Special Delivery. Laura Browning

he would pay her to disappear out of its life?

      Well, she wasn’t getting away that easily. No. Fucking. Way.

      * * * *

      Five-thirty in the morning and the sky had just begun to lighten above the ancient peaks east of Mountain Meadow. Jake Allred sucked in a deep breath, feeling yet again a profound sense of homecoming. More importantly, he could enjoy the imminent sunrise without feeling like he had to check over his shoulder or keep a hand on his sidearm. He knocked on his next-door neighbor’s door. The heavy wooden panel swung open to reveal the tall, lean figure of his best friend.

      “We have to stop meeting like this, bro. People will begin to think we’re dating.”

      Jake rolled his eyes. “Get off it, Evan. Even the church gossips know I can’t stand dating guys taller than me.”

      Evan snickered. “Ready to run?”

      “Ready to beat your ass.”

      Running had become a morning ritual ever since Jake purchased the stately, blue Victorian home right next to Evan Richardson, the Castle County commonwealth’s attorney and Jake’s best friend. As their feet pounded the pavement along the deserted streets, Jake thought about the days getting shorter. He and Evan might be running in the dark soon, but Jake didn’t want to give up this morning ritual. Hearing their feet strike and lift in unison grounded him. He wasn’t on his own anymore. Evan was right there with him, just as he’d been for most of their lives.

      The bite of the morning air was more intense. The vibrant colors of fall had already faded. It wouldn’t be long before winter blew in with its attendant headaches.

      As they finished a route that brought them back to their houses, Evan asked, “Hey, we still on for poker tonight? Sam’s bringing someone with him.”

      “Who?”

      Evan laughed. “The new preacher from the Baptist church. Don’t tell his parishioners.”

      “Are we pathetic or what? A Friday night and all we have to do is play poker…the sheriff, the police lieutenant, the lawyer, and now the preacher.” Jake grinned and slapped Evan on the back. “Maybe we should just wear signs that say ‘Losers.’”

      “I don’t consider it pathetic,” Evan drawled, a glint in his eye. “I consider it once burned, twice shy.”

      “Ancient history.”

      “At least I have a history.”

      “Screw you.”

      “Later, baby.” Evan batted his lashes. “What would the neighbors say?”

      * * * *

      Holly’s stomach rolled. Whether it was from the baby or the sheer drop-off just a few feet away, she wasn’t sure. She had pulled off the shoulder of the Blue Ridge Parkway at a place where there was a scenic overlook. With one hip leaning against the car, she chewed on her lower lip, and stared, lost in thought, along the asphalt snaking around yet another curve. She rolled her shoulders and stretched away the tension in her neck.

      Tyler stood near the edge of the mountain looking out over the valley spread below him. “This is awesome, Holly, like that miniature-town stuff Mom always set up at Christmas. Come look.”

      Just a twinge of grief slipped through her consciousness at her brother’s mention of their mother. Far greater was the relief that Tyler could talk about her so easily. Holly grimaced in response to his suggestion, though.

      “No, thanks. I’ll just admire it from here.”

      She wasn’t keen on heights to begin with, but pregnancy had made her even more cautious. Her whole sense of balance had changed. While Tyler put his hand up to shade his eyes and squinted off into the distance, she counted the money she’d managed to come away with and blew out a frustrated breath. They couldn’t go much farther. She needed to save her cash reserves for a place to live.

      Glancing along the parkway, she noticed the sign indicating travel distances. They’d been on the road for what felt like hours. Surely they had put enough distance between themselves and Spence. Besides, Holly was nearing exhaustion after being up most of the night. She did a quick eenie-meenie-minie-mo and discovered her finger pointing toward a place called Mountain Meadow. Sounded pleasant enough. Probably not much happening there with such an idyllic-sounding name. At this point, its name could be Hell’s Harbor as long as she could find a place to put her feet up. More than anything, though, she liked the spontaneity. Maybe it would keep Spence off their trail longer.

      “Come on, Tyler.”

      “Where are we going?”

      She pointed to the sign. “Mountain Meadow. Sound good to you?”

      He shrugged. “I like mountains, so that would be cool.” As they drove toward the town, Tyler laughed. “Hey! We should go check out the road back there.”

      “Why?” Holly’s fingers clenched on the steering wheel. Unrelieved driving along the twisty roads had tightened her nerves.

      “It’s called Mistletoe Lane. You know…Holly and Mistletoe.”

      She had to laugh. It felt good to be able to for a change, and on a whim, she found a turnaround and headed back. Spontaneous, that was what they were being. As they bumped down the road, she glanced at Tyler. “This road is the pits, but maybe it will keep Spence away.”

      Tyler giggled. “Sports cars and potholes aren’t a good mix. There’s a house up ahead.”

      “And a truck parked out front.”

      As they stopped in front of the small, wood-frame house, the door opened and a stoop-shouldered man stepped out onto the porch. He eyed them suspiciously.

      “Can I help ya?” he called as Holly got out of the car.

      Crossing her fingers behind her back for luck, she said, “I’m new around here. My little brother and I are looking for someplace to live. Do you know where I might be able to find a rental or real estate agent?”

      The old man’s eyes narrowed. “Might be I could help you. I been thinking about renting this place out. Ain’t nothin’ fancy, but the roof don’t leak and it’s cheap.”

      And right now, cheap suited Holly to a T. Making an instant decision, she smiled. “Sounds perfect. I’ll take it.”

      “Ain’t offered it yet.”

      She smiled. “But you’re going to, aren’t you?”

      The old man laughed. “I like you. You got nerve.”

      They hammered out a rental agreement, signed it with a handshake, and it was Holly’s car that stayed while the old man and his truck bumped back to the main road.

      * * * *

      If the church ladies could just see him now, they’d have a cow. Cards and poker chips were on the table. Jake grinned as he glanced around the living room. He’d pushed the big table that stood in front of the double window to the middle of the room with the kitchen chairs pressed into service around it. Knowing Sam and Evan would want cigars, Jake had set an ashtray to one side. Beer was in the fridge, along with soft drinks for the preacher. Potato chips and peanuts—check. He’d brought home pizza from Mercer’s. He even had some spray cheese and crackers. Yep. He was ready. How freaking domestic.

      With just himself for company, he’d admit it would be nice to have some noise around the big old house. He hadn’t thought about how empty it would seem when he bought it.

      Maybe because he’d pictured it full of kids, like his house had been growing up with his three brothers and Becca, the baby. They had all gone their own ways as adults, but damn it would be nice to have family around. He rubbed the ache in his chest.

      Right.

      Single and not a woman in sight, and he was thinking kids.

      When