Cowboy Command (20 page)

Seth nuzzled against her temple. 
“Not really but every day feels like a honeymoon with Missy.”

She was going to kick him straight in the balls when they were alone if he didn
’t turn her over his knee and spank her first.  She looked up at him, making cow eyes.  “That’s so sweet.  I feel the same way, babe.”

Harry winked at Seth. 
“You both have a safe trip wherever you’re heading.  Nice meeting you.”

Harry and Doris bustled back to their RV to finish making preparations to leave.  Seth none too gently grasped Presley
’s arm and firmly led her back toward their own motor home.  The tension between them was almost unbearable.  Seth didn’t say a word, his mouth pressed into a grim line.  She didn’t say a word either, not sure what to say or how to explain what she was doing.  He was clearly furious, although she had been doing it for his own good.  He probably wasn’t going to be too appreciative of that fact, though.

* * * *
*

Seth needed to control the
white-hot rage and fear tightening his belly.  When he’d woken up alone in bed, he’d heard her moving around, and foolishly thought she was trying to start the coffee without waking him.  One glance at the clock told him a different story.  Presley wasn’t a big fan of mornings and she didn’t get up at five without a good reason.  She was up to something.  He listened as she rifled through his things and then snuck out of the RV.

He
’d quickly pulled on his clothes and followed her.  She had her purse and a small bag and, despite the Porter’s declaration she was going for her morning constitutional, she was clearly flying the coop. 

What was she thinking?

The sheer lunacy of what she’d done floored him.  He’d busted his ass, risked everything to keep her safe, and she’d decided to leave him while he slept.  He couldn’t begin to wrap his mind around her logic.  Was she that tired of him?  Was he that difficult to be around?

He marched her into the motor home and pointed to the couch.
Her lips were in a mutinous line but she slumped against the cushions, defeated.  As always, Presley was a walking contradiction.

He shrugged off his coat and tried to calm himself.  Yelling wasn
’t going to solve anything and might just make her cry.  Her tears never failed to fell him to his knees, and now was the time to stay firmly in command.

He crossed his arms over his chest. 
“Why were you leaving?”

Her full lips trembled and her color was high. 
“I thought you’d be safer if I was gone.”

Of all the things he expected her to say, those words weren
’t it.  He sat down next to her on the couch, but not touching her.  He was still mad as hell.

“
Please explain your thinking to me,” he said evenly.  He congratulated himself on not pulling her over his knee and spanking her ass to a bright red color. 

She plucked at the zipper of her coat.  She was probably baking in that thing, but Seth wasn
’t in the mood to make her more comfortable.  She should be sweating this interrogation out.  In fact, if he had a set of spotlights, he’d turn them on her face.

She blinked rapidly, probably trying to hold back tears.
Shit.

“
I thought if I left you could go back to Harper and be safe.  I don’t want you to die because of me.  Your family will be really upset if you die.  My family already thinks I’m dead.”

She fell silent but her fingers still played with the tab of the zipper.  She hadn
’t looked him in the eye yet.  He captured her chin and turned her to face him.  Her eyes were dark and troubled.

“
So you want to die then?”  He challenged.

She shook her head. 
“They’re looking for a man and a woman.  If we split up, then we would be harder to spot.”  She ran her fingers through her hair.  “As soon as I had a chance I was going to cut and dye my hair.”

“
How could you possibly take care of yourself?”  Seth released her chin and rubbed his aching temple. 

Her eyes shifted downward. 
“I took five hundred dollars and the other gun.”

He jumped up from the couch. 
“I don’t care about the money but a gun?  Fuck, Presley, you could have really hurt yourself.  That gun is loaded.  Where did you put it?”  He scanned her up and down and didn’t see where she could have hidden it. 

“
I put it in my purse.”  She dug into her bag and pulled out something wrapped in her scarf, holding it out to him.  “If you’re really mad, you can just shoot me with it so we can be done with this.”

Her little chin was lifted and she looked gloriously rebellious. 

He carefully took it from her, unwrapped it, and inspected it for damage.  “Don’t tempt me, honey.”  He slid the gun back in the leather pouch and took a deep breath.  “I don’t even know what to say or do about this.  Do you have any idea how worried I would have been if you had succeeded?  I would have had to call all of the guys down here to help me look for you.  I would have gone crazy wondering if you were lying dead in a ditch somewhere, for fuck’s sake.”

He hated playing the guilt card but he didn
’t have an ace up his sleeve.  He would have had a stroke if she’d left.  Period.

Her lips started trembling again and her eyes were bright with unshed tears. 
“I don’t want you to get hurt or killed.”  Tears spilled and ran unheeded down her cheeks.  “I love you.”

He scraped a hand down his face. 
“Aw, fuck.”  He sat back down beside her and tugged her into his arms, rocking her while she cried.  It looked like she’d been as scared as he was.  He patted her back and stroked her hair.  “I love you too, honey.  That’s why you have to let me protect you.  If I lost you, well, everything would go to shit.  Got it?”

She sniffled and scrubbed at her cheeks. 
“We weren’t supposed to fall in love.”

He sighed and rubbed his chin on her silky hair.  He couldn
’t argue with her.  “That’s true, we weren’t.  But we did.  Now we’re a team and we need to stay together to be safe.  We’re stronger together, Presley, than we are apart.”

She looked up at him, her expression sad. 
“If they don’t think I’m safe after I testify, they’re going to try and take me from you.  Give me a new name and a new identity.  I don’t want them to do that.”

Seth nodded.  They
’d never said it out loud, but he was sure it was what Evan would do.  If Presley were still in danger, Seth would want her to be safe, even if it was without him.

“
If they think it’s not safe, you need to go back into hiding.  Promise me you will, honey.”

She shook her head. 
“I don’t want to.”

He pushed back an errant strand of hair. 
“Maybe I can come with you to the next place.”

She looked hopeful for a second then back to sad. 
“You can’t give up your life in Harper.  You have a family that loves you.  Friends.  A town that needs you.  That’s why I wanted to leave.  So you could go back home and be okay.”

Deep in his gut, he knew she was right.  He had a life in Harper and she had one in Tampa.  The fact
that she’d had to abandon it didn’t make it less important than his own.  The depth of her sacrifice hit him broadside.  She’d been willing to give up her own safety for his.  He might expect love that deep from his parents, but he’d never expected it from a woman.  He was humbled and thankful all at once, and his anger drained away.  She’d tried to do something she thought was right, only for all the wrong reasons. 

He couldn
’t say she hadn’t warned him about making bad decisions.  She had and he’d said it would be okay.  He leaned back so he could look into her eyes.

“
Don’t do that again, understand?  If I lost you, if something happened to you, it would hurt me.  I’m going to keep you safe.  After you testify, if someone is still after you, you will go into hiding.  As long as I know they can’t get to you, I’ll be okay.”  She started to shake her head but he stopped her.  “No, honey.  I love you and you love me.  You want me to be safe.  Well, I want you to be safe even if I can’t be there with you, too.  I’d rather have you alive and away from me, than dead with me.”

Understanding crossed her features. 
“We have now.”

He nodded. 
“Yes, we do.  We have a few more days until the world gets crazy and we lose control of the situation.  Let’s enjoy this time together.”  Neither one of them finished his sentence.

It might be the only time they had left together.

After she testified, he might never see her again.  He felt a sharp pain twist his heart.  Being with Presley was the most exquisite pleasure-pain he
’d ever known.  He wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Chapter Sixteen

“
I can’t believe how warm it is here,” Seth said for the umpteenth time.  He’d had to turn the air conditioner on in the RV and she’d been hearing about it since they hit the Florida state line. 

“
It’s in the eighties which isn’t unusual.  I’ve done Christmas shopping in shorts all my life.  I’ve broken a sweat decorating the tree.”

He shook his head. 
“That’s wrong about eight different ways.”

Presley shrugged. 
“It’s better than freezing your butt off trying to do anything outside.  We can barbecue year-round down here.”

He laughed. 
“You can barbecue year-round in Montana.  You’re just going to be cold doing it.”

“
You’d have to scrape the icicles off the steaks,” she giggled.  She looked out the window at the road signs.  Seth told her he thought it might be good to spend the time waiting for the day of her testimony close to Tampa, but not too damn close.  Orlando fit the bill.  Seth flicked on his turn signal at the upcoming rest stop and smoothly parked the motor home.

He went back to the refrigerator and pulled out two sodas
, handing one to her.  “Time to call Evan,” he said.

Her eyes widened.  She
’d thought he’d decided against it.  “I’m surprised.  I didn’t think you were going to do it.”

“
He’s probably worried.  I didn’t want any Feds in our way getting here, but I’m okay calling him now.  You need to testify in a couple of days and we need to let him know you’re going to be there.”

Seth punched in the number and drummed his fingers as he waited for Evan to pick up
, pressing the speakerphone button when he answered.

“
Hello?”

“
Evan?  It’s Seth Reilly and Presley, I mean, Katie.”

She heard a loud exhale of air. 
“Son of a fucking bitch, Seth.  Where the fuck have you been?  I’ve got fucking agents looking for you fucking everywhere.  When I see you, I’m going to kick your fucking ass—”

“
I get the picture,” Seth interrupted.  “Listen, Presley’s here so keep your language PG rated.”

“
Where the fu—I mean where in the hell are you?”  Marshal Evan Davis sounded frustrated and pissed.  She was glad they were only on the phone and not in person.

“
Close,” Seth replied.  “Presley will be at the courthouse to testify on Monday.  Don’t worry.”

There was rustling in the background and she could hear a door being closed. 
“You need to bring her in.  Now.  You’re in big trouble, buddy.”

Seth
’s expression hardened.  “No can do.  You’ve got a leak in your organization.  I won’t risk Presley’s life just to follow procedure.”

Evan was quiet for a moment. 
“Never thought I’d hear that from you.  Are you sure you’re Seth Reilly?”

“
Meet the new and improved Seth Reilly, courtesy of Presley Lawson.  I won’t get her killed, Evan.  I won’t let her out of my sight.”

“
Holy shit, are you two—?  Never mind, I don’t want to know.  I can protect her, Seth.  You can stay with her.”  

Seth shook his head
, even though Evan couldn’t see him.  “Someone found her, Evan.  Your organization didn’t keep the secret.  You’ve got a leak, buddy.  Have you found it yet?”

Eva
n sighed.  “No.  Everyone appears to be clean.”

“
Then she stays with me.  No one dies this time, Evan.”

Presley didn
’t know what that statement meant but Evan must have.  “Can I talk to Presley?”

“
I’m here, Evan,” Presley replied.

“
Are you okay?  Are you hurt or anything?” 

“
Other than being shot at on the streets of Harper, I’m fine.  I can’t wait to testify so you can put Randall behind bars and I can breathe easy again.”

“
Do you want to stay with Seth?”  The question sounded reluctant but she had to give Evan credit for even asking it.

“
I only feel safe with him.  No one else.  I’m sorry, Evan.”  She smiled at Seth.  “We’re a team, and we’re better together than apart.”  Seth grinned.

“
Okay,” Evan conceded.  “I can’t keep the agents off your back.  You’re on your own there.  I can keep this call to myself.  No one will know you phoned in.”

“
Where are they looking for us?” Seth asked.

“
We have a set of agents in Tampa, another outside of Harper, and a third detail in Denver.” 

Presley frowned. 
“Denver?  Why Denver?”

Evan chuckled. 
“Well, I know you’re not in Denver.  Seth has lots of friends in Denver from when he was on the force there.  It seemed a logical assumption he might ask them for help.”

“
Let’s just say I’m not worried about your agents.”  Seth smiled.

“
I guess, hypothetically speaking then, you’re not in any of those cities.  If you were going to lay low until Monday, hypothetically of course, where might you do that?”  Evan asked.

Seth
’s eyebrows went up.  “Somewhere near Tampa but not too close.  Hypothetically, of course.”

“
Hypothetically, the best place to blend in to the crowd would be where there’s a crowd, Seth.  I don’t know any bigger crowd than at Disney.  Take off the western wear, put on a couple of Mickey shirts and act like tourists.”

“
You’re kidding,” Presley groaned.  Like many Florida residents, she held the tourist areas in disdain during the busy times of the year, and December was one of the busiest.

“
I’m not.  No one will look for you there and better yet, no one will find you.  It’s the last place anyone would look but the absolute best place to blend in and be hidden.  Ride some rides, see some shows.  Have a good time.  Then get your ass here to the Federal Courthouse, Monday by eight in the morning.  We need to talk about your testimony before you go in there.”  Evan’s voice had gone from light-hearted to just plain hard. 

“
Thank you, Evan.  Will you get in trouble for this?”  Presley hoped he wouldn’t.  He was a nice man.

“
Probably.  Seth’s in bigger trouble than I am.  However, it will all be made better when you show up alive on Monday and testify.  The brass will get the hell over it and be happy you’re there, okay?  I need to go.  Do you guys need anything?”

“
We’re good,” Seth answered.  “See you Monday.  Thanks, Evan.”

Seth hung
up the phone and gave her a lopsided smile.  “Missy Rodell, you’ve had three days in an RV, traveling over three thousand miles.  What are you going to do next?”  Seth’s voice was booming like an announcer’s and she was glad the rest stop was deserted.

She laughed at the irony of her situation. 
“I’m going to Disneyworld.”

* * * *
*

Seth and Presley had some trouble find
ing an RV park near Disney that wasn’t completely full, but they finally found one about five miles from Disney.  Seth had been shocked at the traffic on I-4 and International Drive and more than once he’d let a few curse words fly as tourists with their heads bent over maps turned in front of him or drifted into his lane. 

“
I told you December is a busy time in Orlando,” Presley said.  “Did you think I was kidding?”

Seth swore as a car pulled out in front of him and he had to quickly hit the brakes. 
“Shit, when you said a lot of people, I couldn’t even picture this.  There are more people here than in the entire state of Montana.”

He was probably correct. 

At least they were now safely in the park, the RV hooked up.  Presley breathed in deeply, the air warm and the sun high in the sky.  It was a typical gorgeous Florida day - warm, with no humidity to speak of.  This kind of weather was why people flocked to the state when the rest of the country turned cold and snowy.

“
Hey, honey,” Seth called.  He was standing in the doorway of the RV looking completely out of place in his denim jeans, cowboy boots, and button-down shirt.  Yes, he rocked those clothes, looking sexy and hot, but it wouldn’t do here in Florida.  Her first task was to change his wardrobe.  Evan had been specific.  Look like tourists.  Seth looked like a tourist all right.  From Montana.  He’d stick out like a sore thumb among sunburnt tourists in shorts and Mickey ears.  “Are you hungry?”

“
I am.”  Presley was happy to be back in Florida and warm.  It felt damn good.  The Feds looking for them were nowhere near them, and it didn’t appear that her killer knew where she was either. 

Seth tipped his head. 
“You’re very smiley.  Is it because we’re going to the happiest place on earth?”

She shook her head and spread her arms wide as if to encircle the sun. 
“I’m warm.  Isn’t it wonderful?”

Seth grinned. 
“That’s all it took?  Some warmth?  Come here.  I can keep you warm.”

“
If I come over there we won’t eat dinner.  We need to shop too.  You can’t walk around looking like the Marlboro Man.  We have to blend in.”

“
We can go to dinner and then shop.  Grab your purse.”

Presley followed Seth inside the RV. 
“Why do I need to grab my purse?  Aren’t we going to dinner?”

They were tired of cooking for themselves and in a city with this many people, no one was going to notice them.  Evan knew what he was talking about.

“We are.”  A smile played around Seth’s lips.

“
But we’re all hooked in.  How are we going to go to dinner?”

“
We’re not taking the RV.”

Presley rolled her eyes, impatient with the game. 
“How, oh wise one, are we going to eat then?”

Seth reached down into a cabinet she
’d never opened and pulled out two helmets.  “Apparently, Tanner’s parents used alternate transport when they parked somewhere for a while.  Grab your purse.”

This time she did and he led the way outside, locking the camper door behind them.  He walked to the rear of the vehicle and began pulling a black tarp off something attached to the back. 
“Grab that end, honey.”

She caught the fabric in her hands and helped him tug it, revealing a shiny motorcycle sitting on some sort of platform connected to the back of the RV.  She put her hands on her hips as she surveyed his grin. 
“I never even noticed this.”

“
You’ve had quite a bit on your mind.  Let me get this down and we’ll go eat.”

It didn
’t take him long to free it from its bindings and soon they were zipping along the streets and pulling up in front of one of Presley’s favorite steak houses. 

Seth looked around as they were seated and handed menus. 
“This has an Aussie theme?  I’ve seen these in Billings, but never been to one.”

“
Yes,” she nodded.  “You should try the onion appetizer.  It’s really good.  They have a great chocolate dessert too.”  Seth loved dessert.  They ordered and then sipped at their iced tea while his eyes scanned the room. 

“
You never truly relax.”  Presley nudged him with her foot under the table.  They might only have a few days left together and she wanted to make the most of them.  She wanted to have fun with Seth.

“
I’m trying.”  Seth captured her hand with his.  “I still can’t get over all these people in one place.  The restaurant is packed and so were all of them up and down this road.  There were people walking in crowds down the street and cars three lanes deep.  That’s a lot of people.”

“
If we’d been here in October it would have been better.  There’s less people that time of year.”  She was getting a little tired of defending her home state.  She hadn’t gone on and on about the cattle in Montana.

As if he could read her mind, he relaxed and smiled. 
“I guess it’s just that time of year.”  The waitress plopped down the onion appetizer between them and Presley’s stomach growled at the delicious aroma. 

They demolished the appetizer, two steaks, and dessert.  Presley groaned and patted her stomach. 
“That was so good.  But now I need you to take me someplace.  I saw it on our way here.”

Seth
’s brows drew together.  “Where are we going?”

She tugged at his hand as he threw some money down on the check. 
“Let’s go.”

Within ten minutes, Presley was sitting in the chair of a hair salon with a plastic cape wrapped around her.  Seth was scowling but she knew what needed to be done.  The killers knew her as a blonde and as a brunette.  They had yet to see red.  She gave the smiling stylist her request and the woman beamed as she clipped and fussed at her hair. 

Presley knew what cutting and coloring her hair was going to do, but Seth was clearly shocked.  Her hair was now bouncing in auburn curls and waves just above her shoulder.  The stylist whipped off the cape with a flourish.  It had taken over an hour and a half but the results were well worth it.