Page 30 of Preying Heart
“Been quiet around here lately,” I comment to see if he’s seen strangers.
“Yep. It’s the heat. Kids going back to school soon. Haven’t seen anyone out of the ordinary if that’s what you’re getting at.”
I pass him a hundred-dollar tip. “You be sure to let me know if that changes.”
“Sure. Phil and Devon picked up a couple of hitchhikers—Native girls. Tribe claims they’re runaways and they’re reported missing.”
“They have anything to do with it?”
“Nope. They brought them into town, and the girls caught a bus out to Boise.”
“Anyone come looking for them?” I finish the beer.
“Their parents and the chief’s been to Boise. Lost their trail. They’re blaming Phil and Devon for giving the girls a lift.”
“How old were they?”
“Legal. Nineteen and twenty.”
I crunch on a cocktail peanut. “Let me know if any strangers come sniffing around.”
Nate knows I’m friends with Dr. Cole, but he thinks I’m just a good Samaritan with an interest in helping authorities find missing persons. I helped him out once when his wife’s cousin went missing. Found her marooned in a fishing cabin with a broken ankle after the guys she was partying with left her behind. The police determined there was no crime because she’d gone with them voluntarily.
It really is a sad state of affairs for women who aren’t careful. Lucy Cole thinks I’m paranoid, but I keep an eye out for her when I can.
I drive to the next town to buy supplies and groceries. Can’t afford to have the locals know I have a woman holed up at my place. I grab a couple of bras, panties, socks, and toiletries for Remi and hope she doesn’t ask for a shopping trip.
Eventually, if she’s still pregnant, she’ll need maternity clothes. Or she could wear my sweatpants and shirts. I hope she’ll stay the winter with me. Those long cold nights are too quiet with only a dog.
On the way back, I stop at the post office and grab my mail.
There’s a letter for Tristan Summer with the same handwriting as the one I got for Remi.
I rip open the letter as soon as I get into the safety of my truck.
Why haven’t you called? I know you have her. You can’t hide her forever.
I’m not scared. He’s fishing for information. Getting nervous because he hasn’t heard from me. If he actually knew, he’d be here in town asking me to turn her over. And if he does show up with a squad, he won’t get past my defenses.
ChapterEleven
Remi
I’m still pregnant, although possibly barely. The IUD extraction was a little too bloody for Dr. Cole’s liking. I’m not sure how I feel about it, watching her frown as she types in her notes.
“Am I going to be okay?” I hold the paper gown over my belly and sit up on the examination table.
“I’ll prescribe an antibiotic,” she replies. “There is a chance of miscarriage so I’ll give you a sheet of symptoms. You call me if you get any of these. Also, if you’re running a fever.”
“Okay. I will.”
“You told me you wanted to keep the baby, so I was extra careful,” she says. “But because of the IUD, your pregnancy is high risk.”
“I understand.” I’m barely keeping a lid on the emotions roiling my heart. I had a chance to terminate the pregnancy. It would have been so easy. Dr. Cole was prepared to give me the pills. Actually, she could still do it. But I’m not ready for such a decision. It’s so final, and this time, I can’t place the blame on Gavin.
I can’t say he twisted my arm.
The abortion would be on me, and Slade would give me that look, and I’ll never be able to live with myself. I have to be better than our mother, and she, at least, kept me.
