In Need of Protection

by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

  Ethan’s heart warmed. This woman might be tough, but she had a compassionate soul.

  He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to arrange with the sheriff for a fresh set of wheels.”

  He needed to take Lara and Maisy and put as much distance between this location and them as possible. If Vince Drayton’s people were monitoring statewide police-band radios, they would know a gunfight had occurred at this convenience store. That information would be enough for them to send people over to investigate. The next wave of attackers could arrive at any time.

  SIX

  On the road again.

  The thought limped across Lara’s mind as she gazed out the rear passenger-side window of the club-cab pickup the sheriff had arranged for them to borrow. They’d also taken a few hasty minutes to grab sandwiches to gobble on the journey, as well as some supplies to meet Maisy’s needs and groceries to tide them over once they reached their destination. It was important they stay put and not show themselves until this crisis was over.

  They’d been driving for almost an hour, and the highway was winding upward along a steep mountainside. Lush valleys spread out below them, skirted by another tree-belted mountain beyond. Beams from the late-afternoon sun glinted over the sparkling-blue water of a boulder-strewn river leaping and dancing through the wedge of the valley below. Normally, she’d be drinking in the view with a photographer’s eye, but today, the dramatic vista barely stirred her senses.

  Her nerves were stretched tight as piano wire, and it didn’t help that Maisy was fussy. She glanced over at her little charge, who was mewling unhappily and waving her fists in the air. Maisy had been fed, changed, burped and played with, but she didn’t seem inclined to fall asleep. Maybe she sensed the tension in the adults in the truck, or perhaps the child was simply bored from being stuck in a vehicle for so long today. The driving was getting tedious for Lara, as well, but it beat being used for target practice.

  She could use a friendly hug right now—like the caring one Ethan gave her back in the woods when she was so shaken up after the attack at the convenience store. She’d felt completely safe. For about five seconds. But then he’d suddenly pulled away with that stiff mask of his firmly snapped into place. She’d hoped the impersonal persona had gone away for good.

  Not that she expected romance from him. Of course not! Completely inappropriate. She understood that. But what about after this mess was over? Lara shifted in her seat. What was the matter with her? Overwrought emotions were playing havoc with her brain.

  “You’re quiet back there,” Ethan said.

  “It’s been a long, tiring day.” Lara sighed, shoving uncomfortable thoughts away.

  “I can’t argue with that and I’m sorry.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry about. You’ve risked your life repeatedly for Maisy and me, and I’m grateful. I just want all this to end. For life to get back to normal. But a part of me understands that normal will never be what it was pre-Maisy. The feeling is...unsettling.”

  “Life sometimes throws us into situations that turn everything upside down.”

  Something in Ethan’s tone hinted he was talking about himself as much as her, but prying into his life didn’t seem necessary or right. They didn’t know each other like that.

  “Don’t get me wrong.” She leaned toward Ethan. “I don’t regret for a second opening my door to my friend and her baby in their time of need. Izzy thought she was bringing Maisy to a safe place. I’m sad she was wrong.”

  “I’m happy I was wrong about the newscast being used as some sort of decoy for the Draytons, and that Isabelle is actually among the living.”

  “Me, too, but her behavior puzzles me. Why flee the people trying to protect her?”

  “I’m baffled, as well. But hopefully, we’ll have answers soon, and the Draytons will be in custody.”

  “I hope so, too, but I turned in my rose-colored glasses a long time ago.”

  “I’m not going to ask.” He glanced over his shoulder at her.

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to ask. I’ll tell. It’s no secret.” Maybe if she ever needed to ask him something personal, he would be as forthcoming as she was about to be, but she wasn’t going to hold her breath. He seemed pretty closed off.

  “Eight years ago,” she said, “when I was fresh out of college, my fiancé and I had a fierce row. I told him I’d decided to let my best friend bake our wedding cake, like she’d offered to do as a gift to us. But he insisted we stick with the fancy and expensive bakery cake that would impress his co-workers. I stood my ground because I was certain my friend would do a wonderful job on the cake, and I refused to hurt her feelings by turning her down. He couldn’t handle me not starry-eyed and compliant, so he dumped me less than a week before our wedding.”

  “Wow! Sounds petty of him. I’m sorry about that.”

  She let out a small laugh. “It was a long time ago. I was devastated in the moment, but it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. In twenty-twenty hindsight, I now see what kind of man he was and how I had allowed him to manipulate and control me. Today’s not the first time I’ve dodged bullets. Not winding up married to him was a big dodge for me, and the experience left me cautious.”

  “Understandable, and not entirely a bad thing—well, except for the bad experience you had to go through.”

  “I’m stronger and wiser—I hope—because of it, but my mother is starting to think I’ve given up dating altogether. She has grandchild fever, and I’ve been too busy building my vlog readership to make time for a family.”

  “Until one got dumped on your doorstep. At least temporarily.”

  Lara looked down at Maisy, who had gone quiet, to discover the little girl sleeping peacefully. She cupped one of the infant’s little hands in hers. Something deeply maternal had now been stirred in Lara’s heart. She wasn’t going to be able to hide behind her camera any longer when it came to getting serious about finding love and starting a family. However, there was no forcing love. Who knew when she’d meet the right one?

  Her gaze flew to Ethan’s strong and handsome profile. She blinked and looked away. Not now, of course, and certainly not with a guy who was officially her hero. It would be too easy to mistake intense gratitude for something deeper and more lasting. She couldn’t afford to get it wrong again. And she couldn’t afford to even be thinking this way at this place and time. What was the matter with her?

  “We’re almost there.” Ethan interrupted Lara’s musing. “Forty-five minutes, maybe. We’re skirting Shoshone National Forest near the Wind River Mountain Range.”

  “I recognize the area of the state. I did some popular vlog posts from a hike I did along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail that goes right through this area. The views are beyond gorgeous. It’s part of a trail system that extends from Canada to Mexico, which was a fascinating factoid for my followers. I hope to experience more of the trail and vlog about it—well, whenever I’m able to get back to my work.”

  “Sounds like a fun hike. I’ve never tried it, but you’ve piqued my interest. When I get the opportunity, I’m going to look up this vlog of yours.”

  “Thanks.”

  Warmth settled around her heart. Why did she care that she’d snared the interest of this man? Well, other than another potential follower for her vlog. Who was she fooling? She never went gooey like this when others indicated interest in her work. She experienced satisfaction, yes, but not the warm fuzzies. Yet she had to remember the situation they were in was extreme. That must explain the extreme reaction.

  Probably.

  Maybe.

  Not long later, they came to a building site with a long, low ranch house, a big barn, a horse stable and a small shed. The sign beside the driveway advertised trail rides and riding and roping lessons, courtesy of Jim and Amy Miller, owners of Wind River Stables. Ethan turne
d the car toward the house. They glided past a corral, where a man with graying hair was grooming a horse.

  “This is your friends’ place? I thought you said they were on vacation.”

  “No, this is my friends’ friends’ place. They have the keys for my friends’ place.”

  Lara laughed. “That was a mouthful of an explanation.”

  They pulled up near the front stoop of the farmhouse, and a plump middle-aged woman stepped outside, wiping her hands on a checkered dish towel.

  Lara looked toward Ethan, and he smiled over his shoulder at her. “Let’s get out. I’ll introduce you to Amy.”

  The baby chose that moment to start fussing.

  “You go greet your friends’ friend,” Lara said, “while I get Maisy out of her seat.”

  “Do that. Amy will gush over that cute little kid.”

  A few minutes later, Lara found herself seated at a plain rectangular table in a simple wooden chair in a kitchen decorated country casual, feeling welcome and completely at home. Apparently, Maisy shared that sensation of welcome, and she kicked and cooed while Amy cradled her and spoke in the singsong way people did with babies.

  The ranch woman smiled toward Lara. “She’s adorable.”

  “She is that.” Ethan chuckled while pouring himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the counter.

  Lara bottled a smile. Evidently, Ethan considered himself right at home here, too.

  “You’ve known Ethan for a while, then?” Lara asked.

  Amy glanced at the deputy. “We met him the day before our friends Trina and Rogan got married. My husband, Jim, had the privilege of giving Trina away during the service because Trina’s daddy passed away a while back.”

  “And I was Rogan’s best man,” Ethan put in.

  Amy sat down across from Lara. “We met around this very table to discuss the last-minute details before driving to town for the rehearsal.”

  Ethan waved his mug at Lara. “Everyone invited into Amy and Jim’s house is treated like family. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  Lara looked toward Amy. “Do you have any tea?”

  “Of course, dear.” The older woman rose and handed Maisy to Lara. “Coming right up. I’ll make that tea while you—” she sent a sharp look toward Ethan “—tell me what brings you here.”

  “While you’re making the tea, I should change Maisy.” Lara stood up, bouncing the little girl, who’d started to fuss mildly.

  “Go right ahead, dear. The bathroom is up the hall and to your left. It’s got a spacious counter.”

  Lara started in the direction Amy had indicated and then stopped and turned toward Ethan. “Call Terry, would you, and check on the status with my mom?”

  “You got it.” He nodded.

  The mellow tone of his voice filling Amy in on their situation followed Lara down the hall. Five minutes later, she returned to the kitchen with a dry and happy Maisy to find Ethan alone and talking on the landline. The call to Terry, no doubt. She stepped forward, pulse jumping. Had they found her mother yet and taken her to safety?

  Ethan cradled the phone and turned toward Lara. His gaze was shadowed and his lips turned down. Her heart squeezed in on itself.

  “It’s your mom,” he said.

  * * *

  The terrified expression on Lara’s face tore Ethan’s insides.

  “She’s been kidnapped?” Lara burst out.

  “No, she’s hurt. Our people located her coming out of one of those places where she volunteers, mere moments before a group of thugs in ski masks attempted to grab her. Gunfire was exchanged, and the marshals service managed to secure her, but she was hit in the cross fire.”

  Lara’s eyes grew wide and she clapped a hand over her mouth.

  Ethan approached and laid his hands on her shoulders. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. Your mom is in satisfactory condition and recovering in the hospital, under heavy guard by deputy marshals and officers from the local PD. We won’t allow Drayton’s goons to get close to her again, and I doubt she has any plans to slip away from her protection detail.”

  “This is all my fault.” Lara backed away from him, gaze wild. “I should be there. I need to be there. She must be so scared.”

  “Hang in there!” Ethan lifted his hands, palms out. “First off, none of this is your fault. Second, your presence at the hospital would increase the risk factor to her and others exponentially.”

  “How is that?”

  “If the Draytons get a whiff that you’re in Chicago, their base of operations, they can literally mobilize an army to deal with you, not merely these scattered carloads of attackers. They won’t care who they gun down to take you out of the picture and get to Maisy, because once they have her, it sounds like they plan on pulling up stakes and fleeing the country. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Is that what you want?”

  Cuddling Maisy close, Lara sank onto a kitchen chair. Silent seconds ticked past as she sat staring at the laminate floor. Then she lifted her head and met Ethan’s gaze.

  “No, becoming a danger to others, particularly my own mother, is not what I want to do. So, what’s the plan?”

  Ethan sat down across from her. “First off, give Maisy to me for a bit.” Frowning mildly, Lara allowed him to take the little girl. She was a warm lapful who kicked her legs and cooed up at him. He smiled down at the tiny heart-stealer then looked up at Lara. “Now, drink your tea. It will help settle you.”

  Lara sniffed slightly but complied by taking a sip of the hot brew, but her grip on the mug showed white knuckles. If only he could express to Lara in words how deeply he understood the difficulty of this situation, but words would sound hollow. All he could do was continue to keep her and Maisy safe.

  “The plan is the same as it always was,” he said. “Go to ground in a safe haven. Right now, that means my friends’ ranch a short drive from here.”

  “But what hope is there of this ordeal coming to an end anytime soon?” Lara bounced Maisy on her knees and won a happy chortle from the baby.

  At least someone in this room was in a good mood. Ethan pasted a smile on his face and tickled the child’s little neck.

  “You’re good with her.” Lara’s return smile shared the strain in his.

  “Thanks,” he said. “Never thought I’d be good with kids.”

  “Why is that?”

  A pang struck him. How could he explain to her the incident from years ago that had nearly cost him his career and his sanity? What would she think of him then? Truly, it wasn’t something he could talk about with her right now—probably never.

  He offered her a smile and a shake of his head. “The situation isn’t hopeless, you know. Far from it. The marshals service took into custody a couple of those thugs who attacked your mom. Our best interrogators are grilling them now. Let’s give them time to do their jobs.”

  “Okay, then.” She nodded. “We should probably get back on the road.”

  “Let’s say goodbye to Amy, then. Jim is with the horses, so maybe we’ll get a wave out of him as we head for Rogan and Trina’s place.”

  The drive to their ranch haven was silent, except for audible sighs periodically released by his adult passenger. Lara’s thoughts must be all over the place, and he could understand why. Her life had taken a radical turn. She’d gone from having a successful, adventurous career to living a moment-by-moment existence with mortal danger at every turn. She was the walking, talking embodiment of the saying “what a difference a day makes.” But in the negative.

  If only he could make the end of her day better. They’d packed the truck with groceries from the convenience store, so he could prepare her a tasty meal, see if he could get her to relax and rest tonight. But he couldn’t take away her legitimate concerns about her mother’s well-being or Isabelle’s or the baby’s or even her own. Their lives wer
e all on the line until the Draytons were brought to justice.

  “This is a really nice place.” Lara’s words drew Ethan out of his dark thoughts as he drove the truck into the lush valley that cupped his friends’ rural homestead.

  A long, low ranch house with a full-length porch dominated the center of the valley. Attached to the home by a narrow covered run was a smaller building with a sign over its door that advertised Trina’s veterinary clinic. A machine shed sat to the side and away from the house and clinic complex, and there was a large red barn with adjoining corral on the other side of the house. Artfully placed shrubbery and colorful flower beds edged all the buildings, and healthy, beautiful trees were scattered over the grassy acreage.

  Ethan pulled the truck to a stop near the front door of the house. “Wait here. I’ll get out and make sure we’re alone.”

  A soft groan from Lara hinted she was reliving vivid memories of the last time they’d pulled up to a supposed place of refuge. Visions of explosive mayhem were also attacking his brain, but he wasn’t about to let on to Lara about nagging thoughts. This place looked completely buttoned down, the way it should look with the owners gone and all the animals staying at Jim and Amy’s place, but he was taking no risks with his precious charges.

  Ethan stepped out of the vehicle into the warm evening air laden with a variety of appealing woodsy and floral scents. Birdcalls met his ears, a good sign that goons with guns might not be lurking around the property, waiting to ambush them. But he had to make certain. A reasonably quick walk-through of the property reassured him.

  He opened Lara’s pickup door. “Come on out. All clear.”

  She turned toward him with a slight smile. “That’s a relief.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” He grinned at her.

  Maybe this was going to turn out to be a safe place to lie low. They could all certainly use a break from the constant attacks.