Trained to Protect

by Linda O. Johnston

  “Right,” Elissa said.

  Perry had been arrested and charged with a number of things, the most serious being the murder of Jill Jacobs. But he was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon and more regarding his attack on Elissa.

  She had related to Detective Vince Vanderhoff her entire conversation with Perry, or as much as she could remember considering how frightened she had been. That included what he’d said about threatening the parents of other children who’d had therapy dog sessions at the SLO hospital where she’d provided some of them. The San Luis Obispo police were cooperating and questioning all of those people.

  Elissa’s name would hopefully be cleared.

  Plus, Adellaide Willmer had agreed to come to Chance to be questioned about her ex, as well. From what Elissa had heard, Adellaide had sounded shocked, when she was contacted, about all that Perry had allegedly done, although she seemed willing to discuss him and their relationship—and had given the impression that Perry had always been difficult and even acted mentally deranged sometimes.

  They talked about that, too, over their drinks. Then Doug said, “So once this is all resolved, you’ll be cleared of wrongdoing against those kids, too. Guess you could get your job back at the San Luis Obispo hospital, right?” He sounded casual, but there was a look in his eyes as he regarded Elissa that caused her to think he really wanted a negative answer.

  She gave it to him.

  “I possibly could, but I’ve got other ideas.” She had pondered the options, even wondered if her employers there might consider apologizing now that the truth was known. She decided not to follow up on that, though.

  “What ideas?” Doug asked, his tone now suggesting he was very interested.

  “Well, I called Sonya’s friend Petra yesterday, the head nurse at the Chance Hospital, and went in to see her. We talked about more dog therapy sessions and training, and I asked her about whether I could apply for a nursing job. I told her about all that had been going on and my reason before for needing to take a most likely permanent leave of absence from the last one, and she said they’d been looking for a new pediatric nurse. No guarantees yet, but she sounded as if they might officially interview me first, then possibly make me an offer.”

  “Hey, that’s great.” Maisie lifted her glass to toast Elissa. Elissa clinked her wineglass against it, as well as against Doug’s mug of dark lager. His grin bisected his handsome face as if he was really pleased.

  Well, so was she—especially at his reaction.

  “Plus,” Elissa said, “I’ve related all of this to Amber, Evan and Sonya. They sounded shocked at what happened, and poor Amber apologized for not helping me. I assured her I realized she couldn’t have imagined what was going on. Anyway, they’re happy I’m okay—and though they’re fine if I go back to working part-time for them, they made it clear they want to work with me more with classes for future therapy dog handlers. They were really apologetic about half the members of my first class.

  “Evan promised to teach me more about general dog training, too, so I can be his assistant at first and then give classes of my own later. They might have their computer person record some of my lessons for the ranch website. And they both might want my input on therapy dogs and their handlers in the book they’re writing.”

  “So it sounds as if you will be in Chance for a while,” Maisie said, looking at her brother.

  Elissa hadn’t been sure at first, but she definitely liked Maisie now.

  And Doug?

  He gave a mock scowl toward his sister as if to get her to stop her teasing, then said, “Looks like Chance still needs our K-9 handler skills, so I’ll be around for a while, too.”

  “I’m counting on it,” Elissa said.

  A short while later they’d all finished their drinks. Doug paid the bill despite Elissa’s offering to and then they all walked outside with their dogs beside them.

  “So I guess Griffin and I will be on our own tonight,” Maisie said to Doug as they stopped beside her car in the parking lot. Both Murrans had driven there separately, as had Elissa.

  Elissa hoped Maisie was right—but figured her brother would follow his sister home to avoid any embarrassment.

  The opposite was true. Instead, Doug edged up beside Elissa, after getting Hooper to sit beside tail-wagging Peace on the pavement, and put his arm around her, hugging her against his hard body. Elissa felt her insides warm immediately, believing Doug would in fact accompany her home—and not because she was in danger anymore.

  “You got it, sis,” Doug said. “You’re on your own tonight. I definitely have some plans, as long as they’re okay with Elissa.”

  He looked down at her and the way her body had reacted before was nothing compared with the sexual awareness that now pulsed through her.

  “They’re definitely okay with me,” Elissa said, and felt her smile give way to a very heated and welcome kiss as Doug’s mouth came down on hers.

  They got into their separate cars and met again at Elissa’s home, where they first took both dogs for a walk.

  “You know,” Elissa said as they stopped while Peace and Hooper sniffed grass along the sidewalk, “I’ve been wanting to thank you again for helping me, not only by saving my life—which I can’t tell you how much I appreciate—but also for believing in my innocence enough to stick up for me. A lot. Even when I’m sure you had some doubts.” She looked up at him and was suddenly back in his arms.

  “You’re very welcome,” he said against her lips. “And there’s something I’d like to talk to you about now, too.”

  “What’s that?”

  He stepped back and looked down at her. “It’s...well, I really care about you, Elissa. Maybe even more. And I can’t tell you how glad I am you’ll be staying in Chance.”

  “I care about you, too, Doug. I’m also glad I’ll be here. Do you suppose our relationship—” She didn’t finish, since Peace had moved forward and was pulling on her leash. “Heel, Peace,” she called. And of course her dog obeyed, but Elissa was sorry the moment had ended.

  Or had it? Doug was suddenly close to her again, with Hooper by his side. “You were saying...our relationship? Yeah, let’s talk about that.”

  “Yes,” Elissa said, “let’s.” He acknowledged the possibility of a relationship, too. She couldn’t help smiling.

  And suddenly she couldn’t wait till they entered her house...together.

  * * *

  Look for more books from award-winning author Linda O. Johnston coming soon.

  And don’t miss the previous title in the

  K-9 Ranch Rescue miniseries:

  Second Chance Soldier

  Available now wherever

  Harlequin Romantic Suspense books are sold!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Pregnant Colton Witness by Geri Krotow.

  Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Romantic Suspense title.

  You want sparks to fly! Harlequin Romantic Suspense stories deliver, with strong and adventurous women, brave and powerful men and the life-and-death situations that bring them together.

  Enjoy four new stories from Harlequin Romantic Suspense every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Join Harlequin My Rewards and reward the book lover in you!

  Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever and whenever you shop.

  Turn your points into FREE
BOOKS of your choice

  OR

  EXCLUSIVE GIFTS from your favorite authors or series.

  Click here to join for FREE

  Or visit us online to register at

  www.HarlequinMyRewards.com

  Harlequin My Rewards is a free program (no fees) without any commitments or obligations.

  The Pregnant Colton Witness

  by Geri Krotow

  Chapter 1

  The Red Ridge, South Dakota, autumn morning sky streaked pink and violet across Black Hills Lake. Dr. Patience Colton, DVM, took a moment to soak it all in. Nestled in the northwestern part of the state, Red Ridge—and more specifically, the town’s K9 clinic—were home to her. The only place her heart ever found peace. She committed the view of the mountains to memory, knowing there stood a good chance she’d never look at it, or anything, the same way again. It all depended upon the results of the simple test kit in the Red Ridge Drugstore bag that she clutched in her left hand.

  No one had seen her yet; none of the staff knew she was already at the K9 clinic, ready for another day of veterinary medicine. She could run—but to where? Her townhome? Her cabin in the mountains? Another state, where her veterinary license wouldn’t be valid? If the test proved positive, running wasn’t going to change it or the overwhelming implications. Running away might be an option for another person, but not her. Patience never backed down from a challenge, and what might be her toughest yet was no exception.

  She sucked in the crisp mountain air before she entered the building, hoping for a few minutes to herself to figure out if the signals from her body weren’t random.

  Fifteen minutes later, she wondered if maybe running away wasn’t such a bad idea.

  “No. Freaking. Way.” Patience’s hands shook as she spoke under her breath, staring at the test strip she’d used only minutes earlier to determine if she had skipped a period again for any reason other than stress. She stood in the restroom of the Red Ridge County K9 Clinic, her clinic, and struggled to get a grip. Locked in the staff bathroom, the weight of how her life was changing triggered a gush of tears. It had been a mistake to do this at work.

  She couldn’t be caught like this—crying over a pregnancy test result. “Calm down.” She gave herself the same advice she wished she could give her K9 patients when they were stressed.

  It hadn’t been uncommon for her to miss one or two cycles while in veterinary school and also working extra hours at a part-time job to help pay for her expenses. And the last few months had been incredibly stressful, not just for her but for all of Red Ridge. The modestly sized town was in the midst of a criminal crisis. Patience worked closely with the Red Ridge Police Department, as well as the K9 training center, the latter of which housed the clinic. So it was impossible to not be aware of the stress placed on the RRPD over the local serial killer, dubbed the Groom Killer. Red Ridge had erupted into all-out panic after the fifth and most recent groom-to-be had been murdered. With a population of thirty-five thousand, it made for a lot of fear in the air.

  She grabbed ahold of the sink counter, her fingers crushing the cardboard box that she’d pulled the test kit from. It had felt odd sneaking into the local drugstore and purchasing three magazines, a candy bar and a ginger ale along with the test, as if the cashier wouldn’t notice the box. As if she probably hadn’t told all of Red Ridge by now that Dr. Patience Colton, DVM, could be knocked up. That was the problem with being an heiress to the richest family in a small town in South Dakota. Everyone knew your business.

  As a K9 veterinarian, she prided herself on her steady hands and the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure. But her cool demeanor, practiced almost since birth, had shattered. All for one night of incredible sex with the sexiest bachelor in town.

  Nash Maddox. They’d seen each other plenty since their sexual healing rendezvous three months ago. Nash was a K9 police handler on the RRPD and they often trained the dogs together. The heat that had passed between them a few months ago was still there whenever their eyes met, and she’d been tempted to ask him if he’d consider breaking their promise that their night together be a one-time-only event. But just as she’d get her nerve up, another crisis would hit the community and they had to save lives. Nash and his K9 partner, Greta, saved humans, while Patience saved dogs and other animals.

  Maybe assigning blame for her predicament would help her anxiety. She tried to stir up some animosity toward the man who’d unwittingly gotten her pregnant, but couldn’t. They’d used protection, but it obviously wasn’t 100 percent. Nash wasn’t only the sexiest man she’d met in forever, but he was the consummate gentleman. He’d even agreed with her that their affair would be short-lived, with no emotional strings attached.

  A sharp rap on the restroom door snapped her out of her misery.

  “Dr. Colton? Are you there? We have an emergency surgery en route. Gunshot wound. Canine, civilian.” As though through her favorite jar of apple jelly, Patience heard her veterinary assistant’s voice, but couldn’t shake off the shock of finding out she was pregnant.

  Pregnant with Nash Maddox’s baby. Would it look like him? The tall, muscular blond officer had the most beautiful hazel eyes. They’d be perfect whether the baby was a boy or girl. Whether they had Nash’s sandy hair or her own brunette.

  More rapping, this time louder. “Patience?”

  “I’ll be right out, Grace.”

  As much as it was a total shock, she felt she needed to mark the occasion somehow. Patience quickly washed her hands and then pulled her phone out of her pocket. She made a note of the date and time, and was startled by the sudden flash of her future that her mind conjured up. Telling her child exactly when she’d found out he or she was on the way into the world, and how she’d felt about it.

  It was at this moment that she knew she was keeping the baby. Nash had a lot of his own family issues and she was certain having another child on top of raising his four orphaned half siblings wasn’t part of his plan. No matter. This was her life, and now it was going to have to revolve around a baby.

  Could she do this?

  The sound of doors slamming open, shouts of the arrival team, forced her back to the present. She sought her eyes in the mirror, used to saying a positive affirmation before jumping into a tough case. All she saw reflected back at her was the unanswerable question. Would she be able to be a better parent than either of hers had?

  * * *

  Nash Maddox groaned at the sight of the large kitchen that was the heart of the home he’d inherited when his parents had been tragically killed in an auto accident five years ago. Drips of maple syrup dotted the table and floor, pancake mix powdered the countertops, and four dirty, sticky dishes were piled in the sink. He’d been so busy getting the kids out of the house in time to catch the school bus that he’d neglected to make sure they each picked up after themselves. He had to be at work in fifteen minutes, which gave him eight minutes to straighten up. Usually Paige, the oldest at seventeen and a busy high school senior, corralled her siblings into cleaning up. Her studies and social schedule were preoccupying her again.

  “Why didn’t you tell me they’d made such a mess?” He spoke to his K9 partner, Greta, a Newfoundland. Nash knelt to meet her eyes and scratched under her chin, ignoring the profuse drool that spilled out of her wobbly cheeks and pooled onto the already sticky floor. “You are such a good girl, Greta. We’ll be at work soon, I promise.” He patted her head and she flopped her tail on the ground, her wags loud and slow. Greta was the epitome of a family dog at home, but a fierce K9 on the job. In so many ways, she’d been his anchor these last challenging years.

  Until a spectacular night with the K9 clinic veterinarian, Patience Colton. He’d not thought it possible for a woman to soak into his psyche after only one evening, but Patience had. Whenever he found his anxiety rising due to something as simple as the kids messing up the kitchen, or more seri
ous reasons, like trying to find and apprehend the Groom Killer, his mind went back to that night like a homing pigeon.

  He closed the sink drain and added liquid soap to the running water, reminding himself for the fifth time in as many days that he had to call the repairman. He didn’t have time to be hand-washing his half siblings’ endless dishes. They had a chore list that they were actually pretty good at following, but his rule was “academics first,” and with the heavy backpacks that came home, the dishes seemed to pile on. Nash was accomplished at many things, but fixing a cranky dishwasher wasn’t one of them.

  As the bubbles grew into a frothy mound, his mind flashed to the soft, very sexy rounds of Patience’s breasts. It hadn’t been the smartest thing he’d done, giving in to his needs, but he had no regrets over their one-night stand almost three months ago. A surge of protectiveness toward that night—no, toward Patience—blindsided him. It wasn’t fair to call it a one-night stand. It had been more. Or maybe he’d misinterpreted the obvious pleasure she’d enjoyed at his hands as more than the sexual release they’d shared.

  He wasn’t dating anyone regularly, how could he with four half siblings to take care of? But that night with Patience had reminded him that he needed some caretaking himself. And while both he and Patience had agreed that one night was all their lives allowed, both for time and family reasons, maybe they shouldn’t have been so hasty in their agreement. He sure wouldn’t mind seeing her again.

  A beautiful woman like Patience was probably already involved with someone else. Although she’d said she wasn’t, and that she had no plans to date anyone. She needed her personal life to remain simple, she’d said, because of the heavy demands being the K9 vet and community vet in general made on her. Didn’t they all have demanding jobs, though, in Red Ridge? The small mining town was incredibly productive for its size, and required nearly every citizen to do their part to make the municipality thrive. Besides, if Patience was anything like him, no matter how busy life got there were those moments of realizing you were missing something... Yeah, maybe he’d ask her out again. Of course, that could lead to more than he was able to handle, but he wanted to handle Patience—