I can’t let that happen, Dalton told himself. He had to summon every skill he possessed as a bodyguard in order to keep Janette safe until this was all over and she could begin a new life in whatever city she chose.
He carried Sammy back into the kitchen where Janette had already fixed a bottle for the little guy. As Dalton sat once again at the table with Sammy in his lap, she held the bottle out to him. “Do you mind?”
Dalton took the bottle and gave it to Sammy, who sucked greedily on the nipple. His innocent little blue eyes stared up at Dalton with intense concentration.
Dalton was shocked to realize if he wasn’t careful Sammy would steal his heart completely and make him remember all the old dreams that he’d once possessed.
He refused to entertain those dreams again, especially with Janette and her son in a starring role. That would only lead to a new heartache, and he wasn’t interested.
By the time they finished breakfast it was after nine o’clock. With Sammy on a blanket in the living room, Dalton picked up the phone and dialed the number for the special prosecutor’s office in Oklahoma City.
It took him nearly fifteen minutes, but he was finally connected to his old friend Trent. He quickly explained the situation and was disappointed in Trent’s reply.
“I definitely want to pursue this and talk to your friend, but there’s no way I can get to Cotter Creek for at least a week. I’m in the middle of something here that I’m hoping to tie up in the next week to ten days.”
Dalton frowned. He’d hoped to get Trent here a lot sooner…like the next day at the latest. “You’ll call me if you get free sooner?”
“Definitely.” The two men spoke for a few more minutes, then Dalton hung up.
“Is he coming?” Janette asked hopefully.
“Not for a week to ten days.”
A look of panic swept over her features. “So long? What happens in the meantime?”
A new burst of tension twisted Dalton’s guts. “In the meantime we can only hope that Brandon Sinclair doesn’t discover where you are. You know how to shoot a gun?”
Her eyes widened. “No. Why?”
He pulled his gun from his waistband. “I’d feel better if I left this here with you.”
“I wouldn’t,” she said flatly. She leaned back against the sofa, a troubled expression on her face. “As much as I hate him, as much as I fear him, I’m not sure I could shoot him.” She looked from the gun to Dalton. “I don’t know if I could really pull the trigger and kill somebody.”
Dalton tucked the gun back into his waistband. He knew that a gun was only as effective as the person who held it. “Maybe I should have Tanner or one of my other brothers keep an eye on you.”
“No, please. I feel safe here. There’s no way Sinclair can know about this cabin and I’d rather nobody else know I’m here. It’s been my experience that the more people keeping a secret, the more difficult the secret is to keep.”
Dalton nodded, his head whirling. “When I get back to town I’m going to rent a room at the motel and I’ll have one of my brothers sit on it. Maybe we can catch Sinclair breaking the law and put him behind bars before Trent ever gets here. If nothing else the ruse of the empty room might keep Sinclair focused on the idea that you’re there.”
“I’m all for any plan that keeps him as far away from me as possible,” she replied.
“I’d better get moving,” he said.
She got up and walked with him to the door and he fought the impulse to lean down and capture her lips before he left. Minutes later, as he headed back toward town, he could only hope that he could keep Brandon Sinclair at bay until Trent arrived in town.
Chapter 10
It snowed again late that afternoon and Dalton called Janette to tell her not only would the weather make it impossible for anyone to get to Nana, but also he wouldn’t be coming to the cabin that night.
She was bitterly disappointed with the length of time it would take before she could talk to Trent Cummings, with the damnable winter weather that complicated everything, but more important, with the fact that she wouldn’t have Dalton’s company for the evening.
Falling asleep the night before with him lying next to her had been heavenly. The very sound of his even breathing had made her feel safe and warm. Watching him give Sammy his morning bottle had stirred a wistful hope that she knew could only lead to disappointment.
For just a moment, as she’d scrambled eggs and Dalton had held Sammy in his arms, she’d wanted this life with him to last forever. With each moment she spent in Dalton’s company it was getting easier and easier to imagine what life with him would be like.
And that was dangerous. Dozens of times he’d said in one way or another that he wasn’t interested in a relationship. He had no desire to be a husband or a father. It was a shame, because she thought he would be wonderful at both.
She now stood at the living-room window and watched the snow falling in big fat flakes. She hoped it didn’t snow too much. She didn’t like the idea of being snowed in here all alone.
Sammy was taking a nap, the cabin was silent and she was restless, filled with an uneasy sense of impending doom. “It’s just the snow,” she said aloud, hoping the sound of her own voice would soothe her. It didn’t.
But she knew what would make her feel better. She walked over to the sofa, curled up in one corner and picked up the telephone. She punched in Nancy’s number, and the older woman answered on the second ring. “Nancy, it’s me. May I speak to Nana?”
When Nana’s voice came across the line Janette fought against a swell of emotion that momentarily clogged her throat. She hadn’t spoken to her grandmother since the night Sinclair had shown up on Dalton’s doorstep, and she realized now that she had so much to tell her.
“Are you still at Dalton West’s apartment?” Nana asked.
“No, I’m in a little cabin on the West property.” She explained about the sheriff showing up, about the fire and subsequent shooting.
“Nana, I’m not leaving. I’ve decided to stand and fight him.”
There was a long moment of stunned silence. “You know I’ve always supported you in every decision you’ve made,” Nana said. “And I’m proud of you for wanting to fight him, to bring him to justice. But, I’d be lying if I told you this is what I want for you. I’m scared for you, for Sammy. Are you sure you’re making the right decision?”
Janette wanted to laugh. Was she sure? Definitely not. She was filled with trepidation and doubts. But despite her fear and doubts she was committed to doing what was right.
“Of course I’m nervous and afraid. But Dalton believes me. He believes my story and he knows a special prosecutor who handles cases like this. Nana, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, afraid that Sinclair will find me, will find us. I want him to pay for what he did to me.”
A swell of anger tightened her chest. “Nana, I’m not sure I’ll ever be whole if I don’t do this.”
“Baby, if this is what you need to do, then do it. You know I’ll stand right beside you,” Nana replied.
For the next few minutes Janette explained to her grandmother about moving to the safe house in Kansas City. “I’m not doing that,” Nana argued with a touch of her legendary stubbornness. “I’m perfectly fine here with Nancy and I’m not going to go anywhere unless you’re with me.”
“But, Nana, I’d feel so much better if I knew for certain you were safe.”
“Don’t you worry about me none,” she said. “I’ve got so many friends in this trailer park, that man will never be able to find me.”
Janette wasn’t surprised by her grandmother’s vehemence in remaining where she was. She’d had a feeling she’d never be able to talk her into going to Kansas City.
“Janette, honey. I’ll leave Sandstone when this is all over and the three of us can go someplace new, if that’s what you want. But, in the meantime I’m staying put right here where I’m at least close enough to you
to get to you in a half an hour.”
“Somehow I had a feeling you’d say something like that,” Janette said dryly.
“Do you trust this man? This Dalton West?”
“With my very life,” Janette responded without a second thought. “More important, I trust him with Sammy’s life.”
“Then that’s good enough for me.”
“He’s a wonderful man, Nana. He’s smart and kind. He can make me laugh and he makes me feel smart and pretty.”
“Don’t you go getting your heart all twisted up in this,” Nana warned softly. “Dalton is helping you bring a bad man to justice, but that doesn’t mean he’s making a place for you in his life.”
“I’m aware of that.” Hadn’t she spent most of the morning reminding herself of that very fact?
The two talked for a few more minutes then finally Janette said goodbye and hung up. Don’t you go getting your heart all twisted up in this. Nana’s words whirled around and around in Janette’s head.
It was too late for the warning. She got up from the sofa and walked once again to the window to stare out at the falling snow. Her heart was already twisted up with Dalton.
She wasn’t sure how it had happened, that in the space of so few days her heart could get so tangled up. But she knew she was precariously close to falling completely and irrevocably in love with Dalton West.
She drew a deep sigh. This cabin was so isolated. She’d never known such darkness as that which came with nightfall here. Last night there had been the faint illumination of the moon. But tonight, with the clouds, there would be no moonlight, no star shine, just deep, impenetrable darkness. If Sinclair somehow found her here, nobody would even hear her scream.
Releasing another tense sigh, she stepped away from the window and paced the length of the living room. The evening stretched out before her, empty and lonely.
The living room had a television but Janette had never been much of a TV watcher. She thought about waking up Sammy, but decided that was the height of selfishness, to wake up her infant son because she was lonely and bored.
Maybe it was time for her to get out her book bag and do a little studying. She didn’t intend to work as a waitress for the rest of her life, and the best way to get ahead was to get that GED.
She went into the bedroom and opened her suitcase. For several long moments she simply stared at the red book bag. She remembered vividly the last time she’d carried it out of the building where she’d been taking the classes.
Proud. She’d been so proud of herself for taking her future in her hands, for making the effort to change her life for the better. Now as she stared at the book bag all she could think about was what had happened on her way home that night.
As she carried the bag to the kitchen table she realized Sheriff Sinclair hadn’t just raped her body that night on the side of the road. He’d also raped her mind. He’d taken all her insecurities and thrown them in her face, telling her she was poor, stupid trailer trash.
Janette refused to allow Brandon Sinclair to define her. She’d been his victim for a brief period of time, but she wasn’t a victim anymore.
With a new burst of determination she reached into the book bag and withdrew her notebook, a study guide and her mini–tape recorder.
She punched the rewind button on the tape recorder then opened the study guide to find the page she’d last worked on. She’d loved school and it didn’t take her long to become totally absorbed in the work.
It was long after dark when she decided to fix herself a cup of tea. She punched on the tape recorder to hear the last lecture that she’d taped, then got up to heat some water for the tea.
“The United States constitution consists of a preamble, seven articles and twenty-six amendments.” A pleasant female voice filled the room. Mrs. Rebecca Winstead had been the woman working to help adults achieve their GED. The last class Janette had attended had been going over the constitution.
“Over the next couple of nights we’re going to be talking about the components that make up the document that is the supreme law of the land.”
As Janette made her cup of tea, she listened to the tape, trying to absorb everything that might be important when she eventually took her test.
She carried her cup of tea to the table and at that moment Sammy awakened. She hurried into the bedroom. “Hey, little man.” She picked up the smiling, wiggling boy and placed him on the bed to change his diaper. “Did you have a nice little nap?” she asked and efficiently took care of the wet diaper, replacing it with a clean one.
“Turn off your lights and get out of the car,” the deep male voice boomed, and Janette froze.
Sinclair. His familiar voice shot a stabbing panic through her. He was here! He’d found her! Wildly she looked around the room, trying to remember where she’d put her knife.
“Well, well, don’t we look all sexy in that little skirt?”
She frowned, picked up Sammy and stepped back into the kitchen. The hated voice came from the small recorder in the center of the table.
She stared at the tiny machine as it continued to play the sounds of that night…the sounds of her rape. Somehow when she had reached into her book bag that night to retrieve her driver’s license, she must have hit the record button.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she hugged Sammy close.
They were tears of sorrow for the innocent girl she’d been and tears of happiness because the tape was evidence, solid evidence that would put Brandon Sinclair behind bars for a very long time.
She started for the phone to call Dalton, to tell him the news, but halfway to the phone she changed her mind. She’d tell him tomorrow when he was here. It would be her surprise.
“We’ve got him, Sammy,” she whispered, and for the first time since this all began, hope filled her up.
*
Dalton sat in the West Protective Services office and stared out the window. The snow that had fallen the day before hadn’t been enough to create anything but minor problems and Main Street of Cotter Creek was back in business.
He’d called Janette first thing that morning to tell her he’d try to get to the cabin that evening. He’d come into the office in an attempt to keep his schedule as normal as possible. He didn’t want anyone noticing that he was acting out of character until they had Brandon Sinclair in Trent Cummings’ custody.
A room at the motel was now rented in his name and his brother Clay was sitting on it, watching for Sinclair to make a move. He’d told his brother only the minimum of information and that if he saw a man resembling the good sheriff trying to get into the room, he was to call Zack and Dalton.
He leaned back in his chair and frowned. He’d rather be at the cabin. He’d rather be with Janette and Sammy than sitting here wondering where Sinclair was now and what he might be doing.
Drumming his fingers against the desktop, he fought against a feeling of impending catastrophe. He had no idea why the disquiet roared so loudly in his head. He had a plan, he’d set it in motion and all they had to do was keep Janette hidden until Trent arrived in town.
Unless Sinclair knew the specific location of the cabin, Dalton couldn’t imagine how he would find it, find her. Everything was under control, and yet he couldn’t stop the worry that whispered through him. He wished Janette would have agreed to keep his gun. He wished she would have told him she was a sharpshooter in another lifetime.
It was just after noon when the door opened and Zack walked in. Following at his heels was Brandon Sinclair. Dalton narrowed his eyes.
If he’d been a dog his hackles would have risen. As it was, every muscle in his body tensed. He nodded to his brother but didn’t get up from behind the desk.
“Dalton, I understand you and Sheriff Sinclair have met,” Zack said. Dalton merely nodded.
Sinclair cleared his throat and stepped closer, a flyer in his hand. “I’ve been passing out these photos of the woman I’ve been looking for. Maybe you’ve seen her around t
own.”
Brandon Sinclair had the eyes of a predator, ice-cold, and as he looked at Dalton they were filled with a silent challenge.
Dalton took the flyer from him, gave it a cursory glance then tossed it on the desk in front of him. “Sorry, haven’t seen her.”
“She’s a bad one, Mr. West. I told your brother here, Janette Black is a danger to anyone she gets close to. I want to get her into custody before she harms anyone.”
Dalton raised an eyebrow. “I thought you told me the other night that she had already hurt somebody. Didn’t you tell me she’d killed her grandmother?”
Red splotches appeared in Brandon’s cheeks. “We don’t know for certain what’s happened to her grandmother. Initially we thought she was in the fire that destroyed the trailer where she and Janette lived, but our investigation turned up no bodies.”
“Then what exactly is it she’s wanted for?” Dalton held Sinclair’s gaze intently.
“She’s wanted on a number of charges. Theft and drug trafficking for starters. There’s also been a number of home invasions recently and we think she was involved in those.”
“She’s just a regular one-woman crime spree,” Dalton replied. Zack shot him a sharp glance. “Look, I told you the other night I hadn’t seen her, and nothing has changed, so if you’ll excuse me I’ve got work to do.” He pointedly turned his chair to face the computer, effectively dismissing both his brother and Sinclair.
“I’ve got to get the rest of these flyers handed out,” Sinclair said to Zack.
As the two men left the office Dalton picked up the flyer. The photo of Janette looked like a typical school photo. She looked younger and her hair was shorter. She’d said she’d had to quit high school her junior year. If he were to guess, this was probably the last school picture she’d had taken.
He still held the photo when the door opened and Zack came back in. He set the flyer aside. “I figured you’d be back.”
Zack sat in the chair opposite the desk and studied his brother. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“What makes you think anything is going on?” Dalton countered.
Glory, Glory: Snowbound with the Bodyguard Page 28