Colton's Fugitive Family

by Jennifer Morey

  Lucas came in through the front door, mouth and eyes in grim lines. He had to be frustrated, not being able to capture Devlin yet again. Devlin had a snowmobile, though. Lucas couldn’t chase him on foot.

  “We need to go, Demi,” he said.

  “The sheriff will be here soon,” Edward said.

  “We can’t stay.” The sheriff might recognize her. “We’ve caused you enough trouble. I’m so sorry.” She really did feel terrible for putting them through this.

  “It’s not your fault, dear.” Gladys moved away from her husband to put her hand on Demi’s arm. “You can’t control what criminals do.”

  “Why is he after you?” Edward asked.

  “I wish I knew.” She couldn’t go into any detail on that. “But I need to ask you not to tell the police we were here.”

  “Why not?” Edward asked, wary.

  Lucas reached the top of the stairs.

  “That shooter set me up for something I did not do. I can’t explain or I might put you in more danger and I don’t want that. Just tell them he was after someone he thought was staying here but they weren’t.”

  “You’re asking us to lie to the sheriff?”

  Gladys elbowed her husband. “You poor dear. Of course we will.”

  Demi hugged the old woman, who clearly had a sixth sense about the decency of others. “Thank you.” Demi eased away from Gladys and walked around them toward the hall.

  She knocked on the couple’s door. It opened to Vincent’s anticipatory look and Valeria hanging back with Wolf.

  Wolf saw Demi and made a high-pitched sound, his tiny arms reaching for her.

  Demi’s heart swelled with love.

  “Is everything all right?” Vincent asked.

  “The shooter got away,” she said. “No one was hurt. Just had the scare of their lives.”

  Valeria brought Wolf to the door. “What if he comes back?” Her worried eyes met Demi’s.

  “He won’t. He has to know the sheriff will be here soon,” Lucas said from beside her.

  Vincent handed Demi the baby carrier pack and she slid it on before taking her son from Valeria. She put him back into the carrier and kissed his forehead. Wolf pressed his hand on her chin, making grunting sounds of contentment.

  She caught Lucas watching with soft eyes and turned to Valeria and Vincent. “Thank you again.”

  “He’s a good baby.” Vincent put his arm around Valeria.

  “He’s a happy baby,” Lucas said.

  “What are you doing here?” Vincent asked his brother. “Are you turning her in? I thought she was innocent.”

  “I’m not turning her in.”

  Demi glanced at him, still not so sure he meant that. He met her eyes and sent her an admonishing blink.

  “I’m going to stay at his cabin until we can find proof,” Demi said.

  “That was Devlin who came here shooting, wasn’t it?” Valeria asked.

  “You’re very insightful,” Lucas replied. “It was. He knows we’re on to him and is going mad that Demi won’t take the fall for him like he planned.”

  Lucas sounded convincing, but Demi refrained from believing him completely.

  “You have to promise not to tell anyone you saw me here,” Demi said.

  “We promise. Don’t tell anyone about us being here, either,” Valeria said.

  “We won’t, but I doubt it will matter anymore. I’m sure the two of you will have no trouble with your wedding—once the real Groom Killer is caught, that is.” Demi had nothing but good vibes from these two. She could tell they were in love.

  “It will bring the Coltons and the Gages together once and for all,” Lucas said.

  “That’s a wedding I won’t miss,” Demi said.

  “We’ll be sure to invite you.” Valeria beamed.

  “There will be many other Colton-Gage weddings,” Demi said. “There have to be others hiding their love just like you.”

  Valeria smiled and exchanged a romantic look with Vincent.

  “Thank you for watching Wolf,” Demi said.

  “It was our pleasure. Gave us a taste of what it will be like for us when we have our own,” Valeria said, looking up at Vincent with adoration. Genuine love.

  As Demi followed Lucas back to their room, she wondered whether she should have chosen another phrase. Genuine love? Did that even exist?

  Funny how she’d thought the same about Bo, and he’d turned out to be nothing like what she thought.

  How did anyone ever truly know when they found true love? Some people said they knew when they first met the person, but that had to be based on the newness of meeting them and not knowing them enough. On the other hand, she had met a meager few who’d said they’d dated for over a year, maybe three, and knew they were in love. Demi didn’t buy it. She believed with all her heart that nobody knew—one hundred percent, no shred of doubt whatsoever—that they were in love.

  Life wasn’t designed that way.

  People were born. People died. How nice to have someone to get from point A to point B with, but nothing in between was a certainty.

  “You okay?”

  She entered the room, realizing Lucas had opened the door and held it for her.

  “Yes.”

  She walked inside, still in a daze. Maybe it was her. Maybe she had a more complex personality than others. Pickier about men?

  Yes, now, but what about before she met Bo?

  She had not been all that particular, not in great detail. She’d looked for men who attracted her physically, men she could relate to and talk to. What happened next she hadn’t really contemplated. She supposed she had believed she’d known she was in love. Now she knew she had not been. That pretty much screwed up her perception on things.

  “We have to get out of here.”

  Distracted, Demi saw him ready with both their packs. Of course they needed to leave. “Okay.” Then clarity came back. “How are we getting to your cabin?”

  “Any way we can.”

  “Does Devlin know where you live?”

  “He might, but he won’t get in.” She met his eyes and couldn’t dispute they had to get away. Besides, she could not put Gladys and Edward through any more trauma.

  “How far is your cabin from here?”

  “About ten miles.”

  “We can’t walk.”

  “No, we can’t.”

  “We can’t steal a vehicle from this place.”

  Gladys and Edward were no longer on the landing. Demi followed Lucas down the stairs and found them sitting at a table, holding hands. They had righted the toppled furniture and were now likely waiting for the sheriff.

  “I hate to trouble you more, but would it be possible to borrow a car?”

  “The sheriff will give you a ride to town,” Edward said.

  “We can’t wait for the sheriff,” Demi said.

  “But...why not?” Edward was clearly becoming suspicious.

  “We’re bounty hunters,” Lucas said. “That man is someone we need to bring back to Red Ridge.”

  “Ah.” Placated, Edward nodded. “Then you’ll be needing transportation. I know I would like to see that man caught and put behind bars.” He glanced at his wife. “For putting my pudding through what he did.”

  “You have a vehicle?”

  “We have two. You can borrow the truck. Just get it back to me as soon as you can.”

  “We can do that. Thank you.”

  Lucas retrieved the truck keys from Edward.

  Outside, Demi faced a new dilemma. Getting into the truck, she wondered what would happen once Lucas had her in his cabin. She’d be on his terms there. Would he turn her in to the Red Ridge police? While her instinct told her no, she could not rely on that. She had to know for certain, and the only way she’d do t
hat was if she could prove her innocence.

  * * *

  Lucas could tell Demi was nervous about going to his cabin. She kept looking out the window and biting her fingernail. Once, Wolf reached up his hand and grasped her finger, effectively stopping another chew.

  At his driveway, he stopped at his iron gate and entered the security code on the pad installed at the side.

  “A security gate?” Demi asked.

  “A security system.” The gate was only part of it. “Devlin will not be able to get past this.”

  The gate parted in the middle as it opened. Lucas drove through and Demi twisted to watch it automatically close. He saw her follow the fence until she couldn’t see it any more.

  “There are cameras and motion detectors all around the house.”

  “Are you paranoid or something?”

  “No. I just don’t want any unexpected visitors. Works great for solicitors, too.” He drove the mile to his cabin, a two-story square-log and dove-tailed-corner home with a covered porch that spanned the full width of the front. Two windows beside the single door lined up with the two on the second level. A bigger window on the west side had the best view of the Coyote Mountains. Although it was a small mountain range, beautiful rock formations rose up from the heavily forested land.

  “Wow.” Demi got out of the truck and gaped at the cabin.

  With two bedrooms and a loft, it wasn’t huge but definitely a decent size. He loved living here. It had the most important thing to him—outdoors.

  At the door, Lucas let Demi inside first. She walked into the entry, a square area where he had a coat closet and a boot bench. He’d done the lower level all in gray-brown wood flooring. Straight ahead, the dining area was beneath an open loft. Demi took that in and then removed her boots. He did the same and set the security alarm before following her and Wolf into the main living area.

  To the left, a center window went to the ceiling and two others reached about three-quarters of the way. Framed by wood beams, each was topped by four smaller framed windows and together they provided a picturesque view. Light-colored stone encased the fireplace and extended to the ceiling. He’d put the sectional so it faced the windows and the fireplace. His sister Elle had helped him find coordinated area rugs for the living and dining rooms.

  To the right, the kitchen island had three tall chairs. He’d done the counters in black granite and chosen stainless steel appliances. Queenie’s food and water bowls were at the end of the kitchen island. He missed her. He’d go into town and pick her up tomorrow.

  Wolf began to fuss.

  Demi bounced him as she wandered through the living room. “Why do you have so much security here?”

  He’d wondered how long it would take her to ask. Unfortunately, he didn’t feel like explaining.

  “It’s remote.”

  She turned from the stunning view. “You’re afraid of wildlife?”

  “No.” There was no way around an explanation. “I dated a woman who stalked me.”

  Demi walked back over to him. “Really? What happened?”

  Reluctantly, he said, “I broke up with her and she didn’t like it.” He watched her grow more curious.

  “Why did you break up with her? Did you know she was unstable?”

  “It didn’t feel right.”

  “Why not?”

  She must know he didn’t want to talk about it and still she probed. She probably did that on purpose. Knowing this topic made him uncomfortable, she half teased him with her questions.

  “It was getting too serious. She fell for me faster than I did for her. I started to feel smothered.”

  “Nooo....you?” she mocked.

  He was glad she was keeping it light. It made talking about it easier. “I told her I needed some space and she went off the deep end. She didn’t believe me when I said I didn’t love her.”

  “Did she pin the tail on the donkey?”

  “Very funny. She wouldn’t stop coming over and calling. She waited for me to leave the K-9 unit. When she came to my cabin, that was the last straw.”

  “Why didn’t you call the police?”

  “I am the police.”

  She lifted her eyes impatiently. “You know what I mean.”

  He had not intended to hurt her. He was careful not to hurt any woman. He usually made sure they understood his view on marriage. This woman had been different. He’d been more attracted to her than other women and hadn’t given his usual speech.

  “I didn’t call because she might have been right about a few things,” he said.

  “That you’re marriage phobic?”

  “That I may have led her to believe we had a chance for something long-term.”

  “Marriage.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Did you love her?”

  “No. That was the problem. She loved me and I didn’t love her.”

  Demi angled her head and studied him as though doubtful. “Or were you afraid you would fall in love with her?”

  When he’d first met her he had wondered if he could—or would—fall in love with her. “She began showing her possessive side pretty early on. No, I wasn’t afraid of love with her. I knew it would never grow into that.”

  “I can’t believe you’d go to all this trouble because a woman stalked you.”

  “She was an expert markswoman and kept threatening to shoot me in my sleep.” That had convinced him enough. “Building the fence kept her from hiking up to my cabin and peeking into my windows. The security system was to keep her from catching me by surprise.”

  Demi contemplated him a moment, seeming more satisfied with the amount of information she’d received. “What happened to her?”

  “She eventually stopped trying to get to me. Last I heard she moved away. I don’t know where she went and I don’t want to know.”

  “Aside from the stalking, is that how all your relationships end?”

  “Some. Most are mutual. Some women have told me to get lost.”

  “The smart ones.”

  Wolf fussed more fervently and Demi had to address whatever troubled him. Before she turned, Lucas saw her disappointment. She knew those women who dumped him had done so because they refused to deal with his unconventional views on marriage and family. Lucas didn’t want that to bother him, but it did. He didn’t want to analyze why.

  Chapter 6

  Demi stirred, beginning to wake up. She reached over to touch Wolf and her hand came against the flat blanket. Popping her head up, she didn’t see Wolf. Apprehension gripped her. She flew off the bed and looked around Lucas’s guest room, which was upstairs, down the hall from the loft. She reached the railing of the loft at the same time she heard giggles bursting from Wolf.

  Lucas held the baby high above him as he sat on the sectional. Seeing her, he lowered Wolf and held him normally. Demi went down the stairs and walked into the living room. His chestnut hair neat and stylish, Lucas had already showered and dressed in jeans and a dark blue button-up. He wore only socks on his feet.

  “I heard him stirring. I thought I’d let you sleep. I changed his diaper and fed him breakfast.” Lucas’s dark gaze fell over her front. She wore a nightgown and felt undressed.

  He stood up and came to her, handing over the baby.

  She took him and, out of the blue, Lucas kissed her. She doubted he realized what he was doing until he’d done it. It was a quick kiss, like a good morning kiss.

  Tingles spread from that brief touch. She suspected he’d experienced the same. He looked a little startled before he stepped back and walked into the kitchen.

  “Coffee?”

  “Yes.”

  “I need to go into town today.”

  Demi stiffened. “Why?”

  “I need to go get Queenie. She’s probably depressed by now.”
/>
  That sounded like an excuse. “Is this when you turn me in? You tell the police where I am and they come and get me?”

  He gave a long sigh. “I thought we resolved this.”

  “I don’t trust you.” She didn’t trust anyone, really.

  He moved closer and put his hands on her shoulders. Wolf’s eyes moved to him and he smiled toothlessly.

  “I’m going to get Queenie and I need to check in at the training center. I’m not telling a soul you’re here. Okay, you don’t trust me. I’ll be back here in a few hours—with Queenie. You will be safe here, with the security and your experience.”

  Stepping back, he headed for the front entry and grabbed his jacket. “Don’t go anywhere.”

  She didn’t respond. Maybe she should make a run for it. He had acknowledged her experience. She did like that.

  “Demi...?”

  She was tired of running. She also did not want to walk with Wolf, to put him through that again. “I’ll be here when you get back.” She just hoped like hell he was being straight with her.

  * * *

  Lucas passed the police department and arrived at the K-9 training center. A large, warehouse-like facility with a brick and white-trimmed front facade, the center had an administrative area and a kennel. In the back was an expansive fenced area that included an enclosed agility course and an equipment shed.

  Lucas walked from the rental vehicle he had just gotten that morning. He’d arranged for someone else to return Edward’s truck. Inside the training center, the desk area teemed with officers and administrative personnel.

  “Hey, Lucas.” The dark-haired twentysomething woman behind the reception desk greeted him, her blue eyes sparkling behind brown-rimmed glasses. She was relatively new so he didn’t know her name. “There’s a puppy who’s going to be happy to see you. Where’ve you been?”

  Not everyone knew he’d gone in search of Demi Colton. “Working. Where’s Elle?”

  “In the agility ring.”

  He thanked her and headed for the rear of the building. Outside, he opened the gate to enter the agility ring, seeing Elle with Queenie. Tall and slender, his sister had her honey-blond hair in a low ponytail as she often did. She’d turned out to be a good K-9 cop despite her brothers’ objections. Their approval had been important to her. Lucas approved. He just worried about her safety.