Mitch had been driving for an hour, heading toward New Mexico. He knew of an off-grid place near the Texas border. Keeping the twins far away from Jacobstown was his priority until he sorted this out.
Kimberly settled into the passenger seat. It would take him a minute to get used to her bleached-blond hair, but as much as he didn’t want to admit it, she was still as beautiful as the day he’d met her. Anger swirled like a storm cloud forming. How could he have been so off base about a person? Pride kicked him in the gut another time.
The small highway he’d been on for the past fifteen minutes turned to farm road. Since he hadn’t seen a car in the past twenty minutes, he figured it was safe to stop off for a minute to make a call.
Kimberly’s slow, steady breathing as she leaned her head against the headrest said she’d drifted off. She seemed to have been fighting sleep for as long as she could before it had finally claimed her.
Since Mitch couldn’t be sure he’d have cell coverage much longer, he decided to pull over and make a call to Lone Star Lonnie. His foreman would be worried, since Mitch hadn’t shown for their usual 5:00 a.m. roundup. No doubt Lone Star already realized that Mitch hadn’t saddled up Phoenix. With the recent event involving the heifer, Mitch didn’t want Lonnie worrying about him.
While most cattle ranchers used pickup trucks and four-wheelers to round up their heard, Mitch preferred horseback. A few of the men had made jokes about Mitch being a Renaissance man, but he knew they appreciated his nod to nostalgia. Heck, many of them had followed suit in the years since. The truth was that his father, who was a good man and an excellent rancher, believed in being close to the animals and never felt like he could get that sitting behind the wheel of a truck. Efficiency was one thing and no one could argue the tidiness of using a gas-powered vehicle. When Mitch had tried it out in his early twenties—probably more of a rebellion than anything else—he could make good arguments for the efficiency.
But now he couldn’t imagine herding any other way. He loved his red gelding, Phoenix. The horse had sustained a supporting-limb laminitis injury at Lone Star Park that would have put most under. He’d risen from the ashes. With surgery and rehab—not to mention money and patience—Phoenix had pulled through the injury that most horses had to be put down for. It might’ve killed his racing career but he’d found a new lease on life on the ranch, and it seemed to suit him better anyway. The horse could cut faster and cleaner than a can opener.
Mitch kept the engine running while he stepped out of his SUV.
“Everything all right?” Lone Star Lonnie asked almost immediately.
“Fine. I’ll be out of pocket for a few days and need you and the others to cover for me.”
“Not a problem,” Lonnie said on a relieved-sounding sigh. “We got you covered here. Anything else I can do?”
“Nah. Thought the twins could use a break with all that’s been going on,” Mitch said.
“Great news about Rea,” Lonnie confirmed. Based on Lone Star’s tone, Mitch figured his foreman understood that they also needed a break to honor the upcoming anniversary of Kimberly’s death.
“We can all breathe easier,” Mitch agreed.
“Any word from Zach on the heifer?” Lonnie asked.
“He couldn’t get so much as a boot print from the area. Seems I made a mess of the scene and covered anyone else’s possible tracks.” Mitch didn’t do blame, so he kept to himself that Lone Star Lonnie had trampled all over the crime scene.
Lone Star mumbled a couple of choice words. “I should’ve known better than to clomp my big feet—”
“I’m going to stop you right there. You had no idea what you were walking up to or you would’ve been more careful,” Mitch defended.
“Easy for you to say. Did you trample all over the crime scene?” Lone Star Lonnie asked with all sincerity.
Mitch drew in a sharp breath. “No. But I had a heads-up about what I was walking into. You didn’t. Comparing the two scenarios is a little like asking if an apple tastes like an orange, wouldn’t you say?”
Now it was Lone Star Lonnie’s turn to issue a sharp breath. “No. I didn’t realize. You make a good point but I’m not ready to let myself off the hook. If not for me this case might be zipped up already.”
“That’s one way to look at it. It’s wrong but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. I know that if you’d had any idea what that could’ve been, you would’ve walked so light you couldn’t have punched through a cloud. Besides, the earth is hard. There wasn’t much if anything there to work with anyway by way of a footprint. It’s just wishful thinking that Zach could’ve found anything. Not to mention the fact that there are only so many types of boots in production if the jerk who did that was even wearing them.” It was all true.
Lone Star Lonnie knew it, too, because he paused before speaking. “If you didn’t call about that, what’s really going on?” He paused for a few seconds before adding, “I know that tone of voice, and something’s wrong. Twins okay?”
The two had been friends for a long time. Lone Star would be able to pick up on a difference in Mitch’s tone.
“The two of them are fine.” Mitch hesitated, hoping the right words would magically appear. “There’s been a lot of stress with the doctor visit and the anniversary of...well...you know what I’m talking about—”
“I do.” Lone Star Lonnie knew full well what Mitch referred to. He’d buried his wife almost a year ago. As far as Mitch was concerned, she was still dead.
“A friend of mine needed a hand and I thought it would be a good time to get away for a few days.” He had no intention of committing to more than that. Being away from home for a few hours with one-year-old twins was a challenge. More than that, and Mitch would lose his mind.
“Understood. I’ll take care of everything here. We’ll all make sure this place runs like a well-oiled machine.” Lone Star would keep his word.
“The friend I’m helping might have put the ranch in danger.” Mitch wasn’t sure how much he could believe of Kimberly’s story so far. He also had no idea how long he could disappear with the children. Their lives had been disrupted enough without adding to it. He glanced toward the passenger’s seat, wondering who in hell’s name the woman occupying it really was. Damned if he hadn’t been the fool who’d fallen in love with her. He remembered how timid she’d been when she first arrived in Jacobstown.
“Oh.” Lonnie’s tone had questions written all over it, but to his credit he didn’t try to dig.
“Be careful. And keep watch at each other’s back.”
“Always do,” Lonnie said.
“Between my friend and the heifer, I’d rather be on the ranch,” Mitch said. “But I’m doing what’s best for the twins right now.”
“Understood. And I agree with you. If there’s any danger here, the twins don’t need to be around,” Lonnie agreed.
With Jacobstown being a tight-knit community, Mitch couldn’t risk word getting out about Kimberly. Her return from the dead would be news. Big news. And that would draw unwanted attention and visitors. No matter how many times Mitch turned it around in his head, leaving the area was the right thing to do for everyone. He remembered how quickly news had spread when Kimberly had first arrived in town. Speculation as to the mystery woman’s arrival had started before her bags were unpacked. Mrs. Wilder had gone on and on about how nice it was that someone wanted to pay cash for a change instead of 3 percent of rent going to credit-card-company fees or one of those annoying new apps taking a piece of everyone’s money.
Meeting Kimberly in person had taken a couple of days. Rumors were starting to spread about what she could possibly be doing at the lake house alone. Since she didn’t talk to anyone and people’s imaginations were often so far off base from the truth, townsfolk had decided she was either mourning a loved one or a vicious killer biding her time until she could attack. According to most that would likely happen at some point after dark or when the rest of the town slept. Hell, a few even decided she’d strike during a full moon. Imaginations had a way of getting out of control in these situations.
“Mitch.” Lone Star Lonnie sounded concerned.
“Sorry.” He’d dazed out with the memory, the fog of betrayal thick in his thoughts. “Be extra careful on the ranch while I’m gone and tell the others to do the same. My friend seems to think everyone in Jacobstown could be under threat—especially us.”
“Because of the heifer?” Lone Star Lonnie asked, but it was more statement than question.
“Partly. She has her reasons. Reasons that I don’t have the full scoop on, but until I do I’d like to operate on full alert when it comes to security. Take no chances,” he warned. Mitch didn’t care how unlikely the scenario was that anyone else could be targeted; he planned to warn Lone Star Lonnie and his family. “I’ll be off the grid for a couple of days. I couldn’t reach the others this morning. I’d like you to call a family meeting and let the others in on what’s going on.”
It was a big responsibility he was handing to Lone Star Lonnie, and Mitch would trust few with it. Ensuring his family was safe at all times was his number one priority.
“I’ll put the word out as soon as we hang up,” Lone Star Lonnie promised.
“You know how much I appreciate it,” Mitch said.
“Just doing my job as your foreman and friend,” Lone Star replied in a heartfelt manner. “Be safe out there.”
“You know I will.”
Lone Star most likely assumed that Mitch was overreacting due to the upcoming anniversary of Kimberly’s death. Mitch despised lies. Even more now that Kimberly had returned and he found out he’d been living one. He’d never get his mind around how she could fake her death and walk away from him and their children.
Mitch ended the call with Lone Star and navigated onto the road.
Nearly two hours later he pulled up to a small log-style hunting cabin.
Kimberly jolted up as soon as the engine died. She grabbed her chest and glanced around with wild eyes. Fear radiated off her.
“You’re safe.” Mitch didn’t want to be her comfort after she’d caused him so much pain. Call it ingrained cowboy code, but he couldn’t stop himself from trying to help another human in need. Plus her reaction caught him off guard.
“Sorry,” she said in that raspy sleepy voice that had been so damn sexy before. “I forgot where I was for a minute.”
He turned and really looked at her. Too many questions flooded his mind and he didn’t want to talk when the babies were so close. The twins would need to eat as soon as they woke. Mitch also couldn’t trust his temper. If she said something he didn’t want to hear, he might just give her a piece of his mind. Reacting in anger was something he would’ve done before the kids had come along. Fatherhood had given him a new perspective.
Examining her now, he couldn’t help but notice the stress cracks on her forehead and the worry deepening her dark eyes.
“Where are we?” she asked, pulling her phone out of her pocket. He didn’t even think about the fact that she brought nothing with her. No purse. No backpack. Just a phone and probably cash.
Since the twins had been born, traveling light was a joke. Mitch felt like he packed up the entire house every time he walked out the front door.
“This place belongs to a buddy of mine. And you can put that thing away,” he nodded toward her cell. “You won’t get any reception out here.”
KIMBERLY’S CHEST SQUEEZED with panic. She glanced around, trying to get her bearings. Carrying the phone she’d bought six months ago had been a tether to a world she no longer felt part of. There were no contacts in the cell, which only served to remind her just how alone she was now. She felt like she stood out without one and she figured there might come a time when she would need to call 9-1-1. “What time is it?”
“Just after seven o’clock in the morning,” he supplied.
She decided to remedy at least one issue. “Put my number in your phone.” She rattled off her number while he added her as a contact.
“How long was I asleep?” She rubbed blurry eyes. It wasn’t like her to sleep so soundly or for this long. She hadn’t done more than nap an hour or two, as best as she could, since leaving Jacobstown eleven months ago. The gravity of the current situation punched her in the gut. She’d put the three people she loved more than anything else in danger.
But how could she not see her family one more time? How could she not see how much her children had grown? Or if her husband would be showing up to the doctor appointment with another woman. The thought was a knife stab straight to the heart.
She glanced at his ring finger and noticed that he still wore his wedding band. Again her heart squeezed. She wore hers on a necklace, where it would always be close to her heart. He’d had their initials engraved on the gold band he’d given her on the day they’d exchanged vows. The band was the most important part because it stood for infinity—exactly the amount of time he said he would love her.
Looking into his cold eyes hurt.
Her mouth started to form the words I’m sorry.
Before she could manage to speak, he pushed open the driver’s-side door and stepped out. He leaned on the open door. “I’ll make sure the place is clear before I come back for the twins. They’ll wake if you try to pick them up, so sit tight until I get back.”
And then the door closed softly and she plunged into that cold, dark feeling that had nearly consumed her before. Tears welled in her eyes but she refused to cry or feel sorry for herself.
Life was about choices.
She’d made the only ones she could in order to save Mitch and her children. She refused to think of either as a mistake. In fact they were the three biggest miracles she would most likely ever know, following the foster parents who’d taken her in and treated her as their own. Maybe her luck had run out. Maybe a person got only so much of it before it went up in smoke. Maybe it was too much to wish anything could last. Kimberly had learned early on that life took every wrong turn possible.
Twisting around to look at her babies, the sound of the door opening rocked her. Mitch could be stealthy.
“There’s a hot shower if you need one. Turn on only the light you need.” Mitch’s deep timbre wrapped around her like a warm blanket, sending sensual shivers to places she knew better than to allow.
“You don’t need me to help with them?” she asked. Maybe it was naive to think he would ask her to help with the babies.
“No.” He didn’t say that she’d done enough but the ice in his tone spoke volumes.
She exited the vehicle, walked inside and headed straight to the shower.
Ten minutes into the warm water sluicing over her, a knock sounded.
She panicked a little bit, realizing that she was naked and Mitch was only a few feet away. Feeling exposed, she grabbed the towel hanging over the shower rod. She peeked her head around the curtain only to find that the door was still closed and he couldn’t see her.
“Did you want something?” she said for lack of something better.
“Do you want a cup of coffee?” he asked.
“Sure. I’ll be out in a minute. I’m almost done,” she said.
The door opened a crack. “I have clean clothes. I’ll just put them on the sink and be out of your way.”
“Mitch.”
She waited for an answer.
“Yeah.”
“Thank you for everything you’re doing.” She hoped it would be enough to express her gratitude. This was hard.
Mitch grunted something and then closed the door. Kimberly had no idea what he’d said and figured she probably didn’t want to know.
By some miracle the kids were still asleep when she strolled into the living room/kitchen area of the cabin. The main areas were open, with a kitchenette next to the back door. There was one bedroom with a bathroom connected. The decor was simple. There was a couch and a three-piece, small, round wood dinette set. The bedroom consisted of a bed, a nightstand and a wardrobe. The place might not be much, but it felt like shelter against a raging storm.
“Coffee’s on the counter,” Mitch said. He stared at her for a minute before shaking his head and refocusing on the wood table, in front of which he was seated. The place had a rustic charm and looked like no one had been there in weeks. Months?
Kimberly walked over and gripped the plain white mug. It was simple and felt warm in her hands as she rolled it around in her palms.
“The best place to figure out what’s going on is to start with your father. What can you tell me about him?” Mitch motioned toward the chair opposite him at the table.
She took a sip before joining him, sitting directly across from him.
“Randy Bristol was a good man. Whatever he got involved in couldn’t have been on purpose or his fault, no matter how it looked,” she said defensively.
“I’m not here to crucify anyone. I just want to know the truth so we can figure out the source of the threat. We both need to get this behind us so we can move on with our lives,” he said.
Those last words hurt more than she could admit.
She wished she could tell him what all this was about. Hell, she wished she knew.