Page 72 of Colton's Second Chance
“What if we save the pies for later and have them with coffee this evening once we’ve…well, digested for a while?” Will asked.
“Yeah,” Eli replied, “what Dad said.”
A round of voices in agreement lifted from one end of Will and Sasha’s home to the other. The scrape of chairs followed as people began to depart the tables for other activities.
Aunt Abby stood at her place and called to the family. “Hey, hey, hey! Where are you going? We may be saving pie for later, but after the past year we’ve had, both the good and the bad, I feel it is more incumbent upon us than ever today, this Thanksgiving, to give our thanks for our blessings.”
Sasha stood as well. “I agree.”
The Colton siblings and cousin exchanged glances. Nobody seemed prepared to defy the matriarchs on what, in past years, had seemed a somewhat cheesy tradition. This year, Eli and his siblings, cousins and significant others shared glances and nods that affirmed they were eager to share their gratitude with the group. One by one, the younger Coltons and their partners sat back down.
“I’ll start,” Mitchell said, his posture and booming voice reflecting his comfort speaking to a courtroom. He stood and beamed at Dove, who was at the table beside him. “First and foremost, I’m thankful for Dove and the life we have together.”
The family clinked their forks and applauded in support and agreement.
“And I’m thankful for you, love,” Dove replied.
Troy shot to his feet. “I’m grateful that Lakin is officially my girl and that we’re planning our wedding.”
More cheers erupted, but Troy held up a hand. “And… I’m thankful the renovations on Suite Home are back on track after the delays the snowstorm caused.”
“Ditto!” Lakin said with gusto as she stood and lifted her glass. “And of course for you.” She gave Troy a kiss and sat again.
Across the table from Noelle and Eli, Kansas stood, and she took a deep breath as she glanced from one face to another. “I’m grateful for my family, every last wild and wonderful one of you. And I’m grateful that Eli is back safely from looking for Scott Montgomery and that Grace Galloway is alive and well.” Her voice cracked, and Eli saw the strain Kansas had been under these last few weeks in the creases around her eyes.
As Kansas sat back down, the family clapped and voiced their agreement in a more subdued manner. Abby placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder and spoke softly to her. Kansas offered her mother a wan smile.
Spence rose to offer his gratitude, but the discussion faded to background noise as Eli leaned across the table to say quietly to Kansas, “Thanks for that.”
“I meant it,” Kansas replied. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you or A—” She cut her words short and frowned. “I feel bad enough that Scott is doing all of this because of me.”
“No.” Eli reached across the table to take his cousin’s hand. “Noneof this is because of you. One hundred percent of the blame is on Scott’s head. Do you hear me?”
Kansas sighed but finally nodded. “I hear you.”
“And hear this, too,” he said, squeezing her fingers before letting go. “I promise you, if it is the last thing I do, I will see that Scott Montgomery is caught and that he pays for his crimes.” He glanced to Noelle, who was listening to the exchange. “I promise you both. This isn’t over. Asher and I will get that bastard, and he will pay.”
When Noelle winced, Eli tipped his head. “What?”
“I only just got you back. When Scott was shooting at us, I was more scared of losing you than getting hurt myself. I just…don’t want you in the line of fire again.”
Eli stroked a hand down Noelle’s face and pressed his forehead against hers. “I’ll be careful. I swear.”
“Eli? If we can drag you away from your lovely lady for a minute,” Parker called across the room, “I think it’s your turn.”
Eli leaned back, moved his napkin from his lap to his plate and pushed his chair back.
Before he could stand, Noelle rose to her feet. “I’d like to go next if you don’t mind. Because I have to tell you all how much I appreciate—no, that’s not a strong enough word—how much I treasure all of you. You have welcomed me to this family in such a warm and loving way. I’ve never had this. Family support. Inclusion. Acceptance. Love. And…to gain a family like yours in addition to finally being with the man who stole my heart yearsago—” Noelle paused and chuckled. “I’ve won the love lottery. That’s how it feels. So thank you all, so much for letting me be part of your big, incredible family.”
A boisterous cheer rang from the ceiling and walls, but before she took her seat, Noelle added, “And I am most thankful this year for Eli and for second chances.” She bent to give him a deep kiss on the lips, whispering, “I love you so much.”
“The feeling is mutual, sweetheart. You are worth the wait.”
Scott Montgomery lay on his lumpy air mattress, his flashlight his only illumination in the Alaskan wilderness. He shone the beam on the only picture of Kansas he’d salvaged before he’d blown up his house. It was his favorite shot, one he’d taken with a high-power lens on his camera. She was completely at ease in her home, unaware that he was watching from a few blocks away. He’d had to cut down a couple bushes and some branches to have a clear line of sight, but it had been worth it.
He’d seen so many candid moments of Kansas’s life through the years through that window. Mornings in her nightgown, evenings when she ate dinner alone, weekends as she practiced yoga, even times she clearly thought no one could see her as she danced and sang with music he couldn’t hear. Her uninhibited moments, when she was most vulnerable, were the ones that stoked the fire in him. Catching a glimpse of unguarded moments…
Planting a microphone in her house should be next on his agenda. First, he had to lie low for a few more days, allow his trail to go cold, before he resumed his observations of Kansas and found a new way to get her alone. Once he had her alone, under his power, in his control, he could win her over.
He clicked off the flashlight and allowed his senses to focus on the sounds and scents just outside his makeshift shelter.This would be his last night shivering in the cold, he promised himself.
One week ago, he’d watched from a vantage point on the next mountain ridge the moment the state troopers had found his abandoned plane. They’d swarmed over it like ants on dropped bread crusts at a picnic, Eli among them. After that, Scott had hidden in the frozen hinterland, staying one step ahead of search teams for long, miserable hours.
But tomorrow, he’d steal a car or a floatplane and go somewhere well outside Eli Colton’s and Asher Rafferty’s purview. His beard had filled in, changing his appearance at least a little. He hadn’t maintained his anonymity as the Fiancée Killer for three years without having some skill for staying hidden up his proverbial sleeve. Then, in a week or so, he would shift his plans into the final stage of execution.
But not yet. He’d give the authorities a little time to realize he’d truly gotten away, let them relax their vigilance…
Then he’d step up his plans to bring Kansas to heel. Enough of her baseless rejection. They belonged together. He’d lied for her. Waited for her. Killed for her. The time had almost come. Soon Kansas would be his.
Very soon.