Evan grumbled a curse, rolling over on the cold, bare concrete floor. Every bone, every joint ached as he scooted back to lean against the dirty, nasty, grease-stained wall. He’d managed to find an abandoned garage space away from town. It had taken far longer to reach the outskirts of Shiloh Springs than he’d planned. Turns out Shiloh Springs wasn’t some little Podunk town in the middle of nowhere, it was also the name of the county, a lot of which was covered by nothing but dirt, trees, and a bunch of dead-looking bushes.
Getting this far had been a chore, one he hadn’t anticipated. Turns out, most people in Texas were leery about picking up hitchhikers. Who’d have thought it? After all, Texans were supposed to be friendly, kind, and courteous to strangers. Ha, what a crock! Only two cars had stopped the entire time he’d been walking with his thumb out, and he’d ended up hoofing it most of the way.
When he wasn’t hiding.
Every bone ached from lying on the hard, cold concrete. Of course, it was still better than sleeping outside. One more thing he could lay at Beth’s feet. One more black mark she’d pay for when he caught up to her. Her ledger contained page after page of black tally marks, and he’d make sure she’d pay for each one.
Brushing off his wrinkled clothes as best he could in the diffused morning light spilling through the filthy windows, he stared at the pattern of sunlight sparkling on the broken glass sprinkled along the ground, projecting prisms of light against dirty, graffiti-stained walls.
“I can’t believe I’ve sunk this low. Scrounging around dumps like this for a place to sleep. No food, no water. Not even a pot to piss in.”
With a last frowning look around, he stepped outside, shielding his eyes with his hand, letting them adjust to the sudden change in lighting. Taking a deep breath, he stretched, loosening up his muscles. His mind whirled, thoughts bouncing around like bingo balls in one of those automated hoppers, while scene after scene of what he’d do when he caught up with Beth raced through his head. A crooked smile tugged at his lips with every image, each nastier than the one before.
He knew he couldn’t simply walk up to her in the middle of town. There’d be far too many people around. Besides, she’d feel safe with her friends and family around her. Not to mention those blasted Boudreaus. Especially that scum-sucking sheriff and his equally pesky brother. He really wanted to meet Rafe Boudreau in a dark alley. Give him five minutes and he’d eliminate him, painfully and finally.
And Tessa. Oh, sweet little Tessa owed him big time. Most of the blame for his current dilemma lay directly at Tessa’s door. If she’d given him the Crowley County bond, he’d be living the good life in another country, instead of having been sentenced to decades behind bars. And while he was at it, he might as well add his attorney to the list of people who needed to pay for betraying him. Camilla ended up finding somebody to take his case, because she felt horrible he was behind bars. She was sweet and naïve, totally gullible, and believed every word out of his mouth. Hook, line, and sinker.
And the idiot lawyer? More like a mouse who’d convinced him to take a plea bargain, promising he’d get a slap on the wrist. Oh, yeah, he needed to pay, too.
Scanning the horizon, there was nothing except trees tangled with brush and weeds as far as he could see. The night before, he’d walked until he was ready to drop before stumbling upon this abandoned garage space. The stench of oil and gasoline lingered in the air, stale yet pungent, even though it was apparent the place hadn’t been used in years. But it had one advantage that made it perfect. It was close to Shiloh Springs, and that’s what mattered. Too bad he didn’t know how to hotwire a car, or he’d have made it here a heck of a lot sooner.
In the end, none of that mattered, though. Today was looking up. Soon he’d have everything he wanted.
Money.
Freedom.
But, more than either of those things, the one thing driving him forward was finally in his grasp—vengeance.
Beth made her way to the kitchen after her shower. Her hair was still damp, and she’d borrowed a set of clothes from Nica, not wanting to put on the clothes from the night before. She absently ran a comb through it, working out the tangles as she walked down the steps, following the scent of fresh-brewed coffee like it was a siren’s song. Which in all honesty, it was. She’d didn’t function well without at least two full cups every morning.
“Good morning, Beth. Did you get any sleep at all?” Ms. Patti leaned against the countertop by the stove, a mug of coffee in her hand, which she passed to Beth. She inhaled deeply before taking the first sip, closing her eyes as the warmth from the liquid nirvana flooded her senses. How was it possible Ms. Patti was not only the best cook she knew, but apparently also was the queen of caffeine?
“I managed to get a couple hours. I kept jerking awake at every sound. Has there been any news? Have they caught Evan?”
“Not yet, hon. Rafe’s at the sheriff’s station, got there early. I talked to him a couple hours ago. Everyone is looking for Evan. He can’t hide for long.”
“I’m sorry I brought all my problems to your doorstep.”
“Nonsense.” Ms. Patti slapped two pieces of toast onto a plate loaded with scrambled eggs and bacon. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Evan gets all the blame here, so you stop that line of thinking right now.” She motioned Beth to the table, and plopped the plate in front of her when she sat.
“My head tells me that, Ms. Patti. Except, none of you would be dealing with him if he wasn’t obsessed with me. Or rather, the money he thinks I have. Why can’t he understand? I couldn’t keep the money. After everything he and Trevor did, it was dirty—blood money.”
Ms. Patti lowered into the chair across from Beth. “Honey, you did nothing wrong. Nothing. Neither did your sister. I’ve gotten to know you both in the last few months. You’d never have kept that money anyway. Tell me honestly, if you’d know the Crowley County Bond wasn’t simply a family keepsake, but was in fact worth a lot of money, what would you have done?”
Beth took another sip of her coffee, savoring the sweetness before answering. “We’d have done exactly what we did, donate it back to Crowley County.”
“Precisely.” Ms. Patti reached across and squeezed her hand.
“I checked in on Jamie before my shower. She was sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake her. I don’t know what or even how much I should be telling her. She’s so little, I’m not even sure she comprehends why we’re not living with her daddy, and why he isn’t around anymore.”
“It’s a tough situation to be in, hon. Not something most people have to deal with telling their children. My guess is to play it by ear. If she asks questions, explain it in the simplest, easiest way you can, but until then, it might be better to let her be surrounded by people who love her.”
Beth set the coffee mug on the tabletop, wrapping her hands around it to ward off the sudden chill sweeping through her. “I can’t imagine Evan ever hurting Jamie. Me, I can take care of myself, but she’s so little.” She heard the crack in her voice, and paused, working on gaining a modicum of composure. “Ms. Patti, I’m terrified he’s going to take my baby to hurt me.”
“Not going to happen. Brody, Rafe, all of us aren’t going to allow Evan within a mile of you or your daughter. I give you my word, he’s going to get caught.” Ms. Patti gave her a steely-eyed glare, and stood up, her bearing intimidating for all her tiny stature. “I’ve got the right to protect myself and my property. That applies to anybody within these walls. If he steps foot on Boudreau land, I’d consider that a threat.”
“Ms. Patti, you can’t—”
“Trust me, I can. I’ve taken out any number of varmints on my property, and shooting troublemakers intent on doing harm to me and mine, I’ve got no problem taking out another one. Besides,” she grinned, her expression deliciously wicked, “I’ve got a brand-new shotgun I’ve been itching to try out.”
Before Beth could think of anything to say, she heard the clump of running feet down the stairs, right before Jamie sprinted into the kitchen, her hair pulled up into two ponytails, a small pair of bib overalls with a bright yellow T-shirt underneath. Nica trailed close behind, wiping her eyes. Beth winced at the obvious dark circles under her friend’s eyes. She’d obviously taken her job as guard dog seriously. Catching Beth’s eyes, she winked and headed for the coffee maker.
“Good morning, Mommy!” Jamie threw herself into Beth’s embrace, smacking a kiss against her cheek. “Guess what? Nica gave me these clothes. Aren’t they something? She said they was hers when she was little, like me.”
“She’s right, Jamie.” Ms. Patti placed a glass of juice beside Beth’s coffee mug. “Nica did wear those when she was younger. She griped and complained forever because she wanted a pair like her big brother Dane wore when he worked with the horses.” Ms. Patti winked at her daughter, who simply rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee.
“Can I go see the horses?” Jamie turned a pleading glance her way, and Beth’s heart melted.
“Breakfast first, then maybe.”
“Yay, horses!” Jamie sat in the chair beside Beth’s and reached for the juice, taking a big swallow. Beth loved seeing the excitement and joy filling her daughter. It was funny how kids rebounded from just about everything that got thrown their way. Jamie had adjusted amazingly well to her father’s defection, moving halfway across the country, and even changing schools.
School! She’d have to let Mrs. Gleason know Jamie wouldn’t be in attendance for a couple of days at least.
Nica plopped into the chair across from Beth. “You get any sleep?”
“A little. Thank you for staying with Jamie.”
“No problem, she’s a sweetheart.”
“You hear that, Mommy. I’m a sweetheart!” Jamie grinned and a tiny trickle of juice slid down her chin.
“You are indeed, cutie pie. How about some toast, would you like that?”
“Can I have—”
“Nope, no waffles. Today, you get toast with butter and honey.”
Jamie perked up at the word honey. She loved honey and if she had her way, it’d be slathered on everything she ate. It was one concession Beth allowed, because it was natural sugar, something she could control, rather than something loaded with all kinds of junk. Not that she’d been super-strict about Jamie’s diet lately, but she was happy her child wasn’t a finicky eater.
Beth started to rise, and Ms. Patti motioned her back in her seat. With ease of long practice, she popped two slices of bread into the toaster, and pulled a bottle of honey from the cupboard. Within minutes, Jamie was chowing down on her toast.
“Can you keep an eye on Jamie for a couple of minutes? I need to call Mrs. Gleason, let her know Jamie won’t be in for a day or two.”
“Good idea,” Ms. Patti gestured Beth toward the door. “We’ve got this.”
Pulling her cell phone from her pocket, Beth quickly apprised the kindergarten teacher about Jamie’s absence, the other woman understanding and offering help. It was one more reason she’d fallen in love with Shiloh Springs. They’d been welcomed with open arms from the moment they’d first visited, coming to stay with Tessa after the debacle with Evan. She’d been made to feel at home. It had been a major factor in her decision to relocate, second only to her sister living there.
Glancing through the window of the living room, she spotted Douglas and Dane talking, their expressions serious. As she watched the two men, noting how similar they appeared, right down to their stance, a motorcycle roar could be heard roaring up the drive leading to the house, a lone rider straddling the sleek chrome and black machine. A black helmet obscured his face from view, yet somehow Beth knew this was somebody she’d never met before. He pulled to a stop beside Douglas and Dane, letting the engine of the great beast purr at a low rumble before cutting the engine. Straightening to his full height, he alighted and strode over to the two men, throwing his arms around Douglas in what could only be described as a bear hug, which he returned with a couple of thumps on the stranger’s back.
Stepping back, he tugged the helmet off, revealing dark blond hair that easily brushed the collar of his black leather jacket. Taller than either man he stood with, he had to top close to six and a half feet, broad shoulders encased in black leather. Even through the window, air of danger surrounded him. He looked familiar. Somewhere she’d seen him before, and from the way Douglas greeted him, he was either a member of the family or somebody close.
While Douglas and Dane headed toward the barn, the stranger strode toward the front door, his legs eating up the distance in long strides. There was a predatory grace in his walk, a controlled element of danger that sent a shiver down Beth’s spine. She didn’t want to get on the wrong side of this man.
“Momma?” The word accompanied the opening of the front door, and Beth heard a sharp gasp from the kitchen before Ms. Patti came barreling into the hall.
“Heath? Oh, my stars, Heath!”
The tall man lifted Ms. Patti off the floor like she weighed nothing, spinning around in a circle, a huge grin on his face. “I’ve missed you. What’s for supper?”
Ms. Patti swatted him on the chest. “Put me down. I can’t believe the first words out of your mouth are about food. Everybody else is eating breakfast, and you’re asking about supper.” She shook her head slowly, but Beth spotted her amused expression.
“I have been dreaming about your chicken fried steak for the last fifteen hundred miles. East coast food just doesn’t taste as good as yours, Momma.” The distinct whine in his voice disappeared when he spotted Beth. “Sorry, I didn’t know you had company.”
Ms. Patti practically dragged him over to Beth. “Heath, this is Beth Stewart. Beth, this is my son, Heath. I’m not sure what he’s doing here, since he lives in Virginia.” Her eyes studied her son intently. “But I’m sure he’s gonna tell me—soon.”
“Hello, Beth. Pleasure to meet you.” Beth stood still beneath his perusal, knowing he sized her up, as she did him.
“Mommy, can I see the horses now?” Jamie’s full-speed dash skidded to a half and she shrank back at the edge of the hall when she spotted Heath, her expression wary.
“Jamie, this is Heath, Ms. Patti’s son. He’s come to visit with her and Mr. Douglas.” Beth slid her arm around Jamie’s shoulder, pulling her against her side. Jamie stared up at the tall man, a mixture of trepidation and excitement flooding her expression.
“Hello.” She looked up at Beth. “Am I supposed to call him Uncle Heath or Mr. Heath?”
Heath squatted down, bringing him closer down to Jamie’s level, his smile filled with kindness and warmth. “Hi, Jamie. It’s very nice to meet you. If you’re a friend of my momma, I’d like it if you called me Uncle Heath.” He held out his hand, and Jamie reached forward, her smaller one engulfed in his outstretched one. Looking up at Beth, he winked, and Jamie knew he had to be a hit with the ladies. He seemed a natural-born flirt.
Nica popped out of the kitchen, and nodded once to Beth, blew a smacking kiss to her brother, and Jamie followed her like a trained puppy. “Come on, pipsqueak, I’ll go to the barn with you.”
“Come back to the kitchen and I’ll fix you some breakfast. I’ll need to take down some steaks, too, since it looks like I’m making chicken fried steak for supper.” Without waiting, Ms. Patti breezed past them, Beth and Heath following meekly in her wake.
Beth refilled her mug, and got one for Heath too, figuring he could doctor it the way he liked it. He wrapped his hands around the mug, and studied her intently, a look of quiet speculation evident, which was quickly masked behind a cheeky grin.
“What’s your story, pretty Beth? What brings you to the Boudreau house?”
“I’ll fill you in later, Heath,” Ms. Patti interrupted, slapping a huge plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast in front of him. “And stop flirting with her, she’s taken.”
Heath quirked a brow at her words, and Beth felt a wash of heat flood her face.
“Taken, is she? Too bad.” He glanced at Ms. Patti. “Who?”
“Brody.”
“Ah.”
Beth watched the back and forth, her eyes widening at Ms. Patti’s declaration. I’m taken? News to me.
“I think I’ll go check on Jamie.” She headed for the back door like hellhounds had sprouted up through the kitchen floor, and half jogged, half walked toward the barn. Whew, that had been intense. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she’d overreacted to Heath’s arrival. He wasn’t the enemy. He wasn’t a threat to her daughter. The man had every right to be at the Boudreau homestead. It was his home, although if she remembered right, he lived in Virginia and worked in D.C. One of those government agencies with abbreviations, though she couldn’t remember which one.
On reaching the barn, she took a deep breath, and pasted an excited expression on her face, ready to face her daughter and put on a happy front. Ms. Patti’s words ran through her head. They thought she belonged with Brody?
Would it really be so bad to be loved by someone like Brody? He was caring, sweet. He loved her daughter. Without a doubt, he’s nothing like Evan.
Somehow, the thought of being with Brody didn’t scare her, didn’t make her want to run screaming for the hills in the opposite direction. In fact, if she got the chance, she’d run toward him.
This is crazy. We haven’t even been on a single date. Yet I can’t stop thinking about him, wanting to be near him. It can’t be wrong to feel this way. Oh, who am I kidding, we haven’t even kissed.
A bubble of excitement flitted through her, and she felt giddy. A flicker of hope raced through her, and she grasped it with both hands. No more running. No more hiding. No more refusing to live her life on her terms. Once she’d been a strong independent woman, capable of making her own decisions and running her life on her terms. Somehow over the years, she allowed Evan to turn her into a different person.
Never again. Starting today, she was taking back her life. Grabbing hold with both hands to what she wanted, and never letting go.
And what she wanted was Brody Boudreau.