Appalachian Abduction (Lavender Mountain Book 2; Appalachian Magic) Read online

  “Not all my memories here are bad ones.”

  “Right,” Charlotte touched his arm. “You grew up in that cabin. I’m sure you had lots of great times.”

  He pulled around to the back of the yard. Yep, the old metal glider swing remained. He stopped the car and stuffed the keys in his pocket. “But my favorite memory of all is that this is where I first met you.”

  A delighted grin broke across her face. “Aww...that’s so sweet.”

  “Come on.” He got out and headed for the trunk.

  “For a minute,” she agreed, climbing out. “It’s cold out here.”

  James opened the trunk and pulled out a thick quilt. “I’ve got you covered.”

  “Looks like you had this planned from the get-go.”

  “True,” he confessed. He put an arm around her and led her to the glider.

  “Did your mom make this quilt?”

  “Grandmother. Mom wasn’t into all the domestic stuff.”

  Charlotte sat down and he tucked the quilt around her legs before sitting beside her.

  She giggled. “How could I forget the first time we met? That look on your face when you ordered me to stop running—so ferocious.”

  “Of course it was. You pointed a gun at me.”

  “Because I thought you were one of them and had come to finish me off.”

  A grin split his face. “Freezing cold and you had on nothing but an oversize camouflage shirt and black panties. All long, sexy legs, wild red hair and an attitude.”

  She jostled his side with her elbow. “Is that why you followed me everywhere and wouldn’t leave me alone? You lusted after my body?”

  “You were a mystery. One I had to solve.”

  “It’s what makes you a good officer.”

  “About that... I turned in my two-week notice today.”

  Surprised widened her teal-green eyes. “Why?”

  “It’s not for me. I’ve been longing to go back to my old job. To work with my hands again.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Carpentry.”

  He studied her face closely. Carpentry wasn’t exactly a sexy kind of job, and it might take some time before he became established in the community. For some women, that could be a real turnoff.

  “A carpenter,” she murmured thoughtfully. “You’re full of surprises. I should have guessed with the whittling piece at your house. If that’s what makes you happy, then you should absolutely go for it.”

  His gaze drifted to what remained of the burnt pine structure. “My first job will be to tear down what’s left of Dad’s cabin and rebuild it into a new home.”

  “I love that idea, James.” She paused a few heartbeats. “And I love you.”

  The tension in his shoulders relaxed. Charlotte loved him. They could figure the rest out later—together. He stroked her hair and ran his fingers over the delicate features of her face.

  “Forever?” he asked quietly, hardly daring to breathe.

  Her teal eyes sparkled and shimmered. “Yes. And I promise I’ll never run away from you again.”

  Epilogue

  Charlotte’s breath caught at the stunning vista. A woman couldn’t ask for a more perfect wedding day. Dogwoods blossomed on top of Lavender Mountain and the lush greenness of the forest contrasted with the turquoise sky. To think by summer’s end she’d be living here, waking up each morning next to James and admiring this gorgeous view from their new home.

  Her gaze sought his through the throng of well-wishers. He was deep in conversation with Sammy and Harlan. The threesome looked so arresting in their tuxes that her breath caught. Of course, James was the most handsome by far. How lucky was she?

  As if attuned to her every nuance, James lifted his eyes and scanned the crowd until they settled on her. A slow, sexy grin lit his face.

  Lilah was suddenly by her side. “Pretty impressive, huh?” she asked.

  “He is,” Charlotte murmured, gaze still locked on her groom.

  Lilah laughed and slapped her arm. “I’m talking about the cabin, silly. Not my brother.”

  Charlotte wrenched her gaze from James and stared at his handiwork. The burnt remains of his dad’s old place had been torn down, and a new home for the two of them was coming along at a quick pace. James had hired a crew and worked sunup until sundown, returning home every night sweaty and dirty, with a huge smile lighting his face. And he slept soundly at night, the insomnia a thing of the past.

  “It doesn’t have the grandeur of a Falling Rock mansion, but it’ll do, right?”

  Again she had to snap her thoughts back to the conversation at hand. “It’s perfect.”

  Lilah hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re marrying my brother. I haven’t seen him this happy since before his first overseas tour of duty. You’re good for him.”

  “And he’s good for me. I was lonely and totally burned out working undercover.” She hadn’t even known how miserable she was until she met James and came to Lavender Mountain.

  “I only wish Dad and Darla were here to see your wedding. And the new house.”

  “Me, too.” She and James had talked about it just last night. His father would have been proud of James’s accomplishments. “This work has been good for James. It’s as if he’s laying to rest the ghosts from his past with every board he cuts.”

  “What’s this about ghosts of the past?” James was beside her, and Lilah waved goodbye, strolling over to Harlan and Sammy.

  “Nothing. From here on out, it’s nothing but new beginnings,” she promised.

  “No second thoughts about marrying a carpenter?” His voice was light and teasing, but his eyes hinted at worry.

  “Not when you’ve built us this gorgeous house complete with custom cabinets and bookshelves.” She winked. “Who am I to complain? You should be the worried one. I work crazy hours with Sammy and I’ve made plenty of enemies over the years.”

  “You’re safe with me. Forever.” James lifted her left hand, and her engagement ring sparkled in the late afternoon sun.

  “I know,” she whispered.

  He lifted a strand of her red hair and smiled. “Glad it’s back to its fiery color. It suits you.” Then he kissed her. It started out as a quick press of the lips, but he deepened the kiss and she was lost in the moment.

  Cheers and whistles from the wedding guests brought her back to reality. Before she could pull away, James whisked her into his arms and spun her around.

  In a dizzying whirl, she saw them all there—her mom and dad and brothers, Harlan and all her coworkers, even Tanya and Jenny had come for the celebration. Finally, she was at home. At peace. In a place where she could plant roots and spend the rest of her life. Lavender Mountain was the haven she hadn’t even known she was seeking.

  Miss Glory had told her to open her heart, and at last she finally had.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from LAWMAN FROM HER PAST by Delores Fossen.

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  Lawman from Her Past

  by Delores Fossen

  Chapter One

  Someone was watching him. Deputy Cameron Doran was certain of it.

  He slid his hand over the gun in his waist holster and hoped he was wrong about the bad feeling that was snaking down his spine. Hoped he was wrong about the being watched part, too.

  But he knew he wasn’t.

  He’d worn a badge for eleven years, and paying attention to that bad feeling had saved him a time or two.

  With his gun ready to draw, Cameron glanced around his backyard. Such that it was. Since his house was on the backside of the sprawling Blue River Ranch, his yard was just a smear of grass with the thick woods only about fifteen feet away. There were plenty of trees and underbrush. The edge of the river, as well. However, there were also trails that someone could use to make their way to his house.

  Someone like a killer.

  You’ll all die soon.

  That was what the latest threatening letter had said. The one that Cameron had gotten just two days ago. Not exactly words anyone wanted to read when they opened their mail, but he’d gotten so many now that they no longer held the emotional punch of the first one he’d gotten a couple of months ago. Still, he wasn’t about to dismiss it.

  Cameron had another look around, trying to pick through the thick clusters of trees, but when he didn’t see anyone, he finished off his morning coffee and went inside. Normally, he would have made a beeline to the nursery so he could say goodbye to his nephew, Isaac, before heading off to work at the Blue River Sheriff’s Office, but this morning he went to the window over the sink and kept watch.

  From the other side of the house, he could hear Isaac fussing, probably because the nanny, Merilee, was changing his diaper. Isaac was only a year old, but he got up raring to go. He objected to the couple of minutes delay that the diapering caused.

  Just when Cameron was about to decide that the bad feeling had been wrong after all, he saw it. Someone moving around. Since those particular trees butted right up against an old ranch trail, the movement got his complete attention.

  “Merilee,” he called out to the nanny. “Keep Isaac in the nursery a little while longer. And stay away from the windows.”

  Cameron knew it would alarm the woman, but there was nothing he could do about that now. If this turned out to be a false alarm, then he could smooth things over with her. But for now, Isaac’s and her safety had to come first.

  He drew his gun, and as soon as he opened the door a couple of inches, Cameron spotted more movement. And the person who was doing the moving.

  A woman peered out from one of the trees, and even though she was still pretty far from him, he caught a good enough glimpse of her face.

  Lauren Beckett.

  She stepped out in full view of him so he got an even better look. Yeah, it was Lauren, all right. She still had the same brunette hair that she’d pulled back into a ponytail. The same willowy build. The last time he’d seen her she’d been a teenager, barely eighteen, but the years hadn’t changed her much.

  If he’d ventured a guess of who might have been lurking around his place, he would have never figured it would be her. Especially since he’d built his house on Beckett land. Her family’s land. Of course, Lauren hadn’t considered her siblings actually family—or him a friend—in nearly a decade.

  Cameron felt the punch of old emotions. Ones he didn’t want to feel. He and Lauren had parted ways long ago, and he hated that the tug in his body was still there for her.

  He looked at her hands. At her wedding ring. She was still wearing it though he knew her husband had died from cancer a year and a half ago when Lauren had been pregnant. Of course, she might still be wearing the ring because she and her late husband had a child together. A son, if he remembered correctly.

  Who was he kidding? He remembered, all right. Little details about Lauren just stuck in his head whether he wanted them there or not.

  “What are you doing back there?” he asked.

  He started to reholster his gun but then stopped when she fired glances all around her. Lauren had her teeth clamped over her bottom lip, and she motioned for him to come to her.

  Hell.

  He’d been right about that bad feeling. Something was wrong.

  “What happened?” he demanded, but she just kept motioning.

  Cursing under his breath, Cameron stepped out and locked the door behind him. Judging from Lauren’s nervous gestures, someone else could be out there, and he didn’t want that person getting into the house. Keeping watch around him, Cameron gripped his gun with two hands and started toward her.

  More memories and emotions came. It’d been ten years since he had seen her. Since he’d kissed her. Ten years since their worlds had turned on a dime. Her mother and father had been murdered. Butchered, really, and even though their killer had been convicted and was behind bars, Lauren hadn’t thought justice had been fully served.

  Because she also blamed Cameron for not doing enough to save her folks.

  That was okay because Cameron blamed himself, too.

  All of those thoughts vanished for a moment, though, when he made it to her and stopped about two feet away. Still close enough to catch her scent and see those intense blue eyes. She didn’t say anything. Lauren just stood there, staring at him, but he could tell from the tight muscles in her face that this wasn’t a social visit.

  Not that he thought it would be.

  No. Lauren had said her final goodbye to him a decade ago, so it must have taken something pretty bad to come to him this way. Unless...maybe she wasn’t here for him.

  “Your brothers probably haven’t left for work yet and are still home,” he told her. They didn’t live far, either. “Gabriel lives in his old place, and Jameson has a cabin about a half mile from here.”

  She didn’t seem the least bit surprised about that, which meant maybe Lauren had kept up with her family, after all. Good. Because Cameron wasn’t the only one who thought of Lauren often. So d
id her brothers and her sister, Ivy.

  “I can’t go to them.” Her voice was raw and strained.

  “Because you broke off ties with them,” Cameron commented. “Don’t worry about that. You’re still their sister, and they’ll help you. They love you,” he added, hoping that would ease the tension he could practically feel radiating off her.

  Lauren blinked, shook her head. “No. Because their houses are on the main road and someone might see me.” She turned, glancing around again, and that was when Cameron spotted the gun tucked in the back waist of her jeans.

  He cursed again. “What’s wrong?”

  A weary sigh left her mouth. The kind of reaction a person had when there was so much wrong that she didn’t know where to start. But Cameron figured he knew what this was about.

  “We’ve all been getting threatening letters and emails,” he volunteered. “I’m guessing you got one, too?”

  She nodded and dismissed it with a shake of her head. “You’re raising your sister’s child?”

  Again, she’d managed to stun him. First with her arrival and now with the question. It didn’t seem the right thing to ask since this wasn’t a “catching up” kind of conversation.

  “Gilly’s son, Isaac,” Cameron clarified. It had been a year since his kid sister’s death, and he still couldn’t say her name without it feeling as if someone had put a meaty fist around his heart. “What about him?”

  Lauren didn’t jump to answer that. With her forehead bunched up, she glanced behind her again. “Is he...okay?”

  Isaac was fine. Better than fine, actually. His nephew was healthy and happy. That wasn’t what he said to Lauren, though. “Why are you asking?”

  “I need to see him. I need to see Gilly’s son.”

  That definitely wasn’t an answer.

  Cameron didn’t bother cursing again, but he did give her a flat look. “I’ll want to know a lot more about what’s going on. Start talking. Why are you here, and if you’re in some kind of trouble, why didn’t you call your brothers? Because I think you and I both know I’m the last person on earth you’d come to for help.”