Her Christmas Hero. Elle James

these two to safety before the final battle went down.

      * * *

      LAUREL STOOD ALONE just behind a hedge at the end of the alley, out of sight, squeezing the butt of her weapon in one hand, balancing Molly against her with the other. Garrett had risked crossing those streets to retrieve his vehicle, putting himself in the crosshairs in case the shooters came back.

      Every choice he’d made focused on protecting them, not himself. She shivered, but it wasn’t the winter chill. She’d made a choice eighteen hundred miles ago to come here. Garrett’s immediate response to their arrival had frozen her soul. Now instinct screamed at her to run, to disappear, to try to forget the past and somehow start over.

      Maybe she should. He knew what they were up against. He was worried. Maybe vanishing would be easier. She didn’t see Garrett Galloway as a man who would give up easily. But sometimes accepting the reality and moving on was the only way to survive.

      A dark SUV pulled into the alley, lights off. Garrett stepped out. “Laurel?” he whispered, searching the hedges with his gaze.

      She almost stayed hidden, frozen for a moment. She had some cash. People lived off the grid all the time. So could she.

      She could feel his penetrating gaze, compelling her to trust him. What was it about him...?

      With a deep, determined breath, she stepped out from behind the hedge. Beads of sap still stuck to her pants from hiding in the firewood pile. The scent of pine flashed her back to memories of camping and fishing and running wild without a care in the world. Her heart broke for Molly. Could Laurel help her niece find that joy after everything that had happened?

      Laurel was so far out of her element. She’d taken a leap of faith coming to Trouble and to Garrett, trusting her sister’s final words. Her sister had known she was dying; she wouldn’t have steered Laurel into danger. Laurel could only pray she had understood Ivy correctly.

      She carried Molly to the vehicle. Garrett didn’t say anything, but his dark and knowing eyes made Laurel tremble. Did he know she’d almost taken off?

      “You decided not to run,” he said, opening the door. “I pegged it at a fifty-fifty chance.”

      He could see right through her. She didn’t like it. “I almost did,” she admitted. “But I can’t let them get away with what they’ve done.” She pushed back a lock of Molly’s hair and lifted her gaze to meet his. “Our lives have been turned upside down. Can you help us?”

      She didn’t usually lay her vulnerabilities out so easily, but this was life and death. She needed his help. They both knew it.

      He gave her a sharp nod. “I’ll do what I can.”

      She placed Molly in the backseat and buckled her up. Laurel climbed in beside her. She tucked the little girl against her side. “Where to?”

      “I contacted a friend. We need food for a few days. He runs the local motel and does some cooking on the side.” Garrett paused. “I don’t know how long we’ll be on the road. His sister is about your size. I noticed that Molly has a change of clothes, but not you.”

      Laurel could feel the heat climb up her face at the idea he’d studied her body to determine her size. But he was right. They’d left so quickly, she hadn’t had time to do more than purchase a few pairs of underwear at a convenience store. How many men would even think about that?

      Garrett didn’t turn on the SUV’s lights. He drove the backstreets, then pulled up to the side of the Copper Mine Motel behind a huge pine tree, making certain the dark vehicle was out of sight from the road. A huge, barrel-chested man with a sling on one arm eased out of the side door. His wild hair and lip piercing seemed at odds with his neatly trimmed beard, but clearly he’d been on the lookout for them.

      Garrett rolled down the passenger-door window. “Thanks, Hondo.”

      The man stuck his head inside and scanned Laurel and Molly. The little girl’s eyes widened when she stared at his arm. “Who drew on you?” she asked.

      Hondo chuckled. “A very expensive old geezer, little lady,” he said. He placed a large sack on the seat, then a small tote. “You’re right, Sheriff. She’s about Lucy’s size. These clothes are brand-new. Just jeans and some shirts and a few unmentionables.” His cheeks flushed a bit.

      Laurel scrambled into her pocket and pulled out some bills. “Thank—”

      Hondo held up his hand. “No can do.” He looked at the sheriff. “If you want them to stay here—”

      “After what happened last time, Hondo, I won’t let you risk it. Thanks, though.” Garrett handed Hondo his badge. “When folks start asking, give this to the mayor.”

      “Sheriff—”

      Laurel clutched the back of the seat, her fingers digging into the leather. She wanted to stop him from giving up his life, but she’d brought trouble to his town. She’d left him with no choice.

      “We all have a past, Hondo. Mine just happened to ride in tonight. Something I have to deal with.”

      Hondo nodded, and Laurel recognized the communication between the two men. The silent words made her heart sink with trepidation.

      “Keep an eye on Deputy Keller. He’s young and eager, and he needs guidance.” Garrett drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Come to think of it, you’d make a good sheriff, Hondo. You’ve got the skills.”

      “Nah.” Hondo’s expression turned grim. “I won’t fire a gun anymore, and I couldn’t put up with the mayor. He’s a—” Hondo glanced at Molly “—letch and a thief.”

      “And willing to take a payoff. I should know. It’s how I became sheriff.”

      Hondo’s eyebrow shot up. “You still did a good job. Best since I’ve lived here.”

      Garrett shrugged and shifted the truck into Drive. “Goodbye, Hondo.”

      A small woman with wild gray hair shuffled out of the motel, a bandage on her head. “Hondo?” her shaky voice whispered. “Cookies.”

      Hondo’s expression changed from fierce to utter tenderness in seconds. “Now, sis, you’re not supposed to be out of bed. You’re just out of the hospital.” He sent Garrett an apologetic grimace.

      “But you said you wanted to give them cookies,” she said, holding a bag and giving Hondo a bright smile.

      Laurel studied the woman. She seemed so innocent for her age, almost childlike.

      The older woman’s gaze moved to Garrett and she smiled, a wide, naive grin. “Hi, Sheriff. Hondo made chocolate chip today.”

      “We can’t say no to Hondo’s famous cookies, Lucy.”

      Garrett’s smile tensed, and his gaze skirted the streets. Did he see something? Laurel peered through the tinted windows. The roads appeared deserted.

      Lucy passed the bag to Hondo. An amazing smell permeated the car through the open window.

      Molly pressed forward against her seat belt. “Can I have one, Sheriff Garrett?”

      Hondo glanced at Laurel, his gaze seeking permission. She nodded and Hondo pulled a cookie from the bag. “Here you go, little lady.”

      With eager hands, Molly took the treat. She breathed in deeply, then stuffed almost the entire cookie into her mouth.

      Lucy giggled. “She’s hungry.”

      Hondo placed a protective arm around his sister. “They’ve got to leave, Lucy. Let’s go in.”

      She waved. “’Bye.” Hondo led her back into the house, treating her as if she were spun of fragile glass.

      Garrett rolled up the window, lights still off. He turned down the street. “She was shot in the head a couple months ago. We didn’t think she’d