Rocky Mountain Secrets: Rocky Mountain Sabotage ; Rocky Mountain Pursuit

by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

  Color unfurled across her cheeks. “Me, too. Are you game for thanking God for each other for a long time to come?”

  “Try lifelong.” He grinned.

  She smiled back, jade eyes dancing. “We could work on that.”

  “But sometime in the near future, how about a juicy cheeseburger?”

  Lauren shook her head and chuckled. “Toast and gelatin or applesauce to start with, mister.”

  Kent scowled. “Okay, but could I talk you into something more substantial first?”

  Her eyebrows rose.

  “I’m starving for a kiss.”

  “Anything for my hero pilot,” she murmured as she leaned close.

  The tenderness of her lips on his sank deeply into his heart. Yes, he understood he was signing on for an adorable, scheming mother-in-law. The sooner, the better, because then Lauren would be his wife.

  EPILOGUE

  Six Months Later

  “I’m excited and terrified at the same time,” Lauren told her mother, who was sitting across from her in Kent’s new Challenger 350 charter jet.

  His insurance had finally done the right thing and replaced his plane.

  “I don’t blame you for either emotion,” Mom answered with a smile and a pat on Lauren’s knee. “But I can’t think of any two people more deserving.”

  Lauren wrinkled her nose. “You’re a bit prejudiced.”

  Mom laughed. “Can’t blame a mother for that.”

  Lauren inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly as she allowed her attention to drift toward the window. Bright sunshine illuminated the beehive of traffic and the structures below that were Washington, DC. They were descending toward Dulles International Airport in preparation for landing.

  “Everyone doing okay back there?”

  Kent’s strong, deep voice from the cockpit sent a thrill through Lauren.

  “We’re doing great,” Mom answered. “Very smooth flight, as usual.”

  Lauren grinned. She and Kent had been a couple ever since the rescue, and her appreciation of him had done nothing but grow. He was the real deal—solid and dependable. Actually, in her opinion, he alone should receive the Presidential Citizens Medal, rather than sharing the spotlight with her this afternoon at the award ceremony.

  Not that either of them cared about the recognition. It was just something that happened in this day and age when extraordinary events like what had taken place in Trouble Creek occurred.

  The media storm had been a mind-bending ride. One that wasn’t over yet, but it hadn’t been entirely terrible. Public fascination with their ordeal and the capture of a wanted fugitive had given rise to a wide variety of news agencies and other communications companies courting them for interviews and book and movie deals. Unsettling to the quiet life they both preferred, but good things were happening as a result.

  Lauren and Kent had engaged the services of a Christian agent to help them deal with the intense scrutiny—not in order to leverage the attention for personal gain, but to carefully and wisely manage their time and their choices for media exposure. So far, they had done a smattering of tastefully orchestrated interviews, signed a book deal with a publisher whose reputable ghostwriter would do fine things with the story and allowed a Christian-based production company to option the movie rights.

  Whatever anyone else chose to believe about their much-touted courage, Lauren and Kent wanted the glory for their survival to go to God, not their human efforts. In addition, the profits from the book and the potential movie were set up to funnel into a foundation to help victims of white-collar crime get back on their feet. Too often these innocent people were suddenly left destitute and without hope of recouping even the smallest portion of what had been stolen from them.

  Lauren turned her head and smiled at the freshly minted director of that foundation. She couldn’t think of anyone more ideally suited in temperament and experience to oversee the operation of the charitable organization than her mother. The responsibility was already proving therapeutic for her.

  In a few short minutes, Kent brought the plane into a smooth landing, and Lauren unbuckled her seat belt in preparation to exit.

  “Hold it!” Kent’s urgent tone froze her in place. “Hang on a minute.”

  He emerged from the cockpit and stepped toward her, looking smart and professional in his pilot’s uniform of black slacks and white shirt, but his face was grim and pale.

  Lauren’s heart plummeted. “What’s the matter?”

  Mom swiveled toward him, eyebrows raised.

  “Nothing.” Kent stopped beside Lauren’s seat and gazed down at her. Those gray depths still managed to make her feel swept away into the clouds. If only this moment didn’t suggest a storm was coming from somewhere.

  “Well, I hope nothing.” He shifted from one foot to another, his gaze sliding away toward the roof of the plane.

  “Kent Garland,” Mom said, rising, “I’ve never seen you unsure of yourself. What on earth is going on?”

  Color crept from beneath the collar of his shirt and up onto his chiseled cheekbones. “You’re right.” He looked at them. “I’m sorry. I’m scaring you with my jitters, and that’s the opposite of what I intend.”

  “What do you intend?” Lauren stood and met his gaze.

  “I can’t wait,” he said. “I meant to hold off until tonight after the banquet, but I think I’ll go nuts if I don’t know your answer before we do all the pomp and circumstance.”

  “Shall I step outside while you talk to my daughter?” Mom asked.

  Kent flickered a smile in her direction. “No, that’s fine. You should be here for this.”

  Lauren frowned and shook her head. “Do you mind helping me escape the pins and needles with a little explanation?”

  “Okay.” He nodded. “Just don’t laugh at me or think this is too corny, but I’m going to be old-fashioned.”

  He grabbed both of Lauren’s hands in a firm grip and went down on one knee.

  Mom gasped.

  Lauren gaped.

  Kent’s gaze captured hers with sober intensity. “Lauren Carter, I love you more than my next breath. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife at the earliest possible moment?”

  Stunned, Lauren slid a glance toward her mother.

  “This has to be your choice, dear,” Mom said, hands spread, palms up.

  A brilliant smile crept from Lauren’s heart onto her face. “There is no choice. It’s a done deal. I love you, Kent Garland, and I can hardly wait to be your wife.”

  A bass whoop left Kent’s lips, and he lunged to his feet, pulling a small velvet-covered box from his pocket. A gold ring topped with the glitter of a large diamond in a cluster of smaller diamonds made its way onto the appropriate finger.

  Before she could examine the precious symbol of forever, Lauren found herself crushed in a happy embrace, warm lips on hers. She gladly answered Kent’s kiss, as sweet peace and total trust mingled with the excitement of the new chapter opening in her life. Their life...together.

  * * *

  Rocky Mountain Pursuit

  Mary Alford

  Mary Alford was inspired to become a writer after reading romantic suspense greats Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Soon, creating characters and throwing them into dangerous situations that tested their faith came naturally for Mary. In 2012 Mary entered the Speed Dating contest hosted by Love Inspired Suspense and later received “the call.” Writing for Love Inspired Suspense has been a dream come true for Mary.

  Books by Mary Alford

  Love Inspired Suspense

  Forgotten Past

  Rocky Mountain Pursuit

  Deadly Memories

  Framed for Murder

  Standoff at Midnight Mountain

  Grave Peril

  Visit the Author Profile p
age at Harlequin.com.

  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

  —Isaiah 40:31

  To the men and women of our armed forces who risk their lives daily so that we might enjoy the freedom that we do today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifice.

  Contents

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  EPILOGUE

  PROLOGUE

  A thunderous rap on her front door jerked Dr. Reyna Peterson’s attention from the letter she’d been reading seconds earlier. Her heart slammed against her chest at the ominous tone of the knock. It was almost eleven at night and she wasn’t expecting company so late.

  The pounding grew louder and more demanding. Whoever was out there wasn’t going away. Reyna shoved the letter into the pocket of her robe, flipped on the outside light and inched the curtains apart. Three extremely menacing-looking men dressed in suits stood on her front porch. She didn’t recognize any of them.

  If it weren’t for the unsettling contents of Eddie’s letter warning her this moment might come, Reyna might not have thought anything unusual about the men on her porch. But now, coupled with the events leading up to her husband’s death, she wasn’t so sure.

  She glanced around the living room as the banging was followed by an angry voice, demanding, “Open the door, Dr. Peterson. Now. Federal agents.”

  Don’t trust anyone from the government, Eddie had warned in the letter.

  The door rattled in someone’s grasp. Were they going to break the door down? Her chest constricted with fear. Reyna grabbed the phone to call 9-1-1, but what the man said next had her ending the call before she placed it.

  “This is about your husband, Dr. Peterson, and what he stole from his country. If you don’t want to be charged as a coconspirator to treason, I suggest you open the door.”

  Every instinct inside of her warned against it, but in her heart she knew she had to find out what they were accusing Eddie of stealing, because she had a feeling she knew already.

  “Please, Lord, protect me,” she whispered under her breath. Her fingers shook as she slowly unlocked the dead bolt. Before she could open the door, the men burst inside without invitation. The door hit Reyna in the shoulder and sent her stumbling backward. She almost lost her footing.

  Now she was truly terrified. Three strange men were in her house and she was alone.

  “What do you think you’re doing? You can’t just barge in here without invitation—”

  “We can,” interrupted the man who had spoken earlier. He was obviously the leader.

  “Who are you?” Her voice wobbled over every syllable. Truth be told, she was shaking all over. Their intimidating stance petrified her and they were obviously armed. She could see a gun tucked inside the leader’s jacket.

  He dug in his pocket and pulled out a badge. “Agent Martin. Intelligence.” He flashed it briefly in her face, but she was so rattled she didn’t have time to read his name much less verify the details he’d given her.

  “It’s late, Agent Martin. Why are you here?”

  He moved threateningly closer and into her personal space. Reyna took an involuntary step backward and the edge of his mouth quirked upward in obvious satisfaction. “I told you this is about your husband.”

  “My husband is dead...”

  Agent Martin’s steely glare showed no reaction. “Your husband is dead because of his allegiance to a terrorist organization. Your husband was a traitor.”

  His words struck like blows. “That’s not true!” she exclaimed.

  The smug grin on Agent Martin’s face confirmed he had something to back up those words. “I assure you it is. Peterson took a laptop containing highly confidential government documents and we want it back.”

  He motioned to the two men with him and they began searching the room, tossing her personal possessions everywhere.

  Reyna couldn’t believe what was happening. “What are you doing? You have no right to search my home without my permission.”

  The men continued with the search as if she hadn’t spoken.

  “Not only do we have the right to search your house and confiscate anything suspicious, we also have the authority to take you into custody without giving you so much as the privilege of a phone call if you don’t cooperate. Do you want to be charged as a traitor?”

  Reyna struggled to draw air into her lungs.

  “Where’s the laptop, Dr. Peterson?” Agent Martin asked impatiently. “I’m sure your husband told you where he hid it. We need it now—otherwise, I can only assume you are as guilty as he.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But she did. Eddie’s letter had detailed where she should go to find the laptop. It had been by God’s hand that she’d received the letter from Eddie’s father that very afternoon. Ed Sr. told her he’d found it tucked away in a drawer with a note informing him to send it to Reyna if something were to happen to Eddie.

  Agent Martin practically snarled at her in response as the two men rejoined them once more. They shook their heads.

  Martin moved closer, inches from her face, his eyes seething with anger. “Enough games. Tell me where it is, Doctor. I’d hate to have to haul you in to make you talk. We have ways of getting information out of people and I promise you won’t like it.”

  She shivered at his all-out threat. He wasn’t even trying to hide it now.

  “Believe me, Doctor, these charges are real, and you’re going to want to get in front of them if you ever hope to have the chance at seeing the light of day outside of a prison cell.”

  As she looked up at him, Reyna realized she didn’t trust anything he said. There was more going on here than what Agent Martin was telling her.

  “I don’t have a laptop and you’re wrong about my husband. Eddie wasn’t a traitor. He loved his country...” She stopped when the two men came and stood behind her. She could feel their hot breath on her neck. They were going to arrest her.

  “You’re lying.” Agent Martin surmised as he continued to pin her with his gaze.

  Reyna lifted her chin. “No, I’m not.” Her fingers rested on the letter in her pocket, confirming that Eddie did at one time possess the laptop in question. If they searched her and found it, they’d make good on their promises and she might never have the chance to prove her husband’s innocence. “I know my rights, Agent Martin, and I happen to still have friends at the CIA. They’ll come looking for me. You can’t arrest me without charging me.” She silently prayed he didn’t call her bluff. After a handful of seconds ticked by in a silent standoff, Agent Martin finally nodded to the two men behind her and they strode over to the door.

  “You have two days to bring us the laptop, Doctor. Otherwise, we’ll be back and you’ll face the consequences. Serving a life sentence for treason will be the least of your worries.”

  Agent Martin slammed the door behind him and Reyna rushed over and slid the dead bolt back into place. She slumped against the door and onto the floor, her legs no longer able to support her.

  After she drew in a handful of calming breaths, she could think clearly once more. She needed help. The type of help Eddie had explained in his letter. If anything happens to me—if they come for you and threaten you—go to Defiance, Colorado. Find my former colleague, Jase Bradford.

  But finding Jase Bradford was going to prove a near impossi
ble task since he’d supposedly died from his battle injuries three years earlier—in spite of Eddie’s insistence that Jase wasn’t actually dead.

  Reyna killed the lights, crawled over to the window and glanced outside. A black Suburban was parked down the street from her house. They weren’t leaving. They were going to watch and see if she led them to the laptop. She couldn’t let that happen.

  She got to her feet and raced to her bedroom. Taking down her old suitcase, she threw as much stuff as she could fit into it and then slipped out the back door. She didn’t dare risk using her vehicle. They’d be looking for it. She’d have to borrow her neighbor and good friend Sara Dawson’s car if she stood any chance of staying out of prison long enough to retrieve the laptop and find Jase Bradford.

  As Reyna walked out into the humid Texas night, it scared the daylights out of her to think that she was risking her freedom, if not her life, on locating a man who the entire world believed was dead.

  ONE

  Reyna’s breath stuck in her throat. She clutched the steering wheel in a death grip to try to keep the tiny car from sliding off the ice-encrusted road. She was way out of her comfort zone. Truth be told, she had been since the nightmare first began.

  She slowed to a snail’s pace as an onslaught of ice and snow clung to the windshield, making visibility next to zero. The storm had continued to intensify since she’d been up on the mountain. She had never felt more terrified or alone than she did at this moment, yet turning back wasn’t an option. Behind her lay almost certain prison time—or worse. Agent Martin had all but promised as much. Still, no matter what lay ahead, she had to find out the truth. Was Jase Bradford dead or alive? Reyna believed her life might depend on the answer.

  Her eyes darted fearfully to the rearview mirror. What if the men watching her house had somehow managed to follow her here to Defiance, Colorado? She couldn’t let them find the laptop and then kill her before she had the chance to clear Eddie’s name and prove her husband had been murdered. To keep that from happening Reyna had devised a plan. After she’d called the hospital to let her supervisor know she would be taking an extended leave of absence, she had left the laptop in a secure storage facility in Eldorado, Colorado. Then she’d sent a letter to Sara letting her know where to find it if something were to happen to her.