Chapter 26 — The Brown Shoelaces

Everything looked calm as Tess pulled up in front of the cabin in the old pickup truck. Not a coyote in sight. She could not bear to leave the kitten alone in the mansion and had put her in a small basket with a soft flannel blanket. Tess hopped out of the pickup, grabbed the basket and her purse, and held Buddy on the leash firmly. Tess scanned the area again, glad for the revolver as she put the key in the lock. Thank God it turned. She pushed the door open with her foot.

Buddy’s ears went back, and he put his nose to the floor, sniffing as if he had picked up the scent of something wild. Tess hoped a squirrel had not come down the fireplace. It happened from time to time. Tess grabbed a dog biscuit out of the cupboard. “Here’s a biscuit, Buddy. Calm down.” But Buddy wasn’t interested. He looked at her and barked. “There are no coyotes here, Buddy,” she said, thinking he was nervous because of the coyote attack yesterday.

She packed up a few groceries from the cupboard. She couldn’t take much. The cab of the truck wasn’t very big. It was then she caught the smell of lilacs. The aroma was strong enough to make her look around, but no one was there. Aunt Nettie only turned up when something was going on. It put Tess on edge. She didn’t want to stay. She would go upstairs and get the jewelry cleaner from the bathroom, grab her leather boots and a robe, and go to the cottage.

The scent of lilacs seemed to follow her everywhere, but she didn’t have time for ghosts today. She carried the kitten, with Buddy at her heels, his hackles up. “It’s okay, boy. There’s nothing here.” In the darkened hall, Tess was hit with the smell of sweat. The foul odor puzzled her, and she picked up the kitty and sniffed.

“Have you been into something nasty?” she asked, ruffling the kitten’s fur.

She put the kitten down and went into the bathroom, and found the bottle of jewelry cleaner. She left it on the counter while she went to get her robe and boots. The kitten followed. Buddy stood in the middle of the room growling.

“What’s gotten into you?” Buddy’s behavior was making her nervous. She pulled the robe off the hanger and then leaned down and grabbed her leather boots. That’s when she noticed that kitty was playing with a long brown shoelace.

Tess paid little mind. She grabbed a large carpetbag that had belonged to her mother, threw it on the bed, and began to pack.

Buddy let out a ferocious bark that sent shivers down her spine. He was looking at the closet door: teeth bared. In an instant, an image flashed before her that sent ice water through her veins. She didn’t own a pair of shoes with long brown laces.

Shaking like a leaf, and not making a sound, Tess reached in her pocket for her cell phone and pushed the emergency button that went straight to 911. Then she took a deep breath and put her hand on the revolver. Its cold solid feel gave her comfort. She mustered her courage and leveled the gun at the closet. 

“Here, kitty, kitty.” She had to get kitty out of the closet. She couldn’t leave him. She started backing away towards the door, holding the gun with both hands. “Come on, kitty,” she said more forcefully.

The closet opened just a little, and kitty scampered out. Tess backed away quickly. The kitty ran towards her, but she kept her eye on the closet, her finger on the trigger. That’s when the door flew open.

 Mac barreled out. “Stay where you are. Don’t make me kill you.” Her words were braver than she felt. She had never fired on a person and didn’t know if she could. But if he came at her…

Mac took a step towards her; the look of menace in his eyes chilled her. “Mary left because of you. The sheriff came back, and she went with him. And it’s all your fault. It was all over that damned locket.”

He took another step. Tess knew she should act, but was rooted to the spot.

“That’s my mother’s locket, and you know it,” Tess quipped challenging him. “My father gave it to her on her wedding day.”

The statement enraged Mac, and he spat, “It’s mine, you hear. You left, and it’s mine. I gave it to Mary for a wedding present.” He took another step and raised his fist. He was now within four feet of her. “I want it back, and I want my thousand dollars.”

“You’ll never get your grimy hands on that necklace again,” Tess said through clenched teeth. “And I’m keeping the money you stole from my purse. You took the money knowing full well it was for my mother’s medicine.” She knew she should shoot, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Tess’s ears perked when she heard the faint sound of the sirens. She eased up ever so slightly, but it was enough for Mac. He lunged at Tess knocking the gun out of her hand. A shot rang out the sound echoing in her ears as she fell, slamming her head against the dresser. Her head spun, and a sharp pain radiated throughout her head. She could hear Mac yelling expletives and Buddy barking. She tried to focus, but everything was a blur. Her eyes, mere slits began to focus on a dark object Mac was waving in front of her face. And then she felt the hard muzzle of the gun on her temple.

“Where’s the money and the locket, bitch?”

Spittle settled on her face. Mac’s hulking shadow loomed over her. Her head cracked against the floor as his fist slammed into her jaw. It seemed senseless to answer. If she was going to die, nothing mattered. She tried to raise her head off the floor but was filled with nausea. The action incited him further. “Stay down, bitch.” He kicked her hard in the ribs.

The sirens were growing closer. Through blurred eyes, Tess saw Mac move to the window.

She mustered all her strength and shrieked, “Help! Help!”

Mac lunged toward her. “You make another sound, and I’m going to put you out of your misery,” Mac said, his boot poised to come down on her head. That’s when Buddy attacked. He leaped into the air and grabbed Mac’s arm, hanging on until Mac fell. Buddy snarling, Mac yelling, blood spurting from his arm until a lamp toppled from the dresser and crashed onto Mac’s head. Even after Mac’s gigantic form lay sprawled on the carpet semiconscious, Buddy hung on, growling.

The revolver fell within Tess’s reach. Hope sprang. With adrenaline flowing, Tess dove for it. Her hands trembled as she forced herself to hold the gun straight and aimed it at Mac’s chest. Her heart pounded.

Mac looked dazed. His face turned ghastly white. He choked, and his hand went to his heart. His body became flaccid, as if he were too weak to move.

“Nitroglycerine,” Mac gasped, his hand on his shirt pocket. “My heart.”

Tess kneeled and snatched the small bottle out of his shirt pocket. Her blood dripped on his forehead as if anointing him before death. “Is this what you want?” she asked coldly, holding it above his head, taunting him. 

Mac’s head jerked. He gasped for air. But she didn’t care.

She slowly opened the bottle and turned a pill between her fingers, her amber eyes contemplating it. “You stole my mother’s money for her medication. My mother was in horrible pain. I hope you’re hurting, Mac. I hope it hurts like hell.”

She started when she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Give him the pill, Tess,” Sawyer said. His calm, reassuring presence filled the room.

“He doesn’t deserve to live,” Tess said, trembling so hard she could hardly hold the bottle.

“That’s not your call. Now, is it?” Sawyer asked. “Give him the pill.”

“Why? Why should he live? He’s a menace to society.”

Sawyer’s expression was somber. “Because his face will haunt you for the rest of your life. It won’t be your lover’s face that you see when you wake up in the morning or your child; it will be his.”

Tess relented and dropped the pill into Mac’s mouth. Exhausted, she dropped the bottle of pills and struggled to her feet. Sawyer grabbed her around the waist and held her tight.

“The man I murdered killed an entire Amish family. He was on drugs and ran his car into their buggy. I thought I was doing the right thing: an eye for an eye—but I was wrong. His dying face has haunted me since that day. That’s why I can’t have a normal life, Tess.”

“Sawyer, you would never harm anyone,” Tess said in alarm. “The man died when he fell, and his head hit the rock. You didn’t kill him.”

“I killed him, Tess,” Sawyer confessed. “I lost it. When I saw the family scattered all over the road dead, I threw him down. His head hit the rock. But then I bashed his head into the rock over and over until the deputy pulled me off. The jury wouldn’t convict me, but I’m guilty as sin.”

“Sawyer,” Tess’s impassioned plea reached out to him. “You have to forgive yourself. Don’t ruin your life. Don’t ruin it for ‘us.’” She clung to him, sobbing heart-wrenching sobs. “I wanted it to be you, Sawyer. Oh, God, how I wanted it to be you.”

Suddenly the room was full of people—loud voices yelling orders. Someone was pulling her out of Sawyer’s arms.

“Tess, are you okay? Are you okay?” Richard asked, holding her away and looking her over, his face shocked by her battered appearance.

A stab of pain hit her hard in the chest. She swayed. She couldn’t breathe. All she knew was that it hurt like hell. She felt herself being lifted onto the gurney. Richard gave her a pillow to hold against her chest. As they started to wheel her away, she called out, “My dog. Where is Buddy? Is he okay? He saved my life. I can’t leave without him.”

“I’ve got Buddy,” Sawyer said, “and the kitten, too. I’ll bring them when you’re ready.”

“Let me see them. I have to see them,” she said, levering herself onto her elbow, even though it hurt terribly. Sawyer handed the kitten to her, and she cradled it against her neck. “Thank God, you’re okay.” And then Buddy’s big head was there as he stood against the gurney, licking her arms. “He’ll have to have a bath,” she said, noticing big splotches of blood on him. “We’re okay,” she said, unable to hold back the sobs. “We’re all okay, Buddy. You saved my life.”

When they wheeled her to the ambulance, the last thing she saw was Sawyer standing there with Buddy holding the kitten. He looked fragile. He gave a little wave when he noticed her gaze. Somehow, it didn’t seem right—leaving him. It made her feel sad. She cried out when a stab of pain hit her hard, but it wasn’t her ribs.

Richard rode with her to the hospital, holding her hand, reassuring her and telling her he loved her. At the hospital, x-rays showed she had two broken ribs from the hard blow she’d suffered from when Mac had kicked her. One side of her face was black and blue, and her eye was swollen shut from where she’d hit the dresser. Her jaw was fractured from where he’d punched her.

“I’ll be okay,” she murmured. “I’d just like to go home now.”

“I’d like to keep you overnight,” The ER doctor said. “You’ll need pain medication.”

But Richard wouldn’t hear of it. “For crissake, Brendon, I’m a doctor. I’ll take care of her.”

The door opened, and Marsha and Parker rushed in. Marsha hovered over her. Tess felt grateful for Richard’s family. Tess could see the shock register on their faces when they saw her. Then Marsha’s expression turned to grave concern, and Parker looked pained.

“Can she leave now, Brendon?” Marsha asked. “We’ll give her excellent care. I make pretty excellent chicken soup.”

“I have no doubts,” Brendon said. “It’s imperative that she rest. She fought quite a battle today, and she’ll need bed rest for at least three days. I’ll come by and check on her.”

“Don’t bother,” Richard said with a look of annoyance. “Write the prescriptions so we can get the hell out of here. Tess is in pain, and you’re lollygagging around.”

“A friend of the family?” Brendan asked, glancing at Tess with more than normal interest.

“No, Tess is my fiancé. Stephanie and I are getting a divorce.”

Even in her shocked state, Tess registered what Richard had said. He had just assumed that she would say ‘yes’ to his proposal. She didn’t know how she felt about that. The pain was almost more than she could bear, both physical and emotional.

“You’re a fortunate man,” Brendan said, patting Richard on the back. “I know—you have to be in charge. But I’ll swing by anyway tomorrow. It’s right on my way home.” 

Brendan looked at Tess and said, “You know you’ll probably never win an argument with this guy, and he’ll do anything to win. We went to grade school together. He won my favorite Cat’s-Eye shooter marble when we were playing marbles. And he wouldn’t give it back.”

Richard laughed. “Cry, baby. It’s a hell of a good thing you’re not a surgeon. If you can’t shoot a marble straight, you sure as hell can’t cut straight. Whatever you do—you must do well and play to win.”

Tess laughed and felt a stab of pain in her ribs. 

“Hold the pillow tight,” Richard instructed.

“Now see what you’ve done,” he said, shooting a mock glare at Brendon.

The mood changed when the sheriff came in and bombarded Tess with questions. “Were you the only one there when you first arrived?” he asked while the deputy took notes.

“Yes, I was alone, except for my dog and my kitten. Sawyer came later.”

“We talked to Sawyer. He heard the sirens,” the sheriff said. “He said he had a feeling you were in trouble.”

“I guess Mac will be going to prison,” Tess said with a sigh of relief.

“Mac passed away at the jail,” the sheriff said. “He had a massive heart attack. Before he died, he said a tall man was standing over him with a pitchfork, and his ex-wife was holding a scythe.”

Tess’s brows creased. She’d felt so alone facing it off with Mac, but her great grandfather and mother had been there all along. She should have known.

 She’d smelled the lilacs.