Page 43 of Mountain Man Daddy

Dead on arrival. Gunshot wound. Forensics.

The Jeep’s owner was dead?Dead! By gunshot! Holy shit!

They killed him because of me.Her lip trembled so she clamped it between her teeth. And now the Jeep had been reported found. They’d know where she was. She paused as the reality of everything sank in. She’d stolen the Jeep, so she’d be the one the RCMP thought killed him. They’d charge Avery with murder. And now Eddie and Moe knew where she was. Maybe Mike could protect her from Alex’s killers, but he couldn’t save her from the law. He might even go to prison for not reporting her and the accident.Oh, God!

The mountain would be crawling with cops soon. Panic blasted full force.

* * *

When Mike walked in half an hour later, he set his tackle box down by her bag that was at the door. He glanced up at her. “What’s this?” His hands went to his hips, and her stomach sank.

“I have to leave, Mike.” She attempted to keep her expression blank to hide her pain and fear. “The police were here today about the Jeep. Some cop named Riley.” She waved her hand and began pacing. “He was asking a lot of questions and seemed suspicious, and then he got a call from dispatch.” She paused, looked him straight in the eye and with a trembling lip, continued.

“The guy I stole the Jeep from is dead.” Her hand went to her mouth to cover her sob. “He was murdered. If they find out I stole it they’ll think I killed him, but that’s not the worst of it.” She wiped the tears that started spilling over her lids. “It means they know where I am. Eddie and Moe know I’m here.”

His face was stormy, but it hadn’t changed from the turbulent look he wore at seeing her bag. He walked in briskly, bringing a sack full of freshly cleaned fish with him. He dumped them into the sink and pulled out some freezer bags. His silence was irritating. She was in a frigging panic and about to leave, and he was putting away fish as if there were nothing wrong. Maybe she was crazy. Maybe Mike didn’t give a damn about her after all.

“Did you hear me?” Her voice was a screech.

“I heard.” His voice was steady, but she knew him. He was as cantankerous as when she’d first argued with him at Annie’s.

“Well, don’t you have anything to say?” Her voice was high-pitched in terror.

“Were you going to leave without telling me?” She stayed silent, fuming over his lack of reaction. She stormed to the door where her bag lay and picked it up. He spun and pointed at her.

“Answer me, and you better damn well think twice before you lie to me, Avery.” His stern gaze pierced her gut.

“No, Mike. If I’d wanted to do that, I would’ve been gone an hour ago. I was waiting for you. For fuck’s sake, can’t you at least pretend to care?” He turned back around at that with a scoff. “I care, Avery, but I told you I was going to help you and the first thing you do when I’m gone is pack your bag again.”

“There are people after me! People who want me dead! They’re crooked cops, Mike! I will die if I don’t run!” Her voice was hysterical now.

“Avery.”

When she still didn’t acknowledge him, he slammed the bags down, washed his hands, and went to her. He clasped his hand around her upper arm and marched her to his room. He gave her three sharp swats to the seat of her jeans and then spun her to face him.

“Avery, goddamn it, are you listening to me now?” His face was still calm, but his grip was sure and his eyes intense.

“Yes,” she said with exasperation. “I’m listening, dammit, but are you?” Her snarly tone didn’t impress him.

“If you don’t want your ass spanked again, little girl, you’ll lose the goddamned attitude, got me?”

“I don’t have time for this! You don’t get it.God, I don’t know why I ever thought you could protect me. I need to take care of myself. Plain and simple. No one can do it for me.” Before she even closed her mouth, he spun her again and gave her three more hard thwacks.

“One more word and I will remove your jeans and do a proper job.” She started to open her mouth, but his serious look and his hand on his belt stopped her. She closed her mouth with a snap and looked away.

“Good girl. I needed a damn minute to think. I can’t think when you’re going off and throwing a tantrum.” He drew in a breath. “Now. If cops were here, I’ll need to talk to them, but I’m not leaving you alone. Right now, no one knows you were the one who stole the Jeep. You’re fine for now. Understand?” She crossed her arms over her chest, and he growled at her lack of response.

“Little girl, you had better damn well answer me!”

“Yes, I understand.” She rolled her tight, angry shoulders and let them fall loose. “But what about Alex’s killers?” Her lip wobbled.

“I thought you trusted me to take care of you?”

“I do, I’m just scared.” He put his big hands on her upper arms and pulled her against him. “If Eddie and Moe even know about the Jeep, they only know you were here at some point.” He smoothed her hair.

“You think they’ll assume I’ve moved on after they check the hospitals and find nothing?”

“That sounds logical, honey. Now you’re thinking smart.” He kissed her hair. “You must have been terrified.” She nodded and melted against him. “I’m sorry it happened while I was gone.”

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