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Laura shrugged and waited for her friend to pay. “I thought they were just rumors spread by jealous people.” She looked at Noelle with an arched brow waiting for Noelle to defend herself.
Quinn came to stand next to Noelle behind the counter. She gave the girl a hard look. “Noelle doesn’t spread rumors. Your friend Carly needs a good rehab to clear her mind. She has done nothing but harass Noelle for months now. If you are a real friend help her by convincing her to get help.”
The blonde girl looked scared. “I am staying away from her, Laura. You should, too.”
Laura didn’t look convinced, but she shrugged and left with her bags.
“That was weird,” Noelle commented as she watched the two girls cross the street and get into a black car.
Quinn looked out the window, watching them pull away. “It was. Let me go and get that latest box of summer clothes. You can tell me which ones you want on the mannequins. It is time to change their outfits. Maybe a Fourth of July outfit. We can add some red, white, and blue decorations to the window.”
“Okay.” Quinn went in the back room, and Noelle just stared outside. A few cars drove by, but mostly it was a quiet day. Most people would just stay home today. She yawned, wishing she could take a nap. Chance would be mad if she told him about this little incident with Carly’s friends. He worried Carly would do something to hurt Noelle.
She would wait until later this evening to talk to him about it. No sense in interrupting his work.
A few minutes later the bell over the door startled her and she looked up to see Carly coming in. Her heart dropped. She was dressed in faded jeans and a black zip-up hoodie. Her hair looked unbrushed and dirty. As she got closer Noelle could see how red her eyes looked.
“Carly, are you okay?” Noelle asked loudly, hoping Quinn knew who came in. She had a bad feeling. Carly looked agitated. Hopefully Quinn would call Chase.
Carly marched up to the counter looking upset. “You have ruined my life for the last time, Noelle. Chance and that stupid deputy convinced my parents to commit me. I know you put him up to it out of jealousy. You want me out of your way because you know he loves me.”
“I have never done anything to you, Carly. Your parents and even Chance care about your health. You may not believe me, but so do I.” Noelle tried to speak in a calm manner. Carly looked sick. Her eyes were red, and she looked like she was shaking.
“Chance was mine. I had my eye on him before you came along. I know he cared about me,” Carly said loudly.
“Chance is your friend, Carly. He wants to help you,” Noelle told her gently, hoping to calm her down. Her stomach was tied up in knots. She didn’t know what to do. Handling Carly like this was scary.
For a moment Carly looked contrite. Then her mouth tightened into a thin line. She took her hand out of her pocket and was holding a gun. Noelle gasped. Oh God. Quinn, please call for help, she pleaded silently as if Quinn could hear her.
* * * *
Chance let Jaxon drive back to Willow Springs. His hands were shaking and his chest felt heavy. He had not prayed in a long time, but he did now.
Please God, let me be in time. Don’t let me lose Noelle.
Chase had called Chance’s boss. Carly was at Noelle’s store with a gun. They had called Carly’s parents hoping they could get her to give herself up. Chance held little hope for that.
She had a gun and was holding Noelle hostage. Quinn was in the backroom and was supposed to let Chase in through the alley door.
Jaxon turned the corner on the street of Noelle’s store. The street was blocked off. Jaxon parked in front of the barricade. Chance had the car door open before Jaxon had the car in park. He ran and almost ran into the sheriff. He was an older man with graying hair and a full beard. He wore a Stetson on his head.
“Chance.” Sheriff Henry Lewis greeted him with a frown. “Slow down, son. We have the situation under control. Her parents are on their way.”
Chance took a deep breath. He was filled with anxiety. Carly’s parents had lost control of her years ago. “I need to get in there. Carly will talk to me.”
Sheriff Wilson shook his gray head. He blocked Chance from moving forward. “She is very agitated. Chase told me about this obsession she has with you. Let us handle this. I know you are dating Noelle. You shouldn’t be involved in this.”
Chance was about to argue with him when he spotted Jaxon. Jaxon was by the alley and waved Chance over. Chance excused himself and walked over to Jaxon. Jaxon pulled him into the hardware store. Mr. Sanchez looked very upset by the events.
“I know Chase is in Noelle’s store,” Mr. Sanchez told them. “I saw him going through the back door. Quinn was holding the door open and they were arguing. Then the door closed.”
Chance nodded. He knew his friend would do whatever it took to protect Noelle, but he had made a promise to not let Carly ever hurt her, and he failed. Noelle had to be frightened. Shit, he was scared to death right now. If he had to shoot a gun he was not sure he could get his hands to stop shaking.
Jaxon took out his cell and texted. A few seconds later he received a text back. Jaxon showed it to him. I don’t have an opening to get to Carly. She is holding the gun right to Noelle. She sees the commotion outside and is nervous.
Chance grimaced. Red and blue lights were bright and attention-drawing. People had stopped to gawk and be nosy. A silver Cadillac pulled into the middle of the street and parked. Carly’s parents got out. Louisa Sanders was yelling Carly’s name so loud. Chance shook his head with frustration. If Carly was strung out this was not going to end well.
“We got to do something.” Chance told Jaxon. He didn’t care if he sounded desperate. He was. Carly could shoot Noelle just out of nervousness. “The sheriff told me to stay out of it, but I can’t. They’ll sit around calmly trying to come up with a plan.”
