Chirp(73)

Blaze couldn’t do this. People would expect the artist to appear. She collapsed onto a sofa and lowered her voice. “No. Odette. You don’t understand. I can’t make public appearances or sign my work.”

The woman narrowed her eyes. “You say that as if it’s dangerous. Is it?”

She nodded.

“So, there is more to your story than a broken heart?”

Another nod.

“This lover. Did he mistreat you?”

“No, no. He was good to me. It’s someone else I need to avoid. Please, I can’t be in the spotlight.”

Odette ran her thumb over Blaze’s cheek. “I understand. But that will make the show even more popular. A new artist who insists on remaining a mystery. I love it! I’ll arrange everything.”

Blaze wished she could get as excited as Odette, but she couldn’t. At least not about the art show. The clothes were a different story. Once she’d tried on everything, she’d fallen in love with the way the fabric felt against her skin.

Later that night she tried to sleep, but too many thoughts flooded her brain. She finally gave up and climbed out of bed. Maybe hot chocolate would help. A stupid thought. The drink was not a sedative. She poured water into a pan and set it on the burner, then took a cup from the cabinet.

All the way home, Blaze had begged her landlady to cancel the show, but she didn’t get Odette to budge. She admitted Odette seemed to have the problem worked out. She’d handle all the personal contact. Even so, Blaze should leave. Pack her things and get out of Austin. But where would she go? She ripped the cocoa package open and emptied it into the cup, poured in the water, and stirred.

Closing her eyes, she blew a steady breath across the surface and thought about the time she had left—and Rance. God, she hated that he kept popping into her head. She missed him. And Muttly. The tree house. Working in the garden.

She took a slow sip, put the cup on the counter, and returned to the canvas she’d started earlier.





Rance


Two months sober. Shouldn’t he get a chip or something for that milestone? Nope. He wasn’t an alcoholic—just a guy drinking to forget a woman. Well, he should give testimony somewhere because it sure as hell didn’t work. An ocean full of whiskey wouldn’t be enough to forget Chirp. To make matters worse, without her curled against him every night, bad dreams tormented him.

He leaned his head back, turned up the radio, and recalled the last time he’d seen her. Right before she’d packed her things and left. He could have fixed everything if she’d waited. As always, he’d done the wrong thing and now suffered the consequences.

He clung to the smallest hope she’d show up at Seth and Hanna’s wedding, but he knew better. Once Chirp committed to something, she kept with it.

After all this time, his only lead was Hanna’s car being found in Dallas. A dead end. From there he had no idea where to look next. Might still be in Big D.

The dog raised his head and perked his ears, then Rance heard the noise. He rose from his chair, walked around the end of the house, and found Tom Fraser halfway out of his car. A woman sat inside.

Rance adjusted his sunglasses. “What the hell do you want?”

“Thought I’d follow up on the girl.”

“Get off my property.”

Before Tom said anything, the woman got out and pinned Rance with her gaze. “Mr. Keller, I’m Helga Scudder. I practically raised Wren, and I need to know if she’s okay.”

That was true. Chirp had told him about her nanny, and her description matched right down to the red hair. “Sorry, can’t help you.” He turned to leave, but she called after him.

“Please, Mr. Keller. I hadn’t thought about your grandmother in a long time, but once Tom told me he was coming to Bluebird, I remembered a photo from Mr. Montgomery’s college days. He and your mother were friends.”

Rance kept walking, and Helga continued to talk.

“Tom is good at what he does. We know you’ve been in prison.”

Rance spun around, jerked his glasses off, and spoke through clenched teeth. “I’d never hurt her.”

Helga gasped and put her hand against her throat. “You care about her.”

True. But he’d explained to Chirp that he wasn’t the man for her, and Helga agreed, because she’d already judged him unworthy. And he deserved it. He was innocent of arson, but guilty of much worse.

“Like I said. Can’t help you.” This time Rance made it to the porch before she spoke again.

“I’ll bet she brought out a kindness you didn’t even know you had.”

The woman was right on every level. He faced her again. “She was fine when she left. I don’t have a clue where she is. I wish to hell I did.” Rance grabbed the screen door handle and pulled it open.

“I can trace her to Waco,” Tom said.

Rance wheeled around to focus on the PI. “How?”

“I had a guy staked out on the main road. If she was here, I figured she’d run. Also knew she was too smart to use her car. He followed her to Dallas, where she ditched the vehicle. Took a bus to Waco, but then he lost her. As far as we can tell, she’s still there. You sure she hasn’t contacted you?”

“Why didn’t your guy grab her?”