UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 29

Mercy.

A little after three the next morning,in a jeep filled with high equipment, I began the long trip in the direction of Jim's ranch. I felt miserable, not at all what I had imagines feeling after getting my story.

The prick of Joshua's anger still stung,and knowing that I was able to scoop him didn't ease the hurt. Being the better sneak wasn't such a victory, after all.

I was frightened of being alone with my thoughts during the hour and a half drive,so for a diversion,I plugged the adapter to a recorder and lit it on. Not much to hear,I knew,just David and his wife in the movie premier and I was surprised to find I had caught another conversation.

David had gone earlier, driving Jim a d dome drinking cronies and he had called home just because he had missed his wife. The conversation explained why Jim and Joe had returned. They had used the premier as a diversion, and had come back to prepare for the wedding. Laura had rented a room in town in deference to the superstitions about the bride and the groom not seeing each other the day before the wed,leaving Jim alone.

It seems like I hadn't needed Joshua's tape after all. But what troubled me was the love and tenderness between David and his wife, qualities sadly lacking in my life. Feeling a telltale burning in my eyes,I snapped the recorder off and the radio on. A wailing country song about lost love enveloped me.

My tears welled over,tempting me to go back to Joshua. But he would only send me away,like he'd done the day before and besides the wedding began at sunrise.

The idea came like a lightening bolt from nowhere. True it was too late to get Joshua but I could continue to the bridge,record the ceremony run my video snap my photos. Then I'll take the whole lot to Joshua and drop it at his feet. I had no illusions  that my gestures would win him back,but at least of shoe I wasn't using him.

By the time I passed the entrance to Jim's ranch and headed for the bridge,I felt dizzy with relief.

The falling moon was still casting silvery rays when I hid my jeep in a stand of pine trees and its light eliminated the need to use a flash light that would increase the risk of being caught. I carried my equipment down a rocky trail to a mesa overlooking the wedding site,and by the time I had set up the last of tripods behind a stone that kept them from being viewed from the path,the sky was lightening.

Two moons bridge was as spectacular as the Mao lady had promised. The edges of the circles seemed to glow and a little light shone through.
Behind me,a narrow stream babbled over the rocks and joined with the frogs and crickets in a night song. Ad the stream approached the bridge,it fell sharply,formating a water fall.

Down there parked a distance to the right were several darkened motor homes,which I assumed were front runners for the wedding party. As I watched,someone turned on the light.

I breathed in appreciative breath,then hooked the battery pack and activated it,hoping the recorders I had out in the saddles weren't dislodged during the rideout.
If my luck held,I'd pick on all the wedding details.

With everything now in readiness,I settled down on the rock and opened a doughnut bag.

I'd just washed down a bite when I heard a sound. Feet crunching on the ground! Jim had a security team scouring the area,I concluded. Oh lord I had been afraid of that.

Scared to move,I held my breath and listened. The crunching stopped. I wanted to breath out a sign of relief but it was too soon,someone might hear.

"Mercy?"  Came a whispered voice. I nearly flew off.
"Mercy?" Lauder this time. I tiptoed forward and saw Joshua searching every direction.
"Shh" I rushed out and dragged him aside. "Jim has men out here. They'll hear."
Joshua shook his head. "There's no one here,just us."

"You scared the hell out of me!" I scolded,staring up at him. Joshua merely smiled. The sour expression of the other day was gone.

"How did you find me?"
"A hint- never rent a red car to do undercover work. I followed you from the motel "
My heart sank,"to scoop Mr off the story."

"No. I came to give it to you."
"Give! Give me? Its already mine!" With a toss of my curls,I slapped her hands in my hips. "I'm going to give it to you Joshua, at least I was." I stepped closer.
"You are the most arrogant,interfering man I have–"
"Shut up and kiss me." He bent down and kissed me.

I was going to fight,really I was,but somehow it didn't seem polite, not after all we've been through. So instead I signed and tasted him. Better than old doughnut and coffee,that was for sure.

When he sighed in return,I thought I heard a relief in the sound. After the kiss ended,I leaned against him and listened to the reassuring sound of his heart.

"I love you Pepper." He breathed  the words into my hair. "Will you marry me?"

"M-marry me?" Startled,I pulled back. " just a few hours ago you told me to get out of your room. What caused the change of heart."

"Agent Joe called," he said. "He explained a lot."

"Yeah,which made me mad as hell. Aren't you mad?"
"How could I be? He brought us together didn't he?" He pulled me close again. "Now,about my question...?"

Just then a flock of birds took flight. "Come on Joshua,I think the story is arriving." I said and pulled him smiling.

I turned on the video camera,then began adjusting my thirty five mm "where's your equipment Joshua?"

Grinning,he pulled a hand held camera with a long lens from beneath his jacket,"the star over prepared. "

But I was too busy focusing to pay much attention.

Wearing a western tuxedo color blue,Jim sat astride one of the palominos (horse), leasing the second one behind him. It carried no rider. I grinned,looked like Mrs David had gotten her way after all.

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Teenie Bee