Letters of Love (Green Division Series Book #3) Page 5

  Number two caught his attention.

  “Learn to ride a horse and compete in a competition.” Or as Tiffy had written competishan.

  “I don’t know anyone around here who gives lessons that I’d trust. Closest person I know is Teresa.”

  “She lives two hours from here,” Ben said.

  “Do you know anyone?”

  Ben tapped on the table. “I might be able to work on that one.” This will be painful, but I’d do anything for Tiffy. Suck up your pride Ben.

  “Who?”

  “Long story. I’ll get back to you.” Ben didn’t like the idea, but she was a pediatric nurse, gave lessons, and lived a few minutes away. Seemed like a perfect fit. “Maybe we can get her to work on the unicorn too.”

  Jack stared at the list spellbound. “It seems so unreal.”

  “We’ll all get through this together.”

  “She doesn’t understand.”

  “It’s better she doesn’t.”

  Miley came running downstairs soaking wet and sudsy, skidding down the last two steps.

  “Miley!” Tiffy came running behind her arms open. “Come back here!”

  Joanne came down the stairs last falling in behind them. Both Ben and Jack chuckled.

  “That dog is the devil reincarnated.”

  “She’s good for you guys.”

  “Jack! Some help!” Joanne yelled.

  Between the four of them they finally cornered the dog and brought her back to her bath, but not before the floors were covered in muddy water. Ben’s blue polyester uniform pants had several splashes of mud too.

  “It looks like you actually did some work today.” Jack pointed at Ben’s pants.

  “I gotta go home and change now.” Ben went along with the joke.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Aubrey, this is Ben Anderson with the Maine State Police. I know you’re familiar with who I am. If you could please give me a call back when you have a moment. My number is-”

  Aubrey clucked end before the message got to his number. What the hell does he want?

  She continued about doing her rounds and ignored the call. She had nothing to say to him. Her curiosity was peaked about what he could possibly want, but she wasn’t going to entertain returning the call. She’d done nothing wrong and if he had any reason to speak to her, he knew where she worked and where she lived. Screw him.

  Aubrey continued on with her day and headed home at her usual time. On her travel home her speed didn’t exceed the limit. She wasn’t giving Asshole, or any other officer, any reason to further drain her pockets. The demolition and trip to Florida had drained her pockets enough.

  Aubrey pulled into her drive and did her usual. Checked on Gunny and Trixie quickly then slumped into bed.

  *****

  8am the following morning Aubrey was awakened to the sound of her doorbell.

  “Who the...grr....” Aubrey grumbled and her feet hit the floor. In a pair of lounge pants and tank top she was decent enough so that she wasn’t going to worry about her attire. She padded loudly down the hallway to the front door. Peering out the window, she saw a sight that wouldn’t start her day off in a positive light.

  THUD

  She hit her head on the door, then opened it.

  “I swear to God I’m going to file charges against you for stalking me Trooper.”

  “Hold on before you get angry—”

  “I don’t get home until three in the morning. I don’t get to sleep until four most mornings. And on my day off you knock on my door waking me up at 8am. I’m sorry I’m not receptive to whatever bullshit you are here to sell me.”

  Trooper Asshole shook his head in frustration.

  “I’m sorry to wake you. I was on my way through town and thought I’d try to catch you before you went to work. You didn’t return my call.”

  “Most people would take that as a hint that I wouldn’t want to speak to them. Wait, how did you get my number?”

  “It’s in our system.” Asshole took his hat off. “You give horseback riding lessons, I—”

  “I’m not giving you lessons.” Aubrey rolled her eyes and went to close the door.

  “I’m not asking for me.” He fidgeted with his hat. “For my—”

  “I don’t give private lessons period, so find your way back to your car.” She made a motion as if to wave him along.

  “I know you don’t like me. I’m not too fond of you either Miss Devlin. But, this isn’t about me. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t the only option I could think of.”

  “Again, leave. I don’t give private lessons.”

  “You do for sick kids.”

  “Yes.” She crossed her arms and gave him a dirty look. “For therapy, I’ve told you this.”

  “Would you give my niece lessons? We’ll pay whatever your fee is. She’s a good kid.” Asshole looked at the horses. “She wouldn’t give you any problem.”

  Aubrey thought for a moment then uncrossed her arms.

  “Is your niece sick?” She pieced the puzzle together.

  “She made a list of things she wants to do.” Asshole looked out at the barn. “Number two on the list is to learn to ride and compete in a competition.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” Aubrey’s anger eased. Asshole had avoided the question.

  “She has a malignant tumor on her brain.” He put his hands on his hips and looked at the ground. Aubrey could tell he was fighting to keep his composure.

  “I’m sorry,” she said sincerely.

  “Me too.”

  Silence settled.

  “How far has the cancer spread?”

  “To look at her you wouldn’t know anything was wrong. She’s a normal happy kid. But she’s not normal anymore. Her life is on a timer.”

  Aubrey wasn’t going to further interrogate him.

  “I’ll see what I can do with her parents’ schedule. You can give them my number.”

  He finally looked up from the ground.

  “I wouldn’t bother you if it were for anyone else, trust me. We have a good hatred for one another. But, I’d do anything for her.”

  Aubrey didn’t know what to say to him.

  “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “And I’m sorry I woke you.”

  “It’s alright.” She wrapped her arms around herself chilled from the cold air.

  “I won’t keep you out in the cold. Have a nice day Miss Devlin.”

  “You too, Trooper.”

  Asshole walked back down the stairs and to his car. Aubrey walked back inside and watched him pull out of her drive.

  What the hell just happened?

  *****

  Ben pulled back onto the road from Toad’s house. Their little reunion went better than Ben anticipated. The expectation was she wouldn’t give him the chance to explain why he was there and would send him packing before he could. But she hadn't. It was hard for him to ask her for a favor after all that had transpired between them. But, he’d eat his hat for Tiffy if she asked.

  He headed toward Tranton, his mind wandering to the months down the road. A car passed him going nearly double the speed limit, but Ben was too distracted to pull it over. Brake lights came on in the rearview anyhow. It was their lucky day.

  “Ben.” Sergeant Michael Kerr with the Maine Game Warden Service patted him on the back. Mike worked the same area as Ben and their paths had been intertwined both professionally and personally.

  “Hey Mike.”

  “I’ve heard a rumor about you.”

  “Oh here we go.” Ben laughed. “Who am I screwing now?”

  Mike smiled. “I heard you were thinking about crossing the line over to our side. Green is more appropriate on men than baby blue.”

  “Don’t believe everything you here Sarge.” Ben smoothed out his uniform. “And I look damn good in blue.”

  “Chris is retiring pretty soon. I’ll put in a good word for you.” Mike winked at him and walked down the hallway to Ben’s Lieutenant's off
ice.

  Truth be told, Ben wanted to cross the line to the Warden Service. The next slot that opened he was putting in for. It was far more appealing than his job most days. They got to have all the fun and the toys. Snowmobiles, ATVs, boats, planes, jet skis, pickup trucks. They dealt with fish and game violations along with search and rescue operations. Every man’s dream job. Ben talked with a few of the guys about it and apparently word had spread. Cops were the worst at keeping secrets.

  Ben sat down at his desk and picked up the phone to call Joanne and give her Aubrey’s phone number. Number two on the list was taken care of. Only a couple dozen more to go.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Aubrey heard a vehicle pull into her yard. Her lesson had arrived.

  “Look at the horses!” A little redhead bounded from a pickup truck toward the fence at full speed.

  Aubrey skipped down the steps. A man stood at the fence with the little girl.

  “Hi.” Aubrey reached them. They both turned around.

  “Hi, I’m Tiffy.” The girl looked up at Aubrey beaming.

  “I’m Aubrey.”

  “You have pretty horses.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re pretty too.” She smiled at her.

  “I like you already. You’re a little cutie.”

  Aubrey looked up at the man with her. He was smiling brightly at the little girl. His hands were in his pockets, his sweaters sleeves pushed up his arms. He was...

  “This is my Uncle Ben.”

  “We’ve met before.” Asshole put his hand atop of Tiffy’s head.

  “Did you arrest her?” Tiffy leaned over and whispered to Ben.

  “Not yet,” Asshole whispered back.

  Aubrey squinted her eyes giving him a dirty look.

  “I’m joking.” Asshole smiled. “She’s one of the good ones Tiffy.”

  One of the good ones?

  “She seems good.” Tiffy flipped her curly hair off her shoulders. Tiffy wore light brown riding pants matched with a fluorescent pink jacket. She was short for her age, about as tall as a seven year old. Aubrey’s horses were slightly bigger than she’d prefer for a little girl of her size.

  “I didn’t know one of her parents wouldn’t be bringing her. I have a legal release I need them to sign.”

  Asshole put his hands in his pockets.

  “I can sign it.”

  “You’re not her legal guardian.”

  “Does this mean I can’t ride?” Tiffy looked crushed.

  Aubrey couldn’t say no to her pouty face. “I’ll be riding in the saddle with you today so I think we’ll be okay.” She looked up at Asshole. “I’ll send a form home with As—” Aubrey caught herself.

  “I’ll send a form home with your uncle.”

  “Okay.” She smiled brightly.

  “Well, let’s get you guys introduced to Trixie and Gunny.” Aubrey led them over to a circular pen.

  “The solid black one there, his name is Gunny. The brown and white one, her name is Trixie. We’ll be riding her today.”

  For the next hour Aubrey went over the basics of riding, a lot of information in a short amount of time.

  “Do I get to ride today?” Tiffy asked as she yawned, tired from the verbal instructions.

  “I know this stuff is kinda boring.”

  “Kinda.”

  “But it’s part of learning.”

  “Okay.” She stretched her arms out.

  Aubrey knelt down to her level.

  “I’ll get her saddled up and we’ll take her for a ride around the ring.”

  “Ye-aye!” Tiffy pumped her fists into the air.

  Aubrey saddled Trixie and mounted her.

  “Your uncle will help you up.” She pointed to a set of stairs. Asshole obliged and helped lift Tiffy up onto Trixie.

  “You can call me Ben. You don’t have to refer to me as her uncle.”

  Aubrey didn’t answer. It felt odd to call him Ben. Asshole fit so much better. It rolled off the tongue so easily, thankfully she’d saved herself from uttering it to his face. Aubrey and Tiffy rode together around the ring, then into the pasture. Asshole watched from behind the fence vigilantly.

  “How was that?” Aubrey asked as she helped Tiffy dismount into Asshole’s arms.

  “That was lots of fun! I can’t wait to do it again! And maybe ride all by myself!”

  “We’ll get you riding alone eventually.” Aubrey dismounted.

  “We have to get you home kiddo, you have soccer practice after dinner.”

  “I’d rather ride some more.”

  “Aubrey probably has plans for the night. It was nice of her to take the time out of her day to give you a lesson.”

  “Yeah.” She looked up at Aubrey. Her gapped toothed smile made Aubrey chuckle.

  “I’ll talk to your parents later and we’ll set up a time for next week.”

  “Perfect!”

  “How much do we owe you?” Asshole pulled out his wallet.

  “Nothing. I don’t do it for the money.” Aubrey went about unsaddling Trixie.

  “You don’t charge for lessons?”

  “No, but I do take help carrying my gear back to the barn.”

  “You aren’t what I pegged you to be.” Asshole took the saddle from her arms. “It’s very nice of you.”

  Aubrey didn’t know what to take that statement.

  “I’ll carry something.” Tiffy volunteered.

  “Aren’t you helpful.” Aubrey passed her the saddle blanket. “Thank you.”

  “No prob Bob.”

  They walked back to the barn and unloaded the gear.

  “I’ll see you next week!” Tiffy waved and took off to Asshole’s truck.

  “See you Tiffy.”

  “Thank you.” Ben extended his hand to her in a friendly gesture.

  “Um, I’m doing it for her, don’t take this out of context.” Aubrey got vibes she didn’t like from Asshole.

  “I know, don’t worry.” He released her hand. “Have a nice night.” He turned and walked away.

  *****

  “Bye Uncle Ben, see you ‘morrow.” Tiffy said.

  “You certainly will.” Ben hugged her, then Tiffy took off on a tear after Miley.

  “She had a good time,” Jack said.

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “So how do you know this woman?”

  “I um—” Ben ran his hand over his head nervously. “I pulled her over.”

  “What?” Jack’s mouth dropped. “You asked some random woman to give my daughter riding lessons?”

  “She’s a pediatric nurse, she’s not a criminal.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’d like to take Tiffy to her lessons every week. Something we can do together.”

  “Hmmm.” Jack eyed Ben suspiciously.

  “Hmmm, what?”

  “Nothing.” Jack’s mouth hitched upwards. “That’s no problem, you’re welcome to take her.”

  “Sign this form and I’ll pick it up tomorrow. I have to get going, but I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Night.”

  Ben left without further ado and headed for home. He’d gotten out of work an hour early so he could bring Tiffy to her lesson. No big deal. He’d already put in fifty hours and it was only his third day on shift.

  When he got home, his house was empty. No Kip. However, Kip had left it a mess. He’d popped in for dinner and successfully dirtied every dish in the house. Muddy footprints covered the floors. Kip was like having a kid.

  “He’s moving.” Ben put his shoes back on in the mud room to keep his white socks clean. As he went about cleaning, his mind went back to Tiffy and the lesson. Aubrey had been so good with her. All Tiffy did was smile and giggle the entire time.

  Toad was growing on him little by little. She was still a toad, but his desire to arrest her had subsided. Ben understood why she worked in the pediatric unit of a hospital. She clicked with kids. She certainly clicked with Tiffy.

&n
bsp;