His gut twisted, but he forced a brave face. “A man can always hope.”
A slow smile tilted the corners of her lips, and her arms slid around his neck. “That he can! And sometimes hope is rewarded.”
Heart beating a tattoo against his ribs, Matt gathered her warmth close and lowered his head toward her upturned face, and—the doorbell rang, loud and long. They groaned in unison.
“You don’t have to answer,” Matt suggested, not loosening his hold.
The bell sounded again in several short jabs. Ben leaped up and barked.
Huffing, Kelly wriggled away from him. He released her, mentally smacking the intruder on the doorstep. She went toward the foyer, his dog at her heels. Moments later, she and Ben returned with Art in tow. The man had the gall to grin and clap Matt on the shoulder. Then he plopped onto the couch, looking like he planned to stay awhile.
“I’ll grab you a cup of coffee,” Kelly said to their visitor.
“Thanks.” Art nodded. “I could use one of those.”
The heavy-lidded glance Kelly shot Matt’s direction sent his pulse into overdrive. Then she exited toward the kitchen. What might the penalty be for tossing the chief of police out onto the lawn…if he could muster the strength to do it?
“How are you feeling today, young man?”
Matt’s gaze returned to Art and found the chief staring at him like a specimen under a microscope. Scrapping thoughts of mayhem, Matt offered a rueful smile. “I don’t feel quite so much like I’ve been run over by a semi. Just stomped by a mad bull.”
Art chuckled. “You slept so long and hard, we were beginning to think you planned to hibernate for the rest of the winter.”
Ben ambled over to the newcomer, sniffing but not leaping and jumping. Art began to scratch the animal’s head, and Ben plopped onto his haunches in canine bliss. Matt’s brows lifted. His dog was already behaving more civilized since Kelly had been looking after him while he was in the hospital.
“Mind telling me what you remember from events at the clinic?” the chief asked.
“I’ll tell you what I can, but my last clear memory is you reporting to us outside the clinic that there was no sign of Tim. After that, it’s piecemeal.”
“Normal for a head blow. Kelly is clear on everything, so whatever you can contribute will merely corroborate.”
In a few short sentences, Matt recounted awakening on the floor of the clinic to hear Tim about to shoot Kelly and then wrestling with the madman until Tim was accidentally shot and went limp. Then Matt passed out again.
“Maybe you can connect a few dots for me,” he said to Art. “Did I imagine it, or was Nick Milton at the clinic, too? And what happened to Chelsea and Greg?”
“You weren’t imagining things. When my officer arrived at the Milton place, he found it empty. Turns out Chelsea and Greg had fled for their lives out the side door. They showed up later, hale and healthy. Ramming the clinic cost Nick broken bones, cuts and abrasions, but like Tim, he’ll recover to answer for his crimes.”
Matt let out a long breath. “Tim survived his gunshot wound then. I’m relieved I didn’t kill someone, even if he was trying to kill us.”
Art shook his head. “That guy is more likely to see the inside of a looney bin than a prison. He’s lost it! Raves delusional nonsense, nonstop, about his ex-wife and being her hero. But his babbling has filled in a few factual blanks for us, too.”
Kelly returned with a steaming cup, which she handed to Art, and then took a seat in the easy chair opposite Matt.
“I’m heartbroken about Tim,” she said. “It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that he not only tried to kill Matt and me, but he’s the one who trashed the clinic to make it look like a break-in. Then he grabbed me and knocked me out with that sedative when I arrived at work earlier than he expected.”
“There was method to his madness.” Art grimaced. “The back door was standing wide open when Matt arrived that morning, because Tim was about to cart away a few pieces of valuable equipment so the missing biological samples wouldn’t look so suspicious. He tossed those into the woods out back. We found them once we had an idea where to look.”
Matt looked from Art to Kelly and back again. “Tim was the sole culprit who staged the clinic break-in? How did he end up knocked out with a head gash?”
“You’ll hardly believe this.” Art slapped his knee. “Goes to show how nuts he is. But when he heard you enter the clinic, he bonked himself on the head with the flashlight, hid it under the flooring of an empty animal cage and then sprawled out for you and Kelly to find. He never was unconscious. Not at all the scenario he had planned. He’d intended to put on a show as if he’d fought off a masked intruder and rescued Kelly, but then you turned up and hogged the glory instead. He hated your guts after that and put Nick up to doing whatever dirt he could to you.”
A sour taste settled on Matt’s tongue. He took a sip of sweet hot chocolate. People resorted to the most outrageous actions for the most ridiculous reasons. “Nick is the one who slashed my tires and shaved my dog?” He clucked to Ben, and the animal trotted over and placed his head on Matt’s knees. He ruffled the fur behind the Saint Bernard’s ears.
“Nick doesn’t admit to anything,” Art said. “However, we’re confident that the fibers found in the knife hilt will match a pair of his gloves, and we found dog hair in his electric shaver, so his goose is well-done on those charges. But the guy’s got bigger legal concerns. Which reminds me—” he laid his coffee cup aside “—there are a ton of reports on my office desk that need filing.”
He rose and Matt started to get up, but Art motioned him to remain seated—Kelly, too. “I’ll let you folks get back to whatever you were doing.” He shot them a broad wink and exited, chuckling.
Matt caught Kelly’s eye. She turned bright red, then they both laughed. Matt held out his arms, and she glided over to him. He tugged her hands, and she settled gingerly on his lap.
“Am I hurting you?”
“My head is probably going to ache for a while, but my heart will hurt worse if I can’t finally kiss you like I’ve dreamed of doing.”
“Whatever shall I think of such a forward neighbor?” She laid a finger to her chin, and her sparkling eyes teased him.
“Do you want me to hunt up some mistletoe so we can put it to its proper use?”
Kelly made a face then grinned at him. “Why wait for mistletoe?”
She lowered her head toward his, and their lips met in a lingering kiss which promised many more to come.
Kelly rested with her head on Matt’s broad shoulder. When was the last time she’d felt so safe, accepted and loved? Too long. This was not the kind of man who left a girl for the glitter of gold and the promise of prestige. She could see them together for the long haul, probably in his larger house next door—big Ben acting the furry nanny to their kids. Saint Bernards were notoriously protective.
She hated to disturb this dreamy moment with a touchy subject, but she wanted Matt to be aware of her decision before she filed the paperwork. The issue involved him, too. Lifting her head, she met his deep blue gaze. Happiness glowed from him.
“What’s on your mind, sweetheart?” he asked. “I can see those wheels turning.”
She exhaled a long breath. “You’re good. Evidently, we’re embarking on a transparent relationship. I like that…I think.” She tweaked a lock of the fair hair on his forehead.
He grinned. “I agree, and I’m all ears.”
She rose from her comfortable perch on his lap and went to a small writing desk in the corner of the room. The letter with the return address of the county courthouse lay on top of a short stack of mail. She gave the envelope to Matt, then settled in the easy chair opposite his while he read the letter.
Shortly, he lifted his gaze from the paper, brow furrowed. “Let me see if I understand. As one of the victims of Greg’s assault, the judge wants you to submit a written recommendation of what you feel the boy’s co
nsequences should be?”
“The request is common in these cases. It doesn’t mean the judge will abide by my recommendation, but he will consider my opinion.”
Matt snorted. “Ship the kid to juvenile hall. He’s a menace.”
“I understand your feelings, but I need to fill out the story for you. Obviously, Greg hasn’t had it easy at home, and his rough exterior hasn’t made him popular at school. Brutus was his only friend—other than his mother. Losing the dog made his pain unbearable.”
“So it’s okay that he came after you?” Matt scowled. “It’s not all right with me.”
Kelly took a deep breath. He was going all protective on her, exactly as she’d expected. A part of her liked the reaction; another part dreaded his response to her plan of action.
“Did you know Greg saved Ben?” She pronounced the words softly but clearly.
“He what?”
“After Nick picked Greg up from jail, the man was bent on getting back at you for your part in putting his son behind bars. He thought Greg would go along with his plan to hurt Ben, but the kid threw such a fit that Nick settled for shaving Ben instead of cutting him.”
“Nick was going to cut my dog?” Matt sat bolt upright, then moaned and pressed a palm to his forehead.
Ben whined, probably from Matt’s tone. Kelly crossed the room and settled one hand on Matt’s tense shoulder while scratching behind Ben’s ear with the other.
“Take it easy, you two. It didn’t happen.” She stared into Matt’s eyes. “And you have Greg to thank. That’s what father and son were fighting about when they arrived home from their pit stop at your house. You know the rest of that story.”
Matt sighed and closed his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed a couple of times then he squinted up at her. “So you’re going to tell the judge to go easy on Greg?”
“Not exactly.” Kelly settled herself onto a place that was rapidly becoming her favorite perch—Matt’s lap. “Brutus has been approved by the Humane Society for reeducation. Since Nick Milton is going to be out of the home for a long time, I believe Greg should be sentenced to taking that rehabilitation training with his dog, and that Brutus should be restored to Greg’s custody if they both successfully complete the course. A class like that teaches the owner as much self-control and responsibility as it does the animal.”
A smile formed on Matt’s lips. “You are one amazing lady!”
Kelly’s insides warmed. “You’re not angry?”
“Not any longer.” His arms tightened around her, and Kelly snuggled closer.
“One more thing before we resume getting better acquainted.” She tapped the end of his nose with her finger. “Greg claims his dad must have been the one who turned Brutus loose on me. He says Nick wasn’t passed out drunk that afternoon.”
“So the lout was putting on a show for Art and me?”
“Apparently. But we can’t prove it.”
Matt frowned. “I’m not happy about him getting away with anything, but like Art says, the guy has bigger legal concerns.”
“I’m happy to let the system handle Nick Milton. I should have guessed he was behind the pet poisonings when his dog was the only one brought in that day with no illness.”
“Don’t beat yourself up because you’re a decent person and it didn’t occur to you to suspect that someone was poisoning animals on purpose. Say! How is your sister doing now that she can reopen her business?”
Kelly laughed. “Brenda’s busier than a fly on a Christmas fruit cake. After all the notoriety, and now that the poisoner is caught, people are streaming in from out of town to try the fare and loving it. Chelsea is happy working double shifts. Not just because they can use the money, but it keeps her mind off her family woes. She may be the only person in town who’s sad about Nick’s arrest.”
“That leaves one burning question.” Matt lifted a brow.
Kelly held her breath.
“When are you going to start training Ben and me?”
Kelly exhaled a chuckle. “We’ll get serious as soon as you’re able to walk, trot and jog without falling over.”
Matt grinned. “I like the idea of getting serious.”
Kelly matched his grin. “I believe this is going to be a wonderful Christmas after all.”
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The pastor beamed at the newlyweds.
Kelly’s heart swelled as she gazed into Matt’s ardent eyes. His triumphant grin outshone the pastor’s. She suppressed the urge to bounce on the balls of feet clad in white, organdy slippers. They held hands beneath an archway adorned with bright red and pure white poinsettias and sprinkled with holly sprigs in honor of the Christmas season. Not a trace of mistletoe, but she didn’t need an herb to tell her when to kiss the man she loved.
When was the minister going to say it?
A pregnant pause spread a hush across the guests packed into the cozy church.
“You may kiss the bride,” the pastor intoned.
Finally!
Kelly melted into her new husband’s arms and sealed their union with a tender savor of his lips. The guests erupted into glad applause, and her heart lifted toward God in praise.
Last Christmas had turned out wonderful after the danger had passed, but this one outstripped them all.
Dear Reader,
Matt and Kelly’s story is dear to my heart. The writing of it enriched my own life with illumination in sensitive areas of our human condition.
The tale serves as a tribute to all those who have fought and are still fighting the battle of breast cancer, as well as the family and friends who stand with them. A coworker of mine fought the fight and remains with us, but those who have passed from this life knowing Christ have entered into the ultimate victory.
This story is also an illustration of the power of words—for good or ill. How lightly we sometimes speak when we ought to weigh our words!
Matt and Kelly’s budding romance demonstrates triumph over loss and the gift of a second chance at love. How often do we guard our hearts against new opportunities for relationships because of the memory of old losses and hurts? Each day is new in the Lord. Let us say with Paul, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” Philippians 3:31b—14a. (New International Version)
I hope you found pleasure and blessing in the read. Please drop by and visit me at http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com.
In Him,
Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Questions for Discussion
At the end of the first scene, Kelly is upset with Matt. Is her anger about the loss of her decorations, or is there a deeper reason? If so, what is it?
Matt moves to Abbottsville seeking a haven. He finds the opposite. How often do we take an action in order to gain one thing but end up with something different? Can this result be the plan of God? Discuss.
Brenda’s response to tragedy is silence. How do you process shocks? Are you prone to inward contemplation or outward venting? Is one response healthier than the other?
Why does Brenda have a calm, practical perspective on Matt’s role in her restaurant closing, while Kelly takes his actions personally?
Who does Kelly feel Matt resembles, not physically but in his character, that creates a strong attraction for her? Do we often seek qualities in a mate that are familiar to us from our upbringing? How can this work in a healthy way? How might this be unhealthy?
Gossip is a rampant evil, even among those who claim the name of Christ. Have you ever been stuck in an uncomfortable situation where someone insisted upon sharing the latest juicy tidbit about someone else, along with surmising and assumptions? How did you handle the situation? Have you ever been guilty of gossip?
Do you agree with Matt’s statement that our attitude invites matching events into our lives? Why or why not? “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life.” Proverbs 4:24. What
does this mean?
The severe dysfunction in the Milton family is all too common. Matt isn’t inclined toward compassion. Why? And why is Kelly? How does a Christian balance compassion for souls in misery with the need for justice, as well as protection for the people they may hurt?
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8262-9
SEASON OF DANGER
Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT
Copyright © 2011 by Hannah Alexander
MISTLETOE MAYHEM
Copyright © 2011 by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Love Inspired Books.
® and TM are trademarks of Love Inspired Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
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Table of Contents
SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
Season of Danger: Silent Night, Deadly NightMistletoe Mayhem Page 20