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“How well do you know her?”
Cam rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Her husband was a trucker. He died on the Dalton. Since then, I’ve been coming around to do chores for her.”
“Do you really trade services?”
“She gives me a discount. Also, I like it.”
“You like helping women?”
“I like splitting logs.”
She studied his face with skepticism. “Is there anything else you enjoy doing for her?”
He smiled at her question. “Like what?”
“You know what.”
“She’s pushing seventy. My generosity doesn’t extend quite that far.”
Tala set her coffee mug aside. “These cabins aren’t cheap. Even if she hired me, I couldn’t afford to stay here.”
“I can afford it.”
She shook her head in refusal. She wouldn’t allow herself to depend on him, or anyone else, and it pissed him off. She had no belongings, no money, no job, no resources. She didn’t even have a change of clothes. But she’d rather strike out on her own than kick back in this cozy cabin on his dime.
What was wrong with her? What was wrong with him, for that matter?
He should never have given her a ride in the first place. His contract prohibited picking up hitchhikers. She was clearly in trouble with the law. He should be cutting her loose, not trying to keep her around. He didn’t understand what he was doing. He’d made a series of bad decisions upon meeting her. Emotional decisions that threatened his current, stark existence. He’d brought her inside his rig to get warm, and warmed himself in the process.
If he wasn’t careful, the protective layer of ice he’d been hibernating under would thaw. Then the real pain would come.
“At least let me buy you a change of clothes,” he said. She had nothing to wear. He wasn’t leaving her on a street corner without any pants. “I have to go to Walmart and get some supplies anyway.”
She nodded her agreement and ducked into the bathroom to get ready. She had to borrow his sweatpants. Even with the drawstring tightened, they rode low on her hips. Her black waitress shoes were for indoor use only. She needed warm clothes and winter boots no matter what her future plans were. She couldn’t job-hunt in her old uniform, or his pajamas.
The big-box store was about five miles away. He parked on the outskirts of the lot and accompanied Tala inside. He grabbed a cart, swamped by memories of Jenny. Their Sunday shopping trips. Rainy mornings in Seattle. They’d been good together. They’d been content.
He headed toward the women’s clothing department, where Tala browsed the racks. She selected black leggings and an oversize sweatshirt. When he gestured for her to continue, she added a pair of jeans to the cart. They strolled through another section with packages of socks and underwear. She chose basic white cotton, seeming embarrassed.
“That’s all you want?” he asked.
“You don’t have to buy the whole store.”
“This is Walmart. Everything’s cheap.”
“I’m going to owe you.”
“Consider it a gift.”
“No,” she said, her face solemn. “I’ll pay you back.”
Warmth suffused his chest at her assertion. He admired her pride, even though he cursed her stubbornness. The thought of reuniting with her after he returned from the Dalton appealed to him—and not because he wanted to collect on a debt. He’d like to see her again, despite his wariness toward women, and his general misgivings about the trouble she was in.
“You should let me introduce you to Ann,” he said.
She continued walking alongside him, not answering. It was a good sign, he supposed. She hadn’t refused outright. They found the shoe racks. He left his cart at the end of the aisle and accompanied her on the search for practical footwear.
“You know what you said about moving on?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“I have to do that, too. I have to keep moving.”
“You’re running away from your problems.”
“And you aren’t?”
He didn’t answer. Of course he was. They both were.
“If you stay in the same place, your past catches up with you.” She turned to study the opposite side of the aisle. “When I first came to Alaska, I went from town to town. I hitchhiked here and there. I didn’t feel safe unless I was on the go. It took me almost a month to settle down in Willow.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that she didn’t have to run anymore. He could help her. He used to be a cop. His brother was still a cop. Cam could make some inquiries about her husband. He could probably have the guy arrested, with or without Tala’s cooperation. Cam didn’t extend the offer, because he sensed it wouldn’t go over well. She didn’t trust the police, obviously. She wouldn’t trust him if she knew he’d been a patrol officer.
He also had his own issues with faith and justice. And family, for that matter. Calling his brother would open him up to uncomfortable questions. He’d disconnected from everyone in Washington. He hadn’t spoken to Mason since Thanksgiving.
He massaged the nape of his neck, feeling guilty. It was better to keep his secrets and protect his privacy. Stay distant. Stay numb.
She reached into a large box on a lower shelf and fished out a pair of sturdy black boots. They looked warm and practical, with faux fur trim. She sat down on the floor to try them on. “They fit.”
He grunted his approval. “What else do you need?”
She walked back and forth to test the comfort of the boots. Then she removed them. “This is more than enough, Cam.”
“You don’t have to pay me back.”
“I want to. How long will you be on the Dalton?”
“Three days, maybe.”
“Do you have a cell phone?”
“Of course, but there’s no service. You can leave a message.”
“Give me the number.”
He handed her a business card with his information. She tucked it into the front pocket of his flannel.
“You can go to the cabin anytime. I’ll tell Ann to run a tab.”
She nodded, avoiding his gaze. He didn’t press, because he was afraid to scare her off. Maybe she’d call him in a few days. Maybe she’d rethink his offer to stay at the cabins. She had nowhere else to go, after all.
They headed toward the front of the store together. She added a couple of travel-size toiletries to the cart, along with a simple canvas backpack. He didn’t really need any supplies, but he grabbed a few boxes of snacks. The store was busier now, at the start of the morning rush. He paid for the items in cash.
“I’ll change here,” she said, gesturing to the restrooms.
He went to wait for her near the entrance. There was an in-store restaurant with a café. He sat down at an empty booth. A mounted TV in the upper corner displayed local news. He listened to the weather report with interest. There was snow in the forecast, as usual. Then a photograph of Tala flashed across the screen.
Cam’s blood froze at the sight. Newscasters launched into a story of a missing waitress from Walt’s in Willow. The photo of Tala appeared again. It had been taken at the diner, probably by a patron. Tala was standing at the counter next to Walt.
The caption under her face read “Abigail Burgess.”
Viewers were asked to call a number for the Willow Police Department if they had any information. The segment lasted sixty seconds at the most. He blinked and it was gone, like a figment of his imagination.
Abigail. Abigail?
He tried to remember hearing her name in the diner, or over the radio. The other truckers used terms like “honey” or “cutie” for an attractive waitress. Tala was a distinctive name, and he wouldn’t have forgotten it. She must have lied to him. He was disappointed, but not particularly surprised, by the realization.
Cam pondered this latest development. There was no mention of a crime committed, by her or anyone else. She didn’t have any family in the area to report her disappearance, and she’d only been gone twenty-four hours.
And yet, her story had made the morning news.
What the hell had happened at Walt’s? He got the feeling it was something more serious than a brief sighting of her ex. She’d woken up screaming last night. She’d mentioned a dream about Walt in the dumpster. Dead.
He glanced toward the restrooms, uneasy. She was taking too long to change clothes. Either she’d ditched him to avoid saying goodbye, or she’d run into some more trouble. The first option was far more likely, and it filled him with dark emotions. He hadn’t been able to say goodbye to Jenny because she’d never woken up. He couldn’t bear to relive the moment his wife had slipped away.
He had issues with saying goodbye. Major issues.
Stomach roiling, he rose to his feet. Women who weren’t Tala breezed in and out of the restrooms. Had she walked by him while his eyes were glued to the television screen? No. She couldn’t have left the store, unless there was another way out. He spotted a garden section in the opposite corner.
Damn it.
Cam strode past the potted plants and fertilizer. Sure enough, there was an alternate exit at this end. He moved forward and shoved through the doors, searching the dark for a wolf-quick girl in a fur-lined parka.
There.
She was in the parking lot—and she wasn’t alone. A man had his hand locked around her upper arm. He appeared to be leading her away by force. She looked over her shoulder at Cam. Their eyes met for a split second. Then the man, who must be her abusive ex, jerked her forward. She stumbled and almost fell.
Cam’s vision went red. He was already on edge, filled with angry tension. The sight of her being manhandled made him completely snap.
He rushed toward them, intent on introducing himself with his fists.
Chapter 7 (#u0ab8344d-c16a-5c50-a33b-12b9ae170066)
Tala had checked her reflection before she went out to meet Cam.
The form-fitting jeans flattered her figure and the oversize sweatshirt was cozy. Her dark eyes glittered with a mixture of emotions. Fear, excitement, hope. She liked Cam, but she couldn’t accept his offer to stay in the cabin. It wasn’t the right place to lay low. She needed a cheap, anonymous hotel where no one asked questions. Also, her instincts told her to keep moving. She had to run until she felt safe.
She wanted to be cautious with her heart, as well. She didn’t know Cam well enough to trust him, and what she did know gave her pause. He was still in mourning. He was quiet and reserved. He wanted her physically, but he might change his mind about that. She wouldn’t be surprised if he started to have second thoughts about her as soon as they parted ways. He wasn’t ready to let go of his wife’s memory.
There was also the small matter of Tala being on the run from the law. Cam wasn’t the kind of man who would disregard her suspicious behavior. He’d continue to ask questions. He’d insist on helping.
She tugged on her parka, her spirits low. She didn’t want to say goodbye to Cam yet. He made her feel sexy and tingly and warm inside. More importantly, he made her feel safe. Tearing her gaze away from the mirror, she picked up her backpack and left the bathroom. She searched the crowd for Cam and found someone else.
The police officer from Willow.
He was in plainclothes, but she recognized his face. He was standing less than twenty feet away, blocking her path to the exit. His mouth stretched into a menacing smile. Pulse racing, she whirled around and headed the opposite direction. She rushed through the garden section, trying not to panic. It was filled with indoor plants and herbs. Alaskans liked to grow stuff, even in the dead of winter.
She spotted another exit sign in the corner. She started running toward it. She knocked over a garden gnome and kept going. Then she was outside in the cold, dark morning. The parking lot lights beckoned. She didn’t see Cam’s truck, but it didn’t matter. She needed to escape without involving him. She sprinted away from the danger, picking up speed with every stride. Running had always come naturally to her. She’d won several medals for her college cross-country team.
Unfortunately, she got tripped up before she could reach the road. A man jumped out from behind a parked car and pushed a shopping cart directly into her path. She couldn’t hurtle it, and she was going too fast to stop. She avoided the cart, but collided with the man. They both went sprawling.
When she tried to scramble away, he grabbed her by the arm. He was skinny, but strong. He rose to his feet and dragged her upright. She recognized him as one of the killers from the diner. With his free hand, he brandished a wicked-looking knife. When he twisted his wrist, the blade glinted in the dark.
She stopped struggling.
“Walk,” he ordered.
She moved forward, swallowing hard. A glance over her shoulder revealed Cam emerging from the garden section. He bolted toward them. She didn’t want him to get hurt, but she needed his help. Her captor pulled her along, wrenching her arm painfully.
Five.
She counted down the seconds until Cam struck.
Four.
The man at her side continued walking, staring straight ahead.
Three.
Cam was almost on them.
Two.
She jerked her elbow from the man’s grasp and dove to the ground like a bomb was about to go off. And it kind of did. Cam was the bomb. He exploded with brutal force, punching her captor in the back of the neck. The skinny man staggered forward and dropped his knife, which clattered to the asphalt. He looked stunned, but he didn’t fall down. He turned to fight, raising his fists protectively.
Cam punched him again, in the jaw, and that was all it took. The man spun around and crumpled to the ground like a leaf. Cam kicked the knife away. He said a few choice words, his mouth twisted with fury.
Tala stayed down, afraid to move. She thought Cam might continue his attack. He stood over his opponent, as if evaluating his condition. Then he left the guy alone and came to Tala. When he offered her a hand, she took it.
“Are you all right?”
She stood, testing the strength of her knees. “Yes.”
The parking lot wasn’t deserted. There were cars driving past, people coming and going. She glanced around for the police officer, her legs shaky. He wasn’t there, but someone else emerged from the shadows. It was the man who’d leered at her at the diner. His jacket was open. He had a revolver tucked into his waistband.
Cam used one arm to move Tala into the space behind him.
“What’s the trouble?” the man asked.
