Christmas Hideout

Were kids always this messy? If so how did he handle it? Ignore it and deal with the mess at the end, maybe?

Yeah, he’d keep his thoughts on the blotter information, and then when she was finished eating, he might have to hose them both off.

So what did he do about the information Kendall just relayed? With Harmon being an officer, Matt had to be smart about it. He could call one of his contacts higher up on the Austin police force to get the ball rolling. No, if he did that, word was more likely to get back to Harmon that someone in Lost Creek was inquiring about the RO.

He wouldn’t make that call just yet. He’d give the department until the end of the day to provide the report. If they didn’t, he’d have Kendall reach out. A casual follow-up by her shouldn’t alert the desk sergeant into thinking the request was a big deal.

After all, the last thing Matt wanted to do was have this sergeant run to Harmon about the request and give away Nicole and Emilie’s location to the potentially deadly stalker.

THREE

Hearing Emilie’s giggle coming from the kitchen, the deputy’s—Matt as he’d told her to call him last night—chuckle deep and rumbly, Nicole sagged against the door and sighed out her fear. When she’d woken up to find Emilie missing, she’d been certain Grady had somehow found them and gotten to her daughter to take her as a bargaining chip. He’d never threatened Emilie, but after seeing the knife last night, Nicole had no idea what horrific things Grady was capable of doing.

Their laughter died off. A long silence followed.

“What’s wrong?” Matt asked, his voice laced with concern.

“I miss Mommy. But she needs to keep sleeping. She’s tired because we had to go away from Grady. He wants to hurt Mommy.”

“Did she tell you that?” Matt’s tone held surprise.

“Nuh-uh. I heard her talking to Aunt Piper.”

Oh, Emilie. I thought you were sleeping. Baby, I’m so sorry.

Nicole had been so careful not to let Emilie know what was going on with Grady, and until this, she’d succeeded because Emilie still had thought Grady was a good guy and wondered why he didn’t visit them anymore.

“Don’t worry, princess,” Matt replied, his tone restrained. “I’m a deputy. Do you know what that is?”

“Police.”

“Sheriff’s department, and I won’t let anything bad happen to your mommy. Not today. Not ever.” The vehemence in his tone cut clear through Nicole, and she could hardly believe she’d happened upon a cabin with a deputy who cared enough to come to their rescue.

He seemed like such a good guy on the surface, and she wanted to believe he meant what he said. But at first Grady had doted on Emilie, and he’d promised to care for them, too. Look what happened with him. And now, thanks to Nicole letting him in their life, she would need to have a difficult discussion with her three-year-old, who was way too young to hear about bad people like Grady in the world.

Oh, God, why? How could You let this happen?

Okay, fine. God wasn’t responsible. She was.

Here she was, blaming Him when she needed His guidance. She’d known what she was doing when she’d said yes to Grady. Sure, just because he wasn’t a man of faith it didn’t in any way mean he’d turn out to be a stalker, but she’d known about God’s warning in the Bible not to yoke herself to an unbeliever. She’d ignored that and followed her attraction to Grady. She’d made her own trouble and needed to work it out on her own. Only then could she feel good about resuming her relationship with God.

For now, she’d stay strong. For herself. For Emilie. And not trust in another man, even a man like Matt, who seemed like a good guy.

She drew in a breath of air and stepped into the kitchen, where bright aqua cabinets greeted her like sunshine on a cloudy day. The countertops were well-worn and held a big white farm sink. Gingham curtains hung on a large window. The room looked like a kitchen from the past, when times were simpler and families gathered every day around worn farm tables like this one.

Emilie sat on Matt’s lap, stabbing a fork into chocolate chip pancakes. So the guy could cook, and he took the time to make breakfast for Emilie. That one thoughtful act drew her to his side, and she knew she had to guard against that. And guard against how she was responding to the picture the two of them made.

Emilie looked so small next to his broad shoulders and muscular arm wrapped around her waist. A surprising sense of peace flooded Nicole, and she swallowed hard to keep from forgetting her vow of a moment ago not to let this man sway her good sense.

Emilie looked up and smiled, and Matt’s lips tipped in a wide grin, too. He really seemed to be enjoying his time with Emilie. The scene was so precious to Nicole. A scene she’d often imagined after Troy passed away. He was such a caring and compassionate man and would have been a good father. A wonderful one, in fact.

What kind of father would Matt be? If this scene was any indication, a good one.

See, those are the kinds of thoughts you need to stop thinking.

“Hi, Mommy,” Emilie said but didn’t hop down for a hug the way she normally would.

Her daughter was very outgoing and precocious. Nicole wasn’t at all surprised that she’d come downstairs and seemed to be having a good time with Matt but she didn’t much like that Emilie had been so trusting.

“Matt made pancakes,” she gushed as if it was the most awesome thing in the world. “And he said we could ride horsies if you said it was okay. Is it okay, Mommy? Is it?”

Nicole didn’t appreciate being the one who had to say no.

“I’m sorry,” he said as if reading her mind. “She said you were afraid of horses, and I didn’t want your fear to keep her from riding.”

Great. So he thought she was putting her desires first, and she was a bad mother on top of everything else. That would make it far easier to ignore her attraction to him.

She stepped over to the table and dropped onto a chair to look at Emilie. “We won’t be here long enough for you to ride.”

“You’re not planning to leave, are you?” Matt asked. “Not with...you know.”

“We’ll be going once my car is fixed, and I figure out a way to pay for it and the cabin for last night. Hopefully that can happen today.”

He frowned. “If what you told me last night is true, I don’t like the thought of you two driving off unprotected.”

Right. If what she said was true. He still didn’t believe her.

Was it because Grady was a cop, or because Matt just wouldn’t believe anyone until checking them out? Though she’d learned that law enforcement officers had suspicious personalities, she’d foolishly hoped Matt would’ve thought about this overnight and would’ve realized she was sincere. Not that it mattered if she was leaving today, but she still didn’t want him to think she was a liar.

“What’s unprotected mean?” Emilie asked around a mouthful of pancakes.

“Never mind, honey.” When Emilie turned her attention back to her pancakes, Nicole slashed a hand across her throat to tell Matt any additional discussion of Grady was forbidden.

His frown deepened but then cleared, as if he had iron will to change his emotions in a moment. The same way Grady could change, too. Like a chameleon. She lifted her shoulders and prepared for a different personality to appear.

“The first thing we should do is get your car towed into the local garage,” Matt said. “If it would help, I’m glad to call them while you eat breakfast.”

Okay, so the same guy. Kind and considerate. Could she trust that? Did she want to trust it when it could be the first step in buying into a facade to gain her cooperation?

Seriously, she was such a hypocrite. She wanted him to trust her, but she wasn’t willing to trust him. But she had Emilie to think about. She opened her mouth to say she could make the arrangements, but a local deputy would likely have some pull with the garage and might get her car looked at today.

She forced out a smile. “I’d appreciate you calling the garage. And I appreciate you making breakfast for Emilie. That was very kind of you.”

“No biggie. Gave me an excuse to have one of the favorite breakfasts my nana used to make. Though I have to say, I didn’t make them heart-shaped like hers.” A wide, sincere smile crossed his face, and her heart picked up speed.

She’d been too worried and afraid last night to get more than an initial impression of him, but in the light of day, there was no avoiding the fact that he was not only a good-looking guy, but also heart-stoppingly handsome. His face was angular, all etched and chiseled. His hair was almost as dark brown as his eyes had been last night, but now as he smiled, his eyes were liquid like melted chocolate. And his smile. Wow. He had a way of making her feel like it was just for her, and he’d never share it with anyone else.

Powerful. So powerful. Drawing emotions out that Grady never raised, and she’d thought she’d buried with Troy.

The sound of the front door opening broke through her thoughts.

Grady.

She spun in her chair, her heart racing. She soon heard voices.

“That’ll be my parents and grandparents,” Matt said.

Nicole almost sagged in relief.

“What’s that I smell coming from the kitchen?” a male voice boomed. “You make pancakes, Matt?”

“Matt never cooks,” a woman said. “You’re likely smelling some leftovers he heated in the microwave.”

Footsteps coming toward the kitchen followed the comments. Nicole ran a hand through her hair in preparation of meeting Matt’s family. She’d raced out of the bedroom in search of Emilie and was still wearing her pajamas. Once she’d discovered that Emilie was fine, she should have thought to go up and change, but she’d been too shocked by hearing Emilie announce that she knew about Grady to remember her pajamas.

“Well, well, well,” an older gentleman with a thick head of gray—almost white—hair said. “What do we have here?”

A woman—his wife, Nicole presumed—stepped up behind him and peered at Nicole. “What’s going on?”

Another man and woman entered the room. Matt was a spitting image of the second man, only younger. Trim, the second man wore a Western shirt and jeans with a thick belt. The woman, whom Nicole guessed to be in her fifties or early sixties, was tall and slender with blond hair pulled back in a ponytail.

“Everyone, this is Nicole and her daughter, Emilie,” Matt said.

“Hi.” Nicole could only come up with one word as the others studied her with extreme interest.

“Walt McKade, Matt’s father.” The younger man held out his hand.

As they shook hands, Walt introduced his wife, Winnie; mother, Betty; and father, Jed. The others smiled their welcome, but the smiles were reserved and tight.

“What’s going on, Matt?” Winnie asked.

“Why don’t we leave Nicole and Emilie to finish their breakfasts, and I’ll update you in the family room?” Matt didn’t wait for a response but settled Emilie on Nicole’s lap and shooed his family toward the door.

Was he embarrassed to be seen with them? Caught with her in her pajamas? Of course he was. She’d invaded his life, and now his family was taken aback. She just kept doing the wrong thing since she’d met him. Even more reason to get that car fixed and take off.

When Matt reached the doorway, Nicole grabbed his wrist to stop him and peered up at him. “I’m so sorry for intruding this way.”

“Hey.” He smiled, that sweet one that made her heart yearn for more. “You’re welcome here at the ranch for as long as you need to stay. Once I explain the situation, my family will agree.”

She nodded but was reluctant to let go of his wrist. What was up with that? Was she clinging to him out of fear or was it something else?

She dropped her hand. “Still, I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Sounds like you’re blaming yourself for this, but it’s not your fault, you know. Not at all. There’s only one person to blame. If he’s guilty of his actions, I aim to bring him to justice.”

His rock-hard tone reminded her of Grady after he’d turned into a domineering guy, giving her a moment’s pause. Grady had gone from sweet to tough in a flash like this, and she’d feared he would hit her. Thankfully, he hadn’t, and he’d never called her names or otherwise verbally abused her.

“Sorry,” Matt said. “I know that sounded harsh, but I can’t handle when a man... Well, you know.”

She nodded.

“Mommy, I need more syrup,” Emilie said.

“Enjoy the pancakes.” Matt gave her a lingering look and stepped from the room.

She poured the syrup, her mind racing. So many things to consider right now, and she didn’t know what to focus on.

“I love you, Mommy,” Emilie said out of the blue.

Perfect. Her daughter reminded her of the most important thing, and even with the loss of Troy, Nicole felt so blessed to be the mother of this precious child.

Nicole needed to banish all emotions and remember her every action had to be about keeping Emilie safe. That meant ignoring that she found Matt McKade attractive and evading Grady at all costs.

She would stay ahead of him. She had to. She couldn’t fail, or the consequences would be dire not only for herself but for her baby girl, too.

“Have you checked out her story?” Matt’s father asked from his recliner. His feet were planted firmly on the floor and his body rigid. Matt had expected both the posture and the question from his sheriff father, who questioned everything, at times trying Matt’s patience.

Matt leaned against the wall, acting like it was no big deal, so his dad would relax, when this was a big deal for Matt. Huge deal. Especially after spending time with Emilie, raising thoughts of having a family of his own someday. He needed to be sure no one hurt her. Her mother, too, though she seemed a bit prickly about his help.

“I don’t have all the details yet,” he said to his dad and explained what he’d learned from dispatch. “But you should also know, this guy’s an Austin police officer.”

“Of all the...” Matt’s granddad shot to his feet and ran a hand through hair still as thick now as when he’d been the Lake County sheriff. Many generations of McKades had filled that position, going back to the 1800s. “It’s bad enough that this is happening to a woman, but by one of our own? That’s not something I can abide.”

“You’re awful fast to believe her.” Matt’s father eyed his dad.

Matt’s granddad planted his feet wide. “Don’t give me that look.”

“What look?”

“The one that says I’ve been out of law enforcement too long and don’t know what I’m talking about.” Matt’s granddad crossed his arms. “I can read people as well as I used to, and there’s something about that young lady that rings true.”

“You only saw her for like a minute,” Matt’s father said.

He tightened his arms. “That’s all it took.”

Matt’s father turned his attention to Matt. “What’s your gut feel on this? Do you buy her story?”

“The background check I ran on her last night leaves me leaning toward believing her, but I don’t know her well enough to be sure.” Matt pushed off the wall. “Still, with a child in the picture, we need to err on the side of caution. I’d like her to stay here until the car’s ready. Not only because Nicole doesn’t have her wallet to pay for a motel, but also if a cop is stalking her, she won’t fare very well on her own.”

His mother sighed. “I don’t like this. Not one bit. If this guy is after her, it doesn’t seem very wise for her to take off before you look into this stalker. Especially when she can stay here with you all to look out for her.”

“Problem is, Mom, she doesn’t trust law enforcement. Means she doesn’t trust me.”

She gritted her teeth. “I wish I could tell her what a fine man you are. That you’re an upstanding deputy and would give your life for her if needed.”

Someone cleared their voice in the foyer, and he turned to find Nicole standing there, her assessing gaze fixed on him.

“Sorry to intrude.” She held his gaze. “But I wondered if I might use your telephone to call my sister in Austin. I promised to check in with her by now, and she’s likely worried. Thankfully, I’m a teacher and we’re on Christmas break, so I don’t need to call into work, too.”

“You’re welcome to use the phone,” his mother said before Matt could get a word out to warn against it.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” he said. “As a police officer, Harmon could track the call.”

Nicole chewed on her lip for a moment. “Piper’s at work by now, and she’s employed by a huge company. Wouldn’t the call just show as coming in on the main company line? Nothing direct to Piper.”

“Depends on the system,” Matt said. “It could also show a linked call to her extension. But still, I think the odds of Harmon getting access to the company phone logs is minimal. Just don’t call her at home.”

“Then thank you for the offer of the phone.” The words came out on a sigh of relief, and Matt hated that she was having to go through this. “Maybe Piper can come up with an idea of how to get my wallet to me, too. I’d ask the bank to send a new card or have Piper send me the money, but that would take days, maybe weeks.”

“Why doesn’t Matt go get your wallet?” his granddad suggested.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Matt said. It would also allow him to verify her story about the hunting knife and picture if Harmon hadn’t gone back to remove it.

She arched a delicate eyebrow. “You wouldn’t mind?”

He shook his head. “I’m off today and was just going to work on campaign stuff.”

“That can wait,” his father said. “The election is almost a year away, and a day off now shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Dad’s the sheriff, and he’s retiring,” Matt told Nicole. “I’m running for his office. Granddad was the sheriff before him.”

“Oh.” Her tone was flat and didn’t give away even a hint of what she thought about his statement.

He honestly hoped it would help sway her opinion of him, but he knew that she needed to see his actions not just hear his statements to earn her trust. “I’ll head out after I arrange for your car to be towed.”

She nodded. “You’ll be careful, won’t you? I mean, I’d hate for you to be hurt.”

“I can tag along so someone has your back,” his granddad said.

“Another good idea.” Matt smiled at his grandfather, who would do just about anything to stay involved in law enforcement work. Matt didn’t think there would be any trouble, but he’d love to have the company. “We’ll take the farm truck instead of the squad car to keep from drawing attention to ourselves.”

His granddad got a grin on his face. “But we’ll be carrying.”

Matt nodded. “That goes without saying.”

“And you’ll be careful that Grady doesn’t follow you back here, right?” Nicole bit down on her lower lip.

“Now, little lady, don’t you worry.” Granddad puffed up his chest. “Matt’s a fine deputy in a long line of fine deputies. He won’t let this fella tail him. That you can be sure of. You need someone on your side, and the McKades are here for you. You can trust us.”

Nicole nodded, but ongoing skepticism lingered in her expression. He hated seeing it. Not only as a deputy, and if he was honest, even more as a man who found himself interested in her. Not that he had time to court a woman or raise a family. He worked full-time as a deputy, often working overtime as it was, and then there was his campaign. He couldn’t get distracted and lose the office his father and granddad had held for so many years and let them down.

So much pressure, but even if they had wanted this for him, he wanted the job for himself ever since he was a kid and looked up to his dad and granddad. He’d given up serious relationships to attain this goal, and once he was the best sheriff he could be, then he would look to his personal life.

So he needed to keep his mind on the job here. Only on the job. “If you’ll give me your keys, I’ll drop them at the garage before Granddad and I take off for Austin. Is there anything I can tell the mechanic about what happened before the car died?”

“Um, well...” She tilted her head, resembling Emilie when she’d peered up at him with her question about the horses.

“There was one thing,” she said. “The headlights flickered a few times.”

“Sounds like the alternator,” his granddad said.

“If so, will that take long to repair?” she asked.

Granddad shook his head. “An hour or so if Clem has the part.”

Matt expected that hearing she could leave town today would lighten Nicole’s distress, but her eyes narrowed. “Where might I call my sister?”

Matt’s mother stood. “Every bedroom has a phone, and I’m glad to keep an eye on Emilie while you make that call.”

Nicole smiled. “She should be done eating by now, so that would be wonderful, thank you.”

“Do you have other family in the area that you might need to call?” his mother asked.

Nicole shook her head. “Our parents live in Minnesota, and I don’t want to worry them with this.”

“Of course,” his mother said.

They departed together, and Matt faced his father. “You’ll be around to keep an eye out for Nicole while I’m gone?”

His father nodded. “But be careful, son.”

Matt resented his father’s warning. Matt was a good deputy and didn’t need his father to tell him how to do his job. Matt had skills his father had never had at his age, but he’d never disrespect his dad by telling him that. “I’m always careful.”

“I’m not talking about the job.”

Oh?

His dad stood, planted his feet wide in the same stance most law enforcement officers used when confronting a problem, and Matt knew he wouldn’t like what his dad had to say. “You’re looking at the woman like a man on a desert island who hasn’t seen a female in years. It could cloud your judgment.”

“I’m not—”

“No point in denying it,” his granddad interrupted. “Your dad is right. It’s not hard to see. However, I don’t happen to think that’s a bad thing, because it’s high time you started living life instead of living for your job. Seeing you interested in a woman for a change gives me hope.”

Matt could hardly believe his granddad had said that when he had such high expectations of Matt as the next sheriff.

“A valid point.” His father spun to peer at Granddad. “Just not one that applies to a woman in potential danger.”

“Leave the boy be, Walt.” Granddad crossed his arms. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and you’ve trained him well.”

Matt knew he needed to step in before this discussion turned into an argument. He changed his focus to his granddad. “Soon as I get everything settled with Nicole’s car and run home to take a quick shower, I’ll stop back for you, and we can make that road trip.”

Excitement burned on his grandfather’s face, and he clapped Matt on the back.

Matt gave him a smile of thanks and headed for the entryway. Nicole came down the steps, her keys jingling.

“My apartment key is on this ring, too.” She handed the keys and a slip of paper to him. “I know you got my address last night, but I jotted it down for you.”

He took the items, careful not to touch her hand. He hated to admit it, but his dad was right. She got to him, and he could only imagine what even one touch might do. “My family will be here while I’m gone. You need anything, you ask them, okay? They’re on your side.”

“Thank you.” A tentative smile crossed her face.

He longed to solve her problem and put a wide smile like Emilie’s there instead. And that was precisely why he stepped onto the porch to call Clem at the garage.

After he finished arranging to have Nicole’s car picked up, he ran for his family’s old truck. He fought against the brisk wind whipping from the north. This wind could signal a drop in temperature, not an unusual occurrence for December in the Texas Hill Country.