Kane followed Jenna inside, glanced at the specials, and ordered, before heading to their table at the back of the restaurant. When he removed his jacket and sat down opposite Jenna, he looked at her and sighed. “Much as I enjoy training the women, I figure it’s best I leave it to the single guys.”
“Why? I figured you loved it?” Jenna blinked at him. “What else is going on here?”
Clearing his throat, Kane shrugged. “It’s fine when you drop by, but we’re talking about a group of women who live alone. Yeah, they need help, but it’s clear some of them are also seeking companionship. To show them the moves to defend themselves, I need to be up close and personal, and to be honest, those women are making it uncomfortable to be around. The others are fine. When they come on to me like that, I spend all my time talking about you and the boys, but it doesn’t make any difference.”
“How do you mean?” Jenna’s eyes narrowed. “Suggestive remarks? Maybe they’re joking?”
Kane ran a hand down his face. “I wish. I ignore them but some have started to rub their butts against me during training. I wouldn’t accept that behavior at work, but I don’t like to be rude to them. Heck, I’m a dad and I figured I’m too old to be hit on.”
“You’re not too old.” Jenna frowned. “Men are never too old and you’re only forty-two—that’s in your prime.”
“I’m getting the same and Emily figures it’s funny.” Raven smiled at the server pouring their coffee. “If they try that, I get them to work together and keep away. The thing is, it doesn’t stop there. They figure if they can get us into their homes, they have a chance. Rio doesn’t mind, and when Agent Carter drops by to help out, he loves the attention.”
“Well, one of my deputies or an FBI agent would be a catch.” Jenna raised both eyebrows. “But not my husband or Rowley. I don’t figure Sandy would be too happy.” She sobered. “I wish you’d told me before. I’ll support any decision you make.”
Chief Deputy Rio and Special Agent Ty Carter, both being single, didn’t have a care in the world, but Deputy Jake Rowley was happily married with three kids and had declined the offer to train the women, but he had become involved with young men who needed instruction and trained them in a martial arts dojo in town.
Kane nodded. “Thanks. I’ve tried getting the women to work alone but I do need to show them the moves. I guess I should be flattered but I’m not.” He met Jenna’s concerned gaze. “I’ve spoken to Rowley and he figures some of the martial arts instructors would be willing to help.”
“That sounds like a plan. I agree with you, Dave. If the women in the class are making you uncomfortable, I figure you should work with Rowley and the men.” Jenna looked at Raven. “You too, if you feel the same way.”
“Talking about the women in the classes”—Raven sipped his coffee and placed the cup back on the table—“I was expecting Jan Pierce early this morning for a training run with her dog and she was a no-show. She didn’t come to class either. I’m reluctant to give her a call because, like you, I don’t really want to encourage her. She seems very needy, but since we started working with her dog, I figured she’d turned the corner and had gotten her courage back.”
“Don’t worry about it right now.” Jenna sat back in her chair as the food was delivered. “When we get back to the office I’ll give her a call.”
“Thanks.” Raven smiled.
Kane looked at the concerned expression on the face of Susie Hartwig, the manager of Aunt Betty’s, as she hesitated to leave after delivering their meals. “Is there a problem, Susie?”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” Susie frowned. “Jan came by for breakfast. She mentioned taking the mountain trail and running to your house. She told me she wanted to face her fears. She’s very excited about getting a dog from you.” She held the tray before her like a shield. “Maybe it was too much for her and she went home. Since her grandma died, she’s been jumping at her own shadow, poor woman.”
“I was expecting her.” Raven rubbed the back of his neck. “I figured she’d changed her mind. She has missed a few sessions. I had Em come along for some of them to keep her company.”
Kane nodded. Raven and Emily Wolfe were dating, but he doubted, as one of the medical examiners in town, she had time to escort frightened women all the time. “Thanks for letting us know, Susie. We’ll drop by and do a welfare check.”
“Thanks.” Susie smiled and headed back to the kitchen.
“Maybe she’s at work?” Jenna tucked into her meal.
“She works from home.” Raven sprinkled crackers into his bowl of chili. “Accountant.”
“Call her.” Jenna sipped a glass of water. “If she doesn’t pick up, we’ll drop by.”
“Okay.” Raven scrolled through his contacts and placed the call. After a few moments, he shook his head. “It goes straight to voicemail. She could be working. She told me she has a separate number for work. Maybe she turned off her regular phone?”
The forest posed a danger for a woman alone. Kane met his gaze. “I sure hope so.”
Two
Raven bolted down his meal and stood to pull on his jacket. It might be spring, but the wind still carried the threat of more snow. “I’ll head back to the office and grab Ben. If she isn’t at home, I figure we track her.”
“We’ll drop by her house. Wait at the office. If she’s not there, we’ll call you.” Jenna stood. “We’ll need to enter for a welfare check, so I’ll grab something of hers that Ben and Duke can get a scent from and we’ll head up the Bear Peak trail.”
Raven headed for the door. As he moved swiftly along the sidewalk, he cast his mind back to the last conversation he had with Jan. She’d mentioned her grandmother being a very strong woman, until she took a fall and broke her hip and went downhill from there. She died less than six weeks later, leaving Jan alone in a big empty old house set on a good parcel of land just on the outskirts of town. Although she’d lived in the house since her parents died in a fiery wreck when she was only five years old, being alone frightened her.
He’d spoken to her at length about different ways of protecting herself but really believed she needed the companionship of a dog. He’d found a suitable young mixed-breed bitch, which came by the name of Greta. The dog had come from a home with children, but when the owners moved to a smaller house in a different state, they’d left her at the shelter hoping that she would find a good home. Raven had contacted all the shelters in a hundred-mile area and purchased suitable dogs for training for personal protection or K-9. When the call came in about Greta, he’d left immediately and collected her. She was perfect for protection. Active and intelligent, she had been trained by him with ease. Jan and Greta had made a good combination, but he never allowed dogs to go with new owners until he was satisfied that they were a good fit.
He’d spent time working with Jan and Greta at his ranch and again at Jan’s home, making sure that the dog would settle with her. Having the dog understand and react immediately to the new owner’s commands was imperative. Jan and Greta were coming along really well, and with the dog beside her, Jan seemed to forget her nervousness. He’d recommended contractors, who installed security systems and motion sensors outside the house, and truly believed that the dog, the classes, and meeting other women in the same position had helped her regain her courage.
