“Two more minutes,” she says. “You can time me.”
“I will.” I waggle my wristwatch, and she gets a laugh from that. It’s a nice sound to hear, a bubbly laugh, as if she’s surprised that she can still do that, too.
I turn to motion to Dalton that we’re getting ready to head back. He appears from behind a tree, meeting my gaze, his lips curving in a slight smile.
That momentary distraction is all it takes. Nicole yelps, and I wheel. She’s only a few feet ahead, but it seems like twenty, and I’m running even before I realize what’s happened. She’s falling, and I think she’s been shot or attacked and—
She lands flat on her ass in the snow, and she’s laughing. I’m still in flight, and Storm is too, launching herself at Nicole. I let out a cry of my own, warning the puppy off her. Then I see a blur in the forest, leaping over brush. I get a split-second glance at the figure’s face, and it looks like Dalton. And then I realize he’s coming from the wrong direction. I pull my gun, and Nicole shrieks, her arms flying up to ward him off.
He skids into the path and stops short.
“Sheriff,” Nicole says. “Sorry, I—” She stops as she sees it’s not Dalton. Just someone who looks like him.
“Jacob,” I say.
He glances at Nicole, then at Storm on her lap, the puppy’s front legs planted on Nicole’s shoulders as she licks the woman’s face.
“I thought that was…,” he says. “What is it?”
Nicole lets out a laugh, and Jacob’s face turns bright red. “I thought—It looks like—”
“A bear cub?” Dalton says as he jogs over.
Jacob turns even redder. “No, course not.”
“Totally does,” Nicole says. “That’s what I thought the first time I saw her. But they tell me she’s a puppy.”
She reaches up for help, and Jacob is closest, but he just stares at her hand. Before I can step forward, he figures it out and tugs Nicole to her feet.
“Sorry,” he says. “I thought…”
“I was being attacked by a bear, and you came to my rescue. Thank you. That’s very sweet. And I was in danger of being mauled … by an overexuberant dog.” She hefts Storm and holds her out. “See? Puppy.”
Jacob’s expression says he’s not entirely convinced, but when she staggers under Storm’s weight, he grabs the puppy, who immediately transfers all affection to him, licking and whining and wriggling. I reach to take her, but he keeps holding her, both hands around her body, studying her, not unlike his brother with a new species.
“Eric got her for me,” I say. “She’s very friendly.”
“Friendly? Or hungry?” he says as Storm licks his cheek.
That makes Nicole laugh, and Jacob’s lips curve in a tiny smile. He puts Storm down and holds her leash, watching as she trundles off.
“It’s cute,” he says. “With those paws, it’ll get big.”
“Huge,” I say. “She’ll be my tracking dog and bodyguard.”
“Good idea,” he says to Dalton.
“Yeah, I get them every now and then,” Dalton says. “What’re you doing here?”
“I, uh, was…”
When Jacob trails off, I say, “Just passing by? You must have ESP. Eric and I needed to talk to you about…” Now I’m the one trailing off, not wanting to out Nicole in front of a stranger.
“Helping find the guy who kept me in a cave?” she says. “Yes, please. That would be even better than saving me from a giant puppy.”
“You’re the…” Jacob’s mouth works, and I’m about to cut in when he says a sincere “I’m sorry.” And then “We’ll find him. But maybe you shouldn’t be, uh, out here.”
“In the very woods where my captor lives? Sheriff Dalton and Detective Butler were kind enough to accommodate my cabin fever. But we were just heading back.”
“I’ll take you,” Dalton says. He turns to Jacob. “Casey needs to talk to you. I’ll come back for her. If she tells you she’s fine to walk back alone, don’t let her.”
“Why don’t—” I begin, at the same time Jacob begins his protest.
“You guys are talking. Alone. Together. Awkward, I know. Deal with it.”
THIRTY-ONE
Before they go, I lead Nicole away, and she says, “Sheriff Dalton has a brother who moved away from Rockton?”
“Something like that.” This is the version Anders knows, an easy explanation for a complex situation.
“I won’t mention him in town. Also—because you have to wonder—it’s not him. My captor, that is. The guy was bigger. Stockier. Sturdier. And his eyes were darker. With the dim lighting, I couldn’t say if they were dark blue or brown, but I know they’re not as light as the sheriff’s or his brother’s.”
“Thank you. That helps.”
“May I introduce myself properly? Or would he rather not?”
I lead her back to where Dalton and Jacob are talking, and I say, “I forgot the introductions.”
“And cavegirl isn’t really how I’d like to be remembered.” She extends a hand and says, “Nicole,” and he shakes her hand and says, carefully, “Jacob.”
“Pleased to meet you, Jacob. Now I’ll say good-bye as Sheriff Dalton escorts me back to Rockton.”
Jacob smiles. “Is that what you call him? Sheriff Dalton?”