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“It’s a few miles out of town. I wouldn’t want to detain you if you have other plans for the evening.”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t have anywhere to be. I’ll just follow you and see that you get there safely.”
Liz started to decline. Gabriel Decker may have saved her life this afternoon, but she knew nothing about him. However, there was something about the way his dark eyes stared at her that gave her the feeling she could trust him. Before she realized what she was saying, she spoke. “That’s very kind of you. I appreciate it.”
Sheriff Whitman glanced back at Luke in the idling squad car and nodded. “Then we’ll get back to the station and get this guy booked. I’ll talk to you in the morning, Liz.”
“Okay, and thank you.”
He smiled and waved his hand in dismissal. “No need to thank me. That’s what we’re here for.”
She watched as he strode toward the car and got in. Then Luke drove them from the parking lot. With the absence of the revolving lights on top of the police car, the area darkened, and Liz shuddered. Next time she came to the movie, she was going to park in a more central location. That is, if she ever came again.
It was as if Gabriel Decker read her thoughts. “I’m sorry for what happened to you today, but you really should park in a more visible spot.”
Liz nodded. “I think I’ve learned my lesson.”
He cocked his head to one side and studied her. “The next time you should bring someone with you. A friend, or maybe your boyfriend.”
She chuckled. “I would if I had any friends here, but I’m new to this area. I haven’t had time to meet many people yet.” Then she realized she hadn’t introduced herself. She held out her hand. “I’m Liz Madison, by the way.”
He wrapped his fingers around hers. “I’m Gabriel Decker.” They stood that way for a moment before he cleared his throat and dropped her hand. “I must say our first meeting was different than any I’ve had before.”
Liz laughed. “For me, too.” She reached for the handle to open the car door. “I hope following me home isn’t taking you out of your way. Do you live around here, Mr. Decker?”
He shook his head. “Call me Gabriel, please. And no, I don’t live here. I’m staying at Little Pigeon Ranch for a few weeks, taking a breather before I begin a new job. I’ve always loved visiting the Smokies and thought it would be a good place to relax.”
She stopped and stared at him in surprise. “You’re staying at Dean and Gwen Harwell’s ranch? So am I.”
He grinned and looked down at her again, and she realized that her head barely came up to his shoulders. “It’s good to meet another guest. How long have you been here?”
“Only a few weeks, but I love it. Actually, I’m more of a working guest. Dean is letting me help with the horses and do some riding lessons and trail rides. I’m really enjoying it. When did you arrive?”
“Just this afternoon. I came into town to see what it was like and decided to go to the movie when I saw what was playing.”
Liz arched her eyebrows and glanced at him. “You wanted to see a chick flick?”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a romantic at heart.”
The teasing way he said it made her smile. “Somehow I find that hard to believe.”
He glanced around as if checking to see if anyone could hear. “No, I’m serious.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice, but don’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want it to tarnish my masculine image.”
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Now I know you’re kidding.”
“I promise I’m not,” he said as he reached over and pulled her car door open. “You said you help with the horses at Little Pigeon. Do you like to ride as much as you like chick flicks?”
“Riding is my favorite thing,” she said. “I’ve been riding since I was a little girl.”
“I grew up on a ranch in Texas, so I’ve ridden all my life, too. Maybe we can ride together sometime while I’m at Little Pigeon.”
Her face grew warm, and she bit down on her lip. “Maybe.”
He grinned and winked at her. “Good. I do love to ride. It ranks right up there with Pride and Prejudice.”
She burst out laughing, and he continued to grin as she climbed into her car. Within minutes she was on the road to the ranch with Gabriel following. As she drove, she thought about the man who had come to her rescue and said a prayer of thanks that he was there when she needed him.
She wondered what kind of work he did. He said he was taking a breather from his job but not what that job was. He really hadn’t revealed too much about himself, but that wasn’t surprising. She hadn’t either, and she wasn’t about to, even though he seemed like the kind of man who could be a good friend. His quick wit when he teased her about being a romantic and his volunteering to follow her home caused her mouth to quirk in a slight smile.
Suddenly she stiffened and tightened her fingers on the steering wheel, the smile now completely gone from her face. What was she thinking? She couldn’t have a friend. One of the conditions of her being here was that nobody was to know who she was or why she’d come to Dean and Gwen’s ranch. She had to guard her relationships very carefully. One slipup about her true identity could be disastrous for a lot of people. Especially for her.
She looked up in the rearview mirror and caught a glimpse of his car behind her. No matter how grateful she was for his help earlier, she knew what she had to do—stay away from him as long as he was at Little Pigeon Ranch.
* * *
Gabriel’s gaze darted back and forth across the road as he followed Liz back to the ranch. His protective instincts were on high alert today, and his stomach clenched at the thought of what would have happened if he hadn’t been at the movie. His heart had skipped a beat when he saw the gun pressed to her head. He’d known there was no way she could escape the hold of a man who had to outweigh her by at least a hundred pounds. The thought had flashed through his mind that she was much more petite than what she looked like in the pictures from her official file.
The first time he’d seen a photograph of her, he’d been struck by her eyes. Their blue color reminded him of the waters he’d once seen off the coast of Bermuda, crystal-clear blue with just a tint of green. They were even more striking when seen in person. Her hair, which was held in place with a clip on top of her head, looked almost like a golden crown that sparkled in the dusk light. All in all, he’d have to say she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
Her friendly manner wasn’t at all what he’d expected, though. He’d expected to find a person who was private and suspicious. Most people in her position would react that way, but not Liz. Maybe the way they’d met, with him saving her, had been the key to allaying her suspicions. That was promising, since he needed her to trust him.
These thoughts were still running through his head when the ranch came into sight. She pulled up beside the house, and he pulled up behind her. Before he could step from the car, she was already hurrying toward the front of the house.
“Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it,” she called out to him.
“Wait!” he yelled as he jumped from the car. He caught up to her at the bottom of the porch steps. “Liz, I’d like to—”
Before he could finish his sentence, she interrupted him. “I hope you enjoy your stay at Little Pigeon. Dean has all kinds of activities planned for his guests. There’s a schedule in the office, and you can sign up for whatever interests you.”
“I’m not much into planned excursions. I like to explore on my own, but I’ll take a look.” He paused for a moment before he continued. “Maybe you’d like to show me around the area. We could go for a ride.”
Her forehead wrinkled as she studied his face. “I don’t know,” she finally said. “I stay busy. Don’t have much leisure time. This afternoon was the first time I’ve been able to get away all week.”
He nodded. “I understand, but I’ll check with you and see.”
“Okay.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to go now. I told Gwen I’d help with dinner for the guests, and I’m running late.”
“Then go on,” he said. “I’m eating in the dining room tonight, so I’ll see you then.”
A shaky smile pulled at her mouth. “We’ll see.” She backed away a few steps. “It was nice meeting you, Gabriel. I’ll see you later.”
“Nice meeting you, too, Liz.”
She didn’t say anything else, and he watched as she climbed the steps to the porch. Her demeanor had changed dramatically on the way back from town. She’d seemed more closed off once they’d gotten back to the ranch. It was almost as if the girl with the smiling eyes he encountered in the movie parking lot had disappeared and been replaced with a skittish woman who wasn’t quite sure about the stranger she’d met.
He narrowed his eyes and wondered if he had come on too strong for their first meeting. Maybe the best thing to do would be to give her some time for a day or two to get used to his presence here. Once she became accustomed to seeing him in the dining room and around the barn, she might feel more at ease with him. The last thing he needed was her running away every time she saw him. He couldn’t keep her safe if she wouldn’t let him near her.
When she reached the front door, she glanced over her shoulder and straight at him. He didn’t know if he imagined it or not, but her step appeared to falter for a moment. No doubt about it. She was suddenly nervous around him. He was going to have to do something about that.
His supervisor was trusting him to ensure no harm came to Liz before she could testify against a criminal kingpin. He was also trusting Gabriel to handle the assignment discreetly. If Liz knew that the FBI had assigned her a protective detail, she’d want to know why...and the answer might make her change her mind about the wisdom of testifying. That would be a disaster. He had to get this just right—had to keep her safe, no matter what...and he had to do it without letting her ever suspect that he was an FBI agent.
“You may call yourself Liz Madison, but I know who you really are, Elizabeth Madison Kennedy,” he muttered under his breath as she disappeared into the house. “So you’d better get used to me. I’m going to be around for a while.”
TWO (#u3c55be48-cd8e-522f-aeb6-f82860aa69b1)
Liz put the last of the dirty plates in the dishwasher and glanced around the kitchen to see if she’d missed anything. Tonight they’d had more guests for dinner than usual. She’d stayed in the kitchen, but several times she’d stood at the door into the dining room and listened to bits of the guests’ conversations. The room had buzzed with chatter about trail rides, excursions to Cades Cove or hiking adventures on the Appalachian Trail.
This was just the beginning of the fall tourist season when the mountains came alive with brilliant colors. Once the leaves had faded, the holiday festival of lights would take over and draw thousands of tourists. Gwen said Little Pigeon Ranch was booked solidly to the end of the year. Liz couldn’t wait to participate in all the festivities.
She paused in closing the dishwasher and shook her head. What was the matter with her? She wouldn’t be here to see those things. If all went as she hoped, she’d be back in her apartment in Memphis soon, and her life would settle back into the routine she’d enjoyed before coming here.
The door between the dining room and the kitchen suddenly swung open, and Liz jerked her head around to see Gwen storming into the kitchen. She stopped just inside the room and placed her hands on hips. “Why didn’t you tell me you were attacked in the theater parking lot?”
The muscles in Liz’s throat constricted as she tried to swallow. “I’m sorry, Gwen. I didn’t have a chance. When I got here, you were in the middle of getting dinner ready to serve, and we’ve been busy ever since.”
Gwen pursed her lips and shook her head. “That’s no excuse, Liz. You know that Dean and I need to be informed if anything happens to you.”
“And I was going to tell you. I just haven’t had time.” Liz paused as a thought struck her, and she frowned. “How did you find out?”
Gwen’s expression softened as she studied her. “Mr. Decker told me.”
Liz’s eyes widened in surprise. “He told you? When?”
“While he was eating dinner. I stopped at his table to see if he had everything he needed. He asked where you were, and I told him you were in the kitchen.” Gwen arched an eyebrow. “Is he the reason you didn’t come out of the kitchen all during dinner?”
“No!” Liz blurted out without thinking. “I mean, I was busy.”
Gwen stared at her for a moment before she took Liz by the hand and led her to the kitchen table. When they were both seated, she leaned forward and squeezed Liz’s hand. “When something like this happens, you have to tell us about it.”
“I don’t think it was related to my testimony,” Liz offered. “I honestly think he was just a creep trying to rob me. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time—again.”
“Maybe,” Gwen said. “But maybe not. Dean and I can’t help protect you if we don’t know what’s going on. We feel a responsibility to take care of you while you’re here.”
Liz shook her head. “I know you do, and I’m sorry about putting that burden on you. I worry all the time about how I’ve brought my problems to your and Dean’s doorstep. If anything happened to you or Dean or to your daughter...” She stopped, unable to go on as tears filled her eyes.
Gwen’s pressure on her hand increased. “Don’t worry about us. We agreed to this fully aware of the risks. It’s your safety we all have to focus on.”
The tears pooling in Liz’s eyes blurred her vision, and she tried to blink them back. “I feel like I’m taking advantage of you and Dean. You’ve offered me a safe haven for now, and I don’t want you to regret it.”
“We would never regret it. I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through. We just want to help you.”
Her chest tightened. “You have. More than you’ll ever know.” She took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes. “Now I need to finish up in here. I’ve cleaned the countertops and the stove. All I need to do is sweep the floor, and I’ll be through.”
Gwen shook her head. “I’ll do that. You need some time to get over what happened this afternoon. You enjoy your time painting at night. Go on up to your room, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Liz sighed as she stood up, took off the apron she was wearing and hung it on a peg next to the refrigerator. “I don’t think I’ll paint tonight. I think I’ll go on to bed. I want to get up early so I can help Dean muck out the stalls in the morning.”
Gwen pushed up from her chair and propped her hands on her hips. “Liz, you’re doing too much around here.”
“I like helping out,” Liz insisted. “It takes my mind off things.”
“You can’t keep busy forever,” Gwen said gently. “You aren’t going to be able to come to terms with what happened until you talk about it. I can find you a Christian counselor if you’d like.”
Liz sniffled and looked down at the floor. “I do need to talk, to release these pent-up feelings that are driving me insane. But I don’t want to tell some stranger.” She raised her head to stare into Gwen’s eyes. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve become closer to you than anybody else. Maybe I need to tell you about it.”
“Whenever you’re ready, Liz, I’ll listen.”
“Thanks, Gwen. I appreciate it.”
They stared at each other for a moment before Gwen smiled and pulled Liz into a hug. “Now you go on to bed, and don’t worry about anything tonight. We’ll get through this one day at a time.”
Liz let out a grateful sigh as she hugged Gwen. She was so blessed that the FBI had persuaded Dean and Gwen to take in a stranger who needed protection. They’d accepted her without question, and she would never forget it.
After a moment she released Gwen and walked from the room. As she trudged through the dining room, she caught sight of Gabriel Decker sitting at a table alone. He sipped from a coffee cup and stared at her over the rim.
Before she could make her escape to the hallway, he called out to her. “Liz, I missed you during dinner. Mrs. Harwell said you were in the kitchen.”
She stopped and turned to face him. She wanted to reproach him for telling Gwen about the parking lot incident, but she had trouble holding on to her annoyance with him at the sight of his beautiful smile, which reached all the way up to his eyes. “I was. We had a lot of guests tonight, and I helped the cook with the meal.”
He pointed to the chair across from him. “Would you like to sit and have some coffee with me?”
She lifted her chin and stared down her nose at him. “No, thanks. I’m tired and going to bed.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” he called out as she stepped into the hall.
“Maybe.” She stopped halfway up the stairs and glanced back over her shoulder.
He had risen and followed her into the hall. He stood at the foot of the stairs with his hand on the banister. “I’ll look for you.”
The words were innocent enough on the surface, but her breath still froze in her chest. Back in Memphis there were plenty of dangerous people looking for her, and Gabriel’s remark had served as an unpleasant reminder of the danger she was still in. It was all she could do to make her legs climb the remaining stairs to the second floor. When she glanced back down, he was still standing there, his eyes on her.
She stiffened at the panic that spread through her body. Why was he being so friendly, and how was it that he just happened to be in the parking lot when she was attacked? Perhaps he wasn’t just a guest who had come to spend a few weeks at Little Pigeon. Maybe he’d come there looking for her.
Biting down on her tongue to keep from crying out, she rushed to her room, ran inside and locked the door. Then she leaned against it and closed her eyes as she tried to control her breathing. What was happening to her? Was she right to be scared, or was she overreacting? It was hard for her to trust anyone. She saw ulterior motives in even the most innocent of other people’s actions. She couldn’t go on like this much longer.
A whimper escaped her throat as she slid down the door until she was sitting on the floor, her legs bent and her arms circling her knees. She had to do something, or she was never going to make it through the next few months.
Maybe Gwen was right. She needed to talk to someone, and Gwen had offered. Now all she had to do was make herself do it. She gritted her teeth. She couldn’t put it off any longer. She would tell Gwen everything that happened that day, and she would do it tomorrow.
* * *
Gabriel watched Liz until she got to the top of the stairs before he turned around and walked back into the dining room. He sat down and picked up his coffee cup and stared at it for a moment.
“Something wrong with the coffee?” The voice behind him startled him, and he swiveled in his seat to see who it was. He relaxed when he saw that it was Dean Harwell.
He laughed and set the cup down. “The coffee’s fine. In fact, everything I ate for dinner was delicious. If that was any indication of the caliber meals you serve here, I may want to move in.”
Dean chuckled and slid into the seat across from him. “The cook here started working for my grandfather when I was growing up. We couldn’t get along without him.”
