Bree’s smile widened. “And she was more worried about us being upset than about having a concussion.”
“D-Did she say what happened?” She steeled herself to hear what Garret had wanted and everything he’d done.
“She thinks she fell and hit her head on the rock, but it’s all a little fuzzy, probably because of the concussion.”
“What about Garret?”
Bree shrugged. “She claims she didn’t see anyone.”
Dana frowned and shook her head. “Then what was that scarf doing there?”
“Maybe he was in the woods earlier and lost it.”
“Or maybe she’s not remembering everything. There were those boot tracks leading off into the woods. Did you hear from Mason at all? Boone was supposed to call me after they were done searching, but I don’t have a cell signal in here.”
Bree picked up her coat. “Coverage is spotty here, but I had one bar in Naomi’s room, and Mason called. The boot tracks ended at the road, and they didn’t find any sign of Garret. Boone is an expert tracker, and he thinks the tracks were made earlier. Naomi’s tracks were layered on top of the bigger prints.”
The blood rushed to Dana’s head. “So he didn’t try to hurt her. I’m so relieved.”
“But Mason found no clues to where he is or what he’s doing here.”
Heavy footsteps pounded toward them on the vinyl tile floor, and a man’s bulky form turned into the room. Dana tensed—had talking about Garret conjured him up?—but she recognized the Arizona Cardinals emblem on the black jacket the man wore.
Boone pulled his gloved hands from his pockets. “I thought you might still be here when my calls went straight to voice mail. How’s Naomi?”
“Going to be okay. You didn’t find Garret?” Maybe he’d come to let her know Garret was in custody.
Droplets of melted snow clung to his dark hair and glistened in the overhead light when he shook his head. “Sorry. You came with Bree so I thought maybe you needed a ride home.”
Dana glanced at Bree who nodded and said, “I’ll be here awhile longer, and I thought I’d run past Naomi’s house and reassure the kids. Emily is taking care of things, but I know she’s worried. I’m going to grab pizza and take the kids over to keep them occupied.”
Dana slipped her coat on. “I’ll head on home then. Let me know if you hear anything else.”
“I will.”
Dana walked with Boone through the hospital halls filled with dinner trays spilling out the aroma of roast beef that vied with the smell of antiseptic. Her stomach complained again, and she realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Boone glanced at her as they reached the front doors. “Want to stop and grab something at the Suomi Café? The weekly smorgasbord is being served tonight.”
She hadn’t had their smoked salmon and Lapland cheese bread in years, and her mouth watered at the thought of the Monday night spread at the café. Chris was working again so no one was home waiting on her.
She zipped her coat tighter against the wind as they stepped outside. “That sounds great. We might as well walk. It’s only a block and a half.”
“Tough woman, hear you roar? Most people don’t want to walk in this wind.”
She put on her earmuffs. “It feels good to me after the constant rain in Washington. I’m enjoying the thought of winter, even with all the snow coming. You probably hate winter, don’t you?”
He fell into step beside her. “Nope, I like winter sports. Even when I lived in Arizona, I lived up in the Mogollon Rim area, where we get snow.”
“Zane Grey country. I’ve read every one of his books. My favorite was The U.P. Trail.”
He stopped and grabbed her arm. “I don’t think I’ve talked to another person who has read that one. It’s not one most people think about when they hear his name.”
“I think it’s the best Western ever written.”
He took her hand and guided it into the crook of his elbow. “I think we’re going to be friends now.”
A warm sensation started in her belly and spread to her chest as she stared up into his hazel eyes. “I thought we already were.” She cleared her throat. “How’d you end up here?”
“My aunt and uncle were here. And Allyson. After my injury, I wanted to get away, do something new.” His voice went flat. “I bought some land from my uncle, then built my cabins. It was a good move. I love it.”
“What do you love most about it?”
Before he could respond, a horn blared into the cold air. A four-wheel drive truck, blue and rusty, roared by. Garret stuck his hand out the window in a rude gesture before the pickup careened around a corner in a belch of smoke.
Dana gaped after the old truck. He’s found me. She fumbled for her phone. “I’d better call the sheriff.”
CHAPTER 9
The bustle of the café was a warm hubbub of welcome around them with people stopping at their back booth to wish Dana well in her new job and to ask them about Naomi. Boone shielded her as much as he could, answering when she went glassy eyed at the questions.
Molly seemed to understand they needed some quiet, and she began to stand guard a few feet away.
“Here, try some cheese bread. It will calm down those shakes.” Boone lifted a still-warm piece of cheese to her lips. Known to Finns as leipäjuusto, it was a mild cheese that had been fried or baked in a pie tin and cut into wedges, then topped with lingonberry jam. No true Rock Harbor native could resist it.
She turned her head. “I don’t think I can eat.” She peered past his shoulder at the dark street illuminated by a lone streetlamp. “How could he get away so completely?”
It had been an hour since they’d seen Garret, and they’d only come inside the café when Mason reported no sign of the old Ford pickup. “He’s probably got a hiding place nearby. He’ll turn up. Mason and his deputies will keep watch.”
“That won’t do much good.” She stared at the plate of food in front of her, then pushed it away with an expression of distaste.
“You need to eat. Starving yourself will just make you too weak to fight when he comes after you. You need to gain about twenty pounds so you can beat him.”
Her jaw dropped, then her lips turned up. “Nice try, but you’re terrible at jokes.”
He pushed the plate back toward her. “Admit it, it was funny.”
“Maybe a little.” The smile lifted a bit more, and she speared a piece of smoked salmon with her fork, then ate it. “Mmm. They have the best salmon here.” She took a tin of sea salt from her purse and sprinkled a bit on her meal, then picked up a piece of cheese bread and waved it his direction. “The truth is you’re right. He’s going to come after me, and I’d better be ready.”
“Hey, I didn’t really mean that. The entire town is on the lookout for him. Mason will get him.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve heard that kind of thing in my line of work? It would take both hands to count the number of women I’ve talked to on dispatch who were trying to get away from an ex-husband or boyfriend who has broken a restraining order.”
She probably had a point. He’d never been a dispatcher, but he’d watched the tragedy play out on the news plenty of times. “You have any weapons?”
“I carry bear spray in my purse.”
“Better move it to your coat pocket. It will be easier to grab. What about martial arts?”
She shook her head and finally shrugged off her coat. “Maybe I should take shooting lessons.”
“I’ll teach you. Jujitsu, I mean. I could teach you to shoot as well, but from what I’ve heard of Waterman, he’s more likely to jump you in the shadows. You wouldn’t have time to draw a gun or hit him with bear spray. Close-contact defensive moves could save you.”
“And he’s a whiz with a gun. He was a sniper in the Marines, and he sells Glocks.” Those stunning blue eyes studied him a few moments before she nodded. “Okay. Where do you train?”
“I have a small setup at the cabins.
I teach lessons on Monday nights at seven.”
She shuddered. “If I showed up, everyone would know why I’m there. I bet half the town knows Garret is here by now.”
“That’s a good thing. The more people who know, the faster we find him. When do you start work?”
“Next Monday. I’ve got another week of nesting at the house and unpacking stuff. The moving truck arrived this morning, and boxes are crammed everywhere upstairs.”
“What hours do you work?”
She cut another piece of squeaky cheese. “I go in at six and get off at three.”
“Let’s train in the afternoons then, like at four.”
“What about your business? Won’t you be taking people out on excursions?”
“I’m usually back by three. We can at least get started with some defensive moves.” He watched her nibble on the cheese. Why was he so determined to teach her? She wasn’t even his type, if he’d had a type once upon a time.
Esther was tall and blonde with a kittenish manner he’d found attractive when they’d met. She would have crumbled at the thought of learning to defend herself. Dana’s determination to save herself from Waterman was much more attractive to him now than some clinging violet who had taken one look at his scarred face and run for the door. Literally.
Careful. He shook off the internal warning. This was a friendly gesture, nothing more. He was immune to beautiful women.
“You look like you just bit into tinfoil,” Dana said. “What’s wrong?”
He shrugged away the memory of his faithless fiancée. “Just thinking about what I should teach you first.” He pushed a plate of pannukakku toward her. “Eat up. You’ll need your strength.”
That was a close call.
Garret parked the truck in the lean-to and got out. His face was still wind burned from his run through the woods. He shouldn’t have been stalking Dana with people around. Had the woman caught a glimpse of his face? The cold stung his cheeks as he got out of his truck, but the cabin he’d holed up in would soon warm.
The wind had scoured most of the snow from the path he was on, but he was ready to sit and rest. Ever since he’d hit Rock Harbor, he’d been in a state of high alert, and he needed a sanctuary, a place to gather his strength and plan his next move.
He unlocked the padlock he’d put on the door and stepped inside. Though it was still cold, at least the wind wasn’t stinging his skin. He threw the new dead bolt he’d installed, then went to his cooler to pull out a bottle of beer. He popped the top and took a swig, then put it on top of the cooler and unzipped his coat before starting the propane heater in the corner.
The place was just one room with a bare wood floor, no real kitchen or bathroom, and holes in the log chinks that let in the wind. But it was well off the road, and he didn’t think anyone had been here in years. There was even a back door for a quick getaway if someone came to the front. He’d hauled in a sleeping bag and cooler of food, but it was far from comfortable.
He reached up to unwind his scarf, then froze. It wasn’t there.
He rushed for the door and unlocked it, then stepped out to the slanting porch and looked over the frozen landscape. No sign of the bright blue-and-black scarf. Had he worn it today? He thought back to his movements. Yes, it had definitely protected him from the wind when he was in the woods. Maybe he’d snagged it on a tree branch in his run to escape after hitting the woman.
What if someone found it? His DNA would be all over it. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Even if they found it, as long as she hadn’t seen him, he would be safe. His name wasn’t on it, and it hadn’t even been purchased from a store. Dana had made it, so it was unlikely it could be traced to him. In a place like Rock Harbor, many people wore handmade scarves. His was hardly unique.
He reached for his beer and took another swig, relishing the way the alcohol warmed his insides. If the woman died, the law would look long and hard for her killer. He hadn’t even meant to hurt her. She’d startled him, and he was just trying to escape. If she died, the fault would lie with Dana. He wouldn’t even be here if not for her stupidity. He grinned at the thought of her frightened face when she’d seen him drive by.
He should try to get it back before his scarf was found, just in case. Though he dreaded the thought of going back out into that wind, he pulled on his coat and went to the door. Garret eyed the sky. He only had about an hour before it would be too dark to find anything. He’d have to take his truck at least part of the way, though he’d better try to keep it hidden.
He went to the small shed where he’d stashed his vehicle and shoved open the door. His breath steamed in the air as he turned the key. The engine stuttered twice, then caught. He pumped the gas pedal until the engine purred, then turned on the defroster.
When the windshield didn’t clear after the temperature gauge registered warm, he yanked off a glove and held his hand over the vent. Cold air. He swore and banged his fist on the dash. He’d bought it after flying to Houghton, but it was a stupid piece of trash. He dug in the glove box for a napkin, then wiped the windshield, but it immediately fogged back up. There was no way he’d be able to drive without the defroster working. Not in this weather.
Frustration built in his chest, and he gritted his teeth before he turned off the engine and climbed out. He had no choice but to hoof it through the forest back to the waterfall and see if he could find his scarf. When he got back, he’d work on the truck. Otherwise he’d be stuck here with no transportation. He probably shouldn’t have been watching Dana with other people around.
The wind picked up as he set off through the trees, and he flipped up his coat hood. It would take him half an hour to hike there. He didn’t like how he was leaving tracks either. If someone found his scarf, it could lead them directly to his cabin. He bit down on his lip so hard he tasted blood. He should have gone along the road like he did the first time. They couldn’t track him then. Maybe he should turn around.
Here he was sleeping in a filthy, old cabin that let in the snow and wind and living off cold meat sandwiches and stale chips.
But not for long. He had to leave for a few days for work. When he got back, he’d grab Dana and they’d go far away from here to somewhere warm. Somewhere with white beaches and turquoise water, maybe Kauai. The pleasant thought urged him on and kept him warm for the next few minutes until he crested the hill and made the turn toward the waterfall. It was getting dark, and finding his scarf was beginning to look more and more impossible.
He stopped to tie a shoe and heard voices. Garret ducked behind a tree and watched flashlights bobbing among the trees. Even if they weren’t looking for him, this was a lost cause. He turned and plunged in another direction that would take him to the road.
CHAPTER 10
Dana couldn’t believe she was actually going to do this. She’d unpacked a few boxes before coming here and should have worked all day, but the thought of being with Boone had been irresistible.
Boone’s martial arts cabin sat at the end of a row of cabins with a sign designating it. A sign read Come In, so she opened the door and stepped into a room about twenty by thirty. A padded mat covered most of the floor, and rings and punching bags hung from the ceiling along the opposite wall. That typical gym smell immediately took her back to volleyball practice when she was in high school.
Boone kicked a heavy bag with grim determination. The beads of perspiration on his square face only added to his attractiveness. She shouldn’t be here. She didn’t want to feel that almost-irresistible pull toward him. He’d hurt her just like Garret had, or he’d leave her like her parents did. Love wasn’t safe. Hadn’t she learned that already?
Watching his fluid motions was hypnotic. Did he think about his scars all the time? Maybe he didn’t realize a woman didn’t notice them after the first shock. His caring manner and strong personality would attract any woman in his circle. The muscles in his thighs flexed as he kicked the bag.
As he twisted i
n the kick, his expression lost its focus, and he stopped to grab a towel to mop his brow. “You’re early. It’s only two.”
“I haven’t started work yet and thought I’d come on out.”
“I had a bet with Allyson that you wouldn’t show.”
“What did you wager?”
“My favorite Arizona Cardinals sweatshirt.” He shook his head. “I was sure you’d show up, but she was positive you wouldn’t. I could see how determined you are to start a new life without being afraid of your ex.”
“You nearly lost.” She took off her boots and coat. What would he have thought if he’d seen her pacing her bedroom this morning trying to decide on sweatpants or jeans? She put on jeans and a sweatshirt at first before she forced herself to change into sweats. When she’d told Chris on the phone what she was planning, he tried to talk her out of it.
It hadn’t taken long to remember how often she felt inadequate in her big brother’s shadow. He’d always made her think she needed a man to take care of her, but she was through with that kind of needy attitude. If she didn’t make a change now, she’d be forever stuck in making the wrong choices every time. She didn’t want to feel needy, and she sure didn’t want another man in her life.
Boone motioned to her to join him on the mat. “I’ve been thinking about what I want to teach you. Rather than pick a specific martial art like karate or Taekwondo, I think we’ll focus on defensive moves. I also want to show you how to kick so you can get your leg muscles as strong as possible. Most women have better lower body strength, and you can do some damage that way with a little bit of knowledge.”
“Okay. What kind of defensive moves? I sit at a desk all day, and my arms are about as strong as cooked noodles.” She should be ashamed of how she’d sat on her duff in Washington and hadn’t darkened the door of a gym in years. Little by little, Garret had isolated her and kept her from doing the things she used to find important. Like a frog in slow-boiling water, he gradually changed her.
She didn’t recognize the person staring back at her in the mirror most mornings, but she wanted to find herself again. Maybe someday she’d be like Bree, calm and self-assured. She could dream anyway.