Babe in the Woods. Caroline Burnes

What surprises me is that he’s stupid enough to try the same stunt twice in a row.”

      “Why is he doing this?” Rebecca asked, and Dru was relieved to hear anxiety beginning to turn to anger.

      “That’s a good question. He’s risking real jail time for this stunt.”

      “You’re positive the person doing this is Randall Levert?”

      Dru considered the question. His gut told him it was Randall, but there wasn’t any evidence. “Fairly certain, but that doesn’t mean I’ll rule out other possibilities. What I am going to do is pick Randall up for questioning. If this is his idea of revenge, I’ll make him understand he’s playing a foolish game with severe consequences.”

      “I’m sorry this thing has just…exploded,” Rebecca said. “First the man in the woods, then Joey, then the boat thing, and now the baby is back. I feel responsible for this in some way.” She started to swing from the saddle.

      Dru found his hands around her waist steadying her as she dropped to the ground. He half expected her to step away from him. Instead, she turned so that she was in the circle of his arms. Her blue eyes held his, and he let his hands remain on her waist.

      “You have nothing to do with Randall and whatever sick plan he’s hatched,” Dru said, his gaze slipping to her mouth. It was full and looked soft. He imagined what it would feel like to kiss her. He wanted to. He watched her swallow and realized that she, too, was thinking of a kiss.

      “Will you really come by tonight?” she asked.

      “Yes,” he said. “I’d feel better if I kept an eye on things.”

      “I’ll make dinner for you,” she said. “I’m a pretty good cook.”

      “A woman with endless talents,” he said, knowing that the moment for the kiss had passed. But there would be other opportunities in the coming night, when he wasn’t on duty and when Brett Gibson and the Batson girl weren’t standing at the edge of the clearing watching them.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      REBECCA BASTED the turkey breast for the last time and turned the oven off. She’d made a light salad and bought some fresh pears and blueberries. It was only May, but it was summertime in Natchez, far too hot for a heavy meal.

      She checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror one more time, a little amused at herself for the mascara and lipstick she’d applied. Working out-of-doors, she normally didn’t wear makeup. But there was something about Dru Colson that reminded her all too much of her femininity. Rebecca had tried on several outfits before she settled on one—atypical behavior yet again. She was getting into her “courting finery,” as her Aunt Mildred would have said.

      That, in and of itself, was a minor miracle. After her breakup with Mike, she’d never expected to find herself in a position of wanting to attract a man. She didn’t dress to repel men, she just didn’t think about it. But Dru Colson was different. He made her think about her appearance and his reaction to her. Surprisingly, it was nice to wonder what effect a sleeveless, sexy blouse would have on a man. Somehow, Dru made it seem so natural.

      He was different from other men she’d known. Or so he seemed, she reminded herself. She hardly knew him. She didn’t want to find herself out of the frying pan and into the fire. She was going to take things slowly.

      She heard the sound of his car and felt her heart stutter. She ordered herself to take deep breaths, to go slow. Her heartbeat was accelerating and she could feel anticipation in every inch of her body. So much for speed limits. But when she opened the door of Joey’s apartment to his knock, she was in perfect control.

      “I drove around the perimeter of the property and everything seemed okay.” His eyes crinkled into a smile as his gaze swept down her body, leaving a burning tingle behind. “You look lovely. And something smells wonderful.”

      “Thanks.” Desire swept through her. “You look very handsome yourself.” And he did, with his dark hair combed back and his clean-shaven, chiseled jaw so lean and tanned. There was no denying it. Dru was a well-built man. What her Aunt Mildred would call a Tilt-a-Whirl, so named after the dizzying amusement park ride.

      “Joey should be here soon,” Rebecca said. “He was delighted to let me use the new oven. I think even Joey gets tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”

      “I do,” Joey said, coming in the door with a grin. His head was still bandaged, but he had a great appetite and said he felt fine.

      “I checked the horses,” he said, his mouth turning down at the corners. “I think we should let them out in the pasture and not keep them in the barn tonight.”

      Rebecca knew Joey was afraid someone would try to burn the barn again. “I think that’s a good idea,” she said. “We’ll turn Cogar and Mariah out in the pasture right beside the barn and Diable in his paddock. You can hear them all night long.”

      “That does sound like a good plan,” Dru agreed. “Joey, have you thought any more about who hit you?”

      He nodded. “But I didn’t see him. I’ve tried and tried to remember, but he was hiding and then he hit me and I fell.”

      “We’ll figure it out,” Dru reassured Joey as he glanced at Rebecca.

      She nodded slightly. Both she and Dru had agreed that Joey needed to know that Randall Levert was out of jail on probation. She stood beside Joey’s chair as Dru told him.

      “He’ll come back here,” Joey said, and he turned to look up at Rebecca with worry in his eyes. “He’s a mean man. Why did they let him out of jail? He wants to hurt me and he’ll hurt you, too.”

      “Randall Levert won’t be bothering anyone if he has a lick of sense. I’ll have a talk with him tomorrow,” Dru said. “I can’t guarantee that he won’t come here, but I can make him understand that he’ll be in serious trouble if he does.”

      “He was so mad,” Joey said, his voice tight with worry. “He wanted everyone to think Aurelia had killed his mother. Then when it was Yvonne, he was even madder.”

      “I know,” Rebecca said, putting a hand on Joey’s shoulder. “But we’re all here together. Remember, Brett and his crew are camping by the burial mound. I’m here and Dru is going to stay around. Randall won’t come here. There are too many people on the property now.”

      “I hope not.” Joey didn’t sound reassured. “He’s mean.”

      “Joey, I want you to keep your eyes and ears open,” Dru said. “If you see anything funny, you call me, okay?”

      “Aurelia and Marcus gave me a cell phone,” he said, pulling it out of his pocket. “So I can call for help any time I need it.”

      Dru examined the phone that Joey held out to him. “That’s a great idea. So you call if you see or hear anything, okay? You can help me protect Rebecca.”

      “And the horses,” Joey said.

      “And the horses,” Rebecca agreed.

      She put the food on the table and they ate, chatting about Joey’s garden and how Brett and his crew had unearthed an intact vessel that contained what appeared to be even more valuable artifacts. The fact that the earthen vessel was still unbroken after so many years was a minor miracle in itself.

      “John Ittawasa is coming tomorrow,” Rebecca said. “I called him and reported the find, just as Aurelia promised we would do. I’m afraid it’s going to be another battle with Brett.” She sighed. “John wants to take the artifacts back to Philadelphia, Mississippi, and have them documented at the Choctaw Indian Reservation. Brett wants to keep them here so he can study them and perhaps do an exhibit at a later date. I see both points of view.”

      “If John documents them, perhaps he’ll allow Brett to use them later, when he has a more complete collection,” Dru said.