Christmas on the Run (Bandit Creek Book 32) Read online

  “Do you drive in this kind of weather often?”

  He looked at her, brows raised. “I live in the mountains of Montana where it’s winter six months of the year. If I wasn’t able to drive in this weather, I’d never leave the boarding house.”

  “What’s a boarding house, Mama?”

  She smiled at Sadie, who was as curious as a kitten.” It’s a big house where many people live, Sadie.”

  “It sounds like fun.”

  Their driver snorted. “It is if you can stand Mrs. Murphy’s interference.”

  He didn’t seem too impressed with the woman. “Who’s that?”

  “She’s the lady who owns the house.”

  A nosy landlady was the last thing she needed. “Perhaps you could take us to a hotel, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

  “’Fraid not. We’re going to the boarding house. The hotel is full and I don’t like the motel. Road crews stay there and with this storm, it will be packed.” He looked at her. “Might not be the best place for a woman and a kid.”

  Interesting sentiment for a man who was big enough to cause all kinds of trouble. Damn. She didn’t have a lot of money and a boarding house could become expensive. But he knew the place and he was behind the wheel.

  Ahead, lights blurred by the snow showed they were nearing the town.

  “If there isn’t room at the inn, where do visitors stay?”

  He looked across at her, something akin to pity in his eyes. “Not many visitors.”

  “He turned his attention back to the road and slowed as the shape of buildings became clearer. He signaled then swung right. The rear end of the truck lurched in the snow and Lina’s tummy almost escaped.

  Sadie’s head swiveled as she stared at the Christmas lights marking the corners and roof lines of every building. Inflatable figures lit up the lawns and building fronts. “Look Mama, isn’t it pretty? It’s just like At–.”

  “Shush, sweetheart.

  Her daughter pulled a pout at being silenced “Sadie, look.” Lina pointed to a large house ahead and to the right. “Look at all the lights.”

  The shuttered eyes opened and the bottom lip retracted. “Oh Mommy, it’s beautiful.”

  Todd slowed some more, signaled and pulled into the driveway beside the decorated house. “This is Murphy’s.”

  “Will she have room?”

  “She’s never turned anyone away. No reason to think she’ll start with you.”

  He jumped out into the snow and came around the front of the truck, the fingers of his right hand sliding along the hood. He opened her door and the cold assaulted her. If anything, it felt colder here than it had at the car. He reached for her and she flinched, then squared her shoulders “Watch your step. The snow’s deep and it’s slippery.” He frowned at her sneakers as he helped her down.

  She sank mid-calf into the white stuff. How did people live in these conditions? She’d have a hard time walking more than a few steps. “I had no idea there’d be so much snow out here. We weren’t planning to stop in Montana.”

  “You’re here now.” He helped her balance on the ice under the snow. “You’ll need to get some decent boots.”

  “Mommy, Mommy. Are we going into the Christmas house?”

  “Yes, sweetie, I think we are.” She turned carefully then reached in and unlatched the seat belt, then helped Sadie slide across the seat. “Come on, love, let’s get out of the cold.”

  She took Sadie into her arms, allowing the six-year-old to wrap her legs around her waist. “Pretty soon you’re going to be too big for me to carry.”

  “I know, Mommy. You say that every time.”

  “Wait a second and I’ll get your bags.” As he took her arm, he tipped his head “Front door’s around that way.”

  “Thanks.” Lina watched the big man easily lift their bags from the back seat and put them into his left hand as he turned to them.

  “Let’s go. You’re going to freeze out here,” he said as he took her arm.

  Half holding her on her feet and carrying their meager belongings in his other hand didn’t cause him to take an extra breath. Todd Black was big and strong.

  ***

  Todd opened the door and set the bags inside. Without saying a word, he took her arm again to help her over the stoop. At least she didn’t flinch this time.

  Once she was in the house, he grabbed the broom resting against the wall and swept the landing, baring the welcome mat sitting before the front door. “Go on inside. I’ll be there in a second.”

  She flashed him a look but he couldn’t read its meaning The stairs needed to be shoveled before the snow got too deep. And before he got any warmer.

  “Aren’t you coming with us?” the little girl wanted to know. “You’ll get cold.” She slid from her mother’s arms.

  “Yes you will, Todd,” Mrs. Murphy chimed it. “Come inside and grab a coffee.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ve been holding dinner for you.” She turned to the new arrival and smiled. “I didn’t think he was ever going to get home. The roads must have been a nightmare.”

  Mrs. Murphy was grinning at Lina as if she was a tasty desert he’d brought home.

  “Wasn’t bad, considering.”

  The younger woman’s back stiffened and her shoulders squared. Before she could say anything, his landlady motioned her and Sadie deeper into the house. “Come in so we can shut the door.” Then she waited for him. Wanting to roll his eyes, he stood the broom beside the door, knocked the snow from his boots and stepped inside.

  As he closed the door, Mrs. Murphy leaned in close to Sadie. “Would you like a cookie while I’m putting dinner on the table?”

  Sadie looked at her mom, who nodded.

  Mrs. Murphy straightened to her full five feet. “Todd, introduce me to your friends, please.” Her hair was gray and her eyes were a bit rheumy but very little got by Mrs. Murphy. Worse, she had a fertile imagination.

  He didn’t want her getting the wrong impression. “This is Adelina and Sadie. Their car slid into the ditch about five miles back. I couldn’t leave them there, so….”

  “Of course you couldn’t. Where else could they go? You did the right thing bringing them here.” She looked at the two of them. “Come on.” She stepped toward the kitchen and extended her arm toward the coat stand. “Put your coats there. There’s plenty for dinner and I’ve got an extra room the two of you can have.”

  “Thank you.” Adelina put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder and shepherded her beyond the foyer. “Please call me Lina and this is Sadie.”

  Mrs. Murphy indicated the enormous kitchen table. “Coffee’s ready and I have fresh muffins and pound cake if you’d like something to nibble on while I put dinner on the table.” She looked at Sadie. “I bet we could find some hot chocolate with those little marshmallows and some cookies for you.”

  “Yes, please. That would be very nice.”

  “What pretty manners.” The seventyish woman slid her hand over the girl’s hair. “Come with me and we’ll warm the milk while you tell me what kind of cookie you want.”

  “You have more than one kind?”

  Mrs. Murphy nodded and then leaned in close to the child to whisper something in her ear.

  Too bad the older couple never had children. She’d make a great grandmother. As they walked across the lino, Todd and Lina dropped into chairs at the table. “Mrs. Murphy always has fresh baking around.” He watched the woman and the girl pour milk into a cup. “Don’t know why she isn’t built like Mrs. Claus.”

  “Lucky, I guess.”

  Silence settled over the table as they watched the older woman and the small child giggling at something in front of the microwave.

  “Thanks again for bringing us to Bandit Creek.” Lina knitted her fingers together, then put them flat on the table. Uncomfortable in the silence she said, “Tell me again why you were stopped on the road?”

  “Strange noise under the hood.” Todd looked at the brunette in fro
nt of him. Big brown eyes and pouty, pink lips were attractive, especially when added to a curvy figure with a small waist. “I needed to make sure there wasn’t anything major going on.”

  “What was it?”

  He shrugged. “No idea. But once I shut off the motor, it stopped.”

  “That’s weird.”

  “Everything is computerized under the hood. Everyone knows with a computer problem you need to re-boot.”

  She smiled at his feeble joke.

  In truth he was darned lucky the problem hadn’t kept him in the snow and cold in the middle of nowhere. He’d have to take it to the shop as soon as Joe returned. For the first time in a long time, there’d be more than one vehicle to fix.

  Hopefully he could get Lina’s car on the road right away. In fact, he’d tell the mechanic to fix hers first. If he hadn’t been stopped, she would probably have made it to town.

  “Have you lived here long?”

  “Todd moved in about six months ago.” Mrs. Murphy put a cup of hot chocolate on the table with two mugs. “I’ll grab the coffee and cookies.” She hustled across the room and back. “Here we go.” A ceramic mug was pushed in front of each of them. She pointed to the lazy Susan in the middle of the table. “Sugar and powdered cream are there.”

  Sadie joined them after walking ever so carefully across the expanse of green blocked linoleum, carrying a plate of cookies. Her mother took them to allow the child to climb onto a chair, and then pushed the plate toward her. “Which did you choose, Sadie?”

  “All of them.” She looked at her hostess. “The lady gave me lots.”

  “The little one said she was hungry. I wondered if you’d had dinner?”

  “We haven’t. I planned to stop along the road but the storm slowed us down, which was why I was trying to get to Bandit Creek.”

  “Nonsense. I have lots.” She looked at Todd. “What about you? Did you eat before you left Missoula?”

  He shook his head. “Didn’t have time. I was in a hurry to get that lumber to Mack at the microbrewery.”

  “He’s gone home. The place will be closed for the night by now.”

  “Took longer than I planned.”

  “And the candy store will have closed on time as well. Those two are never late, regardless of what’s going on in their personal lives.”

  Todd knew there was lots of speculation about the father of the baby that Penny carried since she, Craig and Mack lived together but it was none of his business.

  She covered a yawn with her hand. “Excuse me.”

  “Let me top up your coffee, then I’ll show you to your room, so you can freshen up while I get dinner on the table for the three of you.”

  He couldn’t sit here a minute longer. The woman and the kid were driving him crazy. “I’m going to call Mack and see what he wants me to do with this lumber.” Todd rose to his feet. “Thanks for the coffee, Mrs. Murphy.” He leaned down and kissed the older woman’s cheek. “Don’t fuss with dinner.”

  “Go on with you. Get out of here. I won’t fuss but I’ll make lots. I know how you like to eat.”

  Cheeks flushed, he cleared his throat. “I won’t be long.” He hurried to the porch. He’d have plenty of time to call Mack about the lumber and get the sidewalks cleaned before dinner was ready, if he got his butt in gear and quit watching Lina whatever her last name was.

  ***

  “Where are you going right before Christmas?” Mrs. Murphy asked in a conversational tone.

  The older woman seemed nice enough but Lina wasn’t going to take the risk she might be the town gossip. The risk was too high.

  “Mommy and I are going to see the ocean. We’re going to live by the sea.”

  “Sadie, hush.”

  “Well that’s what you said, Mommy.” She gave her mother ‘the look’. “You did.”

  Lina nodded. There was no point in arguing with her daughter. “Sadie’s right. We are on our way to Seattle. I was hoping to get there and get settled before Christmas, but….” She waved her hand at the kitchen window. “Between my car and the weather we’re not going anywhere anytime soon.”

  “You don’t have to worry about a place to stay. Stay in the room upstairs as long as you want.” She smiled at Sadie. “Little ones are always welcome.” The older woman ruffled Sadie’s hair. “Best I show you where to put your stuff and get dinner organized, before we all starve to death.”

  “You’re very kind, Mrs. Murphy. Uhm…how much are your rooms?”

  With eyes narrowed, the older woman looked at her. “We can talk rates after you’ve eaten and had a good night’s sleep. And I always give a discount to folks stranded by bad weather.”

  “I won’t accept charity.”

  “Good, because I’m not running a charitable organization. I’ve got to meet my costs.”

  She’d manage somehow. As long as her car didn’t cost too much, they’d be okay. Most of the trip was behind them and Seattle was in the next state. Lina turned to Sadie. “Come on, munchkin. Let’s go upstairs and wash up for supper.”

  Sadie jumped off her chair and slid her hand into her mother’s. A wave of fear and uncertainty washed over her. Lina didn’t know how she was going to pay for their room and fix the car. The good news was that Ramon was unlikely to find them in this small town so far off the beaten path. She crossed her fingers. Hopefully, he wouldn’t think to look here.

  Mrs. Murphy led the way up the stairs and down the hall of the older house. It reminded her of the Walton’s house from that television series so long ago. Wide hallways with a number of closed doors off the hall.

  “Are there other people staying here?”

  “No. Just Todd and I.” She straightened the picture of a thrashing machine on the wall. “This house was built for a large bustling family, but–.” She shrugged. “The mister and I weren’t so lucky.”

  “The bathroom is there,” she said, pointing to a closed door. “Todd has that room.” She indicated the only other door in the hallway. “Here you go I’m sorry there aren’t private bathrooms up here, but Todd doesn’t linger.”

  Mrs. Murphy flicked on the light as she stepped into the large room. A queen-size bed dominated the bright space decorated in yellow with a few orange touches to liven it up. Throw rugs in rust, yellow and turquoise covered the floor. The heavy drapes were open, but the night was dark, except for the snow falling steadily.

  It reminded her of her parents decorating taste. Modern with a touch of the colors of Mexico “It’s lovely. Thank you so much.”

  Her landlady nodded. “Get yourselves settled. Have a warm bath, but don’t dawdle. Dinner will be ready shortly.”

  “Is there something I can do to help?” She turned to the older woman.

  “Not a thing. Come down when you’re ready.”

  She nodded. “We won’t be long.”

  As the door softly closed, Sadie jumped on the bed and squirmed around. “It’s very comfortable, Mama. It smells better than the beds we’ve been sleeping in.”

  “I know, baby. They haven’t been the best accommodations, but we’re saving money for our new home in Seattle, right?”

  “Can we stay here for Christmas, Mommy?” Sadie’s eyes pleaded. “All the lights are beautiful and I’ll bet there’s a big Christmas tree somewhere downstairs.”

  Lina would have liked nothing more than to stay for a few weeks. It would have been great to catch her breath and relax a bit, but she didn’t know how far ahead of Ramon they were. He wouldn’t give up—not now, not ever. They had to get to the anonymity of Seattle and her parents’ friends who would help them disappear into the Spanish community of the Pacific Northwest. It was their only chance.

  “I’m sorry, Sadie, but we can’t stay in Bandit Creek. People are waiting for us in Seattle.”

  “You could call them.”

  “No, I can’t,” she replied, grabbing her daughter by the feet and sliding her to the foot of the bed. “But I can tickle you.”

  Sa
die’s squeals filled the room. They hadn’t had enough time to play for weeks now. Not since she’d overheard Ramon’s plans to take their daughter with him to Brazil. If her murdering ex-husband got their daughter out of the country, she’d never see her again.

  That wasn’t going to happen. Not even if she had to give up everything she held dear. It would be cheap at half the cost to keep Sadie safe and away from her dad.

  Chapter Three

  “Did you get enough to eat?” Mrs. Murphy asked as she poured coffee for the adults at the table.

  Todd nodded, as did she. He stirred his coffee, then sipped the hot brew. Throughout dinner, her attention kept returning to the big man sitting beside her. How he held his knife and fork. The way he placed his silver before he lifted his coffee. The strength of his hands as he passed her a bowl that she could barely hold.

  Empty plates marked each place at the table. Half-empty bowls of vegetables and potatoes along with an almost-empty platter which once held a roast held down the center of the table.

  “It was good, Mrs. Murphy. Thank you,” sing-songed her friendly daughter as she wiped her hands on her T-shirt. “But I’m full.”

  “You’re welcome, Sadie. You must have been hungry to have two helpings.” Their hostess handed her a fresh napkin as she spoke.

  “Mommy hasn’t been able to cook for a long time. Your cooking is good like hers.”

  “Aren’t you a dear,” the older woman replied. “Anytime a child says I do anything as well as her mother, I know I’m doing okay.”

  Lina quickly interrupted before Sadie said something she shouldn’t. “Please go upstairs and brush your teeth and wash your hands and face. I’ll be up in a few minutes to help you put on your jammies.”

  “But Mom….”

  She put up her hand, palm outward. “Up you go. We’re not going to chat about it.”

  The little girl’s bottom lip pushed out but after glaring at her mother, she slid off her chair and headed for the stairs.