Free The Awakening by Jana DeLeon Page B

harder than necessary, and feeling an inordinate amount of satisfaction when the man flinched before releasing his hand.
    “So you’re in construction? So am I, of sorts. I own the real estate agency in town.”
    Tanner shook his head. “I’m not in construction.”
    Sam looked expectantly at him, clearly waiting for an explanation, but Tanner just stared back at him. Finally, it got the best of the man and he asked, “So, what is it you do, then?”
    “That’s Ms. Bettencourt’s business. I’m not at liberty to say.”
    “He’s a tracker,” Josie said. “Looking into the vandalism problems for me.”
    Sam’s eyes widened. “Well, I guess you meant it earlier when you said you’d be opening on time. I suppose a tracker won’t have any trouble finding the bear responsible for the damage.”
    “Or the man,” Tanner said.
    Sam yanked his head back in Tanner’s direction, his jaw set. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, but the only people who know that swamp well enough to escape detection are people who live here in Miel. None of them would take kindly to being accused of vandalism.”
    “Well, I guess if none of them are doing it, then they don’t have a problem, do they?”
    Sam looked back at Josie. “Do you really want to alienate the people in this town even more?” He shook his head. “I wish you’d consider my offer. It’s a good price. More than enough money for you to buy a new facility for your horses.”
    Tanner saw a flush creep up Josie’s neck.
    “I’ve already told you,” she said, her voice clipped, “that my family home is not for sale.”
    Knowing he’d been defeated, Sam held his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I’m just giving you an option. If you ever change your mind about any of this,” he said, and glanced over at Tanner, “you know where to find me.”
    He didn’t even acknowledge Tanner before he walked away. Tanner could tell by the stiff set in his shoulders that the Realtor wasn’t happy about the exchange.
    “What’s he talking about?” Tanner asked. “Someone wants to buy your property?”
    Josie, who’d been watching Sam’s retreating back, turned to look at Tanner. “I guess so.”
    “Has he pressured you at all?”
    “No.” She frowned. “Why?”
    Tanner shrugged. “I was just thinking if someone wanted the property badly enough, they might try to scare you off it.”
    “I don’t know of any reason someone would want it that badly.”
    “Oil, maybe? Have you had a study done?”
    “No, but that wouldn’t matter. No one in these parts lets the mineral rights go when they sell.”
    “That’s true enough. All the same, it’s something to keep an eye on.”
    A young woman with short brown hair stepped up to the table. “Are you ready to order?” she asked, looking directly at Tanner.
    “Ladies first,” he said, and gestured to Josie.
    The girl hesitated a second, then looked over at Josie. “What can I get for you?”
    “I’ll take the Cajun chicken dinner with steamed vegetables, please,” she said, then looked up at the woman.
    “Salad or soup?”
    Josie’s brow wrinkled as she studied the waitress. “Marquette?”
    The waitress frowned. “Yeah?”
    “I’m Josie Bettencourt. I remember you from high school.”
    Tanner took a hard look at the waitress, but no bells went off.
    Marquette studied Josie for a moment, then nodded. “I remember you now. You were a couple years ahead of me.”
    Josie nodded. “Your brother Rob was in my class. How is he?”
    “Good. He went into the Marines. Has a wife and a daughter.”
    “How nice.” Josie smiled. “Please tell him I said hello the next time you talk to him.”
    “Sure.”
    “Oh, gosh, I’m being rude,” Josie said, and waved a hand at Tanner. “This is Tanner LeDoux. He’s a tracker helping me with some vandalism I’ve had at my house.”
    Marquette glanced at Tanner.
    “Nice to meet you,” Tanner said.
    “You, too,” she murmured, then continued to stand