“I’m okay, Mom, really. Just a little bruised and scraped up, but nothing serious.” And exhausted from a terrible night’s sleep...but there was no reason to mention that.
“You should have called the minute this happened! And why aren’t you here?”
The question Lorie had dreaded. “I wasn’t going to put you and Dad in danger.”
“Well, you’d better come today.” Mom sounded fearful. “Your dad and I can protect you.”
“I’m fine here at Rob Roy Ranch. I know you must be worried—”
“Worried doesn’t begin to describe it! When I think you could have been killed—”
“The Lord took care of me, Mom. And that’s not going to change.” Peace filled Lorie’s heart when she spoke the words. Affirmation. God was taking care of her, no matter what happened.
“What about work?”
“I don’t have to go in till Monday. Right now, I’m starving. I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“I feel so bad, your staying way out there at the ranch.”
“I’m in protective custody.”
Mom sighed. “I know what that means. You’re stuck. Can you at least come here to church tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll go wherever Matt takes me, if he lets me off the ranch.”
“Well, if he doesn’t, at least you can get Pastor Burnett on TV.”
The conversation turned to more comforting things, and ten minutes later, Lorie managed to hang up and call Matt.
“Ah, you’re finally awake.” Matt sounded relieved. “When did you get to sleep?”
“About four-thirty.”
“You haven’t slept long enough.”
“I’ve slept as long as I can. I’m starving. You said something about breakfast.”
“What’ll you have?”
“Anything, and a lot of it.”
“I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”
Matt disconnected, leaving Lorie feeling oddly disoriented. Being snatched out of her comfortable routine did that to her. She hated change. She’d thought she’d live in her sweet little house in Scripps Ranch until she married, or even afterward. Moving had nearly destroyed her.
Now here she was again, having to adjust to more change.
Colleen padded over to the door and whined.
“You need out, girl?”
Colleen answered with a sharp bark.
Lorie realized she hadn’t brought Colleen’s leash. It was a wonder she’d even remembered to bring the dog, considering the state of last night’s agitation.
“You’ll have to wait a minute while I come with you. That means I need to get dressed.” Oh, and Matt will be here any minute, too. I don’t want him to catch me looking like this.
The wood-framed bathroom mirror told her she didn’t look as bad as she’d expected. Pale, yes. Untidy, yes, but not irreparably so. She shrugged into the jeans and a teal T-shirt she’d bought yesterday, and slipped into her work shoes that she’d worn the previous day, wishing she’d seen a good pair of sneakers at the store. Still, the comfy beige flats would be better than the sandals she’d bought to wear to church.
As she was about to open the door to let Colleen out, Matt knocked.
“Room service!”
Lorie opened the door and did a double take. Matt held a large walnut butler tray loaded down with covered dishes, a small pot of coffee and a Southwestern vase containing a cheery white African daisy.
“That looks wonderful.” She took an appreciative sniff of the mingled aromas of bacon and eggs, fresh toast and strawberry jam rising from the tray. “And smells delicious.”
Her stomach growled and Lorie felt the beginnings of a blush. “I’ve got to let Colleen out.”
Matt set the tray down on the table. “Why don’t I take her for a walk while you get some food in you?”
“Aren’t you going to join me?”
“I ate breakfast three hours ago. I’m almost ready for lunch. I brought enough coffee for two, though, unless you’re really thirsty. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
If this was protective custody, it was beyond the call of duty. “Okay. Thanks.”
Matt had brought a leash with him, tucked into his pocket. Now he snapped the end of it onto Colleen’s collar, wiggled his eyebrows and shut the door after them.
I could get used to this, Lord.
A fragment of scripture floated into her brain. “Exceeding abundantly above.”
Lorie prayed quickly over the food and dug in.
* * *
Matt paused beside a pecan tree where Colleen was occupied. “I thought your owner would never wake up.”
Colleen woofed gently.
Matt chuckled. “I see you agree with me. But she’s awake now.”
Colleen wagged her tail, and then pulled on the leash, straining to get back to the cabin, despite the scolding attention of squirrels in a nearby oak.
By the time Matt and Colleen got back, Lorie had decimated breakfast.
“You really were hungry, weren’t you?”
Lorie blushed, as if embarrassed to have a healthy appetite. “Apparently almost being blown up will do that for a girl.”
Matt laughed. “At least you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
“I consider humor a gift from God to help us through rough times.”
Colleen pulled against the leash as Matt let her loose. “Yours must have been strained to the limit the last couple of days.”
“Not as much as during the trial, but, yeah. It’s been a challenge. Listen, I called my mom this morning, and she was seriously upset I hadn’t let her know what happened last night.”
“Understandable.”
“I think she really wants to see me in person, just so she can see for herself that I wasn’t badly hurt. She asked if I could go to First with her and Dad tomorrow. I told her I’d have to check with you.”
Surprise slapped Matt. “Then you agree you’re safer not going to Wolf Hollow Community.”
Lorie nodded. “Anyone who knows my habits would know that that’s my home church. But really, I’m not sure going to a different church would be enough. I don’t want to take danger with me wherever I go, so I’m wondering whether I shouldn’t stay home and watch a sermon on television.”
Matt considered a moment. If church meant as much to Lorie as it did to him, he didn’t want to deprive her of it. “No need to go to that extreme. We can attend my family’s church. As long as you’re with me, you should be safe.”
“You wear a sidearm to church?”
“Keep it under your hat, but yes, I do.”
Lorie’s eyes twinkled. “How can I keep it under my hat if it’s under your arm?”
Matt laughed as Lorie claimed another small piece of his heart. “I wish you’d come back to Dainger County sooner.”
A sad look crossed her face. “So do I.”
Matt could have kicked himself for reminding her of why she was here, but the damage was done. He’d have to see whether he could cheer her up again while keeping her out of harm’s way.
Once she was done with breakfast and he’d drained the last of his coffee, Matt made himself scarce as Lorie called her insurance agent to tell him the bad news. As he walked back to the main house, his cell phone rang. He had it halfway to his ear before he realized he hadn’t checked Caller ID.
“MacGregor.”
“Hey, Matt, it’s Owen.”
Matt froze, one foot still in the air. He hadn’t spoken to his former friend ever since that heartbreaking conversation where he and Lorene had admitted to Matt that they were in love. He forced himself to breathe, to answer normally. “Owen. What can I do for you?” Slowly he lowered his foot to the ground.
“I—look, there’s no easy way for me to say this. Lorene’s dying.”
The world came to a standstill. Lorene’s Facebook page flashed before Matt’s eyes. Thanks for praying. Was that what she’d meant?
“Did you hear me? Matt?”
Matt found his voice. “Dying?”
“Cancer. Stage four. We’ve tried everything, but it’s still growing. I know I betrayed your friendship and stole your girl, but it’s too late to do anything about that now. Lorene—we both want to make peace with you. It’s something we should have done a long time ago.”
The scab over Matt’s heart ripped off, letting the festering mess boil to the surface.
“Owen, I can’t talk right now. I’m on a case, and it’s life and death.”
A strangled sob came over the line. “This is life and death, too, Matt...don’t you see? Lorene doesn’t want to die without knowing you forgive her. Forgive both of us.”
Lord, what should I do? Of course, he knew the answer—he was supposed to forgive, to let go of the past and tell Owen that he didn’t hold any grudge. But he couldn’t say that. Not now. Maybe not ever. The feelings of hurt, betrayal and humiliation had been so strong that he couldn’t quite bring himself to let them go.
“I’ll call you, Owen, I promise. The minute this case is over.”
“But Matt—”
“That’s the best I can do. Take it or leave it.”
Owen sounded like a broken man. “I hope when you call back it isn’t too late.”
Matt ended the call and shoved the phone down to the very bottom of his pocket. Why now?
I can’t take this right now, Lord. I have to protect Lorie.
Matt stalked into the kitchen of the main house, letting the screen door slam behind him.
“Ooh, what’s got you all hot and bothered?”
Matt glared at Sandy, who immediately backed away, both hands in the air.
“Don’t shoot, big brother. I’m not armed.”
Was he acting that badly?
“Sorry. Pray for Lorene, okay? Owen just called.”
“What’s wrong?”
Then, with his heart still oozing, he sank down at the kitchen table and told her everything. If he was going to be able to provide proper protection for Lorie Narramore, he had to heal this open sore.
* * *
To cheer me up. That’s why he’s here. Lorie glanced at Matt from time to time as she threaded through the overstuffed aisles of the outlet store where they’d gone after buying three new cat carriers at the pet store.
She always shopped by herself or, rarely, with Mom, who’d rather be dragged backward through the goal posts at Daingerville High than to go shopping. Having an audience was different.
Not that he seemed like much of an audience. Matt seemed—distracted. That couldn’t be a good thing. What had happened while she was calling the insurance company? He’d been fine when he left. Now, even though he kept a watchful eye on her, the distance between them had widened into a chasm.
The store was always crowded on a Saturday, and today was no exception.
Lorie found a dress for Sunday, a silk blouse and a pair of slacks for work. Her total came to $35, which would ordinarily have made her extremely happy. Today it meant nothing. Matt’s distance affected her more than she wanted to admit. Even when Matt asked the name of her favorite shoe store, she sensed his withdrawal.
As he started to park the silver Nissan Maxima he’d told her was for taking guests places, Matt peered at the rearview mirror. “Sorry, Lorie. It looks like you’ll have to make do with the shoes you have.”
“What’s wrong?”
“We’re being followed.”
Lorie’s stomach turned inside out. At least, that’s what it felt like.
“When did you notice?”
“When we left the outlet store. I’ve tried to lose him several times, but the way he keeps turning up, I’ve got to wonder whether he put a tracking device on my car.”
Lorie clutched the armrest. “What’ll we do now?”
“Drive to the sheriff’s office.”
Lorie nodded.
Matt took off down Fortieth Street and headed toward the highway that would take them out of West Bluff and back to Daingerville.
Lorie glanced in the mirror. Sure enough, a tan sedan maintained a steady distance.
Matt activated his phone remote, dialing the office. “Hey, Pat, we’re being followed. Late-model Lexus sedan, tan, smoked glass. I don’t have a plate on him. No front plate decoration.”
Lorie listened as she kept an eye on the car behind them. It wasn’t attempting to pass them, just keeping pace. As the dispatcher continued speaking into Matt’s earpiece, Lorie lost track of the conversation. Her heart pounding, she silently cried out.
Lord, my life is out of control. Please keep us safe.
Matt spoke again. “Roger that. Right now we’re headed east on Highway 21. I’ll turn off on Cedar, southbound. We’ll see if he follows.”
But the car kept on going when they turned.
“Arkansas plate.”
Matt glanced at Lorie. “Could you get the number?”
“Only part of it. XGY 1 something.”
Matt repeated to Pat what Lorie told him.
“Right. I’ll meet him there.” He touched his earpiece and disconnected the call.
“They’re putting out the alert. They should catch the guy and let us know what he was after.”
“This is too dangerous. I should leave town.”
“And do what? Run? That’s no way to live. Besides, here you have a support system. If you went elsewhere, who would you have for backup?”
It was a good question. Running was low on Lorie’s list of plans. She needed to choose her options wisely.
“I don’t have the money or the temperament for a life on the run. I just wish—”
“What?”
She couldn’t tell him she wished she’d met him under better circumstances. Even if he was a lawman, he was starting to make her believe in opening her heart again. Now that it was too late.
Lorie was thinking so hard that she jumped a foot when her cell phone rang. She swallowed a lump of panic at the unidentified number on Caller ID.
“I don’t recognize this number.”
Matt held out his hand for the phone. A moment later, he answered it.
“Yes?”
Lorie held her breath, and let it out in a rush when Matt’s face cleared.
“It’s George—Chief Kershaw, of the fire department—wanting to ask you some questions about the explosion.” Matt punched a button and activated the phone’s speaker before he gave it to her again and put both hands back on the steering wheel. “Go ahead, George.”
“Ms. Narramore, I wanted to let you know what we’ve determined. The explosive device was rigged to go off the minute the locks were activated. Judging from the level of sophistication, I think we’re not dealing with our local troublemakers. You didn’t notice anyone hanging around your car?”
“No, sir. I was so busy at work, I never even left the library yesterday. Jen brought in chow mein from Yen’s for lunch.”
A sigh issued from the phone. “It figures. Well, it didn’t hurt to ask. Wish I had better news for you, ma’am, but you can tell your insurance company they can send somebody to look at the pieces whenever they’ve a mind to.”
“Thank you, Chief.”
Matt punched off the speaker and exchanged a few more words with Chief Kershaw, which made no sense to Lorie. Her mind was still on what the fire chief had said.
A sophisticated device.
As if she hadn’t known the cartel had found her.
Breakfast suddenly felt as if she’d eaten a load of bricks.
If the cartel wasn’t stopped, she’d never be safe again.