Mountain Daddy's Fate: A Mountain Man's Baby, Second Chance Romance (Mountain Men of Liberty)

by K. C. Crowne

  “Jesus Christ, Eli,” Graham muttered, running a hand over his brow.

  “I’m happy for you, Eli,” Sam said, ignoring our brother and reaching across the table to shake my hand. His smile was stretched across his face, and I believed that he meant what he said. “Truly, very happy. I know you’re going to make an amazing dad.”

  “I agree,” Mason said. “This is huge. Does Mom know yet?”

  “Not yet, I just found out this morning myself. You guys are the first to know.”

  “Are you sure it’s yours?” Graham asked. “I mean, she was on the verge of marrying another man just a few weeks ago. How can we be sure--”

  Mason scowled at our brother, and opened his mouth to lay into him, but I held up a hand.

  “We are certain it is mine. I don’t feel like I should have to go into more detail than that.”

  Graham took a seat again, finally, but wouldn’t look at me.

  “I understand where Graham is coming from me,” Sam said. “We’re just worried about you. Considering Charlotte ran away from you before even though everything seemed good—"

  “I know more about what happened back then, and I can say without a doubt, things are different now. It wasn’t what it seemed back then.”

  “How is it different?” Sam asked.

  “Well, for one thing, we’re older. Thirteen years older to be exact. We were just kids back then; we didn’t know what we were doing. And there was a lot I didn’t know about at the time, but I know now.”

  I shared a look with Mason - the only one of my brothers who knew the whole story. Charlotte had told him, but I didn’t feel it was my place to tell my other brothers. Not without talking to her first. Mason gave a knowing nod.

  “I think Eli is right, things are a lot different now. It’s unfair to judge Charlotte for something she did thirteen years ago.”

  “We’re not judging her,” Graham said. “I’m worried about our little brother. Just a few weeks ago, Charlotte was marrying another man, and now suddenly she and Eli are having a baby together? Excuse me, but I think I have a reason to be concerned.”

  “You can be concerned, but that doesn’t change anything,” I said. “Did I give you crap when you told us Emmy was pregnant? We didn’t even know her, you hardly did, and yet we supported you, Graham. We were there for you. I simply ask for the same respect.”

  Something shifted in Graham’s face, and I feared it was a low blow to bring up the beginning of his relationship with Emmy. She got pregnant one what was supposed to be a one-night stand and likely wouldn’t have told him had fate not intervened.

  I continued. “You, of all people, have no right to criticize.”

  “Again, I’m just worried about you getting hurt.”

  “I’m a grown man now, Graham. And in eight or so months, I’m going to be a father. Even if things go south with Charlotte, I still owe my child to at least try and make it work. Wouldn’t you do anything for your children?”

  Graham didn’t hesitate. “I would, yes.”

  I expected a “but” but none ever came.

  “You’re right,” Graham said after a moment. “I’ll back off. I worry about you, but I need to trust you. You’re right- you're not a kid anymore, even though to me, you’ll always be my baby brother.”

  “Thank you,” I said, feeling the tension leave my body. “I appreciate that, Graham.”

  “I’m still worried about you going to Tennessee alone.”

  “I’ll call if I need anything or suspect any problems. I know you guys are only a call away,” I said.

  “That we are,” Graham said, reaching across the table and shaking my hand. “And congrats, man. Sam is right - you’re going to make an amazing father.”

  Chapter 19

  Charlotte

  Red River had always been the place I felt most at home. It was my safe place.

  Or at least it used to be.

  As we pulled into town in the rental car, I felt like I was a stranger in my own hometown. It had only been a month, but it felt like the entire place had changed overnight. I knew that it was simply about me seeing the town with fresh eyes, nothing had changed - not that much. In my head, when I thought about Red River, I always saw the local Mom and Pop shops, the streets filled with families going for brunch together, all the things that made our town unique. But more and more of that was disappearing and being replaced with Starbucks and McDonald’s.

  My heart ached for the town in my head. I no longer felt at home in the town that existed that day, and a large part of me was eager to get back on the plane and head back to Utah.

  Even though we were both exhausted from the traveling, I had insisted we go straight to the police station to file the report. I wanted to get it over with right away, so that maybe we could be back on the plane as early as the next day. Eli had warned me that we might be in town for at least a couple days, but if I could speed things along, I was certainly going to try.

  Eli was driving, and thankfully he was familiar with our little town. He pulled into the police station and parked. Before getting out of the car, he turned and looked at me.

  “Are you sure you want to do this now? We can get to the hotel, get some rest and come back tomorrow.”

  “The longer we’re in town, the higher the chance of Peter hearing that we’re here,” I said. “We need to do this now.”

  “Are you feeling up to it?”

  I thought about that question in depth before answering.

  Did I feel up to it?

  “To be perfectly honest, no. I just want to move on with my life, and if given the choice, I wouldn’t report it at all. It just means I have to dredge up the memory and re-live it, something I’d rather not do.”

  “We can--”

  I stopped him before he could try and talk me out of it.

  “No, we can’t just go back to Utah. Maybe it won’t help with Jenny’s case, but what if it might? Even if it just stays on his file in case another woman comes forward and says he also hurt her, with a record, they may be more apt to believe her. No, I have to do this. It isn’t just about me.”

  Eli didn’t argue anymore. He took my hand in his, brought it up to his lips and kissed it gently. “I’m here for you, no matter what you decide to do.”

  “Thank you, Eli,” I said, feeling the tears in my eyes. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

  We got out of the car and walked into the building; Eli had my hand the entire time. I grew up in Red River and with a father and an ex in law; I recognized many of the faces in that building.

  Which meant that they also recognized me.

  Deputy Thomas Perkins was the first face I saw, and his eyes widened when I walked in the door. He stood up from his desk and cleared his throat.

  “Ms. Grey, what brings you in today?” Thomas, Eli, and I had gone to high school together. His eyes flashed over to Eli, and even though I couldn’t imagine them growing any wider, they somehow managed to do just that. “And Mr. Harvey. Good to see you back in town.”

  He wiped at his brow as if he was suddenly sweating, even though the room was a comfortable temperature.

  “I’m here to file a police report,” I said, my voice remaining strong even though my insides felt like they were quaking. “Against my ex, Peter Simmons.”

  I swear the entire room went silent. The officers speaking on the phone or to each other all suddenly got quiet. Too quiet.

  “Uhh sure, okay. I think Ford talked about that,” Thomas said, referencing Sheriff Arnold Ford, who’d been Sheriff in town for the last four years.

  Thomas pressed a button on his phone, and before I knew it, Ford’s voice popped up on the other line.

  “Yes?” the grumpy sounding man said on the other end.

  “Charlotte Grey is here to file the police report,” Thomas said, speaking lower now, as if he knew others were listening in.

  My eyes darted around the small office, and the men and few women suddenly
all got back to work. There was a tension in the air though, thick enough that I felt like I could cut it with a knife.

  “Send her back,” Ford said with a growl. “I’ll talk to her.”

  He didn’t say he would file the report or help me. No. He said he’d talk to me.

  “Alright, sir. I’ll send her right back,” Thomas said, pushing another button on the phone to hang up the call.

  “I know where his office is. Thanks, Thomas,” I said.

  Eli walked with me to the door, but Thomas was behind us in a flash.

  “The sheriff wants to speak to you alone, Charlotte.”

  Eli’s grip on my hand tightened. “No, I’m going with her.”

  A booming voice came from behind me.

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  I turned to find Sheriff Ford hovering above me, a permanent scowl on his face. His hat covered his head so you couldn’t see the bald spot, only the thin bits of hair poking out from the sides.

  His brown eyes seemed to be rimmed in fire as he looked down at me, his hands on his slender hips. He stared down his nose at me, focusing on me alone, as if he’d been waiting for me to show up.

  Eli stepped in front of me as if to protect me from this threat. And the look in his eyes, well, it would have been scary enough to make even the most dangerous of criminals back down.

  “Ms. Grey, you might want to call off your attack dog. I shouldn’t have to remind you that threatening a law enforcement officer is a crime.”

  I nudged Eli back. We didn’t want to get into any fights with law enforcement, that certainly wouldn’t help speed things along.

  “I’ve got this, Eli. Just wait out here, I’ll come find you if I need you.”

  “Are you sure?” His eyes moved back and forth between the Sheriff and me. It was like he was a guard dog and could smell the danger.

  “I’m sure,” I said, placing a hand on Eli’s chest as I stared into his eyes. “The sheriff’s office and my family go way back; I’m safe here.”

  I didn’t point out that Ford was fairly new to the force, and new in town. He didn’t have a relationship with my dad the way the old Sheriff had, but I still trusted in the office as a whole. I knew most of the people who worked there, and many of them seemed like good people.

  Eli backed off, but still kept his eyes glued to the sheriff, as if sending him a warning with just a look.

  Thankfully, I didn’t think they could arrest someone based on just a look, though from the way Ford looked over at Eli, I wouldn’t have put it past him to try.

  I walked past Eli and followed Ford into his office, and he shut the door behind us.

  “So I’ve heard some interesting things about you lately, Ms. Grey,” the man said as he took a seat behind his desk.

  “I’m sure you have, Sheriff, but town gossip is just that - gossip.”

  He steeped his fingers in front of his face and studied me for a moment.

  “Your ex, Peter Simmons, has a convincing story, I must say.”

  “Well, I’m here to tell you mine, as unlike his, I think it actually deserves police involvement.”

  “Oh, his requires our involvement too, Ms. Grey. You see, he filed a report about you just yesterday claiming that you attacked him before running off with your lover.”

  I scoffed, feeling like I might choke on my words. “Are you kidding me? You think I attacked Peter? I mean, I don’t mean to sound sexist, but there’s clearly a size difference here and--”

  “And I’ve seen women attack men before, Ms. Grey. Just because you’re smaller doesn’t mean you can’t also abuse him.”

  “I know that, but I’m telling you it didn’t happen. The opposite in fact. I left him because he hit me during a fight and--”

  “The fight about the affair you thought he was having with Jennifer Hancock, I presume? He told me all about that.”

  My jaw nearly hit the floor. “There was never a fight about Jenny. I didn’t even realize they were having an affair until after we split. No, the fight was about the wedding - something stupid thinking back, but he lost his temper and hit me because I wouldn’t listen to him.”

  “MmHmm, I see,” Ford said, just staring at me.

  “Are we going to write this down? I’m here to file a report.”

  “We can talk about your report after I’m finished asking you a couple questions first.”

  “A couple questions? About what? Me attacking Peter?”

  “No, about Ms. Hancock’s death.”

  I blinked at him a few times, confused as if I heard him correctly.

  “Questions as in-- am I suspect in some sort of crime or something?”

  “Or something,” Ford said smugly. “Now may I ask where you were the night of Ms. Hancock’s death?”

  “I was in Liberty, Utah. Not that it matters. I thought that her death was ruled as a suicide.”

  “It was, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have some questions for you, Ms. Grey.”

  “What does this have to do with me filing a report against Peter?”

  “I just find it convenient that you wait and come forward now, after all that has happened. Why didn’t you come forward sooner?”

  “Because I was scared, Sheriff. Because I wasn’t thinking clearly and just wanted to get the hell out of dodge. I didn’t know what to do, and truthfully, I wanted to forget it ever happened because it was a traumatic experience for me - but I’m coming forward to try and help you since I believe it could be connected to the case. I think Peter was the one to hurt Jenny before she killed herself.”

  Ford leaned forward, a grisly smirk on his face.

  “Do you know what I think? I think you were angry about the accusations against you as well as the fact that you thought she was sleeping with your fiancé’. You showed up at her place, or maybe you didn’t. Maybe you had someone else do it while you were away in Utah. Either way, you had someone threaten her and maybe even hurt her, which is why she took her life.”

  I was speechless. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I stood up from the chair, realizing that there was no way I would get through to him. He wasn’t going to listen to me. He wasn’t going to believe me.

  Finally, I managed to string together a coherent sentence.

  “This is why more women don’t come forward, Sheriff Ford. Because men like you don’t believe them even if they do.”

  I walked toward the door, unsure of what other options I had. I couldn’t file a police report if the sheriff wasn’t willing to take my statement. I’d have to find some other way to help Jenny.

  “Ms. Grey, before you leave, I request that you don’t leave town. We may need to bring you in for further questioning.”

  I froze for a second. It hit me like a brick to the head.

  This wasn't just about his refusal to fill out a police report for me.

  I was now a suspect in Jenny’s death.

  Ooo000ooo

  I paced the tiny hotel room, arms crossed in front of my chest.

  “What are we going to do?” I asked Eli. “I need to somehow prove that I’m not going to the police due to ulterior motives.”

  Eli had been tapping away at his laptop for a good twenty minutes, a scowl on his face as he was deep in concentration. We had both talked about showing them the blog, but not only was it gone, there was absolutely no proof that she had written it without coercion, and there just wasn’t enough there.

  “I’ve got an idea. Can’t promise it’ll work, but figured why not try?”

  “Go on.” I took a seat on the bed opposite of the desk he was sitting at.

  He turned the seat around to face me, a cocky grin on his face. “Well, I thought, what if we could hack into her social media profiles, just to see if she’s gotten any messages from anyone, etc. So that’s what I’m trying to do now. I can’t say I’m an expert level hacker or anything, but I know a few tricks.”

  “But how would that work? She deleted all of her accounts.�
��

  “She didn’t delete them. She deactivated them.”

  “And there’s a difference?” I asked.

  “Yes, a big one. Had she deleted them, the info would be gone and there would be no getting them back online. The information might still be saved on the servers, but it would be complicated and messy - probably above and beyond my abilities. But you can deactivate profiles temporarily - people often do this when they need to take a social media break or whatever. But then you can log back on and activate it again, and everything is still there, just as you left it. Most social media companies make it hard to delete the profile entirely, you have to jump through a lot of hoops, so a lot of time folks just deactivate. And it appears Jenny did just that.”

  “So that means her profiles and everything are still out there on the internet somewhere?”

  “Exactly. And I just need to sign into her account, and I can access it like normal.”

  “And how are we going to gain access to her account?”

  “Well, that requires some tools. I’m currently using a program that will figure out her password. It might take some time. From there, usually you have to verify it’s you through a text message or e-mail, so I’m also logging into her e-mail and have set up another program to spoof her old phone number so any text messages would go there. Since her phone service had been cancelled, her number was available again, so I claimed it and voila! As soon as I can get her password figured out, we should be able to get in.”

  “Holy crap, Eli. You’re a genius. Where did you learn all of this?”

  He shrugged but his grin told me he knew he was good.

  “The Navy taught me a lot of it. I was in the Advanced Electronics Computer Field Program. But most of the hacking I picked up on my own over the years for the security business.”

  “Well color me impressed but remind me never to piss you off.”

  Eli smiled and shook his head. “I’d never use any of it for personal gain. I wouldn’t even be doing this except we need to clear your name.”

  He turned back around and started typing away again. I watched him for a long time, amazed at this man. This was the kid that I had kissed goodbye in San Diego years ago and then walked away from without telling him why. I had hurt him, broke his heart, and then came back into his life when I needed help. For all intents and purposes, he should have shown me the door.