One Man to Protect Them
Suzanne Cox

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Justin for giving me the confidence to chase my

dreams. It’s a two-edged sword, I know!

To my mom and mother-in-law

for being my biggest fans.

To the FNGs—you guys are the best.

Where would I be without you!!

To my Bogalusa buddies—we may not win the

lottery but we’ll sure have fun trying.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER ONE

HER SNEAKERS WET WITH DEW, Jayden lengthened her stride to catch up with Kasey, as the German shepherd bounded into the underbrush, nose to the leaves. Combing the woods for a dead body had become their assignment by default. With the early-morning ringing of the phone while it was still pitch-black outside, Jayden had been inducted into Cypress Landing’s volunteer search-and-rescue team. “Volunteer” being the operative word. Coercion would have been more apt. She hadn’t bothered to ask how Sheriff Wright had heard about Kasey’s talents. Small town, no secrets—she had to keep reminding herself. She’d likely been the topic of conversation even before she’d finally returned home. Estranged hometown girl returns from life in city. She ground her teeth. No time to dwell on that now.

Kasey darted past the massive trunk of an old oak. Damn old Joe Gifford for giving her the cadaver dog and getting her involved in this kind of gruesome insanity. Now, two years later, Joe had passed away, she’d left California, and Kasey was the only thing she had left from her previous life. She thrust aside the damp huckleberry bush, still hanging on to its tiny green leaves. A second flashlight cut an arc beside hers.

“Got anything yet?”

She shook her head. Deputy Fontenot was worried. She couldn’t so much see it in the predawn darkness, as she could feel it leaking from his pores right into her own skin. Or maybe blaming her feelings on Pete was her own desperate attempt to remain calm. Just then Kasey pawed at something, then sat on the ground, whining between his low-key barks. When she reached him, she ruffled his red-and-black coat. “Looks like this might be it.”

Pete gripped her by the shoulder, and she shivered in her long-sleeve T-shirt.

“It’s not your fault.”

“If I’d reported him missing sooner we might not be standing here now.” She hadn’t seen Eric Walsh for a week. This wasn’t how she’d hoped to find him.

“I wouldn’t have thought it strange that a grown man wasn’t home for a few days. Plenty of folks wouldn’t have reported it yet.”

The yellow cone of his light flashed on the ground as Pete keyed his radio and spoke to some faraway dispatcher. Jayden took a few deep breaths and hoped it wasn’t her tenant buried at their feet.

“They’re coming,” Pete said, readjusting his radio. “But it may be nothing. These leaves are pretty tamped down, and I don’t see any fresh earth.”

“Kasey wouldn’t have made a hit if it was nothing.”

“Maybe it’s a dead animal.”

“He doesn’t identify dead animals, only people.”

“So maybe he’s wrong this time.”

She faced Pete, her flashlight still pointed to the spot marked by the dog.

“He’s not wrong.” She pushed aside some damp leaves with the toe of her boot until the disturbed earth was visible. Pete went to his knees and scraped away more debris.

“I’d never have seen this if I’d been walking by.”

“That’s the point of the dog.”

Voices echoed through the woods behind them and they moved to make room for the sheriff’s personnel, armed with shovels, forcing their way around the trees. The first strike of metal into damp earth made Jayden shudder and she leaned against a tree. Kasey whined and rubbed his head against her leg, as she knotted a fistful of his fur then closed her eyes and tried to shut out the thump of the shovel pushing deeper into the ground.

“I got something.”

Every person who had pressed into the area froze. No more low chatter speculating why the Saints lost this past Sunday and what Dallas would do with their new quarterback. No more discussion of where the fish might be biting this weekend. They held their collective breath, and Jayden tried not to watch, to not see between the bodies that crowded around the newly opened grave. But she was drawn to the macabre scene in front of her.

The officer digging with the shovel let go of the wooden handle and it bounced on the ground. He dropped to his knees, clawing at the fresh earth. Someone commented that the hole needed to be bigger, but was cut short when the man held aloft the object of their search. Jayden slid to the ground, covering her mouth against the wave of vomit that boiled into her throat. She couldn’t seem to block the smell of rotting flesh that immediately assaulted them.

“Jayden.” Her eyes closed, she recognized the sheriff’s voice. He touched her knee, but she couldn’t answer him.

“Jayden, did you ever notice if Eric Walsh wore a watch?”

She nodded, her eyes still jammed shut.

“Would you recognize it if you saw it?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

The stench had dispersed into the air, and when she squinted she noticed the first rays of dawn beginning to filter through the trees. The scratched silver watch, with its worn band, appeared in front of her.

“That’s Eric’s.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. He ate dinner with us a lot and he’d always take it off to wash his hands, then forget and leave it by the sink.” The last word caught in her throat and tears leaked onto her cheek. “He had a story for how it got each mark. The boys loved hearing his stories.” She swallowed hard. “I tried to tell him he was prying into things that would get him into trouble. He didn’t listen.” She studied a small hole at the hem of her jeans.

“He’d been in Cypress Landing for months before you came. He knew what he was doing. I warned him more than once myself. I’m calling in another team and we’ll keep searching on our own. I don’t want you to have to keep doing this.”

She forced her attention to his face. “What are you saying, Matt? You think there are more bodies?”

The sheriff, squatting beside her, wiped his forehead. “I’m saying that the only thing we’ve found is one arm.”

She tilted her head to rest on her knees and forced herself to breath deeply, but that only made her aware of the scent of decay.

Matt rested his palm on her head. “Why don’t you get out of here. My wife’s on the road with coffee and food.”

She took a gulp of air and shook her head. When she scrambled to her feet, Matt rose with her. “I need to touch base with my mom and let her know to get the kids to school for me. She came over and stayed with them when I left. Then I’ll let Jeffrey know I’ll be late getting to the office.”

“You sure you want to finish this?”

“I want every piece of Eric Walsh found, then I want somebody to pay for putting him here. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

SIX HOURS LATER, Jayden stuck a flag in the final section of the property she’d been assigned to search. She’d been joined by three other teams with cadaver dogs. After only a few hits, they figured Eric wasn’t the only person buried in these woods. The sun had climbed high and, with the heat and humidity, her clothes were wet with sweat. Shouting for Kasey, she checked her compass and made her way to the roadside where teams of law enforcement and state crime-lab officials scrambled back and forth in the wooded area.

Cecile Wright waved at her, and she hurried to the Wrights’ truck, where the sheriff’s wife was handing out provisions.

“Who’s running the shop for you?”

Cecile had a gift shop and art-supply store on Main Street.

“I closed for the day and came to help. I can’t believe what they’re finding. Everyone knew Duke Swayze wasn’t in his right mind, but this is beyond anything I’d have thought of him.”

“Now, Mrs. Wright,” a man said from behind Jayden, “I know you aren’t automatically assuming Mr. Swayze is responsible.”

Jayden sidled round to see who it was. Mid-swallow, she had to gulp to get her water past the tightening in her throat. She’d been away from Cypress Landing for ten years. While many of the faces remained the same, this was a new one. And what a face it was. She wasn’t typically impressed or excited about handsome men, but this one had what Hollywood labeled the “wow” factor. He wasn’t perfect, with cheekbones and a forehead that bordered on heavy. But he was total man right down to the pullover shirt stretched tight across his chest.

“Luke,” Cecile said, “I know representing people like Swayze is what you do, but this is going to be a difficult case.”

The man—Luke—shrugged and fished a soda from the ice chest. “Like you say, it’s my job.” He wiped his hand on his pant leg and held it out toward Jayden. “Luke Taylor, public defender for the parish.”

“Jayden Miller.”

He engulfed her hand in his warm grasp. His palm was rough, as though he did manual labor, not what she’d expect from a lawyer. He flashed a smile and she smiled back. Cecile apologized for not introducing them, explaining to Luke that Jayden had moved home and was a vet at the local animal clinic. He tilted his head to one side while he held on to her hand for several seconds longer than necessary. For an instant her heart skipped and she got a strange feeling from head to toe. The idea that this man was going to be important flashed through her mind. She’d never fallen for anyone at first sight. She’d always thought it an exaggeration that people invented. But here she was, very attracted to a man who was likely married or being pursued by every available local beauty. She didn’t consider herself a beauty or available.

When he let her go, she stuffed her tingling hand in the pocket of her jeans. She didn’t have time for this. In California, men had filtered through her life—a few more serious than others—but none she’d allowed herself to get too involved with. Involvement could lead to bad decisions and trouble she didn’t need. She mumbled “hello” between sips of water. Crunching on her chips—the thought of eating anything more nauseated her after what she’d seen today—Jayden ignored Cecile and Luke. It must have been his immense sex appeal that had made her foggy, but at last her brain kicked in. She should have realized immediately who this man was, but she’d let his shocking blue eyes and almost too-long brown hair cloud her thinking.

“Public defender? Don’t tell me you’re defending the guy who did this.”

Luke wanted to tell this woman it was all a big mistake. He’d grasped the hand of a woman who’d made his world pause and then she turned on him as if he’d done her a terrible wrong. Honesty was the best policy, right? Which was, of course, a complete joke.

“That’s right. He’s my client. You don’t know with any certainty that he did this, do you?”

“The fact that body parts were scattered across his property doesn’t mean anything to you?”

“This is a secluded area. Anyone could have disposed of remains here.”

“You must not know Swayze’s history or you wouldn’t waste your time hunting anyone else.”

He likely knew more of Cypress Landing’s underbelly than she’d ever imagine. It was an entire other community she likely didn’t even know existed.

Luke was much more interested in watching the sparkling gold flecks in her eyes than in discussing the guilt or innocence of his new client. She was a beauty in all the unfashionable ways. The kind who looked good first thing in the morning without makeup, or when she’d come from the deep woods, clothes soaked in sweat with twigs in her dark hair. He took another drink of his soda, still not answering her. When he looked at her he felt a rush of interest stronger than he’d ever known, but his job had to come first.

“I know as much about him as someone who’s been gone for…” He paused. “How long?”

“Ten years.”

He was surprised she’d responded. Ten years. What had brought her back to this little town in the middle of nowhere after ten years? It was a long time, enough time to build a life somewhere else. He rubbed the back of his neck with the cold soda can. The heat was unbearable for fall.

When he only nodded, she continued to stare at him, her full, sexy lips tense.

“You represent criminals and get them off on technicalities so they can do more damage. Is that a fun thing for you?”

Cecile touched the other woman’s arm but she shook it off. He couldn’t ignore the anger in her accusation. He also couldn’t understand where it came from.

“That’s not exactly how things work, but I do represent my clients to the best of my ability and it’s my job to protect their rights and see that they get a fair trial.”

“Even if it means letting a murderer go free.”

Luke’s muscles stiffened under his skin. He had to admit he’d done things he wasn’t proud of, and this woman must have felt the effects of it.

Before he could respond, she started walking away, saying to Cecile over her shoulder, “I guess I’ll go now. I have time to run by the clinic before I pick the kids up from school.”

She patted her leg and a German shepherd he hadn’t noticed before trotted after her. A vet with kids. She was probably married. Even if she wasn’t, kids meant home and stability and a legion of other things he’d avoided so far. He couldn’t risk a relationship that would complicate his situation. But his curiosity got the best of him. Luke had to know what had made her so hostile toward him.

“So, you want to tell me what’s given you such a negative opinion of public defenders?” he shouted after her. Cecile, he noticed, was shaking her head and staring at the ground.

The scrumptious vet, a title that suited her much better than Jayden, turned and he could see the tracks of tears on her face.

“My sister was Caitland Casio.” She turned sharply and hurried away.

“I tried to stop you,” Cecile said.

Luke stared at the grass on the side of the road, crushed by vehicles driving over it, then shrugged. “I guess I’d have found out sooner or later. Not exactly my most shining moment, was it?”

“You were doing your job.”

He sighed. “I better get back to the office.”

The soles of his shoes scuffed against the asphalt. He’d lost so much in his life, but he’d always kept moving, focusing on a goal. Cypress Landing was a good place and he liked it. If things had been different, not now, but in the beginning, when he was a kid, he could have been happy living here. Maybe with an attractive woman like the vet. Buried in this deception, he was beginning to lose track of himself. Occasionally, he wanted to ask for the real Luke to please step forward. Though, he couldn’t be certain he’d recognize the guy if he did.

THE WHITE CARD with the huge numbers printed on it reflected in the windshield. Jayden inched her car forward, watching the line of teachers and tiny people streaming from the building. It was how she’d decided to think of the two boys who’d fallen into her lap, waist-high humans. What else could she do? She was much better at dealing with Kasey than she was with two kids both under the age of twelve. For three seconds she contemplated spinning the car around and driving west until she ran into the ocean. But then she saw two curly mops of black hair bobbing as the kids raced toward her, their backpacks nearly toppling them. In the seat behind her, Kasey whined and wagged his tail. Even he was better at this parenting thing than she was. The door flew open and the two piled in, smothering Kasey with hugs. Her, they glanced at cautiously. She had to fight to keep from dropping her forehead to the steering wheel in utter defeat. Jayden had never intended to return to Cypress Landing. Beverly Hills might not have been the home she’d been dreaming of, might not have filled that empty spot she’d felt for ten years, but coming here surely wasn’t the answer. She was trapped raising two kids with no idea how to do it.

CHAPTER TWO

JAYDEN STARED at the breakfast she’d set out before calling the boys. Oatmeal, juice and apple slices—what kind of strange kids were these two? Her mother would have had to sit on her and funnel liquefied oatmeal down Jayden’s throat to get her to eat it when she was ten years old. Thankfully, Evette Miller had been more of a biscuits-and-tomato-gravy cook, likely accounting for Jayden’s elevated cholesterol count. Her sister had managed to train these boys to eat healthier.

Elbows on the counter, she battled the tightness in her chest. When Caitland and Robert had died in a car crash a few months ago, she’d dropped everything to come and raise their children. Her sister hadn’t told her they’d made her legal guardian. But then, who else was there? Their mother couldn’t be expected to be responsible for two young boys, not when she was getting ready to retire. Besides, Caitland had wanted Jayden in Cypress Landing for years. She’d always said she’d get her home if it was the last thing she did.

Jayden blinked rapidly, had to fight to get her breath. At times like this, when the birds sang in the morning air and the light north wind began to make the dimming green leaves wiggle…Her mother would be by soon. She straightened, and prepared to unleash chaos.

“Boys, breakfast!”

She heard squeals from the bedroom, then a thump, followed by the dog barking. The day had officially begun. She spread her feet apart and bent to hug eight-year-old Garrett as he ran into the kitchen. He smiled. It was a start.

“You’re dressed and I only came to get you one time. Wow.”

“I’m great, huh?”

“You and your brother are the best. I didn’t know little boys could be so smart.”

Garrett struggled loose, grinning, and scurried to the table. But there was still no sign of Elliot, who at ten deemed himself the man of the house, a title much too overwhelming for a boy. She strode to his room, and found him carefully tying his sneakers. She often wondered if the older brother had come from the womb sporting a pair of neatly double-knotted tennis shoes.

“Ready for breakfast?”

He bobbed his head in a gesture that meant less than nothing to her.

“Anything wrong?”

He shrugged.

“Hmm,” she said as he followed her to the kitchen. “Is that yes, no, maybe, I don’t know, the dog ate my homework?”

Elliot snorted. “Kasey wouldn’t eat my homework.”

“You’re probably right. So what’s on your mind?”

“We’ve got baseball practice tonight and tomorrow, then they’re going to pick teams.”

“I know. I’ve already made plans to take you.”

“But what if I don’t get picked to be on a good team?”

“Then you’ll be the best player on a not-so-good team.”

He slunk into a chair at the table. “You haven’t seen me play, Aunt J. How do you know I’ll be the best?”

“We’ve been throwing the ball in the yard every evening, and you’re excellent at that. Though I’m mostly going by how the people in the clinic the past few weeks have been asking if you were playing this year and telling me how much they wanted you on their team. I’m guessing you’re an outstanding player.”

He spooned his oatmeal obviously unimpressed. “I like baseball, a lot. My dad and I—” He paused and swallowed hard. Jayden held her breath. “We played all the time.”

“I’ll be glad to practice with you.”

He snorted then took a bite of his apple. “You’re not much help.”

She put her fists on her hips, mustering an offended scowl. This was the first time he’d been able to mention his dad without crying. “Maybe this Saturday we should get your friends together and go to one of the fields for a game. I’ll show you my skills.”

Even Garrett laughed at that.

A knock on the kitchen door preceded her mom by two seconds. Her short steel-gray hair stuck up in various appropriate directions as though she’d just stepped out of the stylist’s chair. Which she had. Evette had owned her own salon for as long as Jayden could remember. She hugged the boys and went to the cabinet to find a bowl.

“I’ll take the kids to school this morning and get them in the afternoon. I’ve got to run to town early then give Helen a perm.” At sixty-three, her mother seemed much younger.

“Thanks, I need to get to the clinic.”

The brothers brought their dishes to the sink, and Jayden rinsed them and stuck them in the dishwasher. Garrett went back to the table to eat his apple while Elliot dug in his backpack, asking, “When’s Mr. Eric coming home?”

Her mother paused with a spoonful of oatmeal inches from her lips, but the spoon Jayden held clattered to the floor, splattering bits of oatmeal on the tile. She peered through the window above the sink at the darkened windows of the guest house across the field.

“They’ll hear it at school,” her mother said in a low voice. “Do you want me to do it?”

Jayden shook her head. Eric had been renting for nearly a year before Caitland and Robert had been killed. The boys knew him well. Three deaths in less than two months was far too much for a kid to deal with.

She slid a chair next to Garrett at the table then hauled another closer for Elliot. The older boy recognized bad news was coming. She could tell by his slumped posture and his reluctance to sit.

“We think Eric’s been hurt and he may not be back.”

Elliot stood again and Garrett’s eyes instantly filled with water.

“Did he go to be an angel in the clouds, too?” A tear trickled down Garrett’s cheek, and Jayden wanted to throw up.

“We don’t know for certain yet, but it looks that way. I want you to know what happened in case you hear about it at school.” She swallowed the choking sob clogging her throat.

“Did he have a car wreck?”

She glanced at her mom who gave a slight nod. If Jayden didn’t tell them the truth now, they’d probably hear part of it or even an exaggerated version later today.

“It wasn’t a car wreck. We believe somebody hurt Eric and he might have died. We don’t know for sure who, but the sheriff will find out.”

“Why would somebody hurt Mr. Eric?” Garrett rubbed his face. She pulled her chair next to his so she could hold him close.

“We don’t know.”

“It was because of that stuff he was writing on the Loyalist people, wasn’t it?” Elliot’s eyes held a hint of anger.

“I said we don’t know who did it or why, Elliot.”

“I know. They’re mean. They’re the ones that call us half-breeds. Eric said they didn’t like him asking questions about their Militia group. He had a dog when he first came, but they killed it. Last year they painted mean stuff on the garage about me and Garrett. I’m going to get them one day, you wait and see.”

His fist was in a knot, nearly as tight as the one in her stomach. “Elliot, no one knows who’s responsible for hurting Eric. You’re angry, very angry, and so am I. But we can’t accuse people. It will only make more trouble.”

She could see him processing the information. “We’ll help the sheriff and the police if we can, won’t we?”

She caught his hand in hers. “Of course we will.”

“I’ve got to get my homework.” Elliot’s chair bumped the table as he wheeled around and left the room. Garrett pulled away and followed him.

“Poor kids can’t catch a break,” her mother said. “But do you think it’s fair to only say he might be dead? They did find his watch on an arm.”

“Until they’ve got DNA confirmation, we don’t know Eric’s dead.”

Evette shook her head. “I think we know. And now when it’s confirmed, you’ll have to do this all over again.”

Her mom was right. It wasn’t likely that Eric was off enjoying himself somewhere while an appendage with his watch on it was buried near Cypress Landing. She twirled a napkin while her mother finished eating.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me what was going on?”

Taking a sip of her coffee, Evette studied her. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I’m saying. These idiots writing slurs on the garage and calling the kids names—why did Caitland and Robert stay? Why didn’t they move when they adopted the kids? They should have known there’d be trouble when they tried to raise mixed-race children here.”

Evette pushed the empty bowl away. “They stayed because this is their home and they didn’t care what people said. The boys will have to confront those attitudes their whole life.”

“But it’s worse here because of that damn Militia. I can’t believe they’re still harassing people like that.”

“What did you think when you left? It would go away?”

“No, but I thought the law would put those people in jail.”

“They do put them in jail, then others take their place. And then they get out of jail anyway. But why am I telling you this? You were part of it. You understand how it works.”

The air went out of Jayden as if she’d been punched. She expected comments like that now that she was home, just not from her own mother. “I was not part of that. I’ve told you a million times. I would never have been part of it.” She squirmed in her chair. She didn’t want to have this conversation again. It wouldn’t change anything.

“That’s not what I meant. Mark Dubois lived in it and you were his girlfriend.”

“And because of that I’m as guilty of murder as he was.”

“I didn’t say that.” Her mother patted her leg.

“No, I did, because I know how people in this town think.”

“It doesn’t matter now. These two boys need us, you and me. That’s more important than people’s theories.”

“I guess I wasn’t prepared to deal with the Militia and the past right now.” Jayden went to the sink and clunked the last bowl in the dishwasher. “I better go to work.”

Evette followed her. “None of us want to have trouble with the Militia. But we’ll get by.”

Jayden yelled for Kasey and the two of them hurried to her brother-in-law’s old farm truck. The door creaked when she opened it but she didn’t care. It was handy for taking to work, especially if she had to drive to someone’s farm to treat a sick cow. Besides, it had belonged to Robert and she wanted to keep it for the boys.

JAYDEN PERUSED THE TABLE covered with plastic bottles, syringes and whatever else she could think of that might be needed to stitch a few cuts on a horse. She was waiting in the barn where they worked on large animals, which was attached by a breezeway to the main clinic. She could see Jeffrey Sabine at the rear door of the office talking on the cordless phone. He went into the building and she tapped her foot, fiddling with the disinfectant for the tenth time.

“He’s on his way with the horse,” Jeffrey said as he crossed the breezeway. “Says he has several bad cuts.”

“How did he let his horse get cut?”

Jeffrey regarded her skeptically.

“Sorry,” she added. “I don’t mean to sound negative.”

“Right, but you did and it would be better if you got rid of that attitude before he gets here. I didn’t ask what happened. If I need to know I’ll ask later.”

He inspected the supplies. “Did you get the twitch?”

She groaned before starting for the storage room. Naturally, she’d forgotten something.

“Relax, Jayden. After you’ve worked with the big animals more you’ll get used to them. I know you’re used to working with dogs and cats, but I need you to do small and large here.”

She placed the sticklike object with a chain on the end on the table. It resembled a torture device more than anything else. Of course, Jeffrey wouldn’t use it unless he had to, if the horse wouldn’t stand still. But Jayden hated it.

“Come on, J. What happens if I go on vacation and a client has an emergency with a horse or cow?”

“They could always use another vet.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s a great idea. A plus for business, don’t you think?”

“You have to admit I’m getting better. It’s only been a few weeks.”

He grinned. “You’re much improved. In the country you can’t afford to be so specialized. That’s the difference between Cypress Landing and Beverly Hills. You’ll get used to it.”

She gave Jeffrey an answering grin, even though she knew there were many bigger differences between Cypress Landing and Beverly Hills. He was right about one thing, she would adjust. She had to. When she’d arrived home after the accident, Jeffrey had been one of the first people to stop and see her. They’d been friends since grade school. He’d immediately offered her a job in his clinic if she decided to stay. Like she’d had a choice. Her mother had gawked at her as if she’d suggested moving to Mars when she’d wanted to move the whole family back to California. And Jayden couldn’t make it without help. If she had to meet the challenge of raising two kids, she needed to do it where she had plenty of support, and that was here.

A truck, towing a horse trailer behind, roared into the drive.

“This will be a nice test for you.” Jeffrey laughed as he hurried toward the vehicle.

She couldn’t wait.

HE COULD SEE HER in the door of the barn. Luke knew when he left his house that Jayden Miller would be at the clinic. He remembered every detail from yesterday: her line of work, the color of her hair with the sun on it, the shine in those baby blues, that she was raising two kids, that she was Caitland’s sister. The red stallion kicked the side of the trailer as Luke eased him backward. When his feet hit the ground, he danced sideways and half reared.

“I see Thor’s happy to be here.” Jeffrey smiled and gripped the halter when the horse finally settled all four feet on the ground. Luke grunted and the vet let go, so that he could lead the horse to the treatment area.

“What have you done to this animal?” Jayden demanded.

He looked at her standing in the entryway of the building and wished he didn’t feel that twinge in his midsection simply because she was there. His horse had three cuts that would definitely need stitches. But for her to assume he was at fault made his skin itch.

“I didn’t do this to him. He managed to figure out the new lock on the gate and took off early this morning. He got into a neighbor’s barbed-wire fence.”

She glared at him, and he felt guilty, as if he should have known the horse could open the gate, even though the guy at the farm store had promised him it was escape proof.

“He’s underweight, too. Aren’t you feeding him?”

Luke glanced at Jeffrey, who grimaced at his partner’s words. “Yeah, I’m feeding him.” The horse skittered along, nearly bumping the barn door as Luke led him in. He caught the halter and put a steadying hand on the animal’s neck, making low clucking noises in his throat until the horse was calm. He frowned at her. “Do you think we can save the interrogation until we get done?” he snapped.

She was definitely as attractive as he remembered. Thankfully, she had an attitude that would make her easy to resist. Right now he wanted to get away as quickly as possible and maybe find a new vet, even if it would mean a forty-five-minute drive. Jeffrey held a syringe, and Luke noted the grim look he gave Jayden. She seemed to struggle briefly for her composure and finally ignored them to focus on the horse.

Jeffrey examined the cuts. “He definitely needs stitching together.” But when he began cleaning the first wound, the horse snorted and plunged to the side, hitting Jayden with his shoulder. She stumbled and went to one knee. Luke reached to help her, but she waved him away.

“Hang on to the horse.”

Across from him, he saw Jeffrey take hold of the twitch.

“No!” He and Jayden said it at the same time. Jayden scrambled to her feet.

“Let me get him settled.” Luke glanced at her then he rubbed the horse’s head.

The two vets waited as he rubbed Thor’s ears, talking to him in a low voice. For several minutes no one moved, then the stallion sighed audibly, and Luke motioned for Jeffrey to begin. He heard Jayden mumble “horse whisperer” and he winked at her. She came closer and stroked the animal’s neck.

“What’s his name?”

The horse flinched as Jeffrey went to work on him and Luke made a soft grunting noise near his ear.

“Thor.”

She touched the dark red coat. “God of law and order, champion of the people. Not a name I’d have expected you to choose.”

He tried not to wince. Normally, Luke didn’t care what people, especially a woman, thought of him. But something about her bothered him, maybe even touched him. He couldn’t afford to think like that.

“I didn’t name him. He was found by the humane society. I took him in.”

“So you’re a horse rehabilitator and defender of scum. Those two don’t seem to go together.”

“Jayden!” Jeffrey groaned. “Sorry, Luke. Jayden’s had a tough month. She’s on edge.”

She stared at the floor after Jeffrey’s reprimand. As rude as she’d been to him, Luke felt bad for her. Maybe it was because she was so perceptive. Of course he’d named the horse himself.

“Don’t worry, Jeffrey. I don’t mind Ms. Miller. We met yesterday and I’m more than happy to hear her opinions.”

She gaped at him. He didn’t plan on smiling at her, but he did. And he certainly hadn’t expected to see her smile back at him. For the next few minutes while Jeffrey finished closing the cuts they remained on each side of Thor’s head, stroking him.

“All right, I’m finished and Thor was great.”

Luke ripped his attention from Jayden back to Thor. “Bill me, will you. I’m off to find a new lock for my gate.”

He led the horse to the trailer and loaded him. Jeffrey and Jayden were still standing at the barn door when he got in his truck. Even with his back to them he could feel her watching him. He tried to convince himself it was his training that made him so perceptive of her.

CHAPTER THREE

THE OUTBOARD MOTOR reverberated through the night air, and he wondered if the entire world could hear it. He always wondered that, but no one ever seemed to notice him. Luke steered toward the opposite side of the Mississippi. When the bank came into sight he slowed and nosed the boat into a tributary that emptied into the river. He went upstream a few hundred feet to a sandy spot then bumped ashore and tied off to a nearby tree. He didn’t bother with a flashlight. He didn’t need light to get where he was going. He preferred it to be darker—in fact, he wished there were clouds to cover the moon’s glow. After ten minutes, the path he was following opened into a clearing with a wooden shack in the middle. A thin stream of light shone from under the door. He climbed the steps and knocked. Hearing a low voice answer, he went inside, wishing it didn’t feel so natural, so normal.

“Damned mess we got now.”

Joseph Bergeron sat in a metal folding chair in the dim glow of the light bulb hanging from the ceiling, a red plastic cup on the card table in front of him within easy reach. He grabbed the cup and spit, his lower lip bulged slightly with freshly ground tobacco.

Luke dropped into the metal chair across from him and it gave a squeaky protest. “I told you to leave the reporter alone, that he wouldn’t disappear so easily.”

“You think I gave the okay for this? Hell, I’m not that stupid. I’d at least have gotten everything he had on us before I did away with him.” Joseph rested his arms on the table. “And I would have known better than to get that idiot Duke Swayze to tend to business.”

“He’s a member of the Militia and he doesn’t mind doing a piece of work. Why wouldn’t you use him?”

“Come on, he’s crazy as a Betsy bug. Look at what we’ve got now. They found how many bodies at his place?”

“Four.” Luke tried to stay calm. The memory of that day made him sick, and also brought to mind that damned goddess of a vet, the woman he was doing his best to forget.

“Right, four. Now doesn’t that make your job a lot harder?”

“Yeah, it does. But if you didn’t tell him to do this, who did? I doubt he came up with the idea on his own.”

Joseph watched him, and Luke met his stare without faltering. He’d had enough practice at this. Besides, the Militia trusted him.

“There are others who didn’t want that reporter to get away from here with whatever he might have found. We’re working on a big project with another Militia group. We don’t need this kind of attention. We haven’t brought you in on this yet.” Joseph scrutinized him for several seconds. “Maybe later.”

Luke dipped his head slightly in agreement. Okay, they didn’t trust him that much. These things took time.

“Do you think you’ll be able to get ole Duke off?” Joseph asked.

“I don’t know. He’s not much help, spouting off crazy stuff every time the police question him, but I’ll do what I can.”

Joseph tapped the table before getting to his feet. “We’ll take care of things on our end. We like having you in the community helping us.”

“Glad to do it. I only wish I could do more.”

Joseph went to the door, cracked it open and checked outside.

“You’re doing what we need right now.” He glanced at Luke. “Give me five minutes then leave.” The man closed the door and was gone.

Luke sank deeper into the chair. What kind of project were they planning? He had a hunch who they were working with, but he couldn’t get deeper into the ring of secrecy that surrounded the Acadian Loyalists, not yet. The Militia made their base camp across the river from Cypress Landing. Their members were scattered around the area. Some were like him, businesspeople doing whatever job they could to aid the cause, but keeping their affiliation hidden. Others, such as Duke Swayze, were open with their zealous beliefs. The leadership had a use for each. He stretched to switch off the light, letting his vision get accustomed to the dark. His watch gave an eerie glow, reading one in the morning. Ten minutes had passed and he had another meeting to make on the other side of town.

FIFTEEN BASEBALL PLAYERS, all about ten years old, fidgeted in front of him. When most kids were playing soccer or enjoying the first few months of school with absolutely no other activities, those truly dedicated to this sport started a new season. Luke hadn’t been able to help pick the team a few days ago, but his coaching partner, Pete Fontenot, appeared to have done a nice job. They’d gotten several of the best players in the area. He knew because he’d coached both seasons for two years. The fact that his usual coaching partner was a sheriff’s deputy had been a stroke of luck for him. Joseph Bergeron had been pleased when Luke and Pete had started coaching together…as soon as he stopped laughing. “You’re good, Taylor, really good,” the man had said. And he was, but he worked hard at being good. It kept him alive.

As Pete told them their practice and game schedule, Luke waited quietly beside him. Five of the boys on this team had been with them in the spring. At the rear of the group he spotted Elliot Casio. He was big for his age and Luke was glad to see him. After his parents died, the boy hadn’t been sure if he and his little brother would stay in Cypress Landing. Elliot was a polite kid and bit of a star in the league, but Luke was positive he dealt with mean-spirited comments at school, especially from kids whose parents were deeply ingrained in the Militia. Elliot’s parents had adopted him and his brother and their racial origin was mixed—white, black, American-Indian, Asian. But the Casios had been doing an excellent job raising them, and the community, at least the real community and not the Militia, never gave their race a second thought. They were the Casio kids, the end. Unfortunately he’d been assigned to the case of the drunken idiot, a Militia member, who’d caused the crash that killed Caitland and Robert. Luke would have loved to see him in jail for vehicular manslaughter, but the evidence that the guy had been drunk disappeared and there was no case to be won or lost. It wasn’t his fault…but the kids’ aunt obviously thought so.

He whipped his head around, looking toward the fence where the parents sat in lawn chairs waiting for practice to begin. He didn’t breathe, then he took a gasp of air and let it go. Pete glanced at him in mid-sentence but kept talking. Sitting in a chair next to Pete’s wife was the object of several recent late-night dreams, Elliot and Garrett Casio’s aunt.

Pete finished his speech, and Luke realized it was time to start the practice. He made a mental note not to let Jayden Miller distract him as he instructed the boys on what positions they’d be playing.

A FEW HOURS LATER, Luke waited at the front of his sprawling single-story house. It was way more than he’d expected when he arrived in Cypress Landing. It wasn’t a restored antebellum like a lot of the homes in the area, but its wide porch with huge columns and multiple French doors across the front made it a nice mix of old South and old Acadian. He passed money to the pizza-delivery boy and, with Pete’s help, hauled the boxes to his patio, spreading them onto several tables he’d arranged poolside. The late sun still had plenty of summer heat left in it, and the boys were enjoying what would probably be their last swim of the year.

“So, this is tradition for you, huh?”

Jayden appeared beside him, dropping a piece of pizza onto her paper plate.

“I guess. We do it every season.”

“A heated pool, too. The public-defender business must be booming—or were you an ambulance chaser before you came here?”

He glared at her. Nearly everyone in town knew this house had been repossessed by the bank because the owner had gone to jail on a drug conviction, which explained how he had acquired such a nice home.

“I defended a guy and got him off. He started a business selling solar panels. He came and put this system in to heat my pool for free.”

She didn’t respond immediately, but picked at her slice. General bedlam surrounded them, fifteen boys yelling over the pizza as their parents tried to talk loud enough to be heard. Gradually the noise faded to a low hum. He noted the dark circles under her sea-blue eyes.

“I’m being rude, aren’t I?” she asked.

“Yes, you are, but I get that periodically.”

She shook her head. “My mom would have a stroke if she knew I’d talked to you like that. She says what happened with my sister isn’t your fault.”

Luke grinned. “If you promise to be nice, I won’t tell her.”

“So you know my mother. I should have guessed. She makes it a point to meet everyone in town.”

“And she comes to most of the games.”

Jayden took a bite of pizza and chewed for a minute, washing it down with a drink of soda from the can she’d set on the table next to them. “I didn’t think of that, but I should have.”

“She also cuts my hair.” He fingered the slight curl above his ear. “I’m due for a cut, too. I haven’t been to her since before…” He stopped himself, not intending to lead the conversation to that topic.

She must have noticed the flash of panic on his face because her lips swept into a slight smile. “Since before the accident, it’s okay. We don’t shy away from discussing it, especially since we didn’t feel like justice was done.”

Swallowing the groan that rose in his throat, he wished for the millionth time he hadn’t been assigned to represent the guy who’d caused the Casios’ crash.

“Your sister and her husband were good people and I hated that it turned out like it did, but I had no control over what happened to the evidence.”

“It’s still kind of hard to stomach.”

“I don’t like it any better than you.”

She eyed him skeptically, then turned her attention to her soda.

“I’ve heard rumors that you get a lot of people off using questionable tactics.”

Luke didn’t want to guess what gossip around town had fueled her anger with that statement. “I imagine a few people think that. I do my job and I do it well because I owe it to the client.”

“No matter what they’ve done.”

“I don’t get to pick and choose.”

“I guess not.”

“Elliot and Garrett are good boys, and I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt them, if I’d had a choice. I hope they know it. The sheriff’s office should take better care of their evidence.”

“You’re right about that. And don’t worry, the boys don’t hold what happened against you.”

“So you’re the only one.”

She shrugged. “Guess so.”

They watched the kids playing back in the pool. For now he could forget his purpose here and enjoy being part of the community. He found himself thinking again that if his life were different, Cypress Landing would be the kind of place he’d want to stay, to marry, to raise a family. Too bad his life wouldn’t ever be like that.

“So, my mom cuts your hair.” Jayden studied him as she tapped her empty plate.

“Yep, I met her a week after I moved here, and she informed me I needed a haircut and told me to be at her place at four that afternoon. I’ve been going ever since.”

Jayden laughed aloud. A sound that made his body hum.

“Leave it to her to get the business of a good-looking man when he comes to town.”

Luke’s grin widened. Did she realize what she’d said?

“So you think I’m good-looking, huh?”

No, she hadn’t realized, until now. She colored a light shade of pink and her eyes darted downward, refusing to meet his.

“I’ve got to throw this away.” Nearly stumbling in her haste to leave, she tossed the paper plate in the garbage then hurriedly pulled an empty chair next to Leigh Fontenot. Jayden Miller thought he was good-looking. He tried not to puff out his chest and grin as he sauntered to the edge of the pool to join Pete.

“What do you think of Elliot’s coach?” Leigh Fontenot tilted her head expectantly toward Jayden, awaiting her reply.

“You know I like Pete. I told you that when you first dated him and when he proposed, and when I came home for your wedding, and fifty other times.”

Jayden ignored Leigh and tried to get comfortable in the lawn chair, but knew she never would. Not because the chair was too firm, but because she wanted to melt into the concrete beneath her feet. She’d admitted to a man she fully intended to dislike, that she thought he was attractive. A fact he’d probably heard from most of the women he’d come in contact with. Since he was Elliot’s coach, she couldn’t completely dislike him, but she had no business getting silly over him.

“Jayden.” Fingers snapped in front of her. “I’m talking to you, okay?”

She focused on Leigh. “I’m listening.”

“What did I say?”

“Fine, I wasn’t listening, but I am now.”

Her friend laughed. “Don’t worry. Luke has that effect on most women, maybe all women. And he’s the coach I wanted your opinion of, not Pete. But I’m sure you knew that.”

Jayden squirmed again, sliding lower in the chair. “I don’t have an opinion of him. I just met him, except of course he makes his living setting criminals free. I don’t know how Pete can coach with him.”

Leigh feigned shock. “And here I thought he was responsible for defending people who couldn’t afford to pay for their own council.”

“Well that, too, but don’t forget he’s the one who let Caitland and Robert’s killer go.” Jayden couldn’t let that rest, not yet.

“Come on, Jayden, it wasn’t like that. After the police report and lab work went missing, there was no case.”

“And I’m to believe he didn’t have anything to do with those things mysteriously disappearing.”

“Of course he didn’t. Luke’s a nice guy. He and Pete have agreed to disagree on a few cases, but in the end, he’s only doing his job.”

“And what a paycheck he must be getting to afford this place, the pool, the property, the barn.” Jayden swung her arm, indicating their surroundings.

Leigh made a face. “Remember, this is your nephew’s baseball coach we’re discussing. Besides, this house had been repossessed by the bank because the guy who owned it went to jail for drugs. Luke happened along at the right time to buy it, cheap.”

Jayden murmured, unconvinced. She wanted Leigh to stop defending him. As long as she could continue to dislike him, and continue to hold him responsible for the injustice of her sister’s killer being set free, she could ignore the rush of excitement she felt every time she saw him. Luke had way too much sex appeal. Through half-closed eyes she studied him while he laughed with Pete and the boys by the pool. What she honestly meant was that he had way too much sex appeal to ever be interested in her. This was a man she couldn’t trust, but she also couldn’t deny being attracted to him. Guys like Luke went for women with perfect makeup and stylishly clipped hair, probably even big hair. One of the single moms in tight-fitting shorts and an even tighter tank top joined the men, her hand sliding along Luke’s bicep as she talked. Luke listened attentively, and Jayden sighed. Yep, big hair and even bigger…

“She never quits. See that, Jayden?”

Glancing at Leigh, she pretended not to know what her friend meant. “See what?”

“Karen Singley has been chasing Luke since the day he came to Cypress Landing. You’d think she’d get the message. If he hasn’t asked her out in two years, well, he ain’t gonna.”

Jayden smothered a giggle. “I guess I can depend on you to let me know if I’m ever making a fool of myself over a man, Leigh.”

“Of course I will. Not that I’ll ever have to. You aren’t the type to do that, at least not anymore. I guess that one time you learned your lesson.”

Jayden clutched the side of the chair. She concentrated on the other end of the pool, this time not seeing Luke or Pete. Leigh touched her hand, but she had to ignore her for a moment longer, had to nail the lid on the nightmares that surrounded her last months in this town years ago.

“I’m sorry, Jaybird.”

Jayden nodded. She might have gotten angry if the comment had come from someone else, but not from Leigh, who’d been her constant support through their teenage years.

“I’m expecting uncomfortable moments now that I’m at the scene of the crime.”

“You don’t expect your best friend to trigger them. And there was no crime, either. No one thinks that.”

“Everyone thinks that, but I know what you meant and you’re right. I’ve learned plenty of lessons.”

Leigh gazed past her, eyebrows arching. “Here’s one lesson you won’t want to miss.” She inclined her head, and Jayden turned to see Pete and Luke stripping off their shirts to leap in the pool with the kids.

“I’ll tell you, my Pete is a looker—and he’s the only man I’m interested in—but Luke’s awesome, don’t you think?”

That was the understatement of the century. Pete was muscularly slim, like a model you might see in a men’s magazine. Luke’s body was much thicker, though not bulky, and tanned to perfection. She imagined his bare chest had captured the attention of every female here, but she couldn’t stop ogling him long enough to verify that. He tossed a water gun to one of the boys, then went under. When he surfaced, rivulets of water streamed down his face and he thrust the wet hair away from his forehead. His gaze locked with hers, and she felt herself blushing like a teenager. She hoped it was the sun. A slow smile curved his lips and he winked at her. A foam ball flew through the air, hitting him above the ear and he spun to attack the offender.

“Jayden, he winked at you. Did I miss something in the last few days?”

She still couldn’t stop contemplating the spot where he’d been and she racked her brain for a cure to calm her galloping heart. “No, he’s being ridiculous because I’m not fawning over him like I imagine half the women in town are.”

“He’s gone from that spot, in case you hadn’t noticed.” Her friend wore a wide grin. “You’re right. The single women, and a few married ones, are on the prowl for him. But Luke has never been ridiculous and he’s damned sure never winked at a female during one of his pool parties.”

Jayden poked Leigh’s leg. “Don’t get matchmaking ideas. I could never be with a man I don’t respect and I don’t have a high opinion of a guy who’s going to work hard to put Duke Swayze back on the street after he killed Eric Walsh.”

Her friend let loose a slow breath. “It is kind of difficult to get past the idea of him doing that, even though it’s what he’s paid to do. He doesn’t get to pick his clients. But the idea of Swayze killing Eric and getting off makes me sick to my stomach. Are they certain it was Eric’s body?”

“They did find his watch on one of the bodies.”

Leigh shivered. “That’s gruesome.”

Jayden stretched her legs and tried to relax. “Let’s change the subject, okay? Tell me what’s been happening in Cypress Landing for the past ten years or so.”

Leigh snorted and launched into an account of their high school classmates, while Jayden made the appropriate replies. Raising the boys and rebuilding her life here were of vital importance to her. People in town would expect her to make mistakes, to fail, but she wouldn’t. She watched her two little men bouncing in the water. They were good kids. She couldn’t mess up, not this time.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE Eric had been renting was a stone’s throw from her home. Jayden could remember when she’d been a teenager, a young couple bought this property and built the big house and the smaller one with it. They’d intended for the woman’s mother to stay near them when she got older, but the couple had relocated long before that. The property was next door to her aunt, so her sister and Robert bought the place the minute it became available. Now Jayden lived there. It was the boys’ home. The smaller house had become a source of extra income when her sister rented it, a simple act that had eventually led to an enormous problem for Jayden.

Things at the clinic had been slow, so when the sheriff’s investigator called and wanted to search the place, she came in person to unlock it. The sheriff’s car, a city police car and a van from the state crime lab sat in the drive. Jayden waited on the porch, unwilling to watch them trash the interior as they rummaged for evidence. She couldn’t imagine what clues they hoped to find. Certainly Eric wasn’t killed here, or at least she prayed not. The thought of that would keep her awake at night.

She rocked back and forth in the hanging swing on the tiny porch. The front door opened and the sheriff’s investigator joined her. Unlike most of the sheriff’s force, Jackson Cooper hadn’t grown up in Cypress Landing. He’d taken the investigator’s job and married a hometown girl not long before Jayden left, so she didn’t know him that well. He was a huge man and a little scary. As he walked straight for her it was obvious he intended to sit with her. She squeezed to one side and prayed the swing’s chains would hold both of them.

He eased against the slats. “Have you been in the house since Eric went missing?”

“No, I was waiting to see if his family might come for his things. And I knew you guys would be around.”

“Have you seen anyone go inside? Anything suspicious…noises over here at night?”

She tilted her head, trying to see his face. “What are you asking, Officer Cooper?”

“I think an intruder’s been in the house already. They didn’t tear it apart, but a few things seem strange. There’s no computer. Didn’t he work on a computer?”

“Yeah, he had a laptop. But maybe it was with him.”

“Could be, but we’re not seeing notes or any sign of research. His kitchen and bathroom are so perfectly straight, they could be ready for a photo shoot.”

“Eric was so messy. I find it hard to believe he’d straightened the place.”

“Then I’m probably right. We’re not the only ones who’ve been searching the place.”

“What would anyone else want?”

“Same as us, detailed information on the story Eric was working on. Did he ever mention his work, tell you what he’d found?”

She groaned inwardly. Not this again. “He was doing an exposé on the Militia.”

“The Acadian Loyalists, I knew that.”

Her fingers tightened on the swing’s chain. “What a joke. That’s a significant historical name for the Acadian people. But this group has nothing to do with history, though they might like to think they do.”

“So did you and Eric ever discuss the Militia?”

Past her house, through the trees, she could see her mother’s house. A truck was parked in front of her beauty shop. Jayden rubbed her thumb over a rough spot on one of the wooden slats.

“Not much. He asked a few questions, since I’d grown up here…but I’ve been gone a long time. He never mentioned finding anything important. Do you think they’re involved in his death?”

“Maybe. What do you think?”

“I think Duke Swayze is a psychopath and he’s openly proud of his membership in the Loyalists.”

She didn’t look at Jackson, but out of the corner of her eye she could see his head turning as he inspected the area.

“We might want to question the boys. They’ve been around Eric.”

“No. They’ve dealt with enough lately.”

“But they might have heard or seen something.”

Jayden shoved the swing backward as she got to her feet. “I said no. If they mention the least thing to me I’ll call you, but I won’t have them questioned by the police. They’ve lost their parents and now this with Eric. It’s too much.”

She tossed the keys to the house at him. “You can lock it when you’re done. Leave the keys with my mother.”

The wooden steps echoed with her footfalls as she stomped off the porch. Scrambling into the battered truck, Jayden tried to suppress her anger, which had begun to feel more like panic. She just wanted her life to be simple again, but she didn’t see that happening any time soon.

AS MUCH AS SHE’D HOPED to forget about Eric and the Militia for the rest of the day, the clinic had remained slow and she’d hidden away in her office to try to distract herself with computer work.

At a tap on her office door, Jayden looked up from her computer to see a familiar face. She felt a rush of mixed feelings as the man held out his arms. Slowly she got to her feet.

“Mr. Arneaux—or am I supposed to call you General?” She came around her desk and stepped into his grasp.

“Mister is fine. I retired from the army.”

“I heard.”

“It’s good to have you home, Jayden.”

He released her and she sat in a small wooden chair and positioned another one for him. “It’s good to be home.”

He sat and patted her knee. “Is it?”

She gave him a wry smile. “Not really, but I need to be here. California wasn’t home anyway.”

“You certainly stayed there long enough.”

Her chest tightened so that her next words came out in a whisper. “Too many things here were hard to face.”

He squeezed her leg with his large hand. “My son chose to be where he was, and what happened wasn’t your fault. You have nothing to feel guilty about, Jayden.”

She stared at the floor, a knot in her throat—what seemed like the millionth since she’d come home. “I still feel it, whether I should or not. Louis was a good friend. I don’t think he knew Mark Dubois any better than I did. I know Louis didn’t want to be in the army as you’d hoped, but he would have made a wonderful doctor.” Her eyes burned and the tears she thought she’d finished crying years ago ran down her cheeks.

His hand on her knee tightened. “I’m sorry, too, but it happened and you weren’t responsible. It was the Militia that caused his death.”

When she looked up, he smiled. “That’s enough tears. You have two nice young men to raise and you’re going to do a good job. I came by to drop my dog off. I’ll let you get back to work.”

She stood with him and he gave her one more hug then left. Stumbling back into her chair, Jayden gripped the wooden arms. She was glad to have seen former General Reginald Louis Arneaux, but the memories that came with him weren’t happy ones. His son had been best friends with her boyfriend, Mark. Now they were both dead.

CHAPTER FIVE

JAYDEN PULLED INTO a parking spot shaded by the branches of an enormous oak. She sat waiting with the engine off as the light fall breeze fluttered the ends of her hair. In a few more seconds she’d be ready to go into the sheriff’s office. The place brought back as many bad memories as General Arneaux but she had a responsibility to Eric and she needed to know more.

With a sigh, she got out of her truck and crossed the lot. The sun reflected off the metal trim on the door and she squinted in the bright light. She reached for the knob, just as the door opened.

A young man stepped aside with a smile and paused. Did she know him? His face seemed familiar, but she wasn’t sure why. His dark hair was clipped close to his head but he ran his fingers through it as if it had once been longer and he’d forgotten it wasn’t there anymore. His smile abruptly disappeared. But it was the look in his eyes that made her stomach churn.

“Hey, Kent. I kept digging and found that paper you needed. Good thing I caught you before you left.” Sheriff Wright came out through the door Jayden still held open. He glanced between the two of them as the younger man took the paper. “Jayden, you need to see me?”

“Yeah.”

The young man Matt had called Kent turned away, half wadding the paper as he weaved his way through the parked cars.

“Who was that?”

“What?”

Jayden didn’t realize she’d been whispering. She cleared her throat. “Who was that?”

“You don’t remember him? I guess he’s changed a lot over the past ten years. That’s Kent Raynor.”

She leaned against the edge of the door and closed her eyes.

“Oh, relax. It’s been a long time, Jayden. Let’s go to my office.”

She followed behind Matt, wishing ten years could feel as long as it sounded and wondering how some things could change so much and others not at all.

Matt eased into his chair and kicked his feet up on the desk. “You’re going to have to deal with people like Kent now that you’re back.”

“I was hoping he might have left.”

“He did, but he’s home now doing an internship while he’s finishing law school.”

“Great. He’s a lawyer. He’ll probably try to find a way to bring me to trial. He hates me.”

Matt nodded. “Yep, he does. But that could change.”

“If it hasn’t changed in ten years, it’s not likely going to.”

“Ah, but you haven’t been here for ten years to prove anyone’s beliefs wrong.”

“It’s impossible to change the opinion of everyone.”

Matt shrugged. “Maybe, but it doesn’t hurt to try. I bet none of that is why you’re here.”

“You’re right. I’d like to know the latest on Eric’s case.”

“Jayden, I can only tell you what we’ve already told the reporters. We’re still trying to identify those bodies.”

She rubbed her eyes. “Duke Swayze did this, Matt. I know it, and so do you.”

“It doesn’t matter what we know, only what we can prove.”

She leaned forward in the chair. “What can I do? I want to help bring Eric’s murderer to justice. He lived on my property, and I feel responsible.”

Matt swung his feet to the floor. “You’re a private citizen. There’s nothing you can do but answer questions when we ask them and answer honestly. At the moment, we don’t know Eric’s dead, at least not conclusively.”

Jayden stood, fists knotted at her side. “I wouldn’t lie to the police, Matt.”

“I don’t want you to keep anything that could help the investigation to yourself so you can go off on your own private search. I know how you feel about the Militia and I know you’re probably still angry. Don’t try to get rid of it in the name of aiding Walsh’s case.”

She crossed her arms and didn’t even try to deny Matt’s statement. It was too close to the truth. “I want to work with you, not against you.”

Matt came around the desk, closer to her. “I believe that. I also know you’ve got a stubborn streak, have had since you were a kid. I want you to stay safe.”

She nodded and hurried to the door before he could see her watery eyes. “I’ll check back if I think of anything.”

She didn’t wait for Matt’s answer and didn’t slow down until she was behind the wheel of her truck. She’d forgotten what it was like to have a community of people believe taking care of you was their job, even when they thought you’d done a terrible thing.

“THIS BACKPACK IS ALMOST bigger than you. Why don’t you get another one?”

“Because I like this one,” Garrett said.

Jayden tried not to groan. After her meeting with Matt at lunch, Jeffrey had left her in charge at the clinic so he could take care of family business out of town. She hadn’t been thrilled to be left alone this soon. Naturally, after he’d been gone an hour, a farmer called, and she’d had to go help a cow give birth to what was expected to be a prize calf. Thankfully, she’d made the right calls and the cow and new calf were fine. But facing a situation she hadn’t dealt with since vet school had left her too frazzled to fight with Garrett over a backpack.

“Put it on and wear it here in the aisle while I get paper towels. Then you can decide if you still want it.”

She left the two boys and rounded the corner to the next aisle, trying to keep the tiny shopping cart with one bad wheel from veering into the shelves. The errant cart jerked to the right and bumped the hip of a girl with blond curls hanging down her back.

“Sorry.” Jayden whipped the cart on course, trying not to stare, but the profile of the girl tickled a memory for her. She’d know Amy Dubois anywhere. She dug her fingers into the plastic of the eight pack of paper towels and tossed it in her cart. The cart skittered to the side as she tried to push away without looking back.

“I know it’s you, Jayden Miller, even if you don’t say a word to me. I heard you were back, and you haven’t changed a bit.”

Jayden tried not to chew her lip as she turned around. “Hi, Amy.”

The blonde snorted. “I knew you recognized me.”

She caught herself unconsciously wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans. “You’ve changed—grown up a lot—but I could still see it was you. I didn’t figure you’d have anything to say to me.”

The other girl took a step toward her. “Oh, I’ve got plenty to say to you. But this isn’t the time.”

“Aunt J., your idea worked. After Garrett saw the backpack was gonna bang him in the back of the knees all day, he picked a different one. He—” Elliot’s voice tapered off as he looked between his aunt and the woman in front of her.

Jayden glanced at him and smiled, though her lips felt tight. “That’s good. Run back and stay with him. He shouldn’t be alone in the store.”

Elliot trotted to the end of the aisle then made the corner.

Amy shook her head. “I heard you were raising your sister’s kids. Crazy, huh? Wonder what my brother would have to say about that?”

Jayden had asked herself that question before and still didn’t have an answer. She’d always imagined she and Mark held the same beliefs, but one horrible night had changed everything. Amy, she realized, was waiting for a reply.

“I don’t know. I guess I never knew your brother, at least not like I thought I did.”

“Yeah, and nobody knew you, either. My dad’s not too happy you’re back. No one is. So you better watch yourself and those kids, too. Be sure to stay clear of my family.”

The girl’s hip bumped the shopping cart again as she passed, but Jayden didn’t turn to watch her go. She sagged against the shelf next to her. A thump in the next aisle caught her attention and she left the cart behind in a mad dash to check on the boys. A small pile of backpacks and an entire box of pens lay on the floor. Elliot stood in the middle of the mess, his fists tight and his face cherry-red. Garrett stared at his brother with saucer eyes.

“What’s the matter, Elliot?” She knelt in front of him and could see his nostrils flaring, but he didn’t answer.

“That big, mean man said something to him,” Garrett volunteered.

“What man?”

“He just left.”

She raced to the front of the store and peered through the large windows. In the parking lot, Amy stood by a huge new dual-wheel truck. The man beside her had a grip on her arm and was nearly lifting her off the ground. He released her suddenly and walked to the driver’s side of the vehicle while Amy crawled into the passenger’s seat. Jayden knew the man’s face, but not his name. It didn’t matter. He was Militia. That was enough to know.

Back in the school-supply aisle, Elliot had calmed down and was on his knees gathering pens and placing them back, while his brother stacked the backpacks.

“What did the man say to you, Elliot?”

The boy shook his head.

“You can tell me. It’ll be okay.”

He dropped the last pen in the box before looking up at her. “It doesn’t matter what he said and it won’t ever be okay.”

She knelt and hugged him. “You’re right. It won’t ever be okay for anyone to not be nice to you, because you’re a good person and that’s all that matters. There are people in this world who are simply narrow-minded. Do you know what that means?”

“Yeah, stupid.”

She smiled. “Good enough. Now, what if we go to Ray’s Fish House to eat?”

Elliot brightened. “Really?”

“Yes, is that strange?”

“Mom didn’t like us to eat out during the week, only on special occasions.”

“Well, we’re buying Garrett this backpack, and I think that’s a special occasion, don’t you?”

“Oh, yeah, a new backpack is super-special.”

“Can I get shrimp and frog legs?” Garrett asked, pulling her toward the front of the store.

Both boys bounced up and down while she paid, and she wondered if they might run to the restaurant rather than wait and ride in the car with her. On her way out the door she glanced at the empty parking spot where the white truck had been. Idiots, all of them, but now that she was here she might get the opportunity to put some Militia members in their place. The idea put a smile on her face.

She was still smiling when she slid into a seat at the family restaurant. She lifted her hand to wave at one of their neighbors then flipped through the menu, trying to decide what she wanted while she and Garrett waited for Elliot to return from the bathroom.

“Look who I found.” Elliot made a running slide into the chair across from her and it wobbled onto two legs.

“Elliot, be careful!” Jayden half rose from her seat.

A hand gripped the boy’s chair to keep it from toppling over. The deep blue eyes of Luke Taylor settled on her, and she felt her skin tingle. She nearly frowned but caught herself. She didn’t want the boys to see her agitation.

“Coach was about to get an order to go, but I told him he should eat with us.”

“If that’s okay?” Luke towered above her and she wished she didn’t like the sound of his voice quite so much.

She glanced at the boys, who were thoroughly excited at the idea of eating with the baseball coach.

“It’s fine if you want to.”

He nodded, still pinning her with a look she couldn’t quite read. His eyes seemed to lighten and he smiled. Unable to stop, she smiled back. She could’ve kicked herself for giving in to his charm. His yellow shirt was rolled up at the sleeves and the collar was unbuttoned as if he’d recently pulled loose a tie. The shirt stretched across his chest when he moved, and he seemed to take over their table with his presence.

“Coach Taylor’s a lawyer,” Elliot announced as Luke settled into a chair.

“Yes, I know.”

Elliot launched into a discussion of baseball, which he clearly deemed much more important than being a lawyer. Having his coach sit at the table and give him his undivided attention turned the boy into a chatterbox. Throughout their meal they discussed the teams they would play and whether or not they would do well against them. Not that she minded. It kept her from having to join in and also gave her plenty of time to study the man who made her angry and nervous at the same time. She wasn’t oblivious to the interested looks they got from the other diners, either.

“We’re through. Can we go play the games?”

Discouraged, Jayden glanced to the machines across the room. And she thought she’d get away without having a conversation with Luke. She nodded and began digging in her purse for coins, but before she could produce any Luke had pulled several dollars from his pocket.

“Let me, mine’s easier to get to.”

She dropped her purse between her feet and didn’t argue. The boys raced away, and her stomach instantly tightened.

“Thanks for letting me eat with you.”

She wiped her hands on a napkin. “The boys enjoyed it. They like you.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a lecture coming about being a role model and how if I get this Swayze guy off I won’t be a good one?”

She didn’t like it that he could already read her so well. “Let’s not discuss your job right now.”

Luke nodded. “So, we’ll discuss something else.”

“Right. How’s your horse?”

He smiled. “Thor’s fine, and hopefully I’ve gotten a latch on the gate he can’t get open.”

“That’s good.”

She fell silent and wondered what to say next.

“How’s being home compared to…where you were?”

She turned back to Luke. “Very different. I was working in Beverly Hills the past two years.”

“I guess this was a change. Vet to the stars, huh?”

“Actually, we were.”

He paused with the glass of iced tea halfway to his mouth. “You’re joking.”

“Nope. More than half of our clients were in the film or music industry, and quite a few were famous.”

“No cows and horses for you to deal with there.”

“That’s right, and I don’t mind telling you it’s been an adjustment.”

Luke focused his attention on Garrett and Elliot for a few seconds and she studied his profile, the way his lashes curled long and thick and his lips were smooth and not too full.

He faced her, and she tried to look away but she knew he’d caught her staring.

“I’ll bet the job hasn’t been the only difficult situation since you’ve been back.”

She pushed away the remnants of the fried catfish she couldn’t eat. “It’s been very hard, but they’re special kids. I hadn’t expected to be a parent this soon, though.”

“You could have let someone else do the job or sent the boys back to foster care.”

“Don’t think it didn’t cross my mind.” She stopped short and took a drink of her tea then wiped her mouth with the napkin. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. And to you. A person I barely know.”

He reached out to stop her from shredding the napkin she held. His grip was firm and warm and didn’t make her uncomfortable as she would have imagined.

“Anyone would have thought that. Two boys are a big responsibility. You had to uproot yourself and leave behind your friends and your job. If it hadn’t crossed your mind, I’d be surprised.”

“My sister has had Elliot and Garrett since they were babies. They couldn’t go anywhere else. Besides, if they’d been her birth children instead of adopted, I wonder if I’d have had such a thought. Anyway, they’re as much hers as if she’d delivered them herself, so that makes them family and mine to raise.”

“They seem to be adjusting well.”

She twisted so she could see the boys playing. “It gets a little better every day. They’ll be fine.”

They sat quietly, while the two boys remained across the room. She wondered what Luke might be thinking.

“Has anyone assigned you a day to be dugout mom?”

The change of subject surprised her. “I’d say no, since I don’t know what a dugout mom is.”

“All the parents get assigned a game to bring water and sports drinks for the dugout. You sit in with the boys during the game. It helps keep them in order while we’re on the field coaching. You know, make sure they’re ready for their turn at bat, that kind of thing.”

“Oh, okay. I can do that. Where do I sign up?”

“I’ll have Leigh Fontenot call you. She makes the list.”

Jayden became conscious of Luke’s hand still covering hers, his thumb making a path back and forth on her skin. She was mesmerized by its motion and when it stopped she found Luke watching her, his eyes almost violet. He trailed his fingertips over her palm then glanced across the room and waved.

She turned to see who’d caught his attention and stiffened.

“Kent Raynor.” Jayden bit her lip, not sure if she’d said the name aloud.

Luke’s hand had covered hers again. “He works for me. It’s an internship he’s doing for school.”

Obviously she had said the name aloud. “I heard he was studying to be a lawyer. I’d never have expected it.”

“Why not?” he asked. She pushed her napkin around on the table with her free hand as she avoided answering him. “Jayden, I’d like you to answer that question since he’s working in my office. If you know a terrible secret about him, I’d like to be in on it.”

She took an unexpectedly shaky breath. Terrible memories, but they weren’t secret. Luke simply didn’t know. “No, I’ve never known him to do anything wrong. Kent had it tough when he was young, that’s all. His father was very hard on him and his mom. Then his dad was killed by the police in a raid to break up an illegal weapons ring. It was a big story in town. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, even though it was a long time ago.”

“I know about that. Kent seems to be fine, though.”

She nodded. “I’m sure he is.”

Luke gave her hand a final squeeze and stood. “I better go. I enjoyed the meal, and the conversation.”

He left and Jayden rubbed her skin, still warm from his touch. The table rocked slightly as the boys dropped into their seats.

“Are we ready to go?” Elliot asked.

She nodded, closing and opening her hand. What was wrong with her? At the cash register she discovered that Luke had already paid for their meal and she wanted to kick herself for not being more attentive so she could have stopped him.

They were nearly home when the boys’ brought up Luke.

“Coach Taylor is nice. I like him, don’t you?”

Jayden tried to see Elliot’s face in the rearview mirror, but it was too dark. “Yeah, he seems like a good coach.”

“I’m glad he stayed to eat with us.”

She didn’t respond because she wasn’t sure if he expected an answer and she really wasn’t sure if she was glad she’d eaten with Luke.

“Do you think he could eat with us again, maybe at our house?”

Jayden glanced in the mirror again. “I don’t know why he’d do that, Elliot.”

“If you invited him, he would.”

“We don’t have a reason to invite Mr. Taylor to eat with us.”

“But you were holding hands.” Ah. Garrett had suddenly decided to get to the point. As much as she’d liked the feel of Luke’s hand on hers, she wished it hadn’t happened. The boys didn’t need to get any weird ideas.

“He was making a point, not holding my hand.”

She turned into their drive and parked the car. Garrett leaned over the front seat. “What does that mean?”

“We were talking, and he wanted to be sure I understood what he was saying so he put his hand on mine. Grown-ups do that occasionally.”

The boy flopped backward and opened the door.

“Looked like hand-holding to me,” she heard him muttering as he jumped to the ground.

CHAPTER SIX

LUKE THUMBED THROUGH the money in the envelope and nodded at the man across the desk. They didn’t carry on a conversation because this guy wasn’t sent here to talk. Just to deliver. Generally, Luke wouldn’t have allowed one of the Militia to waltz into his office, but when he was defending one of their own, having them here wasn’t a big deal. People would have thought it odd if the Militia didn’t show up to check on their brothers.

His phone buzzed and he picked it up. A smile shot across his face before he realized it, and he quickly forced a frown. Jayden Miller was waiting in the other room at his secretary’s desk.

“That’s it then,” Luke said. “Tell our friend I appreciate his help and I’m doing all I can.”

“He knows.”

Luke went to the door and the other man followed, leaving without another word.

Jayden sat in one of the wooden chairs watching his visitor until he disappeared down the hall. Luke motioned twice for her to come in before she got up. Her hair was pulled back and she wore faded green scrubs. When she passed he noticed the slight scent of disinfectant. Why his pulse slammed into high gear at the sight of her he had no idea. As one of the few eligible bachelors in town, he’d had numerous women walk through his door wearing fairly provocative attire and smelling like they’d stepped from a scented bath. He wasn’t sure what it said about him that scrubs and the smell of wet dog and disinfectant turned him on.

“Jayden, what can I do for you?”

She’d walked over to the window and stood staring out at what he knew was a lovely view of the county jail’s fenced yard. She didn’t seem bothered by it and didn’t answer immediately. Moving next to her, he tried to see what had caught her attention. Ah, Duke Swayze smoking a cigarette in the yard.

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