by Barb Han
“What do I need to do?”
Stephanie started toward him, but he waved her off and then washed his hands. “Give it to me one step at a time.”
“The clean bottles are there on the counter. Put a packet of formula into the bottle and fill it with the distilled water from there.” Meg pointed to the water purifier next to the bottles.
Wyatt did it, pleased with himself for the progress. At least there was one area in which he could contribute, maybe ease her burden. A burst of light penetrated the wall inside his chest. “Now what?”
“It needs to be warmed. There’s a warmer which I set on a timer after the last feeding. Put the bottle inside and the light will turn green when it’s ready.” Meg motioned toward the contraption that was smaller than a toaster.
Thirty seconds later, he was handing over the bottle to her. Thankfully, the color returned to Meg’s cheeks as she looked at her daughter, their daughter.
The hungry baby settled as soon as she got the first drop of warm liquid in her mouth, and something that felt a lot like pride swelled in Wyatt’s chest.
He didn’t normally do emotion, but there was something primal and satisfying about getting this right, providing food for his child.
Wyatt was caught between a rock and a hard place. Seeing Meg look so vulnerable was chipping away at the walls he’d constructed—walls that he had no intention of bringing down except where his daughter was concerned. But there was a kicker. Could he let Aubrey in without permanently cracking the casing around his heart?
Looking down at the helpless little bug, he knew instantly that he’d do whatever it took to protect his own, including keeping his feelings for her mother balanced. He’d been totally unprepared for the surge of attraction he felt toward Meg earlier. But that would have to stay in check.
He had to keep a clear mind in order to protect her and the daughter who’d stolen his heart from the second he’d put eyes on her. Damn. Parenting. Wyatt had never felt less prepared for any task. And a question loomed...
Could he keep all of them alive long enough to figure out who was targeting Meg and her baby...his baby, and why?
Chapter Eight
Holding Aubrey, hearing her baby’s cries, jolted Meg away from the dark pit she’d been free-falling into. She marveled at the power the little child had over her.
Trying to remember the past took a physical toll, and she couldn’t imagine doing any of this without Wyatt, either.
If she’d done one thing right in her life other than have Aubrey, it was call Wyatt when she did. He might be the added security she needed to keep her daughter safe, and Meg would make any sacrifice to put her daughter’s needs first.
Was the kidnapper from her past closing in? Or did someone else know?
“The ribbon changes everything,” she said to Wyatt as Aubrey drained the contents of her bottle.
“What else did the sheriff say?” he asked.
“That he would put every available deputy on the case and he’d like us to come in to discuss it,” she said.
“That doesn’t sound reassuring,” he admitted.
“Not to me, either. There’s been too much going on in this town,” she said. “It used to feel safe, but not anymore. It sounded like he’s rethinking his strategy in the investigation, but who knows what’s really going on in his mind.”
“You and the baby should come to Austin with me,” he said after a thoughtful pause.
“To do what?” She couldn’t see how that would help. Besides, seeing him with Aubrey made her wish for things she knew were impossible, like a real family. Watching Wyatt’s protectiveness also made her realize how much her life was about to change. Their future was going to be about shared custody and spending every other Christmas with Aubrey. The thought brought tears to her eyes, but she kept them in check. Those were good problems to have in comparison to what she faced now.
“It would keep you both out of danger until we figured this out,” he said. “Look, news that Butler is technically my father will break any day now if it hasn’t already and that’s going to bring a lot of unwanted attention to both of us. The media has been struggling to find anything worth printing, but every publication will want to be first to break the story when the sheriff finds the killer.”
“Which makes going to your place seem like an even bigger mistake,” she said. “Our every move will be chronicled and that could put us in a vulnerable place.”
He stood up, paced. “You have a point.”
“I have a couple of cases going to trial early in the new year I need to prepare—”
Wyatt was already shaking his head. “Work is going to have to take a back seat. Staying here isn’t an option, either.”
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, he was probably right about setting her caseload aside. For now. Maybe Stephanie could take over for a little while until it was safe for Meg and the baby to surface. They were most likely being overly cautious, but taking unnecessary risks with Aubrey wasn’t an option. Meg would have to figure out something for her cases, though. She couldn’t walk away from the people depending on her any more than she could turn her back on her own child.
“Then, where do we go? What else do we do? I wish I could remember the past. I could make all this go away for everyone’s sake. Most of all, Mary Jane’s parents deserved closure. I couldn’t give it to them then, and I can’t now. There isn’t squat I can do about it even though it makes me crazy and now my daughter is in danger.” Aubrey shifted position in her arms and blinked. Meg realized she was getting a little too worked up. If babies could sense emotion, she certainly didn’t want her daughter to pick up on her anxiety level.
Meg took a deep breath and refocused on her daughter’s face. Too many times in the past eight weeks she’d looked to that little angel when Meg doubted she’d be any good at being a mother. Her own had taken off when Meg graduated high school. Apparently, eighteen years with her was more than enough for the woman.
Shaking off that heavy thought, Meg looked up at Wyatt. He stood there, in her kitchen, his hip against her countertop, and there was something that looked so right about him being there. She took it as a good sign that maybe they’d be able to work together when it came to Aubrey. At least she prayed they could set their differences aside and figure out a way to coparent.
His arms were folded across his muscled chest, and the fabric of his shirt stretched over hard angles.
“I’m sorry that happened,” he said quietly. Reverently?
“Thank you,” she said.
“Someone could know that story and be trying to taunt you,” he said.
“It’s highly possible,” she admitted. “But how would they get her hair ribbon if this person didn’t take her?”
“We need to ask the sheriff,” Wyatt said. “What if I take Aubrey to Austin for a while until this whole thing settles—”
Luckily, she didn’t have to interrupt him. He stopped on his own.
“The determined look on your face as you hold her tells me there’s no way you’d ever want to be apart from her,” he supplied. “I heard what you said before but I still think my place is a good option. No one will get past security and you’d have privacy. Media aside, it’s still safer than here.”
“I don’t hate the idea. Your town house isn’t built for an infant, though,” she countered.
“My house in the hills is finished. With a few adjustments, I’m sure we could make do,” he said. “Whatever isn’t there can be ordered. Most anything can be delivered within twenty-four hours between online shopping and lightning-fast delivery.”
“I can’t even think of everything she’d need,” she admitted. “There’s so much.”
“Does that mean you’re considering the idea?” His brow shot up.
“Yes. Considering, not agreeing,” she clarified.
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“Let’s start with the basics. Where does she sleep?” he asked, and she realized that she hadn’t shown him anything in the house other than the open-concept living room and kitchen. He had a lot to learn before he could be left alone with Aubrey. The thought was strangely reassuring because it would give her more time. The thought of shared custody and holidays without Aubrey was almost unbearable.
“During the day Aubrey sleeps in a bassinet in her room. At night, she stays with me. There’s a crib but she’s usually in bed with me,” she said. The idea of getting away from Cattle Barge for a few days was growing on her. What about her caseload, though? The people who depended on her? There was no way she could let them down and his place wasn’t necessarily safer, especially once the Butler news broke. “As nice as it sounds to go to your house, I was just thinking that I need to be here for work. I’m not taking on anything new, but I can’t abandon the people depending on me.”
“What can’t be done online?” he asked.
She needed to think. Recent events, his presence and lack of sleep were clouding her judgment. She needed a good workout to clear her mind. “I can study the files and arrange services from anywhere, but I need a lot of help with the baby, and Stephanie usually takes a few feedings so I can work or take a power nap.”
“When do you actually sleep?” His brow hiked.
“All the time,” she countered, but just thinking about a soft pillow and warm blanket made her want to curl on her side and sleep for two days straight.
“Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’d have to disagree.” He folded his arms across that broad chest.
“What do you think we should do next?” she asked as she placed her—their—daughter over her shoulder and gently patted her back.
“I’m still trying to figure out our next move,” he admitted. “I see problems with going to my place, but we definitely can’t stick around here. Before this update I’d been planning to speak to Garza. See if I could get a good read on him. He seems less likely now.”
Stephanie walked into the room wearing workout pants and a hoodie.
“I’m going for a run.” She pulled an earbud out of her ear and checked her watch. “I’ll be back in half an hour or so.”
“Take your phone with you in case I need to reach you,” Meg said.
Stephanie patted the front zip pouch of her hoodie. “Got it right here.”
“Be careful,” Meg warned. “And stay warm. It’s gotten colder out there.”
Her friend nodded with half a smile. “I’ll be right back.”
Stephanie pulled the strings to tighten the hood around her face before taking off out the back door. From the window, Meg could see her friend stretching outside. She’d replaced her earbuds and her head was slightly bobbing to the music.
“Do you have family nearby?” Wyatt asked, and she realized how little she’d shared with him even though they’d dated for several months last year while she spent weeks at a time meeting with lawmakers in the capital. She knew surprisingly little about him, as well.
“I never knew my dad,” she admitted. “Mom took off after I graduated. Afraid it’s just me and Aubrey. That little girl is all the family I have aside from Stephanie, who is more like a sister than a friend. What about you? What’s going on with your family?”
“You already know who my biological father was.” He raked a hand through his bronzed curls. “Mom passed away five years ago.”
“Then we’re in the same boat as far as parents go,” she said. “The main difference is that you have brothers and sisters.”
“No, I don’t.” An emotion flashed in his eyes that gave her a shock. “I have a daughter and that’s the only family I lay claim to.”
“Didn’t you have a meeting with the Butlers the other day? What happened?” she asked.
“Nothing I wanted to hear.”
“It’s fine if you don’t want me to know,” she said a little more briskly than she’d intended. If they were going to coparent it was reasonable to learn about each other’s family history. The pediatrician had already asked questions about Aubrey’s father’s side of the family that Meg couldn’t answer.
“Believe me, there’s nothing to tell.” The bull in Wyatt came out in full force. The man had a stubborn streak.
A shrill scream pierced the air.
“Stephanie.” Meg stood and bolted for the door.
“You stay here and lock the door behind me,” Wyatt warned, blocking her exit until she nodded agreement.
Meg did as he suggested. The baby stirred. The sudden movement must’ve startled her awake, but Meg was grateful her daughter was in her arms. Any hope yesterday’s attack could’ve been random shot out the window. She scrambled to the front room and looked outside, wishing she could see something.
Pulse racing, Meg scanned the area looking for someone, something, some kind of threat. But there was nothing and her worst fears came into play. Had Stephanie been abducted?
Meg forced back the tears threatening. A sob escaped anyway. Her body shook with fear.
Nothing could happen to her friend.
For a split second, Meg wondered if the attacks were meant for Stephanie, but that wouldn’t make any sense given the ribbon. And then she really thought about it. It was her best friend who had been abducted all those years ago. And now her current best friend had been targeted. Maybe, as odd as it sounded even to her, the person behind these attacks was trying to make Meg pay by hurting those closest to her.
It was a farfetched theory, but that’s what she could come up with while this tired, even with adrenaline pumping through her body.
Aubrey belted out a cry and made a face so pitiful that Meg’s heart squeezed.
“It’s okay, sweet girl,” she soothed before feeling her daughter’s forehead. Aubrey wasn’t warm and that was reassuring. She’d caught a cold at two weeks old and that had nearly scared Meg to death. Everything had turned out to be fine, except for Meg’s nerves. She feared they would never recover, and after the events of the past twenty-four hours hope dwindled further.
Meg gently bounced up and down and that seemed to soothe the baby enough for her to close her eyes again. There was no sign of Wyatt or Stephanie, and that fact sent cold chills racing up her spine. Please be okay. Both of you.
Minutes ticked by with nothing, causing Meg’s pulse to spike with every tick toward the new hour. And then she saw them. Stephanie was being carried by Wyatt, who was almost in a dead run.
As soon as he hopped onto the porch, Meg opened the door. The blast of cold entered before they did, and Meg shivered. Seeing Stephanie sent Meg’s heart into a free fall. Her lip was busted and her cheeks were red from blunt force.
“Lock the door and call 911,” Wyatt said before setting Stephanie down on the couch.
“Is she—” Meg put Aubrey in the swing, started it so the baby would stay comforted and then palmed her cell. She punched in the three digits reserved for emergencies and listened as the line rang.
“Unconscious,” he said, and she noticed for the first time there was a lot of blood covering his hand. He moved swiftly as he went to work, locating supplies like clean towels and wet wipes. “The person who did this to her ran away when he saw me coming. He just dropped her and she went limp like a rag doll. I started to go after him, but he was too far and she was in bad shape. Plus, I didn’t want to take the chance he could somehow get to you and the baby before I got back. I don’t know this area well enough, so I picked her up and brought her home.”
Meg relayed the information to the operator, requesting an ambulance and the sheriff. When the call ended, she ran to Stephanie’s side. “What can I do?”
Wyatt scanned the door and then the windows. “Make sure all the doors and windows are locked and that no one enters who isn’t wearing a badge or looks like an EMT.”
&nbs
p; “I couldn’t tell if her chest was moving or not. Is she breathing?” Meg asked as she double-checked the locks.
“Yes.” He pressed a clean white towel to her skull. A few seconds later, he pulled it back and the white had transformed to red. He replaced the cloth with a fresh one immediately.
Meg moved to his side and took the soaked rag.
“She has a cut above her forehead and foreheads are bleeders.” He cleared a little of the area and the cut immediately bled. “It probably looks worse than it is.”
Stephanie blinked her eyes open and mumbled something unintelligible. She needed to stay away from Meg if she wanted to be safe from now on. Meg would figure out a way to make that happen. She would do whatever was necessary in order to keep her friend out of danger.
Memories assaulted Meg. Her brain hurt and all she could see was fog.
“He called me Meg,” Stephanie said, trying to blink her eyes open. “He thought I was you.”
Meg gasped. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
Wyatt shot a look meant to be reassuring. Nothing could console Meg. She was toxic to everyone she cared about.
“Did you see who did this to you?” Wyatt asked Stephanie.
The sound of glass breaking in the kitchen caused Meg to jump.
“Stay with her,” Wyatt instructed with a narrowed gaze.
Meg was already by Stephanie’s side, holding her hand. The noise must’ve roused Aubrey because she started winding up to cry.
“Go,” Stephanie said, and it sounded like it took a lot of effort.
“I’ll be right back,” Meg said, feeling torn between caring for the immediate medical needs of her friend and attending to her baby who was startled but otherwise fine.
Sirens burst through the chaos. Clearly the emergency or law-enforcement vehicle was still at a distance, but the sound was wailing closer. She could only pray the noise would run off whoever had broken the window. The world felt like it had collapsed around her in the past half hour.
“Help is coming,” she said to Stephanie, who was already trying to sit up. “Stay put until someone can take a look at your head.”