AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep—not after Rocko’s call and Hendrix’s visit—she headed to the guest bath, hoping to finally repair her sink.
She’d just torn the whole thing apart and was replacing some of the pipes when she heard the ding that signaled a text.
Dropping her wrench, she nearly banged her head on the cabinetry in her hurry to reach her phone. She thought maybe Hendrix had spoken to his aunt and was letting her know what’d been said. It was getting late enough that she couldn’t imagine it being anyone else.
But it wasn’t Hendrix. It was Jordan.
Averil told me you sent your boyfriend over to accuse her of doing something to a well? Breaking it or something? You sent me a text about it, too. I don’t know what the hell either of you are talking about. But you’d better not be trying to ruin things between Averil and me or we’re going to have a major problem.
By now, he had to know Hendrix wasn’t her boyfriend. But he had to hang on to that idea. It was jealousy that made his version of events credible. There was no reason a mere friend or acquaintance would strike him unless he was acting out, assheclaimed, and he refused to admit the truth.
She hadn’t even known Hendrix had gone to Averil’s. He hadn’t mentioned it when he came over, probably because they knew who’d most likely damaged the well by then, and what she’d learned impacted him far more personally.
She wondered how Averil felt about Hendrix showing up at her door. Jordan didn’t like it for obvious reasons. But if Averil became convinced of the truth, she might refuse to see him again.
Ellen wondered if he’d come to town intending to intimidate her—or prove that she and Hendrix didn’t intimidate him—and wound up meeting Averil at Hank’s instead, which switched his attention to her and meant he no longer felt compelled to act on his earlier threat.
That was the impression she was getting—that he was satisfied to leave her alone as long as she didn’t interfere with what he had going on in Coyote Canyon now.
She hated that dating Averil might mean he’d continue to return to town, but she supposed it was better than what could’ve happened—at least to her. She didn’t need another problem. And maybe he wouldn’t treat Averil as badly as he’d treated her.
She texted Hendrix:
Jordan just sent me a message. He said you went to Averil’s house?
She thought he might be asleep, but she got an immediate response.
I did. I felt someone should warn her that she’s getting involved with a man who isn’t quite right when it comes to women.
How’d she take the news?
She wouldn’t believe me.
“Love is blind” is a cliché for a reason.
Apparently so.
At least you tried to protect her. Have you talked to your aunt about what Rocko saw?
No. Didn’t even try. She goes to bed early. I’ll drive over first thing in the morning.
I hope it goes well.
Don’t hold your breath. Averil’s brother Charlie recently listed the property next to the Haslem place, so he was over there when you and I were working together and found it unusual enough to notice.
Averil told you that?
She did. And I have no doubt word will get around to Lynn eventually. I’m just hoping it hasn’t already. I’d rather get through this first.
I can see why. Will you call me and let me know how it goes?
When I get away from the office.
Ellen almost set her phone aside. But it was difficult to let him go. Drawing it back at the last second, she typed another message:Is there anything I can do for you tomorrow to help you catch up on the time you lost working with me?
Assuming he’d say no, or that he wouldn’t be able to accept her offer for fear Lynn would find out, she was shocked when she read his response.
Seriously? Are you free? Because if you could drive over to Missoula and pick up some flat hose I need for an irrigation job, I’d really appreciate it—and I’d pay you for your time and the cost of gas, of course. Stuart’s out of town, and I’ve got one guy on my drill crew who has a pregnant wife and will be moving away soon. I can’t get him to work much now that he knows he’ll be leaving. He left me a message a few hours ago saying he won’t be coming to work tomorrow. So I’d be able to take his place and drill if you picked up the hose.
