Safe In His Arms (Manhunt) (4 page)

Mia bit her lip. “I shouldn’t have opened an account,” she said. “But I thought – “

“You were safe because he was in prison,” he finished for her.

She nodded. Unfortunately the only way she’d ever be safe was if he was dead.

She hated herself for thinking such horrible thoughts. But it was true.

Geoff had sworn that he’d never let her go, that their vows
till death do us
part
meant exactly that.

It was only a matter of time until he found her and made her pay.

Sgt. Townsend gestured out the window at the stables.  “Do you know all of the employees who work here?”

She frowned. “I’ve met most of the ranch hands. Henry and Joy, the owners are an older couple and wonderful people. The cook Joleen is in her early sixties and a sweetheart.”

“How many ranch hands are there?”

“Ten.”

“Any recent hires?”

A frisson of fear darted through her. “New ones?”

He nodded. “Ones who were hired since you came to work here?”

She thought back.  “Yes. But – “

“I have to check them out, Mia.”

“You think Geoff could have sent one of them here to watch me?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him. Right now we can’t rule anything out.” He crossed his arms, his western shirt stretching across massive shoulders.

She had the sudden urge to lean into him, to seek solace in his arms. Just for a minute, to alleviate the chill enveloping her and to stop the trembling that had started deep inside her.

“Who else knows you moved here? Any old friends?”

“No.”  Stupidly she’d alienated herself from everyone once she’d married and realized how controlling and possessive Geoff was. Of course that had happened slowly, even before she’d known it. He had occupied all her time, made plans for them, swept her away on trips and kept her busy attending society functions for his law firm.

Suddenly she’d realized it had been months since she’d spoken to her old friends. And after the first time he’d hit her, she’d been too ashamed to turn to anyone.

“If I remember correctly, you didn’t have any family?”

“That’s right.”

“How did you hear about the job here?”

“Through an ad in the paper,” Mia said. “The moment I drove out and saw the ranch, I fell in love with it.”

“I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe here then,” he said. “But you have to stay close to me, Mia.”

Mia stiffened. She already felt smothered.

“I’ll need a list of all the employees,” he said. “And I’d like to talk to the ranch owners. They should be aware of the situation.”

She nodded, her heart racing. Maybe she’d been selfish in insisting on staying at the Crossties.

What if Geoff showed up and hurt the McCauleys to get to her?

Geoff cursed as he sank lower into the car. He needed to talk to his parents. But he had to be careful.

The police would already have a tracer on their phone. And the cops were all over the damn place looking for him.

Dear sweet Maureen and Ross Jones were probably having fits at the sight of his mug shot on the news.

His father had taught him about business and …how to be a man.

His mother had made her mistakes over the years, but his father had been patient and trained her how to be the perfect wife.

He’d hoped Mia would turn out like Maureen. Obedient. Doting. A woman who’d keep a pristine house, keep herself in top shape for him, and pleasure him at his beck and call.

But Mia hadn’t been perfect. She’d been weak and careless with her appearance at times. The cupboards were always a mess, the canned goods not alphabetized the way he’d shown her. And he didn’t want to think about the way she sometimes let that dark hair go wild and curly.

He liked it clipped in a tidy chignon at the base of her neck.

She
had
been learning though. At least he’d thought she was.

Until he’d discovered her secret stash of money. And that revolver.

Still, every night when he’d closed his eyes as he’d laid on that dump of a prison cot, he saw her face. Her eyes gleaming with admiration and love for him.

He heard her whispered sigh of pleasure as he made love to her.

He
would
have her again.

There was no doubt in his mind.

And this time she would be his forever.

C
HAPTER
T
HREE

Mia hated to bother the McCauleys, but they needed to be alerted to the possibility that a fugitive might show up at the Crossties. If they wanted her to leave the ranch, she would. They had been too kind to her to think of doing anything but following their wishes.

She knocked on the door of the big farmhouse, rethinking her stubborn insistence about staying.

Maybe she should go to a safe house until Geoff was apprehended.

Alex stood behind her, his gaze perusing the property surrounding the house for trouble.

“I’d like to ride the ranch and scope out the in and out points?”

She frowned. “The in and out points?”

“Spots where Geoff might have easy access to enter the property. Roads nearby. Places where he could hide.”

Just the thought of Geoff sneaking onto the ranch and watching her made her stomach revolt.

The door opened and Joy looked up with a smile, her apron dusted with flour.  “Come on in, Mia. And who is this handsome stranger with you?”

“Sgt. Alex Townsend with the Texas Rangers,” Mia said, not surprised at the way Joy’s face lit up. Obviously
she
wasn’t the only woman immune to Alex’s good looks.

“Howdy, Mrs. McCauley,” Sgt. Townsend said. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Except this wasn’t a pleasant social visit.

“Any friend of Mia’s is a friend of ours,” Joy said, waving them inside. “We just love Mia. She’s wonderful with the horses. And a real card shark at Poker. She beats me and Henry every time.”

Sgt. Townsend laughed. “She’s full of surprises.”

Mia inwardly grimaced at the lies she’d told to hide her past. When Henry had asked how she’d gotten so good at the game, she claimed that she’d learned from a college boyfriend. But the truth was that she’d picked up the game by watching her mother and her scam artist boyfriend when she was a little girl.

Joy gestured for them to follow her inside. “Come on and sit down in the kitchen. I just pulled an apple pie from the oven. Would you like a slice?”

“Not for me,” Mia said, the very idea of food turning her stomach.

“I’m fine, Mrs. McCauley,” Sgt. Townsend said. “But Mia and I need to talk to you.”

“This sounds serious,” she said, her gray eyebrows knitting.

“It is,” Sgt. Townsend said.

“Is Henry here?” Mia asked as Joy led them into the kitchen.

“Yes, he just got back from town.” 

“Can you ask him to come in here,” Mia said. “I really need to speak to both of you.”

Worry knitted Joy’s expression. “Of course, dear. Just a second.” Joy wiped her hands on her apron and disappeared into the hallway off the kitchen which led to the master suite they’d added to the house. Henry had arthritis and they decided they were tired of climbing stairs.

Mia stewed over the situation while they waited, but Sgt. Townsend paced over to the kitchen window, his gaze once again drawn to the outside.

Geoff could be on his way here now. Or…he might have already found the ranch and be waiting for the chance to get her alone so he could kill her.

Alex rarely trusted anyone. Detective work had taught him that.

But he instantly liked the McCauleys, his gut instinct telling him that this kind middle-aged woman and man were not a threat to Mia.

Joy was plump with rosy cheeks and seemed to love baking while Henry was thin with graying hair, a mustache, wore overalls and boots, and bragged about how much he loved working the land. They both insisted he call them by their first names, and that he have a piece of Joy’s apple pie.

It was the best pie he’d ever tasted. No little lady who cooked like that could be anything but kind. Could she?

Alex had seen other cases where seemingly sweet old ladies or men turned out to be evil. 

He’d have to check the couple’s financials. If they needed money for some reason, Geoff could have used his wealth to persuade them to help him. For cripe’s sake, the bastard was charming and had convinced all of his friends that Mia had fabricated the spousal abuse charges. He’d even argued in court that she’d paid someone to beat her up so she could have him arrested and go after his money.

But Mia had adamantly refused to take a dime from him, negating that theory in the minds of the jury.

“So what’s this about?”  Henry asked after they’d chitchatted for a moment.

Mia released a weary sigh.  “I should have told you this before I moved here.”

The couple exchanged concerned looks. “Told us what?” Joy asked.

Anxiety radiated from Mia in waves, making Alex want to reach out and hold her hand, to comfort her.

But he couldn’t do that. The couple would get the wrong idea. Hell, Mia might get the wrong idea.

“Two years ago I married a man named Geoff Jones,” Mia said. “He was from a prominent family and was a lawyer in Austin.”

The McCauleys simply waited, their hands joined as if bracing themselves for bad news. Which meant that they were either really good actors or that they didn’t know about Jones.

“What happened, dear?” Joy asked.

“The marriage turned out to be …a disaster,” Mia said, a note of derision in her voice.  “Geoff was volatile.”

Henry dropped his fork on his plate, his eyes narrowing. “He hit you?” Henry asked.

Mia twisted her hands in her lap. “Yes. And when I tried to leave him, it got worse.”

She paused as if it pained her to continue, and Alex cleared his throat.  “He put her in the hospital,” he said, anger vibrating in his voice.  “Mia filed charges. Jones was arrested for assault and battery with intent to kill, and has been serving time in the State Penitentiary the past few months.”

“Has been?” Henry asked, zeroing in on Alex’s words.

Mia heaved a weary breath.  “Yes. Sgt. Townsend came to tell me that Geoff escaped.”

“Oh, my heavens, he was one of those three inmates on the news,” Joy said.  “They said he was dangerous.”

“He is,” Alex said. “The police are conducting a statewide manhunt for him and the other two prisoners, but until he’s caught, that means that Mia – “

“Is in danger,” Henry said, finishing Alex’s sentence.

“Exactly.”

Joy rose and pulled Mia into a hug. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. What an awful ordeal to go through.”

Mia accepted her hug, her delicate body trembling slightly with emotions that he sensed she was holding in. 

“What can we do to help?” Henry asked matter-of-factly.

“We discussed a safe house, but she refused,” Alex replied. “Mia wants to stay here.”

“I was just being selfish,” Mia said as she pulled away from Joy. “I’ll go. I can’t stay here and endanger the McCauleys.”

“Nonsense,” Joy said. “This is your home, Mia. We want you here with us.”