Authors: Angel Smits

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary

Seeking Shelter (20 page)

BOOK: Seeking Shelter

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When he edged away from Amy, she followed. “We’re in this together.” She looped her arm through his. He almost swept her back into his arms again, but didn’t think getting shot was a good way to start out their life together.

“Hold that thought.” He smiled down at her.

Gavin walked up to them and whipped out the pair of handcuffs Jace had left dangling on the bed rail at the hospital.

The sheriff opened his mouth to speak, but abruptly closed it when a half-dozen people stepped off the sidewalk and moved toward him. It seemed to take him a second to realize they weren’t coming after him, but were showing their support for Jace.

“You don’t really want to do that, do you, Gavin?” Hank asked, as he stopped beside Jace and stacked his hands atop his cane. It wasn’t a true threat, but it was close. After what Hank had admitted doing to Matt, Jace knew he had the resources to destroy just about anyone’s life.

“You leave him alone,” Katie screamed from the doorway of the store. The thump of her crutches sounded on the sidewalk. “He didn’t do anything. I already told you that. Big dummy.” She mumbled the last bit.

“Now, Katie,
dummy
’s not a nice word,” Amy reprimanded her. Katie ignored her mother, something Jace was sure they’d see more of in the future.

“Pretty tough, aren’t you?” He looked down at Katie. She simply grinned back and he returned it, his smile tinged with a healthy dose of pride.

The street grew silent as a squad car turned the corner. Not Gavin’s car, but the state police.

“That’s enough,” the sheriff said. “All of you. This man is under arrest for his escape. We’re still investigating the other charges.”

“No, we’re not.” The voice came from outside the growing crowd. The townsfolk parted, admitting the policemen who’d visited Jace in the hospital.

“Officers.” Jace nodded.

“Mr. Holmes. Sheriff.” Officer Wade walked up to Gavin. “I thought we clarified that this was our case.”

“Yes, b-but you weren’t here....” he stammered.

“Ah, I see. And you were going to call us when?”

“Soon.”

“Good. We were just on our way to see you. It’ll save you the trouble.”

Gavin was acting very strangely, more so than usual, anyway. Jace frowned. The officers didn’t even seem interested in him.

“Shall we step into your office?” Wade waved toward the building behind them. Gavin led the way...and the whole crowd followed. The lobby could barely hold them all, and Ellen quickly took care of that by ordering everyone out.

“Mr. Holmes, Ms. Grey, Katie, this involves you,” Wade said, gesturing them inside.

Jace met Amy’s confused frown with his own. He knew he hadn’t done anything wrong, but not for the first time, he wondered what Gavin was up to.

He swung Katie up into his arms, his bruised ribs feeling only a twinge now. Jace tried not to think about the last time he’d held her like this. He gave her a hug that made her giggle.

Officer Wade didn’t look too happy, but whatever he’d come here to accomplish wasn’t going to take long, Jace guessed. His partner stayed near the door, apparently on guard.

Wade looked around and sighed. “For a couple of years now, there have been large thefts from the Statler Mine in the next county. Copper ore mostly, as well as some postproduction copper and turquoise. We’ve been investigating for some time.”

“Why wasn’t I aware of this investigation?” Gavin huffed.

Neither officer spoke at first. Wade simply reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Slowly, he opened it and dumped something grimy onto the desktop. It thunked loudly on the old wood.

Jace couldn’t see what it was. Leaning close, he frowned. A badge? Encrusted with dirt. It didn’t make sense.

“You recognize that badge, Sheriff?” Wade asked.

Everyone turned to look at Gavin. His face had gone bright red. He spun around and headed toward the back door of the office. For once small-town nosiness paid off, as Rick and Hank appeared in the doorway, blocking any escape.

“He asked you a question,” Hank said. “I think you’d better answer.”

“I—I don’t know what he’s talking about.” Gavin tried to squeeze past the men.

“I think you do.” Wade stepped forward. “We’d like you to come to the Phoenix station for questioning in regards to recent thefts from that mine.”

“I...I don’t know anything about that.”

“That was a polite way of asking, Sheriff.” Wade leaned into Gavin’s face. “I’d rather take you in handcuffs, but apparently my boss thinks we should be at least marginally civil.”

“You have no proof.”

Jace leaned toward Amy. “Do you have a clue what they’re talking about?”

“No. Do you?”

“Nope.”

Wade looked around and sighed. “Sorry, folks.” He looked Jace in the eye. “My supervisor would like me to extend his apologies. The sheriff has been trying to turn our focus on you, Mr. Holmes, hoping to throw us off.”

“Off what?” Amy asked.

“The activities in that mine. It’s on private property, but because we were able to get in to investigate Katie’s disappearance, we were able to find all the information we needed. That old mine your little girl got lost in? It’s a back door into a whole honeycomb of mines in this area.”

“That has nothing to do with me,” Gavin said.

“Your uncle Eustace is already in custody,” Wade stated.

“That no-good—”

“He just bought my house,” Amy interjected.

“I wouldn’t count on that sale, ma’am.”

Distracted by all the revelations, no one saw Gavin shove Hank until he stumbled and fell into Rick. Given all the furniture, the people and surprise, Gavin was able to make it out the back door.

Wade swore and ran after him. His partner went out the front and struggled through the crowd gathered there.

Amy took two steps and Jace snagged her arm. “Oh, no. We’re not finished yet. And I am not chasing that man.” He set Katie down, and she hobbled over to the window to watch.

Amy laughed. She looked around the now-empty jailhouse. “I knew you’d end up in jail if you came back, Jace.” She tried to sound upbeat, but he could hear a tremor in her voice.

He pulled her close, tilting her chin up and staring into her beautiful eyes. “Amy, I—”

“Mama?” Katie’s voice came from the door, which had been left wide open.

“She’s busy,” Jace murmured as he nuzzled Amy’s neck.

“They got him. Can I go over to Lisa’s house? She said I could stay for supper...maybe spend the night?”

“Yes!” both Amy and Jace said.

The thump of her crutches on the pavement faded quickly, or maybe they just weren’t listening anymore. It didn’t really matter. They were finally alone.

Gently, Jace slid his hands along Amy’s chin. First he kissed each eyelid, then trailed his lips down her cheekbone, and found her mouth. She opened for him, and he swooped in, taking all she had to give.

Home.
The word whispered through his mind with her sigh.

Several minutes later, Amy pulled away, struggling to catch her breath. He’d put that distracted, thoroughly kissed look on her face, and his ego wanted to high-five something.

“Wait,” she whispered, and took a step away. “I...we need to talk first.”

He was glad she’d said “first.” It implied there’d be a later. “Okay.” He had to struggle to focus, she was so close and tasted so good. But she was right.

“This...” Amy lifted her arms to indicate the world around them. “This insanity is my life. Katie runs in and out. The store is always open. Every person in town knows my business.”

Jace crossed his arms over his chest, not to intimidate her, but to keep from reaching for her. “Is that supposed to scare me away? Because if it is, it’s not working.”

“Don’t you see?” She suddenly sounded defeated. “You’ve been on your own since you were sixteen. Going whenever you want. Being whoever you want to be. Nothing tying you down.” There was a note of envy in her voice.

“No. That’s not how it’s been.” He looked at the floor, not especially proud of the life he’d led, and reluctant to shatter the positive impression she had of him. It wasn’t something he was used to, and he liked it. “I was homeless. I lived on the streets. I had nothing and no one.”

He met her gaze and this time didn’t try to hide his shame. “The night Mac found me, I’d been mugged and had a pretty deep knife wound. If it hadn’t been California, where it was warm, and he hadn’t known how to get me free medical care, I’d have died that night. I owe him my life.”

“Oh, Jace. Is that why you’re back? For him?”

Jace saw the fear in her eyes. “No. Never. Let me finish. He taught me the value of family and the horror of being alone. I’m here because you’re important to me.”

“He really was a good man, wasn’t he?” Amy’s voice broke.

“Yeah, he was. But that life’s behind both of us now. All of it.” Jace reached out and took her hands in his. “I’ve had a lot of time to think. I want to start building a new life, one that includes you.”

Amy gasped. “Really?” It was so hard to trust. But looking up at Jace now, seeing the need in his eyes, feeling the warmth in his touch, she realized she already did.

He’d taught her to trust—not only him, but her friends, and most importantly, herself.

She reached up to twine her arms around his neck. “I’d like that.”

“I love you, Amy.”

“Ah, Jace. I love you, too,” she declared, knowing that was true, but that there were other words, important words he needed to hear. “And...I trust you. Completely.” She laughed, then kissed him.

“Sorry, folks.” Officer Wade’s voice broke the silence. He hauled Gavin into the office, hands cuffed behind his back, his uniform dirty and his badge blatantly missing.

“That’s okay. We were just leaving,” Jace said.

Amy squealed when he leaned down and scooped her up. Officer Bryce grinned and held the door open. She laid her head on Jace’s shoulder as he strode down the sidewalk.

A crowd still lingered in the street. Hank and Rick turned around. Jace faced them when they reached the store. “Katie’s at Lisa’s for the night...and
none
of you will need any groceries until tomorrow.”

He walked into the store. Amy flipped the Closed sign over and locked the door. “Now we’re in business,” she said, and kissed him. He tasted of dust, sunshine and sweet warm man.

Her man.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt of
Unraveling the Past
by Beth Andrews!

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