DEADLY HOLIDAY REUNION

When his ex is thrust into the crosshairs of a deadly syndicate, FBI agent Gavin McKade will do whatever it takes to protect her. Even work the case with his stubborn sheriff dad. Gavin’s holiday homecoming isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy, but he must set aside the past to make sure Lexie Grant survives. As if protecting Lexie from professional killers isn’t difficult enough, the unlikely reunion has rekindled their complicated romantic connection. But if Gavin can’t untangle Lexie from this dangerous web, the blurring line between duty and love may not matter...because this Christmas could be their last.

“Gavin!” she screamed. “Hurry.”

Gavin pushed Lightning into a gallop, his breath coming in hard puffs as he quickly closed the distance between them. To be safe, he drew his weapon as he dismounted.

“Lexie,” he said, afraid he was wrong, that she’d turn, it wouldn’t be her and he’d learn she’d perished in the explosion.

She looked up from doing CPR on a man lying prone.

It was Lexie. His Lexie. No...not his. Not anymore. “Are you okay?”

She stopped her compressions, held up blood-covered hands and peered down at the man lying in front of her.

“It’s Dad. He...he’s gone.” A sob tore from her throat. “Gunshot wounds. I saw it all. I tried to help Dad and failed.”

“Oh, sugar, I’m so sorry.” Gavin didn’t think of the years that had passed...of the turmoil when they’d broken up. Instead, acting on pure instinct, he drew her into his arms. She needed his comfort, and he was only too happy to hold her.

“This can’t be happening. Not really. Can it?” She suddenly grabbed Gavin’s arm. “The killer can’t get away with this. We have to go after him.”

Dear Reader,

There’s nothing I like more than starting a new series and I hope you enjoyed the first book in my McKade Law miniseries. This family is like so many I met in the time I lived in Texas. Hardworking. Honest and God-fearing. And yet their lives are invaded with turmoil and challenges just like yours and mine, and their faith is tested.

In this story, Lexie feels abandoned and unloved. Gavin feels misunderstood and guilty. Yet, through it all, they recognize the strength and compassion of the McKade family, and both long to be part of this strong family unit once again. I hope that you will enjoy getting to know the McKades and enjoy all four books with this family as much as I am enjoying writing them.

If you’d like to learn more about my other books, please stop by my website at www.susansleeman.com. I also love hearing from readers, so please contact me via email at susan@susansleeman.com, on my Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/susansleemanbooks, or write to me c/o Love Inspired, HarperCollins 24th floor, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

Susan Sleeman

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a bestselling author of inspirational and clean-read romantic suspense books and mysteries. She received an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award for Thread of Suspicion. No Way Out and The Christmas Witness were finalists for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence. She’s had the pleasure of living in nine states and currently lives in Oregon. To learn more about Susan, visit her website at susansleeman.com.

Holiday Secrets

Susan Sleeman

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in Me will not be disappointed.

—Isaiah 49:23

For all the families waiting for their prodigal son or daughter to return home.

Acknowledgments

A special thank-you to Amanda Williams for naming Kendall’s horse Beauty. To Leslie McKee for naming Gavin’s horse Lightning. And to Lizzi Rizzi for naming Lexie’s horse Misty. Your help was greatly appreciated!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

ONE

Lexie Grant’s father had to pick today, of all days, to come back from the dead.

“Not a word from you in over a month.” She glanced at his prop plane rumbling in the distance on the abandoned airstrip, the winds from a blue norther howling across the field. “I thought you had to be dead.”

“Why in the world would you think that?” Her father raised his chin in his usual haughty manner.

“Your house and office. They were ransacked. Then you go missing. The sheriff couldn’t find you, and he suspected foul play. What else was I supposed to think?” She sighed and wished her father cared enough about her and her fourteen-year-old brother, Adam, to have told them he was leaving town. “Where have you been?”

He stepped closer to the crumbling maintenance building shielding them from the harsh wind racing through the Texas Hill Country. “There’s no time to explain. I have another appointment and have to leave.”

Right. Leave. He’d left her and Adam to be raised by their mother’s sister, Ruth, when their mother died giving birth to Adam. Why should Lexie expect him to stay and give her an explanation?

“So why are you here, then?”

“To give you this.” He held out a large manila envelope, his hand trembling.

She watched him for a moment, trying to determine if he was shaking from the twenty-five-degree temperature drop in the last hour or if it was more. He stood strong as usual, but something was off. Maybe something to do with his disappearance.

Thankfully, her fears for his safety had been unfounded, and he was alive. Tears of gratitude sprang to her eyes, surprising her, what with their troubled relationship.

He shook the envelope. “Take it.”

She might be glad he was alive, but she wanted nothing from him. Nothing at all. She shoved her hands into her pockets.

“The envelope.” He glanced over his shoulder to make a furtive sweep of the area.

“If you’re worried that someone is watching us, I should tell you Gavin is coming out here to meet me. He needed to talk to me tonight, too.”

“You’re meeting your old boyfriend? Here? Tonight?” His voice rose as he cut his gaze over the towering copse of bald cypress trees shadowing the abandoned property.

“Yes,” she replied, trying not to think about seeing the man she’d once thought she’d spend the rest of her life with, before he’d bailed on her three years ago.

“He’s FBI now... I can’t... I have to go.” He waved the envelope. “C’mon, take it. Everything you need to know is inside. It’s insurance to make sure you’re safe.”

“Safe? Why wouldn’t I be safe?”

He opened his mouth to respond but a rumbling noise sounded from the far side of the field, taking his attention.

A dirt bike burst from the shadows and raced straight for them.

“Gavin?” her father asked.

“No. He’s riding over on his horse.”

“Take this. Now!” Panic wove through his tone. He shoved the envelope toward her.

She’d never seen the all-knowing doctor this rattled. Should she be afraid, too?

“Now!”

She reached for the envelope. He let go, but she didn’t have it in hand. The wind whipped it into the air.

“No!” He charged after the envelope dancing toward his plane.

As a pilot, he could jump in the cockpit and take off anytime he wanted, but he seemed more concerned about getting the envelope.

“Are you coming back or leaving?” she called after him.

He didn’t respond. She stepped away from the building to get a better look. He charged ahead, then froze in place, staring at the bike rumbling closer. He suddenly bent to grab the envelope. A gunshot rang out, cutting through the night.

Was it the biker? Was he the one shooting at them?

Her father took off, running toward the plane. The bike veered right, bearing down on him. He’d barely made it a few feet when another shot split the air. Then another. Her father went down.

Dad! No! She opened her mouth to scream.

No. Stop. The shooter will hear you. Maybe come after you.

She clamped a hand over her mouth as panic raced along her nerves. What should she do?

Hide. Yes, hide. Now!

She slipped behind the building. Held her breath. Fought the panic. Her horse Misty, tethered a few feet behind her, nervously shifted. Lexie raced to the mare.

“Shh, girl. Don’t give me away.” She scrubbed her hand down the mare’s velvety nose until she calmed. “What do I do, girl? I can’t just leave Dad out there.”

But could she do otherwise and not be shot?

She had to try. She couldn’t lose him when she’d just gotten him back. She was an ER nurse, after all, and she was sure she could help.

Hoping the shooter hadn’t seen her, Lexie left the horse behind and peeked around the corner. The biker roared close and came to a stop ten feet from her father. The biker sat there, his gun outstretched, his bike idling. Her father didn’t move.

“Stupid old man,” the biker yelled as he dismounted.

Gun waving, he strode toward her father.

Was he going to shoot her dad again? Should she intervene or would he shoot her, too?

She had to do something, but if she died, she’d be of no help to anyone. So she had to be careful. Smart. Assess the situation before acting.

She crept around the back of the building. Good. Dark shadows clung to the crumbling siding. She eased through the inky blackness. Not only did she have an improved view of the action now, but she would also have a better chance to offer aid if the opportunity presented itself.

The bike’s engine cut out and died, but the dying motor only stopped the biker for a second as he paused to look back. He shrugged and continued walking, holding out his gun in a gloved hand. He poked her father’s side with a pointy boot. Her father’s tortured moan rose into the stark night.

Yes! He’s alive!

“Stupid, stupid man,” the gunman said. “Running when bullets were flying.”

The shooter was tall. Over six feet. Thin. Lexie searched the darkness for his face, but his tinted helmet hid his features. She’d never heard his voice before, but he had a deep Southern accent, so he could be from around their rural Texas county.

He kicked her father again. “You didn’t actually think I’d let you meet with the head of the syndicate today, did you?”

The syndicate? Her dad mumbled something, but she couldn’t make out his response. She desperately wanted to know what type of trouble her father had gotten into. Even more, she wanted this man to take off so she could tend to her father’s injuries.

“You should have known I’d never let you bring me down,” the shooter continued. “Not when I’m facing three strikes. I’m not going to prison again and never coming out. You’re a smart man. How come you don’t know by now that I’m smarter than you? That I’d hunt you down?”

A sick laugh rolled from his mouth and he moved closer.

Lexie held her breath. Waited for a fatal shot to sound.

Instead, the gunman jerked the envelope from her dad’s hand and peered around. “So, who’s meeting you here tonight?”

Lexie strained to hear the answer.

“No one,” her father said, his tone weak and wavering. If she didn’t get to him soon, he might not make it. “Was just hiding the envelope. That’s all. I swear.”

The shooter bent down and pressed the gun against her father’s forehead.

Lexie almost gasped but caught herself in time.

The shooter waved the envelope in her father’s face. “Thanks for this. I also have the copy you left with your attorney in Mexico. You should never have given him the information. Now he’s dead.”

“No.”

“Yes.” His voice was calm, like committing murder was an everyday occurrence for him. “You obviously planned to hand this over to someone tonight. Who?”

“No one,” her father insisted.

“Not even your precious Lexie?”

Wait—the shooter knew her name? Knew who she was? Did he know her father was meeting her here? Would he come after her next?

Her heart stammered and panic ricocheted through her.

“Well, old man?” he demanded. “Lexie. Is she meeting you here?”

“No. I was hiding it. In the building. Would’ve called her later. Told her where to find it.” Her father’s voice was growing weaker, blood loss likely taking his strength. She hated seeing him in this situation, suffering at the gunman’s hand, but she appreciated his effort to distract the shooter from learning she was there.

A noise sounded from across the field. She listened. Heard a horse trotting. Gavin? Or was it just wishful thinking?

The gunman spun. “So, you were meeting someone, after all. No worries. I’ll be long gone by the time the horse reaches us.”

He shoved his hand into his pocket and came out holding a cell phone. He pressed his thumb to it, the phone coming alive and illuminating his face shield. She squinted to get a better look at his face, but the light reflected against the shield.

“I’m assuming you have another copy of these documents on the plane. Well, buh-bye, plane.” He tapped his phone.

The plane erupted in a ball of fire. The ground beneath her feet rumbled in concussive waves. Fragments of the plane flew through the air and hit the dusty ground. A rush of heat washed over her face even at this distance.

She stared in stunned disbelief. Just who was this guy and how was he involved with her father?

“See how much you underestimated me,” he shouted. “And don’t think I believe you when you say you didn’t give this information to your daughter. I won’t rest until I’m sure she doesn’t have it. Even if that means she has to die, too.” He laughed, the sound high and maniacal, his craziness sending her fear skyrocketing.

He was willing to kill her father, so what would he do if he spotted her?

Horse hooves thundered on the open field.

Please let it be Gavin. As a former local deputy and now an FBI agent in Houston, he’d be armed and know what to do—how to save them.

Are You there, God? Listening? Please don’t let this psycho fire on him, too.

The shooter mounted the bike. Kicked the engine awake then screeched to a start and roared forward, stopping to take a final shot at her father. The gun report sounded like thunder.

No. Oh, please, no. Had he done the unthinkable and killed her father?

Her head swam. Her leg muscles turned to mush. She grabbed the wall to keep from dropping to the ground.

Breathe deep. Keep it together.

The biker laughed again then shifted his bike into high speed, passing right in front of her. She held her breath so even the tiniest movement didn’t give her away. The whoosh of wind from the cycle blasted her face and heavy fumes irritated her nose. He glanced her way. The gun lifting.

Had he seen her? She couldn’t be sure and remained frozen in place.

When he moved out of sight, she ran for her dad. Knelt beside him. Spotted gaping chest and stomach wounds.

For a moment, all of her medical training and experience as a trauma nurse fled and panic won out. Her pulse skyrocketed. She felt woozy. Like she might collapse. She wanted to give in. To forget her father lay in front of her with wounds only a skilled surgeon could treat.

“Dad... I...” She didn’t know how to continue as blood oozed from his body. If she’d listened to the many times he’d nagged her about becoming a doctor, she could help, but with his extensive injuries, only a doctor could save him now.

He moaned.

She let her gaze flick over the area. Searching for what, she didn’t know. Maybe she was just avoiding the obvious.

Cut it out. He needs you to be strong. To think. Get it together.

She ripped off her favorite Christmas scarf, wadded it into a ball and pressed it against the most critical wound. Blood saturated the cashmere in moments and she suspected an equal amount of blood spurted from his back, too.

Please, she begged. Don’t let him die.

“Lexie,” he muttered, his voice not more than a whisper.

“Shh.” She bent forward. “Don’t try to talk.”

He struggled to breathe, his chest barely moving. “Be careful...dangerous. He took it. Your insurance. I should have...couldn’t...my reputation. Legacy. He’ll come after you, Lexie. He’ll kill you...”

* * *

Gunshots. Lexie.

Gavin McKade cleared the tree line to see a fireball rising into the sky over an airplane torn in pieces and a dirt bike racing away from the maintenance shed.

Had Lexie given up on him because he was late and boarded the plane to go somewhere? Or were the gunshots directed at her and she’d been shot?

Dear God, don’t let me be too late. Don’t let Lexie be on that plane.

He jerked his unruly stallion’s reins to keep him from bolting and searched for any sign of Lexie. He would call out, but with shots fired, he wasn’t about to draw more attention to himself than Lightning’s pummeling hooves might have already done.

Was she by the shed or in the plane?

He’d check the plane first. He kicked Lightning into motion. They tore across the open field, the biting wind hitting him full-on and carrying heavy black smoke in his direction. The heat soon forced him to pull up.

Dancing flames illuminated fragments of the plane lying scattered around. No one could have survived the fiery explosion. If she was in there—No, he wouldn’t go there. Not until he checked by the shed.

He whipped Lightning around and took off. Nearing the shed, he spotted someone on the ground. Someone moving. Small. Slight. A woman. Leaning over another person. Performing CPR.

He threw caution to the wind and shouted, “Lexie!”

“Gavin!” she screamed. “Hurry.”

Thank You, God, he prayed, though he had no idea if God heard him. After shooting Emily, Gavin had been hard-pressed to trust in his faith.

Gavin pushed Lightning into a gallop, the stallion’s breath coming in hard puffs as he quickly closed the distance between them. To be safe, he drew his weapon as he dismounted.

“Lexie,” he said, afraid he was wrong, that she’d turn, it wouldn’t be her, and he’d learn she’d perished in the explosion.

She looked up from doing CPR on a man.

It was Lexie. His Lexie. No...not his. Not anymore. He let out a slow breath of relief. “Are you okay?”

She stopped her compressions, held up blood-covered hands and peered down at the man lying in front of her.

“It’s Dad. He...he’s gone.” A sob tore from her throat. “Gunshot wounds. I saw it all. He tried to give me an envelope and the guy shot him twice. Then took off. I tried to help Dad and failed.”

“Oh, sugar, I’m so sorry.” Gavin didn’t think of the years that had passed...of the turmoil when they’d broken up. Instead, acting on pure instinct, he dropped down beside her and drew her into his arms. She snuggled tight against him, and he cradled her head against his chest as her body heaved with pain-filled sobs.

She needed his comfort, and he was only too happy to hold her, but with the shooting, he had to keep his gaze roving the area, just in case the killer hadn’t really taken off.

He gently pushed back and gazed at her. “You said the shooter was gone.”

“He took off on a dirt bike.”

That explained the bike he’d seen.

“This can’t be happening. Not really. Can it?” She suddenly grabbed Gavin’s arm. “The killer can’t get away with this. We have to go after him.”

“He’s long gone by now and we won’t catch him on horseback.” Gavin dug out his phone. “But I’ll call Dad to get an alert out on the bike. Can you describe it?”

“Black, I think, but I’m not positive. Dark colored, anyway.”

“Did it have a license plate?”

“I don’t know. I was too afraid. I’m sorry.” She wiped away her tears. “But the rider wore a leather jacket and pants. He was over six feet. Thin.”

Without a better description of the bike, the odds were bad that they’d find the guy. Especially when a dirt bike could travel off-road.

“And the plane exploding?” Gavin asked. “Did the shooter have something to do with that, too?”

She nodded. “He used his phone to detonate it. Thank goodness Dad was flying his own plane and was alone.”

“I’ll want more details, but first I’ll get that alert issued.” Gavin dialed his father, Lake County sheriff Walt McKade, but stepped away from Lexie so he could speak freely about her father. He also didn’t want her to learn that conversations with his dad were still tension-filled. No sense in adding to her stress.

As his phone rang, he kept her in view while also watching for any signs the shooter might have returned.

“Sheriff McKade,” Gavin’s dad answered with his usual confidence.

Just hearing his father’s voice made him cringe, but he swallowed down his unease. “It’s Gavin. There’s been an explosion and shooting at the old airstrip on Engles ranch.”

“I know about the explosion. Just got a 9-1-1 call from neighbors...but how do you know about it?”

“I’m in town for a few days.”

“First I’m hearing about it,” he grumbled. “And you just happened to be out at the airstrip when all of this goes down?”

“I’ll explain that later,” Gavin said. “For now, you need to know Dr. Grant’s been fatally shot.”

“Well, I’ll be.” His words were slow and drawn out in his thick drawl. “Here we all thought he was dead and now he turns up only to be murdered.”

“Lexie’s here, and she saw the whole thing. The shooter took off. Heading east on a dirt bike. She thinks it’s black but she’s not positive. He’s been gone about five minutes or so. I thought you’d like to issue an alert ASAP.”

“You got that right. I’ll take care of it and head out there to get started on the investigation.”

Great. The moment his dad arrived, he would demand to know Gavin’s reasons for being in town.

He didn’t have the authority to divulge that, yesterday, Dr. Grant had become a person of interest in a major health-care fraud investigation, and that Gavin had arrived to try to track him down.

“And before you try to claim jurisdiction on the murder...” his dad continued. “You know the ball’s in my court, not you Feds.”

Gavin stifled a groan. As far as he knew, his dad’s only experience with the FBI was watching TV shows and movies that often got things wrong. Murder investigations didn’t top the Bureau’s priorities, and the Feds rarely involved themselves in a case without being invited.

“No worries there,” Gavin said.

“I’ll be there in less than ten.” His dad disconnected the call.

Gavin returned to Lexie, who hadn’t moved, her gaze fixed on her father. Gavin squatted next to her and told her softly, “Dad’s on his way.”

She sighed. “I suppose now would be a good time for you to tell me why you wanted to see me.”

Though it was no longer necessary to locate her father, Gavin would still need to interview her and serve the warrant to search her father’s office and home. Obviously, there was no point in the FBI filing charges against a deceased person, but his records could contain information about other doctors involved in the fraud. Still, nothing needed to be done tonight, and he’d hold off on upsetting her until after she’d gotten some rest.

“That can wait,” he said.

She shook her head in wide sorrowful arcs. “You sound like my father. You both had these big things you needed to talk to me about. Turns out, he only wanted to give me that envelope. He tried, but it was so weird.”

“Weird in what way?”

“He was acting totally out of character. All jittery and afraid. Clearly, he had a right to be. The shooter was creepy and not at all concerned about committing murder.” She blew out an unsteady breath. “He said this would be his third strike, and he wasn’t going back to prison. He also took the envelope and said he’d killed Dad’s attorney in Mexico because Dad gave him the same information.”

So Dr. Grant had been hiding out in Mexico this last month. But why? “Did the shooter mention what the envelope contained?”

She shook her head. “He did say he was part of some syndicate. Said Dad was meeting with the head honcho today, and the killer wasn’t going to let that happen.”

Gavin nodded but didn’t speak. Dr. Grant wasn’t the only doctor in the fraud investigation. Gavin hadn’t yet found a connection between the doctors, but he supposed it was possible they could have formed a syndicate and this murder was related.

“And there’s more,” she said. “The killer knew my name. Called me Dad’s precious Lexie. Which means he didn’t know Dad very well as I wasn’t precious to him. Maybe once. When Mom was alive.”

Gavin had hoped she’d reconciled with her father in the past few years, but clearly she’d still had issues with him. And now, thanks to her father, a killer knew her name.

Gavin didn’t like it. Not one bit. He didn’t want the killer to know anything about her. “In what context did he mention you?”

“He asked if Dad gave me the information, too. Dad said no, but the killer didn’t believe him. Dad warned me before he died that this guy is dangerous, and he’ll come after me. Kill me, too.”

“Kill you?” Gavin’s voice shot up, spooking Lexie and Lightning. He lowered his voice. “Do you have the information he’s worried about?”

“I don’t know what was in that envelope and Dad didn’t give me anything else. But now that we know someone is looking for information, it makes sense that his office and house were ransacked.” She turned her big-eyed gaze to him. “What if the killer spotted me as he was leaving? If he did, he knows I saw him commit murder.” She shuddered. “Do you think he’ll come after me? Try to kill me, too?”

“I won’t let that happen, sugar. I promise.” Gavin wrapped an arm around her shoulders to help allay her fear, but his emotions were a different story.

If this man had killed once, he wouldn’t hesitate to do so again, and now he had Lexie in his sights.

TWO

Lexie didn’t know what to think. To feel. After Gavin’s father arrived, he’d escorted her to the main road where she now sat sideways in the front of Sheriff McKade’s patrol car, her feet planted on the asphalt as she waited to give her statement. She caught a glimpse in the distance of tall lights, their halos standing like beacons in the night over the plane wreckage, another set near her father’s body, warning all who came close of the horrific sight.

And it had been horrific. There was no question. Even for a trauma nurse. Seeing the once-solid plane in tiny bits scattered around the area. Seeing her father gunned down. Worse than horrific.

She shuddered and stared at her blood-caked hands. Her father’s blood. He’d lain in front of her, his life floating away, his eyes going blank and glazed. She’d seen death before. Of course she had. Many times in the ER. Always feeling sad for a life lost coupled with a bit of second-guessing as she ran the trauma through her brain to make sure they’d handled it right.

But tonight? What did she feel now?

Something, that was for sure, but it was hard to put a finger on her emotions. She definitely didn’t feel the deep, split-your-insides-open anguish she’d experienced when her mother had died. So was it guilt for not being able to save her dad? Maybe. Actually, now that she took the time to think about it, she felt numb. Cold inside and out. Alone. So alone.

Where are You again, God? Why take someone else from my life? From Adam’s life? Am I this undeserving of love?

Why was she even asking at this point in life? Nothing changed.

She wrapped her arms around her body and ran her hands up and down her arms to ward off the howling wind. Earlier, she’d tried closing the car door, but claustrophobia had set in and she’d had to open it again.

The sound of boots stomping across the road brought her head up in time to catch Sheriff McKade marching over to Gavin.

Gavin. What did she do about him? She’d been relieved to see him when he’d arrived. Practically thrown herself into his arms. But now what? Was he the reason for her numbness?

She shifted to get a better look at the pair. They stood strong, staring across the road, backs to her with hands on their waists in identical stances. They were both over six feet. Both had a head of thick, black hair, though she knew gray strands that had grown in numbers over the years intricately laced the sheriff’s.

Gavin suddenly crossed his arms and spun. His dark gaze landed on her and that familiar, angry frustration with his dad lingered in his eyes. Walt turned, as well. They spit a few more sentences at each other and Gavin suddenly stormed in her direction.

Lexie sighed. Nothing had changed. The same old Gavin, and the same reason he’d left town. Left her.

Gavin was the firstborn in a family of four siblings, and his father held his son to lofty standards that no one could live up to. Still, Gavin had wanted a career in law enforcement and the only option without leaving Lost Creek was to work as a deputy for his dad. He’d tried to make a go as a deputy for years. Really tried. Even if it meant he wasn’t always happy.

Then one day he’d disagreed with direct orders from his father on how to handle a domestic disturbance. Walt had wanted to sit back and wait for things to play out. Not Gavin. He was more of a “take action and sort things out later” kind of guy. Fearing for the wife’s safety, he’d stepped in. Tensions escalated and he’d ended up in a shoot-out with the husband, catching his wife in the cross fire. Emily had survived, and Gavin wasn’t hurt, but from that day on, his father no longer trusted him.

No matter how hard Gavin worked to right things between them, he failed and couldn’t continue to work with his father. His only choice was to leave town. At least, that was what he’d thought. Lexie still didn’t agree.

Didn’t matter now, though. She’d had enough of her pity party and it was time to shake it off. To go on. For Adam. Her brother needed her.

Gavin continued toward her, his strides long and powerful, his gaze focused.

Why was he in town, anyway? If it was solely to talk to her, why wouldn’t he just tell her what he wanted to discuss? Why the big mystery?

Gavin stopped before her and squatted down.

How many times had she gazed into Gavin’s rich brown eyes and known he was the man she’d wanted to marry? He’d dashed that dream when he’d moved away and left her behind without a second thought.

“Dad will take your statement,” he finally said. “I was hoping to put it off till tomorrow, but he refused. So I wanted to see if you needed anything, and I’ll take care of it while he’s talking to you.”

For a moment, he worked the muscles in his jaw then forced a smile. The left side tipped up just a fraction higher, a quirk that never failed to make Lexie’s heart skip a beat.

“I could get some water for you,” he offered. “A blanket. Or maybe I could call your aunt Ruth.”

“Ruth? No. She’s on a much-needed vacation, and I don’t want to burden her with this until she gets back in a few days. But I do need to tell Adam about Dad.” Lexie saw Walt approaching. “I’ll give my statement to your dad and get going.”

Gavin crossed his arms and gave her a steely look. “You’re not going anywhere alone until this killer is caught.”

“So you really do think he’ll be coming after me,” she said, letting her fear usurp her unease over his sudden bossiness.

“Yes,” he said, but his narrowed gaze told her that he didn’t like admitting it. “I’ll drive you home, and make sure you have a protective detail. I can help you tell Adam, too.”

No way she wanted Gavin to talk to Adam. The two of them had formed a strong bond and Gavin had destroyed the kid when he’d moved away. She’d have to tell Adam he’d lost his father. Why add the unease of talking to Gavin?

“I’m glad for the protection,” she said. “But I’ll deal with Adam on my own.”

Walt arrived before them and slapped his hat on his head as he peered at Gavin. “Our first priority is to keep little Lexie safe. Since Ruth is in Florida, I planned to bring Lexie back to the ranch when I finish up here. I’ll send a deputy to get Adam, too.”

Lexie disliked it when he called her “little Lexie” and when he talked about her as if she was a child. It came across as demeaning, even though she knew he didn’t mean it that way. He was just referring to her barely over five-foot height compared to his children, most of them six feet or more.

“I’m not letting Lexie out of my sight until I’m sure she has a strong detail assigned to her care,” Gavin said. “Not with the threat the shooter made—and we have no way of knowing if he saw her. If he did, well...”

His worried tone sent her heart beating faster. “Do you think Adam could be in danger, too?”

“I suppose it’s possible,” Gavin said. “But I wouldn’t expect your father to confide obviously valuable information to a kid. There’d be no point. If I was the killer, I’d focus on you, and then if I struck out, I’d move on to Adam.”

“I concur,” Walt added. “Especially since your dad has never even lived with Adam and isn’t much involved in his life.”

They both made valid points. Her father had blamed Adam for the loss of the love of his life. Not a legitimate blame, but her dad had associated Adam with the pain and never bonded with him. He’d also claimed Lexie resembled her mother and had hardly been able to look at her. He’d promptly moved her and Adam into Aunt Ruth’s house, where they’d both lived for the last fourteen years. So when Lexie’s heart was shattered by the loss of her mother, she’d lost her father, too. Now she’d lost him for good. Tears threatened again, but she firmed her resolve to keep it together until she was alone.

“Still, we’ll take no chances, and we’ll watch over Adam, too.” Gavin lifted his chin as if daring his father to disagree.

“That we will.” The sheriff kept his gaze leveled on Lexie. “So what’ll it be, sweetheart? Gavin drives you home or you come to the ranch?”

Even with the simmering tension between her and Gavin, being at Trails End Ranch with this strong law-enforcement family was a safe place while she thought through the implications of all that had happened tonight. Besides, she missed his mother, Winnie, and his grandparents, Jed and Betty. Jed would offer to protect her and both of the women would fuss over her, and right now, she could use a little comfort along with the added protection.

“I rode Misty over here, and I need to get her home and brushed down.”

“You can do that at the ranch. ’Sides, Tessa and Kendall would let me have an earful if I didn’t bring you home. I won’t even put voice to what Winnie would do to me.” At the mention of his daughters and wife, a slow smile slid across Walt’s lips.

“Tessa and Kendall are both at the ranch?” Gavin asked.

“Not just yet. But seein’s how you’re in town for once, I figured we should get the whole family together, so I called them.”

“I don’t think Lexie wants to get into the middle of all of that.” Gavin puffed out his chest, his white dress shirt straining at the buttons.

Irritation shot through her. He’d not only gotten bossy, but he also seemed to think he could make her decisions for her when he had no right.

“I’ll be glad to come to the ranch,” she said, ignoring Gavin’s disappointed look. “But I want to be sure no one tells Adam about Dad. I want to do it.”

“Matt’s on duty,” Walt said, mentioning Gavin’s younger brother. “I’ll assign him to pick Adam up. Matt’ll keep it on the down low if I tell him to.”

Gavin took a sharp intake of air through his nose, his nostrils flaring. He couldn’t have missed his dad’s less-than-subtle message that at least one son listened to him.

Gavin turned to Lexie. “I’ll round up our horses and we can ride over together.”

“Little late to be riding, isn’t it?” Walt asked.

“We both got here just fine on horseback. We can get home the same way.” Gavin eyed his father for a moment as if challenging him to argue.

Instead, Walt faced Lexie.

Gavin strode off into the dark.

“Stubborn boy,” Walt muttered.

“Gavin’s thirty-five. Not much of a boy anymore.”

Walt scowled at her and pulled a small notebook from his uniform pocket. “I’m guessing you have a horse trailer nearby as you sure as shootin’ didn’t ride cross-county on your horse.”

“My truck and trailer are down by the cutoff at Wheeler’s old gas station.”

“Then I’ll make sure someone escorts you back there at the end of the night and helps you load your horse.”

One of the things she liked about Walt McKade was that, behind all his bluster and bravado, he had a compassionate side. Despite being ornery at times and tough on his kids, he was a gentleman through and through, and he’d raised his sons to be fine, responsible men.

“I’m sorry about your father, Lexie,” he said, his words filled with earnest compassion.

The soft tone coming from such a tough lawman made it even harder to keep tears in check, but Lexie managed it.

“Thank you,” she said.

He stroked his salt-and-pepper mustache for a moment as if trying to decide how to move forward. “S’posin you give me the details of what happened tonight.”

She replayed the night, making sure to include every point she could remember, and he recorded them in his notebook.

“Did you know before today that your daddy was back in town?” His pen hovered over the page.

“No. He called after dinner, and that’s the soonest I heard about it.”

“And he came back just to give you the envelope that was stolen?”

She shrugged. “The plane was on the ground when I got here, so I don’t know how long he’d been here. He did say he had another appointment, so who knows how many people he talked to before me, or would have after, if he’d lived.” A lump rose to her throat but she swallowed hard. “The shooter mentioned that Dad was going to meet the head of a syndicate.”

“Syndicate, huh?” Walt made a production of closing his notebook and stowing it with his pen, then tipping his hat back even farther and leaning on the car door. “A syndicate doesn’t on the surface suggest illegal activities, and I’m not at all saying your daddy was involved in something illegal, but being killed in relationship to it is a whole other ball game.”

She’d been thinking the same thing—that was, when she could forget the horror of seeing him gunned down and think clearly at all. “All I know is it’s not normal for a man to disappear for a month, and when he does resurface, he’s killed.”

“Agreed. Matt’s already working on tracking down the biker.” He pursed his lips. “We’ve secured the area and I’ve called in the ATF to investigate the explosion.”

“ATF?” Lexie asked.

“Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They investigate bombs and have resources we don’t begin to possess and can pinpoint the type of explosion.”

“How will that help find Dad’s killer?”

“Forensic evidence from the bomb could lead us to where the suspect purchased or stole his supplies. Finding that could then lead us to the suspect.”

“And what will your role be?”

“My team will work the murder angle and try to locate this syndicate you mentioned. Since we’ve already tried to find a lead as to your father’s disappearance this past month and failed, I’m not sure how successful we’ll be, but I aim to try.” He shifted his duty belt. “I’ll also come up with a plan to make sure you stay safe, sweetheart.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Her gaze drifted to Gavin, who was standing by the horses, his phone to his ear. She couldn’t help but wish he would stay in town and hunt down this killer. Despite their differences, with his FBI experience, she’d feel safest if he was the one to protect her.

How crazy was that? He’d walked out on her—left her heart shattered—and here she was, wanting him to protect her. Or was she simply fooling herself? Trying to believe she needed him to keep her safe when in reality she was simply happy to see him again?

* * *

Gavin kept Lexie in view as he waited for his supervisor to call back. She still sat in the squad car, but his dad had stepped away. The dome light caught the golden strands of her hair, wavy to her shoulders. Her icy-blue eyes, dark with angst, stared across the field, her arms wrapped around a slender waist. She’d always been a beautiful woman, but it was all he could do not to stare at her and let her know how much simply looking at her impacted him.

Was she thinking about her father or about their past? He suspected both. Man, he wanted to help her through this, but that was the last thing she would want. He’d hurt her in the worst possible way. He’d acted just like her father and put her second in his life.

He hadn’t meant for things to end between them, least of all to end so badly. Just like he hadn’t meant to shoot Emily, but he had, and she now had a permanent limp thanks to him.

His phone rang. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Harrison’s name flashed on the screen. Gavin quickly answered the call, but took a breath to make sure he displayed the confidence needed for lead agent on the investigation. His first lead. Exactly what he’d planned when he’d taken a series of online business classes so he could be assigned to the white-collar crimes unit, a division with great potential for advancement. Sure, Harrison had made Gavin lead agent on this investigation because of his connection to Lost Creek, but he still felt the need to prove himself.

He quickly and succinctly explained the latest developments with Dr. Grant. “A syndicate could mean the doctors on our list are connected.”

“I concur,” Harrison replied.

“I want to remain in Lost Creek and work with County on the murder investigation. I have the feeling it ties in with the other doctors involved in the Medicaid scam.”

“You could be right,” Harrison said. “Your connections could very well pay off for us. Making you lead might just be the smartest move I’ve made all week.”

“If you remember, my dad and I don’t see eye to eye on investigative protocols, so my working with him isn’t as certain as you think.”

“Still, he’s your father and, from what you’ve told me, he’s a good sheriff. He’d be a fool to reject our help.”

“Did I mention he’s stubborn?”

“Then the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Harrison chuckled.

Gavin wouldn’t discuss the point further. One way or another he’d find a way to get his dad on his side. Since the job was all he had in his life right now, it was imperative that he advance, and that wouldn’t happen if he failed on this investigation. “I’ll need to fill in my dad and his investigator on the Medicaid case.”

“Go ahead. Who knows? Maybe working a joint investigation with your father is just the thing you need to learn how to let go of controlling every little thing around you. It could even improve your teamwork.”

In Gavin’s last evaluation, his skills and abilities received high marks. But being a team player? Not so much. His fault totally. He compensated for shooting Emily by controlling everything and didn’t trust others. If he ever hoped to advance, he needed to change. He’d known it for some time, but hadn’t found a way to do so.

“Anything else?” Harrison asked.

“With Dr. Graves’s death, I think his daughter would be more apt to cooperate if I share her father’s suspected Medicaid fraud.”

“Keep the information superficial, and I’m okay with that.”

Gavin agreed and ended the call by promising to keep Harrison apprised of the situation.

He stowed his phone then grabbed Misty and Lightning’s reins and led the pair across the field.

Lexie flipped up her faux-fur-trimmed hood and started toward him. She wore the same worn red cowboy boots she’d owned for years. Man, he’d loved to tease her about those boots. Her feet were tiny, and she’d had to buy them in the children’s department. Despite the circumstances, he smiled.

She took Misty’s reins. “Looks like you think something’s funny.”

“Your boots.”

She shot him a look, but frustration quickly melted into an impish smile that never failed to tug at his heart. “I know you like to make fun of them, but you wouldn’t laugh so hard if you knew how much less I pay for my boots than the rest of you do. Besides, I look far less comical in my boots than you do getting ready to mount a horse in your city-slicker pants and shiny shoes.”

Gavin grimaced. Right...his shoes. He’d planned to talk to her, take Lightning back to the ranch for a quick brush-down then head for his motel for the night before he ran into his father. Now here he was, looking out of place with all his old wounds raw and on display for Lexie. She’d seen enough of his ongoing issues with his father over the years. Something he wasn’t proud of. He was a grown man. Old enough to be a father himself, for crying out loud. He sure should be old enough not to let his father continue to push his buttons. Not something he could change standing here.

“We should get going,” he said. “Let me give you a leg up.”

Her eyes narrowed for a moment but then she nodded. Misty was getting on in years, so he suspected her agreement was for the mare’s well-being, as a shorter person mounting a horse from the ground was hard on the horse.

Gavin hoisted her into the saddle then climbed on Lightning. His shoe slipped in the stirrup and he regretted being so hasty in not changing his attire. He’d regretted it even more when his father eyed his shoes and chuckled.

Lexie set Misty in motion and he directed Lightning to move into position beside her. He kept his head on a swivel, carefully watching the trees dipping in the wind.

Maybe his behavior was overkill, but he’d learned the hard way that things could go sideways in a hurry. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. Not with Lexie’s life in the balance.

THREE

Gavin led Lexie under the wood sign stretching over Trails End’s driveway. His ancestors had burned the ranch name and MK brand into the wood that had been erected in 1895 when the ranch was first established. About the time the first McKade had become county sheriff. With minor repairs, it had stood the test of time and always gave Gavin a sense of pride in his family’s long history.

They trotted down the familiar drive until the two-story home with a long porch holding strings of garland and colorful Christmas lights came into view. Lights glowed from the lower windows, which meant his family was gathered in the living and dining rooms that faced the front of the house. A patrol car sat at the end of a circular drive—Matt’s car, Gavin presumed.

He veered off shy of the house and dismounted at the corral abutting a large barn and stable. “We’ll leave the horses here. I’ll make sure someone takes care of them.”

Gavin thought to help Lexie dismount, but he knew she’d balk, so he secured the reins and they made their way up an incline to the house. They’d barely stepped onto the porch when the door flew open and his mother barreled out like a bronc in a rodeo shoot. She was thin and tall, with leathery skin from time spent outdoors, and had a solid look about her as if she’d sunk her roots into the ground like the mighty cypress trees in the area. She’d always worked the ranch with the hands and kids, and never taken a day off.

“Welcome home, son.” Her arms outstretched, she jerked him to her as if he was a rag doll, and he went willingly.

After getting her fill, she set him away and stepped to Lexie. “You poor dear. Come here.”

His mother’s strong arms swallowed Lexie and she started to cry.

Gavin’s heart ached, and he felt like a dolt standing there when he knew if he hadn’t moved to Houston, she would be crying on his shoulder, not his mom’s. But he didn’t have long to dwell on it as his grandmother burst through the door and made a beeline toward him. She wore a gingham top over a T-shirt, and when she pulled him close, she was soft and squishy and smelled of baking spices. She did all the cooking, and he’d never found a better meal than the hearty ones she served up.

“Nana.” He hugged her back.

A clap on his shoulder had him pulling back to look into the sharp blue eyes of his granddad’s lined face. “About time you got here. S’posin your daddy kept you sitting around all this time.”

“Crime scenes take time to process.” Gavin was surprised he was defending his father.

His granddad hooked his thumbs in his red suspenders. “In my day, we wouldn’t make a little bit of a thing like Lexie wait around. We’d drive her home and have a civil conversation over a cup of coffee.”

“Coffee sounds like a good idea.” Gavin’s mother took Lexie’s arm. “We’ll settle you and Adam in the dining room by yourselves, and the two of you can take as long as you want.”

“Dad will likely have additional questions for Lexie when he gets here,” Gavin said.

“Then he’ll just have to wait.” His mother’s jaw firmed, meaning his dad would indeed be kept waiting, as Winnie McKade was the only person with the power to make that happen.

“I’ll see to the horses,” Granddad said.

“I appreciate that.”

“Don’t worry so much, Grandson,” Nana murmured. “God is faithful and He will work all of this for Lexie’s good.”

If only Gavin could be certain about that, but he hadn’t been certain about anything since Emily had been shot other than needing to leave town. He followed his family into the wide foyer holding a towering Christmas tree filled with handmade ornaments dating back as far as his granddad’s childhood.

Lexie glanced back at Gavin and, if he didn’t know better, he’d think she was begging him to join her to help break the news to Adam. But Gavin did know better. She didn’t want his help. She’d made that perfectly clear. Besides, he’d given up the right to sit by her side in good times and bad, and no matter how much he hated seeing her pain, he wasn’t a comfort to her now.

He closed the door behind them and headed across the house’s original wide-plank floors. Through a wide archway, he saw the other family members settle in front of a roaring fire, the woodsy campfire aroma he loved mingling with the scent of pine.

Matt stepped out to meet Gavin in the foyer. Though an investigator, Matt still worked patrol when needed and was dressed in the department’s basic navy patrol uniform. He looked tired and concerned, but had a ready smile.

He gave a light punch to Gavin’s arm. “You sure do know how to make an entrance in town, bro.”

“I’m surprised to see you here. I’d have thought you’d be out investigating the murder.”

“You know Dad. He has to make sure the department is fairly represented. So he’ll be in the thick of this one to make sure we don’t garner any bad press.” Matt frowned, disturbing his pretty-boy face that assured he always had his share of women to date. “And if you must know, I am involved. I’ve been tracking the suspect’s dirt bike.”

“Any luck with that?” Gavin asked.

“You know Dad wouldn’t want me to share investigative details outside the department.” A single eyebrow arched, looking so like their dad’s mannerism.

Gavin had to work hard not to comment. “And I also know you’re going to tell me everything, so why hassle me in the process?”

“I am, am I?”

Truth be told, Gavin wasn’t as confident as he’d once been that Matt would spill the beans. His brother had grown up a lot in the last few years. He’d be making a run for sheriff when their dad retired, and Gavin honestly believed Matt, who’d just turned thirty-one, could handle the position.

“Okay, fine,” his brother said without further prodding. “There’s no harm in telling you that ATF investigators arrived on scene and have taken over. They shooed Tessa away and I hear tell she’s hopping mad.”

“She had to know it was coming.” Gavin imagined their youngest sibling, who was a sworn deputy along with being a top forensic crime scene investigator for the county, facing off with an ATF agent. She was a nurturer at heart, but let anyone threaten her work domain, and she turned into a tiger.

“Knowing is one thing. Having a Fed toss you off the scene in your own county is another.”

“Hey, now. It’s awfully soon in my homecoming to be bashing the Feds, isn’t it?”

Matt frowned. “Dad said you wouldn’t tell him why you were in town.”

“I’m here on an investigation that involves Dr. Grant.”

“For real?”

Gavin nodded. “I cleared it with my supervisor to fill you and Dad in, but you’ll have to wait until I get Lexie settled and make sure we’ve made a protection plan for her and Adam.”

“Then in the spirit of cooperation, I can tell you that I located the dirt bike abandoned a few miles from the airfield.”

He narrowed his eyes. “How can you be so sure it’s the right bike?”

“The envelope with Lexie’s name on it was in a saddlebag. Empty, of course.”

“She told me the shooter has been incarcerated before. So any prints Tessa lifts should return an ID in the database.”

“Don’t hold your breath, bro. Lexie also told Dad that the suspect wore gloves. I doubt we’ll get prints.”

“What about the bike’s registration?”

“Bike’s not street legal, so no plates, but Kendall’s looking up the VIN number as we speak.” Their other sister, Kendall, had worked part-time as a deputy for nine years while she’d worked on her degree in information technology and was now a full-time deputy.

“Okay, so say this is the bike ridden by our suspect,” Gavin said. “No way if he owns the bike that he would abandon it and let us run the title to discover his identity.”

“So it’s likely stolen, but we haven’t had any dirt bikes reported stolen.” Matt frowned. “We’ll just have to wait on Kendall.”

Gavin didn’t want to wait. He’d rather log in to the database and get an instant answer. But taking over someone’s work was the kind of thing that drove others crazy. He would hold off for a bit, but if they didn’t hear from his sister soon, he would take charge and deal with the consequences later. “People around here don’t always register new bikes. It could also be secondhand and not registered to begin with.”

“Then if the VIN leads nowhere, we’ll need another way to find the owner.” Matt hooked his thumbs in the corner of his pants’ pockets.

His brother might be taking the wait-and-see approach, but Gavin wasn’t about to take the laid-back approach. “We need to figure it out ASAP so we’re ready to act if needed.”

“Whoa. When did you become such an all-fire control freak?” Matt shook his head. “City living, I suppose, but you’re back home now. You’ll need to learn to relax again or you’ll tick people off.”

Gavin wouldn’t admit the incident with his dad had changed him. Better to let Matt blame it on the city and move on. “You’re running the envelope for DNA, too, right?”

Matt crossed his arms. “We may not be a big, fancy department, but we do know how to investigate a crime.”

“I didn’t mean it that way, and you know it.”

Matt continued to eye him.

“I’m gonna grab a cup of coffee. You want one?” Gavin asked before saying something else to make his brother mad.

“Yeah, sure.”

Gavin led the way to the kitchen. He glanced through the dining room’s French doors to see Lexie with her arm wrapped around Adam’s shoulders. Dark pain lingered in her eyes and cut Gavin to the quick. Adam, the teenager Gavin had come to care for, darted his gaze around the room, as if looking for a way to flee or for help in dealing with his grief.

Lexie met Gavin’s gaze and frowned before looking away. He sighed. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He’d asked her to move to Houston with him, but her dad had forbidden her to move Adam out of town. Made no sense. Not when her father had little to do with either of them, but still, he’d had legal custody of Adam. Which meant she’d be stuck in Lost Creek for years. Gavin had suggested a long-distance relationship, but she’d shut him down fast.

Although a part of him wished he could go back and change things, he’d been right to move to Houston. Confirmed it, too, the minute he’d talked to his father tonight. But, no matter what, Gavin wasn’t going to flake on her now. He wasn’t going anywhere. At least not until he was confident she was safe.

FOUR

Lexie tightened her hold on Adam’s hand, but he was trying so hard to be a grown-up that he shrugged free and jumped to his feet. He marched across the room and lifted a stuffed Santa Claus from an antique sideboard to stare at it.

“I know Dad has been a loser father,” Adam said, “but I can’t believe he’d get involved in something illegal.”

“We don’t know that he broke the law,” she said, wishing the same comfort she’d once offered for skinned knees would work for Adam tonight. “Just that he was involved with a syndicate of some sort.”

He spun around. “Sounds bad, though, right?”

She got up to join him but shoved her hands in her pockets to keep from reaching out to him. “That’s because in our world the word ‘syndicate’ often refers to a group involved in illegal activities.”

Adam’s eyes, blue and large like their father’s, narrowed. “Yeah. Dad getting shot makes it almost a certainty.”

“Perhaps.”

He set down the Santa and it toppled to the floor. He stared at it. “What do you think he was mixed up in?”

“I don’t know.”

“Had to be drugs.” He grabbed the Santa Claus and settled it on the shelf with great force.

Due to his grief, she ignored the way he manhandled the keepsake item the McKades had owned for generations. “Why would you say drugs?”

“Dunno. Just sounds likely is all.” He chewed on his lower lip. “Do you think I’m in danger, too?”

“I hope not.” She played it down so she didn’t terrify him more. “Either way, we both need to be extra careful. As of this minute, there’ll be no going anywhere without me at your side.”

An impish grin lit his face. “Cool. That means no school.”

“You wish.” She knuckled his head. “I can’t have you fall behind.”

“But I’ll be alone.”

“I’ll see if Gavin or the sheriff can arrange to have someone go to school with you.”

“Gavin. Pfft. Why’s he even here?” Adam dropped onto the nearest chair, sliding down so far, she thought he’d slip off.

“I don’t know, but he can help us, so we have to give him a chance.” She couldn’t believe she’d not only downplayed their father’s actions, but now she was standing up for Gavin. What was next? Welcoming Gavin back into their lives?

No. No way.

“Like you’re happy to see him,” Adam muttered.

“I was when he came to my aid at the airstrip,” she admitted and left it at that. The last thing either of them needed was to get into a heated discussion about Gavin. “Let me see if the sheriff arrived and we’re cleared to go home.”

“Home?” His voice squeaked. “Is it safe?”

Gone was his bravado. Sitting before her was the little boy she’d held during crazy Texas thunderstorms. Comforted after their beloved pets had died. When he’d gotten his immunizations...and on and on. Her anger flared. How could their father put them in this position? Easy. He thought only of himself.

She squeezed Adam’s shoulder. “If Sheriff McKade or Gavin say it’s not safe, we won’t go there. Okay?”

“But where will we stay?”

“Let me talk to them and we’ll figure something out.”

She stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Walt had returned from the crime scene and he sat with Kendall on the old plaid sofa. Gavin and Matt both leaned against a wall as if they planned to spring into action. His mother and grandparents sat in side chairs, both ladies crocheting.

“Can I speak to you a minute, Sheriff?” Lexie called out as soon as there was a break in the conversation.

She felt Gavin’s gaze on her, but she wouldn’t make eye contact. His father got up and strode toward her, no questions asked. Gavin pushed off the wall and tagged along. Walt frowned at Gavin, but he held his ground as if he’d been standing up to his father all his life, when in fact all of the McKade siblings tried not to buck Walt’s decisions unless it was of utmost importance.

“I told Adam about Dad,” she said to them both. “But I didn’t want to terrify him, so I didn’t share details like Dad’s warning. I’d appreciate it if you all kept it to yourselves, too.”

“Makes sense,” Gavin said. “But he needs to know the suspect is looking for something and will likely come back. And that he might have seen you, too.”

“I made sure Adam understands enough to know he needs to be careful. For the most part, he’s trying to act tough, but I can tell he’s afraid.”

Walt offered a kind smile. “Nothing to worry about. Gavin here has insisted on personally seeing you home tonight.”

Gavin nodded and met her gaze. “I just want to be sure you’re safely settled in, is all.”

“Thank you,” she said instead of trying to argue when she was so wiped out.

“We’ve got a deputy stationed outside your house for the night,” Walt continued. “Kendall will drive Adam to school in the morning and spend the day with him. After we have a clearer picture of what happened at the scene and have processed any recovered evidence, we’ll make a long-term plan.”

Her heart dropped. “Do you really think this will go long-term?”

Walt rubbed his forehead lined from hours of working the ranch beneath the hot Texas sun. “Can’t rightly say. Not when I don’t have enough information.”

“Regardless, it’s best to be prepared,” Gavin said.

She firmed her jaw, something she often felt like her slight stature forced her to do to be taken seriously. “I’d like to be in on all discussions about our protection.”

Walt nodded. “Let’s plan to meet over lunch here tomorrow. If you have to go anywhere before then, our deputy will follow you. That work for you, sweetheart?”

At his tender tone, she almost lost it. Walt was a hard taskmaster with Gavin, but once she’d started dating Gavin, Walt had in many ways become the father she’d always wanted. Until Gavin had left. Then she’d made a point of trying not to run into any of the McKades if she could help it.

“Can we meet at one? Adam only has a half day tomorrow, so I’ll need to pick him up from school early.”

“Kendall can bring him home.”

“I know, but I want to try to keep as much of our routine as possible to reduce his turmoil over losing Dad.”

“I completely understand,” Walt said. “Adam can have lunch in the kitchen with my parents while we talk. Mom will fill him up with her famous Christmas cookies.”

Lexie smiled her thanks.

“Are you ready to go?” Gavin asked.

She nodded. “Let me get Adam.”

She went to the dining room door and motioned for her brother to join her in the foyer. He started off at a good clip, his untied sneakers slapping on the floor, but then he spotted Gavin and slowed.

Gavin smiled. “Good to see you, bud.”

“We’re not buds.” Adam jerked open the front door and bounded down the stairs.

“Hey, wait up!” Gavin went charging after Adam to grab his arm.

The teen shook it off.

“Look, I get that you’re mad at me,” Gavin said. “You have every right to be, but I need you to stick close by me or any deputies escorting you. For safety reasons. Can you do that?”

Adam nodded, but his sullen expression remained. “Let’s just get going.”

“My car is over there.” Gavin gestured at his black SUV backed into a small parking area next to the house.

When they were on the road, Lexie glanced over the seat to where Adam glared at the back of Gavin’s head.

How had their lives come to this? To the point that she and her little brother were in serious danger? Bad enough that she had to deal with it, but Adam was just a kid.

Adam slammed a fist on his knee and jerked his head toward the window. She caught a glimpse of pain mingling with anger in his eyes. He’d taken the news of their father’s death harder than she’d expected, but part of the pain, and she suspected all of the anger, was her fault. Her breakup with Gavin had devastated Adam. He’d lost the male role model that he’d bonded with most. And now he had to deal with the emotions of losing a father who should have been that positive role model in the first place.

Lexie sighed. She would just have to limit Adam’s exposure to Gavin to make things easier for him. Just like she needed to limit her own exposure.

Right. Easier said than done when her gaze kept drifting to him. Settling on his broad shoulders and strong jaw. His long, masculine fingers as he rested his hand on the gearshift. And then there was the scent of his woodsy cologne, now mixed with the smell of hay and horses. At their lunch meeting tomorrow, she’d make sure he understood that he didn’t owe her anything and that if he wanted to go back to Houston, that was fine with her. But even as the thought popped into her head, she doubted it was okay.

“Grrr,” she said without thinking.

Gavin glanced at her. “Everything okay?”

“It’s nothing.” A big, fat nothing that was everything to her at the moment. She followed Adam’s lead and peered out the window, too.

The SUV rounded a narrow curve to where she’d parked her truck and trailer. Gavin pulled into the boarded-up gas station. The station had gone out of business when Mr. Engles had closed down his airstrip and barricaded access for vehicles beyond this point in an effort to keep out trespassers.

Gavin angled his vehicle to shine headlights on her truck before shifting into Park.

Exhausted, it took all her strength to push open the door and climb down, but she wouldn’t let Adam or Gavin witness her fatigue. It was a good thing Gavin had such a considerate grandfather who’d bedded Misty down at the ranch for the night. Lexie loved her horse, but was glad not to have to take care of her on top of everything else.

Gavin headed straight for her truck. Why, she didn’t know, but she didn’t have the energy to question him. She opened the SUV’s back door for Adam. He slid out, his shoulders sagging, his face downcast.

“I know this is hard.” She forced out a smile. “But we’ll get through it just like we get through everything else life throws at us. With our faith.”

Right. Faith. She felt like a hypocrite. Hers had pretty much been put on the back burner since their mom died, but she didn’t want to impact Adam’s faith journey by letting him know she had doubts on God’s faithfulness, so she put on a good front.

He gave her another sullen look and leaned against the SUV.

She stifled a sigh, something she’d been doing since he’d become a teenager and spread wings she’d had to clip at times. Aunt Ruth was a great mother figure, but Lexie felt pressure to fulfill her mother’s dying wishes. She’d known their father could get wrapped up in his practice and forget everything else, so she’d asked Lexie to make sure Adam was happy and well looked after.

She’d kept that promise and wasn’t about to let a killer or even Gavin’s attention make her shirk her responsibilities. She dug out her keys and started for the truck. She heard Adam’s shoes thumping on the concrete behind her.

Gavin approached the passenger door. He spun around, his gaze intense. “Back to the car. Both of you.”

Lexie looked past him to see her truck window shattered and the door standing open.

Her heart racing, she grabbed Adam’s arm and dragged him back to the SUV.

Gavin eased forward, his feet crunching over glass. She noted her truck’s dome light was out, so the person who’d broken the window had either turned it off or shattered it, as well. Lexie still had her hand on Adam’s arm, which shook under her grasp. Stepping closer to him, she slid her arm around his waist. He was nearly six feet tall now and she couldn’t place an arm around his shoulders or she’d do so. He started to shrug her off, maybe thinking he needed to be that tough young man again, but then stopped and moved a bit closer.

Gavin drew out his phone and turned on the flashlight app while still balancing his gun. He crept quietly around the truck, shining the beam in the surrounding shrubs and dense foliage. Then he moved to the horse trailer hitched to the back of her truck and peered inside.

He faced them. “Looks like they’re gone.”

Adam let out a long sigh and pushed free of Lexie’s hold.

Gavin holstered his weapon. “I’ll take you home, then come back to handle the scene with Dad and Tessa.”

“That’s fine.” Lexie shouldn’t let him take over for her, but she didn’t want Adam to stand around looking at the destruction. “I picked up a prescription at the pharmacy and need to grab it from the glove box.”

“Is that really necessary tonight?”

She nodded, thinking he didn’t need to know that the doctor had put Adam on ADD medication.

“Then I need to warn you. The inside of the truck is trashed, and the medication could have been stolen.” Adam got in the SUV, and Gavin walked her to the truck. He shone his light inside.

Lexie gasped and forgot all about the prescription. In the bright beam, glass sparkled from the slashed-open seats. The mats had been jerked out and the carpet torn up. The glove box hung open and items she’d stored in the jump seat were scattered across the floor and ground.

Gavin leaned in behind her, focusing his light in the cab. She felt the heat of his body, but forgot even that when the light landed on a piece of paper lying next to a cell phone on the seat.

“That’s not my phone.” She reached for it.

“Don’t touch it,” Gavin warned. He focused the light on the paper with its big bold letters and read the message.

“‘I want the information. Give it to me before I have to take more drastic actions. Keep this phone with you at all times. I’ll call with further instructions.”’

“The killer?” She spun to look at Gavin, finding him even closer than she thought. She could easily imagine his strong arms going around her right now, offering the comfort he’d so often provided in the past. For that very reason, she pushed him back. “The killer must have seen me and didn’t trust that Dad was telling the truth.”

“So he thinks your dad gave you the information.”

“But what could it be?”

Gavin met her gaze and held it. The dark worry she saw in his eyes told her bad news was coming. “It likely has to do with what I wanted to talk to you about. I came back to town to investigate your father.”

“You what?”

“I’d hoped to do a better job of telling you, but my team has been investigating health-care fraud and your dad just came on our radar.”

“No, I don’t believe it.” She shook her head hard. “Not Dad. He may not have been a great father, but he would never sink that low.”

“I hoped the same thing, Lex, but we have to face facts now. Someone killed him. Someone who’s part of a syndicate.”

Gavin took her hand, but she couldn’t think clearly with him touching her, so she jerked it free.

“It’s looking more and more like he was involved with some unsavory people,” Gavin continued, his tone deadly serious. “We need to figure out who they are and what they’re looking for before they try to kill you, too.”

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.