Deadly secrets are surfacing...

Can he help her find the truth?

When Gabriella Kensington finds evidence that her husband may have been murdered, someone comes after her. The only person she and her infant daughter can trust is soldier Liam O’Callaghan, her late husband’s best friend. Taking refuge at his ranch, Gabby and Liam search for the truth—and resist their growing attraction. But can Liam ensure Gabby doesn’t become the killer’s next victim?

LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award winner and winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from RT Book Reviews. She and her family are missionaries in southern Africa. When she’s not working, she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at lisaharriswrites.com.

Also by Lisa Harris

Final Deposit

Stolen Identity

Deadly Safari

Taken

Desperate Escape

Desert Secrets

Fatal Cover-Up

Deadly Exchange

No Place to Hide

Sheltered by the Soldier

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Sheltered by the Soldier

Lisa Harris

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09641-6

SHELTERED BY THE SOLDIER

© 2019 Lisa Harris

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“I’m scared, Liam. I don’t know what’s going on, or what I’m supposed to do.”

“Don’t worry, Gabby,” Liam said over the phone. “We’ll make sure you and Mia are safe.”

Gabby glanced in the rearview mirror, thankful that Mia was finally sleeping. There was a black pickup behind her. Was that the same one she’d noticed earlier?

“Gabby? Are you...there?”

The call was breaking up.

Gabby gave the car all the gas she could and flew back up the hill. All she had to do was get to the nearby sleepy tourist town and she would be fine.

She glanced again in the rearview mirror. The black pickup was still there.

“Liam...”

“What’s...on...Gabby...”

The car behind her smashed into her bumper. Mia woke up and started crying. Gabby fought to keep the car on the road...

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for reading Liam and Gabby’s story! Not only did I love writing this novel, I loved the setting where this brand-new series is going to take place. My husband’s family is from Colorado, so we’ve spent a lot of time in that beautiful state. The idea of a family run ranch nestled beneath such impressive views is a place I’d love to spend a long, cozy winter!

While you might never have to face some of the things Liam and Gabby did, I know there will be times in your life—maybe even right now—when things seem to spiral out of control and you find yourself desperately searching for strength and courage to face another day. My prayer for you today is that you will remember that you are not alone, and especially that you will seek to find your protection in Him.

Watch for more page-turning suspense from Timber Falls and the O’Callaghan brothers!

Lisa Harris

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

—Psalms 121:1–3

To those longing for strength when hard times hit.

May you find your protection in Him.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

Gabriella Kensington balanced her eleven-month-old daughter Mia on her hip while fighting to get the key into the sticky lock of the back door of her townhouse. The next time she went out, she was going to have to buy a can of WD-40 and fix it. She considered setting the two plastic grocery bags hanging from her wrist down on the porch, but the three inches of snow that had blanketed the city last night from a late fall cold front had left the mostly uncovered surface both slippery and wet.

But she’d worry about that another day.

She wiggled the handle, heard the click, then finally opened the door. Heat from the house rushed out and filled her lungs with warmth.

Gabby stepped inside as an unexpected chill sliced through her. Setting the two plastic bags of groceries onto the counter, she glanced around the kitchen, managing to knock one of the bags over in the process. A grapefruit rolled off the counter and onto the floor, but she hardly noticed.

Instead, she stared into the living room that opened up from the kitchen. The entire room had been trashed. Papers had been dumped from her desk. Drawers pulled open and their contents dumped. Books and photos lay scattered across the hardwood floor. Mia started fussing. Gabby had no idea if whoever had done this was still somewhere in the house, but there was no time to find out.

This can’t be happening.

But the frightening text she’d received two days ago, demanding her to stop asking questions and threatening her and her daughter, only served to confirm her worst fears. Adrenaline pumping, she hushed her daughter who was struggling to get down. She couldn’t take any chances in case someone was still in the house. Not with Mia. Instead, she raced back to the car, fumbled with the straps on the car seat while Mia’s fussing grew louder.

“It’s okay, sweet baby. Nothing’s going to happen to you. Mama’s going to make sure of that.”

A lump swelled in her throat as she slid into the car. She wanted to pray, except she knew God didn’t always answer prayers. If someone was after her, she was on her own.

Hands shaking, she turned the key in the ignition. The car refused to start.

No...no...no...

“Not now. Please...not now.”

She glanced back at the house, terrified that at any moment someone was going to burst out of the back door and come after her. If someone had still been in the house, she had no doubt that they’d heard Mia crying. She turned the key again to start the engine. Her father had tried to convince her to replace her jeep with something more reliable, but it was going to take her another year to save up. Now she couldn’t help but wonder if she should have tried to make it work.

A third try and the engine caught.

Letting out a strong huff of relief, she pulled out of the driveway, her heart still racing. Calling 911 was the logical option, but something made her hesitate. The letters her husband had written her before his death while still deployed had left her shaken. And this happening so soon after she’d questioned his commanding officers made her wonder if she’d managed to ask the wrong person, triggering something she was at a loss of how to handle. Which meant if someone was after her, she had no idea how far their arm might reach. She stopped at a red light, then glanced at the leather bag with Will’s letters on the floorboard of the car. That had to be what they were after. She swallowed hard. No. She was sounding paranoid. But Will had been paranoid, too. So maybe her fear stemming from the last letter he’d written her wasn’t that far off after all.

I think they realize I’ve been looking into the paper trail. I need to go to someone with what I have, but I have to make sure the evidence is solid. Some of these contractors are the kind of people who wouldn’t hesitate at defrauding our government. The kind of people who wouldn’t blink at killing anyone who got in their way.

The light turned green and she headed north toward the freeway. She’d memorized the details of Will’s letters. They had mentioned contracted workers, so she’d assumed that going to someone in the military was safe. But clearly, she’d been mistaken. And now she couldn’t afford to trust the wrong person again. It wasn’t worth risking her daughter’s life. But either way, she needed a plan and the best option seemed to be to get as far away from here as she could.

But where? The digital clock on the dash said it was a quarter to three. She could call her parents, but what could they do? They were currently enjoying Florida’s balmy weather and couldn’t exactly help her. She had friends that would take her in, but there was no way she was going to put someone else’s life at risk. And until she figured out who was behind this, she’d never be safe. Will was dead, and she had Mia to protect.

Her mind shifted gears as she upped her speed and merged onto the freeway. There was one person who might be able to help her. She glanced at the phone laying in the console next to her. One person who might have the answers to whoever was behind this.

Liam O’Callaghan.

She tried to push the name out of her mind, and instead glanced at the line of cars behind her as each mile took her farther way from danger—and closer to the town of Timber Falls near where he lived. She hadn’t heard from Liam for several weeks. He and Will had been deployed together, then Liam had spent months in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation with injuries from the blast that killed her husband. Over the past year and a half, he’d called at least once a month to check on her and make sure she was doing okay and had even come to see her several times. But she hadn’t missed the hint of guilt in his voice each time. As if what had happened to Will was somehow his fault. And she was clearly a reminder.

She placed the call on the cheap smart phone she’d picked up yesterday before she had a chance to change her mind again. But instead of him answering, it switched to voice mail.

“Liam, this is Gabby.” She paused, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Wondering why she felt so hesitant in asking for his help. She tried to shake off the tension in her voice. “Listen... I need to talk to you. It’s important. Please. Call me back as soon as you can on this number.”

Gabby hung up the call, then glanced into the rearview mirror at the back seat where Mia sat in her car seat, playing with her stuffed giraffe. At least she’d stopped crying. When Gabby had found out she was pregnant, everything had seemed so perfect. She’d had the perfect marriage, perfect family, perfect life. Then in one life-altering moment, two uniformed officers had shown up at her front door and everything changed.

Her phone rang, pulling her back into the present. She pushed the call-answer button on the steering wheel. “Liam?”

“Gabby...are you okay?”

“Not really.” She didn’t want to tell him what was going on—that would only make the situation more real—but neither could she put the life of her daughter at risk. “I need help, and I didn’t know who else to call.”

She glanced back into the rearview mirror. Mia had thrown down the giraffe and was fussing again, but Gabby couldn’t stop the car. Couldn’t take any risks that might jeopardize her baby’s life more than she already had.

“What happened?” he asked.

She swallowed hard, trying to dismiss the feeling she was being followed. “I got home this afternoon and discovered someone had ransacked my place.”

“Wait a minute... Have you called 911?”

“I was scared and panicked. Afraid someone might still be in the house.”

“I understand, but you need to call the authorities.”

She hesitated. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

The last thing she wanted to do was get Liam involved, but what other option did she have?

“Gabby...what’s going on?”

“There’s something I need to talk to you about. There have been other threats—”

“Threats? Is that why you have a new number?”

“I was afraid someone might have been tracking my phone, but I’d rather discuss everything in person.”

“Where are you now?” he asked.

She glanced at the clock. “I’m about twenty minutes from Timber Falls. If you could meet me in town—”

“Of course. Or you could come out to the ranch.”

“I don’t want to get your family involved.”

“Will was my best friend. I promised him if anything ever happened to him, I’d make sure you and Mia were okay. I owe him my life. My family understands that.”

She looked around, her chest still heaving. Sirens wailed from a wreck on the other side of the highway.

“Is there a chance anyone is following you?” he asked.

“I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure. Traffic’s pretty heavy, and it’s starting to snow.”

“I’m out at the ranch, but I’ll head to town now. It will take me at least thirty minutes, but you can wait for me at the sheriff’s office on the edge of town. It’s well lit. You can’t miss it.”

“Okay.”

“Do you remember meeting my brother Griffin?”

“Yes.”

She’d met his entire family at Will’s funeral, and while most of that day was a blur, she remembered being impressed with the four brothers and their parents, whose ancestors had first settled in this area three generations ago.

“I’ll call him. Griffin’s a deputy and on duty today. I’ll give him a heads-up.”

She drew in a long, slow breath, trying to gather her nerves. “I’m scared, Liam. I don’t know what’s going on, or what I’m supposed to do.”

“Don’t worry. We’re going to find a way to make sure you and Mia are safe until we figure out what’s going on.”

She glanced in the rearview mirror, thankful that Mia was finally sleeping. Poor baby was missing her nap and was exhausted. Her gaze shifted slightly as something else caught her attention. There was a black pickup behind her, following too close. Had she seen the same vehicle earlier?

Her fingers gripped the steering wheel. Five seconds later, the road straightened and headed down another narrow mountainous stretch. She pressed harder on the accelerator as she sucked in a deep breath and tried to talk herself down. No one had followed her out of her neighborhood. This was nothing more than her imagination playing tricks on her.

She gave the car all the gas she could and flew back up the hill. A stab of pain shot through her head, and she realized she’d been clenching her jaw. The stress from the last few days had managed to consume her. She kept her eyes on the road, her hand steady on the wheel as she passed a sign to Timber Falls. All she had to do was get to the sleepy tourist town and she would be fine.

“Gabby? Are you...there?”

The call was breaking up.

She glanced again in the rearview mirror. The black pickup was still there. “Liam...”

“What’s...on... Gabby...”

The car behind her smashed into her bumper. She fought to keep the car on the road as she pushed on the pedal. Mia woke up and started crying.

For the first time in months, Gabby prayed God would intervene.

* * *

Liam pressed on the gas pedal, pushing the speed limit down the narrow two-lane road that led from the O’Callaghan Ranch toward Timber Falls, the nearest town from his family’s ten-thousand-plus acre ranch. He called Gabby back.

Nothing.

He tried to ignore the list of uncertainties simmering beneath the surface. He needed to stop worrying. Phone service around the ranch and the road leading into Timber Falls had always left holes of no reception in spite of recent upgrades over the past couple years. It didn’t mean something had happened. This had been his life the past few months. Waiting for the ball to drop, dumping another tragedy on him. His mother kept reminding him that he wasn’t living. And yet, he knew he hadn’t really been living for a long time.

Not since Will had died and Liam had been life-flighted to Germany, almost losing his own life alongside his best friend.

He tried to shake off the memories and instead focus on the road. The last thing he needed to do was run into a deer on the long stretch of winding road toward town. Gabby was fine. One of them had just gone through a no-service patch. He’d meet up with her, see what she needed, then go on with his own life.

Because if he were honest with himself, seeing Gabby was the last thing he wanted to do. Months of therapy had finally gotten him to the place he needed to be physically, but emotionally the scars were yet to completely heal. And seeing Gabby again... He knew it was only going to be a reminder of what happened that night to his best friend. But he couldn’t let emotion rule his thoughts. He owed Will his life on more than one occasion and if that meant ensuring Gabby and her baby were safe, then he planned on doing anything in his power to keep them that way.

Memories from the night of Will’s death refused to leave him alone, bringing back the all-too-familiar panic. They’d been ambushed that starless night only a few miles from the base while out on a routine patrol in Afghanistan. But there was nothing routine about what had happened that night. By the time he got to Will, his friend was already dead.

Mercifully, his memories of that night were few and far between. The following minutes and hours had dragged by as comrades fought to get him to safety. Over a year later, there were still moments when he wished he’d died instead of his friend. Will had a wife and daughter. He should have lived. And yet, for some reason God had taken Will and let Liam live. The guilt of that loss had yet to let go of him completely. But if he could help Will’s widow, it seemed the least he could do to make amends.

He tried to call her again, but for a third time, the call wouldn’t go through. This time he called a different number.

“Griffin?”

“Hey,” his older brother said. “I was just planning on calling you. Are we still on for tomorrow night—”

“Yeah, but listen. I’ve got a problem, and I’m going to need your help. Do you remember Gabby Kensington?”

“Of course. Will’s wife.”

“Yes. She’s on her way into town now to see me. I’m not sure exactly what’s going on, but apparently her house was burglarized. She’s scared, and our call got disconnected.”

“You know how sketchy phone service is in the passes leading up here. I’m sure she’s fine.”

“I know, but I’m still worried. I’m on my way into town now, but you’re closer than I am.”

“What kind of vehicle is she driving?”

“She owns a yellow jeep.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll head south out of town right now and see if I can find her. Keep me updated on your location and we’ll meet up. In the meantime, try to keep calling her, but send me her number so I can try as well.”

Twenty minutes later, Timber Falls began to show above the horizon. He’d grown up in this town. Graduated from the local high school. And for the past few weeks, it had been the place where he could work on the family ranch alongside his older brother, Caden, while he continued to heal. He wanted to go back to active duty, but the doctors still hadn’t approved him. Which left his future in the military hanging in the balance.

Liam’s phone rang, jerking him from his thoughts. “Griffin?”

“I found her.”

“Where is she?”

“First of all, she and her daughter are both fine,” Griffin said, answering Liam’s next question before he had a chance to ask it. “We’re heading back into town now.”

“What’s going on?”

“You did the right thing to call me, because there are a couple things you need to know before you see her.”

Liam felt a shot of adrenaline rush through him. “What do you mean?”

“I haven’t had time to take an official statement yet, but someone rammed into her from behind while she was on her way here.” Griffin hesitated. “From the way she described it, this wasn’t an accident.”

“But she’s okay?”

“She’s fine. Just meet me at the sheriff’s office.”

Five minutes later, Liam parked in front of the square brick building on the edge of town, then hurried inside.

“Liam...” Angie Baker, the department’s secretary, looked up from her computer as he stepped into the lobby. “I just got off the phone with Deputy O’Callaghan. He’s almost here.”

“Thank you.”

He started pacing the white tiled floor while Angie went back to her computer. The clock on the wall ticked by the seconds. But he couldn’t find a way to shove aside the guilt. If anything happened to Gabby, he’d never forgive himself.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor.” Angie stood up and grabbed a file from a tray. “Can I get you some coffee?”

“No. I’m fine.” He stopped pacing and forced a smile at the offer. “But thanks.”

Ten minutes later, Griffin finally walked into the lobby from the back. The two of them might be brothers, but while Griffin had brown hair, brown eyes and a knack for management, Liam had blond hair, blue eyes and an affinity for strategizing and problem solving. Though their looks and even personalities might be different, there was one thing they had in common. They both had a strong sense of duty and justice neither could ignore.

“Griffin...” He didn’t even try to curb his impatience as he crossed the room. “Where are they?”

“I took them directly through the back door to the conference rooms. Thought she might be more comfortable there. I also asked Mom to come over from the clinic, so she could check them out.”

“But Gabby’s really alright?”

“She’s shook up, but yes. Apparently, the car that hit her spun out in the snow, and she managed to lose them.”

“Do you have any idea who hit her?”

“I’ve got a deputy looking into the incident, but the chances of us finding them are slim in this weather. What about you? She didn’t say much except that she’d been threatened before. Did she give you any clue as to who might be after her?”

“No. That’s why I need to talk with her.” Liam weighed his options, then made a decision. “I’m going to take her out to the ranch until we can figure out what’s going on. A burglary is one thing, but almost getting run off the road means all of this isn’t random. And from what I can tell, she doesn’t think so, either. I’ve known Gabby for several years and she’s not the kind of woman to borrow trouble. Something is very wrong.”

“I agree.” Griffin pulled off his deputy hat and scratched the back of his head. “You can come back with me now. Then as soon as she’s given her statement and Mom has cleared them medically, you can take them out to the ranch. If we need her for anything else, I’ll know where she is.”

And he’d be able to ensure she stayed safe.

A minute later, Liam walked into the small conference room where Gabby was standing near the window. He crossed the room, then pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “Gabby... I’m so, so sorry.”

“I’m fine, really. Just shook up.”

She looked at him with those big brown eyes of hers. He’d gone to visit her half a dozen times since Will’s death seventeen months ago, but his own physical therapy had kept him out of the loop for the most part. She’d changed little on the outside, but he knew the emotional toll had been high.

“Wow...she’s grown up so much.” He knelt down next to the car seat where Mia slept, with her chubby fingers wrapped tightly around a stuffed orange giraffe. “She’s adorable and so much bigger than the last time I saw her.”

“That’s what babies do. They tend to grow up. She turns one this month.”

“It’s hard to believe that much time has passed.” He stood up and faced her again. “Griffin told me you were hit from behind. Are you sure you’re fine?”

“Yes, though I’ve been told that your mother’s on her way to check us out.”

“We’ll need to have your car looked at as well, and what about the phone you thought they might be using to track you?”

She pulled it out of her purse and handed the phone to him. “Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I saw something a while back on TV about apps that can be installed to track someone without their knowledge. I didn’t want to take any chances.”

“You did the right thing. I’ll pass this on to Griffin and see if someone who works with their IT can look at it. And Gabby... I promise we’re going to find out what’s going on.”

She nodded, but he didn’t miss the fear in her eyes.

“Do you have any idea who’s behind all of this?” he asked.

There was a long silence before she answered. “I think this has something to do with Will’s death.”

Liam worked to process the information, surprised at her answer. “Will’s death? He died in an explosion halfway around the world a year and a half ago. How can this be related?”

She shrugged. “I recently went through the rest of Will’s footlocker. I found some letters he wrote that I’d never seen before. He was worried about something. What if it wasn’t just another attack? What if it was just meant to look that way?”

“Wait a minute. You mean that someone—other than terrorists—wanted him dead?”

“I think he stumbled upon something illegal while he was over there. Will hinted that contractors where involved, but I think he was afraid of the repercussions without solid proof of what was going on. And whatever it was got him killed. Because when I start asking questions...” A tear streamed down her face. “Liam, I think they’re after me.”

TWO

Gabby watched Liam’s face, worried about his reaction. She knew Will had been his closest friend. They’d lived in a war zone together, and in turn, they’d developed a bond that only soldiers understood. On top of that, Liam had been there the day Will died.

“I don’t understand.” His jaw tensed as he caught her gaze. “Why would someone come after you in connection with a soldier who died seven-thousand miles away in the Middle East. It doesn’t make sense. Will never said anything to me.”

“Maybe not, but that’s what I need to find out. Because there is a connection. I decided to start asking a few questions about things Will told me in his letters, and not only was I sent a threatening text message to stop asking questions, but now this happens.”

“You said he was looking into something. Something...illegal?”

“Yes, but unfortunately, he never gave specifics.”

“Why wouldn’t he have told me if something was going on at the base? We talked about everything.”

“I don’t know. But he was definitely looking into some illegal activities.”

He wasn’t totally buying her theory. She could tell by the look of doubt in his eyes and the frown on his lips. He and Will had been close. She got that. She also knew there were things Will told him that he would have never told her. And yet, for some reason, this was different.

“Tell me more about the letters,” he said.

“After he died, there were things I never went through in his locker. I just...couldn’t. I was four months pregnant, then suddenly a widow... I was overwhelmed. A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to go through his things. I found several letters Will never had a chance to send. Someone must have added them to his personal belongings. In them, his tone had changed. He was looking for proof that someone was defrauding the government.”

“Contractors.”

She nodded.

“Who have you spoken to?”

“I contacted several officers he worked under, hoping they might have answers.”

“But there was nothing specific in what he wrote? No names?”

She shook her head. “I’ll let you read through the letters, but the only name mentioned was Casada. Someone he seemed to trust. Will thought the man might have answers for some reason.”

“James Casada. He was a contracted worker.”

“I guess I was hoping since you were there you’d have some answers, too.”

He walked toward the window and stared outside. The snow was picking up, making her doubly thankful she and Mia weren’t still out there.

“I’d like to look at the letters if that’s okay, but I don’t have answers. I know that things have been hard since Will died.” He turned back around to face her. “Losing Will was a horrible tragedy that neither of us will ever be able to forget.”

“It was horrible, but what better way to silence someone? No one would ask questions. It would simply be another unfortunate loss that happens far too often.”

“I also know how easy it is to keep searching for an explanation when someone dies.”

Gabby felt a ball of anger begin to bubble inside her gut. Hadn’t she spent the last year and a half trying to combat those feelings? Weekly counseling sessions with her pastor, dozens of books on grief, along with advice from half the people she ran into while she tried to work full-time and raise Mia.

“I’m not just looking for answers.” She bit the edge of her tongue. Healing was raw and personal. She knew that. Knew how easy it was to snap back a response that she’d later regret. But you couldn’t just throw out grief with the trash and expect everything to simply switch back to normal. Healing was a process and losing Will had changed her forever.

“I’m sorry.” He stepped in front of her and rubbed the back of his neck. “All I meant was that nothing can change the fact that he’s gone. We know how he died and digging for answers is just going to hurt more.”

“Maybe. But then why did someone ransack my house and follow me here? This all has to be related.”

“All I know for certain is that Will died in an ambush. We all knew our jobs were a risk, but it was a choice he made every day in order to serve his country.”

“I understand that, but what if there was more involved? Because I believe there was.”

She’d been around Liam enough to know he was far more methodical than impulsive. His questions weren’t a dismissal of what she believed, but rather his way of working through a problem.

“Do you have his letters with you?” he asked.

“I’m not really sure why, but I’ve been carrying them around in my car. Now I’m glad I did.”

“Do you think that’s what the intruder was after?”

“It makes sense. The only problem is I don’t know what they think is in them.” She blew out a slow breath. “I thought maybe you’d see something I didn’t.”

Liam pulled out one of the chairs and sat down in it. “Will seemed distracted before he died. But to be honest, I thought it was because he was ready to get back home. It just seems odd he never mentioned something like this was going on.”

She caught the fatigue in his eyes, making her second-guess her impulsive decision to come here. He had enough of a burden to carry without her adding to it. He might not have died in the explosion, but he carried the physical scars as reminders. Months of therapy had healed most of them, but she understood all too well that it was often what couldn’t be seen that hurt the most.

“You know, I’m sorry,” she said, taking a step back. “I shouldn’t have come. I just thought maybe you’d spoken to him and that you might have some of the answers. But you don’t know anything, so—”

“Gabby, no.” He stood up and bridged the distance between them. “You did the right thing. Of course, I’ll help. I’ll do anything I can, but in the meantime, I want to get you somewhere safe. I’ll take you up to the ranch. I’ve been staying there the past few weeks while waiting to get approved for active duty. You’ll be safe there, and it will give us a safe place to figure things out.”

She caught the sincerity in his voice, but that didn’t sway her response. “I couldn’t impose. I’ll just stay at the hotel here in town. I can’t just drop everything, either. I’ve got my job—”

“Forget it. My mother would never forgive me if I don’t insist you come. And in fact...” Liam turned toward the woman who’d just stepped into the doorway of the room, wearing a flowered scrub top and matching pants. “You remember my mother.”

“Of course. It’s good to see you again, Mrs. O’Callaghan.”

“Please call me Marci.”

“Alright, but I’m sorry you had to come down here. I’m fine. Really.”

The older woman set a small padded medical bag onto the table. “Even at low speeds, there can be issues with whiplash and back injuries after a car accident. It’s not something you should play around with.”

Liam shot Gabby a smile. “If I were you, I wouldn’t argue with my mom.”

Mia started fussing in the car seat.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve forgotten your baby’s name,” Marci said.

“Mia.”

“That’s a beautiful name. Liam...why don’t you entertain Mia while I look at her mama. I’ll check her over next.”

Gabby glanced at Liam. “You don’t mind?”

“Of course not.”

She handed Liam Mia, her stuffed giraffe and a small tub of Cheerios.

“We’ll just wait for your mama in the hallway, won’t we, Mia?”

Gabby turned back to Liam’s mother while he stepped out of the room.

“You said you didn’t have any complaints?” Marci asked.

“Besides being chilled to the bone, I feel fine. It could have been so much worse.”

“Any bruises or cuts that you noticed?”

“No. I’ve got a slight crick in my neck, but it honestly isn’t bad enough to even take Tylenol.”

“Any trouble moving it?”

Gabby turned her head to the right, then the left. “No. None at all.”

“No pain or dizziness?”

“Nothing.”

She glanced at the hallway where Liam was pretending the giraffe was an airplane. Mia laughed, all smiles.

“He’s really good with her.” Somehow, she’d expected Liam to shy away from kids, but apparently she had been wrong.

“Liam might be a soldier who’s served on the battlefield, but he’s always had a soft spot for kids.”

Gabby smiled, filing that information away with what she already knew about him.

“What about your parents?” Marci asked, slowly moving her hand down Gabby’s spine. “Do they live near you?”

“They did until about a month ago. They’re used to wintering in Florida, and I insisted they go this year. They’ll be back for the holidays and some skiing this winter.”

“It’s got to be tough, raising a child on your own.”

“Thankfully, I’m a graphic designer and able to work at home. And Mia’s an easy baby. Most days anyway.”

It had taken her a while to convince her parents to take their yearly winter in Florida, but for some reason, doing things on her own this winter had been an important step forward for her.

“At this point,” Marci said, “I don’t notice anything to be concerned about, but some injuries can take several days to show up, especially in your spine or neck. If you have any numbness, swelling, back pain or headaches, you need to let me know immediately.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“How old is Mia?”

“She turns one in a few days. I can hardly believe it.”

“Seems like my boys were that age not too long ago, though that’s not exactly true.”

Gabby laughed.

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Marci asked.

“I’m an only child.”

Mia threw her giraffe onto the floor and started fussing.

Liam made his way back over to them. “I think someone needs her mama.”

“You’re good with her, but she’s getting sleepy, and I have a feeling she won’t be herself until she gets a proper nap.”

Mia just nuzzled her head into Gabby’s shoulder while Marci quickly checked her out.

“From what Griffin told me, the accident was very minor, but you’ll still need to watch Mia for anything that seems off like vomiting, not sleeping and unusual crying. I’d also suggest you do a follow-up with your pediatrician when you get home.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“I was serious about coming out to the ranch for a few days,” Liam said. “I can make sure you’re safe, and it will give us time to figure out who hit you.”

“Your family’s already done so much. I couldn’t impose. I could get a hotel tonight—”

“That’s out of the question. Besides, we have plenty of room. Right, Mom?”

“He is right. You’d be more than welcome to stay with us.”

Will had told her about the O’Callaghan family and their ranch that sat nestled beneath impressive views of Pikes Peak and surrounding mountains. From everything she’d heard, she knew the place would be stunning. But as much as she wanted someone like Liam to take care of her, if he didn’t have the answers, she’d have to figure things out on her own.

“Besides, I’ll bet you could use some time away,” Liam said. “It’s a beautiful place. And if you’re up for it, I could take you riding tomorrow. The fresh air of the mountains always makes me feel better.”

“That would be nice.”

There was nothing she’d rather do than spend the day in the mountains, away from all of this, but that wasn’t why she was here.

Liam caught her gaze. “We’ll talk more later. Just come for now.”

She glanced toward the door, hoping she’d made the right decision. Hoping whoever had hit her wouldn’t be able to find her.

“I’m going to keep you safe, Gabby. I promise. Whoever’s after you won’t find you at the ranch.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“Maybe not, but I can do everything in my power to make sure you’re safe. Griffin’s trying to find the person who hit you, but in the meantime, I think we should head out to the ranch.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “We’re going to figure out what’s going on. But first you need to get a good night’s sleep. You look exhausted.”

She let out a low chuckle. “Thanks.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I know.”

His smile managed to break through some of the pain in her heart. She could trust him. She had to. What other choice did she have?

* * *

The next morning, Liam sat out on the wraparound porch of his parents’ ranch house, nursing a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise over the mountains. As beautiful as the scenery was, he couldn’t shed the worry that had settled in his gut. He still needed to read Will’s letters, but even if his friend had discovered corruption within one of the contracted firms, that didn’t mean he’d been murdered. But then how did that explain the threatening text, the break-in and car wreck?

Had Will’s death really been the perfect cover-up?

He shifted his thoughts back to the view. The O’Callaghan ranch had been his home his entire life and in his family’s possession since the early 1920s. The thousands of acres included irrigated meadows, pastures, ponds for fishing and livestock. On top of that, there was some of the best elk hunting in the country. When he’d been deployed overseas, what he’d missed most had been Sunday dinners, hunting with his father and three brothers, and white Christmases. Three things that he might be getting more regularly if the army didn’t sign off on his going back to active duty.

He pushed away the reminder as Gabby stepped out onto the porch wearing her long red coat, a scarf and boots, and holding a mug of coffee.

“Good morning,” he said, jumping up to straighten a cushion on the chair next to him. “I see you found the coffee?”

“Your mother found it for me, actually.” She sat down next to him, then took a sip of her drink. “This is just what I needed this morning. And she insisted she’d listen for Mia while I enjoy the sunrise.”

“How did you sleep?” he asked.

She shot him a smile before sitting down next to him. “Like a rock. Mia managed to only wake up once, and she’s still sound asleep. I don’t think I realized just how tired I was.”

“I’m glad you slept. Both of you. Everything always seems better when you have a good night’s rest behind you.”

He wasn’t going to tell her how little he’d slept last night. He’d tossed and turned while going over every conversation with Will he could remember, trying to figure out what he’d missed. If Will had stumbled on something that had gotten him killed, he should have at least been aware that there was a problem. Why hadn’t his friend come to him?

He pulled her phone out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Griffin dropped by earlier this morning and asked me to give it back to you.”

“Did they find something on it?”

He hesitated. “There was spy software installed.”

“Spy software?” Gabby let out a sharp puff of air. “How could they do that without physical access to my phone?”

“It’s clean now, but apparently it is possible to install it remotely through a cellular or Bluetooth connection. Griffin’s guy installed a security app to protect it from now on.”

“Thank you. I just... I’m having a hard time processing all of this.”

“I don’t blame you. I am, too.”

Gabby slipped the phone into her coat pocket then stared at the tree line in the distance. “Will told me how much you loved this place and wanted us to come for a visit after the two of you were finished with your deployments. I knew it was beautiful, but all of this...the colors of the sunrise...the fall leaves...the mountains... This truly is stunning.”

The house was surrounded by aspens that turned golden every fall, as well as blue spruce and Douglas firs. With the sun slipping above the horizon, he couldn’t imagine a more peaceful setting. But even with the pull of family and home, a part of him had begun to feel antsy and ready to go back to active duty.

“There’s a tributary from the lake called Wayward Creek that runs through the part of the property,” he said, pointing to the left. “It’s one of my favorite places. And no matter what you like to do, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling in the winter, hiking, you can do it here. We even go ice fishing when the ponds are frozen over.”

“Ice fishing?” She pulled her mug of coffee against her. “While my parents love their Florida winters, I admit, I prefer the snow and the cold. Though I’ve never tried ice fishing. That might be a bit too cold, even for my blood.”

“I should take you one day, though...though I’m sure you’re going to be ready to get home as soon as we figure out what’s going on.” He quickly tried to backtrack his invitation, wondering why he’d said that. Gabby wasn’t here on holiday. She was here because her life had been threatened. And that didn’t include excursions with him out on the ranch. She needed his help, which meant he needed to stay focused.

“What’s the likelihood of falling through the ice?” she asked. “I think that would be my biggest fear.”

He shifted his mind back to the conversation. “My father taught us the importance of both having fun and being safe. But it happens. As long as you check your safety equipment and have the necessary gear in case of an emergency, you should be fine. Though my brother Reid fell in one winter while we were playing a game of hockey with skates, sticks and pucks. Took all three of us to drag him out, and we never told my father. We’d been lectured on the dangers of playing on the ice, and we knew he’d be furious.”

Gabby laughed. “Somehow, I have a feeling that the four O’Callaghan brothers managed to get into a lot of trouble growing up.”

“Well, we learned our lesson that time. We dragged him back to the house, stuck him in front of the fireplace and made him drink about a gallon of hot coffee. The only real issue after that was that he didn’t sleep that night from all the caffeine, but we were just grateful he was okay.”

He’d realized just how close they’d been to losing Reid, which was why he’d always believed God had stepped in that night. He glanced at Gabby. She’d pulled her long dark hair back in a ponytail and for the first time since she arrived, she looked relaxed. But what if he wasn’t able to keep her safe? There were no guarantees in life. Hadn’t he learned that the hard way? Reid had survived that day out on the ice. But on the battlefield, Will hadn’t. If someone was after Gabby, how was Liam supposed to stop them?

He took a sip of his coffee, wishing he could somehow drown his worries. His training had taught him how to fight and how to survive, but it had never completely prepared him for what it was like to watch someone you cared about die. The emotional wounds he’d suffered had ended up being far worse than the physical ones he’d received.

She reached out and brushed her hand against his arm. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“It’s not a problem at all. My mom’s always telling us there’s too much testosterone when we’re all home, though I know she loves every minute of it.”

“I’m sure she does. How often do the O’Callaghan brothers get to all be home at the same time?”

“Except for yours truly, pretty often, actually. You know Griffin. He’s the oldest and one of the deputies in town, so he’s around a lot. Next in line is Caden, who was an army ranger until he was honorably discharged three years ago. He now runs the ranch with my father and lives in a small house next to my parents’ home. Reid’s one of three full-time firemen in Timber Falls and lives there, and I’m the youngest.”

“I don’t think I knew that.”

“The baby of the family, as they like to constantly remind me. I’m the one who’s spent the most time away, but no matter where we are, we all always manage to find ourselves back at the ranch.”

“I like your parents.”

“My father considers retiring every year, though something tells me he never will. At least not officially.”

She let out a low laugh, but her smile quickly faded.

“You okay?”

“For now, yes. It’s almost too easy to forget the reason why I’m here.” She pulled a handful of letters out of her pocket. “But as much as I’d love to just enjoy the sunrise, I need you to look at these.”

“You’re sure you don’t mind?” Part of him felt uncomfortable reading through Will’s personal letters to his wife.

“It’s fine. I’ve organized them in chronological order.”

Liam pulled out the first letter in the stack. “I used to tease Will for sending as many handwritten letters as emails. And do you know what his answer was?”

“That I loved handwritten mail?”

He nodded.

Gabby let out a sharp breath of air. “Now I can’t help but wonder if it was also a way to write out his concerns without leaving a digital trail.”

He started through the letters in order by date, surprised at how many memories they evoked. If he closed his eyes, he was there again, catching Will writing letters to his wife by flashlight in the tent in the middle of the night.

Why didn’t Will tell me what was going on?

Twenty minutes later, he set down the last letter. “While my mom’s watching Mia, would you like to go for a short walk? The fresh air always clears my mind and helps me think better.”

She nodded, and they started down the path that led east of the house toward the creek, the reality of why she was really here at the forefront of his mind. Even with the idyllic scene of the red barn in the background and several horses in the corral, he couldn’t ignore it. Someone had broken into her home, then tried to run her off the road. She needed answers and he was determined to get them for her.

“You were right. Will clearly stumbled onto something and didn’t know what to do, but with no specifics, it’s hard to know where to start. And just because he was tracking down some corruption doesn’t mean he was killed over it.”

“When I married Will, I thought I knew what I was getting into, but the reality is that you’re never ready for long deployments and so many months apart,” she said. “It was hard, but we were determined to make it work. In the back of my mind, I always knew that losing him was a possibility. What he did was dangerous, and I accepted that, but now... I guess having Mia makes me look at things differently. And this... I have no idea how to deal with this.”

“There are a lot of things that you simply can’t completely prepare yourself for.”

Like losing someone you love.

“What did you think about the letters? What am I supposed to do?”

The phone he’d just given her back started dinging, and she pulled it out of her pocket to check her messages. A moment later, her face paled.

“Gabby...what’s wrong?”

“It’s a bunch of photos.” Her voice broke as she spoke. “Liam...”

“Photos of what?”

She handed him the phone. There were half a dozen photos of her and Mia, snapped at several different locations. And after the photos was a chilling message.

We told you to stop asking questions. We know where you are. Don’t go to the police. You will regret it.

THREE

Gabby spun around and started down the path back toward the house, her heart pounding. “I can’t stay here. If they know where I am—”

“Wait a minute.” Liam ran to catch up with her. “Look again at the photos. Where were these taken?”

“I don’t know.” She stopped, tears welling in her eyes as she pulled open the photos again. “In front of my house...the grocery store with Mia...getting into my car...it looks like the gym parking lot.”

“They were following you. That is clear, but there are no photos of Timber Falls or the ranch.”

Her brow narrowed in surprise. “You’re right.”

He took her hand and caught her gaze. “I think they’re bluffing, because they don’t know where you are. If they did, they’d show up here, not just send you photos.”

“Maybe, but I still don’t understand any of this.” She worked to hold back the dam of tears about to break loose. “If they’ve been following me back home, why didn’t they confront me then?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they wanted to make sure you knew something before they did anything. This all began after you started asking questions.”

“Yes.”

“So it makes sense that someone’s trying to find out what you know. And in the process scaring you to make sure you don’t go to the authorities.”

“Well, I am scared.” She could hear the panic in her own voice but at this point, she didn’t care. “Will is dead, and I have a child to protect. If anything happens to Mia, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Liam pulled her against him. “Nothing’s going to happen, Gabby. Not to Mia. Not to you. I won’t let it.”

She nestled her head into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her. There was something calming in the warmth of his embrace. Something that made her want to stay in this moment for as long as possible. She missed feeling secure and cherished. Missed having someone to face life with. A partner for her. A father for Mia. Not that she was looking for someone to take Will’s place. She was just so tired of doing everything on her own.

“I’m sorry.” She pulled away from him abruptly and wiped her eyes. “I didn’t mean to fall apart like that.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about. You’ve been through a lot this past year and a half, and none of it’s been easy.”

“No, it hasn’t, but my losing it isn’t going to help put an end to all of this.”

She started back to the house beside him. “I called James Casada two days ago. He lives in a suburb of Denver. Will indicated he trusted him. I thought it would be a good idea to talk to him in person. Maybe he knows something.”

Liam stopped on the path and turned to her. “Did you get ahold of him?”

“Yes. He was out of town but was flying back to Denver last night. He told me he’d be working at home all day if I wanted to come by. I almost forgot I’d thought about going to go see him this morning.”

“What if he’s somehow involved in this?”

“You read the letters. Will trusted him and believed he could help.”

“Which is what scares me. Someone thinks you have answers, and if they intend to silence you...”

“The problem is I don’t really know anything.”

“Maybe not, but someone thinks you do.”

“I’ve gone over this in my head a hundred times. But you were there with him, Liam. You had to have seen something.”

“Will worked some with Casada. Always spoke highly of him. And as I already told you, Will seemed preoccupied, but you were pregnant, and I thought he was just ready to get home.” Liam shoved his hands into his pockets. “Is there anything else from Will in your house that might have answers about what he was working on, or maybe something they were after?”

“Not that I know of. But he had to have discovered something. Maybe someone is simply trying to guarantee that whatever they’re involved in doesn’t get found out.”

“Let me go talk with Casada alone,” Liam said. “See if he knows anything. You can stay here with Mia. You’ll be safe.”

“I can’t just hide.” While a part of her wished she could let him do this for her, she knew it was something she needed to do. “I’ve come so far in my search for closure over Will’s death, but this... I need to find out what’s going on. I need to talk to him myself.”

They walked down the path flanked by aspen trees with gold leaves shimmering in the morning breeze, and the mountains rising up beyond them. She wanted to enjoy the scenery. Wished she could see God’s hand in her own life as much as she saw it in the beauty around her. But instead, everything that had happened had left her with far more questions than answers. About loss. About fear. About God.

“But that said, my concern is for Mia.” She broke the silence between them. “I can’t do anything to put her life at risk.”

“My mom’s already volunteered if you need someone to watch her. If you feel comfortable.”

“I do, but—”

“She’s safe here. I promise. My dad will be here. Plus, it’s Griffin’s day off. He’s promised to come by again later today and check on things.”

“Okay.” She drew a deep breath, wishing she felt as courageous about going to see Casada as she hoped she sounded. “Liam...thank you, but I still feel bad about getting you involved in this.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I haven’t done anything really. And if Will were in my place, he’d do the same thing.”

“I know, and while you might not know it, you’ve done so much for me. The times you’ve called me. Coming to see me when you weren’t in therapy. The gifts for Mia. I owe you a lot.”

And that wasn’t all she owed him for. Now she’d dragged him into a dangerous situation. One she had no idea how to get out of on her own.

* * *

A wave of guilt shot through him. She was wrong. He should have called her more often. Made more of an effort to ensure that she and Mia had everything they needed. He couldn’t imagine how difficult it had been for her as a single mom. He knew she’d been surrounded by her parents and friends and church family. Somehow that had allowed him to justify the times he hadn’t picked up the phone to make sure she was okay. It had let him justify the fact that he’d been too busy with physical therapy. Too busy trying to get his own life back on track. But those had only been excuses.

He stared out over the mountains as they walked. Despite his desire to help her, what he really wanted was to leave the past where it belonged. In the past. Because while he didn’t know what it was like to lose a spouse, he did know what it was like to lose a fellow soldier and best friend.

Having Gabby here was forcing him to remember things better left forgotten. But the past wasn’t something that would simply disappear. He’d have to face it head on if they wanted to figure out what was going on.

An hour later, they were saying goodbye to his mother and Mia. He watched as Gabby held her daughter and smothered her with kisses while the little girl laughed. He handed Mia her giraffe, surprised when she threw it back at him. He held it out to her and she squealed as she grabbed it from him.

Liam smiled and snatched it back from her chubby fingers.

Mia laughed and lunged for him.

He grabbed her, surprised that she’d come to him so willingly.

She poked at his face with her finger. He responded by giving her a raspberry on her neck.

“We’re never going to get out of here if the two of you keep playing.” Gabby’s tone was firm, but he didn’t miss the twinkle in her eye.

He handed Mia to his mother. “We’ll be back soon.”

“She’ll be fine.” His mom settled Mia in on her hip. “Liam’s father is here, so between him and Griffin you have nothing to worry about.”

“I know.” Gabby gave her daughter one more kiss. “Thank you.”

They headed out toward his truck, while he prayed he was making the right decision. Putting Gabby’s life in jeopardy was the last thing he wanted to do. And yet, if they were going to figure out why she was a target, neither could they sit around and wait for the truth to emerge.

“Mia’s adorable,” he said, unlocking the vehicle and sliding into the driver’s seat.

Gabby dropped her purse onto the floorboard, then buckled her seat belt. “She’s the best thing that’s happened to me. When I think I can’t go on, she gives me a reason to get out of bed.”

He glanced at her as he started down the narrow two-lane road toward town, suddenly wondering what it would be like to have a family of his own. Someone to share his life with. To laugh with. Someone who’d support him while he was deployed and be there for him when he returned.

He shoved away the random thoughts. Gabby was beautiful. There was no doubt about that. And he loved her passion and heart, but she was his best friend’s wife. And even though Will was gone, there was way too much painful baggage between them to be anything more than simply friends. Still, something told him it would be far too easy for the lines of friendship and his concern for her to blur in his mind. Something he could never let happen.

“Do you remember anything more about James Casada?”

Gabby’s question broke into his thoughts. “I wasn’t around him much, but he always seemed honest and was a hard worker. I understand he was married at one time, but I believe his wife died a few years ago. That’s part of the reason he was working overseas. He might have a couple adult children, but I’m not sure.”

“Did you like him?”

“A lot of those contract guys are rough around the edges, but James was different. He seemed to be more like a...grandfather. Tough, but friendly, and he always had a story to share. He mainly worked in security for convoys that were carrying supplies between bases. A couple times, he was part of the detail that provided personal protection for the higher ups. And while he was six four and two-hundred-plus pounds, there was a gentleness to him that always took me off guard. I liked him. Everyone liked him as far as I know.”

“Do you think Will would have wanted me to talk to him?”

“I don’t know.”

“But are we doing the right thing?”

He paused before answering her question. “What other choice do we have?”

Just over an hour and a half later, Liam pulled in front of the house where James Casada lived. He’d enjoyed the drive through the mountains with Gabby, and the time to reconnect. But that’s all this was. A couple of friends catching up. They’d talked about Will, he’d answered her questions about his rehabilitation and laughed at her stories about Mia, and he’d found himself surprised by how comfortable he felt with her. How much he enjoyed being around her.

“You ready for this?” He turned off the motor, then glanced at her.

“Yeah.” She tugged on the end of her ponytail and nodded. “Let’s go.”

The yard in front of the one-story house had low maintenance ground cover and a few woody shrubs. Gabby rang the doorbell, then pulled her coat tighter around her. The sun was out, but the temperature had yet to climb out of the mid-thirties. A few seconds later, she rang the bell again.

“That’s strange. He said he’d be here.”

Liam glanced around the front of the house. There was no car in the drive, but Casada probably would have parked inside the garage. Nothing seemed off or out of place, but that didn’t erase the uneasiness he felt. If the man knew something, he was a potential target as well.

“Mr. Casada?” Gabby tried the handle. “Liam, the door’s open. Something’s wrong.”

He took a step forward. “Stay here.”

“Liam—”

He squeezed her hand, then slowly opened the door. “James? Is everything okay? It’s Liam O’Callaghan.”

No answer.

Something was definitely wrong.

“If my phone was tapped. If they knew I was coming...”

A second later, Liam caught movement and turned. A figure rushed at him from behind the front door, slamming something into the back of his head. Stars exploding behind his eyes, he pivoted and swung at his attacker. But he couldn’t fight the darkness sweeping through him as he collapsed onto the floor.

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