Cowboy Who Came For Christmas (Harlequin Romance) (7 page)

So what would he find on down the road?

Now they were headed past the little community and down the sloping road, the way slippery with ice patches and thick with snowdrifts. So far, they hadn’t seen a soul. The woods were quiet and settled in a blanket of fresh, powdery snow.

“It rarely snows this heavily here,” Sophia said, her breath wispy around her. “I need to take some pictures.”

“It’s cold,” he said, hoping to rouse her into more small talk. “And beautiful.”

“Yes.”

She said that in a way that implied he might be stupid.

Adan smiled at her attitude. If he could trust her, that kind of sass might be cute. But since he couldn’t trust her, it only managed to irritate him.

He tried again. “Did you have any big plans for today?”

“No.”

“So do you try to work every day?”

“Most days, yes.” She actually cut him a glance. “I like to take long walks and find different things to include in my work. Twigs and leaves, old buttons and scraps, feathers. I never know what I’ll find.”

“My job is kind of like that, too,” Adan replied, glad for the comparison. “I have to put together bits and pieces of different things to come up with a way to solve a case.”

She slanted her gaze toward him again. “Are you comparing your job to art?”

“I guess I am. It requires a certain amount of artistic persuasion to find out what I need to know.”

“Oh, is that what you’d call this? You questioning my every move and badgering me to come clean on something I don’t even know about? That’s your kind of art?”

“I am painting a picture in my mind, yes.”

“Are you always this funny?”

“I have my moments.”

She gave him a harsh glance followed by a wry smile. “At least you’re not boring.”

“You might change your mind on that after I’ve been around a few days.”

She stopped on the snow-packed road so fast ice chips flew out around her boots. “Are you staying that long?”

He gave her a frown. “Ah, tired of me already?”

“Yes,” she said much to his surprise. “I want my nice, quiet life back. You’re annoying.”

“You make me laugh in spite of myself,” he admitted.

Then he decided while he had her out here in the open, he’d level with her. But he made sure they were in the middle of the slippery road and not near a plunging ravine before he confronted her. “Sophia, we really need to talk.”

She looked up at him, concern filtering through her poker face. “This is no laughing matter, is it?”

At least she knew the situation was dangerous. But she also needed to know he was serious. Dead serious. “No. Pritchard is desperate and he’s mean. That’s a dangerous combination.”

Her face went pale again. “Are you sure he’s still here?”

“If he came to this mountain with a purpose, he won’t leave until he’s fulfilled that purpose.”

She held a hand to her mouth and then dropped it to her side. “We need to check your truck and then get back. I don’t like leaving the others.”

Adan stopped on the side of the road and breathed deep, his words coming out through a cold mist. “Sophia, I’m not leaving this mountain until I have my man. If I have to drag Joe Pritchard back to Texas in a body bag, I’ll do it. I always get my man.”

Then he gave her one of his surefire Ranger glares. “Or my woman.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

S
OPHIA
TRIED
TO
calm the panic in her stomach, but the butterflies hitting at her insides caused her heart rate to jump and sputter. “What makes you think I’m involved in this?”

He squinted and gave her an unyielding glare. “You tied me to the bedposts. What other conclusion should I come to?”

“Maybe I had something else in mind?” she said on a sarcastic breath that belied the sharp pulse bumping against her temple.

“With Bettye there? Right.” The bemused look in his eyes didn’t change his frown.

“Look, I told you I was scared and... Bettye was just trying to help me. I didn’t do anything to you last night. So give me a break.”

“I want to give you a break,” he replied as they started carefully making their way down the road, sticking toward the more level side that butted up against the rock face of the mountain. “I can understand protecting your property, but y’all tied me up and gagged me for some reason.”

“We were scared,” she repeated. “And frankly, you’re scaring me now.” She lifted her gaze back to him, hoping she could convince him. “Look, Adan, we don’t get many visitors up here. Especially not Texas Ranger–type visitors.”

“Well, maybe you should,” he retorted. “I’ve been at this job long enough to know a thing or two, and my gut’s telling me y’all aren’t being completely honest with me.”

Maybe if she just told him a little bit of her history, Sophia thought. Would that be enough to shut him up and get him off her trail?

“Adan, I...”

“What in the—” He held up a hand and instantly drew his gun. “Get behind me.”

Sophia didn’t have time to act. He shoved her behind him so fast she almost slipped on a sliver of icy rock. “What is it?”

Adan lifted his chin. “Look at my truck.”

Sophia glanced a few yards downhill and into an embankment near a sharp curve. A black double-cab pickup sat at an odd angle against the snow-covered mound, all four of its tires flat.

“I don’t think the storm caused that,” she said, fear coursing through her in a cold rush that rivaled the freezing winter temperature. “He’s still out here.”

He’s alive.

Those two words hit her with the force of a ton of snow and drifted over and over in her mind with a twisting clarity.

He’s still alive.

“He must have doubled back and found my truck,” Adan said, oblivious to her terror. He stepped forward, his gun still drawn. “If he’s still here, he must be the dumbest criminal ever. Now I’m stuck here until I can get these replaced.”

Which meant she’d be stuck with both of them. Sophia didn’t know what to do now. How could she stall telling Adan the truth while Joe Pritchard stalked her at the same time?

“Do you think he’s in the truck?” Sophia asked, her hands automatically clinging to Adan’s heavy canvas jacket. Dumb or not, this man
was
still dangerous.

“I don’t know,” Adan whispered. “But it would bring him some shelter. I don’t get why he let the air out of the tires, though.” He edged into the snow-covered woods. “Could be an ambush.”

Sophia hoped not. If Adan got shot, she’d be out here on her own with a killer. A killer who was no doubt looking for her. She shuddered as memories rushed through her mind like a howling wind.

Sophia watched the truck for signs of life. “Did you lock it?”

He kept his eyes on the truck. “I don’t remember. I hit the embankment and tried to back up but I spun deeper into the snow and mud. Then I got out of the truck to see if I could dig away some of the slush. That didn’t work, so I started walking.” He checked his pocket. “I have the keys.”

“Click your key fob and see,” she suggested, hoping no one was inside that truck.

Adan pulled her into the woods on the level side of the road. “Stay here,” he said. “I’m gonna move closer and try the locks. If anything happens, you run back to your cabin, you hear?”

“I’m not leaving you,” she said, surprised that she’d blurted that out. But she wouldn’t leave him. Not if a crazy criminal was in that truck. Especially since she was the reason Joe Pritchard was here.

Adan gave her a stern glance. “Just do it, Sophia.”

She stood behind a snow-encrusted pine sapling, thinking she should have brought her shotgun. What if Adan got hurt and she tried to make a run for it? She’d be killed.

Adan crouched low and made his way toward the truck then used his key fob to hit the unlock mechanism. Sophia heard a distinct click and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Joe Pritchard had moved on.

But when a dark head popped up, she gasped. “Adan!”

Adan went down low and hurried to the passenger side of the truck. “Come out with your hands up!”

* * *

A
DAN
’
S
ADRENALINE
HIT
a rush as he hastened to open the door of the truck. “Out of there, right now.”

“Okay, okay.”

He blinked and slowly stood up. “Who are you?”

A young woman with dark brown hair uncurled out from under the old army blanket he kept in the drop seat of the truck. She wore a black nylon coat with a fur-trimmed hood, tall boots and jeans.

With her hands up, she dropped to the ground and immediately started shivering. “Don’t shoot me, please.”

Adan lowered the gun. He could hear Sophia hurrying toward them, but he made sure he was still between this stranger and Sophia. “Who are you and what are you doing in my truck?”

The girl’s big brown eyes widened in apprehension. “I... I hitched a ride from Hot Springs but...uh...the driver let me off at the foot of the mountain. I had to walk the rest of the way and I was so cold. When I saw this truck, I... I crawled inside and fell asleep.”

Adan’s gut clenched again. Did everyone on this mountain lie and withhold information? The girl kept glancing at her feet and refused to make eye contact with him.

Sure there had to be more to her story, he checked the surrounding area, halfway expecting Joe Pritchard to charge out of the woods. “Are you sure that’s all that’s going on?”

The girl’s scared expression turned into a scowl. She glanced around, her gaze darting here and there. “Why would I lie? That guy was a jerk and I wanted out of his stinky car.”

“How’d you get in the truck?” Sophia asked, her gaze darting from the girl to Adan.

“The door was open.” She pointed to the driver’s side. “That window was shattered.”

Adan glanced over and for the first time saw that she’d stuffed his old hunting jacket where the glass should be, probably to stay warm. Good thing he never cleaned out his truck or she could have frozen to death.

Adan searched the vehicle but only found his duffel bag still intact in the small backseat. Grabbing it to take with him, he turned back to the girl. “Did you break into my vehicle?” he asked, his gaze pinning her to the spot.

She shrugged and tugged her hood up on her head. “No. I guess somebody hit it with a rock or something.”

“Are you telling the truth?” Adan asked, thinking he was getting mighty tired of having to ask that.

“I didn’t break that window if that’s what you’re asking—again.”

“What’s your name?” Adan asked, his tone less intimidating this time since this kid seemed to be streetwise and unyielding. Any other time, he’d have forced the truth out of her, but he had bigger fish to fry.

“Melissa Curtis,” she said, stomping her feet against the bitter chill. “My grandma Bettye Scott lives on Crescent Mountain.”

Well, now, that was a new twist. Adan couldn’t help but wonder if this mountain didn’t hold more secrets than the Pentagon. Before he could question the girl again, Sophia let out a gasp.

“Bettye?” Sophia rushed toward the girl. “I know her. She’s a good friend of mine. She’s never mentioned a granddaughter.”

“She doesn’t know she has one,” Melissa admitted. “Can I see her?”

“Did you run away from home?” Adan asked, still not sure he could trust this girl. For all he knew, Joe Pritchard had set the girl up as a decoy. The more he thought about it, the more he had to wonder. “Who was this person you hitched a ride with?”

“That’s none of your business,” the girl retorted, her hands crossing over her stomach. “I just want to see my granny.”

Adan let out a long sigh. Just what he needed. Another noncommunicative, stubborn woman. “It is my business since you spent the night in my truck.”

“I came to see my grandma,” she said, her chin jutting forward. “I just couldn’t go any further.”

Adan could tell the girl was frightened and cold—and still way too evasive. He’d deal with how she got here later.

“Did you see anybody else on this road last night? Or near my truck? Somebody took the time to let the air out of all of the tires.”

The teenager gave him an incredulous look. “I told you, man, I had to walk up this stupid icy road in the dark. I didn’t see anyone and I didn’t notice anything wrong with the tires. I got inside this truck to keep from freezing to death.”

“Let’s get her back to Bettye’s,” Sophia suggested, reaching an arm out toward the girl. “You can interrogate her there.”

Adan frowned and stomped and after grabbing some of his supplies, he locked up what was left of his truck. “Nothing to be done with this for now. Let’s go then.”

Sweet Melissa yanked away from Sophia. “Just tell me how to get there.”

Adan shook his head. “That’s not how this works. How old are you?”

“Old enough to get myself here,” she replied, her eyes blazing black. Her attitude was now wide-awake.

Adan took her by the arm. “C’mon. We’ll take you to your grandmother—if she really is your grandmother. But you’d better show her some respect, you hear me?”

“You can’t boss me around,” Melissa said on a snap.

“Do you want me to do a search or send out a missing person bulletin on you?” Adan countered. “I can put you on a bus right back to where you came from.”

The girl’s eyes glazed with shock and fear. “No, don’t do that. I’m sorry. I... I can’t go back to Hot Springs.”

Adan started to speak, but Sophia gave him an imploring glance and shook her head.

Adan wanted to protest but realized the girl was stuck here just like him. He’d get her story soon enough.

For now, he decided his best move would be to shut up.

What did he know about women? About as much as a thimble could hold. He’d grown up mostly in a man’s world, but his sweet mama had tried to guide him on the feminine mystique. He’d married well into his late twenties after he’d fallen hard for a spoiled Texas princess and that had ended badly about two years later when she decided she didn’t want to be a wife and a mother. Now he was remembering why he’d been so cautious since. He wasn’t good with the opposite sex.

So he grunted and started up the mountain with the girl and Sophia in tow. “Don’t make me regret this,” he said.

He’d get the girl into a safe, warm place and then find out if she was on a missing person or runaway list and get as much information as he could on her. That was, if he could get any bars on his infernal phone.

* * *

A
N
HOUR
LATER
, they trudged into the circle of cabins.

“So much for searching for Joe Pritchard,” Adan mumbled, aggravated with Sophia and Melissa since his instincts shouted that they both had big secrets.

And probably about the same man.

Ol’ Joe must sure be a charmer. Adan planned to show him some charm once he had him in his custody.

Sophia motioned toward her cabin. “Melissa, I live here and your grandmother lives right there a few yards from my place.”

The girl stopped at the edge of the clearing. “Wow. This place looks like...outta
Cold Mountain
or something.”

Impressed, Sophia smiled. “You’ve read
Cold Mountain
?”

Melissa rolled her eyes. “Duh—saw the movie twice.”

“The movie. Oh, well, that’s good,” Sophia replied, glad that at least the girl had some sense regarding mountains.

“Do y’all have wireless up here?” Melissa asked.

Adan grunted. “Yeah, as in if it ain’t wired up to something, it ain’t going out over the airwaves.” He tapped his phone. “I have almost half a bar.”

Melissa looked panicked. “How will I call Sean?”

“Who’s Sean?” Sophia asked.

“Uh...my boyfriend. He’s supposed to meet me here this weekend.”

“And how old are you again?” Adan asked, his Ranger frown front and center.

“I’m sixteen,” Melissa retorted. “And it’s really none of your business.”

Adan towered over the girl. “It is if—”

“Hey, why don’t we get you inside and find you something warm to drink?” Sophia asked with a warning glance toward Adan. “Then we’ll go see your grandma.”

“I’d rather just see her now,” Melissa said, already stalking toward Bettye’s cabin.

But before Adan or Sophia could stop the girl, Bettye’s front door opened and she came out on the porch. The older lady stared at them for a moment then put her hands to her mouth in a gasp.

Sophia watched as Bettye grabbed hold of the porch railing and tried to get down the steps. She pulled Melissa forward. “Bettye, this is—”

“Martha!” Bettye reached out a hand as if she wasn’t sure whether to touch the girl or not.

Melissa glanced over at Sophia, tears in her eyes. “Martha was my mama. She died when I was a baby.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Sophia said, her heart hurting for both of them. “She thinks you’re your mother.”

“Grandma?” Melissa stepped closer. “Grandma, I’m Melissa. Martha was my mama.”

Bettye looked confused. “What?”

“I’m Martha’s daughter,” Melissa said, rushing toward Bettye. “My daddy used to say I look just like her. He left, too, after she died.”

Bettye reached out both hands now. “Mercy, child, come here and let me look at you.”

Melissa rushed into her grandmother’s arms. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t know if you knew about me.”

“I did, I did,” Bettye replied, her hands smoothing Melissa’s long hair. “I never got to see you, though. Never did.”