Page 55 of Hiding in Montana

She looked at each person sitting in a semicircle around her and gave them a shaky smile. “Thank you for coming and for your support. But I’m okay for now.”

Everyone took the cue to head back to their jobs. Clint stayed.

“I’m sure you have something that needs your attention besides me.” She pointed in the direction of his office. “Go work. I’m fine right here and I won’t leave the building unless someone is with me.”

Clint was torn between doing as she asked or giving in to his own fear. If he left, would something happen while he was gone? Irrational, yes, but this was the woman he loved.

“You know where I am, but when the sheriff arrives, I want to be with you during the conversation.”

Now she gave him a genuine smile. “Don’t worry. The sheriff makes me nervous with those dark eyes and jet-black hair. It’s like just looking at a person he can tell their entire life story.”

“He’s a softie once you get to know him, but don’t tell him I said that.” Clint kissed her lips and reluctantly went down the hall.

He walked into Linc’s office, where he and Annie were talking about what had happened.

Annie drew him into a hug. “I wish there was something more we could do to help. I feel like the ranch isn’t secure enough to keep out riffraff.”

“We’ll protect her and I’m sure we’ll get this guy even if we have to use the ex to help us.” It was hard to keep the scowl off his face and the disgust from his voice.

“What I don’t get is how could this guy who supposedly loved his wife throw her to the wolves like that? The man had to know they’d come after her.” Linc didn’t bother to control his anger as his fist connected with the desk. “Polly is as sweet as they come. I guess he just didn’t care enough about her.”

Clint realized they didn’t know the full story. “He said they needed the divorce to protect her, like if she just disappeared, they’d forget about her. But now that she recognized one of the men responsible for her accident, I have to say I hope he trails the ex to learn the truth.” He looked at Annie and Linc’s wedding picture on the corner of his desk. That’s what he wanted with Polly. “Maybe I should head into town after Daphne is finished and see if I can track this guy down. Someone has to have seen him.”

Linc said, “Let Jed talk to Maggie. If anyone knows what’s going on in town, it’ll be her. Everyone comes through the diner. It’s like a magnet. The food is good, and the price is right.”

Quinn came around the corner and poked his head in the doorway. “The sheriff is here.”

“Come on. Let’s see what he thinks we should do next.”

Clint and Polly drove back to town in his truck. First stop was her place to get clothes, and then she wanted to swing by the inn and see if Matthew was around. She wanted to show him the drawing Daphne had completed.

“I hope Matthew saw this guy, too.” She stared out the window as the meadows slipped by. “I’m sure it would be too much to hope that he knows him from when he was involved with the loan shark.” She turned and looked at Clint. “Right?”

All he wanted to do was hold her and tell her everything was going to be fine. But he didn’t know how quickly it would happen. The sheriff took the original picture after Linc had made a bunch of copies and said he was going to check with contacts in the Portland area. With any luck, they could track him down that way and then figure out when he got to town.

When they got to Polly’s, her front door was hanging off its hinges and chunks of the door were scattered on the porch. “Clint!”

He threw the truck in park and withdrew his gun. “I want you to stay here and let me check it out. Keep the doors locked and have your pistol ready.”

“But out here, I’m a sitting duck. Windows on all four sides.”

His heart sank. That was an accurate statement, and he wished he thought to bring Quinn with them. He would have been another set of eyes.

“Stay behind me and if anyone shoots, drop low and take cover.” He gave her a quick and hard kiss. “I love you, Polly.” He had to say those words. The adrenaline kicked in and who knew what they were going to discover when they got inside the house.

“Wait, I’ll call the police. At least reinforcements will be on the way.”

This woman kept her cool. She dialed and reported the break-in and asked for a police car right away.

They both got out and left the truck doors standing open. Polly was behind Clint. His heartbeat had slowed, and he was focused. Scanning the area for anyone who might still be around, they cautiously climbed the three steps and made their way across the porch. He poked his head in and back, then looked again before walking inside, being careful not to make much noise.

The living room looked empty, but they had ripped apart the room. Books were on the floor, cushions ripped to shreds. He pointed to the kitchen. From what they could see, it was much the same in there. They crept down the short hallway and stopped short. Food boxes had been ripped open, the contents spilled on the floor. They propped the refrigerator open and even in there, food was dripping out of containers.

He glanced at Polly and her face was devoid of all expression. He touched her arm and pointed back into the living room, and then they made their way into the bedroom. This room was the worst so far. Clothes were everywhere. The mattress had been cut and was now destroyed. They had turned every dresser drawer upside down and the closet was empty, with all its contents on the floor too.

From deep inside her, a small moan escaped Polly. “Clint, this is such a mess.”

He heard the unmistakable catch in her voice, and he held open his arm so she could step into it.

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