Page 30 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)

Ava straightened up, feeling the strain in her muscles, and pressed her hands against her aching lower back.

Hours of bending over and lifting had taken their toll, leaving her sore and exhausted.

She surveyed the room, which was now a sea of cardboard boxes.

Nearly everything was packed away, except for a few of Ellie’s dolls and her clothing.

She had to get as much done as she could while Ellie napped.

She wasn’t sure if she’d see Deacon before he came to help her move, but they’d been keeping in touch through texts.

He told her he was close to finishing up the case and three of the Winchesters were in jail and all he needed was to look into another man, then, luckily, be able to arrest Chet Winchester.

Ava felt immense relief that the ordeal was almost behind them, a sentiment shared by her father, since Deacon had his cattle returned.

When the cattle were safely delivered by a pair of agents from the Autumn Falls office, her father had been overjoyed, singing praises of Deacon’s efforts and integrity.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. With a deep breath to steady herself, she walked over and opened it to find her father and Jessica standing on the porch, their eyes warm with affection.

“Hi, Dad. Hi, Jessica. Come in,” she greeted, stepping aside to let them enter.

“Thanks, honey.” Her father gently guided Jessica with a supportive hand on her back as they stepped into the house. “We just wanted to stop by and see if you need any help.”

“I’ve packed as much as I can for today,” Ava replied, smiling. “I’ll tackle the rest of Ellie’s things tomorrow, but I really appreciate the offer.”

Jessica enveloped her in a warm hug. “I hate to see you go, but I know it’s the right decision. Your father and I would love to visit, if you’re okay with that.”

“I would love it,” Ava said, her heart swelling with gratitude. “Please do.”

“I’ve heard so much about Clifton,” Jessica added. “It would be wonderful to explore it together.”

“That sounds great, Jessica,” Ava replied, her spirits lifted. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Ava understood that her father would miss her presence, but with Jessica now in his life, she felt assured he’d be just fine. Her father seemed to have a deep affection for Jessica, and Ava could see the same mirrored in Jessica’s eyes when she looked at him.

As another knock echoed through her room, Ava frowned slightly, but opened the door to reveal her brother standing there, a familiar grin lighting up his face.

“Hey, come in,” Ava said warmly, holding the door wider to welcome him.

Tyler removed his hat, wiped his feet on the mat, and stepped over the threshold, his smile broadening as he spotted their father and Jessica inside.

“Hey, you two,” Tyler greeted them before turning to Ava. “I probably won’t see you before you leave, so I wanted to drop by and let you know, if he ever hurts you, I’ll be making a trip to Clifton.”

Ava chuckled, a soft, affectionate sound. “I’ll make sure he knows you said that.”

“See that you do. He might be bigger than me, but dealing with an angry brother is no small feat.”

“I’m sure he’s aware. He does have two brothers, after all.”

Jessica chimed in; her voice filled with eager curiosity. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

“We’ll come over before you leave, honey,” Ava’s father promised, his voice gentle but reassuring.

“Okay. Deacon will be here around eight Saturday morning. We plan to get packed up and head out then.”

“We’ll help you load up the vehicles,” her father offered with a warm grin.

“I’d help too, but we’re branding this weekend,” Tyler explained, a hint of regret in his voice.

“It’s fine, Tyler. Four of us should be able to do it fairly quickly. And it’s not like I won’t be back. I’ll make sure to visit, I promise.” Ava’s voice was steady, though an undercurrent of emotion threaded through her words.

“You’d better. Jeanie’s upset that you’re leaving, but I assured her she’d see you from time to time. We could plan a weekend trip to Clifton if Dad watches the kids.” Tyler’s voice was a soothing balm.

“You know that’s no problem, Tyler,” Rudy replied.

Ava blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears threatening to spill over. “I don’t want to cry,” she admitted, her voice a whisper on the breeze.

“Oh, honey, you’ll be just fine. We’re all here for you,” Jessica said soothingly, her hand tracing gentle circles on Ava’s back.

Ava wiped away a stray tear and embraced Jessica tightly, the warmth of their hug a comforting cocoon. “Thank you. I won’t worry about Dad now.”

Jessica laughed lightly, her laughter a melody of comfort. “I’ll take care of him.”

“I know, and that’s why I’m okay with leaving. It’s just that I’ll miss everyone so much.” Ava’s voice was a soft murmur, like the tender rustle of leaves in the wind.

“We’re only five hours away. I’d better get back to the barn,” Tyler said, stepping forward to envelop Ava in a warm, brotherly hug.

His embrace was a shield against the world, his whispered words an anchor.

“You call me if you need me,” he murmured softly in her ear, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek before heading out.

After her father and Jessica left, Ava plopped down onto the sofa, the cushions sighing beneath her weight.

She looked around the room, a jungle of cardboard boxes creating a maze she had to navigate just to reach the kitchen.

With a resigned sigh, she pushed to her feet and decided to check on Ellie.

Ava wove her way through the sea of boxes, each step a careful dance, and made her way down the hallway to her daughter’s room. She slowly pushed the door open, and laughed when she saw Ellie sitting up in bed, her small voice animatedly chatting away with the doll Deacon had bought her.

“Hey, baby girl,” Ava said softly, her voice a gentle caress in the room.

Ellie turned toward the door, her eyes wide, then pulled herself up using the bars of the crib. Her little arms stretched out to Ava, a silent plea and a joyous greeting.

“Mama!” Ellie screamed, her voice happy as she started hopping up and down.

“Let’s get some dinner.” Ava lifted her out, her touch tender and loving, changed her pull-ups, and set her on her feet.

Ellie immediately scampered from the room; her doll clutched tightly in her arms. Ava shook her head, a fond smile on her lips, then followed her daughter, losing sight of her in the labyrinth of boxes.

“Ellie? Where are you?” Ava called out, trying to suppress her laughter, the words echoing playfully through the room.

“Hiding, Mama,” Ellie said with a giggle, her voice a playful echo in the midst of their cardboard kingdom.

Ava tiptoed through the maze of boxes, her footsteps light as a whisper.

She stifled a laugh when she peered over a stack and spotted Ellie nestled between the cardboard towers, her tiny finger pressed against her lips, signaling for her doll to stay silent.

With a soft touch on Ellie’s head, Ava prompted the little girl to look up, her face breaking into a delighted squeal of laughter.

“I found you,” Ava announced, her voice filled with warmth.

Ellie scrambled to her feet, clutching her doll tightly, and stretched out her free arm toward Ava. With a gentle lift, Ava hoisted her over the boxes and settled her into the highchair with care.

“Let me put your doll on the chair next to you,” Ava suggested, taking the doll, pulling out a chair, and carefully placing it as if the doll were another guest. “How’s that?”

Ellie nodded enthusiastically. “Hungry, Mama.”

“I know, sweetheart, I am too,” Ava replied, casting a glance around the kitchen. She swung open the fridge door, then the freezer, both revealing uninspiring options. Turning to Ellie, she asked, “How about pizza?”

“Yay!” Ellie clapped her small hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement, as Ava reached for the phone to order a pizza. After placing the order, she took Ellie out of her highchair because she didn’t want to let her sit there while waiting for the delivery.

When the pizza arrived, the aroma wafted through the room, making Ava’s stomach rumble. She carefully cut Ellie’s slice into bite-sized pieces, arranged them on a plate, and placed it on the highchair’s tray before settling Ellie into her seat once again.

As Ellie dug into her meal with gusto, Ava took a bite of her own slice, the flavors dancing on her palate, reminding her just how hungry she was.

Sitting at the table with Ellie, Ava’s thoughts began to wander to Deacon.

The anxiety about the move rippled through her, but she held onto the hope that something positive would emerge from this change.

She understood the initial challenges, they were stepping into Deacon’s space, a home he had never shared before, and now he was welcoming two new inhabitants.

Ava hoped that their decision to embark on this journey together would prove to be the right one for them all.

*** *

Thursday morning arrived with a chill in the air as Deke climbed into his truck, its engine rumbling to life beneath him. He was preparing for the trip to Maple Ridge, a journey he wasn’t particularly eager to undertake, since he planned to go back on Saturday.

Dave had dispatched Rawley to accompany him as a precaution against any potential issues.

With Killian occupied with another assignment, it was just Deke and Rawley for this mission.

Deke didn’t mind; he had complete faith in Rawley, trusting him with his life.

The bond between them was strong, forged through countless cases and shared dangers.

As Deke adjusted the rearview mirror, he spotted Rawley’s vehicle trailing closely behind. Rawley was an exceptional agent, and Deke knew he would do everything possible to assist in cracking this case wide open.