“That’s a problem for later,” Madden said. “I’m more concerned with finding Tyson and throwing him in jail. Are you working today, Eve? It might be best if you keep a low profile until he’s caught.”
Eve sighed. “I’ll talk to Becca about closing the restaurant for a couple of days starting tomorrow. I hate losing the revenue, but I don’t want anyone else to come into the line of fire.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Reid said. “Maybe we should head out of town for the day. Find something to keep us busy while the sheriff’s department focuses their attention on Tyson.”
She nodded, unsure what they could find to do that would keep her hands busy and her mind off her troubles.
“What about me?” Tara asked. “Maybe I should book a ticket for the next flight out of here. Come back when things settle down.”
The tortured expression on Reid’s face announced his uncertainty about Tara going back home. He hadn’t told her the details of what brought his sister to Cloud Valley, but Eve understood it was important for her to stay. “I’d hate for you to leave so soon. You just got here.”
“What if Tara stays with us?” Lily asked. “I can give you the full dude ranch experience, and you can stick close to Eve until this is over.”
“Seriously?” Tara asked. “I don’t want to impose.”
A smile finally cracked through Madden’s gruff expression. “Lily’s favorite thing is to show out-of-towners what our part of the world has to offer. There’s plenty of space, and if I know my fiancée, she’ll have no trouble putting you to work.”
Tara straightened. “Really? I could do like chores and stuff?”
Chuckling, Reid shook his head. “Don’t get too excited. Mucking stalls gets old fast.”
“I’m no stranger to getting my hands dirty. Dad had me helping on the farm since I was old enough to walk. A dairy farm might be a little different than a dude ranch, but I bet I can handle my own. As long as I’m not putting anyone out. I mean, I really would hate to go home.”
Something in Tara’s voice as well as the look she shot Reid twisted Eve’s stomach. He’d told her parts of his past made him ugly. Curiosity gnawed at her, but now wasn’t the time for questions.
“We’d love to have you.” Lily beamed. “Did you bring your stuff?”
“I can head back to the apartment and grab it,” Reid said.
Madden gave a subtle nod. “Problem solved. What are you two going to do?”
A tiny smile lifting the corner of Reid’s mouth piqued Eve’s curiosity even more. “I have a couple of ideas.” He held out a hand to Eve. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” She laced her fingers with his and stood. She was ready to follow Reid anywhere he wanted to go. She just hoped that once things settled, he’d still want her with him.
Chapter 19
An hour later, Reid drove down the tree-lined lane to the cabin tucked in the woods. As much as he hated the reason for being here, his pulse picked up at the sight of Sunrise Security’s latest purchase.
Tall evergreens surrounded the log cabin fronted by a narrow porch. Nothing sprawling like Lily and Madden’s place, just big enough to fit a couple of chairs and maybe a little table to set in between. The flowerbeds were edged out, but only dirt and weeds surrounded the house. Bags of mulch lay in a heap in front of the garage door, the unhung shutters freshly painted a deep red beside them.
“Home, sweet home.” Reid turned off the engine. “Well, not really. Madden and I bought this place to use as a safe house for our clients. It’s a work in progress. I figured I could show you around, spend some time here. It’s one of my favorite places.”
A slight frown caused the skin on her forehead to pinch in the middle. “How did it take us so long to get here? You took so many turns, I couldn’t keep track of our location. But I swear we shouldn’t be that far from town.”
He grinned then grabbed the handles of their duffel bags. “We’re only about twenty miles north of Cloud Valley. After we stopped at the store, I took the scenic route. Wanted to make sure no one followed us.”
“Tricky. Here, I’ll take my stuff.”
Normally he’d insist on carrying her things, but he had a truck bed filled with reusable totes to gather. Once she hooked herduffel over her shoulder and stepped down from the vehicle, he hopped out and grabbed everything else.
The midmorning sun beat through the clearing of trees. Birds sang nearby. As he walked toward the porch, he filled his lungs with the fresh mountain air. This was a large part of why he’d moved to Wyoming—for peace and nature, to carve out a place beside the mountains where he could appreciate the quiet.
One day he’d carve out a place that belonged only to him. But for now, he’d take refuge in the little cabin and the woman beside him. The reason they were there sucked, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t find ways to enjoy their time together. He’d even made sure they both brought enough stuff for the night in case they decided to stay.
Eve followed him up the two steps and waited while he disarmed the security system and unlocked the door. When she crossed the threshold, he held his breath. She wasn’t the high-maintenance type, but that didn’t mean unfinished floors and fresh drywall in the kitchen wouldn’t turn up her nose.
Setting her bag on the ground, Eve walked into the living room and spun in a slow circle. “This place is adorable.”
