The Danger Within by Valerie Hansen

Author:Valerie Hansen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2006-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

Late that afternoon, having checked every nook and cranny for venomous creatures and finding none, Layla was pacing the cabin floor and trying to accept Michael’s revelation. She’d relived the incident so many times, the details of running off the road were beginning to blur.

When she closed her eyes she could visualize the attacker looking back at her from his speeding truck, but what good was that memory when he’d been wearing a ski mask? It could have been anyone. It still might be. There was no ironclad guarantee that the man who had died in the damaged truck was working alone. Maybe he wasn’t even the person who had smashed it into her!

She hoped the dead man had been her attacker. To believe otherwise left too many loose ends.

Michael’s knock on her door startled her. She managed a smile just the same. “Hi.”

“Hello, sunshine.”

“It’s Rainbow,” Layla said. “Come in. You must be frozen.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“My middle name is Rainbow. Didn’t Fiona tell you?”

“No.” He entered, rubbing his hands together, and headed straight for the warmth of the hearth. “It fits you, though. Boy, it’s cold. I’m glad you started a fire.”

“Me, too, as long as it doesn’t wake up more hibernating snakes. Have you had any more sick cattle?”

“No, none.”

“Good. I don’t know if I could handle another catastrophe right now. I’m really beat.”

“How about doing something that will make you feel better?” Michael asked. “I’m about to head to the evening church service Sam mentioned. Would you like to join me? We can grab a bite to eat at Fiona’s afterward.”

“Thanks but no thanks. I’m still getting over the fancy dinner at the Broadmoor. You go ahead.”

Michael shook his head. “Nope. I told you I wasn’t going to let you out of my sight for very long. We both go or nobody does.” As he spoke, he paused to pet her affectionate blue heeler.

“Be sensible,” Layla argued. “There are plenty of people on the ranch who can look out for me, not to mention Smokey there. You don’t have to be my shadow. Besides, the bad guy is dead. You said so yourself.”

“I’m not about to take the chance he had friends.”

“I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Well, one of us better.”

“I suppose you’re right.” She folded her arms and hugged herself. “Have you heard anything more from Sam? Did you tell him about the snake?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“Only that he thinks we should continue to take precautions.”

“That’s a no-brainer.” She rolled her eyes. “So, what you’re telling me is that if I won’t go to church with you, you won’t go, either?”

“Right.”

“Of all the ploys I’ve ever heard to drag unsuspecting people into church, that’s definitely the winner.”

“It’s not a ploy. It’s the truth.”

Shaking her head, Layla sighed and began to pace. “You don’t understand. Going with you to church will be just like it was at the Broadmoor. I won’t belong. I never have.”

“I thought you were a Christian.”

“I am. What does that have to do with it?”

“Plenty,” Michael said.

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