Chapter 13
Colton was pleased with himself and the perfect gift he put together for Megan. Her reaction was more than he imagined. Given that kiss, it seemed he was getting through those thick walls of hers, and he just might get to keep her.
Sure, he had his fair share of women in his life, but none compared to her. Not even a close second. From the moment he first laid eyes on her at Dawson and Sam’s wedding, he knew she was special, and he needed her in his world.
He noticed her reaction to the “sister” reference. He felt like an ass, given she had lost her only sister a year or so ago. The more he thought about it, however, the more her response nagged at him.
Sure it was natural to react to the loss of a loved one with sadness, but something felt unsettled. Was there more to the altered state of her emotions as quick as it may have been?
He noticed it more than once…and more of a fear than a loss. Her smile dimmed, remembering he had to work and that she wouldn’t see him for 24 hours. He read that loud and clear. He felt bad at her disappointment but pleased by the fact that she would miss him. Progress…or, was it? Maybe it was more about being alone than his being gone.
What was this anxiety that seemed to be appearing more often than not these days? The closer they became, the more he noticed it. Where security should be settling in, he saw angst.
He was breaking through mountain high barricades, but there was still something there, something deeper, something bigger than the both of them. He could feel it. He would find out, he would help her, and she wouldn’t have to worry again if he had anything to do with it. He would protect her from whatever was being thrown her way.
Megan found herself watching out the back window, staring at the lake and the vast forest beyond. Completely lost in thought while feeding Jax on autopilot. She pondered what life could be like with Colton around and why she already missed him terribly after only hours. His shifts were typically 48 hours on and 48 hours off, but tonight was just a short shift. He and Jessie were covering for a couple of the guys from the House who also worked with the high school football team. Trained EMTs, they acted as team trainers and went with the team to their second round of state playoffs. Small town, big deal.
She thought it best to keep things platonic – it was safer that way – but their night together was a total game changer, and she was no longer in charge of her heart. It seemed he was. He was a mile long list of things a girl could want. She was safe in McKenzie, Jax was safe, and they were building an amazing life with friends and people who cared for them as she cared for each of them.
So what was the hang up? Why was she still at battle with herself, despite the choice to move on with Colton and explore what they had? She was stuck in McKenzie Ridge regardless of her outside circumstances—she was there to hide, and she could stay even when she didn’t need to hide anymore. Either way, she was safe. Her new life was falling into place, and she finally felt like she was on the right track.
So, why did she have that overwhelming sensation resting in her gut, telling her to run, fast, and not to look back? She had felt, more than once, someone watching her, but there was never anyone there that she could see. That forest would be a great place to sit, watch, and hide.
Colton was preparing for work while a certain woman lingered in his thoughts. He settled his animals for the night, but one in particular was resistant. He found Duke perched on the front porch, watching Megan’s house. Duke was well behaved and well trained, familiar with their routine, but tonight he was defiant. He refused obedience, refusing Colton’s every command, responding with deep throaty grumbles and whimpers. It was more than obvious that Duke was fond of the lady in their life, but this was ridiculous.
“Come on boy, you can watch her from inside,” Colton begged.
“You’re going to make me late, Duke. Inside!” he demanded with a clapping of his hands to motivate the dog.
Still nothing but a moan.
“Look, I get it. I want to see her too, but we have stuff to do…” He hesitated to finish, realizing he was in full negotiations with a dog over a woman.
“What the hell am I doing? He’s a fucking dog. Get it together, Sparks!”
He reached down to grab Duke’s collar and lead him in, but his hand was met with a sharp, tooth bearing growl. It appeared that Duke was giving Colton a big “fuck you” and was perfectly fine where he was.
Colton was stumped. Duke had never reacted to anyone that way, much less him—none of his animals did. As he stood there, hands on hips, watching his dog protect Megan from afar, an uneasy chill made its way down his spine. He understood the instincts of animals, trusted them. He had witnessed, many times, the mysterious intuition of animals providing positive outcomes to less than good circumstances.
Was this what Duke was doing? Did he know something? What had he seen that his humans may have overlooked in the daily shuffle? His mind probed the odd behavior of his dog while memories of Megan and her anxious, even paranoid, behavior wandered through his mind. How many times had she brushed off such behavior, claiming nothing was wrong, leaving him unsettled and suspicious? He was certain something was haunting her. Did Duke know what it was? It was time to find out.
A loud, quick knock at the door startled Megan back to the present from her daydreaming. She sat frozen, staring at a jabbering spaghetti faced toddler, smiling ear to ear with his toothy grin, wrinkled nose and all. Oh, to be carefree like Jax, not a worry in the world. She wished her biggest worry was clean pants and a full belly. But no, right now, her worry rested on what was on the other side of that door.
Another knock came, this time more urgent. She crept to the door, back against the wall to the right, trying not to be seen through the narrow window that lined the left of the door. An image suddenly appeared, causing her to scream. A bark followed – it was Duke. Her reaction caused a few pictures to fall from the wall she was sliding down. The noise and the scream instigated more pounding on the door with Colton yelling her name, asking if she was okay.
“Hi. I wasn’t expecting anyone,” she said, answering the door.
“Are you okay? I thought I heard something break and a scream?” he asked, extremely concerned.
She stepped aside, opening the door wide, letting them in and said, “Oh, that was me. I was feeding Jax when I heard your knock. When I saw Duke’s shadow jump in front of the window there, it startled me,” she admitted with a laugh, pointing to her fallen pictures.
“Why are you so spooked? Did something happen?” he asked, looking around.
“I guess I just wasn’t expecting anyone, and I never get company at this hour. It was unexpected is all.”
“Well, this guy wouldn’t go inside tonight. He seems spooked, himself,” Colton shared. “He wanted to come here. I think we have a bit of a crush going, and I’m losing my dog to a woman.”
She knelt to one knee, letting Duke lick her cheek while she rubbed his ears, and said to the pup, “Is that true, Duke? Or is he just using you to come get a kiss goodnight?”
“Well, I was thinking maybe he should stay with you tonight. You can keep each other company, get him over whatever is bothering him, but I’ll take the kiss while I’m at it.” He pulled her into a tight embrace, rubbing his hands down her back until they landed on her ass. His kiss was urgent and promising all the passionate things that were to come.
“I’ll see you two in the morning!” he promised, swatting her on the ass as he went.
“Well, aren’t you a nice surprise! Jax, we have company!” She hollered, leading Duke to the kitchen to find Jax.
Colton wasn’t convinced by her story. Between Duke’s behavior and her reaction, he was certain something was wrong. If they weren’t already short staffed, hence him working the extra shift, he would have stayed and figured it out. She didn’t need to live in fear—he would protect them, care for them…she just needed to let him. Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow he would get to the bottom of it and figure out what had her so worried. He gave one last look before driving off. He was glad that Duke was there. Something wasn’t right. He knew it like he knew how to breathe.
Sitting around a table at the House, Colton shared his suspicions with the gang. They each took turns, hearing what he had to say and offering their advice as they saw fit.
“So, she hasn’t actually said anything was wrong, and you haven’t witnessed anything. Just all voodoo, psychic ‘feelings’?” Jessie asked.
“No, I haven’t seen anything happen
– just seems anxious a lot, easily startled. She plays it off like it’s nothing. I feel like it’s something though,” Colton replied. “Am I just over reacting? You make me sound like a pansy ass.”
“Well, you are a pansy ass, but…” Blake chimed in, “…to be honest, I’ve noticed it a little bit, too.”
“I think we all have but come on. She loses her sister like a year ago, inherits a baby, and moves across country. That would make anyone a little paranoid,” Morgan threw in as her two cents. “The moving cross-country thing has me a little baffled, but everyone deals with grief differently.”
“Maybe she left because of someone, like a dude. Maybe she wanted to be as far away as she could. That’s pretty much McKenzie!” Jessie said
“Like an abuser?” Morgan asked, her voice a mix of sympathy and anger. “Oh, God. I hope not – not Meg.”
Blake rubbed his chin, considering what was being tossed around, trying to pick his words carefully before saying, “She fits the profile. At the very least, she fits the profile of a runner. We just need to figure out what she is running from. I can do some digging, Sparks. You should know what you’re getting yourself into, man.”
“Whoa, I don’t know about that, you guys. Checking up on her like that? What if she finds out?” Carigan warned.
“What if she finds out, and she’s not hiding anything…that’s worse. Your ass is on the street,” Morgan agreed.
Dawson stood, puffed out his chest and went all alpha. “But what if there is something to find? What if she is in danger? Or worse, what if she did something? How does he protect her from something if he doesn’t know what it is?”
“Dawson has a point, man. A few clicks on the computer, maybe a phone call or two? You say the word,” Blake offered.
“I don’t know. I trust her. I’m more worried than anything. I appreciate the offer, man, but let’s wait. It could just be my own insecurities kicking my ass,” Colton admitted.
“Offer stands,” Blake said, slapping Colton on the shoulder before leaving the table.
Blake understood his friend’s hesitation, but he had that same gut instinct that something wasn’t right, and it certainly wasn’t out of sympathy for Colton’s insecurities. It was because there was something off, and any one of them could be in danger, especially Colton. He planned to do a little digging, see what he could turn up. He would decide then if he should tell Sparks about the suitcase and money in the trunk.
No need to give him more to worry about or to spook a runner…for now. In the meantime, he would watch out for his friends and his town. Something didn’t feel right.