Take a Mountain Man Home for Christmas: A Mountain Man Romance Christmas Collection

by Crowne, K. C.

  “We can arrange to have your lawyer present.”

  “Doesn’t matter, I’m still not talking,” he said, turning his gaze back to me. “No matter what happens, I know I’m going back to prison.”

  “Not if we can prove you’re innocent, Jack.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I’m innocent or not,” he muttered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “It means I’m not going to fight this.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s not worth it.”

  I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something wasn’t right about this.

  Jack let out a sigh and closed his eyes, speaking the next words slowly. “Once you search my truck and home, you’ll find everything you need to convict me of killing my father.”

  I frowned as I stared at him. “Did you do it, Jack?”

  “Does it matter if I did?” he asked slowly, enunciating each word. His eyes were still closed.

  “Does it matter to you? Don’t you want to be free?”

  He shrugged.

  “If it doesn’t matter to you, what about your sister? What about Madison?”

  Jack visibly flinched as if I’d smacked him. He turned away from me, clenching his jaw tightly, balling his fists. “Don’t talk about my sister.”

  “Why not? She’s trying so hard to clear your name, to help you. If you’re innocent, you need to fight this for her, if not for yourself.”

  “Everything I do is for Madison,” he said, his voice almost a growl. “I’m doing this for Madison.”

  I leaned back in my seat and stared at him, unsure what to make of this conversation.

  “Please, just search my property and get this over with,” he said. “Arrest me, do whatever you need. I don’t fucking care anymore.”

  Ooo000ooo

  With Jack’s permission, we headed over to the property. We didn’t need a search warrant since he was more than willing to give us access. He stood on the little porch as I walked through his cabin.

  “Nice place you have here,” I said, trying to make small talk.

  “Yeah.”

  “Madison said you had trouble finding work.” I finished in the small living room, which was filled with second-hand furniture – a couch that had seen better days along with a television and mismatched coffee table and end tables.

  “I do odd jobs, mostly in other towns where folks don’t know me.”

  “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  Jack sighed in irritation. “Car repairs. Home repairs. I’ve scrapped a few cars and re-sold the parts. The usual. All of it legal. I even report every dime to the IRS and have proof if you need to see it.”

  “No, that’s fine,” I said, smiling a little. I walked down the hallway and into his bedroom just as the front door opened.

  Mike’s voice called to me. “Boss, we have something.”

  “What did you find?”

  “Come take a look,” he said. “It’s in his truck.”

  Jack followed us out silently. We approached his truck, and Mike opened the tailgate. There was a duffel bag with its contents spilled out onto the bed. Rope. A hunting knife. And a bottle of pills along with a key ring.

  “I bet if you check, the keys match my parent’s house,” Jack said dryly.

  “You said you didn’t have a key.”

  “I don’t. I mean, I didn’t. Not until now.”

  I turned my narrowed gaze on Jack, even more confused than I was before. He stared back at me, his face serious.

  “Oh, and the rope will match the rope used to kill my father.”

  “You mean that your father used to hang himself,” I corrected.

  “No, I meant what I said.”

  “Are you admitting to killing your father?” Mike asked him.

  Jack and I shared a look. On the inside, I was screaming, Shut up, you idiot. Don’t say another word. You need a lawyer.

  Before I could stop him, Jack said, “Yes. I’m admitting it. I killed my father.”

  Mike looked at me, his jaw dropped.

  “And before you ask, it’s me robbing all those houses too.”

  “Jack, please. I know you didn’t do that. I saw you at the funeral during the last one.”

  “I have connections, Teddy.”

  Mike hopped down from the back of the pickup truck, cuffs in hand. Jack didn’t even put up a fight. He held his hands out as Mike read him his Miranda rights.

  Most cops would deem it a success. We’d solved the crimes, people would say. Liberty was safe once more.

  But I was far from convinced. And now I was even more worried about Madison.

  While Mike took Jack into the station, I stepped aside and dialed Madison’s number. It went straight to voicemail.

  “Madison, it’s Teddy. It’s urgent. We need to talk. Please call me as soon as you get this.”

  I didn’t want to tell her about her brother being taken in. That wasn’t something that needed to be said via voicemail. But I needed to speak with her. I needed to warn her that something was seriously off.

  I drove straight to the hotel. Her car was nowhere to be found. She didn’t really need to drive to get around Liberty, and she usually favored walking. I had a really bad feeling about it, so I hopped out of my car and went to the front desk.

  Leah was leaning against the counter, looking bored when I entered. She offered a friendly smile as she saw me.

  “Good afternoon, Teddy. What brings you in?”

  “Have you seen Madison Wiley lately? Is she still staying here?”

  “Is this police business?” Leah asked, her face serious. “You know I can’t give personal information out about guests otherwise, Teddy.”

  “It’s important, Leah. I worry she could be in danger, so yes, it’s police business.”

  Leah hesitated, then said, “She checked out several hours ago. Said she was heading back to Los Angeles. She seemed to be in a hurry, but otherwise, fine.”

  “She was headed back to LA? You sure?”

  “Mmmhmm,” Leah hummed affirmatively. “As far as I’m aware.”

  Good. I prayed she was already far away from Liberty.

  There was a storm brewing in this little town. And I wanted to make sure she was safe.

  Madison

  Two missed calls. Two voicemails. I listened to them both as I sat outside of the Liberty Sheriff’s Department. I made a quick call while I waited. I called Cassie but got her voicemail. Hannah had told me that Cassie had left town, that she went back to Philadelphia, but that felt weird to me. She didn’t even say goodbye. Hell, I didn’t even get to see her yet, and she left already?

  Teddy wanted to talk. I wasn’t sure I was ready to talk yet. But I was there, wasn’t I? I was outside of the station, drawn to it even before I heard his message.

  The other call was from my mother. Jack had been arrested for killing our father. My mother had been in hysterics, saying there was no way that could be true. It couldn’t be.

  I couldn’t believe my brother was capable of murder. Especially not of our father. Jack had pretty much raised me, at least through my teen years. He made sure I had three meals a day, that I never went without. He even stole tampons for me when I started my period in high school, and our mother was passed out on the sofa.

  He did it so I wouldn’t have to.

  He took care of me the best way he knew how, and I couldn’t believe he was a murderer.

  I held firmly to the steering wheel, staring at the entry to the sheriff’s department like it had all the answers. I had to go in to get answers. But even then, would I have all of them? Or would I just leave with more questions?

  I managed to force myself out of my car. Tears had stained my cheeks, and I hated crying in front of people. I wiped them away as I pulled open the door.

  The lights were so bright, it gave me an instant headache because of the stark contrast to the barely lit parking lot. The air condition was blaring, and I crossed my arms to shield
from the cold.

  “Can I help you?” A voice spoke before I even saw her. I looked to my left and found a desk. The woman behind it was stocky and had an angry face - all scrunched up like she’d smelled something awful.

  “Yes, I heard my brother - Jack Wiley – was brought in earlier today. I want to see him.”

  “Visiting hours ended an hour ago, ma’am,” the woman stated.

  “Can you please make an exception?” I asked. “I didn’t know.”

  “No exceptions, ma’am,” she said, turning back to her computer. “Come back tomorrow.”

  The tears started falling again as everything hit me at once. The pregnancy. My brother being arrested. The very idea that he could have killed our dad.

  “I really need to talk to him. Please, I have to,” I pleaded.

  I needed my brother. Not just answers, but I needed to talk to him. I needed to hear his voice, to be told it would all be okay. He was one of the few people who could comfort me. And I needed him, period.

  “I said” –the woman’s voice rose, and she stood up as if to illustrate her point— “visiting hours ended an hour ago. You’ll have to come back.”

  “Is there a problem out here?”

  I turned on my heel to find Teddy standing in the doorway of his office, looking at us. “I just want to see my brother.”

  “I thought you were leaving Liberty?”

  “I was, I mean—I don’t know what I’m doing yet,” I stammered. “And who told you?”

  Teddy shrugged. “I stopped by the hotel and asked Leah. I was worried.” He glanced at the hardened woman behind the desk. “It’s alright, Sue. I know her.” He motioned for me to follow him. “Come on back.”

  I followed him to his office, unsure if I would get to see my brother. Seeing Teddy again made me a bit dizzy. I couldn’t think straight. I was carrying his child, and he had no idea.

  His face was kind as I stepped into his office. “Sue is right. Visiting hours ended an hour ago.”

  “I just got the call from my mom that Jack was brought in,” I told him. “I don’t even know if I’ll be here tomorrow.”

  “I would encourage you to leave town, honestly,” Teddy replied. “For your safety, obviously. Not because I want you to leave.”

  “I know.”

  “I also know you’re not the type to go easily, not just because someone tells you to,” Teddy said, letting out a sigh. He ran a hand over his beard, and I remembered how it felt against my skin when his mouth was pleasuring me.

  Or the way it felt to kiss him, holding his face in my hands.

  I pushed all that aside. Teddy didn’t want a relationship; I couldn’t force it upon him. Kicking my chin out, I stayed strong. One thing at a time. I needed to talk to Jack.

  “I can give you five minutes with your brother,” he offered, moving toward the doorway. He stopped, blocking the way. “But Madison, I’m asking you to be careful, alright? I don’t know what’s going on here, but something dangerous is brewing. I’d hate for you to get caught up in that.”

  “I’ll be careful, Teddy,” I promised softly. Not just for myself, but for my baby as well. I couldn’t be reckless. I had two lives to protect, not just one.

  I followed Teddy out of the office and down to the jail cells. The place was empty except for Jack. Liberty typically didn’t have a big crime problem. A few drunks got pulled in now and then, but rarely were the cells ever full.

  Jack was sitting in the last cell. He was on the bed, staring at the ceiling. His eyes were open, and when he glanced through the bars to see who was coming, he sat up very quickly.

  “Mads, you shouldn’t be here.”

  “Well, I am,” I retorted. I turned to Teddy. “Can you give us a minute?”

  Teddy nodded and headed back down the walkway. The door closed behind him, echoing through the corridor. I leaned against the bars of the cell, my eyes filling with tears. Seeing my brother - my giant, teddy bear of a brother - behind bars again nearly killed me. It had pushed me to leave Liberty the first time. But that had been different. I understood why he was behind bars. Even if I didn’t think it was fair, I understood that the law was the law.

  This time, it made no sense.

  “Is it true, Jack? Did you kill Dad?”

  Jack stayed on the bed, sitting there with his hands clasped in his lap. He wouldn’t even look at me.

  “Jack, please…”

  “You need to leave, Madison. You need to leave Liberty and never look back.”

  “I can’t. It’s not that simple anymore.” I placed a hand on my belly. Obviously, it felt the same. It was too soon to show. But I already felt different. I felt connected to the life inside me. “Jack, I’m pregnant.”

  His eyes darted upward and met mine. I watched as several feelings washed over his face - first joy and excitement, then apprehension. Finally, sadness.

  “Wow, Mads – I don’t know what to say. Are you happy about it? Are you okay?”

  “I am happy, actually.” I let out a sound that was a mixture of a cry and a laugh. “Just scared. Not sure what I’m supposed to do. This wasn’t planned. And I need you, Jack. I need my big brother.”

  “You don’t need me. You never needed me. You were always the strong one, the smart one out of the two of us,” he said, shaking his head. “You’ll be an amazing mom without me. You just need to get out of here, go back to LA.”

  “What if I can’t?” I asked him.

  “Why not?”

  “Because the father is here in Liberty, Jack.” I stopped short of saying his name. I wasn’t sure if they were monitoring these rooms. I felt paranoid suddenly. I didn’t want Teddy to find out this way. I needed to tell him, I decided, but not like this.

  “Mads,” Jack said softly, standing and crossing the cell. He stood right in front of me, staring into my eyes. “If you don’t leave Liberty, something bad could happen. I worry about your safety, and now, with a baby on the way, there’s even more reason for you to leave.”

  “Why would my life be in danger, Jack? Tell me what’s going on.”

  “I can’t, Madison. The less you know, the better. But please, listen to me.”

  “I need you, Jack. If you’re innocent, we can figure this out.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I’m innocent or not, Mads. This is where I belong.”

  “No, Jack, you belong with your family,” I insisted, slapping my hand against the bar. “I want you to know your niece or nephew. If you’re innocent, we need to do something. I could reach out to Cassie and—”

  He visibly flinched as I said Cassie’s name. “No,” he said, his voice rising enough to echo. “Do not drag Cassie into this again, please. She’s got enough on her plate. She’s not even focused on this kind of law anyway. The fewer people involved, the better.”

  “Jack, I—”

  The door at the end of the hallway opened again, and Teddy made his way toward us. “I’m sorry. My shift has ended, and I can’t leave you here,” he said. “We’ll have to cut this conversation short.”

  I nodded. I’d already asked too much of him, but I wasn’t ready to leave. Jack was innocent, I was surer of that fact now.

  Teddy helped remove my hands from the bars, taking them in his.

  “Take good care of her,” Jack said, returning to his spot on the bed.

  Odd words, I thought to myself, especially considering the circumstances. I glanced at Jack. He watched as we walked down the corridor and back into the hallway.

  Teddy

  Madison’s eyes were swollen from crying, and she was sniffling. I offered her a box of tissues, which she took and wiped her nose. Seeing her hurting sent a sharp pain right through my heart.

  “Come here,” I said. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close. “It’ll be alright.”

  “No, Teddy, it’s not,” she cried, nestling her face against my chest. “My brother is going to prison for a crime he didn’t commit - again - and I can’t do anything ab
out it. And he’s acting like if I don’t leave town, my life will be in danger. And I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

  “Maybe he’s right,” I said, agreeing with Jack’s assessment. “Maybe you do need to leave. Take care of yourself.”

  Her body stiffened against mine, and she pulled away. She stepped backward until she hit a wall, shaking her head. “Stop it. Everyone needs to stop telling me to leave, especially you.”

  “It’s because we’re all worried about you.”

  “I can’t leave, not that easily. I just can’t, Teddy.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m pregnant.” As soon as the words left her lips, she covered her mouth and stared at me with wide eyes.

  “You’re pregnant?” I stammered. I felt lightheaded, and I actually had to steady myself against the wall. “Is it—” I couldn’t even get the words out. My tongue felt tied into a million knots, and I couldn’t think of the right words.

  She dropped her hands away from her mouth, anger replacing the horror her words had caused. “Is it yours? Is that what you wanna know?”

  “Yes,” I choked out.

  “Yes, it’s yours, Teddy,” she seethed, glaring at me. “I haven’t been with anyone else.”

  “That not what I was insinuating, I just—” I stopped, trying to find the right thing to say. “I didn’t know your circumstances back in LA, if you were seeing someone…”

  “I don’t cheat, Teddy,” she stormed, her body trembling. She sliced her hands through the air. “You know what, I don’t need this. I can raise this child on my own. I don’t need you if you don’t wanna be part of its life.”

  She pushed past me, and it took me a second to pull myself together.

  I was going to be a father.

  She was having my baby.

  “Madison!” I called out to her. I watched as she ran out the doors, and I knew I couldn’t let her go. I chased after her, letting the heavy glass door slam behind me. She was fumbling with her car keys when I found her. I got to her before she got inside, and I grabbed her arm. She swung around to face me, her back pressed against the car. Her eyes were filled with so many emotions, they seemed to be on fire.