Page 30 of Unexpected Danger (Mountain Justice #2)

Yukon barked, his piercing yips directed at Dustin, who entered the yard and bolted toward the back door.

Mila slammed it and flicked up the lock seconds before Dustin reached it.

She shut the curtain. “The windows in the kitchen and bedrooms are open. Can you close those? I’ll check the other doors.

Boys, please go to Mommy and Daddy’s room. ”

Londyn didn’t need any further prompting.

“Why did we have to come in? We were having fun out there,” said Kit.

Xander held both palms up, and his eyebrows knitted. “Can we stay outside?”

“To Mommy and Daddy’s room now, please.”

Londyn slammed the kitchen window above the sink closed as Mila issued her order to the boys. Fear flickered in Xander’s eyes, and he pulled his friend down the hall and to Mila and Roarke’s bedroom. Londyn sprinted first to Xander’s room, which overlooked the backyard, and slammed the window shut.

Panic settled in her chest, and her rapid-fire heartbeats pounded loudly in her ears. She forced her unsteady legs to run next to Roarke’s home office, where another window was open. Fortunately, this one faced the front of the house.

Dustin pounded on the glass door leading to the patio. Londyn checked the remainder of the windows in the laundry room and the living room. Her foot connected with a toy dump truck, and she stumbled, losing her balance and landing in a heap on the floor.

“Londyn. Oh, Londyn…I know you’re in there. Why are you hiding from me?”

Would he be able to get inside? How had he found Roarke and Mila’s house?

Her hands shook as she rose to her feet and staggered to the lone bedroom on the left-hand side. She turned the knob and entered the safety of Roarke and Mila’s bedroom. Londyn locked the door, then leaned her back against the door, her chest rose and fell with the gasping of her breath.

“Why are you breathing so hard?” asked Kit.

“I was—I was running.”

Xander’s brow crinkled. “From that man?”

Londyn dragged one of the nightstands against the door. It would only deter Dustin from getting in, but it was something.

Mila crouched on the floor against the bed. Londyn prayed she wouldn’t go into premature labor. The baby still needed four more months in the protection of the womb before being born. Londyn yanked her phone from her back pocket and dialed 911.

Mila scooted to the side and motioned to the boys. “Let’s go into the closet and play a game of hiding.”

Kit shrugged. “The closet?”

While Londyn told the dispatcher their location, all four of them and Yukon, who scratched at the bedroom door, ducked into Mila’s sizable walk-in closet, and Londyn shut the door behind them. She flicked on the light.

“We’ll play a game of hiding,” said Mila, who rubbed her stomach and heaved a deep breath.

“Can I be the seeker?” asked Xander.

“For this game, we’re all going to be hiders.”

Xander’s shoulders fell.

They hunkered against the clothes and shoes. The dispatcher notified Londyn that law enforcement was on its way and to stay on the line.

“Why did that man wear a weird glove?” asked Xander.

Obviously, Dustin still wore the wrap on his hand from Londyn slamming it in the truck door. Had he sought medical attention? Brodie mentioned there had been no record of Dustin visiting the ER or the clinic here or in surrounding towns.

“Why did we have to come in?” asked Kit.

Mila was on her cell with Roarke and pulled it briefly from her ear. “It’s only for a short time,” she promised.

The doorbell rang repeatedly. If law enforcement had already arrived, which was doubtful this quickly, they wouldn’t incessantly ring the bell.

“Someone is ringing the doorbell,” Londyn told the dispatcher.

“Do not answer the door. The sheriff’s office has not yet arrived.”

Just as she’d thought.

“This place is too small to hide in. Mommy, can we please play the hider game outside?”

Mila shook her head at her son’s request. “Daddy would like to talk to you.” She handed the cell phone to her son.

“Hi, Daddy. Yeah, we had to come in, even though we didn’t want to. Now we’re in the closet playing the hider game, but no one is seeking.” Xander pouted and folded his free hand across his chest.

Londyn could barely hear Roarke’s voice above Yukon’s barks, which had become more constant. “I’ll be there soon, Xander, and then you and Kit can go back outside and play. Did you know that sometimes bugs hide in closets?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you and Kit try to find some bugs?”

“What kind of bugs, Daddy?”

There was a pause, and it sounded as if Roarke had gunned the engine. “Any kind of bugs. Maybe box elders.”

“Pill bugs?”

“Sure. Do you remember the other name for pill bugs?”

“Yeah. Roly polies.”

“Yep. You and Kit try to find some bugs hiding in Mom’s shoes or maybe along the molding.”

“And what if we find some?”

Mila handed Xander a plastic container. “You can put the spiders in here.”

“And here’s a flashlight,” said Londyn, withdrawing one from a corner of the closet.

“All right. Love you, Daddy.”

“Love you too, son. I’ll be home soon.”

“Hey, Dad?”

“Yes?”

“Who was that guy outside in the field? He wasn’t a ranch hand, and he wasn’t Uncle Brodie. Who was he?”

Londyn’s gaze connected with Mila’s.

“I’m not sure, Xander. Maybe the guy from the electrical company or something.”

“Yeah. Probably so. They come to our house and see if we left the lights or the heater on, huh?”

“They do. All right. I’m gonna go now, but I’m almost home. Uncle Brodie will be stopping by, too.”

“Oh, good. I want to tell him all about my swimming lessons.”

Xander handed the phone back to his mom. Londyn strained to hear if Dustin had gotten inside the house.

Where were the police?

What was taking so long?

Had Aileen returned from town? “We need to text Aileen.”

Mila did so while Londyn remained on the line with the dispatcher.

“The sheriff and a deputy have arrived. They will check the perimeter for the suspect first before coming to the door.”

Londyn thanked the dispatcher. Would law enforcement find Dustin? The man up to now had been elusive. Where was he even staying? Why hadn’t the BOLO law enforcement shared produce any results?

Why had no one found him, even though he always seemed to find Londyn?

Brodie entered the sheriff’s side of the law enforcement center in Pronghorn Falls.

It had been an uncharacteristically busy morning.

Aiding the police department with an issue, assisting a motorist on Antelope Road, answering a domestic, followed by a report of someone driving without an interlock device, and finally rounding up some loose livestock monopolized his morning.

He glanced down at his boots, still caked with mud.

Most of it, he’d been able to scuff off outside in the grass.

He immediately headed to the staff room and poured himself a much-needed cup of coffee, which he doctored with a generous amount of creamer and two sugar packets.

Some people required strong black coffee when under stress.

Brodie? He preferred extra condiments when that occasion arose.

He nodded at two employees in the staff room, the newest deputy, Tanya Overton, who had taken the place of Deputy Garriot when he was fired after deciding to side with criminals in the murder that Mila had witnessed.

Overton was chatting with the temporary dispatcher, Juanita Andrade, who was filling in for the regular dispatcher on maternity leave.

“I do believe I have found the one.” Juanita clapped her hands together and beamed. A smile lit her chubby face, and her thin eyes had disappeared into her abundant cheeks.

A woman in her twenties, Juanita had not been Brodie’s first choice for the temporary position.

Not that she was incompetent, but her overzealous excitement made her more suitable for a position that didn’t require, at most times, a serious demeanor, and at all times a firm head on one’s shoulders.

Juanita, however, did possess the necessary characteristics of communication, decision-making, multitasking ability, and compassion.

That was why the majority of the hiring board agreed to recruit her.

That and she had a clean record with not even so much as a parking ticket.

Perhaps Brodie was just biased in favor of their permanent dispatcher, who’d been with them since his dad was sheriff.

“That’s awesome.” Overton, a self-proclaimed health freak, munched on a bowl of fresh fruit.

“I know. Who would have thought? I’ve only lived here for two years, and in that time, there has been no one.

Zilch. Nada. But I went to the bar with friends and there he was—the man of my dreams.” Juanita paused, closed her eyes, and swooned.

She reopened her eyes and held a hand to her heart.

“Not only is he hot, but he is so sweet. He’s already sent me flowers. ”

Overton nodded. “Sounds like a winner.”

“Oh, he is. We just had our fifth date. Can you believe it?” Her voice rose several octaves. “Five dates in a matter of less than two weeks. I don’t even remember the last time I had that many dates in a span of six months.”

“Congratulations.” Overton forked a piece of cantaloupe. “Is he from here?”

“Thanks, and yes, he is. Grew up here as a matter of fact.”

Brodie wondered who it could be who had taken such an interest in the temporary dispatcher. He was about to ask his name, but Juanita’s droning on and on allowed for zero interruptions.

She finally noticed Brodie for what was probably the first time.

As though a deer in the headlights, her eyes enlarged, and her mouth fell open.

“Oops! I guess I really didn’t notice the time.

Suppose my break is over, and I should return for duty.

” Without another word, she rushed from the break room, a glazed doughnut in each hand.

“How is she working out?” Brodie asked.