Seeking Vengeance (9 page)

Johnny
stretched. “Fine.” He sat up and took the paper Molly thrust in his face. “What's this? The address?”

“
Yeah. Look for that road Sam said we needed to turn onto.”

He leaned forward and squinted up at a passing sign. Moonlight danced through a canopy of treetops, the light and shade making it difficult to read the signs.
“Naw, that's not it.”

It wouldn't be long before the sun rose but she'd hoped to find the house before that. Once sunlight hit Kelsie's eyes, she was awake for the day. She felt
Johnny watching her and glanced at him. “What?”

Johnny
got a sly look on his face. “So, what's going on with you and Sam?”

“
Nothing.” Her answer had been too quick and she knew it. The heat of a blush warmed her cheeks.

“
Yeah. Right.”

Molly decided that she didn't owe her brother an explanation, but she didn't want to appear ashamed either. She was a grown woman. She certainly didn't need her brother's approval.
“Sam and I talked last night. I learned some things about him and see him in a different light. That's all.”

“
Is he a cop?”

“
Why would you ask that?”

Johnny
shrugged. “The way he was back at your house. He's bossy, just like a cop.”

“
Bossy? By that, do you mean he took charge? Then yeah, I'd agree he did that. Somebody had to.” She was tired, scared and way too cranky to attempt any semblance of politeness. “Johnny, do you ever think of anyone but yourself?”

He sulked wi
th his head against the window and then pointed ahead. “I think that's the road.”

Molly turned her attention to driving and made the turn. The trees hugged the gravel road, and she wondered if they should have just stayed at a motel for the night and met Sam here later. Well
, it was too late for that now. “Is this it?”

Johnny
looked at the paper in his hand. “Yeah. Looks like it.”

After parking alongside the cabin, Molly took Kelsie from her seat, and steered the sleepy child up porch steps. 
Johnny took the flashlight out of the glove box and retrieved the key exactly where Sam said it would be. She wished he was here. It felt strange to go into someone else's house even though he'd sent them there.

Five minutes later, they had electricity as
Johnny found the circuit breakers. The house had a closed-up odor of mustiness, but otherwise appeared clean and well-kept. Molly led Kelsie to the bathroom, and afterwards, checked out each of the three bedrooms, feeling a little bit like Goldilocks as on the third try, she found a room with a twin bed instead of the queen beds she'd found in the previous two rooms. The bed was made up with a blue comforter decorated with red rocket ships. Sean's bed? She hoped it was okay to use, but Sam hadn't put anything off limits.

She tucked Kelsie in, praying her little girl would sleep a few more hours. It was the only way she'd get any sleep. She and
Johnny had traded driving for a little while, so she'd caught a catnap, but she was exhausted. It was one of the longest nights of her life. 

Johnny helped himself to one room and shut the door. That left her with the one remaining room. She cast a glance at the sofa, and decided to sleep there for now. When Sam came in, he'd be tired too. She glanced out the window, hoping to see him ride up, but the woods were pitch black as if someone had dropped a black velvet curtain around the house.

Was he okay? Had he been able to shake the
Ravens following him? Her cell. She had his number. She grabbed her purse and found her phone and the paper with his number. It went to voice-mail on the fourth ring.

The clock on the stove said it was almost four a.m. In another hour, the sun would be up. Thoughts of sleep vanished in her worry for Sam. What if the
Ravens caught him? Would they hurt him? She sat on the edge of the sofa, her hands folded over the phone and her elbows on her knees. Her back ached and she sighed as her muscles, stiff from driving so long, finally demanded relief. She leaned back against the couch, but didn't intend to fall asleep.

* * *

Sam parked the bike and trudged up the steps to the door. It was locked.
Shit.
He rattled the doorknob and peeked in the window beside the door. Molly's hair was visible on the end of the couch, but she didn't budge when he tapped softly. It hadn't occurred to him that everyone would be asleep and the house locked up. He couldn't remember ever being in the house when the door was locked. 

There was nothing else to do but knock again, harder this time. Just as he feared, Molly shot o
ff the couch like a cat with its tail on fire, and he chuckled at the sight of her hair sticking out in every direction. It took her a moment to get her bearings before she stumbled to the door, blinking out at him through the window before opening the door.

Sam stepped into the house.
“You made it. Have any trouble?” He tucked a wayward curl behind her ear, happy for an excuse to touch her.

She shook her head but
her eyes met his and welled with tears.

Still touching her hair, he slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her against his chest. She trembled, her face pressed against his throat. He knead
ed the tense muscles at the base of her neck. “Shhhh…it's okay.” 

It had been a helluva night and he understood her need for a few minutes to compose herself. He was bone-tired, his back ached and his leg throbbed, but he hadn't had to pick up and leave his home without a clue where he was going. By meeting him here, she'd offered up her trust to him. Trust that he'd keep her daughter safe.

Molly pulled back and put her fingers to the corners of her eyes, swiping the lingering tears away. “I was worried and I tried to call, but you didn't answer your cell. The last time I saw you, guys on motorcycles were chasing you down the highway.”

Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“It's fine. I gave them a warning—that's all, but just in case they had others looking for me, I took a couple of detours. That's why I'm late.” He limped to the sofa and sat heavily, biting back a groan.

She nodded
and crossed her arms. “Sorry about…that.”

He paused in the act of rolling his shoulders to work out a kink.
“What?”

“
The…tears. I'm just tired, I guess.”

“You've had a crazy night. There's no shame in spilling a few tears.” He swung his legs up and pivoted to lie down, crossing his feet, boots and all, on the opposite arm of the sofa. “Why don't you go try to get some sleep for a few hours.” It felt so good to stretch out and his eyes started closing of their own volition.

He started at a squeak from the rocking chair a few feet away. He tilted his head to se
e Molly leaning back in it. “Aren't you gonna get some shut-eye?”

She shook her head.
“I'm tired, but too keyed up to sleep.” Both hands gripped the arms of the chair as it rocked gently. “This has to be the craziest twenty-four hours in my life.” Her lips pressed together as she took a deep breath, slanting him a look. “What happened last evening…that should probably never happen again.”

Sam pushed up to a si
tting position, not caring if the thump of his feet hitting the hardwood floor awoke the others. He hadn't forgotten what they'd shared. The memory had carried him through the hours riding the black ribbon of highway to the cabin. “Are you sorry you slept with me? Because I'm not sorry. Not one little bit. No matter what happens from here on out, what we shared meant a lot to me.” He ran a hand through his matted hair, flattened from his helmet. Being with Molly had been the best thing that had happened to him since before his son died.

She held his gaze for a moment before breaking eye contact.
“I'm not sorry, Sam. It’s just…I have Kelsie to think about. I can't get involved with a man who is going to ride out of my life as suddenly as he rode into it.” One shoulder rose in a half-shrug. “I'm not blaming you. I wasn't thinking last night but now I've had time to realize that it would never work between us.”

Sam opened his mouth with
an assurance that he wouldn't ride out on her poised on the tip of his tongue, but he snapped his mouth shut. It wasn't a promise he could keep. With so much up in the air, he didn't even know what tomorrow would bring let alone a month or two down the road. His weariness seemed to triple as if a lead blanket had fallen over his shoulders. He scrubbed his hand down his face and nodded. “I wouldn't intend to do that, but you're right, it could happen.”

Molly stood.
“I can sleep with Kelsie while we're here.”

Sam nodded reluctantly.
“Did you put her in the big room with the queen-sized bed?”

“
No, she's in the one with the rocket ships.” Her voice took on a worried tone.

He saw the unasked question written on her face.
“Yes, it was Sean's room, and it's fine that Kelsie is sleeping there.”

His son had been a generous kid and would have volunteered his bed if he'd been here.
Sean would have thought it an adventure to sleep on the couch instead. The familiar pain settled in Sam's chest. For a little while, the ache had faded, but now it rose fierce and strong, twisting his heart as if punishing him for forgetting about it. He cleared his throat before speaking again, “It's okay to sleep there, but you would be more comfortable in the big bed in my room.” He hurried to add, “I'd sleep in Sean's room. You and Kelsie can have the big bed.”

Molly nodded.
“If we're still here tomorrow night—” She broke off, her brow creased in confusion. “Or I guess that's tonight…anyway, next time we go to sleep, if we're still here, we'll take the big bed. I don't want to wake her now.”

“
Fine.” Sam rose, wincing at the various aches and pains as he shuffled to his room.

“
Mommy, I'm hungry.”

Molly groaned into the pillow. It seemed
like she'd just shut her eyes. “Okay, honey. Just give Mommy a sec, okay?”

Kelsie shook her shoulder.
“Can I go play on the beach?”

That got Molly's attention.
“No, not yet. You have to wait until I can go out there with you.”

There was no way she'd get another moment of shut-eye. Not with a c
urious little girl in the house and a lake just a stone’s throw away. She swung her feet off the bed and sat on the edge for a moment, rubbing her eyes. Rising, she padded out to the kitchen to see what she could rummage up for breakfast. Sam was correct when he’d said the pantry was stocked, but most of the food was canned vegetables, soups, tuna, rice, and pasta. There wasn’t a Cheerio in sight.
Shoot.
Molly brushed her hair out of her eyes with one hand as she stared into the pantry as if by looking long enough, a box of cereal would magically appear. Sighing when that didn't work, she went back to the bedroom and rummaged through her suitcase for clean clothes. Kelsie bounced behind her, chattering as only she knew how, asking how long they were staying, if she could swim in the lake or roast marshmallows after dinner.

“
Kels, I need to wake up first, and you know to do that, I need to shower.” She unzipped Kelsie's bag and grabbed some clothes for her too. “Come on, hon. Why don't you get dressed and brush your teeth while I shower? Then we can go to the store—wherever it is—and buy some stuff for a big breakfast.”

Always up for a trip to the store, Kelsie ag
reed and thirty minutes later, they were both ready to go. Only Molly had no idea where the nearest store might be. She needed some directions first. She stood outside Sam's room, hesitant to wake him, but there was nothing else she could do.

Molly knocked, and waited. Nothing. She rapped again, harder this time. Nothing. She tried the doorknob and opened the door far enough to stick her head in. Sam lay sprawled on the bed, bare from the waist up, t
he covers draped over his hips. Heat rushed up her cheeks. “Sam?”

He finally stirred and rose up on his elbows, the sheet dipping into dangerous territory.
“Yeah?”

There wasn't a shr
ed of embarrassment on his face while Molly was sure hers radiated enough heat to boil a teapot.

“
I was just wondering where the closest store is? Kelsie's hungry, so I need to get something.”

“
Oh. Yeah.” He turned and swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing.

Molly began to look away until she realized he was wearing sweatpants. Relief mixed with disappointment. She shook that last feeling off.

“I'll get dressed and join you.”

“
Oh, no. That's okay. You must be exhausted. I just need you to point me in the right direction.”

“
Don't worry, I'm a pro at lack of sleep.” He scratched his flat, washboard stomach, drawing her eye there.

He didn't appear to
notice the direction of her gaze as he gave her a lopsided grin that shot straight to her heart. “There are some things I need to get anyway. I'll only be a few minutes.” 

Sam brushed past as he exited the room. His scent washed over her and now that she had exquisite memories to associate with it, she had to remind hers
elf that she had slammed the door on any repeat performances.

Flustered and confused, she tried to shake it off as she direct
ed Kelsie to get her shoes on. Molly found a hairband in her purse and pulled her still damp curls into a ponytail. Finally feeling awake, she started making a mental list of what she should get, and wondered if Johnny had any requests. 

She knocked on
Johnny's door then stuck her head in, not waiting for an invitation to open the door. “Hey, Johnny. We're all going to the store to get some groceries.”

He waved an acknowledgment and rolled over.

“Well, I guess you don't need anything.” Miffed at his lack of response, she shut the door harder than she intended.

“
Is something wrong?”

Sam stood in the hallway, a towel around his waist. Molly averted her eyes. Th
is was going to be a lot more difficult than she expected. “No, sorry about that. Just frustrated.” She shrugged and tried to grin. “
Brothers”

Sam's gaze mov
ed from the top of her head and down her body. She suppressed a shiver at the intimate appraisal. As she watched him, a drop of water trickled from his hair in a winding trail down his throat, across his chest, to disappear into the terry cloth.
Lucky drop
. This was going to be agony. “Are you going to be long? Kelsie's starving.”

She
probably sounded like a shrew and embarrassed, she didn't wait for a reply, just exited the cabin to find out where Kelsie had disappeared. The land sloped unevenly to a sandy beach. The woods around the house looked thick with tangled undergrowth, and she didn't think her daughter would go there, not with a lake in view. Shielding her eyes, she spotted Kelsie skipping along the shore, a long stick in one hand.  Every few skips, she'd stop to poke at something in the sand.

“
Kelsie!”

The skipping ceased
and Kelsie raced towards her, when she got close, she shouted, “Mommy! I found a shell!” She opened a palm to show Molly an ugly brown snail.

“
Oh, that's beautiful, hon, but we have to go to town to get some groceries and breakfast.”

“
Okay. Can we come back here? Can I go swimming later? Can I build a sandcastle?”

Molly laughed
at the rapid fire questions and tousled Kelsie's hair. “Sure, later this afternoon.”

By the time they got back to the cabin, Sam was stepping onto the front deck. His hair was still damp, and he wore a black polo shirt. It wasn't one she'd bought, so it must have been one he had here. It looked good on him.

“Ready to go?” Sam limped down the steps.

“
Yeah, I just have to grab my purse.” Molly gave Kelsie a gentle push towards the car. “Hop in and buckle up. I'll be right out.”

Kelsie nodded, but
turned back. “Are you coming too, Mr. Sam?”

“
Sure am, sweetheart.”

Molly loved how Sam spoke to Kelsie, but worried about her daughter
growing close to him. One of Kelsie’s favorite games to play with her stuffed animals was to have wedding ceremonies and create perfect little families. Molly grabbed her purse from the floor where she'd dropped it and hurried back to the car.

Sam directed her to the main road, and she was grateful he'd come along. The road turned and wound through the forest, with other roads connecting and she was lost after the third turn.
“Holy cow, Sam. How do you find your way around here?”

He laughed.
“I've been coming up here all my life.”

“
It's really beautiful.” Molly had lived in Wisconsin her whole life, but rarely ventured north of Madison. “You know, I don't think I've ever been this far north in the state before.” She slanted a grin at Sam. “Pretty sad, huh?”

“
Seriously? That is sad.”

“
Well, my mom and stepdad loved taking me places like Washington D.C., Williamsburg or a couple of times, Disney World.” She shrugged and tried to sound nonchalant when she continued, “When I went to live with my dad, well he wasn't big into vacations.”

She felt Sam watching her and glanced at him.
“What?”

His eyebrows went up and he spread his hands.
“Nothing. I'm just sorry you missed out.” He faced the front again and motioned at the canopy of trees. “I didn't realize how much I'd missed it. It's so…peaceful up here.”

Molly had to agree. She glanced in the review mirror to see Kelsie with her nose pressed to the window. A pang of guilt poked her. How many times had she intended to take Kelsie away on vacation somewhere, but never did? Something always came up. Other than a couple of overnight trips to Chicago, Kelsie had been nowhere. No wonder she was so enthralled with her surroundings.

It was a twenty-five minute drive to town, but with no traffic, it didn't seem to take that long. The town consisted of one main street anchored at one end by a church, and a small medical center, and at the other by a grocery store across from a handful of restaurants. “So, what's the best place?”

Sam pointed at the second restaurant on the right.
“I don't know about best, but they're fast, and I'm so hungry I could eat a bear.”

“
They have bears in there?” Kelsie sounded like she didn't know whether to be scared or excited at the prospect.

Sam laughed.
“No. That's just an expression.”

Molly parked in front of the restaurant and took Kelsie's hand as she exited. Sam held
the door for them to enter first, and Molly told herself not to get used to the treatment. In her real life, a guy was just as likely to scamper through a door she'd just opened rather than offer the simple courtesy. The diner wasn't fancy. It had plain white tables adorned with paper placemats, chrome salt and pepper holders and laminated menus crammed between the ketchup and mustard bottles. The scents of eggs, bacon, coffee and pancakes mingled and vied for dominance and made up for any lack of ambience the décor offered. Sam led them to the back of the diner and put a hand on a chair for Molly, sliding it out for her, and then he patted a chair for Kelsie. “Have a seat, m'lady.”

Kelsie giggled and plopped onto the seat in a very un-ladylike manne
r. Molly couldn't help but grin, and when Sam sat opposite her, the corners of his eyes still held the hint of his smile. He handed her a menu and opened his.

The waitress swept towards them, a full pot of coffee in one hand, a bottle of Tabasco sauce in the other. She deposited the sau
ce at the table across the aisle before rounding on them.

“
How are you folks this morning, eh?” She waited for Sam to turn his cup over before filling it, then turned a questioning eye to Molly. “Coffee?”

“
Please.” It would take more than strong coffee to erase her fatigue, but it was a start. The waitress had a slim figure and her quick movement had fooled Molly into thinking the woman was younger, but a closer look showed the waitress was probably in her late-fifties. Molly hoped she looked as good when she was that age. Right now, she felt about a hundred. She barely stifled a yawn as the waitress filled her cup with fragrant brew.

“
I'm Doreen, and I'll be back in a jiff to get your order.”

Molly
caught the surprised look on Sam's face when Doreen had said her name. “Is something wrong?”

Sam shook his head.
“No…” He lifted one shoulder in half-shrug. “The waitress was one of my mom's friends. I guess she didn't recognize me.”

Molly pulled a pencil out of her purse and hand
ed it to Kelsie, who had begun fidgeting. “Here hon, why don't you draw me a picture?” She turned her attention to Sam. “When was the last time you saw her?”

“
At the funerals.” His tone belied the calm expression he wore as he studied his menu.

Her throat constricted for him. She cleared
it and said, “Well, it's pretty busy in here. She probably didn't take a close look.”

“
Oh, I understand. I looked a lot different then. It's just that seeing her reminded me of all the summers I spent here.”

“
This town is so peaceful. I bet you have a ton of great memories.” After her parents had been killed, she found it helped to remember the good times. Not at first—it was too painful—but eventually. It took a while, but she found that the pain that came with the good memories gradually faded, leaving just the happy feelings.

Sam grunted and took a sip of his coffee. Molly sighed and focused on the menu. She knew Kelsie would want pancakes and bacon with
a glass of milk. For herself, she thought scrambled eggs sounded good, with hash browns. She could always steal a bite of Kelsie's pancake to quiet her sweet tooth.

“
You folks ready to order?”

Molly went first, then Sam.
When he finished, Doreen lowered her pad of paper and looked over her half-glasses. “Sammy? Is that you?”

He nodded.
“Yeah. How are you doing, Doreen?”

“
Come here and give me a hug.” She tucked her pad in the back pocket of her jeans. “How are you holding up? You look like you've lost weight.”

Sam's face colored, but he stood and wrapped his arms around her. His eyes closed for a moment and when he opened them, Molly saw they were bright. He blinked and
said, “I'm okay.” He patted his flat belly. “I'd gained weight for the undercover job, but always planned to drop it.” His voice became grim. “It was easier than I thought it would be.”