Page 84 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

He would have to take care of her himself.

Chapter

Seventeen

Willa woke a bit disoriented. She didn’t normally nap in the middle of the day. She pulled on a pair of leggings, a bra, and a long sweater, and wandered into the common area of the safe house. When the two agents on duty rose to greet her, she waved them off.

“Let’s dispense with formality, okay? I’m Willa. I’m only here because Marshal McDaniel is a worrywart and doesn’t think I could handle a putz like Simon Eastwick.”

The agents grinned at one another. Apparently, she and Mac as an item was not news to either.

“He just wants to keep you safe Ms… Willa,” he corrected when she glared at him. “We’ll try to make you as comfortable as we can. I’m sure Mac showed you the entrance to the escape tunnel.”

“He did. Like he thinks I’d leave him or anyone else to make a stand while I head for the hills.”

“Yes, ma’am. Our sworn job is to protect you, so the man accused of killing Evie Eastwick is brought to justice. You’re our best shot at that. As I understand it, he confessed to you. That makes you an enormous threat. If we say run, you run. If you get away and something happens to us, we did the job we signed onfor, and we put Eastwick away. If you don’t run and we fall, then we failed.”

For the first time, Willa really heard what he was saying.

“I-I didn’t understand,” she stammered.

“Now, you do.” The man grinned. “So, we’re good? If we say run, you get into that room, bolt the door, and rabbit down that tunnel to safety.”

She nodded. “Either of you hungry?”

“Yes, ma’am. John Hampton says you’re one helluva cook. He made sure we had all the stuff you use to make meatloaf and said if you offered to make it, we were in for a treat.”

“If I know John, he made sure I had enough, so there’d be plenty of leftovers for sandwiches.”

“And we were to tell you we prefer your rustic smashed potatoes.”

Willa laughed. “Yes, John would tell you that. He’s a big fan.”

“He seems to know you pretty well.”

“He does. His wife works for me, and they’re good friends with both Mac and me.”

“You don’t need to feel obligated to cook for us.”

“This is John’s way of trying to keep me occupied, so I’m not too much of a pain in the ass.”

“He seemed to think the best thing to do if you were less than cooperative,”—he smiled as Willa laughed out loud—“was to call Mac.”

“Remind me to hit Marshal Hampton over the head with something heavy next time I see him.”

Willa spent the next several hours making food for the men who had been charged with keeping her safe. She only hoped those Mac had kept with him would be ensuring he returned to her.

Mac and the other marshals’ trip to join up with the border patrol proved to be a bust. They found the town car, but the driver had alibied up, so they returned to Scottsdale to regroup and figure out their next move.

Mac called Willa on the secure line, and she excused herself, retreating to the bedroom for a little privacy.

“Are you okay?” she asked immediately.

“Other than frustrated and missing you, I’m just dandy.”

“I can tell you for a fact a cold shower only takes the edge off.”

He laughed. “You behaving yourself, Cowgirl?”

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