Page 36 of Deserving Cora
CHAPTERTEN
It was frustrating not to be leaving immediately for Phoenix, but Cora understood the men’s need to get as much information as possible before heading into what she thought of in her mind as a battle. They might not think Lara was in danger, or that Ridge Michaels was holding her against her will, but she knew differently. She just hoped they were ready for whatever waited for them behind the doors of the jail where Lara was being held. It might be a fancy estate with a dozen paid employees waiting on Ridge hand and foot, but it was still a prison.
In the meantime, she was excited to get to see the place she’d read about and researched so extensively. Meeting Melba earlier had been a highlight. And the goats were just as hysterical as many guests said they were. After meeting them, they’d immediately started trying to chew on her pants.
Tonka’s dogs, Wally and Beauty, were well-mannered, if not spoiled rotten. It was amusing to see big bad Tonka carrying Beauty around as if she was a little princess…which she kind of was. The barn cats were friendly, and she’d even gotten to meet Mutt…Brick’s three-legged dog.
But it was Chuck who delighted her the most. The squirrel was missing two feet, and he lived with his squirrel girlfriend in a little condo Tonka had built against a tree behind the barn. To her surprise, after she’d sat down with a handful of peanuts, the little guy had come right up and sat in front of her as he chowed down.
“He likes you,” Pipe said quietly from her right. He hadn’t said much while she’d met The Refuge’s other animals. Now, he sat beside her and simply watched as she remained entranced by the little guy.
“I tend to get along better with animals than people,” Cora told him, as Chuck nudged her hand for more peanuts. It was adorable how he’d stuff one into his mouth, then take one into the little wooden hut Tonka had made him. Cora mused that it was kind of sad this little squirrel took better care of his mate than anyone had ever taken care of her.
“It’s because they know you’re not going to hurt them.”
“They can’t know that,” she protested, looking over at him.
Pipe was sitting with his feet flat on the ground, his arms looped around his updrawn knees, and instead of looking at Chuck, he was staring at her.
Feeling self-conscious, Cora turned back to the squirrel.
“They can sense it,” Pipe told her.
They were quiet for a few seconds, before Cora blurted, “Your friends don’t really believe me.”
She winced at the blunt statement. Even if it was true, she probably shouldn’t have brought it up.
Pipe simply shrugged. “This is unfamiliar territory for us. I mean, when Alaska was in trouble, Jasna and Reese too, it was a no-brainer that we’d do whatever it took to help them. No one messes with our loved ones. But we don’t know Lara. It’s harder to get a read on a situation when you’re dealing with strangers.”
Cora nodded. She understood that. Completely. And she respected Pipe all the more for being honest with her.
“And things could get weird really quickly if we rush in to help your friend…and it turns out she doesn’t need helping.”
“She does,” Cora couldn’t help but say as she turned to look at him once more.
Pipe’s lips twitched.
“Look, I know this situation is messed up. You and your friends are trusting me when I say that she’s not there of her own free will. You don’t know me, you don’t know Lara, and like you said, you’re risking a lot to go to Arizona with me. Your reputations, at the very best, are at risk, and getting hurt in the process at worst.”
Pipe snorted, and Cora couldn’t stop the smile from forming on her lips at the disgruntled sound.
“No one’s getting hurt,” he told her.
“You can’t know that,” she said with a shrug.
Pipe’s gaze bore into hers with an intensity that she thought was a little out of place for the situation. “No one’s getting hurt,” he insisted. “You stalked us. Did you miss the parts where it listed all our accomplishments and the medals we’ve earned?”
Cora frowned. “You’ve earned medals?” she asked.
Pipe chuckled. “Can’t tell you. That shit’s top secret. All I’m sayin’ is that when you set your sights on me and my friends, you chose well. It’s not going to be hard for us to figure out if Lara is there of her own free will or not.”
“Really?” Cora asked.
“Really,” Pipe said confidently.
“He’s not going to be happy,” she told him.
“Nope.”
