Cade hadn’t been surprised to see Shane pull in behind the sheriff and the ambulance, and he couldn’t say he was sorry to see him. It wouldn’t hurt to have his brother with him through all of this. A man identifying himself as Alec Hall, Laura’s husband’s former business partner, claimed he and Justin arrived to try to talk to Laura and she pulled a gun on them. He said she shot Justin, told Red to attack him, and then took off in the Jeep.

Cade could barely control the rage building in him as he listened to the story. Justin Kensington was being airlifted to the closest hospital. He was unconscious, so questioning him about what had happened was out of the question. Cade hadn’t missed the surprised look on Alec Hall’s face when the paramedics rolled Justin out on a stretcher.

He’d covered it quickly by saying he had thought his friend was dead and he was relieved to hear he wasn’t, but Cade saw through that. Whatever this man was up to, he wasn’t happy to know Justin Kensington might live. Hall had been spouting about cash and a fake identity he’d found hidden back in Connecticut. He was ranting about Laura not being what she seemed. Cade had been able to explain the cash and ID to the sheriff, but that didn’t help matters much.

Cade and Shane now stood with Sheriff John Davies, who had finished questioning everyone present. “My hands are tied, guys. Their statements all match. I can’t hold them without anything more. If you had seen what happened, Cade, it’d be a different story, but until we either find Laura, or Justin Kensington wakes up and tells us what happened, I’ve got nothing to hold these guys on. I can take them down to the station to get their statements, but I can’t keep them there long.”

Cade cursed under his breath.

“I have to put out an ATL alert on Laura,” John went on quietly.

Shane looked at Cade and translated. “Attempt-to-Locate.”

“I’ll make sure it’s clear she’s just a potential witness to an incident. I just don't have a choice right now, Cade. This is an attempted-murder investigation now, and if Justin Kensington doesn’t make it, we’re looking at manslaughter, at best.”

Cade couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He wanted to haul off and hit his friend, but he also knew this wasn’t John’s fault. John didn’t have a choice. Cade just knew he needed to get to Laura before Alec Hall tracked her down again. He hoped she would be at the first meeting spot on the list he and Shane had made for her in two days. After the way they left things, he wasn’t entirely confident Laura would show up. And that… Hell, that would just about kill him.

* * *

Cade watched the front door of Baird Diner in Searcy, Arkansas from the window of his motel room across the street. He’d gotten into town the night before and slept a few hours, but most of the time he’d been in the window watching for any sign of Laura. He wondered if she’d been holed up in the motel like him or if she could be sleeping in the Jeep. He assumed Red was with her since no one had seen the dog since Alec and Justin had shown up on the ranch, so she might be camping out in the car with his dog. He hoped like hell Red was keeping her safe.

At ten minutes to noon, Cade grabbed his duffel bag and left the motel. He tossed his bag in the back seat and pulled his car over to the diner, careful to park off to one side. He had no idea how he’d even begin to look for Laura if she didn’t show up here or at the other locations on the list. He guessed he’d have to find his own investigators if she didn’t show up at any of the meeting points as planned. But tracking her down wouldn’t be easy at this point.

After ten of the longest minutes of his life, Cade saw the Jeep come down the street. Laura slowed a little ways down from the diner as if she were watching to see if anyone waited for her. She pulled into the lot and parked, then got out of the Jeep. Red sat waiting in the passenger seat, scanning the lot with the vigilance of a sentry assigned to watch duty.

Cade opened his car door and whistled. Red’s head came up and she and Laura both turned his way. The relief Cade felt when he saw the look on Laura’s face couldn’t have been greater. She smiled at him, and his heart damn near exploded in his chest. She was here and she looked happy to see him. He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms.

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t be here,” he said, the words coming out muffled as he buried his face in her hair, nuzzling as he took a deep breath, reveling in her scent, the feel of her safe in his arms. Red leapt out of the truck and circled them, then stood with her body pressed against their legs. Cade wanted to get Laura out of there, but he needed just a minute more before they moved. Moving meant pulling his arms away from her, and he wasn’t ready to let her go again.

Laura clung to him as though she needed him as much as he needed her. “Alec shot Justin,” she said into Cade’s chest. “Red saved me. She jumped the door to the tack room and saved me.”

“I know, honey. Justin’s in critical condition. He’s still unconscious. They operated but he’s in a coma. It’s a waiting game right now to see if he’ll come out of it,” Cade said.

She pulled back and looked up into his eyes. He could almost see the internal struggle going on. She rose slowly on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, and that was all the permission he needed. Cade pulled her tight and took over the kiss, delving into her mouth to taste what he’d thought he’d never have again. She tasted of sweetness and honey and all things good and innocent in the world. He lost himself in the feel of her, in the knowledge that maybe they’d have a future together after all. That maybe she’d let him in.

Someone nearby cleared their throat and Cade pushed Laura behind him, ready to fight to keep from ever being separated from her again. It was nothing threatening. An older gentleman with laughing eyes watched them as he entered the diner. Cade took Laura by the hand.

“Do you have anything you need to get from the Jeep?” he asked. She was carrying the backpack he’d put in the Jeep for her a week ago. He’d packed her some clothing and a little money to tide her over until she got to the bus station for the money Shane had left her. She shook her head.

“Did you get to the bus station?”

“Yes,” she said and pulled the backpack around to her front and touched the small zipper pocket on the side. “I got the money Shane left. I’ve been staying in a motel in the next town over. The night clerk was a dog lover. She looked the other way while I snuck Red in at night.”

“Good. Come on,” Cade said and pulled her toward his car. “I don’t want to stay here any longer than we need to. We’ll leave the Jeep here and go in my car.”

He realized he was dragging a pregnant woman away from a diner and wondered if she needed to eat. “Have you eaten? Do we need to get you food first?” he asked looking around the lot to be sure Alec Hall or the PIs weren’t closing in, even though he knew they hadn’t followed him. The chances of them tracing her to that location so quickly were slim.

“I ate before I came just in case I had to run again,” Laura said and his heart flipped. He hated the thought of her having to run again—even if he was with her this time.

Cade nodded and opened the door to let Red jump in the back while Laura climbed in front.

“I think we should drive for a few hours before we find a place to stay so we’re nowhere near the first meeting point,” Cade said as he got in and started the car. “We need to lay low for a while. Alec and the two private investigators said you were the one who shot Justin. Right now, John Davies has nothing else to go on since it will only be your word against theirs and they couldn’t find the gun at the scene.”

“I have the gun,” Laura said, looking down at the backpack between her feet. “Can’t they test for gunshot residue or something? You see that all the time on TV.” Laura turned and rubbed Red’s head. Red looked happy to have her people back together again. She lay with her head between the two seats, eyes closed as Laura scratched her between the eyes.

“They did, but his story covered that. He says you pulled the gun and he grabbed for it and was wrestling with you when you shot Justin, so he had residue on his hands from that. John’s calling in some favors with a forensic specialist back in New York where he worked before coming here. He’s trying to find out if anything about the pattern of the residue or the amount of residue or anything like that can prove he’s lying, but I have no idea what the answer to that will be. For all I know, they won’t be able to tell.”

Laura didn’t say anything for a long time. “How long do you think I’ll need to hide?”

Cade threaded his fingers through hers. “We need to hide until I can get ahold of John and tell him your side of the story and see if he’s got any new information and what he recommends. He’ll tell us we have to come in, but if it looks as if we’d only be coming in to let him arrest you, I’ll just politely decline his invitation until he finds some evidence to clear you.” Cade lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed the back of them; the relief at having her back safely almost overwhelmed him.

“There’s something else we need to tell John,” Laura said and there was something troubling in the undercurrent to her words. Cade glanced at her and saw fear in her eyes.

“What is it, Laura?” he asked, squeezing her hand.

“It’s my fault Justin got hurt.” She seemed to be fighting to get the words out, and Cade stayed quiet, waiting for her to collect herself.

“Before Patrick died, he hid a USB drive in our kitchen. I’ve never seen him look frightened before, but whatever was on it had him scared. Almost panicked. I didn’t dare touch it while he was still alive. And, then after…I never got a chance to. The press were at the house. But, I should have told you, or called in an anonymous tip or something. I should have told someone there was something else going on. That’s what Alec is after.”

“You couldn’t have known that, Laura. And you can’t take what Patrick did on yourself. That fault lies with him.”

Laura was quiet for a long time, looking out the window as he drove. Cade waited, giving her time. A long while later she turned sideways and rested her head on the headrest, looking at him.

“I think I like being saved by you, Cade Bishop,” she whispered.