The animal chasing Sassy was the size and girth of a coyote. Based on the intensity with which it was chasing the little Yorkie, the thing was starving.
Frustrated tears slipped out and then a moment of resolve—like a flash that rocketed through her body—steeled Courtney. Her grip around her Glock steadied, and she took aim.
“Go away. Get out of here,” Courtney screamed at the top of her lungs. She made herself seem bigger by flapping one of her arms, and when that didn’t stop the animal’s momentum, she shone her flashlight into the beast’s eyes.
The coyote shunned the bright light, turning its face away. Sassy got the break she so desperately needed to get a little bit ahead of her chaser.
Courtney shouted louder this time, “Shoo!”
With the coyote gaining ground on Sassy, Courtney took aim. If Sassy’s head bobbed at the wrong time or Courtney’s hand trembled when she needed it to be steady, she’d kill the wrong animal.
With a final push, she caught the coyote’s gaze in the beam of light. Courtney screamed like a wild banshee.
At the last second, the coyote broke right, and for a moment Courtney worried that it would stalk Mrs. Farmer. Until it made a U-turn and bolted toward the tree line from where it came.
Courtney dropped down to her knees in time to catch a trembling Sassy. She holstered her weapon and set down the flashlight. She picked up the little fur ball and cradled her against her cheek. The dog was hard-core shaking but alive.
“Sweet girl. You’re okay. You’re going to be fine. I got you.” Courtney’s heart flooded with warmth, and she burst into tears. It was probably just overwrought hormones, but she kept that little dog against her cheek as several seconds ticked by. She whispered reassurances and tried her level best to collect herself after the ordeal.
The sound of footsteps coming closer forced her out of her reverie.
“I got her. She’s safe. Your girl is fine.” Courtney sniffed back tears and hurried to her feet.
Mrs. Farmer’s warm smile melted what was left of the ice encasing Courtney’s heart. These two, Mrs. Farmer and Sassy, had broken through to Courtney, and that gave her hope that others could, too. Others like her growing child. And maybe, someday, she could let a man inside her heart, too. If she did, it would be Jordan.
Courtney handed over the little dog, doing her level best to mask her own emotions at the reunion. Mrs. Farmer held her dog with two hands and nuzzled the little creature.
“Sweet girl. Thank heaven you’re safe. What would I do if something happened to you?” The dog’s tail wagged hard.
“What do you say we get the two of you back inside?” Courtney said.
“I can’t thank you enough for saving my Sassy. She would’ve frozen to death if she’d been out all night,” Mrs. Farmer said. “Let me fix you something to eat. I bet I caused you to miss your supper.”
“If I didn’t already have plans, I’d take you up on that offer,” Courtney said. And she wasn’t being polite. She really wanted to spend a little more time with the kind woman who seemed a bit lonely.
“Maybe tomorrow then,” Mrs. Farmer offered as they made the trek back to her house.
“Definitely tomorrow,” Courtney confirmed. “I’m working, but my dinner break is at seven o’clock. Is that too late?”
“Not at all.” Mrs. Farmer practically beamed. She started prattling on about what she might decide to cook, and Courtney wondered if the woman had eaten alone every meal since her husband had passed. Sharing a meal was the least Courtney could do for the sweet old woman.
Courtney walked Mrs. Farmer to her front door.
“Your boots,” Mrs. Farmer said before Courtney could say goodbye.
“Keep ’em for now. I can pick them up tomorrow,” she said.
“Are you sure? I don’t think my feet have ever been so warm. You might need them,” she said.
“I have another pair in black,” Courtney said with a smile. Seeing Mrs. Farmer and Sassy together again after fearing the worst brought another peek of light into dark places in Courtney’s heart. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen someone love anything that much.
“See you tomorrow then.” Mrs. Farmer returned the smile and waved.
“Lock up,” Courtney reminded before she walked down the steps of the small concrete porch.
She moved to her vehicle and locked the door once she got inside. The creepy feeling of eyes on her returned, but it was most likely the stress of the situation. She’d had the feeling before. It had stalked her for weeks after the shooting in Dallas. She’d go to the grocery store and feel like someone watched her. She’d try to escape to the movies only to feel like she was part of the show.
Time had made it easier to cope. And that was about all she’d done in the last year. When she really thought about it like that, her life sounded awful.
Courtney navigated her vehicle onto the farm road that led to the Kent ranch, which was a mere half-hour drive from her place on the outskirts of town. Her heart still beat erratically in her chest, but a sense of calm was starting to come over her the longer she was on the road.
Almost a half hour on the dot later, she pulled up to the guard shack. Isaac stepped out as she rolled down her window.
“I’m here to see Jordan,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am. He called ahead. Go on through.” He pushed the magic button that made the gates open. He stood watch behind her, and she was reminded of what had happened at the ranch just that morning.
Icy fingers gripped her spine thinking about it. What sort of twisted person delivered a foot to someone’s doorstep? In the wake of dealing with the Sassy crisis, Courtney hadn’t thought about the case. She had a few choice words for Gus Stanton later.
Before she could park, Jordan came outside and stood on the porch. Was this what it had come to on the Kent ranch? The place that had held so much carefree fun in their youth. The family whose hearts were always open to help someone in need was being stalked.
Courtney stepped out of her vehicle. Seeing Jordan standing there on the front porch wearing a button-down shirt, jeans and boots caused her heart to free-fall with no hope of recovery.
He was strikingly handsome. The kind of handsome that took her breath away and released a thousand butterflies in her stomach.
She glanced down at the first step. “This is the spot.”
He confirmed with a nod.
She skipped the first step and then walked the rest. The closer she came to Jordan, the more her heart thundered in her chest. She tried to remind herself that he was just a man, the same man who’d teased her mercilessly when they were kids. He’d called her shrimp-fry for the longest time, and once got so mad at her he told her to go play dot-to-dot with her freckles.
“Thank you for showing up. I wasn’t sure if you would,” was all he said, and the seriousness in his tone sank her stomach to her toes.
JORDAN HAD WAITED six hours and twenty-seven minutes to say what he needed to Courtney. He’d run over every scenario he could think of in his mind at least twice. He’d thought through every possible argument she could put up. He wasn’t trying to be a jerk and he could see that her life was about to be upended even more so than his. Her career would have to slow to a crawl at least for the duration of the pregnancy.
“You want to talk on the porch?” she asked.
In the porchlight, she was even more beautiful, but he refused to let the fact sway what he had to say. What they were going through was bigger than just her career. Although he regretted the impact it would have. Hell, having a baby was bigger than the two of them. Sacrifices were going to have to be made on both sides if they were going to provide the best possible upbringing for the little sprout inside her.
Jordan realized that he hadn’t reacted well to the news but now that he’d had some time for it to sink in, he would not allow his child to be caught in the middle of two parents who didn’t have their acts together.
The child had nothing to do with that and didn’t deserve to be punished.
“Do you mind coming inside?” he asked.
“I don’t see anyone’s cars. Did I miss everyone?” she asked as she walked past him and through the door he held open for her. The night was cold, and the weather was going to turn even worse before it got better tomorrow.
“No one’s here.”
“Okay.” Courtney took the same seat she had this morning at the granite island figuring he’d explain in a minute.
“Can I get you something to drink?” He’d offer water or milk, but he didn’t want to come off as a jerk because she’d been a die-hard coffee drinker before.
“I’m fine.” She looked him straight in the eye, those glittery browns of hers digging deep inside him. She picked up a pen and started clicking it. “What’s on your mind, Jordan?”
He shouldn’t like the sound of his name rolling off her tongue. He did. The difference between being a man and a hormonal teenager meant he wouldn’t act on the chemistry pinging between them.
Click. Click.
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do, Courtney. And I’m not pretending to know more than you do about what’s best for you or the pregnancy.” He put his hands up, palms out, in the surrender position. “But what I saw today can’t be good for either one of you.”
“Are you finished?” she asked with patience she didn’t normally own as she kept eye contact.
“Not yet. I’d appreciate it if you’d hear me out,” he said.
Click. Click. Click.
“I already told you that I can’t keep lying to my family. We don’t keep secrets from each other, and especially not something this big. And this is huge,” he continued.
She glanced up at him. Her face was unreadable. He signaled that he wasn’t done.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
“Because not telling them and tiptoeing around like we did something wrong is worse than any reaction they could have, and besides, what we decide isn’t any of their business anyway,” he stated. “We both know they will support us no matter what. And I understand if you’re afraid to tell anyone too early. They’ll keep the news in the family.”
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
“Would you put that pen down before you break your fingers clicking it?” He didn’t mean to sound frustrated, but he couldn’t help himself.
She released her grip on the pen, and it crashed against the granite.
“Are you done, Jordan?”
She studied him, and it felt like she could see right through him.
“Yes,” he said.
“Good. Because I’m requesting desk duty tomorrow morning.” She said the words like they were as obvious as the nose on her face. He waited for more of a reaction from her, more of the ire he was used to getting when he was pretty darn certain he’d pushed her buttons.
None came.
He must’ve been standing there with his mouth open, because she issued a grunt and said, “Putting the baby in danger isn’t being responsible. I know I can be stubborn, but I see that now. It’s not just about me any longer. I never intended to do anything to cause problems with the pregnancy. And I realize that I’ve been selfish in asking you not to tell your family about the baby. I trust them to keep the news quiet.”
If his mouth wasn’t agape before, then it sure as hell was now.
“What? I’m not an unreasonable person.” She looked up at him, and her cheeks flamed. “Okay, fine. I can be difficult to deal with, but I see the light now. All this has been a lot to take in, and I heard what you said about talking to a counselor, too. I’m thinking about it.”
“Is that everything?” he asked.
She flinched like she was preparing to be told how wrong she’d been before.
“Courtney, I’m proud of you. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help.” It was all he said, all he needed to say.
The next time she looked up at him, her clear brown eyes were watery. “Thank you for saying that, Jordan. That means a lot coming from you.”
“I meant every word. I only wish I’d said it sooner,” he said, dropping his voice down low as an ill-timed well of need stirred deep inside him, catching him off guard.
She pushed off the counter and stood. “If that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’d better go home and skip dinner. It’s been a long day.”
He did his level best to mask his disappointment.
“Least I can do is feed you,” he offered, not wanting to admit just how much he hoped she’d stay a little while longer.
“No, thanks. I’ll figure something out at home.” The wall he’d chipped away at just came back up.
COURTNEY WOKE THE next morning before her alarm went off and drank a glass of water. A few table crackers went down easy enough and kept her nausea from overwhelming her. She was learning that a greasy fast-food breakfast sandwich first thing in the morning came back up almost as fast as it went down. But table crackers kept things level. She could work with that knowledge.
She’d tossed and turned last night, thinking about the meeting she was scheduled to have with Zach. Telling her boss that she was pregnant six weeks into a new job wasn’t exactly high on her list of great first impressions. And she’d have to face her coworkers with the news soon enough. Anxiety caused her shoulder blades to burn with tension. This was going to be more difficult than she’d imagined—and she’d gone full out with her worst nightmares last night. It was a conversation that had to take place. She didn’t have to look forward to it. The fact that Zach already suspected the truth provided some measure of comfort.
At least the weather system had moved through the area, and the temperatures were supposed to warm up to the high fifties or low sixties this afternoon.
Courtney cleaned up after her light breakfast and locked up before heading in to work. The drive felt like it took twice as long. And she saw Jordan’s vehicle in the parking lot. Her gaze flew to the driver’s seat, but he wasn’t there, which meant he was already inside.
There were other cars and trucks, too. Volunteers were starting to show up in droves, and the parking lot was brimming over. It was looking like she’d have her work cut out for her on desk duty.
A pang of guilt nipped at her. She hadn’t been completely honest with Jordan last night. A big part of the reason she’d conceded was because of the pregnancy, but she also wanted to make sure she could handle herself out there. A cop with trembling hands who couldn’t remain calm anymore was a recipe for someone getting hurt. She was embarrassed that she hadn’t put her fellow law enforcement officers first. It was a mistake she couldn’t allow herself to make, no matter how much she wanted to stay on the job.
She thought about the card sitting on her computer table. She’d snapped a pic of it before leaving the house this morning. After she spoke to Zach, she’d make the call to the counselor. Baby steps. She could do this if she focused on one step at a time. And then she’d call her old friend Amy.
But first, Zach.
With a sigh, she unbuckled her seat belt and then threw her shoulder into the driver’s side door to open it. She shivered against the cold wind. The bright sun reminded her that it would warm up at some point that day.
Courtney badged into the side entrance. She thought about Gus Stanton, who was most likely still in the jail. Now that he’d tried to harm himself, he would need a psych evaluation. He was most likely awaiting transport to a mental facility for further evaluation.
With another deep breath for fortitude, Courtney knocked on her boss’s door. She expected to see Jordan sitting in one of the club chairs when she opened the door after he called out to her. Her traitorous heart skipped a beat at the disappointment when she realized her boss was alone. Maybe she’d imagined seeing Jordan’s vehicle in the parking lot. It shouldn’t surprise her. His cousin was sheriff and many town residents were volunteering. Maybe she was losing her mind from all the recent stress Then, there was the pregnancy. That last part was most believable. She’d definitely been off the past six weeks.
“Morning, Zach,” she said to her boss when he looked up from the screen he’d been studying.
“Is it?” His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he was wearing the same shirt from yesterday.
“Did you go home last night?” She took the chair closest to the door.
“No.”
“I should’ve come in.” She didn’t want him holding the bag.
“You’re still recovering from food poisoning, remember? And it was your day off,” he pointed out.
“It wasn’t food poisoning, Zach. I took a test. It was positive.” She put her hand on her stomach. “Jordan is the father.”