Montana D-Force (Brotherhood Protectors Book 3) (9 page)

For a long time, she lay nestled in the warmth and safety of Bear’s arms, counting the breaths he took, her pulse slowing to match the beat of his heart. All the years she’d shied away from men and their lusty intentions, she hadn’t known making love could be so good. Now that she knew, she wanted to take it to the next level.

With a yawn, she closed her eyes and listened to Bear’s steady breathing. The telephone didn’t ring, and the raccoons didn’t return to the attic.

She must have fallen to sleep soon after. The next coherent thought was irritation at the light streaming through the window straight into her eyes.

Mia lifted her arm to block the sun shining through her bedroom window. She couldn’t remember ever sleeping so soundly. Yawning, she stretched, feeling her body slide across the sheet. Her eyes popped open and she jackknifed to a sitting position when she realized she was naked. The pillow beside her was empty, with a deep indentation in the center, proving the night before had really happened. It wasn’t just a figment of her imagination. The beard burn across her breasts tingled, and her nipples tightened.

Deep inside, her core pulsed, reminding her of the need left unsatisfied.

She cocked her head to the side, listening for the sound of Bear’s footsteps in the hallway outside her door. When no sounds came to her, she swung out of the bed, dressed quickly and ran barefoot for the bathroom. There she combed her tangled hair, washed her face and brushed her teeth. For a moment, she hesitated over her makeup, wondering if she should apply a little foundation and blush. One glance at herself in the mirror, and she nixed the idea. Bright pink spots of color filled her cheeks, and her eyes glowed brightly. No makeup necessary.

She wore the afterglow of great sex on her face, and she couldn’t be happier. For the first time since she’d been raped, she’d enjoyed having a man’s hands on her body. And not just his hands.

Heat rose up her neck, brightening the rosy hue of her cheeks. Mia splashed cool water on her face, hoping to douse the fire. How could she face Bear if she couldn’t stop blushing?

At the top of the stairs, she inhaled the scent of fresh coffee brewing and toast.

With her stomach rumbling, Mia hurried down the steps and into the kitchen, determined to face the day and Bear. No regrets.

Bear turned with two mugs of coffee. “Have a seat. I made eggs and toast. I hope you like your eggs scrambled.”

His face impassive, Bear set the mugs on the table and turned back to the counter.

Mia didn’t know whether to be relieved or annoyed that he hadn’t mentioned anything about what had happened the night before.

For her, it had been a life-changing event. Probably to him, it was just another night in the sack with a woman. Unfortunately, he’d had to lead her through everything like a virgin on her wedding night. How tedious.

Her heart sinking to her shoes, Mia ducked her head and took a seat at the table, her appetite vanishing in the wake of her humiliation.

A plate slid in front of her, and Bear said, “Hey.” With the tip of his finger, he tilted her chin up, forcing her to stare into his eyes. “Last night was amazing.”

Tears welled. “How could it have been? You didn’t get anything out of it?”

“Are you kidding?” He drew her out of her chair and into his arms. “Nothing is sexier than a woman crying out your name in the heat of her passion.”

“Unless it’s a man going all the way with the woman.” She leaned her forehead against his chest. “Why did you stop?”

“I want you to be absolutely sure.”

“I was.”

“You had a bad experience when you were little more than a child. I won’t be the man to compound the terror by rushing you into something you’re not quite ready to handle.”

“How will I know I’m ready?”

“You’ll know.”

She wanted to argue with him, to tell him that she’d known the night before that she wanted him inside her.

Then she wondered how she would have reacted with him on top of her, forcing his way into her. No one had penetrated her since the rape all those years ago. Then, it had hurt terribly. She’d been unable to fight off her attacker. He’d forced himself on her, thrusting into her, ripping through her hymen, tearing the narrow channel of her sex. She remembered bleeding afterward. She’d worn pads to catch the blood. If her mother had asked, she’d been prepared to tell her she was on her period.

Her mother hadn’t suspected a thing.

Perhaps Bear had been right to wait. She would have hated freaking out when he entered her.

Pushing thoughts of making love to Bear into the back of her mind, Mia focused on what she hoped to accomplish that day. She moved out of his arms. “I want to talk to the sheriff today.”

Bear’s downward glance sharpened. “Are you prepared to tell him everything?”

She nodded. “I’d like to see him alone.”

“I’m sure we can make that happen.”

They both took their seats and ate in silence. When they were finished, Mia rose and collected Bear’s plate. “Since you cooked, I’ll clean.”

“I don’t mind pulling KP duty.”

“KP?”

“Kitchen patrol.” He grabbed a dishtowel. “I’ll dry.”

Working side by side, Mia washed while Bear dried. More times than she could count, she bumped into him. With each contact, electric impulses raced through her body, making her wish they could go back to her bed and pick up where they’d left off the night before. By the time the last dish had been stowed in the cabinet, Mia’s nerves were stretched thin.

“I just need to brush my teeth, put on some boots, and I’ll be ready.” She hurried from the kitchen and ran up the stairs to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and hair, she ducked into her room, pulled on socks and cowboy boots. A minute later, she stood outside Bear’s truck.

“You really should wait until I’m ready to come out of the house.” Bear locked the door behind him and hurried down the steps. “You don’t know who might be out here.”

“Sorry. I didn’t think.”
Hell
, when had she stopped thinking of Bear as her bodyguard, and started thinking of him as her lover?

Probably about the time she’d kissed him last night in bed. She prayed she didn’t get too involved with the man. When she found the rapist, she wouldn’t have a need for a bodyguard anymore. Then he’d be gone from her life.

A deep sadness spread through her. God, she was already getting too deeply involved with a man who would be moving on to his next assignment all too soon.

The drive into Eagle Rock passed in silence. Mia couldn’t think of anything to say, afraid if she opened her mouth, she’d ask him to stay on forever. That would be silly and unrealistic of her. The man had better things to do than play bodyguard to a woman who wouldn’t need one after she found the man who’d attacked her when she was a young teen.

Bear parked outside the sheriff’s office and rounded the front of his truck to help her down.

Mia slipped from her seat and dropped to the ground before Bear could get to her. The less he had his hands on her body, the less she would erupt into full-blown lust.

He rested his hand at the small of her back and guided her into the sheriff’s office.

Just inside the door, they ran into Deputy Maynard.

Larry glanced up from the counter. “Mia, what brings you here?”

“I’d like to speak with the sheriff,” she said.

“Is there something I can help you with?” he asked.

Mia shook her head. “No, thank you. I’d like to speak with the sheriff. Alone.”

Larry’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, then he spun away, heading for the back of the building.

A moment later, Sheriff Wilson stepped out of an office. “Mia, my dear. Please come on back, and bring Mr. Parker with you. We’ll meet in the conference room.”

“Thank you.” Mia smiled, slipped her hand into Bear’s and followed the sheriff. She felt like she could handle anything with Bear beside her.

The sheriff closed the door to the conference room and pulled out a chair for Mia. “Please, have a seat.”

Mia drew in a deep breath and let it out. “What I’m about to tell you, I’d rather not advertise to the rest of Eagle Rock.”

The sheriff grinned. “Sounds clandestine.” He held up his hand as if he were swearing on a stack of bibles. “I promise; I can keep your secret.

Mia stared hard at her parents’ old friend. Then she dove in, telling him of the day she’d been kidnapped, tortured and left to die. When she reached the end, she straightened. Strangely, sharing the burden made her feel more in control.

“Mia.” Sheriff Wilson touched her hand. “I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’ll do everything in my power to find and prosecute the slime ball for everything he put you through.”

“What happened to me was a long time ago. I’ve learned to deal with it,” Mia said. “I came back because it occurred to me he might be doing this to other women.”

Sheriff Wilson’s brows puckered. “I’ll do a search on the database for rape cases in and around Eagle Rock over the last dozen or so years.”

“Thank you.”

“There is one I know of that occurred around six years ago.”

Mia leaned forward. “Could I have her name? I want to compare notes. If her attacker is the same man as the one who attacked me, we need to stop him.”

“I understand. If it were anyone else, I’d hesitate to give out a name, but this woman made a name for herself as a victim’s rights counselor. She lives in Bozeman and has regular office hours.”

Mia could hardly believe she’d already found one victim. “Who is she?”

“Valerie Sanders. You can find her in the phone book under Dr. Sanders. Tell her I sent you. Better yet, don’t, and see what she has to say about her experience.” Sheriff Wilson laid a hand over Mia’s. “And let me know what you find out. Any information could help lead us to the attacker. Anything, no matter how insignificant it might seem.”

“Will do,” Mia promised.

“And I’ll do a search on the state-wide database of similar attacks to see if we get any more hits in the surrounding areas.”

“Thank you, Sheriff.” She stood. “Do you mind if I borrow a computer to look up the phone number and address of Dr. Sanders?”

“Not at all. You can use mine.” He led her into his office and offered his chair.

Mia sat in the man’s chair and brought up the browser on his computer, keyed in “Dr. Sanders” and “Bozeman”. Within seconds she had the address and phone number.

Sheriff Wilson handed her the telephone. “You might as well call her and set up a time to meet.”

“Thank you.” Mia dialed the number.

A woman answered. “Dr. Sanders’s office. How may I help you?”

“I’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sanders.”

“When would you like to see her?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Can you be here in an hour? We just had a cancellation.”

“Yes.” Mia couldn’t believe her luck.

“Your name, please.”

“Mia Chastain.”

“Dr. Sanders will see you in one hour.”

Mia replaced the phone in its cradle and glanced up at Bear. “We have an hour to get to Bozeman.”

B
ear opened
the door to the sheriff’s office and held it for Mia. “An hour gives us more than enough time to get to Bozeman.”

Mia stepped past him. “I want to stop by the hardware store. I thought of another question I wanted to ask Phillip.”

“Mia?” Sheriff Wilson’s voice pulled her to a halt.

She turned. “Sir?”

The older man rounded his desk and rested a hand on her shoulder. “I wish you had come forward sooner. But it’s never too late to nail the bastard for what he did.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”

“I survived. I just wish I’d come forward sooner. Allyson might still be alive.”

His gaze widened. “Allyson Severs? You don’t know that she was attacked.”

“You don’t know that she
wasn’t
attacked,” Mia argued. “What else could have made her withdraw like that?”

“She could have had a fight with her boyfriend. One he didn’t want to own up to.”

Mia stared at the sheriff. “You don’t believe that, do you?”

The sheriff sighed. “No. But it doesn’t mean the same man who attacked you attacked Allyson.”

“But if it did happen… I should have said something back then.”

“You were a scared kid.” The sheriff hugged her. “Let’s end this.”

Bear’s fists clenched. “That’s the plan.” When he found Mia’s rapist, he’d rip the man apart with his bare hands. No man had the right to force himself on a woman. Hell, Mia had barely been a woman. She’d been little more than a child. His chest tightened.

The bastard deserved to die.

“Come on.” Mia grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the door. “I’m anxious to see what Dr. Sanders has to say.”

Bear passed Deputy Maynard standing at a coffee machine in a break room just past the sheriff’s office.

The man lifted his coffee mug as Mia passed. “Hey, Mia.”

Mia nodded, but continued on, her focus seeming to be on the conversation she planned to have with Dr. Sanders.

Bear hoped she’d let him sit in on that conversation, but he wouldn’t push the issue if Mia chose to go in alone. The two women had something in common Bear could never experience.

The trip to the hardware store took less than five minutes. Mia insisted she could run in and back out without his assistance, but Bear wouldn’t hear of it. He accompanied her inside.

Much to Mia’s disappointment, Phillip had called in, needing the day off to take his mother to a doctor’s appointment in Bozeman.

“What did you want to ask Phillip?” Bear asked as he slid into the driver’s seat.

“I wanted to know exactly what he and Allyson had been talking about on the date the last night he saw her. I want to be absolutely certain about what caused Allyson’s sudden depression.”

“Allyson’s diary said they’d been talking about their honeymoon.”

“Those were Allyson’s last written words, but she didn’t get to finish her entry. What if there was more after the discussion about their honeymoon? I can’t rule out Phillip until I know for sure.”

“Do you really think the guy has it in himself to make a woman so unhappy she’d commit suicide?”

Mia shook her head. “The Phillip I knew in high school was always a people pleaser. He would never do anything to hurt another person. But as crazy as it might seem, I can’t—”

“—rule him out,” Bear finished. “I get it. Given that he’s not working today, you’ll have to hold that thought until we have a chance to talk to him again.”

“True. In the meantime, we’re heading for Bozeman, aren’t we?” Mia leaned forward, her gaze riveted to the road in front of the vehicle. “I’m interested to hear what Valerie Sanders has to say about her encounter.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it?”

Mia nodded. “I was sixteen. What happened to me was a long time ago. I can handle it.”

Once again, Bear couldn’t imagine what sixteen-year-old Mia had gone through. How horrific to be kidnapped, traumatized, sexually abused and left to die of exposure. She was one tough lady to have lived through it and gone on to live a fairly normal life. He could take a lesson from her book and look at the positives in his own life.

So, he’d lost the only job he’d known since getting out of high school. The men he’d adopted as his family were either dead or scattered to the winds in the military or back home in the States. As sad as that was, he had a meaningful job, protecting an amazing woman. The sun shone down on him, and the scenery didn’t get much better.

To the west, the Crazy Mountains rose high against the sky, their jagged peaks still frosted with a cap of snow. Montana’s big skies and rugged mountaintops inspired Bear like no other place he’d been on earth.

He needed to remember to thank Hank for giving him the opportunity to work in Montana. With this woman who’d proven to be passionate and resilient in the face of danger.

He rounded a curve in the road and passed through a straight stretch of highway through a narrow valley. A stream paralleled the road, the water bubbling so clear and bright, it shined in his eyes.

Something hit the windshield of his truck on the passenger side. Mia grunted softly and slapped her left hand over her right arm.

It took less than a second for Bear to realize the small round hole in the glass couldn’t have been made by anything other than a bullet.

He swerved sharply and straightened the steering wheel. “Fuck!” He slammed his foot to the accelerator. “Get down, Mia!”

She bent over, ducking her head below the dash.

“Are you okay?” He asked, zigzagging along the straight road to make it harder for the shooter to aim.

“I’m okay,” Mia said.

A quick glance in her direction, and Bear could tell she wasn’t okay. Her lips pressed tightly together, and her face had paled.

Another bullet pierced the windshield, cutting through the middle, missing them altogether.

Bear wanted to stop and tend to Mia’s injury, but to do so put them in more danger. Instead, he increased his speed. He had to get out of the valley.

When he passed another curve in the highway, and he was certain the shooter couldn’t have followed as quickly, he slowed.

“Don’t stop,” Mia said. Her lips were pinched and her cheeks had paled. “Get us to Bozeman.”

“I don’t want you to bleed out on me,” Bear argued.

“It’s just a flesh wound, and I’m applying pressure. I’m barely bleeding now.”

Bear studied her for a long moment. “Okay, but first stop is the ER.”

Mia chewed on her lip. “I don’t want to miss my appointment with Dr. Sanders.”

“First stop is the ER. Bullets aren’t necessarily the cleanest objects that can pass through your body. Even if it is only a flesh wound, I don’t want you getting an infection and dying of gangrene.” He held up his hand when Mia opened her mouth to dispute him. “Sorry. I’m driving, and you’re going to the hospital.”

Her lips quirked. “Yes, sir,” she said, like a new recruit to her drill sergeant.

“That’s more like it.” Bear tried to keep a straight face, but he couldn’t help the grin. The woman was injured, but she had spunk. Though he grinned, he worried she wasn’t giving it to him straight. Entering Bozeman, he didn’t slow much. With Mia giving him directions, he broke every speed limit getting to the hospital, thankful he wasn’t tagged on the way by a police officer. He’d take the ticket later, but he wasn’t stopping until he got Mia to medical care.

As he pulled into the emergency room drop off area, a siren sounded nearby.

When Bear started to get out of the truck, Mia touched his arm.

“There’s an ambulance coming, and there’s another car behind us,” she said. “Let me out. I can walk in while you park.”

An ambulance pulled into the hospital driveway.

Bear glanced in the rearview mirror.

A car had pulled up behind them.

“Are you sure?” he asked. He didn’t want her out of his sight for even a moment.

“Positive.” She pushed her door open and dropped down from the truck. “Go.”

Bear drove around to park in the emergency room parking lot, got out and hurried inside.

Mia sat in a chair with a wad of gauze pressed to her arm. “Victims of a multi-car accident are being brought in. It could be a while before they see me.”

“Is there another hospital?”

“I’m fine here. We can wait. In the meantime, could you call Dr. Sanders and ask if she has time to see me later today?”

Bear dialed the number Mia gave him and waited.

The receptionist answered and listened while Bear explained the situation.

“I’m so sorry to hear Miss Chastain has been injured. I’d reschedule her, but Dr. Sanders has a group session this evening, and it usually goes late. The soonest I can get Miss Chastain in is tomorrow morning. Will that be okay?”

“It’ll have to be,” Bear answered. “Thanks.”

Mia glanced at Bear as he ended the call. “What did she say?”

“Tomorrow morning is the soonest she could get you in.”

Mia started to get up. “Then let’s make today’s appointment. By the time I get back to the hospital, they should be ready for me.”

Bear shook his head. “I like your determination, but I’m certain Dr. Sanders wouldn’t want you bleeding all over her waiting room. It might upset her other patients.”

“Mia Chastain?” a voice called out.

Bear and Mia glanced toward the door to the examination rooms. A nurse carrying a clipboard smiled. Beside her stood a police officer.

Bear helped Mia to her feet and walked with her toward the nurse.

“Miss Chastain, this is Officer Petty,” the nurse said. “After we get you taken care of, he has some questions to ask you concerning your injury.”

“I’m sorry to bother you,” the officer said, “but it’s routine when an injury is thought to be caused by firearms.”

“That’s fine,” Mia said. “I’d like my friend to accompany me.”

“Then please follow me.” The nurse led the way to the examination room.

T
wo hours later
, after a thorough cleaning, a butterfly bandage applied by the doctor, and a barrage of questions from the police officer, a nurse brought Mia her discharge papers with instructions on how to take care of her wound.

As Bear led her out of the examination room, doors burst open down the hall and two EMTs pushed a gurney through with a third one kneeling on top, applying CPR compressions to the woman beneath him.

“Need a crash cart, stat!” one of them shouted.

Nurses and a doctor rushed in from all directions.

Bear pulled Mia out of the way as the gurney was wheeled into one of the rooms.

“What do we have?” the doctor called out.

“Thirty-four-year-old female, involved in a hit-and-run in the parking lot of her business. Multiple contusions, head trauma and a possible collapsed lung. Her heart stopped twice on the way over.”

“Name?”

“Valerie Sanders.”

Mia gasped, and her knees buckled. If not for the strength of Bear’s arm around her, she might have collapsed on the floor of the emergency room.

A nurse rolled a cart into the room with the unconscious woman, and the professionals went to work, attaching the necessary equipment to the woman’s chest to jumpstart her heart.

Mia stared, unable to move.

“Come on.” Bear’s arm tightened around her as he urged her toward the exit. “We need to get out of the way so the doctors and nurses can do their job.”

“Dear God. That was Valerie Sanders.” She glanced up at Bear. What were the chances of there being more than one Valerie Sanders in Bozeman, Montana?

“I’ll call Dr. Sanders’s office and verify it’s her. But right now, we need to get you out of here.” He led her to the exit and out to the parking lot. Once they were inside his truck, he pulled out his cell phone, hit redial for Dr. Sanders’s office, pressed the speaker button and held the phone where Mia could hear.

After two rings, a message played,
You have reached the number for Dr. Valerie Sanders. We’re sorry to inform you that Dr. Sanders has been involved in an accident. All of her appointments are cancelled until further notice.

Bear ended the call and shifted the truck into drive. “Is there another route back to Eagle Rock?”

Mia shook her head. “Not really.”

“I don’t like the idea of going through that valley again.”

“The only alternative takes hours to get home.”

“It might be worth it,” he said.

“I’ll take my chances,” Mia said, and then frowned. “But I don’t want you hurt.”

He shook his head. “I’m not worried about me. Whoever is doing this is after you.”

“I could lie down in the back seat all the way back, if that makes you feel any better.”

His brows furrowed. “If you promise to stay down the entire way home, that might work.” He stopped in the hospital parking lot, jumped out, opened the passenger door and helped Mia out of the front seat. When her feet were firmly on the ground, he paused and stared down into her eyes. “So far, I’m not doing such a good job of keeping you safe, am I?”

She smiled up at him. “How could you know someone would be waiting to ambush us on the road to Bozeman? This isn’t your fault.” Her smile faded. “Do you think whoever shot at me got to Dr. Sanders?”

“I don’t know. It’s too much of a coincidence to discount.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have come back to Eagle Rock, after all.” Mia plucked at Bear’s shirtsleeve, staring at her fingers, thinking about all that had happened since she’d come back. “If I hadn’t stirred up this hornet’s nest, Dr. Sanders wouldn’t be in the hospital fighting for her life.”

“If we don’t stop this guy, he could go on to attack more women. Could you live with yourself if another Allyson took her life because she was attacked?”

Mia chewed on her bottom lip. She’d barely been able to live with herself, knowing that sadistic son of a bitch was still free to terrorize other women. Knowing he might have been the cause of Allyson’s depression and subsequent suicide, and possibly the hit that had put Dr. Sanders’s life in danger, made anger burn in Mia’s gut. “I can’t let him get away with this.” She gazed up into Bear’s eyes, her resolve strengthening. “He can’t continue to hurt other women.”