Christmas Protection Detail

by Terri Reed

  Nick shook his head. “We can’t. We have to figure out a way to get up the mountain.”

  There was more than one way up the mountain. Though Kaitlyn knew Nick wasn’t going to like what she had in mind, she said, “I have an idea. Just keep driving toward the mountain pass. I’ll make a call.”

  ELEVEN

  Huddled on the floorboards in the back seat of Daniel’s patrol car, Nick listened to Kaitlyn explain what she needed from her friend Leslie Quinn with a mix of stunned horror and anxiety tightening his chest.

  The second she hung up, he said, “Horses? You’ve got to be joking.”

  “No, I’m not.” She tucked her phone into the pocket of the jacket, then rifled through the duffel bag she’d set on the back seat. She stuffed her pockets with extra ammo clips.

  “You know I don’t ride.” Was she purposely messing with him?

  “Trust me,” she said, her gaze earnest and so pretty as she handed him a Taser. “I’ve been teaching people to ride my whole life. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”

  His mouth dried. The metal of the Taser was cold against his palm. The problem was that he did trust her. But a horse? The thought sent a shudder through him.

  “It’s going to be okay, Nick,” she said.

  Apparently, his expression had given him away. “I know. I just have to wrap my head around the situation. I had a bad experience with horses when I was young.”

  “What happened?”

  “One of the boarding schools I attended had an equestrian program and they insisted that we learn to ride.” He couldn’t keep the derision from his tone. “On the very first lesson, the horse they put me on spooked, and next thing I knew, I was flat on my back with the horse standing over me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I thought for sure I was a goner.”

  Empathy softened her gaze. “How old were you?”

  “Nine. An incident like that leaves a mark.”

  “I can imagine how scary that must have been.” She touched his hand. “Remember what you told me last night? With God, we don’t have to be imprisoned by fear.”

  In theory that sounded doable. He’d been working on facing his emotional fears. Would facing his fears be so doable in reality when he was atop a twelve-hundred-pound horse again? Would God protect him from falling?

  Nick’s gaze drank in Kaitlyn’s beautiful face. Admiration for her dedication to her job and her community wound through him. He was in danger of falling in so many different ways that falling off a horse was the least of his worries. He was going to need all the help God would grace him with to not fall in love with Kaitlyn.

  He jerked his gaze from her and tucked the Taser into the inside pocket of the jacket he wore.

  “We still have a tail,” Daniel said. “We left town, so there’s no mistaking that the truck is following us.”

  “When you get to mile marker eighteen, pull off the road. If the truck goes past, great. If the truck stops, too, then you’ll need to keep the driver occupied while we climb out and disappear into the woods.”

  “Got it,” Daniel said.

  “We’ll meet Leslie on the upper mountain trail,” she said. “Then ride the rest of the way to Eagle Peak Resort.”

  “The Cirrus will be gassed and ready to go.” Nick would just have to figure out how to sit a horse without toppling over.

  “Just about there,” Daniel said. “Bail out on the right side of the vehicle.”

  “Perfect,” Kaitlyn said. To Nick, she said, “Be ready.”

  Tension revved through Nick’s body. Be ready? To escape into the woods, ride a horse and fly off to DC with evidence of a bad man’s dealings. Why should he be anxious? Just another adventure. Right? He blew out a breath.

  He might never have done any of these things before, but he was prepared to do whatever it took to bring these people to justice so that Lexi hadn’t died in vain and to keep Rosie safe.

  The car slowed, then pulled off the paved road onto the uneven dirt shoulder and came to a stop. Daniel cut the engine.

  “Our shadow stopped about twenty feet back,” Daniel told them.

  “Can you distract him?” Kaitlyn asked.

  “Of course,” he replied.

  “Be careful, Daniel,” she said. “We can’t lose you.”

  Nick peered at Kaitlyn as a thread of jealousy wound through him. Did Kaitlyn have a thing for her coworker?

  Daniel barked out a laugh. “I’m not worried. You two be safe. And tell Leslie to check in.” Daniel opened the driver’s-side door and stepped out. As he passed by the left rear passenger window, Nick saw that he had his weapon drawn and ready.

  “Out of the vehicle,” Daniel yelled. Then he moved out of view.

  Kaitlyn’s hand on Nick’s knee startled him. His gaze met hers.

  “Pop open the door just enough to ease out. Then hustle into the bushes,” she said.

  He gave her a nod, then maneuvered himself around into a position that would let him open the door. A blast of cold winter air hit him in the face, sending a shiver down his spine.

  Stepping out took a little exertion, which helped to chase away the chill. He bumped his knee on the seat and hit his funny bone on the edge of the door. He gritted his teeth against the shooting pain. He was glad to see that Daniel had parked the vehicle at an angle. There was no way the guy in the truck would be able to see them.

  Nick made it out of the vehicle. His feet squished into the snow piled along the edge of the shoulder. Cold seeped through his loafers as he hurried to the cover of snow-dusted bushes, the branches scratching at his clothes. Kaitlyn quickly followed.

  “Shouldn’t we make sure Daniel’s okay?” Nick asked her.

  The look of approval she sent his way warmed him inside. “Yes. You stay here. I’ll take a look.”

  Before he could protest at being sidelined, she moved away. After a moment, she returned and settled back next to Nick in a crouch. “The guy in the white truck took off. Daniel is getting back in his car. He’ll head to town.”

  “Good,” Nick said. “You were really worried about him.”

  She slanted him a glance. “Of course.”

  “Are you and he...?” Nick resisted the urge to tug at the collar of his sweater beneath the sheriff’s jacket.

  “What? Why would you even ask that?” She shook her head. “No. He’s my colleague and my friend.”

  Relieved and also a bit flummoxed that he’d even thought to ask the question, he shrugged. “Just checking.”

  She made a scoffing noise and rose to her feet. “Let’s go.” She marched forward, seemingly oblivious to the thick underbrush scraping at her pants legs.

  Nick looked down at the loafers he wore. Great. He’d expected to go from the car to the plane to another car then to a warm and dry building. Not traipsing through the wilderness. He carefully picked a path forward behind her. “I should’ve worn my new hiking boots I bought that I’ve never tried.”

  Kaitlyn called over her shoulder, “You’d only get blisters if you’d done that.”

  “I’ll probably still get blisters. These aren’t the best shoes to be tramping around in the woods.”

  After what seemed like hours with the cold seeping through his clothes to prickle his skin, but was closer to fifteen minutes, they came out of the trees onto a wide dirt-and snow-covered path leading up the mountain. Kaitlyn’s friend Leslie, wearing athletic clothes, her dark blond hair pulled back into a high ponytail and earbuds hanging around her neck, stood there holding the reins of two saddled horses.

  As soon as Leslie saw them, she dropped the reins and hurried to greet them. Amazingly, both horses stood still, not moving a muscle. Nick eyed the two big, beautiful animals, one brown and one yellow. Both looked strong and fast and had saddles really high off the ground. His stomach churned.

&n
bsp; Normally, he didn’t have an issue with heights. He’d dived off cliffs and out of airplanes, rock climbed on some of the country’s most famous mountains. But the thought of climbing onto a horse’s back again filled him with dread.

  “Leslie, this is Nick Delaney,” Kaitlyn said. “Nick, Leslie.”

  Nick shook the woman’s hand. “Nice to formally meet you. Aren’t you freezing?”

  “Likewise. And no. My running gear is made for this weather.” Curiosity burned in Leslie’s gaze. “What’s going on?”

  Kaitlyn succinctly explained the situation. “There’s a plane waiting for us at the top of the mountain.”

  “I could come with you,” Leslie offered.

  “I appreciate the offer, but we’ve got this,” Kaitlyn said. “Right, Nick?”

  Nick tore his gaze away from the horses. “Right. We’ve got this.” Even to his own ears he didn’t sound convincing.

  Leslie studied him for a moment before turning her gaze on Kaitlyn. “Now I understand why you asked for Groot and Star Lord. They are both sure-footed. Groot would be better for a novice.”

  “Thank you, Leslie,” Kaitlyn said.

  “I take it you’re a fan of science fiction movies,” Nick said, his gaze back on the two animals patiently waiting. “Which one is Groot?”

  “The brown one with the black mane.”

  He swallowed. Groot looked anything but tame or docile. The horse’s muscles were lean and sleek. His dark eyes seemed to bore into Nick. Did the horse understand the word novice?

  Turning to Leslie, he asked, “How are you going to get back home?”

  She looked at him funny. “I’m on a run.” She picked up the earbuds and put them in her ears. “Nothing unusual to see here.”

  Gesturing to the horses, Nick asked, “How did you get them here?”

  “We came through the woods from my place,” Leslie answered.

  “Daniel wants you to check in,” Kaitlyn said.

  Leslie made a face. “I’ll touch base with Alex.” She took off at a run back down the hiking trail.

  After Leslie disappeared around a curve in the trail, Nick turned to Kaitlyn. “She doesn’t like Daniel?”

  “Grade-school rivals. Come on. Let’s get you on Groot.” Kaitlyn walked over to the horses. She checked the saddles on both horses by flipping one stirrup over the saddle and then adjusted the leather strap under each beast’s belly.

  He stopped a safe distance in front of Groot and stared into his eyes. “You and me, we’re going to be okay, right?” he asked the horse. “Man to man. You’re not going to throw me or anything, are you?”

  Kaitlyn chuckled softly. “You do know he’s not going to answer you.”

  “It doesn’t hurt to set boundaries,” Nick said.

  Smiling, Kaitlyn said, “Hold out your arm, palm down, and wait for him to sniff.”

  “Like you do when you greet a new dog?”

  “Exactly. The horsemen’s handshake. It’s a way for him to give you permission to ride him. Like this.” She demonstrated with Star Lord, stretching her arm forward with the back of her hand toward the horse’s nose. After a heartbeat, Star Lord snuffled the back of her hand, then blew out a noisy breath. Kaitlyn rubbed his forehead and stroked a hand down his neck. “Hi, there.”

  Tentatively, Nick held out his arm, giving Groot access to sniff the back of his hand. The horse’s dark eyes never left Nick’s face. Groot stretched out his neck to take a quick sniff of Nick. Then he lifted his nose and gave a shake of his head, his bridle jangling.

  “Did he just say no?” Nervous energy raced along Nick’s limbs.

  “Give it another try,” she said. “And move closer.”

  Stilling the anxious storm inside his gut, Nick stepped closer and held out the back of his hand. After a few seconds, Groot sniffed his hand, then gave it a nudge.

  “Okay, he’s willing,” Kaitlyn said. “Slowly move to his left side and gently stroke your hand down the side of his neck.”

  With his heart beating in his ears, Nick did as she’d instructed. The horse’s coat was warm and silky beneath Nick’s palm.

  “Good job. Now watch me. I’m going to demonstrate how you’ll mount the horse, but don’t do anything until I’m there to help you.” She took Star Lord’s reins in her hand, then moved to his left side. Lifting her left foot, she placed it in the stirrup. Then she fisted a handful of the horse’s mane with one hand, grabbed the horn on the saddle and pulled herself up, swinging her right leg over the horse’s behind before sitting in the saddle. “See? Simple.”

  Nick marveled. Maybe simple for her.

  She did the action in reverse, looking so graceful and natural. Sweat broke out along Nick’s back. He dried his damp palms on the front of his slacks.

  Letting Star Lord’s reins drop to the ground again, she picked up Groot’s reins, lifted them over his head and came to stand next to Nick. She grasped the horn of the saddle and rocked the saddle. The horse shifted its feet. “Good boy.” She patted his shoulder.

  “What did you just do?”

  “His stance was uneven,” she said. “It will be easier on both of you now that he’s standing square.”

  Nick had no idea what she was talking about but decided he didn’t need to know.

  Kaitlyn tugged at Nick’s elbow, positioning him so that he was next to the middle of the horse facing the horse’s head. “You don’t want to stand by his shoulder when you’re mounting. If he spooks, he could send you flying.”

  “Good to know.” There was so much more to this horse business than he’d have thought. He’d refused to return to the riding lessons after the incident. He hadn’t gone near a horse since and had put the whole thing out of his mind until Kaitlyn came into his life.

  “Hand position when mounting is important,” Kaitlyn said. “With your left hand you’ll take the reins and a chunk of mane.” She demonstrated.

  Groot’s head came up.

  “This lets the horse know you’re preparing to sit in the saddle,” she continued. She released her hold on the horse’s mane and moved aside while handing Nick the reins.

  He took the leather straps in his left hand and reached up to capture a handful of the dark mane with the same hand. “Are you sure this won’t hurt him? I mean, I’ll be pulling his hair.”

  “Horses have a whole different set of nerve endings in their manes and tails. Nothing like humans. You won’t hurt him.”

  “If you say so,” he muttered. “Now what?”

  “With your right hand grab the horn,” she said.

  He reached up for the hooked piece at the front of the saddle.

  Kaitlyn moved to Groot’s head. “I’ll hold him to be safe. Now, lift your left foot into the stirrup but only put the ball of your foot in.”

  “Whew. You’re tall, Groot,” Nick muttered.

  “Do you need a boost?” she asked.

  Not for the life of him would he want her help. He was a man, after all. He could do this. Thankfully he was limber enough to get his foot up into the stirrup. “It’s in.”

  “Push up to a standing position, swing your right leg over the back end and then gently sit. Once you’re in position I can help you find the other stirrup.”

  “Here we go, boy,” Nick murmured. He pulled himself so he was standing on his left leg in the stirrup. Then he awkwardly lifted his leg up and over the saddle. He tried to ease into a sitting position, but it was more of a plop.

  “Ouch.” He gritted his teeth.

  “I said gently.”

  His nostrils flared. “Yes, you did.”

  He rooted around with his right foot for the stirrup but the thing was being elusive. Then she was there helping him, her hand on his calf, guiding his foot onto the tread. She adjusted the length of the stirrups, making him more comfortable. “Thank you.
”

  Staring down at her, he liked the way the winter sun streaming through the canopy of tree branches shone on her honey-blond hair.

  The horse pawed at the ground.

  Nick patted his neck.

  Kaitlyn swung up on Star Lord, who didn’t move a muscle as she settled into the saddle.

  “Why did I get the horse that’s restless?” he asked.

  She glanced at him with a rare grin that set his heart to pounding. “You didn’t. But you’re a novice and he knows it.”

  “How can he tell?”

  “Horses are smarter than you think. They can tell when somebody who’s never been on a horse is sitting on them. It makes them jittery.”

  “Great.” His hand tightened around the horn.

  “Keep the reins loose and hold them in your left hand,” she said. “Let’s ride.”

  She made a clicking sound into her cheek and Star Lord moved up the trail.

  Nick tried clucking into his cheek, but Groot didn’t budge. “Kait, help?”

  Twisting in her seat, she said, “Don’t worry. Groot will follow us.”

  After a tense, still moment, Groot huffed out a breath, then walked forward. Nick nearly lost his balance. He leaned over the horn and hung on, but gradually he relaxed and sat upright. His family was never going to believe this. He didn’t believe it. If anyone other than Kaitlyn had suggested they ride up the mountain trail, he’d have refused. But he doubted he could refuse Kaitlyn anything.

  A fate nearly as terrifying as falling off Groot.

  * * *

  Twenty minutes later, Kaitlyn brought Star Lord to a halt to allow Nick and Groot to catch up. She had to admit he was doing well after such a terrifying experience when he was young. Of course, Groot was a well-trained quarter horse, accustomed to inexperienced riders. Because Leslie was part of the county’s mounted patrol, she was often called upon to bring Groot when they had a lost soul to find. More often than not, a lost hiker had never ridden a horse, and Groot was very tolerant.

  “I’m going to need a spinal adjustment when this is over,” Nick said as Groot drew abreast of Star Lord. “I feel every bump and root and rock in the trail.”