Chapter 1
“So,tell me how this town got a weird name like, Mercy.” Jesse “Bird dog” Miller said as he sat back in the wicker chair on Ian “Hawkeye” Elliott’s front porch in the town by that name. He’d arrived late last night on orders from Hank Patterson, their mutual Brotherhood Protectors boss in Eagle Rock, Montana.
“There are weird town names in Montana, too.” Ian protested defensively.
“What? You mean like Eagle Rock? Eagle, as in the birds that live there. Rock, as in there are a lot of big boulders around because of them mountains. Perfect sense.”
“I didn’t mean Eagle Rock and you know it. I actually don’t know howthistown got its name. I’m sure it made sense to the people who settled here.” Ian paused thoughtfully. “Lily Gayle Lambert would be the one to ask about that. She’s the local genealogy expert. Among other things.”
Jesse crooked an eyebrow. “What other things?”
Ian laughed. “She’s the sheriff’s cousin and she’s always getting involved in his cases.” Ian took a swig of his tea. “Drives Ben Carter bonkers. But what’s he gonna do? Put his own cousin in jail?”
Jesse laughed. “Family! What can you do?”
Ian gave him a sharp look and he squirmed inwardly. He didn’t have any family and didn’t want any. From what he could see, family caused nothing but problems.
Ian went on as if he hadn’t noticed Jesse’s sudden silence.
“She’s actually pretty good at figuring things out. The wolf man case was a real eye opener around here and the ripple effects are still going on.”
“Come on.” Jesse said, glad to move on to another subject. “A wolf man? No way. That’s movie stuff.”
Ian put his feet up on an ottoman and settled back in his chair. “Laugh if you will, my friend. But it’s the truth. You can read all about it in the newspapers. Or ask Lily Gayle. Piper will introduce you. Lily Gayle is her ‘courtesy’ aunt.”
Jesse shrugged. “I’m not that interested in looking it up. Or spending time chatting with someone old enough to be my mother who thinks she’s a modern day Mata Hari. I’ll take your word for it.”
Ian shrugged. “Up to you.”
“Aren’t you wondering what brings me to your little burg?” Jesse inquired.
Ian raised an eyebrow. “I figure Hank sent you out here to find out what’s the hold up on me coming back to Eagle Rock.”
Jesse nodded. “You figure right.”
Ian sighed. “Piper and I are still getting her daddy settled after him nearly getting killed a couple of months ago. The case that Hank himself sent me out here to handle.”
Jesse eased back in his chair. “What was the deal with that? Wasn’t it supposed to be a mob hit?”
Ian’s eyes went dark. “Yes. There was a mob hit out on him. He’d been giving passing information to the government about illegal deals going on in the state.”
“Whew! Who knew so much intrigue went on in these sleepy little towns down south.” Jesse sipped his own tea and went on. “I don’t think Hank expected you to marry your assignment’s daughter.”
“Neither did I.” Ian said. “But when we saw each other again. Spent some time together. Well, we just clicked back together.”
Uneasy with the direction their discussion had taken, Jesse said. “Hank wants to know when you’re coming back.”
“And he couldn’t take my word for it over the phone that things are a bit complicated on this end right now and I’ll be back as soon as I get things situated here?”
Jesse sank lower in the comfortable chair, putting his own feet on a convenient ottoman. “Hey, man. Don’t kill the messenger. I’m between assignments and thought I’d come down here and be Hank’s eyes and ears on the scene.” He gave Ian a roguish look. “And to introduce myself to some sweet southern belles while I’m here.”
Ian laughed. “You’re like all the rest. You think the women here are all sweetness and light because of the accent. But, I bet you’ll find out while you’re here that there’s a very real reason for the iron fist in a velvet glove saying about them.”
“Is that right? Well bring them on, brother. I’m ready for my first lesson.”
Piper, Ian’s wife, came up the front walk just then, frowning.
“Well, aren’t the two of you a fine lazy pair?”
