by Cate Nolan
“Which is?”
Jackson sighed. “We were hoping you might have some clues about that.”
That again. “I don’t. How many times, how many ways do I have to say that I have nothing, no idea if Rick was hiding something? What kinds of things could they be looking for? I don’t think he was hiding drugs there. I don’t think he would have done that to me. I don’t think he would have betrayed me like that.”
Callie sank down onto a chair. “I do think he loved me in his own way, and I don’t think he would risk endangering me or my children. He cared about them, too. He used to come and do sing-alongs in the classroom. He loved spending time with them before he got involved with bad things. He would never have put them in danger willingly.” She buried her face in her hands. “At least I don’t think he would. What do I know?”
“Why don’t we go for a walk and let the cold air clear our heads? Maybe we’ll figure something out.”
“I don’t think so. It’s freezing.” She shivered, wanting nothing more than to curl up in a ball before a warm fire.
Jackson knelt to stir the embers and rebuild the fire. Callie stared at his wide shoulders and couldn’t help but think of the burden he always bore. She didn’t want to increase it. Truth be told, she wanted to be the one to lighten it.
“I’ll stop being such a wimp and brew us a pot of coffee,” Callie offered. “Maybe caffeine can help us figure out what’s going on.”
The sound of an approaching car caught Callie’s attention as she filled the coffeepot with water. She walked back into the living room and peered out behind the edge of the heavy curtain. “Jackson, there’s someone coming to the door.”
* * *
Jackson was instantly on alert and came to look over her shoulder. “Go into the bedroom and hide in the closet,” he whispered. “I’ll see what’s up. It might be completely innocent.” He didn’t believe that for a minute.
Rather than open up the house to a stranger, Jackson donned his heavy coat and boots, and slipped out the back door. He grabbed a shovel off the deck and circled the house, coming up behind the man on the porch. “Afternoon. Can I help you with something?”
The man swiveled, and the look of shock on his face confirmed to Jackson that he was no innocent visitor. Jackson leaned against the porch railing, his hand on the shovel handle, ready to use it if necessary.
The stranger stepped back down the stoop. “Name’s Wilson. I live down the road. Saw smoke from the chimney and wondered if someone had moved in. Neighbors have to stick together out here.”
Jackson nodded. He had to play this carefully, not seem unduly concerned by a visitor. “Right neighborly of you. I’d invite you in to get acquainted, but my sister is taking a nap. She hasn’t been well. That’s why Thomas let us stay here. I don’t want to disturb her.”
“No problem,” the man replied. “Just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood, so to speak. We’ll have plenty of time to visit when the weather eases. Hope you have wood stacked in—there’s a storm brewing.”
“Really?” Jackson feigned ignorance, though he had seen it on his weather app a short time ago. “Thanks for checking in on us. I’m sure we’ll be fine. We stopped at the store and stocked up to stay for a while.”
“You can find me a few miles down the road if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” Jackson offered his gloved hand, and the man shook it before heading back to his car.
Jackson stood on the porch, watching the taillights disappear in the gathering gloom. The visitor left him feeling uneasy, but the forecast was bad and he didn’t want to head out into weather that would be more dangerous than staying put. Was he being overly suspicious? Was it possible the man was exactly who he said he was?
Possibly, but coupled with the news of Callie’s apartment and school being searched, instinct said to be wary. He didn’t want to alarm Callie, but he’d keep watch and as soon as the storm was past, they’d be moving again.
As it turned out, they didn’t have that long. He’d only been on watch a few hours when they came.
* * *
“Callie,” Jackson whispered in her ear. “Wake up. There’s someone outside.”
She came awake with a jerk. “What?”
“Shh. I’ve been worried ever since the so-called neighbor stopped by, so I was keeping watch. I don’t think he was your average neighbor. They don’t usually come calling at four a.m. with a couple of friends and shotguns.”
She was wide-awake now. “What do we need to do?”
This was one of the things he loved about her. No complaints. Just a request for directions. “I’m going to go check on them again. I wanted you to have time to get your stuff together. Dress warmly. Layer up. I don’t know how long we’ll be outside, and the storm is bearing down.”
The weather troubled him. Abandoning a warm shelter for unknown dangers in a storm seemed anything but wise under ordinary circumstances, but the men outside made the wild weather seem like a safer choice.
Once Callie was ready, she came to the bedroom door. “What are you planning?”
Jackson looked thoughtful. “There’s a part of me that would like to sneak out and make a huge display and distract them so that you can make a run for it.”
“No! I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Agreed.” He was relieved to hear her say that. He’d needed to check. “Given the weather, I really don’t think we should separate. Since it’s the middle of the night, our best chance is to sneak out the back while they think we’re still sleeping.”
“Do you think they plan on attacking while we’re sleeping?”
“Probably or they would have just attacked when our neighbor came by earlier. I told him we’d be staying awhile, so I imagine they feel there’s no rush. Except to retrieve whatever their boss wants—which I’m guessing is you.”
Callie grimaced.
“Look, can we discuss it later? Right now we should concentrate on getting away before they realize we’re awake.”
He was right. “What do I do?”
“Come here.” He pulled her in front of him at the side of the window. “See that bunch of trees over there?”
He could feel her response as she breathed in. “Yes.”
“There are two men in the midst of the trees. They haven’t moved in an hour.”
“What do you think they’re waiting for?”
Much as he hated to admit it, Jackson had no idea. He shrugged as he backed away. “Maybe someone else is coming. Could be they’re just keeping watch.”
“Are you sure there’s no one else?”
“I’ve checked from every window, and I don’t see anyone. Do you want to look?”
“Okay. I trust you, but another pair of eyes can’t hurt.” Before she turned away, she noticed a movement. “Jackson,” she whispered. “One of them changed position.”
He came back to stand beside her and immediately saw that one of the two had walked around to the side.
“If it’s only two of them, would we be better off capturing them as they come in?” Callie asked.
Jackson chewed on his lip as he mulled it over. He was pretty impressed by her bravery and can-do attitude. “We could. But what if they’re waiting for someone? If more of them come, it will be too late to change our plans.”
Almost as if his words had conjured it, she heard the muffled noise of a snowmobile coming down the road.
Jackson made a quick decision. He grabbed his huge duffel bag. “Let’s get ready and head out the back while they’re distracted by the new guy’s arrival.”
“Okay, but how do we get out?”
“There’s a sliding glass door on the deck that leads to a hot tub. How are your climbing skills?”
She grinned. “I guess
we’ll find out.”
Resisting the urge to take another glance out the window, Jackson led her into the master bedroom. As they slipped out onto the deck, he heard the low rumble of yet another snowmobile. Time to move it.
Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone in the trees on this side of the house. Keeping to the shadows, away from the outside spotlights, they stealthily made their way across the deck, climbed over the railing, dropped their bags to the ground and gently eased down into the snow. Once Callie was on the ground, he followed.
He gestured to the pine trees, then whispered in her ear. “I know it will be cold, but I think we should slither on our bellies so as not to attract attention. Hopefully it won’t look as obvious as footprints.”
Once again Callie was grateful for the one-piece snowsuit he’d bought her. At least snow was only trickling in a few places. As soon as they hit the tree line, they knelt, then eased up to stand behind two trees. Jackson, wearing the duffel like a backpack, held up a hand, signaling to her to wait a few moments to be sure no one had noticed them.
He pointed his finger and they made their way from one tree to another deeper into the woods and down to the shoreline. Fortunately, the snowy sky lent a brightness to the night, helping them see their way. Once Jackson figured they were far enough away, they paused to catch their breath and reassess.
The snow was light now, but Jackson wasn’t planning on being fooled. “I saw the weather report. We have to find someplace to take shelter before it gets bad.”
“What if we hide out here for a while and then go back to the safe house once they’ve discovered we’re gone? At least we’d have somewhere warm to stay.”
“It’s tempting,” Jackson admitted. “But I think it’s too dangerous since we don’t know where they’re staying. Or whether they’ll leave. Based on how things have been going, they’ll probably decide to wait out the storm in our house and we’ll be stuck out in the blizzard.”
Callie slumped against a tree. “You’ve got a look in your eye. What are you thinking?”
Jackson smiled at her and chuckled softly. “I don’t have survivalist training for nothing. You’re going to learn to build a tree-pit shelter.”
Callie stared at him for a long moment. How much more ridiculous could this situation get? Realizing he was serious, she shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
Jackson unpacked a folding shovel from his backpack. “First I have to choose a tree.”
Callie laughed softly. “This feels like Christmas again.”
He appreciated how she kept her sense of humor. “We need bushy branches for overhead cover. Can you find some of them while I dig the hole? Don’t go farther than I can see.”
By the time Callie had finished gathering pine boughs, Jackson had dug a sizable hole around the base of the tree.
“Now what?” she asked.
“Did you notice if they had dogs?”
Callie considered it. “I didn’t see any, and I certainly didn’t hear any.”
“Good. The only way this structure will fail us is if dogs sniff us out.” Jackson continued to dig and then pack the snow around the top and inside to create a solid wall. “Help me spread the branches on the ground for cover. We’ll pull the rest over us once we settle in.”
Callie did as he asked, handing the branches down to him. She unrolled the sleeping bags from his duffel and dropped them down, too. “It’s going to be rather cozy in there, isn’t it?”
He grinned at her. “Afraid?”
“Hmm. I have to choose between tight quarters with my handsome marshal or the men who want me either dead or alive. Tough choice.”
Jackson decided to ignore the comment for now, lest his overheated reaction melt their shelter. “Throw our knapsacks down to me, then jump in.” He extended a hand to help her. “I’ll cover us up.
Callie laughed when they were settled in. “I feel like we’re sitting inside a pot.”
Their shelter did bear a resemblance to a pressure cooker, Jackson decided. In more ways than one.
“At least we’re safe from the storm and the men.”
Their gazes caught and lingered, and he knew they were sharing the same thought. Were they safe from each other?
SIXTEEN
“Jackson, since we’re stuck in here with no place to go, can I ask you a question?”
He nodded.
“What’s witness protection really like in the long haul?”
He chewed on his lip, trying to decide how to answer. “I can’t deny it’ll be tough and lonely at first. Until you can make friends. But you’re always going to hold yourself a bit aloof.”
“I’m used to holding back, but...do any of your witnesses ever marry?”
Jackson struggled not to let his shock show. There was no place here for his personal reactions. “Why do you ask that?”
“I’m just wondering if that means I’ll never have the chance. I mean, what kind of trusting relationship can you build on a lie like that about your own identity?”
Jackson wished he could reassure her. Wished he could tell her it would all work out, but there was a good likelihood it wouldn’t.
He needed to be honest. “I wish I could say yes. But I don’t know of any cases offhand. Of course once people are off our radar, we don’t necessarily know what they decide to do, so I can’t say never.”
They sat in companionable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Jackson broke the silence. “One of the things I’ve come to admire about you is your strong faith. That will get you through this. I know it.”
Callie thanked him.
“I keep saying I’m going to ask you about it. We’ve got nothing but time now. Can you share your story with me?”
Callie hesitated. “I’ve never been the kind of person who went out and talked about God all the time. My relationship with Him always felt too personal.”
Jackson looked around the tight quarters only dimly illuminated by a covered flashlight. “Only me here, Cal. I’d really like to listen. I shouldn’t say this because it’s not about our relationship, but you’ve changed me. You’ve opened up my perspective on a whole host of things.”
He shifted to move a twisted pine branch. “Your faith has gotten you through some really tough times. I’d like to learn to believe, to trust like that.”
Callie’s response was self-deprecating. “My path isn’t exactly noble or particularly inspiring.”
He stared at her.
“Okay. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. You know I had a pretty scattered life, moving from home to home. Finally, I met a friend at school who started asking me to come to her church. I did—just really so I could have someone to go to brunch with afterward.”
Jackson laughed softly. “The not-so-noble part?”
She smiled. “I know. It sounds terrible. But I was so desperately in need of family, and this church made me feel like I had one. The brunch was like the kind of Sunday meal other families shared.
“Anyway, that church was really big on community and fellowship. I started to learn more about how God wants us to be responsible for each other. Jesus’s commandment to love one another, to love our neighbor hit home with me, so I started getting more involved and the more I got involved, the better I felt about my life, my relationship with God, my friends.”
Pausing, she shifted to pull the sleeping bag a little higher. “I guess I should have realized when Rick wasn’t interested in being with my church family that something was wrong. He told me he believed, but he was always working or making excuses for why he couldn’t be with me at church or at any of our activities.”
She stopped and shook herself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go off like that. I don’t know—”
“Don’t apologize.” He r
eached out to grasp her hand. “He messed with your life. I get that it matters.” He squeezed her fingers in a gentle show of support. “Keep talking. Other than the chaplain, no one has ever really talked to me about their faith before.”
“Really? It doesn’t feel like I’m preaching at you?”
Jackson shook his head. “Not at all.”
“I’ve always felt like I could be a better testament to the Lord’s love through my actions. Words feel preachy.”
“Your words don’t. They help me to understand you.”
“I read something once that said we should try to live each day so that others see Jesus in us. I’m probably not a very good model of that, but I do try to live my life with that goal.”
Jackson realized he was still holding her hand. He laced his fingers through hers. “You’ve been that to me. I’ve learned more about Jesus and faith from you in the last week than I did in the whole of my previous life. You live your faith. That’s inspiring.” And so very attractive, but he didn’t think he had any right admitting that out loud.
They sat in companionable silence for a while. Callie was stifling yawns and he was feeling pretty drowsy himself, but him sleeping wasn’t wise under the current conditions. No reason Callie had to stay awake, though.
“I woke you from a sound sleep. Why don’t you try to nap?”
Callie didn’t even attempt to protest. She snuggled into the sleeping bag and was fast asleep almost instantly. Jackson switched off the flashlight, and huddled in his own sleeping bag. There was no danger of him falling asleep. His thoughts would keep him wide-awake.
He’d meant every word he’d said to her. He might seem like the same person on the surface, but inside, he’d undergone a deep shift since meeting Callie.
Why, Lord? Jackson caught himself. Wow. He’d slipped into that so easily. He gave the feeling a moment to settle. Thank You, Lord, for leading Callie to me. For putting her in my path. For using her to lead me back to You.