“Mrs. Chapman freaked out when she saw me.”
“I bet she did.”
“I made her promise not to tell anyone.” He fiddled with the edge of the blanket. “I’m worried about my family.”
Brett nodded. “I don’t blame you. Did you recognize the men who attacked you?”
“I think one of them might have been the same person who left his wallet at the ranch, but I’m not sure. It all happened so fast that I…” Dave swallowed the grief written all over his swollen face. “I couldn’t stop them.”
The heartfelt words left Dave’s throat on a sob. “I’m sorry, Brett. I shouldn’t have run off. You’re always teaching us to be respectful and listen. I messed up, big time.”
“It’s okay. We all make mistakes.” He patted Dave’s leg, hoping the small gesture made him feel better. “We can’t change what’s happened, but we can change the future. What are we going to do next?”
“I want to make sure my family and Hannah are safe.”
“Hannah?”
Dave stared miserably at him. “The men gave me an envelope. It’s on the dresser.” Tears filled his eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”
With a sense of dread, Brett pulled a handful of photos out of the envelope. His pulse raced when he realized why the intruder had been on Pat’s ranch. Someone was targeting other people close to Dave. Hannah was in most of the pictures. Without knowing it, she was just as unsafe as the rest of Dave’s family.
Brett pulled his phone out of his pocket. He needed to call her and then the police. And after that, he was taking Dave to the hospital.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Hannah threw another suitcase into the back of her truck.
“Does Brett know we’ve got the Jenkins’ wedding next week?” Claire asked.
“He’s more worried about what could happen in the next couple of days.”
Claire stacked another bag on top of the others. “I can’t believe the sleazeball who dropped his wallet took photos of you.”
Hannah jammed another bag into the back seat. “Neither can I.”
“Are you sure I need to stay on the ranch? It makes more sense if one of us stays in town.”
“The police think whoever took the photos might target you if they can’t find me. Have we got everything?”
Claire frowned at the mountain of luggage. “I’ll do a last check inside the house. Did you take the milk and vegetables out of the refrigerator?”
Hannah pointed to a cooler sitting behind the driver’s seat. “Already packed. I’ve called Mrs. Bennett and she doesn’t need us to stop at the supermarket.”
“Okay. As soon as I’ve checked the house, we’ll leave. I don’t want to get caught in the storm that’s coming.”
While Hannah waited for her sister, she cleared their mailbox. Brett had called an hour ago, insisting they stay on the ranch. For different reasons, it was the last place Hannah and Claire wanted to be. Brett and the police thought that Pat’s new security system would keep them safer than their store-bought locks. They were probably right, but that didn’t make it any easier to move their business an hour’s drive from Bozeman.
The front door banged shut and Claire walked toward her truck. They’d decided to take both vehicles to the ranch. That way, they could each meet clients and not have to rely on anyone else for transport. After the last email from Mrs. Jenkins, they’d definitely need two vehicles. The menu for the wedding was turning into a ten-course banquet. It would have been fine if that’s what the bride and groom wanted, but it wasn’t.
On Wednesday, Claire and Hannah had the dubious honor of asking Mrs. Jenkins to curb her food fetish.
“Are you ready?” Claire asked.
Hannah took one last look at their home. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s go.” And before she changed her mind, she slid into her truck and followed Claire down the driveway.
Someday, she’d probably look back on this Christmas and think what an adventure it had been. But that wouldn’t happen for a long time. With a crazy stalker on the loose, and a desperate man in prison, no one was safe.
***
“Oh, my goodness,” Hannah whispered. “Are you all right?”
Dave lifted his hand to one of his half-closed eyes. “It looks worse than it is.”
Claire handed him an ice pack. “Your nose just grew four inches longer. Believe me, Hannah and I have seen our fair share of black eyes and yours are impressive.”
Brett raised his eyebrows. “Was this while you were working in the retirement village or after you started your business?”
Hannah picked up her backpack. “Neither. It’s an occupational hazard when you have a dad like ours. I’ll be back soon to help Mrs. Bennett.”
Brett watched her leave the room with her suitcase. So far, encouraging everyone to stay on the ranch hadn’t worked that well. After a doctor saw Dave, they’d driven to his mom’s home. She’d been so shocked by Dave’s injuries that she’d packed her bags and driven her two youngest sons to Idaho Falls. She felt safer staying with her sister than being anywhere near her husband.
Thomas was staying with his family for a few days. He would be extra careful around town and call the police if anything strange happened. At least Claire and Hannah had finally agreed to stay on the ranch.
Pat came into the living room with a bowl of soup for Dave. “Mrs. Bennett told me you need to eat something. Do me a favor and at least try. I won’t hear the end of it, otherwise.”
Dave slowly sat upright and lifted the spoon to his mouth. It must have been hard to swallow anything, but somehow, he managed.
“Good boy,” Pat encouraged. “In another few weeks you won’t remember how much everything hurts.”
“I hope so,” Dave said. “Even breathing is hard.”
Brett picked up Hannah’s art satchel. “You’re doing great, Dave. If anyone needs me I’ll be upstairs, giving this to Hannah.”
Claire took off her jacket. “Tell her not to rush back. I’ll help Mrs. Bennett.”
“Okay. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to make your life easier.”
“We’ve been in worse situations,” Claire said. “Besides, I don’t think anyone will get past your security system.”
Brett hoped so, too. He’d never been more thankful that Pat had installed the best security system he could afford. All they could do now was wait for the police to do their job.
***
Hannah unpacked the last of her clothes. She wasn’t planning on staying more than a few days but, even so, the closet and wooden drawers were bulging.
“You forgot this.”
She turned around and smiled at Brett. “Thanks.”
“Claire said not to rush back. She’ll help Mrs. Bennett.”
Hannah left her satchel beside the desk and glanced around the room. “It seems strange to be back here. It’s only been a few days since I left.”
“I’m sorry about what’s happened.”
“It’s not your fault. Dave’s dad must have really upset some people.”
Brett stuck his hands in his pockets. “Money has a way of doing that.”
Hannah nodded and picked up her laptop. “Can Claire and I set up an office space on the landing? I can give you a hand to move the furniture.”
“Sure. Let me know what you need and I’ll find it.”
“We don’t need much. There’s already one desk in the corner. If you have another table and chair, that would be great.”
“Anything else?”
“No. That’s the good thing about our business. As long as we have our laptops, a phone, and an Internet connection, we can work from anywhere.”
Brett leaned against the edge of the windowsill. His eyes were almost the same soft gray as the sky behind him. Hannah blinked, pushing the random thought out of her head.
Her gaze drifted across the snow-capped mountains and open pasture. It was the kind of winter scene that had brought her and Claire to Bo
zeman. But today, unlike other days, the mountains made her feel trapped. It wasn’t great knowing someone could be looking for you.
“Are you okay?” Brett asked.
“I was thinking about Dave. Claire and I left Boston to get away from dad. Now we’re here and someone is doing exactly what he did to us. I feel like a magnet for bad luck.”
“It’s not you. People like Dave’s dad are everywhere. The only thing we can do is not let them get the better of us.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“I know. At least you’re safer here than in Bozeman. What are your plans for this week?”
Hannah thought about her sister’s spreadsheet. “Claire and I have a meeting in town on Wednesday. Everything else we can do from the ranch. The following week, we’ll be busy setting up the Jenkins’ wedding. Hopefully, we’ll be back home by then, so it won’t be an issue.”
“I’ll drive you into town on Wednesday. I can drop Pat off at the retirement village, then pick him up after your meeting.”
“You don’t need to. Claire and I can drive one of our vehicles into town.”
Brett shook his head. “It’s not going to happen. Dave was beaten to within an inch of his life and photos of you were left beside him. There’s no way you’re going anywhere on your own.”
With a resigned sigh, Hannah sat on the end of her bed. “You’re probably right. Thank you.”
“You’re giving in without too much of a fight. Are you feeling all right?”
The gleam in Brett’s eyes made Hannah smile. “Sometimes what you say makes sense. For now, I’m bowing to your superior knowledge and taking the ride you’re offering. Now it’s your turn.”
“What for?”
“To tell me what’s on your mind. You seem…unsettled.”
Brett sat beside her. “Have you been speaking to Pat?”
“No, but I’ve known you long enough to know when something’s on your mind. And I don’t mean Dave or his father.”
“Pat has decided to move to the retirement village.”
Hannah’s eyes widened. “You thought something like that might happen. It must have been a big decision for him to make.”
“He misses Ida. Did you know that she’s not very well at the moment?”
“No, I didn’t. What’s wrong?”
Brett sighed. “She’s come down with a bad case of the flu. Ida had pneumonia a few months ago and Pat’s worried it might come back.”
“The staff will keep a close eye on her.” Hannah wanted to reassure him, but she knew how hard it was when someone you loved was sick.
“I don’t know how he’s managed to be separated from her for this long.”
“When I worked at the retirement village, Ida’s eyes always lit up whenever she saw Pat. Even though she can’t talk very much, they still have a special connection.”
“It’s hard to imagine loving another person that much.”
“You’ve never been in love?”
“I thought I loved someone once, but our relationship didn’t last. What about you?”
She looked down at her hands. “I’m not that great at long-term relationships, either. Do you think there’s something wrong with us?” Hannah smiled when Brett didn’t answer right away. “Are you thinking of a polite way of telling me we’re doomed?”
“We aren’t doomed,” Brett said quietly. “We’re afraid of being hurt.”
A pain lodged itself deep in Hannah’s chest. “It’s hard letting someone close when you’ve spent your whole life keeping people away.”
Brett leaned closer. “We could learn something from Pat and Ida.”
“Maybe, but we’re not them.” Hannah ignored the pull of attraction between them. “What will happen to the ranch after Pat moves into town?”
Brett’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “One day you won’t want to change the subject.”
“But that’s not today,” Hannah said with a smile.
“I can wait.” He quickly kissed her cheek. “When Pat moves into Bozeman, he’ll leave me to manage the ranch. If I need any advice, I’ll call him. It won’t be a lot different than how the ranch operates now.”
“Is that what you want?”
Brett’s smile disappeared. “Until a few weeks ago I was happy to manage the ranch. But lately, I’ve been thinking about my future. I offered to buy Pat’s land, but he isn’t interested in selling.”
“Maybe that’s because his family has lived here for a long time. He might want to come back whenever he needs time away from the village.”
“You think settling into married life again will be more than he can handle?”
“I was thinking about Pat and Ida. They both have their own routines.” Hannah’s cell phone rang. “I won’t be a moment. I’ll just answer the phone.”
She looked at the caller display. It wasn’t unusual to see the person’s cell phone number missing. Most of their clients and suppliers had unlisted numbers. “Hello. Hannah Williams speaking. How can I help you?”
No one answered.
“Are you there?”
Brett moved closer.
“Hello?” When no one spoke, she hung up.
“Who was that?”
“I don’t know,” Hannah said. “It was a private number. They probably called the wrong person.”
Brett ran his hand around the back of his neck. “I hope so. If it happens again, let me know.”
Hannah left her phone beside her. A random, misdialed call was nothing to be concerned about. And as long as they didn’t contact her again, she didn’t have anything to worry about.
***
By Wednesday, Hannah was still jumpy whenever her cell phone rang. It was irrational to think the call on the weekend was anything other than a wrong number. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get the image of Dave’s bruised body out of her head. The police weren’t any closer to finding the men who’d hurt him, and his father was still uncooperative.
In some ways, today’s meeting with Margaret Jenkins and her daughter was the perfect antidote to her depressing thoughts. And, as they’d expected, the mother of the bride had a list of items she wanted to discuss.
“Did you find the organza bows for the ends of the pews?” Margaret asked.
Claire opened a box of samples they’d brought to the meeting. “I found them in San Diego before Christmas.” She showed Mrs. Jenkins the pretty, pale lemon bows. “They’ll look stunning against the wooden seats.”
Margaret’s fingers touched the delicate fabric. “I’m impressed.”
Beverly, the bride-to-be, smiled at her mom. “You’ve been worried all week about these bows and they’re beautiful. Claire and Hannah know what they’re doing.”
Margaret patted her daughter’s hand. “I know, but I can’t help worrying. I want your day to be perfect.”
“It will be,” Beverly insisted. “And you’ll enjoy it even more if you don’t stress about every little thing.”
Margaret looked at her list. “You’re right. I don’t need to worry about some of these things.”
Beverly handed her mom a pen. “Start crossing out the unimportant items.”
“I’ll try.” Margaret bit her bottom lip and started deleting some of the entries. “This isn’t easy,” she muttered.
“Letting go never is,” Beverly whispered. “You can do it.”
Mrs. Jenkins looked at her daughter. Her eyes misted over. “I’ll miss you when you move to San Antonio.”
Beverly’s smile wobbled. “I’ll miss you, too, but that doesn’t mean you can stop crossing items off your list.” She pointed to the paper. “Do we really need to look at the cake topper again? Claire sent us a photo of the one the baker recommended and it’s lovely.”
With a flourish, Margaret ran a line through the entry. “If you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters.”
Hannah gave a silent cheer. She glanced at her sister and saw the same relief on her face. Marg
aret was a wonderful client, but she worried about everything.
After Margaret had gone through the list, she handed it to her daughter. “Have I missed anything?”
Beverly scanned the page. “It looks good to me.” She gave the sheet of paper to Hannah. “Can you help mom feel less worried by answering these questions?”
“I’ll do my best,” Hannah said. The first item on the list was the white doves. She’d spent a few hours yesterday trying to find doves who liked flying in the cold, but there weren’t any. “I’ve spoken to three dove breeders. Unfortunately, it’s too wet and cold for the birds to fly anywhere. However, I have another suggestion.”
She took a helium-filled silver balloon off a table. “What if each guest wrote a wedding wish on a tag attached to a balloon? I’ve color-coordinated this balloon to match the bridesmaid’s dresses, but you could have any color. After the wedding, when everyone is outside, Beverly and Craig could release the balloons into the air. It would be a wonderful end to the ceremony and create an amazing photo opportunity.”
Margaret looked at her daughter. “What do you think?”
“It’s a great idea.”
“And to the best of my knowledge,” Claire added. “No one else has used balloons like this at a wedding.”
“Let’s do it,” Beverly said. “What’s next on the list?”
Hannah crossed off the doves and moved to the next item.
As each issue was dealt with, there was a definite lightness in the air. Everyone seemed relieved that the wedding was on track and going to plan.
After a small adjustment to the seating arrangements, Margaret sighed. “I’m impressed. I thought it would be a nightmare this close to the wedding, but everything is moving along nicely.”
“It has been a team effort,” Hannah said as she slipped Margaret’s list into a folder. Without Beverly’s support, today’s meeting would have been one of those nightmares Margaret was speaking about. “Would you like another cup of coffee?”
Margaret looked at her watch. “I’d love one, but we don’t have the time. Beverly and I have an appointment with the hairdresser in twenty minutes.”
The Gift (The Protectors Book 6) Page 15