Danger on the Mountain (11 page)

ELEVEN

M
aggie stepped into her house and shut the door behind her. Full of emotions and feelings from the date—and it
had
been a date—she’d decided against inviting Reese inside. Especially after that question he’d dropped on her at supper. A safe house?

She didn’t think so. At least not yet.

He seemed to understand what was going on inside her and hadn’t pushed. Instead, he’d made sure there was no awkward moment on the front porch. He’d simply hugged her and said, “I enjoyed the time with you. Sleep well.” He’d gestured to the cruiser now in his spot at the end of her driveway. “You’ve got a good watchdog, rest easy.”

She’d nodded and smiled and wondered how she would sleep tonight. Without Belle in the house. Fiona had called to say Belle had fallen asleep, and she was welcome to leave her there for the night. She’d also offered, “You can come here for the night, if you want.”

Maggie thought about it. “No, someone’s after me, Fiona. I wouldn’t feel right about staying with you. I might just bring a truck full of trouble to your door if I do that.”

Fiona had simply laughed. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” Then she’d sobered. “I understand. Belle will be safe here, I promise.”

Cal would drop her off on his way in to work in the morning. Maggie had mixed feelings about leaving her daughter there, but, truthfully, she wondered if Belle wasn’t safer on Fiona’s ranch than in the little house with Maggie.

The question tore at her. And if she hadn’t been so conflicted, she would have gone right over to the ranch and picked Belle up. But she wanted her baby to be safe. And the fact was, she might be safer away from her mother.

Maggie sank onto the couch, pushed that depressing thought away and let her mind drift to Reese. The man intrigued her, drew her...and scared her. Not in a physical way, as Kent had, but on a deeper, emotional level. He could be dangerous to her heart.

The phone rang.

Maggie snatched it from the end table. “Hello?”

“I’m not going away.”

At first, she didn’t understand the whispery voice. “What?”

“I’ll be back. No one can protect you from me.”

Maggie’s thumb pressed the button to hang up the phone. She pressed it twice for good measure. Trembling, her heart thudding from the sudden adrenaline rush, she checked the caller ID.

Private call.

She stood on shaky legs and walked to the window to look out. The cruiser still sat there at the end of her driveway.

Walking into the kitchen, she checked the door, then each room of the house, one by one. All were fine. The bathrooms were empty. No one was hiding in her house. The phone call had her spooked. Her heart still raced and her palms were slick with sweat.

She dialed Reese’s number with one hand and peered out at the cruiser once again. She didn’t want to go outside and expose herself, even if the cop car was just a few steps from her door.

“Hello?”

“Reese, I just got a phone call that worries me.”

His tone sharpened. “What did he say?”

“‘I’ll be back. No one can protect you from me.’” Just saying the words made the trembling start anew.

A harsh mutter came through the line. Then he said, “I see why you’re scared. All right, I’m going to get Eli to see if he can trace the number that called you. Is Jason still outside?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to give him a heads-up and tell him to come inside with you. Then I’m going to talk to Eli. I’ll get back to you.”

“Okay.” She hated the fear that came through that one small word.

“Hey.” His voice softened. “You’re going to be okay.”

Tears threatened. “I know. Thanks, Reese.”

“I enjoyed tonight, Maggie.”

That made her smile. “I did, too.”

He hung up, and she slowly placed the phone on the counter. Deputy White knocked on the door within a minute. She let him in and he scoured the house again. She wasn’t surprised that he insisted on searching and came up empty, too. She supposed searching her house by herself had been rather stupid. What if there
had
been someone inside?

Her phone rang again.

She jumped and this time checked the caller ID. Relief swept through her when she saw Shannon’s number. “Hello?”

“Oh, Maggie, I’m so glad I got you. My reservation at the B and B fell through. I need a place to stay. Could I use your spare room?”

Maggie hesitated. She wouldn’t mind having Shannon there, but... “Shannon, someone seems to be trying to hurt me. A bank robber has threatened me. I don’t know that you’ll be safe here.”

A pause. “Well, there’s safety in numbers, right? Plus you have a cop sitting outside your house. I’m not worried about it.”

Maggie fidgeted, wondering if she dared allow Shannon to stay. If something happened to the woman while she was here... “I don’t know...”

“Please? I don’t have anywhere else to go tonight. Tell the nice deputy that I’m coming so he won’t shoot me, okay?”

Maggie sighed. With Shannon, it was always easier to give in than to argue. “Okay, fine. I’ll see you soon.”

Shannon’s knock on the door came thirty minutes later. Maggie answered it and stared at her sister-in-law in surprise. The woman looked a bit more worn than she had before Maggie left with Reese for supper. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah, just very tired and a little frustrated.” Shannon rolled her suitcase inside and waved a hand. “When I got to the B and B, they had apparently lost my reservation. Or given it to someone else—or something. Thanksgiving is just a week away and they’re filled to capacity.”

She placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. “It was too late to find another place to stay.”

“So you called me.” Maggie smiled, her nerves easing at the woman’s presence. Maybe this would be a good idea after all.

“Yes.”

“Well, you’ll have to take my bedroom. Belle’s room is next door and then my office is across the hall.”

“Oh, no,” Shannon groaned. “I’m putting you out, aren’t I?” She grabbed her suitcase handle and the small toiletries bag she’d set on the floor.

As she did, the toiletries bag hit the floor with a thump and the small clasp fell open. Makeup, toothpaste and a small aspirin bottle rolled out. With a grunt, Shannon bent to pick them up. “I’ll just drive into that little town that’s not too far from here and—”

“Don’t be silly,” Maggie said as she grabbed the aspirin and handed it Shannon. The woman tucked everything back in the bag and fastened the clasp. Maggie pursed her lips and motioned toward her room. “Go on, I’ll be fine. I have a very comfortable daybed in my office.” She shrugged. “I spend more time in there than my bedroom anyway.”

Shannon continued to look torn and Maggie asked, “You really want to drive to the next town?”

Her sister-in-law shuddered. “No.” She pulled the suitcase closer. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

“I’m going job hunting tomorrow. As soon as I get a job, I’ll be out of your hair, I promise.”

Maggie pointed to her room. “Go.”

Shannon didn’t hesitate a moment longer. She rolled her suitcase into Maggie’s room then darted into the nursery. Maggie followed, curious.

Then watched with amusement as Shannon peered into the crib. Maggie didn’t want to laugh at Shannon’s disappointment, she knew the woman loved Belle and had missed her over the last few months they’d been gone, but her disgusted expression was quite funny. “She’s at a friend’s house for the night,” Maggie explained.

“Bummer.” Shannon pouted. “I wanted to see her.”

“I know you did. You can see her tomorrow. My friend Cal’s dropping her off first thing on his way in to work.” An idea occurred to Maggie. “Speaking of seeing Belle. How would you like to watch her for me while I’m teaching tomorrow?”

Delight lit up Shannon’s face. “Are you kidding? I’d love to. We’ll stay right here and play, but we won’t get in your way.”

Relief filled Maggie. “Wonderful.” Then she frowned. “But what about your job hunt?”

“Are you crazy? Hunt for a job or take care of my niece?” She lifted a brow. “Hon, that’s a no-brainer.”

On impulse, Maggie hugged the woman. “I’m glad you’re here, Shannon, I’ve missed you.”

“Me, too, Maggie. Very glad I’m here.” She frowned. “Although, I should be completely furious with you for running off without a word.”

“I left a note.”

“It’s not the same thing. I looked for you for a month. I thought about hiring a private detective, but decided to wait and see if you called.”

Maggie sighed. “I know. And I’m sorry, but I did what I had to do at the time.” She forced a smile. “Forgive me?”

“Maybe.” Shannon’s lower lip jutted.

Maggie’s smile this time was real. “Good night, Shannon.”

“Night.” Shannon disappeared into Maggie’s bedroom. Maggie had spent the thirty minutes between Shannon’s call and subsequent arrival changing the sheets and cleaning the bathroom. Shannon should be fine for the night.

Maggie walked into her office, now her bedroom, and shut the door. Shannon didn’t seem bothered by the police officer sitting outside Maggie’s house or the fact that Maggie had a need for him. And Maggie had to admit that having another adult in the house eased her fears tremendously.

Walking over to her desk, she picked up the envelope she’d meant to mail today and sighed. She’d get it in the mail tomorrow first thing.

Placing the envelope right where she would see it, she laid down on the daybed and closed her eyes.

Worry took over, making them shoot wide open. Would having another woman in the house deter the man who seemed determined to terrorize her into silence? Or would he just go through Shannon to get to Maggie, if that’s what it took?

Maggie forced her eyes closed and prayed for safety.

* * *

Reese walked into the office the next morning and sat at his desk while he smothered a yawn.

“You know you can come stay with us, don’t you?” Cal asked from the doorway.

Reese snapped his jaw shut and sniffed. “I smell coffee. Good coffee. And I know I can. I appreciate the offer, but I want to stay close to Maggie.”

The white foam cup appeared in front of him. He snatched it and took a careful swig. “Ahhh. Thanks. My coffeemaker didn’t survive the blast.” He shook his head. “The bomb goes off in my bedroom, and the coffeemaker takes a hit in the kitchen.” He rolled his eyes. “Nothing else in the kitchen. Just the coffeemaker.”

“No explaining how or why blasts destroy the things they destroy and leave the things they leave.”

“Yeah.”

“How’s Maggie?”

Reese frowned. “She was all right. I’m getting ready to take my turn watching her house.”

“I’ve got the shift after you.”

Reese nodded. “I’m wondering if we should consider moving her to a safer place.”

Cal perched himself on the edge of Reese’s desk and took a sip of his coffee. “Might not be a bad idea. Got kind of quiet there for a while then the attempt to run you off the road and a threatening call all in one night.” He shook his head. “Not good.”

“I know.” He smiled. “But on the bright side, Maggie’s not alone right now. She has a visitor.”

“Who?”

“Her former sister-in-law, Shannon Bennett.”

“That’s good to know. She the one driving that white Mercedes around town?”

“Yep.”

“Nice.” He paused and his expression turned thoughtful. “She was in the diner last night and caused quite a stir in some of the regulars. Several men were tripping over themselves trying to buy her a drink or her supper.”

“It’s a small town, where the men outnumber the women by five to one. She’s bound to stir things up as long as she’s here.”

“Better keep our eyes open.”

“And our backs to the wall,” Reese grunted.

* * *

Maggie turned off her computer and stretched. Wednesday was her busiest day with four classes practically back to back, time for a quick lunch then two more classes. Her stomach rumbled, and she glanced at the clock. Time to think about dinner.

She could hear Shannon singing a silly song about horses and cowgirls to Belle. The two had hit it right off the minute Cal had dropped Belle at the house this morning. Maggie had watched them for a little while and then gone to work with a smile.

She’d joined them for lunch, then heard Shannon in Belle’s room rocking the baby to sleep. All in all, Maggie felt good about the situation. Good enough to wonder if Shannon might consider doing this for a while.

At least until she found another job.

If she intended to find one. She still couldn’t believe Shannon had quit her job back in Spartanburg. She thought she’d planned to just take a leave of absence or some vacation time.

Belle was still sleeping, and Maggie found Shannon in the den reading a novel. “Would you like to stay for Thanksgiving?” she found herself asking.

Shannon looked up, surprise on her face. Then pleasure. “I’d love it.”

Maggie felt warmth start to thaw the area around her heart. Shannon really did seem different than when she’d last been around her. Softer, more content. Happy.

“Great.” Then she frowned. “What about your parents? Won’t they expect you to be with them?”

A grimace crossed Shannon’s face. “My parents. I suppose we need to talk about them.”

Maggie lifted a brow. “What do you mean?”

“I told them I was going to be moving to Rose Mountain to be closer to you and Belle, and they flipped.”

“Flipped?”

“They weren’t happy with me.”

“Well—” Maggie gave a soft sigh “—they’ve never liked me and never wanted anything to do with Belle, so that’s not surprising, is it?”

This time it was Shannon’s turn to look surprised. “What do you mean? Of course they wanted something to do with Belle. But you’re right, they didn’t approve of you.” She shrugged. “No offense, it’s just a fact.”

Maggie was beyond taking offense at something she’d known and accepted for years. But to hear they wanted to be part of Belle’s life?

“But Kent said—”

Shannon waved off her protest with a sharp jab of her hand. An angry glint sparked in the woman’s eyes. “Every word out of my brother’s mouth was a lie. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”