by JJ Ellis
“Hello,” came a female voice.
“Yes ma’am, is Logan there?”
“I’m sorry, he’s busy at the moment. Can I take a message?”
“Oh, just tell him that there was a problem with a shipment of hair products. There was a fire at the manufacturing facility so they will be delayed.”
“Sure, I’ll tell him. Thank you.”
The man hung up the phone and left the store, looking carefully around him. Once inside his car he pulled out his cell phone and dialed. “Hey Joe. It’s her. I’d recognize her voice anywhere. Now we just need to find out where she’s hiding.”
“Thanks Frank. I had a feeling that the strange phone number I found when I hacked into the manager's phone would give us the results we needed. I’ll call the boss and fill him in.”
**********
Logan came back upstairs with a bowl of popcorn and two sodas. “Did I hear you talking to someone?" he asked when he noticed CJ still sleeping peacefully in his crib.
“Yeah, the store called. There is a shipment of hair products that will be delayed because of a fire at the manufacturers.”
“Oh, okay. Nothing too major then. Andrew will handle it.” Something felt off. He needed to call Andrew and get some details. What happened at the store shouldn’t have warranted a call. The staff was perfectly capable of dealing with it by themselves. He knew he would have to stay vigilant over the next couple of days – just in case.
Logan put a different movie on and they sat side by side on the bed, enjoying their snack. Just as Jayna finished the last of her soda, CJ began to fuss. Logan lifted him out of the crib and grabbed a diaper and wipes from the nightstand to change him. When he was clean and dry, Jayna put him to the breast while they continued to watch the movie.
Logan wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder and CJ began kicking his feet in excitement. “Why are you kicking me, little man?” he said with a smile. “I’m not trying to take your food.” He reached over and grabbed a little pajama-covered foot, shaking it gently back and forth making CJ just kick harder, trying to dislodge his foot from Uncle Logan’s grip.
“You’re paying more attention to me than to your food. Are you ready to burp?” CJ let go with a gassy smile and Jayna handed him over to the expert burper.
Logan patted and rubbed his back until he was rewarded with a series of small but effective burps and one loud toot. When he lifted him off his shoulder, the sweet little man was asleep. “Do you want to wake him to nurse on the other side or just put him back to bed?”
“Just put him back in the crib. I hate waking him.”
Logan did as she asked then sat down on the bed next to her again. “The movie is almost over, do you want to get some sleep before he wakes up for the next feeding?”
“I’m not tired yet,” she stated. “I think I might read for a while.”
“That sounds like a good plan. I think I’ll read for a bit too.”
Jayna got up and dug through the books Dylan had in a box by the bed. She found one that interested her and crawled into bed. Logan had retrieved his book from the nightstand.
“Does your brother read romance novels to improve his technique?” Jayna asked, holding her book up for him to look at.
Logan laughed. “No. He buys boxes full from yard sales and brings them here for the guests to enjoy. I don’t think my brother knows what romance is.”
“You’ll have to let me know when he finally finds the one woman who will teach him exactly what it is,” she said before opening her book.
“I didn’t take you as a romance novel kind of girl,” Logan said looking over at her.
“Oh yes,” she sighed. “I’ve been to hell and back, but I still believe in love. Maybe you should give it a try,” she said seriously. “You might find yourself happy for once.” The reality of what she’d just said hit her and she grimaced, closing her eyes to wait for his response.
“Maybe you’re right,” he murmured. “If only I knew how to let go of…of all the shit…”
“I’m sorry Logan, I was out of line.”
“You were just telling the truth,” he said softly. “There is no need to apologize.”
Jayna turned to look at him. “Someday, Logan. Someday, the right woman will teach you how to not be afraid of love.”
“Only if I let her,” he whispered, opening his book. “And that will never happen.”
They lie there reading for a half-hour when Logan turned his light off. He leaned over to kiss Jayna’s cheek as he had for the past few nights before he went to sleep. Only this time, for some unknown reason, he bypassed her cheek for her full, luscious lips.
What started out as a soft peck goodnight turned into something slow, exploring and sensual. “I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself,” he murmured.
“I’m glad,” she smiled, pulling him back down into a kiss. Her hands roamed over his shoulders and down his back to rest at his waistband.
“I want to touch you so badly,” he groaned.
"Go ahead,” she said, taking his hand and placing it near her breasts. “CJ needs to learn to share some time.”
Logan smiled and moved his hand into her shirt. “Shh, don’t tell him, just in case.” His fingers gently played over her breast and nipple moving down to the underside to cup its glorious weight. He squeezed gently and Jayna moaned, arching her back to press against him. His lips left hers and traveled down her neck and onto her collar bone. His fingers tentatively teased her nipple.
“Oh God, Logan!” she whispered breathlessly
“Don’t tell me that bastard never did this,” he said, gently closing his lips over her nipple to tease it with his tongue.
Jayna suddenly sat up and moved out of Logan’s arms.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low. “It’s none of my business."
Jayna looked at him with her tortured brown eyes. “It’s not that,” she murmured. “You were right. At first everything was great with him. We did everything. But then after a year, he’d just climb on board, pump away and that would be the end of it.”
“I’m sorry,” Logan said when she remained quiet. “You deserve so much more.”
“I know I did,” she said with tears running down her face. “But I stayed with him and let him treat me like a piece of meat. Why, Logan? Why in the hell did I do that?”
He took her into his arms and let her cry. “I can think of a few reasons why you may have stayed with him.”
“None of them could ever be good enough reasons.”
“Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself,” he comforted. “You may have been afraid of change, or afraid you’d lose your job. Hell, who knows why we do anything in life. The important thing is that you left. You took your life back.”
“I know you’re right,” she said, wiping her tears, "but when I think about it, I just feel so…so damn stupid!”
Logan wrapped his arms tighter around her and pulled her down to lay with him. There was nothing more he could say. It would take time for her to forgive herself. He closed his eyes and started to think of ways he could possibly end this mess sooner for her, but there was nothing he could do but wait until Reginald was stupid enough to make a move.
Suddenly a loud noise sounded from outside. Logan sat up and listened. The noise sounded again. “Stay here. Get the gun out of the nightstand and protect yourself at all cost.”
He put his hoodie and shoes on and rushed down the stairs. The bad feeling from earlier was now back. Preparing the rifle once again, he stepped out the door. The flashlight was still in the pocket of the hoodie so he took it out and directed the beam of light toward the part of the fence he’d just repaired. An old moose was attacking a whole section of fence. When the slats were lying flat on the ground he took off into the woods.
Logan chuckled and headed back inside. Damn moose sure knew how to scare him out of his mind. But at least Jayna was safe.
He put th
e gun away and hollered up to Jayna that everything was safe. By the time he made it back up the stairs, she had stored the pistol and was feeding CJ again. “I’m not fixing that fence again,” Logan chuckled. “I’ll let Dylan deal with it when he comes back up here. That damn moose might leave us alone now,” he said, dropping a kiss on the baby’s head.
“He was mad that you fixed his special spot. It needs to be lying down,” Jayna laughed. “I’m just glad it wasn’t the goons.”
“Me too,” he agreed, crawling into bed. “Are you almost done, buddy? I think your mama and I should get some sleep.”
**********
It was after midnight when the phone rang in the dark hotel room. The man in the bed on the right side sat up and dug through his pants pocket for his cell phone. “Hey Boss. Do you have any idea what time it is?" the man asked sleepily.
“I don’t give a fuck what time it is for you, Joe. It’s only 10:30 here. Get your partner on the line too, douche bag.”
The man leaned over to the other bed and smacked his business partner on the head. “Wake up Frank. Reggie’s on the phone,” Joe said as he hit the speaker button.
“We’re both here boss. What’s up?”
“What did you assholes find out about this Harper guy who’s panting around my woman?”
Joe spoke first. “He owns a grocery store, has two brothers, a mother and a niece who live here in this shithole. The town is named after his family and as you already know, he’s the cousin of the park ranger who got you arrested. That’s it, Boss.”
“I want you guys to search every property touched by this guy and his family."
“Fuck,” Frank mumbled.
“Boss, that’s a lot of places. There are five or six homes on the ranch itself. That doesn’t include the hunting cabin and the grocery store.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck how many places that is. Check every single one of them!”
“Oh, come on Reggie. This guy reportedly hasn’t been to the hunting cabin since his brother blew his brains out there. It’s an hour up curvy roads in the mountains.”
“What do you two not get about me not giving a flying fuck? Just get it done! I don’t care if you are distantly related to me, I’ll bury you if I find out you’re slacking on the job!”
“Yes Boss,” they agreed in unison.
“Good. Oh, and you can feel free to use the mom or the niece to get what I want. Understand?”
“Yes Reggie,” Joe said. “We’ll keep you updated.” He hung up the phone and sat down hard on the bed. “It looks like I’m going up the mountain tomorrow while you visit the houses on the ranch. I hope you remember how to be a good missionary.”
“I do, my son. May the lord be with you.” Frank and Joe both laughed as they settled down to go back to sleep.
“Hey Joe,” Frank whispered from his bed.
“Yeah?”
“How did the boss know his girl was here in the first place?”
“He didn’t for sure. When Miss McIntyre didn’t appear at the Park Ranger’s house he knew they would help her somehow. He sent guys to places where they had friends and relatives. We were just the lucky ones who happened to see her."
Chapter 8
Jayna had fallen asleep nursing CJ and when Logan opened his eyes, he couldn’t help but smile at the picture before him. Mother was carefully snuggled up against baby, the love for him evident on her face, even in sleep.
On his way downstairs to the bathroom, Logan heard nothing coming from outside. The usual morning noises of birds and woodland creatures were absent. Something, or someone was outside. Now he truly did believe that by answering the phone, Jayna had accidentally give away her hiding spot. He quickly and quietly called Andrew and his suspicions were confirmed. None of the store’s management had called the night before.
Logan grabbed his brother’s highest powered rifle and loaded it. He quickly ran upstairs to warn Jayna. “Hey Sleeping Beauty,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Jayna, I need you to wake up.”
“What…What’s going on?” she said, coming suddenly awake.
“There’s someone prowling around outside. I saw his shadow on the porch. Get the pistol and stay away from the windows. And above all else, stay as quiet as you can.”
Jayna hurried to get the pistol as Logan headed downstairs. “Be careful,” she whispered.
Just as Logan reached the front door, there was a quiet knock. He set the rifle within reach and opened the door. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m sorry to bother you, but might the lady of the house be here?”
Logan gave a harsh laugh. “There is no lady of this house. At least not anymore. I met a pretty little filly with flowing blonde hair a couple of weeks ago. My cousin from Nevada set me up with her. Man have you ever had a pregnant woman…insatiable!"
“Oh yeah, I remember my wife when she was knocked up. I’m sorry she left you. Might I ask what happened?”
"Yeah, the bitch left me high and dry in Nebraska yesterday afternoon. I got tired heading home since I didn’t have a second driver anymore, so I stopped here at my brother’s place. Good riddance I say.”
“Well, I’m very sorry to hear that. If you hear from her, give me a call,” he said, pulling a business card out of his pocket. “Her family has been searching for her for a long time. They are very worried about her safety.”
Logan took the card and looked at the man. “How do you know it’s the same woman?”
The man looked thoughtfully at Logan. “Well first, the woman I’m looking for is or was pregnant and second, we traced her here. I’m pretty sure it’s the same lady. We are private investigators."
Logan looked at the card again and then back to the man. “So it says, right here in black and white.” He put the card in the waistband of his pajama bottoms. "I’ll let you know if I see her, but it’s highly unlikely.”
“Fair enough,” the man said reaching out to shake his hand. “Thank you for your time.”
Logan nodded and stepped inside, closing the door. Before it shut all the way, he saw the man pull his phone out. He raced out to the breezeway and crept to the side of the house. That was a one-sided conversation he wanted to hear.
“Hey Frank, the hunting cabin is clear. I guess when they disappeared from Harper's Rock the other day, he drove her to Nebraska and she gave him the slip.
“Yes I’m sure. You should see the guy, he’s heartbroken. I just don’t want to be the one to tell the boss that his girl was cheating on him while carrying his kid.
“I’m not stepping foot back up here again, Frank. As far as I’m concerned, Reggie can send someone to Nebraska to search for her. I’m done.”
Logan had heard enough. It seemed goon one was ready to give up. But just to be safe, he, Jayna, and CJ would spend a couple of days in Billings. He could visit his brother in the hospital while they were there.
“Hey Jayna, let’s get our stuff together. We’re going to Billings for a few days until things cool off.”
“Does he know I’m here?” she asked shakily.
“No, and he never will. As you pack stuff, make sure you leave no obvious signs that there was ever a woman or a baby here. We’ll have to leave your pumped milk in the freezer, but try not to leave anything else out in the open.”
“Uh…okay,” she said with a touch of fear in her voice. She would let him explain later, it didn’t seem that they had any time to waste.
**********
Joe walked into the hotel room and took his jacket off, tossing it on the bed. “Did you find out anything?” he asked Frank.
“Hell no, not a damn thing. It’s like no one in this town has ever seen her.”
“Well, we’ve seen her with grocery store boy but apparently they fled to Nebraska and she got rid of him.”
Frank shook his head. “We need proof. I think we should go up to the hunting cabin again.”
Joe’s phone rang and he answered it, putting the calle
r on speaker phone. “Hey Boss, what’s up?”
“Did you guys find out anything?” Reginald asked, his voice gruff.
“She’s not here,” Joe said. “The grocery store owner said he was with her for a couple of weeks then she dumped him in Nebraska.”
There was silence for a long time. Joe and Frank braced themselves for what they knew was coming.
“That mother fucking slut!” he roared. “I’m going to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget. And the little brat too.”
“Now Boss, he’s just a baby,” Joe said quietly.
“Shut the fuck up, asshole. I think it’s time I switched my search. The grocery store prick is telling the truth. Her debit card has been used in the Dakotas and Nebraska.”
“Do you want us to head out, Boss?” Frank asked hopefully.
“No, dumb shit. I’ll send Hank and Peter over that way. You two need to stay right there.”
“But why, Boss?” Joe asked.
“Because there might be a bonus in it for you if I decide to end Logan Harper’s suffering. No one fucks my woman, with my kid in her womb and gets away with it.”
The phone went dead. “He’s losing his mind,” Joe said quietly. “Relative or not, it might be time to find a new job.”
**********
“So, does your family have a house in Billings too?” Jayna asked as they hit the highway.
“No. We have the hunting cabin and the stuff on the ranch,” Logan scoffed. “Which reminds me, my house should be ready to move into in another week if the weather holds.”
“You don’t act very excited about it.”
“I’m actually quite happy where I am,” he mumbled. “But eventually…”
“When you grow up?” she chuckled.
“Yeah, Lord knows I won’t have a family to put in it. But eventually I have to become a grown man and live in a real house.”
