Authors: Lynette Eason
“Eli again.”
“What’s up?”
“I found something interesting about Ms. O’Sullivan’s brother-in-law.”
Cal felt his gut clench in spite of himself. “What’s that?”
“He’s got a spotless record. In fact, he’s been the recipient of just about every cop award out there.”
“But?” Cal waited knowing something was coming.
“I talked to his captain. After Reese’s wife died, he didn’t want to take any time off. Said he couldn’t sit at home and stare at four walls and not go completely over the edge.”
“I can understand that.” If something like that happened to him, he’d feel the same way.
“Yeah, but his captain told him he didn’t have a choice.”
Cal winced. “Ouch.”
“Anyway, Detective Kirkpatrick took his two weeks, but came into the office every day at some point until he was chased off. Said he was spending his vacation at the office and if his captain didn’t like it, he could fire him.”
Also sounded like something Cal would do. So far, he was having a hard time picturing the man as a bad cop. “Then what?”
“He wouldn’t take time off to grieve for his dead family, but took a leave of absence two days after Abby left town.”
A bad feeling crawled into his stomach to stay. “And?”
“And no one’s heard from him since. His parents are both dead. He was raised in foster homes for the most part. No one wanted to adopt him because he was such a troublemaker. But apparently around his junior or senior year, the school resource officer at his high school took an interest in him.”
“Did you talk to this guy?”
“Sure did. His name’s Glenn Pierce. And he’s adamant that Reese would never do what he’s being accused of, that he’s a good man who’s lived through a world of hurt.”
Cal sighed. “Man, I don’t know what to think.”
“I know.” Eli sounded dubious. Then he said, “His in-laws, Abby’s parents, say they haven’t talked to him since their daughter Keira’s funeral and they have no idea where he’d go.” A pause. “However, I did talk to Detective Kirkpatrick’s partner. The man said that Reese was messed up pretty bad. Not sleeping, not eating. Said his wife’s and baby’s deaths have just about destroyed him.”
“Enough that he would seek revenge against the woman he considered responsible for their deaths?”
“Maybe.” He paused and Cal heard papers shuffling in the background. “Kirkpatrick must have scared her pretty bad. She managed to get a restraining order approved.”
“Yeah, she told me. But if he left two days after Abby, I don’t see how it’s possible that Abby may have seen him in the bus station the day she arrived in town.”
“I don’t think she could have even though it looks like he was right behind her on the same route that she took. He didn’t even try to hide the fact that he was following her. But the dates don’t match up. I don’t think Abby could have seen him in the bus station.”
Frowning, Cal considered that. “We’ll just have to ask him when we catch up to him. Can you get his picture out to everyone? All of the hotels and bed and breakfasts, too?”
“Already done.”
Cal rubbed his eyes. “All right. How’s the weather looking? I haven’t had a chance to keep up with it in the past few hours.”
“Looking pretty grim.”
“Great. Look, my mother and Jesse are headed for the hospital in Asheville. Fiona’s having contractions. Can you have the ambulance on call in case we need it?” The town of Rose Mountain had only one.
Cal winced at Eli’s short, humorless laugh. “Cal, that ambulance isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The roads are already covered up. Later this evening, they’re just going to be ice. You’ll need a tank to get off your place at that point.”
“Or the snowmobile.” Cal wondered how it would work getting Fiona on the machine and to the hospital. He didn’t see that happening. The bad feeling in his gut didn’t go away.
“Or that.”
“Thanks, Eli. Keep me posted on anything else you come up with.”
“Will do.”
Cal hung up the phone, his thoughts racing. He walked back into the den to find Fiona in a restless sleep, her forehead pinched and mouth drawn, and Abby pacing.
She looked up as he walked in and Cal blanched at the tears swimming in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
He couldn’t stand it. Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms and marveled at how well she fit next to him. “It’ll be all right, Abby. It’s really not your fault.”
She shuddered and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I feel like it is. I feel like everything’s my fault lately and I’m at a loss about what to do with it.”
“Let God handle it.”
“God let Keira and baby Emma die. I don’t want to trust Him with anything else.” She shuddered.
Cal closed his eyes wondering how to convince her that God still had her in the palm of His hand and knew what was best even when that best seemed the worst she could ever imagine. “Do you believe God is who He says He is?”
“I don’t know. I want to. I used to.”
“He’s the one true God. He died for you because He loved you so much. And that you have to believe that and accept that to be with Him when you die? Do you believe that?”
“Yes,” she whispered, “I do believe that.”
“Then you’ve got to believe everything else He says because you can’t pick and choose which parts of the Bible are true and which ones you just don’t like.”
“Like all things work together for the good of those who believe in Him?” She bit her lip and the tears clouding her eyes dripped.
“Yep.” He swiped one from her cheek and felt its warmth against his finger. It broke his heart.
“But what good will come of Keira’s death?” she cried into his chest. “I can’t see it.”
He hugged her tighter. “You can’t see it now, but maybe one day, He’ll make it all clear for you.”
“I feel like He let me down,” she mumbled her words, still muffled against him. “Not only am I angry with Him, I’m…disappointed in Him.”
Cal nodded and kissed her head. “I know.”
Low, quiet sobs shook her and, helpless, he simply held her until she had no more tears left to cry.
Abby had to admit that while she felt like a complete idiot after her little breakdown in Cal’s arms, she also felt better. Fortunately, Fiona slept through it and Cal didn’t seem to be terribly put out that Abby had used his shirt to mop her tears.
He’d finally placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then showed her to the spare bedroom giving her time and space to compose herself. He told her he was going to join Zane in a ride around the property as he didn’t want the man going off by himself.
“Keep the doors locked and stay away from the windows. I’ve got my cell phone. Call me if you need anything.”
Now, all alone, she pulled her own cell phone from her pants pocket and dialed her work number.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Lisa, it’s Abby.”
A gasp met her statement. “Abby? How are you?
Where
are you?”
“I left you a note. I took a little vacation.”
“That note didn’t explain anything, but—” she paused “—I guess we all understand why you need a little time off.”
Abby winced. “Yeah.” She wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “I need to speak with Dr. Owens. Is he there?” One never called Dr. Samuel Owens by his given name. It didn’t matter if one was a colleague or a receptionist or the mayor. He was Dr. Owens.
Lisa sighed. “No, he’s not here. His wife had her baby last night.”
Oh, right. She’d forgotten the man was a soon-to-be father. “Did he deliver the baby?” she asked.
“Yes.” The smile in Lisa’s voice said everything had gone well.
“Okay, what about Randall?”
“No.” Lisa drew the word out into two syllables. “He’s not here, either. But Dr. Wert and Dr. Ishmael are here.”
Abby considered them and sighed. “No, I really need to speak with Randall.” Randall had been there during the dark days after her sister’s death. He’d often come by the office when she’d stayed late, encouraging her to go home and rest. And walking her to her car when she needed him, too. “Where is he?”
“His mother took a turn for the worse. He left about a week ago. He checks in every day, though. Do you want me to tell him to call you?”
“No, that’s all right. I’ve got his cell phone number.”
“Sure. Anything else I can do for you?”
Abby thought about it. “No, I guess not. Thanks, Lisa. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon. If not, have a merry Christmas.”
“You, too.”
Abby hung up, no longer worried about Reese tracking her through her cell phone. Somehow, he’d managed to follow her in spite of all of her precautions.
Now she just had to figure out how to keep him from unleashing his bitterness on the family she’d come to care about.
Cal sat on top of the horse and stared down at the house where Abby and Fiona were. He felt a little uneasy at the thought of leaving them alone, but he wasn’t riding far and could see the house from where he was. He had his cell phone and they had his number.
However, Zane had ridden farther in the direction the bullet had come from.
A copse of trees had made the perfect cover for the shooter. A direct view of the barn and the house—and everything in between. The man had been a good shot. The distance was about half a mile. If the horse hadn’t spooked at the cat, Joseph might very well have a bullet inside of him.
The fact that he’d had a horse fall on him might actually be a blessing in disguise. If he’d been shot, he might have died instantly.
Then again, he might be dying slowly at this very moment. Cal refused to believe that.
Please, God, let him live to see his child. My sister needs him. His baby needs a father.
Cal sighed and waited for Zane to come back over the hill. The wind whipped around him and Cal was grateful for the warm hat that sat snug on his head, covering his ears. Sheepskin gloves kept his hands from freezing, but the jeans he had on weren’t quite warm enough.
But he didn’t plan to be out here much longer.
Movement caught his eye and his hand went to his rifle. A second later, Zane appeared, rifle in one hand and something in the other.
“What you got?” Cal asked.
Zane rode closer. “Found a casing.” He handed it over to Cal who studied it. “A Winchester 40 S & W.” Cal grunted as he shifted his own Winchester. “Well, he’s got good taste in weapons.”
“Surprised he didn’t take it with him.” Zane rubbed his jaw and Cal watched the man scan the hills, his eyes alert, sharp and ready for anything.
“Might have heard the chopper, thought it was the cops and decided it was time to get out while he could.” Cal tried to picture the events in his mind and it was the only thing that made sense.
“Possibly.”
“I’m also curious why he shot only one time,” Cal muttered, pocketing the casing. He’d turn it over to Eli to match it up with the bullet found in the yard. And if a weapon was found that could possibly be the one used by the shooter, the casing would be matched with the weapon. Cal looked down at the house. All looked quiet. “He had to have seen that he didn’t hit anything. I don’t understand why he didn’t try again.”
Zane shrugged. “Maybe something scared him off?”
“Maybe,” Cal agreed. “See anything else?”
“Nope. I rode along the fence line for a while, the area closest to the house, and didn’t see any new tracks.”
Cal allowed his shoulders to relax a fraction. “All right, let’s get out of this weather and check up on Joseph.”
Zane nodded and turned his horse toward the barn.
Cal looked down at Fiona’s house once more and thought how peaceful it looked right now.
Unfortunately, he knew that looks could be deceiving.
THIRTEEN
A
bby sat in the recliner and stared at the television mounted on the wall. The weather channel ran nonstop news about the snow/ice storm pelting the southeast. And she was right in the middle of it.
With a pregnant woman and a five-year-old.
Ten minutes ago she’d checked on Tiffany. The little girl had fallen asleep in front of the television and Abby had covered her with a light blanket.
Now her mind circled back to Fiona. She wasn’t sure at what point she’d realized she was probably going to have to help deliver Fiona’s baby, but the thought was now at the forefront of her mind. There was no way Fiona could safely be transported off the ranch to a hospital.
Which meant a home birth.
The thought made her hands shake and her stomach swirl. She couldn’t do it.
But she might have to.
God, please…
The prayer slipped through her mind easily, naturally. She’d missed Him. With a dawning knowledge, she realized she wasn’t mad at God anymore, just very, very sad that He’d allowed her sister to die.
Abby strode to the attached bathroom to splash water on her face and pull in a deep breath. A look in the mirror didn’t help matters. She found herself staring straight into terror-filled eyes.
What was she going to do? She couldn’t leave now because of the weather. And she wouldn’t leave Fiona alone anyway. Not at this point in her pregnancy.
“Abby?”
“Coming.”
Abby opened the door to find Fiona standing at the end of the hallway. “Are you all right?”
Fiona looked tired, wan, worried, but she nodded even as tears filled her eyes. “I’ll be all right. I just got a call from the hospital. You were right. Joseph had a lot of internal bleeding. He’s in surgery.”
“But he made it there safely.” And he made it alive. “What about your mother and Jesse?”
“They’re still fighting the weather, but are making progress. Mom said she expects they’ll get there in shortly. It’s stopped snowing for now.”
“Really?” She hadn’t noticed. Together they walked into the den. “Maybe that’ll make it a little easier for them.” Abby motioned to Fiona’s stomach. “Any more contractions?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Fiona gave a wan smile. “Yeah.”
A shadow passed outside the den window and Abby felt her neck muscles tense. A low hum reached her ears. There were no blinds or shades to draw and she felt exposed. Of course out here in the middle of three-thousand acres, Fiona and Joseph wouldn’t feel the need to cover their windows. However, Abby couldn’t help wishing for a little bit of cover right now.
Without alarming Fiona, Abby moved toward the window, staying close to the side, doing her best not to be too obvious.
The wide-open fields beyond the house would make it hard for someone to sneak up. But the trees planted strategically around the house would make it easy for someone to hide if they somehow managed to slink across the openness.
Looking out, she saw nothing to alarm her and she no longer heard anything. It was probably just the sun moving, a tree swaying, anything but that there was someone outside.
And yet, she wasn’t going to discount the possibility. Not after her past few weeks. And what had been that sound? She couldn’t put her finger on it, but her internal alarm was screeching. “It looks beautiful out there. A winter landscape waiting to be painted.” She kept her voice even, her tone conversational even as her eyes scanned the landscape.
“Brianne would have done it justice.”
Abby glanced over her shoulder. “Tell me about her?”
A sad smile crossed Fiona’s lips. “She was my cousin. And a friend. My best friend. She was also a victim of domestic violence.”
“Cal told me a little about her.”
“Her husband, a cop, murdered her.” Fiona’s lips twisted and her forehead pulled down into a frown. Tears formed and she blinked them back. “That’s one of the reasons why—” She broke off and bit her lip. Abby gave her time to find the words she seemed to be looking for. “When you said you were running from someone we were so intent on protecting you. We just felt like we should have done more for Brianne, but because Mark was a cop…”
“And it’s hard to believe a cop would do such a thing.” Abby heard the derision in her voice and couldn’t help it.
But Fiona didn’t seem offended by it. Instead, she nodded. “Yes.” Her jaw stiffened. “He was an excellent actor. Played the part of the wounded husband very well. Couldn’t understand why Brianne would do the things she was doing to him.” Fiona shook her head. “Brianne finally quit saying anything.”
“Did you believe her?”
“Yes, but I was the only one. Even Cal wasn’t sure what to believe.”
“I’m sorry.” Abby felt sick for the poor woman and the family who couldn’t protect her.
“It’s done. But—” she pulled in a deep breath and looked at Abby “—we can help others. Like you.”
“Do you think Cal believes me?”
“I think he’s willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your brother-in-law being a cop won’t stop Cal from doing his best to find the truth.”
“I told you the truth.” Abby kept her voice neutral.
Fiona looked at her and smiled a soft smile. “And I believe you. And I think Cal does, too. But he’ll have to have indisputable evidence.”
“Because Reese is a cop.”
“Partly.”
Abby felt the chill deep inside her. Reese would know how to cover his tracks and he would do it with the utmost care. He also loved the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, camping. He would know how to survive out here in the cold and snow.
Then again, a lot of people she knew had the same skills. Did it necessarily have to be Reese? They sat there in silence for the next thirty minutes, watching the weather channel, lost in their own thoughts.
Then Abby said, “I can’t figure it out.”
“What?” Fiona, settled onto the couch, had the remote control in her left hand.
“Reese had a number of chances to get to me before I ran like a scared rabbit. But he didn’t. He intimidated me, yes. He threatened to make me suffer the rest of my life. True. But he never actually acted violent.”
Fiona grimaced. “It doesn’t take much to go from stalking and watching to killing.”
Abby gave a slow nod and went back to her vigil at the window. Careful to stay to the side, she glanced out. Still nothing.
She had just about convinced herself the shadow had been the sun. And then Cal rode into view looking small and far away, but she could tell it was him. “You don’t use vehicles much on this ranch, do you?”
Fiona laughed, the first real smile she’d offered since Joseph’s accident. “Actually, yes, we do. A lot. But in this kind of weather, it makes more sense to use the horses—or the snowmobiles.”
Abby felt a flush creep up her neck. “Well, that was a stupid question, wasn’t it?”
“No, not at all.”
“You’re sweet.”
A knock sounded on the door and Abby walked to peek through the window.
Cal and Zane.
She unlocked and opened the door to let the men in. They’d tied their horses just outside instead of putting them in the barn. Which meant they planned to use them again.
For what?
Cal stomped the snow from his boots and hung his hat on the hook behind the door. Zane followed suit and asked, “Where’s Tiffany?”
“She fell asleep watching the video.”
Zane shook his head. “Her mama doesn’t let her watch them that much, so she takes full advantage when she gets to come over to the McIverses’.” The smile in his eyes said he didn’t mind.
Fiona looked up from her spot on the couch. “Did you see anything suspicious?”
Cal shook his head. “Maybe some more tracks. I got the snowmobile out.”
“Mom just called me five minutes ago and said they’d made it to the hospital. Joseph is the same, still in surgery. She said she’d call as soon as she knew anything else.”
Abby stood silent, watching and listening.
Zane walked into the kitchen and Cal turned his attention to Abby. “How are you feeling?”
“Stupid,” she muttered.
And then he smiled. A slow, lingering, soft smile that made her heart flip and her stomach swoop.
And her mind go, “uh-oh.”
She was falling in love with him. Hard and fast and irrevocably. In love.
Her knees shook at the realization and Abby felt her palms start to sweat.
She wanted to run away. As far as she could flee.
But she couldn’t.
She was stuck.
Snowbound with a man who made her pulse do crazy things.
A throat clearing made them both jump. Zane stood in the doorway of the kitchen with a knowing look on his face.
Abby saw Cal’s cheeks flush and knew she had a matching color in her own face.
Zane said, “I’m going to head on over to the bunk house. Most everyone’s gone to be with family for the holidays. If it’s all right to leave Tiffany here, I reckon I’ll hang around and keep an eye on things down there.”
Cal nodded. “We’d appreciate it. Until we catch this guy, I might need your eyes and ears. And it might be safer for Tiffany to be up here in the house.”
Zane frowned, worry reflected in his eyes. He hesitated. “Maybe I ought to take her with me.”
“Whatever you want to do,” Cal said.
Indecision flickered, then Zane said, “Reckon you’re right. She’s probably better off here.”
He left and Abby glanced at Fiona who’d stood and begun to pace, the phone clutched in her hand. Abby understood the woman’s restlessness but wished she’d sit down. Unless… “Fiona, are you having any more contractions?”
“No, I just can’t sit still.” She resumed her trek back and forth across the room.
Cal frowned at his sister but simply said, “Zane doesn’t have any family around here other than Tiffany right now. He usually joins us for Christmas.”
Abby felt a pang. What would she do for Christmas? The snow on the ground said she might be joining the McIvers family, too. The speculation in Cal’s eyes said he was thinking the same thing.
Abby fingered the phone in her pocket. Should she try her parents’ number? It had been a little over two months since she’d tried. After the last time, she’d decided they would call her when they were ready.
And nothing. They were hurt and grieving.
Well, so was she and she needed them. They needed each other.
Making up her mind, she said, “Excuse me a minute, please. I need to make a phone call.”
Back in her room, she dialed the number she didn’t have to look up. After four rings, she was just about to hang up when her father’s voice came on the line. “Hello?”
Abby’s throat threatened to close up on her. “Hi, Dad. Are you speaking to me yet?”
Silence.
But she was encouraged. She knew he had caller ID and he’d answered the phone anyway. And he hadn’t hung up when he heard her voice.
“Dad?”
“I’m here.” His low husky bass voice brought back lots of good memories. And recent bad ones. Her heart filled with grief and the desperate desire for reconciliation.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I don’t know what else to say. I need you and mom to forgive me.” She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. “I need you to still love me,” she whispered.
Abby heard his breath catch and wondered what he was thinking. She wished she could see his face.
“Gabby girl…”
Her heart thudded. The fact that he would use his childhood nickname for her gave her hope. But how long would he stay on the line? She got control of her emotions and cleared her throat. “Before you hang up, I need to ask you something.”
“What’s that?”
“Have you heard from Reese lately?”
“No.” He sounded puzzled. “Why?”
“Because someone’s been trying to hurt me and he’s the only person I can think of who has a motive.” Abby didn’t bother to mince her words or pull punches.
“What?” he nearly yelled. Well, at least she had his attention.
“I’m okay,” she hurried to reassure him. “I’ve got some good friends who are helping me out, but if you see Reese, please try to talk some sense into him. For his sake, if not for me.”
“Abby, I…I don’t know what to say. What do you want me to do? I mean…”
“Just say you’ll talk to him.”
“Yes, of course. I promise. If I see him.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She didn’t want the conversation to end. It was the first one they’d had without him casting blame. Or weeping uncontrollably.
“I love you, Dad.”
More silence, then she thought she heard, “Love you, too, Gabby girl,” before the quiet click of the phone disconnecting echoed across the line.