“Seriously?” she gaped. “Well, let me tell you, it all started over an American farmer who shot a pig, which was owned by a British guy, who was rooting around his potatoes!”
“The British farmer was rooting around his potatoes?” I asked, egging her on.
“No, the pig. Either way, a war started, which thankfully, no one was injured. But the same can’t be said for the pig.”
“Well, no one will be harmed over a name you suggest.”
“Thank goodness for that. I mean, I try to keep things pretty peaceful, but sometimes things happen.”
“Like giving me an awful name that could start a war.”
“Hey, mock me all you want, but there was a war that was started over an ear.”
This woman was just a little insane. “And how is it that you know so much about these trivial wars?”
“Trivial?” she gasped. “A man’s ear was cut off! I hardly think that’s trivial.”
“Surely, there had to be a way to resolve the conflict other than starting a war.”
“Well, I’m sure the ear was just the catalyst, but I want to be clear that I in no way want my guesses at your name to start an international incident.”
We stopped outside The Daily Grind, which didn’t make sense at all. It was a coffee house, and she sold herbs.
“I’ll just be a few minutes.”
“Hold on,” I said, grabbing her arm. “Are you tasting the enemy’s drinks?”
She snorted in amusement. “Of course not. I’m just making a delivery. See, they do sell herbal teas here, though loaded with a bunch of crap no one should put in their bodies, but I still make money off them, and that’s all that matters.”
As she turned to walk up inside, I jerked my head at the dog, and surprisingly, he followed her inside.
When the door shut, I turned and scowled at the man tailing me. “Is there a reason you’re following me?”
Maverick Wynn quirked an eyebrow at me. “Is there a reason you left town and had Archer watching over this mysterious woman at your house?”
“She’s not mysterious.”
“Well, you haven’t let her out of your house. That seems pretty mysterious.”
“I’m not holding her.”
“Then you’ll have no problem if I go check on her,” he countered.
“And you’ll have no problem if I do a little digging of my own.”
“Into what exactly?” he huffed. “Check me out all you want.”
That was interesting. While he seemed pretty damn confident, there was the most minuscule change in his breathing and a slight dilation of his pupils.
“Then I guess you don’t mind me knowing about how you turn your back occasionally when someone breaks the law.”
“Officer’s discretion,” he shrugged.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Because you’ll need my help one day? I’m not at all surprised.”
“Of course you’re not.”
