Silent Night (11 page)
Bree smiled. “I plan to reinstall the Fresnel lens and light the tower, someday.” Her gaze softened and took on a faraway look. “I’d like to think my light might save a ship someday.”
Kade wondered what had triggered her obsession with rescuing people. It was admirable, but surely something had caused it. Did it start with the deaths of her husband and son, or had she always been that way?
Kade stopped in front of the bed-and-breakfast and let Naomi and Charley off. Naomi waved at them from the front porch then went inside. Kade drove on down Negaunee to the lighthouse.
Gravel crunched beneath the pickup’s tires, and Kade stopped the vehicle in front of the lighthouse. The brick building’s pink paint gleamed in the glare of the porch light, but the light tower was dark. Bree opened the tailgate for Samson and followed him to the front door. Kade lowered the windows. The smell of boat exhaust hung heavy in the moist air blowing in from Lake Superior. A ship’s horn bellowed a lonely note in the middle of the bay. The Ojibwa called the lake Kitchigami, which meant “giver of life,” though right now he felt that meaning was erroneous. It was more a taker of the life he wanted. At one time he thought he’d left this place for good, only to find he was trapped in it as easily as a rabbit in a hunter’s snare.
The slap of the water against the pier carried across the water. “Thanks again for all your help. I’ll call again if we need assistance.”
“You’re welcome,” Bree said. “Let’s hope you don’t have more lost campers anytime soon.”
“We both know that’s not likely,” he said with a wry grin. “People are pretty foolish when it comes to the wilderness. They think diving into the forest is no more dangerous than taking a stroll in the city park.”
Bree grinned. “I guess I’ll see you around then, Ranger Matthews.”
“Call me Kade,” he called through the window as he pulled away. The few businesses open in Rock Harbor’s three-block business center spilled enough light onto the sidewalk to make it appear quasi-welcoming. The neon still shimmered above The Coffee Place. He pulled into the café parking lot.
The rich aroma of espresso took the edge off the day’s frustrations. He’d been as surprised as everyone else in town when The Coffee Place got a newfangled espresso machine. It had proven surprisingly popular with more than just tourists. Milt Granger’s boy, Brad, was behind the counter, but he was too busy talking to a sweet young thing with three studs up each ear lobe to pay much attention to Kade. Kade coughed several times before Brad took his order. Kade finally succeeded in getting his latte and a turkey club sandwich with a piece of chocolate pie.
“Mind if I join you?”
Startled, he nearly spilled coffee down the front of his shirt. “Hello, Fay,” he said. Just what he didn’t need. Fay Asters stood behind him with one hand on a slim hip. He pushed out the chair opposite him with his foot. “Have a seat.”
“You seen Eric around?” she asked, sliding into the chair. Her slim fingers played with her hair then slid down to fidget with the chain around her neck.
“I’ve told you to stay away from him. He’s trying to straighten his life out. You’ll just muck it up again.” It was hard to keep his gaze from the quick movements of her hands.
“You’re not his keeper.”
“No, but thanks to you, he had one of those for three years.” He’d never understood what Eric saw in Fay. Slim to the point that she had none of the womanly curves most men admired, she didn’t even wear makeup unless she was in her femme fatale mode. It must be that innocent, little-girl way she had about her, a facade that hid the truth of her real nature.
She laughed, a silvery, tinkling sound that drew his gaze to her mouth. Okay, so that was attractive too.
“If you see Eric, tell him I have important news,” she said.
She slid away from the table with a grace that reminded Kade of a sleek cat. He drummed his fingers on the tabletop and wondered what he could do to keep her away from Eric. Whatever her news was, it would likely bring trouble.
The story continues in
Without a Trace
by Colleen Coble.
Also by Colleen Coble
Romantic Suspense
Rock Harbor Series
Without
a
Trace
Beyond
a
Doubt
Into
the
Deep
Abomination
Cry
in
the
Night
Hope Beach Series
Tidewater
Inn
Lonestar Series
Lonestar
Sanctuary
Lonestar
Secrets
Lonestar
Homecoming
Lonestar
Angel
Aloha Reef Series
Distant
Echoes
Black
Sands
Dangerous
Depths
Midnight
Sea
Novellas included in:
Smitten
Secretly Smitten
Stand-Alones
Alaska Twilight
Anathema
Fire Dancer
Historical
Under Texas Stars Series
Blue Moon Promise
Safe in His Arms
Mercy Falls Series
The Lightkeeper’s Daughter
The Lightkeeper’s Bride
The Lightkeeper’s Ball
RITA-finalist Colleen Coble is the author of several bestselling romantic suspense series, including the Mercy Falls series, the Lonestar series, and the Rock Harbor series.
