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“Testing you, to see if you meant it when you said you’d do this with or without my help. I didn’t think you’d be that foolish, but since it appears that you are…” He hitched his head back toward her car.
“Follow me.”
She hesitated as though trying to decide whether to kill him, yell at him, or take advantage of his being here. She went with option three. She turned and stalked back to her car.
He waited until she was once again behind the wheel before dropping the SUV into forward gear and starting up the gravel drive.
The Major’s ranch house sat on a rise surrounded by a grove of trees now bare of leaves except for the conifers. Constructed of limestone and timber, the house was one story with a steeply pitched roof. Square columns supported the overhang above the deep porch that ran the width of the house.
Trapper brought the SUV to a stop a short distance from the front steps and looked at each tall window along the porch. He was certain The Major was watching their approach through one of them, but he couldn’t see him because of the glare.
Kerra joined him as he alighted from the SUV. “Whose truck is this?”
“I borrowed it from a buddy.” Carson had come through on the second favor, setting Trapper up with a garage and body shop that would loan him a vehicle while his car was being repaired. Mounted on a monstrous set of off-road tires, the truck was tricked out with all the bells and whistles.
Kerra was gawking with appreciation at The Major’s house and surrounding landscape. “Would you look at this?” she murmured.
“I’ve seen it. You ready?”
She tilted her head back and used her hand to shade her eyes against the western sun. “It pains me to say it, Trapper, but I’m glad you’re with me. I’ve suddenly got stage fright. Thank you for coming.”
“Don’t thank me yet. He could still sic a pack of dogs on us.”
“He has a pack of dogs?”
He smiled grimly. “I have no idea.”
“When were you last here?”
“Few years.”
“What’s the quarrel between you?”
“You want to interview him or me?”
She shook her head in frustration and started up the steps ahead of him. Before she could knock on the front door it was pulled open, and there stood The Major.
Trapper could practically feel the sparks when his eyes clashed with his father’s. Neither would have backed down or broken the hard stare had it not been for Kerra’s intervention.
“Major Trapper?”
He looked down at her, then shocked both Trapper and her by smiling. “Hello, Kerra.”
She actually fell back a step. “You know me?”
“Of course. Channel six. I enjoy your reporting.”
“I’m flattered.” She reached across the threshold and shook hands with him. “Trapper was kind enough to escort me here. May we come in?”
Trapper didn’t call her on the fib. With only a slight hesitation, and a glance at Trapper, The Major backed away to allow them inside.
Kerra went ahead of Trapper. Under his breath, he said to her, “You didn’t need me to get you across his threshold, after all. Seems he’s a fan.”
The Major motioned them toward the sofa. Kerra sat. Trapper perched on the end of the upholstered arm. The Major asked if they wanted something to drink.
Trapper said, “No thanks.”
At the same time, Kerra replied, “Maybe later.”
