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then curled around the rumbling cat. “Everything will be all right, baby.” Finally, she closed her eyes and slipped into sleep.
     
    Morning came far too early. A hot shower erased the aches of the previous night before Amber threw on old jeans and a sweatshirt. After she fetched her grandmother from the hospital later in the morning, she would finally register for those college classes. Hopping downstairs, she let the dogs and cat out.
    Winding into the kitchen, she glanced at the canning jars lined up on the counter. Maybe she’d take huckleberries from the freezer and make jam after retrieving her grandmother.
    A knock sounded on the door, and she paused in place. “Come on in.”
    The door opened and her friend Mason stomped inside, followed by two elderly ladies, Mildred and June.
    “We heard you ran into some trouble on the road.” Irritation darkened Mason’s faded blue eyes as he hurried into the kitchen. He rubbed the gray whiskers on his chin, a sure sign of his agitation.
    Darn Butch. The overprotective bear must’ve called when she’d had to borrow his Suburban. He, of course, had made her tell him the entire story before handing over the keys.
    “I’m fine. Though we really need to talk about Hanson because he isn’t going away,” Amber said. In fact, Hanson had upped his campaign with those drunk morons to get their property significantly. The jerk wanted the land to build a high-end golf course community by the northern rocks.
    Amber gently removed Mildred Mallosee’s coat from her frail body and helped the elderly woman to a chair at the table. “Grandma is awake and thinks she can come home today.”
    Mason dropped into a seat with a sigh of relief. “That’s good news. The doctors weren’t hopeful she’d wake up, but I knew she’d make it.”
    Yeah. The doctors had no clue how strong Hilde could be. Amber soothed her palm along the table. Hand-carved and long enough to seat their entire village of twenty people, the table bore grooves and scars showcasing family gatherings. For two decades, since Grandma Hilde and Amber had relocated to the small community farm, every community meeting had taken place at the table.
    The scent of Hilde’s natural and homemade lemon cleanser hung comfortably in the air.
    Matching oak cabinets held an eclectic mix of homemade tableware for the group. They had more than a couple of skilled potters in the community. Amber eyed the ancient coffeepot near the stove. “Anybody want coffee? I just bought organic beans.”
    June Parrymore leaned forward from her place at the table, her unruly gray hair tucked somewhat up in a hat. She tapped a huge syringe filled with a golden liquid against her large hand. “I knew Hilde would be all right—I’ll go with you to pick her up later. But forget coffee. We need to talk about the guy who kidnapped you. Was he one of Hanson’s men?”
    Kane. The mysterious, sexy-as-hell, unfortunately crazy Kane. “I don’t think so.” Amber dropped into a seat, her legs softening in relief after being on them all night. “He helped me get away from the two guys and seemed to be another lost soul. I’m sure he’s long gone at this point.”
    “What if he isn’t?” June’s lips firmed into a white line. Where Mildred barely took space, June dominated it.
    Amber blew out air. “If he isn’t, we’re in a world of trouble.”
    “Meaning what?” Mason asked.
    “Meaning, Kane didn’t seem like a guy who loses often. But I really don’t think he was with Hanson.”
    June pursed her wrinkled lips. “I don’t like the sound of him.”
    Yeah, but the guy could kiss. Amber shook her head. Where was her brain? She pointed to the syringe. “What’s in the vial?”
    June shrugged. “Tranq. We were heading down to the southern barn to knock Jonsie out so we could take a look at his stitches.”
    Amber nodded. The group all shared a love for animals. Ages mostly over forty . . . six men and fourteen women, a community