Sara in Montana - A Christmas Wish (10 page)

Sara swallowed, “I can do that.”

“Sara, it’s really important that she only open the back door. There’s a car parked across the street from her house that appears to be watching the front door and garage. We are going to get her and her daughter out of the house without alerting them. Any questions?”

Sara shook her head, glancing at Trent and then replied, “No, I don’t think so. Will I be able to talk to her again once she’s someplace safe?”

“Sure. I am going to personally take them to a safe house while the rest of the team takes down Mr. Ward and his goons.”

Trent was surprised to hear that Samuel wasn’t going to stay in the thick of things. “You’re not going to be in on the collar?”

“I can’t. Ward knows my face. Remember when I worked that undercover gig in Atlanta a few years back?”

“The one where you decided to stop a bullet with your leg? Yeah, I remember.” Trent chuckled as he recalled what a poor patient Samuel had been. He had been placed on administrative leave to heal up for six weeks and it had been plain torture on everyone around him.

Samuel’s chuckle came through the phone, “Well, don’t blame me for not wanting to sit around on my ass day after day when there were bad guys out there that needed catching. Anyway, Trevor Ward was the head of security. He wouldn’t be too happy to see me again. Not after I convinced him to hire me on and then turned his operation upside down from the inside.”

“No, I can see why you need to stay far away from this one.” Turning to Sara, Trent continued, “Sara, I can personally vouch for this man. I would trust him with my own life and I know he’ll take excellent care of your sister and niece.” Trent gave her a slight squeeze to back up his words.

“Thank you, Samuel. I feel better knowing that Grace and Daniella will be safe again. It scares me to think that Trevor almost got his hands on them.” Sara shivered and then settled back into Trent’s arms when his hold tightened around her once again.

“Okay, I’m going to have my team approach the back door. Make the call now.”

Trent punched in the access code and then dialed the number Sara gave him. When the call started to ring through, he handed the phone to Sara along with a smile of encouragement.

“Hello?”

“Grace? It’s Sara.”

“Sara, oh I’m so glad to hear from you. The police were here looking for you. They said that you beat up David and stole his car?”

“None of that’s true ... well, most of it’s not true. I did steal his car, but I didn’t beat him up.”

“Sara, why would you steal his car? There’s a warrant out for your arrest.”

“Look, Grace, I know you have a lot of questions, but right now I need you to do something for me.”

“Sure, anything.”

“Grace, there are some FBI agents approaching your backdoor and I need you to let them into the house.”
 

“What? Sara, I don’t know. Did you know some man tried to kidnap Daniella today at the park? I just
...”

“Grace, listen to me. I know all about the attempted kidnapping. It wasn’t a random stranger, it was the head of security that is also trying to find me. I think they were trying to use you and Daniella to make me come home. The FBI are there to take you and Daniella some place safe.”

“But...”

“Grace, I need you to do this to keep you and Daniella safe. The same man who tried to kidnap Daniella this afternoon has someone watching the front of your house
right now
. The FBI are going to sneak you out the back door and a man named Samuel Drackett is going to meet you and take you to a safe house until this blows over.”

“Grace? This is Samuel Drackett, I’m monitoring the call between you and your sister, and everything she has told you is absolutely true. It’s in the best interest of you and your daughter that you let my men help you leave tonight.”

Sara could envision her sister chewing on her bottom lip while she tried to decide what to do, “Grace, quit chewing on your bottom lip and go open the back door.”
 

“Sara, are you safe?”

“Ye
s, Gracie, I’m safe for now. Once Mr. Drackett gets you to a safe place, he’s going to let us talk again and I’ll answer all of your questions then, okay?”

“Sara, are you still going to come home for Christmas? And what am I supposed to tell Daniella?”

“Just tell her that you are going on a little vacation. Tell her that if she gets ready quickly, she can talk to Aunt Sara when you all get there.”

Sara could hear the smile in Grace’s voice when she replied, “Yeah, that will definitely get her motivated. She thinks you hung the moon.”

“She’s very smart for her age. They are telling me I need to hang up now. I love you and Daniella very much and can’t wait to tell you everything. Be safe and do whatever the FBI men tell you to. I trust them and you can too.”

“I love you, sis.”

“Love you too.” Sara hung up the phone just as the tears began to flow. Trent wrapped his arms around her once again and disconnected his call with Samuel. Murmuring words of comfort in her ear, he let her tears flow. When the coughing once again took hold of her, he urged her to sit up and dried her tears with a tissue.

“Sara, I know you’re scared for your sister, but she really is in great hands right now. Why don’t we close down everything here and get back home. Jane was going to throw together some cookies and we can find a movie and relax for a bit.”

Sara nodded and gave Trent a small smile. She appreciated the comfort he had given her and for the first time in several days, felt like she might be able to recover from this event in her life. Standing up from his lap, she returned to the great room and replaced the blanket she had commandeered earlier. Once the lights were turned off, Trent set the alarm and walked Sara back down to the jeep.

Chapter 12

The drive back to the house was accomplished in comfortable silence as Trent maneuvered the snow-covered roads. He pondered the feelings he was beginning to have for the young woman sitting next to him. He had no idea how this situation would work out, but he hoped that he would have an opportunity to spend more time with her before she had to go back to California. He was so comfortable around her and it appeared to be mutual. He thought back to when he had pulled her on to his lap. It had been instinct to try an offer her comfort, but he had never been so familiar with a woman in his life.

He thought about Sara’s reaction, and the ease with which she had given up her struggle to get off his lap. He remembered her burrowing into his hold when the tears had started and how relaxed she had let her body go as they subsided. Holding her and offering her shelter and comfort had felt so right.

Glancing over at her as he pulled the jeep back into the driveway, he saw a look of peace on her face. He was glad that he had played some small part in putting it there. “You look very relaxed over there.”

Sara turned her head and looked at Trent. As they had been driving, she had been trying to make sense of her emotions and feelings. She was very relieved that her sister and niece were now being protected. The events that had transpired since she arrived in Castle Peaks earlier in the day defied comprehension. She had started this journey alone, scared, sick and running for her life. Now, not only was she in a safe place, but her family – the two people who meant the most to her, were also safe.

For the first time in several days, she felt like she could relax and rest. Her body was getting the medicine it needed to be healthy again, and then there was Trent. She had never been a social butterfly and relationships with guys had always taken months to develop to where she felt comfortable just being with them. She’d known Trent less than a few days, but she felt connected to him in a way she couldn’t quite understand.

Smiling at Trent, she asked, “Do you think Jane is finished with the cookies yet?”

“Have a sweet tooth, do you?”

“You know it. One of my favorite things about Christmas is the baking and cookies. It’s one of my fondest memories of my mom; baking and decorating sugar cookies at Christmas time. Grace and I have tried to keep that tradition alive, even if it doesn’t happen until Christmas Eve.”

Trent heard the love she had for her sister in her voice. “I take it that you were pleased with your Christmas wish coming true?”

Sara reached across the console and placed her hand on Trent’s shoulder. “Trent, I can’t thank you enough for everything that’s happened tonight. I needed to talk to Grace so badly the last two days, but I was afraid that if I called her I would put her and Daniella in danger. I never imagined that David and Trevor would go after them anyway.”

“That’s because you didn’t realize who you were dealing with. Trevor Ward is the worst sort of criminal and has the power and resources to create havoc, and then disappear when it all falls apart. According to Samuel, the FBI has been trying to catch him for over ten years. The man is smart and has connections around the world.  If David Patterson willingly got mixed up with him, he’ll be lucky to make it out of this alive. Trevor isn’t known for leaving witnesses behind or loose ends.”

Sara shuddered at the thought of David and Trevor. Part of her wanted to feel some sympathy for David and the situation he was in, but the wiser part of her was just glad she had found out what was happening before the ship had left the marina.

Exiting the vehicle, Trent went around and helped Sara down and into the back door of the house. Helping her remove her outerwear, he gestured for her to precede him into the kitchen. 

The first thing Sara sensed as they entered the house was the smell of freshly baked cookies. Closing her eyes, she inhaled and savored the sense of rightness that came along with the good memories of Christmases past. Trent watched Sara as her eyes closed, and it was evident that whatever memories the smell had brought back, were ones of happier times.

Entering the kitchen, Trent saw Jane sitting at the bar, surrounded by frosting and decorations. Looking up, she invited them to join her, “You’re just in time to help me decorate these cookies.” Jane’s eyes traveled over Sara’s, looking for signs of additional stress and finding none. “Did everything go well with your phone call?”

Sara nodded and couldn’t contain her grin, “Yeah, Trent was wonderful and his friend Samuel and some other FBI guys went to Grace’s house and now have her and Daniella in protective custody. Trevor actually tried to kidnap my niece yesterday.”

Jane looked at Trent with a mixture of disbelief and horror, “They didn’t hurt her, did they?”

“No, it seems that Sara’s sister is a warrior princess when it comes to protecting her daughter. She ran him off and was able to give a really good description of him to the police. Right now, his picture is being plastered all over the media as someone who attempted to abduct a child. I’m guessing that might put a damper on his ability to move around San Diego as freely as he’s used to. I wonder what the Quintana brothers will have to say about their hired muscle becoming so popular with law enforcement?”

Sara was silent for a moment, and then burst into giggles. Jane took one look at her and then started giggling herself. “Can you imagine, the big, tough, hired killer having to skulk around because every news service is showing his picture and every mother in town is looking out for him? I can see the headlines now
, FBI’s Most Wanted brought down by the Mother of a Four Year Old
.”

“You have to admit, it has a certain ring to it,” Trent offered. Just then he saw Sara hide a yawn behind her hand. She was completely exhausted and the excitement of the last hour had zapped whatever strength she had left.

“Sara, why don’t we take a rain check on the movie? You’re tired and it’s just about time to take some more cough syrup.”

Sara yawned again and wasn’t even remotely successful in hiding it this time. Jane spoke up as well, “Sara, why don’t I put these things away, and we can decorate the cookies tomorrow?  They’re not going anywhere and you really do need to get plenty of rest so that your body can fight off the infection.”