mountain and to the barn." Sam rubbed her hand across Elliott's chest as they sat around the warmth of the fire."Yeah, and he took one of my best horses. I have liability insurance coverage for both him and the horse but I really want the horse back. If I had cell service here I'd call Dad and ask him to keep an eye out for the idiot but I think it's too late. He and Mo
"Uhm, excuse me, you guys, but what time did you want to get started back? We're freezing here." The interruption ended their passionate lip lock.Sam opened her eyes and looked up into the smiling faces of Don and Connie. Elliott rolled off Sam and onto his knees. He took Sam's hand and hauled her up beside him while laughing."We were keeping warm," Sam said with a smile as she gazed into Elliott's eyes.His eyes pinned her to the spot, and she couldn't move.Without taking his eyes off her, Elliott said, "I've taken care of the stock so we'll be ready as soon as we finish with the tents and loading up. In the meantime, you can build a little larger fire and warm yourselves. We won't be long."Elliott smiled at Sam, moved closer, and put his arm around her waist. She felt a tingle zip through her body and leaned into him closer."What about some coffee to get us moving?" Sam asked, looking into his seductive blue eyes. She turned away from him, breaking free."No more time for