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“You’re welcome. Are you planning on hanging out with the Mackies again next week?”

“I hope so.” Harlow tilted her head. “I take that back. Yes. I’ll be going.”

“Then I’ll stop by and pick you up.”

“It’s a date.” Harlow waited for Marty and his horse-drawn wagon to pull away before making her way toward home. She thought about Caleb Jackson and him breaking her fall. His arms around her. Strong. Powerful. The feel of him holding her close.

Stop!Harlow forced the thought of Caleb from her mind. She had enough on her plate without throwing him into the mix. More than enough.

Rustle. Thud.

She came to a quick stop. The hair on her arms stood straight up, the feeling she got when she was being watched. “Hello?”

Silence.

“Mort, is that you?”

Regretting not taking Marty up on his offer, Harlow raced along the roadway, picking up speed when she cleared the bushes. She didn’t slow until the family cottage was in sight.

“Harlow.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Vic stepping off his porch. “I was getting ready to send a text to check on you. How did it go?”

“It was great. Actually, I had an awesome evening. What about you?”

“Your dad is a card shark. He took thirty bucks from me playing blackjack.” Vic squinted his eyes. “Lottie isn’t with you?”

“Marty, the driver, dropped her off at home.” Harlow told Vic what had happened, how she’d heard noises and sensed she was being watched. “Maybe it was my imagination.”

“I’ll check it out.” He ran inside and grabbed his gun. Moving at a quick clip, Vic disappeared into the dark night.

The minutes dragged past. Harlow glanced at her watch, her concern ticking up a notch when he didn’t return right away.

She pulled her phone from her pocket, getting ready to call him when he reappeared. “Did you see anyone?”

“No, but I heard rustling. I shined my cell phone’s flashlight into the bushes, but didn’t see anyone. I gotta say, your dad has a lot of landscaping around here.”

“Tons, which means there are plenty of hiding spots,” Harlow said.

Vic shifted his feet. “I’m not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling. I would be more comfortable staying close by you tonight.”

“All I can offer you is Dad’s couch.”

“I’ve slept on worse.” Unwilling to leave Harlow alone, even for a second, Vic wheeled her into his cottage, where he tossed his toothbrush and clean clothes into his backpack.

After packing up, they cut through the yard, reaching David’s cottage in only a few steps.

Mort met them at the door, his tail wagging and excited to see them.

“Hey, buddy.” Harlow scratched his ears, nudging him back into the house.

But Mort had a different idea. He broke free and bolted across the porch before Harlow or Vic could stop him.

“Mort,” Harlow hissed. “Get back here.”

Ignoring the command, the pup promptly lifted his leg and watered a bush. With his nose to the ground, he began sniffing around.

“I’ll go grab him.”