Page 85 of Trail to Trouble
“I changed my name after...the incident,” Katrina added.
Lee pointed to his wife. “This is Heidi.”
“Nice to meet you, dear. Can I help you with your things?” she asked.
“No, thank you. I just have one bag. I can get it.”
She and Hunter grabbed their belongings from the backseat, including the pistol case, but not the rifle.
Once inside the modest log home, Heidi showed her to her room, upstairs beyond the open loft area. Hunter tossed his bag onto the bed in that room as she hoped he would.
“I’ll let you get settled. We’ll be in the kitchen. Do you want a nightcap?”
“More than you can imagine,” Hunter replied with a hint of a forced smile.
The reality of what they were about to do seemed to settle in for him. It had taken its toll on her hours ago.
Katrina put her duffle bag on the floor next to a chest of drawers. She pulled out her toiletry bag, took it into the connecting bathroom, and set it on the small countertop. Then, she turned down the bed and followed Hunter down the steps and back into the open concept living room and kitchen area they’d previously walked through.
“Would you like a glass of wine or a beer?” Heidi asked.
“Beer, please,” Hunter replied without hesitation.
“I’ll take one, too,” Katrina answered.
Lee and Heidi already had theirs cracked open and sitting on the kitchen island.
Nobody sat. They stood around the island in silence for a moment before Hunter filled them in on the details of how they’d come to be here. He’d informed them of some of the details over the phone before they arrived, but now he gave them the in-depth details. Now, two more people were involved. The tension in the room thickened. The thought of putting any of these kind people in danger made her sick, and the beer wasn’t sitting well.
Lee nodded. “I understand why you want to do this. I really do, but are you sure?”
“I don’t see any other way. I’m...we’re open to suggestions.”
“Heidi and I discussed this before you arrived. We understand you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, and we’ll do whatever you need us to do.”
“I don’t want to put you in any more danger. Hence, why I asked to park in the garage. Just in case someone comes snooping around here, they won’t see my truck.”
Lee took a swig of his beer.
“You’re family. Like a son to me. I will do whatever it takes to protect my family,” Lee said firmly and then shifted his gaze to her. “You included.”
Katrina’s heart overflowed at Lee’s conviction. She hardly knew the man, but believed him. At that moment, memories of her father bombarded her. This was something he would have said and done.
When Hunter’s alarm sounded at six o’clock, she wasn’t ready to get up. Worry prevented her from sleeping a wink. For a moment after she and Hunter had made love, she’d thought her sedated state would help her relax and fall asleep, but that wasn’t the case.
With reluctance, she rolled out of bed and padded off to the bathroom. When she returned to the bedroom, Hunter was already dressed.
She threw on some clothes and followed him and the aroma of coffee to the kitchen, where Heidi and Lee sat at the table. A pile of pancakes and sausage filled a plate in the center of the table.
“Good morning. I hope you like pancakes,” Heidi said.
The woman’s warm smile comforted Katrina somewhat, but she wasn’t sure if her swirling stomach could handle any food.
“You need to start your day with a hearty breakfast,” Heidi added.
Katrina sat, and Hunter took the seat opposite her. He wasted no time filling his plate.
“The chief usually gets to City Hall about seven, so when we’re done with breakfast, we can go see him,” Lee said.
