Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,66
moved the tables, still assembled, into the barn with the baskets still sitting on them.
“You want to leave the last two tables out?” Scotty asked, meaning the one that Travis used as the table where he both greeted people, and accepted payment for the trees, crafting activities and refreshments. And the table those refreshments were displayed on.
“No, let’s move them in, too,” Travis answered.
As they finished moving everything into the shelter of the barn, Libby walked around and unplugged all the lights on the fence, the barn, and the work shop. By the time they were done for the night, the only thing still lit up was the house itself.
“I think we’re done,” Libby said, walking toward them as they returned from the barn.
“I’m ready for a hot shower and some food that doesn’t contain sugar,” Travis said.
“Me, too,” Scotty said.
“We have chili left,” Libby said. “And hamburger steaks, too.”
“Sounds good,” Travis said. “I’ll take the chili.”
“Whatever is easiest is good for me,” Scotty said.
“I’ll get it warmed up while ya’ll take your showers. I’ll run bowls and plates through the microwave so it’ll be hot for you. Then when you’re done with your showers, I’ll get in,” Libby said.
“You don’t mind if I go first?” Travis asked.
“Not at all. I’ll get the food started while you’re in the shower, then you can finish it,” she said.
“Deal,” Travis said, as they walked toward the house together. Travis threw his arm around Libby’s shoulders, and pulled her close to his side for a kiss.
“See, this? This is how it’s supposed to be. Don’t mind at all being home now. We have a family again,” Scotty said.
“Yes, we do,” Travis answered, as he smiled down at Libby who smiled right back up at him.
~~~
As Roman and Lucas walked away from the Christmas Village setup spot, and the barn, Roman looked over at Lucas. “Maia said Lazarus said he was staying behind to finish putting the lights up at the trailer park.”
“Yeah?” Lucas asked, looking distractedly around the area.
“Thought ya’ll finished those,” Roman said.
“We did. He just unplugged half of the ones on his house so it would look like they weren’t working.”
“For what reason?” Roman asked.
Lucas looked over at Roman with a smirk. “Alex has a new assistant. He’s a guy. He’s been taking her out to lunch, and tonight he’s taking her to dinner.”
Roman’s smile grew slowly as realization hit. “He’s stalking them.”
“Well, the way Lazarus puts it is he’s just looking out for her. But, yeah, he’s stalking them.”
Roman laughed. “You’d think he’d have learned from watching Travis almost lose Libby.”
“One would think so,” Lucas said, looking around himself again. “Okay, this is where the trees for the next seasons start. It’s in the next section that I began to feel weird. Spooked me a bit, I don’t mind saying,” Lucas confided.
“Okay. Let’s check it out. Elusive mode on,” Roman said, changing his entire stance to the point that his footfalls were completely silent. Lucas adopted the same behavior, and they took their time quietly moving among the rows and rows of immature Christmas trees. The back of Travis’s farm was planted with trees that wouldn’t be harvested for several years, just as other parts would be harvested next year, and those nearer the front were ready this year. “You feel it?” Lucas whispered.
“Yeah. But could just be a wild animal,” Roman said, with his nose lifted as he sifted through all the scents. “I don’t smell anything unusual. Nothing human. So, maybe it is a wild animal?” he said, ending it with a question.
“Maybe. Feels personal to me, though. Like it’s me whatever it is is watching,” Lucas admitted.
“You might be right. I don’t feel that, so maybe it is watching you. Maybe it don’t like Bears and has it out for you,” Roman teased.
Lucas snorted. “Maybe. Or maybe it only likes Bears,” Lucas said.
There was a slight sound off to their right. Lucas and Roman froze in their tracks to try to hear better.
“Anybody out here?” Lucas called out.
“You looking for food or shelter, all you have to do is ask,” Roman shouted.
They stood absolutely still, listening for any sound at all that seemed out of place. Then they heard it — a twig snapped. They both zeroed in on the direction. Lucas lifted his hand and pointed to the left, then tilted his head to the right, indicating they’d proceed from different directions and see what they could find.