Danger on the Mountain

His gut tightened as visions of women he’d pulled out of domestic violence situations crowded his mind. Their bruises, their damaged faces, bodies...souls. The ones who had died. He blinked the images away and focused on Maggie.

“When did he die?”

“About a month after Belle was born.”

“Car accident?”

Maggie sighed. “Not exactly.”

She didn’t want to tell him?

Belle woke suddenly and let out a howl. Reese flinched and watched Maggie calmly unbuckle her daughter from the car seat and pick her up. She then pulled the bottle from the heated water, tested the temperature of the milk on her wrist and stuck it in the squalling mouth.

The silence was sudden.

“You’re good at that.”

Maggie laughed. “I’ve had a lot of practice.”

As the baby ate, Reese took in his surroundings. “Nice place.”

She looked up from Belle’s face to smile at him. “I like it. It’s simple, functional and pretty much everything Belle and I need.”

He nodded. “You said you were an online teacher.”

“I am. I teach learning disabled students online. It’s perfect for us. I get to make a living and Belle gets to stay home with me. So far so good.”

“What about when you have to teach and Belle doesn’t want to cooperate with your schedule?”

Maggie grinned. “I have a neighbor who comes over. Mrs. Adler. She’s a retired nurse and lives twelve hours away from her grandchildren. She loves Belle and acts as if every moment she gets to spend with her is the highlight of her day.”

A shadow moved across the window right in his line of sight. He straightened and narrowed his eyes. She caught his expression and frowned. “What is it?”

“Probably nothing,” he said. “Just thought I saw something move outside of your window.” He walked over to it and, out of habit, stood to the side, keeping himself from being a target should someone other than a friend be out there. The blinds were open, the sun high in the sky.

What had he seen?

Anything at all?

Or was he still jumpy from this morning? He saw Maggie settle into the rocking recliner next to the couch, Belle’s small hands clasped firmly on the bottle she eagerly devoured. In his mind’s eye, he replaced the scene with one containing Keira and his own baby girl. But that wasn’t to be. Sorrow clamped hard on his heart, and he had to make a supreme effort to shut the feeling down.

He was in Rose Mountain, making a new start. There was no place for sorrow or sad memories. Two things he’d been desperate to get away from back in Washington. “I’m going to check outside around your property.”

Her frown deepened. “You think someone is really out there?”

“I don’t know, but it won’t hurt to check.”

Worry creased her forehead as her eyes followed him out the door.

Once outside, he stood still, taking in the sights and sounds he’d become familiar with in such a short time. Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing set off his internal alarm bells.

He made his way over to the window in the den. The open floor plan had allowed him to be standing in the kitchen, looking into the den. If he’d kept his eyes on Maggie and her daughter, he’d never have seen the shadow.

If that’s what he’d seen.

Circling the perimeter of Maggie’s house, he kept an eye on the area around him and on the ground in front of him.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the air had a bite to it. He shivered, wishing he’d grabbed his coat on the way out. The hard, cold ground held no trace of any footprints. No evidence at all that anyone had been in front of the window.

Then what had caught his attention? Anything? Or was he so on edge that he was now seeing things?

He frowned, shook his head and walked back into the house to find Maggie still holding Belle. The baby swiveled her gaze to him and he swallowed hard when she grinned. Two little white front teeth sparkled at him.

Maggie asked, “Did you find anything?”

“No. It was probably just nerves left over from this morning.”

She shot him a doubting look. Fear flickered in her eyes before she turned back to Belle, who’d finished her bottle. Maggie settled the baby into a sitting position and started a rhythmic patting on the small back. Her actions were automatic, but her eyes said her thoughts were on their conversation. She asked, “You think it could be the man who said he’d kill us?”

Did he? “I think that guy’s long gone.”

Maggie bit her lip and he wondered if she believed him. And he couldn’t blame her. He wasn’t sure he believed it himself. She sighed. “So what’s next?”

“We’ll question the robber in custody, see if he’ll talk for a deal.”

Maggie shuddered. “Did you see his face? His eyes? They were hard. Empty. I don’t think he’ll be talking any time soon.”

“Don’t be so sure.” He glanced again at Belle who stood on Maggie’s thighs, holding on to her mama’s hands. Reese averted his gaze. “I’m going to head back to the station and see if he’s said anything.”

“All right.” Maggie stood and shifted Belle to her hip. “She’s got a nap to take, and I’ve got an afternoon class to teach.” She paused. “Will you keep me updated on what happens? I’m still a little nervous about that threat.”

He smiled, hoping to reassure her. “Sure thing.”

* * *

Maggie walked him to the door and locked it behind him. Then she walked into Belle’s room and placed the sleepy baby in the crib. Even though Belle had fallen asleep for a short time on the ride home from the bank, she needed a real nap or by the evening, she’d be so cranky Maggie wouldn’t know what to do with her.

Belle protested for a while, but she finally fell quiet, her cries fading as she slipped into sleep.

Maggie smiled. It had been so hard to learn to let the baby cry, but once she’d tamped down her instinct to hold Belle every time it was naptime, they were both a lot happier. Belle slept better, and Maggie was able to get a few things done.

Like teach her online class. She still had about ten minutes before she had to sign in. Mrs. Adler should be arriving soon. The woman lived just a few houses up from Maggie and often walked over to be there in case Belle woke up while Maggie was in the middle of a class. Maggie paid her a weekly wage, and Mrs. Adler was thrilled to be making money and honing her grandmother skills.

With Reese’s dominating presence gone, she now felt an absence she’d never noticed in the small house before. What shocked her was her lack of nervousness when he was around. She’d actually let him in the house. The fact that he was a cop helped. She felt safe with him in a way she didn’t feel with other men who were not in law enforcement. Officers had helped her when she needed it most. Like Felicia Moss, the officer who’d listened to Maggie’s story and then taught her how to hide once she escaped from Kent.

All that knowledge, and she hadn’t needed it. Kent had been killed before she could put into practice everything she’d learned.

Gulping, she pushed aside the memories and booted up the computer. Signing in, she greeted the students already in the room and got started.