Mountain Angel (Northstar Angels, Book One)

by Suzie O'Connell

  They crested Badger Pass and swung around the curve in the road. At the crest of the small hill just beyond, they were awarded with a sweeping view of the broad valley around Devyn. Cloud shadows raced across the land, sliding like playful wraiths over the mountains, hills and river plain. Rain would fall sometime that afternoon, a penetrating spring shower that would leave the world pristine and soul-liftingly refreshed.

  Somewhere down there, somewhere in the cluster of buildings and houses that was Devyn, Adam was hiding.

  “Just about everyone in town knows my grandparents. And they know I’ve been taking over operations of the Bedspread since I’ve been back,” Aelissm said. “We can probably use that as cover.”

  “We could,” Pat replied. “What were you thinking?”

  “I don’t know, maybe we’re looking for him because he walked out without paying for a meal.”

  “We’d waste the time and resources to track him down because he didn’t pay for a meal? It’s not strong enough.”

  “You’re right. What if he left something behind? We wouldn’t have to tell people what he forgot, would we?”

  “No. That just might work.” Pat drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel. “We just have to be very, very careful. We don’t want to actually run into him and we don’t want anyone we speak to alerting him. We don’t know enough to chance him getting suspicious.”

  “So you said. We don’t know anything,” Aeli muttered.

  “I’m trying to make this as easy on you as I can, Aeli. I don’t want you to expect too much from our excursion today. I’ll be happy just to know how long he’s been in Devyn and if he has a job or a residence here. We can find the specifics later.”

  “Then I guess I’ll have to be happy with whatever we find out. I won’t get my hopes up, Pat. I promise.”

  “That’s my girl,” Pat replied. “So, we decided to start our search at the Paradise—”

  “Parasite.”

  “—because we overheard Winters telling someone he was staying there. Work for you?”

  “It’ll have to.”

  “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  “That’ll be the day.”

  When Pat growled, Aelissm knew she was frustrating him. She didn’t know what she’d expected would happen with Pat here to protect her, but this wasn’t it. None of what was happening came within the sphere of what she’d once imagined. Damn you, Unk, for doing this to us. There was so much uncertainty in her life right at the moment and she was all but powerless to make any of it swing the way she wanted. Even if they found Adam and knew every detail of his current life, she couldn’t see what they could do with that information, other than keep tabs on him. Then there was her relationship with Patrick O’Neil. If she could call it that. She could write a book chronicling the mixed signals he was giving her.

  Better not to think about that right now. Like finding the specifics on Adam, it can be dealt with later. When I know more.

  Aelissm sighed.

  She spent the rest of the drive into Devyn silently musing that the most recent mess she’d landed herself in wasn’t any tidier than the one she was still trying to clean up. In fact, it was worse because it had the potential to do more damage. Her heart was firmly entrenched in the muck this time.

  By the time Pat turned onto the interstate, Aeli had decided not to worry about any of it. Things were going to work themselves out however they were going to no matter how she interfered. With a twist of her lips, she wondered how long her resolution would hold up.

  Instead of continuing to the second Devyn exit, Pat pulled off at the south end of town and Aeli was grateful for the few extra minutes to build up her courage. As they passed the college, she took it as a good sign that her contract had been renewed for the next year. The administration had asked—and convinced—her to teach two classes in the fall. Her temporary return was fast becoming a permanent move. And that wasn’t so bad, now was it?

  Two miles and several minutes later, Aelissm’s heart had lodged itself firmly in her throat and was fluttering erratically. So much for building up her courage. The complex of the Paradise Motel was a straight-lined U, with the motel making up the southern leg and bowl and the restaurant and lounge being the northern leg. Pat pulled into a spot near the door of the restaurant.

  “Here we are,” he said unnecessarily. “Cross your fingers and hope all goes well.”

  “What do we do first?”

  “Ask who was working behind the bar three nights ago.”

  Three nights ago? That long ago already? Wait, Aeli thought. Just wait one minute. Her palm smacked against her forehead. Why hadn’t she thought of it? “I know who was working. Amber, one of my students.”

  “Well, that could make this easier,” Pat replied. “Or more difficult, if she knows him.”

  Wonderful. Aelissm snarled. Why did things have to get even more complicated? Why couldn’t something make this easier for a change? She bit her tongue and managed to contain her irritation. She wanted nothing more right now than to march into the restaurant and demand answers, but she was still frightened enough by the possibly disastrous consequences of such rash impulses to wait for Pat’s lead.

  At last, after frowning at the door of the restaurant for several minutes, Pat got out of the truck. Aeli followed his example and hovered at his side as they walked inside.

  “Hi, Miss Davis,” said the young woman behind the hostess’ desk.

  Abruptly, all nervousness left Aelissm as she recognized Amber’s bubbly blond roommate. She returned the girl’s smile. “Hi, Jessie. Is Amber working today?”

  “Yeah, she’s in the dining room. Are you two here to eat?”

  Aeli’s eyebrow shot up and her lips quirked. “Am I ever here to eat?”

  “Only when your grandparents drag you in, kicking and screaming. C’mon, Miss Davis, the food’s not that bad.”

  “You keep telling yourself that and when you decide you want some really good food, come out to the Bedspread and I’ll treat you to one of my mother’s recipes.”

  The girl held her hands up in defeat. “Okay, you’re right. The food here sucks. Except when Brandon’s on the grill. He’s pretty good.”

  “Uh-huh,” Aeli replied, unconvinced. “Bye, for now, Jessie.”

  “See ya, Miss Davis.”

  Pat followed as Aeli turned the corner into the non-smoking side of the restaurant. Amber never worked the smoking side, she recalled, but there was no sign of the girl. There weren’t any diners, either. The room was completely empty, the tables all neatly set and awaiting customers.

  “Is the food really that bad?” Pat asked.

  “It’s not great, but it’s edible. And it’s cheap. Most of the locals eat elsewhere and since it’s midweek and off-peak hours, there probably aren’t too many guests at the motel looking for a meal.”

  “I’ll be right out!” came Amber’s voice from the kitchen.

  “I still say you should come work for me!” Aeli called back. “I’d pay you better.”

  Amber’s beaming face appeared in the scarred Plexiglas window of the swinging kitchen doors, framed by perfect, glossy curls that bounced around her shoulders as she pushed into the dining room.

  “Hey, Miss Davis! What are you doing here? And who’s your friend?” she greeted, smiling widely. Her rich brown eyes quickly took in Pat’s tall form, lingering just long enough to send jealousy pulsing through Aelissm’s veins.

  “My friend is Pat O’Neil. Pat, this disgustingly charming young woman is Amber. She’s one of my students. Put your eyes back in your head, girl. He’s much too old for you. Besides, I thought you were seeing some guy.”

  Pat and Amber both laughed, though the former clearly wasn’t interested in the other, Aelissm was pleased to note. His hazel eyes seemed far more engrossed with Aeli herself.

  “Yeah, I’m still seeing Brandon. He’s out of town right now, though. So, what can I do for you? I know you’re not here to eat.”


  “No, we’re not.” Aelissm wanted to take a deep breath to calm her racing heart, but such a sign of fear would be a dead giveaway to her lie. So she lightly steered the conversation in the direction she and Pat had agreed upon. “We’re actually here looking for a gentleman. Medium height, about five ten, maybe, medium build. Brown hair about chin length and sort of shaggy, hazel eyes.”

  “That sounds like Brandon.”

  Something exploded in her mind, rendering her incapable of speech. Brandon? was all she could even think.

  “Why, are you looking for him?” she heard Amber asked.

  “It might not be him, but a gentleman of that description was at the Bedspread a little while back and left something, a piece of paper that looked official,” Pat answered, as if it was the most inconsequential thing in the world. Only the fingers pressed into Aelissm’s neck revealed the intensity of his thoughts. “There was a business card from the motel here with it. Since we were in town, we thought we’d try to track him down, but we forgot to bring it. He hasn’t been back to get it, so I guess it’s nothing important. I’m sure he would have been back if it was. But still, we thought we’d make the attempt.”

  “That’s possible. He goes out that way a lot. Says he likes the drive. Should I mention it to him?”

  “Nah. Like I said, it’s probably not that important. If he mentions it, Aeli can bring it to you to give to him.”

  “Okay, sure.”

  “Well, we’d better let you get back to work. It was nice meeting you, Amber.”

  “It was nice meeting you, too, Mr. O’Neil.”

  “C’mon, Aeli. We’ve got a lot to accomplish today.”

  “Bye, Miss Davis. See you in class.”

  Pat’s fingers pressed deeper into her flesh and Aeli managed a believably sincere departing remark before he steered her outside. How she managed to wait until they were safely back in the truck and pulling out of the motel parking lot was a miracle. The implications were too much to handle and they screamed through her brain. But she wasn’t the first one to curse.

  “Dammit!” Pat barked. A moment later, he added “Shit! If she mentions this to him, we’re back to ground zero.”

  “Brandon!” Aeli finally spat. “That sonofabitch has been here almost as long as you have, Pat. Maybe longer!”

  “Living here, working here and watching you the whole damned time.”

  “Oh, my god. Amber…. Pat, you have to take me back. I have to warn her. Turn around!”

  “No. We can’t tell her anything, Aelissm. We may have already lost our only opportunity to—”

  “But, she doesn’t know what he is! She doesn’t know what she’s gotten herself into.”

  “Right now, there’s not much you can do about it. Besides, it’s her choice, Aeli. She’s a big girl more than capable of making her own decisions.”

  “Don’t you get it, Pat? He’s sleeping with her!”

  “So I gathered. It’s callous, I know, sweetheart, but there’s nothing we can do for her right now. I’m sure she can take care of herself. Until this is all over—”

  “Then turn around and demand to know everything. Where he’s been living, what car he’s driving—”

  “To what purpose?” Pat snarled. “The only thing going back and demanding information would accomplish is alerting Adam! I can’t do a damned thing, Aelissm! All I can do is keep Aaron Hammond posted on what I know, which is, as of right now, pretty much nothing.”

  “Then find something,” Aelissm snapped. “That’s what you’re here for, isn’t it? To protect me. To find out what Adam’s been up to, where he’s been. Fine job you’re doing. You didn’t even know he’s been in Devyn for at least two months!”

  “That’s not fair, Aeli.”

  “Yeah, well, neither is life.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  AELISSM WAS RIGHT. He hadn’t been doing everything he could to find Adam Winters. He should have known Adam was in Devyn, should have felt it. But he’d been so wrapped up in the freedom and joy of this place that he hadn’t focused on his main reason for being here. Bill had wanted him to relax and to heal, but first and foremost, Bill had asked him to protect Aelissm. And, so far, he had been neglecting that duty.

  No longer.

  For two weeks now, he’d been snooping around Devyn and had learned not only that Adam had taken a job at the Paradise Motel’s restaurant under the name of Brandon Grimes—a rather fitting surname, Pat thought—but he now knew what car he’d been driving. The inconspicuous white Ford pick-up was at that moment parked beside a tiny cottage down the alleyway behind the motel. Pat watched in the rearview mirror as the man himself strolled down the alley toward his rented house, hands stuffed in his pockets and eyes cast downward.

  Judging by his attire, Pat guessed Adam hadn’t been at the motel to work today. The sweatshirt Winters wore was frayed around the cuffs and more gray now than black. Except the crisp black pants and clean white t-shirts that were his work uniform, most of Adam’s clothes were well worn and ragged. Pat doubted Aelissm’s stalker had more than a week or two’s worth of clothing. Less to pack that way and less to hinder him in his pursuit.

  As Adam passed by the Bronco, Pat glanced away. So far, he’d seen nothing to make him believe that Amber had mentioned his and Aelissm’s visit to the motel, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t. It might simply mean that Adam was still secure in his anonymity. Either way, Pat didn’t want Adam to see him. For that same reason, he’d been driving Marge and Roger’s older Bronco. Since it was usually parked up at their cabin, there was little chance Adam would recognize it, unlike Aeli’s or June’s trucks or the Davis’ newer, white Bronco. The Washington plates on his own truck would have been as clear a warning signal to Adam as the daily noon siren that split the quiet of Devyn.

  Pat watched Winters enter the little house, made a couple of notes beside the address in his notebook and turned the key in the ignition. He waited a few more minutes to make sure Adam wasn’t going to pop back out of the house and drove off.

  Adam’s habits were fairly easy to follow and boring. He spent most of his time at the motel, either working or eating and drinking and, other than Amber and a couple of their coworkers, had no acquaintances that Pat had yet seen. Amber was his only visitor, and she’d stopped by only once during his watches over the past week. Adam had been to the house she and Jessie shared with another girl once as well, but his behavior—glancing around nervously while he waited outside for Amber’s all-clear—led Pat to believe that Adam Winter’s wasn’t that comfortable with his act. He still feared discovery enough to take the precaution of limiting his exposure to as few people as possible. Hence the job as a cook, where he was safely hidden in the kitchen of the Paradise Motel’s restaurant.

  Aelissm was dead-on in her assessment of Adam’s ability to disappear into a crowd. Few people Pat had talked to remembered seeing the man, which had been frustrating until he’d been lucky enough a week ago to be driving down the road behind the motel and glimpsed Adam and Amber climbing into the white pick-up. From that point on, it had been easy to keep tabs on him. Pat now knew where he slept, what he liked to eat, what beer he liked to drink, that he had no phone and that he appeared to do nothing in his house but sleep and stare at the walls. He didn’t waste money on entertainment, never watched the tiny television that had undoubtedly been provided with the house. The little mail he received was all addressed to Brandon Grimes. The utilities were evidently included in his rent because Pat had not seen any bills in the little mailbox. True, it had only been a week that he’d known where Adam was living, but all his neighbors had received their electric bills in that time.

  Of all that he’d learned about Adam over the past two weeks, Pat was most aggravated and disgusted to find out that Winters ventured out to Northstar at least twice a week—a tidbit he’d realized after discovering what vehicle the man was using. He’d seen that white truck in Northstar twice in the last week and about that often in the past
as well. Adam undoubtedly knew Aelissm’s work schedule, where her grandparents lived and, possibly, that she lived somewhere up Elkhorn Road. Pat was fairly certain Adam hadn’t yet found out where exactly the cabin was because, bless small-town gossip, any strange person or vehicle seen on any of the side roads quickly became a topic of discussion of the coffee table in the back of Betty Burns’ convenience store. Pat had taken to starting his day joining what the women of the valley fondly referred to as the Coffee Club. Its members were the ranching patriarchs of the valley and several of the older ranch hands who’d been working in the valley for longer than Pat had been alive. They kept him well informed of valley doings and were also—at his request—on the lookout for the white truck and a man fitting Adam’s description. If he so much as turned off Northstar Road, Pat would know it.

  So far, no one had even seen him. Pat was relieved to know that Aelissm was still safe at home. During the busier hours of operation at the Bedspread Inn, she was safe enough, too, because Pat was sure Adam wasn’t brazen enough to confront her with so many of her neighbors around. Particularly because most of them had guns plainly visible in their vehicles. The thought brought a smile to his face. Aeli’s neighbors were all quite protective of their own. Pat made sure he was with her at open and close, even on the days when he wasn’t working.

  Before he knew it, he was turning off the highway onto Northstar Road and his eyes took in the graceful sweep of the valley with a sense of comfortable familiarity. Washington’s tall Douglas Firs and dense underbrush were going to look strange after this place. He’d miss the wide sky, the pungent sagebrush and crystalline air. Going back was going to be hard.

  And, knowing as much as he did now about Adam Winters, the time to say good-bye couldn’t be too far off. He didn’t know yet what he and Bill and Aaron Hammond would do with the information. Besides, it wasn’t really their decision. Aelissm was the one who had suffered, so the decision should be hers. Until that choice was made, Pat would continue his vigil and vowed to enjoy his remaining time in Northstar.