by Tanya Stowe
FOUR
Austin flipped on the lights atop his vehicle and sped down the road. Then he called McGuire and told him what had happened.
“Do you want me to send someone over to Dulcie’s place?” McGuire asked.
“No. She’s safe inside her apartment, but get a hold of Delacroix’s license plate for me. We may want to bring someone in to follow him. I want to know who his contacts are.”
“Agreed. I’ll look into it and see who I can put on it.”
Just as Austin pulled into Dulcie’s apartment complex, McGuire got back to him with the license plate number and a description of Delacroix’s car as well as the name of the deputy he was thinking of bringing into the investigation. Austin approved his choice.
“He’s a good man. Hold on a second.” He searched the parking lot but Delacroix’s vehicle was gone. “He’s not here. At least, his car isn’t here. I’m going to get Dulcie out of here before he shows up again.”
“Good idea. I’ll have Bolton there tomorrow morning.”
Austin signed off, parked and hurried up to Dulcie’s apartment. He knocked very quietly on her door. A moment or two later, it swung open. Dulcie stayed hidden behind it. As soon as she closed and bolted the door behind him, she threw herself against him.
For one stunned moment, Austin stood with arms outspread. The woman who shied away from him every time he got near had her arms wrapped so securely around his waist he could hardly breathe. He held his arms wide...not sure if he should hug her back or not. Would she appreciate the gesture or feel trapped? He wasn’t sure...but it felt good to have her close.
Wet tears soaked the top of his shirt above his bulletproof vest. The soft scent of spring drifted up to him and those wild, untamed curls tickled his cheek. He couldn’t help himself. His arms wrapped around her.
“It’s all right, Dulcie. I’m here now and he’s gone.”
She nodded, still clinging to him. “It was such a close call.”
Stepping back, she wiped at her cheeks. When most women cried, their noses turned red and their lips and eyes puffed. Dulcie’s did too, but on her, those changes softened her features, slightly blurred her bold eyebrows and full lips. Made her look soft and in need of another hug. He almost pulled her back into his arms before he caught himself.
“You’re safe now.” He sounded gruffer than he intended. But it worked. She straightened and met his gaze.
“You don’t understand. He made me feel like I was ten years old again. I froze. Completely froze. I couldn’t push him away, couldn’t defend myself. I just stood there. If you hadn’t spoken to me...he would have taken my keys right out of my hand...and I would have let him.”
She shook her head and stepped away...taking that soft summer scent with her. Austin missed it the minute she moved.
He swallowed and tried to get his thoughts back on track. She was igniting his protective instincts...the ones that always got him in trouble. He needed to pack those responses in a case with steel bands around it.
“He caught you off guard. That’s all. You thought he was a friend and he wasn’t.”
“You’re being kind, but any other woman...any normal woman would have at least tried to keep the keys away from him. I just stood there.”
Austin didn’t know what to say to that. Abey probably would have delivered a flat-palmed punch to his nose...a self-defense move she’d learned in a class she’d brought to the reservation. But Abey wasn’t like most women and nothing like Dulcie. He needed to remember that fact.
“All I know is his car is gone. We need to get you out of here before he comes back.”
She gestured to a slightly larger than carry-on-sized suitcase. “I’m all packed.”
“That’s it? Everything is in there?”
She sent him a tremulous smile. “I’m not very high-maintenance, in case you didn’t notice.” Her tone indicated that was another fault, so unlike other “normal” women. But with Dulcie, the high-maintenance habits of other women were wasted. She had a unique beauty all her own...and it was a shame she didn’t know it.
But moments ago, he’d vowed to lock thoughts like that away. Clenching his jaw, he gripped the handle of the suitcase. “Do you have all your files?”
“They’re in my bag with my computer.” She pulled her heavy winter coat off the sofa. Beneath it was a large satchel bulging with the files. Hitching it on her shoulders, she nodded. “I’m ready.”
Austin opened the door a crack and looked up and down the empty hall before stepping out. Dulcie locked the door, and they hurried down the hall and out of the building. Austin checked the parking lot. Delacroix’s vehicle was still nowhere to be seen. Nevertheless, once they were in Austin’s vehicle, he drove around town for twenty minutes, making right and left turns every half mile to make sure they were not followed. When he was certain no one was behind them, he headed up the mountain to his cabin.
He texted McGuire to let him know he had Dulcie safely in his company and they were driving to his house. McGuire texted back to let him know to park his sheriff’s SUV in the garage because he just put out the word that Austin was on vacation and Ms. Parker needed to do the same.
“You need to call in and tell work you had a family emergency and are on your way to California. Hopefully, they’ll believe you and it will buy us some time to investigate.”
Pulling her coat up tight around her neck, she nodded. “I think they’ll believe me. Today one of my coworkers asked me what was wrong. I told her my sister was sick again.”
“Again? Does your sister get sick often?”
Dulcie tugged on her coat again. Austin turned up the SUV’s heater. “Thanks.”
She gave him one of those small, shy smiles, like she was ashamed to ask for basic comforts. “My sister has a lot of health issues. She internalized so much of what we went through...”
Her words trailed off.
“Despite what you’re feeling right now, it sounds like you’ve handled things better.”
Her deep sigh filled the vehicle. “Only because my sister stood between me and my dad. She protected me. She took the brunt of his anger.” Her voice cracked and she turned her gaze toward the window, away from him. Still, he heard the tears in her tone. “I always felt like the only way to thank her was to be the best I could be, to live a normal, happy life. I don’t think I’m doing that very well.”
Clouds covered the setting sun and now evening added to the growing gloom in the vehicle. It settled over Austin with a heaviness he recognized all too well.
“You say normal a lot. Like it means something. I don’t even know what normal means.”
That caught her attention. He could feel her gaze on him and this time, he refused to glance her way. He kept his focus on the road ahead.
“But you were married and had a baby on the way. That’s normal, isn’t it?”
He shook his head. “There was nothing normal about my wife or the life I led with her. She was...amazing. Brave and full of goals and possibilities. It was all I could do to keep up with her.” He glanced over. In the twilight of the car, her dark eyes stood out against pale features. “And I never expect to feel that way again.”
She met his gaze. A slight frown creased the space between her brows. “I don’t think I could live that way... Without hope of something better.”
He shrugged. “It depends on what you mean. To me, better is not wishing or wanting something I will never have again. I spent three years of my life wanting her back...wishing things were different. That’s a black hole I barely crawled out of. I never want to go back.”
He couldn’t just leave his thoughts there. He had to probe deeper. “Tell me truthfully. What does happy mean to you? What do you need that would give you that happy, normal life you think would be so perfect?”
“I...I don’t know.”
Shaking his head, he turned back to watch the road. “There you go. Wishing and wanting something you can’t even define is a prescription for unhappiness.”
He felt her gaze settle on him, as powerful as a touch. He could sense her probing gaze as if she was searching for understanding or answers...and he had neither.
At last she turned away. They were both silent as they sped along the highway, the headlights flashing against the black asphalt and the dense forest around them. He hadn’t meant to darken her already complicated life with his own tragedy, but there was something about Dulcie that compelled him to be honest...to open up. Maybe that was her gift, the talent that led her to become a counselor. Whatever it was, he needed to keep his own depressing thoughts to himself.
Gentle snowflakes, the first of the season, began to fall. Soon a white blanket covered the road and the branches of the trees. It brightened the night. Made everything seem clean and white.
“It’s coming down pretty hard.”
Dulcie nodded. “Yes, and it’s beautiful. It’s light in the darkness and God’s gift to us, to brighten our night.”
He glanced at her quickly. She met his gaze defiantly. The little smile tilting her lips was confident, certain and beautiful. Looking at it warmed him, made him want to smile back. He wasn’t sure the snow was a gift from God just for them, but he was glad she felt that way.
He turned back to the road. “We’ll rest tonight. First thing in the morning, we’ll head down to the reservation to see if we can find Doris Begay. I want to talk to her.”
“Good. That means my day at work wasn’t a complete waste. I looked up her previous address on our records.”
“Let’s hope she’s there. The reservation is too big to try to cover it all.”
“How big is it?”
“Over twenty-seven thousand square miles and it stretches across the Four Corners states.”
“Wow. I knew it was big but... What if she’s not there or we can’t find her?”
“I still have a few contacts on the tribal police. We won’t come away empty-handed.”
He slowed and pulled off the main highway onto a dirt road. “Don’t worry. I won’t bounce you too much. I just live far enough from the road to silence the highway traffic noise.”
Soon the dirt road opened into a clearing. An A-framed log cabin and a detached garage sat at the back of the clearing. Austin hit the button for the automatic door opener and pulled into the garage. A blue Jeep was parked inside. “I don’t use it much, but we’ll be driving that tomorrow. My sheriff’s vehicle is a little too obvious.”
He pulled her suitcase out of the back and led the way to the front porch. He flipped the switch, and light flooded his darkened home. He gestured to the left. “That’s the kitchen. It’s small but fits my purposes. I don’t do much cooking.”
“It’s not any smaller than my apartment kitchen. Small kitchens work for people who don’t spend much time in their places.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true. There’s a half bath tucked in the corner. The stairs across from us lead to the loft bedroom and the full bath. You’ll be sleeping up there.”
“Oh no, I can’t take your room.”
“Yes, you can, and you will. It’s an open loft but it offers some privacy and besides, the desk is up there. You’ll need it for your research.”
She started to protest, but he held up a finger. “I sleep on that sofa more than I sleep on the bed. Trust me—I’ll be fine.”
She seemed surprised by that and didn’t argue. Instead, she looked at the near-empty wall to the right. “Your windows are so high up.”
“Yes, but I have quite a view from the loft and those windows catch a lot of light. They’re perfectly placed for the sun’s early-morning rays and they warm the house. The guy who built this cabin was environmentally conscious. Speaking of warmth though, I better get the fire going.” He gestured to the sofa across from the rock fireplace. “Have a seat. I don’t leave the heat on during the day, so first thing I have to do is light a fire.”
Showing Dulcie his house made him realize what a utilitarian life he’d been living. There was nothing comfy or homey like Dulcie’s place. That realization made him feel like he needed to apologize...again. He seemed to have done that a lot since Dulcie stepped into his life. He didn’t understand and what’s more, he didn’t like it.
He set her case down, stacked the kindling on the hearth and loaded the logs. In moments the fire was blazing. Dulcie sat on the edge of the sofa, shivering, looking like a lost child...who once again shied away every time he stepped near. They were back to that nonsense.
At her apartment she threw her arms around him and now she wouldn’t let him step within a foot of her, like he was the threat. It was discomforting, made him unsure of how to respond. He settled for an apology he’d felt the need to give a moment ago.
“I’m sorry it’s not as welcoming as your place.”
She shook her head and a small, embarrassed smile crossed her lips. “Your home is fine. It’s me. I’m just tired. It’s been a rough couple of weeks. Actually, a rough two months, ever since Judy disappeared.”
Austin couldn’t argue with that. Those terrible months were the reason he’d spent so many nights on the sofa. He’d come home exhausted, eat a frozen pizza and fall asleep in front of the fire only to wake up and do the same the next day.
Frozen pizza. It was the best he had to offer her. “How about some hot chocolate and something to eat? That might help.”
She nodded, but her smile was conspicuously absent and...he missed it. Truth be told, he wouldn’t mind her in his arms again either. He ached to comfort her in some way. But his arms would only frighten her more.
“Whatever you have is fine with me.”
He turned on the oven and heated some water in the microwave for the hot chocolate. When it was done, he handed her the mug. She worked her fingers so they wouldn’t touch his. Frustrated, he shook his head.
“I have to feed my chickens. I used to let them roam free but a mountain lion got a few of them so now I keep them in a coop. It won’t take me long.”
She nodded absently. Austin hurried out. The snow was still falling. His poor chickens were used to his erratic schedule and feedings. He tried to keep their feed bin full in case he didn’t make it back in a timely manner. It was near empty so he filled it. When he returned to the now warm cabin, two paper plates and napkins rested on the small wooden table by the loft stairs.
Dulcie came from the kitchen holding the pizza pan with two oven mitts...but she still hadn’t removed her coat. “I hope you don’t mind me rummaging through your cupboards. I wanted to help.”
“No, of course not.” He took off his Stetson, hung it on the rack near the door and washed his hands. Grabbing a knife from the drawer, he sliced the pizza and slid one piece onto her plate. She took two bites, then gripped the mug.
He still felt like apologizing. Was it for his meager accommodations or for her past? He wasn’t sure. He just felt like he had to say something. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything better.”
She shook her head. “The pizza is fine. Really. It’s my usual dinner. We have that in common too. I’m just overtired. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to head up to bed.”
“Sure. Let me show you where the blankets and towels are.”
He carried her suitcase upstairs then went back downstairs and finished the pizza. As he cleaned up, he heard the shower running and before he sat down in front of the fire, the light by his bed stand went out. Austin eased back on his couch with a heavy sigh. Dulcie ignited too many contradictory emotions in him. One minute her jumpiness irritated him, the next he wanted to hold her in his arms and protect her from the world. Just the kind of crazy feelings he didn’t need to have. She seemed to be as conflicted by him as he was by her. The best thing for both of them was to sol
ve this case and get out of each other’s way...and the sooner the better.
* * *
Dulcie opened her eyes. Gray light was peeking over the mountain through one of the loft windows. It was just bright enough to see the surrounding forest. She glanced at the clock. Barely six in the morning. Still, she’d slept almost ten hours. Closing her eyes, she stretched, feeling cozy, comfortable and relaxed. Just having Austin in the house had given her a sense of peace.
She would have stayed in bed longer, but she heard some stirring in the kitchen and soon, the smell of coffee drifted up to her. Her stomach growled. After throwing back the covers, she hopped out of bed and hurried into the bathroom to dress. She hadn’t noticed last night but not one of the loft windows had blinds. Given the empty stretches of forest that swept out on each side, with no apparent neighbors, Austin obviously didn’t feel the need for window coverings. And he was right not to block the spectacular views. As she made the bed, she marveled at the forest of trees sweeping down the mountain to the valley below. She wondered if on a clear day, you could see all the way to Durango.
Not knowing what they would be doing, she pulled jeans, a long-sleeved knit top and a comfy blue plaid shirt out of her suitcase. As soon as she was dressed, the smell of the coffee lured her to the kitchen where Austin handed her a mug. He looked rested but the dark shadow of a beard graced his cheeks and that wave on his forehead stood straight up. She’d never seen him any other way than clean-shaven and she was surprised by how attractive this slightly rumpled Austin looked.
“Good morning.” He nodded but didn’t smile. Apparently, an early-morning Austin was not only rumpled but grumpy. That made her smile. There was a boyish quality about him she found incredibly appealing. He looked like a younger, not quite so bitter Austin.
