Page 78 of Deadly Evidence
He dropped Copper’s reins and grasped her shoulders. “These people mean business, Anna. This property has the perfect terrain, isolation, and proximity to a little-used highway and they want to make sure you don’t try to interfere.”
“Then they don’t know me very well.”
“And, they don’t have any idea who I am,” he added with grim satisfaction, “But they figure that since you’re a woman, you’ll be easily frightened.”
“Not for myself. But Iamafraid about the safety of the people on this ranch.”
He thought about the night she’d gone riding off into the night to check on a pregnant mare. Her years of struggle to hold this ranch together, almost on her own. The way she’d raised her daughter—alone.
“That’s the last way anyone could ever describe you, Anna. You are one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.”
“Which still isn’t going to help me, with someone delivering death threats to my door.”
Brady thought about his ongoing suspicions about Dante, who could be tipped off by the arrival of a stranger at the ranch, but this operation was close to being over. “I’ll have another agent here by tomorrow. He can stay here at the house.”
She frowned. “But you said—”
“It’s okay. What’s important is that you and your family are safe. You can tell everyone—” he paused for a second, considering “—that he’s a childhood friend of mine who just happens to be with the border patrol. That way, they won’t think it strange if he calls in extra help or seems to be taking charge. I’ll let him know.”
“You’re still suspicious of Dante?”
Yes, but she didn’t need to know that. She had such faith in everyone around her that some things were better left unsaid. Better that than to risk an inadvertent comment that might tip Dante off.
“I still believe in keeping this situation under wraps as much as possible,” he said carefully. “You just never know—the wrong word to the wrong person could jeopardize this entire operation. I won’t take that chance.”
“I’m going to call my friend Linda in Houston and see about taking Lacey there for a while. She’ll miss some school, but I just don’t want her at risk.”
“And Mia leaves Saturday, right?”
“Around four o’clock.” Anna shook her head. “I hoped everything would turn out so much better for her here, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”
He studied her, wondering about the weary acceptance in her voice. “When this is over, you and I need to talk, Anna. I’ve done a lot of thinking these past few days, and—”
“There isn’t anything to discuss. I understand completely—believe me, I do.” She backed away, shaking her head. “It’s been great, but even good things come to an end, right? It’s all for the best.”
Stunned, he watched her walk down the aisle of the barn.
She was beautiful, true, but she was so much more than that—strong and courageous and absolutely loyal. A woman who could hold her own against adversity and never give up.
Simply holding her made him feel more alive than he’d ever felt before—and he’d been sure that she felt the same way. He’d seen it in her eyes, felt it in her touch.
The irony of the situation struck hard. She’d walked out of his life just as he was realizing how much he cared.
He had to wrap up this investigation. Nothing was more important than keeping Anna and her family safe. But it wasn’t going to be easy staying here any longer. And leaving would be the hardest thing of all.
Because now he knew that no one else could ever take her place in his heart.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Mia folded the rest of her underwear and packed it tightly around her violin case, then tucked in her pajamas, sweaters, and jeans.
“Guess I’m just about ready.” She sighed. “I’ve only left out what I still need to wear tomorrow and Saturday.”
Lacey, sitting cross-legged on the bed with her elbows propped on her thighs, watched with a glum expression. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”
“The bus only comes through on Mondays and Saturdays, so I’d better be on this one. It takes a long time to get to New York.”
“But your apartment isn’t ready yet, right?” Lacey pleaded. “Monday would work!”
