Her Christmas Hero: Christmas Justice / Snow Blind / Christmas at Thunder Horse Ranch. Cassie Miles

case. She said you were right. You have to know something.”

      “I discovered there was a mole in the organization, but I never figured out who.”

      “Maybe Ivy did.” Laurel’s expression turned eager. She plopped into the computer chair and scrolled down her sister’s file. Garrett leaned over her shoulder. She’d taken his identity in stride. The more time he spent with James’s daughter, the more Garrett recognized the similarities. Smart, tenacious, optimistic. Traits he admired in his mentor. Qualities he liked in Laurel. A little too much.

      He shifted closer, aware of the pulse throbbing at her throat, the slight increase in her breathing. He wanted to squeeze her shoulder, offer her encouragement, but he didn’t want to distract her either. He backed away, forcing himself to focus on the file. Lists of operations, lots of questions, brainstorming. Ivy had been smart, curious and methodical. And her quest had gotten her killed.

      As Laurel scrolled, an uneasy tingle settled at the nape of Garrett’s neck. Every operation involved James somehow. Several involved Garrett; some didn’t.

      “Slow down,” he said softly, his voice tense.

      “Ivy had more questions than answers.” Laurel shot him a sidelong glance then stilled her hand. “What’s wrong?”

      That she read him meant he was out of practice. He guarded his expression. “Probably nothing.”

      “I can see it in your eyes.” She snapped the words in challenge. “You’ve already lied about your identity, Derek. Don’t lie about anything else. I deserve the truth. So does Ivy. And Molly.”

      “I’m Garrett now.” He stiffened, but knew she was right. If something happened to him, she couldn’t be in the dark. She had to be cautious. Around everyone. “James was involved in all the cases Ivy investigated.”

      Laurel’s back straightened and her expression hardened. “My father is not a traitor. Who else was involved?”

      “I didn’t say he was—”

      “You were thinking it. Tell me.”

      He couldn’t deny the thought had crossed his mind.

      “I was involved,” he said.

      “You know, Garrett, sometimes you have to have faith in the people you love. Even when the whole world seems screwed up, there are people who live by honor out there.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “You’re proof of that. My father trusted you with his family when he was in trouble. So have I. My father deserves the same consideration. Unless you really are a traitor.”

      Man, Laurel McCallister went right for the jugular with a few well-placed words.

      “Then why aren’t you afraid of me? Are you afraid that I might betray you?”

      “You would have killed us already. Instead, you saved us. You sacrificed your hideaway. You put yourself at risk. Face it, Garrett, you’re a hero. Just like my dad believed.” Laurel scrolled to the end of the file. “There’s a link here.”

      She clicked it. Another password. She tried the same one.

      Access denied.

      After three more attempts, Laurel shoved back from the keyboard with a frustrated curse. “I’m out of ideas.”

      Laurel shook her head, and he could see the fatigue and disappointment on her face. He kneaded her shoulders. “You’re good with that machine. Is there another way to figure out the password? Are you a code breaker?”

      “It’s not my area, but...” She drummed her fingers on the table. “Maybe I can do one better.” She chewed on her lip. “I developed a code-breaking computer program with some friends when I was in college.” She winced. “We nearly got kicked out of the computer-science department when our adviser found out. I could run it from here, but it will take a while.”

      “As in we’ll be connected to the network for a long time?”

      Laurel nodded, and then her eyes brightened. “Unless I download the file.”

      At this point, it was worth the risk. “Do it.”

      Laurel clicked through options so quickly Garrett’s eyes nearly crossed. “You never hesitate.”

      “My dad and Ivy have the gift of thinking on their feet. I do better with zeros and ones.”

      “Mommy!” Molly screamed at the top of her lungs. “Daddy!”

      The terrorized cries pierced the air. The sound speared Garrett’s heart. He didn’t hesitate, throwing open the door to the living room.

      At the same time, Laurel exploded from her chair, racing to her niece.

      Molly sat straight on the sofa, her cheeks red, sweat dripping down her face, her eyes screwed up tight.

      Laurel sat beside Molly and wrapped the little girl in her arms. “Shh, Molly Magoo. I’ve got you.”

      Laurel rocked her back and forth, but Molly refused to open her eyes, shaking her head so hard her hair whipped around, sticking to her tearstained face. She clutched at Laurel.

      “Is she still asleep?”

      “She’s clinging to you. She knows you’re here.”

      Laurel hugged Molly closer. “What do I do? This has never happened before.”

      Molly’s sobs gutted Garrett’s heart. Ella hadn’t had a lot of nightmares, but she’d watched part of Jurassic Park at a friend’s house and that evening the night terrors had stalked her. Only one thing had calmed her.

      Molly struggled against Laurel. “You took me away,” she whimpered.

      Laurel’s face went pale. The agony in her expression made Garrett hurt for her. “Give her to me,” he said.

      Laurel hesitated.

      “I know what to do,” he whispered.

      Reluctantly, she handed the twisting little girl to Garrett. He sat down in a large overstuffed chair and held Molly close to his chest. “It’s okay, sugar,” he said, making his voice soft and deep and hypnotic. He snagged a blanket and wrapped her like a burrito inside it, one arm tight around her.

      He rocked her slowly and started singing in an almost whisper. “The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurray. The ants go ma-ar-ching one by one, the last one stops to look at the sun, and they all go marching down, in the ground, to get out of the rain.”

      The melodic, low tone of the song echoed in the room. He rubbed her back in circles. Her sobs quieted a bit.

      Garrett sang the second verse, all the while rocking her, rubbing her back, holding her close.

      Molly’s cries turned to hiccups and finally softened. His chest eased a bit. Just like Ella. He looked up. Laurel’s face had turned soft and gentle, and awed.

      She hitched her hip on the arm of the chair and fingered Molly’s locks. The little girl’s eyes blinked. She opened her baby blues, looking up at Garrett, then at Laurel.

      “Mommy?” she asked. “Daddy?”

      “They aren’t here, sugar,” Garrett said. “But your aunt Laurel is. She won’t let anything happen to you. Neither will I.”

      Molly bit down on her lip. “There was a ’splosion. Daddy’s car burned like in the fireplace.”

      A tear trickled down Laurel’s face. “Yes, honey, it did.”

      “Are Mommy and Daddy coming back?” she asked, her voice small, fearful.

      Laurel glanced at Garrett. He warred with what to do, what to say. He simply nodded. It was time.

      He tightened his hold on Molly. Laurel cleared her throat.