Ribbon of Rain
By
Pam Champagne
Triskelion Publishing
www.triskelionpublishing.com
Published by Triskelion Publishing www.triskelionpublishing.com
First e-published by Triskelion Publishing
First e-publishing: October 2005
ISBN 1-932866-00-0
Copyright © Pam Champagne 2005
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information retrieval and storage system without permission of the publisher except, where permitted by law.
Cover art by Triskelion Publishing
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters places,
and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to
persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Chapter 1
Kat Tenney walked the lake’s shoreline, trying to make sense of the strange turn her life had taken. A top priority on her to-do list always kept in the back of her mind had been to mend the rift with her parents. Now that would never happen.
Autopsy reports stated the cause of death was a .44 caliber bullet to their brains. Convinced they’d been killed by a would-be robber, Maine State Troopers refused to actively seek the murderer. The trooper’s words still rang in her ears. “Robbery is the only viable motive for this crime. There’s nothing more to investigate. The forensics team spent two days at the lodge and found no clues. If we get any fresh leads, we’ll reopen the investigation.”
“There’s nothing missing, Officer,” she’d argued.
“And how do you know that?” His patronizing tone had ticked her off. She’d been tempted to punch him in the jaw. “You’ve been in
Unable to argue with that fact, she’d given up. To her eyes, the inside of the lodge looked the same as it had her entire life. More important, her gut screamed that robbery hadn’t been the motive.
Kat trekked on. “Robbery, bullshit!” She shouted at the top of her lungs. The words traveled across the lake and bounced back at her from the surrounding mountains. Get a grip, Kat. After a number of sleepless nights, her emotions ran high.
When the dog at her side whimpered, she knelt on the ground and hugged him. “Ah, Red, I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at life.” The simplicity of the dog’s love warmed her as nothing else had since she arrived home.
“Here you go.” She heaved a piece of driftwood into the crystal clear water. The Chesapeake’s enthusiasm as he bounded in the water and swam to retrieve the wood lifted her spirits.
“Come on, boy. Let’s go.” With the dog hugging her side, she jogged along the rocky shore, paying little attention to the drone of a plane in the distance. Seaplanes occasionally flew over the area during the summer months.
After a while she slowed her pace to watch the loons diving under water to feed. Red danced around her legs, pleading for more play time. The zest in his eyes brought a smile to her face. “You know a sucker when you see one.” She picked up another piece of wood and threw it.
Kat lifted her face toward the east, closed her eyes and soaked up the warmth of the fast-rising sun. Hot rays penetrated her skin, reminding her of the lazy summer days during childhood. Memories of the smell of wildflowers that she and her grandmother often picked in the dewy mornings tickled her nose. Recollections of balmy evenings, toasting marshmallows over an open fire swamped her senses. She could almost smell the pungent smoke from the wood fire and taste the sweet, gooey centers of marshmallows covered with crusty brown exteriors.
Kat shook away the cobwebs and forced her mind back to the present. Two days ago she’d been fighting insurgents in
The plane flew closer now, its altitude low. Curious, she stopped and watched it bank, turn, and follow the shoreline, flying toward her. Was the pilot planning to land? She brought her hand to her eyes to shield the bright sun.
A black shadow moved across the rocky shore. She glanced up to see a lone raven soaring above the trees. How odd. As a rule, ravens flew in pairs or groups of three. This one flew alone.
A quick flash of polished metal grabbed her attention right before the staccato of gunfire shattered the silence. Pebbles, rocks and sand flew in all directions hitting her bare legs and arms. An Uzi? Jesus. Military training kicked in. She dropped to the ground and crawled low for the cover of some low-hanging spruce branches. Her left shoulder throbbed. Had she been hit?
Red scrambled to safety right behind her. He whimpered a few times, but laid quietly, his eyes glued to her face, trusting her to protect him.
Kat remained motionless, not allowing even a muscle to twitch. Her ears buzzed from the gunfire. The noise of the plane’s engine had faded. Had it moved on or landed on the lake?
Then the whup, whup, whup of a helicopter came from the west. Red growled deep in his throat. A simple “sshh” quieted him. What the hell was going on? Why would anyone want to harm her?
She peered through the branches of the spruce, her eyes widening in disbelief. About several hundred feet down the lake a helicopter hovered over the water close to shore. Two men dressed in military fatigues emerged from the woods and waded in the water to waist level.
Who were these guys? Her parents’ killers? A ladder descended from the aircraft. Immediately after the men climbed it and vanished inside, the helicopter lifted and disappeared behind the trees.
Several minutes passed before Kat straightened her body. Her choice of clothes that morning, shorts and a tank top, didn’t provide the best protection from flying debris. A trail of blood trickled down her arm. She examined her shoulder and found a gouge the size of a quarter. The lingering smell of aircraft fuel and gunpowder in the air irritated her nose. She felt as if she was back in a war zone, not her own backyard.
Marunga, my special little Rainbow. Remember you’re a Penobscot warrior.
Kat froze, the hair rising on her arms at the sound of the familiar, gentle voice. “Grandmother?” She looked to her left, then right, before peering into the thick forest. God, had she hit her head? Was she hearing voices? She threaded her fingers through her hair searching for lumps, relieved to find none. What about the voice? Real or imagined?
She jogged toward the lodge, slipping into the woods instead of running the shoreline. No sense making herself an easier target.
Memories of her grandmother flooded her thoughts. They’d shared a special relationship; her grandmother being the one constant source of love and approval throughout her childhood. But even that closeness hadn’t lessened the unconscious pain inflicted by her parents. As she jogged along, she recalled a frequent conversation she’d had with her grandmother.
“Why don’t Mommy and Daddy love me as much as they love
Her grandmother’s answer always had been the same. “Marunga, of course they love you. You’re different from your sister. People often fear what they don’t understand.”
“But I’m only a little girl, Grandmother.”
“A little girl with the heart of a warrior.” Then her grandmother would hug her close. “Whenever you need me, I’ll be there for you, child.”
Could her grandmother be keeping that promise made so long ago? Like many of her ancestors, Kat believed in the spirit world.
A rustling noise above in the spruce branches caught her attention. She tilted her head and saw a raven perched in the tree. The black bird’s beady eyes stared at her intently before taking off to disappear in the forest. Her grandmother’s totem had been the raven. Could it be?
Heavy silence saturated the forest, giving it an eerie, surreal feel. Soft, green moss muffled the sound of her feet as she ran. Red loped at her side, his paws hardly stirring the few dried leaves settled on the forest floor.
Someone had shot at her from the plane. Someone with an automatic weapon. She replayed the incident in her mind. Even after she’d rolled under the spruce for protection, a burst of gunfire in that area easily could have killed her. It was obvious whoever fired hadn’t wanted her dead.
Perhaps it had been a warning. If so, a warning of what? Was it connected to her parents’ deaths? And what about those men climbing into the helicopter? Who were they and what were they doing here?
Red growled and placed his body in front of Kat. Without hesitation she took cover under a nearby hemlock blow-down. The dog squeezed in next to her. His heart thumped against her leg. She silently cursed that she had gone walking with no weapon. Several minutes passed before two men dressed in army fatigues walked by about thirty feet from where she crouched.
“That was close,” one of them said.
“Yeah, we should have….” The rest of his words faded when they turned and headed due north. The only thing north of her parents’ lodge was Canadian wilderness. Who the hell were these people?
Kat remained in her hiding place until Red stood and crawled into the open. Without making a sound, she continued toward the lodge. When they arrived, she watched and listened to make sure no one lay in wait.
Tail wagging, Red trotted up to the front door. She trusted his judgment and followed him inside.
Kat shelved her thought to call the State Police. Faith in local law enforcement had taken a nosedive. Throwing a few essentials in a backpack, she hurried upstairs to change clothes, yanking on camouflage fatigues. Once she’d tied the black combat boots, she retrieved her .308 Rueger bolt-action rifle from behind a false wall in the hall closet. After a lingering look around her home, she called Red. Together they left the lodge and disappeared back into the forest. It was time to patrol the area.
*****
Jude Callahan smothered another huge yawn as he drove into the small town of
At one particular trailer, he’d seen two Rottweilers tied to the front door. He’d be leery of getting out of his car on the property without a weapon in his hand.
He’d been driving for ten hours, his stomach growled with hunger, and he was beat; his body cramped and stiff. According to Frank’s directions, he should be approaching the right hand turn that would take him to
Man, Frank must have some serious issues with him. Everyone in the bureau knew how much he loved the city. His city upbringing made him a natural for the Jewelry and Gem Department. Put him undercover in D.C., around the sleazy parts of the city looking for suspects fencing stolen jewelry, and he was in his element.
Jude’s idea of country was a leisurely stroll under the large oak trees in the city park or roughing it in a hotel with no room service. He loved attending the theatre and enjoying a late supper in a quiet out-of-the-way restaurant. There hadn’t been a restaurant for the last one hundred miles. Frank knew that Jude was the least qualified man in the FBI to be tramping around in the woods. So why had he been chosen for this assignment?
Up ahead on the right, Jude spotted the Rockville Country Market. He drove in and pulled up at the gas tanks. His body was so stiff, he practically rolled out of the Land Rover. Lifting his arms overhead, he stretched his six-two body. While the tank filled, he walked away from the vehicle and pulled out his cell phone, speed dialing headquarters. “Hello? Frank?” The phone crackled with static. Man, great reception. “You owe me.”
“How is it up north?”
Jude closed his eyes imagining Frank’s snide grin. “Don’t be an asshole, Frank. Jesus, this is a nightmare. I already miss D.C. Why’d I get stuck with this assignment?”
Frank’s sigh came through loud and clear. “Come on, Jude. Give me a break. We’ve been over this more than once. Kat Tenney’s our best lead for cracking this case. But she’s tough. She’d scare off someone timid and shoot anyone too aggressive. You’re perfect for the job. You’re laidback, but assertive if the need arises.”
“I still think…”
“In addition,” Frank interrupted, “somebody recommended you for the job.”
Jude stiffened. Red flags flew at full mast. “What prick did that? Never mind, it’s best I don’t know. I’m not staying here indefinitely,” he warned. “I’ll give it a week. After that you’d better come up with a Plan B. Christ, Frank, there’s nothing here. No restaurants, no movie theatres. I haven’t even seen a damn library. Doesn’t anyone north of
“The Bureau’s profiler job is always open. You’d be great at it, and your days traipsing around the countryside on assignment would be over.”
“Yeah, Frank, I’d love to sit at a desk all day long. Real exciting. You could’ve included a better picture of Kat Tenney.” He knew he was whining and didn’t care. “She looks like every other G.I. with that hat pulled down to her eyebrows.”
“Best I could do on short notice,” Frank quipped. “This assignment will be good for you, son. You’ve become complacent, too set in your ways for one so young. That could get you in a lot of trouble in this line of work.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I’d rather have the usual ‘forgive your mother for her sins’ lecture. I’ll call you later.” Jude snapped the cell phone shut ending the call. Damn Frank. Damn whoever recommended him for this job. Damn his mother. And double damn Kat Tenney and the State of
He returned to the gas pump, replaced the hose, screwed on the cap and headed toward the store, cursing the lack of ‘pay-at-the-pump’ convenience. Hadn’t these people heard of credit cards?
Cigarette smoke engulfed him as he stepped through the door. Once his eyes adjusted to the dark, smoky interior, he spied four men sitting at a small table in the back of the store, all of them puffing away. Conversation ceased. They stared at him for so long he fought the urge to look down to make sure his fly was zipped.
“Good afternoon.” Jude pasted a smile on his face. “Great day out there.” Dead silence. Not a good sign. “I’m headed to Loon Lake Lodge and thought I’d double check my directions.”
The four men stared at him with blank faces, as if he’d spoken a foreign language. Their red plaid flannel shirts and nondescript tan pants made Jude feel overdressed in his khaki shirt, jeans and hiking boots, bought for the trip. Finally, a large man with bushy eyebrows rose from his chair.
“What’s your business at Loon Lake Lodge, mister?” His voice had the raspy quality of a long-time smoker. “It ain’t been open for business for over five years.”
Jude walked forward and extended his hand in greeting. “Jude Callahan. I’m on my way to see Katherine Tenney.”
“Kat?” the man questioned, ignoring the outstretched hand. “She just got back from the war. Ya one of her Army buddies?”
“No. It’s a business matter.”
“Hey, Hazen. Don’t ya be givin’ no strangers no directions to
Jude shifted his attention to the skinny man who’d spoken. An unfiltered cigarette dangled from the side of his mouth.
Hazen’s laughter ended in a coughing spell. “Chester, ya know damn well Kat can shoot off a man’s hat from three-hundred yards. Could before she joined the Army. Heard she’s now an expert marksman. She don’t need no protectin’.”
Jude listened to their interchange with interest. Hazen lit a fresh cigarette with the butt of the old one.
“Sounds to me as if anyone paying her a visit needs protecting,” Jude joked, hoping to keep the conversation focused on Kat.
“Ya got that right,” Hazen warned. “Don’t git me wrong. Kat’s a good girl. Just a little on the wild side. Least ways she were before she left for the Army. Maybe she’s calmed down some now.”
Hazen scowled at
“That’s ‘cuz she can shoot, fish and hunt better’n them,”
Jude choked back laughter. Hazen turned even redder than
Jude dug in his pockets and handed Hazen the cash for the gas, atlas and highlighter.
Hazen began marking. “Ya could run inta’ some problems with some of them roads though,” he drawled, as he traced the route. “And ya realize that them loggin’ companies make new roads all the time. Some so new they don’t even show up in the Atlas. And some roads on the map ain’t there no more.”
Way to go, Hazen. Make my day.
“Are ya with those other flatlanders that been coming in here lately?” Skinny
“I give up,” Jude said. “What’s a flatlander?” How could anyone live here and keep their sanity?
All four men laughed.
“Well, fella,” Hazen explained, “a flatlander is someone from outta’ state. Like you, I figure.”
Jude’s interest stirred again. This store was a wealth of information. He chuckled. “Oh. I get it. Been a lot of flatlanders in here lately?”
“Sure have,”
Hazen’s fist slammed the counter, knocking the highlighter on the floor. “No one wants your damn opinion,
Jude filed the information in his head and picked up his items. He headed for the door.
“Hey, stranger,” Hazen called him back. “You forgot your marka here.”
Jude walked back to the counter and took the highlighter Hazen had picked up off the floor. His stomach chose that moment to growl its protest at the lack of food.
“Your belly’s talking to ya, stranger,” Hazen observed, grinning ear-to-ear like he’d won fifty-thousand dollars on a TV game show. “Why don’t ya pick up some vittles while you’re here?”
Jude dubiously looked around the store, seeing nothing that enticed his taste buds, even if he was starving. “Any suggestions?”
“How about a couple of hotdogs?”
Why not? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten a hotdog. “Sounds good. I’ll take two, loaded.”
He moved down the aisle and grabbed a carton of milk, checking the expiration date. No telling how long it had been sitting in the cooler. Glancing around the small store, he was amazed at the variety of items for sale. Everything from outdoor clothing, boots, ammunition, fishing tackle and live bait, to food staples such as bread, milk and butter, baby food and diapers. He didn’t much care for the moose heads hanging on the walls. Huge ugly animals. Nothing he’d ever want to see roaming around the woods.
“Here you go. Just the way you ordered ‘em.”
Jude returned to the counter and stared at the hotdogs. “They’re red.”
“What?” Hazen asked. “Course they’re red. They’re red hotdogs.”
“Hotdogs aren’t red,” Jude insisted. The others snickered from behind him.
“I don’t know where ya come from fella, but in these parts hotdogs are red.”
Jude shook his head, handed more money to Hazen, picked up his red hotdogs and left.
He inhaled a deep breath of clean, fresh air, relieved to be out of the smoky interior of the store. He climbed back in the Land Rover and situated his food so that he could eat while driving.
For the first ten miles he traveled a wide, hard-packed dirt road. Other than a few rabbits, he had the road to himself. If the road conditions stayed this good, sixty miles should only take two hours tops.
The hotdogs were delicious. He forced down thoughts about the red dye used to color the casing. Hopefully, the dye had been tested by the FDA. Yeah right.
His mood soured when he turned onto a much narrower road. The Land Rover bounced in and out of potholes, jarring his teeth. Forced to reduce his speed to twenty miles an hour, he hoped to God he didn’t meet another vehicle, or even worse, get a flat tire. He doubted Triple AAA made trips out here. He turned on his cell phone and saw the “no service” signal. What a surprise.
The road narrowed to the width of one vehicle.
He rounded a sharp curve and came upon a road sign. Keep to the right. Logging trucks have the right of way. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Jesus. Keep right? Logging trucks? How the hell would he be able to get out of the way of a logging truck barreling towards him? Jude wiped sweat off his brow and gripped the steering wheel with both hands.
The road snaked through the woods, up the side of a mountain, down the other side. He dodged downed trees and huge rocks lying in the middle of the road. A few miles later, he saw what appeared to be a huge black boulder up ahead. Great. The boulder had four legs. A huge moose munched on weeds growing on the side of the road. Lifting its head with greenery dangling from its jaw, the beast regarded the vehicle with a visible lack of interest.
“Great, just freaking great,” Jude muttered. He blew the horn. The moose barely glanced at him, before continuing his weed meal. Jude leaned out the window and yelled. No luck.
He banged his forehead on the steering wheel in frustration. He inched the Land Rover forward, blowing the horn. When the vehicle was within a few feet of the animal, it ambled down into the ditch. Jude suspected that if it had come to a draw, the moose would have won hands down.
Two miles further down the road, he rounded a turn and skidded to a stop. The road was flooded. Large areas of water on both sides made it impossible to go around. He climbed out and waded in to check the depth until he stood knee high in ice-cold water. Water filled his new hiking boots. The Land Rover could handle that. He squished his way back to the Land Rover, got in and slowly plowed through.
He made it to the other side and through the next four sections of flooded roadway he encountered. Just a laugh a minute. At the last flood, he came across the guilty culprits. Two beaver busy building a dam on the side of the road.
At last, he rounded the last bend in the road and saw Loon
Lake Washington , D.C.
He sighed with relief when the cow path–he refused to call the last fifteen miles a road – ended. What a nightmare. Thank God, he hadn’t met any logging trucks. Moose in the road and the flooded roads were enough adventure for him. Frank’s directions said
He shut off the engine and got out. Within seconds a cloud of mosquitoes and black flies feasted on his exposed skin. A swarm of huge flies, big enough to carry off small animals buzzed around his head. He reached into the backseat and grabbed a can of insect repellent Frank had insisted he bring. The spray got in his eyes and mouth, and he cursed his friend and mentor.
With the bugs momentarily held at bay, he walked down to the shore and gazed out at the lake. The fiery red ball of the setting sun created a Monet style painting on the water. Three shades of pink, a soft lavender hue, and several shades of purple shimmered across the lake’s surface. Best thing he’d seen since he arrived. He couldn’t remember ever seeing a sunset as beautiful.
He drew in a deep breath, his nose tingling at the strong smell of pine and balsam fir. He’d seen little bags of the needles for sale in the city and made a mental note to buy himself a bag or two to spice up his apartment back home.
The silence was broken only by the buzzing insects, reminding him of the trouble he’d be in if he ran out of repellent.
As the sun sank behind the horizon, the noises began. First, came the crickets, and then a chorus of frogs. A huge racket came from the trees. Jude had no idea what would be in the trees at night. Wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
Attempting to canoe to the lodge in the dark would be insane. He’d had enough for one day. Accepting that he was about to spend an uncomfortable night, he climbed back in the Land Rover.
An hour later he still twisted and turned, unable to find a comfortable position even with the seat as far back as it would go. Sweat poured off him, but if he opened a window, he’d probably need a blood transfusion by morning. He had a cramp in his foot and his back ached. He caught sight of the bow of the canoe lashed to the top of the Land Rover. It could be worse, he thought, chuckling. He might be up the creek, but at least he had a paddle.
Exhaustion was about to overcome his discomfort, when a mournful cry from the lake brought him upright in the seat. He hit his head on the side of the door. Jesus, what was that? He’d never heard anything as eerie.
He gave up all pretense of trying to sleep and turned on his flashlight. Reaching under the seat, he pulled out a manila folder. He’d reread the Tenney case file. Katherine Sweetgrass Tenney was of Native American descent, but not full-blooded. She’d been deployed in the
Jude hoped she’d cooperate with the investigation, because the sooner he found the stolen gems, the sooner he could get the hell out of this place.
Her military record impressed him. The rednecks in the store had been right about her skill with weapons. She’d qualified as an expert marksman right out of Officer’s Training School. Jude conjured up a mental picture of Kat Tenney shooting off someone’s hat and chuckled at the image.
Putting the file away, he leaned back in the seat and reflected on his first day in the boonies. It hadn’t been what he’d call an outstanding success. Tomorrow would be better. Eventually, his eyes grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep with thoughts about meeting Annie Oakley in the morning.
Chapter 2
Jude’s sixth sense kicked in. He visually scanned the area in front of his vehicle, but saw nothing. There it was! A reflection in the side-view mirror–a slight movement in the thick bushes behind the Land Rover.
He kept his gaze glued to the mirror and slid his right hand across to the passenger seat, searching for his 9 mm. Beretta, relieved when his fingers wrapped around the butt. He lifted the door handle with his left hand and rolled out, coming onto one knee, the Beretta pointed in the direction he’d seen the possible perp. “Freeze.”
A moose stuck its head through the bushes, a piece of bark dangling from its mouth. Just another freaking moose. Lowering his gun, he thanked God no one was around to witness this latest snafu. He straightened and checked his watch–five in the morning.
Yawning, he lifted his arms over his head and stretched his stiff body. He felt as if he’d spent the night folded into a suitcase. Searching through his duffle bag, he located a protein bar and ate it while he stared down the lake. The multitude of chirping and cawing birds made his head pound. Where were the soothing sounds of screeching brakes, honking horns and the colorful vocabulary of shouting cab drivers?
Once his stomach stopped rumbling, he returned to the vehicle, grabbed his duffle bag and the two paddles from the back seat, carried them to the shore and returned to untie the canoe. He dragged it down to the lake and slid it in the water. He was ready for phase two of his journey.
Frank’s canoeing instructions had sounded straightforward. Jude soon realized that, not only did he know diddly-squat about canoeing, he wasn’t all that sure Frank did either. He zigzagged through the water like a drunken dolphin. What bug repellent he’d put on before leaving shore had mingled with his sweat and dripped off his face. Bugs hovered around his head in a gray cloud. His leaden arms felt like they were about to fall off and muscle spasms knotted his back and shoulders. Broken blisters on his hands oozed blood.
Frank hadn’t said anything about wearing gloves. The damn canoe refused to go in a straight line unless he switched his paddle from side to side. Two strokes on the right, two strokes on the left. And every time he switched sides, his weight shifted and threatened to capsize the canoe.
Frank told him it shouldn’t take him more than an a few hours to reach the lodge. He’d been paddling for six hours. It was already past
The blazing hot sun beat on him. The still air didn’t offer even a hint of breeze. Silence was his only companion. Looking around, he saw nothing but water and forest. He might as well be the last man on earth. He glanced over his shoulder and realized he had no idea where along the shore he’d left the Land Rover. Or even what shore.
As he rounded a point of land, his mood brightened. To the right he spied a small sandy beach. Keeping his eyes fixed on that piece of heaven, he battled the canoe to change direction.
*****
Kat’s night on the ledges had been uneventful. She’d even managed to snatch a few hours of sleep in her secret place, the cave under the rocks. Her little camp, hidden in a deep cavern below where she now sat was one of her favorite places. She’d made some wonderful memories there.
While she crunched on dry granola cereal, she scanned the lake. She straightened when a canoe came around the nearest point of land. She dropped the baggie of cereal and grabbed the binoculars. The canoe meandered all over the water. The person paddling was a first time canoeist or dead drunk.
Kat scooted backwards and took cover behind some trees, lying on her stomach to watch the show. The man was alone. No gear, except a duffle bag. No weapons that she could see. He wasn’t wearing BDUs, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t connected to the men in the plane who’d shot at her yesterday. Or the pair she saw in the woods. The way the canoe bobbled around made it hard to tell where he was headed. She hoped he’d land at the sandy beach below the ledges.
“That’s it,” she whispered. “Come to Mama.”
She pocketed the binoculars, shouldered her rifle, picked up her backpack and headed down the steep slope. She chose her footholds with caution. If she slipped, she might create a rockslide, and she planned to surprise this stranger.
Kat positioned herself amongst the thick alders on the bank only ten feet from where the canoe would come to shore. She winced as it scraped rocks before coming to a stop. The man didn’t get out of the canoe. She watched him through her binoculars and guessed his age to be mid-thirties.
His unfashionably long dark brown hair gave him the rakish bad boy look women couldn’t resist. Sweat soaked his shirt, and she guessed by the way he kept clenching and unclenching his hands that they were blistered. What was this greenhorn doing in the woods of northern
She waited for his next move. He stretched, giving her a glimpse of his wide chest. A strong stirring beneath her belly button made her squirm. Great. This man might be a killer, and she was attracted to him.
*****
Jude sat in the canoe, relieved to be off the water. He rummaged in his bag for another protein bar, happy to find one left. Carefully, he stood in the tipsy canoe and stuffed the bar in his pocket. Something stirred in the bushes, but he paid no attention. Probably another moose.
The branches parted and a slender person emerged and walked towards the canoe. At first glance, Jude thought it was a teenaged boy. But when he saw the beautiful eyes the color of emeralds, complete with long black curly lashes, reality hit him like a punch to the stomach. This was Kat Tenney.
From her picture, he knew she’d be small, but not this small. A strong wind would blow her away. He guessed her weight to be about a hundred pounds, and then only if she had rocks in her pockets. Her cheekbones were high, a gift from her ancestors. All female attributes remained well-hidden under Army fatigues a few sizes too big for her. She even wore combat boots. Her hair was shoved up under a camouflage boonie hat.
“Hi there.” Jude smiled in a way that had never failed to win over old ladies and babies. His smile faded fast. The barrel of her rifle was pointed right at his chest. Her index finger rested on the trigger, her thumb on the safety.
“Shit,” Jude cursed. His own gun lay buried in the duffle bag instead of in his shoulder harness where it belonged. He’d found it easier to paddle without it. “Hey, take it easy.” Jude spoke softly, holding his hands in front of him, palms up. “I’m unarmed. I’m looking for Katherine Tenney. She owns Loon Lake Lodge. Perhaps you know her?” The ‘take no prisoners’ look in those green eyes had him worried. He couldn’t blurt out that he knew who she was. He’d end up with a rifle barrel pressed against his throat as she demanded to know how he knew what she looked like.
“I’m Kat Tenney.” Her voice was soft and sweet, so sweet that his mouth dropped open. But her eyes were hostile. “Best close your mouth or you’ll choke on the bugs. And you are…?”
Jude pulled himself up to his full height and decided to lighten a tense situation. “Glad to meet you, ma’am,” he drawled. “Do you often wander around the woods in your G.I. Jane uniform?”
He immediately realized the intended joke was a mistake. Her expression hardened, along with her grip on the rifle. “You’re trespassing. And since I’m the one with the gun, I’d suggest you remember it. Who are you?”
At the distinct click of the safety being released Jude burst into rapid speech. “Name’s Jude Callahan. I work for the U.S. Border Patrol, and I’m here to check the security status of the U.S./Canadian border in this area of
Without warning, a large dog charged out of the trees behind Kat. Dogs fell in the same category as guns. He pulled his foot back into the canoe.
“Heel!” G.I. Jane commanded. The dog went to her side, but his yellow eyes remained steadfast on him. She gestured toward Jude with her rifle. “Get out of the canoe. You no more work for Border Patrol than I do.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jude stood at attention as best he could in the unstable canoe, before stepping onto the sand.
“Keep your hands where I can see them.”
Jude muttered under his breath while following her orders. Nothing was going according to plan. He was an FBI agent for God’s sake, and so far today he’d almost shot a moose and now a woman held him hostage. “Would you put that gun away? It’s making me nervous.”
“On the ground, face down, hands behind your head.” She spoke with the authority of a military officer.
“This is insane,” Jude started to argue, but another look at the barrel of the rifle pointed straight at him changed his mind. He did as he was told. Kat Tenney may be tiny, but the determined look on her face was damn scary. He had no doubt that she’d shoot him in a heartbeat given the slightest provocation.
The metal of the rifle barrel pushed against his back while her small hand frisked him. His body automatically responded when she ran her fingers up and down the inside of his thighs. Great, just what he needed—a rising testosterone level.
“Any weapons?” She didn’t ask, she demanded. “And I suggest you tell me the truth because this rifle has a hair trigger, and I tend to get extremely tense if I think someone’s lying to me.”
Jude considered his options. The hair trigger decided for him. “A 9 millimeter. In the duffle bag.”
“Smart man,” she replied. “On your feet.” She tossed him the protein bar that had fallen on the ground. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
What a prickly little thing, Jude thought as he caught the bar in midair. Opening the wrapper, he ate the chocolate-covered peanut butter bar as he watched her go through his duffle bag.
She pulled out his Beretta and put it in one of the cargo pockets of her fatigues. She was cute; that is, if one liked women who looked ten years younger than they were. Personally, he preferred the sophisticated feminine look. But he had to admit that Capt. Tenney was quite interesting…even if she did seem to have a chip on her shoulder the size of a glacial boulder.
Jude stopped chewing and swallowed hard when Kat opened his wallet.
“Jude Callahan. At least you were honest about your name.” She looked up at him, but he couldn’t read her expression. “So, you’re an agent with the FBI’s Jewelry and Gem Department.” Her eyebrows rose in mock surprise. “Do you moonlight for the Border Patrol in your spare time?”
Jude rushed into speech. “I lied for a reason.”
“I bet you did,” she replied with sarcasm. “I can’t wait to hear it.”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well, make it a short one,” Kat snapped, “because I’m tired and running out of patience.”
Jude shifted his weight from one foot to another in an attempt to control his temper. She was tired? He was the one who had to sleep in the front seat of his vehicle last night. “Look, Jane—”
“Enough with the Jane, shit. My name is Kat.”
“And I prefer Jude to Callahan,” he shot back. “Fine…Kat,” he conceded. No sense to rile this woman more than need be. “I’ll give you the short version, but I think you’ll want to hear the long one.”
Her booted foot tapped on the soft ground. “I’m waiting.”
“The Bureau is investigating Willie Card in connection with a thirty-year-old gem robbery. Is that short enough for you?”
Kat frowned. “Willie Card? He’s in prison.”
“He was released about a week ago.” Jude paused, searching for the right words. “The Bureau suspects he might be involved with your parents’ murders.”
A wave of pity took Jude by surprise when she gasped and turned a ghostly shade of pale. This was the first emotion he’d seen on her face. “The FBI thinks Willie murdered my parents?” She paced back and forth, before stopping in front of Jude. “Why would he do that?”
Now came the tricky part. “Look Kat…the Bureau has proof that your father and Willie were in cahoots during their tour of duty in
Jude gauged her reaction. Other than her pale face and widening of her eyes, her feelings remained hidden from him. He was beginning to suspect she was good at that.
“The Bureau believes that Willie and your father hid the precious stones somewhere at Loon Lake Lodge, and when he was released from prison, Willie showed up, demanding his share of the booty. Their theory is that your father refused to give the gems to Willie, so he took out your parents. We know for a fact that the gems have never surfaced in this country since they were stolen.”
A hand rested on her hip and her eyes narrowed, boring holes through him. “Why lie about your reason for coming here?”
Jude fidgeted. He was treading on thin ice here.
“Well?” she prompted.
“My orders were to keep my identity a secret until I was certain you weren’t somehow connected with the gems.” Jude’s eyes strayed on the rifle now slung over her shoulder.
Kat gave a disgusted snort. “Looks as if you’ve screwed up already. I wasn’t born when they were stolen, so how could I be involved? Is the Bureau working with the Maine State Police?”
Her first question was rhetorical, so he answered the second. “No. Not to say they won’t be called in at a later date. Why?”
She shrugged. “They consider the murders a result of attempted robbery. Nothing was stolen, and I told them I didn’t buy it, but they’re unwilling to investigate further without any new leads.”
She smothered another yawn. “You’re right. This is no place for a long discussion.” Kat started toward the shore, picked up Jude’s duffle bag and tossed it in the middle of the canoe. “I was going to walk back to the lodge, but since you showed up with transportation, I’ll ride with you. You take the front. I’ve seen your canoeing skills, Callahan. I’ll do the steering. I think you need some lessons.”
His face grew hot when she laughed. Christ, he hadn’t blushed since he was in grade school. He was peeved at himself for letting a slip of a woman embarrass him–even if she was an Annie Oakley in the U.S. Army.
“By the way, you didn’t happen to be flying around the lake in a plane or helicopter yesterday morning, did you?”
“No, I didn’t even arrive at the lake until last night. Why?”
Those green eyes looked at him long and hard. “Because someone flew over the lodge and sprayed the area with an UZI, or something similar.”
Jude was stunned. “Are you serious? And you think that I had something to do with it?”
“It seems odd that you show up twenty-four hours later, telling one of the biggest cock and bull stories I’ve ever heard. Got an alibi?”
“I didn’t even arrive in Rockville until yesterday afternoon. Ask Hazen and his friends.”
“I just might do that.”
“Is it true you can shoot off a man’s hat from three hundred yards?” A twinkle of amusement came and went in her eyes. At least the lady had a sense of humor.
“You’d better believe it. I guess Hazen and the boys have been wagging their tongues. Let’s go.”
“Is it safe bringing your dog in the canoe?” Jude eyed the large animal. “He could tip it over.”
“His name is Red. Trust me, Callahan. I feel safer in a canoe with him, than I do with you.”
*****
Kat scrutinized Jude’s back as he paddled, admiring the beautiful muscle definition. He must lift weights, because the awkwardness of his movements told her physical labor was new to him. He was inept at canoeing. But he sure was pleasing to the eye.
The whispering sound of the canoe gliding through the water relaxed Kat. She was more at home in a canoe than in many peoples’ homes. She’d wanted to take a long canoe camping trip with Red while on leave. But after yesterday’s shooting incident and now the FBI showing up to investigate a theft she knew nothing about, she doubted it would happen. At a distant rumble of thunder, Kat looked over her shoulder.
Massive thunderheads rapidly climbed behind the mountains. Deadly storms arrived with little warning in the mountains. At least they traveled in a safe canoe. A twenty-foot Old Town Tripper was wide and stable. Someone–she doubted it was Jude Callahan–had chosen well. A surge of adrenaline swept through her.
“Callahan, paddle as if your life depended on it.” Her tone left no doubt she meant business.
“What the hell do you think I’m doing?”
Kat’s gaze searched around in the canoe. “Where are the life preservers? Damn flatlander,” she muttered. He probably couldn’t even swim. “Listen up, Callahan. Dig your paddle deep in the water, and use those muscles for something other than to make women’s mouths water. There’s a storm bearing down on us. It’s moving fast and will be over us within minutes. At the pace we’re going, it’ll take us thirty minutes to reach the lodge. We need to cut that time in half.”
“Look, Jane. I’ve had just about enough of—” Jude looked over his shoulder, and his mouth snapped shut. Kat saw his eyes widen and knew he grasped the seriousness of their situation. Without another word, he turned back to the front and dug his paddle into the water. The canoe shot forward like a rocket, almost knocking Red over the side.
“Down, Red.” Kat had to holler to be heard over the noise of the wind beginning to whip around the lake.
The wind brewed up ferocious whitecaps. Intermittent strong wind squalls threatened to tip the canoe. Kat could see them coming as they swept over the water. Whitecaps quickly became two-foot-high waves.
“We’ve got to move faster, Callahan.” Kat now shouted to be heard. “I can steer the canoe. You’ve got to keep us moving forward.”
Thank God they moved in the same direction as the wind, but each time they crested a wave, the backlash poured inside, threatening to swamp the canoe.
“Callahan! Kneel on the bottom of the canoe behind your seat. It’s safer, and you’ll have more leverage with the paddle. We’ll hug the shore in case we have to get off the water. Stay with the canoe if it goes over. Don’t try to swim to shore.” He didn’t answer, but the muscles in his back stiffened. She prayed he’d obey.
More adrenaline pumped through her veins as Jude maneuvered his change of position. A wrong move on his part would capsize the canoe. Despite his large frame, he managed to gracefully land on his knees behind the seat.
“Good job.”
A bolt of lightning struck a tree in the forest to their right. Jude flinched at the large cracking sound, and Kat empathized with the emotions he must be experiencing. She’d been in this position more times than she cared to remember. Faced with a life or death situation, people discovered strength they didn’t know they had. Some prayed; others made ‘if only’ deals with God. She wondered what secret deals Jude was making.
*****
The canoe veered sharply to the left, away from the shoreline they’d been hugging. “What the hell are you doing?” Jude yelled.
“Calm down, Callahan. I’m ferrying, using the wind to our advantage.”
Ferrying? What was she talking about? Like it or not, for the first time in his life, Jude Callahan found himself in a position where he was forced to trust a woman.
Several minutes later, he grasped the concept of ferrying. Though they paddled toward the west, the wind pushed them north. Kat took advantage of the wind to push her where she wanted to go. Not as safe as being close to shore, but it would shorten the distance. The torrential rain hammered the lake. The canoe continued to fill with water. Jude’s muscles burned and screamed in protest at the effort he expended. Every muscle in his body went into each stroke of the paddle. He even gripped with his toes for more leverage.
The rain stung his face like icy pellets. He’d be damned if he’d complain. If a slip of a woman could do this, he could, too. When would this nightmare end? He prayed to God, asking that He help get them to shore safely. He promised to be a better person in return. A gust of wind caught the bow of the canoe lifting it a few feet in the air. It was going to flip!
The moment Jude accepted he’d soon be swimming to shore, the canoe pounded back on the water and Kat turned it again. Through heavy sheets of rain, he saw buildings ahead on the shoreline. He wanted to cheer. Never had anything looked as welcoming. That sight gave him the extra strength to paddle harder.
As soon as the canoe slid into the pebbly shore, Jude’s lungs released air he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Kat and Red jumped out. She gathered all the gear and set it on the shore, along with her rifle.
Together they carried the canoe a safe distance from the water and flipped it over. Jude grabbed his duffle bag, and they ran toward the lodge. Once on the porch all three shook off the excess water. Loud cracks of lightning strikes could still be heard in the forest behind the lodge.
When he glanced at Kat, the sight of her made him forget the terror he’d felt on the water. He fought the urge to laugh. She looked like a refugee, wet clothes plastered to her body. Her dark hair hanging around her shoulders in rat’s tails. Women he knew would be horrified to be seen in this condition, but not Kat Tenney. When she threw back her head and laughed, he laughed with her.
“What’s so funny, Jane?”
“Not a thing, Callahan.” Her eyes sparkled reminding him of the gems he’d come to find. “I love storms. They’re invigorating. What about you? Why are you laughing?”
Jude did some quick thinking. “Your laugh is infectious. I caught it.” Sometimes telling a lie was a healthy choice.
Kat started off the porch. “Come with me. I have to turn on the generator so we’ll have hot water for a shower.”
He wanted to stay on the dry porch. “I’ll wait here.”
A touch of the soldier returned. “I don’t think so. I want to keep my eye on you.”
“If we’re going to work together, we need to trust one another. I’ll stay right here. Promise.”
Maybe she saw truth in his eyes or maybe she was too tired to argue. After a slight hesitation she left. She jumped off the porch and disappeared behind the building. She’d taken her rifle. Sinking into an
Part of the main lodge had been remodeled. Two large trapezoid windows graced the downstairs facing the lake. Running up from the lake, he’d noticed the second story had the same trapezoid windows. The windows were beautiful but a definite anomaly to the rough-hewn cedar logs. He guessed the building to be at least sixty feet long. To his left two small log cabins sat nestled back in the woods.
The entire set-up surprised him. He’d never expected to find something this nice back in the wilderness. Without a plane, it was a chore to get here. He’d testify to that.
The dog had stayed with him. Jude glanced down and tensed. The damn dog was snarling at him. Now he knew why Kat had let him stay here. She’d known the dog would guard him.
When Kat dashed up the stairs, she dripped more water. “Generator’s on.”
“Call off your dog.”
Kat chuckled. “He likes you. He’s smiling. Haven’t you ever seen a Chessie smile?”
“No, can’t say that I have.” Jude tentatively reached out and patted the dog’s head. He ended up with one hundred pounds of Chesapeake Bay Retriever in his lap.
“See, I told you,” she laughed. “Get down, Red. Let’s check the cabins and then the lodge.”
“Why?”
She shook her head, her hands resting on her hips. “Callahan, are you really an FBI agent?”
He bristled. “I’m trained for urban operations.” He heard his defensive tone, which irritated him even more.
“Where’s your common sense? You come to the wilderness not knowing how to canoe. You leave your weapon in your duffle bag. You don’t even bring a life preserver.” She jabbed her finger at him. “Which by the way is a law in this state. I told you what happened to me yesterday, and now you ask me why we should make sure no one’s lurking in any of these buildings? I’m beginning to think you’re as useless as tits on a bull.”
Tits on a bull? Jude’s sense of humor battled his ego and won. He threw back his head and laughed. He’d known this woman for only a few hours, and he couldn’t remember ever enjoying anyone’s company as much.
“I’m glad you find it funny, but after that incident yesterday morning, I think a quick search of the premises is important.”
“Jesus. I’m sorry,” he said trying to control his laughter. “You’re right. Someone tried to kill you.”
“If they wanted to kill me, I’d be dead. Their purpose was to scare me.” She wrapped one of the rat-tails around her finger. “I think they, whoever they are, want the lodge empty.”
She shivered and leaned back in her chair. “If your story is fact, and Willie Card is the one behind it, he needs access to the lodge to search for the gems.”
“That’s possible.” Right now he wanted to get into dry clothes. They were both drenched to the skin. “Aren’t the cabins locked?”
“Nothing’s locked here. I checked the generator house. There are five cabins down that way,” she gestured to the far side of the porch. ““I’ll check those. You take the two cabins right next to us. We’ll check the lodge together.”
“No,” Jude disagreed. “We stay together.” He braced himself for an argument, but she smiled sweetly.
“It’d be faster to split up, but who am I to argue with the FBI?”
Their search turned up nothing suspicious. Now Kat stood at the window in the dining area of the lodge watching the wind squalls that continued to tear across the water.
“Take a shower, Kat. You’re shivering”
“You’re right.” She quickly ran upstairs.
Jude walked around the main room of the lodge, impressed by what he saw. The hand-made pine dining table could seat about twenty-five people. The furniture was all handmade, giving the place a rustic, homey look. He wondered if Kat’s father made all the furniture. The entire place was neat and clean. The spectacular view of the lake from the window belonged on a calendar. He wasn’t too crazy about the dead animals hanging on the walls. But he conceded it was the right décor for a wilderness lodge.
He moved to a window and gazed at the lake. The sky only drizzled now, and patches of blue began to peek through the clouds. Checking the time, he was surprised to see that it was only three o’clock. His body argued it was
Twenty minutes passed and Kat hadn’t returned. Starting to shiver himself, Jude went up the stairs, anxious for a hot shower. As he entered the loft bedroom, he stopped short. Kat was bent over, looking through her backpack on the floor. His eyes feasted on her heart-shaped bottom outlined in snug jeans, then moved up to her tiny waist. His body shuddered, and it had nothing to do with being wet and cold.
As if sensing his presence, Kat whirled around. “Oh.” She rubbed her hands on her jeans drawing his eyes to her thighs. “Sorry I took so long.”
Jude forced himself to look at her face and received yet another surprise. The rat-tails were gone. Silky ebony hair fell just below her shoulders. Lifting her arms, Kat pulled her hair into a ponytail and slipped on a rubber band, the movement bringing his eyes to her breasts. They were perfect. The whole package was perfect. So perfect that it didn’t need any ribbons or other accessories to make it complete.
“Aren’t you going to take a shower?” Kat’s question startled him out of his trance. “The water’s hot.”
The water wasn’t the only thing hot around here. “Yeah.” Jude escaped to the bathroom, thinking he’d better make it a cold one.
*****
Kat stood at the window thinking about everything Jude Callahan had told her. Should she trust him? His credentials appeared authentic. He probably knew more than he’d admitted, but her instincts told her he wasn’t one of the bad guys.
After her shower, she’d put on a pair of old jeans and a T-shirt sporting the slogan ‘Go Army.’ Four years in the military had packed a lot of muscle onto her body, so it had been a struggle pulling on the jeans. For the first time in her life she wished she had something feminine to wear. Snap out of it. Jude Callahan wasn’t interested in her as a woman.
She looked at herself in the mirror and had second thoughts about the outfit. The jeans hugged her legs and butt like a glove. Forgetting her outfit, she moved back to the window and continued to mull over what Jude had told her this morning. Could her father have been involved in a jewel theft? According to her mother, he’d returned from
Willie Card being a suspect didn’t surprise her. She hated the man. Before he went to prison, he’d come visit her father once or twice a year. Just the memories of his visits gave her the creeps.
Still, Kat couldn’t grasp the concept of her father stealing and smuggling gems out of
The storm had ended, leaving a beautiful double rainbow in the sky. The bathroom door opened, and she turned to see Jude walk into the room.
She beckoned him. “Come see the double ribbon of rain.”
He walked over and stood close behind her. She basked in the heat radiating from his body. She breathed deeply, inhaling his clean soapy smell. Her toes tingled. The dull ache between her legs returned. “Aren’t they beautiful?” Her voice was husky.
“Ribbon of rain? Is that what you call a rainbow?”
“The Penobscot word for rainbow is Marunga, which translates to ribbon of rain. My grandmother called me her little Marunga because she said I brightened her day.”
“You loved your grandmother.” It wasn’t a question.
Kat nodded her head. “We had a special bond. One that can’t be broken. Even with death,” she added, thinking about her grandmother’s message yesterday.
She turned and her head bumped into Jude’s chest. “Oh, I’m sor—” she began to apologize, but stopped when she looked up and saw the hungry look in his eyes. Neither spoke. He reached out, and trailed his fingers down her cheek. Kat’s mouth went dry and moisture pooled between her legs. Christ.
Marunga. Pay attention. Evil is close.
At the sound of her grandmother’s voice, Kat jerked away from Jude. She tensed waiting to see if he’d heard the voice.
“Kat, I—”
“I’ve got to go downstairs.” She cut him off and headed toward the staircase, calling over her shoulder. “Come down when you’re ready.” Her grandmother was warning her, but about what? A strong sense of foreboding trickled through her.
Jude followed on Kat’s heels as she rushed down the stairs. She moved off the last step and stopped. Jude plowed into her and reached out to grab her shoulders to prevent her fall.
An unkempt man with beady eyes sat in a chair with his feet resting on the table, picking his yellowed teeth with a jackknife. Two rifles lay on the table within his reach, one of which was Kat’s.
“Well, well,” he drawled, “The wild Kat emerges from her lair, with a mate in tow no less.”
Chapter 3
Anger burned inside Kat at the sight of Willie Card lounging in her home as if it were his own. Years of loathing this man surfaced like a boil ready to burst. She shuddered, remembering his visits to the lodge when she was a child. Remembering the smell of whisky that always permeated his clothes. She’d never let him breathe on her. Her sister enjoyed Willie’s visits and the gifts he brought, but Kat had always detested the man.
The familiar scene played in her head.
The feel of Jude’s heart beating against her provided comfort, and she leaned back seeking his warmth.
Why hadn’t Red barked when Willie arrived? Trepidation swept over her, along with a wave of nausea. Jude whispered against her neck, “Keep your cool, Kat.”
Willie ended the silence. “What’s this?” He grinned, reminding Kat of a decomposed corpse. “No welcome for your long lost Uncle Willie?” The twitch in his right cheek caught her attention. In the past that twitch had been her cue to make herself scarce.
“You’re not my uncle. Where’s my dog?” She couldn’t control the slight tremor in her voice. She deplored weakness in herself, but the thought of Willie hurting Red was too much to bear.
“Outside. See for yourself.” Willie gestured toward the window with his jackknife.
Kat forced herself to turn to look through the window. Not even the comforting warmth of Jude’s hands on her shoulders stopped the jolt of pain that shot through her. Red lay as still as death on the green grass.
She shut her eyes and squeezed back the tears, determined to make Willie Card pay for killing her dog. Inhaling deeply, she opened her eyes just as Willie slipped his jackknife into his pocket. She lunged toward Red’s killer. “You goddamn bastard. You’re dead.” She wanted her hands around his skinny neck.
Jude’s arms caught her around the waist. She twisted, turned and thrashed, but couldn’t break free without hurting him. For reasons she didn’t have time to analyze, she was reluctant to harm him.
“Calm down, brat.” Willie got out of the chair and scurried further down the table, his facial twitch becoming more pronounced. He took both rifles with him. “I didn’t kill your damn dog. He’s sleeping. I tranquilized him.” His fingers caressed the gun he’d brought with him. “The mutt will be good as new in a couple of hours. Jesus, Kat. I thought maybe you’d calmed down by now, but you’re wild as ever.”
Kat stopped struggling. She had to regain her equilibrium. Jude lowered her until her feet hit the floor, but kept an arm firm around her waist. With his free hand he reached out and tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear. That small gesture helped dispel the chill running down her spine.
“Well, Kat. Aren’t you going to introduce me to our guest?” Her shoulders tensed at Jude’s jovial tone, as if Willie were a neighbor stopping by for a cup of coffee. Lover-like she put her arm around Jude, her fingers searching for the gun that should have been in his shoulder holster. She sighed in disappointment, remembering it was still in the cargo pocket of her fatigues.
Kat waved a hand in Willie’s direction. “This is Willie Card, a friend of my father’s.” Kat made the one-way introduction. “He’s leaving. Isn’t that right, Willie?” Her question implied command. “I’ll see you out,” she continued. “I want to check on Red.”
She pulled away from Jude and walked toward the door, but again Jude grabbed her from behind, just as Willie stepped toward her.
“You ain’t going anywhere, missy,” Willie hissed. “Always were too big for your britches.” He picked up her rifle, using the barrel to indicate they move further into the room, away from the staircase.
“What do you want, Willie?” Kat demanded and felt Jude’s hand poking her. She turned and flashed him one of her famous ferocious looks. He pinched her midriff, leaned down and whispered. “Play it smart, Kat. Gain information.” She took a deep breath, searching for strength to control her anger. The difference between a soldier and a government agent. One wanted information and one wanted action. At least she wasn’t alone in this situation. She squeezed Jude’s hand in gratitude.
“Hey what’re you two whispering about?” Willie asked, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “Who are you anyway?” He directed his agitated eyes at Jude.
“A friend of Kat’s,” Jude replied leaning back against the stone wall of the mammoth fireplace. Kat admired Jude’s nonchalant attitude.
“Just a friend?” Willie asked snidely.
Jude shrugged.
“Maybe you are just friends.” Willie’s thin lips spread into a cunning smile. “No normal man would bed a wild half-breed like Kat.”
Kat’s body stiffened. Jude’s fingers rubbed her midriff where he’d pinched her. His touch soothed the raw edge of her anger.
With a feigned sigh, Kat flung a question to Willie. “I doubt you came traipsing all the way here only to insult me. What do you want?”
His eyes narrowed to slits reminding Kat of a snake. She wouldn’t be surprised if his tongue started to flick in and out. “You know damn well what I want. I want what belongs to me.”
Kat clasped Jude’s hand, needing his reassurance, knowing later she’d berate herself for needing anyone. “Are you talking about my father’s marijuana?” Kat pushed aside the twinge of shame at revealing her father’s drug problem to the FBI. “It’s gone. I found a full bag when I got home. I burned it.”
A manic laugh escaped Willie’s mouth. “I can get all the pot I want. I want the gems, the fuckin’ gems. They’re mine, and I want them.” Spittle sprayed from his mouth.
“Gems? What gems?” Kat did her best to look puzzled. This would have been a lot easier if Willie had shown up yesterday.
Another thought hit her and her eyes widened. “Did you kill my parents?”
Willie’s face turned a mottled shade of red. “No one’s gonna pin that on me!” he shouted. “Why the hell would I kill Bill and Mary? Bill had the goods. I wanted to fence them from the beginning, but no, he wanted to wait a few years.”
He paced back and forth pace. When his back was turned, Kat tensed to spring. Jude stopped her. This time she pinched him, satisfied when she heard his sharp intake of breath.
“Willie, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He moved within three feet of Kat and Jude. His fetid breath hadn’t improved over the years. Kat held her own breath so she wouldn’t gag.
“Last time I saw Bill, I told him he had two weeks to give me the stones. Said he didn’t have ‘em–they’d disappeared years ago. He suspected your witch of a grandmother hid ‘em before she died.” The beady eyes watched Kat. “I ended up in the slammer and never made it back here. Now Bill’s dead, and you’re going to find the gems for me.”
“Me?” Kat’s eyebrows shot up, and she laughed. “Sorry, Willie. Today’s the first I’ve heard about this. If they do exist, I don’t have a clue where they are.”
“If the old lady took them, I figure she told you where she put ‘em. You two always were as thick as thieves. I told Bill over and over that old lady would cause trouble.”
“How strange. My grandmother had the same opinion of you.” Kat put her finger on her forehead. “Let me see if I can remember her exact words. Oh yes. She said you were as slippery as deer guts on a glass door knob.” She smiled. “Guess she was right.”
“Why you—” Willie raised the butt of the rifle.
“Touch her, and you’re dead.” Jude said. His voice was soft, but Kat had no doubt he meant it. Willie lowered the gun.
“I got no fight with you, Mister.” He scuttled back a few feet.
Willie’s actions were weirder than usual, and she wondered if he was stoned. Perhaps his behavior was a symptom of insanity. Maybe a combination of the two.
“You’d best be careful what you say about my grandmother.” She paused for affect. “She’s here, you know.”
Willie’s attention shifted back to Kat. ““What are you talking about?” His gaze darted around the open area of the lodge. “She’s dead.”
“That’s true, but her spirit’s here.” Kat leaned against Jude’s chest, beginning to enjoy herself. Willie always knew how to push her buttons. It felt good to be at the control panel. “She spoke to me a few minutes ago. Told me ‘evil is here.’ She must have meant you.”
“You’re as crazy as she was.” Willie’s head snapped around toward the door. “What was that noise?” Keeping eyes on his two prisoners, he sidestepped to the window. “You expectin’ company?” Beads of sweat trickled down his face, following the deep lines etched in his skin.
Kat hadn’t heard anything. Willie’s paranoia must be rearing its ugly head. “Nope.” From her peripheral vision she saw an iron poker leaning against the hearth several feet away.
“You.” Willie looked at Jude. “Get out there and check it out. And don’t get any ideas,” he warned. “This .308 is aimed at Kat until you get back. Understand?”
Jude scowled. “Last time I’m telling you. Harm her and you’re dead.” He moved towards the door. Willie stood sideways to Kat, his attention centered on Jude walking through the door onto the porch.
Kat saw her chance and took it. In a flash she grabbed the poker. Using both hands, she raised it over her head and brought it down hard, striking Willie’s right arm. A blood-curdling scream erupted from his mouth, and the .308 dropped to the floor.
His arm dangled at an odd angle from the elbow. “You broke my arm.” He staggered outside with Kat in close pursuit, still wielding the poker. Willie looked over his shoulder. “I’ll be back, bitch. Don’t ever doubt it.”
Willie stumbled down the stairs and headed for the thicket of trees behind the lodge. Jude leaned against the porch rail. He reached out and grabbed Kat, taking the poker.
She turned on him. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why didn’t you stop him?” In spite of the dark anger on Jude’s face, Kat continued her tirade. “If you’re an example of our FBI agents, this country is in serious trouble.”
Jude propped the poker against the porch rail, took her by the shoulders and shook her hard enough to rattle teeth. “Listen to me. I’ve had enough of your insults and your one-sided decision-making. I’m the one in charge here. Got it?” He stopped shaking her, but his hands still gripped her tight.
“I’m not taking orders from you.” Kat held his menacing gaze without flinching. Her shoulders tensed, and she raised herself to her full height.
Jude released her and rubbed his hand across his forehead. “Damn it. Can’t you see? Willie Card hasn’t a clue where the gems are, but he might know something of value. Something he isn’t aware of. He’s more useful to us alive and a free man. Now, thanks to you, he’s running around in the woods with a broken arm. God knows what’ll happen to him.”
Kat was disgusted. “Don’t worry about Willie. He crawled out of a jungle in
*****
A myriad of emotions, including anger, fear and relief threatened to surface. Jude turned away so Kat wouldn’t see them. The woman reacted to situations with no thought of her own safety. He jumped off the porch and walked toward the dock to kneel by Red. The dog’s tail thumped on the grass. His eyes were open and looked alert.
“Will he be okay?” Jude looked up at the sound of Kat’s voice. She stood next to him, a frightened look on her face. One moment fearless enough to attack a half-crazy armed man, the next terrified her dog might die. Would he ever understand her?
“He’ll be fine.” Jude said and stroked Red’s head. “Right, Red? Kat, you take his front, and I’ll get the back. Let’s bring him in the lodge.” In a matter of minutes, Red was in the lodge.
Jude removed the tranquilizing dart from the dog’s rump and brought him a bowl of water. Red, now settled in his favorite spot on the rug, thumped his tail vigorously, a sure sign he was feeling better.
Jude pushed himself up from the floor. “Any chance there’s some whiskey around?” His taste for alcohol leaned toward a few beers or a glass of wine, but right now, he wanted a good stiff drink.
“I think there’s some Jim Beam in the right hand cupboard over the sink.” Kat answered from her position on the floor next to Red. “Pour me one, too. Glasses are over the sink on the left.”
Jude found the glasses and set them on the knotty pine counter, briefly admiring the beauty of the wood before pouring each of them a double shot. He carried the drinks to the living room and put them on the coffee table made from an enormous pine tree cut down the middle. He flopped onto the huge overstuffed sofa. “Come up here, Kat,” he patted the cushion next to him. “Red is fine. You and I need to talk.”
“I should make us something to eat.”
Kat was dragging her feet, putting off the inevitable. “Sit down and have your drink first.”
Kat retrieved her .308, placing it on the coffee table before she sat. He smiled when she sat a safe distance away from him. She picked up her glass and took a big swallow. Her eyes watered, and he smothered a smile, watching her efforts not to cough.
“I see you’re not a whiskey drinker. Try sipping it.”
*****
Kat found pleasure from the whiskey. Delicious warmth spread through her body. She studied Jude as he sipped his drink while gazing out at the lake. The color of his eyes matched the Jim Beam in their glasses. He looked tired.
She took the bull by the horns. “Jude, I’m sorry about overreacting with Willie. But I’m better at giving orders, than taking them.” He’d never know how hard it was to apologize for her actions.
His eyebrows rose. “Is that right? I hadn’t noticed.”
Heat flooded her face. “I suggest we work together as partners, instead of you being in charge.”
“In concept that sounds fine.” He turned his head and looked at her. “But there will be times when I expect you to do something, or not to do something. Think you can manage that?”
Kat shrugged and sipped some more whiskey. It went down easier with each swallow. “I’ll try.”
“Trying’s not good enough. You’re in the military. You know how important teamwork is. Did you ever hear the expression, ‘You can’t command until you can obey’?”
Kat nodded. “I have, and I’ll do my best. You want the gems, but I need to know something up front. If you find them, are you staying to help me find whoever killed my parents?”
He turned away from her. “My assignment is to find the gems. I’m hoping that if, and when, that happens, everything else will fall into place.”
“And if it doesn’t?” she persisted.
“I promise to file a report and request that the Bureau follow up and investigate the murders.”
Not the answer she’d hoped for, but it would have to do–for now.
Jude’s next question made her squirm. “What did Willie say to get you riled? Because he called you a half-breed?”
“No, of course not. I’m proud of my heritage.” She ran her finger around the rim of her glass, before taking another swallow for courage. “It was his comment about no normal man wanting to go to bed with me–that and what he did to Red.”
“Why in hell would you that comment bother you? You must know that you’re attractive.”
“Oh, please, Callahan,” she laughed. “There’s no need to sweet talk me. I’m not about to chase you around with a poker.”
“I’m serious,” he insisted. “You’re beautiful. Any man would find you attractive.”
“Give me a break. Men prefer the long, sleek woman. You know, tall, thin, with legs that go on forever and hooters out to here.” She made an exaggerated gesture with her hands. Women who paint their toenails and spend three hours a day on their hair and makeup. Women like my sister, the model.” She stopped and gave him a direct look. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not one of those women.”
“No, you’re not,” he agreed with a smile. “You’re petite. You have the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen. Your hair reminds me of black silk. And I know women who spend hours a day in the gym, striving for muscle definition like yours.”
She smiled back at him, pretending that his words didn’t jump start her heart into double beats. “You’re such a sweet-talker. Tell me, what does your wife, or girlfriend, look like?”
He leaned his head on the back of the couch and chuckled without humor. “I don’t have a wife. Never had one and don’t plan on having one. As for girlfriends, I guess I have to say the women I date fall into the category you stereotyped so well.”
“See. I told you,” she answered him, her expression smug. She ignored the stab of pain his confession caused her.
“How come none of your boyfriends ever told you what a neat little package you are?”
“I’ve never had any boyfriends. Except Brian, and he doesn’t really count.”
Jude straightened and turned to face her again. “You’ve never had a boyfriend? Please,” he drawled, “don’t tell me you’re a twenty-seven year old virgin?”
Kat stiffened. “No, I’m not, but that’s really none of your business. We just met for God’s sake.”
“Funny, I feel as if we’ve known each other forever.” An odd expression crossed his face. “It’s been a long day. Take my word for it, Kat. There’s not a man in the world who’d turn away from you if you gave him a second look.”
Kat didn’t believe him, but didn’t feel like arguing, so she remained silent and enjoyed the rest of her whiskey until she yawned.
“You must be hungry,” Jude spoke. “What are we having?”
“Beans and hot dogs. I’ll get things ready.”
Kat mulled over the day’s happenings as she prepared the meal. The mystery of hearing her grandmother’s voice stayed topmost in her mind. Today ranked right up there as being one of the longest and weirdest. She returned to tell Jude the meal was ready and found him sprawled out on the couch. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow and even. He’d fallen asleep. She walked over to nudge his shoulder. He opened his eyes and winked at her. Her knees melted, but she managed to clear her throat. “Supper’s ready. Were you sleeping?”
“No. I was dreaming about eating sushi and drinking
“Reality check. Beans and hot dogs.” Putting the food on the table, she sat down and helped herself. “Dig in. There’s no formality here. After all, it’s not as if you’re a paying guest.”
A few moments later, Kat looked up and saw Jude watching her. Her fork clattered down on the table. “What’s the matter? Do I have ketchup on my chin?”
“Nope. Just wondering how someone as tiny as you can pack away all that food.”
“I’m hungry. Is there something wrong with your food?”
“Absolutely not,” he said, putting a forkful in his mouth. “It’s delicious. Best beans and hotdogs I’ve ever eaten.”
“I can’t take the credit. My mother made them. All I did is take them out of the freezer. Ground moose meat makes delicious hamburgers and hotdogs.”
Jude stopped chewing. “These hotdogs are made from a moose?”
“Yep. My father got a moose every year.”
“Oh.” He chewed a little slower. “Kat, I don’t think Willie Card killed your parents.”
Kat eyes widened. His thoughts mirrored her own. “Neither do I. Unless he was backed up against a wall, I don’t think he’d have the balls to kill anyone. Whoever killed my parents did so in cold blood while they slept. Not Willie’s style.”
“I also doubt the men you encountered yesterday are connected to Willie. My guess is they’re professionals. From your description, the whole operation reeks of military training.”
“I agree, but what could they be up to. Would someone go to these extremes for a bunch of precious stones?”
Jude shrugged. “It’s possible. We’re talking about a lot of money. But I don’t know how anyone would know about them, if Willie didn’t tell them. I think these pseudo military people are too high class for Willie. What do you know about Carl Winter?”
Kat’s fork stopped in mid-air. “My sister’s new boyfriend? What does he have to do with any of this? Why are you just now bringing it up?” Her nerves tingled with irritation. What else had he kept from her?
“The Bureau has information that Willie and Carl are acquainted with each other. That’s the extent of what I know. Honest.”
“I don’t know anything about him except what
“He’s an entrepreneur. Buys up large pieces of property and land.”
She shrugged. “Maybe he wants to buy the lodge and the land it’s on. If he does, he’s shit out of luck, because I’m not selling.”
“It’s possible that’s what he’s after. If it is, he knows nothing about the gems.”
Kat noticed Jude’s plate was empty. “Want some more?”
“Yeah, I do. I’m thrilled to find out those huge ugly animals are good for something other than blocking traffic.” He held out his plate, and Kat piled more food on it. “I’m hoping
Kat’s laugh held a touch of bitterness. “I doubt it. My parents willed the entire place to me. She left in a huff after the funeral.”
Jude snapped to attention. “Your sister was written out of the will?”
“That’s right, and don’t ask me to explain, because I don’t have the answer. I never saw Grandmother’s will. I assumed the property passed on to my mother, but perhaps she left it to my mother with the stipulation my mother had to leave it to me.” She folded her hands on the table. “Who knows? I guess I should take a trip to the courthouse and look it up.”
Jude leaned back in his chair. “Interesting. How did your family acquire such a large parcel of land to begin with?”
“Both of my great-grandparents were full-blooded Penobscot. Their daughter, my grandmother, Sweetgrass, met a logger from
“Some of my grandfather’s relatives back in
“Your mother wasn’t full-blooded Penobscot?” Jude inquired in between bites of his food.
“Nope. And she wanted to forget that she was even half. My grandmother and grandfather built this lodge and made a living running it. Of course, at that time, the fishing was a lot better, and people paid good money to stay here.
“Anyway, my mother met my father while he was visiting some friends in Rockwood. They got married before he shipped out to
“You told Willie your grandmother never liked him. Did she feel the same about your Dad?” Jude finished eating and helped himself to a cup of hot coffee.
Kat thought about his question. “My grandmother considered my father a weak man. But in my mother’s eyes, he could do no wrong. She said Vietnam changed him–left him with scars that never healed. She used the war as an excuse for everything he did, or didn’t do, as the case warranted.”
Red growled low in his throat at the same time Kat and Jude heard a boat motor approaching on the lake.
Kat jumped out of her chair and grabbed the .308. “Go upstairs and get your Beretta. It’s in my…”
“I know where it is.” Jude grinned, and then his expression turned serious. “No more unilateral decisions. Understood? Wait for me.”
Kat saluted. “Understood.” Before Jude’s foot hit the top stair, she walked out the door and headed down to the dock, the rifle slung over her shoulder.
Chapter 4
“Hey, Brian.” Kat hurried toward the lake, yelling to be heard over the boat’s motor. She shouldered her rifle and waved. “Any luck fishing?”
Brian held up four good-sized brook trout, a huge grin on his face. With his reddish hair tousled by the wind and the freckles spattered across his nose, he looked like the proverbial boy next door.
Squatting on the wharf, Kat reached out and caught the boat as it drifted in. Brian tossed her a rope, and she deftly secured the sixteen foot Alaskan
He climbed out of the boat and handed her
“These are for me?”
“Yeah. You love brook trout, and I knew you’d enjoy some fresh ones.” He grinned, his brown eyes full of mischief. “What’s with the rifle?”
Kat ignored his question. “Hmmm…the daily limit is two fish and you have four. Would that have anything to do with your generosity? Thanks, we’ll enjoy them. Come up and have a cup of coffee,” she invited. “You missed supper. You should have come earlier.”
Brian’s smile faded. “So the story I heard is true?”
“What story is that?”
“Hazen and
Kat stiffened. “That’s a crock of shit. They aren’t worried about me. They’re just nosy.” Her eyes narrowed. “I hope you’re not turning into one of the old codgers… sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“Kat, I…”
“You listen to me, Brian Richardson. My business is my business.” She poked her finger into his chest. “It’s not Chester’s business. It’s not Hazen’s business. And it sure as hell isn’t your business. Got it?”
He nodded and turned away, but not before Kat saw the cold fury in his face. In all the years she’d known Brian, she’d never seen him angry about anything. What the hell was going on? He walked with her toward the lodge. He stopped abruptly when he caught sight of Jude leaning against the porch rail.
Kat climbed the stairs. “Brian gave us some trout.” Kat held the fish up for Jude to see, before turning back to Brian.
“Want something cold to drink or a cup of coffee?”.
“No, thanks. I can’t stay.”
“Oh. I’ll put the fish in the refrigerator. Be right back.”
*****
Jude’s eyes stayed on Kat until she disappeared inside. Then he faced their guest. “Jude Callahan. You must be Brian Richardson. Hazen and his friends mentioned you.”
A flush crept across Brian’s face. “That’s right.” He shook Jude’s hand. “Planning on staying long?”
“Depends.” Jude shrugged and slipped into a chair. He gestured toward an empty chair. “Have a seat.”
“No, thanks.” Brian remained standing. “Kat and I have been friends for a long time. It’s natural for me to worry about her. You know, here alone with a stranger.”
Jude smiled. “What makes you think I’m a stranger? Besides, Kat knows how to protect herself. If you’re a friend, you know that.”
“Right you are, Callahan.” Jude looked up, and his smile widened. Kat stood in the door entrance, hands on her hips.
“While you’re here Brian, we want to pick your brain. See if you have any information about Kat’s parents’ deaths.”
Brian’s shoulders tensed, and a slight tic jerked in his cheek. “I’ve already told Kat everything I know. Who are you anyway? A cop?” He pivoted toward Kat. “Why is he here?”
Kat touched Brian’s arm. Her touch seemed gentle, but Jude saw the warning in her eyes. “Calm down. All you need to know is that he’s here, and he’s my friend.”
The pleasure Jude felt at Kat’s cooperation died a quick death when she turned her gaze to him–her eyes gave him the same warning. “Brian’s right. He told me everything he knows. And if he hadn’t been fishing and heard Red barking that morning, my parents might not have been found for a long time.”
Brian’s shoulders slumped. “That’s not true, Kat.” He appeared uncomfortable at her praise. “I checked on them at least once or twice a week.”
“Have you noticed anything strange happening around here recently?” Jude tossed the question at Brian, ignoring Kat’s second warning glare. “Anything out of the ordinary?”
Brian’s eyes shifted between Kat and Jude, his fists clenched. “No, not really. I haven’t been on the lake since Kat got back.”
“How about before she came home?” Jude persisted. “Times when you were on the lake fishing. Did you notice if Bill and Mary had any visitors?”
Brian’s hesitation told Jude all he needed to know. He’d questioned enough perps in his life to know when someone was hiding something.
“I wasn’t on the lake every day, but about a week before Mary and Bill died, I was fishing down in the deep hole.” He gestured down the lake. “A seaplane landed and taxied up to the dock. I know most of the planes that fly in this area, and I didn’t recognize this one, so I watched it through my binoculars.
“And?” Kat prompted, impatient for the rest of the story. “Who was it?”
“Elizabeth and some guy I’d never seen before.”
“
“Well, it was her.” Brian’s voice turned defensive. “She’s as beautiful as ever. The guy with her must be rolling in dough. Had on an expensive looking suit. They stayed about an hour and then took off.”
“Who piloted the plane?” Jude interrupted.
“The guy with
“Did you see anything else?” Jude ignored Brian’s uneasiness.
“Not that day.” Brian started to back away. “I’ve got to run.”
Before either Kat or Jude could say another word, he was gone.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Kat hollered as the motor started. Brian waved, and the boat took off down the lake.
“That’s weird,” Kat commented, worry laced with suspicion clouding her green eyes. “Brian couldn’t get out of here fast enough.”
Jude didn’t flinch at the mistrustful look that Kat cast his way. “Don’t blame me for your friend’s rude manners,” he replied innocently.
*****
Kat wound a strand of hair around her finger. “Brian was nervous. You interrogated him as if he were guilty of a crime, for God’s sake. But I know him, and there’s something wrong…something he’s not telling us. I’ve never seen him act so nervous.”
“How well do you know him? Do you think it’s possible that he is involved in what’s going on?”
Kat plunked her butt in a chair and leaned back. “I’ve known Brian practically all my life. We were inseparable through high school. He’s not capable of hurting anyone. I’d bet my life on that.”
“Were you two lovers?”
Kat’s back straightened, her cheeks heating up. “Not exactly.”
Jude grinned, one of those devastating smiles that left her legs as weak as two wet noodles. “This, I’ve got to hear. Exactly what does ‘not exactly’ mean?”
“Look, Callahan. We’ve been down this trail. My sex life is none of your damn business.”
Jude sighed. “Sorry.”
He didn’t look sorry. “I detest insincere apologies.”
“Well, you can’t blame me for being curious.” He changed the subject. “Let’s go over the facts one more time. There’s Willie Card, who admits he’s looking for the gems, but has no clue where they are. He denies murdering your parents, and you and I tend to believe him. Right?”
Kat nodded. “There are the men in the plane who shot at me, and the ones that climbed into the helicopter. Why were those two men hiding in the woods when the plane first flew over?”
“How many men did you see?”
“I couldn’t tell if they were men or women,” Kat admitted. “The sun was in my eyes. At the least, the pilot and the sniper in the plane. I’m positive only two came out of the woods and climbed into the helicopter. That makes four, plus the one flying the helicopter. So at least five. Could have been more in the plane and copter. I don’t understand where they fit into the puzzle.”
“What are your thoughts about Elizabeth and the guy she was with?”
Kat’s head snapped up. She saw only sympathy in his expression, and shrugged. “
“Kat.” Something in his voice turned her stomach. “I haven’t been totally honest with you. He paused and took a deep breath.
Instinct told her she wasn’t going to like what he said.
“The Bureau has proof that Carl Winter and Willie Card have met several times since Willie’s release from prison. Two of those meetings took place at your sister’s apartment.”
Kat struggled to keep the surprise from her face. It wasn’t that difficult. She’d been doing it her entire life. Her heart skipped a few beats, and the familiar feeling of dread filtered through her body. “What else have you kept from me?”
“Nothing that comes to mind.”
“And that answer should make me feel all warm and cozy inside because…?”
“Look, Kat.” Jude rubbed his eyes. “We’re getting to know one another, and we’ve been thrust into a riled hornet’s nest. Let’s cut each other some slack.” His eyes looked bleary with fatigue.
Kat yielded to his plea, but added a warning. “We’ll try it your way. If, at any time, I discover you’re not being up front with me, you’d best watch your back.”
Jude smiled. “Warning duly noted. We need to know if
“Elizabeth and I have never been close. We’ve little in common, other than green eyes and the same parents.” Her mouth curved into a smile. “It hurts to think that she might be involved in something so vile, but, if I’m honest with myself, it wouldn’t shock me if she were.”
“I’m sorry.” Kat heard sincerity in his voice. “I’d feel miserable if it were my brother or sister. Apparently, your family wasn’t cut from the Ozzie and Harriet mold.”
“Good observation, Mr. FBI agent. What about your family? A rerun of Father Knows Best?”
A fleeting expression of pain passed over Jude’s face before he forced a laugh. “I thought so at one time, but, no, mine was just as dysfunctional as yours.”
“You have a brother and a sister. Where are they?”
“My brother works for the Bureau. We both followed in my Dad’s footsteps.”
“And your sister?”
Kat felt a twinge of envy at the tender look on Jude’s face. “Emily’s a sweetheart. She recently graduated from college and has an apartment in the city not far from me. She’s just accepted a job with a financial firm.”
They sat in companionable silence until the loons began their nightly symphony. Jude shivered. “Jesus, those birds give me the creeps. That caterwauling is worse than bagpipes at a funeral.”
Kat laughed. “That’s their ‘all’s well on the lake’ cry. I think it’s beautiful.”
Jude looked at her as if she were crazy. “I certainly don’t want to hear their ‘everything isn’t all right’ signal.”
Kat tilted her head. “You don’t know much about wood’s lore, do you, Callahan?”
“Of course not.”
Kat chuckled. He sounded proud of his ignorance. “What a shame. Perhaps by the time you leave, you’ll have a clearer understanding of Mother Nature.”
“Don’t count on it. It’s too noisy here. Reminds me of a jungle in some horror movie.”
“You’re not frightened, are you?”
“I’m not scared. I just don’t like it.”
At a loud bellowing from the woods behind the lodge, Jude jumped out of his chair. “What the hell is that?”
“You’re a wuss. It’s a moose. Probably a cow calling her calf.”
Jude leaned on the porch rail and stretched his long muscular legs out in front of him. “How do you live here?”
“What?” She’d been admiring his legs and missed the question.
“How do you live here?”
Astonished at the question, she stared at him. “It’s my home. I wouldn’t be happy living anywhere else.” Getting up, she started into the lodge. “Evenings in the mountains can get chilly. Let’s go inside.”
Kat lit a few candles and placed them on the table. “Now I’m curious, Callahan. Why would the Bureau send someone so at odds with the wilderness on this assignment? There must be at least one agent in
Jude’s scowl made Kat laugh. “But I’m glad they sent you because I find you amusing.”
“Gee, thanks,” Jude mumbled. “I need to call John Rowe. I tried my cell earlier, but it’s not picking up a signal.” He pointed to a small table sitting next to the kitchen counter. “Is that a phone over there?”
“It’s a radio phone.” He gave her a blank look. “I suppose for you high tech agents, it’s an antique. You push a button speak and then say ‘over’, release the button, and the person on the other end of line speaks. Come on, I’ll show you how to use it.”
Kat picked up the receiver and waited for a dial tone. She frowned. The line was dead. “I haven’t used it since I got back, but it should be working.” She pulled the unit forward to check the wires in the back. The sound of metal clanked on the floor. By her feet were several screws. “It’s been taken apart.”
“What?” Jude leaned over the table.
“I said—” She turned and found herself wedged tightly between the table and Jude’s hard body. Kat couldn’t look away from his eyes. The magnetism between them overwhelmed her. “It’s broken.” What in the world was wrong with her? Standing here behaving like an idiot unable to speak coherently.
Jude brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “So soft,” he murmured.
The room became too warm. Still captivated by his eyes, her fingers gripped the underside of the table to stop herself from touching him. Pebble hard nipples tried to push their way through her T-shirt.
“Do I still amuse you?” Jude whispered, his gaze wandering over her face before dropping to her breasts. She lowered her eyes, hoping to hide her confusion.
Red’s pitiful whine broke the trance.
“I—I think he needs to go out,” Kat stuttered. “I’ll go shut off the generator for the night and take him with me.” Red wobbled out the door behind her, not fully recovered from the effects of the tranquilizer.
Once outside, Kat leaned against the side of the lodge and gulped mouthfuls of fresh air. Her legs trembled. Jesus. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined physical attraction between two people could be this strong–this overpowering. She’d wanted Jude to pull her down on the floor. Hell, she’d wanted to pull him down on the floor. This lack of control had her more worried than the men in the plane who’d taken potshots at her.
Red made it to a tree and almost over when he lifted his leg. He ended up squatting like a puppy to relieve himself. Kat ran to shut down the generator and returned to the porch with Red by her side. Taking a deep breath for courage, she promised herself to stay away from Jude Callahan and especially to avoid looking into those damn cinnamon-colored eyes.
“Someone sabotaged the phone,” Jude commented, as she walked through the door.
“Are you sure?” Kat hurried to the table, making sure she kept a safe distance.
“See for yourself.” He waved his hand toward the back of the radio unit.
“Willie could have done it when he arrived this morning, but he’s the type who’d brag about what he’d done.”
“Since the buildings are unlocked, anyone has access.”
Kat turned away when he ran his hands through his hair. That’s what she wanted to do.
“Any other options for a phone, other than driving to
Kat stepped into the kitchen area and poured herself a cup of coffee from the thermos sitting on the counter. “There’s a spot out on the lake marked with a buoy. Cell phones can usually pick up reception there.”
Jude groaned. “How far out?”
Kat shrugged her shoulders, sipped her coffee and watched him over the rim of her cup. “About a mile.”
“I’ll wait till tomorrow. My hands couldn’t take any more paddling today.”
“Blisters?” Kat walked over to him. “Let me see.” His hands were a mass of broken, bleeding blisters. “These could get infected. Come sit down. I’ll take care of them.”
“What? No wise comment about not wearing gloves?”
Kat gave him an understanding look over her shoulder before she rummaged through the first aid drawer. “It’s not an uncommon mistake, even for experienced canoeists. Eventually, your hands will toughen up after you paddle enough.”
“Fat chance of that.”
Kat spread a clean towel on the table. “Hands down, palms up.” Opening a square green can with red clovers on it, she applied a gummy, yellow salve to the broken blisters.
“What is this stuff?” He wrinkled his nose. “It smells awful.”
“Callahan,” Kat sighed, “stop whining. It’s Bag Balm.”
“Bag Balm? Never heard of it.”
“I’m not surprised. Probably not much use for it in
“Don’t you have anything normal, like Bacitracin?”
“No. Bag Balm is the best. Your hands will be as good as new tomorrow.”
Rubbing the ointment into Jude’s blisters got her thinking about rubbing other places on his body. This problem needed to be nipped in the bud.
“We need to talk about this—this thing between us.”
“And what thing might that be?” He asked her, in his slow lazy drawl.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about. Stop baiting me in a sexual way.”
“Whoa!” Jude held his salve covered hands in the air. “Wait just a damn minute. I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”
She clenched her jaw and stared at him. “Oh no? What do you call what happened this morning upstairs? And a few minutes ago, right here in this room?”
“I call it sexual attraction,” he answered. “And believe me, I don’t like it any more than you do.”
“Then stop provoking it.”
“It’s a two-way street, Kat. If we keep our baser instincts under control, we’ll be fine. Think you can manage that?”
Kat expected to see amusement on his face, but he looked as rattled as she was. “I can do that.” Even as the words left her mouth, she wondered if she spoke the truth.
The man sitting next to her stirred feelings she hadn’t been aware of until today. Feelings she had no control over. “How about you? Think you can manage it?” She threw his question back at him.
“I’ll give it my best shot,” he mumbled in the middle of a yawn. “Right now I need some shut eye. It’s been a long, tiring two days. I hope it’s a quiet night. I’ve had enough excitement.”
“I’ll go upstairs and get your bag. You can sleep on the couch, or, if you prefer, you can have the cabin next to the lodge.” Kat’s foot touched on the first stair when Jude spoke.
“I’m sleeping upstairs with you.”
She turned to face him. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” Kat recognized the look on his face as his stubborn look.
“I don’t think so,” she said in a deceptively soft voice. “The couch or the cabin. Those are your choices.”
“Be sensible, Kat. It’s important we stay together. I’m not suggesting we share the same bed, as exciting as I know that would be. I saw two beds in that room. I’m sure you have enough self-control to stay in your own bed.”
“Why you—” Kat started towards him ready to do battle.
“Keep your distance.” Hands held as if to fend her off, he backed away, his eyes full of mischief. “Or we’ll end up on the floor tearing off each other’s clothes.”
Chapter 5
Jude braced himself for a fight. One he was determined to win.
“Fine. Sleep upstairs. I’m too tired to argue with you.” With a toss of her head, she ran up the stairs.
Brave but reckless. Stubborn, yet yielding when he least expected it. Beautiful, but no self-esteem. If she were any other woman, he’d doubt her sincerity, but he didn’t think Kat had a clue how to play those types of games. Had she lived in her sister’s shadow for so many years that she had no idea of her own self-worth?
The sooner he resolved this gem theft, the better. This woman was under his skin like chiggers making him itch, and a relationship between them wouldn’t work. They might as well jump in a car and drive eighty miles an hour down a dead end road.
The chemistry between them set sparks flying if they came within two feet of each other. It was only a matter of time before there was spontaneous combustion. His mouth went dry at the thought of making love to her.
He walked to the front door, fingering the heavy oak, curious why no one had ever installed an inside lock. Constructing a barricade should be a top priority. The thought of coming downstairs in the morning and finding someone else sitting at the table gave him the creeps.
He reached down and patted Red on the head. “Let us know if someone’s out there, boy.” The dog lifted his head and groaned, then thumped his tail.
Jude took the stairs two at a time, thinking Kat should be in bed by now. The bathroom door was still closed, so he dropped on one of the twin beds. He didn’t have long to wait. His heart skipped several beats when she emerged from the bathroom. The contrast of her dusky skin against the thin white cotton nightgown mesmerized him. She moved through the moonlit shadows, reminding him of Natalie Wood in her classic movie role. He wouldn’t have been surprised if Kat broke into song. In an attempt to get his body under control, he flipped over, putting his back to the bed she climbed into.
“Goodnight, G.I. Jane,” he whispered.
“Humphh.”
Jude smiled into his pillow. Good girl. Stay mad. It’s safer that way. Thirty minutes later, sleep still eluded him. His eyes wouldn’t stay closed, so he listened to frogs, owls, loons, and God only knew what other animal noises.
Kat’s voice startled him. “What’s this problem you have with women, Callahan?” He ignored her softly asked question, pretending to sleep.
She called his bluff. “I know you’re awake.”
Damn.
“Why do you dislike women?”
He turned over and faced her. The beds were too close for comfort. “It’s too damn bright in here,” he growled. “Why aren’t there shades on the windows?”
“Because I enjoy watching the night sky. It’s almost as good as sleeping under the stars.”
“Figures,” he muttered, wishing she’d shut up and go to sleep.
“Stop avoiding my question,” she persisted. “What do you have against women?”
The moonlight enabled him to see the outline of her body. She was on her side, looking toward him. His gaze ran down her body, lingering on the indentation of her waist, the slight flaring of her hip. God, she was beautiful with her dark hair spread over the white pillowcase. She looked younger than twenty-seven.
He sighed, accepting defeat. Kat was like a dog with a bone, and he doubted she’d go to sleep until she had answers. “What makes you think I hate women? Haven’t I been nice to you?”
“It was obvious from the first moment I saw you. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?” He heard no anger in her voice, merely curiosity. “And earlier this evening your tone was snide when you spoke about the type of women you date. Oh, and I believe you said you’d never get married. Usually, men who shy away from marriage do so for a reason.”
“Jesus, do you carry a tape recorder around with you?” Jude asked. “Let’s say I don’t have the highest regard for women, but I don’t hate them. As a matter of fact, I find them extremely enjoyable on occasion.”
“Because you enjoy sex doesn’t mean you like women.”
The pitch of his voice rose a few decibels. “Look, Jane. I’m tired and don’t want to discuss my opinions of women. Go to sleep.”
“Not until you answer me.” Jude’s heart hit his ribs and bounced off his backbone when she swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked towards him.
“What the hell are you doing?” he croaked. “Get back in bed.” True to form, she ignored him and sat on the end of the mattress.
“Well?” she prompted. “If we’re spending time together, I need to know what makes you tick.”
“Get back in your own bed, and we’ll discuss it. But I want you to know,” he warned, “I’m getting freaking sick and tired of always giving in to you.”
Her small feet padded back across the floor. She lay down on the outside of the covers, once again facing him. Jude rolled on his back so he wouldn’t have to look at her.
His gut twisted into knots just thinking about telling Kat why he didn’t trust women–would never trust women. Frank was the only person who knew the story. Perhaps unloading the burden he’d carried for over fifteen years would be good for him. Even though she tugged at his heartstrings, Kat was a stranger. Wasn’t it easier to tell hidden secrets to strangers?
“Well?” Impatience in Kat’s voice prodded him to begin.
Jude bit the bullet. “I thought I had a perfect life while I was growing up, that I belonged to a perfect family.” Talk about seeing through romantic lenses, he chided himself. He stared through the skylight. A trillion stars shimmered in the sky, making his personal problems seem insignificant in the grand scheme of life.
“Go on.” Kat’s voice floated to him in encouragement.
He continued in a flat, emotionless voice. “When I turned fifteen, my perfect world fell apart. My parents were killed in a car accident. Frank Rowe and his wife raised me, my brother and my sister.”
“Frank Rowe. Isn’t he your supervisor?” Kat asked.
“Yeah, but he’s more than that. He and my father worked together at the Bureau for years. They were good friends, as well as co-workers. Anyway, at the burial, I noticed a stranger standing off by himself crying. Curious, I walked over and introduced myself. Asked his name and how he knew my parents. It took him a while to stop crying. When he did he told me I looked like her. I asked him if he meant my mother. He nodded and words gushed from his mouth like rats from a sewer pipe. He told me how happy he and my mother had been for the past eight years. How much he’d loved her. How much she’d loved him.”
Jude stopped speaking and focused his eyes on the sparkling sky. “I ran behind some trees and puked. All those years, I thought my mother loved my father, loved all of us. But it was all a sham. We’d lived a life full of lies.
Closing his eyes, he waited for the familiar pain and bitterness to overtake him. Nothing happened. Nothing except a strong feeling of relief.
“That’s not true, Callahan.” Kat landed on the end of his bed. “Your mother loved you all enough to stay and make a home. The fact that no one suspected her secret proves how much she loved you. She wanted to be a part of your family, even if she did find love elsewhere, as well.
“She could have run off and left you all, but she didn’t, did she? You shouldn’t judge your mother so harshly,” Kat chided him. “You’ve no idea what demons drove her to fall in love with someone else. There’s an Indian proverb you should keep in your heart. Do not judge your neighbor until you walk two moons in his moccasins. Remember the love your mother showered on you for fifteen years and forget the rest.”
Jude stared into Kat’s eyes, stunned by the compassion in them. He wanted to drag her into his arms. Was she aware of the effect she had on him? She had to be. “Unless you plan to join me in this bed, I suggest you return to your own. Now!” He hardly recognized his own voice.
“And if I want to share your bed?” Her chin tilted, a challenge in her eyes.
“I’d say you’re crazy. There’s no future in it–for either of us.” He steeled himself against his yearning to make love to her. “It would be a one night stand, nothing more. Unless I’ve misread you, you’re a woman destined for a home and a couple of kids.” He searched her face, but found no clues of her feelings or thoughts.
Without another word, she returned to her bed.
Sleep still wouldn’t come to Jude, even though Kat remained silent. He concentrated on the stars, rehashing his childhood and the subsequent death of his parents. For years, his mother had been having an affair, but was Kat right? Maybe it was time to forgive and forget. What gave him the right to judge her life? He remembered all the assignments that took his father away from home for weeks at a time. As an adult, he better understood the loneliness his mother must have lived with. He thanked God that his siblings knew nothing of her secret.
*****
Kat thought about what Jude had said. Was she the type of woman who wanted a home and children? To be honest, she’d never given it much thought. That is, until today. Until she’d met Jude. Until he’d put the thought in her head. She tossed and turned, finally falling into a troubled sleep. Then the dream came.
The military convoy crept along the road in the sandstorm. Grit swirled, bouncing off the windshield like ice pellets. Each convoy took its toll on every one of them. Hoping against hope that they wouldn’t be attacked or hit a bomb planted in the road. Without warning, the Humvee in front of hers exploded, spewing fire and debris. Horrified, Kat watched, helpless. She needed to protect her soldiers. Frantic, she fought to get out of her vehicle, but she remained trapped and powerless. She kicked at the door with both feet, but it wouldn’t open. No matter which way she moved, she was unable to escape and take command of the situation. She twisted left, then right, fighting the invisible restraints, holding her down. She opened her mouth and screamed her frustration .
*****
A strange mewing noise woke Jude. His muscles tensed and his hand dropped to the floor for his weapon. He strained his ears, wondering if it was a two legged animal outside. He relaxed. The muffled noises came from Kat. She moaned and thrashed on the bed. Hair rose on the back of his neck when her bloodcurdling scream ripped through the loft.
He rolled from his bed just as she jerked upright, her arms tearing at the sheets and blankets. He bounded over and pulled her into his arms. She continued to fight her invisible enemy. He realized she attempted to escape from her sheets. He yanked off the bedding tangled around her lower body.
“Kat, wake up.” he crooned, holding her close as he rubbed his hands up and down her back. “It was just a dream.” Hot tears dripped on his arm.
“I’m okay,” she sniffed and pushed herself out of his arms. “You’re right. It was only a dream. Sorry I woke you.” Using the corner of the sheet, she wiped her eyes and nose, sniffing a few times.
He tucked a silky strand of hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t sleeping,” he lied. “Want to talk about it?”
“No.” She barked harshly, then softened her tone. “No, I don’t.” She pushed away from the bed and headed for the stairs. “I need some fresh air.”
Jude rushed after her. “Wait! Don’t go outside by yourself.”
Yeah right. Like he expected her to listen to him.
The screen door slammed, and he hurried over to look out the windows that almost covered the entire wall of the loft. She walked across the lawn in the moonlight, her white nightgown giving her a ghostly appearance. When she reached the end of the wharf, his eyes widened in disbelief as she whipped the nightgown over her head and dropped it. Small was not skinny. Her body was more beautiful than he’d imagined. Her breasts were large for her small frame, and she had the tiniest waist he’d ever seen. The muscles in her back and legs were proof of her military training. In combat, she’d be a match for most men. In a flash, she dove into the lake and disappeared.
He descended the stairs at a run, carrying his Beretta in one hand, zipping his pants with the other. On his way through the kitchen he grabbed a towel.
Half-way down the wooden wharf he caught a glimpse of her head moving through the water a distance from the shore. He opened his mouth to holler for her to get her ass back in the lodge, but the sound would carry in the still night. A clicking sound came from behind. He pivoted, dropped to one knee his Beretta ready to fire.
Dispelling his breath, he lowered the weapon. “Hey, Red. Good way to get shot.” Red grinned, and Jude patted his head. “Coming out for a
After several minutes he hoisted himself up and headed back to the lodge. The night seemed peaceful, but he’d sit on the porch just in case.
“What’s the matter, Callahan?” Kat’s voice rang out in the night silence. “Afraid of the water? You can swim, can’t you?”
Fists clenched, he turned toward back. “I can,” he kept his voice soft, but the sound still carried over the lake. “Someone should play security guard around here. Don’t you agree?”
“You’re right.” Jude heard sadness in her tone. “I lost my head for a minute.” With strong powerful strokes she swam to the dock, pulled herself onto the planks and stood there in all her naked glory.
Motionless, he gawked at her like a love struck adolescent.
“Jeez, Callahan,” Kat smiled, a much too innocent smile. “You’ve seen naked women before.” She bent to retrieve the towel on the dock, the movement swinging her breasts forward. She took her sweet time wrapping the towel around her nakedness.
His groin tightened, and his entire body ached. “One of these days—” Jude’s look promised retribution.
“Promises, promises,” Kat quipped, using the towel to hide a smile. “Let’s toast some marshmallows.”
Her rapid change of subject threw him. “What? It’s one o’clock in the morning, and you want to toast marshmallows?” His eyes narrowed as the truth dawned. “You’re afraid to go back to sleep, aren’t you?”
Kat shrugged, snuggling into the huge soft towel. “Sometimes I can’t sleep after the nightmare.”
So whatever demons plagued her sleep, it happened often. “Well, tonight, you’re not only going back to sleep, you’ll sleep like a baby.”
“Oh? And why is that?” She smiled again. “Are you going to drug me–or perhaps knock me out?”
“Nope. Neither one. Come on,” Jude gave her a push toward the lodge. “Back to bed.”
Within minutes, Kat was back in bed, this time wearing an oversized T-shirt. “On your belly.” Jude’s voice brooked no argument. Sitting on the edge of her bed, he began to massage her back and shoulders, his thumbs finding all the knots in her muscles.
Kat groaned her pleasure.
“I knew you’d enjoy it,” Jude said, his voice hoarse. Massaging her body caused serious ramifications to his own. “You need to relax. Close your eyes and forget everything except how good this feels.”
“Don’t stop,” she whispered. A few minutes later her soft steady breathing told Jude she’d drifted off to sleep. He kept massaging her back. A half hour later, he was reluctant to stop touching her. Her skin was so soft. Caressing her felt good–and right. He knew he was floundering, getting in way over his head. He and Kat had nothing in common. They didn’t even want to live in the same part of the planet. He could understand why she wouldn’t be happy in a city. But why the hell would she want to live here? He didn’t think he’d be able to handle living in this God forsaken place, no matter how much his hormones were telling him, “You can do it. You can do it.” Finally, he lay down next to her–just in case she had another nightmare. He lied to himself and felt no guilt whatsoever. He drifted off to sleep, enjoying the feel of her small feminine body cuddled next to him.
*****
Kat woke, confused at the heat radiating against her. Red must have climbed on the bed during the night. She reached out to pat his head, and her fingers touched smooth bare skin. Her eyes shot open. Jesus, why was she sleeping next to Jude Callahan. The nightmare tickled her memory. Jude had massaged her back. The best massage she’d ever experienced, and then she’d fallen asleep. But why was he still in her bed? They lay spoon style, the front of her body curled against his back.
Kat tried to sit up but his shoulder trapped her hair. Relaxing onto the mattress, she indulged her senses, allowing her hungry gaze to roam his body. She’d felt his pain last night as he confided in her and hoped she’d helped him let go of his anger against his mother.
This man had gotten to her. She’d never had the remotest inclination to spend her life with a man and have children. Before he’d arrived, she was content to be alone. In a matter of hours, he’d infiltrated her life in ways she’d never dreamed possible. He’d put thoughts in her head. Thoughts about a soul mate. Thoughts of being a mother.
Change is a sign of growth, Marunga.
Kat smiled. Hearing her Grandmother’s voice no longer seemed strange. Instead, it filled her with joy. Without thought, she reached over and lightly ran her fingers over Jude’s muscled arm. His body twitched once before he bolted into a sitting position, looking as confused as she’d been on first waking.
“Good morning.” Kat smiled. “Did you sleep well?” She enjoyed the myriad of emotions passing across his face. First confusion, then embarrassment and finally lust.
“Ah, good morning.” He yawned and rubbed his eyes. “I—ah—didn’t intend to fall asleep in your bed.”
“No harm done,” Kat replied mischievously. “I enjoyed waking up next to a warm body. At first I thought Red had climbed in bed with me.”
Jude laughed. “Gee, thanks. First time I’ve been mistaken for a dog.” He turned on his side, facing her. “What are the plans for the day? Do you think it makes sense for us to do some scouting?”
Kat frowned, giving his question serious thought. “I’m not sure. My head tells me trouble will find us soon enough without searching for it. My gut tells me to go find some butt to kick. But you’re the FBI agent,” she teased. “I’ll let you make the call.”
“Minx.” Jude reached over and tousled her hair.
She lost herself in his sleepy eyes. Kat gasped when he threaded his fingers through her hair.
“I’d better get up,” she squeaked. Heat pooled at the apex of her thighs, and she felt moisture seep from within.
Jude cleared his voice. “You’re right.”
He wanted her. She saw it in his eyes, and the knowledge put goose bumps on her arms. Kat wasn’t sure who moved first. Perhaps they moved in unison, but their mouths met, and the outside world ceased to exist.
What began as a tentative, gentle kiss changed to one of hunger and need. They shared the role of aggressor. One backed off, the other advanced. Their give and take kisses rocked Kat down to her toes.
She pulled away to gulp some air. Jude’s mouth plundered her neck and ears. She gasped as he gently sucked her earlobe. She buried her face in his neck and tasted his salty skin with her tongue.
Needing to be closer, Kat pushed him onto his back and rolled on top of him. His hardness against her stomach brought her a realm of excitement she never knew existed. She cupped his face with her hands to recapture his mouth.
Jude’s hands held her hips, stilling her squirming movements. “Ah, Kat, you’re killing me,” he breathed against her neck. We have to stop now, or it’ll be too late.”
“I don’t want to stop,” Kat panted, leaving a trail of wet kisses down his chest to his stomach, before working her way back to his face. Their mouths welded together in an erotic mating ritual.
“Don’t,” Kat protested when Jude flipped her on her back and moved away.
“Kat, listen to me.”
She didn’t want to listen. She didn’t want to see the seriousness in his eyes. She just wanted to touch and be touched. To feel the pleasure he brought her.
“If we make love, everything between us changes. Are you ready for that?”
She tried to listen to him, but the blood pooled low in her belly, demanding her attention. “Yes, I’m ready. I want you.” She ran her fingers down his rib cage. Just touching him sent sparks of desire flaring through her body.
Jude’s finger traced a circle around her nipples hidden beneath her nightshirt. He leaned down and nuzzled them through the fabric.
Never known for patience, Kat sat up, ripped off the offending garment and threw it on the floor. She pulled his head to her breasts, her nipples demanding equal attention. Something strange and wonderful was happening here, and she wanted it to happen.
In a fever pitch, sensations inside her climbed higher and higher until her body exploded into shards of pleasure. Light as a feather, she floated back to reality. Jude’s face was still buried in her neck, his breathing harsh and fast.
“That was…I don’t have a word for it right now,” Kat murmured. Jude lifted his head and attempted to smile. His face was strained, the cords in his neck visible. It was then she realized he’d not experienced the same release.
“Thank you.” She brushed her hand down his face.
He smiled again, the tenderness in his eyes melting her heart. For the first time she noticed the small cleft in the bottom of chin.
“You’re welcome. You’re beautiful.”
Heat rose in her face. Her fingers played with the hair on his flat stomach. One quick look showed her how aroused he still was. Sliding her body further down the bed, she nibbled on his stomach before she stuck her tongue in his belly button.
His body jerked, almost knocking her off the bed. “Enough, Kat,” he gasped. “Wait a minute.”
Kat watched while he stripped off the jeans he’d slept in. He sat on the edge of the bed, fumbling through his wallet.
“What are you doing,” she asked, her finger tracing his spine from top to bottom.
“Finding protection,” he mumbled.
“Oh.” Another wave of embarrassment swept over her. Protection had never occurred to her. How bad was that?
He slipped out of his jeans and into the condom, then reached for her. “You’re driving me crazy.”
Those four words made her happy. Never in her life had she felt so wanted, so special. “Are we ready for the real thing?”
“The real thing?” He laughed, pulling back to look into her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Well, before—” she searched for the right words. “What happened earlier isn’t the normal way.”
“I assume you’re referring to lovemaking and your climax? There’s no right or wrong way to do ‘it’. You’re sweet.”
“You surprise me, Callahan.” Kat gave him a long, considering look. “I never would have thought you’d be a mushy type of lover.”
“Never have been,” he answered. “But I did a lot of thinking about what you said last night. I’ve never been able to look at the affair from my mother’s point of view. Now I have, and for that I thank you.” His mouth lowered to hers. “Enough talking.”
Kat’s toes curled at the now familiar taste of his mouth. He pulled her over his body so that she straddled him without breaking their passionate kiss. She sighed with pleasure as his hands gently fondled her breasts, paying special attention to her nipples.
His hands slid lower to her taut stomach, his thumb finding her clitoris. Kat reared as if she’d stuck her finger in an electrical socket. Jude moaned and cupped her bottom, lifting her onto his erection. She tried to push herself down onto him, but he wouldn’t allow it. He entered her a little at a time.
He kept this rhythm, inch by inch, until he was totally imbedded. Kat nipped his shoulder, making small whimpering noises in her throat. Jude grabbed her hips and moved her back and forth in synchronization with the rocking his own body. Kat started the climb to the familiar peak. He moved her hips faster and faster until she cried out her release. This time he joined her.
They remained for a long while draped around one another, a tangle of arms and legs, their hearts pounding. “I’ve got to get up.” He kissed her forehead and headed towards the bathroom.
Basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking, Kat giggled when Jude uttered an expletive she had yet to hear him use. The generator was off so the water was probably cold.
“I’ll go turn it on,” she called out. Before she sat up, he strode back into the bedroom buck naked, a horrified look on his face.
“Where are you in your cycle?” he demanded.
What happened to her tender lover? “What?”
“Your menstrual cycle.”
Oh yes, her lover was definitely agitated. She didn’t care for the tone of his voice. “None of your damn business.”
“Look Kat, this is serious. It broke.” At her blank look, he spoke slow, enunciating each word as if talking to someone who didn’t speak English. “The condom ripped.”
“Oh.” Kat’s fingers drew circles on the sheet while she mentally calculated her last period. Her periods had never been regular. “The week before I came home from
Jude rolled his eyes. “Great. Just freaking great.”
“Look here, Callahan.” Her eyes narrowed, and she knelt on the bed. “Don’t get all hot and bothered about it. It’s not your problem.”
“What do you mean it’s not my problem?” He reached over and cupped her chin. “This was a joint venture if I remember correctly.”
She softened her voice. “I’ve never been regular, so don’t panic because the timing seems bad.”
“God,” Jude turned away, running his hands through his hair. “I knew this was a mistake. It changes everything.”
“What do you mean? How does it change anything?”
“Kat, there’s something between us. We both know it. Now we’ve made love, and there’s no turning back. I’m not just looking for a roll in the hay with you. I want to explore a future together. A baby will complicate things.”
“Why you egotistical, bone-headed idiot.” Kat came at him naked. “What do you mean, we have enough problems? We had sex, we didn’t get married, you know.”
Jude backed up, holding out his arms to ward her off. “I didn’t mean to imply…”
“What are you doing then?” Kat challenged. “Because we made love, you think you have a responsibility to have a relationship with me?”
Tears threatened to fall, making her even madder. How had something so beautiful turned so ugly? “For God sakes, go put some clothes on.” Kat turned away, searching for her own. She bent over to pick up her cut-offs. The air was knocked out of her when Jude picked her up and tossed her back on the bed, coming down on top of her.
“Oh no, you don’t, Jane. You’re not shutting me out.” Kat glared at him, ignoring the anger in his eyes. “We’re beyond that point. Look me straight in the eye and tell me that what happened between us meant nothing more to you than a simple romp in bed.”
Kat turned to mush. Desire stirred between her legs. “I’m not saying that, but…”
“But nothing,” he interrupted her. “I’m not a ‘slam bam thank you ma’am’ type of guy.”
Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way,
Count off the cadence loud and strong:
For where’er we go, you will always know
that the Army goes rolling along.
They both stiffened at someone singing an old Army song from out on the lake.
Chapter 6
“What the —.?” Jude swung his long legs off the bed and looked out the window.
“It’s Cody Starks. I’d recognize his singing anywhere.” Kat jumped out of bed and scrambled around the room, looking for her clothes.
Jude watched her mouth curve into a huge smile. She pulled on cut-off jeans, not bothering with underwear. “Who’s Cody Starks?” He was irritated and didn’t know why.
Kat grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it over head. “A friend of mine. Army Special Ops. We were in
Jude hunted for his clothes, finally finding them under the bed. Jesus. People coming, people going. This place was getting worse than Grand Central Station. In his haste, his fingers fumbled with the zipper of his jeans. He yanked on a T-shirt and hurried back to the window, anxious to see this friend of Kat’s.
A green canoe glided through the calm water, coming to rest next to the dock. His mouth dropped open. Kat’s African-American friend was larger than a professional linebacker. Despite his size, he handled a canoe as if he were born in it. “Figures,” he muttered under his breath.
He hurried downstairs and stepped onto the porch in time to see Kat launch herself into the giant’s open arms. An invisible fist punched him in the gut. Jesus Christ. He was jealous. Could things get any more complicated? Until now, he’d led a straightforward, simple life. But since the moment he set foot on this damn lake, his life turned topsy-turvy.
“Hey, Half-Pint.”
“Cody! What a great surprise. Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”
“Didn’t know myself till the last minute.”
Their voices carried to the porch. Jude zeroed in on Cody’s hands holding Kat by her bottom while she wrapped her legs around his waist. The hard knot in Jude’s stomach tightened. Time for action.
He jumped off the porch and walked toward them. “Hey, Kat!”
Cody’s head jerked toward him. Despite the hostile look sent his way, Jude moved forward. Kat loosened her legs, sliding down Cody’s body, until her feet touched the wharf. Before Jude reached the couple, Cody bent his head. Kat appeared to be whispering in his ear. Now what was she was up to? Jude kept walking, ignoring the downright scary look Cody shot his way.
He stopped at the end of the lawn and waited. Cody shrugged and reached into his pocket, taking out his wallet. Puzzled, Jude watched Cody remove something and hand it to Kat, giving him the evil eye. What in blue blazes was going on?
The pain in Jude’s stomach intensified when he recognized the small square package Kat held in her hand. Condoms. Freaking condoms. Holy shit. This couldn’t be happening. Was she crazy?
“Come meet Jude.” Kat pulled Cody along by the arm, her smile of happiness firmly in place.
“Glad to meet you.” Jude held out a hand in greeting. Cody ignored it. The look in his dark eyes didn’t bode well for instant bonding.
“Kat, go in the lodge,” Cody’s voice was soft….too damn soft to Jude’s ears. “Lover boy and I need to have a little chat.”
Kat pulled herself up to her full five feet, hands on her hips. “I swear to God, Cody, I won’t tolerate any interference. I’m well past the age of consent, and I don’t want any advice or lectures from you. And neither does Jude.”
Jude covered his mouth and coughed, trying to hide his smile. She looked quite ferocious, her small chin jutting out in defiance.
Kat turned on her heel and started toward the lodge, before looking back. “When the two of you are through circling each other like a couple of pit bulls, come in for breakfast.” Her smile never reached her eyes. “Watch Red. He’ll show you how it’s done. The more trees you pee on, the bigger your territory.” She slammed the door on her way into the lodge.
Jude and Cody eyeballed one another for a few seconds before Cody burst out laughing. “She’s right, man,” Cody admitted. “Guess I came across as territorial.” He offered his hand.
Jude’s hand disappeared in Cody’s as they shook.
“I think the world of Kat,” Cody continued. “She’s like a sister to me, and I won’t stand for anyone hurting her. Do I make myself clear?”
“As a bell,” Jude replied, keeping his cool. “Kat’s a big girl who can take care of herself. Don’t you agree?”
“Depends.” Cody leaned against one of the big birch trees on the lawn. “She’s fearless when it comes to protecting other people. Never gives a thought to her own safety. She’s saved my sorry ass a few times…”
“But?” Jude prompted.
“When it comes to emotions, she’s vulnerable as a sixteen-year-old.”
Jude considered Cody’s words. “Her self-esteem could use a boost. I’ve wondered if it’s because of her sister.”
Cody hesitated as if weighing his words. Jude admired his reluctance to divulge information about Kat’s life. “We spent a lot of hours talking in
Cody reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a stick of gum, took off the wrapper and popped it in his mouth. “Somewhere along the line, Kat decided men weren’t interested in her because she wasn’t feminine enough. Had her grandmother lived longer, I think things would have been different.”
Cody’s eyes narrowed. “Hurt her, and I’ll track you down. Got it?”
“I hear you.” Jude straightened to his full height, feeling foolish, considering Cody’s size. “For the record, I care about her.”
“How long have you known her? Where the hell did you two meet?”
A trickle of sweat trickled between Jude’s shoulder blades and continued down his spine. “Yesterday morning.”
“What?” The words exploded from Cody’s mouth. “You’ve only known her for twenty-four hours, and you slept with her? Why you…” With expertise, Jude sidestepped Cody’s punch.
“Hold on, now.” Jude lifted his hands. “It’s a long story. Best told in Kat’s presence. Let’s just say we’ve formed a strong bond in a short time.”
The aroma of bacon drifted from the kitchen, making Jude’s mouth water. “Let’s go eat. Kat can explain.”
*****
“Did you boys work out your differences?” Kat asked as they came through the door. Several times she’d beat down the temptation to eavesdrop on their conversation. “You two set the table.”
“Where are the plates?” Cody moved into the kitchen. Positioning himself behind Kat, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You’ve only known this guy for a day? What the hell is wrong with you, Half-Pint?”
“Plates are in the second cupboard to the right of the sink. And it’s none of your damn business,” she whispered back at him.
“I’ll get the glasses,” Jude offered. “Where’s the silverware?”
“In the drawer to the right of me.” Kat moved over. A thrill jolted her when his hand brushed her hip. One look at his face told her the touch hadn’t been accidental. She’d never met anyone with eyes that changed color with their mood. Right now they were dark amber.
“Is it a habit of yours not to wear underwear?” His fingers gently pinched her left buttock.
“What?” she squeaked.
The twinkle in his eyes took her breath away. “You heard me.”
“I thought breakfast was ready,” Cody growled from the table, breaking the electric connection between them. “I’m hungry. And I’m anxious to hear the story about how you two met.”
Kat placed the food on the table and while they ate she filled Cody in on the recent happenings.
“Holy shit!” Cody was shocked. “And I came here for some R&R. Looks as if I should have stuck to my original plan to go to
“What changed your mind?” Kat flashed him an inquiring look.
Cody shook his head. “Damned if I know. Woke up in the morning and felt compelled to come see you.”
“Interesting,” Kat murmured. “How’s Davey?” At nineteen, Davey was the youngest soldier in her unit. A sandy-haired kid from
Cody’s gaze lowered to his plate, and she knew. No. Please God no. Not Davey. Tears gathered in her eyes, blurring her vision.
“Sorry, Half Pint. I know you loved him.” His large hand reached over and covered hers.
She drew a large amount of air into her lungs and wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. “What happened?”
“Our convoy was ambushed. We had the situation under control, but a toddler spied Davey and came running toward our Humvee. Davey jumped out of the vehicle and the enemy opened fire again. He threw himself on the child.”
“And the child?” She couldn’t bear Davey dying for nothing.
“He’s fine.”
“That’s good.” Kat withdrew into herself.
Cody broke the silence. “Let me know if I’ve got this straight, Half-Pint. Your parents were murdered. Someone in a plane shot at you with an automatic weapon. Two men crept out of the woods and disappeared into a helicopter. Lover boy here, who happens to be an FBI agent, shows up the next day and informs you that your father and a
Hearing Cody relate the facts, Kat realized how bizarre the entire story sounded.
“That’s right.”
“And yesterday, Willie Card showed up, demanding you to tell him where the rocks are hidden, and you broke his arm with a poker. Now that I don’t have a problem believing.”
“It’s all true,” Jude interjected. “The question is where we go from here?”
“You’re the FBI agent, you tell us.” Cody sat forward, resting his elbows on the table.
Kat directed a heated gaze at Cody. “Look. We’ve told you the truth. We either work together, or we don’t. You’re free to leave. Your choice. No one’s forcing you to stay and help.
“Sorry, Kat,” Cody replied, looking sheepish. “Of course, I want to help. It’s just…”
“You can’t get past Jude and I sleeping together as soon as we met.” Kat finished the sentence for him, pinning him down with her eyes.
“Something like that,” Cody muttered, looking away from her.
“Get over it, Cody and focus on what’s important here. Life is fragile. You of all people should know that. Especially, after Davey–” Kat stood, pushed her chair back and began gathering the dirty dishes.
“Kat, we’ll clean up. You want to wash or wipe?” Jude asked Cody.
Kat sat on the porch, sipping her coffee, while the men did the dishes. The news about Davey had hit her hard. Now she understood about the nightmares. Her subconscious must have known. As an officer, she knew better than to get attached to her soldiers. Her friendship with Davey and Cody had been her saving grace in
Instead, she’d concentrate on Jude Callahan. Since he’d entered her life, she’d discovered a part of herself she wasn’t aware existed. His smiles made her weak in the knees. His touch turned her to mush.
A week ago, she would’ve been as shocked as Cody that she’d slept with a stranger. She needed to come to terms with the many internal changes going on, but it would have to wait while she dealt with solving the mystery of her parent’s death and the missing gem stones.
The deep ‘croak’ of a raven interrupted her thoughts. She watched the single raven flying overhead and wondered if it was the same one she’d seen yesterday.
Remember how ravens love to steal bright shiny objects, Marunga?
Kat jerked upright. “I remember, Grandmother. What are you telling me? The ravens carried the gems away?” She received no answer, but hadn’t really expected one.
“Talking to yourself?” Jude inquired as he and Cody came out the door.
“Yeah, it’s a bad habit of mine.”
“Cody agrees with our military theory.”
Kat nodded toward some chairs. “Sit down. Let’s talk about it.”
Cody lowered his body into a chair. “There’re plenty of jobs for recently discharged military personnel. Unfortunately, many are illegal, but it’s good money and flavored with danger. Pick up a Soldier of Fortune magazine, or go to SoldiersforHire.com., and you’ll see what I mean.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Simply put, they’re modern day mercenaries. From what you’ve both said, it sounds as if that could be what we’re dealing with here.”
“Makes sense to me,” Jude joined the conversation. “What could they be up to? My gut tells me it has nothing to do with the gems.”
“I think you’re right.” Kat reached down to pat Red, sitting at her feet waiting for attention. “What’s our next move?”
Cody shrugged. “Rather than sit here like ducks on the water, I suggest we take the offense and do some scouting.”
“Kat, how close is the Canadian border?” Jude asked.
“A mile or so to the northwest. When the lodge was operating, a decent trail led straight to the border, but I imagine it’s grown in over the years. Not to mention the havoc probably wreaked by beavers.”
Oh yes. He knew all about what beavers could do. “I’m sure someone’s smuggling something into the
“Might be,” Cody said, “Or, they might be smuggling humans.”
Kat caught her breath at Cody’s comment. “You mean terrorists?”
Cody shrugged. “Why not? What better way to bring them in? These wilderness areas aren’t patrolled on a regular basis. Planes fly over periodically. Once a terrorist gets into
Kat glanced at Jude. His eyes were troubled. “I should let
“It’s a good day for a paddle.” Kat smiled. “I’ll go with you. Cody can mind the fort. Did you bring a weapon, Cody?”
“Never leave home without it. I’ll go with Jude. It’ll be a faster trip with two men paddling.”
“Don’t count on it,” Kat couldn’t resist the dig and laughed when Jude’s face turned crimson.
A disgruntled look spread over Cody’s face. “Private joke?”
“Something like that.” Jude stood and stretched. “I think it’s best to wait until tomorrow to call Frank. We might learn something tonight. No sense in making two trips. What time should we head out?”
“After dark. This time of year, about nine o’clock,” Kat replied. “It’s about eleven now. Let’s get everything ready for the trek and try to get some shut eye.” She glanced at Jude under her lashes. Sleep was the last thing on her mind.
“Rabbits,” Cody said sounding disgusted. “I brought fatigues and a side arm. You got an extra rifle I can use?”
Kat started for the door. “Sure do.” She looked at Jude. “Have you ever shot a rifle?”
Jude sighed. “Yes, Jane, many times. Just because I’m a greenhorn in the woods, doesn’t mean I don’t know my firearms.”
“Jane?” Cody’s eyebrows rose. “Forget her name already?”
Kat punched Cody’s arm. “Lighten up, Cody. Jane, as in G.I. Callahan thinks it’s funny. Let’s go inside.”
Using a screwdriver, Kat opened the false wall in the closet while the men stood behind. “Jude, you can take my .308.” I’m taking my bow.”
“Your bow?” I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if we run into some serious shit?”
“Don’t worry about Kat,” Cody bragged. “A bow is as accurate as a rifle. And a bow is as deadly with the added benefit of being quiet. In Kat’s hands, it’s lethal.”
“I’m also bringing a .44 Magnum revolver with a red dot scope.” Kat turned to Cody. “How about you? Got any preferences for a rifle?”
“Something military.”
“How about Colt’s version of an M-16? Or, I have an
“Either one.”
“Jesus Christ,” Jude sputtered. “You’ve got an arsenal in there.
“This one’s grandfathered in. I’ve had it since I was twelve. Besides, the ban expired this year.”
Jude shook his head. “Three cheers for gun control.”
Kat screwed the wall back in place and shut the closet door. “Now, we need something for you to wear, Jude. I think there’s some of my father’s old army clothes still hanging around. I’ll look when we go upstairs. If not, you’ll have to wear something dark. I’ve got face paint.
“Cody, you sleep in the cabin next to the lodge. The door’s unlocked. Water’s hot, so enjoy a hot shower and get some sleep. Let’s plan to be up by seven.”
“Sounds good to me.” Cody took the
Kat bristled at the tone of Cody’s voice. “Mind your own business, Cody.”
*****
Kat and Jude climbed the stairs in silence. Kat’s intuitiveness told her something was wrong, but she couldn’t zero in on what. Davey’s death had hit her hard, and tonight she needed to be held and comforted. Acknowledging her need was difficult.
Once they entered the loft bedroom, Jude went straight to his bed and laid down, his hands under his head.
Kat followed, cuddling up next to him. “You want to try this bed out?” She turned on her side and ran her fingers down his rib cage, before leaning over to kiss his neck.
“We have to talk.”
The stoic tone brought a chill into the room. Kat ignored it. “I can think of far better things to do.” She nuzzled his ear.
“I’m serious, Kat.”
She rolled onto her back, no longer able to push aside the foreboding atmosphere permeating the room. “About what?”
“You. Me. Us. We shouldn’t deepen our relationship until there’s an understanding between us.”
“Have you decided that this morning was a mistake?” She asked the question, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
He flipped onto his side so they were face to face. “Kat, you’ve wormed your way into my heart. You’re important to me. It doesn’t matter that we just met. But I don’t want to be hurt, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Callahan.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Kat’s fears mushroomed. “Where do you see this thing between us going?”
“I hadn’t thought about it.”
“That’s my point.” She heard bitterness in his voice.
“Look, Callahan. I’ve been in a horrific situation for almost a year. I didn’t know if I even had a tomorrow. I’ve grown accustomed to living life one day at a time. Hearing about Davey brings it all back.”
His eyes locked with hers, and she looked into his soul. “I understand that,” he spoke with tenderness. “But that’s over. You’re home, you’re alive and have a future to think about.”
He cupped her jaw, his thumb caressing her cheek. “I need to know if I’m a part of your future. If I am, how are we going to handle it?”
She took his hand and kissed his palm.
“Nothing’s changed. I can’t live here at the lodge. Can you live in
Kat squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could do the same to her ears. She didn’t want to hear what he was saying. But the time for honesty was now. “No. I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t be happy there.”
He let go of her and rolled on his back. “Then now’s the time to stop what we’ve started, or we’ll break each other’s hearts.”
Before they broke each other’s hearts? Too late. Hers already had a gapping crack in it. Her hand lay on his heart. She found comfort in the strong, steady beat. Without words, she slid her hand down his body until her fingers found his erection. “Your words say one thing, but your body says another.”
Jude removed her hand. “Did I say I didn’t want you? I do. More than you’ll ever know, but sex isn’t what I’m talking about. If what we shared last night was only sex for you, then there’s justification for Cody’s anger.”
Kat lay still for a long while and listened to the silence between them. A silence louder than a noisy party. In her head, she knew he was right. Why deepen a relationship that had nowhere to go? But her heart told another story. She wanted him more than she thought she would ever want a man. The huge lump sitting in her chest wouldn’t be cured by an antacid.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“Me, too.” Jude whispered back, but so low she barely heard him.
“Maybe we could compromise.”
He turned his head on the pillow and met her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you could come here whenever you have free time, and I’d come to see you on an occasional weekend.” His hopeful look disappeared, making her wonder if she’d seen it at all.
“I want a long-term commitment, not a casual love affair. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that’s not what you want either.”
The bed squeaked as Kat got up. “Then I guess that’s that.” When he didn’t respond, she padded to her own bed. Thoughts of Davey, her parents, a love found and lost in twenty-four hours circled in her mind like a merry-go-round for a long time before sleep claimed her.
*****
Long after Kat’s breathing signaled she slept, Jude’s thoughts continued to bounce around. Loneliness was a heavy weight in his chest. He wanted Kat in his bed next to him.
Closing his eyes, he fantasized about showing her around the city, the two of them laughing at a new comedy in the theatre. He imagined the delight in her eyes as she discovered things she’d never seen. She’d learn to love Thai food the way he did. They’d spend Sunday afternoons, lounging around his apartment watching old movies, having a glass of wine and eating popcorn. Even Red would enjoy walks in the park. He could chase squirrels.
Jude fell asleep with a smile on his face, his flights of fantasy coursing through his mind.
*****
“Everybody up. It’s time to roll.” Cody’s voice reverberated up the stairs.
Kat woke up groggy. She felt depressed and for a moment couldn’t remember why. Memories of Davey and her conversation with Jude came rushing back. Jude’s bed was empty. The bathroom door was closed.
In bare feet she went to her parents’ old room and pulled some army clothes of her father’s from a drawer. The room where the murders occurred still made her uneasy, so she hurried back to the loft bedroom, placing the clothes on Jude’s bed. She dressed in her fatigues and went downstairs.
“Here.” Cody handed her the camouflage paint. “One great thing about being black, I don’t need to use much of that shit. Just enough to keep the shine away.”
Kat grunted.
“What’s the matter? You don’t look too happy.”
Kat scowled at him. “I’m fine.” She didn’t need him to be on Jude’s ass all night. “I’m always grumpy when I sleep during the day. Want something to eat before we go?”
“Nope. I operate better on an empty stomach.”
Good, because she couldn’t have managed to eat anything. To hell with Callahan. He deserved to go hungry. “Has Red been outside?”
“Yep. I let him out when I first got up.”
Red was running in circles thinking he was going with them. “Sorry boy. You stay here and mind the store.”
When Jude showed up, Kat stayed in the kitchen, puttering around. “Cody, give Jude the camo paint.”
“Sure thing.”
While Jude applied the paint, Kat heard Cody talking. “Looks like you and Kat have a lot in common. You’re both grumpy when you sleep during the day.”
Jude didn’t bite. “Are we ready?”
“Let’s make some ground rules here,” Kat replied, joining them. “We stay together. We’ll use hand signals. Jude, if at any time you don’t understand what Cody and I are doing, follow our lead.”
She looked directly into his eyes. “Oh, that’s right. You want to be in charge. You have some orders for us?”
Jude’s mouth tightened. A twinge of guilt flickered through Kat. She felt small and petty.
“I’m not stupid. I’m willing to take orders from people who are experienced in this type of maneuver.”
“Good.” Cody said. “Let’s go see what we can find.”
The three of them slipped out into the dark quiet night and headed north through the forest.
Chapter 7
The trio moved as one through the thick woods. Kat was in the lead. Cody brought up the rear. Jude tripped over one tree root after another. He felt like a fish out of water. Christ, he should have stayed back at the lodge. Forgetting his promise to God, he cursed Frank for sending him here. Skulking in dark city alleys and leaping over chain-linked fences was his specialty, not sneaking around the woods on a dark night dressed like a commando. He hoped he wouldn’t screw up the mission. For all he could see of her, Kat might as well be invisible in front of him. If she stopped short, he’d more than likely plow right over her.
Occasionally, he glanced over his shoulder, but Cody was indistinguishable. The quiet of the woods, denser than the woods themselves, created an eerie atmosphere, magnifying his already frayed nerves. His ears had become accustomed to peeping frogs, crickets and the loons, but this silence freaked him.
Kat stopped, putting out a hand, preventing him from knocking her down. Jude halted. The blackness prevented him from reading her expression. She leaned into his neck and whispered. “I feel your anxiety. You don’t need your eyes to see, use your feet. Feel the ground with each step. The terrain will soon become familiar. Focus on the ground ten feet in front of you. Don’t look at your feet.” Before he could respond, she disappeared.
Right. Focus on the ground in front of him. Her words skipped through his mind. Good idea, if he could freaking see the ground. He gripped the .308 as if it were a life raft. At least an hour passed. Although they moved at a snail’s pace, they had to be nearing the border. Unless Kat had circled around to avoid beaver flowages she’d mentioned.
Jude’s mood improved when he realized that he could now see Kat, and at times, even distinguish trees. The rising full moon explained his sudden night vision.
A branch cracked to their left. All three froze. Jude stilled his breathing and waited. For what, he wasn’t sure. Within seconds, a huge black bear lumbered from the thicket. He prepared to ready the rifle, but Kat’s hand on his arm stopped him from shouldering the gun. She put her finger to her lips. He nodded his understanding for silence.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. He hoped the paint wasn’t dripping off his face. A light reassuring tap on the back from Cody didn’t ease his fear. The bear huffed several times, stood on its hind legs and sniffed the air searching for the unseen enemy. Jude started at a sudden bawling cry. Kat squeezed his arm in warning. Immediately, a small cub ran out of the thicket and stood by its mother. Kat readied her bow. After a few more sniffs, the sow growled and nosed her cub back towards the thicket. Together, they bolted into the hemlock stand. Jude’s lungs functioned again.
Kat waited several minutes before motioning them forward.
The so-called trail they followed disappeared. Kat moved through the thicket, making a minimum of noise. He wondered at her skill. She held branches for him so they didn’t slap him in the face. He did the same for Cody.
Kat abruptly stopped, her hand slapping into his chest. “Hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo.” Her owl imitation sounded bona fide. Cody responded in the same manner. What in hell were they doing now? Just a thrill a minute.
Kat spun around, pushing Jude towards Cody. Both men bent close to hear her words. “Do you smell it?”
Cody nodded.
Smell what, Jude wondered. He sniffed the air several times before picking up the faint scent of a burning cigarette. He wrestled with feeling inadequate, knowing he’d never have noticed it on his own.
Jude moved to follow Kat as she started forward, but Cody grabbed his shirt and pulled him back. Jude shook his head vehemently. Cody’s grip tightened. Jude broke the silence. “She can’t go by herself.”
“She can and she will. She’s the best tracker I know.” The calmness in Cody’s voice didn’t ease the icy fear twisting inside Jude’s chest.
Minutes became eternity as they waited for Kat’s return. Neither man spoke again. Jude’s thoughts ran rampant. What if something happened to her? Worries of Kat being captured by unknown villains, or falling and breaking a leg gnawed at him.
Tension drained from his body when she reappeared, holding up two fingers. Cody nodded his head. They traveled forward. The ground became wet and mushy. Their feet sank into the soft earth, making slurping noises. Soon they found dry ground. Kat signaled to get low, and they crawled a few hundred feet until they reached the top of a hill, overlooking a good-sized clear cut. Kat placed herself in the middle as they got on their bellies. Hair rose on Jude’s arms when voices from below ended the night’s silence.
“This guard duty shit’s getting old.”
“Quit whinin’. We get paid good money, and don’t need to worry about gettin’ our heads blown off.”
*****
Kat inhaled the sweet night air and forced her body to relax. Tenseness wreaked havoc on one’s muscles. No telling how long they’d be here. She hoped to God Callahan could stay still for the duration. She was surprised he’d done as well as he had so far.
Kat had fought her emotions the entire trip. Total concentration was paramount to staying alive, but memories of Jude’s words earlier that day still haunted her. How could she have been so stupid? She’d given in to longings to be close to someone. Something new and exciting had come alive inside her since she met Jude Callahan. Now it was over as soon as it began. She pushed her personal problems away and concentrated on the drama unfolding below.
The voices of the two men sounded young. Cody had hit the nail on the head about former military training. Military personnel tended to have an accent, no matter where they were from. The same accent that these guys had.
“Heard a rumor that we’re movin’ outa’ here in a few days. Goin’ back to
“That right? I could handle that. Too many bloodsucking insects in these parts. The desert’s better.”
Kat wasn’t able to see what they carried for weapons. The possibility they carried grenades couldn’t be ruled out. These pseudo military groups had access to all sorts of weapons from grenades to rocket launchers.
“Why can’t we just take out the girl same as her parents?”
“Don’t know. Boss said don’t touch the girl.”
Murderous rage surged through Kat. Her fingers clenched and unclenched on her bow. She could kill both of them. A bow was quiet. She could get off two arrows, and they’d never know what hit them. But she didn’t need Cody’s hand on her arm to resist the temptation. She wanted the boss, not his lackeys. The two men were in talkative mood.
“When’s the next shipment arriving?”
“How the hell do I know? Think I’m privy to that kind of information? But if we’re pullin’ out in a few days, I’d say it’s gonna be soon. Maybe there won’t be another one.”
“Perhaps be a good thing if there isn’t. Last time, I thought for sure the girl would get hit. Then we’d have been in deep shit with the Boss.”
Jude shifted his position and a few rocks slid down the banking. Kat sent him a withering look. He met her eyes without flinching. His mouth tightened, but Kat saw an apology in eyes.
“What’s that?” One of the pseudo soldiers headed toward the banking to investigate.
His comrade scoffed. “Just a fuckin’ animal. Will you relax? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
A pack of coyotes yelped and howled in the distance.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m skittish. Our replacements should be here soon. I’m lookin’ forward to some shut eye.”
Kat signaled and wiggled backwards, still flat on her belly. When they’d reached a safe distance, they stopped. “You were right, Cody. It’s a smuggling operation–either drugs or humans.”
“Looks that way, Half-Pint. There’s nothing more we can do here tonight, unless we circle further around and check out the main camp. Without knowing how many are holed up there, it’s not a wise move.”
She had no argument with that. “How about you, Callahan? You agree?” Kat bit the inside of her cheek to stop from smiling at the surprised look on his face. He didn’t expect to be consulted.
“We’ll head out on the lake first thing in the morning. I’ll call
“Sounds good. Let’s take a different route back to the lodge. Walking the same path makes an easy trail to follow.” Kat stood, stretched her muscles, and then shouldered her bow before taking the lead.
An hour later, she walked into a wall of smell that brought bile to her throat. The sweet stench of death saturated the area. She spun around when a hand fell on her shoulder.
“Want to ignore it?” Jude squeezed her shoulder gently.
Kat shrugged and lifted her eyes to Cody, silently seeking his opinion.
“It might be a dead moose or other animal.” Cody didn’t sound as if he believed his own words.
Kat shook her head. “I doubt it. That’s the smell of someone or something gut shot. Let’s follow our noses.” Neither man cracked a smile at her attempt at humor.
About three hundred feet away, Kat found the dead body, face down on the forest floor. “It’s Willie Card,” she said, with no emotion in her voice.
Jude and Cody arrived on either side of her.
At a low growl from the bushes, Jude raised his weapon, ready to fire.
“Coyotes.” Kat stared down at Willie. Intestines oozed through the huge hole in the side of his stomach and spilled onto the ground.
“Fitting death for the weasel. Fodder for the coyotes. Let’s head home.” She refused to acknowledge the troubled expressions on her companions’ faces. When neither man followed her, she pivoted. “What do you want to do? Drag him back to the lodge?” She made no attempt to disguise her disgust. “Help yourselves. Drag away.” Without another word she left.
Willie Card stayed with the coyotes.
Red’s bark from inside lodge took the edge off Kat’s sour mood. She was glad to be home. She glanced at her watch, three in the morning. Once inside, she hugged Red and headed straight upstairs to take a shower.
Standing under the spray of hot water, she willed it to drive the chill from her bones, a chill that had started in the afternoon and grew worse through the night. She now had answers to some of her questions, but it didn’t alleviate the anger and pain she felt at her loss. Her parents had been murdered because of a smuggling ring less than a mile behind their home.
The boss, whoever he was, had ordered her parents killed. Perhaps Bill and Mary had discovered the illegal activities going on. Or the boss wanted to make sure they never found out. Willie happened to show up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although, he had some connection with Carl Winter. Where did Carl fit into the picture?
Kat worked shampoo into her scalp, scrubbing hard to make sure the smell of death washed down the drain. Deep in thought, she gasped when she pulled open the shower curtain to reach for a towel. Jude sat in a chair in the corner of the bathroom, as if he had every right to be there. He did nothing to disguise his hungry stare at her nakedness.
“I took a shower in Cody’s cabin.”
Kat’s anger lessened at the tenderness in his voice, but she kept her defenses firmly in place. Pretending a relaxation she didn’t feel, she casually reached for a towel before climbing out of the tub. She faced him safely covered with the towel. “And you’re sitting in the bathroom while I take a shower because…?” She raised her eyebrows in question.
“Because I couldn’t stay away. Because I wanted to make sure you were okay. Because I care about you. Take your pick.” She saw only truth in his eyes.
“Get over yourself, Callahan. Who the hell do you think you are? You come in here playing my heart like a harp. Do I seem like someone who’d put up with a man who turns their feelings on and off like a freaking water faucet?”
She grabbed a brush and pulled it through her tangled hair. “I’m fine. Honest,” she added when he opened his mouth to speak.
Her temper rose when Jude ignored her dismissal. He stayed seated in the chair, crossing his legs. “You were brutal out there tonight, leaving Willie’s body for the coyotes.”
Kat leaned back against the sink and regarded him with somber eyes. “At last. The real reason for your visit.” She ran the brush through her wet hair. “I told you guys to bring the body back here. Or get a shovel and go back to bury him. Although I assure you, even if you do that, the coyotes will dig him up.”
Jude’s mouth tightened. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
Kat glared at him “Exactly what did you mean?”
The tension in the room grew taut.
“Your attitude struck me as cold, hard and calculating.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I don’t think those characteristics are really who you are.”
Kat turned away and busied herself wiping up the sink. “You’ve known me for a little over a day. How can you possibly know who I am?” She swallowed hard to hold back the tears, but two big hot ones slid slowly slid down her cheeks and plopped in the sink. Determined not to let him see her cry, she turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face.
Warm arms enfolded her from behind, pulling her against a warm chest. His body held the heat she craved. Kat peeked in the mirror and met his gaze.
“You’re the first woman I’ve met who cries without making a sound.”
“I’m not crying.” Even though she wanted nothing more than to lean against him, she removed his arms and stepped away. “It’s my allergies,” she lied. “Now go, so I can get ready for bed.”
His face hardened. She prepared for his argument, but he surprised her by walking out and closing the door behind him.
Kat sank onto the chair, telling herself she’d done the right thing by rebuffing Jude’s attempt to comfort her. Why should she chance opening her heart to him again? How many times did she need to hear him tell her they had no future? She discarded the towel, slipped on a large nightshirt and brushed her teeth before heading to bed.
*****
“Where’s Cody?”
Jude started when Kat entered the room, surprised she spoke to him. “Is he downstairs?”
“He’s sleeping on the porch in the hammock. Said he liked sleeping outside and thought it best someone be out there in case we were followed tonight.”
“Makes sense,” she murmured as she climbed into bed, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of well-muscled legs.
His heart beating double time, he took the plunge. “Can we be friends?”
Silence. He waited a few minutes. “Did you hear me, Kat?”
“I heard you. I don’t have an answer for you tonight.”
She sounded exhausted. Tonight she’d reverted back to the woman he’d first met, the prickly one with a chip on her shoulder. He preferred the woman he’d discovered since that first meeting.
He walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. Before she could react, he reached over and let his hands perform their magic on her stiff neck and shoulders. She rolled from her side to her stomach, giving him better access and moaned. “I swear, Callahan, you should change your career. That feels so damn good.”
“Relax and enjoy it, Kat. You’ve had a rough night.” Her body tensed when he pulled the nightshirt over her head. “No ulterior motives. Promise. I can do a better job with it off.
“I bet you can.”
He smiled, glad to hear the humor back in her voice.
“Doesn’t sound as if we’re going to find your gems. Hope you don’t get fired.”
Jude chuckled, kneading the knots in her shoulders and neck. “I’m not worried. Frank was well aware of that possibility.”
As he massaged the muscles in her back, he felt her stress fade away. “What direction are you headed in now that your time in the Army is coming to an end?”
“I’ve no idea,” she sighed. “My dream’s always been to make this a working lodge again, but I have no capital to make it happen. I’ve been thinking about re-enlisting for another hitch.”
Jude’s hands stilled. He gripped her arms. Fear for her safety overwhelmed him. “Tell me you’re not serious.”
“Unlike some people, I don’t say things I don’t mean.” The hostile Kat made an appearance. “And what’s it to you anyway?” .
He worked out another knot. “Why not come with me to
“And do what?”
“Get to know me. Let me get to know you.” He held his breath.
She flipped on her back, either forgetting or not caring that she was naked. He didn’t know which.
She snatched the sheet around her breasts. “We’ve been down this road before, Callahan. Remember? It’s full of potholes.”
The sadness in her voice hurt Jude more than her anger ever could.
“Jude. Please. For both our sakes, accept that we either have a long distance relationship, visiting each other whenever we can or end what’s between us.” She turned back onto her stomach.
On automatic pilot, Jude resumed his massage. He knew she was right, but he refused to give up hoping or searching for a solution. Within minutes, she fell asleep. He placed a tender kiss on the back of her neck, lingering for a long moment.
*****
The minute he stopped touching her, Kat awoke. She squeezed her eyes shut to prevent tears from escaping. She’d never met anyone who even came close to this man in the bed next to hers and probably never would again. How easy it would be to go to
The fantasy she’d created about their love didn’t include
Kat swallowed the lump in her throat and pushed away her fantasies, seeking the oblivion of sleep. She pulled the pillow on top of her head to shut out the sound of his gentle snoring.
Chapter 8
‘Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition…and we’ll all stay free.’
Jude’s eyes sprang open, thinking someone was bellowing in his ear. The he realized the God-awful noise was Cody’s resounding version of an old hymn. A quick look confirmed that Kat still slept. She needed it. And he needed coffee to chase the cobwebs from his head.
Jude walked into the kitchen and laughed. Cody stood at the baking counter wearing a white apron, surrounded by various cooking bowls, utensils, flour, sugar and spices, sporting a huge smile.
“What’s the matter? Didn’t think I was chef material?” Cody’s grin grew.
“Keep it down.” Jude was still smiling. “Kat’s still asleep.”
Cody sobered. “How is she?”
Jude swallowed his jealousy and managed not to choke on it. “She hides her feelings well. She’s lucky to have you for a friend, although it kills me to say it.”
Cody rolled his eyes and heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Well, I guess that answers my next question.”
Jude poured himself coffee from the thermos on the counter. “It’s too early for word games. Get to the point.” He sat at the table and watched Cody’s large hands rapidly breaking one egg after another into the bowl.
“My point being, all’s not well in paradise.”
Jude grimaced, wishing he could deny it. “You’re right. I haven’t a clue what to do next. I’ve tried to get her to agree to come to
“Are you crazy, man?” Cody waved the wooden spoon in the air. “If you thought she would move to the city, then you haven’t got a clue about her.”
Jude set the mug down with a bang, sloshing coffee on the table. “I know she’s a loner and has a hard time trusting people. I know she trusts me, or she used to.”
“Come on man, think about it. If she lived in the city, she’d wither and die like a pond lily in the desert.”
Jude’s fingers rubbed his forehead in an attempt to ward off a headache. “I’d hoped that…..Did you know she plans on re-enlisting?”
Cody’s dark brown eyes widened, and he stopped stirring his concoction. “Tell me you’re kidding?”
“That’s what she said last night.” Frustrated, Jude got up and paced the floor, wishing he had a degree in psychology. Maybe then he’d be able to understand the damn woman.
“Shit.” Cody furiously whipped the ingredients in his bowl. “They’ll send her back to
“You’d follow her over there?” Jude asked, astonished.
“I already told you. She’s saved my life more than once. Someone’s got to watch her back, and I owe her.”
“If it comes to that, I’ll owe you. You make excellent coffee, Cody. Strong, the way I like it.” He refilled his mug. “Maybe you’ll be able to convince Kat not to re-enlist.” Jude winced at the pathetic plea he heard in his own voice.
“Yeah, right,” Cody drawled. “And maybe Bin Laden will waltz into the American Embassy in
“Let’s wait for her.”
Cody took off his apron, tossed it on the counter and headed for the door. “I’m going for a walk. Need to clear my head and think about this new development.”
At the word ‘walk’, Red stopped snoring, jumped up and wiggled around the room, his tail wagging with enough force to injure someone’s leg should they get in the way.
“Let’s go, Red.”
Jude took his coffee to the living room and sat on the couch watching several white puffy clouds coast across the blue sky. Kat would take them to the spot on the lake, and he’d call
The melancholy cry of a loon in the distance sounded peaceful. Shit. If he stayed here much longer, he’d be wearing red flannel shirts and splitting firewood when it was twenty below zero. The place, as well as Kat, had won a corner of his heart.
Red’s frantic barking jarred him from his thoughts. Readying his Beretta, he moved onto the porch. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Cody forcing Brian Richardson across the lawn at gunpoint.
Cody shoved Brian forward. Brian stumbled, but managed to stay on his feet. “Look what I found lurking in the woods behind the generator shed.”
“I wasn’t lurking,” Brian vehemently denied, his face turning a dull shade of purple. “I came to check on Kat.”
Jude put his pistol back in the holster. “What happened to knocking on a door when you come to visit someone?”
“You know this guy?” Cody asked, his gun still aimed at Brian’s head.
“He’s Brian Richardson, a local, and supposedly, a friend of Kat’s. How’d you get here
“I beached it down the lake and walked the shore.”
Brian’s all-American boy persona Jude had witnessed at their first meeting was gone. This man might as well have the word guilt written across his forehead. “Why would you do that?”
Brian remained defiant. “Look. I don’t have to answer your questions. Where’s Kat?” His eyes darted around as if he expected to find her hiding behind a tree.
Jude flashed Cody a look over Brian’s head. “It’s time to come clean,
“I told you all I know.” He crossed his arms and gave Jude an insolent stare.
“Hey Jude, want me to soften him up? I know lots of neat tricks guaranteed to make people talk.” Jude fought a smile as he watched the color drain from Brian’s face.
Cody took the role of a cat tormenting a mouse.
“I don’t know, Cody.” Jude answered, playing the game. “Kat might get upset if we hurt her friend.”
“What the hell is going on?” Jude turned at Kat’s sudden appearance on the porch. “Cody, why are you holding a gun on Brian?”
All eyes zeroed in on the diminutive woman in a T-shirt that reached mid thigh. “Someone better start talking.”
Jude grabbed the ball and ran with it. “Cody found Brian sneaking around in the woods behind the generator shed.” His eyes challenged Kat to side with Brian.
Kat turned her attention to Brian. “Care to explain yourself?”
“I was worried about you…you know, being here alone with him.” Brian’s head nodded in Jude’s direction. “And then this…this...” Brian appeared at a loss to describe Cody.
“Watch it,
Brian’s fear had vanished. Jude wondered why.
“Cut the bullshit, Brian.” Kat stepped off the porch, walking straight at Brian and Cody. “I’ve known you forever, and I know you’re lying. She grabbed the front of his shirt, and yanked him toward her face. “You’ve got two options. Tell me what you’re hiding or take a walk out back with Cody.”
Brian tried to pull away from her. “Jesus, Kat.” She let him go, and he took a few steps back. “You’re right. There’s weird shit going on here. Some kind of secret operation. That’s all I can tell you, because that’s all I know.”
Cody voiced the obvious question. “Why haven’t you called the police?”
Brian swallowed and stared at the ground. “Because they threatened to kill me and dump my body in the lake if I talked to anyone.”
“You expect us to believe you have no idea what’s going on?” Jude scoffed. “Who’s they?”
“I’m telling the truth. I don’t know who they are, except it’s official government business.” Brian faced Kat. “You believe me, don’t you?”
“You disgust me. How much are you being paid to keep your mouth shut?”
“They threatened me, Kat,” Brian pleaded.
“You’re pathetic.” Kat glanced at Jude. “Go call the police.”
Jude played along with her and turned toward the lodge. “Sure.”
Brian’s words fell over one another. “The storm knocked the tower down. There’s no reception on the lake.”
“Oh?” Kat’s eyes narrowed. “Guess we’ll use the radio phone in the lodge.”
Brian’s brows puckered. “It’s broken. Did you get it fixed?”
Kat lunged at him, digging her fingers into his arms. “And how do you know that?”
Jude saw Brian’s look of horror.
“You told me,” he stammered.
Kat increased the pressure on his arms. “I didn’t tell you anything. You know because you’re the one who sabotaged it.”
“I didn’t….”
“Get off my property Brian Richardson.” Kat interrupted him. “Trespass here again, and you’ll leave in a body bag.”
Brian bolted for the woods at a run. Kat reached over and took Cody’s gun. Dropping to her knee she took aim. She waited until Brian was next to a spruce tree and squeezed the trigger, hitting the tree dead center. Bark flew, striking Brian’s face. He kept running. “You’re crazy, Kat Tenney,” he shouted over his shoulder before he disappeared in the thick foliage.
“Let’s go eat.” Kat stalked toward the lodge.
Jude and Cody exchanged a look and followed.
An uncomfortable silence filled the lodge while Cody finished preparing breakfast. Kat poured herself a cup of coffee and perched on the barstool in the kitchen. Cody placed food on the table, the aroma boosting Jude’s appetite.
Jude broke the silence. “Perhaps we should have kept Brian here. He knows something he’s not telling us.”
“Perhaps, he does,” Kat acknowledged, “but I doubt he knows the real story.” Kat sighed, pushing her food around the plate. “I’m sorry if I blew it, but I wanted him gone.”
Cody interjected, talking with his mouth full. “It’s obvious he’s been told to spy on you. I wonder why.”
“I wonder if he got a whiff of the stolen gems?” Jude pondered his own question. “We’ve got to call
Kat placed her fork down and pushed her plate away. “We could drive to Rockwood and use a pay phone.”
“That’s a six hour round trip.” Jude complained.
“I’ll go,” Cody volunteered. “Would the FBI talk to me?”
“I could make sure they would. Give you information no one would know but me. Even if they checked you out first, it wouldn’t take long. Sure you don’t mind?”
Kat interrupted. “We’ll all go. I think it’s important to stay together.”
*****
Within the hour, they were paddling down the lake. Cody at the stern, Kat in the bow and Jude in the middle where she figured he’d do the least amount of harm. Red curled up behind Kat and took a nap.
“Shortest way is straight down the middle of the lake, but with all that’s going on, we’d be safer to stay close to shore. That way we can bail out and swim for cover if things get rough.”
No one argued the point. Kat slipped into a trancelike state as she often did when paddling. Cody and Jude talked to one another, but their words didn’t register. Brian’s treachery hurt. She thought they were best of friends. If she ever discovered he was directly connected to her parents’ murders, he was dead. She’d see to it personally.
“Hey Kat,” Jude’s voice jarred her from her thoughts. “Is there a decent restaurant in the
“What do you think? Don’t you ever think of anything but your stomach?”
“Just asked,” he mumbled. Kat felt guilty for being such a bitch. Meeting Jude Callahan was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She was drawn to him. He made her feel safe and cared for. No one was at fault for them being star-crossed lovers. Unless one of them had a major transformation, they had no future together. Should she give city living a try? No. That would never work and trying would only prolong the heartbreak for both of them.
“Here we are,” Cody said.
“That didn’t take long. Nice SUV, Callahan,” she quipped. Our tax dollars at work, I imagine?”
Jude gave her a heart-stopping grin.
Kat jumped from the canoe and walked over to the Land Rover. She frowned at the four flat tires. She checked out Cody’s vehicle and groaned. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Jude climbed the bank. “Why not?”
She pointed toward his vehicle. “Cody’s, too.”
Cody ran his fingers over the tires. “Slashed. With a knife or screwdriver. Think Brian would do it, just for spite?”
Kat picked up a flat rock and skipped it across the water. “If someone’s paying him, he’d do whatever he was told to do.”
“Where’s your truck, Kat?” Cody inquired.
“About a half mile from here. There’s another landing that belongs to the lodge. It’s private. Paying guests used to park there.”
“Should we check it out?
Kat shrugged. “Might as well, since we’re down this way. But I’m not holding my breath. Seems like the rules have changed. Two days ago, someone tried to scare me into leaving. Now they’re making sure no leaves.”
The canoe slid silently through the calm water. Not even a breeze stirred the leaves in the trees. Kat became mesmerized at the beautiful mirror image of the shoreline on the lake. If a photo, it could be viewed upside down without realizing it. The lake was seldom this calm.
A movement in the reflection grabbed her attention. She pulled her paddle out of the water and signaled to Jude and Cody to do likewise. There it was. A camo-clad body leaned against a tree not far ahead of them. He faced away from them. She used her hand to gesture to the men to bring the canoe close to shore. Thirty more feet and they’d be at the landing.
Kat focused her attention on Jude. He nodded. Assured everyone was on the same page, she unholstered her .44 magnum. Only five shots, but with the red dot scope, she knew each one would hit its target.
“We’re done here. Let’s move out.” A voice came from the shore where she’d parked her truck. At least two of them.
“Fine by me. Let’s go.”
An engine started, a four-wheeler Kat guessed. She slapped her paddle hard on the water.
“What was that?” One of them asked.
“Probably a beaver. Let’s go.”
“I’d better take a look.”
Kat’s elbows rested on her knees, the revolver held in both hands. One man walked to the water’s edge. The moment he saw the canoe, he leaned against a tree and shouldered his rifle. Before he could shoot, Kat squeezed the trigger. The man keeled over.
The ATV took off.
“Must be nice to be able to rely on your friends,” Cody quipped. “Let’s go in and check him out.”
“Good shot.” Jude’s compliment didn’t lift Kat’s spirits.
“Thanks.” She closed her eyes, fighting off feelings of revulsion that always accompanied ending a life. War had taught her the necessity, but each time she killed someone, another scar grew on her heart.
Kat walked up the road while Cody and Jude examined the body. The ATV had scattered gravel and rocks around the area as it peeled out. She doubted it would return, but kept her gun handy, just in case.
“Find anything?” Kat asked, walking over to the body.
“A phone in his pocket.” Cody examined the phone while Jude searched for more clues. “Must be a satellite phone if it works in here.”
“There’s no identification. Looks to be in his mid to late twenties. What a waste of a life.” Jude dragged the body farther back in the woods and returned with the rifle.
“Should we try the phone?” Kat asked Jude. “The sooner we get someone here, the better. Now we have two bodies laying around.”
Kat spied Cody walking toward her truck.
“We can probably get one call out before the guy on the four-wheeler reports it’s missing, and it’s put out of commission.”
“Everyone in the water!” Cody commanded, coming towards them at a run. “Move! Now!”
Kat obeyed without question. When Jude hesitated, she grabbed his arm and pulled him along while she holstered her gun. “Come, Red.”
The air was hot enough to make the cold water refreshing. She was glad to see that Jude not only could swim, but was a powerful force in the water. She struggled to keep up with him.
A loud explosion rocked the earth and she turned toward shore. Her truck had blown up.
“Jesus Christ!” Jude breathed. Huge flames roared thirty feet in the air, followed by black. Several small explosions followed. A piece of flying metal landed in the water not ten feet from where they tread water, sizzling before it sank.
Shocked, Kat gaped at the huge fireball and the billowing black smoke that smelled of oil. She continued to tread water, searching for Cody. She sighed with relief when she saw him swimming towards them. He pushed the canoe in front of him.
“How’d you know about the bomb?” Kat asked when he got close enough to hear her.
“Went over to look at your truck…saw it on the seat.” Cody replied breathing hard. “Someone’s making damn sure you don’t go anywhere, Kat.”
“Why not just flatten the tires?”
“I’ve got no idea. Maybe blowing up the other two was next on the agenda.”
“At least Brian wasn’t involved in this.”
“Not that we know of.” Kat heard Jude mutter beneath his breath. He was right. She shouldn’t defend Brian. He’d proven himself untrustworthy.
“What happened to the phone?” Cody asked still gasping.
“I dropped it on the shore,” Jude replied.
“Good thing. I doubt it would work if it were waterlogged.”
They hung to the canoe as they watched the remains of the truck burn.
“I think the explosions are over. Let’s go back and try the phone.” They swam to shore. All except Red, who stayed in the water, trying to drag in a floating log.
Jude picked up the phone and dialed John Rowe’s number, giving Kat and Cody a thumbs up. “John? It’s Jude. Shut up and listen. We’ve got big trouble here. I need backup ASAP. A group with military training are smuggling across the border behind the lodge. They’ve shot at Kat from the air and just now blew up her truck. Jesus, John, no. I haven’t been drinking. Forget the fucking gems. Willie Card’s dead. Get some agents up here.”
Kat and Cody shared a look when Jude stopped talking. He scowled at whatever John Rowe was saying to him.
“I understand, but I’m telling you that we don’t have that much time. We heard them say the operation was moving out soon.”
Another long pause. “Right. I got it. I won’t be calling on this phone again. Try tracing the number I’m calling from. It should give you some leads. I expect to see backup by tomorrow morning.” Jude shut the phone, started to pocket it, then tossed it back on the shore.
He faced Kat and Cody. “Tomorrow morning is the earliest we can expect any help. The border makes it an international situation, and John needs to contact Canadian officials.”
“Figures. Freaking government.” Kat turned toward the canoe. “Let’s get back to the lodge.”
“Come on, Kat,” Cody caught Kat’s arm, halting her. “It’s not Jude’s fault. You’ve been in the military long enough to understand SOP.”
Kat nodded and gave Jude a quick, apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I’m not pissed at you. Let’s go. We’ve got to keep the lodge safe, in case it’s next on the demolition list.”
Jude stared at the smoldering truck.
“What’s wrong?” she inquired.
“I’m wondering if any loggers might have heard the explosion or seen the smoke. Maybe they’ll come to investigate or report it.”
Kat squashed his hope. “I doubt it, Callahan. No one’s logging in this area right now. I haven’t noticed any planes around either.” She looked pointedly at both men. “We’re on our own until help gets here.”
They climbed in the canoe and paddled north, staying close to the shore for safety.
*****
Jude sat behind Kat, watching her muscles flex with each paddle stroke. He admired at how effortlessly she paddled. The hot sun felt great. Everyone had shed their shirts and shoes. Kat wore a sports bra. Women jogged around the city all the time wearing sports bras. He’d never found them a turn-on. Right now he found himself in the uncomfortable position of paddling with a hard on. Thank God, neither Kat nor Cody could see.
He closed his eyes so he didn’t have to look at her bare back, but when his eyes were shut, memories of the one time they’d made love replayed in his mind. She’d been more responsive than any woman he’d made love to, giving herself freely.
Kat took the elastic off her ponytail, probably to dry her hair. Now he was forced to look at her hair swinging on her shoulders each time she reached forward to dip her paddle in the water. He groaned.
“What’s the matter with you?” Kat whipped around and looked him square in the face. “First you’re breathing hard, and now you’re groaning. And your face is flushed. Are you sick?”
Cody burst into laughter, causing Jude to groan again. “I’m fine. Turn around and keep paddling, or we’ll never get there.”
Kat glowered at him, before turning back to the front.
Cody sang his version of “Hey, Jude.” Jude looked over his shoulder and glared at him.
“What?” Cody asked.
“Your look of innocence doesn’t fly. I’ve got a headache. Quit the singing. Besides you make a better chef.”
Cody leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “You’ve got it bad, man. Real bad.” Jude heard glee in his voice.
Jude threw Cody a disgusted look over his shoulder. He concentrated on the sun beating on his back and shoulders. He’d forgotten how refreshing swimming was.
“We’re home.” Jude snapped out of his daydream when Kat spoke.
“When we land the canoe,” she continued, “let’s drag it into the trees out-of-sight. From now until help arrives, we’re on high alert. We watch each other’s backs, as well as our own. The rules of the game have changed.”
“I agree. We’ll stick together until…” Jude broke off at the sound of a plane, coming over the trees from behind them.
“Let’s move it,” Cody said.
By the time the plane banked on the east side of the lake, the canoe was hidden in the thick bushes, and the shore was deserted. Birds scolded and scattered as their peace in the bushes was disturbed. Crouched amongst the alders and meadowsweet were three weapons, all prepared to fire.
Chapter 9
“Do you recognize it?” Jude whispered, his breath hot on the back of Kat’s neck. “Is it the same one you saw the other day?”
She shivered, fighting the temptation to turn her head and find his mouth. His hair tickled her neck, sending waves of desire rippling along her spine
“No. It’s not the same one and it’s not a local plane.” She swallowed, not surprised at the hoarseness in her voice.
The plane landed and taxied toward the wharf. “No shooting until we see who it is,” Kat’s voice kept her voice at a whisper. “It might be someone I know.” She gasped as the plane drew closer. “It’s
“And Carl Winter,” Jude added. “I wondered when they’d show up.”
“How do you want to play it?” Cody asked.
“Not a word about the gems, or the border activities. We’re Army friends of Kat’s here for a visit. I want to observe Winter’s reactions.”
Kat looked at Jude in surprise. He’d taken command.
“Let’s go greet our guests.” Kat jumped to her feet and started toward the wharf. Red ran ahead, barking a warning at the strangers. The plane pulled up next to the dock, and Carl Winter opened his door and threw a rope to anchor the plane. Jude caught it in mid-air.
Once he climbed out, Carl headed straight for Kat, leaving
Kat’s eyes narrowed and sized up the man as he approached. She ignored his hand, but nodded in greeting. “And you are…?”
“Oh. I’m sorry,” he apologized, his smile shark-like. “How rude of me.” He reeked of phoniness, along with some strong cologne that turned her stomach. She’d met handsome con men like him. During her childhood, they’d come around, wanting to buy the lodge. How could her sister be so blind to this man’s character?
Kat forgot Carl for a minute, and looked beyond his shoulder at her sister about to disembark. Cody offered to help
“Who are you, and what are you doing on my property?” Behaving as royalty, she began her descent from the plane to the wharf. Kat was surprised that Liz consented to take Cody’s hand. Dressed in a silk sundress and wearing three-inch heels,
“Why, ma’am,” Cody drawled. “I’m here to serve.”
The anger in Cody’s eyes made Kat nervous, but her sister remained oblivious.
“Well, help me then.” At Elizabeth’s rudeness, Kat itched to run over and slap her face.
Jude finished tying off one back of the floatplane, but the front end drifted away from the wharf.
“You’ll have to jump! I’ll catch you.” Cody said.
Her voice was frigid as an iceberg. “You can release me now.”
Kat held her breath, hoping Cody would ignore her sister’s rudeness. She stepped forward to relieve the tension. She was too late.
“Sure thing, Princess.” Cody released her and stepped back. For a split second
“She can’t swim, Cody.” Kat ran to dive in after her sister.
Cody swore. “I’ll get her. For Christ’s sake, how can someone grow up on a lake and not be able to swim?” In a flash, Cody dove in the water and pulled up a sputtering
“Let go of me you barbarian!” Elizabeth screamed, still choking on the water she’d swallowed.
“Whatever you say, Princess.” Cody let go of her, and she sank again. Arms flailing, she resurfaced, clutching at his arms. “Please get me out of the water. I don’t know how to swim.”
Without a word, Cody grabbed her from behind, cupped her bottom and hoisted her onto the wharf. “Why you….you….”
Kat covered her mouth, hiding a grin.
Jude laughed out loud.
Carl Winter, acting the gentleman, hurried over to
“Come inside and change your clothes, Liz.” Kat called.
“Into what?
“I’m sure Mom and Dad didn’t throw out all the clothes you left here.” Kat became annoyed at herself for placating her spoiled sister. “Either that, or stay in those wet ones. Your choice.”
Grumbling,
“You will be nice to my friends, Liz,” Kat looked into the green eyes, so identical to her own. “Remember, this is no longer your home.”
“Knock it off, Liz. Those crocodile tears never worked with me. I’m not going to fall for your ‘oh woe is me’ act.”
The women made their way upstairs to their old bedroom. Kat opened the closet door and tossed an assortment of clothes on the bed. “I’m sure there’s something here that’ll fit you.” Kat turned, her eyes pinning Liz. “Why’d you lie to me?”
The green eyes widened, and Kat saw the guilt before the lashes fell. “What are you talking about? I haven’t lied to you.”
“The day of the funeral you told me you hadn’t been back to visit Mom and Dad. You and your friend, Carl, were here the week before they were killed.”
Liz brushed a wet strand of honey blonde hair behind her ear and busied herself looking through the clothes on the bed.
“Well?” Kat took Liz by the arm, forcing her to turn around. “I want the truth, Liz. What’s going on?”
A slide-show of emotions crossed Liz’s face, fear, guilt, anger, even sadness, which was a first. “Carl said we shouldn’t mention our visit here…you know, because of the murders. He thought we could be considered suspects.” Her eyes narrowed. “How did you know we were here?”
“Brian Richardson.”
“Oh, I should have known. Was he hiding behind one of the islands, spying on us? We didn’t see him.”
“He was fishing, Liz. Besides, who saw you isn’t important. I want to know why you were here.”
Liz put on an old pair of jeans and a tank top, making her look more like the sister Kat had grown up with. She experienced a tug of regret that they weren’t as close as many sisters were.
Kat moved to her bureau and retrieved some dry clothes for herself.
Liz sat on the bed and sighed. “Carl’s interested in buying the property. We visited so he could make an offer to Mom and Dad.”
“And their answer?” Kat asked pulling on a dry shirt.
Liz’s mouth turned down into her famous pout. “What do you think? Dad would’ve been willing. Mom refused to even consider it.”
“I assume you’re here today for the same reason. Or did you drop by to pay a loving sisterly visit?”
Liz shrugged and shifted her eyes away from Kat.
“Thought so. Do you know why he wants the lodge?” Kat had her own suspicions, but wanted to hear what her sister said.
“No. I’ve asked him a few times, but he gets angry so I let it drop. He’s…he’s got an explosive temper.”
“Why are you with him then? How involved are you?”
Liz squirmed. “I’m hoping things will get serious between us.”
“Meaning that right now you’re just friends?”
Elizabeth’s eyes pleaded for understanding. “He’s rich, Kat. You know I’ve always wanted to marry someone with money.”
Kat scoffed. “What about love? Don’t you want to spend your life with someone you care about? Someone you want to be with?” Someone like Jude Callahan?
“Dad always said it’s as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one.”
“Are you willing to risk being hurt, Liz? And I’m not talking about emotionally. I’ve only just met the man, and he gives me the creeps. He probably abuses women.”
Her sister’s mouth tightened, and she refused to meet Kat’s eyes.
Kat had a bad feeling in her got, but gave up. “Right. Let’s go downstairs and get it over with. You know damn well I’m not selling this place. You should have saved your boyfriend a trip.”
Liz rose. “I did tell him that, but he insisted we come.”
*****
After several attempts to draw Winter into conversation, Jude suggested they go inside. It seemed Carl Winter had nothing to say, at least to him.
When Cody returned after changing his clothes, he’d seemed reticent. Jude figured Liz was the reason. Although how anyone would be attracted to her boggled his mind. In his opinion, a man might as well bed a scorpion.
Jude played host, pouring whiskey for himself and Winter. Cody opted for a beer.
Kat’s arrival ended the heavy silence hanging over the room. “Okay, Carl. Let’s hear your spiel about buying the lodge so I can say no, and you two can fly away into the sunset.”
Jude chuckled. That’s his Kat. Direct and to the point. He moved across the room next to her. “Want a drink, honey?” He ignored the glare of those green eyes. “I’ll get you a whiskey.”
“Since when do you drink whiskey?” Liz blurted out.
“We haven’t seen each other for four years, Liz.”
Carl sped into his sales pitch. “Capt. Tenney...”
“I’m on leave. You’re not in the military. Call me Kat.”
“I’m here to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” Reaching into his briefcase, he pulled out a stack of papers. “I took the liberty of drawing up a purchase and sale agreement. Read it, please. I’m sure you’ll find my offer far more generous than you’d ever get on the open market. All you need to do is sign the document, and I’ll present you with a certified bank check within the week.”
Jude leaned against the counter, sipping his whiskey and waited for the fireworks. He wasn’t disappointed.
Kat didn’t even glance at the document he handed to her. Her eyes locked on Winter with the precision of a jet fighter. She tore his purchase and sale agreement into tiny pieces and let them flutter to the floor. “That’s my answer, Mr. Winter.”
The man’s face turned ugly. “That was a big mistake, Ms. Tenney.”
“Call me Kat, and I don’t think so. I have no intention of selling this lodge. If the day comes that I can’t afford to keep it, then it’ll be turned over to the Penobscot Nation. That’s what my grandmother wanted.”
The stubborn tilt of her chin told Jude she meant what she said. Would Winter be that perceptive? He stepped in before things got ugly. “Okay. Business appears to be over. Liz, would you and your friend care to stay for supper?” Jude ignored the scowl Kat bestowed on him for making the request.
Liz’s face turned pale. She sank down on a chair at the table. “Kat, won’t you at least consider Carl’s offer?”
“You heard your sister. She’s not interested.” Cody’s voice didn’t sound friendly.
Liz directed her anger at him. “No one asked your opinion.”
“You got it anyway,” Cody retorted.
“I’ll repeat myself, Ms. Tenney.” Carl’s body stiffened with anger. “You won’t get a better offer than the one I’m offering. It would be extremely wise for you to think it over.”
Kat responded without hesitation. “My answer will never change.”
“That’s too bad. I’m afraid you’ll soon regret your decision.”
Jude recognized a threat when he heard one. His first impulse was to pummel Winter to within an inch of his life. He went with his second impulse.
“Sweetheart,” Jude reached out and put his arm around Kat, drawing her close. He wanted her safe against him. “I think now might be the right time to break our news to your sister.”
Jude swallowed his laughter at the uncomprehending look on Kat’s face. She recovered and closed her mouth, when he squeezed her arm. He trusted she’d go along with whatever he said.
“It’s up to you, honey,” Kat’s voice was low and husky.
Jude’s look encompassed everyone in the room. “Kat and I are getting married.”
Liz gasped as if someone had announced the world was coming to an end in ten minutes. Cody choked on the mouthful of beer he’d been swallowing. Only Winter remained silent, but the hard contemptuous look in his eyes spoke volumes. Kat stiffened but managed to keep her smile in place.
Cody recovered first. “Hey, man, congratulations.” He came over to shake Jude’s hand. “You, too, Half-Pint.” He gave Kat a big bear hug. “You two belong together.”
“This is crazy,” Liz spoke up, her voice harsh. “How long have you known each other?”
“Long enough.” Kat answered sharply.
“But, Kat, men don’t…..I mean…you aren’t…” Liz shut up, as if realizing the inappropriateness of what she was about to say.
Cody jumped to Kat’s defense. “Kat’s a fine woman. Any man should consider himself lucky to have her.” His dark eyes bore into Liz as if daring her to say another word.
Kat poured herself more whiskey. Jude arms came around her from behind. He whispered in her ear. “Trust me. It’s important that Winter knows you’re protected. I’m afraid he might harm you.” At her nod, he released her.
“Winter,” Jude walked toward the other man. “Since I’ll soon be Kat’s husband, all business dealings should come through me. I suggest we shelve your offer for a while. Perhaps we’ll talk again at a later date.”
Carl frowned, but agreed with a slight nod of his head.
“Liz? Carl? Are you staying for dinner?” Jude asked.
Liz glanced at Carl.
The man shrugged. “Actually, we brought a nice roast and some wine. I thought we’d be celebrating a real estate deal. It’s in a cooler in the plane. I’ll go get it.”
As soon as Carl left, Jude gave a heads up to Cody who went out the door soon after Carl.
*****
Carl Winter stood on the dock near his plane, pulled a phone from his pocket and punched in some numbers. After a short conversation, he climbed in the plane.
Cody slipped back in the lodge before the other man emerged.
“Well?” Jude’s eyebrows rose in inquiry.
“He went straight to the dock. Pulled out a phone and made a call. Has to be a satellite phone. Why didn’t you bring one with you? Sure would make life a lot easier.”
“Believe me. I’ve asked myself the same question a number of times. Did you hear any of the conversation?”
“Not much. Something about producing goods. Then he turned his back.” Cody reached in the refrigerator and grabbed another beer.
“Here’s the roast and wine,” Carl came through the door, smiling. “Who’s cooking?”
“I am,” Cody answered.
Liz snickered from the table. “Figures.”
“Something wrong with a man cooking?” Cody challenged her.
Liz tossed her head and looked away.
*****
Kat sipped her whiskey, appalled that her sister was so insensitive to other’s feelings. Jude’s announcement ran through her mind like a recording. Her stomach continued to somersault. Her gaze moved through the room, coming to rest on Jude. Heat flooded her face. He gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing, and then winked at her.
A devil lurking deep in Kat’s mind jumped to attention. Two could play this game. She blew him a kiss. He frowned and started toward her.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked softly, as he nibbled on her ear lobe. His look swept over her, bringing a shiver to her body.
Kat’s heart filled with longing for this man. An intense wanting flared between them. Her body ached for his touch. Jude’s previous withdrawal was forgotten.
“Hello?” Liz waved her hand in front of their faces. “I asked you what type of wedding you two are planning.”
Kat felt disoriented. The driving need she felt for Jude shocked her. “What?”
Liz heaved a sigh. “I said…”
“We haven’t made any plans yet, Liz.” Jude answered the question. “When we do, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Where did you two meet?”
“Hey Lizzie,” Cody hollered from the kitchen. “I need some help. Come lend a hand and leave the lovebirds alone.”
Liz looked as if she were about to choke on her fury. “Don’t you ever call me that.” She marched into the kitchen. “I hate that name.”
“Okay, Princess.” Cody bowed in eloquent fashion. “Would you please assist me in the preparation of this meal?”
Kat giggled, watching her sister and friend spar. Carl Winter appeared oblivious, looking out the window toward the lake, drinking his whiskey.
“Cody’s infatuated with your sister.” Kat’s head snapped up at Jude’s comment.
“You’re not serious?” Her eyes pleaded for him to say no. Liz would shatter Cody’s heart into pieces.
“Sorry.” Jude sounded sympathetic. “I’m surprised you haven’t noticed. I told him he was crazy.”
“That’s putting it mildly. My sister is not only a bitch, she’s prejudiced.”
Jude’s eyebrows shot up. “Prejudiced? She’s part Indian, and she’s prejudiced?”
“She never admits to her Native American genes. Look at her. Would you know if I hadn’t told you?”
Jude considered the question. “I suppose not. Is her hair natural?”
“Yep. I ended up with my mother’s black hair. She got my Dad’s honey blonde.”
Jude’s hand slid into her hair. “I prefer yours.” His voice was deep and husky.
Kat reached up and held his face in her hands. “Callahan, don’t play games with me. If you’re not planning to take this flirting to a natural end, then stop it now.”
“I have no intention of stopping.”
Goosebumps spread like wildfire down her arms.
Chapter 10
Cody’s voice dragged Kat from her sensual thoughts. “Let’s eat. Military style. Plates at the end of the counter. Work your way on down the line.”
No one spoke as they helped themselves to the juicy prime rib, scalloped potatoes and green beans topped with slivered almonds.
“Wow, Cody, this is delicious.” Kat spoke with her mouth full. “Best prime rib I’ve ever eaten. If I get the lodge up and running, I’ll hire you. Guests would flock here for the meals.”
“Thanks, Half Pint.”
Kat noticed Liz picked at her food, a sullen look on her face.
Carl Winter drank his wine, ignoring everybody.
“Carl, tell me about your business ventures.” Jude’s knee bumped Kat’s leg under the table as soon as she asked the question. He scowled at her when she paid no attention.
“What do you want to know?” His voice carried an edge, and his eyes grew suspicious.
Kat shrugged and glued a relaxed smile on her face. “I’m wondering what plans you had for the lodge if I changed my mind and decided to sell.”
“I don’t have immediate plans. I buy properties for investment reasons.” He poured more wine in his glass.
“If I decided to consider your offer, I’d want it in writing that the property would never be subdivided and sold for cottage lots.”
Carl’s bored eyes sparked with interest. “I assure you that would never happen. I’ve acquired several similar pieces in various parts of the country and have never subdivided any of them.”
“Oh. That’s good to know.” Kat returned to her meal, disappointed he hadn’t been forthcoming about his intentions.
The meal dragged on. Her heart went out to Cody, who kept sneaking glances at Liz. Her sister had slipped into her regal mode, speaking to no one. Carl continued drinking until the bottle was empty. Jude appeared to be deep in thought, and she hoped his thoughts were about going upstairs with her.
At last, the meal ended. “Liz, help me clean off the table and do the dishes.” She braced herself for a tantrum when Cody spoke and breathed a sigh of relief when her sister got up and gathered the plates.
“We need to leave soon,
The cold command in Carl’s voice irked Kat, and she waited for her sister’s feisty comeback. When Liz nodded, Kat knew something was wrong. The Liz she grew up with would never let a man order her around.
“Relax, Carl.” Kat poured a hot cup of coffee and put it in front of him. “You drank a lot of wine. Why don’t you and Liz spend the night?”
“Staying all night is out of the question. I’ll have a cup of coffee, then we’re leaving.” His eyes dared her to challenge him.
Jude’s arm slid around her shoulder, tempering her desire to throttle Carl. Jude Callahan was good for her, and that knowledge scared her to death.
“I’ll wash, you wipe.”
Her sister surprised her when she took the dishtowel Cody handed her.
*****
“Well, what an uneventful visit. Didn’t find out a damn thing we didn’t already know.” Kat set the candles on the table with a bang. “Except that Carl Winter is a surly character who likes to drink.”
“I disagree.” Jude walked over and put his hand on table, trapping her with his body. “We found out he’s determined to have this property. There’s not a doubt in my mind that he’d go to any length to get it.”
Cody turned back from the window where he’d been watching the plane take off. “He’s a damn fool flying that plane after four glasses of wine. Think he’s behind the border activity?”
Jude nodded. “My suspicions lean that way.” He ran his hand through his hair, and Kat took the opportunity to slip away from the table. “But I don’t think he knows about the gems, and even if he does, he doesn’t seem to be interested.”
“What about Liz?” Cody’s deep voice asked. “Think she’s involved?”
Kat quickly looked at Jude and waited for his answer.
“She might know that something isn’t quite right, but I see no indication that she’s directly involved in any covert activities.” Jude faced Kat. “What do you think?”
Kat took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Liz’s main concern is herself. She’s apt to take a wrong path, if she thinks it’ll benefit her.” She looked from Jude to Cody. “As far as her involvement with Carl Winter, I don’t know what to think. He’s rude to her, but she doesn’t complain. I have a feeling she’s afraid of him.”
Cody scowled and Kat cast a sympathetic look in his direction.
“My opinion is Carl pretended to care for her to get what he wanted. When he discovered she had no ownership rights to the lodge, he decided to use her to get to you, Kat.”
Kat frowned at Cody. “But Liz wouldn’t let herself be used without compensation in some fashion.”
“You’re wrong, Kat.” Cody spoke up, his expression serious. “Liz would never get involved in a scheme to harm you. Underneath all the glitter and glamour, she’s an insecure little girl.”
Kat’s mouth dropped open. “Are we talking about the same person?”
“No one’s ever understood her or even tried.” Cody pointed his finger at Kat. “You, of all people, should realize what that’s like. She needs someone to care about her. Someone with enough determination and courage to break through the brick barricade she’s built around herself.”
Kat opened her mouth to straighten out Cody’s misconceptions about her sister, but Jude jumped into the conversation, giving her a warning look.
“I don’t think Liz is criminally involved with Winter, at least not that she’s aware of. She’s his pawn, nothing more, nothing less.”
Tension crackled in the room.
“I’m going to walk Red and turn in.” The tender look in Jude’s eyes warmed her heart. She smiled tentatively. “Do you want to go with me?”
“I’ll walk Red.” Cody moved to the door. “I need some fresh air.”
“Take your gun,” Kat warned.
“Don’t worry. I’m not that far gone.” Cody’s grin gave her reason to relax.
Kat got fidgety after Cody had left. The electricity in the air reminded Kat of the air before a thunderstorm.
“Are you ready?”
Kat’s eyes widened. “Ready?” she managed to croak.
He chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair. “To go upstairs?”
She crossed her arms and walked around the room, apprehensive about receiving yet another rejection.
“Kat?” His hands descended on her shoulders. She stopped pacing and looked out the window into the darkness. His arms encircled her, and she leaned back against him. “Let’s go upstairs. I’m burning up with wanting you.”
She moaned. Moisture made her panties damp. Turning, she arched her body into his. Standing on tiptoes, she found his lips. Their mouths fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. His tongue circled inside her mouth sending shivers of desire racing through her. She wanted to crawl inside of him.
“Don’t stop, Jude. Please,” she groaned her protest when he pulled his mouth away and buried his face in her neck.
“I’m not going to stop.” His voice was raspy, and she felt the tremors in his body. “Let’s go upstairs before we embarrass Cody.” His arm tight around her waist, he guided her toward the stairs.
*****
Before they reached the top step, Kat’s shirt was gone. Her pants landed somewhere between the stairs and the bed. Jude wasn’t sure who had removed them. He was tired of fighting his intensifying feelings for this woman. He pulled her close and hugged her against him so hard she squeaked. He finally admitted to himself that he never wanted to let her go. Somehow they’d work it out.
Kat moved out of his arms, keeping her eyes on his. Raising her hands, she lifted her sports bra over her head and dropped it on the floor. Jude’s breathing rattled throughout the room like a freight train roaring down the tracks. Her thumbs hooked around the top inside of her panties and slid them down her legs.
*****
She smiled, watching his eyes grew dark. She trailed her finger across his taut abdomen. His gasp made her shudder. His hands wound into her hair. He fell back on the bed, pulling her with him.
Kat exalted in her power to excite Jude. Her fingers unzipped his jeans. The raw hunger in his eyes made her heart lurch. He stilled her hands and pushed her back on the bed while he removed his clothes. “I’ll be right back,” he leaned down and his lips brushed against hers as he spoke.
Kat buried her face in the pillow, inhaling his scent. A scent all his own. She wished she could bottle it. He smelled musky, yet fresh, like the woods on a cool, fall morning. She pushed away the twinge of sadness that flickered through her. For tonight Jude Callahan was hers, and she planned to savor every minute. Tomorrow he’d leave. She planned to make their last night together one they’d both remember.
Jude slid into the bed next to her. Arms around his neck she hugged him and rubbed her cheek against his.
“Sorry I haven’t shaved.”
“I like it.” Her fingers traced the contours of face. “It gives you a real outdoorsy look.”
He chuckled. “And we all know what an outdoorsman I am.”
She caught her breath when his fingers brushed over her nipples. His tongue replaced his fingers. She held his head, as he suckled her breasts. Her hands caressed the hard tendons in his neck.
Her body demanded more. She pulled his head away from her breasts and slipped downward, showering his chest and stomach with kisses.
“Enough, Kat,” he rasped hoarsely. “Let’s make this last.”
“We have all night,” she murmured, reaching out to capture his hardness in her hand. Jude’s hands remained busy, roaming her body. He explored the soft skin of her back and hips.
Sensual feelings swept through her quick as wildfire. A fire threatening to burn out of control, she was losing herself in him. That realization made her afraid. The fear that she’d cease to belong to herself made her pull away from him.
The only noise in the room was their erratic breathing.
Jude pulled her against him and rested his chin on the top of her head and gently rubbed her back. “What is it, Kat? Talk to me.”
Kat cuddled into his warmth, looked up at him. “I’m sorry. It’s silly.” She couldn’t let her hang-ups ruin this night. Her insecurities didn’t matter, because he was leaving tomorrow.
Her fingers roamed over his face, touching his eyelashes, tracing his mouth. “You are so beautiful,” she murmured.
“Aw shucks, ma’am. You’ll make me blush.”
Sliding her hands behind his head, she pulled his mouth to hers. The hunger in his kiss drove the fear from her mind. Sensation after sensation washed over her, making her dizzy. His hands found places in her body she’d never imagined could give her pleasure. She responded to his kisses with reckless abandon, wrapping her legs around his in an attempt to get closer to his heat.
While their tongues wildly mated, Jude’s hand feathered across her belly and settled between her legs. His touch remained light and teasing, and her hips arched toward the slight pressure begging for more.
Kat struggled to free her hands caught between their bodies. She ached to touch him. “I’m going to shatter.”
Jude stifled a moan at her frantically whispered words, positioning his body over hers.
“No, you’re not,” he panted. “Trust me.”
Her fingers dug into his moist back. She smiled when she felt his body tremble. He showered her face with kisses, before concentrating on her ears and neck. By the time his lips found her throbbing breasts, Kat had reached the end of her restraint. She writhed beneath him, eager to have him deep inside of her. Were those whimpering noises coming from her?
When his knee parted her legs, she bit her tongue so she wouldn’t cry out. Feeling his hard erection against her was erotic; not having him inside her was frustrating. She tossed her head back and forth on the pillow as his fingers toyed with her pebble hard nipples. A sob escaped her parted lips. “Now, Jude, now.”
“Stay still. Don’t move.” Jude panted. He began penetrate her slowly, but Kat wiggled beneath him. His control snapped. In one thrust he was deep inside her. Their bodies found the rhythm that carried them to oblivion. When Kat cried out her release, Jude came with her.
Peace and contentment replaced the flood of ecstasy. Somehow, Kat had ended up on top of Jude and stayed there content to smell and taste his salty skin.
“I’m so in love with you,” Jude whispered against her neck, his voice unsteady.
His words hit Kat without warning. Her eyes flew open. She should have seen this coming. “You don’t have to say that, Jude. I wanted to make love with you. I don’t need words of love or flowery speeches.”
His eyes grew hard. Tonight, they were the color of nutmeg. Tiger eyes, an angry tiger.
“I’m not feeding you a line, Kat. Plain and simple…I’m in love with you.” He took her shoulders and shook her gently. “Learn to live with it.”
Her defenses crumbled. She rolled off him and scooted up on the bed, covering her nakedness with the comforter.
Quick as lightening, Jude pulled her back into his chest. “You’re not running away from me. Okay, the word ‘love’ scares you. It’s time we talked about it.”
Kat squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t look at him. He’d see something she’d never bared to anyone–her soul. “You want me to open my heart to you? Tell you all my deep dark secrets and fears?”
“I want you to trust me.” At the warmth and tenderness in his voice she opened her eyes.
“I’m not sure I can.” Just admitting this fear lifted the burden she’d carried her entire life. “I’ve never confided my fears to anyone.”
Jude punched the pillows, then sat up and leaned into them. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her against his side. “I know, but it’s time to let go of the hurt, Kat. Get it out in the open. You helped me the other night. I can now better understand my mother’s infidelity. Let me help you get rid of your demons.” He bent down and took gentle possession of her mouth, releasing it before the flames fanned again.
She searched for the words to explain. “Unconditional love, Callahan. That’s my problem.” Jude hugged her and kissed her cheek.
“My grandmother showered me with unconditional love. My parents either couldn’t or wouldn’t. I know they loved me because I was their daughter, but they loved a figment of their imagination, not me. I wasn’t the daughter they wanted.”
Kat pulled away from him and sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. “It’s been that way all my life. People can’t accept me for what I am. They always think I should be someone different.”
“Until now. You’re my G.I. Jane.” The warmth of his smile was a ribbon around his words. “I know you. You’re a brave woman willing to give your life to keep those you love safe from danger. You’re warm, loving and giving. Not to mention that you’re every man’s fantasy.”
Jude chuckled when she rolled her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong. You have your share of faults. Want to hear them?”
She nodded. “You’re stubborn, prickly, and it’s almost impossible for you to accept help from others. You hide your emotions behind a façade of nonchalance, afraid that someone will consider you weak.” He paused and rested his chin on top of her head. “Am I right?”
At the slight inclination of her head, Jude placed a soft kiss in her hair.
“But Jude, a relationship between us has no place to go. It’s a dead end. We’ve agreed on that.”
“That was before I accepted how strong my feelings for you are.” He cradled her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. “We can work it out. We will work it out,” he said emphatically. “I promise.”
Kat kept her doubts to herself.
“Go to sleep. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Where there’s a will there’s a way. You’ll see.” Jude tucked her into his side and closed his eyes.
Within minutes, his even breathing told Kat he was asleep. She lay there in the moonlit room with the mother of all battles raging in her mind. Her heart clung to his words. Love conquered all. Her head argued that she was crazy to think that two people with their differences could find happiness together. Jude could never live here and be happy. The mere thought of living in a city sent shudders through her. Thousands of people, tall buildings, no privacy… her stomach turned over. She couldn’t do it – no matter how much she loved Jude. It would destroy who she was to live in a city.
Kat? You must listen to me.
“Grandmother?” Kat whispered.
Do you remember the tall pine where the ravens nest every year?
“Yes, Grandmother.”
Beneath that pine there is a moss-covered stump. Dig deep down into it, and you’ll find the pouch of gemstones that your father and Willie stole.
“You took them?” Kat couldn’t believe her grandmother would do that.
I did, Marunga. It was the only way to save your father from disgracing this family. Now it’s time for you to return them to their rightful owner.
“But Grandmother…”
You have a journey to take. The time has come for you to start. Go now.
Should she wake up Jude? She reached over to shake his shoulder, but stopped herself. He’d be furious if she didn’t, but her grandmother didn’t mention him. She’d best do this on her own. She carefully untangled herself from his arms and slipped from the bed. He stirred, but didn’t waken.
She gathered some clothes, her knee-high moccasins and removed her revolver from under the mattress. Halfway down the stairs she stopped and listened to make sure Jude hadn’t woken. Hearing nothing, she continued to the bottom floor. Good thing Cody had taken Red for the night. The dog would have been noisy while she dressed, thinking he was getting a
The generator house cast a large shadow in the moonlight as Kat slipped into the hushed woods. Intent on her mission, she neglected to see the man standing behind the huge hemlock watching her.
Chapter 11
Kat knew exactly where she was going. The tree her grandmother mentioned was one of a kind in the area. A virgin pine. Years ago she’d met a logger who’d told her no matter how many board feet the majestic pine would produce, he’d never cut it. Locating the moss-covered stump beside it shouldn’t be a problem.
Kat struggled to accept the truth of her grandmother’s words playing in her head. If her grandmother had taken the gems, and if her parents were murdered because of the gems, did that make her grandmother responsible? No! An iron door slammed shut, putting an end to the path of her thoughts.
The criminals were her father and Willie for stealing the gems in the first place. If only her mother hadn’t been so quick to find excuses for her father. If she’d stood up to him years ago, none of this would have happened. Kat’s sorrow at losing her parents conflicted with her anger at the outcome of her father’s theft. The only saving grace of the entire fiasco was Jude Callahan.
He loved her…not some figment of his imagination, but the real her. A tingling sensation hummed through her body, and her mouth curved into a smile. The pleasure they’d discovered with one another a few hours ago brought physical reactions even now. Jude loved her. She’d never tire of hearing him say those three words. Happiness bubbled inside like a freshly opened bottle of champagne.
Breathing deep, she savored the scent of sweet pepper bush saturating the cool night air. It had never smelled so sweet. She’d missed night walks in the woods. Tomorrow morning she and Jude would talk about the future. Her enthusiasm dampened at the thought of the conversation. Would he ask her again to live in the city? Could she do that? Would he offer to move here? Could she bring herself to ask him to live here knowing how much he disliked it? Perhaps they would compromise, six months in each place. Could they both live with that compromise?
The quiet gradually filled with nocturnal noises. Kat likened it to an orchestra warming up. Two great horned owls hooted back and forth to each other. Coyotes howled over a kill in the far distance. Tree frogs joined the song. She heard a screech owl to her right.
Moonlight on the forest floor enabled her to pick up her pace. She didn’t slow until she neared the big pine. Without fail, every year a pair of ravens had nested in its 200 foot high branches.
A branch cracked from somewhere behind her, and she froze. She stayed still as a statute, holding her breath and listening. It was too quiet. Only two legged animals stopped walking if they stepped on a branch. A creepy feeling crawled over her. Who would be following her? Dropping to her knee, she slid the .44 magnum from its holster and strained her ears for another ten minutes. A vole ran over her moccasins and disappeared under a rock.
Everything appeared normal, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Putting her weapon away, she pushed on, her senses on high alert.
When she emerged from the hemlock thicket, she saw a huge glacial boulder and knew she was close to her destination. She leaned against the lee side of the boulder, watching the woods from where she’d come. Nothing out of the ordinary, but still… “Spooked by my own shadow,” she muttered.
As soon as she arrived at her destination, she found the three foot diameter stump, a few feet to the right of the pine tree. About two feet high with irregular sides, it was shrouded with sphagnum moss, giving it a mystical appearance. The loud thud of her heart drowned out all the night noises. She knelt on the ground and carefully peeled back one side of the moss with trembling fingers. She thrust her right hand deep into stump’s interior, encountering moist decayed wood. The texture reminded her of rich garden compost. Kat pushed deeper until the decomposed wood covered her elbow.
She was about to try another section of the stump when her fingers touched something that didn’t belong inside a rotting stump. Her heart skipped a beat. Bingo. It felt like a pouch of some sort. Her fingers traced stones inside. Jude would be thrilled. Anxious to see the booty, she pulled it out.
“Hello, Kat.” A familiar voice spoke behind her. “Sort of late for a walk in the woods, isn’t it?”
Her muscles tensed. She dropped the pouch and slowly withdrew her hand. Under the pretense of wiping her hand on her thigh, she slipped the revolver from its holster. As she stood, she pivoted and faced the man who must have been shadowing her since she left the lodge.
She cocked the .44’s hammer. “Why are you following me?” She demanded, no fear in her voice.
The man held his arms in front of him, palms up. “Put the gun away, Kat. I’m unarmed.”
“I don’t think so. It stays right where it is – pointed at your heart.” Her heart raced, but she kept her eyes and face free of expression.
“Come on, Kat,” he wheedled. “We both know you’d never shoot me.”
“Don’t count on it.” Like low rising smoke from a campfire, her blunt spoken words lingered in the night air.
“Why are you pawing around in that old stump?”
Kat ignored his question, her eyes drawn to a small blinking light coming from his waist area. “What are you up to? What’s that blinking on your belt?”
Kat whirled at the sound of running footsteps coming from her right. Several men in army fatigues rushed from the brush, heading straight for her. Without blinking, she aimed and squeezed the trigger, hitting one in the chest. He dropped to the ground. Before she got off a second shot, she felt a sharp sting in the bicep of her left arm. Within seconds, her head swam with dizziness. Her limbs turned leaden. She sank to the ground, fighting to stay conscious. She heard voices, but nothing being said made sense.
*****
“Good job,” a gruff voice spoke from the darkness. “You did what the boss told you to do.”
“What did you do to Kat? She’s not hurt, is she? He said he wouldn’t hurt her.”
“Calm down, kid. She’s sedated, not dead.” Turning back to the others he barked orders. “I hear the ‘copter. Prepare to board.”
Another man in fatigues stood in the clearing, staring at his comrade’s dead body. “What about Joe? Are we taking him with us?”
“Yeah. Hoist him up first, then the woman. Get a move on. We’ve got to meet up with the boss and transfer her to his private jet.”
Kat’s tongue felt swollen and the buzzing in her ears increased. Soon the ghostly voices faded, and she fell into a dark abyss.
*****
Jude opened his eyes and lay there, wondering what woke him. All he heard was the heavy thump of his heart. He reached over to draw Kat into his arms, but encountered emptiness. The sheet on her side was cold so she’d been gone for some time. He flung off the blankets and swung his legs onto the floor.
His watch dial read three in the morning. “Kat? Are you in the bathroom?” Dead silence.
In the far distance he heard a helicopter. Careful to stay in the shadows, he crept to the window and looked out over the lake. The noise grew fainter. It was moving away from the lodge. Jesus, where was Kat?
He battled with his jeans, and his fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. Maybe she went downstairs for a snack or to talk to Cody in the cabin. The fear in his heart almost choked him.
Cody rushed through the door at the same time Jude reached the bottom stair. “Did you hear that helicopter?”
Jude’s hopes of finding Kat in the lodge vanished. “Have you seen Kat?”
“Kat? I thought she was with you.”
“She’s gone.”
“Gone?” Cody parroted. “Gone where? What about the helicopter? Your people?”
“At three in the morning? I highly doubt it.” Jude sat at the table, putting his head in his hands. “They won’t be here before daylight.”
“Maybe it’s the Canadians checking out the border.” Cody’s voice lacked conviction, as he joined Jude at the table. “Kat’s going to have my hide. Her dog took off as soon as I opened the cabin door.”
Jude’s head snapped up. Hope jumped in his chest. “Red? He can help us find Kat.”
As if on cue, Red began barking and whining outside the door.
Jude flung the door open. His eyes soon became accustomed to the moonlit night. Red was frantic as he ran towards the generator house, only to run back to the lodge.
“He wants us to follow him.”
Cody nodded. “Let’s not go off half-cocked. We need flashlights, a compass and weapons.”
Ten minutes later, they set out, following Red into the forest. Keeping up with the dog wasn’t possible, but in his canine wisdom, Red always returned to bark his encouragement.
“Smart dog.”
Jude grunted, his thoughts on Kat. He’d at last found a woman he loved. Would fate be so cruel as to take her away? Why had she taken off into the woods in the middle of the night? It didn’t make sense.
Thirty minutes later, Red disappeared.
“Now what?” Cody asked the dreaded question.
“We wait. He’ll be back.”
Cody reached over and touched Jude’s arm. “Stop beating yourself up. It’s not your fault.”
Cody’s kind words didn’t help ease the fear and guilt Jude felt at Kat’s mysterious vanishing act. Generally, he wasn’t a sound sleeper. Why didn’t he hear her when she got out of bed?
“She moves around as if she’s invisible. If she didn’t want to be heard leaving, then you wouldn’t have heard her. You’re no match for her.”
“Jesus, Cody. Are you psychic?”
A soft whine got both men’s attention. The dog approached, his head hanging down, as he slunk along.
“He didn’t find her.” Cody stated the obvious.
“Where’s Kat?” Jude knelt down by the dog, refusing to give up their only hope of finding the woman he loved. “Go find Kat.”
Red tilted his head to the side, before he headed back the way he’d come. Cody and Jude followed in close pursuit. This time dog stayed close. Jude walked ahead of Cody, moving the beam of his flashlight from left to right. His heart jumped to his throat when the shaft of light crossed a body on the forest floor. He stopped abruptly.
“What is it?” Cody asked coming up behind him. “Sweet Jesus,” he murmured, following the beam of light. “I’ll go check it out.”
Jude reluctantly tagged along, fear nearly paralyzing him. Robot-like, he forced one foot in front of the other.
Cody kneeled on the ground. “It’s
Jude hunkered down next to Cody and lifted Brian’s head. Cody held the light at an angle. The once bright blue eyes were fading fast. Jude tried, but couldn’t muster sympathy for the man, deciding he must be the one who lured Kat away from the lodge. “Where’s Kat?” he growled.
“Take it easy, man,” Cody warned, placing his hand on Jude’s shoulder. “He doesn’t have too many words left.”
Brian attempted to speak, his mouth opening and closing, like a fish out of water. He coughed, and blood trickled down his chin. “F…B…I…” Both men heard the gurgle in his chest before he took his last breath.
“What the fuck?” Frustrated Jude stood and paced back and forth. “What does that mean? FBI?”
“Look at his hands.”
Jude turned back to Cody who was crouched on the ground near Brian. “What’s wrong with them?”
“They’re filthy. Looks like he’s been digging in rotting vegetation.”
Jude pointed the beam of light at Brian’s hands. Not only were his hands dirty, so were the cuffs of his blue denim shirt. He scanned the ground with the flashlight. A few feet from where the body, he spied a dug out stump.
“Hey, look what I found in Richardson’s pocket.”
“What is it?” Jude asked.
“If I were a betting man, I’d bet a paycheck it’s the gems you’re so hot-fired to find.” Cody tossed it.
Jude caught the pouch in mid-air and opened it, using his flashlight to check inside. Rubies and emeralds, some the size of acorns sparkled up at him. My God. Is this why Kat came out here in the middle of the night to meet Brian?
“Here’s Kat’s gun. Two bullets missing.”
Jude looked up to see Cody holding Kat’s .44 magnum revolver with a red bandana. “It can be checked for prints, but it’s my guess Kat’s will be the only ones found.”
Red whimpered a short distance away. Jude walked toward him and almost went to his knees at the sight of a large pool of blood soaking into the ground.
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Cody murmured, putting his hand on Jude’s shoulder. “If the blood were Kat’s, her body would be here. No reason to take her.”
“How can you be so sure?” Jude managed to get out, his voice no more than a croak.
“Because I know Kat. She’d have managed to hit one or more men before they took her.”
Cody was right. Kat would go down fighting.
Unless she’d gone willingly?
A windmill rotated in Jude’s head, generating thoughts of deception. Christ. He’d trusted Kat. He’d have sworn she’d never lie to him about anything. Had he been a damn fool? Were she and Brian in cahoots all along? If so, why would she kill Brian? Where the hell was she? He should be investigating this as a crime scene; yet, he couldn’t think straight.
“They smell rotten, Callahan.”
“What?” Cody’s voice distracted him from his morbid ideas.
“Your thoughts. I can smell them over here, and they stink.”
“Back off, Cody,” he growled.
The hand came out of nowhere and grabbed Jude by the front of his shirt. “Listen to me, asshole. I don’t like where you’re headed with this. Kat’s missing. Period. Focus on that.”
“Perhaps it’s her choice to be missing. Has that thought occurred to you?” Realizing the other man’s anger, Jude stepped back and prepared to block a punch. But as fast as it came, Cody’s anger vanished, replaced with a look of disappointment.
“I couldn’t have been more wrong about you. You don’t deserve Kat.”
Jude stared in stunned silence as Cody and Red walked into the woods and disappeared. The bastard had gone off and left him. Lowering his body to the ground, he leaned his back against the huge pine and rested his head on his knees. Was Cody right? Why was he so quick to see Kat in a bad light? An hour ago he’d been terrified of losing her, and now he was accusing her of betraying him. If Kat had betrayed him, why’d she leave the gems behind? Christ, the cylinders in his brain were misfiring.
While thoughts bounce around like ping pong balls in that empty cave you call a mind, my Marunga is in danger. Would you desert her in her time of need?
Jude stiffened, going for his gun. Christ. Now he was hearing voices. Marunga? Kat’s grandmother called her that. Had the voice spoken to him or had his guilt conjured it from the recesses of his mind?
Wallowing in self-pity serves no useful purpose. Marunga needs your help .
“Who are you? Where are you?” Jude shouted into the night, not surprised when he didn’t receive an answer. Was Kat’s grandmother speaking to him from her grave? The truth of Cody’s words hit him. He was behaving like an asshole. The woman he’d held in his arms a few hours ago would not willingly betray him. His old insecurities had reared their ugly head. Instead of squashing them, he’d allowed them to fester. He didn’t blame Cody for leaving him.
A soft jingling coming through the woods distracted him. Red’s dog tags. The loyal mutt had come back for him. Jude endured a tongue wash and followed the dog back to the lodge, determination in his step.
Chapter 12
“Well, well, look what the dog dragged in.” Cody sat at the table, his face about as friendly as a cobra when Jude walked through the door.
“I was an asshole. I apologize.”
“Kat deserves the apology. Not me.” Cody turned away, but not before Jude saw the anger smoldering in his dark eyes.
“I suppose you planned to let me in stay in the woods until the Bureau showed up in the morning?”
“Nah, I knew
Jude winced at the sting of Cody’s well-deserved barb. He glanced at his watch. Only five o’clock. Out on the lake fingers of dawn stretched from behind the mountains.
He pivoted back to Cody. “I realize I’m not your favorite person at the moment.”
“No shit.” Cody’s eyes opened wide in his black face. “Your powers of observation never cease to amaze me.” He got up and pushed his chair with enough force to knock it over. “I’m going back to my cabin to wait for the Bureau. The sooner I start looking for Kat, the better.”
“I want to talk to you about Richardson’s last words. They didn’t make sense to me. Now I’m wondering if
Cody frowned and righted the chair he’d knocked over. “Jesus. I thought he was referring to you… perhaps Kat told him you were an agent? Your theory sheds a new light on the situation.”
“Tell me about it.” Jude placed the bag of gems on table. “I’ve been racking my brain, trying to think of who in the Bureau…someone who could be involved with this.”
“How about the guy you’re always talking about?”
“Frank?” Jude laughed. “No way. Frank’s like a father to me. One guy comes to mind. Dave Perkins. We often work together undercover. He rode me the whole week before I came here. I don’t know…”
He shook his head, tapping his fingers on the table. “The guy’s a jerk, but an inside informant involved with smuggling? That might be stretching it.”
“What about Kat? Any idea who’s got her? Do you plan on helping me find her?” Cody tossed the question on the table as he cleaned his gun.
“Try to stop me. Contrary to what you think, the loss of my senses wasn’t permanent.”
Cody nodded, but made no comment.
“Want some breakfast? I’ll do the cooking.” Jude chuckled at the look of horror on Cody’s face.
“I’ll cook. It’ll give me something to do. I’ve cleaned my side arm twice in the last hour.”
“Fine by me,” Jude murmured. He walked over to sit on the couch and stared at the brilliant shades of the red dawn. The colors reminded him of the blood they’d found on the ground. What if it were Kat’s? Then he remembered Sweetgrass Mendon’s words. She’d told him that Kat was alive and needed his help. A week ago, he’d have laughed at someone who believed in spirits. Not today. He’d heard Sweetgrass speak to him loud and clear.
He admitted to himself that he’d changed in his short stay at
*****
The drone of jet engines brought Kat back to the land of the living. She thought she was she floating and tried to swallow, but her mouth was fuzzy and dry. Her tongue felt twice its normal size. At first she didn’t remember what had happened or where she was. Her mind refused to cooperate. Was she on a military transport plane? No, the engines were too quiet. She struggled to open her eyes, but her lids felt weighted. A slight moan escaped her lips.
“Good. You’re waking. It’s about time.”
That voice gave her the jumpstart she needed. Her eyes opened. Everything came rushing back …the gems, Brian’s treachery, the men in the bushes and the prick in her arm.
“You…what have you done?” She didn’t recognize her own voice. Was this man insane?
“I’m a man who goes after what he wants. Right now I want you.”
Kat struggled to sit up. She couldn’t move. For a moment she panicked, until she realized that straps across her chest held her arms immobile. “You don’t want me. You want the lodge.” As befuddled as she was from whatever drug he’d injected in her arm, she managed to spit her hatred at Carl Winter. “You won’t get away with this.”
“Ah, a woman with fire. I like that.” Carl stretched his legs, leaned his head back on the seat and gave her a Cheshire cat smile, then laughed. “We’ll see, Katherine, we’ll see.”
“Where’s my sister? Is she in on this…this abduction?” Her tongue had difficulty forming the words.
“
“Elizabeth’s beautiful, no doubt about it. I found myself attracted to her, even though all I wanted was access to the lodge. But compared to you,” he gently pinched her cheek, “she’s nothing but a mannequin. You’re a real woman, and I’m eagerly anticipating the fun times we’ll have together.”
Kat pulled her head away from his touch. “In your dreams. You think I’d ever let you touch me?”
“Katherine,” he sighed. “Accept that you won’t have a choice.”
Her fingers curled into her palms. She desperately wanted to wipe the smug look from his face.
“Does
Carl’s face turned ugly. “What’s this fixation with your sister?”
A shiver of unease ran through her. She’d have to tread lightly with this man. Not her style at all. She shrugged and leaned back against the seat, closed her eyes, and tried not to flinch when Carl’s fingers once again feathered down her cheek.
He leaned close and whispered, “Forget your sister. She’s history.”
He’d been drinking. Kat smelled wine on his breath. “You killed my sister?” She opened her eyes, her heart thumped in double time.
“Of course not. I meant she’s out of my life.” He turned in his seat crossing one expensively clad suit leg over the other. “I used her to get to you. You’re the key to my desires.”
“Knock off the act, Carl. You tried to get the lodge from my parents. I wasn’t your key to anything at that time.” Was this man the mastermind of the smuggling operation? Something didn’t make sense. Carl Winter didn’t have the skills to carry out the military operations she’d witnessed. He had a partner lurking somewhere. Or perhaps he was only a key operator in someone else’s plan.
He smirked. “You’re right. But you weren’t around. If you had been, my plan would have changed.”
“Did you kill my parents?”
His eyes narrowed. “No. I sincerely regret that occurrence. The men who pulled the trigger took matters into their own hands.” A calculating look crossed his face. “Enough of the past. Let’s focus on the future…our future. Now that I’ve got what I want, there’ll be smooth sailing ahead.”
This man had an ego she doubted few could match. “Which did you want? The lodge or the gems?”
Kat gaped in surprise when Carl threw back his head and howled with laughter. “You believe that hogwash Willie Card spouted?” He laughed again. “The man’s a lunatic.”
“He’s a dead lunatic now. Your men must have killed him, too.”
“Really?” His eyebrows rose slightly before he shrugged. “No great loss. He was only another pawn. A link to your family and the lodge. I never believed his story about the gems.
“Then the joke’s on you. They exist. I’d just found them when your goons showed up and tranquilized me.”
The shocked look on his face was priceless.
He grabbed her face, squeezing her jaw. “Is this true?”
She nodded and fought the urge to bite his hand. The scent of his strong cologne lingered on his fingers.
He lowered his hand. “Where are they now?”
Kat snorted. “My guess is Brian Richardson has them. As you well know, he followed me. He saw me find them, and then your men showed up.”
“Hmmm…interesting.” He rose from his seat. “I’ll be right back.” He walked down the aisle toward the cockpit.
Kat rested her head on the back of the seat. By now Jude and Cody knew she was missing. Would Jude be angry because she’d gone off on her own instead of waking him? No, he’d understand. He loved her. Between Jude and Cody, they’d leave no stone unturned. Her hopes of being rescued went up a notch.
Within minutes Carl returned. “Seems your friends called in the big guns.” The anger in his voice warned her to be careful.
“What do you mean?”
“My sources tell me that the FBI arrived at
Heart soaring with hope, she kept her face impassive.
“Well, I’m not surprised. Jude Callahan works for them. He came to the lodge to specifically to find the gems.”
Carl’s skin turned a patchy-red, and his eyeballs practically protruded from their sockets. “He’s FBI? That’s impossible. You said he was an army friend.”
“I lied. He’s FBI.”
“You’ve got to be mistaken,” he muttered. “I would have been told.”
“By who?” Did he mean Brian? What was going on here? Carl’s partner must have connections.
“Never mind. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
“I’m thirsty.” She didn’t need to fake the dryness in her throat. The straps loosened enough when she held in her breath that she could slide down in the seat and free herself. Not for the first time, she gave thanks for her petite size. The question was what she’d do when she got loose.
“Here you are,” he said reaching around to the seat in front of them.”
He handed her a bottle of fresh spring water. Just her luck. She’d hoped he’d have to go to the galley for the water.
Kat summoned all her willpower to keep from spitting in Carl’s smiling face as he held the bottle to her mouth. When her tongue wet her lips, a raw sexual look spread across his face. Kat’s initial revulsion turned to glee. Perhaps she had a weapon more powerful than a gun. She’d use her new found sensuality to defeat the enemy.
Smiling in gratitude, she took a small sip and gazed into his lustful eyes. God, please let the water stay down. “Thank you,” she murmured, leaning her head back on the headrest. No need to fake exhaustion either.
“More?” He held the bottle in front of her.
She controlled a cringe when his hand once again caressed her cheek. Instead, she turned her face toward his palm and smiled. “No, thank you. Where are we headed?”
“It’s a surprise. Close your eyes and get some rest.”
Excellent idea. She’d rest now so that when they reached their destination, she’d have the strength to kick his ass all the way to the nearest jail. She felt a sharp prick in her arm. What the…She opened her eyes in time to see Carl withdraw the hypodermic needle. “You…you…bast…”
“Sorry, sweet thing. Can’t have you awake when we arrive.” Once again, Kat spiraled down the familiar black tunnel into eventual oblivion.
*****
“I didn’t expect you to show up, Frank,” Jude commented, helping the middle-aged man from the seaplane now anchored to the wharf. “Thought you’d send someone.” Jude’s stomach did a quick roll at the serious expression on Frank’s face. “Did you search the border?”
“Yeah. It was deserted, which didn’t surprise anyone. We found plenty of signs of recent activity. Forensics is checking it out.” Frank stretched his body, before moving toward Cody.”
He held out his hand in greeting. “Frank Rowe.”
“This is Agent Munson,” Frank waved a hand toward the man still inside the plane. “He’ll wait here and keep his eyes open.”
“Cody Sparks. Glad to meet you, sir.” Cody grasped the older man’s hand firmly. “I’m anxious to get moving. We need to find Kat Tenney.”
Frank looked at Jude, then Cody. “She’s missing? When did that happen? Where’d she go?”
Jude filled Frank in on the Kat’s disappearance as they walked toward the lodge.
Frank sighed. “Let’s go inside. I need some coffee.” He rested his hand on Jude’s shoulder. I’ve got news that’s not going to make you happy.”
“Want some breakfast?” Cody asked as they stepped off the wharf and trailed across the lawn to the lodge.
“No, thanks. Just coffee.”
Jude’s stomach churned. He’d seldom seen Frank in such a negative mood. The news must be bad.
“I have the gems, Frank.”
Frank’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? How? Where? By the way, we found what was left of Willie Card’s body and another body.”
“The one behind the lodge would be Brian Richardson. A local from the area and friend of Kat’s. There’s a third body across the lake, unless his cohorts have removed it.”
“The gems?” Frank prompted.
“They were in an old stump near his body. I’ve no idea how they got there.”
Frank puckered his brows and opened his mouth to say something, but Jude cut him off. “I do know,” he leveled his look at Cody, who watched the two other men with interest, “Kat Tenney had nothing to do with either Brian’s murder or the gems.”
Frank raised his eyebrows in question, but didn’t contradict Jude. “At least the operation didn’t turn out to be a total fiasco.”
“Until I find Kat, I consider it a fiasco.”
No one responded to Jude’s statement.
A few minutes later, they sat at the table, the smell of coffee permeating the room. Frank ended the silence. “Remember that satellite phone you used to call me the other day?”
Jude nodded.
“It’s one of ours.”
Jude sat forward on the edge of his chair, almost tipping it over. “What? Are you serious? How could that be?”
“It’s one of several that went missing from our inventory and can’t be accounted for.”
“That explains Brian’s last words,” Cody murmured.
At Frank’s puzzled look, Jude explained. “I asked
“Looks that way.” Frank eyes were troubled. “I’ve been going over a list of agents since I found out about the phones. I’m coming up empty.”
Jude reached for his cup with unsteady fingers. “I’ve been thinking about it, too. What about Dave Perkins?”
Frank’s forehead furrowed, and he shook his head. “He’s a kiss ass, but it never occurred to me that he might be a traitor.” His eyes widened. “Wait a minute. Pieces are falling into place. Originally, I’d made plans to send Simmons on this assignment because he’s a wilderness freak, a regular Grizzly Adams. Perkins convinced me to send you.”
“Me? Why me? And why would you listen to anything he had to say about me?”
Frank cleared his throat, loosening his tie. “Perkins told me you’d developed an attitude problem. Said you were getting stale, not concentrating on the job. He suggested a change of scenery would be good for you and ultimately for the Bureau.”
“An attitude? Me? He’s the one with the fucking attitude. He seldom showed up at work for the past month. Said he was having personal problems at home.”
Cody interrupted. “So this Dave wanted Jude at
Jude clenched his teeth. “Gee, thanks, Cody. Great vote of confidence.”
“It’s starting to make sense.” Frank’s sour mood had brightened. “I’ll call the Bureau and tell them to keep Perkins under wraps until we get back.”
Jude fidgeted in his chair while Frank put through the call.
“Hogan? It’s Frank. Is Perkins there? No, I don’t want to speak with him. I want you to make damn sure he stays put until I get back. I’ll be there sometime this afternoon. I don’t care how you do it, damn it. Tell him I’ve got an important assignment for him. Don’t tell him where I am. Another thing. I want some information on him. How many days he’s missed work in the past year. Check his credit cards, business and personal. I want to know everything he’s charged and everywhere he’s traveled for the last three months.” Frank put his phone away and stood. “Let’s go.”
In his haste to leave Jude stepped back landing on Red’s foot. The dog yelped. Jesus, he’d forgotten Red. “Frank. We have to take the dog.”
Frank looked down at Red, who stared back at him with his soulful eyes.
“I don’t think…”
“It’s Kat’s dog. We can’t just leave him here.”
“We’ll drop him off at a shelter somewhere.” Frank dismissed the matter.
“No, Frank, he’s staying with me until we find Kat.”
Cody laughed. “You’d better listen to him Frank. If it weren’t for Red, Jude would still be wandering around in the woods right now.”
Frank opened his mouth to argue, but caved at Jude’s frown. “Fine. Whatever. Bring the dog.”
“Hear that Red? Let’s go find Kat.” Red took off, opened the screen door with his nose and ran to the end of the wharf. He looked back at the three men coming behind him and jumped in the plane.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Frank murmured.
Chapter 13
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk rapidly gathered speed as it taxied across the choppy water. Jude and Cody sat in the two back seats. Red was on the floor, his head resting on Jude’s thigh.
“Are we flying all the way to
Cody’s comment jarred Jude from his worries about Kat. He looked at the other man and laughed. Cody’s hands clenched the sides of the seat. His forehead was covered with beads of sweat.
“What’s so damn funny?”
“You’re pale. Need a barf bag?” Up front, the other two men snickered.
“Very funny, Callahan. I’ve got an aversion to small planes.”
“There’s a Lear jet waiting for us in
“This plane equipped with wheels, as well as the pontoons?”
“Be hard to land at an airport if it didn’t have wheels. Hang on,” the pilot warned. “Here we go.”
The plane lifted, banking along the shoreline before heading toward the mountains. Cody’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. Jude opened his mouth to rib him again, but made the mistake of looking out the window. The plane flew low and quickly gained on the mountains.
“Jesus Christ, Munson. Pull up the damn plane.”
“Amen,” Cody whispered.
“Relax.” Frank turned around. “Agent Munson’s been flying for years.
Neither Jude nor Cody took another breath until the Cessna cleared the top of the mountains and gained altitude.
“Do either of you have any ideas where to start looking for Kat Tenney?”
“I say
“Why
“The night we explored the border we overheard the guards say they were pulling out and going to
Snapping open his cell phone Frank dialed the number. “Hogan, it’s me again. I need information as soon as possible. Compile a list of all properties owned by Carl Winter. While you’re at it, check to see if Perkins owns any property other than his house.” Frank paused. “No, I don’t want it tomorrow. I want it this afternoon. By four o’clock to be precise. Where’s Perkins? Well, let him holler. Keep him confined to one room, and don’t let him make any phone calls. See you at four.” Frank ended the call and looked over his shoulder. “They’re on it.”
“What’s with Dave Perkins?” Agent Munson asked.
“I’ll fill you in later.” Frank answered.
Why was Frank withholding information from Munson? Trust no one? Jude settled back in his seat and gazed out the window at the vast wilderness below. Nothing but coniferous forests, with splashes of blue lakes and long snaking rivers. Red whined, and Jude reassured him with a pat on the head. The dog had his own ideas of comfort and climbed on Jude’s lap. By the time he settled into a comfortable position, Jude had his shoulders and head, and Cody ended up with the other half.
“Sorry,” Jude muttered.
Cody grunted. “The dog better not fart.”
The plane landed in
“Did you feed Red today?” he asked Cody.
“Nope. Thought you did.”
Jude looked at his sandwich and then at Red, sitting there with drool dripping from his chin. “I’ll share, but that’s it.” He tossed the dog half of the sandwich. Red caught it in mid-air and swallowed it whole. Jude turned away from the dog and ate the other half.
Once his hunger was satisfied, Jude leaned back on the headrest and surrounded himself with memories of Kat and their last night together. He imagined her warmth cuddling into his body, and the funny little noises she made in the back of her throat when she climaxed. He wanted to share Cody’s optimism that Kat could take care of herself. But the soft, petite woman he’d held in his arms was a world apart from the rough self-sufficient soldier that Cody knew.
The jet’s brakes screeched as they landed in
*****
“Time to wake up, sweetheart.” The suave voice penetrated Kat’s consciousness. She struggled to open her eyes, squinting as bright light flooded her vision. The world tilted and spun. She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Where am I?” Was that weak muffled voice hers?
“Come on. Open your eyes,” the smooth voice coaxed. “You and I have a lot to discuss.”
A familiar smell assaulted her nose. Strong cologne. Where had she smelled it before?
Brain-fuzzy, Kat tried to remember. The leaden feeling in her arms and legs scared her. Was she paralyzed? After one attempt to lift her arm, she felt certain that was the case. The fog in her head lifted slowly, and memories of her abduction returned. That bastard Carl Winter had kidnapped her.
Hands roughly began massaging her legs and she flinched at the pain. The fact she felt pain meant she wasn’t paralyzed. That knowledge gave her courage to open her eyes.
“I knew you could do it.” Carl’s devious smile was the first thing she saw. “I’m afraid I gave you too much tranquilizer. You’ve been out for a long time.”
“Where am I?” Kat asked again trying to sit up. She couldn’t move.
“You’re with me. The location is inconsequential. Stop struggling. You’re tied to the bed.”
Kat stilled and looked down at her body. Hospital restraints held her to the bed. She realized any words out of her mouth could be hazardous to her health, so she stayed silent.
“If you give me your word to behave, I’ll let you up and send someone to help you shower and change.” The slime sat on the edge of the bed. “You must be hungry.”
Kat squelched her desire to tell him exactly what she felt. If she wanted to plan an escape, she needed to be loose. Keeping her eyes downcast, she nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
He grabbed her chin and forced her head up, giving her no choice but to look into the eyes of the devil. If a person didn’t know the evil lurking beneath the surface, they’d find him to be a sophisticated, handsome man. Underneath the thin veneer was a man with no conscience, a man who’d kill to achieve his goals.
“Are you willing to cooperate? You’ll find I’m an extremely generous man when I get my way. Cross me, and it’ll be the last thing you do.” The threat hung in the air.
“I said I would, didn’t I?”
His fingers painfully tightened on her chin before he dropped his hand. “I’ll send Maria to you right away.” He walked to the door and turned back. “Maria is a loyal employee, but an expendable one. Ply her for information or use her in any way to try to escape, and she’ll suffer right along with you.” He spun and left, firmly closing the door behind him.
Kat looked around the room. Through the windows on either side of the bed she saw treetops and blue sky. Nightstands flanked both sides of the double bed. A bureau on one wall completed the sparse furnishings. Trying not to be too obvious, she glanced around the walls and ceiling, looking for a place where there might be a camera. If he had planted one, she couldn’t easily find it.
The door opened and a pretty teenaged girl entered, a happy smile on her face. Dressed in an off-the-shoulder peasant blouse, her long skirt flowed around her ankles as she walked. “Buenos dias, senorita.
Was she in
“Si´, un poco.” The smile faded from Maria’s face. “You no speak Espanol?”
“No, I’m sorry,” Kat lied. She knew rudimentary words and phrases, but decided to keep that knowledge to herself.
“Oh. Come. You have bano.” Maria gestured with her hands for Kat to follow.
“I’m sort of tied-up right now,” Kat said, smiling to break the tension.
Maria’s dark eyes widened with fear as she came closer to the bed. “The Senor no mention this.”
“Well, go find him and get the okay to untie me. I’ve got a sudden urge to use the bathroom.”
Maria scurried out of the room like a frightened rabbit, and returned moments later, trailing after Carl.
“Well, well, my sweet. How remiss of me not to have freed you.” Kat had the urge to sneeze as Carl bent over the bed releasing the restraints. His cologne tickled her nose. Wealthy, he may be, but his taste in toiletries left a lot to be desired.
Much to her relief he was in a hurry and made a quick exit, leaving her alone in the room with Maria. On unsteady legs Kat made her way to the bathroom, shuddering at her reflection in the mirror. Hair tangled, lips dry and swollen, she looked as if she’d been dragged for fifteen miles behind a horse. She did a quick visual of the room, again looking for a hidden camera and making a mental note of available items.
Thick, thirsty lavender towels occupied one entire shelf. Their color matched the violets in the wallpaper. The next shelf held a large wicker basket containing various toiletries, a bar of oatmeal soap, herbal shampoo, a hairbrush, facial creams, various body creams, toothpaste and toothbrush, and a can of hair spray. The hairspray would be an asset in her escape plan. A direct spray to the eyes gained a person time.
The hot water from the shower felt delightful. Many of her aches and pains dissipated. She shampooed her hair with a chamomile shampoo until it squeaked. Then used a rosemary-scented conditioner. Never one for spending much time in the shower, she was reluctant to end this one. The longer she put off facing the reality of her situation, the better.
She climbed out of the shower before Maria ran off and dragged Carl back to see what was taking her so long. Once dry, she rubbed green tea body cream on her arms and legs, wrapped up in the huge bath towel and opened the door a crack to peek into the bedroom. Relieved to see Maria there alone making the bed, Kat entered the room. “How about clothes? The ones I had on need to be burned.”
“All taken care of, Senorita,” Maria bubbled. “And so pretty.”
Kat didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when Maria held up an outfit similar to the one she, herself, wore. Resigned to her fate, Kat took the clothes Maria held out and returned to the bathroom. She stepped up and teetered on the edge of the bathtub to get a quick look at herself in the mirror over the bathroom sink. Not her style. With her hair and skin coloring, she would be able to pass for Maria’s sister.
“Senorita Kat?” Maria called from the bedroom. “I go help fix supper now. I leave you tray of fruit and cheese on the nightstand.”
“Okay, Maria. Thanks.”
“I put shawl for you on the bed. Nights in mountains get cool.”
At the sound of the door closing, Kat knew she was alone. Leaving the bathroom, she rushed into the bedroom and looked out one of the two prison windows. Mountains as far as her eyes could see. Shit. What had she expected to see? Houses surrounded by white picket fences? A yellow brick road leading home? From the second window she saw she was in stucco ranch-style house, but not your typical ranch. An enormous one.
She reigned in her frustration, and focused her energy on seeking clues. The mountainous landscape reminded her somewhat of
Her eyes zeroed in on a bureau against one of the walls. Anxious to check out the drawers, she hurried over and opened the first drawer. Empty. The same was true of the remaining ones. As she shut the bottom drawer with her foot, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. Kat reached down and grabbed it. A guest menu for the Luna de Miel Recurso, Honeymoon Resort,
Being here gave her a golden opportunity to discover what he was up to. Six months ago, she’d have been thrilled at the opportunity for such an adventure. Jude had changed her life. All she wanted to do was go home.
For several minutes she paced the room, taking pieces of fruit and cheese whenever she passed the nightstand. The succulent fruit and farm fresh cheese revived her body and spirits.
At the sound of footsteps in the hall, Kat returned the menu back to the drawer. Then she ran over and climbed in bed. A cell phone rang on the other side of the door, so she crept over to listen.
“Yes, what is it?” Even though muffled, she could make out Carl’s voice. “Why bother me with a simple problem? Get the damn thing fixed by tomorrow night.” The phone snapped shut, and she barely managed to slip into the bathroom before he opened the door.
“Katherine?” The harsh voice she’d heard speaking on the phone outside in the hall was now sweet as apple dumplings, giving the expression ‘forked tongue’ a whole new meaning.
“Right here.” She waltzed out of the bathroom, cool and calm, stopping right in front of him.
“You’re beautiful.” She forced herself not to cringe when his eyes feasted on the way the peasant blouse left so much of her exposed. He reached out and skimmed his finger across the top of her breasts, before drawing her close to his body. She did stop short of returning the embrace. “I knew the outfit would suit you, but I have to admit I wasn’t prepared to be quite so bowled over.”
“Thank you. It’s not my usual attire, but I’m grateful.”
He chuckled. “Forgive me for saying this, but your usual attire leaves a lot to be desired. A beautiful woman should dress to enhance her attributes, not disguise them.”
Kat stepped away from him and moved to the window. “From what I see out my prison windows, you have a beautiful home.”
“Just one of many homes,” he shrugged off her compliment, and then frowned. “And it’s only your prison if you choose to make so.”
Kat turned back to him, and arched her eyebrow. “Care to explain?”
“I will. All in good time.” He crooked his elbow and held out his arm. “Would you like to join me for a meal?”
Anything to get out of this room. Nodding, she curved her arm through his and accompanied him out the door.
*****
An hour before landing in
“Man, I’m glad I don’t work for you,” Cody mumbled from his seat. Frank turned and glared. Jude snickered.
“Hogan says that Carl Winter doesn’t buy properties under his own name. He’s got scads of holding companies that do the job for him. It’s slowing down the process.”
“Cody’s right, Frank,” Jude said. “Concentrate on
Red started to whine, and Cody flashed an ‘I told you so’ look at Jude.
“What?”
“I told you he had to pee when we landed in
“Great, just freaking great.” He patted the dog on the head and encouraged him to hold on for another hour.
“As soon as we land, I’m flying to
“Why? Jude asked. “You think she knows something?”
“No…I’m not sure, but she must know how to reach Winter.”
“Perhaps you’re right. We’ll take some phone tracing technicians with us.”
“No sense in backtracking to
The remainder of the flight was made in silence, each man lost in his own thoughts. Jude knew Kat was able take care of herself, but he prayed she’d use her wits to stay alive and not react in a way destined to get herself killed. He’d seen that side of her too often.
Chapter 14
Kat followed Carl through a maze of halls. The wood floors felt cool on Kat’s bare feet. Shoes hadn’t been included in the outfit given to her. Escaped prisoners had more difficulty running very far in bare feet.
Kat mentally filed away the sequence of right and left turns they took before entering the main dining salon. Prison or not, she admired the room. Elaborate Spanish décor and the dark wood beams contrasted beautifully with pristine white walls.
The long dining table was set for two. Revulsion shot through her as she realized they’d be alone for dinner. What had she expected? A dinner party? The tranquilizers had affected her thinking.
“What do you want to drink, Katherine?”
The husky voice irritated her, but she forced a docile smile. “White wine would be nice.”
Carl looked doubtful. “Are you sure you feel up to it?”
What game was he playing now? “I feel fine. A little tired, but that’s to be expected after the tranquilizers.” Damn it. She hadn’t meant to be accusing. Alienating Carl wasn’t part of her plan. Too many slips of the tongue, and he’d know she was playing him for a fool.
“Yes, well, I’m sorry about that. Knowing what a spitfire you are, I didn’t want to take chances.”
Carl walked to a bar on the other side of the room and poured two glasses of wine. She watched from the corner of her eye to make sure he didn’t add anything to either.
“Thanks,” she murmured, curling her fingers around the stem of the crystal glass he handed her.
He raised his glass. “A toast to the future.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Do I have one?”
She tilted her head at an angle, attempting to gaze at him seductively.
His gaze dropped to her breasts, and a flash of desire flashed in his eyes, causing her stomach to roll with nausea.
“That’s up to you, my sweet,” he whispered bending to kiss her neck. “I certainly hope so.”
She gulped a mouthful of wine. “Enlighten me.”
“In due time.”
Kat wandered toward the sliding glass door. The drapes were a heavy brocade material. The glass door opened onto a large patio lavishly decorated with exotic potted plants. The plants were tiered on three different levels, arranged in such a way to make the patio enclosed and private. A small table with four chairs sitting in the greenery looked inviting. “Can we sit outside?”
“It’s too hot this time of day. Perhaps tomorrow morning.”
What a control freak. She prayed for patience. A movement outside caught her eye. A guard, dressed in military fatigues and armed with a rifle stood about fifty feet from the patio. She guessed the entire perimeter of the property was patrolled in a similar fashion. “Are you expecting company?”
“Excuse me?”
Kat nodded her head toward the glass. “I noticed your guard.”
He waved his hand in dismissal. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Just standard procedure. One never knows when unwanted company might show up.”
“Believe me, I know the feeling.”
He chuckled. “That’s another thing I like about you, Katherine. Your sense of humor.”
She handed him her empty glass. “I’d love some more wine.”
After a slight hesitation, he took the empty glass and refilled it.
“People are going to miss me, you know. I really should call my sister and let her know I’m okay.”
“Stop worrying your pretty little head about it. Everything will be fine.”
Kat grit her teeth. Pretty little head? The man was a chauvinist, as well as a murdering control freak. Maybe he didn’t pull the trigger, but she knew he’d masterminded her parents’ murders.
Gathering courage, she sauntered to where he stood and placed a hand on his chest. “Carl, I don’t mean to rush you, but I need to know. Am I a guest or your prisoner?” She considered batting her eyelashes, but smothered the idea. Her powers of seduction were limited. She’d never carry off something as silly as that.
A lily-white hand covered hers. “After dinner, Katherine.” Kat stared at those hands and shivered. White, long, bony fingers. He’d probably get a blister if he opened a jar.
Taking her glass of wine, he set it on the table, grasped her hands and placed them on his shoulders. He encircled her waist and drew her against his body. Like an animal caught in a trap, Kat’s senses panicked. As if in slow motion, she watched his mouth lower toward hers. Soft lips touched hers, gently at first. Kat closed her eyes. She could do this.
Encountering no resistance, Carl’s mouth continued to lightly tease. Kat relaxed her muscles. Perhaps this wouldn’t be too bad.
As quick as the flash of a lit match, his gentleness vanished. A hand locked on her jaw, and thumbs pushed until her mouth opened, before he thrust his tongue down her throat.
Kat conquered the urge to gag. She moaned and prayed Carl would think it was in passion and not disgust. Keeping her eyes closed, she tried to pretend it was Jude’s mouth devouring hers.
Carl’s hands traveled down her back to cup her buttocks, pulling her against his erection. Fight or flee. The words pounded in her head. Jerking her knee into his groin would put an end to this nightmare. And then what? She had a better chance of survival and escape if she played along with whatever sick game this man had in mind.
He released her mouth and buried his face in the hollow of her neck, his breathing so ragged she wondered if he was having a heart attack. If only she’d be so lucky.
Someone cleared their throat from behind them.
“What is it?” Carl snarled. He pushed Kat away from him with such force that she stumbled against the table before regaining her balance.
“Your meal is ready, Senor.” Maria wrung her hands together, so nervous that body trembled as much as her voice.
Kat smiled to protect Maria from Carl’s wrath. “Thank you, Maria. We’ll call you if we need you.”
Kat held out her hand to Carl. For all she knew, he could turn his anger against Maria to her. “Shall we?”
“Gracious, as well as beautiful. I’ve found quite a prize.”
Carl sat and helped himself to large portions of the numerous dishes Maria brought from the kitchen. The wine settled in Kat’s stomach like a watermelon. The rich Mexican food made her nauseous. Looking for a dish that would do the least harm, she spied a green salad. She reached for it as if it were a lifeline.
“Come now, Katherine,” the silky voice rustled over the table. “You must eat more than that. Although you’re a pretty little package, I wouldn’t want you any thinner.”
Christ. He talked about her as if she were an animal being fattened up for slaughter. A giggle rose in her throat. That might not be far off the mark.
The meal continued in silence. Kat did her best to eat the salad, but no matter how long she chewed the food, it refused to go down without water.
“I’m going to put my proposition on the table now. What you do with it will decide your fate.”
Kat stiffened. Now he had her attention. The queasiness in her stomach temporarily forgotten, she focused on him. “I’m listening.”
“It’s no secret I want Loon Lake Lodge.” His long tapered fingers buttered a roll. “Your parents refused to sell, and a few days ago, you did the same. Have you changed your mind?”
Was this a trick question? Kat held herself immobile, trying to figure out the rules of his game. “I’ll never stop loving my home.” She hedged the question but answered truthfully.
“I take that as a no.”
She squirmed in her chair. “You’re putting me in a difficult situation, Carl. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”
“As usual, you’re right. As I see it, I’ve got three choices. I make you disappear and deal with
“Or, I force you into marriage, and on the honeymoon you’ll have a fatal accident.” Again he paused.
Jaw thrust forward, she blurted out her thoughts. “Let’s hear the third option. Can’t say I’m too thrilled with the first two.”
Carl brushed a crumb from his sleeve before answering. An air of arrogance settled over him, creating icy chills deep in her bones. “Your third choice is to marry me willingly.”
Kat was too astonished to react. He couldn’t be serious. Her eyes searched his in an attempt to ferret the truth.
“Sounds far-fetched, doesn’t it?” Reaching across the table, he poured them each a cup of coffee.
Kat nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“I assure you I’m serious. We’d make a good team.”
“Would I be your prisoner for the rest of my life? Unable to come and go as I please?”
“Not as long as I could trust you not to double cross me.”
Her hands wrapped around her coffee cup. “Then, I guess you have yourself a bride.” She hoped God wouldn’t strike her dead. She didn’t even want to live in the same zip code as Carl Winter, never mind marry the man. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
He smiled. “I’ll make the arrangements. We’ll get married the day after tomorrow.”
Kat lowered her eyes to prevent him from seeing the terror she knew would be reflected there. The day after tomorrow was too soon. What was she going to do?
*****
The elevator wasn’t moving fast enough for Jude. Anxious to find Kat, he paced back and forth in the small confines.
“For Christ’s sake, Jude. Stand still.”
Frank’s irritation irked him. “I need to find Kat, Frank. God knows what that maniac has done to her.”
“I’ve told you…”
“I know.” Jude cut Cody off in mid-sentence. “She can take care of herself.”
“You are quite attached to this young lady,” Frank commented.
“She means everything to me.” Jude refused to further satisfy Frank’s curiosity.
Four o’clock in the afternoon and people still bustled around the Bureau as if it were mid-day. The three headed toward Frank’s office, Red at Jude’s side.
“Hey, Frank, what’s with the dog?”
“Hi, Jude, how’d the wilderness trip go?”
None of them exchanged pleasantries with the other agents. They stalked to Frank’s office as if on a mission. Frank picked up the phone and dialed an internal extension before he even sat behind his desk. “Hogan? Do you have that information I requested? Good. Bring it to my office. Now, not five minutes from now.”
Agent Hogan arrived carrying a stack of paper at least two feet high. At Frank’s disgruntled look, Hogan smirked. “I tried to tell you.”
“Where’s Perkins?”
“Locked in the conference room threatening to sue you, the Agency and the entire
Frank sighed and rubbed the middle of his forehead with the palm of his hand. “Shit. What a mess.”
Jude began thumbing through the listings of Carl’s properties. “Are these in any order? Alphabetically or according to States?”
The question earned him a disgusted look from Hogan. “Didn’t have time. Christ, the man incorporated a hundred fifty holding companies.”
“Fucking great.”
“Eliminate anything that isn’t a border property,” Cody suggested.
“Look. I’ve been thinking. Just because we heard his pawns say they’d be going to
“Okay, let’s do it.”
The three men watched Dave Perkins through the one-way mirror.
“This is stupid, Frank. Dave knows the mirror is here.”
As if he’d heard them, the suspect looked straight at the mirror and gave them the finger.
“Should all three of us go in?” Jude asked. “How are we going to play this?”
“He doesn’t know me,” Cody interjected. “Perhaps I can get more out of him.”
“No, way! I know that the military operates by a different set of rules, but there’s no way in hell I’m taking any chances of him being able to yell entrapment.” Frank was adamant. “I’ll do it.”
Jude poured himself a cup of fresh coffee, grimacing at the bitter taste. He sat beside Cody at the wooden table in the room behind the mirror. Why had the coffee at the lodge tasted better than any he’d had before? When he’d mentioned that to Kat once, she’d laughed and told him it wasn’t the coffee. The wilderness air made everything smell and taste better. Remembering her laugh made gave him a pain in the pit of his stomach.
Christ, what had he done? Kat was the most honest, unpretentious woman he’d ever met. When she gave, she gave freely, no strings attached. Under the guise of not hurting her, he’d taken every emotional gift she’d given him and trampled them into the ground. Talk about waffling. One minute telling her he wanted her, the next telling her anything between them was impossible.
“Hey. Are you paying attention?”
Cody dragged Jude from his self-pity party.
Frank circled Dave Perkins, reminding Jude of a turkey vulture ready to land on a piece of road kill. Dave looked nervous and flustered. Not surprising, as he’d been locked in this room for twelve hours without being told why. Unless he was guilty. That would make him flustered for sure.
“Well, Dave, have anything to tell me?” Frank’s voice sounded tinny coming through the speaker system.
“Fuck you.”
Cody chuckled. “Real cooperative guy.”
Jude sighed. Dave always had been defiant.
Frank pounded his fist on the table. “That’s what you’ll be if you don’t come clean with me.”
“What’s this about, Frank? You found out about the missing phones?”
“Good place to start.”
Dave shrugged. “I screwed up. I needed money and someone offered me good money for them.”
“How’d you hook up with Carl Winter?”
Dave’s head jerked in surprise, but then he just shrugged.
“Tell me where Winter is holed up, and perhaps we can work out a deal.”
“How the hell would I know where he is?” Dave sounded exasperated. “He and I don’t exactly communicate on a regular basis.”
“He’s kidnapped Kat Tenney.”
Jude doubted Dave could fake the surprised look that came over his face. “I had nothing to do with any kidnapping.”
Frank put his elbows on the table. “Look Dave. You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Come clean. I’ll try to help you.”
“I want a lawyer.”
Cody looked at Jude. “He’s sweating. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Anything you tell me is unofficial. Do you see any witnesses to verify anything you say?”
“You’re taping this conversation, and there are agents behind that mirror watching and listening to everything I say.”
“You’re right. I am and there are. But you also know that nothing you say will be able to be used against you. Right now, all I’m concerned about is finding Kat Tenney and Carl Winter. Did you know that he’s involved in a smuggling ring?”
Dave Perkins’ Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow. “Smuggling? No way are you pinning that on me.” His gaze darted to the mirror. “Callahan? I know you’re there.”
“Dave, don’t worry about Jude. Worry about yourself. Tell me all you know.”
“I haven’t been read Miranda rights so anything I say is not admissible in a court of law.”
“Understood,” Frank muttered impatiently.
“Winter approached me when Callahan and I were investigating the connection between him and Willie Card. Offered me a shit load of money. I got greedy.”
“Offered you money in exchange for what?”
“The satellite phones and making sure the Agency didn’t send an agent to
A feeling of hopelessness swamped Jude. They weren’t going to hear a damn thing to help them find Kat. The man wasn’t guilty of anything other than greed and stupidity.
“When’s the last time you had contact with Winter?” Frank persisted.
“A week or so ago. He called and I told him not to worry about the FBI interfering in
“Have any idea where he is now?”
“No.”
“Do you know how to reach him?”
“No. He always called me. Once I attempted to reach him on one of the phones I gave him, but it wasn’t his voice that answered, so I hung up.”
“Okay.” Frank sounded weary. “I’ll send someone in with a phone so you can call a lawyer.”
Frank was already seated at the desk when Jude and Cody returned to his office. Red ran in circles letting Jude know how happy he was to see him.
“Sorry,” Frank said. “That didn’t produce the information I’d hoped it would.”
No one responded.
An angry female voice shouted in the hall. “Take your hands off me this instant. I demand to know what this is about.”
“Here comes our last hope for a quick find of Carl Winter.” Cody stated the thought that sat in all their minds.
Elizabeth Tenney had arrived.
Chapter 15
Jude barely managed to jump out of the way when
Like a green laser beam, her eyes scanned the room, searching for a target. They locked on Cody. “You! I should have known you’d be involved in this.”
A sigh of relief escaped Jude, glad that Cody, and not him, would be the one to take the brunt of her anger.
Cody grinned. “And hello to you, too, Princess.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“You play the part so well.”
“How dare you drag me out of my home and bring me here?” Fists clenched, she and Cody stood toe-to-toe.
“Let me introduce myself.” Frank moved next to the two combatants and extended his hand toward
“That’s why we, uh, dragged you here. Carl Winter has kidnapped your sister.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped. “I don’t believe you. If my sister is missing, it’s because she took off somewhere by herself. Went on a canoe trip or camping. She’s famous for doing that.” Her green eyes encompassed all three men.
Jude stepped forward to fill her in on everything that had happened. “We’re not mistaken. She’s been abducted.”
Elizabeth’s fingers twisted the handle of her handbag. Walking to the nearest chair, she sat down. “Brian and Willie are dead?” She shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s imperative that we find Carl Winter. Do you know how to reach him? A private phone number? Or do you know where he is right now?”
“I…I think I’ve got a number for him somewhere in my address book.” She fumbled through her purse. Her hands trembled and the handbag slipped off her lap, spilling the contents on the floor.
Squatting down on the floor to retrieve her belongs, she handed Jude a red book. “The number should be in there.” A single tear slid down her cheek. Jude thought that maybe Cody had been right about her. Prickly on the outside, warm and soft on the inside. Like her sister.
“Here’s the number. Looks like a cell phone. Let’s give it a try. Frank, get the tracing equipment in place.” He turned to
“Me?” She sounded panicked. “You want me to call him? He’ll hang up on me.” She cowered in her chair. “He made it very clear we were through. What possible reason do I have for calling?”
“The truth–to a point,” Frank advised. “Don’t tell him where you are or who you’re with, but let him know you’re worried about Kat. You’ve been notified she’s missing. Tell him you don’t have anyone to turn to. You don’t know what you’re going to do. Ask him if he thinks you should you call the police. You know…play on his ego. Make him feel important. Just be yourself.”
Jude cringed and Cody chuckled at Frank’s implication that lying was right up Elizabeth’s alley. If she were anything like her sister, Frank best be prepared for a roundhouse kick to the head.
The phone rang several times, and Jude’s hope started to dwindle. On the sixth ring, a man answered, giving him a shot of adrenaline laced with hope.
“Hello, Carl?”
Jude was impressed. The woman was a great actress, or maybe she wasn’t acting after all.
“It’s
Winter chuckled, putting every nerve in Jude’s body went on alert.
“Don’t worry,
*****
Kat forced herself not to tear the phone from Carl’s hand when he handed it to her. “Liz? Please don’t cry. I’m fine. I’m feeling like a rotten sister for stealing your boyfriend.”
Kat turned her back on Carl when she saw him smirk. Pompous ass. She knew damn well this was her only chance to tell someone where she was. But if Carl figured out what she was doing, her life would be snuffed out in an instant.
She took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “Liz, do you remember what Dad told us all the time whenever we were sad? Don’t despair, happiness is around the next big bend in the river.” Kat put a big smile on her face for Carl’s benefit. “Well, he was right. I went around the big bend and found Carl.”
A look of suspicion replaced Carl’s smirk. Her heart thudded loud as a pileated woodpecker hammering on a dead spruce tree.
“We’re getting married soon and plan on having an extra long honeymoon.” She forced herself to laugh. “No, Liz, we don’t want any company. I’ll call you when we get back from the honeymoon. I promise. Love you. Bye.”
She ended the conversation quickly, not giving Liz a chance to ask any more questions. Carl leaned back in his chair and grinned. “Well done, Katherine. I’m glad she called. Another loose end tied up.”
“I’m feeling woozy,” Kat murmured. “I think I’d better lay down.”
“Of course.” Acting the gentleman, he stood and held out his arm to her. “I had my doubts about you drinking those two glasses of wine. I’ll see you to your room.”
*****
A flurry of energy whirled within Frank’s office. “Did they get the trace?” Frank bellowed into the phone. “Damn it.”
Jude’s hope of a trace evaporated at the look on Frank’s face, and the familiar ache of missing Kat wormed back into his heart. Hearing her voice had been bittersweet.
“Jude?” Elizabeth’s voice interrupted his miserable thoughts. “Kat wasn’t making sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“Our father never said anything about big bends in life.”
Excitement surged through him. “Where’s that list of Winter’s properties?”
“Over here.” Cody sat at Frank’s desk, flipping through the stack.
Jude hurried over to the pile almost tripping over Red, who had been under his feet since they returned to Frank’s office. He grabbed half of the pile. Did Winter own property in
“
Cody jumped out of his chair. He pulled
At the astonishment on her face, he grinned. “Never been kissed by a black man? Well, we’re even. First time I’ve ever kissed a Native American woman.”
“What are we waiting for? Let’s go. Frank, have a tactical team meet us at
“What about the dog?” Frank asked, warily eyeing Red.
Jude had a moment of indecision. Red panted and gazed at him. “We’ll take him.”
“Jude?” Elizabeth grabbed hold of his sleeve as he started for the door.
He sighed, impatient to be on his way. “What is it?”
“Be careful. Carl is a cruel man.” She dropped her eyes and lowered her voice. “He put me in the hospital once. Because I refused to do something he wanted me to. He’ll hurt Kat, as well.”
“I know.” Kat’s fiery temperament could bring out the worse in a man who abused women. Would she play along with her captor? The phone call gave him hope that she would.
*****
Kat paced the confines of her small room. If her sister understood the message, help should be here in eight or ten hours. She leaned against the windowsill and stared at the sunset. The sun reminded her of a huge, red, and orange hot air balloon against the distant black mountains. A different landscape from
Excitement at the thought of soon seeing Jude increased her breathing. Would he still feel the same way about her? She loved him, but she wouldn’t be anyone’s yo-yo. The next time he retreated from her would be the last. Why was she thinking so pessimistically? Of course, he still loved her.
The sky was darkening when she lay down on the bed. Shutting thoughts of Jude from her mind, she searched her memory for what she knew about the
A creak in the floor in the hall outside her room gave her a chill. For several minutes, she strained her ears, but all was silent. Every house had its odd noises. She closed her eyes, feeling her muscles relax as sleep claimed her.
Marunga. Wake up. Now is the time to prepare for battle.
“Grandmother?” Instantly awake, Kat swung her legs from the bed and put her feet on the floor. She hurried to the bathroom and retrieved the can of hairspray. The sound of footsteps in the hall brought a prickly heat to her skin. Just as fast, the heat receded, leaving her cold and clammy. She pulled off her peasant skirt and stuffed it under the covers, before climbing back in bed.
Curled in a fetal position, she feigned sleep when the doorknob turned. As the door creaked open, she peeked through her lashes. Carl walked in. She doubted that he was coming to check on her well-being. The risen moon created shadows across the floor. Carl stopped by the side of bed, staring down at her.
Just as he reached out his hand to touch her, she sprang from the bed, aiming the can of hairspray at his eyes. Her finger depressed the nozzle. The spray hit him square in the face. His scream was as much of outrage as pain.
Clawing at his eyes, he backed toward the door, his head leaning forward. “You bitch. I’ll kill you.”
“Not if I kill you first.” Spurred on by adrenaline, she grabbed two handfuls of hair, yanked his head lower and kneed him in the face. Kat heard the blood gurgle in his nose as he breathed. Carl staggered backwards. She grabbed his shirt, pulled him toward her again and kneed him twice in the groin.
He grabbed his crotch and whimpered like a baby. Kat felled him with a fast, powerful side-thrust kick to his knee.
He went down hard, his head hitting the floor with a loud crack. Instinct told her the bastard was down for the count, but she approached his prone form with caution. His breathing was shallow, but he was alive. She frisked him, finding an automatic Glock, his cell phone and a single key. She took everything.
She pulled on her skirt, ripped the left side seam and tied a knot, making it shorter so it wouldn’t interfere with her movement. Tucking the Glock in her waistband, she left the room without a backward glance at the unconscious man on the floor.
Chapter 16
Kat crept down the hallway, stealing from shadow to shadow. This part of the hacienda appeared deserted, but she passed each open door fully prepared to takeout anyone who emerged. At the first closed door, she stopped and turned the knob. It was locked, so she used the key she’d taken from Carl’s pocket. Bingo.
She quickly scanned the room flooded by moonlight. A huge roll-top desk on the other side of the room caught her attention. Moving swiftly to it, she made herself comfortable in a chair. The lemon scent was strong and the wood felt oily. Must have been cleaning day. A small reading lamp strategically sat on top of the desk. Kat turned it on.
The roll top was open. Pens, pads of paper, some loose paper clips and two unopened cigars littered the desktop. No notes were written on the pads. On one side sat a laptop. No sense fooling around with that. Hacking into computers was not on her repertoire of talents.
The first drawer she opened contained nothing but normal odds and ends, scotch tape, duct tape, pens and pencils, a box of thumbtacks. Carl didn’t appear to be an organized individual. She looked in three drawers and found nothing. The last drawer she tried was locked. Her heart raced. She tried to pry the lock with a letter opener, but it wouldn’t budge.
Think, Kat. The key hadn’t been Carl’s pocket. Where would he leave the key? It had to be somewhere in this room. Her father had taped the key to his desk on the underside of a drawer. She felt inside and underneath all drawers. Nothing.
Where would she hide a key? Somewhere obvious. Hidden, but in plain sight. The paper clips? Her hands trembled as she retrieved the box and dumped it on the oak desktop. Mixed in with the one hundred paper clips was a small silver colored key.
She inserted the key in the lock and turned. The drawer opened. Her heart thundered in anticipation. Several packets of papers neatly held together by rubber bands were stacked on top of one another. She removed the top packet and leafed through. A pile of birth certificates. All with official looking seals from various states. At a quick glance, she guessed there to be at least fifty birth certificates.
The second pile consisted of manila envelopes bound together. She opened the first envelope. Her breath caught in her throat.
With shaking fingers, she pulled out passports and driver licenses, all sporting pictures of men of mid eastern descent. She opened a second envelope. Same type of documents, different men. On each envelope a date was handwritten on the outside. The top one was dated today. A group of terrorists were entering through
Her discovery made drug smuggling a petty misdemeanor. How could any American be so sleazy as to bring potential terrorists to their own country?
Kat’s throat went dry at a muffled noise in the hallway. She replaced the documents, locked the drawer and tucked the key in the knot of her skirt. She readied the Glock and waited.
The door opened, and Carl stumbled into the room, then stopped and hung onto the doorjamb for support. “You’re dead meat,” he rasped. The hatred in his eyes could cause nightmares.
She laughed softly and aimed the Glock at his chest. “I don’t think so. I should have killed you when I had the opportunity.” She gestured with the gun. “Get over here and sit down.”
“Not likely.”
Kat shrugged, and released the safety. “Your choice. Makes no difference to me.”
“You’re crazy,” he whispered hoarsely and wobbled to the chair. “You’ll never leave here alive.”
“You’re not the first to tell me I’m crazy. I doubt you’ll be the last. Getting out of here is my worry, not yours.” She kept her eyes on him and opened a drawer with her free hand. Duct tape–no home should be without it. She unrolled a large piece and secured it around the open drawer.
“Hands behind the chair.” She made several circles around his chest, taping him to the chair before taping his wrists together. Bringing the tape around the front of the chair she made six loops around his feet before wrapping it around the leg of the chair. For good measure she ripped a piece off and put it across his mouth. Satisfied with the result, she left the room, locked the door and continued down the hall.
She arrived in the dining room and hurried to the door Maria had used during the evening meal. It brought her to the kitchen. A nightlight over the sink enabled her to scout for another weapon. A quiet one. From the drawer that held a wide assortment of knives, she chose a fierce-looking carving blade.
At the far end of the room she found a door that led outdoors. She opened it just wide enough to squeeze through and moved into the night. No guards were visible in the immediate vicinity. She sniffed, but the night air held no smells. All was quiet. With the bright moon, visibility wasn’t a problem. She’d be more comfortable if her blouse wasn’t white.
With her back against the building, she sidestepped toward one end of the hacienda. She needed to know how many guards were posted around the building, before she chose her escape route.
She stopped under her bedroom window at the back of the house. From her room window, she’d seen what looked like a drop off at the end of the lawn. Scratch that as an escape route. She inched along, listening for danger.
The carving knife poised in striking position, she stepped around the end of the stucco structure into a professionally landscaped garden. Jesus. The nooks and crannies on the outside were as confusing as the inside. Staying low, she crept through the ornamental bushes and plants until she reached another outside wall of the hacienda.
Cigar smoke carried by a breeze slid under her nose. A guard enjoying a smoke while on duty? As the scent became stronger, so did her vigilance. The smoker must be close.
At the end of the side wall Kat turned, placing the front of her body against the hacienda. She hugged the building and continued inching along to the end. She cautiously peered around the corner. Her luck held. A lone guard stood with his back to her. He leaned against the hacienda, enjoying a cigar. As if he sensed her presence, he turned, saw her and immediately raised his rifle. She leaped forward and plowed into knees, knocking him to the ground. For a large man, he was quick. He rolled and grabbed a handful of her hair, dragging her upwards. She pressed the knife blade against his stomach, hoping to convince him to let go of her hair.
Instead, he twisted his fist in her hair, yanking her head back. She pushed the knife into his lung. He dropped to the ground. She withdrew the knife and wiped the blood on his shirt.
Adrenaline pumped through her blood. Would this nightmare ever end? Even though she was in a kill or be killed situation, thoughts of this man’s family already haunted her. Did he leave a wife to grieve? Children?
The sound of voices raised the hair on her arms. The front of the hacienda must be around the next corner.
“Is everything in place?” The voice seemed vaguely familiar.
“Yeah, but the boss isn’t answering his cell.”
“What? He knows the shipment’s arriving at four o’clock tomorrow morning.”
She’d shut Carl’s cell phone off and left it in his office. She ditched the knife, and untied the knot in her skirt. Then she pulled her blouse over the waistband, concealing the Glock. What should she do with the key to the desk? She heaved it into the bushes.
She messed up her hair and pinched her cheeks hard enough to bring tears to her eyes. Gulping several deep breaths, she rushed around the corner straight into the two men standing at the front entrance to the hacienda.
“Help me. Please.” She panted, sounding out-of-breath and grabbed the arm of the nearest guard. “Carl’s been attacked. I barely managed to escape. I think…I think the intruders are still in my room.”
The guard seized her by both arms, dragging her towards him. The smell of sweat and nicotine oozed from his skin. “What are you talking about? What are you doing running around the grounds?”
“I told you,” she stammered breathlessly, “two men burst into my room. Carl and I were…” She dropped her eyes as if in embarrassed. “They seized him and beat on…it was terrible…I ran to find help.”
“You’re coming with me.” The grip on her arm tightened, giving her no choice but to either walk or be dragged along.
As they entered the foyer, she slumped against her captor. “Oh no, I’m going to be sick.” She gagged and slid toward the floor. “Help me.”
“Stupid puta,” he spat the words and roughly pushed her. “Come,” he ordered his cohort. “We must find Mr. Winter.” Turning abruptly, the two men hurried down the hall.
The moment they rounded the corner, Kat sprang to her feet. She held up the skirt and raced down the driveway, oblivious to the rocks and pebbles bruising her bare feet. Several hundred feet later, she ducked into the woods and ran parallel to the pea stone driveway.
Soon they’d begin searching for her. Every second counted. Her breathing was labored when she came to the main road. She veered to the right into the woods, backtracked a short distance, and then walked briskly in the direction she believed to be parallel to the main road. While walking, she searched for a secure place to hide and wait. About a mile from the driveway and at least three hundred feet from the main road, she hunkered down under an old blow-down. The tree had been huge, and its roots provided plenty of cover.
Moonlight spread a path in front of her. Although hidden, she heard a vehicle heading toward the hacienda. Jude and Cody should be arriving soon. She prayed they’d come by the road and not by helicopter. She huddled into herself and waited, the Glock readied in her hand. Only ten shots, but she could hit her mark with each one if the need arose.
*****
Jude’s nerves were fried by the time the Jeep crossed onto Winter’s property. He’d studied the topo map on the flight to
Cody shut off the headlights. “Are we approaching the hacienda on foot? “
Jude laughed. “I doubt we’d get a welcoming reception if we drove up and knocked on the door.”
Red had been content to sit in the back, hanging his head out the window. Now he started to whine. His whining turned to small yelps, and he paced back and forth on the seat.
“What got into him?” Jude wondered aloud.
“Probably has to take a leak. When’s the last time you gave him the opportunity? You know, Callahan, you’re not the best dog sitter.”
“Pull over, and I’ll let him out.”
Jude stepped out of the vehicle. Red jumped into the front seat and bolted out through the open door.
“Jesus. Where’s he going? Kat will have my head if I lose her dog.” Jude chased Red through the thick brush into the dark woods.
*****
Fear raced through Kat at the sound of a vehicle slowing down on the road. Muscles tensed when the headlights went out and a door slammed. The sound of something running through the woods increased the hammering of her heart. Had Carl’s men found her already? She positioned her Glock, ready to open fire, wishing she had a night scope. Her life would be over if she were recaptured. Carl wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.
The rustle of leaves grew louder, and she heard panting. Were they using dogs to find her?
Her finger on the trigger, she prepared to squeeze off a shot. Then she identified her target. “Red!” she whispered, the blood draining from her head. The dog knocked her over and washed her face. “Stop it. Sit.” Now was not the time for games.
The dog obeyed. “Good boy. Where’s the rest of the cavalry?”
Red whined, and looked back the way he’d come. “Let’s go.” Kat made the decision to follow him, rather than wait. She trusted the dog.
They’d walked only a short distance before Red performed his tail-wagging dance. He ran ahead, and she heard Jude talking to the dog.
“What are you trying to pull? If we’re going to find Kat, we don’t have time to play games.”
“I’m right here. What took you so long?” She walked closer to him and bit the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing. The astonishment on his face was priceless. She moved closer, wanting to be in his arms, but a guarded expression replaced his astonishment warning her to keep her distance.
Didn’t he know she needed him? She ached to bury her face in his neck, smell him and taste the saltiness of his skin. Didn’t he feel the same way? She waited for that special look, letting her know he loved her. Her spirit plummeted. What had happened to make him change his mind yet again?
*****
The eager, loving expression on Kat’s face made Jude feel small. Those green eyes blazed in the moonlight with the love and hunger she’d never tried to hide. Kat needed to hear his confession, but now was not the time.
“Are you okay?” His voice was hoarse. He looked her over closely and saw no injuries. Rumpled and dirty, she still looked sexy. His fingers itched to touch her.
“I’m fine, but I think we’d best move before they come looking for me.”
“Follow me.” With a curt nod, he spun and started out of the woods.
Soon they arrived at the road. Jude burned with jealously when Cody jumped out of the vehicle, picked up Kat and swung her in circles. Spontaneous affection. She’d wanted that from him, but he couldn’t give it to her until he confessed his sin.
“We’d best get moving. I’ll radio the chopper to pick us up at the designated place. We should be there in about three hours.”
“We should stay here. You could make a bust. There’s a shipment coming in at about four o’clock.”
“It’s all taken care of.” Jude kept his voice matter-of-fact, pretending once again not to see the hurt and confusion on her face. “This place soon will be crawling with Feds.”
“They’ll probably be expecting it since I escaped.” She gave a shaky laugh. “And I didn’t leave Carl in any condition to conduct business.”
“That’s my girl,” Cody laughed.
“We’ve got to move out of here. Our mission was to get you.
Kat shrugged. “Shoes didn’t come with the outfit.”
“Hop in. The sooner we leave, the sooner your feet can be treated. Get in, Red.” Jude held the door for Kat to get in the back with the dog. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sit next to her without kissing her senseless. And he sure as hell wasn’t going to have her sit in the front with Cody and have to watch their antics the entire trip.
“Did Winter hurt you?” Jude’s mouth tightened as he asked the question.
“No, but I did a job on him.”
Jude had turned to look at her. “Red’s quite a dog. He led us to the place in the woods where you were kidnapped.”
“I’ve got some great news for you, Jude.” He imagined her eyes sparkling with excitement to match the excitement in her voice. “I know where the gems are.”
“We found them.”
“You did? How? They were well hidden.”
“Brian had them.”
“Well, I hope you arrested him and threw him in jail. He’d been working for Carl, you know. He followed me and had a tracking device. That’s how Carl’s men found me.”
Jude closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Brian’s dead.” The darkness hid her expression.
“You killed him?” Her question was matter-of-fact, not accusatory.
“No. He’d already been shot when we got there.” He paused, then deciding to tell her everything. “Two shots were fired from your gun. One of them killed Brian.”
Kat remained silent.
Jude turned back to the front. He wouldn’t push her for information. Later, but not now. When she spoke, her voice was low. He could hardly hear her.
“I didn’t kill Brian. I killed one of the men in the group that jumped me.”
Jude twisted around, reaching over the back of the seat to caress her cheek, but stopped himself before he made contact. “Try to get some rest. There’s plenty of time to hash out everything. You’re safe. That’s the important thing.”
“Carl’s smuggling terrorists into the country.”
“What?” Jude said.
“No shit.” Cody whistled.
“I found evidence in his desk.
“Jesus.” The word whooshed from Cody.
“You’re sure about this, Kat?”
“Christ, Jude, of course I’m sure. I saw drivers’ licenses, birth certificates, and passports, and held them in my hands. I don’t…”
Automatic gunfire from behind filled the night, cutting off conversation.
Kat ducked and then peered over the backseat. “Their headlights are off. Give me a rifle.” She barked the order, holding a hand towards the front.
Jude opened his mouth to protest.
“Give her a damn rifle,” Cody said. “She’s in a better position to return fire than you are.”
Kat kneeled on the seat, staying low, and watched out the back window. “Just one vehicle, I think, but it’s hard to tell.”
Jude slipped the rifle next to her on the seat.
Red whined his displeasure and hunkered down on the floor.
“Cody, slow down when I tell you. I’ll empty the rifle. Then floor it.”
“Gotcha.”
“Okay, slow down.” The pursuing vehicle gained ground. She shouldered the rifle in one fluid move, took aim and emptied the clip through the back window. “Floor it. I’m hoping I hit the radiator and the front tires. Don’t know if I hit the driver or anyone else.”
The jeep veered sharply to the right. “They got one of our tires. We’re going to hit the ditch.”
“Keep it straight as long as you can. Kat, are we still being followed?”
“I don’t think so, but it’s hard to tell. It’s dark, and there’s a lot of dust.”
Jude saw Cody give a hard twist to the wheel in an attempt to prevent a rollover.
They rounded a corner and Cody hollered. “This is it. Hang on.”
The jeep went over the embankment, rolled once and ended right side up. The rollover pushed in the dash, pinning Jude’s leg. He couldn’t move. “Cody? Kat? Are you all right?”
“Affirmative.” Cody answered back.
“Kat?” Jude panicked when she didn’t answer.
“She’s not in the back seat. Must have been thrown clear.”
“Cody, get out and find her. I’m stuck. Can’t move.”
“I’m okay.” Kat stood outside the jeep by Cody’s window. Jude’s gaze ran over her, but other than a few rips in her clothes and dirt on her arm and face, she seemed fine.
“Where’s Red?”
At the sound of his name, Red whined pitifully. The back door hung open, and he wobbled out.
“Jude’s pinned under the dashboard.”
“I’m all right. Make sure no one else followed us. I’ll call the chopper and change the pick up destination. Shit. I can’t reach my phone.”
“Where is it? I’ll get it for you.”
Her soft voice came from beside him and opened the floodgate of bottled up emotions. He damned himself for ever doubting her loyalty. If only he could turn back time. “Right front pocket.”
Even a banged up leg didn’t prevent his getting a hard-on when her small hand slid into his jeans.
“Here it is. We’ve got to get you out of here.” Her hands roamed over his lower body. “If Cody and I pull back on the dash, I think you’ll be able to free your leg. Are you in pain?”
He wasn’t. At least not the kind she meant. “No. I don’t think anything’s broken.”
“Make your phone call. I’ll go see if Cody needs any help.”
Jude punched in the number. “Change of plans. Pick us up on the road about ten miles northwest of the hacienda. Affirmative. We have Kat Tenney. Winter’s smuggling potential terrorists. Something’s coming down near dawn. Get word to the team.”
By the time the chopper arrived, Jude was on his feet, limping around. He’d been able to free his leg when Kat and Cody relieved the pressure of the dashboard. The gash on his thigh needed some stitches, but no bones were broken. Kat ripped off the bottom of her skirt and tied a makeshift bandage to stop the bleeding.
The chopper headed to Laughlin AFB. From there, they’d catch a flight back to
Jude remembered Cody’s words. Unconditional love. Kat deserved that type of love, and he’d screwed up. Like a cancer, guilt ate at his insides. Now he had to come clean and tell her. Would she forgive him? His gut instinct said not a chance.
*****
Kat fondled Red, enjoying the warm soft fur on his ears. What had happened to the camaraderie between Jude and Cody? And to Jude’s love for her? As they waited for the copter, the tension between the two men made her uncomfortable, and she intended to get to the bottom of it.
“You two mind telling me what’s wrong? You’re hardly speaking to each other. And neither of you are talking to me.”
“I’ve got nothing to say,” Cody offered.
Hard lines appeared in Jude’s face, turning him into a distant stranger. “Later, Kat. You and I need to talk, but not right now.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned away from him, feeling the proverbial axe about to fall. One thing she knew for sure. Jude Callahan wouldn’t catch her off guard this time.
Chapter 17
The helicopter flight dragged on forever. Kat’s eyes refused to stay open, so she dozed on and off. Dreams of hypodermic needles and death haunted her sleep. Once she woke to discover Jude’s hand caressing her neck. Had she cried out? The moment her gaze locked with his, he removed his hand and looked away.
The ache in her heart worsened. The sooner he told her it was over, the better. No sense in prolonging an unhappy ending. Cut your losses and move on. That philosophy had served her well in life. This time, however, the sorrow might be more than she could handle. Like an injured animal, she wanted to crawl away to some dark secret place and lick her wounds.
The helicopter finally landed. Once inside the base they were escorted to a conference room where several FBI agents waited.
“Miss Tenney, we have some questions to ask you.”
Jude stepped forward, before she could respond. “This can wait until we’re back in
“No, Agent Callahan, it can’t. Our agents raided the hacienda, and everyone found on the premises has been arrested. I need to question Ms. Tenney about her time there.”
“Glad to help.” Kat smiled at the young agent. “Fire away.”
She answered all their questions. Plans were made for her to look at mug shots of those arrested once she arrived in
“Any chance of getting a shower before our plane leaves,” Jude asked.
She wanted to hug him for asking the question, before she remembered. Spontaneous hugs with Jude were a thing of the past.
“Sgt. Mallory, show our visitors to the guest quarters. Make sure to provide them with clean clothes.” The agent’s eyes skimmed Kat’s body and lingered on her feet. “Capt. Tenney needs some footwear and medical attention for her feet. Arrange for a medic to stitch Agent Callahan’s leg.”
Kat breathed a sigh of relief when the door to her room closed behind Sgt. Mallory. She had two hours to pull herself together, not just physically, but emotionally. She was stunned at the rumpled, dirty woman staring back at her from the full-length mirror on the wall. Christ. With her tangled hair and filthy clothes, she looked like she’d just escaped from an asylum. The bare, bleeding feet completed the image.
In the shower needles of hot water stung her body. She inhaled the clean smell of soap and scrubbed her skin. If only her sadness would wash down the drain along with the dirt and grime.
No matter how hard she pushed, Jude refused to get out of her mind. Would it be the same a year from now? Would she wake up every morning, wondering where he was, what he was doing, who he was with? Or would the wound heal, and she’d remember him with fond memories?
Once she’d washed the filth from her body, she added a glob of bubble bath and filled the tub. Sinking under the sudsy water, she rested her head against the back of the tub and concentrated on the pleasure of the water flowing around her. She hardly ever indulged bubble baths, but this one felt great.
Red snored softly on the floor by the tub, his head on his paws. There couldn’t be a finer dog in the country. Having him for a companion eased some of her apprehension of the future. Dogs loved without question and never judged.
The door creaked open. She slid under the water until the bubbles were around her chin. Red lifted his head and thumped his tail on the bath mat as Jude stepped into the steamy bathroom.
“How do you feel?” Kat noticed the uncertain look on his face, but he continued forward until he stood next to the tub.
Was he uncertain of his reception or uncertain if she was well? What did it matter?
The raw male power emanating from him still curled her toes. He smelled of spicy soap, different from the one she’d used. Her fingers itched to touch his still-damp hair. Just looking at him brought a deep tingle between her legs.
“I’m fine,” she answered in a calm voice, hoping he wouldn’t suspect the emotions running haywire inside her.
“Good. The medic gave me some ointment to treat your feet.”
The magnetism of his smile almost weakened her resolve. “Leave it in the bedroom. I’ll put it on when I’m through with my bath.”
To her horror, instead of leaving, he picked up a bottle of shampoo and knelt on the floor by the tub.
“What are you doing?” she meant to sound harsh. Instead she squeaked.
“Washing your hair,” he answered, gently loosening a tendril of hair clinging to her wet cheek.
“I can do that.”
Ignoring her, he squeezed a generous amount of shampoo in his palm and methodically worked it into her scalp.
Oh those magic hands. His fingers massaged as he lathered the shampoo into thick suds. All thoughts of arguing vanished. She lived for the moment and allowed her sexual fantasies to run rampant. Her nipples puckered and hardened, her legs parted of their own accord.
Quick as a bolt of lightning, reality hit her. What was she doing? How many times did she need to be sucker-punched before she learned?
She swallowed hard, lifted her chin and boldly met his eyes…eyes warm enough to melt chocolate. “Thank you. I’ll finish it.”
Jude’s mouth turned down, and she thought a glimmer of sadness entered in his eyes before he lowered his lashes, hiding all emotion. Without a word, he nodded, wiped his hands on a towel and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Like a pressure cooker, Kat needed a release. She opened an internal valve and let her tears run. Christ. She’d cried more in the last five days than in the past five years. She’d been battered from an emotional roller coaster ever since she got the call to come home. Crying helped. She actually felt better when the flood stopped. She rinsed her hair and let the water out of the tub. The huge fluffy towel was as comforting as a friend. After she dried herself, she wrapped it around her body sarong style. She walked into the bedroom and stopped short.
Jude reclined on the bed, his hands behind his head. “Are you ready?”
“Ready for what? Why are you still here?”
He held up the tube of ointment.
“Oh. I told you I’d take care of it.”
“Humor me. I want to make sure there’s no infection.”
Kat rolled her eyes and sat on the end of the bed. Anything to get him out of her room.
He rose and then knelt at her feet. Kat held her breath when he reached out and picked up her foot. His fingers explored the scratches and abrasions. “You’ll have stone bruises.”
“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you run on pebbles and rocks.” She wished he’d stop touching her. Even his fingers on her feet turned her on.
“I have a confession to make.”
Kat frowned at the lack of emotion in his voice and the deep lines of tension on his face. “What do you mean?” He cupped her foot and pulled it against his stomach.
His fingers tightened while his eyes focused on her foot. “For a short time, back at
She was stunned. What had happened to ever make him think that? “I don’t understand.”
Lowering her foot, he gathered the second one and applied the ointment. “For a short time, I thought you and Brian were partners.”
Kat was puzzled. “Partners? In what?”
He released a sharp breath and dropped her foot. He walked into the bathroom and returned, wiping his hands on a towel. “Do I need to spell it out?” He paced the room. “The night you disappeared, I thought you’d arranged to meet Brian and give him the gems.”
“I’d told you I didn’t know where they were.”
“I know. But that night an inner voice asked me how you knew where to find them.”
“I see,” she answered, holding his gaze. “So without waiting for an explanation, you decided I was guilty.”
“At first, yes, but I soon realized I was wrong…that you wouldn’t have done that. I came to my senses, remembered what we meant to each other. I love you, Kat.”
Kat forced herself to look away from the desperation she saw in his eyes. At a loss for words, she said nothing. She’d known something was wrong, but never imagined it was something like this.
Two days ago, she would have stormed at him, ranted and raved, giving him a large chunk of her mind, perhaps even a punch or two. But not today. Too much had happened. Too much death…too much deceit.
*****
“Aren’t you going to say something?” Minutes had passed. Nervous at her silence, he pressed her. “Yell at me? Swear at me?”
Kat still sat on the edge of the bed. She made no attempt to hide the hurt on her face. This was worse than he’d imagined. No yelling, no calling him a dickhead.
“Thanks for being honest with me. Is that the reason there’s tension between you and Cody?”
“He called me an asshole. Said I didn’t deserve you. He was right on both counts.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself. You’d only known me for a few days.”
Jesus. Had she been taken over by aliens? No way would his Kat sit there and calmly tell him she understood why he’d thought she was a thief. He reached out and touched her shoulder, ignoring the tensing of her muscles. “I’m in love with you. I should have trusted you.”
She raised her head. The heartrending look in her eyes told him it was over. The green eyes no longer sparkled. Instead, they reminded him of
“Don’t you get it, Jude? If you truly loved me, you would’ve known I’d never betray you. We shared lust, not love. How can you love someone you can’t trust?”
“That’s not true.” Panic rose in his chest and threatened to riot. “We do love each other.”
She hitched herself further up on the bed and curled into a ball. “Please go.”
“I’m not giving up, Kat. I’ll let you rest now, but we’ll talk later.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek before he left.
*****
Robot-like, Kat dressed in the fatigues she found on the chair in the corner. Combat boots completed the outfit. As soon as she reached D.C., she’d make arrangements to get to
“Hey, Half-Pint, you look more like yourself than the last time I saw you.” Cody joked as Kat arrived at the designated departure gate.
Her lips twitched into a half smile. “I feel more like it, too. Can’t wait to get home.”
“Hope you’re not in too much of a hurry,” Jude spoke, putting a damper on her new-found peace. “I just talked with Frank. He needs to talk to you, file formal reports. Also, the owner of the gems, Van Nam Nguyen, is flying to
“I’ll stay to answer Frank’s questions, but waiting for Mr. Nguyen is out of the question. I’ve got things to do.” Kat turned her back, refusing to acknowledge the unasked question she saw in his eyes. She owed him no explanations.
Cody shifted in his chair, visibly uncomfortable with the tension zinging around the room. “Think I’ll hit the men’s room before we board.”
Moving at warp speed, Jude appeared next to Kat. “I know you’re angry, but don’t give up on us. We can work through this, Kat. That’s what people in relationships do…work out their differences.”
Kat’s eyes widened. “You thought I was a jewel thief conspiring behind your back to run off with a gem heist. That’s what you call a little problem we can work out?”
She laughed harshly. “Get real. I thought you’d overcome your attitude of not trusting women. Or maybe you have, and it’s just me that you don’t trust? Whatever. It doesn’t matter, because from now on, you’re no longer a part of my world.”
A pulse throbbed on the side of Jude’s forehead. He kept his calm, but she didn’t miss the pain in his eyes.
“You don’t mean that. You’re angry. We’ll talk later.” Turning, he strode away.
Kat wanted to run after him and pummel on his back until he believed what she said. But any show of emotion on her part would convince him he was right. Damn it. Why did she let him get to her?
“Well, did you two talk it all out?” Cody’s voice came from behind.
“There’s nothing to talk out. He thought I was a crook.”
“Yeah, I know. I told him he was an asshole before I left him in the woods.”
“You left him in the woods?” A real smile touched her lips.
“I did, but your faithful dog went back and got him.” Cody took her hand. “To his credit, Kat, when he returned with Red, he told me I was right… admitted he was an asshole. He hasn’t doubted you since, and he’s constantly beating up on himself over the whole thing.”
Cody’s defense of Jude met with stony silence. She figured he’d taken the hint because he sat in a chair and didn’t pursue the conversation.
Chapter 18
Kat’s head slipped sideways as she slept. Jude reached into the overhead compartment and grabbed a blanket. The past few days must have taken their toll; she never stirred when he tucked the wool around her shoulders.
The temptation to sit beside her tugged at him. He wrestled with it, then returned to his seat across the aisle and indulged himself by watching her sleep. Had he actually expected this proud woman to laugh off his digression? Of all the wrongs to commit against her, not trusting had to be the worst. Kat valued honesty more than anyone he knew.
Hell, how would he feel if the tables were turned? The answer wasn’t reassuring.
That damn inner voice told him he was screwed…he’d crossed the line. He’d best learn to live with the consequences.
“Want a beer?” Cody slid into the seat next to him and held out a bottle of Beck’s.
“Thanks. Are you hanging around D.C. when we land?”
“For a while. Until I know Kat’s plans.”
“I’d appreciate you looking out for her when she leaves.” It killed Jude to ask that.
“I plan to. You gonna’ keep trying to patch things up?”
“She’s says she’s made up her mind. I’ll keep trying, but I’m not too hopeful.” Jude shut his eyes, craving darkness. The same darkness that surrounding him when he thought of a life without Kat. How could he have been so stupid?
*****
The jet’s wheels hit the runway and jolted Kat awake. The first thing she saw was Jude sitting across the aisle. Happiness to see him overwhelmed her. Then reality slammed her heart against her ribs, and the past few hours came rushing back. He’d believed she’d betrayed him. It didn’t matter that he’d come to his senses. Kat dropped her glance, hoping he hadn’t seen the joy in her eyes.
The jet came to a standstill. She fumbled with her seat belt until large warm hands helped her. Tilting her head, her gaze locked with Jude’s eyes. She hardened herself against the tenderness she saw there.
“Are you ready?” His husky voice gave her goose bumps. He helped her out of her seat. Joined by Cody, they walked off the plane.
Kat paid little attention to the man hurrying toward them when they entered the terminal. The raincoat, flapping as he walked, along with the suit and tie labeled him FBI.
Then she noticed the deep worry frowns on his forehead and how kind his face was. Jude’s hand curved around her arm, distracting her. She ignored the shiver of pleasure and concentrated on the older man smiling at her.
“Kat, this is Frank Rowe. Frank, Kat Tenney.”
Kat glared at Jude, letting him know she didn’t want to be touched. She smiled at the older man. The man who Jude loved as a father. “Mr. Rowe, how nice to meet you.” She grasped his hand firmly.
“I’ve got some disturbing news.”
*****
“What’s happened?” Jude asked, holding onto Kat’s arm despite the withering look she gave him. If he were persistent, perhaps he’d convince her they belonged together.
Frank didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and walked through the crowds of people. Jude stayed on his heels, dragging Kat. “Frank? What’s the rush?”
“Dave Perkins was killed a few hours ago.”
“What?”
Frank pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “After a long conference with his lawyer, Dave offered the Bureau full cooperation. The lawyer arranged bail, and they left. Dave never made it to his car. A sniper took him out on the sidewalk right outside the Bureau.”
“Jesus. He’d already implicated Winter. Why have him killed?”
Frank shook his head. “Payback? Eliminate a witness? Who the Christ knows?”
“Unless Dave knew something more important than what he told you.” Jude voiced his thought aloud, and his mind kicked into a higher gear. If Winter put a contract on Dave, he might have one on Kat, as well.
Frank headed for a blue
Jude slid in first, giving Kat no choice but to sit next to him. Frank followed, sharing his section of seat with the dog. Traffic was heavy as their car pulled away from the airport. Jude remained alert for anything suspicious. Cody’s eyes scanned the area, and Jude knew that he did the same.
“Is Winter in custody?” Kat asked without emotion.
“He was arrested last night during the raid. They took him out on a stretcher. He…uh…had difficulty walking.” Frank ran his finger under the collar of his shirt. “You can have a job with the Bureau any time you want, Kat.”
“Thanks, but I’ve had enough excitement for a while. I’m looking forward to going home.”
Jude worried at the lack of emotion in Kat’s voice. She’d not shown any reaction to Frank’s news about Dave’s murder.
“I bet you are. As soon as you fill in some blanks and give a statement, you’re free to go.” Frank leaned around Red and Kat to catch Jude’s attention. “By the way, we’re going to your place.”
“Sure.” Under the circumstances, he agreed it would be a bad idea to bring Kat to the Bureau. “What happened during the raid in
“No. Five mid-eastern men arrived on schedule. We were there waiting for them. I think we’ll be able to track how many Winter had been able to get into the country. And make sure the rest of them don’t.”
Kat remained silent, not participating in the conversation. Jude wasn’t sure she even listened and wondered what she was thinking. She must have felt his penetrating thoughts, because she turned suddenly and met his gaze head on.
“Stop trying to get inside my head. You wouldn’t like what’s crawling around in there.”
Everything he wanted to say would have to wait. He looked straight ahead said nothing. He’d find an opportunity before she left to get her alone.
“Are you going back to
“I’ve decided to process out of the military. I’ve served my time. I’ll stop at
Jude heard Cody release a sigh, and he silently echoed it.
“I’ll rent a car, Half-Pint,” Cody said cheerfully. “I’m headed to
*****
Kat made herself as small as she could, determined to get through the next few hours without breaking down. The reality of loving someone was so much different than the concept. Sitting next to Jude, feeling his body heat, yet not being able to snuggle into him was torture.
She focused her eyes on the back of Agent Munson’s head. What a strange man. He never spoke or joined the conversation. Nobody else seemed to think it odd though. He reminded her of a movie she’d seen once about a robot who was programmed by the bad guys to kill law enforcement personnel.
Their car slowed and turned into an underground garage. The moment it stopped, Jude opened his door and stiffly climbed out, favoring his good leg. Frank and Red exited their side of the car. Kat swung one foot onto the pavement and happened to glance in the front side view mirror, giving her a perfect view of Agent Munson behind the wheel. His right hand slipped inside his suit jacket and slowly emerged, his fingers grasping the butt of a gun. To protect her or kill her?
Maybe she was paranoid. Perhaps Munson was being cautious. Or perhaps he expected a surprise attack here in the garage?
Kat slid out of the car, and walked to Jude’s side, looping her hand through his arm. He looked at her surprise in his eyes. “Agent Munson’s fingering his gun inside his coat,” she whispered. Do you trust him or could he be working with Carl?”
His body tensed. She sensed he was ready to do battle. “Follow my lead,” he whispered against her ear.
“Kat’s feeling faint,” he called to the others behind them. “Cody, mind taking her other arm? My leg’s not in the greatest shape.”
Cody came along beside them and the three walked together on the way to the elevator, Kat in the middle. “She was fine a minute ago.”
“Keep an eye on Munson.” Jude spoke under his breath.
Everyone piled in the elevator, the doors closed and Jude pushed Kat behind him. She glanced around his shoulder at Munson, but the man’s expression was stoic as always.
The elevator stopped on the tenth floor. The doors slid open, and everyone moved out into the hall. Kat stayed lodged behind Jude and in front of Cody.
While Jude unlocked his condo door, she leaned against the wall, her eyes never leaving Munson.
“Are you sick?” Frank asked, concern in his voice.
“I hope not. I think I’m just tired.”
“Why don’t you take a quick shower and change. If you’re feeling up to it, we’ll talk then.”
“Thanks.”
Jude hustled Kat down the hall and into a bedroom. “You can sleep in here.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Where are you sleeping?”
“In my own bed.” His voice hardened. “This is the guest bedroom. I’ll be right back with some clothes. They might not fit, but at least they’re civilian clothes.” He pivoted and left the room, shutting the door with more force than necessary.
Kat threw herself on the bed. What in hell did he want her to say? Did he want her to spill her guts, confess her undying love for him? Tell him she wanted him with every fiber of her being and couldn’t imagine life without him? All of it was true, but he wouldn’t be hearing the words from her.
Like a typical man, he probably expected her to make love with him and forget that he’d thought she was a liar and a cheat. God, she was so damned tired. She wanted to go home and heal.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in.” She remained face down on the bed and didn’t even raise her head when Jude walked into the room. “Why bother knocking?”
“Here are some clothes.”
“Thanks.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress sinking under his weight. “Kat, let’s talk.”
In one twist, she rolled over to face him. “About?”
“Us.”
“There is no us.”
“Can’t we start over? Pretend we’ve just met?”
Didn’t he realize how he’d hurt her? She reached over and took his hands. “I care about you, Jude. And I know you have feelings for me.”
She paused, searching for words to make him understand. “We don’t belong in the same world. We knew it from the start. Or at least you did. Now I’m convinced, too.”
“But…” Kat lifted her hand and touched his mouth. He took hold of her wrist and kissed the palm of her hand.
“We aren’t right for each other. Plain and simple. It’s like seeing a pair of shoes and falling in love with them. Even though they don’t fit, you keep trying to squeeze your foot in, until you finally accept that they just don’t fit.”
“Do you love me?”
She nodded her head. “I’m guilty of making that mistake.”
“It wasn’t a mistake, damn it.”
“Yes it was. We’ve managed to hurt each other so much in such a short period of time. We should have never become involved in the first place.”
His eyes flashed anger. “You think love has no pitfalls? That no one ever gets hurt? Part of being in love is forgiving, giving someone a second chance.”
“Trusting is part of loving.” Her softly spoken words pleaded with him to let the subject drop. “As for second chances…my advice is to avoid the circumstance where you might need one. Then you won’t have to worry about it.”
He stared at her for a long time. She forced herself to hold his gaze. “Forgiving is part of loving, as well, Kat.” He straightened his shoulders and rose from the bed. “Let me know if you change your mind.” He left the room and didn’t look back.
Fat chance she’d change her mind. She rolled off the bed and checked the clothes he’d brought. A sheer silk nightgown, a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, along with several pairs of shoes. Women’s clothes. She tried to ignore her jealousy.
Ten minutes later she’d showered and dressed in jeans that were three sizes too big and a t-shirt that hung to her knees. She looked in the mirror and saw an orphan from a third world country.
She’d just pulled her hair in a ponytail when someone knocked on the door.
“Yes?”
“Kat, it’s Cody. Frank wants to know if you’re ready to talk. By the way, Munson’s gone.”
“I’ll be right out.”
Kat entered the living room, head held high, her expression daring anyone to laugh at her outfit. “Okay. Fire away, Frank”
“First, I want to thank you for the heads up on Munson. We can’t be too careful. I’ll look into the matter.”
Kat’s cheeks heated up. “I hope I didn’t over-react.”
“Not at all, young lady. Now, how’d you know where to find the gems?”
Her cheeks grew even warmer. “If I tell you, you won’t believe me.”
“Try me.”
She shrugged. “My grandmother told me where to find them.”
Frank looked confused. “You mean before she died?”
“No. She told me that night…the night Carl grabbed me. She spoke to me. Told me they were hidden in a stump by the old raven tree. She’d taken them from my father and put them there years ago.”
Frank cleared his throat, looking from Jude or Cody. “Do you have…ah…frequent conversations with your grandmother?”
“Not until recently. The first time was right after the plane opened fire on me. She’s spoken to me several times since.” Why did she bother to tell them? They’d think she was loony for sure. A huge weight lifted from her shoulders when she realized she didn’t care what they thought.
“She’s telling the truth.”
Kat looked at Jude. Now what was he up to?
“And how do you know that?” Frank asked.
“Because Sweetgrass Mendon spoke to me, too.”
Everyone’s eyes focused on Jude. No one was more surprised than Kat.
“It’s true,” Jude said at Frank’s look of disbelief.
“And what did she have to say to you?”
“Well, to sum it up in a few words, she told me I had shit for brains.”
Cody laughed, and Kat stifled a grin behind her hand. Jude was telling the truth, for sure.
“It’s true, Frank,” Jude insisted. “When Cody left me in the woods, the lady spoke to me.”
Frank wrote something in his notebook before closing it. “Then, I guess we have Sweetgrass Mendon to thank for the recovery of Mr. Nguyen’s stolen property.”
“That’s it? I can go now?” She needed to get away from Jude Callahan before he captivated her yet again.
“Not yet. I’ve got a few more questions regarding
Chapter 19
Kat fiddled with the cushions, uncomfortable with the silence that fell over the room once Frank had left. “I might have over-reacted about Munson.”
“You don’t know that. I would have been suspicious if I’d seen Munson pulling out a weapon for no apparent reason.”
“Jude’s right, Kat,” Cody added. “You did the smart thing.” Cody walked around the living area of the condo. “Nice place you’ve got here, Callahan, but I’m feeling claustrophobic. You two mind if I skip out for the night? I’ve got some friends here in D.C. I want to look up.”
Jude gestured towards the door. “Go ahead. Knock yourself out.”
Kat didn’t want to be alone with Jude, but was embarrassed to say so. “Sure, Cody. Have fun. Don’t forget to come back and get me before you leave tomorrow.”
Cody made a hasty exit, and Kat wandered around the living room, stopping to pick up a framed picture on the mantel of the gas fireplace. Two smiling faces looked back at her. Both in their mid twenties. “Your brother and sister?”
He sat on the arm of couch with his arms crossed, watching her. “Yeah. Taken a few months ago.”
“You mentioned your brother worked for the FBI. I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up.”
Jude chuckled. “Believe me, he would be right here in the thick of it, but he’s on assignment in another part of the country. Hey, are you hungry?”
“Do you have anything decadent? Like chocolate?”
“Make yourself at home. I’ll see what I can find.”
*****
Jude checked his cupboards for chocolate. What was wrong with her? She’d never given any indication she liked sweets. He pulled out a box of brownie mix and spied a can of fudge sauce. Thank God for microwaves. Soon he had a hot brownie, dripping with hot fudge sauce ready to take to her.
“Mmnnn. I smelled it in the other room.”
He turned at the sound of her voice. She leaned against the kitchen doorway, looking beautiful. Funny, his sister wasn’t overweight. But seeing Kat in her clothes made him realize how tiny she was. The love he felt for her nearly choked him. “I was about to bring it to you.”
“I’d better eat at the table. Otherwise, you’ll be cleaning fudge sauce off your carpet or your couch.” She lowered herself into a chair and then pulled her legs up and sat yoga style.
Jude sat at the opposite side of the table and watched her dig into the oozing chocolate brownie with gusto. His eyes followed the spoon as it disappeared inside her mouth.
“It’s delicious. Aren’t you going to have one?” Her tongue licked some fudge sauce from corner of her mouth.
“Ah, no, I’m not hungry right now.” At least not for food. “Want something to drink?”
“Nope.” She raised another gooey spoonful to her mouth, lapping off the hot fudge before tackling the brownie.
Mesmerized, Jude continued to stare at her. He wasn’t sure how long his mouth had been open before he realized it, but he bounded out of his chair in embarrassment. He kept his back to her and wiped the counter so she wouldn’t see his erection.
“Are you ready to go to bed?”
“What?”
He groaned. “I mean, you told Frank you were tired. Do you want to rest for a while?”
“Yes. Thank you. But I’d like another brownie.”
Grabbing the Teflon pan of brownies, he put them on the table, along with the container of hot fudge sauce. “Help yourself. I’ll go change the sheets.” He hurried from the kitchen without looking back.
*****
Kat slumped at the table and pushed the second brownie around the plate with her spoon. As soon as Jude left the kitchen, her voracious appetite had gone south, and her resolve to resist him was headed in the same direction. The sooner she got out of here, the better. She had no self-control where he was concerned. Even if she could forgive him for his lapse in judgment about her, something else would happen. Their relationship had been doomed from day one.
She scraped the brownie down the garbage disposal, and then put the plate on the floor for Red. “You could do with a little spoiling.” Red slurped the crumbs in record time, thumping his tail with appreciation. Kat patted the dog’s head. She rinsed the plate and tucked it in the dishwasher.
Resigned to facing Jude, she straightened her shoulders and headed to the living room to wait for him.
*****
Jude’s face softened at the sight of Kat curled up on the couch sound asleep. Red was stretched out on the floor, snoring. The temptation to get a Chessie was strong. He’d never experienced the bond between dog and man before. Like being whacked with a two-by-four, reality hit him in the head. He didn’t want just any
He lowered his body into an overstuffed chair, taking advantage of this opportunity to love Kat with his eyes. Every once in a while her fingers or arm would twitch, as if bad dreams plagued her sleep. Probably nightmares. The last few days had been hell for her. She’d had to accept her parents’ deaths, had been deceived by a life-long friend, and had been forced to kill others, not to mention the emotional roller coaster ride he’d taken her on. No wonder the woman was exhausted.
After watching her for thirty minutes, he knew she wasn’t going to wake up any time soon. He gathered her in his arms, holding his breath as she snuggled close to him. He took a deep breath. This may be the last time he would be able to enjoy the smell of her. He’d never forget her scent, a combination of the chamomile shampoo she’d last used, and her own distinct feminine scent for which he had no description. He only knew that it made him hot for her.
Her lashes fluttered when he put her down on the cotton sheet and pulled the puffy down comforter to her shoulders.
Red followed him in the room and looked up at the bed, a wistful look in his eyes. He gave Jude his best Chessie smile. “No. Down. On the floor.” Red groaned, but curled up on the rug next to the bed.
“Smart dog,” Jude whispered.
On his way to his bedroom the phone started ringing. He ran to his room, leaped across the bed and grabbed it before Kat woke up. “Hello—are you sure? All right. We’ll be ready up here.”
Chapter 20
Jude hunkered in the closet in Kat’s room. Red sat next to him. The closet door was slightly ajar, allowing him visual access to whoever entered the room. Adrenaline surged through his veins, pumping the blood to his heart.
A phone call from Cody alerted him that Munson had entered the garage. Seems Kat hadn’t been paranoid after all. Cody’s friends hadn’t been around, he’d returned early, arriving right behind Munson. At least that had been Cody’s story, and he was sticking to it. Jude guessed that he’d never had any intention of meeting his friends. He’d planned to hang out in the garage to guard Kat.
The bedroom squeaked open. A thick shaft of light spread across the carpeted floor. He readied his Beretta. A growl rumbled low in Red’s throat. Jude touched the dog’s head, and he quieted.
Agent Munson stepped into the room, keeping his back to the wall. He held his weapon with two hands, the barrel pointed towards the ceiling. His foot closed the door. The window provided the only light. Jude’s eyes were fully accustomed to the darkness, so he saw Munson clearly.
Munson pushed away from the wall and inched his way toward the bed. A few feet from the end of the bed, he lowered his gun and pointed at the body sleeping beneath the covers.
“Freeze!” The overhead lights came on flooding the room with light. Munson squinted. Red charged and sank his teeth into his thigh.
Munson snarled and tried to point the barrel at Red’s head.
Jude’s heart jumped into his throat. “Red, heel.” He rushed the man and used his good leg to deliver a roundhouse kick to the kidney. The man dropped to the floor. The pistol flew from Munson’s hand, hit the carpet and skittered toward the bed. Munson crawled across the floor, his fingertips reaching for it.
The bedroom door opened and Kat stepped in. “Looking for me?”
Munson looked over his shoulder.
Jude moved in and placed his knee onto Munson’s back, pressing the Beretta’s barrel to the back of his neck. “Face down!”
Kat walked over and caught the pair of handcuffs Jude tossed to her.
Once he was cuffed, Jude kicked Munson’s weapon toward Kat and frisked the man. “Who do you work for Munson? How many more rotten pieces of fruit are in the Agency?
“Asshole. Wouldn’t you like to know?” Munson spat the words.
“My guess? You’re the top dog. You’re the mastermind behind the entire terrorist importation operation. You used poor Dave and offed him when he decided to plea bargain.”
“Guess all you want.”
“I’m sure people in the
Munsen’s mouth tightened.
“Are you the one who ordered my parents killed?”
Jude glanced up as Kat asked the question. He recognized the ‘take no prisoners’ look in her eye. Jude felt her pain, knew from experience that she’d like to justify her parents’ death by ending Munson’s pathetic life right here, right now.
The doorbell rang. “Saved by the bell,” Jude muttered. “Kat, let Frank in.”
*****
Kat opened the door and stepped aside as Frank and several other beefy men rushed in. Cody came in behind them.
“Where is he?” Frank demanded.
Kat gestured toward the bedroom and walked to the couch.
“You okay?” Cody asked, sitting next to her.
No, damn it, she wasn’t okay. She was tired of people trying to kill her. Finding her parents’ killers hadn’t given her the satisfaction she’d thought she’d find. Outside of Jude’s arms, she felt lost and alone. It hurt like hell to admit their love affair was over. She wanted to go home.
But she when looked at Cody, she put a smile on her face. “I’m okay.”
Cody placed his hand on her knee. “Want to leave tonight?”
“Can we?”
“I’ll talk to Frank. We can be at
Munson was taken out in handcuffs, while being read his rights.
Frank shook his head. “I can’t believe it. Makes me wonder what else I don’t know about in my own damn department. Maybe it’s time for me to retire.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself, Frank.” Jude slapped the older man on the back.
“Hey, Frank,” Cody interrupted. “Can you ask Kat your questions now? We’re going to take off.”
Kat watched Jude’s brows draw together in an angry frown before a look of withdrawal came over his face. What did he expect? He knew she wanted to go home.
Frank looked confused. “You’re leaving now? Tonight?”
“Yes. The sooner I begin processing out of the military, the sooner I can go home and put my life back together.”
He shrugged. “Okay. Let’s go in the kitchen. This shouldn’t take long.”
*****
Jude went to his bedroom, not wanting to be around when Kat walked out the door.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. He’d apologized for not trusting her. She knew he loved her. Face the facts, Callahan. None of that matters. She’s made her decision.
He lay on the bed and listened to the hum of the ceiling fan, and thought about walking in the other room, throwing her over his shoulder, and bringing her in here. He’d show her they belonged together.
The door opened, jolting him out of his fantasy. Light flooded the darkness. “Turn the light off,” he growled.
“Sorry,” Kat murmured, flipping the switch. “I came to say goodbye.” She sat on the edge of the bed beside him.
The gloom in the room matched his mood. “You’re leaving now?” He struggled to keep his voice even.
“Yeah. Frank’s already gone.”
Did she seem sad or was it wishful thinking? “Will you keep in touch?”
“To what end?”
In the dim light, his eyes drank in the perfection of her face, her silky hair falling around her shoulders. He turned his head on the pillow and stared at the wall. “I don’t know. Perhaps I’m a masochist.”
Her soft sigh reminded him of the wind whispering through the pines at
Something snapped. He grasped her arms, flipped her on the bed, and rolled over. He saw pain flickering in her eyes.
“I love you, Kat.”
“I know.”
“Then why leave? Why deny us a chance at happiness?”
“Sometimes love’s not enough.” She raised her hands to cup his face. “Trust me, Jude. It’s best to let go. There’ll be more heartache if you don’t.”
“Do you love me, Kat?” He needed to know.
“As much as I could ever love anyone.”
“You’re hedging. Tell me yes or no.”
“I’ve got to go.”
Before she could roll off the bed, he lowered his body onto hers and lowered his mouth. His lips hovered over hers, waiting for rejection. Finding none, he kissed her. The tentative touch of her tongue killed his intentions of a simple sweet kiss.
He rolled to his side, bringing her with him. His hands roamed, wanting to touch her everywhere at once. If only he could put her inside his shirt and keep her there. He wanted to be inside of her. No matter how tight he hugged her, she wasn’t close enough. He breathed in the heady clean herbal scent of her hair. Tonight it is was rosemary.
“Jude, Cody’s waiting for me. I’ve got to go.”
In his frenzy to get close to her, he’d failed to notice her lack of response. His breathing was ragged. He tried to regain his composure.
“Go, then,” he barked, rolling away. It seemed like forever before he felt her move…until the bedroom door closed. Jude ignored the tears running down his face.
*****
Kat leaned against the closed door, her body trembling. God she loved him, but love didn’t conquer all. She’d known that her entire life. But she’d met Jude and anything had seemed possible. Nothing had mattered except being with him.
And now she knew the truth. She’d opened herself to him, trusted him with her love, and it hadn’t been enough. Love opened the door to hurt and pain. She could never survive being hurt again.
“Ready, Half-Pint?
She swallowed her despair, nodded at Cody and walked out of Jude Callahan’s life without a backward glance.
Chapter 21
Cicadas sang in the late summer heat, their song accompanied by a pounding hammer. Leaves of the red maples had turned a burnished wine shade, being only one hint of the autumn’s imminent arrival. Strong winds blew from the northwest almost daily. Large flocks of honking geese passed overhead, heading south. At the heels of autumn, cold weather would arrive. Kat stood on the porch and counted her blessings, grateful Cody had stayed to help her make needed repairs to the lodge for the upcoming winter.
“Every building has a lock now, Half-Pint.” Cody came around the side of the porch, wiping his hands on his jeans. “And I’ve installed a wooden bar on the inside door of the lodge.”
“Thanks.” Kat smiled. “For everything. You’ve been a great friend.”
“Not a problem. I’ve enjoyed being here, but all good things must come to an end. I’m headed out tomorrow.”
She swallowed a lump of disappointment in her throat and nodded.
“You sure you want to spend the winter here alone?”
Kat pulled herself together at the worry she heard in Cody’s voice. “Absolutely. There’s no place I’d rather be.”
“It’s a long winter. You’ll get lonely.”
She shook her head. “No way. I’ve got Red, my snowshoes and cross-country skis. What more could a girl ask for?”
“How about Jude Callahan?”
Her smile slipped away. “Why bring him up? We’ve been here almost two months. You haven’t mentioned him before.”
Cody leaned against the rail. “Level with me, Kat. You’re pining for him. Not a day passes that I don’t see that look on your face.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right. You stand here on the porch or down by the water and stare at the lake with a faraway look in your eyes. Being home helps you camouflage your loneliness, but I still see it. Not to mention you look like hell. How much weight have you lost?”
He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to argue. “Deny it all you want, but you love Jude, and you miss him. Be honest with yourself. Are you better off without him in your life?”
She shifted from foot to foot. “I know I am. Why set myself up to be hurt again?”
“Why indeed?”
Kat stiffened at the pity in his eyes.
“No sense in letting Jude back in your life. You might get hurt again. It’s more fun to wallow in hurt of your own making.” Cody walked away and left her standing alone, thinking about what he’d said.
*****
“Do you know where you’re going?” Kat knelt on the wharf, hanging onto the canoe, reluctant to let Cody leave. She’d miss his company.
“
“Be careful, my friend. I won’t be there to watch your back.”
“I’ll be back in the states before you know it, and you’ll be the first person I visit.” He dipped his oar in the water and began to paddle, giving Kat no choice but to release the canoe.
She watched until he rounded the point of an island and disappeared. Tears filled her eyes, and she petted the dog. “Let’s go, Red. We’re on our own.”
Marunga. You disappointment me. You would deny a man the knowledge he’s going to be a father?
Kat stumbled as she stepped off the wooden planks of the dock. Her face paled. “I just found out for sure the other day, Grandmother.”
She hadn’t felt well since her return home, so she’d gone to the doctor two days ago. The doctor had confirmed her suspicions. She was pregnant.
When do you plan to give the father the happy news?
Kat skirted the question. “I haven’t decided.”
She lay down on the lawn, breathed in the natural chlorophyll of the green grass, and watched the huge puffy clouds drift across the soft blue sky. Soon the grass would turn brown and the ground would freeze. Next would come four feet of snow. The changing of seasons always depressed her. She’d never known why until recently. Her experience with Jude had solved the ongoing mystery. Change. Looking back at her life, she’d always floundered with any kind of change. In seven months, she’d be a mother. Talk about change.
Remember Marunga. The only constant in life is change . You are strong as an oak tree, but even the oak tree bends in the wind.
Kat closed her eyes, trying to squeeze back the tears, but they leaked from the corners of her eyes. Since being home, she’d pondered her refusal to forgive Jude for his lapse in trusting her. She felt ashamed for being so damn adamant about not spending time in the city with him. They could have compromised, spending part of the year here and part in
*****
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Jude grumbled, stumbling from the couch to door. “Stop that God-awful pounding.”
He opened the door and groaned. “What do you want, Frank? It’s Sunday.”
Frank pushed his way inside, his gaze sweeping the room. “What a pigpen. When’s the last time you cleaned this place?”
Jude walked to the refrigerator and drank orange juice from the carton. “I’m sure you didn’t come by to complain about my housecleaning habits. What’s up?”
A blood curdling scream filled the condo.
Frank went for his gun. “What the hell is that? Sounds like a woman screaming.”
Jude’s face grew warm. “Nothing,” he muttered. “I’ll turn it off.”
Frank stayed on Jude’s heels as he walked to his CD player. He picked up the empty CD cover. “Sounds of the Wilderness.” Frank shook his head. “You’re still grieving over Kat? You told me you’d forgotten all about her.”
“I lied. She’s the first thing on my mind in the morning and still there when I pass out at night.” Jude returned to the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
“Then go find her.”
“She’d probably shoot me.”
Frank took a seat at the table. “Look, I’ve got a legitimate reason for you to pay a visit to
“Is that right? And what would that be?”
“I’m serious. We received a check from Mr. Nyguen made out to Katherine Tenney. A reward for returning his gems.”
Jude reached in the cupboard and poured shredded wheat into a bowl. “That’s great. Kat deserves it. Mail it to her, Frank. I’m the last person she wants to see.”
“When are you coming back to work?”
Jude’s spoon stopped halfway to his mouth. “I’m still on personal leave. Remember? I have six months.”
“And I’d be all for it if I thought you were enjoying yourself. If I saw you doing something constructive. But that’s not the case. You never leave this place. God only knows what you do in here all day long. Other than listening to banshee’s screeching on a CD…”
“That was a porcupine,” Jude interrupted, indignant at Frank’s barrage of complaints about his lifestyle. Good thing he didn’t know about all the other nature CD’s he’d bought. Sounds of nature brought him closer to Kat.
Frank’s expression said it all. He thought his friend had gone off the deep end. “How about coming back to work, but doing something new?”
“I’ve told you at least fifty times, I’m not interested in being a profiler.”
“I’m not talking about the profiler position, though you’d be great at it. We’re starting a class for new recruits. Basic stuff. Interested in teaching?”
*****
“Dammit!” Jude’s fist hit the wood, bringing up all heads sitting around the table. “Does anyone here have a freaking clue what we’re up against?”
No one responded. A few loosened their ties. One slender man with the traditional short hair cut spoke up, his voice eager. “Traitors, sir.”
Jude rubbed the back of his neck. Christ. They sent him a bunch of babies barely out of the schoolroom and expect him to turn them into top-notch agents in a week.
“That’s correct, Mr. Douglas.”
“Doughty, sir.”
“Sorry. Mr. Doughty.”
Jude looked up when the door at the back of the room swung open. His heart plummeted to the floor before shooting into his throat. Cody walked in. News about Kat. The words danced in his head.
Jude forced his attention back to the fifteen enthusiastic men waiting for him to continue the lecture. “Take a break. See you back here in about an hour.”
Cody came forward as the new agents filed out of the room. “New job?”
Jude chuckled. “No. I’d taken leave, but Frank coerced me into coming back and trying this for a while. What are you doing down this way?”
Cody leaned back against the table, his hands in his pockets. “I fly out on assignment tomorrow and wanted to catch up with you before I left.”
“Oh.” No way was he going to spill his guts to Cody. He still had some pride.
“You look about as happy as Kat.”
“You’ve seen her?” So much for pride. He couldn’t disguise the eagerness of his question.
“Just left her yesterday.” Cody’s eyes bored inside his soul.
“Is she okay?”
“Physically, she’s fine, although she’s dropped some weight. Emotionally, she’s withering on the vine like gone-by fruit. She loves and misses you.”
Jude turned his back to Cody and busied himself with erasing the blackboard. “That’s not what she said before she left. I heard her loud and clear. I’m not a part of her world.”
“Then she lied. She broods twenty-four hours a day. I’ve said what I came to say. The rest is up to you.”
Cody’s words sank into Jude’s brain. He turned to ask a question, but the room was empty.
Chapter 22
The sun was high when Kat woke. She turned over, glanced at the clock sitting on her nightstand, and jackknifed up. She couldn’t remember ever having slept till
The doctor had warned her she’d need more rest. She curled up on the bed and thought about the tiny life tucked safely inside her body. A son or daughter? Would the baby have Jude’s eyes? Her hair?
Guilt settled over her. Her grandmother was right, as usual. What right did she have to keep this baby from Jude? Every child deserved a mother and a father.
Thinking about Jude ruined her pleasure in being lazy. She rolled out of bed. On the way to the bathroom, she made her decision. She’d go to
She’d never ask or expect anything from him. He could visit the child whenever he wanted. In a few years, he could take his son or daughter for a week’s visit every now and then.
Lukewarm water cascaded over Kat while questions bounced around in her head. Would she and Jude be able to put aside their differences for the sake of the baby? They had no choice, because it was imperative they get along. The water quickly turned cold. Kat shivered as she dried herself, wincing at the sensitivity of her breasts.
How could she prevent herself from jumping Jude’s bones when she saw him? Not a night passed that she didn’t relive the few fantastic times they’d made love. Just the memories made her hot. She was breathing hard thinking about it for God’s sake. Must be her hormonal changes.
Back in her bedroom, she rummaged through her bureau drawers, looking for decent clothes to pack. She dragged out one pair of jeans after one another, until several were on the floor at her feet. Frustrated at her lack of a wardrobe, she flopped back on the bed. She didn’t care how she looked.
Hell, who was she fooling?
She wanted to arrive in
She settled for packing three pair of her best jeans and tee shirts. On the way home from
According to the doctor’s calculations, her baby would be born in March. He’d been adamant that she spend the winter months in town, not at the lake. Kat had her own ideas. She had a distant relative who was a mid-wife, and Kat hoped to convince this woman to stay at the lodge for the winter to deliver the baby.
She ran down the stairs, a definite spring in her step. Nausea forced her to sit at the table for a minute. Taking a deep gulp of air, she put two pieces of whole wheat bread in the toaster. Red kept getting underfoot. After stepping on his tail for the third time, she put him outside. He knew something was up and wanted to be part of it. Old Red had turned into quite the traveler.
The toast popped. The nausea persisted, but she forced herself to munch on the dry toast.
An hour later, Kat stood on the dock with a duffle bag. Red ran in circles, tongue hanging out, tail wagging.
“Sit.” The words came out harsher than she’d intended, but it didn’t seem to bother Red. He sat there grinning at her. His tail thumped like a jackhammer on the wood.
A quick moving thunderstorm had just passed over, leaving a rainbow in its wake. A beautiful ribbon of rain. Perhaps it was an omen of good things to come. Kat tossed her bag in the center of the tied canoe.
Red jumped up, ran to the end of the dock and started to bark. Kat was about to reprimand him, but abruptly forgot her anger. A canoe zigzagged down the lake as if paddled by a drunken sailor. Her pulse did double time. No one paddled a canoe like Jude.
Joy bubbled up inside, but she pushed it down. He’d saved her a trip. That’s all. She’d tell him about the baby.
Red felt none of her reservations. He ran in circles, expressing his excitement, and then took a running jump off the end of the wharf.
“Red,” she yelled. “Get back here.” The damn dog ignored her. Like a movie unfolding in slow motion, she watched Red propel himself to the canoe. She groaned when Jude reached over the side to pat the dog’s head. In his happy delirium, Red tried to climb in. The canoe flipped, dumping Jude.
Kat bit her tongue to keep herself from laughing. Jude’s head bobbed out of the water, and the words he sputtered weren’t too complimentary. Not that the dog minded. Jude swam behind the canoe, pushing it towards shore, kicking his feet to push it through the water.
Kat squatted and caught the bow as the canoe slid to the wharf. She guided it to the shore, then stepped on the sand and pulled it out of the water. Jude waded onto the small beach, dripping water. Red was right behind, the paddle in his mouth.
“I’m sorry,” Kat giggled, unable to muster up anger to discipline the dog.
Jude smiled, wiping wet hair out of his eyes. “It’s not your fault. I should have told him to stay away.”
“Did you lose any gear?” She hadn’t seen anything fall out when the canoe went over.
“No.” He glanced at her with a sheepish look on his face. “I forgot to bring a life jacket.”
A smile tugged at her mouth. “I’m not surprised.”
“Are you leaving?” he asked, gesturing toward her packed canoe.
“No, I…” Kat stopped. She’d been about to lie. She’d promised herself no more lies. “Actually, I was coming to see you.”
*****
Jude glued his gaze to her face. Coming to see him? Why? Dare he hope?
The strong wind raised goose bumps over his exposed skin. “The water’s warmer than the air.”
“Yeah, it gets like that in early fall. You’d better come inside and change.” Kat turned away.
Jude fell in step beside her as they walked to the lodge. Once inside, he noticed the lock on the inside of the door.
“Cody did it,” Kat explained. “All the cabins have locks now.”
“That’s good.” He stood there dripping water, talking about mundane things like locks when all he wanted to do was kiss her senseless. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize Kat was nervous. She moved around the room straightening books, candles, anything in her sight.
“You left some of your clothes here. They’re upstairs on top of the bureau. I’ll start a fire while you change.”
“Right.” Jude ran up the stairs and entered the loft bedroom, savoring the smell of the pine walls. The shifting shadows of the flickering sunlight gave him a strong feeling of coming home. He looked out the windows and noticed that leaves already lay in thick drifts across the lawn.
What would it be like to spend the winter here? He closed his eyes and imagined the white landscape, the frozen lake and winds howling all night long. He’d learned that the wilderness wasn’t cruel or harsh as he’d once believed. It was merely indifferent. Along with Kat, it too now owned a piece of his heart.
He pulled on his old T-shirt, noticing its fresh smell. Kat must have dried the clothes on an outside line. He zipped his jeans, picked up the pile of wet clothes and went downstairs to convince Kat they belonged together.
*****
Kat knelt by the fireplace, adding wood to the crackling fire. The aroma warmed Jude as much as the heat coming from the flames.
“I’m flying without a net here, Kat.”
She glanced up, a frown wrinkling her forehead.
He plunged on. “I have so many emotions bottled up that if someone pops my cork, I’m likely to explode like a bottle of champagne. Can you forgive me for…”
“I love you, Callahan.”
A heady sense of joy filled him. He focused on her eyes sparkling in the firelight.
They reached for each other at the same time, slipping to the floor. Their arms and legs tangled together, but he wanted more than Kat’s body on top of his. Rolling over, he reversed positions. Their soul-wrenching kiss had no beginning and no end. Tongues battled; hands groped.
“Kat,” he pulled his mouth back from hers. “We’ve got to talk.”
“Hmmnn…” Her mouth found his ear.
Jude never wanted anything more in his life than he wanted this woman trying to crawl inside of him. He gulped some air and sat up, moving a short distance away. Kat remained sprawled on the floor, gazing at him, her breathing harsh.
“Will you marry me?” The question popped from Jude’s mouth. So much for his fancy rehearsed speech.
Kat sat up and launched herself into his arms, covering his face and neck with kisses. “I love you. Yes, yes, yes.”
*****
As Jude’s mouth descended, Kat realized she hadn’t told him about the baby.
Jude’s hands caressed her face. She saw his heart in the depth of his eyes. “What is it?” he asked. “Something’s bothering you.”
He smoothed the hair back from her face and gently kissed her forehead. “This time we’ve got to get it right. We’re lucky enough to have another chance. Let’s not screw it up.”
She stirred uneasily in his arms, and they tightened around her. Her heart pounded as the silence lengthened. She felt his tension as he waited for her to speak.
His fingers rubbed the back of her neck.
The words rushed from her mouth. “I’m pregnant.”
His hands stilled. Had he stopped breathing? Fear rose. Her heart pounded louder. She pulled back to look at his face.
Jude sat on the floor, pulling Kat with him. “Pregnant?”
Kat tried, but couldn’t decipher his expression. His emotions were well hidden.
“And that’s why you were coming to
Kat nodded, not trusting herself to say more.
“What’s the rest of the story? Would you have come if it weren’t for the baby?”
Anxiety took root, fighting fear for space. The success of their relationship depended on honesty. Would honesty drive him away from her?
She had no choice but to tell the truth. “I don’t know. Seeing you weave down the lake made me happier than I’ve been since the last time we made love. You’re my soul mate, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
She raised his hand and kissed the palm, gazing into his eyes. “And I’d feel this way even if there wasn’t a baby. Is that enough?”
“And trust?” he pressed. “Do you trust me? Will you forgive me if I make a mistake and do something to hurt you?”
“I’ll forgive you, Callahan, but your life might be a little unpleasant for a few days.”
Jude chuckled and hugged her. “That’s my Kat. My gear’s at the fly-in service in town. They’re waiting for a phone call before they deliver it.” His face turned serious. “Say the word, Kat, and I’m a permanent fixture here.”
He’d come here to live with her? Excitement stirred within. “Are you sure? We can split our time between here and
“No way,” he grinned. “I’ve taken Frank’s standing offer of a profiling job. The Fed techs will be here next week to set up a computer system. They’ll have to install some equipment around the area, a tower, dishes and God knows what else.”
A familiar ‘it’s too good to be true’ feeling came over her, but she shook it off. The time had come to risk her heart and have faith all would be well.
His finger traced the line of her cheekbone and jaw. “When’s the baby due? We’ll have to leave a few months before.”
“I know a midwife. I’m planning to ask her to come here to deliver the baby.”
He frowned. “I’d be more comfortable if you gave birth in a hospital, but if you insist on having the baby here, I’ll be the midwife.”
“You?” She’d have been less surprised if he told her he had a secret life as a ballet dancer.
“Yes, me,” he replied, a definite twinkle in his eyes. “A few years ago, I delivered a woman’s baby in an alley. She’d been robbed and went into premature labor. The ambulance didn’t get there in time. So, as long as the doctor gives us a thumbs up, our child will be born here.”
“You’re full of surprises.”
“Imagine all the fun we’re going to have discovering each other.” He wound his hand into her hair and tugged her against his hard body.
They knelt on the rug facing each other. Kat boldly trailed kisses from his shoulder down to his taut stomach. Leaning back, she grasped the hem of her T-shirt, her eyes never leaving his face as she peeled it over her heat. The hunger burning in his eyes brought a surge of wetness to the apex of her thighs.
Jude leaned forward and ran his tongue over her nipples.
Eyes squeezed shut, she basked in the pleasure of his thumbs gently rolling her nipples into hard nubs. “I want you,” she moaned.
“I’m yours,” he whispered, pressing her to the rug. His mouth replaced his fingers and Kat’s body arched off the floor. His roving tongue nearly brought her to climax.
Jude’s fingers fumbled at the zipper of her jeans, so she braced her feet on the floor and lifted her hips so he could slide them down her legs. As the cool air hit her nakedness, her fingers worked frantically at his belt buckle.
“Slow down.” His breath was hot and moist on her neck.
Slow down? He wanted her to slow down? A tingling low in her belly made her dizzy. The only thing on her mind was scratching the itch of sexual current that zinged through her nerve endings. “As soon as your clothes are sharing floor space with mine.”
She felt his lips curve into a smile against her skin.
“You’re bossy.”
Kat lay on the braided rug and feasted her eyes on the length of his body when he stood and removed his clothes. Perfect. Just as she remembered. Broad shoulders tapered to a slim waist, continuing down to long, muscular…the trail dead-ended at his rock hard erection. Her mouth went dry.
She lifted her arms. “Come back here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Kat’s plan to torment Jude went awry when he knelt between her legs. Grasping her hips, he brought her butt into his thighs. Faster than her mind could process his actions, his mouth kissed the insides of her thighs. A deep moan escaped her. When his hand tangled in the triangle of curls where her thighs came together, her body went rigid. A finger slid between her folds of skin and slipped into her wet opening. More moisture flooded his fingers.
“You’re beautiful.” Both his hands slid under her rear, and lifted her to his mouth. Her eyelids sprang open as his lips zeroed in on their target. Pleasure like she’d never imagined shot through her. God. A magic tongue.
She gripped handfuls of his hair and hung on as her body spasmed.
*****
A hot tide of passion raged through Jude’s blood. He lowered Kat’s hips to the floor. Her release threatened to peak his own. His senses spun out of control at the scent of this woman…his woman. Her sweetness lingered on his tongue. Breathing like a runaway freight train, his body collapsed over hers.
“Jude?” She stirred under him, causing a sweet stab of pain in his groin. His hardness twitched between her thighs. She blinked a few times before those green eyes looked into his eyes. He almost crumbled at the love and satisfaction he saw there.
“I’m right here,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck. “This time I’m not going anywhere.”
“I need you inside of me.”
He rested his elbows on the floor and smiled.
Her legs wrapped around his waist and his erection found her opening like a homing pigeon. Raw need took command and he pushed into her warmth, yielding to his searing desire for this woman. Kat’s passionate response so soon after her recent shattering release stunned him.
What he’d intended to be a slow teasing interlude turned into a wild dance. Pushed over the edge by her whispered needs, his body exploded.
Jude slowly floated back to reality still deeply embedded inside Kat’s warmth. For long moments he didn’t move, enjoying her contractions gently squeezing his penis. He had to be the luckiest man in the world.
Eventually, he rolled away from her about to suggest they move to the bedroom. Kat was asleep. Smiling, he tucked her spoon-style into his body.
*****
An old woman approached the couple entwined on the floor. Sweetgrass Mendon stood over them, a smile on her wrinkled face. She knelt beside her granddaughter and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Goodbye, my little Marunga. Be happy.”
Sweetgrass’s smile widened when Kat snuggled closer to the man next to her. “You’ve chosen well, my little Rainbow. We’ll meet again someday, but not, I hope, for a very long time.”
Epilogue
The day dawned crisp, a slight coating of frost on the ground. Red frolicked in the water. Vapor escaped Jude’s mouth like smoke from a locomotive. “Man, Kat. When does winter end here? It’s the end of May for God’s sake. By my calculations, this part of the country has two months out of the year without frost.”
Kat laughed. “It’ll warm up when the sun climbs higher.” She stopped and faced him. You’ve seen a winter first hand. Are you sure you still want to live here the entire year?”
He reached out and curled a silky piece of her hair around his finger. “I’m looking forward to it.” His fingers trailed down Kat’s cheek to cup the baby’s head, which was covered with black curls. Mary Sweetgrass Callahan’s head barely reached the top of the baby sling Kat wore.
“I love you, Kat. Have I thanked you yet today for this beautiful little girl? When she gets older, we’ll have to live elsewhere during the school year, but until then I want her to grow up here.”
Kat laughed and stood on tiptoe to brush her lips across his cheek. “Hmmm…sounds good. Do you know how much I love you?”
A low-throated ‘croak’ from above drew her attention. A lone raven glided over the mist-covered water. “Grandmother,” she whispered.
“What?” Jude squeezed her arm. “She’s here?”
Kat pointed at the huge black bird over the lake.
Jude looked up in time to see the raven perform a triple roll, like a fighter jet. “I’ll be damned.”
A second raven joined the first, and they flew in tandem toward the west.
THE END