by Elle James
“Then I’m going with you…?” Jenna asked.
“Although it’s against my better judgement,” Bastian said. “Yes.”
Molly hugged Jenna. “I’m all for you going with my big brother, but promise me you’ll be safe.”
Jenna’s heart swelled as she hugged her friend. “I will.”
“I’m glad we have that settled.” Mrs. McKinnon held out two paper bags. “Hank, here’s my husband’s comb. I believe there are a few hairs on it. And his razor. The hairs are smaller, but there are some there. I’d like to have those back when you’re done with them. Those are his favorites, and he’ll need them when he comes home.”
“I’ll get these to the DNA lab and back to you as soon as possible,” Hank promised.
“And before you all bug out, you’ll sit and have a decent breakfast,” Mrs. McKinnon commanded as only a matriarch of a mostly male family could. “Who knows when you’ll eat again?”
Duncan set a huge bowl of fluffy yellow scrambled eggs in the middle of the table.
Mrs. McKinnon set a basket of fresh, hot biscuits beside the bowl and a plate of crisp bacon.
Molly, Bastian and Angus hurried to pour juice into glasses and refill coffee mugs.
Soon, they all sat around the table.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to say a prayer,” Mrs. McKinnon said.
They joined hands and bowed their heads.
“Dear Lord, please guide these young men and women to my husband and keep them safe in the process. That’s all I ask. Amen.”
“Amen,” Jenna said along with the rest of the people at the table. A long pause followed.
“Eat,” Mrs. McKinnon said and passed the bowl of scrambled eggs to Angus.
They consumed the meal quickly, talking over their plans for the day.
Jenna sat in silence, pushing her eggs around on the plate. If she were honest with herself, she was a little scared about going back out into the mountains.
After the beating she took from Corley, she’d promised herself never to be scared again. Taking control of the situation was what had brought her out of the corner she’d painted her life into.
What had happened yesterday took “out of control” to an entirely different level.
Men with military weapons? She couldn’t stand up to that, not without intensive combat training and more fire power than her .40 caliber handgun.
When the others finished their meals, they carried their empty plates to the sink.
Jenna carried hers to the counter. “Is there a container I can save this in?” she asked Mrs. McKinnon.
The older woman slipped an arm around her waist. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes,” Jenna lied. “I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I was.” She gave her a weak smile.
“Bastian will take good care of you. He won’t take you into an unsafe situation.”
“I know that.” She sighed. “But what if I take him into an unsafe situation?”
“He’s a Navy SEAL,” his mother said, her chest puffing out. “He’s used to that. He can handle a lot more than the average guy.”
Bastian turned. “What are you ladies plotting? Do I need to be afraid?”
“Not at all.” Mrs. McKinnon laid a plastic container on the counter. “We were just discussing the weather.”
Bastian’s eyes narrowed as his gaze captured Jenna’s. “It’s supposed to be partly cloudy and cool. You might want to bring a warm jacket.”
Jenna’s cheeks flamed as she scraped her eggs into the container. “I’ll be ready to go in less than five minutes.” She snapped the top onto the container, shoved it into the refrigerator and darted for the stairs.
In her room, she slipped her shoulder holster over her arms, buckled it in place and dragged a warm jacket over it. She didn’t bother with makeup, but she dragged a brush through her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail with a thin, elastic band.
As satisfied with her appearance as she could be for a potential tromp through the woods, she left the room and descended to the foyer where Bastian waited by the door, talking with Hank, Swede and Angus.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to go with you to find this mountain man?” Hank asked.
“I think the more people the less likely we’ll even get near him. It might even be better if I go in alone,” she said.
“No,” Bastian said without hesitation, his eyes steely and his jaw set in stone. “You’re not going anywhere alone.”
Jenna stiffened. “You’re not my keeper.”
He remained unbending for another second, maybe two. Then his shoulders loosened, and his mouth twisted. “You’re right. I’d prefer if you didn’t go alone. I’m used to operating as a team, even when the team consists of only two people. Everybody needs someone who has his six.”
“Six?” Jenna frowned.
He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Twelve o’clock is the direction you face. Six is behind you. You don’t have eyes in the back of your head, so you need someone guarding your six.”
Jenna nodded. “I get it. Okay. I’ll let you have my six. But it goes both ways.”
When he looked like he might argue the point, she raised an eyebrow. “You think I won’t be of any use?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“I’ve trained with my handgun. I’m licensed to carry a concealed weapon.” She waved open her jacket. “And I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Why didn’t you use it when the men with the rifles were after you?” Angus asked.
“There were two of them and one of me. I didn’t know if they meant harm. Even if I had fired on them, no matter how good I am on the range, they were moving. If I missed, I’d only have a short amount of time to aim again and get it right. I thought it more prudent to lie low and hide. I’d have shot them if they came closer and threatened me.”
Bastian nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll have your back.”
“And I’ll have yours.” She stepped through the door. “First stop, sheriff’s office?”
“Yes.” Bastian led the way to his truck.
“Why not my vehicle?”
“If your military-rifle-bearing guys are looking for you, they’ll find you sooner if you drive your Jeep. They won’t expect to find you in my truck.”
“Fair enough.” Her lips twitched at the corners as she climbed into the passenger seat.
All those years she’d had a secret crush on Molly’s older brother, and he hadn’t noticed that she existed. Now, eleven years later, he was insisting she stick with him like glue. Her younger heart would have fluttered at the intimacy of riding beside him in his truck.
Her mature heart wasn’t much different.
She hoped they could find her mountain man, and that he had more information about the cabin, the men who’d chased them and the whereabouts of James McKinnon.
In the meantime, Jenna enjoyed being in the same vehicle as the man she’d fantasized about marrying one day.
Chapter 6
Bastian didn’t like the idea of Jenna traipsing all over the county looking for a mysterious mountain man. She’d made herself a target by exploring the cabin in the woods. Shouldn’t she be lying low until they found the men responsible for the torture room?
He bit back his frustration and drove toward Eagle Rock.
“Sheriff’s office?” Jenna asked.
“I thought we’d start there. He might know who your mountain man is.”
“If not, he’ll know who to ask,” Jenna added.
Bastian parked in front of the sheriff’s office and got out.
Jenna was down from her seat before he could get around to her side to open the door for her. Another reason to be slightly perturbed. But he held back any comments. The woman had a mind of her own. After living in an abusive relationship, she might not want a man to say or do anything that breathed of control.
He couldn’t blame her for the attitude. Corley Ferguson had better steer clear of them whil
e Bastian was in town. He wouldn’t put up with the bastard’s wife-beating ways.
Inside, Jenna addressed the man at the counter. “We’d like to speak with Sheriff Barron.”
“The sheriff’s in his office,” the officer on the front desk said. “He’s on the phone.” The man glanced down at the phone on his desk. “He just hung up.”
The sheriff poked his head out of his office. “I thought I heard you two come in. Please, come in.”
Jenna led the way with Bastian following close behind.
Once inside the sheriff’s office, Jenna spoke. “Sir, do you know who my mountain man from yesterday might be? I meant to ask yesterday, but we were all busy checking out the cabin, and I forgot.”
The sheriff nodded. “Yesterday was insanely busy. And today is no different. The state crime lab sent out a team to process the evidence at the cabin. In a few minutes, I’ll be on my way out there.” He frowned. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about the man who hid you from the two guys on the motorcycles. I think I know who that might be.”
Jenna smiled. “Great. And if you know where we can find him, that would be even better.”
Sheriff Barron shook his head. “I have a couple of ideas of where to find him, but no guarantees.”
He glanced out the window to the gray, cloudy morning. “There was a man who’d lost his wife in a snowstorm some eight years ago. They were on their way back from Bozeman when it hit. He pulled over to the side of the road because he couldn’t see well enough to drive.” The sheriff looked back at Jenna. “The snow completely covered their truck. It was early fall. They weren’t expecting a snowstorm, so they didn’t have the usual survival items on hand. No blanket, no candles or matches. All they had were the jackets they wore when they set out to Bozeman early that morning.”
“You never know what kind of crazy Montana weather is going to strike,” Bastian said.
“Exactly,” the sheriff agreed. “Long story short, the snow continued, it got colder, the temperature dropping to below zero. He decided he had to get help, or his wife would freeze to death.”
“I can guess where this is going,” Jenna said, saddened by the story.
The sheriff nodded. “He left the truck and started walking along the highway toward Eagle Rock, praying he would find someone along the way who could help. Several hours later, he made it to Eagle Rock. He and one of the local tow truck owners headed back down the highway to rescue his wife.”
Jenna pressed her fingers to her lips, her eyes rounding.
“They couldn’t find the car. The wind was blowing hard. The blowing snow had covered his tracks and…he couldn’t find the car.”
Bastian’s heart squeezed hard in his chest.
“Oh my god.” Jenna’s eyes filled. “That’s horrible.”
“They searched for hours. When they finally stumbled across a certain snow drift, they found it. But it was too late.” The sheriff shook his head. “His wife had died of exposure.”
“You think my mountain man was the husband?” Jenna whispered.
Sheriff Barron nodded. “Earl Monson. His wife was Vera Monson. They’d been together for over forty years. Earl must be in his late sixties. He left the house they’d built together and disappeared into the mountains.”
“Do you know where we might find him?” Bastian asked.
“Not exactly,” the sheriff said with a frown. “Hunters have spotted him on occasion in various hunting cabins or near caves. He’s come into town to trade carvings for cash to buy staples at the grocery store. Then he disappears again.”
“How does he survive?” Jenna asked.
“I don’t know. After eight years, I’m sure he’s gotten good at living off the land,” Sheriff Barron said. “I can give you the general locations of the places he’s most likely to be, considering he was close to the Mahon cabin. You’ll need a four-wheeler or horse to get back in there. The roads aren’t going to get you there easily.”
“We have access to four-wheelers,” Bastian said.
“Good.” The sheriff pulled up a contour map of the area surrounding the Mahon property and pointed to a nearby ridge. “There’s a hunting cabin on the east side of this ridge. I know, because I hunted back there in my younger days. It’s the closest to the Mahon cabin. If he’s not there…” The sheriff pointed to a narrow valley on the other side of the ridge. “There’s another really small cabin on the other side of the ridge. It’s more of a hut than a cabin. It’s also within reasonable walking distance of the Mahon cabin.”
“What about closer to town?” Jenna asked. “He walked me to a trail that led into town. Are there other cabins closer to town?”
The sheriff nodded. “There are a couple, but they’re used more frequently by locals. I doubt he’d be there. If he isn’t at one of the first two I showed you, try the ones closer to town.” He printed out the contour map and handed it to Bastian. “Good luck. And while you’re out there, beware of survivalist camps. They’re out there, and they move often to avoid detection.”
Bastian nodded. “Will do.”
As they climbed into the truck and headed back to the Iron Horse Ranch, Bastian was quiet, trying to decide which way he wanted to get into the hills to find Earl Monson.
“We need to go in on horseback,” Jenna said. “It’s the only way to get in there without making a lot of noise way in advance of arriving at our destination.”
He glanced her way. “I was just thinking the same thing.” His brow dipped. “Are you up to riding?”
“About as much as you are,” she said. “We haven’t been on horseback in a while. I’m sure we’ll be sore, but I don’t see any other way to get in there without him hearing us from way off. We almost need to sneak up on Earl so that he doesn’t have time to bolt.”
“Agreed.” Bastian pulled into the ranch and around to the barn where he backed up to the horse trailer.
Molly and Parker came out of the barn wearing gloves and carrying rakes.
“Whatcha doing?” Molly asked.
“Taking a couple of horses out to find Jenna’s mountain man,” Bastian said.
Molly nodded. “You’ll want Little Joe, and Jenna can ride Scout.”
“I’ll bring Little Joe in from the field,” Parker said.
“And Scout is in his stall,” Molly said. “Let’s get him saddled before you load him on the trailer.”
Jenna helped Molly saddle Scout.
Parker led Little Joe in from the field and saddled the gelding.
By that time, Bastian had the trailer hooked up and pulled up to the hitch on his truck. He pulled around to the front of the barn and opened the back door.
Molly led Scout in and tied his bridle to a loop on the wall. She backed out of the trailer and Parker led Little Joe in behind Scout.
Once the horses were settled, Bastian closed the trailer door. “Ready?” he asked
Jenna nodded.
“All you have to do is say the word,” Molly said with a smile. “And I’ll go with you.”
Jenna hugged her friend. “Thanks. I think fewer is better. We can move in quietly and hope to see him before he sees us.”
“Are you sure you’ll be safe?” Parker asked.
Bastian worried about the same thing. “We hope so.”
“Why don’t we come along?” Molly said, raising her hand as Jenna opened her mouth to protest. “We can stay with the truck and trailer. You can take some hand-held radios and call if you need us to come in for backup.”
Bastian nodded. “Not a bad idea.”
“Really?” Molly grinned. “I’ll grab the radios.” She ducked into the tack room and was out again in a couple of seconds, carrying a few two-way radios.
“Where’s Colin, Duncan and Angus?” Bastian asked.
“They headed to town to ask about gun sales at the feed store,” Parker said.
“And Mom?”
“I think she’s on a cleaning binge,” Molly said, shaking her head. “Som
ething about having to stay busy. I offered to help, but she declined. Fiona’s leaving baby Caity with Mom after lunch, while Fiona does some grocery shopping.”
Bastian grinned. “Caity will keep her plenty busy.”
Finding out she had a granddaughter had helped his mother through the trying days since her husband had been missing. Little Caity was the bright spot in her day.
His brother Duncan hadn’t known he had a daughter until he’d come home on leave to help find his father. At least some good things had come of the whole sad situation. Duncan, Fiona and Caity would become the family they were meant to be.
It had been good for Angus and Colin as well. Angus had reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Bree, and Colin had reunited with his best friend from high school, Emily.
Bastian would not have that luxury. His high school sweetheart was dead. There would be no reunion love story for him. Not that he wanted one. As a Navy SEAL, he was married to his job. He could be called to duty at a moment’s notice and disappear for months at a time. That kind of work wasn’t something that made for good family life.
He’d seen too many of his buddies divorce after the first year of marriage. Those whose relationships lasted long enough to have children, missed all the firsts. First steps, first day at school, first ball game, first date.
His gaze shifted to Jenna. She was like a phoenix. She’d risen out of a bad situation and became stronger. Now, she valued her independence and the fact she could stand on her own two feet. She didn’t need a man in her life.
That’s the kind of woman who could hack being a Navy SEAL’s wife. She wouldn’t need to have a man around fulltime.
He bet, with the right man, a man who treated her with love and respect, she’d learn to trust again.
If she were his wife, he’d show her that a man could be gentle and considerate. Not all men were animals like Corley Ferguson.
If Jenna were his wife…
What was he thinking? She was his kid sister’s friend.
All grown up, but still…
He glanced at Parker, holding open the door to the truck’s back seat for Molly. He smiled as he handed her up into the seat. Why was he grinning at her like she was some sexy morsel?