Page 79 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh, yes. I haven’t thought of that in such a long time, but the Colton baby boy needed special care. It was quite a memorable time. One of the nurses who worked there gave birth to a healthy baby that same day. Her name was...” The nurse stopped as she searched for a name.

Hazel saw Callum stiffen as though this was a huge piece of information.

“Luella something. I can’t remember her last name. But I do remember she left the hospital later that day, the same day she gave birth. I thought that was odd. And the other reason that morning stands out is there was the fire. I’m sure you can imagine the chaos.”

“I can,” Hazel said. No wonder she remembered that day so vividly after forty years.

“All of the maternity records were destroyed. They wer

e kept in those paper boxes back then.” Nancy shook her head and made a humph sound.

“I can see why you remember that day so well,” Callum said. “Are you sure you can’t recall Luella’s last name?”

Nancy thought for several seconds. “No, I’m sorry, I can’t.” Then she asked, “Who did you say you were?”

“Callum Colton and Hazel Hart,” Callum said.

“Colton. That was one of the babies born that night.” She at first seemed thrilled and then not so much. “Why are you asking about that night?”

“We really appreciate all of your help, Nancy.” Callum took Hazel’s hand and started to turn them away. “Have a good night.”

In the rental, Callum seemed edgy and tense. Hazel waited a few seconds.

“What does all that mean?” she asked.

“We have a name,” he said. “A first name, but it’s more than my family has gotten on Ace’s being switched at birth.” He turned his head and twisted in the driver’s seat as though looking for anything unusual. “We have to be very careful now. If whoever shot my dad knows we came here, we are a target of another killer. I have to get you somewhere safe and work with the police...or not.”

As a SEAL? A human weapon? Hazel thought he was taking this to the extreme and she knew why.

“Callum, you don’t have to hold yourself responsible for my safety. If the person who shot your father finds out what we learned today, then we are in this together. The same is true for the killer Evie saw. I’m glad you’re our bodyguard but if the killer succeeds and Evie and I die, it won’t be your fault. It will be the killer’s.”

He glanced at her sharply, as though he hadn’t even realized where his reaction had come from—his penchant to bear all the weight of her well-being.

“I wouldn’t want you to feel guilty if anything happens to me, and I’m pretty sure Annabel would have told you the same thing.”

His cell phone rang, interrupting what Hazel had hoped would turn into a meaningful conversation.

“Hi, Marlowe,” he said.

Hazel waited while he listened.

“All right. We’ll stop by now.” Then he said to her, “Marlowe asked if I’d stop by the office so she can talk to me.”

“About what?”

“She said Payne’s assistant found something that might be another clue.” He called Kerry next, asking her to meet them at Colton Oil. Then he called Rafe and asked him to gather up everyone in the family and meet them in Marlowe’s office.

He was quiet the rest of the way and Hazel wondered if what she had said occupied his mind.

* * *

Callum could think of nothing other than what Hazel had said just before Marlowe called. He hadn’t even realized his fear was so great that he might not be able to keep Hazel safe. That meant he already felt at least as much for her as he had for Annabel. Even as that thought came, he had a terrible feeling that what he had with Hazel went far deeper. That only terrified him more.

Hazel was right. He couldn’t blame himself if someone else killed her. But he could blame himself if he didn’t do his job and protect both her and Evie.

Arriving at Colton Oil, he was happy to have other things to keep him focused. They headed right for Marlowe’s office.

“That didn’t take you long,” Marlowe said, standing.

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