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Sixty seconds passed, and nothing happened.
Another thirty.
The woman flew out the front door, her hood still in place. Rolex shot from the entrance, hot on her heels. Jane jolted. He lived! And he must be on the grounds as Fiona suggested. Protecting his home.
Jane grabbed a knitting needle to use as a weapon—just in case—and jetted out the door herself, heading in the same direction as Rolex. The opposite of Fiona and the cemetery. The pair had aimed for the original office.
“Rolex,” she called. “Where are you, baby? Momma’s here. You’re safe. You can come out now. Rolex.”
She veered from the cobblestone path, ducking under tree limbs and hopping over stones. Panic kept her in a frenzied state, tears stinging her eyes. She needed help. Trembling, gaze constantly scanning, she dialed Conrad. He answered on the third ring.
She wasted no time. “A woman broke into my house while I was gone. She had a key, Conrad. My brave Rolex chased her out the door, but now he’s missing. Fiona is searching the property, and I’m headed to the old office but if I can’t find him I’m going to burn the world down and dance in the flames.”
“Jane!” Conrad barked. “Focus on me. Are you hurt?”
“Are you kidding? I’m dying, Conrad! My baby is missing.”
“I mean physically, sweetheart. How are you physically? Are you bleeding?”
“Yes!” He’d called her sweetheart again, and it was wonderful and terrible, both perfectly and illy timed. “I’m bleeding internally. My heart is torn into a thousand pieces, and it’s more than I can bear.”
“We’ll figure this out, I swear.” His tone had gentled exponentially, allowing her to pick up background noises. Rustling. Keys jingling. Other people grunting. “I promise I’ll stop at nothing to find your baby. But I do need you to stop what you’re doing right now and listen to me. I’m on my way to you, but I’m an hour—half an hour out. Return to your house, bar the door, and dial Beau’s number on the landline. He’s nearby and can reach you faster. Do you understand? Keep me on the call and tell me every time you complete one of your tasks.”
“Oh my gosh! Yes! You’re right. Beau is close, so he can help the search. Thank you, Conrad. Bye.” Click. Scanning here, there… Sunlight glared in every direction, few shadows offering relief.
Sweat beaded on her brow as she rang her friend. As soon as Beau answered, she relayed what had happened.
Like Conrad, he jumped into action, heading her way. Also like Conrad, he told her to return home.
Jane hung up on him too and motored forward, shouting her cat’s name. When she reached the top of the hill, the old office came into view and her breath caught. “Rolex!” At top speed, she dashed to the porch, where the mighty house panther rested on a shadow box, watching her approach with bored eyes. He even yawned.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” She relinquished her weapon and dropped to her knees, gathering him close. A cheek nuzzle led to face-smothering kisses. Tears sprung anew, streaming down her cheeks. Her child was alive and well, and not in the clutches of some vicious cat killer.
Rolex squirmed for freedom, and she let him go. A quick phone call to Fiona ended the search. She phoned Conrad and explained the situation.
He muttered, “I want a look at that camera feed. While I’m there, I’ll change the locks on your doors. If I leave without spanking you, it’ll be a miracle.” He hung up on her, and she smiled.
She’d just had the meltdown of the century, and he wasn’t running for the hills. The guy had it bad for her. What if there was a slight chance he didn’t fall prey to the curse? He was stronger than, well, anyone. His determination had no bounds. As he was proving, he didn’t give up on anything without a fight. What if they could have something lasting?
Her tremors resumed as she called Fiona at the house to tell her all was well. Then she dialed Beau.
To her surprise, he offered complete understanding. “The momma bear found her cub. I’m glad. I’m also in your driveway.”
Oh! “Fiona will let you in.”
“No, she won’t. I’m coming to get you. I’ll escort you back to the house.”
Did he think the masked intruder might be hiding nearby? What had the woman sought, anyway? Jane’s possessions were priceless, but only in sentimental value.
Tension knotted her insides, and she rasped, “All right. Yes. I’ll wait. Thank you.” He was such a sweetheart.
The endearment echoed in her head, purred in Conrad’s voice, and she melted down for another reason entirely. Oh yeah. He had it bad for her.
Fiona took off soon after she arrived, but Beau stayed. As promised, Conrad came over and replaced rusty, warped locks with new, shiny industrial-strength bolts at every entry point in the house. All the inside work now completed, just like the outside work. While she served snacks, the guys chatted like old friends, discussing their individual hobbies. To relax, Conrad restored classic cars. Beau built birdhouses and squirrel feeders. Both liked to work out, watch football and camp. Jane didn’t mind roughing it upon occasion, if she got to stargaze.
