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CHAPTER SIX

A nger pulsed through Gavin’s veins as he surveyed the handgun rigged in the bathroom. It’d been designed to shoot Claire, but had fired when Jacob opened the door. A bullet hole was buried in the wall about five feet from the ground. It’d sailed right over the little boy’s head. He’d been scared but unharmed, thank God. Still, the echo of Claire’s voice screaming Jacob’s name, followed by the sound of the gunshot, would haunt Gavin’s dreams for the rest of his life.

Texas Ranger Ryker Montgomery placed his hands on his hips. His button-down shirt was wrinkled from driving across several counties, as were his slacks, but there was no fatigue in his posture, despite the late hour. Ryker’s expression was grim. “How did the intruder gain entry to the house?”

“He broke a window pane on the back door and flipped the latch. Claire has a home security system, but it’s an older model. She set it when she left in the morning. It wasn’t armed when we entered the house.”

Ryker grunted. “Either the intruder knew the code or he had a device that disabled the alarm system.”

“My guess is the latter. The only people with the security code are Claire and her parents. They change it every month.”

Once again, the attack had been well-planned and coordinated. It was frustrating. No, it was infuriating. The killer was running circles around them. Gavin gestured to the handgun. “This could be the same weapon used to kill Faye. We need to compare the bullets.”

“I’ll put a rush on it. You think Xavier Whitlock is behind this?”

“It’s possible. He wasn’t happy about answering our questions, and I think his wife knows more than she’s saying about her daughter’s disappearance, but that doesn’t make Xavier a killer.” Gavin ground his teeth together, fighting back a fresh wave of fury. “One thing is certain, however. Someone wants Claire dead. And the killer isn’t concerned about who may get hurt in the process. He fired on us at the bakery this morning and now this…”

Awful images played like a horror movie in Gavin’s head. What if Claire had walked into the bathroom? What if the gun had been pointed lower when Jacob opened the door? It would’ve been a tragedy. Either of them could’ve been seriously hurt or killed.

He took a deep breath to calm his runaway thoughts, but it didn’t alleviate tension coiling his muscles. “We have to find this guy, Ryker. He isn’t going to stop.”

His friend nodded sharply. “You have my word. I’ll do everything possible to solve this case. We’ll keep them safe.”

Some of the pressure bearing down on Gavin’s shoulders lightened. He wasn’t in this alone. As a general rule, Ryker didn’t take life too seriously. Quick to laugh, slow to anger, his fun-loving nature made him easy to like. Ryker was also a notorious flirt, which helped in the dating department. But when it came to investigations, he left all humor at the door. Ryker would work day and night until the case was solved.

“Why don’t you see how Claire is doing?” Ryker suggested. “I’m sure she could use a friend right now. I’ll stay here and help with the crime scene technicians.”

Gavin nodded. He was eager to check on Claire and Jacob. The last time he’d seen them, the little boy had been crying his eyes out. Both he and his mother had been terrified. With good reason.

Outside, the air was frigid and scented with pine. Red and blue turret lights on the various law enforcement vehicles strobed. Keith was standing on the walkway between the two houses, talking on the phone. He hung up as Gavin approached. “The mayor keeps calling, asking for updates. The man is driving me crazy, but it’s better for him to bug me than Claire.”

“Surely he wouldn’t call Claire given what just happened.”

Keith rolled his eyes. “You don’t know Patrick Scott. He’d call you at your mother’s funeral if he needed something. Especially if he’s going to be fielding questions from the media.” The chief deputy rested his hands on his duty belt. “Claire’s parents are being interviewed right now, but so far, nothing’s come of it. We’re working our way through a list of everyone who was on the property today. No one noticed anything suspicious.”

That wasn’t surprising. Claire’s cabin was nestled in the woods. It would be simple for someone to slip in and out without being noticed. Gavin blew out a breath. “Let me know if you find out anything.”

Keith nodded. “Will do.”

Gavin continued to the main house and stepped through the front door. He removed his boots in the entryway to avoid dragging mud across the wooden dining room floor. From the kitchen, the murmur of voices filtered out. It was Claire’s parents, along with the deputy interviewing them.

A fire flickered in the hearth. Claire was on the couch, holding Jacob. The little boy’s head rested on his mother’s shoulder. He was sleeping, his eyelashes casting long shadows on his cheeks. She gently rubbed his back. They looked peaceful together. The sight halted Gavin in his tracks. There were things to say, but now wasn’t the time.He started backing out of the room.

“Don’t go.” Claire’s voice was barely a whisper.

He hesitated. Then, on stocking feet, Gavin crossed the carpeted living room. He sat on the coffee table in front of Claire. Her gaze lifted to meet his. The haunted look buried in her eyes reached inside Gavin’s chest and squeezed his heart so tight, it physically hurt.

Claire’s chin trembled. “Jacob fell asleep half an hour ago. I should put him in the bed, but I can’t manage to…” Tears filled her beautiful eyes. “I can’t find the strength to do it.”

Gavin’s throat tightened. “You can hold Jacob all night if you want.”

She clasped his hand. Despite the blazing fire, her fingers were cold. Gavin wrapped them in the cocoon of his palm, hoping to warm them. Tears continued down her cheeks. A war battled within Gavin. A part of him wanted to spring from the seat and hunt down the man who’d attempted to hurt her. The other part of him wanted to gather Claire in his arms and comfort her until she felt strong again.

She swiped at her tears. “I’m a mess.”

“You’re a mother who went through a terrifying incident. You’re allowed to be a mess.” Gavin gently touched Jacob’s back. “Is he okay?”

“Physically, he’s fine. Emotionally and mentally, too, I think. The sound of the gunshot scared him, but he only cried for a few minutes. Jacob’s so young, I don’t think he realized what happened. Or what could’ve happened.” She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “Jacob and I will stay together in the guest room. My legs are so shaky, I don’t trust them to hold me up while carrying him to bed. Do you mind taking him?”

A tenderness Gavin wasn’t expecting swept over him. “Of course.”

He gently lifted the small boy into his arms. Jacob’s weight was slight, but significant. A beautiful blessing. His own child—lost when his ex-fiancée, Willow, suffered a miscarriage—would’ve been a few years older than Jacob.

The pregnancy hadn’t been planned. Far from it. In fact, their relationship had been strained. They hadn’t been a good match from the start, and it was embarrassing to admit, but Gavin had drifted away from his Christian values. When Willow became pregnant, he was determined to do the right thing and make it work between them. They got engaged.

Then the miscarriage happened. Willow left him a few weeks before the wedding. She didn’t love him, never had, and losing the baby gave her a way out. The chain of events forced Gavin to re-examine his life. He started attending church again and renewed his relationship with God. It brought him peace and his career gave him purpose.

Love and children weren’t things he thought about. But there were times like now, while holding this precious child, that Gavin ached for something more.

He shoved that thought out of his mind. It was a dangerous path to take. Jacob and Claire needed his protection. Nothing else.And Gavin owed them his very best. He couldn’t keep them safe if his head was muddled with romantic notions.

“In here,” Claire whispered, leading Gavin into a bedroom. A night-light glowed softly in the corner. She pulled back the covers on the double bed.

Gavin gently laid Jacob down. Claire pulled the covers over his small form and ran a hand over his hair before kissing his forehead. The gentle nature of her movements touched Gavin. It was obvious how much Claire loved her son.

She joined him in the hallway, wrapping her arms around her midsection. “I should go back to my house, view the crime scene.”

It was a testament to Claire’s fortitude that she was even thinking about it. Gavin wouldn’t blame her if she never wanted to step foot in her cabin again. “That’s not necessary. Ryker and the crime scene technicians are searching for evidence. Keith is interviewing potential witnesses. They’ve got it under control.”

Her mouth twitched. “It’s not often someone tells me I’m unnecessary.”

“You’ve trained your team well. Especially Keith. It’s a compliment to your leadership that they can do the job without you.”

“It won’t stop someone from trying to murder me.” Claire leaned against the doorjamb. Her lips flattened. “I took this job thinking it would be a quieter change of pace. Instead, I’m being hunted by a killer.”

Gavin kept his voice to a whisper to avoid waking Jacob. “I can arrange a safe house for you and your family. No one will think any less of you for sitting this case out.”

“I can’t. I took an oath when I became sheriff, Gavin.”

“Your life is being threatened.”

“Exactly. What do you think will happen if I leave now? It’ll send a message to every other criminal in this county that if you want to terrify or intimidate me, then you threaten my family. I can’t do my job like that.” Her jaw hardened. “No. I’m going to see this through.”

“Then we’ll make a plan to keep you safe.” Gavin’s gaze went to the little boy in the bed. “Both of you.”

Claire woke with a jerk. Her heart raced and her pajamas were damp with sweat. Instinctively, she reached for Jacob, touching his sleeping form lying next to her. He was breathing deeply. One arm hugged his stuffed dog, Mr. Woof, and a pajama-clad foot peeked out from underneath the covers.

A tear dropped onto Claire’s cheek. The nightmare—the images of Jacob hurt and bleeding—had felt so real.

Thank you, God, for protecting Jacob yesterday. Please continue to watch over him, over both of us. Guide me to make the right decisions. I need your wisdom now more than ever.

The prayer eased the raw edges of her emotions. Early-morning sunlight drifted through the pale curtains covering the window. Claire carefully slipped from the bed. She checked her phone. There was a loving message from her sister that brought a smile to her lips. Bea was still in Denver, completing a wilderness training. She’d offered to come home, but Claire insisted she stay several states away. It was safer.

They’d spent a long time talking on the phone after everyone else had gone to bed. There was no one who could comfort Claire better than her younger sister. Just seeing the sweet text message of support was enough to put some steel back into her spine.

There was a criminal to find.

Fifteen minutes later, she was showered and dressed. Her parents' bedroom was empty. The bed, covered in a handmade quilt, was neatly made. Belatedly, Claire remembered they were helping an injured friend with his ranch animals. Her mom and dad had likely been up since before daybreak.

The scent of fresh coffee drew her to the kitchen. Gavin was seated at the kitchen table, reading on his tablet, a mug resting at his elbow. The deep cleft in his chin accented the curve of his freshly shaven jaw. His long legs were stretched out in front of him, feet clad in white socks with red stitching. He’d spent the night on the couch as an added layer of security for her family.

Claire paused in the doorway. A mix of emotions clashed inside her. She’d avoided getting close to any man since her divorce, afraid to let someone past the protective barrier surrounding her emotions. But last night…Gavin handled the crisis and her tears with gentleness and respect. There was no denying the handsome Texas Ranger made her feel safe. It blurred the lines between them, and she didn’t know what to do with that. “Morning.”

He greeted her with a smile that warmed his chestnut-colored eyes and sent a flurry of butterflies flying through Claire’s stomach. She barely heard his good morning back. Nerves made her movements jerky as she grabbed the carafe of coffee from the counter.

Claire took a breath, reminding herself to cool it. There was no need to be flustered. She and Gavin were friends. That’s all they would ever be. She wasn’t in the market for romance. The marks left from her ex-husband’s abandonment and the subsequent divorce were carved on her heart.

All of her focus needed to be on catching the man trying to kill her. There wasn’t room for anything else.

Forcing a normalcy she didn’t quite feel, Claire poured herself a cup of coffee before topping off the one at Gavin’s elbow. “Are you hungry? I could make an omelet?”

“Your mom made enough pancakes for an army. They’re keeping warm in the oven. I haven’t eaten yet. I was waiting for you.”

Good. Breakfast was the perfect time to discuss the next steps. Claire had some ideas about how they should move forward in the case.

She grabbed two plates, along with silverware. A quick look in the fridge confirmed her mom had cut fresh fruit to go along with the pancakes. Sausage and eggs were also on a platter in the oven. Gavin hadn’t been kidding. Her mom had made enough for an army. Claire arranged it all on the table. “We should call Ryker and tell him to come over for breakfast too.”

“Let him sleep a while. We took turns keeping watch over the house last night. Ryker’s a grump first thing in the morning when he hasn’t had enough rest.” Gavin winked. “His bad attitude will give us both indigestion.”

She laughed. “How long have you and Ryker been friends?”

“Years. I’m relieved Lieutenant Rodriquez assigned him to help with this case. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the rangers in Company A. They’re like brothers to me. But Ryker and I have worked closely together before. We understand each other.”

“I miss that. The sense of camaraderie.” Claire swirled a slice of pancake through a puddle of maple syrup. “I lost it when I became sheriff. There’s a kinship with my deputies, but there’s also a distance between us. I’m their boss. It changes the dynamic.”

“That sounds…lonely.”

She shrugged. “I can be. But I also enjoy being sheriff. I like having the control to make sure cases are worked thoroughly. If Stephanie’s disappearance had been properly investigated, then Faye might be alive today. I wouldn’t be in this trouble.” She picked up her mug of coffee and took a long sip. “Have you heard anything about the private detective Faye hired?”

“I spoke to my colleague Weston this morning. Michael hasn’t been seen or heard from since the night of Faye’s murder. They’ve issued a search warrant for his cell phone, hoping to track his location that way. In the meantime, every law enforcement officer in the state is searching for him and his car.”

“I’m worried about him.”

“I am too.”

Claire set her mug down. “It’s clear I’m the killer’s target. The best way to protect Jacob and my parents is to stay away from them as much as possible. I’ll sleep in my cabin starting tonight and he can stay here with my parents for the time being.”

She was dreading the separation from Jacob, but her feelings didn’t matter. Her son had almost become collateral damage. Claire couldn’t allow that to happen again.

Gavin wiped his mouth. “I’ve received permission from Lieutenant Rodriquez to have a trooper stationed outside the house 24 hours for their protection. It’ll start this morning. Additional troopers will do extra patrols in the county. Coupled with your own deputies, it should prevent any attacks on your family.”

She tried not to focus on the word should in his sentence. Nothing was guaranteed. All Claire could do was her best and then give the rest to the Lord. He certainly hadn’t left her alone in this. Gavin was here.

Without thinking, Claire reached out and placed a hand over Gavin’s. His skin was warm under her palm.“Thank you, Gavin. For everything. I’m glad you’re here.”

He lifted his gaze to meet hers. Something akin to electricity arced between them. The touch she’d meant to be friendly somehow morphed into something else altogether. Gavin’s thumb traced along the ridge of her knuckle. Heat coursed up her arm.

She couldn’t move. It struck Claire that this attraction she was fighting…Gavin was feeling it too. Suddenly, it all felt very dangerous. Like wading into quicksand.

She wasn’t ready for this. Especially not now, with everything else going on.

Gavin seemed to sense her conflicted thoughts. He released her hand, and she pulled it away. Embarrassment heated her cheeks. Claire wasn’t interested in a relationship and it wasn’t right to make Gavin think she was. The threats on her life were wreaking havoc with her emotions.

She licked her lips. Her throat felt impossibly dry. “I’m sorry, Gavin. I shouldn’t have grabbed your hand. That was inappropriate. It won’t happen again.”

“Claire—”

A knock at the back door cut Gavin off. Relief washed over Claire. She didn’t want to have a complicated conversation about navigating their relationship. As far as she was concerned, they were friends. Professionals. That’s how she wanted to keep it.

Gavin rose, his hand on the holster of his gun. “Are you expecting someone?”

“No.” Claire rolled her eyes. “But killers don’t usually knock. Stand down, Gavin. Let me see who it is.”

She peeked into the mudroom. The top of the back door was glass, giving her a view of the stoop. A man wearing grease-stained coveralls shifted in place. It took Claire a moment to remember his name. Her dad had hired him as a repairman for the property last week.

“It’s safe, Gavin. It’s one of our employees.” Claire walked to the back door and opened it. “Travis, hi. How are you this morning? Please come in out of the cold.”

“No, thank you, ma’am.” Travis removed his ball cap. A shock of red hair created a sharp contrast with his pale skin. “Actually, you should come outside with me. There’s something you need to see.”