“We have to get the babies to a safe place and get out of here,” Kimberly said in a whisper to Mitch. He was confused by the changes in her. When he’d first arrived she’d practically thrown herself into his arms. Now she was keeping her distance.
She was suddenly acting strange toward him, sending mixed signals. He couldn’t ask her what was going on outright. She seemed too aware of everyone else in the room. Her occasional longing look toward one of the babies had him concerned. He was thankful she seemed to want to include him in the plans she was cooking up. Mitch wondered if the others in the room were picking up on her increasing anxiety.
“Or we could let the law do its job and find out who murdered your foster father,” he said quietly.
“How did it feel to be interrogated like a common criminal?” she responded.
“It wasn’t a trip to the State Fair but that is part of a law-enforcement investigation. At times innocent people have to put up with being inconvenienced while the investigator gets to the bottom of what’s really going on.” Based on her reaction so far, it seemed like there was more to the question than she was letting on. “Why?”
“Long story,” she said a little too defensively. So there was something to his suspicion.
Since she seemed determined to shut him out, he decided to bring up the subject again later.
“Think Zach’s finding anything?” she asked, her hands twisted together.
“We’ll know soon enough.” On closer examination she looked wiped out. Dark circles cradled her brown eyes. She looked like she’d spent the last couple of hours on the edge of her seat and her exhaustion was starting to show.
Mitch took her hand in his to reassure her, ignoring the frissons of heat the contact produced. “We’ll sort this mess out and I’ll be right here until the end.”
Kimberly sat there, still, for a long moment. Was he getting through? She had so many layers of defense built up. So much more than when he’d first met her.
“You shouldn’t make promises that you can’t keep,” she said after a thoughtful pause. “And now I’ve put everyone in danger. I shouldn’t be here.”
Then she stood up and crossed the room without looking back.
Zach walked over to Mitch.
“She’ll come around,” Zach said, taking a seat next to his cousin.
To what?
What would she be coming around to? Joint custody? Friendship? Something more? Trust was big in Mitch’s book and she’d obliterated theirs.
She’d had her reasons and, he could admit, most of them had to do with him and their children. Put in her shoes, would he have done the same thing?
No, he wouldn’t. But then he’d grown up with a huge support network and more people who had his back than he could count.
What had she grown up with?
Parents who weren’t fit and had abandoned her before she was old enough to fend for herself. Heartache from losing the only sister she’d ever known and had tried to protect. Then there was a string of people who’d let her down in the years when she needed stability the most. There’d been others who’d taken advantage of her and used her as a workhorse, abused her. She’d been through hell and back when he’d had the love and support of five siblings, two cousins and two of the best parents a kid could hope for.
Had life been easy for the Kents?
Hell no. They suffered the same as everybody else. People they loved died just like everyone else. They experienced the world as everyone did—heartaches and happiness.
They’d been brought up to know the value of a hard day’s work, that money bought food and other necessities—not necessarily happiness—and that they could always count on one another when life handed them hard times.
He examined Kimberly and wondered if she’d ever be able to break down the walls she’d constructed to protect herself.
Then again what exactly was he offering her?
“Jordan called to see if I’d heard from you,” Zach said.
“I need to call home and let the rest of my brothers know I’m all right,” Mitch conceded. He’d been wrapped up in trying to figure out what was going on and hadn’t checked in with any of his brothers. Of course, everyone would be worried by now. He could kick himself for not thinking about his family. His heart wanted to argue that his family was right here in the room with him. And that part was true. Kimberly was the mother of his children. She would always be connected to him. Family.
Thinking of the ranch brought up the issue of the heifer.
“Have you made any progress on the investigation at the ranch?” he asked his cousin.
Zach shook his head. “My first thought was teenagers playing a cruel prank.”
“They’d have to be pretty damn twisted to think that was funny.”
“Or on something that distorted reality,” Zach agreed.
“Jacobstown’s never had a drug problem.” Mitch arched a brow.
“Not prior to this, if that’s what we’re dealing with,” Zach stated.
“But that’s not what you think now?”
“Town’s in an uproar. Social media has been going crazy with speculation. Everything from high teenagers passing through from Fort Worth to a cult traveling in the area,” Zach admitted. “There’s no shortage of speculation on who or what might’ve been involved. A few have pointed toward an illegal trapper.”
“I’m guessing you’re not refuting the claim,” Mitch said.
“No. I’d rather folks go down that trail than some of the others, which have them ready to break out pitchforks and take shifts guarding Main Street,” Zach said with an eye roll.
“People can get carried away,” Mitch agreed.
“Thing is the only tracks leading up to the heifer belong to you and Lone Star,” Zach continued.
“Seems strange that you couldn’t find anything else,” Mitch said.
“I did. I found marks leading away from the scene,” Zach stated.
“What kind of marks?”
“Like a tree limb being used to brush over someone’s tracks.” Zach ground his back teeth. “Might be nothing. Old. There’s evidence teenagers have been slipping onto your property to hike.”
“Nothing new there,” Mitch said, but his mind was flipping over possibilities.
“Everyone’s on guard right now. At the very least they’re seeing this as a bad omen,” Zach informed him.
“Could’ve been an illegal trapper,” Mitch said after a thoughtful pause. That area was his brother’s responsibility. “Will checks the fences on that side of the property. Maybe he was near and spooked the guy who then covered his tracks as he bailed.”
“I’ll keep my eyes peeled the same,” Zach mentioned.
“We’ll keep on the extra security we hired just in case there’s foul play,” Mitch said.
“Good idea.”
Zach informed Mitch of his offer to take the babies, along with Joyce, to his house.
“Is Kimberly aware?” Mitch asked. It should be strange to include someone else in the decision-making process when it came to his children. It wasn’t.
“Yes. She wanted to ask your opinion about it,” Zach answered.
Amy came over and sat next to Mitch.
“Kimberly okay?” she asked before correcting herself. “Never mind that question. How could anyone be sane under the circumstances?”
He nodded in agreement.
“I just spoke to Isaac,” she said, and he could tell she was trying to keep her tone as even as possible. Her eyes were brighter, though. She chanced a glance toward her brother. “He’s going to be released from the hospital and into my brother’s custody tomorrow.”
“He should probably stay at my place while he heals,” Zach offered.
“Knowing Isaac, he has an opinion on the matter,” Mitch said. He shot an apologetic look in Amy’s direction. “He’s been seen around town with Hailey Jepson. She might want to weigh in, too.”
Amy needed to know, but Mitch didn’t like being the one to give her the heads-up about Isaac’s personal business. It was better she hear the news from family, though.
Aaron fussed, throwing the toy that had been keeping him occupied.
“I’ll go help Kimberly,” Amy said. She couldn’t get to her feet fast enough after Mitch’s revelation. Again, he hated to be the one to inform her but he didn’t want her to think she had another chance with Isaac if she didn’t. Mitch had it on good authority Isaac was seeing Hailey now. He had no idea how serious the relationship was. He’d been out of the loop on most issues since inheriting the ranch and losing Kimberly. But Amy deserved to know what she was up against.
One thing was certain.
Relationships were tricky as hell.
Speaking of which, Kimberly was on her way over to Mitch and Zach.
She stopped in front of Mitch.
“What do you think about the babies staying with your cousin temporarily?” she asked.
“He’ll take care of them. Make sure they’re safe,” Mitch stated.
Zach nodded.
“Then how about you and me get out of here.” She made a show of yawning. “I’m beat and I can’t think straight anymore. I just had another cup of coffee and I could’ve been drinking water for the effect it had. I need to grab a couple hours of sleep. What about you?”
It was pretty obvious to Mitch, and most likely Zach, that she was making the move she’d been in the corner contemplating for the past hour.
“I can use a few hours of shut-eye,” he admitted, curious as to where she was planning to go with this. There was a corrupt deputy in Hatch. He was pretty damn sure of that. How far up the chain did the deception go?
Mitch had a feeling they’d figure it out soon enough because Kimberly had that focused look in her eye.
“Then, let’s take off.”
KIMBERLY PINCHED THE bridge of her nose to stem the raging headache threatening to crack her skull in half. The plan to leave the babies in Zach’s care and get away from Jacobstown was solid. The borrowed truck from his cousin Zach wasn’t as comfortable as the SUV but should keep them both under the radar. She leaned her head against the headrest and started counting exit signs. “Do you think the babies will do okay without you there? You’ve been the steady force in their lives.”
“The whole family plans to check in with them. Joyce will be there 24/7. They’ll be surrounded by people who love them,” Mitch said.
“It’s not the same as having you there,” she countered. The idea that her babies had so many wonderful people to depend on warmed her inside and out. No matter how much she wanted to be the one who put her kids to bed every night, she realized that might not be possible. Not if Baxter got what he wanted. It was clear that he wanted something from her. What would happen if he got it? She doubted a criminal would let her live long enough to be a witness no matter how much she pleaded.
“There’ll be no shortage of folks to fuss over them.” His tone was certain while she was churning like a blender inside.
“Will they be able to sleep somewhere besides their own beds?” she asked, picking up her cell and then turning it over and over in her hands. She couldn’t risk having photos of them on her phone in case those jerks got to her. She’d envied all the mothers she’d come across in the past eleven months with prominent pictures of their children as their wallpaper. In conversation, which she’d avoided as much as possible, she’d had to lie about having babies of her own.
Since she was on the run and her heart belonged to Mitch anyway, dating had been out of the question. Everything about a normal life was out of bounds in the life she’d been living.
“You saw them in the SUV. They’ll do fine at Zach’s,” he said and there was a hint of sympathy in his voice.
Snapping them into their child seats in Zach’s personal vehicle had caused her heart to beat in painful stabs. The air had thinned. She couldn’t breathe. She’d blame it on the humidity thickening the air but all the threatening clouds had cleared up after a brief shower and it had been sunny ever since.
“If you say so.” She had no personal experience to draw on with the twins when it came to their sleep schedules. The last time she’d put them to bed they woke every four to six hours to feed.
They’d be safe at Zach’s, a little voice in the back of her head reassured. At least she could count on that much.
“Mind if we change the subject?” Mitch asked, and she appreciated his thoughtfulness.
“Go ahead.”
“What do you really think happened with your dad?” he asked. “Deep down.”
“Gut level?” she asked.
“Yes. What do your instincts tell you?” he pressed.
“I can’t prove it, but I know he wouldn’t do anything illegal or immoral. The man once drove an hour in one of his rentals to buy a refrigeration system so he could deliver food to a town that had been hit hard by layoffs, all of which came out of his pocket. If a store clerk accidentally gave him too much change or forgot to charge for an item, he’d turn around and go back. I mean, seriously, he’d turn around for fifty cents so the cashier would balance all right at the end of the night. So whatever was going on I’m thinking that he couldn’t have really known about it,” she informed him. “He could’ve been mixed up in a crime accidentally or seen something he shouldn’t have. In which case no one should be looking at me.”
“Unless they’re thinking the same thing and figuring you might’ve gotten him involved in some kind of trouble,” he reasoned. His point was valid.
“I might’ve made mistakes as a kid but it shouldn’t be difficult for an investigator to figure out that my life has been clean since junior year of high school,” she said a little defensively. No matter how well she’d been living her life since then it was still hard to talk about the person she’d been. Thinking back to the manner in which the investigator had grilled her made even more sense. “Disappearing most likely didn’t help matters.”
“We already know there hasn’t been a warrant issued for your arrest. We have a name. Baxter. And Zach is knee-deep in the investigation,” Mitch offered.
“Which means more people are in jeopardy because of me,” she said on a sharp sigh.
“People are in jeopardy because of a criminal,” Mitch interjected. “My cousin deals with bad people on a daily basis. He knows how to handle himself.”
At least he knew to be careful and take the threat seriously.
Mitch shot a quick look of apology before focusing on the stretch of highway ahead. “Did he and your mother take in other foster kids?”
“None that I know of. I never asked and there weren’t any pictures around,” she said. “Seems like there would have been some evidence.”
“Sounds like the kind of guy who’d give the shirt off his back if someone needed it,” Mitch said.
“He was.” She thought about the young guy who’d shown up at the back door on her last visit to her father’s office. “Maybe this all had to do with someone my father was trying to help.” Was it wishful thinking? Or had he crossed the line? The more she thought about the man Randy Bristol had been the less him being a criminal made sense. “There was this guy. I never really got a good look at his face or maybe I just wasn’t really paying attention. He was in his late teens, maybe early twenties. Thin. He had long hair that he kept in a messy braid. Think I heard my dad call him Tonto once. Have no idea what it meant.”
“Do you remember the name of your caseworker when you were in the system?” he asked.
“Absolutely. Old Train-wreck Turner. I got lucky with the Bristols. Train-wreck placed me in some nightmare homes before them. She didn’t care where I ended up.” She glanced at him in time to see his fist tighten around the steering wheel.
“She still live in the area where you grew up?”
“It’s possible.” She shrugged. “Been a long time since I’ve been home, and I lost contact with her the minute I turned eighteen.”
“I’m guessing that was on purpose,” he stated.
“Didn’t see a point keeping in touch with someone I couldn’t trust or stand,” she admitted.
“Take my phone out of the cup holder and text her name to Zach if you don’t mind,” he said.
She palmed his cell and entered the password he’d supplied, noticing that he’d changed it from her birthday to the twins’.
Everything else on the home screen looked the same as the last time she’d used his phone, so it was easy to navigate.
Zach replied almost immediately to the text with a thumbs-up icon and a promise to get back to them ASAP.
“He’s on it, but I doubt she’ll be any help. She was pretty old and has most likely retired since then.”
“Let’s hope for an address by morning,” Mitch said. Then he added, “Might want to tell him about Tonto.”
“Okay.” It was most likely nothing but it couldn’t hurt. She entered everything she could recall about Tonto. “Done.”
Another thumbs-up icon popped onto the screen.
Mitch took the next exit and then followed GPS on his phone to the nearest cash-based motel.
After parking on the opposite-side lot and doing a quick check-in that required no ID, she followed him into room number six. The external door leading straight to the east-facing parking lot wasn’t ideal from a security standpoint but paying in cash was more important since it didn’t leave a digital trail.
The room was typical for the price. Two well-used mattresses topping a pair of full-size beds were separated by a small nightstand. There was a lamp, notepad and pen, and landline telephone sitting on top. If Kimberly had to bet, there’d be a Bible in the drawer.
“Shower’s in the back.” Mitch pointed to the only place it could be.
Ten minutes later she came out wearing a towel. Mitch handed her a toothbrush and toothpaste, which was manna from heaven at this point.
“Do I want to ask where you got these?” She made eyes at him.
“It’s okay. They’re fine. Came from camping supplies in the trunk of the SUV,” he said.
She must’ve scrubbed her teeth for five minutes.
“There’s a clean T-shirt on the bed. It’s mine but you’re welcome to it,” he practically growled as he passed her and his low rumble of a voice sent sensual skitters across her skin. She recognized that tone, and intense, hungry, passionate sex usually followed.
Suddenly aware of just how little material covered her, she gripped the knot on her towel to secure it.
An exhale of relief followed as he kept walking, because being this close to the only man she’d given her heart to was its own hell. Add the sexual chemistry that constantly pinged between them and it was draining to keep fighting what her body deemed as the most natural thing.
As she walked past him, he caught her arm. She stopped and faced him.
“Where’d you go last year?” There was so much emotion present in his eyes. A mix of hurt, anger and something else...something much more primal simmered between them. Hunger.
Letting the chemistry between them rule would be a huge mistake and yet her feet were planted.
“We should get some sleep.” The words sounded hollow even to her.
She couldn’t.
“Kimberly.” That one word was spoken so loaded with emotion that her breath caught.
Heat ricocheted between them as they stood this close, barely more than a foot apart. Where his fingers touched her forearm, tingles of uncapped sexual energy pulsed.
“It’s better for both of us if I don’t say where I’ve been hiding out.”
“Why? Because you plan to disappear again when it gets tough? Use those same places to hide?”
She turned her face away, not wanting to look at him. “Maybe.”
“On our wedding day, did you mean those vows or were they just empty words to you?” No emotion was present in his voice now and she couldn’t read him when she glanced up.
She should lie. Tell him what he seemed to need to hear. That it was all a fake and she’d never loved him.
She couldn’t.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me the truth?” he asked.
“Because you would’ve gone all cowboy code on me and tried to fix my problems,” she shot back, feeling anger rise in her chest.
“Isn’t that what married people do? Face down trouble together? Stick by each other’s side?”
“Yes. But—”
“Never mind.” There was so much finality in those words. “Get some sleep.”
Kimberly wished there was some way to tell him she was sorry for the past, a way that didn’t feel like an insult to his pride.
She couldn’t.
So she stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Mitch pulled back. His eyes were closed. His mental debate was written across the stress cracks on his forehead.
“I’m not trying to cause more pain,” she said in a low voice. “I just missed this. I missed you so much I didn’t think I could breathe. And I’m tired of fighting against what my body wants when you’re anywhere near me.”
“We cross that line and I can’t undo that,” he said, pressing his forehead to hers.
“Do you want me, Mitch?” She tugged the knot on the towel free and let the cotton material drop to the floor.
Standing there, naked, in front of the man her body craved should feel awkward. She should be embarrassed about her body like she’d always been before Mitch. But this was Mitch. He was her husband. And though a piece of paper had declared her dead, she was very much alive. Very much a woman. Very much reacting to the sexy male standing in front of her.
“That’s not the right question to ask.” His warm breath sensitized her skin. He brought his hands up to her hips, where they rested on either side of her body. Contact sent currents of heat coursing through her body, seeking an outlet.
“Then, what is?”