Page 14 of Montana Manhunt

Violet’s stomach twisted into a knot. “Not for me.”

Noah studied her for a moment, then glanced at the menu again. “You need something lighter?”

“I don’t know if I can eat anything,” she admitted. Galled her to confess as much. She lived with violence and the aftereffects on every mission. Shouldn’t she be able to handle a death in the family?

Brittany returned with a tray loaded with drinks. She handed them out and pulled her order pad from her pocket, pen poised and ready. “Are you ready to order?”

Violet’s stomach rebelled and tightened further at the thought of making a choice and forcing herself to eat. She needed the fuel. The probability of her eating steak and keeping it down were slim to none.

Grant, Rayne, and Noah ordered steaks and potatoes with a side salad. Then Noah said, “My girlfriend would like a baked potato with butter and sour cream on the side and a salad. Do you have hot tea?”

“Yes, sir.”

“If you would, please bring her some hot tea.”

“Right away.” Brittany scurried off again.

The knot in Violet’s stomach loosened a little.

“I hope you don’t mind me ordering for you,” Noah murmured. “You didn’t look like you were comfortable making a choice.”

“Your selections were perfect. Thank you, Noah.”

He cupped her nape. “I’m here to help, babe. Let me do what I can to make things easier for you.”

Her eyes misted. No, no, no. She couldn’t lose it now. If she did, she’d draw attention to herself, and Violet wasn’t ready to face anyone yet. Falling apart behind closed doors at the hotel was one thing. Doing it in a crowded restaurant wasn’t acceptable.

“So, Violet,” Rayne said. “What was it like growing up in Montana?”

Thank goodness. A distraction from the unrelenting pain in her heart. She cleared her throat. “Big, open blue skies, rolling hills and flatlands, and more snow than you’d ever want to see in the winter. Cowboy hats, boots, and jeans were the norm in school. Ranching is a way of life out here.”

“Did you like it?” Grant asked.

She shrugged. “I didn’t know a different life. My parents owned a 500-acre ranch, but they died in a car accident during a violent thunderstorm. Cami and I were the only survivors.”

“How old were you at the time of the accident?” Noah asked.

“Eight. In one night, we lost the life we knew and the parents we loved so fiercely. The authorities dumped my sister and me on our aunt.” She gave a wry laugh. “Believe me, she let us know she didn’t want us. Every day, she reminded us how much we owed her.”

Rayne scowled. “That’s horrible. Why didn’t another relative step up and take you in?”

“There was no one else. Our only choice was Aunt Rosalie or a foster home where we might be separated. We didn’t want to chance it, so Cami and I stayed together with Aunt Rosalie and made the best of it. Once we graduated from high school, we planned to get an apartment together.”

“Sounds like that didn’t happen,” Grant said.

Not like they’d planned, and now she felt more guilty than ever for leaving Morrison to pursue her dream. She’d left Camilla behind, and now her sister was dead.

Brittany returned with a small teapot, a coffee mug, and several packets of tea. She set everything in front of Violet. “If you need more hot water, let me know. I’ll be glad to bring you more.” With that, she hurried off to the next table.

Noah chose a packet of chamomile tea and dropped it into the mug, then poured hot water over the bag. “Need a subject change?”

She nodded. Switching to a new topic felt like the coward’s way out. To keep her game face on, though, changing the subject was necessary.

Rayne launched into stories from her days on the Chicago police force and kept them in stitches until Brittany returned with their meals. Once she left, Grant took over, telling humorous stories about himself growing up.

Although Violet was sure she wouldn’t eat a bite, she looked down at her plate and bowl, surprised to notice they were empty. The tea, company, and comfort food had done the trick. Her energy level had rebounded some as well.

Excellent. She felt more able to face what was ahead tomorrow. Funny how dogmatic she was about her teammates taking care of themselves, yet she hadn’t monitored herself that well.

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