Chapter Ten
Sally leaned her head gingerly against the wall and squeezed her eyes closed. With her thoughts scattered in a dozen directions and her head throbbing with every beat of her runaway heart, she couldn’t come up with one good scenario for Emmett forcing his way into her dressing room. Like there could be a good reason.
The man had slapped her around last night because she refused to become his whore. She sported black and blue bruises on her right jaw and cheekbone as proof he wasn’t a nice man. He’d obviously been hauled into the sheriff’s office in Huntington and grilled about the explosion that destroyed her house. That had to be what he meant by thanking her for the evening she’d arranged. This time his sarcasm wasn’t lost on her.
He intended to thank her, all right, no doubt with bodily harm. If he’d gone to all the trouble of tracking her down hundreds of miles away from home, he was obviously determined to have his pound of flesh. She struggled to swallow around the lump in her throat. Was he going to kill her?
Sally peeped through nearly closed eyelids when Emmett stepped farther into the tiny room and shoved the door closed.
“I don’t appreciate being accused of arson, unlawful use of explosives and attempted murder by some Podunk sheriff,” he growled, pacing in a tight circle, clearly agitated.
As unobtrusively as possible, she peered under the partial walls that separated her cubicle from the other dressing rooms. No other feet in sight. No sounds except muffled voices from the front of the store. It wouldn’t do any good to scream. The young salesclerk would be more hindrance than help. Luke would be next door by now. Even if he was out front, attracting his attention would probably also bring Jen, and Sally would change her mind and gladly become Emmett Purnell’s sex slave rather than endanger her little girl.
Though her head was spinning, she got the impression he was waiting for her to say something. What did he expect? An apology? An excuse? The pounding inside her skull precluded any formal speech. Her gaze drifted back to the gap between the floor and the cubicle wall. It had to be at least twelve inches. She could fit through—though probably not gracefully.
Emmett pulled a short stool from the corner, positioned it in front of the door and dropped onto it, raking one hand across the back of his neck and then over his face. Unexpectedly, he sighed and fixed his gaze on her again.
Blinking her blurry vision into focus, Sally got her first good look at his face and stared in astonishment. “What happened to you?” Yellowish purple bruises and cuts covered him from chin to forehead. His lips were torn in at least three places. Knotted bruises dotted his jaw. On closer inspection, she noticed he held his left arm tight to his side, and he bent slightly at the waist, the other arm cradling his ribs. The man had clearly been beaten unmercifully, and she had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach it had something to do with her.
“What happened?” she repeated, more forcefully this time.
Of all things…Emmett laughed, sounding almost embarrassed. “As pissed off as I was at you, that’s nothing compared to the whoop-ass I’m gonna give the old geezer who ambushed me outside the sheriff’s office this morning.”
Wait a minute. Was pissed off? Did that mean he was over being upset with her?
Sally was grasping at straws. “You were mugged?” She couldn’t help but wince at the ugly bruises and welts distorting his face.
“Not exactly. This was personal. The old man had a couple of thugs with him so he didn’t have to get his hands dirty.” Emmett’s swollen lips gave him a lisp, but his anger and scorn came through loud and clear.
Sally shifted nervously, trying to gauge whether she could roll out of her cubicle into the next, jump to her feet and escape before Emmett moved his stool from in front of the door, caught up to her and choked her to death in a fit of rage. The odds weren’t in her favor. Glancing in his direction, she saw that he was watching her intently…expectantly.
“Why are you here? You don’t think I had anything to do with the attack, do you?” She recoiled at the idea.
“I came to find you, but damned if I know why I bothered.” Emmett stared accusingly, then huffed a breath as though he couldn’t believe he was sitting across from her in a tiny women’s dressing room.
Join the club, buddy.
His gaze locked on hers. “The man that did this was looking for you, darlin’. I guess he thought I’d know where you were. Apparently, he doesn’t know about your boyfriend with the dog tags…yet, but you might want to give—Harding, is it?—a heads-up.”
Oh God. Clive Brennan wouldn’t think twice about doing that kind of damage to another human being if he thought it would gain him the answers he wanted. Instinctively, she shuttered her expression and feigned ignorance. “Looking for me? Who was he?”
Emmett slammed his knuckles against the wall, and Sally jumped. “Don’t test my patience, woman. I took this beating because the old man didn’t believe me when I told him I knew nothing about a fire or where you’d disappeared to, but he made it crystal clear it was very important he find you. Call me suspicious, but I didn’t get a good vibe for why he wanted you.” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “I might have had too much to drink last night and I might have acted like a jerk. I’m not apologizing, mind you. It is what it is, but if he’s looking for you…well, I decided I’d find you first.”
Surprise cracked the walls she’d erected around herself. “You came to warn me?”
“Don’t look so shocked. I have my moments. Are you going to tell me who the son of a bitch is?”
A ghost of a smile threatened, and Sally ducked her head until she wiped it away. Under the cubicle door, she spotted a pair of military boots two or three feet away. Motionless and silent, Luke waited, no doubt listening to every word. She should have known. Relief surged through her, and she turned her gaze back to Emmett so he wouldn’t become curious about why she was staring.
“What did he look like?”
“Late sixties, gray hair, glasses, five-ten or so, thin, wore a dark trench coat. The two ballbusters he had with him were hard-core. Spoke with heavy accents. Russian, I think.”
Sally nodded once. There didn’t seem to be any reason to lie. This would be the second time in a matter of hours she’d spoken aloud the truth she’d kept buried for over ten years, and the words still came hard. “His name is Clive Brennan. It’s possible he’s a spy—I’m not sure. What I know is, he murdered a family in Mississippi years ago, and I testified against him. He went to prison and the feds put me in my own glass cage—witness protection. Clive was released three months ago. I’d hoped he would get on with his life and forget about me.” She hadn’t been totally honest with Luke when she told him, and she wasn’t about to confide her most shameful secret to Emmett—that Clive was her father and not likely to ever forget her betrayal.
Emmett grunted. “Apparently, he still wants something from you—damn bad. Like I said…it seems personal. My advice is to leave the state. Get as far away as you can. Go somewhere he’d never think to look for you. Maybe he’ll give up.”
Sally’s gaze flicked over his mutilated face. “I’m sorry you got caught up in this, Emmett. Sorry you had to come all this way. How did you find us anyway?”
“Once I found out your friend Luke was Garrett Harding’s brother and that Garrett’s Jeep wasn’t anywhere around Cougar Ridge, I contacted a few friends of mine and put out the word. Didn’t take them long to spot the vehicle, and I flew one of the company helos up. Then I just waited for Harding to leave you alone. I was beginning to think he’d never let loose of you.”
“It won’t happen again.” Luke’s sudden addition to the conversation from outside the dressing room startled Sally, even though she’d known he was close by.
The anger seemed to have left Emmett’s face as they’d talked, but now that Luke stood outside the door, Sally studied Emmett carefully for any sign of the short fuse she’d come to know.
“Well, Harding, I was wondering how long you’d leave us unattended.” Emmett seemed to enjoy trying to rile him.
Luke’s boots moved closer to the door, and he tapped on the wall with something hard. “You want to step out here, or should I come in?”
“Put your gun away, Harding. I’m not armed.” Emmett unfolded his tall frame, shoved the stool out of the way and offered his hand to Sally.
She hesitated before shrugging and allowing him to help her up. She still didn’t trust him completely—probably never would—but she could believe he was single-minded enough to chase her down and warn her if he thought doing so would somehow exact revenge from the man responsible for beating the tar out of him. Mostly, though, if Emmett’s intention had been to harm her, he’d had ample opportunity. He moved aside, and she pulled the door open and stepped out.
Luke caught her hand and tugged her to the side, bringing his firearm to bear on Emmett. “Are you all right, babe?” Luke’s tortured eyes swept over her, worry, impatience and relief cascading across his face.
“I’m fine, mostly.” She rubbed the tender spot on the back of her head. “Not his fault,” she quickly added when Luke scowled. “Just my own clumsiness.”
Luke squeezed her hand and then focused on Emmett. “Turn around and put your hands against the wall.”
Emmett smiled coldly. “I told you I wasn’t armed.”
“Humor me.”
Emmett stared at Luke as the seconds stretched, then suddenly laughed. “I knew I liked you, Harding. You remind me of me.” He turned, leaned his hands against the wall and spread his legs.
“High praise indeed.” Luke tucked his weapon in his belt and quickly searched the man.
“Luke, where’s Jen?” Sally’s voice was a strained whisper, unable to believe it’d taken her so long to miss her daughter’s presence.
“Don’t worry. She’s out front with Maryanne, the salesclerk. I promised to double her commission if she kept Jen occupied for a few minutes.”
Emmett swung around and glanced from Luke to Sally. “Satisfied?”
“More like surprised. You don’t strike me as the type who travels without a bodyguard or a weapon.” Luke pushed Sally toward the front of the store. “Go find Jen. I want a word with your friend here.”
Emmett’s grin was cocky. “This should be good.”
Sally paused, looking between the two belligerent men. “Luke, you heard why he came, right? To warn us?”
Luke nodded, without taking his eyes off Emmett. “That’s why he’s still alive.”
A gruff chuckle rumbled from Emmett’s throat. “Darlin’, go get your kid. We knights have some jousting to do.”
Sally snorted scornfully. Have at it, then. She was too emotionally exhausted to care at the moment. Men with their wannabe balls of steel and their delicate egos—it would serve them right if their words dissolved into a free-for-all. As long as she…or Jen…didn’t have to watch. Leaving the skirt and blouses hanging in the dressing room, she turned abruptly and marched toward the front of the store.
* * * *
That was the third time in the last twenty minutes Sally had glanced into the back of the Jeep, obviously checking on Jen. Luke couldn’t decipher whether she was worried about Jen or just life in general. Every time he looked toward the little girl in the rearview mirror, she was intent on the new book Sally had bought for her after they’d left the department store.
He caught Sally’s hand as she faced the front again. “Penny for your thoughts.”
A genuine smile brightened her features for a couple of seconds before it faded. “Did you believe Emmett? You don’t think he’ll go back and tell Clive Brennan where we are, do you? Is that what you talked about?” Sally lowered her voice and leaned closer.
Luke brought her hand to his lips for a lingering kiss. He could almost feel her tension. “I think Emmett will do whatever it takes to get payback from Brennan. It was big of him to warn you, because he had no way of knowing you already suspected Brennan. Don’t get me wrong—Emmett isn’t a man I’d trust to watch my back. But in this case, I can’t see him doing anything to help the man that beat the sh…crap out of him. And…let’s not forget, he’s a man with resources. Sometimes it makes sense to give the benefit of the doubt to a person like that…if you can stomach it.” He covered her hand with his. “That’s what we talked about.”
Sally pulled away and unconsciously massaged the back of her head for a moment.
“How’s your headache?”
She dropped her hands into her lap. “Better. Thanks. You haven’t told me very much about this place we’re going.”
Luke slipped his phone from his pocket. “Hold that thought. I need to give Daniel a call.” He found his friend’s number in his contacts and pushed to dial, then hit the button to put the conversation on speaker. Ian’s brother answered after three rings, but the connection was lousy. “Hey. It’s Luke.”
“Well…our long lost…a week ago.” Daniel’s side of the conversation was breaking up badly, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out what he’d said. It was a totally legitimate gripe.
“I’m sorry, Daniel. I know I said I’d be there last week.” Luke paused. “I got a little lost, I guess, but I found what I was looking for. In fact, I’m bringing a couple of friends with me, and we’ll be there in about twenty minutes…if that’s all right.” How much of the conversation was Daniel getting on his end?
“No problem…ass up here. Couple things…tell you…cell phone…sucks. No surprise…don’t go all apeshit…some…” The call abruptly went dead. Luke tried calling him back twice but got no answer. This wasn’t the first time he’d phoned Daniel, so he was well aware the cell phone service was abysmal. But don’t go apeshit? What the hell did that mean? He scowled as he dropped the device in the cup holder.
“Is he okay with Jen and me coming?” Concern wrinkled Sally’s forehead.
“Oh yeah. No worries there.” Luke smiled and locked away his apprehension. He wasn’t concerned that Sally and Jen wouldn’t be welcome, but Daniel had something going on he seemed to think would rile Luke. What that could be, he had no idea, and there was no sense worrying until he did know.
Sally, already agitated, would clearly be better off without him adding to her unease, so he shoved the issue to the back of his mind. “You asked about the place. I’ve never actually been there. Remember when I told you about Ian Mathias dying in Afghanistan, and his brother, Daniel, coming to see me in the hospital?” Luke flinched, first, because the memory of Ian’s death still horrified him as though it’d happened only yesterday, and second, because he wasn’t sure what effect the mention of visitors who’d been allowed in his room would have on Sally.
“Of course. He invited you to his home…and you were supposed to be there a week ago? He’s probably been worried.” If the subject of visitation upset Sally, she didn’t let on.
“I know. I should have called way before now.” Luke had avoided the entire topic of Sally when conversing with Daniel. Somehow, the matter of losing the woman he loved, though important to him, had seemed trite in comparison to a man who’d recently lost his little brother in the most gruesome way imaginable. “He’s married with a daughter—five years old, I think. They own some rustic hunting cabins on the Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry. And by rustic, I mean…I hope you don’t hate it there.”
Sally arched an eyebrow. “You’ve seen my house, right? Before, that is. Now it’s just a pile of charcoal. My point is, I’m not used to fancy. I think I can deal with rustic for a few days.”
The sparkle in her eyes mesmerized Luke. He would have leaned over for a kiss if the sign heralding the turnoff for Kootenai River Cabins hadn’t appeared up ahead with an arrow pointing left onto a narrow road.
He slowed to make the turn. “Ten more miles.”
The first fifty feet of roadway was chip sealed and fairly smooth. After they passed the mailbox, adorned with the name “Mathias,” all traces of smooth vanished. The track they followed was filled with rocks, potholes and mud. Luke crept along, conscious it was his brother’s Jeep he drove, and still the occupants were bounced and jostled at every turn.
“I don’t think your friend wants very much company.” Sally held fast to the dash with one hand and the edge of her seat with the other.
Luke glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure Jen was buckled in securely. “I don’t think that’s it. He’s one of the friendliest guys you’d ever want to meet. He and Ian bought this place together. Daniel ran the business while Ian went off to do his patriotic duty. Ian was the only family Daniel had, besides his wife and kid. He was a mess the first time I saw him—worse than me.” Luke smiled at the memory of the man, who looked so much like his friend, Ian, walking into his hospital room. Luke had been on a rampage, alienating all the nurses because he didn’t want anyone bathing him or helping him piss in a bottle. There were just some things a man couldn’t abide.
“One day, Daniel walked in my room, pushed a chair close to the bed and sat down. He looked just like Ian, and I didn’t have to ask why he was there. He had this haunted expression, and his eyes were red and swollen. Kind of gave him a crazy look. I figured I didn’t look much better. He sat there for a while, just staring, and finally, he said, ‘Is Ian really dead?’” Daniel’s first words had hit Luke so hard he would have fled the room if he’d been able to move his legs.
“Oh, Luke. That must have been so hard.” Sally’s gaze burned into the side of his face, but he didn’t turn.
He’d lose it if he saw the sympathy he heard in her voice. “I didn’t want to tell him how his brother died at the hands of those animals, but he insisted. He wanted to know every detail. By the time I was done, we were both bawling our eyes out, but knowing what a hero Ian had been seemed to help him accept his death.” For his part, the mere act of relating the details to another human being had probably saved Luke’s sanity.
“Daniel came back the next day when three of my buddies were there. SEALs I’d served with.”
“Yeah, I saw them.” Sally’s voice sounded strained, but there was still concern in her expression when he glanced over.
He reached for her hand anyway. “I’m so sorry, babe.”
“You’ve already apologized. I’m just giving you a hard time. Too soon?” She clamped her teeth down on her bottom lip, obviously trying to keep the amusement sparkling in her eyes from traveling to her full, beautifully shaped mouth.
“No. You can give me as much crap as you want…as long as you don’t change your mind about us.” Luke released her hand so he could put both of his back on the steering wheel.
“That won’t happen, Luke. Tell me about your three friends.”
Luke couldn’t help laughing. “They’re a rowdy bunch. I thought they were joking when they told me they weren’t signing on the line again. They were the best at what they did, and I couldn’t imagine them wanting to punch a clock somewhere. What Ian and I went through in that prison was brutal, but apparently watching from the sidelines was no cakewalk either.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Sally’s eyes shimmered. “I imagine it was doubly hard for men used to taking matters into their own hands to stand idly by for months, knowing what you were going through, knowing the likely outcome and not being able to do a damn thing.”
“Mom, language.” Jen’s admonishment came from behind them without her even looking up from her book.
Sally dropped her head. “Sorry, sweetheart,” she said, her muffled laughter following.
Luke didn’t laugh. He’d been selfishly blind all this time. Never dwelling on what his captivity meant to her, or his family or his friends and fellow SEALs. Even after his buddies had told him they’d had enough of the Navy…and why…he hadn’t made the connection. She’d been waiting at home with no news, no hope and no end in sight. Then, as the fucking cherry on top of the sundae, he’d surprised everyone by coming home alive…and refused to see her. It took a special kind of jackass to be so self-absorbed. Yet she’d forgiven him.
He let the Jeep roll to a stop as he stared at her bowed head. She looked up and met his gaze questioningly as he put the vehicle in Park. Shame gripped his chest until he had to fight for his next breath, and he tore his gaze from hers. All those months—he’d had all the time in the world for introspection. Not once had he put himself in her place. Not one fucking thought about whether she cried herself to sleep at night, worrying about him—or maybe she’d been afraid to close her eyes in sleep…just like he’d been. Shit! Self-loathing rose and choked him.
Somehow, he got the door open and stepped out onto the muddy roadbed. With no destination in mind, he started walking, grateful for the air that filled his lungs. A few more deep breaths and he could almost think straight. He recognized the panic attack for what it was, courtesy of the thousand or so that had come before. What he didn’t know was…why now?
Luke turned and marched back toward the Jeep. Sally watched him from the passenger seat, her expression apprehensive and wary. He stopped. That was it. He’d lost her once because he didn’t consider her reactions…at all. Now, he was doing it again—shutting her out when he should be telling her what was going on in his head. He changed directions, skirting the front of the Jeep until he stood by her window. Damned if he would lose her again.
Sally opened her door, her eyes still holding a certain caution.
Luke closed the gap, lifting her off the seat and into his arms. Her heart was beating against his chest—in fear? Not acceptable.
“Jen, read your book for a minute, okay?” He barely waited to hear her grunt before he closed the door. Taking a step away from the Jeep, he set Sally on her feet and held her at arm’s length.
“Was it something I said?” Her voice was low, sensuous and went straight to his heart.
“No, sunshine.” He smiled and smoothed the hair behind her ears. “I just realized how lucky I am to have you in my life—how close I came to never being able to do this again.” He leaned closer and found her mouth with his.
A buzz of electricity vibrated between them wherever his lips or tongue touched her, and he couldn’t get enough. Sally fisted her hands in his T-shirt, her forearms braced against his chest, and gave back as good as she got. It was a couple of minutes before Luke remembered Jen. He broke the kiss, glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see her nose plastered against the glass, and breathed a sigh of relief when she was nowhere to be seen.
When he turned back to Sally, she was already laughing, and he chuckled with her. “You’ll have to educate me on the nuances of living with a daughter.”
Her mouth curved in the sexiest smile. “I’m pretty sure you already know as much as I do.”
“Then we’ll learn together.”
Her smile faded. “Luke, let’s not make promises—”
“This is the perfect time for promises, sunshine. I can’t lose you again. I love you. Marry me. Let me spend the rest of my life cherishing you. That’s my promise to you, Sally.”
The regret in her eyes told him he’d screwed up big-time. He’d known better than to allow his emotions free rein, but he’d gotten caught up in his epiphany and the force of his feelings for her. He hadn’t meant to push her. Now, his declaration was out there, and the I’d-rather-be-somewhere-else look on her face gave him her answer.
Time for damage control. He pulled her against him, sliding his arms around her waist. “Shh. Don’t answer that.”
Gently, he kissed first one corner of her mouth and then the other. Sadness stole over him, but he deliberately shook it off. Sally wasn’t ready. She had a shitload of crap going on in her life and more important things to worry about than him. He could be patient.
He forced a grin as he ran his thumb over her lower lip. “Maybe I’ll ask you again someday.”
She held his gaze for a long moment before she blinked, and her sliver of a smile resembled a smirk. “Jen and I are homeless. An angry man is trying to kill me. I might be on the run for the rest of my life. This isn’t the right time to make commitments. Hanging around me could get you killed. Even if Clive doesn’t find me this time, what about the next time he gets close? What if you’re sorry you got trapped in a relationship you never really wanted? I’m not going to let you do that.” Satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
Luke frowned. Shit! He’d heard those words before. Hell, he’d spoken them…to her. Just as he’d made the decision that a disabled man wasn’t good enough for her, she was throwing his logic back in his face. Deciding it was too dangerous for him to be around her—suggesting he’d be sorry someday and want out. It was the exact thing he’d done to her…and, damn it, she’d made her point.
She flashed him an impish grin.
Luke rubbed a hand across the back of his neck and laughed sheepishly. “Okay. I deserved that, but if you think you’re getting rid of me, it’s not happening. You’re stuck with me, at least until this situation is resolved. I told you I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you or Jen, and I’m a man of my word. Can we agree on that much?” Even if she couldn’t, there was no way in hell he’d walk away.
Sally’s playful laugh put him at ease again, loosening the knot in his belly. “I’m really glad you’re here, Luke.” She studied him, a flirtatious curve in her smile. Raising on her toes, she leaned into him until her breath warmed his ear. “After all, you’ve got all those condoms…” Her soft lips fluttered against his neck.
All the blood left his head for parts south, and a groan rumbled from deep in his chest. “Holy hell, woman, that’s so not fair.” He snagged her hand and tugged her toward the Jeep. “Let’s go. Maybe Daniel has a two-bedroom cabin…with locks on the doors.”
The look she flashed him was all innocence as he held the door for her.
The next few miles, silence reined in the Jeep’s interior, interspersed with full-body perusals and sexy smiles from the brunette in the seat beside him. He’d always thought her fairly reserved sexually, but what she was doing to him now with only her eyes had to be intentional. The normal blue of her irises had darkened to sapphire, partially hooded by long lashes that softly brushed her skin with each flutter of her eyelids. Her sultry glances were driving him crazy. He shifted slightly, easing the denim fabric over his groin.
Luke welcomed the intrusion of Jen into his heated thoughts when she dropped her book, reached forward and tapped his elbow. “Are we almost there?”
“Just a couple more miles. Are you getting hungry?” Luke studied her in the mirror.
“No. Just tired of this bumpy road.” She sighed.
“I hear that. When we get there, we’ll have a look around, get settled in our cabin and meet our hosts. Then we can do whatever you’d like. How’s that sound?” Luke felt Sally’s curious gaze, but he only smiled.
“We’ll be close to a river, sweetie. Maybe we can go fishing.” Sally glanced over her shoulder.
Jen brightened. “From a boat?”
“Just so happens Daniel rents boats. We’ll see what we can arrange,” Luke said.
They crested a rise, and he braked. Below them, the road flattened out and became a well-groomed, two-lane gravel road. A green valley filled with wildflowers spread on both sides of a meandering river, and snow-capped mountains stood sentinel on three sides. A small cluster of brown cabins hugged the foot of the mountain about twelve hundred yards north of their current position. Considering they were the only cabins he could see and the gravel road ended in their midst, that had to be their destination.
Two minutes later, Luke parked beside an old white Suburban in front of the largest cabin and cut the engine. An equally old Ford pickup and a seventies’ model Chevy Super Sport waited there as well. Daniel appeared, banging through the screen door, and jumped off the top step, followed more sedately by a blond-haired woman and a towheaded little girl. Luke turned to Sally and nodded his head toward his friend, including Jen in his gaze. “Come on, ladies. I want Daniel to meet you.”
Luke exited the vehicle and strode toward Daniel. All six feet of his rugged build exuded the friendly welcome Luke had expected. When they reached each other, Luke grasped the extended hand, but Daniel pulled him in for a bear hug anyway.
“It’s about time you showed up, Luke. Did you have some trouble?” Daniel’s brow creased in concern.
“Some, but we can talk about that later. I want you to meet some very important people.” Luke held his gaze for a moment.
Daniel nodded and a lazy grin appeared. “So that’s how it is, huh?”
“Now, Daniel, don’t you embarrass that girl.” The woman who had followed Daniel from the cabin hooked elbows with him and reached to shake Luke’s hand. “We’re so glad you’re here, Luke. I’m Ellen, Daniel’s better half.”
“True, that.” Daniel nodded vigorously.
Luke enjoyed her teasing banter. “Nice to meet you, Ellen. I hope it’s okay. I brought some friends.”
Sally approached, her arm around Jen’s shoulders.
“We love having company. The more the merrier, I always say. Right, Daniel?”
“That’s the way of it around here.” He patted his wife’s arm.
Jen quietly slipped her hand into Luke’s and her uncertainty came through loud and clear. “Daniel, Ellen, I’d like you to meet Sally Duncan and her daughter, Jen.”
It always amazed Luke how quickly women made friends. Within sixty seconds, they were deep in conversation, headed toward the main cabin for a cup of tea. Of course, Sally had been reluctant to leave Jen, but he’d latched onto her hand and smiled his assurance, hoping Sally would get the message he could handle one nine-year-old girl. An instant later, the small blond-haired child, the spitting image of Daniel, stepped closer and fastened one spindly arm around her father’s leg. He introduced Luke and Jen to five-year-old Bridgett, whose first words were, “Do you want to see my pony?” After a brief reminder from Daniel about safety, they ran off toward the corrals, visible behind the cabins.
Abruptly, a shrill whistle shattered the serenity of the valley, and everyone, including Sally and Ellen, stopped to stare in the direction of the river as a loud shout reached them. “Hey! Guys! He’s here.”
Luke recognized the voice at the exact moment he noticed the terror in Sally’s eyes. Quickly, he jogged across the grass to her side, vaguely aware of Daniel following him.
“Where’s Jen?” Panic strained her voice.
“She’s okay. Listen to me.” He placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “It’s not Brennan. Remember my friends—the ones you saw at the hospital? The one doing the yelling is Travis. I assume the guys he’s referring to are MacGyver and Coop.” He glanced sideways at Daniel, pacing nearby. “And this must be what you didn’t want me to go apeshit over?”
Daniel nodded.
“Shit, man. You gotta do something about your cell service.” Luke swallowed the groan building up within him. It wasn’t that he minded his friends showing up at the same time he did, but fuck, given what Sally had been through, it would have been nice to have a little advance notice.
Daniel spoke up as though he’d read Luke’s thoughts. “I tried to warn you.”
Luke sighed. Yes, he had. Too bad it hadn’t worked. Seeing his friends approaching from the corner of the cabin, he turned back to Sally.
“Ready to meet them?”
She stood a little straighter, and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Luke took that as a good sign. “They’re a little rough around the edges, but they’re good people. You’ll like them—just don’t believe everything you hear.”