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  “Come on, let’s eat.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and released her. Curling his hand around hers, he pulled her with him out of the room and toward the noise coming from the other end of the house.

  When they reached the dining room, everyone was already there and before he could say a word Doc sprinted across the room.

  “Tatum.”

  The two women embraced before Doc pushed Tatum to arm’s length and glanced down at her pregnant belly.

  “Yeah, we’re growing a little bigger than expected.”

  “A little? What have you got in there, triplets?”

  Tatum laughed. “No, just your run-of-the-mill, everyday twins.”

  “Have you been taking your vitamins? Eating right? Getting plenty of rest?”

  “Yes, yes, yes.” Tatum laughed.

  “Wait. When did you get here? How did you get here?”

  “Sit down, my back is killing me.” Tatum took her seat again. “We’ll catch up while we eat. I’m starving.”

  Steve pulled out a chair for Doc, sliding it back in as she sat. He took the chair next to her and began loading her plate and his with scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages and bacon. Kat passed him the coffeepot and he filled both their mugs.

  “Hey, I can’t eat all this,” Doc complained.

  “Try to put a dent in it,” he said.

  “I’ll eat whatever you don’t.” Tatum patted her protruding belly. “Bottomless stomach.”

  “There’s plenty of food, you don’t have to eat off Gordie’s plate.” Kat offered the platter of bacon to Tatum.

  “Oh, don’t worry.” Tatum scooped up a pile of crispy strips. “I’ll eat this and hers.”

  “Don’t eat too much. I’d hate for you to throw up in my car on the way back to town,” Dale said.

  “Who said I’m traveling with you?”

  Dale stared across the table at Tatum. Steve waited for the sheriff to back down like he had the night before but this time it was Tatum’s turn to give in.

  “Fine. But I’m eating as much as I want. I haven’t chucked since the first month of my pregnancy and I don’t plan on starting again now.”

  He thought it best to deflect any more discussion of vomiting at the breakfast table. “I’ll take the plow out as soon as we’ve eaten. It won’t take long to get to town. Anyone take a look this morning to see how deep the snow is?”

  “Yeah, we got about a foot. Not much considering how hard it was coming down when we went to bed,” Brogan said as he reached for the coffeepot.

  “Only a foot?” Steve had expected much more than that.

  “If we all follow you down the mountain we shouldn’t have any problems. Once you’ve plowed, our snow tires and chains should handle the road easily.” Quinn pushed back his chair and picked up his plate. “Are we heading to the clinic or Doc’s house first?”

  “Doc’s. I want to get in and out of there as quickly as possible and I didn’t think we needed to go back to the clinic,” Steve said between bites of food.

  “Someone will have to pull my car out of the ditch,” Tatum mumbled around a mouthful.

  “Your car? Why is your car in a ditch?” Gordie asked.

  “I slid on some ice down the road a bit last night, had to walk the rest of the way.” Tatum shoveled food into her mouth as if she hadn’t eaten in months.

  “You what?” Gordie pushed her chair back and stood. “Get up. I want to check you over.”

  “Relax, Doc, I did some checking of my own and I’m good.”

  “You can’t examine yourself.” Doc’s hands went to her hips.

  Steve bit the inside of his cheek to hold in the chuckle at Doc’s attempt to give Tatum a stern look. The other woman raised one eyebrow and continued to eat breakfast. He’d come to the conclusion that Tatum did whatever the hell she wanted and you either got in line with her or bashed your head on an invisible brick wall.

  “Eat some more and then I’ll let you take a look at us, Doc.” Tatum aimed her fork at Gordie’s plate. “If you wait too long I’ll snatch that bacon up.”

  He watched Doc struggle to decide what to do. That mind of hers was trying to work out whether it was worth arguing. With a sigh, she sat back down and Steve patted her leg. She glanced at him and smiled. Warmth flowed through him, centered in his chest and he leaned over to drop a peck on her lips.

  “Eat up. You can check Tatum’s okay while I get the plow ready to go.”

  “Honestly, Doc, I’m fine. I was tired from the walk but no bumps or bruises mar this tub of a body.”

  “You weren’t hurt in the crash?”

  “Crash is far too severe a word to use for the slide that put me in the ditch. That old tank of mine just rolled to a stop nose down. It was the best stop I’ve ever made and I wasn’t even in control.”

  “Maybe that’s why?” Dale said.

  Steve glanced across the table at his friend. The man had wrinkles on his forehead and his lips were stretched in a thin line as he stared at Tatum. Tension vibrated between them, the air crackling with some fight he wasn’t privy to.

  “Yes, you’ve made yourself clear about your opinion of my driving, Sheriff.”

  Everyone was silent. No one breathed as the two of them faced off. He didn’t have a clue what was going on or why and he really didn’t have time to worry about it. To his surprise, Tatum was the first to break their death stare.

  “Thanks for a great breakfast, Kat.” Tatum pushed her chair back and stood. “When you’re ready, Doc, I’ll be in the room I shared with Kat.”

  One by one his friends got up and followed Tatum to the kitchen with their plates. As he and Doc had been the last to sit down they were still eating when everyone else had gone.

  “What’s going on with Dale and Tatum?” he asked.

  “I have no idea.”

  “But you knew she was coming back to the mountains.”

  “Yeah, she rang me early last month and asked if I was still looking for a nurse to help out part-time at the clinic.” Doc took a sip of coffee. “It’s hard to get anyone on account of them needing to be coyote so I told her anytime she turned up she had a job.”

  “Obviously she accepted.”

  “She told me she’d start mid-January.”

  “Did she also tell you she was pregnant?”

  “Yes. Said she wanted to bring her babies into the world at home.”

  “What about the father? And it’s not like this has been home for her in years.”

  “I don’t know, Steve. All I know is I’d give my right arm for some help at the clinic and she’s just what I’d wish for. I remember her coming to the clinic when Dad was still there. She had to be about ten and even then she knew she wanted to be a nurse.”

  “Seems strange that she’d stay away for so long and suddenly come back. Babies aside, it just doesn’t seem right.”

  “I guess, but then look at Dale. He came back out of the blue and look how well that worked out.”

  “Yeah, it was a good thing for the pack.”

  “This will be too.”

  “I hope so.”

  They finished their meal in silence and Steve stacked their plates and mugs. He stood. “You go take a look at Tatum. I know you were thinking about it the whole time you ate breakfast.”

  She stood beside him and smiled. “Thanks. I am worried, especially now I know she drove her car into a ditch last night.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Go, I’ll clear these away and meet you in the garage when you’re done.”

  Steve found Kat alone in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and as much as he didn’t want to have a conversation with her about her sister now, he figured it was probably best to get it over and done with. He didn’t need to start talking. She fired a question at him before he’d taken three steps into the room.

  “You going to let her run you around for the next few years or will you man up and marry her?” She kept her back to him and didn’t stop what she was
doing.

  He walked over to the sink and rinsed the plates and cups, handing them to her to stack in the dishwasher. When he was done he turned and leaned back against the counter, waited for her to look at him.

  Kat put the final dish in the machine and straightened. She looked at him but before he could say a word she spoke again.

  “I’m preaching to the choir, aren’t I?” She sighed.

  Steve smiled. “Yeah.”

  “She can’t really give you the runaround now though, can she? I mean it’s not like she can change what you did yesterday and everyone is going to smell you on her so whether she likes it or not she’ll have to own up to it.”

  “I think she will. You know what Doc’s like, once she makes up her mind it’s full steam ahead.”

  “I can’t believe she didn’t say anything about that fucking dress.”

  The subject change threw him for a second but he soon caught up with her. “Did you notice anything odd at the house?”

  “No. The only difference to any other night we’ve shared dinner was her wanting me to stay over.”

  “Nothing about the house seemed off? What about Doc?”

  “She was a little tense but then she always is this time of year so I didn’t think too much of it. In fact that’s what I put her asking me to sleep there down to.” Kat shrugged. “Figured she just wanted to know she wasn’t alone.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m moving her in here as of yesterday. We’ll collect essentials today and leave the house locked up until after New Year or when your parents arrive, whichever comes first. Maybe you should think about staying out here with us.”

  “I was planning to spend the next week with Wendy. She isn’t going home for Christmas this year and with Mom and Dad arriving sometime before New Year’s Eve, I think it best I stay in town.”

  “You and Wendy could come out here.”

  Kat placed a hand on his arm. “Steve, I know you’re just being the gentlemen you are but you don’t really want me and Wendy underfoot for the next week. Besides, I think you and Gordie deserve to have this next week locked away in this house on the mountain. So I will gracefully consider your offer but regretfully decline it.”

  Steve laughed. “Was I that obvious?”

  “No, but the sparks that fly between you two are sure to singe my hair if I stand too close.” She grinned. “Go get the plow ready so we can get this show on the road.”

  He wasn’t sure which one of them was more surprised when he pulled her into his arms for a hug. Kat remained stiff for a second before giving him one quick squeeze and breaking free.

  “I’m glad you two finally got together. Gordie deserves to be happy and you’re the one man I know who’ll make sure she will be.”

  She strode from the room before he could comment. His chest tightened and his heart beat hard against his sternum. That Kat thought he was good for Doc pleased him way more than he thought it should. He’d never considered anyone’s opinion important. The only person he’d ever set out to please was Doc and he’d screwed that up in so many ways he’d often thought he didn’t deserve her. But Kat’s faith in him made him feel worthy and Steve would do everything in his power to prove her right.

  Steve headed for the garage. He found Brogan, Quinn and Dale already there, struggling to fit the snow plow to the front of his truck. Glancing through the open roller door he saw they’d already shoveled the driveway and turn-around so he could get the truck out.

  “How the fuck does this thing go on?” Brogan asked.

  “With great difficulty, but it shouldn’t be too hard with all of us here. Normally it’s just me that fits it,” Steve said.

  “Why isn’t it on already? You usually have this thing on from late November or early December.” Quinn stood straight. “I can’t get that thing to lock in.”

  “We haven’t had as much snow this year.” Steve bent down to adjust a bracket on the front of his truck. “There, that should do it.”

  They worked together and quickly had the single-blade plow fitted for the trip to town. He’d leave it on now, until late February, that way he’d be able to get to and from town without much trouble. Since he’d moved into his house he no longer had direct access to the town plow, it was kept in a storage shed behind the community center and Harry was now in charge of clearing the main streets in Whispering Springs.

  “Ready?” Dale asked.

  “As I’ll ever be,” Steve answered.

  “We’ll all go to Doc’s house. The women can help her get some things together to bring back here and we’ll take a look around,” Brogan said.

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t thank me, Steve. I should have killed the bastard when we caught him. Instead I did the right thing and had him exiled.” Brogan’s fists clenched at his sides.

  “You weren’t the only one who had your hands on him that day. And remember I didn’t rip his throat out even though I knew what had happened to Doc up here last May.” Steve had almost given in to the need to hurt Marcus that day, but he hadn’t.

  “Water under the bridge. What if’s will eat you alive if you let them, best to move on and learn from your mistakes.” Dale walked over to the door to the house. “I’ll tell the women we’re ready to go whenever they are.”

  “So what’s going on between our sheriff and Tatum?” Quinn asked.

  “No idea. I asked Doc before and she’s as clueless as I am,” Steve said.

  “She’s a tough little thing, stood up to him without batting an eyelid.” Brogan pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Never thought I’d see that. Most run a mile and it’s not his size that frightens people, it’s the don’t come near me vibe he gives off.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. He’s been like that all his life but it’s worse since he returned from the city,” Quinn added.

  Steve could understand that. The thought of living in the city for years put him in a bad mood, never mind actually living there. “The city will do that to you.”

  “Not sure it was the city or what happened in it that made him worse.” Quinn headed for the driveway. “I’m gonna warm up my truck, tell Rowan that’s where I am when she finally gets her ass in gear.”

  “Hey, my ass is in gear.” Rowan stepped out of the house into the garage. “Don’t go getting all smart mouthed or Santa won’t bring you any presents.”

  Brogan laughed. “Santa isn’t likely to bring Quinn anything but coal in his sack. He’s got bad boy ticks tallied up until eternity.”

  “Like you’re any better.” Rowan swatted her brother on the arm as she walked past.

  “Hey.” Brogan cradled his arm against his chest.

  “Are those two at it again?” El asked.

  “Quinn started it.” Brogan and Rowan spoke together.

  Quinn rolled his eyes and turned to head outside. “I’m leaving now, Rowan.”

  “I’m coming, I’m coming.” She jogged after him.

  “Come on, let’s get this show on the road.” Brogan offered his hand to El and led her from the garage.

  Everyone else filed out of the house and Steve locked the door. Dale escorted Tatum with a hand on her elbow out to his squad car and Kat jumped in the back of Brogan’s truck which left him and Doc.

  “Kat could have come with us,” he said.

  “I think she wanted to talk to Brogan about something.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, something about the new guide starting next year. She’s supposed to do some training with him, I think. I can’t remember exactly what she told me.”

  He helped Gordie into the truck and shut the door. Jumping over the plow, he skirted the front end and got in the driver’s seat. In no time he’d reversed out and turned around. Steve drove through the unshoveled side of his driveway to the road. One by one the other vehicles fell in behind him and they headed for town.

  Chapter Five

  Gordie jumped from Steve’s truck when he pulled up to the curb
in front of her childhood home. The place looked quiet, but a raw nerve twitched deep in her belly. She wasn’t sure what it was but something felt wrong. Very wrong. Her instincts screamed run but she was done with running from Marcus and the fear he’d made her live with for months.

  Steve stepped up beside her and grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers. He waited without saying a word while the others pulled up one car at a time and came to join them on the sidewalk. There wasn’t as much snow on the ground here as there had been higher up the mountain at Steve’s place, but there was enough to know nobody had walked up to the house from the street.

  “Ready?” Steve gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out through her mouth. “Yep. Let’s do this.”

  They walked up the snow-covered path, their shoes sinking into the iced-over top with ease. Gordie wore a pair of boots Steve had loaned her, they were too big and her toes kept bashing into the steel-capped tips as her feet slid forward with each step. She’d have bruises if she didn’t get out of them soon. Good thing hers were on the other side of that door.

  Gordie froze on the bottom step. She hadn’t even thought about her purse, never mind her keys. “I don’t have—”

  “Here.” Steve held her keys out in his hand.

  “Oh. Thank you.” She gripped the key ring, reluctant to find the right key to open the front door. What was that warning bell going off in her head all about?”

  “What’s wrong?” Dale had come up behind them.

  She turned her head and saw everyone else waiting back on the footpath. “I’m not sure.”

  “Want me to go in first?” Dale asked.

  Gordie tilted her head and looked up at the second floor windows and stilled. There’s no way she’d left her bedroom window open. “Yes.” She handed over the keys.

  Steve turned her to face him. “I’ll go in with Dale. You go wait with the others while we take a look inside, okay?”