Dallas at Midnight [Midnight in Montana 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Bella Settarra

  “You OK, honey? I’m real sorry if I said something wrong. Me and my big mouth, it’s always landing me in trouble.” Kerry-Leigh must have noticed her expression as she came over and threw an arm around Dallas’s shoulder.

  Dallas was shaking and suddenly felt very sick. She hoped it was just down to the shock of realization.

  Chapter 8

  Shane was serving up dinner when the two girls came back into the room. He’d enjoyed seeing how well Dallas got on with Kerry-Leigh, and had heard them laughing in the bedroom while he’d chatted with his brother.

  It seemed that Caleb had missed him just as much as he’d missed his little brother, and had been heartbroken to get married without him by his side. When they discovered that Kerry-Leigh was pregnant he had been determined to get back with Shane, there was no way he was going to leave him out of this chapter of his life, so had eagerly taken the assignment when his editor announced that they needed someone to come out here for a few days.

  “Sit down, I’ve made tons,” he told them as they wandered into the room. He couldn’t help noticing how pale Dallas looked, and cursed himself for letting her exert herself so much today. Mind you, he had to admit, their exertion in the shower was something really special—heck, she was something really special! He grinned as he thought of their time together before the doctor had put the dampener on the day. The sound of her coughing pulled him from his thoughts and he looked over. She still wasn’t well, she had a dreadful cold, and was dang lucky it wasn’t anything much worse.

  “You OK, darlin’?” He placed a large plate of food in front of her and she stared at it.

  She nodded. “Yeah. I just don’t want to give Kerry-Leigh my cold, that’s all.”

  “Don’t you worry ’bout me, hun. Got the constitution of an ox, I have.” Kerry-Leigh laughed, waving her hand dismissively across the table at her.

  “Ain’t that the truth.” Caleb grinned cheekily, earning himself a friendly swat from his wife.

  Shane sat down as they all tucked in. The meal was delicious and he was quite proud of himself. He quite enjoyed cooking, and it wasn’t often he got the chance to cater for this many people.

  “This is so nice,” Kerry-Leigh said as she finished eating. She was smiling around the table, and looked perfectly content. Shane grinned. She sure was a lively one, and a perfect addition to the family. The family. He hadn’t thought of them being a family for some time. He was glad that Caleb had called. They had had a bit of a strained conversation earlier when he noticed the hole in the kitchen roof, and Shane had been ready for a barrage of accusations about him not looking after the place, but Caleb seemed to understand when he told him straight that the place wasn’t making any money. His brother had even offered to help out while he was here—when he wasn’t chasing his story, of course.

  “You play the guitar?” Dallas asked Caleb.

  “Not very well, but I’m trying.” He looked a little sheepish.

  “Maybe I can help you,” she offered.

  “Hey, you don’t sing as well, do you?” Kerry-Leigh’s eyes lit up.

  “Well, yes, I do.”

  “Oh golly! Kerry-Leigh’s an events co-ordinator,” Caleb groaned.

  “I’m always on the lookout for new talent and venues,” Kerry-Leigh chirped. “In fact, Caleb’s promised to show me ’round this place tomorrow. I reckon it’d be a great place to hold an open-air concert.”

  Caleb rolled his eyes. “Here we go again.”

  “So how about this crook you’re after?” Shane guessed his brother wanted a change of subject.

  “I don’t know a great deal yet. Need to study up on him tonight,” his brother said, chomping at his bread roll. “Some guy’s suspected of being involved with drug smuggling and using his companies to launder the money. Cops have been on his back for a while, apparently, just waiting to swoop. They had a tip off that he might be headed out this way and they’re waiting to make a few big arrests. I wanted to be out here ready to run the story when it all kicks off.”

  Shane watched Dallas stand up and begin to clear the dishes away.

  “I’ve got apple crumble in the oven if you’re still hungry,” he offered, getting up to help her.

  “Just like momma use to make!” Caleb grinned.

  “Oh God! I just realized I may have married the wrong brother,” Kerry-Leigh announced in mock horror.

  “Sorry, darlin’, but this one’s taken.” Shane beamed as he put an arm around Dallas. He felt warm inside, especially when she put an arm around his waist, pulling him even closer.

  Kerry-Leigh huffed. “Well, in that case I’ll settle for you teaching your little brother here how to cook. He never makes me stuff like this!” She pouted playfully.

  “Well, in that case you’ll have to stick around for a while,” Shane smiled, placing the hot dish on the table in front of them.

  “ Even if the story gets wrapped up quickly we’re planning on coming by a lot more often,” Caleb replied as Shane began to serve up.

  “Hell yeah. I want my baby knowing her whole family,” Kerry-Leigh added, as she took a large bowl of crumble and poured on tons of cream.

  “What makes you so sure it’s a girl?” Caleb asked with a grin.

  “Sugar—if this was a boy, knowing how they build them in your family, I’d be out to here by now.” Kerry-Leigh held her hand out in front of her stomach, indicating the size she’d be, and they all laughed.

  Shane couldn’t help noticing that Dallas seemed a little quiet tonight. He wondered if she was a little shy, although she seemed to get along just fine with everyone when they first arrived. Perhaps something had been said when she was with Kerry-Leigh in the bedroom, although they seemed friendly enough with each other. He surmised that maybe she was just tired—it had been another long, emotional day for her, and it wasn’t over yet.

  “How do you feel about being an uncle?” Dallas asked him.

  Shane was a little taken aback. He hadn’t even thought about it before. “I dunno,” he replied, truthfully.

  Dallas looked a little crestfallen and he realized he should have said something a little more enthusiastic in front of the new parents-to-be.

  “I just hope he or she likes riding,” he added quickly. “They can spend their long summer vacations out here if they want to.”

  “That would be awesome!” Kerry-Leigh was obviously delighted. “I always used to go up to my granddaddy’s ranch for the summer. All those long days riding over the hills and picnicking by the river. Everyone should have a childhood like that, I reckon.”

  She smiled at Shane and he couldn’t resist teasing her. “Well, actually, I was thinking more of helping with the mucking out and hosing out the barn,” he said cheekily. The swift kick he received from his sister-in-law under the table told him she was not amused, and she screwed her face up at him.

  Caleb was laughing, but Dallas looked a little concerned.

  “OK, I was only joking,” he assured them, a little worried that he had lost favor with the girls.

  “You’d better be, brother.” Kerry-Leigh wagged a finger at him in mock indignation.

  Shane giggled and then put his hand over Dallas’s. She looked down at it then smiled at him. He loved that smile. And he was relieved that she seemed to be OK.

  “How about a beer on the porch?” Shane suggested as he and Dallas cleared away the pots.

  “Got anything baby-friendly?” Kerry-Leigh asked, patting her stomach.

  “Reckon I could find something,” he replied with a grin. He liked this girl, she was lots of fun.

  “Great. Reckon I’d best find that bathroom again first, though.” Kerry-Leigh got up and headed out of the room.

  “I’ll just grab my laptop. Leave the dishes, I’ll help with them after,” Caleb offered, following her out.

  “I’ll get these done now,” Dallas murmured once they were alone.

  “We’ve got a dishwasher for that,” Shane said with a grin, opening a
cabinet door to reveal it hidden behind.

  Dallas smiled and began loading it up.

  “Are you OK, darlin’?” He put an arm around her and she stared up at him, nodding.

  “You seem a little quiet. You’re not upset or anything are you?” He gazed into her beautiful, soft face. She had a lot more color than yesterday and her eyes shone like emeralds.

  “Of course not. I’m glad you and Caleb have made up, and Kerry-Leigh’s lovely.” She smiled.

  “Not as lovely as you,” he whispered, hugging her close and kissing the top of her head. He smiled as she wrapped her arms around his frame, and he relished her gorgeous body next to his.

  “Didn’t you promise me some beer?” Caleb filled the doorway, grinning at them.

  Shane rolled his eyes. “Coming right up, bro’.” He reached into the fridge with one hand and tossed a can across the room.

  Caleb caught it, also with one hand, as he held the laptop under his other arm, and nodded as he wandered toward the front door.

  They finished with the dishes and grabbed a jug of lemonade and a crate of beer before joining the others on the front porch. Kerry-Leigh was in the rocking chair, while her husband sat next to the little table, studying the screen in front of him. Shane gestured to Dallas to sit on the swing as he handed around the drinks and then sat next to her.

  The sun had set, but the horizon was still lit up with swathes of purple and red. They listened to the sounds of the birds chirping their goodnights, and crickets somewhere in the fields. Most of the hands had gone home, and they idly watched Dylan leading a gray mare back to the stable for the night.

  Suddenly Dallas sat up straight. “I haven’t called Drake Farrell,” she said.

  “Oh yeah.” Shane fished the number out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Use the 'phone in the kitchen, darlin’, there’s a faulty lead on the other one.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled as she hopped up and went indoors.

  “She’s a lovely girl,” Kerry-Leigh said lazily as she rocked gently in the chair.

  “Yeah. We gonna hear weddin’ bells anytime soon?” Caleb grinned as he looked up from the computer.

  “Give me a chance,” Shane said.

  “Just don’t leave it too long. If you don’t scoop her up you can be sure someone else will,” his brother warned.

  Shane frowned. He was aware that she was a beautiful woman and she said she wasn’t interested in money—good thing too! He had certainly felt a connection with her and making love had been utterly amazing. He felt proud at giving her two orgasms and was sure he had seen something more than pure lust in her eyes. Every time he touched her he felt the zings of electricity spark between them. He was afraid of getting his heart broken again the way it was when Lucy dumped him, but he was even more afraid of someone else stealing her away from him. The burn in his stomach when he thought about her was insatiable, and he knew she meant more to him than anything.

  “It’s early days,” he mumbled, half to himself.

  “Don’t you believe in love at first sight?” Kerry-Leigh looked serious.

  That burn in his stomach was fast turning into an inferno as he thought about her. He had only met her yesterday and yet already they seemed so close.

  “You do believe in love, don’t you bro?” Caleb asked, looking over.

  Shane felt his face flush as he fiddled with his hands.

  “Of course he does. You only have to look at him to see he’s in love,” Kerry-Leigh said incredulously.

  Shane stared at her. She wasn’t joking. Is it love?

  Just then Dallas came back out of the house, frowning. Shane felt a lurch in his stomach, and he reached a hand out to her. She snuggled next to him on the swing.

  “I spoke to him, thanked him for his help and concern,” she began.

  “And?”

  She swallowed hard. “And he said that some guy had been asking around all the drivers to see if they’d picked up a girl that night.”

  “At Billings?”

  She stared up at him, nodding. “They probably asked all over, but Drake thought he better warn me. He said he guessed I was on the run.”

  “Does he know who this guy is, the one asking all the questions?”

  She shook her head. “It’s got to be one of Ed’s contacts. I told you, he’s got them everywhere.”

  Kerry-Leigh sat forward, wide-eyed. “You’re on the run?”

  Shane watched as Dallas’s mouth tightened. She looked a little awkward.

  “Hang on—did you say Ed? Not Ed Powell, by any chance?” Caleb looked up from his computer.

  Dallas frowned. “Do you know him?”

  “Do you?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “What d’ya know?” Shane asked his brother, and felt his heart hammering as he got up and led Dallas over to the little table where they sat with Caleb.

  “He’s the guy they’re looking for. The crook I’ve got to get the scoop on, look.” Caleb turned the screen around for them to see and Shane watched Dallas’s face crumble. He put an arm around her.

  She nodded. “That’s him.”

  He felt her tremble in his embrace and held her tighter.

  “Did you know he was involved with drugs?” Shane asked her quietly.

  Dallas shook her head.

  Kerry-Leigh stood up and came to join them at the table. “Wait—you know this guy? The crook?” Her eyes were wide as saucers as she gaped at Dallas.

  “That’s who she’s running from,” Shane explained.

  “Is that why he’s coming here? To find you?” Caleb frowned.

  Shane kissed the top of her head as tears began to pour down Dallas’s face. She stared up at him. “Perhaps I should go. It won’t be safe for any of you if he comes here.”

  He could see the panic in her face and he clung onto her tight. “You’re going nowhere. The cops are already onto him. They’ll catch him. You’ll be safer here.”

  He watched her configure what he was saying to her and she nodded slowly.

  “We’d better call the sheriff.” Shane got up and took her inside. Although he was sure the guy wasn’t around, he felt better knowing she was with him.

  Shane made the call while Dallas poured herself a long glass of water.

  “He’s on his way over,” he told her as he put down the receiver. “You stay here a minute. I’ll get the others to come in, too.”

  Dallas looked a little shaky so he went over and planted a kiss on her forehead. “It’ll be OK,” he promised.

  Out on the front porch, Caleb and Kerry-Leigh looked up as he approached them.

  “Sheriff’s on his way. It might be safer to wait inside,” he said. Then leaning over he whispered, “Someone’s been asking about her in town.”

  Kerry-Leigh’s hand went straight to her mouth and she stared at him. Caleb took her other hand and helped her up. She’d recovered herself by the time they reached the kitchen, where Dallas was sat at the table.

  She looked up as they entered the room and managed a faint smile. “Sorry to cause all this trouble.”

  “Oh, honey, this isn’t trouble, it’s an adventure,” Kerry-Leigh gushed as she went over and hugged her. “I’ve never known anything like this before, my life’s usually so dull, I get excited if one of the chickens lays an egg!”

  Dallas giggled, wiping her eyes with the cotton handkerchief Shane had given her earlier. Kerry-Leigh sat next to her at the table, holding her hand. It was great to see them getting on so well.

  “Why don’t you come and borrow something to wear?” Kerry-Leigh offered, and took Dallas off to her room.

  After a few minutes Shane went to let the sheriff in.

  “We think he might be here,” John murmured. Then he noticed Caleb in the kitchen. “Hey stranger, good to see you again.”

  They shook hands, and Shane smiled. It was good to see Caleb back home.

  “We’ve got the place surrounded,” John went on, “and my deputy’s go
t the town. I’ve got vehicles ready to set up road blocks if we need them, too.”

  “How many?” Shane frowned. Apart from the sheriff and the deputy they didn’t actually have any other police vehicles in Midnight.

  “Plenty. The whole town’s out tonight,” John threw him a shit-eating grin.

  Shane nodded. One thing he loved about Midnight County was how the neighbors all pulled together in a crisis—and the townsfolk just loved having something to get their teeth into!

  Dallas and Kerry-Leigh appeared and Shane introduced John to his sister-in-law. Dallas had borrowed a pair of jeans which were held together with a large belt, a baggy sweater and a pair of sneakers. She looked adorable all bundled up in the loose clothes and Shane couldn’t resist giving her a big hug. He knew she would look ten times worse if she’d borrowed his clothes, and hers were still drying.

  They all stared out of the kitchen window into the night. Every sound made them jump and every movement had them straining their eyes to see. They were all on high alert, a knife-edge, as they watched and waited…

  Chapter 9

  Dawn found then all a little dishevelled and very tired. The girls had taken themselves into the lounge at some point in the early hours and were each curled up sleeping on one of the chairs. Neither had wanted to go to bed in case something happened.

  John and Shane were out on the front porch, keeping watch, while Caleb was guarding the back. Although the night had started with lots of chatter and anticipation, they had all quietened down as time went on. Dallas had told Caleb lots of information about Ed Powell and what she knew of his friends, and he was able to fill her in on some details which had come to light during his investigation. She’d said she felt stupid for not noticing the signs, but she really had no idea he was into any of that stuff. Shane had done his best to reassure her that none of it was her fault, but she still seemed quite sad about it.

  Kerry-Leigh had told them about her plans to be a stay-at-home mom, while running her event-organising business and decorating their newly acquired run-down house up by Great Falls. She had already invited Dallas to come and stay, and said she’d need lots of help when the baby was born. Dallas had agreed eagerly—she obviously loved babies, Shane had duly noted.