Leave a Trail (Signal Bend #7)(13)

Something was really wrong with him, and she didn’t know what to do.

On one hand, she was almost guiltily glad he was so clearly screwed up, because maybe it meant that his feelings for her actually hadn’t changed. Maybe they were still friends, and it was just that there was some outside thing between them. She wished she knew what happened in the fall and whether, or how, Badger was involved in it. That strange phone call a few weeks ago hadn’t given her any information. He was worried that she’d expose his secret, but she didn’t even know what that secret might be. All she had was worry. And hurt. A lot of hurt.

She looked across the table at Showdown, so huge and scary-looking, but so kind. She thought of the scars she’d seen that day in January, scars that had turned his back into a mosaic.

“Show, can I ask you something?” Her voice cracked on the last syllable, and she swallowed.

“Sure, sweetheart.”

“What—um, what happened to your back?”

Something happened to his face as she finished her question. It shuttered—that was the best word she had for the way he closed up without anything really changing about the way he looked at her.

“Nothing to worry yourself about. I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just—”

“I’m fine, Adrienne.” His tone so completely ended that line of inquiry that Adrienne was left speechless. She’d been about to share her worry about Badger. But in the hesitation Show had forced on her, she understood that she’d been about the break her promise to him, even if she didn’t fully understand that promise.

She was so confused. Really, really confused. Maybe it had been stupid to come back to Signal Bend so soon. Maybe she’d spent most of the last few years building up an image of Badger that was mostly fantasy.

But no. That didn’t make sense. He’d been a totally different person for years. Sweet. Shy. Funny. Kind.

Her best friend. She knew him. Something was up. Something was wrong.

And the way he’d kissed her yesterday—before he’d thrown her down. He’d done it to be mean, she thought. But then it had changed. She felt it in the way his arms shook when he held her. In the way his mouth had moved on hers. In the way he pressed against her.

She wasn’t na?ve. Well, she was, kind of, for her age, but she’d had a few boyfriends. She knew what it felt like when somebody wanted her. That’s what it had felt like yesterday. Until he’d knocked her down.

Show’s deep, quiet voice brought her back to the moment. “Got a big favor, if you’re up for it.”

With a shake of her head to clear away the tangles of thought she’d been snared in, she smiled. “Sure.

Shoot.”

“Shannon’s feeling low today. You think you could start your day at the B&B, just see if there’s anything going on? If she calls, Vicki’ll just say everything’s good, whether it is or not. And Beth won’t answer the phone when she’s cooking.”

“Um, sure. I don’t know if I’ll be able to tell if anything’s wrong.”

“You will. If there is, call me. I scare Vicki a little, or I’d go myself.”

Having finished her coffee, and now with a to-do list, she got up, ignoring the pain in her tailbone, and rinsed her cup in the sink. “I can’t believe that. Who’d be scared of you?”

“Hey! Careful, little one. I’m dangerous.”

“Yep. Sure, you are.” She kissed his bearded cheek and headed up to get ready for her newly busy day.



oOo



She parked next to Badger’s bike—looked like he was having an early day, too. None of the animals were out, yet, though, so he must have only just gotten there. For a second or two, Adrienne stood next to her car, tempted to go down to the barn and say hi. Try again. But then the scene from the day before played quickly through her head. No. At a minimum, she needed to give him space. At a maximum, he didn’t want her around at all, and she could get hurt again. Either way, she turned and headed into the main house. She heard Weasel barking in the barn as she opened the front door, and figured Badger would be leading the animals out any minute.

She liked the B&B early in the morning, when the dining room was being set up for breakfast. It felt like she was behind the scenes. She supposed she was, a little, even though everything was right up front. It gave her a warm feeling, though, to be even a little part of the workings of the place. To have permission, for instance, to go back to the kitchen.

Which she did now.

Beth and Connie were shuttling about, preparing the morning feast Beth had planned. It smelled fantastic, whatever it was.

“Hey, cutie! You’re back early.” Beth smiled as Adrienne walked over to see what was cooking. Though Beth was bossy and often severe, she always seemed to have a smile for her. The cook nodded at Adrienne’s outfit—a flowing rayon skirt and a long sweater, with her ballet flats. “And you look like you’re working.”

Really, Adrienne just liked to wear skirts, but she had dressed with the idea that she might be helping guests this morning. “Yeah—Shannon’s under the weather this morning. I think she’ll be in later, though.”

“That girl is having trouble with this baby, no mistake. Comes from trying to do a young woman’s work too late, I say.”