The Princess and the Prepper

by Barbara Elsborg

  She tensed as he paced with his fists clenched.

  “My life is ordered and controlled, just the way I like it,” he snarled. “You’re the one with an unhappy life. You’ve put up with physical abuse because you were too weak to walk away.”

  “But I did walk away,” she whispered.

  “How long has it been going on?” he snapped. “Why didn’t you leave the first time he hit you?”

  I did and my mother persuaded me to forgive him and not tell my father. But the words log-jammed in her throat.

  “Did he tell you he was sorry and that it wouldn’t happen again?”

  No, he said I deserved it, and if I didn’t want it to happen again, I’d learn not to upset him.

  She pushed herself to her feet.

  “You should have gone to the police, found a women’s shelter, stayed with a friend. Anything is better than remaining with an abusive guy.”

  I don’t have any friends. The family name, I— He didn’t understand. She straightened her shoulders. “Yes, you’re right, of course. I told you I was stupid.” She backed away toward the bedroom. “I’ll get dressed. Thanks for all you’ve done. Sorry to have been a nuisance.”

  She managed to close herself in the bedroom before the pain burst free of her heart and tears slid down her cheeks.

  Chapter Six

  Grant stared at the bedroom door. That hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped. He’d apologize when she came out. Criticism wouldn’t help, nor would shouting. She’d touched a couple of nerves, and the irony was, he knew she was right. He wasn’t living, just existing. He let out a loud sigh. He didn’t think she was stupid. Fear had blinded her common sense. Maybe his, too.

  A loud knocking startled him. Grant saw a face he recognized looking in through the window, and went to the door.

  “Sheriff.” Grant stood in the entrance blocking Jake North’s way.

  The broad-shouldered man he’d gone to school with pinned him with his gaze, and while Grant did his best not to look guilty, every bad thing he’d ever done crawled up his spine, ready to spurt out of his mouth.

  “I’d like a word with you,” Jake said. “Can I come in?”

  Snow fell from a leaden sky. It wouldn’t look good if he said no. He moved aside and Jake shook off his hat, stamped his feet, and wiped them on the mat before he entered. Grant bristled as Jake’s gaze traveled round the room before it settled on him.

  “We had a woman reported missing night before last. She picked up a lift outside the Hungry Hunter in Jackson. At some point, she walked along the highway. Her clothes ended up near here. Snowplow turned them over in the early hours, and the driver brought them in. The missing woman’s parents had a call from her this morning, number withheld, and they said she sounded confused.”

  Grant swallowed. He was going to have to make a decision in a moment. Tell the truth, or lie.

  Jake scratched his head. “There’s something wrong with the timing of this. People with extreme hypothermia sometimes think they’re too hot and take off their clothes, but hers had been lying there for some time before she made the call.”

  He didn’t respond and Jake looked disappointed.

  “I need to take the dogs into your woods to look for her. Her husband’s mighty anxious.”

  Husband? What the hell? He knew shock had shown on his face, and he bit down into his cheeks to stop the anger pouring from his mouth. She’d married the guy who hit her? She hadn’t thought to tell him she had a husband before they got down and dirty? Fucking hell.

  “Is that okay?” Jake asked.

  “You don’t need the dogs. She’s here. I found her wandering along the road. Brought her back and warmed her up.”

  Jake blew out a long breath. “That’s a relief.” Then he frowned. “Why didn’t you call it in?”

  “I asked him not to.” Lili stood at the bedroom door, dressed in boots, jeans, and the pink sweater he’d bought her.

  Her face was white and she didn’t look at him.

  Grant opened his mouth. “Lili—”

  “Thank you so much for your hospitality. You’ve been very kind.” She bent to gather up a little parcel of paper towel from the back of a small table by the door and then moved to the sheriff’s side. What’s she picked up?

  Lili clutched the parcel in one hand and held out the other to Jake. “How do you do?”

  The sheriff shook her hand, and Grant wanted to tear the guy’s arm off.

  “Jake North. Evans Point sheriff. Pleased to meet you—er—Your Highness.”

  “Lili’s fine,” she mumbled.

  “What?” Grant gasped. “Your highness?”

  “Didn’t you tell him?” Jake asked.

  She kept her gaze down as she spoke. “No.”

  “Tell me what?” He knew he’d snapped. He couldn’t help it.

  “I’m Princess Liliane Johanna Charlotte Helene zu Saxe-Melckenburghausen.”

  Jesus Christ. “Lili, you don’t need to go,” he managed to get out.

  “I’m sure the sheriff will take me for breakfast somewhere.”

  Grant glared. She knew that wasn’t what he meant.

  “Thank you.” She didn’t look at him but he felt the weight of those words.

  He wanted to drag her back into the bedroom and kick Jake out but one even heavier word stopped him. Husband. And wasn’t it better to end this now the opportunity was here? A lot easier than if he’d strung out an affair with her. He might have hurt her, but she’d recover.

  “Got everything?” Jake asked.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Grant let her walk away and it might have been the hardest thing he’d ever done. She didn’t look at him. The sheriff opened the car door and she climbed inside.

  “Don’t go, Lili,” Grant whispered, but not loud enough for her to hear.

  The vehicle pulled down the drive and the moment it moved out of sight, he slammed the door so hard a painting fell off the wall and the glass smashed.

  ***

  “Your husband’s been frantic,” the sheriff said.

  “Husband?” Lili turned to look at him.

  He gave her a puzzled glance. “Dieter Kohl.”

  “He’s not my husband.”

  “Why would he say he was?”

  She sighed. “Wishful thinking.”

  “Ah. What happened the night before last?”

  “We had an argument. I left the restaurant and a man in a big truck gave me a lift. He…he tried to have sex with me. I managed to get free, but he drove away with my clothes.”

  “Did he hurt you?”

  “Not in that way, no. He knocked me around in the cab. I banged my head on the dashboard.”

  “Did you get the registration number? Know what the truck was hauling?”

  “Not the number, but he was carrying refrigerated goods.”

  “Can you describe him?”

  “In his forties, a big guy, white, brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. He wore jeans and a black T-shirt. There was nothing unusual about him.”

  “Anything in the cab that you remember?”

  Lili thought about it. “I broke a CD case with my boot as we struggled. I heard it crack. There were empty wrappers and a water bottle in the side pocket. I was looking for a weapon. He ripped the buttons off my shirt. Maybe he didn’t find all of them.”

  “How did Grant come across you?”

  “His wolf found me, barked, and Grant came.”

  “You’re lucky.”

  “Yes.” Maybe.

  “Happy to be going back to your boyfriend?”

  The swell of grief in her chest stole her breath for a moment. Her moment of rebellion was over and she’d lost.

  “He’s been very worried,” the sheriff said.

  “I’m sure he has.” Dieter did worried extremely well, along with angry and kind. Trouble was, Lili never knew which was coming.

  “Can’t help but wonder why you didn’t call him to tell him you were okay.”<
br />
  She said nothing.

  “What did you argue about?” he asked.

  “I wanted to order a burger and fries.”

  He made a sound of puzzlement. She knew he wouldn’t understand. “Dieter thought I ought to choose the grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. I didn’t want that.” She didn’t want Dieter. She wanted Grant but that wasn’t going to happen.

  “That’s the first time Grant’s let me in that cabin,” the sheriff said. “He’s been living on the outskirts of Evans Point for over a year, but he rarely comes into town, not even to sign his books.”

  “His books?”

  “He didn’t tell you? He’s Grant Thomas Houston. He writes under his Christian names. Thrillers.” The sheriff laughed. “He always had his head in a book at school. His brothers were jocks, but the only sport Grant liked was running.”

  Why hadn’t he told her he’d written those books? At least she’d said she liked them.

  “The cabin’s his BOL,” the sheriff said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Bug-Out Location. A place to feel safe and ride out a storm. Some preppers like to have a separate spot; others want to stay in their homes. Course, Grant’s riding out his own particular storm.” He glanced at her.

  “He told me about his wife and child.”

  “He talked about Serena?”

  Lili could tell by the sheriff’s tone of voice that he was surprised.

  “Only to explain how she died.”

  “He doesn’t talk about his family. I was his friend. I still am his friend, but since he came back, he’s refused all offers to go for a drink, a meal, to chat. He doesn’t even talk to his parents.”

  Oh, I have more in common with him than I thought.

  “I worry about him,” the sheriff said.

  “Well, he’s not going to starve. His cupboards are full. He explained to me about prepping.”

  “People round here are pretty serious about it. Unless it turns into a selfish obsession and they get gun-happy thinking the end of the world is nigh and they have more right to survive than their neighbor, I don’t see what’s wrong with it. There are some kooks in Evans Point, just as there are in any town, but most folks are levelheaded and family-orientated. After the devastation wreaked by the tornadoes, they like to be prepared for every eventuality. Common sense.”

  “That must make your job easier.”

  He laughed. “We don’t get too many women getting lost in the snow, that’s for sure. Speaking of which….”

  He called in on his radio that he’d found her and asked one of his deputies to contact Dieter.

  “I expect he’ll take you for something to eat.”

  “I expect so.” She felt as though she was standing in front of a flurry of blow darts. Pain blossomed all over her chest. Was this another mistake, going back to him? What would he do? What would he think when he found out where she’d been? Though he’d never guess what she’d done. Dieter wouldn’t believe she had the nerve to sleep with another guy.

  “You want to make a statement about the trucker?” he asked.

  “I don’t see the point. He’ll be long gone.”

  “Sure there’s nothing else you remember about him or his rig?”

  She shook her head.

  He pulled up outside a guesthouse with a snowman in the front garden. “Don’t accept any more lifts from strangers.”

  “Including you?”

  He laughed. “You’re safe enough with me. Good luck with your boyfriend.”

  “Did…did you tell Grant my husband was looking for me?”

  “Yes.” His gaze settled over her shoulder. “He told me he was your husband.”

  Grant thinks I’m married. Lili slumped as if she’d been struck by a sledgehammer. She fumbled with the seat belt and the sheriff clicked her free. Dieter pulled open the door and yanked her out into his arms. He pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered, “You fucking bitch.”

  He squeezed so hard she couldn’t breathe.

  “Thank you so much, Sheriff,” Dieter said. “I can’t believe she’s alive.” He loosened his hold but didn’t let her go. “Where did you find her?”

  “A local came across her wandering along the road and took her in.”

  “Please thank them for us. Come on, darling. Let’s get you inside.” He manhandled her toward the door.

  “Mr. Kohl? Why did you say she was your wife?”

  Dieter turned. “She’s days from being my wife. We collected a license in Jackson Hole, and we’re marrying tomorrow in Yellowstone. I’m sorry I misled you. You have my sincere apologies.”

  And all that ran through Lili’s head was, Grant thinks I’m married.

  ***

  Mistake. Mistake. Mistake.

  Grant paced across his living room wondering how he could have let something so perfectly right go so badly wrong. He’d pushed her back into the arms of a guy who hurt her. Her husband. Okay so she hadn’t told him that part. If she had, what would he have done differently? I’d have left her alone.

  Of course you would have, said his cock.

  I fucking would!

  And a princess? Jesus? It explained the dropped mug. Had he called her princess before she’d cut her palm? She was so not right for him.

  In what way? asked his cock.

  I am not having this conversation.

  He pulled his phone from his pocket and called the police department. “I’d like to speak to Sheriff North, please. It’s Grant Houston.”

  A moment later, he was put through. “What can I do for you?”

  “He hits her,” he blurted out.

  “Who?”

  You fucking know who I’m talking about. “Lili’s husband hits her. She was running away from him. That’s why she was out in the snow, that’s why I didn’t call it in. She asked me not to.”

  “He’s not her husband.”

  Grant almost dropped his phone. “But you said—”

  “Yes, because he told me he was. She said he wasn’t. But when I dropped her off, he also told me he had the marriage license and they’re marrying tomorrow in Yellowstone.”

  Oh fuck. Fiancé. He didn’t like that word either, but it was a damn sight better than husband. “He’s hitting her.”

  “Nothing I can do about it. She could have said something and didn’t. I left them standing in each other’s arms.”

  “Where are they staying?”

  “You should leave it.”

  “Have they left Evans Point?”

  “Leave it, Grant.”

  No, he couldn’t do that.

  When he walked outside, Shadow sat by the door of the shed.

  “Want to come?”

  The wolf wagged his tail.

  ***

  As Dieter pulled her to the door of the guesthouse, the wrapped-up fragments of mug started to slip from her hold and she clasped them to her chest.

  “What have you got there?” he snapped.

  “I broke a mug. I want to arrange a replacement.”

  The door opened and a pretty woman in her thirties smiled at them. “You’re safe! How wonderful.” She held out her hand to Lili. “I’m Maggie Farrell, Your Highness. I own this place. Mr. Kohl’s been so worried about you.”

  “I—” She began to tell her there was no need to address her as Your Highness, but as usual, Dieter interrupted.

  “We won’t be staying the night,” he said. “But we’ll prevail upon your hospitality for a little longer, if that’s acceptable. My fiancée needs to bathe and change her clothes.”

  “That’s fine. Take as long as you need.”

  Dieter gripped her wrist and hauled her up the stairs. She could feel anger rolling off him in suffocating waves. She was angry, too, but his waves swamped hers. He unlocked the door, yanked her inside, and closed it again before he let her go. She set the package on a chair and tensed.

  “What did you think you were doing?” He spoke quietly but the menace
in his tone was unmistakable. “How dare you walk out on me?”

  “I don’t want to marry you.” Oh God, I said it. Goose bumps erupted over her entire body.

  “Of course you do. I’ve bought you a dress. The wedding ring’s in my pocket. I’ll keep your engagement ring until I trust you not to leave it somewhere. Think how happy you’re going to make your parents. Think how happy you’re going to make me.”

  What about me? “But I don’t make you happy. I annoy you.”

  His jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth. “Only when you’re not doing as you’re told.”

  “Why do I always have to do as you say?”

  “Because I know best. I know what you like, what you need. That’s what husbands do. They take care of their wives’ needs.”

  “You don’t care about what I need and want.”

  He glared. “Is this still about that chicken? Grow up, Liliane. I know the right things for you to eat. Hamburgers and fries will make you balloon like your mother.”

  “I’ll tell her you said that.”

  “And I’ll tell her it was what you said. You know who she’ll believe. Now, take off those trashy clothes, shower, and put on your own.”

  “No.” She couldn’t help cringing under his glare. “I like these things.”

  His brow wrinkled. “It’s not like you to be so defiant. What’s got into you?”

  Grant. How she longed to shout out his name, but she didn’t trust Dieter not to find him and hurt him. He caught hold of her upper arm and pressed his fingers hard enough into her skin to make her cry out.

  “Who were these people you spent the night with?”

  Oh God, can he read my mind?

  “A rancher and his wife. Let me go.”

  He yanked her up tight against him. “Take off those cheap clothes, or I’ll rip them off.”

  “Don’t threaten me.” Her heart pounded.

  Just for a moment, he looked taken aback and then his expression reverted to the arrogant snarl he usually wore.

  In a weird way, she wanted him to hit her. If he broke her arm, she’d tell the doctors what he’d done and…her courage drained away. She’d sat next to the sheriff and not told him what Dieter was like. If her arm was broken, Dieter would come up with a rational explanation. Bruises would be put down to the trucker she’d hitched a ride with.