Protection
PROTECTION
by
Linda Rettstatt
PROTECTION
Copyright © 2014, Linda Rettstatt
Cover Art Design – Trisha FitzGerald
www.lindarettstatt.com
Published March, 2014
Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden without the written permission of the author/publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.
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What are they saying about Protection?
This is a highly unique contemporary romantic-suspense plot with multiple levels of intrigue.
InD’tale.com
Rettstatt offers a unique twist on romantic suspense, as both the hero and heroine have secrets that endanger them and their relationship. Rettstatt provides the complete package: romance, suspense, and magnetic characters.
(BookLife) ~ Publishers Weekly
I cannot say enough about this book, it was a fantastic read! Linda keeps you on the edge of your seat till the last word of the last sentence is read! Full of suspense and a little romance.
Theresa F. ~ Julie’s Book Reviews
From Readers:
This is a refreshing premise, and it is well executed.
Protection’s unique plot and characters ebbed and flowed with suspense, and satisfied me with a great ending.
I was totally engaged in the lives of Jake and Shannon or Steve and Heather. The suspense and emotions flow rapidly with each page turned.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
About the Author
Acknowledgements
No writer writes in complete isolation. We are surrounded by family and friends who both interrupt and encourage. And though I sometimes grumble about the interruptions, I know how lonely I would be without them. I am so very grateful for my family and my friends who give me encouragement and believe in me. I’m also grateful for those interruptions when you remind me that I don’t exist in a vacuum and you invite me out of my cave and into life, love and laughter.
With thanks to my friend and fellow author Kimberley Koz who not only cheered me on through this endeavor but gave hours of her time and her talent to critique and edit this book. It is better because of her efforts and I am better because of her friendship. Much gratitude also to my cousin and first-reader, Lisa Hennessey Allison for taking the time to read the very rough draft of this book and provide invaluable feedback. A special thanks to Elaine, Dee and Kim S. for your reassurances and technical formatting assistance.
To my readers who are my reason for sitting down at the keyboard and asking the question one more time—“What if…?” And so begins another story. You give me the drive to keep asking and answering that question. A writer writes, first, for herself. But without readers who are touched by her words, those words are hollow. Thank you for reading my stories and for loving and—when appropriate—hating my characters. And thank you most of all for continuing to ask, “So, when’s the next book coming out?”
Chapter One
The blare of a car horn dragged Jake from a sound sleep. He lifted his head to listen, then sat up and looked out the window. A bluish white glow shone through thick fog beyond the slope of ground at the base of his driveway. He grabbed for his jeans and a shirt. Drivers, mostly kids, often misjudged their speed and missed the hairpin turn on the narrow road below. He shoved his cell phone into his hip pocket and tugged on his boots.
When he reached the bottom of the gravel drive, he saw the car rammed into the oak tree that sat at the curve. He ran to the vehicle to find a woman slumped over the steering wheel and the crumpled airbag. As he reached through the open window and pressed fingertips to her neck, checking for a pulse, she moaned and lifted her head, leaning back against the seat. The blaring stopped. From the backseat came a weak whimper.
“Bailey,” the woman struggled to speak. “My baby.”
Jake reached inside to unlock the rear door and pulled it open. A baby lay in a car seat facing the back. When he leaned over her, she flashed a broad grin and kicked, big blue eyes locking on his. “She seems to be fine.” He turned his attention back to the woman. “You shouldn’t move. You’re bleeding.”
But she ignored him, fussing with the seatbelt buckle and freeing herself. “I’m okay.”
“You could have a concussion or broken bones. Let me call for help.”
“No!”
The vehemence of her response brought him up short. “Okay, at least move slowly and let me help you.”
She turned gingerly in her seat and let him help her to stand. “I’ll be fine. Can you get Bailey out of her car seat please?”
“Sure.” He fiddled with the snap locks and, once the baby was freed, picked her up and removed her from the car. “See, she’s fine.” He reached back and picked up a small blanket, handing it to the woman. Press this against your forehead.
She did so, then paled at the sight of her own blood. “I’ll take her.” The woman stretched out trembling hands.
“Maybe I should carry her. You’re shaking. Can you walk? I live right up the drive.”
She took a halting step, then two. “I think so.”
“Here, hang on.” He secured the infant in his left arm and slid his right around the woman’s waist to steady her. “Slow and easy.”
She staggered against him as he guided her up the rough driveway and the few steps to his log cabin. He flung the door open and directed her to the sofa.
The woman dropped down and reached for the baby. “Give her to me.” She lay the child in her lap and began to inspect her for injuries.
“Your head’s still bleeding. I’ll get a towel. Don’t try to stand.” He hurried to the kitchen, removing a clean dish towel from a drawer and dampen
ing it with cold water, then grabbed a first aid kit from above the fridge. He returned and knelt in front of her, dabbing at a cut above her left eye.
She winced.
“Sorry. I really should call the EMTs. You might need stitches. And both of you should be checked out. You can have hidden injuries after an impact like that.”
“No. We’re fine. I just need a Band-Aid.” She lifted the baby over her shoulder and rubbed the infant’s back in soothing circles.
“At least let me clean this cut and bandage it for you. What’s your name?”
“Hea…Shannon.”
He continued to minister to her wound, first dabbing it with a cotton ball soaked in peroxide, then applying antibiotic ointment and a butterfly bandage. “I’m sorry, I know that hurts.”
“It’s okay.” She lifted her eyes to meet his. Deep blue that matched the baby’s eye color, locked on him. “Thank you. May I use your bathroom?”
“Sure. It’s right around the corner.” He helped her to her feet. “I’m going to see if I can tow your car up here before someone else takes that curve wide and hits it. You need anything?”
She shook her head, then swayed. “I shouldn’t do that.” Holding the baby against her chest, she gingerly made her way to the powder room.
Once she was inside and had closed the door, Jake grabbed his keys and headed outside. Before moving the vehicle, he had the presence of mind to snap a few photos with his cell phone in case she needed them for insurance purposes. He used a chain to secure the vehicle and fastened it to his truck. The car groaned and bits of the body fell loose as he tugged the car slowly away from the tree and then up the driveway. He jogged back to the accident site to retrieve the bumper and kick pieces of plastic and glass off the roadway.
The front end of the Chevy was in bad shape. The radiator was clearly destroyed, one headlight broken, and the hood bent. He’d have to inspect it further in daylight to assess the full damage. Good thing she wasn’t going very fast.
When he returned to the house, Shannon sat once again on the sofa, rocking and murmuring to the child pressed against her body. Tears now trailed down her face. She sniffled when she looked up at him. “Thank you for helping us. Is there a motel nearby that you can take us to?”
He shook his head as he sat in the chair opposite her. “Not for miles, and not in this fog. You can stay here tonight. You shouldn’t be alone, anyway. Not after an accident like that. Your car’s probably not drivable, but I’ll know more once I see it in daylight.” He paused, then added, “I’m Jake Garber.”
“Thank you, Mr. Garber, but I don’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not. Give me five minutes to fix up the spare room.” He considered her wary expression. “There’s a lock on the door, if that makes you feel better. Maybe I can make up a bed for the baby in a drawer or something.”
“If you could bring in the car seat, it doubles as a carrier.”
“Good, I’ll do that. You just rest. Do you need something to eat or drink?”
“No, thanks.”
Jake wrestled to disengage the car seat. The floor in the back of the vehicle was filled with plastic bags stuffed with clothing and boxes of diapers. It looked like a hasty packing job.
After placing the car seat in the spare bedroom, Jake put clean sheets on the bed and two fresh sets of towels on the dresser. He descended the stairs and paused, watching Shannon and Bailey—an unlikely Madonna and child. He sat again in the recliner and gazed at her. “Where were you headed?”
She regarded him for a moment before replying, “North.”
“How far north? Seattle, Bellingham? Or Canada?”
“Uh…Lynden.”
Her hesitation wasn’t lost on him. She wasn’t very forthcoming. But she had just endured what could have been a serious accident and she didn’t know him from Adam. Which was a good thing for him. “Lynden. Just about to Canada. Got family there?”
“No.”
“Is there anyone I can call for you?”
“It’s just me and Bailey. I’ll get the car taken care of tomorrow and we’ll be out of your way. I appreciate your hospitality for tonight.” She bit her lower lip. “If I could ask just one more favor? There’s a small overnight bag in the trunk of my car. Could you get that for me?”
“No problem.” When Jake popped open the trunk that was stuffed to capacity, he noticed a briefcase that lay atop several plastic bags. His fingers twitched with the temptation to pop it open and see if he could learn more about Shannon. Instead he snatched up the overnight bag and closed the trunk.
Shannon stood as he entered the cabin again.
He slid the strap of the bag onto his shoulder. “Why don’t you let me carry the baby up the stairs? You’re still a little shaky.”
Reluctantly, she handed over Bailey. The baby had been nearly asleep and snuggled in under his chin. Something loosened in his chest as the warm little body trustingly settled into his. “You go first. It’s the bedroom on the left past the bathroom.”
He followed her into the bedroom and eased the sleeping infant back into her arms. “She’s beautiful.”
For the first time, Shannon gave a brief smile as she looked at her daughter. “Yes, she is.”
“How old is she?”
“Fourteen weeks.”
He set down her bag. “Do you need anything else?”
“Not just now.” Then she frowned. “I’ll need to make up a bottle for Bailey. She’ll be awake soon and hungry. I’ll try to be quiet about it.” She eased the sleeping baby into the carrier and removed a can of formula and a bottle from her bag. “May I use your kitchen? I need to wash this bottle so it’ll be ready.”
“Sure, come on.”
Jake poured himself a glass of milk and sat at the table, watching while Shannon washed the baby bottle and nipple under steaming hot water. She paused and eyed his glass. “May I have some of that, too?”
He nodded and stood to get a glass from the overhead cabinet above the sink then filled it.
“Thanks.” She carried the glass of milk with her back up the stairs.
Jake stared after her, wondering about her story. A woman and baby alone in the middle of the night on the narrow back road that ran in front of his property and heading “north.” He didn’t even know her last name. He dragged a palm down his face. What if this was a set-up? What if someone had found him?
Chapter Two
Shannon set the glass on the night stand, her hand trembling. She bent over the carrier to check Bailey. The baby slept soundly, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. She lightly pressed her fingers to the baby’s cheek and smiled. This was her love. Her life. Nothing else mattered and she’d be damned if she’d let anyone take Bailey away from her.
She wrapped her arms together over her chest. What was she going to do? She had no one to call for help. Her cell phone lay somewhere at the bottom of the Missouri River where she’d tossed it once she realized she could be tracked through its GPS. She couldn’t use her credit cards and had a limited amount of cash on hand—as much as she’d been able to withdraw from an ATM. If she used her debit card, her location could be traced. She couldn’t take that risk. There was the other cash—the blood money. She shook her head. Using that money made her feel dirty.
And now the damned car was destroyed. Probably just as well. It would only be a matter of time before it was spotted and the license plate traced. The car registration was the last piece of Heather Carlson she had brought with her.
She needed paperwork to substantiate her new identity. She also needed a new job, a new place to live. She needed a new life. How to accomplish that became the question. When she looked up Washington State at an internet café in Salt Lake City, she’d ruled out Seattle because of its size. Lynden looked perfect—close enough to the Canadian border, should she need to move fast. She hadn’t thought out any other details, just loaded the car and began to drive.
Her thoughts turned to Jake, her
rescuer. For all she knew, she had just taken herself and her daughter from one dangerous situation to another. She didn’t know this man who lived in seclusion in the back woods of Washington. For all she knew, he could be an ax murderer.
Shannon shook her head, a motion that caused a painful thrumming above her left eye. The last thing she needed was to let her imagination run away with her. She had to keep a clear head and figure out what to do next. A yawn made her aware of her exhaustion. Her head pounded and she padded down the hall to the bathroom hoping to find ibuprofen. The small wall-mounted medicine cabinet above the sink was sparsely and neatly arranged. Toothpaste and a brush occupied one narrow glass shelf. The other shelf held a metal hand razor, a can of shaving cream and, yes, a bottle of Aleve. That would work. She removed one of the blue tablets and popped it into her mouth, followed by handfuls of water until she’d downed the pill. A thin trace of blood crusted her hairline at her temple. She bent forward to splash water on her face, but the motion made her head throb harder. Removing a few tissues from a box on the counter, she dampened them and dabbed away the blood. A large knot had formed above her left eyebrow and the skin around her eye was puffy and turning black. She’d have a shiner by morning.
She washed her hands and returned to her room after pausing briefly to glance across the hall at Jake’s closed door. The thought of being alone in this house at the mercy of a strange man gave her unease. But the thought of being out in the night alone with her baby while she was being hunted made her stomach twist with panic. At least this remote cabin offered protection. For now.