Sighing, Ben descended the stairs but when he got to the bottom he couldn’t make himself go back to bed. Instead, he grabbed one of the armless kitchen chairs, carried it up to the loft, placed it next to Jamie’s door and settled himself.

  Rationale convinced him he was doing it so she wouldn’t be startled or afraid of Shadow if she came out again.

  Gut-level honesty argued that he was going to sit there all night because there was no way to be certain who her assailant was or whether he had stayed behind in Denver. The way Ben saw the situation, eliminating one of Jamie’s enemies was no guarantee that others didn’t remain. Nobody was going to hurt this fragile woman. Not on his watch.

  FOUR

  To Jamie’s surprise, she slept soundly for the rest of the night. Drops of rain glistened on the windowpanes like golden glitter as the rising sun began to warm and dry them.

  Yawning and padding to the window, Jamie surveyed the scene below. Others were clearly up and working already, and although she couldn’t tell who was who, she assumed one of the cowboy types she could see was her host. A flash of memory made her shiver. He’d taken her nighttime foray into his home quite well, considering. Instead of reacting in anger, Ben had treated her kindly and accepted her idiosyncrasies as if they were nothing unusual. Perhaps, in his line of work, they weren’t.

  And speaking of work... If she’d been at home she’d have opened her files and readied the submissions that were due, so it made sense to do that here. Getting out her laptop and camera she arranged a work area on a table instead of usurping her host’s desk, then decided to shower before dressing. The police officer who had delivered her to Wyoming had done the packing for her so Jamie wasn’t sure how well prepared she might be. Happily, her suitcases held plenty of comfy, warm clothes, including a loose cable-knit pullover that easily accommodated her baby bump.

  She eyed her computer. She felt guilty for not settling down to work, then gave herself permission to seek out food—for the sake of the baby, of course. That made her smile. If that assumption was true, this child was going to be born with an interesting assortment of food preferences.

  Easing open the door to the loft suite, she paused, peering back and forth before venturing out. An armless chair stood nearby with a plaid blanket neatly folded on its seat. More importantly, there was no sign of the guard dog.

  Empathy filled Jamie. This K-9 cop and his partner had already proved they were on her side. The least she could do was try to make nice with those gleaming white canine teeth and that muscular body that instantly reminded her of being the victim of a childhood dog bite. Truth to tell, she didn’t even have a scar to prove she’d been hurt, yet the event seemed so recent it made her tremble inside.

  As a thinking, reasoning adult Jamie knew her reaction was absurd. As a guest in this man’s home she also knew it was her duty to smooth out the situation as much as was in her power, meaning she was going to have to force herself to let down her guard and try to make friends.

  “With the dog,” she clarified as she stepped into the empty hallway and headed for the stairs leading to the main floor of the ranch house. Human friends were another matter. Getting divorced had separated her from the couples with whom she and her ex Greg had socialized. The same was true of the neighbors she’d once been able to count on. Relocating and downsizing had been imperative and the less contact she had with former acquaintances, the less chance of running into Greg. In a way, parting from her former husband had been like divorcing her whole life. Staying away from him, however, was the right choice. She had her unborn daughter to think of now. This baby came first.

  Her footsteps on the stairs were purposely soft. Aromas of breakfast, particularly coffee and frying bacon, met her halfway down. Her stomach growled and she grinned. “Easy, little one. I’m headed for the kitchen, I promise.”

  A cheery female voice called, “Good morning.”

  Jamie kept smiling as she returned the greeting. “Morning. You must be Mrs. E.”

  “I certainly am.” The stalwart-looking middle-aged woman was drying her hands on a dish towel. “Come on in. I’ve just cooked you a fresh meal.”

  “You didn’t need to bother,” Jamie said. Her grin widened. “Of course, I’m delighted.”

  “Hey, I had a couple of babies myself, ages ago. It’s not something you forget, believe me. I was hungry all the time once I got past that first trimester.”

  “I’ve been very blessed,” Jamie told her. “I was a little queasy at first but never did get sick the way some women do.”

  “That’s wonderful. I trust you’re eating right and taking vitamins?”

  Jamie had to chuckle. “Yes.”

  Mrs. Edgerton was flapping her hands as if shooing flies. “Sorry, sorry. No offense meant. I have this habit of mothering everybody. I’m sure you’re doing your best for your baby.”

  “I’m trying.” After pausing, she decided to share a bit more. “I don’t mind you mothering me. My parents are both gone. It will be nice to have someone like you to talk to.”

  “Well, you be sure to put me in my place if I get too bossy, honey. The Sawyer men have to from time to time.” She gestured at the door as Ben entered and hung his hat on a peg. “Speaking of which... Sit, sit. I’ll get you coffee, too.”

  Jamie also greeted him, noting his resemblance to characters in Western movies, complete with cowboy boots and a holstered gun. “Good morning. You start early around here, I see.”

  “Yes. We already got a feed delivery. My dad even went out with me. He needs to keep active.”

  “Your dad’s health isn’t the best, I take it.”

  Ben slid into a chair across from Jamie, mug in hand. “He has his problems.”

  “Dementia?” Jamie guessed as she stirred cream into her coffee.

  “I hope not, but anything is possible if a person gives up on life.”

  Nodding, Jamie concentrated on her food while she got better control of her unhappy memories. “This is delicious. I doubt I can eat it all but I’ll try.”

  “Whatever you leave will make Shadow happy,” Ben said. “He’s real fond of eggs.”

  “Tell me about him,” Jamie asked, forking in another bite.

  “He’s a big pussycat at heart even if he does look formidable. The only rule I have is to leave him alone when he’s dressed for work.”

  “Dressed?”

  Chuckling, Ben explained. “His uniform is a working vest and harness. When he has that on he becomes a different animal. It’s uncanny. He knows he’s on the job and his whole personality changes.”

  “He’s dangerous?”

  “Only when I tell him to be,” Ben said. “You don’t need to worry.”

  “I told you. Dogs and I aren’t compatible.”

  “Maybe not the average dog but Shadow is different. He doesn’t even hang around with our herding dogs. I’m not sure he knows he’s the same species.”

  Jamie coughed into her napkin and sipped coffee to recover. “There are more dogs here?”

  “Yes. But they’re more interested in the cattle than in people.”

  “I’ll try to remember to not make mooing noises if I’m outside.” It was a relief to hear Ben chuckle quietly while Mrs. E. snickered.

  The housekeeper added, “You really should get some sun. Vitamin D, you know.”

  “I do. And I will, eventually. I haven’t done much wildlife photography hiding out inside since...” Making eye contact with Ben and failing to get a clear signal, Jamie wasn’t sure if she should keep her reason for being in Wyoming to herself, so she stopped explaining.

  Mrs. E was quick to respond and pat her hand. “You don’t need to tell me a thing, honey. I know you’re in some kind of trouble. It doesn’t matter. We’re all on your side.”

  Jamie was touched. “Thanks. Both of you.”

  “If you want some beautiful scenery all you have to do is look around out here,” Ben said. “I’ll take you on a tour later if you want. We’ve got plenty of wild critters. Weasels, owls, coyotes, squirrels, bats...you name it. And, unfortunately, snakes.”

  “They can be pretty, too, if you look past your fear,” Jamie said, sipping at the hot coffee.

  “That goes for dogs, too,” Mrs. E said, smiling. “And speaking of dogs, that whine sounds like Shadow wants in.”

  “About time. I’ll get him.” Ben’s cell phone rang as he opened the door. He nodded to the women. “Work calling. I need to take this.”

  Shadow was living up to his name and shadowing Ben, Jamie noted. Thankfully, the K-9 ignored everything else as they passed from the room.

  Mrs. E grinned. “How many dogs do you know who would have walked right by bacon and eggs without paying the slightest attention?”

  “I don’t know any dogs of any kind, and I don’t want to.”

  “Okay. Your loss.” She was crossing the room. “So where do you carry your gun? Pepper spray? Knife?”

  Jamie sobered. “Meaning, if I can’t protect myself I need a guard dog.”

  “Precisely. Stay put. I’ll be right back.”

  Shivers shot up Jamie’s spine and tickled the hairs at the nape of her neck. The interior doorway was an open arch leading into the dining room where Ben had set up his temporary office. As Jamie observed her host she began to notice bits and pieces of the conversation he was having with his station. The words missing and presumed dead made her breakfast churn in her stomach and, despite wanting to give him privacy, curiosity won out.

  Jamie listened because she simply had to.

  * * *

  Ben ignored Mrs. E for a few moments, then held up one finger to signal her to wait. This call from Bridges, the special agent in charge at the FBI, took precedence.

  “Yes, yes, I’m listening. Another missing woman? Are you sure this Brittany Albradt fits the pattern?” He pulled up a file on his laptop. “I see. Where this time?”

  When SAC Bridges told him Denver he was surprised. “Wait. The first disappearance was in New Mexico.” He looked up the name. “Emery Rodgers. What makes the FBI think the two crimes are connected?”

  The RMK-9 Unit was under contract to the FBI to aid in cases across the Rocky Mountain Region. Ben’s boss, Sergeant Wilkes, reported to SAC Bridges.

  Bridges wasted no words. “Both were on wilderness trails. Both are in their early to midtwenties, tall, thin, blond, blue-eyed and athletic.”

  Blond. That reminded Ben of the team’s ongoing case. Last month, an unconscious woman had been found near a burning car, a baby’s car seat and pink baby blanket not too far away—but no baby. The victim hadn’t given birth, however. And their investigation had led to dead ends about whether there had been a baby in that car seat. The only decent lead they’d had about the case had been the blond hairs found on the blanket and car seat. One of their handlers, Nelson Rivers, had checked out the woman whose DNA was a match for the strands. Mia Turner had donated the hair for that wig—so they were at square one for suspects. Silver lining: Nelson and Mia were now in love.

  “Unless Forensics turns up something else we’re considering them separate cases,” Bridges said.

  Ben paused for a moment, pondering this new information, then noticed his housekeeper waving her hands and pointing to his K-9.

  A hand signal released Shadow to go with Mrs. E while Ben switched subjects. “What about my witness here? Any news on that situation?”

  “Nothing that you don’t already know.”

  “Thanks, by the way.”

  “Hey, I figured any assignment was better than cooling your heels off duty.”

  Ben made sure his back was to the kitchen doorway when he grimaced and lowered his voice. “You might have mentioned her physical condition.”

  “Why? She can’t be far enough along to cause you grief. We’ll have her back here prepping for court in a couple of weeks. I’m sure you can cope for that long.”

  “That’s not the point,” Ben argued. “What else are you not telling me?”

  “It’s all in the files. You have clearance. Access them.”

  “What about backstory? This woman is putting on a good front but I can tell she’s been traumatized, and I don’t mean just when she was shot at the other day. I mean before, maybe for a long time.”

  “You’ll need a shrink for that kind of deep dive, buddy. Our job, your job, is keeping her alive and willing to testify.”

  Lowering his voice, Ben cupped the phone with his free hand. “Did you tell her about the killer’s criminal connections? She has a right to know.”

  “Only if it affects her directly,” Bridges argued. “I don’t think it does.”

  “It might,” Ben countered. “Permission to tell her?”

  “As a last resort,” the agent replied. “Your best judgment.”

  “Copy. So far, so good here, but if something looks wrong I intend to warn Jamie... I mean, Ms. London.”

  Bridges snorted a wry chuckle. “If I didn’t know you so well I’d warn you against getting too close to the subject. One of the reasons I chose you for this protection detail is because you’re a confirmed bachelor. Ms. London doesn’t look it now, of course, but she’s a beautiful redhead when she’s not in disguise.”

  “If you say so.” Ben knew it was best to keep his opinions to himself but he couldn’t help thinking that Jamie London was plenty beautiful still. It wasn’t her hair color or even her rounding figure that defined her one way or the other. It was her kind heart and the love she showed for her unborn baby.

  Ending the call he surreptitiously eyed the kitchen doorway. It looked as if Mrs. E had taken it upon herself to try to acquaint their guest with Shadow. That was fine with him. It would simplify the protection detail if the woman could tolerate being closer to the guard dog on a steady basis.

  Besides, Ben reasoned, she’d only been here one night and part of the current day. If trouble was on her trail it could still be coming. She could become vulnerable even if she was temporarily safe on his ranch. That was one of the reasons he thought she should be fully informed about the man she was scheduled to testify against. He didn’t carry the nickname of Hawk simply because his last name was Hawkins. He’d earned it by being a ruthless predator. And he didn’t hunt alone the way a solitary bird of prey would. This hawk was part of a lethal cadre of criminals with connections all the way to the top.

  It took a pretty powerful organization to order the murder of a sitting congresswoman.

  It was going to take a courageous woman to stand up against such a formidable foe.

  FIVE

  “Police K-9s are trained to not accept treats from anybody but their handler or partner,” Mrs. E told Jamie. “He won’t take anything out of your hand unless Ben tells him to.” She eyed her boss as he joined them. “Right?”

  “Right.” Ben nodded.

  “Good. I’m fond of my fingers and those teeth are enormous.”

  “You need to learn to read dogs. Look at Shadow. Really look at him,” Ben said. “See the excitement in his eyes? See how his whole rear end is wiggling because he has no tail to wag? And look at his mouth, his face, his tongue. He’s almost smiling.”

  “Um, sure. If you say so.”

  “I do. Instead of trusting old distorted memories, try making some new ones. This is a happy, eager dog who would do anything, even give up his own life, to save a human.”

  Jamie arched a brow and leaned back in her chair as the K-9 inched closer. “You know this how?”

  “History and experience. Most dogs are that loyal but they aren’t trained to act appropriately, so if they try, they often fail. Police-trained animals are different. They’re smarter but they’re also more obedient. They have to be so they can be controlled in any situation.”

  Shadow, apparently knowing that he was the subject of their conversation, had wiggled close enough to lightly rest his chin on Jamie’s knee.

  She flinched. “Yikes.”

  Mrs. E laughed and Ben smiled. “Poor baby.”

  “Me, or him?” Jamie asked.

  Ben answered. “Shadow. Look how hard he’s trying to win you over. I imagine he knows about your baby, too. He can probably hear the extra heartbeat.”

  At that point Jamie realized she’d wrapped her arms around her tummy like a shield. Was it possible that the scary-looking dog was actually trying to make friends?

  She looked to her host. “What should I do?”

  “Breathe, for starters. Then relax. You’re so tense that even I can feel it, so Shadow must be really worried.”

  “Worried? About me?”

  “Oh, yes. He lay outside your door all night.”

  “I saw a chair. You were there, too, weren’t you?”

  “Actually we were both on guard.”

  Jamie felt her cheeks beginning to flame. “Did you really think it was necessary to park yourselves outside my door all night?”

  “After the tea incident last night, yes. You scared us all when you screamed.”

  “That is so embarrassing.” Jamie hid the lower half of her face behind the coffee mug. “I don’t even remember apologizing.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Unsure what to say or do next, Jamie took the easy way out. “I’m going upstairs to work.” She smiled at the housekeeper. “Thanks for breakfast.”

  When she pushed away from the table and stood, Shadow stepped back to give her room and she kept glancing behind her to make sure he was staying with Ben. Thankfully, he was. She breathed a sigh and felt some of the tension easing out of her shoulders.

  Her mind was still on the dog as she reached her room and paused. The door was ajar. “Funny. I thought...” Giving it a push with one hand she peered in before entering, then stepped through. Everything looked normal, yet felt wrong, somehow.