Ride A Falling Star (The Callahans) Read online

  The best thing to do was get the hell out of there before the whole town came to see what was going on. “Keep your mouth shut,” he warned, getting to his feet. “Or I’ll be back to finish this.”

  She held her injured fingers and made no response as he ran out the front door.

  ~*~

  The sun had fallen behind the peaks and the road to the ranch was darker than a pit of tar. Only the twin headlights lit up the night. The heater blasted hot air, but Ava shivered and wrapped her arms around her midsection.

  The deputy drove. Ava sat next to Levi in the backseat.

  Levi hadn’t said a word, but he vibrated with anger. It didn’t take a genius to figure out it was because the sheriff had refused to do anything about Lisa Abruzzo. All of them had watched her high-priced attorney march her out of the sheriff’s office with not so much as a slap on her elegant wrist.

  Was the lady sheriff dirty, too? Was she calling Vegas as they spoke? Levi had warned Ava not to go to the local police, and she had refused to listen. Her stomach knotted. She glanced out the side window and a flash of red light in the side mirror caught her attention.

  “Levi, what’s that?”

  “What?” He glanced at her and his eyes widened. “Deputy, hit the gas.”

  To his credit, Harlan did as asked moments before the back windshield exploded. Glass fragments covered them.

  Levi shoved Ava’s head down on the seat, where she huddled.

  “Who’s shooting at us?” the deputy shouted.

  “Dario Abruzzo or his men. Turn up here on the old Haunted Mesa Road,” Levi ordered the deputy.

  “It’s snowed in,” he protested.

  “Put it into four-wheel drive and go as fast as you can until we get bogged down.” He sounded harsh. “Deputy, as soon as we come to a stop we’re going to hit the ground running. Keep that man occupied while we escape.”

  “He’ll catch us,” Ava cried from her spot on the seat.

  He kept his gaze on the road behind them. “We’ll be fine. The deputy is going to slow down Dario, or whoever’s gunning for us. Right, deputy?”

  “You bet.” He sounded sincere.

  Ava’s eyes teared. “No. He’ll catch us on foot.”

  “Just get ready,” Levi said tersely.

  The Jeep careened wildly around a sharp corner before it fishtailed, bucked and slowed. Levi opened the door. “Go, Ava! Run! Let’s get out of here!”

  Ava tumbled out of the still-moving car and hit the snowy ground with a thud. “Ouch. Crap!”

  Levi grabbed the back of her coat and helped Ava to her feet. “Come on. We have to get out of here before he spots us.”

  Even though Levi had told her not to, Ava risked a glance back. The deputy had hunkered down behind the sheriff’s Jeep, gun pointed toward the main road.

  Before she could say anything, Levi grabbed her arm and directed her into the thick forest. “Come on. Run like a deer.”

  A shot rang out and Ava ran.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Like soldiers on a mission, they darted and dodged through trees. Behind them, shots rang out. Levi wouldn’t let her stop or even look back, keeping a death grip on her hand. Ava’s breathing came harsh and her side ached.

  “I need to stop,” she panted. She was in good physical shape, but the elevation still took its toll.

  He slowed, but didn’t quit moving. “We have to get away. I don’t have anything to defend us with.”

  Ava couldn’t take another step without catching her breath. She jerked to a halt and pulled her hand free from his. Leaning against a tree, she gasped for air. “I don’t hear anything.”

  Levi cocked his head to the side. “Me either.”

  “Lord, I hope that cop is okay.”

  “He’ll be fine.” Levi motioned toward the trees. “You ready? We better move.”

  “Okay.”

  He led off and Ava fell in behind, this time at a walk. The snow reached past their ankles and Ava’s feet felt like two blocks of ice. Twice she tripped, falling to her knees, coating her jeans with snow, which immediately melted, turning her legs into two frozen fish sticks. “Where are we going?”

  “To the homestead. It’s the original Callahan place. We use it for roundups and sometimes one or the other of us camps there.” Levi kept a steady pace as he explained. He barely seemed to breathe hard in the thin mountain air.

  “How far?”

  “Not much more. I’ve been taking the long way around.”

  Ava didn’t respond. She prayed the deputy was okay. The softly falling snow and the complete silence unnerved her. She’d almost rather hear gunfire. At least she knew the man was still alive if he was firing a gun. In any other circumstances, the snow-covered trees and the winter storm would be beautiful.

  Right now it felt like death.

  A bitter, icy death.

  Levi abruptly stopped and Ava bumped into his back. “Sorry.”

  “Look, there’s the cabin.” He pointed down the hill. A large two-story house sat at one end of a pristine valley, almost hidden by towering pines. Nothing moved and the meadow looked unmarred by any prints.

  “It’s beautiful.” Her teeth chattered. “And hopefully warm.”

  “It will be as soon as we build a fire.” Levi started down the steep hillside, sliding partway on his backside.

  Ava followed, also slipping along on her butt. She grabbed for bushes and small trees to stop her descent, but felt like a runaway sled.

  At the bottom, Levi helped her stand. “Just a little farther. We can make it.”

  “I can’t wait for that fire.” Shaking so hard she could barely move, Ava forced one foot in front of the other. Tennis shoes and a jacket, even a warm one, weren’t the perfect wear for a dash through the snow. Add in no gloves and no hat, and you got cold fast.

  In what would have been a two-minute walk across the meadow turned into more like fifteen as they edged their way around the side, staying under cover in the trees. A rodeo cowboy? Levi seemed more like a soldier to Ava. But his tactics were keeping them alive, so she couldn’t complain. If her feet fell off, at least she would still be breathing.

  Finally they reached the backdoor of the farmhouse.

  It stood dark, silent and cold.

  Carefully, Levi opened the door, pushing it in, snow drifting across the threshold. “I think we’re clear.”

  “You think? Or you hope?” Ava managed through her chattering teeth.

  “I’m sure.” He stepped inside and Ava followed. It seemed impossible, but the air seemed even more glacial indoors.

  “God, it’s freezing.”

  He moved around in the darkened room. “There’s a fireplace in the living room. I’ll get a fire going in a minute. First, I want to make sure all the windows are covered.”

  “Where are the lights?”

  “We have lanterns right here. I’ll light one.” He rustled around, and in a moment the interior of the house lit up with the flickering golden light from a lantern. He held it in front of him. “Come on. Let’s get a fire built before your toes fall off.”

  “That might make dancing a little difficult. Unless I took up ballet again. However, being toeless would make getting on pointe a lot easier.” Ava tried to joke to take away her terror. Was the deputy alive? Or dying in the snow? Because of her?

  The living room was filled with sheet-draped furniture and a rock fireplace at one end. Someone had thoughtfully stashed a pile of logs nearby. Levi threw a couple of cedar chunks in the fireplace and splashed some kind of accelerant over them before standing back and tossing a lit match on them. The wood caught with a whoosh.

  Ava moved close and stuck her frozen fingers over the flames.

  “Don’t warm them too fast,” Levi warned.

  “Why on earth not?” Ava sank onto the rock hearth. “It feels so good.”

  “You might have frostbite. Are your fingertips gray? Or whitish?” He examined them, first one, then the other. “N
o. Very bright red like this is good. It means your blood flow is good.”

  He moved to the window and pulled back a curtain. “I’d still go easy on the warming. Your circulation’s coming back and it hurts if you go too fast.”

  “Do you see anything?”

  “Not yet. It’s hard to see through the snow. It’s coming down pretty hard. Which is a good thing. It’ll blow away our smoke, not that I think anyone’s out there.” He dropped the curtain and moved in front of the fire. “We’re safe inside here. We just have to wait for daylight and go home.”

  Ava’s stomach twisted into a hard knot. “I hope that cop is okay.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine. He had a rifle, along with at least two pistols. And he seemed to know how to use them.” Levi sounded confident.

  “I pray you’re right,” she said.

  ~*~

  Levi held his palms over the flames, letting the heat seep into them. They’d made good time, cutting straight through the forest, though the snow had gotten knee-deep in places. Wearing cowboy boots and jeans, they weren’t dressed for the elements.

  His jeans dragged like weights. He was sure Ava must be numb to the bone, although she hadn’t complained once.

  He tossed another log on the fire, and looked around the old house. Nothing had changed. Same castoff furniture, same western prints on the walls. He hadn’t been here in years. Not since Beth died. This had been their special place. Somewhere to be alone. With four brothers, a sister and cousins by the truckload, being by themselves hadn’t always been easy. She’d loved it here, in the more than hundred-year-old house.

  The familiar pain that came with reminders of Beth didn’t show up as strong this time. In fact, for the first time, overwhelming grief and regret didn’t swamp him. Although the way the lady sheriff blew them off made him burn. He shouldn’t be disappointed, especially after he learned her father had been the victim of Clyde Callahan’s bullet. Surprise didn’t come close to what he felt about her revelation. Moe Browning was her father? Levi had known the man all his life, and never once heard he had a daughter.

  Lately, unwelcome surprises lurked around every corner.

  “Do you really think we’re safe here?” Ava huddled near the fire, her shoulders hunched.

  “You bet. There’s a Jeep road, but it’s snowed in this time of year. Nobody’s going to find us unless we want them to.”

  She shivered. “I can’t get warm.”

  “You need dry clothes. I’m sure there are some here somewhere.” He lifted the lantern. “Stick close to the fire. I’ll be right back.”

  Upstairs, in a cedar trunk, he found a quilt and two plaid blankets. In the closet, he located several ski jackets, gloves and scarves. Gathering all of it, he carried the pile downstairs and dumped it on the sofa. “Let’s take off our wet clothes and get under the blankets.”

  He thought she might refuse for a moment, but she nodded and bent to untie her shoelaces. He threw several logs on the fire and pushed the sofa as close to the flames as he dared.

  Ava stripped to her skimpy undies, but kept on the familiar gray tee she’d worn since they met. Her nipples pressed against the thin fabric and his gaze rested there for a moment. His body stirred and he lifted his eyes.

  Their gaze met and held.

  Without speaking, he turned away and spread the blankets and quilt on the sofa. He dropped his jeans and kicked them and his boots away. He picked up everything and hung it on a chair close to the fireplace, but far enough away it wouldn’t catch fire. “I’ll get in first, that way you’ll be closer to the flames.”

  He slid between the cold covers and held them away. “Come on.”

  She joined him, turning her back and lying stiff as an icicle.

  “Relax, I’m not going to jump you.” He circled her waist with his arm. “We’ve slept together before and you were safe.”

  “I’m not scared.” Her voice squeaked.

  He chuckled. “Really? Could’ve fooled me.”

  Her long legs stretched out like two frozen planks and she had to have one hand braced against the floor to keep from falling. At least two inches separated them.

  His skin wasn’t exactly toasty, but her near-naked state had him standing at attention. “You warming any?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Come here.” He tugged her closer until her behind curved into his groin and their legs touched. “That’s better.”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  They lay in silence, and he assumed she was asleep until she spoke. “Your family’s going to be worried sick about you.”

  “They’ll be fine. They know I’m a big boy.” He didn’t want to trouble Ava, but he didn’t like worrying his mother. Both Travis and Paco would be going crazy with fear, too. “We’ll hike out of here at first light.”

  “Good.”

  Under his palm, Ava’s ribs lifted and dropped, slower now. She had begun to relax and the frozen skin of her legs began to warm. When he touched one of her feet with his, they still reminded him of two chunks of ice. Shadows danced on the walls and he watched them, wide awake.

  His thoughts turned to the day behind them.

  Who would have ever guessed Abruzzo had a sister willing to do his dirty work? Along with her, had he brought other reinforcements? Killers lurking in every alley? Waiting to gun down Ava, and probably him, too?

  If this were the old west, he’d arm his brothers, and like the Earps, they’d go after the bad guys. But it wasn’t the old west; there was no vigilante justice. Hell, there was no justice at all. Even if he’d been mistaken about the way the sheriff’s department handled Beth’s murder, today the lady sheriff had showed them how much she cared about the Callahans. Zip. Nada. Not one whit.

  She hadn’t seemed to believe a word they said, and then to not arrest Lisa Abruzzo was just plain crap. Just like her predecessor, Sheriff Faraday had turned her back on someone Levi cared about. But unlike the last time, he wouldn’t look away for an instant and let a woman die on his watch.

  He tightened his arm around Ava and she sighed, relaxed against him.

  Even her icy feet had begun to warm.

  He was warm, more than warm.

  He burned where her silky skin touched his. Her legs mashed against his, her back to his chest, her butt pressed against his jutting erection all had him hot. He shifted and the pressure intensified. With gritted teeth, he tried counting sheep. One. Two. Three. Four.

  Not working.

  His mind kept going to the woman in his arms and how much he’d like to bury himself in her soft folds.

  But Ava’s rule said no sex.

  A rule he’d love to break. But not until she said so.

  Back to counting sheep…five…six…seven.

  His hand slid up her ribcage to just under the swell of her breast. He ached to slide under her thin t-shirt, to fill his palm with her breast. His lips and tongue craved her. From the top of her vanilla-cinnamon-scented head to the tips of her delicate toes.

  Eight…nine…ten.

  Damn sheep. He’d never liked them.

  His groin tightened.

  Why had she made the no-sex rule again? What had been her reasoning? Something about men jumping her and then disappearing? Surely she knew he wasn’t a love-’em-and-leave-’em kind of guy. Hadn’t he proved that by now?

  Eleven.

  Had he left off with eleven? Or was it twelve?

  His fingers itched. Her nipple was peaked, he could tell without touching it. With only the slightest movement and he could find out how good it would feel. But he promised not to do anything she didn’t want.

  Twelve…thirteen…fourteen.

  He closed his eyes and tried to think of anything but the urge pulsing between his legs. He wasn’t a horny teenager, he could control himself.

  The sheep thing wasn’t working. Maybe baseball stats. Nah. Images of bats, balls and home runs weren’t a good idea.

  A soft sigh slid out of Ava, and he c
lenched his jaw. No matter what it took, he wouldn’t hurt her or scare her for the world. He wanted her bad, but until she felt the same way.

  His cock was going to have to wait.

  If it didn’t kill him first.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ava woke slowly.

  To her surprise, she was warm. Even her toes felt normal when she wiggled them. She shifted slightly and realized Levi’s heavy arm lay across her ribcage. And his big hand cupped her breast. Cold had nothing to do with her hard nipple pressing into his palm. Or her hyper-awareness of him that her clenching her thighs together.

  The hard ridge of his erection against her buttocks told her exactly how much he wanted her. Or at least his body was reacting to a nearly naked female pressed up against it. No, it was more than that. This thing between them had been there from the beginning. He wasn’t like any other man she’d ever met. He was kind. Patient. Strong and loyal.

  Protective.

  He’d put his life on the line more than once to save hers.

  She’d never known love like his.

  She’d fallen in love with a cowboy.

  But he never said he loved her back. And he wouldn’t. His fiancée’s death had left him too scarred to fall ever again. Ava’s heart twisted into a hard knot. She covered a sob with her hand.

  “What’s wrong?” Levi’s voice rumbled close to her ear. “You’re safe.”

  She wasn’t safe. She was in deep water that had nothing to do with Dario Abruzzo. “I’m fine.”

  “Come here.” He tugged her over so she faced him. Less than an inch separated them as she looked into his hazel eyes. Long, dark lashes framed them, but it was the look he gave her that made her melt. She touched her dry lips with the tip of her tongue.

  “Levi. I—”

  He shifted so that she was under him, but he held his weight off her. “You have a rule, Ava. Remember?”

  She managed a nod. “Yes.”

  “Rules are rules.”

  “You’re right.” Her voice came out strangled.

  He moved his mouth a fraction of an inch closer. “We shouldn’t break rules.”