Deadly Christmas Pretense

by Dana Mentink

  As the train lurched along the track, Mitch arrived on horseback. He leaned on his saddle horn. “Nothing.”

  Liam let out a groan. “That’s not the news I wanted to hear.”

  Danny looked closely at the bound Virgil. “Is that a glove in his mouth?”

  “Yes, sir,” Chad said. “He was using some awful inappropriate language in front of the ladies.”

  Danny laughed. “Very considerate of you.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Chad said.

  Liam texted Helen whom he knew would be in agony. She called him immediately.

  “Bring them straight here to the Lodge, Liam. Maggie will want to stay the night with her sister. I’ll make room. Joe just showed up and he’s frantic to see her, too.” She hung up but not before he heard the wobble in her voice. It pained him that she’d been scared, that Virgil had ever caused her a single moment of distress. The sisters didn’t argue as he got them on the next empty trolley en route to the Lodge.

  “Virgil’s really going to jail?” Tammy said, shuddering. “Will I go, too? Will Bill believe what his nephew has done?”

  Liam squeezed her shoulder. “One thing at a time, but I’m confident Danny can persuade the judge to use some leniency if Bill doesn’t come around.” Since the trolley was vacant, he eased a seat away, allowing the women to comfort each other in those soft, gentle murmurings that were too low for him to catch. He didn’t have to hear to understand, he realized with a start.

  Maggie was right about him learning to hear in other ways. It was just another validation.

  He swallowed a lump in his throat and thanked God for what he’d learned and what he had almost lost.

  TWENTY-THREE

  Maggie felt as though she was in a daze, sleepwalking through the empty lobby of the Lodge. Helen greeted them all with hugs and tears, settling them near the fire close to the massive decorated tree, and produced a tray of hot tea and mugs. Mitch and Chad had returned to the ranch. Virgil, the gun, her sister bound...it all seemed surreal, a terrifying nightmare. But here was Tammy alive and well. She could not have asked for a better result, if she could just get her brain to believe it.

  She stared, blinking dumbly, at the sparkling silver ornaments that hung on each bough, reminding her of the jewelry Virgil had almost killed them to retrieve. She did not know what would happen to her sister legally, but she couldn’t be too worried about that. Tammy was unhurt, as far as she could tell, her crying subsiding into spurts with sniffling in between.

  “Tammy!” Joe ran into the room and Tammy threw herself into his arms, crying onto his shoulder.

  “I’m okay,” she said around her sobs. “He didn’t hurt me.”

  Joe squeezed her close and Maggie and Liam moved away to give the couple some privacy.

  “I’m going to go see if the cook can rustle up some soup,” Helen said.

  “I can help,” Maggie said, earning a laugh from Helen.

  “Oh, no, you most certainly cannot. You’re going to sit and rest and recover. Period. I’m going to let Jingles loose. He’s been whining since you leashed him in the dining room.”

  Helen strode off and Liam grinned. “Like I said, it’s best to follow orders where Helen is concerned.”

  In a moment Jingles bounded into the room with an exuberant yip, sliding to a stop to receive a friendly scratch from Liam. “Hey, buddy. I told you I’d come back.”

  “Have you two become friends now that you’ve exchanged candy canes?” Maggie said.

  He laughed. “Aw, he’s growing on me.”

  She watched the dog wriggle around his master, completely devoted. Maggie felt her heart swell with gratitude.

  “How can I thank you?” She realized Liam’s attention was still on the dog. She put a hand on his shoulder. “Liam, you saved my sister’s life, not to mention mine.”

  Liam shrugged a shoulder. “Too bad the jewelry didn’t turn up. I’m hopeful Tammy will get her memory back someday.”

  She started again to try to express her gratitude without being too personal. Keep it light, like he wants. Her attention was snagged away when Jingles trotted over and sprawled underneath the Christmas tree.

  The branches shuddered as his tail raked the needles, sending the big glass ornaments on the bottom branches bobbing. The one that hung just above Jingles’s head looked lower than it should, as if some strange weight was pulling it down. Maggie went over and removed it, holding it up to the light. Her breath caught in her throat.

  “Tammy?” she said.

  “Uh-huh?” Tammy answered, without taking her eyes off Joe.

  “That night, when you came to the Lodge and Helen took you in, did you stay in the lobby for any length of time?”

  “Yes. Helen told me to stay by the fire and warm up while she changed the bed in her room for me.” She looked over. “Why?”

  “Because I think I know where you hid the jewelry.”

  Maggie held the ornament up higher and the soft overhead light shone through the glass interior. Nestled inside was a tangle of diamond jewelry.

  Tammy squealed in delight. “So that’s what I did. I unhooked the top and fed the necklace and bracelets inside. I can’t believe I didn’t remember doing that.” Her face broke into a massive smile. “Now we can give it back to Bill.”

  “It’s—” Maggie broke off to stare at Joe, who had emitted a shocked cry. His pallor was stark white, his mouth slack with shock. Why shock? Surprise, certainly, but his expression was inexplicably troubled.

  “What’s wrong, Joe?” she asked.

  “No,” he said, shaking his head as if he hadn’t heard. “It’s not going back to Bill. It’s for us, Tammy. You and me. That was the deal.”

  Tammy started at him. “What deal? What are you talking about?”

  A snatch of conversation reverberated in Maggie’s mind, something Virgil had said at the parade.

  My sister would never be with someone like you, a greedy liar.

  Are you so sure of that? Maybe your sister isn’t as smart as you think.

  Joe moved closer, hand out. “Give that to me, Maggie.”

  Tammy’s mouth fell open. “Joe, what are you doing?”

  Liam blew out a breath. “You were the one who was supposed to stage the theft. You and Virgil cooked up the plan together.”

  “It was his plan, but I went along with it. Even quit my job so we wouldn’t be linked. He’d skim the insurance money and I’d get the necklace, fence it and keep the payoff.” Joe turned desperate eyes on Tammy. “For our future, baby. You were never supposed to be involved, but then you took it. Virgil went after you. When I learned he’d driven you off the road, I was furious, but he said we could clean the whole thing up if I helped him find the jewelry.”

  “Was it you at the lighthouse?” Liam demanded.

  “No,” Joe said. “All I did was follow you and try to get the backpack at the beach.”

  “You almost drowned Liam and Maggie.” Tammy’s face was aghast.

  “The Corvette,” Liam continued. “That was your work, too, wasn’t it? Virgil had an alibi.”

  Joe’s mouth tightened but he continued to gaze at Tammy, his expression pleading. “I didn’t want to kill anyone. If I hadn’t done what he’d said, he’d have come after Tammy himself. Don’t you see?” He turned pleading eyes on Tammy. “I had to ensure our future.”

  “A real man,” Liam said with a snort. “And you were the second shooter at the train station, weren’t you?”

  “The shot wasn’t anywhere close. I wouldn’t risk hurting Tammy.”

  “Doesn’t matter, Joe,” Liam said. “You’re going to jail now with Virgil.”

  Joe hesitated and pulled a gun from his pocket. “No, I’m not.”

  Maggie felt her disbelief give way to fear as Joe turned to Tammy. “I love you. We can get ou
t of here, go someplace together. The jewelry is worth a fortune. No one else has to get hurt. I did all this for you. For us. Now you can understand, right? Come with me.”

  “Oh,” Tammy said, eyes brimming, voice throbbing with betrayal. “Too late for that. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  He grimaced. “I’ve gone too far now, Tammy. I can’t go back. Don’t you see? I have to get away. Please come with me. We can start over somewhere new after we sell the jewelry.”

  Maggie tried to snatch at her sister as Tammy stepped closer to him. “I wouldn’t go anywhere with you. I was completely blind not to see what you were doing before.”

  Joe sucked in a breath and aimed the gun at Maggie. “Give it to me. I don’t want to hurt you, or anyone, but I have no more options.”

  Maggie held the ornament up. “All this deceit and threats and ultimatums for something that never belonged to either of you.”

  Joe’s lips tightened into a grimace. “Save it. Give me the ornament.”

  “Okay. Here you go.” Maggie lobbed it at Joe, higher than he was expecting. It sailed over his head and Helen snagged it, a reflexive catch, as she reappeared in the lobby.

  With Joe off balance from his lunge, Tammy flung out a foot and swept his legs out from under him. He fell back with a grunt. Liam was on him in a moment, fingers locked on Joe’s wrists. Jingles barked and bit down on Joe’s pant leg, yanking and tugging for all he was worth. They rolled into the tree and it wobbled, nearly overturning. Neither Jingles nor Liam loosened their holds and, in a moment, it was all over. Liam wrestled the gun free and sent it skidding across the floor. Maggie raced over to make sure the gun stayed out of reach. Liam rolled Joe onto his stomach and knelt on him, breathing hard.

  Helen stared from the prostrate Joe to her brother to the glass ornament in her palm that glittered and sparkled with its hidden treasure. Her look of surprise shifted to pure wonder.

  “Well, now,” Liam said with a grin. “I’d say that was a fine group effort, wouldn’t you?”

  “Yes,” Helen said. “I’m sure glad you taught me how to catch, Liam.”

  Liam chuckled as he got to his feet. “You can be on my team any day.”

  Maggie was torn between a laugh and a sob as she embraced her sister.

  * * *

  Danny Patron took Joe into custody and loaded him into the squad car.

  “And they say nothing happens in Driftwood,” he said with a chuckle. “I spoke to the DA, just to be sure, but he concurs that there should be no reason Tammy should face any jail time.”

  Liam clasped his hand in a grateful shake and watched him drive away.

  He wandered into the empty courtyard where the festival had been in full swing only a short while earlier. What a difference a couple of hours could make. He stood behind Maggie as she gazed out across the courtyard bedazzled with Christmas lights. It was silent now, the lull before the bustle of the guests returning from their train trip, unaware of what had transpired at the station and Lodge. He was in no hurry for the moment to end as he gazed at Maggie. She was quite simply beautiful, profile gilded by the lights, expression pensive. He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for her, finding the beaded bracelet he’d forgotten he’d purchased.

  He sidled up next to her and she gave him a wan smile.

  “Processing it all?”

  She nodded. “Trying to figure out what’s next. Tammy’s going to stay in her trailer for a while until she gets her bearings again. She’s heartbroken, for sure. I need to be with her until the shock wears off.”

  “Absolutely.” He added quickly, “For support and all.”

  “She really loved him.”

  “Yes. That hurt’s not going to heal quickly.”

  Maggie frowned. “Helen offered me a job at the Lodge as a chef. I’m not sure what to do.”

  “I am.” The words erupted before his brain thought them through. This time he did not need to hide behind a quip or witticism. For the first time in a long while he was sure—dead certain—and completely comfortable with the decision he was about to reveal to her. He took her wrist and slid on the bracelet. “A Christmas present.”

  “Oh,” she said. “How pretty. I didn’t...get you anything.”

  He quirked a grin. “Pancakes. Those are way better than presents.”

  She smiled, eyeing the bracelet again. “Well, I love it, thank you.”

  “I should be thanking you.” He cleared his throat.

  Her eyes reflected the glow of the light strings. “Why? It seems like—”

  “I’m scared,” he said flatly, cutting her off.

  She gaped at the admission, startled into silence.

  “I’m scared, Maggie.” He gulped in some air, partly in disbelief that he’d gone ahead and spoken it. It was time. It was right. “Terrified, actually, of losing my hearing.”

  She moved a bit toward him, but he stopped her again. “I haven’t said those words since I was seven years old.”

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to...”

  “But I’m saying them with you because—” he sucked in a breath and steeled his spine “—I trust you. I mean, I trust you like no one else. I’ve never allowed myself to cultivate that kind of trust before.”

  Her smile was sweeter than a summer’s day. “I’m so glad but... I mean, I know Tammy’s single again now...”

  “And we’ll always be friends. But that’s it. It’s different with you.” He cleared his throat. “You make me believe that I will survive going deaf one day.”

  Tears glimmered on her lashes. One spilled down her cheek and he caught it with his thumb.

  “And you were right,” he went on in a rush. “God meant us to do life together and...I know that you and I are supposed to...” He went all hot and thick inside, and the words stuck in his throat until she looked at him with that green-gold gaze that spoke of autumns and acceptance and gentle strength and rock-solid faith. What a woman she was and oh, how he wanted her to be his forever.

  He gave up on the spoken words. Instead he stilled his shaking hands and made the sign that Charlie had showed him. With awkward effort, he put up his thumb, forefinger and pinky, ring and middle finger down. One more breath, palm out, moving his hand slightly from side to side, he told her without a single word.

  I love you.

  He heard her breath hitch, saw the tears begin to spill down her cheeks in earnest.

  “I love you, too, Liam,” she whispered. “So much more than I can ever say.”

  “Merry Christmas, Maggie,” he choked out as he took her in his arms.

  “Merry Christmas, Liam,” she whispered back.

  Jingles scampered over and sat. Liam looked in astonishment at the bunch of candy canes clenched in his mouth. “Where in the world did he find those?”

  Maggie laughed. “He brought extras this time, one for each of us.”

  Overflowing with joy, Liam reached for her, holding her in his arms and relishing the freedom he felt as his heart expanded, doubled over and wrapped him in a glow lovelier than any lavish holiday display.

  He found her lips with his and joined their lives together with a perfect Christmas kiss.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, look for the first book in the Roughwater Ranch Cowboys series by Dana Mentink:

  Danger on the Ranch

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Holiday Mountain Conspiracy by Liz Shoaf.

  Dear Reader,

  I am writing this letter as I sit in a bustling hospital emergency room, waiting for some test results for a family member. Time seems to slow down here, the conversations ebbing and flowing around me in this busy place. It strikes me that we have so many ways to quantify a human life, don’t we? We can measure the beats of the heart, the actions of enzymes, the microbes and platelets an
d pulses and respirations that keep a body alive. For all that, we cannot measure a person’s capacity to love, the intangible desire of one person to care deeply for another. That, my friends, is the beautiful inheritance from the Lord. He gives us the ability to love, because He first loved us. What a treasure, what a gift.

  Thank you so much for reading my story. I hope it entertained and inspired you. Most of all, I hope you feel deeply that you are loved by our Father. If you’d like to contact me, feel free to send a note via my website at danamentink.com. There is also a physical address there if you prefer corresponding by letter. As always, God bless you, my friends, and thank you for joining me on this adventure!

  Sincerely,

  Dana Mentink

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

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  Holiday Mountain Conspiracy

  by Liz Shoaf

  ONE

  Mary Grace Ramsey breathed out a puff of frigid air as she slogged through the deep, freezing snow. Treacherous didn’t even begin to describe this mountain located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She prayed she’d be able to find the person she was searching for—a mysterious and elusive man known as Mountain Man. Her thoughts came to a screeching halt when a loud muffled sound resonated from down the mountain behind her. Snow flurries swirled in the air as she slowly turned around, trying to make as little noise as possible. She winced when the snow crunched beneath her hiking boots. In the hushed quiet of the forest, the breaking ice under her feet sounded like a cannon shot.