An Unexpected Rescue (Oak Springs Series Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  AN UNEXPECTED RESCUE

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Epilogue

  AN UNEXPECTED RESCUE

  Oak Springs Series

  SHERRI MCDUFFIE

  SOUL MATE PUBLISHING

  New York

  AN UNEXPECTED RESCUE

  Copyright©2016

  SHERRI MCDUFFIE

  Cover Design by Melody A. Pond

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

  Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Published in the United States of America by

  Soul Mate Publishing

  P.O. Box 24

  Macedon, New York, 14502

  ISBN: 978-1-68291-137-2

  www.SoulMatePublishing.com

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to all my fellow writers in the Hot Springs Writers Critique Group who nudged, suggested, and encouraged me to change horses midstream more than once. And to those friends who answered the late-night calls to listen to a chapter one more time or replied to all the e-mails with yet another re-write. Last but not least, thank you to my editor, Tammie Bairen, who walked me through the process with patience and humor. I could not have done this without any of you. — Sherri McDuffie

  Chapter 1

  Derik Stone leaned over the steering wheel and scanned the side of the road. Darkness and fog swallowed the highway behind him as he drove through the night. He’d been searching this stretch of deserted two-lane for the past five miles and found nothing. He rubbed a hand over his face and yawned. A second yawn almost caused him to miss the car. When his eyes focused on the object ahead, he did a double take.

  A maroon SUV sat on the shoulder with the hood raised. Leaning over the grill was a shapely female body covered in a tight, gray leotard from shoulders to shoes. A long, swishing tail was attached to her rear end. He was staring so hard he almost forgot to brake.

  When his truck hit the gravel, a head emerged from under the hood. Dark, chin-length hair was held back by furry gray and pink ears. His headlights landed on a heart-shaped face with a black nose and long whiskers. A hand flew up to protect big eyes from the assault of his bright beams. The gray-clad body dashed around the vehicle and jumped into the driver’s seat.

  Derik slid out of the truck and walked toward the car. He glanced under the hood then approached the driver’s door. He made a rolling motion with his hand, indicating for the driver to lower the window.

  The painted face yelled through the glass, “The windows don’t work. Nothing works, not even my lights. I’m waiting on roadside assistance. They should be here any minute.”

  “I’m your roadside assistance, Derik’s Towing and Repairs. Can you step out so we’re not yelling?”

  “No, go ahead and fix whatever’s wrong, I’ll stay right here.”

  Derik sighed and used his flashlight to take a closer look at the engine. He slammed the hood and walked back to the door. The lady was turned in her seat, looking at the road behind her. When he tapped on the glass, her head flew around, and the big eyes appeared once again.

  “I can’t find anything obvious, and it’s too dark to look any further. I’ll have to tow you into the shop and check it out tomorrow. Do you have someone coming to pick you up?”

  The woman shook her head. “No, I don’t. How far is it to the garage?”

  “About 20 miles.”

  She glanced over her shoulder again then nodded at Derik. “Okay, take it in.”

  He reached for the handle, and she grabbed the inside armrest, holding the door closed. “What are you doing?”

  Derik raised his hands in the air. “I was just going to open the door for you.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll stay in here.” She turned forward and folded her arms across her chest.

  “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I can’t hook the car to the truck or tow it with you inside. It’s the law.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “If you don’t have anyone coming to get you, then you’ll have to ride with me. I don’t leave females standing on the side of the highway twenty miles from town, especially at this late hour.” He drew a large X across his chest with his finger. “I swear you’ll be safe with me. Now if you don’t mind, I’d really like to get home before my alarm goes off in the morning.”

  Derik returned to his truck and maneuvered around until he was able to back up to the front of the car. When he got out, he looked at her through the windshield and shrugged.

  The driver’s door opened, and the gray-clad body emerged, holding her purse to her chest with one hand and a leather-covered container of mace in the other. She kept the canister aimed at Derik, with her finger on the button. When he finished connecting the two vehicles, he motioned to his truck. “If you’ll get in, we’ll head into town.”

  She opened the passenger door before he could get to it. When he climbed behind the wheel, he turned to look at his passenger. The dome light allowed a better look at the woman beside him. She was wearing a costume, complete with fuzzy ears and a tail. He could see, even under the makeup and scowl, that she w
as an attractive woman.

  “I’ve got to ask. What’s with the getup?” He smiled. “You don’t dress like that every day, do you?”

  “I’ve been to a costume party. I’m supposed to be a cat.”

  Derik pulled a paper napkin out of the glove box and handed it to her. “You have a little smudge.”

  Before he could say more, she took the napkin and turned away, patting her left cheek. “Thank you.”

  While Derik drove, he stole glances at his passenger. He could see her reflection in the window, and he watched her chew on her lower lip. Her eyes were focused on the side mirror and the road behind them.

  “Look, ma’am, you don’t need to be afraid. You’re safer riding in here with me than you would be sitting on the side of the road in a broken-down car.”

  “You’re right. Thank you for coming to my rescue.” She lowered the mace to her lap.

  “I’m sorry for taking you away from your family at this late hour.”

  “It’s what I do. This isn’t the first time I’ve been called out at night, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.” After a few miles of silence, he asked, “Is there someone who can pick you up when we get to the shop? Do you have a place to stay around here?”

  “No, is there a hotel or bed and breakfast in town?”

  “Yeah, we’re small, but we have an inn.”

  Derik drove down the main street. In spite of the late hour, a few establishments were still open. Signs flashed in a convenience store on one corner and a drug store on another. He turned left and pulled into the parking lot of a four-bay service station and mechanic’s shop. He jumped out of the truck and unlocked a large double gate. With the ease of experience, he navigated the two vehicles through the gate and placed them next to the fence. “If there’s anything you want from the car, you better get it now.”

  “I have a change of clothes in the back I need.” She gathered her purse, and Derik was relieved when she dropped the mace into her bag before she climbed out.

  He shouted over the sound of the winch as he lowered her car to the ground. “I’ve got to unhook her, then we’ll go inside and take care of the paperwork.”

  When he was done, she grabbed a bag from the back of her car and walked out of the fenced yard. Derik locked the gate and followed her to the front door of the shop. He couldn’t help but notice the long legs and slim, curvy body encased in the tight suit, or the furry tail that swayed with each step she took. He cleared his throat and stepped around her when they reached the entrance. “Give me a second to disarm the security system.” He entered the building and began punching numbers on a keypad beside the door. At the sound of a beep, he said, “Come on in. I’ll get some lights on.”

  The shop was a long space with a counter on the left. On the right side of the room, there were several plastic chairs and a short couch. Mounted in the corner was a flat screen television. The wall between the service bays and the waiting area was clear glass, allowing the customers to watch the mechanics work on their automobiles.

  “Come into my office,” Derik said. He unlocked a door behind the counter and held it open for her then walked around the desk and sat down. She settled into a padded chair across from him.

  One wall of the small room was covered with plaques and awards. A wooden bookcase full of service manuals and binders covered another. One shelf held several pieces of children’s art, from drawings to unidentifiable ceramic items. There were also four picture frames. Two were of small boys, one in a baseball uniform and the other sitting on the beach beside a sandcastle. The third showed Derik holding a large fish toward the camera. The fourth was of Derik and a beautiful woman dressed in ski gear, standing on a snow-covered mountain.

  He pulled a form out of a drawer and took a pen from an old distributor cap on the corner of his desk. His eyes landed on her in the full light, and he threw his head back and laughed. “I’m sorry,” he said as he wiped his eyes with his shirtsleeve. “I can’t get over that costume. It’s kind of hard to talk business with a cat.” He leaned forward and stuck his hand out. “Derik Stone, at your service.”

  She smiled and shook his hand. “Kelly Hastings. Glad to meet you, and thank you again for the rescue. Please forgive the appearance. As I said, I attended a costume party earlier tonight.”

  Derik slid the paper across the desk and pointed toward two lines on the form. “Ms. Hastings, I need you to finish filling this out and sign here and here.” He steepled his fingers under his chin and watched her complete the paperwork. When she was done, he sat forward.

  “I’ll take a look at your car tomorrow. I already have three in the bays, so I can’t promise how fast it’ll be, but we’ll check it over as soon as we can. Did you leave a number where you can be reached?” He looked back at the form and nodded. “Where will you be staying?”

  “You said something about a hotel. Can I walk from here? Is there a taxi service?”

  “The Oak Springs Inn is about two miles in that direction,” he said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. “We’re a nice little town, but I still wouldn’t recommend walking at this hour, especially dressed like that.” He grinned and let his eyes drop to take in her long body. “We don’t have a taxi. There hasn’t been much need for one. In a town this size, everyone knows everyone, and if you need a ride, there’s always someone available to give you a lift, free of charge. Come on, I’ll take you to the hotel.” He picked up her luggage and led her out of the building. After resetting the alarm, he took her elbow and walked her to a large metallic blue pickup.

  Kelly looked around the truck. It was clean, but there was a baseball and an insulated Superman lunch bag in the backseat. Derik glanced back to see what had caught her attention. “Those belong to my boys. The lunch bag is Win’s, and that’s D.C.’s ball.” He pulled out of the lot and turned onto the deserted road in the direction of the hotel.

  “I hope this isn’t out of your way. I can’t thank you enough.”

  “The only thanks I need is for you to get your tail out of my ear.”

  Kelly looked over and saw he was in a one-arm battle with the furry costume tail as it brushed the side of his face. “Oh dear. I’m sorry.” She laughed and pulled the appendage to her.

  Derik parked under the hotel portico. Kelly was already exiting the vehicle when he rounded the bed of the truck. He grabbed her bag and placed his hand against her back. “I keep a loaner car at the shop. Mark Nelson has it now, but we should be done with his tomorrow. You can use it until we get yours running.”

  “Thank you. That would be great.”

  They stepped into a spacious foyer, with several sitting areas of chairs, sofas, and small tables. The carpet was faded and worn.

  A young man still sporting pimples and braces stood behind the large desk staring at a computer screen. “Good evening. Welcome to the Oak Springs Inn,” he said before looking up. “Would you like a—” As the boy lifted his head, he stopped and focused on Kelly’s attire. “Ah, oh, ah.” His eyes went from Kelly to Derik and back, his face turning as red as the blazer he wore.

  “Hey, Rich, how’s the family?” Derik said in an attempt to snap the adolescent brain back into gear. “Ms. Hastings’ car broke down, and she’s in need of a room for a night or two. If you can take care of that, then I’ll leave her in your hands.” He sat the bag on the counter, nodded, and left the building.

  Kelly watched Derik walk through the door then turned back to the hotel clerk. After registering, she followed him to a room on the second floor. As soon as he left, she tossed the spread in the corner and collapsed across the bed, then dialed her best friend and roommate.

  The phone was answered on the first ring. “Kelly, where are you? I’ve been worried sick. I’ve been trying to call you for hours. I heard about what Jarrod did at the party. Are you okay?”

 
“I’m fine, Mikki. I turned my phone off because he kept calling me, then my car broke down. The guy who towed me in said he will look at it tomorrow. I’ll be here until they can get it fixed.”

  “After you left, the cops showed up and questioned everyone, but since you weren’t there, they let Jarrod go. He came to the apartment looking for you. When I told him you weren’t here, he said he wanted to find you and tell you he was sorry. Did he catch up to you?”

  Kelly threw her arm over her eyes and moaned. “No, I haven’t seen him. Surely he wouldn’t follow me this far.”

  “I don’t know Kelly. He sounded pretty determined. Be careful.”

  Before Kelly removed the costume and stepped into the shower, she wedged a chair under the doorknob. With soap, lotion, and elbow grease, she removed the whiskers and nose paint from her face, but there was nothing she could do about the bruise on her left cheek.

  Derik drove home with one hand on the wheel, his elbow on the open window. The wind in his face helped to keep him awake. When he arrived home, there was a flickering light from the living room window. That meant Stewart was watching television, probably pro wrestling if he could find it on at this hour.

  Derik entered the house through the garage. The kitchen was dark, except for the light coming from the television in the adjoining room. He looked over the counter into the living room. Stewart was lying on the sofa, feet hanging over the end.

  “Hey, Stew, everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I checked on them about an hour ago. They’re sleeping like babes.” The large man sat up and stretched his arms above his bald head. “How did it go tonight? Anybody hurt?”

  “No, just a stranded motorist. I towed her car to the shop and took her to the inn. Sounds like it might be electrical, but we’ll check it out tomorrow.”