Her Colton Lawman

by Carla Cassidy

  It had been just like Madelaine. He’d been standing right next to her, and yet he’d been impotent to save her life. He raked a hand down his face in ragged agony, both from the dream and from the reality of Madelaine’s death.

  He finally left Nina’s bedroom doorway and went back to the sofa where he placed the gun on the coffee table and tried to swallow the taste of failure...of a faint fear that lingered in his throat...the fear of failing yet again.

  * * *

  She liked him.

  She’d known since she’d first seen him that she was physically attracted to him. But she’d finally dropped her defenses and allowed herself to interact with Flint like she would anyone else, and to her dismay she’d found him charming and funny and exceedingly likable. Everything would have been so less complicated if she’d found him to be arrogant and a jerk.

  The next morning she awoke feeling refreshed and eager for a new day. She refused to think about the fact that a killer was after her or that the town was under quarantine. She’d spent much of her adult life determined to focus on the positives no matter what the circumstances she found herself in.

  “You’re very chipper this morning,” Flint said when they were in his car and headed to the diner.

  “I feel chipper most mornings,” she replied. “I’m going to spend the day feeding people great food and hopefully making them feel better when they walk out of the diner than when they walked in. The high point of the day will be when my little half-pint boyfriend comes in after school.”

  “Grace’s boy?”

  She nodded. “Billy. He’s owned a piece of my heart since his mother first started working for me. He calls me his favorite fake auntie.”

  “He’s a cute kid. I know he’s at the diner almost every day,” Flint replied.

  “Every weekday when his mother works. He comes in after school and does his homework quietly at a table while he waits for Grace to get off work. He’s a great kid.”

  He shot her a quick glance of his amazing green eyes. “And why aren’t you married with a couple of little Billy boys of your own?”

  “I’m not wife or mother material. I’m content on my own with the diner as my partner and my child. What about you? Why aren’t you married with a couple of rug rats running around?” she asked. “You aren’t hard to look at, and I’m sure plenty of women in town would be interested in setting up house with you.”

  “I guess I haven’t met the right woman yet.” He frowned thoughtfully, a gesture that did nothing to detract from his handsomeness.

  “To be honest,” he continued, “I hadn’t thought much about having a family until lately when I see Theo and baby Amelia and Ellie together.” Ellie Parker had worked for Theo as a cook and had become nanny to the baby that Mimi Rand had declared his, and in the past month Ellie had become a special woman in Theo’s life.

  “So, you’re the marrying kind of man. You just need to find your special someone.”

  “I guess that’s about the size of it,” he replied and pulled up in front of the diner. “But in the meantime, I’d say I’ve got plenty to do to keep myself occupied.”

  As always, he got out of the car and escorted her inside with the promise to return for her that evening at five. Nina greeted the waitresses who had already arrived. There were no customers yet and so she headed for the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Charley.” She greeted the cook with a bright smile. “I always feel good when I walk in here and see you hard at work.”

  He flashed one of his rare smiles. “Aren’t you all full of sugar and sweetness as usual this morning?”

  She perched on a chair near where he was prepping food for breakfast. “The sun is shining, it’s a brand-new day and maybe today will be the day that Flint arrests Hank Bittard, or finds Jimmy Johnson or somebody at the clinic finally finds a cure for the virus.”

  Charley grunted. “And maybe pigs will fly into the freezer already nicely cut up into pork chops and roasts and thick slices of bacon.”

  Nina laughed. “Now, that would be nice. Speaking of pigs, we are serving ham as well as turkey for Thanksgiving, right?”

  “It’s on the ever-changing menu,” Charley replied drily.

  “I admit I’ve been a little obsessive-compulsive about the menu and the preparations, but I just want that day to be so perfect for everyone,” she replied.

  “For you, I hope it is as perfect as you are imagining it,” Charley replied.

  For the next few minutes, despite moans and groans from Charley, Nina discussed with him the plans for the day that was still a little over two weeks away.

  “We’ll move the stools and serve everything buffet style on the counter,” she said. “And I want centerpieces in reds and bright oranges on every table. It’s too bad there isn’t Thanksgiving Day music like there is Christmas music.”

  Charley groaned while he cut up peppers and onions for omelets and to add to their specialty hash browns. “That old jukebox playing Patsy Cline singing ‘Crazy’ seems far more appropriate for what’s been going on around town.”

  Nina couldn’t help but laugh again. “Crazy is right,” she agreed. And craziest of all was that she had enjoyed talking to Flint last night more than she could remember talking to any man for a very long time.

  She definitely felt a physical chemistry toward him, and now she found herself attracted to him on a more personal level. Of course, it could never go anywhere. Even if he was equally attracted to her, they were destined to be star-crossed lovers.

  He wanted home and family. She didn’t. As much as she liked him, as much as she depended on him for now, she wasn’t sure he would ever earn her complete and total trust. No man ever had.

  Her childhood had damaged her. She understood that, accepted that trust would always be an issue with her, and that’s why she’d made the decision long ago to remain alone. Her feelings toward Flint surprised her, but they certainly didn’t change her mind about her path in life.

  “You’ve suddenly gotten quiet,” Charley said, pulling her from her thoughts. “You aren’t mentally working on the menu again, are you?”

  “No, nothing like that. I was just lost in my own head for a few minutes.” She got up from her chair. “I guess I’ll get out of here and let you work in peace. Abe will be in soon, and any peace you might enjoy now will be shattered.”

  Charley grinned again. “Abe talks a lot, but I’ve discovered that ninety percent of the time I can tune him out. Most of the time he’s just white noise that I occasionally need to acknowledge with a nod or a grunt.”

  “White noise like I am right now,” Nina said with a smile. “Okay, I’m out of here. I’ll go check on things up front.”

  She left the kitchen and stepped into the dining area where a single customer sat with his back to her at the counter. Dressed all in black and with dark hair and a muscular build, the sight of him instantly shot terror into her throat.

  She stumbled backward, cast back in time, back to the place where she’d seen a man who looked just like him strangle Jolene Tate to death. With her brain on fire and her body shaking nearly uncontrollably, she continued to back up until she reached the ladies’ restroom.

  She fled inside and locked the door, her heart racing with a vengeance she couldn’t control.

  Was it him?

  Was it Hank?

  Had he come here to get her?

  Her shaking knees cast her to the floor with her back against the door as she relived that moment in her car when she’d seen Hank Bittard killing Jolene.

  Had he come in here early, knowing he would probably be the first customer of the day with the intention of killing her? Maybe he didn’t care anymore about other witnesses, or maybe he’d crossed a line where he’d kill everyone in the diner just to neutralize her.

  She s
hivered uncontrollably as terrified sobs nearly strangled her. She was frozen, unable to get out of her own fear, out of her own head.

  Maybe if she stayed hidden in here, maybe if he didn’t see her, he’d just assume she wasn’t in today and would leave without hurting anyone else. Oh, God, she didn’t want him to harm any of her staff.

  Quiet...she had to stay quiet. She placed a hand tightly over her mouth in an effort to staunch her sobs. She couldn’t let him hear her. She just wanted him to go away without hurting anyone.

  Over and over again her brain played the vision of the rope twisting around Jolene’s neck, her falling to the ground and the man advancing on Nina, his eyes glittering with abject menace.

  He’d come for her, and there was nobody to stop him. She didn’t even have her cell phone to call for help. There was no way to warn anyone.

  She wasn’t sure how long she’d been in the bathroom when a soft knock sounded at the door. She jumped in alarm. “Nina? Are you in there? Are you okay?” Grace’s concerned voice drifted through the door.

  Nina got to her feet, opened the door and pulled Grace inside. She grabbed her friend and employee by the shoulders with trembling hands. “Who’s sitting at the end of the counter?” she asked feverishly. “Who’s the man there?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t pay any attention. I’m not working the counter this morning,” Grace replied. “Why? What’s going on? Why are you so upset?”

  “Just go see who it is and come back here and tell me.” Nina released Grace’s shoulders and pushed her back out the door. Once Grace was gone, Nina leaned weakly against the door and although she was still afraid, she fought for some kind of control, some modicum of composure.

  It took Grace only moments to return. “It’s Brian Bollinger. He’s having a cup of coffee and a muffin.”

  Nina sagged against the sink. Brian Bollinger...not Hank Bittard. “I thought...from the back he looks just like...” She allowed her voice to drift off as a new sob threatened to escape her.

  “Oh, honey.” Grace wrapped her arms around Nina and hugged her tight, but Nina realized the arms she wanted holding her right now were bigger and stronger. The arms she wanted wrapped around her were Flint’s.

  Grace released her but grabbed her by the hand. “Do you want me to call Flint?”

  Yes, tell him to come right away. I need him, her emotions screamed. “No, I’m fine now,” she said. The last thing Nina wanted was to bother Flint with her crazy, momentary breakdown. “I think I’ll just go into my office for a little while. Could you bring me a cup of coffee?”

  “Of course. Are you sure you’re okay?” Grace asked worriedly.

  “I’ll be fine now,” Nina assured her as her terror began to ebb away.

  Nina finally left the bathroom as Grace went back to the dining area. On shaky legs Nina made her way down the hallway, through the kitchen and into her small office where she collapsed on the chair behind her desk and leaned back.

  Through all of the years of her life, despite the trauma of her childhood, she’d never had a breakdown like the one she’d just experienced. She’d always been able to rise above any adversity, but she now realized how frightened, how utterly terrified she was of Hank Bittard.

  He wanted her dead. He’d burned down her house hoping that her death would be the outcome. She knew he’d do anything to get to her, but at least she had Flint standing between her and Hank’s desire for her permanent silence.

  She remained in her office for most of the day, dealing with work schedules for the week to come, ordering in supplies and looking at the website of the local Home and Hearth store for centerpieces she could use for Thanksgiving Day.

  The work finally calmed her and made her break-down feel just a little silly in retrospect. Still, for just a moment she’d been so sure it had been Hank.

  She was interrupted at just after noon when Grace brought her a club sandwich and a soda. “Are you sure you’re really all right?” she asked worriedly. “It’s not like you to hole up in here and not be out front with the customers.”

  “I just freaked myself out for a few minutes, but I’m fine now,” Nina assured her with a forced bright smile. “I’ve just decided today is a good day to hang out back here and get some busy work done. Today I think I just need the peace and quiet of being closed up in here. I’m confident you all will take good care of the customers like you always do.”

  “Then I’ll just leave you to eat your lunch, and it won’t be long before Flint will be here to pick you up.” Grace closed the door behind her.

  For the first time that Nina could remember, she couldn’t wait for Flint to arrive and take her to his house where she felt completely safe. For the first time since she’d bought the diner she didn’t feel like being here.

  She remained in her office until it was almost time for Flint to arrive, and then returned to the dining room to visit with Billy while she waited for her protective lawman to pick her up.

  She finally felt as if she’d put the morning trauma behind her and had her emotions firmly under control, until Flint walked through the door.

  The moment he stepped inside, rather than greet him the way she normally did, she rushed to him and threw herself at him. Instantly, his arms wrapped around her, even as he stiffened in obvious surprise.

  She had no idea how long she stood, warmed and secured by his embrace, before he finally took her by the shoulders and stepped back to peer at her face. “Nina, what’s going on? What’s happened? Are you all right?” He looked at her worriedly.

  Aware that they had drawn the attention of all the staff and the few customers in the place, she nodded and took a step back from him, suddenly embarrassed by her uncharacteristic action. “I’m fine. We’ll talk at home.”

  She was grateful he didn’t press the issue, but instead hurried her to the car and headed toward the place where she knew she would feel safe and protected.

  Chapter 6

  She was silent on the ride home, and Flint decided not to push her for any answers as to her unexpected greeting of him. Something had happened during the day, but the fact that she was fine and safe next to him in the car let him know whatever had happened was over and she was, at least physically, okay.

  “Why don’t you get comfortable and I’ll whip up something for dinner,” he suggested once they were in the house.

  She eyed him dubiously. “Whip up what?”

  “I’ve got a decent frozen pizza that I’ll pop into the oven.”

  She frowned a moment and then nodded. “Okay, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  As she drifted down the hallway toward her room Flint frowned after her. Something definitely had shaken her up today for her to agree to a frozen pizza for dinner. He hoped that she’d tell him what had happened sooner rather than later.

  He unfastened his holster and slung it over the back of a kitchen chair, first taking out the gun and laying it on the table where it would be easily reached.

  Next he turned on the oven to preheat and got out the pizza stone he used when baking a pie. The stone had been given to him a couple of years ago as a birthday present by a woman he’d briefly dated. The woman had moved on, but the pizza stone had stayed with him.

  Worry simmered inside him as he grabbed the pizza from the freezer and tore off the outer packaging. What could have happened at the diner today that had made Nina throw herself into his arms with such fervency?

  In the brief moment he’d held her, he’d felt fear radiating from her, an emotion she’d shown little of since the night she’d seen Jolene’s murder and watched her own house burn to the ground.

  In fact, she’d shown remarkable resilience and bravery under the circumstances since that night. Most women would still be weeping over what they’d seen, what had happened to their home.

&n
bsp; He’d just put the pizza in the oven when she came into the kitchen. Clad in a pair of jeans and a gold T-shirt that did amazing things for her hazel eyes and auburn hair, she looked both beautiful and tired. She sank down into a chair at the table and released a long, deep sigh.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked. He pulled a pizza cutter from one of the drawers.

  “I totally lost it this morning,” she confessed.

  He pulled two cans of soda out of the refrigerator and placed them on the table and then sat across from her. “You lost it how?”

  She explained to him about seeing the man at the counter and believing it was Hank Bittard, her rush to the bathroom where she locked herself in and remembered in horror Jolene’s murder, the approach of Hank on her car and the terrifying fear that she was going to die.

  “I was a slobbering, terrified mess,” she said. “It was like I was reliving the whole thing again and again in my mind, and I couldn’t get out of it. I was sure he’d come in as the first customer of the day so that he could kill me and, even worse, whoever else might be in the diner. It was only when Grace came to find me and told me it was Brian sitting at the counter that I finally managed to pull myself together.”

  Flint couldn’t help himself. He reached a hand across the table toward her. She didn’t hesitate but rather immediately grasped it and held tightly. “I feel so foolish,” she said softly. “I’ve never lost it like that.”

  “You shouldn’t feel foolish at all. It sounds to me like you had an episode of post-traumatic stress. You need to cut yourself some slack, Nina. You’ve been through a lot and have handled it better than anyone I know. You’re allowed to break down. I just wish you would have called me when you were so frightened.”

  She pulled her hand from his. “I didn’t want to take you away from your work of trying to find that crazy killer. Besides, I spent pretty much all the rest of the day in my office doing busy work and getting myself back under control.”