Keeley's Fight (The Protectors 1)

K: Looking forward to it. I have a surprise ;) Love you!

Opening the one from Tyler she laughed out loud.

T: Miss your sexy ass, what are you wearing? Love ya!

K: Miss you too, and not much! See you soon, much love

“Geez what’d you do, buy out the whole aisle?” she asked her only half kidding.

“What? It’s girls’ night, your men aren’t here, Emily has some psycho stalking her, and me? Well, I got nothing, I’m boring. I think we could all use some icy relief,” Kennedy dead-panned, grabbing the movies and instructing her and Emily to get the rest.

After they had everything inside and most of the ice cream in the freezer, they set up their snacks, mani/pedi stuff, and movies in the living room. Leaving no surface empty with their things. Choosing to watch Pretty in Pink first, they set up to do Emily’s nails for their impromptu spa. Keeley did her nails a bright yellow, while Kennedy did her toes a soft pink. They talked about everything and anything, so long as it wasn’t heavy and heart-breaking.

Hearing Rowdy growling and scratching at the back door after they finished all of their nails, and had just popped their third movie of the evening in, Grease, Keeley went over to investigate what had him so worked up. “What’s the matter, boy?” She asked walking into the kitchen and turning on the light. When he barked again and looked at her, she unlocked and opened the door for him to go out.

When he took off for the woods behind the house, she chased after him, calling out his name. Stopping at the edge of the tree line, she didn’t go in any farther, since the sun was just setting and she knew finding her way out would be unlikely. Going back to the house, she didn’t want to worry the girls but saw no way around it. “Hey guys, Rowdy’s acting funny and took off for the woods when I let him out. I’m gonna call Dane, see if he can come take a look around.”

Grabbing her phone, she dialed him. Answering after the first ring he barked out, “What’s wrong?”

“Hello to you too, Dane. Girls’ night is great, how is yours?” She asked sarcastically.

“Keeley,” he growled out.

“Ok, ok, sheesh. Look, Rowdy was barking and scratching at the door and when I let him out he took off for the woods, and he’s not coming when I call him. It’s too dark for me to go in there. Will you come see if you can find him, please?” She asked knowing the worry she felt about her dog’s odd behavior was bleeding through in her voice.

“We’re on our way,” was all he said, ending the conversation as abruptly as it started.

“Well, grumpy pants is on his way with Coop, I assume,” she relayed to Kennedy and Emily, since they both looked slightly worried.

Looking out the big bay window in the living room, she couldn’t help but be worried someone was out there. What if it was Emily’s stalker? What would they do?

*******

Hearing a vehicle pull up out front a little while later, all three girls raced out the front door to see Dane and Coop climbing out of their truck. “Could you have taken any longer?” Kennedy asked smartly, earning a growl from Coop.

“Watch it little girl, or I’ll put you over my knee,” he threatened, making her stick her tongue out at him. Chuckling, he called her a brat, before they went around back to check things out and see if they could find Rowdy.

“You girls get back inside and lock the doors until we get back,” Dane shouted following Coop. Sighing, they all went back inside to wait.

A little while later when Keeley heard Rowdy’s nails clicking on the porch, she ran for the door to see the guys coming from the woods and talking quietly. “Well?” She asked impatiently.

Giving a sigh, they looked at each other before answering her. “I think it was a deer or coyote, but we’re staying the night, and we’ll take a closer look in the morning.”

“Well there goes girls’ night!” Kennedy said dramatically.