new job. A new start.
If—and it was a big if—Grimes was found and locked up, how long before he got out again? He seemed to have connections in high places. Would he ever stop looking for her? Would his men ever move on?
She doubted it.
Another boom of wind blasted against the window, causing her to jump. Could someone be out there? Lurking? Using the storm as cover?
She slid out of bed and moved to the side of the window, trying to gather enough courage to peek outside. She thought about the guns in the shed. How easy would it be for someone to locate them? Her throat suddenly felt dry, and her heart hammered her ribs. She quieted her thoughts and listened intently.
Had she heard something? No. Couldn’t be. No one was awake. Her imagination was playing tricks on her. No one dangerous knew where Nick’s family lived. And they were all asleep.
She peered through the window. Nothing.
The sound of a board creaking outside her door sent her heart into her throat. Had someone slipped inside the house? Were they sneaking down the hallway? Her pulse kicked up another notch even as she knew her imagination was most likely running wild. What she needed to do was chill out.
If anyone was up, they were probably making a night run to the bathroom, she reasoned. With a pregnant woman in the house, middle-of-the-night bathroom trips weren’t out of the question.
The weather had Sadie skittish, looking for things hiding in dark shadows.
She couldn’t think of pregnancy without picturing Claire. Her belly had been so round the last time Sadie saw her friend. She’d wobbled when she’d walked and said her ankles were lead weights. Was Claire awake feeding her little angel? Changing her diaper? Crying over the loss of her bakery? She probably thought Sadie had died in the fire.
Oh, no.
Claire would be told Sadie was dead. Her heart squeezed thinking Claire would be mourning when she should be celebrating. Was there any way to get word to her friend?
Not without putting her in danger.
Now she really couldn’t go back to bed and close her eyes because she’d picture a sad-faced Claire.
Sadie’s heart ached. Dwelling on it was only making the pain worse. Claire, her baby and the bakery were all part of the past now. Time to pick up and move on. And what about Tom? What did it say that he barely crossed her mind anymore?
When she missed a man’s arms around her, she thought about Nick.
Startled at the realization, Sadie eased out of bed. She needed to get to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
Questions raced through her mind. What was her next move? How long would it take before Grimes found them at the ranch?
They couldn’t stay long. She wouldn’t put his sweet family in danger, no matter how much he insisted. Whether Nick liked it or not, she would move on soon. She’d need to change her appearance again. Maybe she wouldn’t look too bad as a blonde?
And her name.
She would need a new name. Maybe she could pick her own this time? What about Elise? Or Brittany? Or Ann?
She hadn’t taken two steps into the kitchen before Luke poked his head in.
“Everything okay?” he whispered.
“You mean aside from the small heart attack I just had?”
He chuckled before glancing down the hall, and waving someone away. “Doesn’t pay to walk around at night in a house full of law enforcement officers.”
“I’m sorry. Who was that?”
“Reed, Riley, Lucy and, of course, Nick.”
“Oh, great. Now I’ve gone and forced the whole house out of bed. I’m sorry. I was thirsty.” She pulled a glass from the cupboard.
“No trouble. I’ll let everyone know.” He disappeared down the hall before she could thank him.
She poured water and took a sip, not ready to go back to bed. She hadn’t meant to interrupt everyone’s much-needed rest, even if relief washed over her knowing an intruder wouldn’t get through those doors unnoticed.
She didn’t realize she’d pulled out a mixing bowl and located a bag
If—and it was a big if—Grimes was found and locked up, how long before he got out again? He seemed to have connections in high places. Would he ever stop looking for her? Would his men ever move on?
She doubted it.
Another boom of wind blasted against the window, causing her to jump. Could someone be out there? Lurking? Using the storm as cover?
She slid out of bed and moved to the side of the window, trying to gather enough courage to peek outside. She thought about the guns in the shed. How easy would it be for someone to locate them? Her throat suddenly felt dry, and her heart hammered her ribs. She quieted her thoughts and listened intently.
Had she heard something? No. Couldn’t be. No one was awake. Her imagination was playing tricks on her. No one dangerous knew where Nick’s family lived. And they were all asleep.
She peered through the window. Nothing.
The sound of a board creaking outside her door sent her heart into her throat. Had someone slipped inside the house? Were they sneaking down the hallway? Her pulse kicked up another notch even as she knew her imagination was most likely running wild. What she needed to do was chill out.
If anyone was up, they were probably making a night run to the bathroom, she reasoned. With a pregnant woman in the house, middle-of-the-night bathroom trips weren’t out of the question.
The weather had Sadie skittish, looking for things hiding in dark shadows.
She couldn’t think of pregnancy without picturing Claire. Her belly had been so round the last time Sadie saw her friend. She’d wobbled when she’d walked and said her ankles were lead weights. Was Claire awake feeding her little angel? Changing her diaper? Crying over the loss of her bakery? She probably thought Sadie had died in the fire.
Oh, no.
Claire would be told Sadie was dead. Her heart squeezed thinking Claire would be mourning when she should be celebrating. Was there any way to get word to her friend?
Not without putting her in danger.
Now she really couldn’t go back to bed and close her eyes because she’d picture a sad-faced Claire.
Sadie’s heart ached. Dwelling on it was only making the pain worse. Claire, her baby and the bakery were all part of the past now. Time to pick up and move on. And what about Tom? What did it say that he barely crossed her mind anymore?
When she missed a man’s arms around her, she thought about Nick.
Startled at the realization, Sadie eased out of bed. She needed to get to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
Questions raced through her mind. What was her next move? How long would it take before Grimes found them at the ranch?
They couldn’t stay long. She wouldn’t put his sweet family in danger, no matter how much he insisted. Whether Nick liked it or not, she would move on soon. She’d need to change her appearance again. Maybe she wouldn’t look too bad as a blonde?
And her name.
She would need a new name. Maybe she could pick her own this time? What about Elise? Or Brittany? Or Ann?
She hadn’t taken two steps into the kitchen before Luke poked his head in.
“Everything okay?” he whispered.
“You mean aside from the small heart attack I just had?”
He chuckled before glancing down the hall, and waving someone away. “Doesn’t pay to walk around at night in a house full of law enforcement officers.”
“I’m sorry. Who was that?”
“Reed, Riley, Lucy and, of course, Nick.”
“Oh, great. Now I’ve gone and forced the whole house out of bed. I’m sorry. I was thirsty.” She pulled a glass from the cupboard.
“No trouble. I’ll let everyone know.” He disappeared down the hall before she could thank him.
She poured water and took a sip, not ready to go back to bed. She hadn’t meant to interrupt everyone’s much-needed rest, even if relief washed over her knowing an intruder wouldn’t get through those doors unnoticed.
She didn’t realize she’d pulled out a mixing bowl and located a bag
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