Thunder at Dawn Read online

  “Keene said we have to give our statements—”

  “Screw Keene. I’m taking care of my girl.”

  My girl. Her heart gave a bump. “I’m all right, Zach. I’ll be fine—”

  “Damn straight you will.” Gently, he kissed the top of her head. His silver eyes burned into hers and when he spoke again, his voice was husky.

  “Because now that I’ve got you back, I’ll never let anyone or anything hurt you again.”

  She felt a tingle run through her. It drowned out the pain and the guilt and the fear of the past hours. It made her feel clean and whole and alive in a way she hadn’t in a very long time.

  “You . . . have me back?” she repeated in a low tone, and her hand crept up to touch his face. “I’m not sure I was ever gone.”

  She gave a small, choked laugh. “Or that you were ever either . . . at least from my heart.” Finally, she was being honest with him, more honest than she’d been with herself for the past ten years.

  Zach felt warmth leap through him, and a kind of settled peace he hadn’t felt in a long while.

  “You were always in mine, Faith.” His mouth caught hers, and he spoke against her lips. “My, God, if you only knew. Always.”

  As the wind rose and danced all around them, chasing tumbleweed down the slopes of Snowflake Mountain, he kissed her again.

  “I love you,” Faith whispered.

  Zach looked into her eyes and thanked his lucky stars. He’d been granted a second chance.

  “You don’t know how glad I am to hear that, Faith. Because I just happen to love you too.”

  Chapter 29

  “YOU’RE SPOILING ME,” FAITH PROTESTED.

  “That’s the idea.” Zach set the tray down on his bedside table and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  Sitting up in his big king-size bed, wearing only a T-shirt and panties, Faith wasn’t even looking at the mug of hot tea or the luscious slice of strawberry rhubarb pie he’d brought her from the whole one Bessie had dropped off a short while ago.

  She was gazing at him, an expression in her eyes he didn’t quite fathom.

  It was twilight in Thunder Creek, nearly five hours after they’d made their way down Snowflake Mountain. The sky was a spectacular blend of soft rose and lavender and gold, and there was a chill in the air that made them glad for the fire Zach had built in the bedroom’s huge stone hearth.

  It had been an incredibly long day.

  They’d spent nearly two hours at the sheriff’s office being grilled by Rick Keene—with orders to come back the next day for a follow-up interview. Faith had been checked out at the ER and sent home with orders to rest.

  Zach had made sure she did just that. But he couldn’t settle down, at least not yet. He had a different agenda. He was afraid that if he shut his eyes, when he woke up things would be different between him and Faith—she’d have pulled away again, rethought what she’d told him on the mountain—and backed off.

  There was no way he was going to relax until everything was set between them, until he was sure that she wasn’t going to change her mind again and withdraw from his life.

  So he’d watched her sleep in his bed, tucking the blanket over her shoulders when she tossed and turned, brushing a kiss against her cheek. He’d taken comfort watching her breathing ease and slow, seeing the faintest of smiles touch her lips as peacefulness settled over her.

  Dillon was coming home in only a few days, and Zach was finding it difficult to believe there was a chance he’d have both of the people he loved right here with him.

  After what he’d thought today when that madman told him Faith was dead, when he himself had been searching for her with dwindling hope and growing fear, having her here now was a miracle in itself. Having both of them in his life was almost too much to hope for.

  He wanted to believe it, but he wasn’t sure he could.

  So he’d watched Faith sleep. He’d stretched out beside her and cradled her against him and thought of the life he wanted to give her, right here at the Last Trail ranch, wondering if there was any way in hell it could possibly come true.

  The way she was looking at him now stirred his foreboding. He had no idea what she was thinking, but she looked troubled. Hesitant.

  Sometimes you had to take the bull by the horns. “Okay, Barclay. Out with it. Hit me with your best shot, I can take it.”

  “I . . . hope so.” Faith bit her lip. She held out a hand, inviting him closer, and he caught her fingers in his and sat down beside her on the bed.

  He wanted to throw off all the blankets and make love to her. Long, slow, intimate love. She looked delicious in nothing but that white T-shirt and pink lace panties, those endless golden legs, her hair spilling wildly about her shoulders.

  But she had something to say. His stomach tightened. “Go ahead, whatever it is, Faith, I’m listening,” he said grimly.

  She squeezed his hand tighter. “Owen told me the truth in the chapel at the hospital. I know, Zach. I know that he was the one who hit Pete, not you.”

  There was a long silence. Then Zach shrugged. “It looks like everyone in Thunder Creek will know what really happened pretty soon. When Bessie brought the pie, she mentioned that Owen had come in to the diner this afternoon and told her the truth about that night. She said he’d just come from confessing to Fred Harrison—and he looked pretty shaken up. But he seemed to want everyone to know, now that he had told Harrison. He even called Hal Miller at the Thunder Creek Daily and asked him to write a story clearing everything up.”

  “Is he doing it?”

  “Yeah.” Zach seemed surprised. “Even though it’s old news, and not that many people even remember or care, Miller’s writing the piece himself—something about a long mystery finally solved. It’s all going to come out.”

  “It needs to come out, Zach, once and for all. Not only for your sake, but for Owen’s. He’s eating himself alive with guilt—both for what he did and for keeping it a secret.”

  “I guess I didn’t do him such a big favor,” he muttered.

  “You did in some ways. Zach, I know why you took the blame, and why you allowed everyone to think you hit Pete for all these years—even now, when Wood Morgan and Fred Harrison were trying to turn the town against you. I understand why you did it and why you kept quiet.”

  He slanted a questioning glance at her.

  “You thought you had nothing to lose,” Faith said slowly. “You were going home to marry Alicia anyway, and you didn’t plan on coming back to Thunder Creek.”

  “That was a big part of it. I was also stupid and hurt and shortsighted as hell. I figured my life as I wanted to live it was pretty much over. It really didn’t matter to me what anyone thought of me—except for you. And at that point, I knew you were going to hate me anyway, Faith, so why the hell not give you even more of a reason? Make it easier for you to move on.”

  Her heart ached. Yet she persisted. “There was something else too. Wasn’t there? You were thinking about Owen . . . and his family.”

  His wide shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Yeah. I knew old man Harrison would fire his father’s ass if he found out Owen had been the one to put Pete in the hospital. I knew Owen’s father needed that job, that his mom was going in for surgery. And it was an accident,” he said quietly. “It didn’t seem right that a whole family should have to suffer because a couple of boys got in a fistfight and something went very wrong.”

  She snuggled closer, snaking her arms around his neck. “You big jerk,” she muttered against his throat. “Who ever would have guessed you were such a softie?”

  “Don’t spread it around.”

  “I should have known. I should have always known.”

  Zach’s arms went around her, and he breathed deeply of the warm honey and milk scent of her skin. “I thought you’d be mad as hell that I never told you, that I kept quiet even these past few weeks when we’ve . . . gotten close again.”

  “Well.” She smiled, and pushed bac
k her hair. “I’m all done with anger. Too tired, probably.” Her gaze was tender as she met his eyes. “I don’t know about you, Zach, but I could really go for a slice of that pie now.”

  Twilight had bloomed over the land. The fire had died down and the room was full of shadows. Faith suddenly got up from the bed, turned on all the lights, drew the curtains against the night, and came back to sit beside him, her long legs tucked beneath her.

  She was tired of shadows. Of darkness. And she was hungry. She nibbled at the pie, then stopped suddenly, lost in thought.

  Zach reached out a hand, gently touched her cheek. “I wish I could change things, Faith. Everything.”

  “Don’t say that.” She shook her head and slowly smiled, and this time it reached her eyes. “You don’t want to change everything. You have Dillon. He’s a wonderful boy.”

  His eyes lit. The corners of his mouth quirked. “He’s a good kid,” he said modestly.

  “He’s a great kid and you know it. You’re crazy about him.”

  Zach chuckled and traced a hand over her bare, golden thigh. “I’m crazy about you.”

  She grinned and took another bite of pie. “He wants a mother,” she said thoughtfully, slanting a glance at him from beneath her lashes.

  Zach watched her, his gaze suddenly keen and intent. “Yes, he does. And interestingly enough, he already has a potential candidate in mind.”

  She licked the fork. Slowly her tongue caressed the tines, gooey with pie filling. Zach felt his blood start to roar.

  “What does his father think about that?” she asked casually.

  Zach took the plate from her, set it aside. “His father thinks the love of his life would be a fantastic mother.”

  “Even if she’s had no experience?”

  “She’s a quick learner. I’ve known her a long time and she caught on to French kissing in a flash. Same for strip poker.”

  Playfully she punched him in the arm, and he captured both her hands in his.

  “She’s also briliant. I hear she’s a wizard in a courtroom,” he went on. “Mothers have to be able to win lots of arguments with their kids. She’s very qualified in that department.”

  “They need to love their children. Sometimes, in a second marriage . . . that can take a bit of time. Do you really think your candidate is up to it?”

  “Absolutely. She has the biggest heart I know. And she’d have the rest of her life to get the hang of it.”

  “It’s beginning to sound like a slam dunk to me,” she murmured, her eyes closing as he nibbled the edge of her ear.

  “There’s only one thing.” Zach pulled back, looked straight into those shimmering dream-blue eyes. “Dillon and his dad both want him to have brothers and sisters. Lots of ’em.”

  “How many is ‘lots’?”

  “At least two of each.”

  “Five children, Zach? You want to have five children?”

  “For starters. How else am I going to fill up this big old house?”

  How indeed. Faith laughed.

  “Of course, it doesn’t have to be this house,” he added quickly, suddenly cradling her face in his hands. “I can work from anywhere. We could buy a house in Philly . . . in the suburbs . . . anywhere. It’ll mean a bit of travel, but I can run my company from wherever you want to live—”

  “I’ve been thinking about staying on in Thunder Creek,” she said softly. “Hanging out a shingle. Private practice.”

  “Well then.” Zach’s gaze gleamed into hers and Faith realized it had been a long time since she’d seen that light of hope in his eyes. “I’m going to need a sharp attorney with a good head and a big heart to work out all the details with the camp and the various organizations recommending the first batch of campers. Think you might be interested in working for a corporate client?”

  “Not particularly.” Her eyes danced. “But in your case, I might make an exception.”

  Zach took her in his arms. His kiss told her everything he hadn’t yet said in words. Faith felt her heart soaring. There had never been such tenderness between them.

  Perhaps it was because death had come calling, and life had prevailed. But they made love with slow, precious passion, each touch, each stroke and kiss sending charged sensations through them. When they lay naked together on the bed and she opened herself to him, for the first time she opened more than her body. She opened her whole heart.

  Zach made love to her as if it were their first time. As tenderly, lovingly, and completely as he had that very first night on Cougar Mountain. His need for her roared through him, but he loved her slowly, deliciously, with infinite gentleness, covering her eyelids, her lips, and her throat with kisses as he entered her and felt them become one.

  Their movements became more urgent, fevered need took over, and Faith cried out as he plunged deep into her core. They bucked and rocked together, fusing their hearts, souls, and bodies until they were soaked with sweat, trembling and blissfully sated.

  Outside, darkness settled over the mountains and Thunder Creek grew quiet as a cave. Faith and Zach lay curled together, and finally, in the cocoon of darkness and each other’s arms, they slept.

  First thing the next morning, before she even had coffee, Faith called Susan.

  “I want you to go out to dinner at a nice restaurant tonight on me—and crack open a bottle of champagne. The kids get Shirley Temples and all the dessert they can eat.”

  “What? Oh my God, what’s going on?” Susan gasped and then hushed the kids. “Turn down the TV, quiet a minute, okay, guys?

  “Faith,” she continued, “what are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about good news, Susan. I’m talking about the rest of your life. You never have to worry about Hank again.”

  “Don’t tell me—he’s been arrested? He’s in jail?” Susan whispered, hope throbbing in her voice.

  “Better. He’s dead.” It gave her only pleasure to say those words. But for a moment Faith heard nothing but silence.

  Then, “Oh my God. You’re sure?”

  “Positive.” Her lips were taut. “I saw the body myself.”

  Only then did Susan start to cry. And Faith knew she wasn’t crying with sorrow.

  “It’s over, Susan,” she told the sobbing woman, who was going to need some time to adjust to living life free of terror.

  “Go out and celebrate. Look the world in the eye. Hank will never hurt you or scare you again.” She was smiling into the phone as Susan wept with joy. “Go ahead, cry over him for the last time. It’s all over.”

  Chapter 30

  THREE DAYS LATER FAITH DRANK HER MORNING coffee alone on the porch of the cabin, gazing out over Blue Moon Mesa.

  She had never seen it look quite so peaceful as it did today. The mountains rose, faintly lavender in the morning light, and the sky was smooth and pure as a sapphire.

  Two young hawks circled overhead, then winged off toward Snowflake Mountain. The air was still and crisp, carrying the scent of cool stands of pine.

  Only when she glanced over toward the place where Candy Merck’s body had fallen did Faith feel a chill. Candy’s death had been senseless. Dougie Clement had been after her. Candy never should have been hurt. But neither should Patti, or her baby, both of whom, thankfully, were fine.

  At least Dougie was going to pay for his crimes. In the past few days Keene had gathered enough evidence to convict him ten times over. The apartment he’d been renting at the Pine Hills apartments yielded a wealth of evidence. Two strands of Candy’s blond hair had been found on the cuff of a pair of gloves he must have worn the night of her murder. Her driver’s license and purse were under his pillow. And the mask he’d worn when he’d attacked Patti had been nailed to the bathroom wall.

  That was only the beginning. Clement had made little effort to conceal anything incriminating, no doubt believing he was too smart to ever get caught. A wallet and credit cards belonging to Hank Bayman were found tucked in a metal box under the bed, along with b
omb-making and timer instructions downloaded from the Internet.

  Keene told Zach they clearly linked Dougie to the explosion at the construction site, an explosion he’d apparently rigged to keep Zach busy while Faith was being kidnapped.

  But so far, he hadn’t been able to connect Clement to the note warning of the original bomb threat.

  Probably because he didn’t do it, Faith thought, taking a sip of her coffee. She and Zach were both convinced that Wood Morgan and Rusty Gallagher were responsible for that note—Dougie had only taken advantage of it, using their threat as a cover for his bomb.

  But she highly doubted Keene would bother to pursue it. He’d gain nothing from going after them when Morgan was so generously supporting his campaign for sheriff.

  At least, Faith reflected, watching a fox slink through the trees, there was now no reason to worry about Wood Morgan making any more trouble for Zach or the camp. He and Zach had made an arrangement, called a truce, and Morgan had recalled his petition drive.

  Peace on earth, she thought grimly. Or at least, in Thunder Creek.

  Especially since Dougie Clement was going away for good. He might not get the death penalty, but he’d be committed to either prison or a maximum-security mental hospital for the rest of his life.

  Yesterday morning he’d been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, one count of kidnapping, and one count of detonation of an explosive device with the intent to terrorize, maim, or kill. He’d then been taken under heavy guard to the Natrona County jail in Casper to await trial.

  It was over.

  Faith lifted her gaze to the rich turquoise sky and let herself bask in the peace that seemed to flow like a late summer breeze through the trees of Thunder Creek.

  Only when her phone rang did she stir from her chair on the porch and go in search of it.

  “Guess who’s home?” Zach chuckled in her ear. “The kid hasn’t stopped talking a mile a minute for the past half hour. The high point of his trip was riding all the way down the canyon and almost getting bit by a snake.”