Page 31 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)

The ultimate goal was to apprehend Chet Winchester, but to reach him, Deke needed to capture Anthony Dyer first. After an exhaustive search, he finally pinpointed Dyer’s whereabouts.

Dyer seemed to shuttle between Maple Ridge and Billings, a curious pattern for a man like him.

The only plausible explanation for his presence in a town as modest as Maple Ridge was the connections he must have there.

Deke was astounded by the revelations about Dyer’s activities; despite his supposed dealings in the black market, Deke couldn’t find any information on him.

The question that gnawed at Deke was why law enforcement had been unable to halt Dyer’s illicit operations.

How had he managed to evade capture for so long?

Why didn’t the man have a record? The mystery added an extra layer of urgency to Deke’s mission as he drove down the winding road, determined to find the answers.

Deke maneuvered his truck into the parking lot of the hotel, easing it into a spot.

Moments later, Rawley pulled up beside him, the quiet hum of his engine fading as he switched it off.

The two men emerged from their vehicles, the evening air brushing against their skin.

They retrieved their worn duffle bags from their trucks and made their way toward the welcoming glow of the lobby’s entrance.

“I’m glad I don’t have to make this trip all the time,” Rawley remarked, his voice laced with relief.

“Yeah,” Deke replied, his tone noncommittal.

“You okay, Deke?” Rawley inquired, casting a concerned glance his way.

“Yes. No,” Deke admitted, hesitating.

“Which is it?” Rawley pressed gently.

“No,” Deke confessed with a sigh. “Let’s get our rooms, then grab some food, and I’ll tell you what’s been going on.”

“Sounds good, but can we just eat in one of our rooms? I’m too tired to go back out,” Rawley suggested, his exhaustion evident.

“Yeah, that would be best. I don’t feel like going back out either. After five hours on the road, I just want to relax. I’ve made this trip so often that I could do it with my eyes closed.”

“I’m sure,” Rawley said with a knowing nod.

They approached the gleaming front desk, the polished marble counter reflecting the soft overhead lights. After checking in, they received their keycards and proceeded to the elevator. The soft chime announced their arrival on their floor, and they stepped out onto the plush carpeted hallway.

“I’m going to grab a shower. Do you want to eat in your room?” Rawley asked, his voice echoing lightly in the corridor.

“That’s fine. I want a shower too. Once you’re finished, just come to my room and we’ll order from somewhere,” Deke replied, already envisioning the comfort of a hot shower.

“Alright, I’ll see you in a little while.” Rawley nodded, striding purposefully to his room.

Deke paused in front of his door, the keycard in his hand.

He slid it into the slot, and the door clicked open with a soft beep.

Stepping inside, he was enveloped by the quiet solitude of the room.

He set his duffle bag down on the neatly made bed, the bedspread crisp and inviting.

From inside the bag, he pulled out a comfortable T-shirt and a pair of soft sweatpants before heading into the bathroom, eager to wash away the road-weary fatigue.

Two hours later, Rawley and Deke sat hunched over a table in Deke’s room. A half-eaten pizza sat between them, steam still rising from its cheese-slicked surface. The tang of tomato sauce mingled with the faint scent of beer from the four empty bottles on the table.

“So,” Rawley said, leaning back against the chair and wiping grease from his fingers with a paper towel, “you have a daughter.” He arched an eyebrow, then picked up another slice and bit into it.

Deke rubbed his jaw. “Yes, and I love her already. ”

Rawley’s grin was half teasing, half sympathetic. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“True,” Deke said, pushing aside the pizza box to make room for his elbows.

“Ava and I are going to do our best to make this work. I just hope my job doesn’t interfere too much.

You know how it is, we’re on call twenty-four seven.

Weekends off doesn’t necessarily mean weekends off.

” He sighed. “You know we get called in when needed. Hell, I was on a date one night when I got a call.”

Rawley chuckled, tossing a slice of pepperoni into his mouth. “I was at dinner with someone I was hoping to have breakfast with. Then my phone rang, and that was that.”

Deke watched Rawley’s face, trying to read his thoughts in the dim light.

“Honestly,” Rawley finally said, “it’s not like she can’t come back here sometimes to visit or her family could see her in Clifton. Does she work?”

“She handles the ranch’s bookkeeping and payroll.”

Rawley snagged a pepperoni from the pizza again. “She can probably do that from anywhere.”

“Yep.” Deke shrugged, snagging the last slice. “She said she will.”

Rawley sat back, brushing crumbs off his jeans. “Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word of this.”

“I know, Rawley. My brothers and my dad know, but I’m not ready for anyone else to know until they get moved in with me.”

Rawley pushed himself upright, stretching his arms overhead with a long groan. “I’m beat. What time for breakfast?”

Deke slid a chair back and stood. “Seven in the dining room? ”

“Seven it is. I’ll see you in the morning, Deke.”

“Later, Rawley.” Deke flicked off the overhead bulb, leaving the room in soft moonlight as Rawley closed the door behind him.

****

Ava gently lifted Ellie and set her on the floor, watching as the child darted out of the room with a burst of laughter that echoed off the walls. “Ellie, please stop running. You could fall and hurt yourself,” Ava called after her, shaking her head at the sound of Ellie’s giggles trailing behind.

“Let’s go see Papa,” she suggested.

“Papa!” Ellie exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

Standing in the living room, Ava watched Ellie zoom around like a bundle of energy, wishing she could borrow even a fraction of that vitality.

“Enjoy it while you can, kiddo. Come here, Ellie. I need to put your sweater on since we’re going to walk.

It’s a little chilly today. Fall is finally here,” Ava said, her voice tinged with amusement.

Ellie bounded over to her, and Ava crouched down, catching her in a warm embrace, laughter bubbling up as Ellie giggled against her.

Ava skillfully guided Ellie’s small arms into the sleeves of her sweater before donning her own, the fabric soft and comforting against the crisp air.

Taking Ellie’s tiny hand in hers, they stepped out onto the porch.

Ava shivered slightly as the cool breeze kissed her cheeks, a stark reminder of the rapidly changing weather.

The air whispered of fall’s arrival, hinting at the snow that could soon follow .

On the porch, Ava pulled the door closed behind them, clasped Ellie’s hand firmly, and they descended the steps, crossing the yard, heading toward her father’s welcoming home.

As they approached, the wooden steps creaked under their feet, and just as Ava was about to knock, the door swung open.

Ellie let out a delighted scream at the sight of her papa.

“Hi, we wanted to come see you,” Ava greeted with a smile.

“You know I’m always happy to see you both,” her father eyes crinkling with warmth.

“How are you, Dad?” Ava asked, wrapping him in a hug.

“I’m fine, honey. How are my girls?” he replied, lifting Ellie into his arms, his expression softening.

“We’re wonderful.” Ava smiled.

“Are you?” he asked.

“Yes, I am. Really,” Ava said with a chuckle as she removed her sweater, and her father helped Ellie with hers.

“I’m glad. How about a cup of coffee?” he offered, already moving toward the coffee maker.

“I’d love one,” Ava replied, the thought of warmth and comfort appealing.

“I’ll get that in a minute. Ellie? Would you like some chocolate milk?” he asked, setting the little girl gently on her feet.

“Yep!” Ellie nodded enthusiastically.

“Have a seat, Ava,” he said, gesturing to the kitchen table, then he set Ellie in her highchair.

Ava let out a contented sigh as she pulled a chair away from the sturdy wooden table and settled into it, feeling a sense of belonging and peace in the familiar surroundings .

A few minutes later, her father set a cup of hot, steaming coffee before her.

Wisps of dark roast curled upward, filling the kitchen with a rich, familiar aroma.

He settled into the chair opposite her, his own mug in hand, and for a moment they simply watched the light dance across the wooden table.

Ava glanced over at Ellie, who sat strapped safely in her highchair, sipping chocolate milk from her pink sippy cup with a contented hum.

Her father’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he watched.

“Are you all packed?” he asked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table.

Ava wrapped her hands around her coffee, feeling its warmth seep into her palms. “God, I hope so.” She laughed.

“Something is on your mind, though. What is it?”

She dropped her gaze. “I’m scared, Dad.”

“Of Deacon?”

“Oh, no. I’m not afraid of him. I know he’s a good man.” She paused, tracing a crack in the table with her fingertip. “What happens if we can’t make this work?”

He sighed, the lines around his eyes softening. “Then you take it from there. Ava, life doesn’t come with guarantees. If things don’t work out, you’ll figure a new plan.”

She swallowed hard, the memory of Deacon’s grim warning flickering in her mind. “You know he threatened to take me to court for joint custody if we can’t make this work.”

Her father’s brow furrowed. “What do you expect, Ava? He wants to be part of his daughter’s life. ”

“But not mine.” Ava’s voice cracked. She shook her head.

Her father sat back, studying her. “Ah, I see. Is that what this is really about? Are you in love with him?”

Her chest tightened. “I have strong feelings for him, and I don’t want to get hurt. I don’t want Ellie to get hurt either.”

He offered her a steady look. “I don’t think you have to worry about him hurting Ellie.”

She pressed her lips together. “But he could hurt me, Dad. I don’t need another broken heart. Deacon would be so easy to fall for. When he first said he wanted us to move in with him, I froze. I do know this is for the best, but if it doesn’t work...”

Her father folded his hands, nodding slowly. “That’s something only you and Deke can untangle. You both have to do what’s best for Ellie. Think about me. If I hadn’t been in your life, you’d have managed, but a piece of you would have been missing.”

Ava brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“I can’t imagine not having you around, Dad, and I want that for Ellie.

But if it fails, we’d have to go to court and the idea of joint custody bothers me because we live miles apart.

Even with joint custody, we’d have to travel.

I know not as much, but I’d hate being separated from my daughter. ”

He nodded. “How do you think Deke feels? He’s been separated from her for years.”

She stared at the swirling steam. “I know. What should I do? ”

His gaze was patient and gentle. “Moving to Clifton is the best choice. For all of you. You asked what I thought, and I’ve told you.”

“I suppose we’ll have to see how it goes.” Ava lifted her cup and took a sip. “I want this to work, Dad. I really do.”

“Honey, all relationships take work.”

Ava pushed her chair back, placed the cup in the sink, then lifted Ellie from her highchair and set her on the floor. She sighed when the little girl ran off. “She’s making me a believer in the terrible twos.”

Her father laughed. “Like you were never like that.”

“I was a perfect angel.”

“You might have been perfect in my eyes, but you were no angel.”

Ava gasped then laughed. “At least you’re honest.”

“Honey, I honestly believe that you and Deke can make this work.”

“I’m sure going to try and he thinks it can work too.”

They moved to the living room and after a couple of hours, Ava got up to leave. She put Ellie’s sweater on her, picked her up, then after kissing her father on the cheek, they left. She set Ellie on her feet and watched her run off.

“Ellie, you have to stop—” Ava gasped when Ellie took a tumble, landing on her belly with her arms outstretched. Ava ran to her, crouched down, and helped her up. She brushed the gravel off her and looked at her. “I told you not to run or you’d get hurt. ”

“Is she alright?” her father asked from the porch.

“I think so.” Ava looked at Ellie. “Do you have any boo-boos?”

Ellie showed her the palms of her hand with a grin. “No,” she said, then ran off again toward the steps of their home.

Ava looked at her father and shook her head. “Tomboy no doubt.”

Rudy chuckled, then closed the door as Ava and Ellie headed home.

After entering the house, Ellie sat on the floor with her dolls and Ava worked on payroll. All the while hoping she and Deacon could make this work.