Page 74 of Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage 2)

THIRTY-ONE

Feeling better than he had in a couple of days—mentally, that was—Nathan steered them back to the county seat of Big Rapids. He was ready to take a shower and wipe all the grime from last night away, and he knew Erin was eager to return home to check on her mother. Next to him, Erin slept in her seat.

He took the turn off the main highway onto the two-lane road that would cut across the counties. The curvy mountain road would give him the views he’d missed on their excursion back East. When he crossed the Grayback County line, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Almost home.

Except two of the most important people in his life who made Grayback home were back at the hospital in Bozeman, and truly he had no reason to be relieved—not until they were well on the other side of solving the investigation. It felt right and good to have Henry in the mix with him now, and he expected to hear from Detective Trevor West soon.

Erin shifted in her seat, pulling his thoughts to the present. She mumbled something about the fact that she could sleep while with him. That let him know she was comfortable with him—and that he had earned her trust. That part he enjoyed, but not the fact that she talked in her sleep or even had a few bad dreams. That disturbed him. He feared telling her would make her feel awkward and less comfortable with him, so he said nothing. He was glad she’d dozed off so she wouldn’t ask him questions as he processed his troubling thoughts.

Like who was the insider Hadlow had mentioned? Chief Hadlow himself? Lieutenant Sullivan? Was Hadlow or Sullivan protecting Dad or the person playing both sides—someone working for organized crime—in their pockets, as the saying went? Whatever the situation, Nathan would make sure Trevor West was aware of this and let him dig around in Boston this time. Nathan would stick close to home ... protecting Erin.

He still didn’t have the full story about what happened in Seattle.

At the next turn, Nathan stopped at a small gas station on the corner. He’d need to fill up before heading down this road. While getting gas, he felt the familiar, subtle rumble of a small earthquake. Nathan finished and opened the door of his truck.

Erin stirred and yawned. She glanced at him.

Before climbing back in, he smiled. “You want coffee?”

She stretched. Did she have any idea how beautiful she was?

“Yes, and to use the little girls’ room.”

While she used the bathroom, he grabbed them both coffee and then met her back at the truck.

In the cab, he buckled, turned on the ignition, adjusted the temperature, and then finally took a sip of the coffee—it was still much too hot to drink. Unfazed by the heat, she sipped on her own, then leaned back.

“We still have forty-five minutes on the road, so feel free to go back to sleep,” he said.

Her head against the seat, she turned to him. “I could drive and you could sleep.”

“I’m good, actually. I’m accustomed to pulling all-nighters.” And he couldn’t sleep with the tumultuous thoughts warring in his mind.

“Oh, really? Grayback County keeps you that busy?”

He steered onto the road. “You’d be surprised.”

“I would, actually.” She laughed softly. But her tone turned serious with her next words. “Do you think it was worth it, Nathan?”

“Was what worth it?”

“Our trip to Boston. It could have gotten you into big trouble, and now it seems like we might be targeted.”

“Yes, I think it was worth it. Dad was already targeted, and we have much more information than we would otherwise have.” He glanced her way, then quickly focused back on the road. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks a soft rosy color. She was definitely awake. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.” She took another sip of coffee.

“Did you believe Chief Hadlow when he said he was one of the good guys?”

“Yes.”

“Why? How can you know?”

“I can’t actually know, but I believe he is. Logically—psychologically, that is—if we look at his actions, then he was telling the truth. He didn’t have to seek us out and warn us about the danger.”

“That makes sense. But what about your feelings? Let’s say you remove those actions, do you have any gut feelings about him?”