Deadly Christmas Pretense by Dana Mentink

Author:Dana Mentink
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-08-07T13:07:18+00:00

* * *

Liam finally caught sight of Maggie. There was a man blocking his view, body turned from the parade. Facing away from the parade? Suspicion turned to alarm. “Chad,” he yelled.

Chad whipped a look at him. There was no time to explain and Chad wouldn’t require any more information anyway. Liam needed help, that was all Chad had to know. Chad immediately began to part the crowd, herding the people away from the Chuckwagon like he did with cattle when they separated them to be tagged. As a space cleared, Liam urged Streak forward, calling for the remaining people to move aside. They did so, their attention on Santa and the stagecoach approaching to Liam’s rear. He got clear just as Maggie darted past the Chuckwagon, running toward the barricade at the end of the street.

He flicked Streak into a trot and caught up with her.

“Maggie,” he called.

She jerked a look over her shoulder, stumbling to a stop. Acting on instinct, he reached down and swung her up in front of him, riding them away from the hubbub. Her body shook within the circle of his arms as he slowed the horse to a stop.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured into her hair. She couldn’t do much more than try to catch her breath and he let her, crooning comfort and holding her close. He scanned the crowd for the guy he’d seen, with no sign of him.

She stammered through a story about Virgil that made Liam wheel Streak around, searching for him. “Gone. We’ll tell the cops and find him.”

“There were no witnesses, again.”

“I don’t care. He’s not gonna get away with hurting you.”

Chad rode up.

“Virgil got close,” Liam said. “He tried to choke her. He’s melted away into the crowd. Keep your eyes out for him.”

Chad nodded. “I’ll call Mitch,” he said before leading the horse away.

“I’ll do the same with Danny.” By the time he finished leaving a message, Maggie was calmer. He dismounted and helped her down.

She was still shivering, so he wrapped her up close, warming her body with his. His emotions surprised him, the rage he felt at Virgil, his strong desire to comfort her. He’d so wanted to look into the crowd and find her there, waiting to see him.

You’re dreaming, buddy. You’re no more important to her than the rest of the parade.

But she circled his waist and held on as if he was an anchor on a storm-tossed sea. Scared was all. He hoped she did not feel the thundering of his heartbeat as he held her close.

Jingles sat watching, tail wagging, the candy cane still clenched between his teeth.

When she recovered enough to pull away from him, her autumn eyes gleamed with determination. She exhaled before she spoke, a long and steady breath. “Virgil thinks I know where the jewelry is. He offered a deal. He said he’d erase the video and drop the charges if I hand it over.”

“And if you don’t?”

“He will kill Tammy and me.”

Liam fought down another swell of rage as he watched her.

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