That made two of them.
“I’ll go get one right now while you shower.”
This sleek little SIG P365 would fit nicely in Paradise’s small hands and would go a long way toward allaying his fears. Blake left the gun shop with it and walked down Magnolia Street toward Pawsome Pets. He felt better knowing she had something more than the tranquilizer gun. The smoky aroma of barbecue enveloped him as he walked past the newly opened Chet’s BBQ. He could grab some for dinner with the family and take Paradise home with him.
Pawsome Pets’ Closed sign was in the door window, and he tucked the gun into the back of his jeans before climbing the steps at the back of the building. As he ascended he checked the camera to make sure it was in place, then called the video up on his app to make sure it was working. His own face stared back at him from his phone, and he swiped through the videos from the past twenty-four hours. Only a curious raccoon had triggered it in the night.
Paradise opened the door before he could ring the bell. She’dshowered, and a sleek bun tamed her light brown mane. “You were gone so long I was about to call you. I wanted to see what you thought about taking the kittens to show the boys.”
He stepped into the apartment, careful not to trample the kittens milling around her feet. The gray one leaped onto his jeans, then dashed away. “You realize they’ll want to keep them. All of them. Mom will kill me.”
Her smile widened. “Big tough guy like you can handle your mother.” She stood on her toes and kissed him. “I’ll help you out and tell them I have to keep at least two.”
Her fresh plumeria scent filled his head, and he pulled her closer. “I appreciate that,” he murmured against her lips. He released her. “See if this fits.” He reached behind his back and tugged out the SIG. The little black gun lay in his palm as he extended his hand. “It’s a SIG Sauer 365.”
She gasped. “Blake, it’s so cute! Almost too cute to cause much damage.” In a flash she had the gun in her hand. “It fits my hand so well.”
“It’s lightweight, so you’ll have a good aim. The magazine has seventeen rounds, and I think you’ll like the trigger. Firm but responsive. We need to go back to the gun shop and fill out the paperwork. I have ammo bagged for you behind the counter too. It won’t take up much room in your purse or bedside table and it will be easy to grab.”
“I’ll need to learn to shoot it.”
He nodded. “The Dillard Ranch has a shooting range that butts up to the back side of The Sanctuary, and I’ll give you your first lesson there. I have permission to use it anytime. We can grab barbecue for dinner and take the kittens with us on the way out of Nova Cambridge.”
“Sounds like you’ve got the evening all planned out. I miss theboys and your mom. I haven’t spent any real time with them in three days.”
“I had strict orders to bring you home with me tonight.” He scooped up the fluffy black kitten rolling around on his shoes. “You have a box for these little furballs?”
“I have a crate.” She went to get it, and the kittens leaped after her. She corralled them into the crate and fastened the door. “How about you grab the food while I go to the gun shop and fill out the paperwork? It will get us home faster if we divide and conquer.”
“Deal. I’ll take the kittens and meet you at my truck. It’s parked in the lot by the gun store.”
She opened the door and went down the stairs. He grabbed the crate and locked the door before following the aroma of barbecue to Chet’s. They had an exterior window so people could take their food and eat at the picnic tables under the large overhang, and he set the crate on the ground and got into line to place his order.
When the woman in front of him turned, he recognized Mary Steerforth’s profile. She and her husband, Allen, had owned The Sanctuary property before Hank and Mom bought it at auction. “Mary, good to see you.”
She turned with a smile that made people forget the scars on her face from a tiger mauling. “Young Blake, you’re a handsome sight for sore eyes. How’s your sweet mama and those little brothers?”
“They’re all good. You’re a little far from home.” She lived off Fort Morgan Road, and he guessed it would have taken her forty-five minutes to get here in traffic this time of day.
“Allen’s nephew, Dean, got hired here, and I wanted to encourage him.” She limped closer and lowered her voice. “He’s beena challenge, that one, but he seems to be making a new start. I wish it had happened before Allen passed. We raised the boy off and on after his dad died, but he left with friends six years ago and hasn’t called or contacted us. I heard a couple of months ago he was back in town, and I wanted to reconnect with him. For Allen’s sake.” Her eyes filled with tears. “And my own. He’s the only family I have. He’s already driving me a little crazy though. He keeps talking about a will Allen left, leaving him everything. There was no will, and I don’t believe Allen would ever do that anyway. Back then, Dean would have spent it all on drugs.”
Blake squeezed her hand. “I’ll pray it works out.”
Over her shoulder he spotted a young man taking orders at the window. He looked to be about twenty-five with curly brown hair and brown eyes. The smile he flashed at Mary was engaging and hopeful, which was a good sign.
Two more customers were ahead of Mary. “Did Allen ever hear there might be oil or gas deposits under The Sanctuary?” A woman had trespassed with equipment that suggested she was looking for gas deposits, and Blake still wondered if that had anything to do with the events that kept slamming them. He’d gone so far as to order some tests, but they weren’t back yet.
“There was some talk about it,” Mary said. “Allen planned to get it checked, but he was killed before he could order it.”
She persisted in her belief that her husband’s wreck was no accident, and she refused to believe he’d willingly taken drugs. Blake wasn’t sure she was wrong.
Chapter 9
Four kittens prowled the length of the living room, much to the delight of two little boys. Jenna had shot Paradise ahelp melook when the boys asked to keep them, and Blake had quickly jumped in with a claim that Paradise wasn’t looking for a home for them.
It wasn’t exactly how Paradise felt, but she didn’t want to cause a ruckus in the peaceful evening that unfolded in front of her. New gun in hand, she left the boys in charge of the kittens and followed Blake outside to his Gator. The short ride to the shooting range at the Dillard Ranch blew back her hair and lifted her spirits.
He drove through a gate and parked the UTV. “This is it.”
