Special Delivery (Mountain Meadow Homecoming 1) (3 page)

“Holly!” Tyler jumped off his chair. “I thought you forgot me.”

This must be the sister. As she shifted to give the boy a hug, Jake noticed her pregnancy, and disappointment stabbed him. Someone had already claimed her. Her gaze lifted to his, green eyes wide and wary as she took in his uniform.

“We need to go, Tyler,” she murmured with an urgency that seemed out of place.

“How’d your doctor’s visit go?”

She started to say something, glanced over her shoulder at Jake and the Tarpleys, and said, “We’ll talk when we get home.”

Jake leaned against the counter, watching the door shut behind them. “Did you say it’s just her and the boy in the Crawley place?”

“Yup,” Jim confirmed. “They’ve been in several times for groceries. She’s pleasant and polite, but a little shy. The boy’s a good kid. He’s helped a couple of older folks out to their cars with groceries. They keep to themselves.”

And she had something to hide. The thought had popped into Jake’s head and wouldn’t go away. He’d also gotten the distinct feeling his uniform made her even warier. He must be imagining things.
Or trying to come up with a reason to see her again?

Jake nearly snorted out loud. She was pregnant, no doubt had a boyfriend or a husband somewhere already. He’d just mind his own business. Out where she lived, she was Sam’s concern anyway.

Where was Tyler? Holly shifted on the sagging flowered couch in her living room, fighting panic. Doc Owens wouldn’t let her do anything other than sit, so her comfortable sofa had morphed into a jail-cell bunk. Not that she had any idea what one felt like. She glanced at her watch. Five o’clock and almost dark. Tyler should be here. She braced one hand under her belly, struggling to sit up. He’d walked into town to buy groceries to help tide them over, but even considering the distance, he should have returned by now. What had she been thinking anyway? He was just eleven. Sometimes Holly lost sight of that.

He had always been mature for his age, but in the year since the accident that had killed their parents, Tyler had become even more so. While she had juggled the paperwork involved in their parents’ estate and her new role in looking out for her brother as stipulated in her parents’ will, Tyler had quietly gone about finding his new normal. Right now, she wished she had more of his stoicism.

She stared at the laptop she’d set aside. While she still brought in some money from Crawford’s, working part-time from home had put a real crimp in their budget. She bit her lip. Things weren’t turning out quite as she’d hoped the day she’d so optimistically chosen Mountain Meadow as the place to land. Maybe trying to see the bright side of things was part of the problem. Because she’d been so desperate to get away from Spence, she hadn’t spent enough time considering what could go wrong before they’d left Lynchburg. Bed rest the last few weeks of her pregnancy had not been in her plan. She took a deep, shaky breath, but it failed to calm her.

Now Tyler was MIA. Holly didn’t want to panic, but her options were limited. She should go find him, not sit here doing nothing. She didn’t want to call the sheriff. Her last few experiences with the law hadn’t left her with much confidence in their abilities. An image of the cop in the Tarpley’s store popped into her head. If the sheriff resembled him, at least the law in this part of Virginia was a lot better-looking. Still, she had her doubts about how effective any of them could be in keeping Spence at bay. Her best bet was to lie low, and having to call in help to find her brother shot that to pieces.

The sudden crunch of gravel and the swift glare of headlights reflecting on the window made Holly jump. She twitched the curtains aside to peer out and her stomach dropped. This time fear, not her baby, caused the lurch. A uniformed police officer waited on Tyler to climb from the big pickup idling out front. Holly swallowed, but her mouth remained bone dry. The cop from the store.

Tyler appeared fine, so her mind conjured other potential problems. Had Spence found them already? Would her restraining order even apply here? Her hand went to her stomach. This was her baby, and she would not give her up. Not to Spence. He could threaten her with as many lawyers as he wanted.

Of course when she’d stood up to him and told him she’d just deny he was the father, things had turned even uglier. He might have money and enough influence to get his way in Richmond, but not here, not if he couldn’t find her.

And if he did find her? Her chin lifted. He’d have a fight on his hands. It wasn’t Holly’s fault his new fiancée couldn’t have children. Spence had no right to stalk her, to threaten her.

She pushed to her feet and struggled to the door. No way did she want this police officer to think she couldn’t take care of Tyler. With a jerk of the warped wood, she yanked it open. Her eyes darted from her little brother to the tall, broad-shouldered cop at his side. Though she felt the cop’s eyes on her, she ignored him to focus on her brother.

“Tyler! Where have you been? Are you all right?” Her hand rubbed the dull, persistent ache in her lower back. “Ar-are you in trouble?” she choked out as her gaze flicked again to the tall police officer.

“No, it’s not like that, Holly,” Tyler told her. “This is the guy I told you about the other day…the one who bought me the candy bar.”

The officer stuck out his hand. His smile eased her tension somewhat, but she still hesitated before she allowed her slender fingers to disappear in his firm grasp. “I’m Lieutenant Jake Allred, Mountain Meadow’s assistant police chief. I saw your brother walking with your groceries as I was headed home, so I gave him a lift.”

His easy grin and dark hazel eyes, with just a hint of shyness, sent an unfamiliar tingle through her, but he was still a cop, and Holly had good reason to be wary. Spence had gotten around her restraining order again and again. It seemed to her the police had been unable or unwilling to stop him. She doubted this place would be much different.

Holly forced a smile to her lips—less than genuine but the best she could do—and pulled her hand away.

“Thank you. I know it was out of your way. I’m Holly, and you’ve met Ty.”

The lieutenant smiled, turning his easygoing grin on Tyler. “Yeah. We’re old friends by now. Why don’t you grab those groceries since your sister knows you’re okay?”

“Yes, sir.” Tyler jogged out toward the pickup truck.

“Nice kid. You should be proud of him.”

Holly relaxed a little. Tyler was a great kid, doubly amazing considering it had been little more than a year since their parents’ deaths. She started to thank the cop and noticed his eyes had dropped to her belly. She splayed one hand across her stomach, her tension increasing. She’d received more than a few odd glances around town and had to assume she was already grist for the gossips.

“The Tarpleys mentioned you’d rented this place. You’re a little isolated out here,” he commented, looking around at the surrounding hills. “Kind of a long haul for your brother to cart groceries. Is there a problem with your car?”

Why was he being so nosy?
As his eyes drifted to her beat-up compact, Holly leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb and rubbed her back. When she didn’t answer right away, the tall officer regarded her with curiosity. Holly swallowed. “I—my doctor, that is—put me on bed rest.”

Now his eyes did focus on her belly, and Holly rubbed her stomach. When the lieutenant frowned, his glance going from her stomach to Tyler returning with several bags of groceries, Holly’s concern increased.

She didn’t want to draw attention. She’d figured such a rural area and such an isolated rental were just the thing. But now, here was this dark-haired, hazel-eyed hunk of a police officer standing on her front porch quizzing her. It made her nervous. He made her nervous…and way too aware.

She needed to send him on his way. As soon as Tyler scooted into the kitchen, she gave the lieutenant as much of a smile as she could muster. “Look, thanks for giving Tyler a ride. I don’t want to keep you. I’m sure you must be anxious to get home.”

Holly started to turn away, but when he spoke again, she paused.

“Your brother said you hadn’t been here long.” He pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Look, you’re in Sam’s—Sheriff Barnes’s—jurisdiction, but I’m out this way a lot. If you need anything, give me a call. I’m happy to help.” He shifted, sneaking a glance at her. “You know, not in any official capacity.”

She took the card, her brow furrowed. As much as she wanted to get back to the safety of her little house, she had to know. “Why? I mean. We’re not your concern.” She made a face. “I’m sorry. That was rude. We’re fine. It was kind of you to give Tyler a ride.”

His eyes narrowed on her for another heartbeat as if he wanted to say something, but then he just slapped his cap against the side of his powerful thigh a couple of times and swallowed. Was that a flush on his cheeks? “No problem. Just remember. Call if you need anything.”

Holly watched him go. When only the retreating glow of his taillights remained, she shut the door and leaned against it, willing her heart to calm. She wasn’t sure if Jake Allred was the cause of that flutter or if it was just relief it wasn’t Spence who’d arrived. They were still safe. Her poor judgment hadn’t caught up with them yet. When she opened her eyes, Holly met her brother’s innocent expression.

“Don’t give me that look. You have some serious explaining to do, Tyler. I sent you out for just a few things.” She eyed the bags on the table before staring at her brother. “Then you’re gone for hours longer than you should have been, and you come back with way more than I gave you money to buy. I think that calls for some explanation.”

“Come on, Holly,” he protested. “Don’t go all big sister on me. I just wanted to help. You should be lying down. What are you doing?”

She stared at him in exasperation. “Don’t distract me. What did you expect would happen when you disappear all day, then show up at the door with a police officer? You weren’t buying groceries all this time. How do I take that lying down?”

He pulled on her hand, guiding her to the couch. “I had to do something. Did you think I didn’t notice how your back’s been botherin’ you? Be honest. Thanksgiving sucked. Now Christmas is comin’ and…” He flung his thin arms out. “I just wanted to help. The Tarpleys asked about you, and we started talking, so I asked them for a job.” He finished in a rush, maybe hoping she wouldn’t hear what he’d said.

Holly sat. “Tyler! You’re too young to work.” She knew from doing the payroll for the pallet company teenagers were forbidden to work in any hazardous jobs. There were a few exceptions to the law that would allow someone as young as Tyler to work—but working at a grocery store wasn’t one of them.

He bit his lip as he stared at his sister and began the whole story. “It’s not anything full-time….”

“It’s not anything
legal
, honey,” Holly protested. “Mr. and Mrs. Tarpley could get in trouble.”

“Well, I’m not like an employee, you know?”

Holly shook her head. “No. I don’t know. I think you’re going to have to explain. Does that mean they’re not paying you?”

Tyler’s gaze flicked to the groceries and understanding dawned. When he took the money she’d given him out of his pocket and put it in her hand, she swallowed.

“I talked to them yesterday after school,” he admitted. “Mr. Tarpley said he couldn’t pay me money, but if I wanted to stop in, he would find odd jobs for me to do and we could trade. You know. I’d do some stuff for them; they’d give me groceries in return. I didn’t want to lie to you, Holly, but I was afraid you’d say no.”

She sighed, staring at the groceries. “And I would have. You’re eleven, Tyler! I’m supposed to care for you, not the other way around.”

He sat next to her and knotted his hands together. “I wanna help. If I can do some odd jobs, you know for Mr. and Mrs. Tarpley, maybe for some other folks, too, after school and on weekends, maybe it will help make up for you having to cut your hours.”

Holly wasn’t sure whether to laugh, yell, or just cry. “But Tyler…a job?”

He blinked at her, batting his thick lashes over his big chocolaty eyes. “Come on, Holly! You know we can use the help. It’s only for a couple of hours a day.”

Holly thought about the mounting bills and the meager amount of money still in her account. The truth was it would be a help. Doc Owens mentioned she might be able to get public assistance, but Holly feared it would provide a paper trail leading Spence to them. She needed to keep as much of their finances as she could on a cash-only basis.

She blinked back tears. After a gulp or two, she whispered in a choked voice, “Okay. You’re the best brother I could ever have, Tyler. I just worry about you trying to walk home from town so much.”

He shrugged. “I’ll find a ride with somebody headed this way, like I did today. Will that make you feel better?”

Yes and no. Although she knew he should be safe with most of the people around here, they were still new to the area. “Just promise you’ll get rides from people you know, okay?” At his nod she smiled. “Beans are on the stove.”

They were having pintos for supper…again. Tyler didn’t say anything, and Holly appreciated that. She knew he was tired of them, but until her next paycheck they had few options. Now, thanks to Tyler, they had milk and cereal they could eat for breakfast. There also would be some variety to lunch and dinner.

His dark head was bent over the bowl of beans. He was a nice kid, just like Lieutenant Allred said. Plenty of cornbread and sweet tea rounded out the meal, and Tyler ate like a horse. He must be hitting another growth spurt. Halfway through his bowl, he stopped in midscoop.

“You not hungry?” he asked around a mouthful of beans.

She grimaced. “My appetite’s been off. There just isn’t much room inside anymore for anything but the baby.”

“Holly?”

She glanced up, exhaustion dragging at her. He looked so grown with his serious dark eyes, so like their mother’s. He’d tucked his longish brown hair, darker than her own, behind his ears.

“What are you going to do if the baby comes while I’m not here?”