Danger On Dakota Ridge

She flushed, even though the suggestion that Agent Rob Allerton would be in her bed was preposterous. “He’s upstairs. In the Grizzly Suite. He has a reservation for a week.”

“Okay.”

She leaned forward, studying her brother more closely. He needed a shave, and he had the beginnings of dark circles under his eyes. Was he really just tired, or was something more going on? She pushed the thought away. She had to trust him. “You’re okay with him being here?”

“I guess his money is as good as anybody else’s. And it’s not like I’ll see him much, between work and school and stuff.”

Stuff. What stuff? But she didn’t ask. “It’s probably a good idea if you stay out of his way as much as possible,” she said.

“Don’t worry. I will.”

“He didn’t make a reservation here because of you,” she said. “He didn’t even know I owned the place.”

“Right.” He smirked.

“He didn’t,” she protested.

“You can believe that if you want. I think Agent Allerton knew exactly what he was doing.”

She resented everything his words—and that smirk—implied. “I actually asked him to leave, but there’s another reason he needs to be here right now.”

Parker leaned one shoulder against the wall, arms folded across his chest. “I’m really tired, sis. Can we make this quick?”

She wet her lips. He was probably going to find out sooner or later. Better she tell him rather than have him hear the gossip from someone else. “Someone took a shot at me while I was hiking up by Eagle Mountain Resort yesterday,” she said.

He straightened. “What?”

“I saw two men on the resort property. One of them spotted me watching them and tried to shoot me. Later, a car—possibly with the same two men inside—drove by here and someone shot at me again. Rob pushed me out of the way. As it is, the front door is ruined and will have to be replaced.”

“Sis! What have you done?”

“What have I done? I haven’t done anything.”

“You must have done something to tick off these guys enough to try to take you out.”

“I didn’t do anything,” she said again. “But until the authorities can track down those men, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Rob to stay here. He does have some experience with situations like this.”

“You mean he’s got a gun and he knows how to use it.” Parker shook his head, as if trying to clear it, then looked at her more closely. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” A little shaky still, but she was determined to get past that. And her little brother’s concern touched her. “I really think Rob scared them away yesterday,” she said. “And now the sheriff’s department and probably other law enforcement agencies are looking for them. I don’t think they’ll bother me again.”

“I hope not.” He ran one hand through his hair. “You say you were up by Eagle Mountain Resort the first time? This morning?”

“Yes. I was on the hiking trail that runs alongside the resort. You remember—we went up there right after you moved to town.”

He nodded. “Why didn’t you tell me about it this morning?”

“I didn’t want to worry you. And I certainly didn’t think they would track me down here.”

“It’s not hard to find anybody in a town this small,” Parker said. “Maybe you should go away for a while, until this is all over.”

“No!” The word came out louder than she intended. She lowered her voice. “I’ll be careful, but I won’t put my whole life on hold and hide.”

“What were those guys doing up at the resort?” Parker asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I saw them carrying a big wooden box into a hole in the ground.”

“That underground chamber where Gage and his girlfriend were trapped a couple months ago?” Parker asked.

“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m going to try to find out.”

“Don’t go up there again,” Parker said.

“If I do go, I won’t go alone,” she said.

“Get Rob to go with you. Or better yet, stay home.”

“I don’t want Rob to go with me. Maybe Gage can come.”

“Rob wants to be your bodyguard, why not let him?” Parker yawned.

“Go to bed,” Paige said. “And don’t worry about me.”

“I figure I probably owe you a little worrying.” He patted her shoulder, then turned and shuffled down the hall to his room. Paige returned to her room and bed, but didn’t go to sleep. She was going to end up back at the resort sooner or later, she knew. She wouldn’t go alone, but she wouldn’t sit here doing nothing and waiting for others to solve this mystery.

* * *

MAYA RENFRO WAS a petite dynamo whose shoulder-length black hair was streaked with blue. Even at seven thirty in the morning, she bounced into the Cake Walk Café with all the energy she displayed as coach of Eagle Mountain High’s girls’ basketball team. “Paige, it’s so good to see you,” she said. “And wow, doesn’t this place look great? I haven’t been here since they reopened. Gage told me a driver crashed into it this summer.”

“Yes. The owner, Iris Desmet, decided as long as she was rebuilding, she would expand and add a coffee bar.” She ushered her friend to a table. “How are you? And how is Casey?” Casey was Maya’s five-year-old niece, who lived with Maya and Gage since her parents’ murders that summer.

“She’s great. Last week she asked if, when Gage and I get married, she can change her name, too, so we all match.” Maya snatched a paper napkin from the dispenser on the table and dabbed at her eyes. “Sorry—I still get teary thinking about it.”

“That’s terrific,” Paige said. “I guess she’s really taken to Gage?”

“He’s amazing,” Maya said. “For a man who swore he was a confirmed bachelor, he’s turning out to be a really great father. We don’t want Casey to ever forget her real parents, but it’s nice to think the three of us can be a new family together.”

She pulled out a chair and sank into it. “Now you’ve heard all about me—what did you want to see me about so early in the morning?”