by Laura Scott
Duncan straightened in his seat. “What are you saying, Slade? I’m the one that needs to go into WITSEC instead of Chelsey?”
Slade spread his hands wide. “The main reason we offered WITSEC to Brett Thompson was because he was a witness to a murder and we believed the death was related to organized crime. Now it’s looking more like Wolfe is the brains behind everything. He got greedy, the boxes in the airport hanger contain drugs, which is what Kenny Martin had come to pick up, and of course we know Wolfe wanted the land. But other than that, we haven’t found any true organized crime ring. With Wolfe and the others in custody, I’m not sure WITSEC is really necessary for either of you.”
“Not necessary?” Duncan frowned. “I’d rather Chelsey be safe.”
Slade shrugged. “We can certainly provide new identities for you both, if that’s what you’d prefer.”
Once again, Duncan thought about his dad, Ian O’Hare, his sister, Shayla Callahan, his brother-in-law, Mike Callahan, and the other Callahans.
Plus his nephew, Brodie, and niece, Breena.
He would miss his family very much. But there was no way on earth he could live without Chelsey. “I want Chelsey to be safe,” he repeated. “Whatever it takes. And her staying here in Wyoming doesn’t seem reasonable.”
“Okay, we’ll put some things in motion.” Slade stood and crossed over to the door. Then he paused and glanced back over his shoulder. “I did a little research on you, Duncan. Not only are you a cop, your dad is a retired cop, and your sister married into a family full of law enforcement types. If you ask me, there isn’t a safer place for you and Chelsey than with them. After all, Milwaukee is pretty far from Jackson, Wyoming.” Slade opened the door and left.
Leaving Duncan to absorb the impact of his words.
Was Slade right? If there weren’t any true organized crime members to come after them, was it really necessary for him and Chelsey to disappear forever?
Or was this nothing more than wishful thinking on his part?
The door opened again and this time, Chelsey stepped in. He rose to meet her halfway, stunned when she launched herself into his arms.
“Oh, Duncan, that took forever. I couldn’t wait to see you.”
He nestled her close, lowering his cheek to her hair. “I’m okay, Chels. How are you?”
“Fine now,” was her muffled reply. She wound her arms around his waist and hung on as if she’d never let go.
He didn’t mind. If he had his way, he’d never let her go, either.
“I love you, Chelsey.” He’d promised himself if they got away from Goldberg alive, he’d tell her how he felt. “I know you probably don’t feel the same way, and I know you don’t want to mistake friendship for love, but it’s important to me that you know the truth.”
“Duncan.” Her voice was so low he could barely hear it. She hesitated, then lifted her face to his. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I love you, too, and I realized my feelings for Brett weren’t the real thing because I was attracted to you from the start. I’ve fallen in love with you, but I can’t ask you to give up your family for me.”
“Really?” He searched her gaze, afraid to hope. “Slade told me that I’m the one who is more at risk as far as needing to testify against these guys, Chelsey. So if anything it would be me needing the protection of being in WITSEC, not you.”
Her brow furrowed. “Slade said that?”
The tiny flicker of hope in his heart went out. “Yes, but even so, Chelsey, I don’t think staying in Wyoming is in your best interest. I thought it might be better for you to relocate to Milwaukee, the place where you once lived with your parents. My family will look after you for me.”
“And where will you be, Duncan?”
He longed to kiss her, but forced himself to do what was best for her. “I plan to trust God’s plan for us. And if that means me disappearing, while you stay safe with my family, then I’ll gladly take that. Anything is possible as long as I know you’re safe.”
Her blue eyes softened. “And what if I want to be with you?”
His heart stuttered in his chest. “I’d like nothing more, but I need you to be sure, Chelsey. This is a big step with some level of risk involved.”
There was a series of shouts and cries from outside the interview room. Duncan reacted by spinning Chelsey away from the door and placing himself in front of her, ready to fight if necessary.
The minutes ticked by slowly, then Slade poked his head inside. “You both okay?”
Duncan gave a curt nod. “What happened?”
“Fight broke out in the jail cell. Wolfe lost his temper and attacked Strand.” Slade sighed. “Strand won that fight, but Wolfe has died of his injuries. Looks like the only one you have to testify against is Strand, who doesn’t have nearly the same high-powered attorneys Wolfe had access to.” The marshal grinned wryly. “Our job just got a whole lot easier.”
The news swirled in his head. “You really think it’s safe enough for me to return to Milwaukee with Chelsey?”
“I do.” Slade didn’t hesitate. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Duncan. Not after all this.” Slade reached up to rub the back of his neck. “I have to go. Thanks to that fight, there’s more paperwork to complete. The locals have to report to their boss, while I have to report up to mine.”
Duncan turned to face Chelsey. She stepped into his arms, wound her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss.
He loved kissing her and didn’t want to stop, but they still needed to talk. “Chels?” he managed when he could breathe.
“Hmm?” She rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder.
“I love you and I want you to be safe.”
She lifted her head, smiling at him. “I love you and want you to be safe, too. Sounds like the best option is for us to live in Milwaukee.”
“Are you sure about that? About leaving the hotel behind?” He forced himself to ask the question, mentally bracing himself for her response.
“Yes, I’m sure that I want to be with you, Duncan. Even though Travis Wolfe wanted to buy the hotel, I happen to know the federal government will also be interested in taking it over, as the land is part of the Grand Teton National Park. They offered before, when my grandparents had the place.”
He was humbled by how she was willing to give up her parents’ home for him. “I’d like to plant a couple of trees in your parents’ memory.”
Her smile widened. “I’d love that.”
“Chelsey, will you please marry me? I don’t have a ring, but I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. I’d be honored if you’d agree to be my wife.”
“Yes, Duncan, I’ll marry you. I only have one request.”
Anything, he thought. “Like?”
“No big fancy ceremony, just your immediate family and a few close friends. And I’d really like to be married in a church.”
It was very different from what she’d planned with Brett, but he wasn’t complaining. “Done. You’ll like the church Shayla and Mike have taken me to. It’s perfect for a small, intimate wedding ceremony.”
“Good.” She tugged his head down toward hers. “Please kiss me again, Duncan. Because this is the happiest day of my life.”
He was more than willing to oblige her request. Because it was the happiest day of his life, too.
EPILOGUE
Four months later...
October in Wisconsin was beautiful. The blue skies were clear and the leaves on the trees were a burst of yellow, orange and red. Chelsey knew she and Duncan were blessed to have such a wonderful wedding day.
She stood in the back of the small church she’d grown to love, in a simple dress that didn’t have a long train or a veil. As the organ music swelled she looked up the aisle and saw Duncan standing in a dark suit, no tux, waiting for her.
She smiled. There wasn�
��t a single doubt in her mind or her heart about marrying Duncan O’Hare. Thankfully, their testimony against Wesley Strand had resulted in a guilty verdict. Nettles, Martin and Goldberg all agreed to plea deals. The nightmare in Wyoming was over, but the move to Milwaukee had been the right decision. She’d lived there for the first fifteen years of her life, so it was a bit like coming back home.
And there was Duncan. The most wonderful, kind, caring and compassionate man she’d ever met. He’d do anything to protect her and always followed through on his promises.
There wasn’t anyone in the world like him, and she was blessed and humbled that he’d chosen her to be his wife.
The church was filled with people, more than she’d expected. But not only was the Callahan family huge and growing by the minute, there were Duncan’s close friends: Hawk Jacobson, his wife Jillian, and their two kids; along with Ryker Tillman, his wife Olivia, and their two kids.
She liked how Duncan had surrounded himself with family men. Well, except for Slade and Colt, who hung back as if afraid to be bitten by the love bug.
“Ready, Chelsey?” Per her request, Duncan’s father, Ian O’Hare, was the one giving her away. Maggie Callahan O’Hare, Ian’s new wife, also treated Chelsey like a daughter. She felt it was fitting for both of them to be an intricate part of their wedding and she already loved them both, very much.
Her parents would have adored them, too.
“Yes.” She slid her arm through the crook of Ian’s elbow and together they began their walk down the aisle toward the front of the church. At one point she must have picked up the pace because Ian whispered, “Slow down, lass, I promise he’ll wait.”
That made her smile. And when she caught Duncan’s gaze, the love shining there was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
As Ian handed her over to Duncan, she gave her soon-to-be father-in-law a quick hug, then clasped both Duncan’s hands in hers. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too,” he whispered back.
Feeling secure with Duncan’s and God’s love surrounding them, they turned to face the pastor.
It was time to begin their new life, together.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
I hope you’ve enjoyed the third and final book in my Justice Seekers series. You met Hawk, Ryker and Duncan in the Callahan Confidential stories and I knew each of them deserved their own happily-ever-after. You might be happy to know I’m hard at work on another three-book series featuring—you guessed it—the US Marshals, where you are likely to meet Slade, Colt and Tanner again.
If you’re interested in learning about my upcoming book releases please drop by to visit my website at www.laurascottbooks.com. Take a moment to sign up for my monthly newsletter. I offer a free and exclusive novella to all subscribers.
I adore hearing from my readers, so either drop me a note through my website, or find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LauraScottBooks/ or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/laurascottbooks.
Until next time,
Laura Scott
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ISBN-13: 9781488072284
Wyoming Mountain Escape
Copyright © 2021 by Laura Iding
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at [email protected].
Love Inspired
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“Get down!”
Colt dove on top of her.
Crack!
Colt calculated the risk of running back to the house, which was about a mile from here, or hauling it deeper into the woods. The sniper likely had a scope, which made them toast in the open. His only option was taking Georgia into the forest for cover.
“This way,” he urged and pointed her into the woods, shielding her from behind.
They were dealing with an experienced shooter. His heart pounded but he kept a cool head as his training kicked into high gear. Nothing mattered more than Georgia’s protection. He yanked her behind a massive oak tree.
“Stay low.” Crouching, he hovered over Georgia as he used the trees as shields while maneuvering them farther into the woods. Leaves crunched underfoot, twigs snapped and the dogs barked, which would easily give away their position.
Suddenly, Georgia froze. Sweat poured down her pasty white cheeks. “I—I can’t.”
“Can’t what?” Was she sick? What was happening?
Her breathing became shallow. “I’m—I’m having a panic attack.”
Jessica R. Patch lives in the Mid-South, where she pens inspirational contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. When she’s not hunched over her laptop or going on adventurous trips with willing friends in the name of research, you can find her watching way too much Netflix with her family and collecting recipes for amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook. To learn more about Jessica, please visit her at jessicarpatch.com.
Books by Jessica R. Patch
Love Inspired Suspense
Cold Case Investigators
Cold Case Takedown
Fatal Reunion
Protective Duty
Concealed Identity
Final Verdict
Cold Case Christmas
Killer Exposure
Recovered Secrets
The Security Specialists
Deep Waters
Secret Service Setup
Dangerous Obsession
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
Cold Case Takedown
Jessica R. Patch
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
—2 Corinthians 12:9
To those who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. May the grace of God be with you. You are strong and brave. Keep fighting and moving forward.
Thank you to everyone who helped to make this book be everything it was meant to be.
Rachel Kent: An author couldn’t have asked for a better agent and encourager.
Shana Asaro: An author couldn’t ask for a better editor!
Jodie Bailey: Thank you for sharing your story with me. You’re a wonderful friend and a
uthor.
Susan Tuttle: Your brainstorming, ideas and insight always help me see the big picture.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Dear Reader
ONE
Agent Colt McCoy had half a mind to turn his old Ford truck around right now, but he’d already come this far on Highway 8. No turning back. He rolled the windows down and let the crisp October gusts sweep in to cool his nerves.
He should have known before tonight that the host of the popular Dead Talk podcast was none other than Georgia Maxwell. Should’ve picked up on her inflections, insight and humor. Every Thursday night for months, he’d been tuning in to the armchair detective Christi Cold as she laid out cold cases. She had a love for mysteries, like Colt. Going into law enforcement would have seemed like the logical first choice for his career, not football, but it was his best friend Jared Toledo’s death that had changed Colt’s course.
His old man had hammered into Colt on a daily basis—and repeatedly if he’d been drinking—that he was going to amount to absolutely nothing.
Some days those words rang like truth, until he reminded himself that he was the unit chief for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation cold case unit. And in six weeks he was moving to Atlanta to accept a prestigious position overseeing the largest cold case squad in the South—minus the Texas Rangers unit. That would show his old man.