My life, in quick succession, was falling apart. I was more of a wreck than the car, and I’d jeopardised Benjamin’s safety—the one person I needed to protect the most—all because I’d become distracted getting annoyed at a stranger.
“You’re a bitch,” my sister had once told me, accurately diagnosing my major personality flaw. “But never change, because no one will ever walk over you. There’s nothing worse than someone who’s weak.”
“That’ll do. Now, unless there’s any more in there, I’ll try again.” At my snipped denial, Hank started up the winch once more. “See you, Bull,” he yelled.
I swung my gaze around to see the tall man stalking away.
He shook his head, his shaggy black hair coming loose from a tie. He dashed it from his eyes, anger now apparent in his moves.
“Hey,” I called after him.
The stranger got into his truck, slammed the door, and hit the gas. He didn’t look my way as he sped past, and his jaw was clenched so tight he’d give himself toothache.
Great. Five minutes in our temporary new home, and I’d already made an impression.
Way to go, Autumn. Start as you mean to go on.
2
Stay
Autumn
Lena met us at the door of her cute clapperboard house, her hands to her mouth and her short fair hair stuck up at angles. “I’ve been so worried.” She held out her arms for Benjamin.
He clamoured for her. I gave him up.
Before my sister had been jailed, she and Lena had served in the Royal Air Force together. Only a couple of months ago, Lena had quit the service and relocated to this far-flung corner of the world. She’d had two kids at the Highlands base but was ready to live a quieter life in her husband’s home town.
I’d lived on the same base, though only because Dad had been the Wing Commander. He’d run the place.
And embezzled millions from the government.
Now, he languished in a military jail, the same as my sister, the two of them convicted and locked away. All so fast, my head swam from the recoil.
Lena’s warm hand took my shoulder. “Come in. You must be exhausted.”
“I am. It’s… I…”
“Hush. You’re safe here.”
Her words were the final straw. A juddering sob erupted from me, right as Hank brought the suitcases from the car.
“Is she okay?” he whispered to Lena, who was apparently now the authority on me.
“Family troubles,” Lena replied, gesturing for me to go into the lounge. “We’ll take care of her. What happened with the car? Did it break down?”
Hank continued talking, but white noise in my head drowned him out.
Sinking into a chair, I stared at the unfamiliar surroundings then curled into a ball. In a short space of time, I’d gone from being a pampered daughter of a respected, if cruel, military leader. Now, I was on the run, exhausted and scared.
I had no idea what to do next.
My eyes drooped, and I didn’t try to fight the sleep that overtook me.
“Benjamin, catch!” Lena’s three-year-old daughter, Stephi, tossed a ball across the breakfast table.
Benjamin flailed a little fist at it, a huge grin on his chubby face, happier than he’d been in days.
“He hasn’t forgotten us,” Lena observed. “Does he miss his mum?”
“He’s asked for her a few times, but he’s not cried.” I took a sip of hot coffee, the night’s sleep and the new day doing wonders for my mood. I was a good traveller, usually, but spiriting a one-year-old out of Scotland and across a vast continent had taken it out of me.
“Maybe Tabby’s last tour was a blessing. She was away for months. Benjamin knows you as well he did her. Maybe even better.” Lena returned to the table. She’d just seen her son to the school bus and her husband to his job running the family saw mill. From what I could see, they had established themselves nicely. Their place was homely and bright.
“So”—she sank into the seat across from mine—“I have questions. Are you up to answering them?”
“Try me.” We’d arrived on her doorstep with twenty-four-hours’ notice of a visit. It was only fair that I gave her some information. The main reason was too risky to share, though. That was between me, my sister, and the men who’d raided my home a few days ago.
“Tabby’s sentence is four years. Are you raising Benjamin? Parental responsibility and all that?”
I inclined my head. “I’ve got him until she gets out.”
“Doesn’t she get visitation? Why are you here?” She raised a fair eyebrow.
“Not that you aren’t welcome. You can both stay as long as you like.”
“There’s… Other stuff going on. It was better for us to be away,” I said, knowing how it must sound—like I was hiding a big fat secret. “I need to spend a few days here while I work out what to do.”
“How long do you need to be away from this stuff for?”
I opened and closed my mouth. “A while.”
Her gaze took me to pieces. I had nowhere else to go, she must know that. Dad had always insisted I live with him, even at the age of twenty-two. Over the years, I’d lived in half a dozen military bases, changing schools when Dad got promoted, getting my degree by distance learning when he’d relocated from England to the Scottish Highlands that had been our last home.
I’d never stayed anywhere for enough time to make permanent friends, and I had no one else I could turn to now in my hour of need.
“It’s Christmas in a few weeks. If nothing else comes up in the meantime, stay until then. We’ve got the space, and having you both here will make me feel less like an outsider. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
I didn’t want to lead trouble to her door, but her hospitality had me almost sagging with relief. Not that I intended to take her up on it. Staying in one place for too long felt too risky. “I will. Thank you.”
Lena grinned. “Great! Then let’s head into town and see about your busted car.”
Mid-morning, in Lena’s four-wheel drive—far more suited for the snowy conditions than my hired Toyota had been—we descended the hilltop suburb and entered Falls Ridge. A pretty tourist village, it had wide streets and a forest-and-mountain backdrop. Snow ploughs had cleared access to the hiking gear stores and cafés, and a healthy number of people milled about.
Lena pointed out the sites. At the end of the main street, she stopped the 4x4.
“There’s Hank’s auto shop. That looks like your car.”
Across the road, the Toyota sat on the forecourt of a well-kept garage. Earlier, I’d spoken to the Seattle-based hire company. Yesterday, I’d paid for the car for two weeks, not sure of my plans. They’d said they’d call Hank.
Lena’s phone trilled. She pulled over at the kerb and took the call. I indicated that I was going to the garage, and she held up a finger to make me wait.
“Now? Right, I’ll be there.” She hung up and blew out a breath. “That was Edward’s school. He’s complaining that he’s feeling sick. Can I leave you here while I go pick him up? I’ll be back soon. You can leave Benjamin with me.”