“I know. Don’t tell Mom on me, okay?”
The baby nodded quickly.
“But then he was really gone,” Ollie said.
“Yeah.” Kevin looked away. “Which makes me… I don’t know. Still pissed. Mark’s angrier than me though. He hit Chris the other day when Chris said that Dad didn’t leave us. That he would have come back if he hadn’t died.”
Loralie cuddled into his side. “I miss Daddy. He reads me stories.”
“Grandpa reads you stories, Lala. Dad didn’t read much.”
“Oh.” She stuck her thumb in her mouth.
Ollie nudged her little shoulder. “Want me to read to you when Grandpa can’t?”
“Yes,” she said behind her thumb. “At bedtime.”
“Okay.”
Kevin sighed. “Lala, Ollie has to work at your bedtime.”
“I’ll come home for a few minutes,” he said. “They can spare me.”
Loralie lifted her head and took her thumb out of her mouth. “Will you get in trouble?”
“Nope. I’m the boss.”
Loralie leaned a little closer and Ollie saw calculation in her sky-blue eyes. “Can you be your bear when you read to me?”
Ollie threw his head back and laughed.
IN the end, the festering argument was ended by the figurative hand of God.
“Enough!” Allie finally yelled. “We are getting ready for church, so both of you need to stop and get dressed. I don’t want to hear another word. After church, we’ll run by the house and you can get another yo-yo, Mark.”
Sullen silence from the boys.
“And you’re both going to pray for each other during silent prayers.”
Ollie—still eavesdropping from the porch—bit his lip to keep from smiling, but Kevin couldn’t disguise his snort.
“What?” Mark yelled. “Why? Should I pray for Chris not to be so stupid? Is that even possible?”
“Mo-om!”
Ollie stood, picked up Loralie, and walked in the front door.
“You’re gonna pray for your brother,” he said, mussing Mark’s hair, “because it’s harder to be mad at ’em when you’re praying for them. And stop calling your brother stupid.”
Grumbling, both boys dragged themselves up the stairs, and Allie came over to take Loralie from him.
“Lala, go clean your face and then pick out two dresses for church. I’ll come up in a minute.”
“Okay!” Unlike her brothers, Loralie bounced up the stairs.
“And Kevin—”
“I got it, mamita.” Kevin walked past Allie and patted the top of her head while Allie, laughing, tried to smack his hand away. “I’ll let you know if there’s any blood.”
She took a deep breath and turned to him. “Enjoy the morning show?”
“Probably more than I should have. A yo-yo string?”
She just closed her eyes and shook her head.
“The forced brotherly prayers were a stroke of genius though. My yaya used to do the same thing to me and my cousins, only it was out loud and in front of whoever we’d been hitting.”
“I might try that.” She glanced at his grubby jeans and T-shirt. “Did you want to come to church with us?”
He’d gotten up early to check the barn and property line. There had been no signs of intruders, but he still checked every morning to be safe and relieve his cousins of duty.
“I got time to take a shower?”
“Yep.”
“Cool.” He bent down and gave her the good-morning kiss he’d been thinking about before the boys started World War Yo-Yo.
“Mmm,” she murmured, her hands going up around his neck. “Good morning to you too.”
He nipped at her lips. “After last night, I probably need to go confess a few things anyway.”
The blush was immediate. “Ollie—”
“You better not,” he said quietly. “I’m teasing you. There was nothing wrong with what we did.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Sorry. You know my family’s traditional. There’s still a lot of voices in my head from the last time I fooled around with a boy I wasn’t married to.”
“Allie-girl, where exactly do you think this is heading?” He kissed her one last time, pinched her bottom, and headed up the stairs before he had time to see her reaction.
In case she’d been wondering about his intentions, she probably wouldn’t be now.
Ollie headed toward his bathroom and pretended his heart wasn’t racing with fear.
BETWEEN church, running to the market for Sunday dinner supplies, and driving by the house to pack up more toys, they were home with barely enough time to start the barbecue before their friends showed up.
The toys had been a challenge. Allie kept saying no, so the kids stopped asking their mom and started asking Ollie. He pretended he didn’t know what they were doing and just kept loading things in the back of the van. She’d probably be mad at him, but the kids seemed happy, so he figured she’d get over it.
Sunday supper passed with the usual parade of kids and dogs and animals. When the sun started to go down and the baby had fallen asleep in the house, Kevin and Low, both old enough to shift to their natural forms, made a game of hunting down the younger kids outside while they were in their fox and owl forms. Low, as a near-silent barn owl, was impressively sneaky. The yard around Ollie’s house was filled with delighted shrieks, the occasional eerie fox howl, and the low rumble from Ollie’s cousins who were guarding them in bear form to give the kids a thrill.
Ted shivered and moved closer to the fire pit Ollie had lit in the front yard.
“What is it about fox calls?” she asked.
Allie scooted her chair closer to Ollie and he put his arm across the back.
“Horror movies,” he said. “They sound like horror movies.”
Allie laughed. “We do not.”
“Going to disagree,” Jena said. “That scream you make? Definitely horror movie creepy.”
Sean said, “I know it makes me hide on moon nights.”
“Everything makes a snake hide on moon nights,” Alex said. “But I agree about the fox calls. Totally creepy.”
“I object to this anti-fox bigotry!” Allie protested with a laugh. “We are small but fierce predators. Worthy of respect for more than our creepy calls.”
“Small and fierce.” Ollie’s hand slid down her back and grabbed a handful of her backside. “With cute fluffy tails.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Careful what you say about my tail, mister.”
“You know I love your tail.”
“As disgustingly cute as you two are,” Caleb broke in, “Allie mentioned something to Jena about needing help. What’s up, sweetheart?”
Allie perched forward on her chair. “Okay. Here’s the thing. You all knew Joe, in some way or another. And according to Alex and Ted’s friend Cam, we now know he won that game of poker fair and square. So the help I want from you guys is… finding the cash.”
The whole circle was silent.
Ollie cursed silently, wishing she’d talked to him about this before she brought it up. He didn’t much relish all their friends searching out places Joe Russell might have been hanging, looking for clues like this was a Scooby-Doo mystery while there were guys connected to drug cartels roaming around.
“Allie-girl—”
“Don’t.” She held up a hand. “I know you don’t want us going to seedy hotels or bars or anything. But listen to me. I don’t think that’s where he would have hidden it.”
Ollie thought that was exactly where Joe would have hidden it, but he shut up. The most likely answer was that Joe Russell, a coyote shifter who knew he was in trouble, would have dug a hole in the desert someplace only he knew about and hidden the money where no humans would ever look. Which meant it would never be found.
Sean was the first one to speak again. “Is there any way we could get some kind of scent on it?”
Ollie shook his head.
“I don’t think so. It’s two hundred grand in cash that was won at a poker game in a private club. It’s going to smell like paper, ink, sweat, alcohol, and tobacco smoke.”
“So basically, it’s going to smell like all cash everywhere.” Ted wrinkled her nose.
“Yep,” Ollie said.
“Your only option is to forget about tracking the cash and try to track the man,” Caleb said. “I’ve been trying to put Joe’s movements together in the days before he was killed, but I’m not having much luck. He didn’t use hotels. Or not hotels that kept records.”
Sean said, “Maggie told me she checked with the hotel where they were supposed to meet after the game. Cash only. He’d been staying there, but he packed up and left in the middle of the night according to the clerk. Didn’t even check out. Just left the keys in the room.”
“So he left town as soon as he won?” Ollie asked.
“That’s what it sounds like. He was smart. Probably knew the guys he beat weren’t going to let things go.”
Alex said, “According to Cam, the only one we really need to be looking at is this Lobo guy. He’s the one who was a sore loser. He’s also the one with a drug cartel backing him, if you believe the rumors. He’d have access to people who would have no problem killing someone so Lobo could get his money back.”
“I’ve got some guys poking around,” Ollie said. “We’ll see what they can turn up about the break-in at Allie’s place. My guys weren’t real happy about it. This is not a criminal you mess with, according to them.”
Ollie watched everyone nod in agreement, and he was glad. He wanted all of them to realize how serious this was.
“Well,” Allie said. “Then we don’t go where Lobo might be looking. We go where Joe might have hidden it. We knew Joe better than anyone else.”
“And I’ll smell anyone familiar who comes back,” Ollie said. “I won’t forget the scent of those two anytime soon.”
Jena asked, “What were they driving?”
“We didn’t get the plates.”
“’Cause someone lost his temper,” Allie quipped. “And had to tear things up and roar a lot.”
He tugged on a piece of her hair. “Behave.”
Allie snorted. “Like that’s ever worked.” She patted his knee. “Nice try.”
“What about Joe?” Jena asked. “What was he driving?”
“He took his old truck when he left,” Allie said. “When he left us, I mean. I don’t know if he was still driving it months later.”
“Maggie said he was,” Sean said.
“It was a solid truck. And it was four-wheel drive,” Allie said.
A thought occurred to Ollie. “Alex, what’s the status at the base?”
“What do you mean?”
The old air base where Joe and most of the rest of the town had been employed up until a few years ago was still sitting there. Guarded by soldiers but, as far as Ollie knew, intact. Joe had been an electrician.
“They haven’t torn anything down at the base, have they?”
“Not as far as I know,” Alex said. “It’s protected though. Gates all chained up.”
“Please,” Sean said. “That perimeter fence is about as secure as my grandma’s wallet. Joe wouldn’t have any trouble breaking in, especially not in his coyote form.”
Jena frowned at Sean. “Please tell me that’s a figure of speech and you don’t actually steal money from your grandmother.”
“Do you remember how mean my grandma is?”
Jena shrugged. “True.”
“I don’t do it anymore,” he muttered. “But Joe could easily have hidden something on the base. He worked all over the place. Knew all the maintenance areas and lots of spots to hide things. I’d check there first.”
“Could you?” Allie asked.
“Search the base?” Sean nodded. “Sure. I’ll take some of my cousins. We can cover it pretty quickly. No one will see us.”
Allie nodded. “I’ll go with you.”
The “no” came from Sean and Ollie at the same time.
“Guys, I’ll go as my fox. They’re not going to see me. But I know how the man thought. The search will go faster if I’m along.”
She was right, but Ollie really didn’t want her there.
“Allie,” Sean said reasonably, “why double up like that? We don’t need that many people searching the base. Why don’t you and Ted search somewhere else in town?”
He was going to have to thank Sean later. Once he got past visions of Allie trying to explain to military police officers why she was naked and running around an old air base.
“Where else do you think we should look?” she asked.
Jena said, “What about his old house?”
“His parents’ old place?”
Ted nodded. “Or the feed shop. He worked there with your dad.”
Jena said, “It’s like you said. You know how the man thought. I agree that the base is the most likely place, but think about Joe’s routine. What other places could he have hidden a pile of cash where he’d think you could find it?”
“The house?”
“Too obvious and goons already searched there. If it was there, they would have found it.”
“What about the high school?” Alex asked. “Joe was good at sneaking around there.”
Allie groaned. “Joe was good at sneaking around everywhere. Why do you think I ended up pregnant at seventeen?”
Ted cracked a laugh before she cleared her throat. “Sorry.”
“Laugh.” Allie threw up a hand. “That’s the only way I’m dealing with all this.”
“Hey.” Ollie reached over and grabbed her hand.
She turned her face to smile. “You’re right. Not the only way.”
Ollie tugged on her arm until she rose and went to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her as she put her head on his chest and let out a deep breath.
“This is overwhelming,” she said.
“One piece at a time, darlin’. I’ll ask Jim and Tracey if they can help out at the bar more in the next couple of weeks so I can help you look. They won’t mind.”
She settled into his chest as Ollie heard a sigh coming from his left. He turned to see Jena staring at them with tears in her eyes.
“You all right?” he asked.
“I love this,” she said, nodding toward Allie. “I love this so much.”
“Ignore her,” Allie whispered. “She’s super hormonal right now. New baby.”
Jena threw a wadded-up napkin at Allie. “Whatever, super-breeder. I remember how weepy you were when you had newborns. Shut it.”
“She’s not a newborn,” Ted said. “She’s ten months old. Should your boobs still be that big?”
“At least I have boobs, Ted.”
“Not for long,” Allie said. “Mine are the only ones that stick around past the breast-feeding.”
“Thinking of ways to hurt you both right now,” Jena said.
Caleb reached around and squeezed his wife’s shoulder. “Ah, the delicate, warm love of female friendship.”
IT was a three-day weekend, so they’d let the kids play late. After eyes started drooping and fights started breaking out between siblings, everyone packed up and made their way back to their cars, leaving Allie and Ollie standing on the porch watching dust.
She turned her head toward the house. “Where’s Mark and Kevin?”
Ollie frowned. “With Jena and Caleb. Went to spend the night. They told me, but I thought they cleared it with you.”
“Oh.” She blinked. “Jena mentioned the boys coming over earlier, but I forgot about it. I guess they just assumed it was okay.”
“Should I call Caleb?”
“No, it’s fine. They spend the night over there all the time.”
“Wait.” Ollie cocked his head, listening.
Silence. Complete and utter… silence.
“Where are Loralie and Chris?” he asked.
“Ted asked if they could spen
d the night because she’s watching her niece and nephew tomorrow and wanted the kids to have someone…” Her eyes went wide at the realization.
“Allie.” He turned and gripped her shoulders. “Are you telling me there are no children in this house tonight?”
Her mouth dropped open. “There are no children in this house tonight.”
Without another word, Ollie bent down and lifted Allie over his shoulder, marching into the silent—and miraculously child-free—house.
Chapter Nineteen
ALLIE WATCHED THE LIVING ROOM recede as Ollie sprinted up the stairs. She was breathless with excitement. And also because his shoulder was digging into her diaphragm, but she’d survive.
He put one hand on her bottom to hold her as he turned the corner, then he gave a long, luxurious squeeze that had her eyes rolling back.
No children.
Ollie.
Bedroom.
No children.
“How long…?” she wheezed.
“Allie?”
“Can’t breathe.”
He stopped immediately and set her down. “Sorry.”
Then he bent and scooped her up, lifting her until her legs were wrapped around his waist. He kissed her, somehow managing to walk the last steps to his bedroom while their lips were plastered together.
“How long can we leave them with other people?” she asked between kisses.
“We’ll just”—they bumped through the doorway—“wait for someone to call. They’re nice kids. Our friends won’t let them starve. We might be able to”—he kicked the door shut—“stretch this out for a couple of days if we’re lucky.”
“I haven’t”—frantic kisses along the line of his throat—“done this in a while.”
His head fell back when she closed her lips over his pounding pulse. “I have protection.”
“I’m on… the pill.” Allie felt like her skin was burning from the inside. “Have been since Loralie.”
“I’m good, but do you want—”
“I’m good if you are.” She trusted Ollie more than anyone.
He sat on the edge of the bed, still holding her; they were tugging at each other’s clothes. Allie heard his old T-shirt rip when she pulled it off. She reached down and palmed him through his jeans.