High-Stakes Inheritance

Ryan’s two-way pager continued to emit details of the fire from the holder on his hip. No need to listen. He had all the information he needed. He tuned out the chatter and focused on Jessie’s terrified eyes begging him to stay.

“I have to help Mia,” he said, giving the sweet eight-year-old a comforting smile. He pulled her close for a brief hug. “Dupree will stay with you until I get back.”

He hated to leave this little squirt with the EMT, but he had no choice. The rest of his crew hadn’t arrived, and Mia might die before they did. He gave Jessie one last lingering look then rushed toward the barn.

Surging flames consumed half the building cracking and spitting out glowing embers. Life-sucking flames.

Man. This was bad. Really bad. Hopefully he wasn’t too late. Not like that horrible day three years ago.

No. Don’t think about that now. Today you’re on time. You will save her life.

Clumsy in his boots and turnouts, he charged at the radiating heat. He lowered his face shield and dodged raining debris like an Olympic hurdler.

Thankfully, Russ hadn’t been in the office, or Ryan would’ve been sitting there when his pager went off. The drive would have taken fifteen minutes. No one would be here to rescue Mia from the flames steadily licking forward in search of fresh fuel. He’d have another tragedy on his hands. He had to hurry.

He careened around the corner.

Whoa! There she was. Mia. His Mia. Crumpled and protruding from a pet door. But she was breathing. Alive. He should be able to pry her free before the flames reached her, but smoke inhalation could still claim her life.

His steps faltered. Uncertainty settled over him like the thick smoke billowing from the barn. This was too close for comfort.

God, don’t let this end as it did with Cara.

Ryan felt God’s strength surrounding him and urging him forward.

“Are you all right?” he called to Mia.

She craned her neck up at him, and her eyes fluttered open. Large green emeralds glistened likely from smoke-induced tears. “Did you find Jessie? Is she okay?”

Yeah, this was his Mia all right. Always concerned for others in distress. “Jess is fine. She’s with the EMTs.”

“Good, I wanted to—” A harsh cough tore away her words. The spasm intensified, racking her body.

This wasn’t good. With the way he ended things between them, a stubborn Mia would rather die in the fire than let him come to her rescue. She couldn’t know his identity.

He pulled his gaze away and studied the door. He’d use his pry bar to splinter the wood above her head and drag her to safety. At least he hoped his pry bar was tool enough to do the job. There was no one else to help and the blaze flared around them.

“Hold on, sweetheart.” Years of unspoken affection flowed unbidden through his tone. “I’m gonna get you out of there.”

Sweetheart? Was this guy kidding? She was trapped in a fire, struggling to breathe, and he patronized her with a chauvinist comment? She hated when men talked down to women.

A spark of recognition shot through her. Wait! Maybe it was Ryan. He used to call her sweetheart.

Nah. After the way they broke up, he wouldn’t dare use that endearment in her presence. Besides, Ryan would have identified himself.

“Keep your head down.” His bold tone spoke to his confidence and helped ease her concerns.

She fixed her eyes on his heavy black boots as rippling shocks traveled down the wood. Waves of pain reverberated into her injured side. She bit her lip. Held it fast between clamped teeth. One last tremor. Her body lurched forward, plunged toward the dirt. The metal tool thunked on the ground, and her freefall stopped.

“Got you,” he said, clutching her under the arms. “Think you can stand?”

“My legs are numb.”

“Then I’ll have to carry you.” He didn’t wait for her agreement but in one swift motion, pulled her free then slipped his hands under her legs.

Sirens screamed in the background as he gently settled her against his broad chest. His jacket reeked of burnt wood and scratched roughly against her skin.

Didn’t matter. Not a bit. She was out of that door. Snuggled warm against his chest. He drew her even closer. Umm, nice. She was safe. It had been so long since she’d felt safe like this. Not since she and Ryan were together.

What was with her? Back in town for a few hours and all she could think about was the man who’d sent her running away in pain. Not a good idea to go there. She concentrated on breathing the improving air into aching lungs.

The wall he’d freed her from groaned and shuttered as if heaving a last breath. He picked up speed and crossed the grass with sure footing until they arrived at a dented white pickup.

Squatting, he settled her against a rusted wheel well. “There you go. Not too comfortable, but it will have to do for now.”

“Thank you. If you hadn’t come along, I—” Her voice broke, and she couldn’t speak. She changed her focus to the screaming red truck bouncing down the driveway, followed by several personal vehicles.

He squeezed her shoulder, and she turned back.

“You doin’ all right?” He flipped up his visor and fixed penetrating blue eyes on her. It was Ryan. Her Ryan.

No, he hadn’t been her Ryan for years. This was the man who hurt her and now she owed him her life.

“I know you’re upset with me, Mia, but we have to put aside our differences and talk about the letter. The fire changes everything. You have to admit the letter wasn’t just a practical joke.”

“You’re jumping to conclusions.” Conclusions she’d reached, but wouldn’t speak aloud. “The fire could’ve started on its own.”

“Possibly.” He crooked his thumb at the barn. “Won’t take long until we know for sure. Until then, I want you to stay away from Pinetree.”

She sighed and leaned her head against the truck. She was so tired. Tired of carrying around the baggage of their breakup and now she’d do just about anything to make the heartache go away.

Even if it meant letting him help her through this… But she couldn’t trust him. Any man for that matter. They only disappointed her with their need to control and then bailed on her when she didn’t let them take charge.

She had to keep up the wall, or he’d hurt her again. “I really don’t want to talk about this with you.”

Laying a gentle hand on her cheek, he turned her to face him. “You’re letting your anger at me cloud the issue, and you’re acting reckless.”

She let his hand linger like a caress. The tender warmth felt right. Like old times, before the breakup. When she thought they’d be together forever. When she believed in the pure love of a man. When she could afford to take chances.

She shook his hand off. “My safety is none of your concern.”

“Given the way I treated you I can understand how you could think that, but I don’t want to see you get hurt.” He lifted his helmet and ran a hand over sweaty hair. “We should call Russ and tell him about the threat.”

“Russ?”

“He’s the police chief now. He can help.”

“I don’t want anyone to know about this. I’ll handle it my way.”

“But this is too—”

“I said no! I don’t want everyone in town gossiping about me on my first day back. If you care about me like you said, you’ll keep this to yourself.” She locked her eyes on his. “Promise me you won’t tell him. Or anyone. You owe me that much.”

“Fine.” He let out a frustrated breath. “I’ll go along with you, but you should reconsider and tell him yourself.”

“She okay, Morgan?” A firefighter with Chief lettered on his helmet hustled toward them, breaking the mood.

Ryan stood but kept his gaze glued on hers. “I sure hope so.” His double meaning didn’t escape her, but she forced back her feelings.

“You the only one in the barn?” The chief directed his question at her.

“I think so,” Mia said, blocking out Ryan and paying full attention to the chief. “There’s a truck in there, but it was completely engulfed in flames. I don’t know if anyone was in it, but at least Jessie got out safely.”

The chief faced Ryan. “Morgan, you go help Becker investigate that truck. Dupree can take care of Mia for now.”

“I’m on it.” Ryan let his eyes linger long enough to tug Mia’s emotions back to life, then he took off.

As much as she tried, Mia couldn’t keep her focus from Ryan battling his way into the south end of the building. Fear equal to finding Jessie trapped in the blaze crept over her. He was risking his life to check the truck for survivors. Something brave firefighters did every day. But her heart didn’t clutch under her ribs for those firefighters.

What was up with that anyway? Did she have residual feelings for him or had his kind, compassionate eyes caught her off-guard like they always had in the past?

One of the EMTs plopped down next to her, ending Ryan’s captivating pull.

Good. Now she could get her mind off him and on to figuring out how to follow up on the fire. She’d do what she always did, organize and control her steps so she didn’t let feelings get in her way. With Ryan threatening her emotional stability, she was going to need an extra-detailed plan so he didn’t derail her from her quest.

Planting his feet wide apart, Ryan gripped the pulsing hose and trained the spray in front of Becker as he neared the truck. Becker picked his way through the smoldering ruins and flare-ups before giving a thumbs-up indicating the truck was clear. No lives were lost in the fire today.

A wave of relief washed over Ryan as he turned the hose over to the other fireman and headed for the chief to tell him the news. Today had been a good day.

Being a firefighter in a small town meant if someone perished in a fire, you likely went to school with them, or to church—or served on a committee together. Worst case, you were related or in love with the person, maybe planning to marry.

Like Cara. Except she didn’t die in a fire. A madman ended her life. Much like the lunatic threatening Mia might do.

Ryan halted his steps and fixed his gaze on her. Even beaten down by her ordeal she had the same vibrancy in her personality as he remembered from high school. Sure she’d been unstable in so many ways back then, but her longing to be loved by her uncaring father fueled that behavior. Ryan had hoped his unconditional acceptance of her might have been enough. But it wasn’t. Couldn’t fill the ache left by the loss of her mother and an overbearing father.

Eyes fixed on her, Ryan resumed walking. He’d been wrong. So wrong to end things the way he did. Now he didn’t know how to get her to hear him out. He should just walk away with his guilt firmly planted in his gut. She didn’t deserve to relive the day just to relieve his suffering, but he had no choice.

If he had to make her suffer a little more so she’d listen to his warnings before the lunatic behind the threatening letter and the fire struck again, then that’s what he would do.

THREE

A blustery gust of wind kicked up from the north and slid crisply over Mia. Not that she minded the cooling air after the heat of the fire. Didn’t seem to bother EMT Sally Dupree either as she strapped a blood pressure cuff on Mia’s arm. She relaxed and let her gaze drift to Jessie.

Sally’s partner ministered to the pipsqueak of a girl who didn’t stop asking questions about the procedures. Her tone was lighthearted, and she cracked up when the EMT tickled her, but a haunted glaze dulled the sheen of her eyes.

Mia had no desire to laugh after what she’d just survived, not even if it was forced. As a counselor, she knew kids had the ability to recover faster from trauma than adults. Children could also appear to be fine but suffer tremendous emotional scars. She would make a point of telling Jessie’s parents about signs that indicated Jessie had a residual problem.

“Do you know if anyone notified Jessie’s parents?” Mia asked.

“Jessie’s mother died a year ago, but I’m sure someone called Reid, and he’ll be here soon.” Sally frowned and planted her stethoscope on Mia’s chest. “Deep breaths.”

Feeling a kindred connection from the death of a mother, Mia studied Jessie more intently. Her shoulders drooped in defeat and her gaze skittered about as if fearing an attack from an unknown force.

Today’s trauma coupled with the recent loss of her mother could plummet Jessie into a depression. Hopefully Reid parented Jessie better than Mia’s dad had her when her mother died, or the child could be destined for a rocky adolescence.

Sally pulled her stethoscope free and tsked. “We need to get you to the hospital.”

No. Not the hospital!

Her father would be there.

Mia sat up. “I’d rather not go, unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Trust me. It’s necessary.” Sally’s somber tone left no room for argument. She summoned her partner on a radio then strapped a mask over Mia’s mouth.

She inhaled the cool oxygen and tried to relax even as pain ripped into her side from the transfer to the gurney and trip into the ambulance. She offered a smile at Jessie sitting on a bench seat below a wall of equipment. Jessie’s eyes mirrored Mia’s emotions, and she returned the smile with an uneasy stare.

After the EMTs secured the gurney and stepped to the end of the ambulance, Jessie jumped down and knelt near Mia’s head.

“Don’t tell anyone I was in the barn,” Jessie whispered in Mia’s ear.

Mia lifted her mask. “You weren’t supposed to be in there?”

“No.” Jessie clasped her hands together and stared at them. “Since my mom died, everybody says I shouldn’t be alone so much. But I like to be alone so I can read.”

Mia was thirteen when her own mother died in a car accident, but that first year after the accident, the constant ache never left her heart. Not to mention living the next five years with a father who blamed her for causing the crash that took her mother’s life.

“Mia, will you promise not to tell?” Jessie tugged on Mia’s arm, bringing her back.

Mia wanted to give this poor motherless child anything she asked for, but she couldn’t. “I don’t need to tell anyone, Jessie. They already know you were in the barn, or you wouldn’t be in here with me.”

“I could say I came in to save you.”

Mia’s counseling instincts shot into action. Jessie was hiding something. Her pained expression conveyed there was much more at stake than her father learning she’d been somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be.

“What’s this really about?” Mia clasped Jessie’s miniature hands.

She shook them free, and her eyes took on a defiant tightness. “I’m sorry about the barn, okay? I didn’t do anything bad. I didn’t start the fire. I was just reading. Wally used to let me read in the barn whenever I wanted to.”

“I don’t think the fire was your fault. It must have been an accident. Maybe electrical.”

“Uh-uh. A man started it.”

“What?”

Jessie trembled. “A really big man drove a truck into the barn. He got out and poured something stinky on the hay. Then he threw matches on it. He said, ‘This ought to scare her.’ Then he laughed and left.” Her eyes scrunched as she rubbed her hands together. “Do you think he meant me? To scare me?”

He didn’t mean Jessie. He meant Mia. This was what the letter warned her about. But who was this man? Had her father hired him? Or perhaps the letter wasn’t from her father after all?

“Jessie,” Ryan called from the open doors. “Are you sure that’s what you saw?”

“Uncle Ryan.” Jessie’s voice held relief. She hopped up and moved slowly toward the back. “Honest, that’s what I saw. You’re not mad that I was in the barn?” She peered at Ryan until his face broke in a warm smile, and he beckoned her closer with his finger. She charged into his arms.

Mia sat up, and her eyes connected with Ryan’s troubled expression. He pulled Jessie tighter and stared at Mia with the implication of Jessie’s words stamped on his face.

The fire was no accident.

Still dressed in his turnouts, Ryan sat on the bench running the length of the ambulance. Even with his boots firmly planted on the floor, he bounced on the seat from the rhythmic beat of the tires spinning over rough pavement. The space was tight, but Jessie had begged him to ride with her to the hospital. Dupree had succumbed to Jessie’s pleas and she’d moved things around to accommodate the four of them.

Jessie rested on his lap, reclining back with her head crooked in his arm. He stroked her sooty hair. He’d do anything to distract her from the residual terror in her eyes. Her emotional state was tenuous at best.

Then there was Mia.

He raised his head and subtly checked her out. She’d closed her expressive eyes and breathed through the oxygen mask. He let his eyes linger on the uncharacteristically quiet woman. What a brave front she displayed for Jessie. She kept it together, but the creases in her forehead exposed her internal pain.

The EMT said Mia should physically recover after a short course of oxygen. She was lucky. She’d lived when others died. He’d dragged her from a near death. From searing flames.

He let out a shaky breath and raised his head.

Thank you, Lord for sparing Mia’s life.

But was she out of danger?

Had the fire merely been the first of a chain of events that would escalate until she left Pinetree or was killed for staying? How could she refuse to seek Russ’s help, and forbid Ryan from doing so?

Especially after Jessie confirmed the fire was an act of arson.

He had to find a way to get Mia to talk to Russ before the danger he was certain lurked around the corner caught up with her.

Mia felt the warmth of Ryan’s gaze, and she wanted to open her eyes to see what his face might reveal about his thoughts. But she wouldn’t look, couldn’t look, in case she saw the same horrified expression that had consumed his face when Jessie confirmed the fire was set on purpose. If she did, her fear would ratchet up to an unbearable level.

A stranger wanted her gone.

But who and why? The only logical explanation was that her father didn’t want to get his hands dirty so he hired the baldheaded guy to torch the barn.

He was going to extreme lengths to get her to leave Pinetree, but as much as she was afraid of what might happen if she stayed, she wasn’t going home. She owed it to Uncle Wally—the only man who truly loved her—to fulfill his last wishes.

Yes, she would stay in Logan Lake even though staying meant living near the man whose eyes were burrowing into her right now. Not just any man. Ryan. Her one-time protector. The man who made her feel safe again as he carried her securely from the barn. His strength almost let her believe he could make this horrible day go away. That she would be okay.

His phone pealed, and she flashed open her eyes, catching his tender gaze fixed on her. She felt her cheeks flush and a warmth spread through her body.

“It’s the ringtone for work, and I have to take the call.” He smiled wide revealing teeth that hadn’t needed any dental assistance to be perfect. He’d often used this cute little grin when she’d glanced up and caught appreciative looks from him in the past.

As he pulled the phone free, she closed her eyes again. He may have saved her life, but he was still a man and like all men, he’d hurt her once. He’d do the same thing again if she gave him a chance.

As Ryan had expected, caller ID identified Ian Davis, his assistant at Wilderness Ways. Ryan was the director of the outdoor counseling program for wayward teens, and no matter the turmoil in his life, responsibility for the students dictated he answer.

He clicked Talk. “Ian, what’s up?”

“We have a problem.” Ian’s serious tone set Ryan on edge. “Paul just called. His mother slipped into a coma this morning, and he won’t make the first week of the program, if he comes at all.”

Man. This was all Ryan needed. With the drop in funding, he’d already had to cut one staff member, and up the ratio of students to counselor. One less counselor and the kids had a better chance of ending up back in juvie than working through their issues, ultimately dooming this pilot program for juvenile offenders.

Not wanting to increase the anxiety level cutting through the ambulance, Ryan fought to keep the turmoil out of his voice. “How’s Paul holding up?”

“Says he’s okay, but you know, man. He’s hurting.”

“Make sure he knows we’ll pray for him.”

“Already done.” A breathy intake of air and long exhale followed the clipped words. “We have to figure out what to do. There’s no way we can function being down another counselor.”

“You have any ideas?” Ryan asked.

“One, but I’m not sure you’re gonna like it.”

Ryan tucked the phone under his chin and used his free hand to massage a tight muscle in his neck. “Tell me about it. Doesn’t matter if I don’t like it.”

“Okay, but hear me out before you shoot me down.” Ian paused as if he thought Ryan might object.

Ryan would consider anything if it helped the kids. “Go on.”

“The other day when we were talking about that Mia chick taking over Pinetree, you said she was a counselor. I know there’s some sort of history between the two of you, but you could ask her to fill in until Paul gets here.”

Ryan let his free hand fall to the bench with a thud. His stomach sank along with it. He looked at Mia. He was all for making amends for the way he’d botched their breakup, but how could he handle her daily presence at work? Living with the constant reminder of his mistake.

Easy answer—he couldn’t. “I don’t think—”

“I knew you wouldn’t like it,” Ian said. “But you have to admit, it’s a good idea. She has no wilderness counseling experience, but she does work with teens. You can at least think about it, right?”

“What about training? Our program is unique and she hasn’t participated in anything like it.”

“We’ve got enough time before the students get here to bring her up to speed. Even without experience she’d be better for the students than no one.”

Ian was right; Ryan had to think about what was best for the kids. “I’ll give it some thought.”

“Don’t take too long. The kids get here in two days.”

Ryan said goodbye and clicked off. He didn’t need a reminder of the looming deadline and the need to decide quickly.

He stowed his cell, and let his focus return to Mia. Her appearance had changed since high school, but man, she was still a knockout. And that’s what the many lacerations and bruises dotting her body did to him. Sent knockout punches to his gut. She could have died in the barn if he hadn’t arrived when he did. He would never have had a chance to talk to her. Never had a chance to right the wrong he’d inflicted.

He had to make things right with Mia—and the best way to get her to listen to him was to spend time with her. As a bonus, it gave him an excuse to keep her in his sight. To keep her from stepping recklessly into whatever danger loomed ahead.

FOUR

In the miniscule hospital bathroom, Mia moved her portable IV cart to the side and stepped up to the sink. Without a shower, she’d make little progress in fixing her appearance but she couldn’t spend the night without doing something. She’d hoped for a quick in and out in the ER, but due to continued low oxygen levels, the doctor opted to keep her overnight as a precaution.

With stiff fingers, she scrubbed her face. The pore-clogging soot not removed by the nurse’s antiseptic clung to her skin. No matter the amount of scrubbing, the steaming hot cloth wouldn’t wipe away emotional trauma. As if she knew what to wipe away first. She had so many layers.

Did she start with the memory of finding Jessie trapped in the barn and nearly losing her own life? Or the sappy way she’d reacted to Ryan? How about the fact that the fire wasn’t an accident? Or her father’s possible role in this disaster?