by Laura Scott
“Me?” Her voice squeaked a bit.
“Yes. Sit down and hold her in the crook of your arm.” His fingers itched to take the baby so he could feed her, but he reminded himself that Christine wasn’t his responsibility.
Helena needed to figure out how to take care of her sister’s baby, sooner rather than later.
A bolt of lightning zipped across the sky followed by a loud rumble of thunder. The rain picked up, battering the top of his cabin like stones falling from an avalanche.
Peering out the window, he couldn’t see the large pine tree he knew was located just a few yards away because of the deluge.
Not good. He glanced back at Helena. She’d used one of the towels to prevent the baby from resting against her wet clothes and had tossed her trooper hat aside as she fed the infant. The dog, Luna, was curled up at her feet. He grimly realized there was no way in the world they were going anywhere anytime soon.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Everett swallowed a groan.
He didn’t want houseguests. He didn’t entertain, ever. But it didn’t matter. He resigned himself to finding Helena some dry clothes and to raid his kitchen to figure out what to make for dinner.
Maybe the storm would blow over soon, enabling them to leave. The good thing about July in Alaska was that the sun stayed out nearly all night.
Except when you couldn’t see the sun, like in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Muttering to himself, he went to find sweatpants and a T-shirt for Helena to wear in place of her damp and likely uncomfortable uniform. He set them beside her on the sofa.
“For when you’re finished.”
“Thanks.” Her gaze was focused on Christine. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
They were both beautiful. His throat closed for a moment, making it impossible to breathe. “Yeah,” he managed to choke out before hightailing it into the kitchen.
There was ground beef in the fridge and the makings of a salad. Burgers cooked in a frypan rather than on the grill would have to do.
He set about preparing the meal, keeping a wary eye on the storm outside. Summer storms tended to blow through quickly, but this seemed to be sticking around longer than he liked.
“Everett? I think she’s finished eating.”
Drying his hands on a dish towel, he returned to the main living area. “Did you burp her?”
Her eyes widened. “No.”
“Put her up against your shoulder and rub her back. Babies think they’re full but often there’s just a big air bubble in their stomach that needs to be let out.”
Helena did as he suggested. “I really think she’s full—” She stopped when Christine let out a loud belch. “Well, maybe not.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up in a reluctant smile. “Try to give her a little more formula.”
“Okay. Hear that, missy? Everett says you need to drink a little more.”
The way Helena looked cooing down at the baby was like a sucker punch to the gut. For a brief moment, he saw his wife and their son sitting just like that the last time they were here.
Closing his eyes against the shaft of pain, he turned and stumbled back to the kitchen.
He gripped the edge of the counter with both hands, trying to keep himself centered. His family was gone. Forever.
Helena and Christine weren’t his responsibility. They’d return home soon enough.
Leaving him alone. The way he preferred.
He wasn’t sure how long he stood there but straightened when he heard Helena address him.
“Everett?”
It took all his willpower to turn to face her and the baby. “What?”
“Will you take her so I can change?”
He found himself walking toward her then abruptly stopping. “Set her in the infant seat, she should be fine.”
“Okay.” Helena did as he suggested, scooping the clothes from the sofa. “Thanks. I really appreciate this.”
He nodded. “I’m making hamburgers and a salad for dinner. If you’re hungry.”
“I’m famished,” she admitted. “Sounds great.” Helena hesitated then set the dry clothing down with a rueful glance at herself. “As long as I’m wet, I may as well go outside in the rain to get Luna’s dishes and food.”
No! He wanted more than anything to shout at the top of his lungs that he did not want her to make herself at home. But, of course, he didn’t say that. Especially since the shooter was still on the loose.
“Would you like me to do that for you?”
“No, my partner is my responsibility.”
Her tone was firm, so he nodded. “Okay.”
Helena slipped out the door and closed it behind her. Glancing at the baby, he knew he couldn’t live with himself if he made another costly mistake. Better that Helena and Christine stay here for a bit longer, than risk them ending up in harm’s way.
“Bah-bahbah.”
Luna rose and nuzzled the baby as if sensing it was her duty to watch over the child while Helena was outside.
Fine with him. He went into the kitchen to make the salad. When that was finished, he began cooking the burgers.
Luna growled low in her throat, softly at first then progressively louder.
Everett glanced up with a frown, belatedly realizing that Helena hadn’t come back inside yet.
A sense of panic hit hard. He removed the frying pan from the stove and quickly went through the living room to where Luna stood growling at the door. He didn’t have experience working with K-9s but that didn’t stop him from trying.
“Stay, Luna,” he said as he opened the door.
The Norwegian elkhound used her muscled bulk to push him out of the way, squeezing through the opening and running outside before he could stop her.
“Luna! Helena? Are you okay?”
No response.
The back of the SUV was open, but he couldn’t see Helena anywhere. Had someone grabbed her?
Luna began barking, short staccato barks that portrayed a sense of urgency.
Everett rushed out into the rain, heading for Luna. The animal was standing near the SUV.
As he grew close, he saw Helena’s still form on the ground, her skin pale. His heart squeezed tightly. She didn’t move, despite the rain pelting her.
“Good girl,” he said to Luna as he bent and scooped Helena into his arms. He quickly carried her inside, setting her gently on the sofa.
“Helena? Can you hear me?” He placed his palm against her cheek, willing her to open her eyes.
Luna pressed her nose against Helena’s shoulder, as if also encouraging her to wake up.
He quelled a rising panic. He was a cop, trained to function in an emergency. He needed to get her to a doctor. But where? The park rangers had a first-aid station. Would that be enough?
The nearest full-service hospital was in Anchorage, which was well over four hours away on a good day.
Not in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Helena let out a moan, lifting her hand to her head. “What happened?”
The tightness in his chest eased a bit when she spoke. “I was hoping you could tell me.”
Her brow furrowed and she moved her hand to the back of her head. “Someone came up behind me...and hit me hard. That’s all I can remember—”
Because she’d been knocked unconscious.
Everett gently palpated the back of her head, feeling a lump the size of a robin’s egg beginning to form. No blood, thankfully, which meant she had a hard head.
He battled a wave of anger. First the shooting on the hill and now this.
What was going on here?
Zoe being in trouble was one thing, but these attacks on Helena seemed...personal.
He didn’t like this turn of events one bit. And silently vowed to protect He
lena and Christine.
No matter the cost to him emotionally.
THREE
Her head throbbed from where she’d been struck from behind, but she was more upset about allowing someone to sneak up on her in the first place, catching her off guard.
She was a cop and had made a naïve mistake in thinking they were safe here at the cabin while in the middle of a thunderstorm. Even though she’d suspected someone had picked up Zoe from the area less than an hour ago.
Stupid, Helena mentally berated herself. She should have known better.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Everett’s dark eyes clung to hers. “I still think we should go to the nearest health clinic.”
Everett’s concern only made her more upset at herself. Would he be this attentive if she were a male counterpart? Would he have carried a man inside?
Ha! Not likely.
“No need, I’m fine.” She forced the words through gritted teeth. “I’d like to change into dry clothes now, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure.” He looked uncertain for a moment. “I’ll get Luna’s dishes. What do they look like?”
“No, let me get them.” It was important for her to provide for her K-9 partner, but the pain was bad enough that she would have preferred staying right where she was.
“But—”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take Luna with me.” The way she should have in the first place. If she’d had Luna at her side, her partner would have alerted her to an impending attack. “Luna will only take food and water from me, not a stranger.”
He looked surprised “Good to know. Oh, the burgers are done.”
She drew a deep breath and forced herself to sit upright. The room spun crazily before righting itself. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“Okay.” Everett moved back into the kitchen.
She stood, resting her hand lightly on Luna’s head for support, and warmth flowed through her as Christine made more gurgling noises. The baby was happy, and she found herself amazed that Zoe had actually gotten pregnant and given birth without calling her.
Difficult to wrap her head around the fact that her twin was a mother.
“Come, Luna.” Moving gingerly, she made her way outside. Standing beneath the overhang, she swept her gaze over the area, searching for any sign of someone lurking nearby, before once again approaching the SUV.
“Guard.” The dog lifted her nose and moved closer to Helena’s side.
Reaching into the back hatch, she quickly grabbed the stainless-steel dog dishes and bucket of kibble. Securing both, she shut the SUV and returned to the cabin, unable to resist a furtive glance over her shoulder. Although it was useless. Seeing anything through the deluge was nearly impossible.
Inside, Helena used the same towel she had earlier to dry off, grimacing as Luna once again shook herself, spraying water everywhere. Then she took the food and water dishes into the kitchen and set them in the corner of the room. After filling Luna’s water dish, Helena led the K-9 over. The animal hesitated for only a moment before lapping at the water and then moving over to eat her food.
“Good girl,” she said in a low voice. Wincing as each step made her head hurt, she carefully made her way into the living room. Scooping the dry clothing off the sofa, she found the bathroom and changed out of her soggy uniform.
Wearing dry things was wonderful, although it wasn’t easy to ignore the hint of Everett’s pine-scented aftershave lingering in the fabric. She was more aware of him than she should be.
“Dinner’s ready,” he said when she emerged a few minutes later.
Helena wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and rest, but showing weakness wasn’t an option. She was a cop and needed to be strong.
Her former fiancé, Kade, hadn’t liked that she was a state trooper and therefore often in danger. He had begged her to find a different line of work, anything that wouldn’t cause her to be placed in harm’s way. At first she’d thought his concern was sweet, but eventually realized that her ex wasn’t being protective as much as he simply didn’t trust her.
He hadn’t appreciated her skill and training, or her ability to take care of herself. And he hadn’t trusted that God was watching over her.
And maybe her being in law enforcement and able to take down men twice her size had threatened his masculinity in some weird way. When he’d given her a choice between him and her career, she hadn’t thought twice. She’d chosen her career.
It was never easy being a woman in a man’s world. She’d worked hard for this position in the K-9 team, and she wasn’t going to give that up for anyone.
The State Trooper K-9 Unit had become her family. They helped solve crimes across the large state of Alaska, working with local and federal law enforcement agencies. There were several members of the team, each of them paired with K-9ꞌs with different areas of expertise. Hunter McCord and his Siberian Husky, Juneau, specialized in search and rescue. Poppy Walsh and her Irish wolfhound partner Stormy ran down poachers. Maya Rodriguez and her Malinois, Sarge, screened for weapons and explosives. Sean West and his Akita, Grace, searched for cadavers—one of the hardest roles in Helena’s opinion. Braydon Ford and his Newfoundland, Ella, could do underwater search and rescue, and Gabriel Runyon and his Saint Bernard, Bear, rounded out the team with in-snow detection.
They each had earned their place on the team, and she enjoyed being part of the K-9 family. Reminding herself she was a cop and could handle a small knock on the head, she crossed the room to sit at the table. Luna came over and nudged her hand, begging for attention rather than food. She ruffled the dog’s still damp fur, then told her to lie down. The K-9 obediently stretched out on the floor at her feet.
“That dog is extremely well behaved,” Everett said, handing her a plate.
“Extremely well trained,” she corrected.
“How long have you worked with Luna?” He set a plate of burgers on the table, along with condiments and a large salad.
“Just over four years.”
He nodded and took the seat across from her. She took a moment to bow her head, silently thanking God for keeping them all safe, for guiding Zoe to leave Christine with them, and for the food Everett had cooked for her. When she opened her eyes and lifted her head, she noticed he was sitting very still, waiting for her to finish.
“Looks delicious, thank you.” Her stomach churned a bit with nausea, but she ignored it.
“You’re welcome.” An awkward silence fell between them and she wondered where he’d learned to care for a baby and why he didn’t have a family.
The way he’d told her he wasn’t married had seemed...well, blunt—almost bordering on rude. As if she’d poked at a sore tooth.
Not her problem. The only reason she and Everett were working together was to find Zoe and because of the baby.
As if on cue, Christine began to fuss. Before she could move, Everett was up and heading into the other room. When he returned, he had Christine tucked against him, so that the baby was facing outward, gazing around with frank interest.
“She seems fine now.” Helena eyed her niece thoughtfully.
“Likes having people around, that’s all.” He ate one-handed, the other holding the baby.
The burly man and cute baby were adorable together.
By the time they’d finished eating, Helena’s head was pounding so hard she could barely see straight. Everett must have noticed because he gestured toward the living room.
“Lie down on the sofa for a while. I have over the counter pain meds if you’d like them. You’re in no shape to search for Zoe.”
“I’m fine,” she said, even though she really wasn’t. “Although the pain meds would be great.”
“I’ll get them for you. Rest while I clean up.”
A short nap sounded wonderful, so she did as he suggested, moving he
r trooper hat so she could stretch out on the couch. He gave her the meds, which she downed with water. Luna padded over to her hand, which made her smile.
Her eyes drifted closed and her last conscious thought was that it had been a long time since anyone had taken care of her without judging her career choices or blaming her for being in the situation in the first place.
And it felt nice.
* * *
Everett jiggled Christine on his knee as he finished his salad.
Helena’s green eyes had been shadowed with pain and she’d only eaten half her burger. That was better than nothing, but it worried him that her concussion might be far worse than he’d originally believed. He should drive Helena to the hospital, where they would likely do a CT scan of her head and keep her overnight for observation.
He glanced down at the baby sitting on his lap. Christine was a happy kid, patting the table with her hands and babbling nonsensically.
Despite his best effort to convince himself otherwise, the baby was clearly his responsibility.
At least, for now. Helena needed to rest and recuperate.
Shifting the baby up and into the crook of his arm, he began cleaning off the table one-handed. After a few minutes, he went to retrieve the infant carrier seat and brought it into the kitchen so he could put Christine down in a position where she could sit and watch him.
Luna had stretched out on the floor in front of the sofa, as if to guard Helena. Once again, he was impressed with how well the K-9 behaved. Or had been trained, as Helena had pointed out. He’d never really realized how much of a true partnership a K-9 had with its handler.
For a brief instant, the idea of getting a dog crossed his mind, but he ruthlessly shoved it away. As a cop, he worked long hours, he wasn’t home enough to take care of a dog.
Besides, he couldn’t handle being responsible for another living creature.
Present baby, injured trooper and K-9 aside.
He blew out a breath. When Helena had prayed before their meal, he’d been taken back to those early days of his marriage. He and Sheila had attended church regularly, believing God was watching over them.