Santa in a Stetson (17 page)

His shield had gone back up. Sensing something ominous, she scrambled out of the car before he could come around to help her.

An hour later, after a delicious lunch, Kathryn broke in on Colt's conversation with her brother McCord, whom everyone called Cord. The two of them had been talking horses and rodeos, subjects it turned out were close to both their hearts.

She'd put her coat on, looking too gorgeous to be real. “I'm ready to leave when you are.”

Cord grinned at her. “What's the hurry?”

Colt didn't give her a chance to answer. “If you'd heard your sister at the kidnapping summit, you would know she has a list of things to do most people couldn't accomplish in a lifetime.”

Her brother hugged her. “That's our Kathryn. She's so busy these days, she hasn't even been skiing with me.”

“I'm afraid that's my daughter's fault, Cord, but Allie is fully recovered from the flu now and understands Kathryn's attention is needed elsewhere.” He shook Cord's hand. “It's been a privilege to meet you and your family.”

“The pleasure was all ours, believe me. How soon are you going back to Montana?”

“My flight leaves at five. The twins have plans for us.” He looked across the living room at the family seated around Kathryn's parents. Exceptional, gracious people, all of them, but she was definitely the shining star in their family tree. “I'm glad your father is on the mend.”

“Thank you. So are we. None of us is ready to lose him yet, especially not his baby girl who wouldn't be able to handle it after only recently finding him. She's his favorite,” he teased his sister.

Throughout the conversation there'd been total silence from Kathryn. Colt expected her cheeks would flush at her brother's comment, but the opposite happened. She was acting so different from the warm woman who'd filled his arms the night they'd gone dancing.

Cord walked them to the door. Kathryn hurried outside and got in the limo without waiting for Colt. When he climbed in behind her, she said, “If it's all right with you, I've told the driver to take us to my condo. Whatever you have to tell me, I'd rather talk there.”

In less than five minutes they reached the McFarland Plaza and rode the elevator to the penthouse. After they walked into the foyer, she looked over her shoulder. “I'll only be a minute. Make yourself comfortable.”

Once she'd vanished, he removed his suit jacket and tie. He walked through the rooms enjoying the sights of the valley from each angle. The fast-moving clouds made for fascinating viewing. When he reached the kitchen, he saw the poster of himself taking up the greater part of her fridge. He'd be a liar if he didn't admit he was flattered.

By the time he'd walked back to the living room,
she'd joined him. Gone were the pearls, the fabulous black suit and cashmere coat, the black high heels. In their place she wore navy sweats and sneakers, but it changed nothing about her.

The energy she brought into a room made everything around her pale. He'd never forget the way she'd kept today's audience spellbound. It wasn't just her looks. It was her spirit, that intangible life force unique to her.

She sat down on one end of the couch, tucking her legs beneath her. “Whatever you had to tell me and Jake must have been important for you to have flown here this morning.”

Colt moved closer to her without taking a seat. He put his hands on his hips. “Last night the twins asked me to put a stop to the search for their mother.”

Her eyes widened in shock. She shook her head. “Why?”

“I'll quote my daughter the best I can. ‘Matt and I have decided we don't want to see her or know her. If she'd been like Katy, she wouldn't have left.'”

Colt had the satisfaction of watching color seep back into her cheeks.

“‘Even if you find her, Dad, she won't want to see us, otherwise she would have come years ago. We don't want her to come if it isn't her own idea.'”

Allie had said a lot of other things, too, but Colt chose to keep those to himself.

Kathryn sat straighter. “Your daughter's made a complete turnaround.”

He nodded. “She's done a lot of growing up over the past few weeks. Naturally I phoned Jake right away. It
wouldn't have been fair to keep him or you on the job another minute.”

“My brother-in-law doesn't look at life that way.”

“It's because he's crazy about you.”

She got to her feet. “Being Maggie's sister helps.”

Colt couldn't reach her. “Nevertheless the Brenner family has intruded on the McFarlands' time and generosity long enough. You all have your own busy lives to lead.”

“You didn't have to come to Salt Lake to deliver that message.”

He took a deep breath. “You didn't need to accompany Allie to the ranch.”

Kathryn averted her eyes. “I told you my reasons. Why don't you tell me yours?”

“To thank you in person for what you've done for my kids, especially Allie. Your influence has helped her to resolve a problem that has caused her pain since her first recollections of life. For that I'll be eternally grateful to you.”

She shifted her weight. “Whatever small part I played, the real praise goes to you. After I met my father and lived with him, I thought there couldn't be another father in the world to match him. All those years to have gone without, then I was handed the royal prize.

“I was very smug about it. In truth, I felt sorry for everyone else who didn't have him for their parent. Four years went by, then I met Allie. When she told me about you, I realized I wasn't the only person in the world who'd been handed the royal prize. It came as a stunning revelation, believe me. So you see, she was good for me, too.”

Colt didn't dare stay to listen to any more. He fastened his tie and slipped on his jacket. “We'll never forget you. Now I'd better get going. I'm supposed to be at the airport an hour and a half before boarding.”

She followed him to the foyer. “Have a safe flight home and give the twins my best.”

“I'll do that.” He stepped into the elevator. “I have no doubts your speech in St. George will have the same electrifying effect on law enforcement there.”

 

K
ATHRYN WATCHED
the door close.

Something horrible had just happened to her world and she didn't understand why. On autopilot she ran into the bedroom for her cell and called Dr. Morrow. She had to leave a message, which meant he was with a patient. “Please call me. This is an emergency!”

With phone still in hand, she rushed over to the bedroom window. It looked out on South Temple. She strained to see if she could see Colt getting into a taxi, but she searched in vain for him. He'd probably used another exit out of the Plaza.

Her body was in so much pain, she couldn't move. When her phone rang, she saw that it was Donna. Though she didn't want to get it, she had to.

“Donna?”

“Hi. Sorry to bother you, but since the conference at least twenty-five calls have come in on the hotline wanting you to phone them back. How shall I handle it?”

Kathryn pressed her head against the glass. “Ask the volunteers to return the calls with the message that I'm temporarily unable to deal with any requests. I'll talk
to you later.” She hung up, too filled with anguish to function.

What if she drove out to the airport to have a gut talk with Colt? Would he consider it an invasion of his privacy? Disgust him?

Her inner voice screamed yes because Natalie was the only woman who'd ever managed to turn him from a bachelor into a married man and that was sixtee—

A ringing phone interrupted her thoughts. “Dr. Morrow? Thank you for calling me. I have to talk to you.”

“My last appointment will be over at ten to five. You come in at five.”

“I can't thank you enough.”

Kathryn hung up and checked her watch. It was ten to four. The walls were already closing in on her. She had to get out of the condo and made the decision to leave for his office in Olympus Cove now.

Grabbing her red cable-knit cardigan, she rode the elevator down to the car park, not having bothered to change out of her sweats. The trip would only take her twenty minutes. She'd wait in the Jeep until it was time.

On the dot of five, Dr. Morrow opened the door and told her to come in.

“I did what you advised,” she said the minute she sat down. “I went to Bozeman on Friday, not only to do business but to have fun. I felt Colt and I were getting closer. In fact I
know
we were, but then today everything changed.”

“How?”

“He flew here. I was speaking at a conference and
he slipped in with Jake. Afterward he treated me like an…acquaintance. When he left my condo, he made no overture to see me again. I don't know what I did wrong. I—I think it's over and I can't bear it.”

Dr. Morrow sat back in his chair and studied her until she felt like squirming. “You didn't do anything wrong, but you
are
Utah's Joan of Arc celebrity on what appears to be a lifetime mission. Remember our last session. You've been modeling your life after your parents.

“This Colt on the other hand is a born and bred Montana cattle rancher, raising teenagers no less. Try to separate yourself from the facts for a moment. How do you see these two people getting together in a significant relationship? Honestly.”

She didn't have to think long about it. “I don't.”

He pressed his fingers together. “Neither does Colt. Worse, you're the Anne Frank of our nation who survived. Everyone wants a piece of you. There's the answer to your first question.”

Kathryn frowned. “My first?”

“That's right. The second and more important question is, what do you want to do about it?” He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “That's all the time I can give you for now. I'll see you at your regular appointment next week.”

 

C
OLT SHONE HIS POWER
flashlight around the shed. The place was a mess. It had been the catchall since his grandparents had died. Before that, his grandmother had kept everything organized.

He moved between the clutter until he came to the boxes he'd stacked on top of his rodeo stuff. With only
five days to go until Christmas, he realized he'd better sort through it if he wanted to give his son a meaningful present.

Allie had been easier to buy for. A private chat with Jen had produced a long list of items his daughter wanted. He'd already taken care of her gifts and those for his sister and her family.

For Noreen and Ed, he'd ordered a Winnebago. They'd always talked about going sightseeing in a camper but never did anything about it. Colt was always encouraging them to take more vacations. Somehow they never did. It was long past time they enjoyed more of life. The camper would provide the incentive and was being delivered Christmas Eve.

As for Matt, he needed something special.

Colt made space in order to set the offending boxes on the floor. In a minute, he pulled a hammer from his hip pocket and pried open the big crate. Using his flashlight he peered inside. It was like finding buried treasure.

“Well, would you look at that,” Ed spoke, startling the daylights out of Colt.

His head reared back. “Where did you come from?”

“I was locking up the house when I thought I saw a light coming from the shed, so I came out to investigate. It's after midnight! You sure pick a hell of a time to rummage.”

“I only got the idea tonight, but I had to be sure the twins were asleep before I sneaked out. Think he'll like any of this junk?”

Ed snorted. “There's junk, and then there's junk. Are you daft?”

“I was only asking. If I wrap up this stuff, I hope it'll give him some fun opening it. I think I'm ready for Christmas now.” He glanced at his foreman. “What about you?”

“Noreen has everything under control. What did you get Kathryn?”

Colt's eyes slid away. “Who in the hell is that?”

“That bad, huh?”

His jaw hardened. “Don't start in, Ed. The twins do enough of it.”

“Somebody needs to get to you. Since you flew back from Salt Lake ten days ago, you've been ornerier than Lightning before you broke him in. The hands around here have been forced to keep wide berth. That's something that's never happened before.”

Shut up, Ed.

“What did that sensational woman ever do to you except transform your kids and remind you that you were once a great champion?”

“You said it first,” Colt snapped. “
Sensational
puts her outside the realm of possibility.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You weren't there when she learned that the body the volunteers from the McFarland Foundation found was that of the missing girl. Kathryn has a need to comfort others that goes beyond the normal person's capacity. It's what drives her.

“At that kidnapping conference, she was such an inspiration the FBI has years of speaking engagements and commitments lined up for her all over the West.” The veins stood out in Colt's neck. “You didn't see how
she reacted when she thought her father might be dying. Hell, Ed, he's her
life!
”

“I hear you, Colt.”

He shuddered. “Being kidnapped did things to her I can't fight. You didn't hear her tell Allie how at her age, she swore that if she were ever united with her parents, she'd never leave their sight again.”

Silence filled the shed. His outburst left him with nothing but a gnawing hunger that would haunt him to the grave.

“Funny how with all that going on in her life, she left their sight several times to fly to Montana.”

“On business for Allie and me!” Colt thundered. “But you haven't seen her pop up around here lately because that business is over.”

“If you say so. Why don't I help you take all this junk into my house where it will be hidden? Noreen and I will wrap it for you so Matt doesn't suspect anything.”