Trent ran his hand through his hair with impatience. “Okay. I think the dickhead just ran, but I’m not moving her until I’m certain it’s safe.”
“No shit. Watch yourself. If it weren’t for this damn trailer, I’d already be there. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Trent disconnected and continued his survey. The night around them was quiet and heavy, but the flames had only grown larger and brighter.
Tapping his shoulder, she snared his attention. “Let me call my cousin Joe. He’s a sheriff’s deputy, so if he hears my address over the radio, he’ll kill himself to get here and raise half the county while he’s at it. He won’t be happy, but I need to let him know I’m okay.”
He understood her need to let her family know, but he hated the idea of alerting anyone that something other than an accidental fire had occurred. They needed to keep their suspicions quiet until he and Rick knew exactly what was going on and who was to blame.
“Call your cousin and let him know you’re okay. Don’t say anything else until I get a better handle on things. For now, we don’t know how the fire started.” He wished he could be happy that she’d listened and done exactly as he’d asked, but there was nothing simple about their situation.
“Fuck, I know you’re hurting. The last thing I want to do is drag you back down to the house, but we can’t let anyone know you have bigger trouble brewing.” He had to weigh which danger was greater. Was someone watching them now? Or had the only threat just fled into the night? Would she be safer when the fire department arrived?
He recognized the confusion on her face before she asked, “Why? Joe’s as good as they come.”
“I’ll explain everything, I promise. We just need to get through the next little bit safely and then back to my place.” He was asking too much from her, but she seemed to accept his control of the situation. She’d handled a fire-bombing and a mad dash through the night on an injured ankle without complaint and she’d nearly been able to keep up with him as they made their way to safety.
How many women would do that without asking any of the hundred questions that had to be swimming through her mind? While she made her call, he carefully pulled her legs and set them in his lap. In the dark, he couldn’t do much more than check for swelling. He felt both ankles and compared their size. His gut clenched with guilt when he felt the obvious difference. He looked to Kate. The stubborn woman waved her hand at her ankle and gave him a thumbs up.
“Joe? It’s Kate. Hey listen. I’m okay, but there’s been trouble at my house. I wanted to let you know I’m okay before you get a call.” Quiet and steady, she spoke to her cousin as if they were discussing the weather, without a single tremor in her voice.
How could he not admire that?
“There’s a fire in the house. Yes, I’m out and where we built our forts as kids. I don’t know, but from here it looks like it might be bad.” She paused again. “No, uh, I’m with a friend and he pulled me out quick. You don’t have to. What about Kylie? I promise, I’m okay. I love you, too. Bye.”
She handed his phone back and pulled her knees to her chest. He heard the faint howl of the fire department’s horn. He tucked her into his side pressed a kiss to the top of her head. What if he hadn’t shown up tonight?
“My friend should be here in about fifteen minutes. As soon as he gets here, we’ll load your animals and head out.” The sooner he could get her on familiar territory the better. He and Rick had some serious digging to do.
Red lights flashed in the distance. He drew her to her feet and once again pulled her into the night. He’d put their backs to the barn and hope for the best.
Despite seeing a car flee, he couldn’t help but feel pinned beneath a sniper’s scope as they ran back down to the yard.
“Open the barn, stand just inside and set this somewhere out of sight.” He pressed his gun to her palm. He’d rather have it ready, but it would bring too many questions that he wasn’t ready to answer.
Sirens wailed louder and then the yard filled with what must be half the county’s volunteer fire department. Red and white lights flashed, setting the night aglow. Though he dreaded the questions he knew he couldn’t answer, he relaxed a fraction.
If the shooter had even one functioning brain cell, they’d back off as long as witnesses surrounded them.
He pulled Kate to his side and spoke low. “For now, we don’t know what happened. We were on the couch, occupied, and then there were flames. That’s it. Bear with me a little longer, sweetheart.” He held her hand and pulled her into the yard as Rick finally pulled in and drove across to park near the barn.
“It’s about damn time. Can’t you hitch and pull a trailer?” Trent’s worry for Kate’s safety threatened to unleash his impatience.
“Uh…actually no. I had Ray help, though, so it should be right.” Faced with admitting Trent found what might have been the one thing that he couldn’t do, Rick turned his head to take in the flicker of flames and billowing smoke.
“Good. This is bad and I want to get her out of here as soon as possible, but with this circus, it’ll be a while yet.”
“What the hell happened?” Rick turned to him for answers, worry evident in his dark eyes.
“What didn’t happen?” He ran his free hand through his hair and scanned the chaos surrounding the house. Kate squeezed his hand. “Sorry. Kate, this is my friend Rick Evans. Rick, this is Kate MacDonald.”
Trent’s friend? Then why did he look so familiar?
“Nice to meet you, Kate. I wish it were under better circumstances.” He smiled and tipped his head to her, but the smile didn’t make it to his eyes. Then he turned his head back to face Trent, all business.
When she saw the steep slope of his jaw, recognition slammed her.
“You’re the sucker.”
Both men looked to her as if she’d lost her mind.
“Sorry, I mean you were at the farmer’s market. You bought six jars of jam and a mountain of strawberries.” An odd feeling squirmed in her belly. “And that’s not a coincidence, is it? What’s going on?”
“Ah. Kate, I’ll explain but—” Rick rubbed the back of his neck, guilty.
“I’ll explain everything. I promise, but not here. I need you to trust me for just a little longer.” Trent interrupted his friend. Why?
“Katie Marie!” Their heads turned in unison as the fire chief called out and headed over. Then both men looked back to her. A humid breeze blew through and ruffled Trent’s hair against this collar.
“You. You were there too. You knocked into Phillip Bailey and then ran. Why?”
“Yes, that was me, us.” Trent cupped her neck and touched his forehead to hers. “Who’s coming over?”
Was he avoiding her question or did he genuinely want to know? “That’s Bill. He heads up the volunteer fire department.”
“You know him well?” Why was he suspicious of everyone?
Confusion slowed her speech. “A little. He was three years ahead of me in school. He’s a good guy. Smart. Why?”
“Just remember what I said, okay? Rick, stick to her like glue, I’m going to take care of Bonnie.”
She told Bill what little bit she could, feeling completely helpless. She’d grown up on the farm and, though it might not appear to be much, her house was filled with so many memories. Her throat tightened as she watched the water pouring in as smoke fled through the broken windows like ghosts in the night.
“Katie!” She turned at the sound of Leigh’s voice and ran to her cousin’s open arms. “You’re okay? Promise me.”
“I’m good. I promise. Confused and a little heartbroken, but physically I’m fine.” Kate hadn’t realized how tense she’d been until the familiar comfort of her cousin’s arms hugged her close.
“Joe called. You’ll stay with me.” A straight-up order, there was no arguing with Leigh, but she was going to have to and neither she nor Joe would like it. He ambled up, beside them and pulled her from Leigh’s arms into h
is. She rested her head against his chest and felt the steady rumble of his heart beneath her ear. His tall, familiar presence steadied her.
“You know you’re welcome at my place as well. Kylie would be overjoyed, and we can easily make room for your menagerie of animals.” His eyes took in the chaos and they never missed a thing. She pulled herself away and straightened her spine.
“I know. Thank you, but I’m going with Trent.” All four eyes shot to Rick who stood nearby, watching silently. He towered over everyone, reeking of macho protectiveness and nearly smothering her with it.
“You’re Trent Dawson?” Joe looked him up and down, assessing.
Rick shook his head. “No, I’m a friend. Trent is loading Kate’s horse.”
“I really think she should stay with family.” Joe wasn’t budging. When Leigh stood shoulder to shoulder with her brother, Kate knew it was time to intervene. One MacDonald could be a terror, but two? By some weird law of familial physics, the effect only quadrupled when they teamed up.
Trent stepped from the shadows and drew her into his side. “Not necessary. Thank you, but Kate’s going home with me. I have more than enough space for her animals and we’ve already made plans.”
Apparently, she’d become a human pinball, bouncing from person to person. It had to stop. Time to take charge.
She put a light hand on Trent’s uninjured shoulder and stepped forward, meeting Joe and Leigh head on. “I love you both and appreciate you checking on me. I’m staying with Trent.”
They both looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, and it was quite possible she had. But everything that made her a woman insisted that she listen to him. “I don’t know if my phone survived the fire. It’s doubtful, but I promise to get another soon and will keep in touch with you both daily.” She leaned in and gave Leigh a hug and a kiss. Then she repeated the same with Joe. Then she looked him in the eyes and vowed. “It’s good, I promise. We’ll talk soon.” The only response he gave her was a tightening of his brows, as if he were afraid he’d say something stupid if he opened his mouth.
She turned to Trent. “Is she settled?”
“She is and we need to get you off your feet.” His jaw tightened with impatience.
She placed her hand on his stubble covered jaw. “Thank you.”
“Kate, can I speak with you a moment?” Bill returned and Trent squeezed her hand in silent warning. She wasn’t the least bit surprised when he followed her over.
“We’ve almost got it extinguished, but you’re sure you don’t know where it started or why?” Bill’s kind, tired features pinched in suspicion.
“No, I’m sorry. I was, uh, distracted. The poor house is ancient, but I hope it can be saved. The thought of losing it breaks my heart.” Tired, overwhelmed, she just wanted to lie down and block everything out for a few minutes. She girded up and pasted on her good girl smile.
Bill’s eyes softened. “Don’t you worry, Kate. We’ll get to the bottom of this.” Bill took her hand in his and patted it.
Trent bristled beside her, but remained calm, cool, as if this were an everyday event. “Here. Take my number. You can reach Kate through my cell until we get her set up with a new one. If it’s okay, I’m going to take her home. We need to get her animals settled, and Kate’s exhausted.”
“Of course. You go right ahead. I’ll be in touch.” Bill put the business card in his shirt pocket and nodded.
Trent ran his hand down her spine and settled it at her waist. “We appreciate it.”
After they walked away, he leaned down to speak into her ear. “Does that always work for you? Of course it does, I don’t know why I even asked.”
“What? Does what work for me?” Confused, she looked up at him.
“You flutter your eyelashes and men crumple at your feet.” He shook his head and grinned.
“Oh. That. Well, it worked, didn’t it? I figured the shorter the conversation, the better.” She smiled and fluttered her lashes at him in play.
He laughed and walked her over to the truck that Rick had driven. Rick leaned against the door. When Trent held out his hand, they traded keys.
Trent opened the door, hoisted her up then closed her in. She couldn’t tell if it was to help her or speed her up. Through the window, she watched the smoke billow from her home. The last of the firefighters rolled up their hoses as Trent pulled out of the driveway and onto the blacktop.
Chapter Eight
Rick turned toward Trent’s ride. As soon as the last fire truck pulled out and cleared the way, he’d follow Trent and Kate. He didn’t expect they’d have any trouble on the way home, but stranger things had happened.
He nearly bumped into Kate’s cousin, Leigh. She stood with her back to the driver’s door, arms crossed and enough attitude sparking in her green eyes to reignite the undoubtedly soggy house.
He took in her long, willowy form and grinned. Clearly, the beauty queen genes were a family trait. “Can I help you?”
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on with my cousin?” Suspicion rolled off her as she stayed still, as if refusing to let him leave until she got her answer. Her voice was quiet, but laced with steel.
Hoping to charm her, he smiled. “I don’t know what you mean. We all just want what’s best for Kate and she won’t be parted from her horse. She’ll be in good hands. Trent’s the best guy I know.”
“Why should I take your word? And the safest place for Kate is with family. She’s had a rough couple of years and she deserves happiness, not more drama.” Intelligence bled through the suspicion. Leigh MacDonald was no bubble-headed beauty.
“You act like Kate’s in danger. This was just a freak house fire. Nothing more. She’ll be back in Riley Creek before you know it.” Rick reassured Kate’s cousin.
If anything, her suspicion only increased at his words. He smiled when her green eyes crinkled at the edges. He wasn’t fooling her.
“There’s been an awful lot of strange interest in Katie lately, and I don’t like it. Her ex-husband is a loser, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s causing trouble. I won’t have him putting her in danger.” She cocked her head and leaned as if to look at something behind him. An odd expression crossed her face then, like a rabbit, she bolted around him.
What the hell?
Without the faintest idea what he was doing, he followed as she flew around the barn’s corner on long, lean legs. Her dark hair trailed behind her, a witchy shadow in the night. At the barn’s second corner, leading to the pasture, he was on her heels. He came around the corner just in time to see her reach for the hood of a smaller person with arms and legs pumping as if their life depended on escape.
Wait, was that a small adult or a kid?
“Stop. We won’t hurt you. Come here, damn it.” Breathless, Leigh tried to reason with the small figure.
“No. Thieves. You’re all horse thieves.” It came out on a sobbing wail as the kid broke away and lengthened the distance between it and Leigh.
Had the kid started the fire? Why?
He put on more speed, stretched his legs and passed Leigh. In a few second’s time he caught up with the fleeing figure and grabbed it around the waist.
“No! Let me go!” He caught a kick to the shin and an elbow to the chin as he wrestled with the lightweight octopus all the while, trying not to hurt it.
“Stop, damn it. Stop. We’re not going to hurt you. Stop now. You see that tall guy over by the house, with a ball cap on? Yep, he heard you and now he’s coming over. He’s a cop. If you don’t settle down, I’ll throw you to him. Chill.” The light weight in his arms stopped squalling but continued to squirm.
“Hey. Ignore the big ogre. Listen to me. I only want to help.” Leigh’s voice broke through the storm, a calm cool breeze, washing away the upset. “If I ask the ogre to put you down, will you promise not to run? You’re not in trouble. I just want to make sure you’re okay and ask you a question or two. Okay?”
The reply came, both soft and mulis
h. “Okay.”
“Good. Ogre? Put her down so we can talk.”
He glared at her insult and slowly set the kid to her feet, though how Leigh knew its gender, he had no clue. All he saw were dirty jeans, ratty-assed shoes and a baggy sweatshirt. The moment her feet touched the ground she made a hop as if to get away, but then stopped as if remembering their bargain.
“Will you tell me your name? I’m Leigh Ann. This is…” she looked to him with an imperious lift of her brow, waiting for him to fill in the blank.
“Rick.” He didn’t bother to hide his irritation or suspicion. It couldn’t be a coincidence that they’d found this kidding nosing around just a short time after the fire. No way.
“Uhm…Mary. My name’s Mary.”
“What are you doing out so late?”
What Rick wanted to know was why the kid was on Kate’s property and if she had a lighter in her pocket. He put his patience to the test and waited while Leigh tried to ease Mary into conversation.
“I saw the fire and wanted to check on my…uh…the horse. Is she okay?” The trembling voice squeezed something in his chest. But why did the kid think the horse belonged to her? How did she know that Kate had a horse?
“Bonnie, Kate’s foal, is just fine. Kate and Trent have taken her to another farm so she’ll be safe until things are fixed here.” Leigh reached forward and tipped the kid’s hood back. A pale face, with long, dirty, hair and enormous gray eyes looked up tentatively. Her hair had been braided, as if in attempt to make it neat, but there was no hiding the simple fact that she was overdue for a shower or three.
Poor kid. Where were her parents?
“You promise?”
“I promise.” Leigh radiated kindness and reassuring warmth. “Kate loves all animals, but horses have always been her favorite. She loves Bonnie very much. How old are you?”
There was a pause and her eyes tightened. “Eighteen.”
He wanted to call bullshit. He was no expert, but he’d be surprised if the girl was over thirteen. He had a question of his own. “Do you have any idea how the fire started?”
Protecting Kate: Dark Horse, Inc: Book 1 Page 12
