“We’re fine. Edna tossed a Molotov cocktail.”
“Edna’s in deep shit. I was with the sheriff when Bob and Edna pulled into his driveway, both their asses smiling until the cops surrounded them. They’re both in custody now.”
Laura drew a deep breath. It was over.
“Cage, Marti, and Hardman are nearly back from Pine Creek.”
“They catch Frank Ludlow?” Preacher asked.
“Nope, but he was there. The place is trashed.”
“Well, hell,” Lacey said.
“So, where you guys heading?” Dagger asked.
“We were planning to go to Montana Bounty Hunters,” Preacher said. He gave her a sideways glance.
She knew he was asking her whether she was up for it. She nodded.
“Yeah, we’ll go there first then figure out what’s next.”
Just outside of town, they turned onto a gravel road that led to a construction site. The brick building was taking shape. It had walls and a roof, but there were tarps over missing windows and doors. They continued past the building and parked in front of a modular building in the back, like a single-wide trailer with two sets of stairs leading to doors.
When he cut the engine, Preacher said, “Stay in your seat.”
She didn’t argue. He could carry her. She was pretty sure if she tried to stand, her legs would quiver anyway.
Headlights converged from three vehicles that pulled up in a line beside them. The right-side door to the trailer opened. Fig stood in the opening. She waved everyone inside.
Preacher entered first and set Laura in a chair at a large banquet table. The smell of coffee was in the air. Fig set a hot cup in front of her, along with a small carton of vanilla creamer and a spoon.
Laura poured creamer until her coffee was pale then took a deep drink. “That’s heaven,” she said, wrapping both hands around the hot mug to warm them.
“I ordered pizza when I heard everyone was heading here. And I have Oreos…” She pressed a hand on Laura’s shoulder then moved to take a seat.
Soon, the table was full. Laura was pleased she already had names to apply to faces. Cage, Marti, Hardman, and Fig sat on the opposite side. On her side, she had Preacher, Lacey, and Dagger.
Cage’s gaze landed on her. “Sheriff knows you’re here. He’ll be here shortly to take all your statements about what happened at your house.”
“We didn’t see either of them toss the Molotov cocktail, but we can place them in Laura’s neighborhood,” Preacher said. He held up his phone and showed them a picture of a vehicle parked along her street. “Plates can be tracked to their shell company.”
“Don’t think you’ll have to worry about proving who’s to blame. They found gas, bottles, and rags in Bob’s trunk. It’s likely they used the same type of device to destroy the shop.”
Everyone’s gaze settled on Laura.
“How you holding up?” Cage asked.
Laura shrugged. “I think, pretty good.” The backs of her eyes pricked. “Yes, I lost my business, and probably my home, but…” She glanced around the table. “I’m glad I didn’t have to face all that alone.”
Cage’s smile was slow, but well worth the wait. Laura could understand why Elaine was so crazy about her man. “You won’t have to do any of this alone. You have a crew,” he said, his finger circling the room. “I know insurance is going to help with rebuilding, but you’re going to need all kinds of extra labor. You can count on us.”
She smiled and cried some happy tears. “Thanks,” she said, wiping at the sides of her eyes.
Preacher reached for her hand. “In the meantime, I have a room at the Dead Horse Motel. It’s not the Ritz, but it’s clean and comfortable. It even has its own little kitchenette.”
“We’ll be neighbors,” Lacey said, grinning.
“Don’t stress,” Preacher said. “We’ve got this.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Then he bent toward her, and she sighed. His soft kiss was the one thing she needed more than air. It wasn’t a quick peck, either. When he drew back, her head swayed.
His arm swept around her. “You okay?”
“I’m…wonderful,” she said breathlessly.
As they smiled at each other, laughter filled the room.
Chapter 14
Two weeks later, Preacher and Laura sat at a table in the Dead Horse Walk-in Diner.
He’d asked for a little privacy, so Nadine had ushered them to a table near the back. Not exactly fine dining, but the food was good and Laura deserved a break. She’d been working with the insurance guy and a local construction company to finalize plans for the new Deadly Delights. As Laura had predicted, Edna had unloaded all her properties in a quick sale to raise money for a good lawyer, while Bob was stuck with a public defender because his girlfriend had dumped him. Laura had been able to pick up the building next to hers for a song, and now had a much bigger building project than she’d expected. When she’d worried about being able to afford it all, Preacher had offered her the cash. She’d turned down the gift but had made him an equal partner in her business.
Preacher let her fuss over being fair and looking out for his interests, but he had a ring burning a hole in his pocket that would end the argument. He just needed the right time and the right place, and Dead Horse’s diner wasn’t it.
They’d just ordered their food. Preacher’s gaze had locked on Laura throughout. She wore a soft blue dress that hugged her chest then flared slightly over her hips. Lacey had helped her with choosing the dress since all of Laura’s clothing had been lost in the house fire. She’d also helped Laura with piling her pale blond hair into a messy bun that looked like one good tug would send it billowing around her shoulders—something he intended to do once they were alone again back at their motel room.
She was the embodiment of femininity. Soft and beautiful, strong and graceful.
Something from the corner of his eye drew his attention—a man looking a little too interested in Laura for his liking. He was just about to warn the guy off when the man slipped the hood of his jacket off his head.
A dark stripe of hair ran down the center of the man’s otherwise shaved head. Add the hooked nose, and Preacher realized he was staring at Frank Ludlow. Wrong time, wrong place.
A toe nudged his ankle. His gaze went back to Laura.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
He placed his phone on the table beside him and texted her a quick note.
Guy beside us. A skip. Don’t look
Her eyes widened as she read the screen of her own phone that she’d surreptitiously slid onto the table beside her plate.
Guy with the bad Mohawk?
Yeah. Texting Cage
Frank glanced at their table and caught Laura looking at him. Preacher’s heart thudded dully in his chest. Although he was wearing his piece on his hip, he had no intention of taking this guy down in the middle of the diner. He wouldn’t endanger Laura or any of the other patrons, and he needed backup. He quickly sent the text to Cage.
Laura looked again then winked at the dude.
“What are you doing?” Preacher whispered.