When Summer Comes (Whiskey Creek #3)(19)
Author: Brenda Novak

“So how badly were they hurt?”

“The dogs? One had a couple of broken ribs. The other a broken leg. And they each needed stitches. Cheyenne said she thinks they must’ve hurt each other in the fight, because one’s ear was cut.”

The attack must’ve been horrific. It was a wonder both dogs and Levi had come out of it basically okay. Callie doubted someone without Levi’s ability to defend himself would’ve been able to fend them off. “They would’ve killed a lesser man.”

“A lesser man?” Kyle repeated.

She straightened at the wry note in his voice. “Someone who can’t fight like he can.”

“How do you know he can fight?”

“Because I saw him. The owner of those dogs—Denny Seamans—brought his buddy Powell and showed up on my doorstep last night.”

“And you didn’t call me?”

The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind, but she didn’t want to admit that. “I wasn’t expecting it to go the way it did.”

“What happened?”

“Denny tried to convince me that his dogs weren’t at fault, that they only attacked because Levi trespassed on their property.”

“Maybe that’s really how it went down,” Kyle said. “You don’t know. You weren’t there.”

“Levi wasn’t in their garage.” She was so glad she’d had a chance to peek inside it. She suspected no one would believe the truth otherwise, not with Denny and Powell protesting to high heaven.

“You were looking for his bike when you checked, Cal.”

“Yeah, but if those dogs attacked Levi in the garage and not out on the street, there would’ve been blood.” Just look at the amount he’d gotten on her porch….

“Maybe Denny Whoever cleaned it up before we got there.”

“When they had two dogs who needed to see a vet right away? No. I’m guessing he and Powell woke up to find the dogs injured, loaded them up and took off. That’s why they weren’t home when we went by.” She shifted in the seat, trying to get comfortable. “They didn’t bother cleaning up the blood on the driveway, did they?”

“So what are you now? A forensics tech?”

She could tell her loyalty to Levi irritated him. He didn’t want to deal with some interloper, especially one who had nothing—no reputation, job or known background—to recommend him. Kyle had been through too much with his divorce. Not only that, but he’d been stressed out before Levi appeared. His sister was going through her own divorce. She and her kids had been staying with him for two months.

“It doesn’t take a forensics tech to realize there’d be a mess,” she said.

“I’m guessing you told Denny and Powell this.”

It was getting too hot to sit in the SUV. Once again checking the store to make sure Levi wasn’t waiting for her, she opened her door to catch the breeze. “More or less. Then our exchange woke Levi and he—”

“Snapped,” Kyle broke in.

Why did he automatically assume it was Levi’s fault? “No, he didn’t snap. Not exactly. I think he would’ve done a lot more damage if he’d really let go.”

Kyle barked out an incredulous laugh. “Against two guys? Come on! Cheyenne said they were built like army tanks.”

“That’s true. They are—and last night they were itching for a fight. But when one of them went after Levi, Levi knocked him out with a single punch.”

Her recap sobered him. “What did the other guy do?”

“Fortunately, that discouraged Denny from getting involved. But he wasn’t happy. He helped his friend to the car, said it wasn’t over and drove off.”

Silence.

“So what do you think?” she asked.

“You should’ve listened to me and sent McCloud on his way when you had the chance.”

She slapped the steering wheel. “Levi hasn’t done anything wrong!”

“He caused Denny’s dogs to be impounded and knocked out his friend!”

“As much as I hate to say it, since I love dogs, those two are dangerous. So are their owner and his buddy! I have to stand up for the truth, Kyle. If I don’t, it’ll be my fault if those pit bulls are released and hurt someone else. Is that what you want?”

The question seemed to take the edge off his anger. “No. Of course not. I just… If Levi’s going to be moving on, it’s better if he does it sooner rather than later. That’s all.”

“Better for whom?” she demanded.

“Better for you.”

“No, better for you.” She hung up, then sat staring at her phone. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten into an argument with Kyle. They could get a little irritated with each other, and at that point they usually parted company. But she’d never hung up on him before.

Was what she’d feared happening? Had sleeping together ruined their friendship? Doomed it to failure?

She hoped not. She’d only been trying to give him a shoulder to cry on, had never intended to end up in his bed.

She thought of their other friends—Gail, Cheyenne, Eve, Noah, Baxter, Ted, Sophia, Riley—and was embarrassed. A rift between two of them risked the enjoyment they all received from being part of the group.

“You coming in?”

Callie jerked her head up to see Levi standing in the doorway. Thanks to her conversation with Kyle, she’d stopped checking to see if he was ready for her. “Uh, yeah,” she said, and dropped her phone in her purse before climbing out.

Levi watched her closely. “Kyle said something you didn’t like?”

She refused to meet his eyes. “I’m not sure what’s going on with him.”

“He wants me gone,” he said simply.

“I don’t think he knows what he wants.”

Levi could’ve said more. No doubt he understood why their relationship was so complex. But he didn’t press her to answer any more questions. He merely held the door and she went in to pay.

* * *

After the auto parts store, which was located in the next town, they returned to Whiskey Creek and bought a shower rod from the hardware store. With the Old West–style boardwalk in front and the antique gold lettering on the window, the place resembled a mercantile out of the 1800s. Most of the other businesses on Sutter Street looked similar. They were definitely a blast from the past, including Callie’s photography studio, where they stopped next. When Levi had passed through Whiskey Creek, he hadn’t paid a lot of attention to it, except to eat and buy gas. Two days ago, this town was just another spot on the map. He’d never expected to see it again.