Crouching by Elmer’s bed, he settled the baby in for the night and gave the boy’s cheek one last stroke.
He had to come up with a plan. They needed to move.
Soon.
Chapter 13
He was a wreck. Physically and mentally.
As if not knowing Emily’s condition weren’t enough to drive him nuts, Max fought to repress the coil of lust that wound tighter every day, wreaking havoc on his body, his brain. Erotic images of Laura’s long, sleek legs had taunted Max through another sleepless night on the lumpy couch. How would they feel wrapped around him?
He couldn’t afford to find out. Max growled and rinsed the traces of shaving cream from his chin.
Hands off.
Restless energy, the need to work off the sexual tension stringing him tight demanded that he get out of the cabin. The day had dawned bright and sunny, and a crisp, cool breeze rustled the fall leaves. The outdoors beckoned.
But he wouldn’t leave Laura alone again. His gut wrenched every time he thought what could have happened yesterday—all because he’d shirked his duty to keep Elmer safe, to protect his nephew and Laura.
Don’t let him outta your sight. Emily’s raspy plea reverberated in Max’s brain.
“I want you to go with me today.” Max took a couple of soft drinks, two apples and a bag of potato chips from the kitchen and put them in a sack.
“Go where?” Laura looked up from the baby. She held Elmer, rocking him long past the time he’d fallen asleep for his late morning nap.
“Just get your jacket and follow me. I think we could all use some exercise to battle this cabin fever.” Max leaned over her and carefully lifted Elmer out of her arms. He put the sleeping baby on the bed where he began dressing Elmer in warm pajamas.
When Laura tried to help him, he batted her hands away. “I can do this by myself. You get your coat. And a bottle and diapers for Elmer.”
“Don’t you dare wake him up,” she said as she fetched her new jacket. “He needs his sleep. He had a restless night.”
He’s not the only one.
Actually, getting up with Elmer four times last night had been a relief. Max had needed the distraction from his circular thoughts. Laura. The need for new lodging. Emily. Laura.
The spring of tension in his gut pulled tighter. He took a deep breath for control. He grimaced, realizing how unsteady his hands were as he eased Elmer’s fists through the small sleeves.
“Thanks for taking baby duty last night, by the way.” Laura slipped her arms into her jacket and collected the baby’s things.
“No problem. I wasn’t sleeping anyway.”
“Worrying about the Rialtos? Your Pee Wee team?”
“And other things.”
“There’s always the pay phone outside Parson’s. You could call and find out what happened at the Pee Wee game when you call about Emily today.” She picked up the sack of food he’d packed and stuck Elmer’s things in the bag.
“I will. But later. We could all use some fresh air, a chance to recharge. And I need to clear my head so I can figure out another place we can go that’s safe.”
Laura raised a worried gaze. “You don’t think this cabin is safe enough?”
“It is for now. But eventually the Rialtos will figure out where we are. It may be weeks before they figure it out or it could be tomorrow. But we have to assume they’ll talk to my friends, the men at the fire station, my neighbors, or that they’ll remember something Emily told them about my hunting trips. Whatever. I’m linked to this cabin because of my friend, because I’ve come here so many times before.” He moved Elmer gently to the baby seat. Glancing down at the baby, he thought about Emily and sighed.
As soon as Emily recovered enough to care for Elmer, the Rialtos wouldn’t have any legal grounds to sue for custody. Of course, the threat of them stealing the baby remained. Even if Emily got a restraining order.
The Rialtos operated outside the law. Again he faced the truth that his sister would most likely have to go underground. Whether she joined the Witness Security Program or simply hid through her own means, Emily would probably have to cut herself off from him in order to hide her baby from her drug-smuggling in-laws. That truth twisted inside him with a sharp edge. He didn’t want to lose any more family.
“Ready.”
He faced Laura when she spoke. Her new navy jacket made her eyes look more green than blue today. He hated to think about how accustomed he’d grown to seeing those hypnotic eyes in the morning. Or how naturally he’d fallen into the familylike routine they’d established.
“Let me get a cover for the tyke.” Max went to Elmer’s homemade cradle and got a soft blanket, which he draped over the baby seat to keep the sun out of Elmer’s eyes. “All set.”
He picked up the baby carrier, and Laura followed him out. She walked in front of him as they headed down the wooded path he used every day for his hikes.
He shouldn’t have tortured himself, thinking about parting company soon with this blond angel with the tempting lips. Yet that was where his thoughts traveled.
His lifestyle, determined by the inescapable fact that he couldn’t give a woman a family, dictated that he couldn’t marry again. At least, he couldn’t marry someone who longed for and deserved a family the way Laura obviously did. He had to start considering how to cut his ties with Laura, before he got himself, or her, in any deeper.
When they reached the large rock outcropping he had in mind for their picnic, Laura stepped to the edge of the flat boulder and admired the view.
“Oh, Max, look at it!” Awe filled her voice, and the bright sunlight bathed her radiant face. “You can see for miles!”
Mist-shrouded mountains, mottled with autumn shades of orange, green and red, spread before them like a patchwork quilt. The mountain scenery was almost as breathtaking as the woman enjoying the view. A light breeze lifted her rebellious curls and caused her golden hair to fly in her face.
He couldn’t resist the urge to brush stray wisps behind her ear. “I’m kinda partial to what’s right in front of me.”
She gasped when he touched her and pulled away. The wonder that filled her expression as she gazed out at the vista faded, replaced by the damnable remoteness she got when around him. Knowing the source of her distance didn’t make her reserve with him sting any less. Not when he wanted, needed to feel her return the affection, the admiration, the desire he felt for her. Still, he knew it was better this way.
He didn’t want her hurt when he sent her away.
Taking a can of soda from the bag, he popped the tab and took a swig. The cola was tepid, but it quenched his thirst. He sat next to the baby carrier and surveyed the horizon for himself. “I’ve been coming up here for years. But no matter how many times I’m here, the scenery never fails to amaze me.”
Laura settled next to him and took an apple from the bag. “Tell me more about Emily. I heard what you were telling Elmer last night and I just wondered what she’s like.”
Max leaned back, propping on his elbows, his legs stretched out in front of him. “Emily is…bright, outgoing, full of energy.” He grinned, thinking of his baby sister. Emily would faint if she heard him talking about her this way. He didn’t tell her enough that he was proud of her. He’d remedy that as soon as he got a chance to speak to her again. “She’s also sassy, spoiled and stubborn. But I guess I can blame myself for that in large part.”
“Why?” Laura listened attentively, her bright eyes focused on him.
“I’m one of the main people who spoiled her, gave her everything she wanted. She was only thirteen when our mom died, so she moved in with me and my wife.” He shrugged. “I can see her spoiling Elmer the same way I did her. She has a big heart, without a lot of discipline. I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t let the kid become a brat.”
Laura glanced out to the mountain range and chewed her bottom lip. He watched her rake her teeth over the full lip. The urge to nibble the soft flesh himself ki
cked him in the gut.
Down, boy! Don’t start that again.
“What will you do if…if she doesn’t make it?”
Laura’s question hit him like ice water. His muscles tensed. “She won’t die.”
Angling her head, Laura met his gaze with a sympathy and bluntness in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to think about it, but you should consider the possibility.”
He turned away, releasing his frustration in a harsh puff of air through his lips. Hard as it was, he did have to face that possibility. “I guess I’ll file the papers to legally adopt Elmer. I’m not sure if Emily has a will or any documents naming me as his guardian if she dies. That kind of preplanning isn’t her style. I might have a legal battle with the Rialtos on my hands.”
She took a large bite from her apple and chewed slowly, thoughtfully. “A legal battle with people who’ve already tried to kill you. Max, how can you think—”
“Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that,” he said with a smile, hoping to assuage her worry. The Rialtos were his problem. He didn’t want Laura worrying unnecessarily. “Hey, look!”
He pointed in the distance to the large bird swooping through the sky. “A red-tailed hawk.”
She shifted her attention to the bird of prey, and he silently thanked the hawk for its timing. He’d brought Laura out here because he wanted an escape from the mind-numbing worries that faced him about Emily. He had some ideas about dealing with the Rialtos’ threat, which he intended to follow up on when they drove down to Parson’s. But not now. Not when he had this precious time with Laura, the scenic view, the balmy weather, the sun on his face.
He knew Laura wouldn’t let go of the topic easily, so he quickly picked a new subject to divert her attention. “I think Elmer smiled at me last night while I was trying to get him back to sleep.”
She whipped her gaze back to him, and the toss of her hair wafted the strawberry scent of her shampoo his way. “Newborns can’t smile. It was probably gas.”
He shook his head. “Nope. I know a smile when I see it. He definitely smiled at me.” He gave her a satisfied grin of his own, and she chuckled. “Besides, he’s not a newborn any more. He’s almost two weeks old now.”
“Oh, excuse me!” Laura laughed. “I’d not realized how old he was. Gosh, he’s practically ready for college.”
He pulled the baby carrier closer and peeked under the blanket. “Are you hearing this, Elmer? The lady is doubting your talent and maturity.”
“Hogwash. I know talent when I see it. And Elmer’s gonna have plenty of it, I’m sure. But I also know the difference between gas and an honest-to-goodness smile.”
“You’re just jealous ’cause he smiled for me and not you.”
She laughed again, and the clear, sweet sound reminded him of the babbling mountain streams that flowed in almost every valley in the area. Her laughter coursed through him, refreshing his weary spirit and easing the tension that tied him in knots. It wouldn’t take much to envision himself falling in love with this woman.
Her beauty went all the way to her soul.
“Maybe I am jealous. You’ll get to see this fella smile and learn to walk and ride a bike, when I won’t.” She lifted Elmer’s tiny hand into hers and rubbed his fist. “But I know Elmer likes me. He’s told me so many times.”
With a stab of regret, Max wished he were the right man to soothe her aching soul and foster her caring spirit. He could easily lose himself in this woman’s warmth and vitality. If only…
“You’ll make a great mother some day,” he murmured. The warm sun and relaxed mood were making him drowsy, reflective.
When she raised her gaze to him, he saw in her eyes her yearning for a child of her own. Proof positive that he couldn’t make her happy, just as he’d failed to make Jennifer happy.
Laura flashed him a melancholy grin. “Maybe. Someday. Elmer sure makes me think about what I’m missing.”
Max didn’t need Elmer to know what he was missing. The hollowness in his life told him what he lacked. The ache in his chest told him what he needed. But the memory of Jennifer’s resentment reminded him of his shortcomings.
“This was a good idea.” Laura obviously forced the cheer into her voice. But she’d never admit it. She soldiered on when the chips were down, pushing the disappointment aside as always.
“Come here.” He tugged on her arm, urging her to move close to him, and she stiffened. This time, he was determined not to let her pull away. “Just lie here with me. The sun feels good, and as long as we have no place in particular to be, we might as well enjoy it.”
He hauled her in, and she landed with an oof against his chest, knocking the wind from the protest on her lips. He tightened his arms around her, pressed her head to the pillow of his shoulder with a splayed hand and closed his eyes. She squirmed to get away, but he refused to release her.
“Easy, sweetheart,” he said with a yawn. “I won’t try anything. I promised, didn’t I?”
Her struggles stilled, and eventually she relaxed against him. She fit in the crook of his arm like a custom order.
Exhaustion from his many restless nights and the tranquilizing effects of the sun soon lulled him to sleep.
When he woke, a good while later judging from the position of the sun, Laura was still cuddled against him. Her hand rested lightly on his chest, and her brown eyelashes fanned her cheek as she slept. Elmer, on the other hand, was awake and sucking on his fist. Max knew it wouldn’t be long before the fist wasn’t good enough and Elmer would whine for his bottle.
Blinking against the bright sun, Max stretched his stiff muscles and gently jostled Laura. “Rise and shine, sweetheart. Elmer’s almost ready for his bottle, and I’m about ready to head down to Parson’s and make a few phone calls.”
Laura’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, and she nuzzled his shoulder groggily before an apparent flash of awareness jolted her awake. She tensed and jerked away from him. Immediately he missed the soft crush of her in his arms.
As if he knew his primary caregiver had awakened, Elmer mewled softly, calling Laura to his carrier.
“Hey, pumpkin. Here I am. Don’t fuss,” she cooed, lifting him from his seat.
Max took the baby’s bottle and a can of formula from the sack and fixed Elmer his lunch. “Hand him to me, and I’ll feed him.”
“I don’t mind—”
“Neither do I.” He wiggled his fingers in a gesture that said “Come on. Hand him over.”
After passing the baby to him, Laura stood and dusted off the seat of her pants.
“I’ll be right back.”
“You okay?”
“Mmm-hmm. Um…nature calls.”
Turning to prop his back against a large rock so that his body shielded Elmer from the glare of the sun, he offered the baby his bottle. With a gurgle and a sigh, his nephew started to suck down his lunch.
Keep his head up and the bottle at an angle. Don’t let him suck air. Easy enough. Max looked down at the tiny human in his arms. Emily’s son. His chest tightened as it frequently did when he fed the baby. He tried to sort out what he felt and why this little baby seemed to bring everything to the surface.
Maybe because Elmer represented the best and worst aspects of his life. Emily, who was fighting for her life almost a thousand miles away. Jennifer, with whom he’d tried to build a family and failed, leaving them both emotionally depleted. Laura, who’d put her own life on hold to care for a stranger’s child, exhibiting a love and sacrifice that staggered him.
And the future. Elmer represented the future. The promise, the potential, the hope. If he didn’t let the child down. God, he’d do anything to make sure this baby had a promising future.
He lifted one of Elmer’s hands and studied the long fingers he’d inherited from his mother. Quarterback hands, for sure.
“You want to play for my team when you grow up, champ?” He brushed his thumb over Elmer’s tiny knuckles, and the baby squee
zed with a firm grip. As if Elmer had grabbed his windpipe instead of his finger, Max’s throat closed. His breath caught in his lungs. The gentle clutch of the miniature hand wrung the last drop of his composure. Moisture burned in his eyes, and he blinked back the sting of tears.
Emily’s son.
So fragile. So vulnerable. So indelibly stamped on his heart in so few days.
His sister’s reason to live, to fight. Don’t die, Emily. We need you. We both need you.
Later that afternoon at Parson’s General Store, Max handed Laura a box of chocolate cereal for their basket of purchases. “That’s all for me. I’m going to call my assistant coach and the hospital. Meet me at the car, okay?”
“Sure.” Max left through the front door, pausing long enough to pat Ajax the cat, who napped on the front porch.
As Laura turned her attention back to shopping, she noticed another customer at the counter who pointed toward the door then reached in her purse and pulled out a folded newspaper. The customer seemed agitated.
Curious, Laura took her purchases up front. As she set her cereal and fruit on the counter, she heard Mrs. Parson murmur, “Oh, my. The resemblance is remarkable. I…I don’t know what to think.”
“Happened down in New Orleans, but I can’t help wonderin’…” the customer whispered loudly as she leaned toward Mrs. Parson.
“Just the same,” Mrs. Parson said, “he’s been vacationing here and coming into our store for years. It’s just a coincidence.”
When the older woman looked up, she found Laura staring at her and became flustered. “Oh, dear. I, well…” Mrs. Parson extended the paper in her hand to Laura and smiled weakly. “We were just commenting on the resemblance between your husband and the man in the Charlotte newspaper. What a strange coincidence.”
Laura’s heart slowed as she warily took the offered newspaper and glanced down at it.
The photo was definitely Max.
“Oh, he…he does look like my h-husband. That is strange.” She gave them a nervous smile then read the Associated Press story printed below the photograph.
In Protective Custody Page 16
