Page 41 of High Intensity

I pick Nugget up and deposit him on the bed. Then I walk over to the window, pretending to look outside, but from the corner of my eye I catch Hayley reaching for Nugget. By the time I turn my full attention back to the bed, she has him snuggledagainst her, his head propped on her belly, and her hand stroking his soft fur.

“I’ll let my guys know you’re an approved visitor, and I’m trusting you keep her location to yourself.”

“Obviously,” I return, a bit testy he feels the need to tell me that.

After all, I’m a professional, and it’s not like he hasn’t worked with me before.

He runs a hand through his hair before fitting his hat back on his head.

“Sorry. Of course that goes without saying. I’m feeling the pressure; Polman was ready to call in the FBI this morning and I pushed to hold off because I didn’t want?—”

I stop him with a sharp shake of my head when I notice Hayley is observing us intently. I’d almost forgotten she was there.

“Right,” Ewing catches on. “I’m going to leave you guys be. I’ve got things to do. We’ll catch up later.”

When the door closes behind him, I return my gaze to the window.

“He feels responsible for keeping you safe until your uncle gets here,” I tell her with my back turned.

I have a sneaking suspicion this girl may be more aware of what is going on around her than she lets on. In the reflection I catch her looking at me.

She’s definitely listening.

Wolff

“Wouldn’t take much to take out the tub and put in a shower like I did in mine.”

I got an early start this morning and had the horses loaded up by quarter to five before I realized I hadn’t seen Jackson yet. When I went to see what was keeping him, he just came walking out the door, pressing a towel against the side of his face.

He’d slipped in the tub and lost his footing, which isn’t that hard to do when you only have one foot to begin with. Whacked his elbow good on the way down and hit the side of the tub with his face, splitting the skin over his eyebrow. Hence the towel, which was to staunch the blood.

He’s a bit of a broody bastard, even on a good day, but today managed to stay quiet almost the entire drive to Dumas, Washington. I was pretty content to drive in silence, with good tunes on the radio and my mind on Jillian.

It wasn’t until we dropped off the horses and stopped for a quick bite just south of Spokane, Jackson brought up the old tub in his cabin. He reluctantly admitted he hadn’t been too steady standing in the sloped bottom of the tub and would hold on to the built-in soap dish to keep himself steady. Except, as it turns out, the soap dish was no match when his foot went out from under him.

“You put in a shower?”

I nod. “One of the first things I did is tear out that old tub. Not like I was gonna use it. Jonas was fine with it, he paid for the materials, and the guys helped me with the work. It took a three-day weekend to complete. I can show you what it looks like when we get back.”

“Yeah.”

He sounds a bit dismissive.

I glance at him from the corner of my eye. His jaw is tight and his knuckles white on the steering wheel, as he stares straight out at the road ahead. I don’t pretend to understand what he’sbeen through, either while serving his country or the resulting loss of his leg. I can’t imagine it’s been easy. But one thing I do know is, when you no longer fit the life you envisioned, you move on to build one that does.

Sometimes it starts with something as simple as a bathroom that suits your needs.

“Dan’s gotten pretty good at all the plumbing stuff,” I push a little. “I’m sure he’d be happy to lend a hand. Especially since you, along with everyone else, worked on his place.”

I add the latter because I suspect asking or accepting help is part of his problem. Doesn’t hurt to remind him everyone needs a hand from time to time, and it has nothing to do with the loss of a limb.

“I’ll talk to Jonas,” he finally concedes after a long silence.

I scoot down in my seat, pull my hat down over my eyes, and sneak a grin. Mission accomplished.

“What are you doing here?”

Despite the dubious greeting, she steps aside to let me in.

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