Eve and Joey left the house and were walking down the street toward the Community Center.
“Whatever it was took out a pretty big goat. Almost as big as a man,” Daniel said.
Definitely larger than a child Joey’s size.
Mac looped the reins over the saddle horn and swung up into the seat. “Better warn the neighbors.”
Chapter Three
Exhausted from a full day of scrubbing floors and windows, Eve hung up her cleaning rag. With Joey in tow, she left the house and walked to the Community Center, only four blocks away.
With her head tilted toward the troubled sky, Eve ignored the oppressive cloud cover and let the ambiance of the small Texas town wash over her. What a wonderful feeling to be in a place where she could walk anywhere she wanted or needed to go. To belong to a community where she could get to know everyone on a first-name basis. How different from Houston where she didn’t even know her next-door neighbor.
Yet, after the discovery of animal prints in her front yard, she wasn’t foolhardy enough to go without some protection. She tapped the end of the long walking stick on the ground with each right footstep. If something were to attack her, she’d come out swinging with enough ferocity to scare it back into the hills.
Halfway to the Community Center, she passed a five-foot-tall wooden fence. Behind it, an animal sniffed the base as they walked by. A gap at her level revealed a large black and tan rottweiler. Eve didn’t make a big deal about it, afraid Joey would freak out if he suspected a dog lurked behind the wooden slats.
Still, she couldn’t help wondering if this dog had left the pawprints in her yard, assuming the owners let him loose. She’d ask Addie.
Before reaching the door to the concrete block building painted the color of white limestone, she could hear the hum of voices from within. Excitement and nerves tweaked her stomach.
Joey dropped her hand and hooked his arm around her knee.
With a pat to her son’s head and a deep breath, Eve pushed through the screen door and stepped into the crowded building. She scanned the room for a familiar face and was about to give up when she spotted Addie.
The older woman smiled and waved. “Howdy, neighbor!” Addie weaved through the men and women to reach Eve’s side. “Glad you decided to join us.”
“I’m not so sure this was a good idea.” Eve tipped her head toward Joey.
“Give it a chance.” Addie patted her arm and drew her farther into the large room.
Walking was difficult with Joey clinging to her leg, but she managed to maneuver to the back of the building near a large serving counter. Men and women stood or sat in the available chairs, smiling and chatting in the way old friends do.
Like an outsider looking in, Eve wondered if she’d ever be this comfortable with the locals. She hadn’t grown up here, why should they accept her? Her mother and stepfather had moved every three or four years while Eve was growing up. She’d never felt like she belonged anywhere.
The same young man she’d seen yesterday in the General Store sat on the counter with the same teenage girl trapped between his knees. Today, he wore a muscle shirt exposing his broad shoulders. Tattooed on one was the face of a fanged wolf.
Eve fought a shiver. The guy was just creepy.
Without slowing her pace, Addie said, “Get off the counter, Toby Rice.”
Toby sneered. “You gonna make me?”
She tucked in her chin and glared up at him with a “don’t mess with me” look. Then her attention turned to the teenage girl. “Your daddy know who you’re hangin’ out with, Cynthia?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cynthia smiled back at her.
Eve was surprised at the contrast between the insolent bulk of a young man and the slip of a sandy blond-haired girl who couldn’t be more than sixteen.
“Man ought to have his head examined.” Addie planted a fist on her hip and stared up at Toby. “You gettin’ off that counter or am I gonna have to have the sheriff remove you?”
“Ooo. I’m so scared.” Toby shot her a narrow-eyed look, his voice dripping sarcasm.
“Good thing your mother ain’t alive to see how rude her boy turned out.” Addie shook her head. “That woman was a saint. She didn’t deserve the likes of a bad-tempered, bad-mouthed, snot-nosed punk like you.”
Toby shoved Cynthia away and hopped off the counter to stand toe to toe with Addie Schultz. “Don’t you say nothing about my mother, you hear me?”
To her credit, Addie showed no fear, even though the big guy could have snapped her neck with one hand. “Grow up, Toby.”
“You’ll regret messin’ with me,” Toby rumbled in a low, menacing voice.
Cynthia stood to the side, her forehead creased in a frown, her hands clenched together. Toby grabbed her arm and jerked her toward the door. “Come on. This place sucks.”
“But I wanted to see Aunt Lois,” Cynthia said, her voice sounding soft and slightly apologetic.
“Forget it. We’ve got plans.” Toby jerked her arm again.
Cynthia leaned away. “I don’t want to go. Why don’t you go without me?” She twisted her arm, trying to loosen his hold.
“No way. You’re expected to be there with me. You’re going.” His hand squeezed tighter until Cynthia winced.
Tired of Toby’s bullying, Eve stepped forward. “She said she didn’t want to go with you. Perhaps you should let go of her arm, Mr. Rice.”
The young man towered over Eve and snarled. “Who are you, anyway? And who made you the law?”
She refused to be intimidated. “Eve Baxter, and no one made me the law. But you should treat her with respect, not like some piece of meat to jerk around.”
“She’s my girl. I treat her any way I want.”
Addie crossed her arms over her bosom. “Not if she don’t want it and not with me around.”
“Don’t piss me off.” Toby warned, his eyes tapering to a squint.
Eve and Addie stood their ground, refusing to back down.
Toby glanced from one woman to the other, and then snorted, turning toward the door. “Had enough of this place.” When he passed Cynthia, he shot over his shoulder, “You comin’ or not?”
Cynthia frowned at Toby’s back and then shrugged at Eve and Addie, her gaze cast down. “I’m coming.” Before another word was spoken, the two disappeared out the door.
Addie clucked her tongue. “I don’t know what a sweet girl sees in that good-fer-nothin’. I’ve a good mind to talk to her daddy.” Then she shook her head. “Never mind him.”
She took Eve’s hand and led her over to a couple closer to Eve’s age. At their feet, a girl about the same size as Joey played with a plastic bag full of rocks.
“Tom, Laura and Katie Taylor, this is Eve and Joey Baxter. They just moved to Spirit Canyon.” Addie turned to Eve. “Tom and Laura moved from Amarillo last January.”
The little girl shoved chubby hands toward Joey. “See my fossil?” In her palms was a chalky white rock the size of Eve’s fist.
Joey stared at the rock and then up at Eve.
Eve held her breath, hope rising like adrenaline in her system. She prayed Joey wouldn’t shy away from this attempt at friendship.
“Don’t you like fossils?” Katie tipped her curly blond head to the side.
Joey nodded but didn’t let go of Eve’s leg. At