“That’s not necessary,” Mia said, her mind imagining an entire night with Gladys Miller. “I’ll be fine.”
“Someone has to check on you throughout the night.” Ryan gave her a pointed look.
Mia flashed him a frustrated look. She didn’t know which would be worse. Having Gladys spend the night or Ryan.
“Fine,” she said.
Gladys smiled broadly and faced her hubby who looked bored. “Go on home, Art, and bring me things for an overnight stay. Include some antibiotic ointment for this cut.”
He took off as if he relished leaving.
Gladys studied Mia. “I just can’t believe you’re back, and you’ll be our neighbor for the next year. I know your father and David are so happy you’ve come home.” She winked. “Why at church last Sunday they were jabbering on about how good it will be to have the family reunited.”
Was what Gladys said true? Her father had often gone to church right after one of their big fights with his game face on, making believe their family was coping well with their loss. Was that what he was doing or was he really glad she’d come home?
Gladys slipped her hand through the crook of Mia’s arm and started them walking. “Let’s get you up to the lodge.”
“I need to talk to Russ about something.” Ryan gave Gladys his flashlight and turned on his phone’s light. “Then I’ll stop in to make sure you’re settled, and I’ll look for Bandit again.”
Mia didn’t argue and let Gladys lead her away, following the beam of light dancing over the grass. What was the point of arguing when both of these people had her best interests at heart? Sure, she’d rather be alone to think about what happened and try to figure out who was doing this to her, but maybe it was best not to dwell on it tonight and get a good night’s sleep.
Yes, that’s what she would do after finding Bandit, but tomorrow she had no intention of simply sitting around and waiting for another attack or incident.
22
Ryan shook his arms to let the worry he’d kept in check in Mia’s presence free and started back toward the office. The light beaming from his phone caught the concrete where she’d hit her head. A large splotch darkened one side.
Mia’s blood.
His mouth went dry. Like the night he’d found Cara, his emotions ran strong. He needed to face facts. He cared for Mia. How much? He had no idea, but she’d become important to him again. And she could’ve died tonight.
Without God’s protection, she could’ve suffered permanent damage.
Once again, Ryan had been powerless to help the woman he cared for. It couldn’t happen again. He couldn’t lose her. He had to protect her. This time he wouldn’t let Russ turn down his request.
“Hey, bro,” he called out to stop his brother as he stepped out of the office door and marched toward his vehicle. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Russ stopped at his trunk and opened it. “Make it fast. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“Earlier you said you couldn’t put a deputy out here to watch Mia, but things have changed. You have to admit with what just happened, she’s in real danger.”
“She wouldn’t have gotten hurt if you’d waited for me to arrive.” Russ tossed an extension cord to his deputy standing outside the door. “We’ll probably be here most of the night, and I doubt anyone will try anything.”
Ryan wasn’t as confident, and despite Gladys staying at the lodge, he would camp outside in his truck. “And tomorrow?”
“I’ll check the duty roster to see if I can do anything.” Russ looked at the office. “That all?”
“Yeah, but let me know what you come up with ASAP,” Ryan said. “Now go back to tormenting your rookie.”
Russ laughed and grabbed a storage bin from the trunk and took off.
Weary, Ryan hopped into his truck and drove the short distance to the lodge. He would check in with Mia and then hunt for Bandit if the dog hadn’t come home. He parked out front, glad to see all of the outdoor lights burning brightly to keep intruders away and the blinds closed so no one could look inside. He would stay the night, and if his brother couldn’t put a deputy on her tomorrow, he would assign the Shadow Lake Survival team as her protection detail.
He exited his pickup, inhaled the cool air to ease his tiredness, and climbed to the front door to knock. He noted black fingerprint powder on the door. Obviously, Sierra and her assistant had been here to process the place.
Gladys answered the door, flinging it wide. “Good, now you can tell Mia it’s foolish to go out looking for that dog after being injured.”
“He’s not back?” Ryan asked.
