Praying for Daylight (12 page)

I matched her frown with one of my own, “Kate you don’t have to convince me.”

“I feel half crazy Dustin. Wondering if I made the right choice by leaving… did I save my family by doing this? What if he finds me? Then I’m totally alone. Maybe that was his goal. To get me to leave to protect the people I love so that he can get to me easier.”

“All you have to do is let me help you.” I slid closer and laid my hand over hers. “That’s all. Let me help, and Chase and Ellie and Briar…we’re family. We’ll take care of you, honey.”

“But what if one of you gets hurt? I don’t think I could live with that,” she sniffed, wiping her eyes with her free hand.

“Since when has anyone ever gotten the drop on us?”

She laughed just loud enough for me to hear. It was almost a whisper, “Well, never.”

“See?”

“Yeah…I guess I do.”

“We just have to figure out where to go from here…” I frowned, trying to figure out how we could keep Kate safe, and possibly catch, or at least find out who, was threatening her. “My gut says to go to the sheriff, but I know you’re going to shoot down that idea.”

“At this point, I’m not sure I would argue if you called him,” she shrugged. “Maybe I’ve been stupid, running like this, when I should have sought help.”

“Not stupid. If you feel it’s someone close to you, then I think you did the right thing by removing yourself,” I said. “But you shouldn’t go through this alone.”

“Maybe we could talk with the sheriff?” she sighed. “I just…I can’t keep living like this. I need someone to help me figure out a way to get rid of him.”

“Sounds good. I also think you should tell everyone at dinner. There isn’t a reason to keep it secret. The more people that know what is going on, the safer you’ll be.”

She nodded, “Maybe we could invite the sheriff too?”

I pulled my phone out, texting Chase. “I’ll let McCree talk to Millie. Knowing how important this is, I don’t see why we can’t invite Sheriff Walters.”

Kate pushed herself to her feet and walked into the kitchen. Every few seconds she would sniffle, and then hiccup. She almost always got the hiccups after she cried.

“Chase said Millie is more than happy to have dinner with everyone tonight,” I told her once he texted back. She was quiet, so I went into the kitchen to find her remaking the pancakes that she’d blackened. “How are you holding up?”

“I don’t know…” she shrugged. “I’m really just confused right now. Death said that he wanted me to enjoy my pancakes.”

Every hair on my body stood up. “He knew what you were doing?”

“Yeah…it was really weird. How could he possibly know I’m making—” I didn’t give her a chance to finish that sentence. I turned off the stove, threw the frying pan in the sink, and dragged her out of the kitchen. “We’re not staying any longer.”

“I don’t understand… He doesn’t know where I am! He can’t. It was probably just a lucky guess.”

“Don’t tell me you actually think that.”

“Well…”

“Let’s get out of here, just for now.” She had to understand that Death probably knew exactly where she was. The chances that he was letting her get comfortable and think that he didn’t were too good for me to ignore them.

“How could he know?” she asked.

“What if he bugged you? Or something you own? Or maybe he put a tracking device on you…like in your purse, or maybe even in your cell phone?” I got as far away from the farmhouse as I could, before I felt comfortable slowing down. “Use your imagination, Kate. Pretend this is a movie or something.”

“I feel so stupid,” she put her head in her hands with a groan.

“No, you aren’t stupid. You did what a million other people would have done in this situation.” I was going to go straight to the McCree’s, but at the last second I took a sharp turn down a dirt road for a long drive through the mountains. It would be more than an hour until we reached Chase’s house. It would give me some time to cool off, and Kate some time to relax. And it would also give away anyone who might be following us.

“Hey,” Kate sat a little straighter in her seat and looked out the window. “Why aren’t we going to the ranch?”

I rolled the windows down and put the radio on low. “There is plenty of time for all of that, right now, I just want us to chill out.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” she sighed and her eyes focused on something outside the open window. “You know, I haven’t been back here since the last time you brought me.”

“It’s been too long.” I took the familiar roads slowly, just enjoying the view of Kate against the backdrop of snowcapped mountains. “I haven’t been out here either. The only person I came here with was you.”

“Oh, really?” she smirked at that, folding her arms. “Found a new place to take the girls?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I rolled my eyes, wondering if she’d heard about Willa.

“Means, I heard some stuff from Ellie.”

“And?”

“And you shouldn’t have even bothered.” She made a sour face. “Willa? Really Dustin. You can do way better than her.”

I nodded, “After being with you, no one else compares.”

“No one else has to compare… I mean, I’m not sure how this will go.” She reached out and patted my arm. “But I’m kinda in the mood to see where it might.”

My eyebrows went up. “Are you sure you want to think about getting back together with someone out to…well, you know…”

“Dustin, were we really ever truly apart?”

“Honestly, we were physically apart, but you were always on my mind.”

“Same here. Some things I guess you can’t argue with, and we are one of those things.” She paused, “You know, I didn’t think I could do all of this. Be a singer, have two lives. I thought it would be best for me to let you go. You’d take over the family ranch one day. You need a girl who can do that with you. I didn’t think I would be the one.”

I laughed, “You make it sound like you’d have to give up everything to run the homestead. You can do whatever you want, Kate. Go sing. Go to the freaking moon. The only thing that I ask, is that when you’re done, you come back to me. I’ll be here. I’ll always be here.”

I was so focused on the road, I nearly swerved when she flung herself at me from the other side of the cab and wound her arms around my neck. “I never should have left.”

“Yeah, you should have. It was for the right reason, no matter how hard it was on us. And look, here we are right where we used to be. Granted, it’s because of Death…but…”

Her face paled and she let go of me, “He could have been listening, and watching me the whole time I was in the house.”

Way to kill the mood. I deserve the fricking idiot of the month award. “The important thing right now is that you’re safe. We can worry about the other stuff later.”

“Still doesn’t make me feel any better,” she was starting to cry again, and I felt like a jerk for piling on another thing for her to worry about.

“Me either, but it will keep us both from going crazy thinking about what Death might have done. Or if he was watching you.”

“Okay, we can talk about something else now,” she sank into the seat, staring blankly out the window.

“Sorry.”

She smiled, but it wasn’t genuine. “It’s alright, Dustin. I’m just glad I’m not alone in this. Having you on my side makes me feel like I’ve got a fighting chance.”

“You’ve got more than a chance, Kate. You’ve got me, and I’m not letting Death anywhere near you.” Before too long I pulled to a stop in the McCree’s driveway and killed the engine.

“Thanks.”

I got out of the truck and opened the door for her, “Ready?”

She looked up at the house, took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter if I’m ready or not. I don’t have a choice.”

I put my arm around her. She was probably the bravest person I’d ever met, and I was going to do everything I could to make sure she stayed well out of Death’s reach.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kate

As I stood at the McCree’s front door, I felt a sudden panic. Was I making the right choice? What if Death found out I’d told my friends? Would he retaliate and hurt Cheyenne, or Ben, or Jake?

And what if it was Jake?

I’d left my sister alone with him.

“Kate,” Dustin nudged my arm. “Snap out of it.”

“Sorry, I’m just scared.” It was nice to admit. I hated keeping how I was really feeling bottled up all the time.

“You have nothing to worry about. The McCrees won’t tell a soul that you’re here, and neither will Walters,” he reassured me. “All they’ll want to do, once they know the truth, is help.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath as he rang the bell, “You’re right.”

“Come on in!” someone shouted from the other side.

Dogs barked in excitement as Dustin opened the door and hung his hat on the antler rack by the entrance. The house smelled of fresh baked rolls and some sort of meat with herbs. My stomach rumbled and I was glad Dustin was too occupied saying hello to the small pack of dogs with waving tails to notice.

“Well,” a gruff voice came from my left. “Miss Kate finally graces us with her presence.”

I looked up from the dogs to see Jerry in the living room, standing up from the couch.

“Hi,” I smiled, feeling a little funny after being back two years later. These people weren’t just like family, they were almost my family. For me to have left without visiting was the wrong thing to do, and I was almost nervous that they’d be upset with me.

“Come over here, sweetie, and stop looking so skittish.” Jerry pulled me into a hug and I felt tears sting my eyes. “Been worried sick about you, knowing you were alone up at the farm. Should have come and stayed in your old room.”

I blinked hard and smiled, “Aw, I’ve been fine.”

His bushy eyebrows lowered, and he gave me a look that said he didn’t buy it. “Sure, of course. Stubborn Kelly. Just like your sister and your mother.”

“Yeah, it’s a blessing and a curse,” my laugh came out slightly nervous. “How did you know I was back?”

“Saw you the other day, round the property. Hiking alone isn’t the greatest idea, Katie.” Jerry grabbed his cane and led the way into the dining room. “Millie and Briar have got a real spread for you. Even the sheriff showed up.”

Dustin chuckled, “I bet he smelled the bread baking.”

“Nose like a hound that Walters,” Jerry snorted, clapping the sheriff on the back as we stopped by the table laden with a ham, a roast, potatoes, and vegetables. There was a basket of fresh bread that smelled divine, and the sheriff held a piece in his hand. Millie made the best bread in the world. She’d won enough ribbons at the county fair to prove it too.

“Well, haven’t see you in a while,” Walters said to me smiling then glanced at Dustin. “Found it kind of funny I was invited to a family reunion like this. But Chase said it was very important.”

I nodded, “Yes, it is. I really appreciate you coming.”

“I’m the one that appreciates
you
coming,” Millie came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her frilly yellow apron. “Can’t believe you came back to McCree and didn’t stop by.”

I winced, “I wanted to, but something kept me from coming right away.”

She rolled her eyes and pulled me into a motherly hug. It’d been a while since I’d had one of those. “Well, you’re here now and that’s all that matters.”

“Feels like I never left,” I hugged her tightly, and part of me wished I’d never signed that recording contract and left the people I loved.

“Good,” she let go and swatted Dustin’s arm. “And I should make you eat outside with the dogs for not telling that our Katie was back. You, and Chase, and Briar. Shame.”

Briar came into the room, followed by Chase just then. She was dressed less like a cowgirl, and more like one of the girls I knew in Hollywood. Granted, they probably would have been wearing enough makeup to drown any normal girl. Briar wasn’t wearing a lick of it.

I had taken to wearing less, and none most days. Being out in the country made it seem silly. What was I trying to do, impress a jackrabbit?

“Hey, glad you guys came,” Chase nodded at Dustin, and gave me a hug.

“Yeah, it’s great to have another girl around,” Briar gave us each a hug.

Once everyone was settled, we all took seats at the table and began a dinner that would be long, and full of conversation. Something that I’d missed for too long.

“Feels like it used to,” Jerry smiled sadly and looked up and down the table at everyone. “Well, almost.”

People got quiet then, and Millie looked at me. She was happy, but the sadness deep in her eyes wasn’t hard to miss. “You know, you never should have left us. You or Cheyenne. But since you did, I want you to know you can always come back.”

I smiled, feeling like I could cry all over again, “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

She waved her hand, “Stop, you’ll make me blubber. We love you Katie, and we hate that your sister felt like she was a burden. Neither of you were, and we’d like it if you told her that.”

“Why don’t you tell her?” I said. “I’ll ask her to come up, and you can sit for a while and talk.”

Millie nodded, “That sounds wonderful. And then we can see Ben!”

“It’ll be great,” Dustin said around a mouthful of potatoes. “And it’ll be even better once you tell everyone why you came to McCree in the first place.”

I gulped. “It can wait ‘til after everyone’s done eating.”

Dustin nudged my foot under the table. “Kaitlin, just tell them.”

Jerry set his glass of beer down with a thud. “Must be serious for him to call you your full name like that. What’s going on?”

Oh dear God. It was suddenly very warm. I was feeling a little faint. Was the heat up to high? My bra was too tight, and so were my jeans. I had the sudden urge to run outside and dive into the icy lake.

I was panicking, I think.

I wasn’t sure I could make myself tell a table full of people that a voice on the phone wanted me dead.

“Dustin, why don’t we get Kate some air?” I saw Millie stand out of the corner of my eye. Everyone was watching as Dustin helped me out of my chair, led me through the kitchen, and out the backdoor. But he shut it behind me and went back to the table. At first, I thought he’d left me alone, but I realized that Millie was settling into a rocker with her plate of food, content to let me breathe, “I got a bottle of whiskey stashed under the sink if you think it’ll help.”