by Sharon Dunn
His experience in the wild had taught him to read the signals for when an animal would charge or run away. And something about that man gave off a dangerous vibe that seemed to say his intention was to hurt the woman. Getting her away from him had seemed the only option.
That said, Ezra had no desire to get involved with whatever trouble she’d brought with her. The slight build and soft features reminded him of his little sister. Melissa had been the only girl in a family of four boys. They’d doted on her, spoiled her, loved her. But it hadn’t been enough. Neither he nor his brothers had been aware of how controlling the man she was dating was...until it was too late. Melissa had married and moved to another state, cutting off all contact with the family.
It still broke Ezra’s heart. He hadn’t been able to protect his little sister. Was he trying to make up for it by helping this woman? He’d like to think he could have made a difference for Melissa if he’d acted earlier—but he couldn’t change that now. Helping this woman wouldn’t bring his sister back. And besides, he knew nothing about her. It wasn’t his place to interfere in her life or her problems.
He glanced into the rearview mirror one more time. She was scared and alone. He could at least give her a ride into town. His kindness didn’t need to extend any further than that.
He slowed down as he entered the city limits. He drove past a pizza place full of late-night activity, along with offices, art galleries and boutiques. Discovery was known as the gateway to Yellowstone Park, but the town was surrounded by wilderness. People bought vacation homes here to take advantage of the skiing in winter and hiking in the summer. The core population hovered around fifty thousand.
He pulled up beside the Jefferson Expeditions office. After coming to a stop, he turned to face the people in the van. “Okay, folks, get a good night’s sleep. The Black Bear Inn is just across the street. Those of you doing the weekend school, my partner, Jack, will meet up with you in the hotel lobby at 0900. The people signed up for the one-week school will meet me back here at 0800 so we can get you equipped and go over some survival basics.”
The blonde woman looked away, refusing to make eye contact. Doors were pushed open, and people eased out of the van. Ezra opened the hatch and pulled out suitcases.
He handed Jan her suitcase.
“That’s the last time you are going to carry our luggage for us, right?” she joked.
Ezra shook his head and laughed. “You’ll have fun, trust me.”
One by one, the clients headed up the sidewalk, the wheels of their suitcases bumping over the concrete. The blonde woman was not with them. When he looked around, there was no sign of her. He shrugged off a nagging sense of worry for her. He’d gotten her safely to town. She could probably take care of herself now. Besides, he’d be heading off to the wilderness in the morning—the last place a city girl like her belonged. Surely he’d done all for her that he could.
TWO
Clarissa slipped down the first alley she came to. She didn’t want to involve Ezra any further in this tangled mess. Maybe it was just because she had been on her own since she was fourteen, but she’d gotten into the habit of not expecting help from anyone. She could fix this by herself. She’d find another job. She’d get a new start somewhere else.
She shifted her handbag to her shoulder and walked on. Maybe she should go to the police. And tell them what? she wondered. They couldn’t fix what had taken place in California.
She had a natural distrust of the police from her teen years, and knowing that the police had been dismissive of her claims in California made her worry that they would do the same here. Really, she had known from the moment Max fired her that she should cut her losses rather than try to take on the legal and financial resources Max had access to. She just had no idea he would go so far as to send Don after her. It didn’t make any sense. Why couldn’t Max be happy with her leaving the state? Why did he want her to come back?
She stepped out onto a side street. Things looked different after ten years. But then, she supposed she was different, too. For one thing, she’d found faith in the time since she’d been gone. And that reminded her of the friend who had helped with that—a friend she hoped could help her again now.
Sondra had been a maid employed in Max’s house. Because she had started out on Max’s cleaning crew, Clarissa had felt a kinship to her. But Sondra had been more than a friend. She was the person who had taken the seeds of faith that had been planted in Clarissa ten years ago, when she’d been a scared, pregnant teenager here in Discovery, and helped them flower. Clarissa had witnessed love and grace at Naomi’s Place, a home for pregnant teens, but it had taken a decade for the message to sink in. And it never could have happened without Sondra.
She’d been fired about the time Clarissa had gotten her promotion. Sondra had cleaned Max’s office on a Tuesday, when it was supposed to be cleaned on a Wednesday. Right before she’d left, Sondra had pressed a piece of paper with her phone number and address on it into Clarissa’s hand. “If you ever need anything, give me a call.”
At the time, Clarissa had wondered why Sondra’s words were so filled with desperation. As someone who worked in his mansion, maybe she had known what kind of man Max really was.
Clarissa wandered through the town, trying to remember the location of things. First, she needed to find a safe, quiet place to call Sondra. The streets were nearly abandoned at this hour and most places were closed. Her heart squeezed tight as anxiety returned. Would Max’s thug follow her here? He must have figured out she was in the van. It would take him a while to get a rental car or taxi. That bought her some time.
Why had she come back to Discovery anyway? She’d stood at the airport counter in LAX. The attendant had asked her where she wanted to go, his gaze heavy and demanding. She had blurted out Discovery without thinking.
Sondra lived about a day’s drive away, in Wyoming. Glancing nervously up and down the alley, Clarissa pulled out her phone and searched for the crumpled piece of paper. She walked a couple more blocks until she spotted a coffee shop. She ordered a herbal tea and found a secluded booth away from the only other patrons. The posted hours said they closed in twenty minutes.
She stared at her phone. It was late. Would Sondra even pick up? Clarissa pressed the numbers and put the phone to her ear.
“Hello.”
She let out a sigh of relief when she heard her friend’s voice. “Sondra, it’s me, Clarissa.” She gripped the phone a little tighter. Asking for help had always been hard for her.
“Hey, kiddo, it’s good to hear from you.”
The welcoming tone in Sondra’s voice made Clarissa smile. Sondra had been a true friend. Clarissa wasn’t sure why Sondra called her kiddo; they were maybe ten years apart, but it made her feel cared for, as if she was someone Sondra wanted to look after.
“So what’s going on?” she asked.
Clarissa closed her eyes and thought through what she would say. “I’m in some trouble. It’s Max.” She opted for the shorter version of what had happened. She could give Sondra the full details later. “He fired me, and I’ve left California. I don’t have a car.”
Sondra hesitated in answering. “Where are you now?”
“I’m in Discovery. I remembered where you lived, so I called.” Clarissa tensed, half expecting her to say the drive would be too much trouble.
“I can be there in seven hours. I’ll leave right away. Tell me where to pick you up at.”
Clarissa felt a rush of gratitude. “Oh, Sondra, thank you so much.” She thought about possible meeting places. “There’s a bench outside the Black Bear Inn downtown. I’ll be sitting on that.”
“See you then,” Sondra said. “And kiddo, it’s good to hear your voice.”
Feeling a sense of hope, Clarissa shut off her phone. Now all she had to do was find lodging for the night. She opened he
r handbag. In an effort to get away from Don, she’d left her checked baggage at the airport, but at least she still had her wallet. In it was enough cash to pay for a hotel room.
She finished her tea and left the coffee shop. She turned the corner, back toward the Black Bear Inn. As Ezra’s van had come into town, she hadn’t noticed any other hotel within walking distance. If she hurried, she could get checked in before Max’s thug showed up. Far better than wandering the streets trying to find a different hotel. Staying outside would only make her vulnerable. Though it was several blocks away, she could see that the lights in Ezra’s office were still on. The memory of what he had done for her brought some guilt to the surface. She really did need to thank him for his kindness.
* * *
Ezra pulled some food and other supplies from a cupboard in a back room, then worked his way around stacks of boxes in the hallway. The office was more of a storage space for backpacks, tents and other supplies than it was an office. Surrounded by packets of dried food, his computer was barely visible on the desk.
“My conscience wouldn’t let me leave without saying thank you. The light was on, so I...”
Ezra whirled around to face the petite blonde woman. She must have come in when he was in the back room. Her voice had a soft, hypnotic quality, like wind rushing through trees.
He placed the boxes of supplies on the desk. “Yeah, sure, no problem.” A war raged within him. He still had a lot of prep to do before morning, and the last thing he needed was a woman bringing trouble with her. At the same time, when he looked at this woman, he wondered if he could have done something different so Melissa would still be in his life. He couldn’t undo what had happened with his sister. His conscience would be clear if he knew he’d done everything he could for this woman.
She pressed the large handbag she’d brought with her closer to her body. “I wanted to thank you for your kindness, is all.”
She stood before him, the blouse and tailored jacket a little disheveled. Her blue eyes held a pleading quality.
“What is your name?”
Her expression softened. “Clarissa.”
He stepped toward her. “Listen, Clarissa, I don’t know what is going on with you and that guy who was looking for you. I can take you up to the police station if that would help.” He pointed in that general direction.
“No...” She took a step back and a wall seemed to go up around her. Panic coated her words. “I’ll be all right. I’m...I’m meeting someone tomorrow.”
Again, he wondered what she was afraid of, and why the man was after her. That she didn’t want to go to the police made him a little suspicious. Maybe she wasn’t the fragile innocent she projected. “Are you sure? I know some of the local guys. I’m positive they’d help you out...whatever the trouble is.”
“This isn’t a police matter.” She seemed to grow more upset with each word. Shaking her head, she took another step back. “Please, I just wanted to thank you for getting me into town.” She turned and pulled the door open. He heard her hurried footsteps on the sidewalk as the door eased shut.
He had offered help, and she had refused. There was nothing more he could do. He had to let it go.
* * *
Clarissa made her way up the street. A cluster of people spilled out of a steak house. Laughing and talking, they skirted around her on the sidewalk. She glanced back, half hoping to see Ezra. His concern had been so unexpected, she found herself drawn to him. The lights in his office clicked off, but he didn’t come out. There must be a back door to the office, likely one that led to a parking area with his personal car.
She made her way across the street. The lobby of the Black Bear Inn was still illuminated. She’d used up precious time in saying thank-you to Ezra—time Don could have used to reach Discovery—but her conscience wouldn’t allow her to leave town without letting him know that he had done the right thing by sticking his neck out for her.
A rental car eased down the street, as though the driver was looking for something.
Clarissa’s breath hitched, and she took a step back. Blood whooshed in her ears.
Max’s hired muscle got out of the rental car, his narrow-eyed gaze slicing through her. He slammed the door and bolted toward her.
She kicked off her high heels. Adrenaline charged through her as she ran barefoot up the side street. The people from the steak house had gotten in their cars and driven away. No one else was around. When she ran past the coffee shop, it was dark. Maybe she could double back and slip into the safety of the steak house.
She willed her feet to pump harder, not daring to look over her shoulder. She ran past a library with darkened windows, and into a park. With her heart pounding, Clarissa made her way toward the playground equipment. She charged up the stairs of the slide and slipped into the tiny enclosure at the top, pressing her knees against her chest. Breathless from her run, she struggled to stay silent.
She closed her eyes and waited, listening. Had she shaken him off? Gradually, her breathing slowed to normal. She leaned back against the hard metal of the enclosure. She relaxed a little.
And then she heard it—the crunch of a footstep on the wood chips that surrounded the playground equipment.
Clarissa froze, holding her breath. She could hear him moving around the area. His footsteps faded and then grew louder. She recognized the distinctive sound of a foot touching metal. He was coming up the steps. She swung around and pushed off down the slide. Her feet hit the ground, and she took off across the rolling hills of the park, back toward downtown. She could hear him now, his footsteps rapid and closing in.
She ran harder. Rocks bruised her bare feet.
Don grabbed her arm and yanked her back. She swung around, hitting his face with her purse. He grunted and let go. She turned to run, getting only a few steps before she felt the weight of his hands on her shoulders, taking her down. Her stomach impacted with the ground, knocking the wind out of her. She pushed up on all fours and tried to crawl away, but he grabbed her foot. Clarissa flailed, trying to kick free.
“Quit it,” he growled.
She kicked his arm. She wasn’t giving up without a fight. He moaned from the pain, grabbed hold of her wrists and jerked her up. She twisted from side to side, seeking to break free.
“Stop it, I said.” His breath smelled of cigarettes.
She stilled, catching her breath and trying to come up with her next move. She had to get away from this man. “I’m not going back to California.”
Don chuckled. “No, you’re not.” His voice was sinister. “You know what Max liked about you? That you had no family. No one to notice or care that you were gone.”
He let go of her wrists. She crab-walked backward. He lunged at her, wrapping his hands around her neck. Fear shot through her. She scratched and pulled at his wrists, but he pressed harder. She struggled for air as she clawed at his forearms and then tried to pry his fingers off. She saw spots before her eyes. The air left her lungs.
Up the hill, headlights cut a swath of illumination across the park. The car came to a stop and laughing teenage voices filled the still night air.
The thug loosened his grip on Clarissa’s neck. She gasped for air. The teenagers were headed toward them. One of them shouted, “Hey, what’s going on there?”
Don let go of her neck altogether. She flipped over and took off running. She could hear the thug talking to the teens, telling lies, no doubt. She headed down the hill toward the library. It was closed, but the building might offer a nook or cranny where she could hide.
Max’s henchman wasn’t going to give up, but he wouldn’t try anything as long as she was within screaming range of the teenagers. She’d never in her life been so glad for teenagers ignoring park curfew rules.
She slipped into a dark alcove in the library exterior wall, pressing hard against it.
He wouldn’t see her here. Moments later, she heard his footsteps on the concrete walk. The noise faded slowly. Her fingers touched her neck. Warm tears formed.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She wouldn’t give in to crying. She was a fighter, a survivor. She would get out of this alive. Clarissa squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She waited at least ten more minutes before stepping out of the shadows and walking toward the lights of downtown.
She stayed alert, looking from side to side and listening for footsteps. Of course, Don would return to the street where he’d parked. Still, the Black Bear Inn seemed like her best option. Staying on the street looking for a hotel only increased the odds of him finding her again. Somehow she’d managed to hold on to her purse, all she had in the world. She could afford to get a room for the night.
She walked one block past Main Street and then circled back to the inn until she found a side door. Pausing outside, she straightened her clothes, buttoned her blazer and ran her fingers through her hair.
The lobby held a warm glow. She walked toward the check-in desk, where a college-aged man hunched over a notebook computer. If she looked out of sorts, he gave no hint of it in his expression, and he didn’t stare at her bare feet. She appreciated his professional demeanor.
“Can I get a room, please?”
“We have one single left,” he said.
“That would be fine.”
He pulled a key off the wall and slid it across the counter before shifting over to the hotel computer. “It’s eighty dollars a night. How will you be paying?”
“Cash.” Clarissa opened her purse and stared down at the pile of bills. The day she’d left California, she’d gone back to Max’s house to plead with him to drop the charges and give her the money she was owed. He had not been home, but his wife had been. When Stella Fitzgerald found out how Max had ruined Clarissa financially, she’d given her some money from their personal safe. Clarissa pulled out four twenties and handed them to the clerk.