Page 18 of Love on the Run

“Well, he disagrees, because he reported it stolen,” he shrugged.

Callie looked back up, startled. “No,” she said, before she could stop herself. “He couldn’t have. That’s impossible.” He was already dead.

Jake, thank God, didn’t realize what her expression meant. “He was a criminal, sure, but you’d be surprised at what people do. Just because he got on the wrong side of law in the past doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to take advantage of it when it’s useful to him.”

Callie didn’t listen. Her mind was racing. Ed couldn’t have reported the car stolen because he was dead. That left Malcolm, the only person who knew she had takenthatcar. Malcolm reported it because he was hoping she would be seen driving it and be arrested. Then he’d know where she was! Above all, she had to prevent Jake from charging her, and keep moving.

“Callie?” Jake asked curiously.

She realized she hadn’t responded to whatever question he asked. “What?”

“You just stopped talking. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’ll be fine. And I’ll be even better once I get moving. You really can’t keep me here.”

“Believe me, honey, I don’t particularly want to. Besides, you’ll be getting out today. Dr. Murphy wants to see you later, to make sure everything is healing up all right. I’m going to drive you into town this morning.”

“And then what?”

“That depends on you,” he drawled.

Callie frowned, but she realized that she had little choice but to go along with Jake. Once she got into town, she could speak with the doctor. He’d understand that Jake was being totally unreasonable. In the meantime, she decided it wouldn’t help to be rude to Jake. Insufferable or not, he did help her out on the highway.Oh, admit, Callie, said the voice in her head.He saved your life.

After finishing her breakfast, she hauled her bag up to the little room upstairs again. Then Callie stepped back into the hall, wondering where Jake had got to. He appeared from the little room that was set up as an office. “Dr. Murphy said he can see you at eleven. That means we have to get moving.”

“I’m ready,” Callie nodded.

He led her outside to his truck, where he opened her door for her. “I’m not an invalid,” she said, arching her eyebrow at him.

“What’s that got to do with anything? This is Montana, honey. We’ve got manners here.” Jake grinned as he shut the door and scuttled around to the driver’s side. Bruiser, who had followed them out, whined a little. “You stay here and guard the fort, boy.” Jake patted the dog and climbed into the truck. “Seatbelt on?”

“Yes, officer,” Callie said with a smile. She wanted to be back on friendly terms with him, or he’d never listen to her. Jake smiled too as he started the truck. Callie noticed how his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. It made her a little giddy.

“All right, here we go.” Jake headed down the long road to the highway.

“Is this all yours?” Callie asked as they drove.

“Yep. My granddad used to raise horses on this land. He died about ten years ago, and he left it to me.”

“Have you always lived around here?” she wondered. She noticed how new the little house seemed.

“No,” he said, something odd in his tone. “I moved back here a few years ago. Built the house the way I wanted it. Been here ever since.”

“Can I ask where you lived before?”

“DC,” he replied shortly.

“That’s a big move.”

“Yep.” He obviously didn’t want to talk about it, and Callie didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

“I grew up in Chicago,” she said. “I didn’t really like it though. Cold and windy and flat, most of the time. I had friends in LA, and I moved out there about five years ago. Thought I’d try to be in movies or TV.”

“How’d that go?”

“I got a few bit parts, actually. Enough so I only had to work one extra job instead of two or three. In Hollywood, that’s practically a success story. But it’s a hard kind of way to live. People were always coming and going. You never know who would stick around, or who would try to stab you in the back for a part.”

“You have family back in Chicago?” Jake asked.

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