Common Enemy (2 page)

****

Bobby Ray Butler watched the sunset through the barred window of his prison cell. He squinted as the florescent lights automatically came on. At nine o’clock they’d turn off again to leave him in darkness. It had been the same for the last five years, five months and twenty days.

He’d worn the same orange jumpsuits every one of those days. He’d eaten the same tasteless food and walked the same exercise yard. Any time he was outside his cell, he’d had to watch his back. The bad guys here were dirty, diseased, and mean. The good guys fell to them or learned to be just as bad. Bobby Ray had gone to great lengths to avoid all but a select few.

He earned a miniscule amount of money working on the grounds. Almost every dime of it had gone into pads of paper. The only time his mind was truly calm were the hours he spent sketching his pictures.

He peeled a picture from the wall where it hung from a small piece of tape he’d had to beg for. He’d never beg for anything again. The circumstance that put him here wasn’t right. A man should be able to trust his wife. King of his castle and all that crap.

He lifted another picture from the collage on his wall. He’d be getting out soon and wouldn’t leave a single one behind. No one here deserved to even look at them.

He’d been through hell, but soon it would be his turn to send someone else. The difference was, her hell would be permanent. There’d be no reprieve, no escape, and no second chance.

****

Connor came into contact with Jordan several times that day. He liked what he saw. She had to be almost six-feet-tall and all woman. Not the skinny kind of girl who giggled a lot, but a real woman.

He could tell she’d just gotten out of bed when they first met. There was nothing to compare with a woman who looked that good first thing in the morning. Her messy hair hung to her waist. It shined like a new penny in the sun. Her chocolate colored eyes sat over lightly freckled cheeks. She had a straight thin nose that led to pretty, coral colored lips. The big T-shirt she’d worn revealed full breasts on a sturdy frame. She wasn’t heavy, but athletic. The kind of woman you just dreamed of holding onto all night long.

She was the kind of woman who deserved a good-looking man. Not a freak like him. It had probably taken all the willpower she had to look at him. If she weren’t alone and in need of a lot of help, he would just fire up his van and save her the misery.

Connor sat in the open back door of his van eating stew from a can that he’d heated over a propane burner. He should have driven into town to have a decent meal at the diner. He didn’t like the idea of leaving the woman and child alone when they’d barely arrived. All they’d brought with them was what they’d packed in a car. So far, they were living on leftovers from a funeral reception. At least the house was still fully furnished. They had good beds to sleep in.

He was getting tired of living out of the confines of the old Dodge, but that was what his life had come to. He could hardly remember what it felt like to sleep in a normal bed. Would the nightmares still plague him every night in a real bed?

His eyes moved over the side of the house and up to the second floor windows. She was sitting in her room, brushing her hair. The name Jordan suited her. He liked it.

He imagined himself in that window standing behind Jordan. He would brush her hair aside and place a soft kiss on the curve of her neck and gaze into the mirror to meet her eyes. For a moment they would still be closed as she took a long breath. Then her eyes would open and she would look back at him. What would he see in those beautiful brown eyes, pity or revulsion?

Connor threw the half-eaten can of stew into the trashcan before he pulled his legs up and slid the door shut, blocking out the view. What had he been thinking? He’d never be able to have a woman like her.

Chapter Two

Jordan heard the slide and click of the van’s door against the silence outside. She hadn’t realized Connor was still out there. The old van looked dark and lonely in the dim moonlight. She hadn’t seen him around the house since nightfall. She’d assumed that he’d gone home. Mr. Coleman had said he was a drifter. Perhaps that van was his home. He must be so lonely in such cramped quarters, but lonely was lonely no matter where you were. Would he be any lonelier than her tonight?

She slid under the covers and snuggled her pillow, alone. Why couldn’t love be like they showed in the movies, or wrote in books? She imagined the feel of a hard, warm chest under her hands. She could almost hear a strong heartbeat under her ear. He would bring his folded arms down from behind his head to circle them around her. She pictured that battered old cowboy hat resting in the chair across the room.

Jordan sat up and shook the images from her mind. If she kept up this fantasy, she wouldn’t be able to face him in the morning.

The next thing she knew, Jordan woke to the ringing of her new telephone. The bedside clock read 9:15. Lizzy didn’t usually sleep so late. She quickly pulled jeans on under her nightshirt and went to the table in the hallway. As her hand touched the receiver she remembered that she hadn’t called Holly to give her the new number. She hadn’t called anyone.

“Hello?”

“Are you and your little girl all settled in, Jordan?” a low male voice asked.

“Who is this?” Jordan’s heart started pounding so hard her chest ached.

“I’ll be watching you,” the man added. “I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you.”

When the dial tone indicated the caller had hung up, she lowered the receiver back onto its cradle with a shaky hand. Bobby Ray was still in prison. It had only been a horrible joke. She had to believe that or go back to the insanity of her past.

From the bottom of the stairs she saw movement on the front porch. Then she heard the sound of Lizzy’s voice. Lizzy was outside with someone! Fear tightened in her stomach as she took the steps two at a time. She found Lizzy and Connor sitting in the old rocking chairs. On an upturned crate were a quart of milk and a box of donuts.

“What’s going on out here? You can’t just abduct my daughter and give her this-this junk food.” Jordan scowled.

“She came to me,” Connor stated. “She said you didn’t have any milk. I figured, as long as I was going to town anyway, I’d load her up with sugar, too, just to keep you on your toes. I also got the parts for your car so stop being so grumpy.” He looked down at Lizzy. “Jeez, does she always wake up like that?”

“No. Sometimes she doesn’t even wait to get dressed.” Lizzy giggled with chocolate-coated lips.

“I don’t need you two ganging up on me this early. I’ll talk to you after I’ve had a cup of coffee.” She brushed back the hair that had fallen into her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Connor asked. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”

“Of course I’m okay. It just scared me when I woke and found my five-year-old daughter outside.” She gripped Lizzy’s hand and pulled her to the door. “Don’t ever do that again, young lady. From now on you’re to wake me before you go downstairs.”

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” Lizzy cried.

An hour later, Jordan had calmed her ragged nerves. She walked out to the porch to find Conner was sitting in the same chair as before with a cup of coffee and a notepad in his hand.

“Are you ready to give me the bad news?” she asked.

****

“It’s not as bad as it looks.” He snuck a nervous glance her way. “The house is sound, good foundation, plumbing, wiring, and roof. I didn’t find any infestation or mold, which is amazing in this area, especially after the house has been closed up for so long. It needs work, but actually, your car is in worse shape than the house. Your water pump is shot and the hoses look like they could split at any moment. I’ll have to replace the antifreeze, too. You shouldn’t drive it until I’m finished. You’d be stranded on the side of the road. I guess that should be the first thing I work on.”

“I need the car, living way out here. I’ll give you the money for the parts you bought. Can you pick up some groceries in town before you get started? I just have a short list.”

“I guess I can do anything you like if I’m working for you.” He peeked out from under the brim of his hat again.

“But, you haven’t told me what the house needs yet.”

“You need new caulking around the windows, new paint inside and out. A good chimney sweep, repairs on the existing shingles and shutters, better locks on the doors, a security system—”

“Hold up a minute. A security system? This is our home, not a fortress.”

“Welcome to the twenty-first century,” he laughed. “If you were to have any trouble out here, who would know? I really think it’s something you should consider. I bet half the people in town know you live here alone. I don’t imagine you have gossips in a town this size, do you? Besides that, it would let you know if Lizzy escapes again.”

Her brow furrowed with indecision, but she hung on to her tough stubbornness…just barely.

“I’ll think about it, but we’ve never had any problems here before. I grew up in this town. It’s always been a safe place.”

Connor decided to leave that idea for another time and went back to his list. “The barn is in really bad shape. You could do an awful lot with a space that size. We’ll talk about it after the necessary things are done. I just can’t see how it got so bad, though, considering how the rest of the house was kept.”

“My pop, I mean grandfather, used to write his column for the paper out there. That’s where he was when he died twelve years ago.” She looked out at the barn with a haunted expression. “Gram couldn’t make herself go in there much after that. It was a really special place for them.”

“I was sorry to hear about your grandmother. I heard she was quite a special lady.”

“Thank you.” Jordan smiled. “Mr. Coleman must have told you that. I think he was sweet on her.”

They both fell quiet for a few moments. Finally, Jordan asked, “What are you going to charge me for this work?”

“I can’t lie to you, ma’am. Materials aren’t cheap.”

“I worked for a construction company for the last seven years,” Jordan said. “I know exactly how much materials cost. I want to know what your fees are.”

He looked down at his feet. This was the deal breaker. “I live in my van. I could park it behind the barn, or wherever you want. I work from sunup to sundown, no Sundays. After work I could use a place to shower and a good meal. Besides that, I would need about fifty dollars a week for gas and such. I’d stay out of your way, but I would be here until I know that you and Lizzy are safe and sound. It may take a few months.”

“Mr. Coleman tells me you have references.”

“You’re a smart lady. You must take after your grandmother.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I’ve seen her house.” He rose and hopped down the porch steps.

Something was wrong in this house. He’d seen the haunted eyes and defensive body language before. Ms. Jordan Holbrook had secrets she wasn’t sharing. The question was, how involved did he want to get? He had plenty of problems of his own.

****

That evening Connor had finished repairing the car. He had even changed the oil and filters. Jordan watched him from the kitchen window as he washed his hands with a bar of soap and the garden hose. To her surprise, he pulled his T-shirt off and sprayed the water down over his head. As he stretched to let the water cascade down his body, she saw the scar that crossed the left side of his massive chest and another across his stomach. Whoever hurt him had intended to kill. Her heart ached for the pain it must have caused him. Still the ropes of muscle and light covering of honey colored hair on his body fascinated her. If she were in the market for a man, he would definitely fit the bill. However, a man was the last thing she needed.

A half hour later, he walked through the back door dressed in the dirty T-shirt again with a small bundle of clothes wrapped in a towel. “Is it okay to use your shower now?”

“Sure.” She smiled. “Help yourself. Dinner will be ready by the time you’re finished.”

“I generally take my dinner to the van to eat. I don’t want to get in your way.”

“Lizzy’s been looking forward to having company. She had to leave all her friends when we moved. It would mean an awful lot to her if you’d stay.”

“I guess it would be okay for today, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”

Connor returned to the kitchen a short time later looking fresh and smelling of soap. He set his bundle of dirty clothes on the floor next to the back door. He looked over at Jordan pouring milk into glasses on the table as Lizzy waited impatiently to begin eating. He hesitated for a moment before removing his hat and placing it on top of the bundle. A place was set for him across from Jordan with Lizzy between them. It had been so long since he’d had a home cooked meal with a family. He hoped he would remember how to behave.

“Mom always lets me say grace before we eat.” Lizzy’s little fingers closed around his and Jordan reached out for his other hand. As they touched he felt a skip in his heartbeat, he looked up to see Jordan’s eyes on his. Both of them looked away instantly. At the end of Lizzy’s childlike prayer she added, “Thank you for sending Connor to be our friend. Amen.”

Lizzy did most of the talking during dinner. Connor responded to her with short answers, watching his plate. When the meal was over, he offered to help with the dishes.

“I don’t have anything to do tonight but the dishes,” Jordan told him. “Please don’t take away my night’s entertainment. As a matter of fact, you could leave those clothes by the washing machine.”

“I usually take them to the Laundromat in town on Sunday. I can’t have you washing my clothes. It wouldn’t be right. I work for you.”

“You know I could be paying someone else a whole lot more to do the same work you’re doing. Don’t argue with me on this. I have to run that washing machine anyway. Your clothes won’t be any trouble. And, like you said, I’m the boss”.

“Yes, ma’am.” Connor shrugged and tipped his hat before leaving.

Chapter Three

The whole first week was filled with hard work. Jordan scrubbed down each and every room. Her grandmother’s clothes and personal items were donated to the church. Her papers were sorted and filed. It was a sentimental experience, pieces of her childhood hidden in every closet and corner. The trip down memory lane caused a rollercoaster of emotions. She’d laugh when she found little clay pots and crayon drawings from grade school. She’d cried when she found one of Gram’s earrings or lace handkerchiefs. Inside the bible was a picture of her grandparents looking into each other’s eyes on the day they were married. She wondered if she would ever feel the love she saw between the two of them.