I'll Be There Part 7

"I couldn't agree more," Grady said. "Let's get Jenny over to my car."

"Wait. I wanted to suggest that I take Jenny up to my cabin, hide her there for the time being. From what I can see, the marshals that she's been with haven't done a very good job keeping her safe."

"You won't get any argument from me on that. I have to say I'm shocked that you'd suggest having anyone up at your place, though."

Cord shrugged. "It's an unusual circ.u.mstance."

Grady nodded. "That it is, but even if I was inclined to agree, there's a problem."

"What's that?"

"Have you looked out your windshield? It's a blizzard."

"Right. I still don't understand the problem."

"Roads out of town up to the mountain you live on are closed. As it is, we'll be lucky to get back to Angel Ridge. We better get moving."

Jenny said. "I can't go back to Angel Ridge. I signed an agreement when I entered WITSEC saying I wouldn't go back there."

"So she is in Witness Protection." Cord interjected.

Jenny and Grady exchanged a look. "Sorry," she said.

Grady sighed. "How much have you told him?"

"Nothing."

"I figured out she was in Witness Protection when she told me she was being guarded by marshals. Who's after her?"

"I can't answer that question," Grady said.

"It's the South's version of the mob," Jenny supplied. "I uncovered evidence that will put them away, and they want me dead. Thus, I am in witness protection."

"Jenny!"

"What? He did G.o.d only knows what to I don't know how many of them up on that mountain. They'll probably be after him now."

Grady gave her the look of death, but she just gave him a look of her own.

"As I was saying, Angel Ridge is the only option," Grady said. "No one's going anywhere in this snowstorm."

"Right," Cord said. "n.o.body gets out either. That's a problem as well."

"Nothing to be done about weather except wait it out," Grady said. "While we're snowed in, we'll come up with a plan to get her somewhere safe when the roads are cleared."

"Where will I stay?" Jenny asked. "Everyone thinks I'm dead."

"I'll figure that out while we're on the road. We have to get moving."

"Sheriff, I can get us up to my cabin."

"If you want to give it a go, Goins, I can't stop you, but I won't let you take Jenny. It's not safe, and I personally plan to see that she's kept safe from here on out."

"She won't be in danger," Cord said.

"I'm not taking that chance."

The two men stared each other down like two predators sizing each other up. Jenny rolled her eyes. "If you two are finished posturing, I'd suggest we get moving before we wind up waiting this weather out in a parking lot. I, for one, don't want to meet my untimely death at a Wal-Mart, of all places."

Grady shook his head and chuckled. "Glad to see your s.p.u.n.k's still intact, Jenny."

"Don't be condescending, Sheriff. I may be in protective custody, but that doesn't mean I suddenly lost all wit and intelligence."

"No one would ever suggest such a thing, Jenny." Turning back to Cord, Grady said, "What's it gonna be, Goins? I can take her off your hands, and you can be on your way."

"You're off the hook, Cord. You can get your supplies and get back to your cabin to wait for spring." Jenny got to her knees and crawled toward the front in antic.i.p.ation of following Grady to his vehicle.

"She can't get out of the car and walk across the parking lot. It's too open."

"It'll be fine. The parking lot's practically empty and you can barely see your hand in front of your face with all the snow," Jenny said.

"We can't a.s.sume it's safe."

"He's right," Grady said.

"Great. Perfect." Just what she needed. More men who thought they knew how to keep her safe. She had to take back her life. Maybe in Angel Ridge, in more familiar surroundings, she'd feel more herself and able to formulate a plan. Like Dixie always said, if you want something done right, do it yourself or find a woman. Luckily, she fit the bill on both counts.

Jackson checked his cell after hearing the chime indicating he'd received a text message.

"What is it?"

"The boss. Says something's up. We need to be ready to move."

"He knows where she is then?"

"I don't know. Pack up and be ready to go. Our necks are on the block. Another screw up won't be tolerated. He's made that clear."

"Right." Roy checked his gun, making sure the clip was full. He jammed it back in place and said, "Next time will be the last time. She won't get away again."

Chapter 6.

Cord's cell phone rang; the sound of an old-fashioned telephone ringing. Jenny filed that away as a clue to what made the dark, brooding man tick.

"h.e.l.lo... Yeah... No. Not familiar with it... Yeah... Are you sure it's safe?..."

At which point a long pause ensued. Jenny folded her arms and rotated her neck. "Want my opinion?"

That warranted a slight movement of Cord's head in her direction, but no comment.

"All right. Make sure no one follows you," Cord said then disconnected the call. Both hands on the wheel, eyes straight ahead.

"Where to, James?" The chauffeur reference wasn't funny, but it amused Jenny and she chuckled. Might as well laugh. Nothing else she could do... for the moment.

"Sheriff's going to meet us at the Craig farm."

"Cole Craig's place?"

"Yeah. I guess he's got an old tenant cabin and a lot of property. So, no nosey neighbors to wonder what's going on." After a pause, he added, "Grady's going to get some supplies and meet us there with the owner."

Jenny didn't comment. She wondered what it would be like to be back in Angel Ridge. Just knowing her house and friends were close by gave her a longing so acute she experienced physical pain. Lord, what she wouldn't give for a long, hot shower and home-cooked meal from Ferguson's.

She must have mumbled or moaned, because Cord asked, "You say something?"

"I'd kill for a slice of chocolate pie from Ferguson's. Don't suppose you'd stop by-"

"Not on the way, and no, I wouldn't stop anyway. It's not safe."

Just thinking about food from Ferguson's made Jenny's stomach grumble loudly. "I haven't eaten since yesterday."

"I'm sure Grady will bring food."

Jenny screwed up her mouth, imagining. "Right. Cold canned beans and meat with bottled water to wash it down. What I wouldn't give for a tall gla.s.s of cold sweet tea."

That drew a rusty chortle from Cord. "I guess you've been away from civilization for awhile."

"Long enough to thoroughly appreciate all the things I used to take for granted," she said in all sincerity. She missed her bed, her clothes, her flat iron, moisturizer. She could go on, but it only made her more miserable, and she refused to wallow in self-pity. As they said, this too would pa.s.s. Soon, she'd be permanently relocated or returned to her old life. Either way, a sense of normalcy would return. She could endure this knowing it would end, if she managed to stay alive long enough.

Too many sobering thoughts. She needed a distraction. "Looks like it's snowing harder."

No response. Back to playing the part of the silent, mysterious stranger. Well, never let it be said she couldn't carry on a one-sided conversation. "You know, the last significant snowfall we had here was about fifteen years ago, and it fell in March. Some folks were snowed in for two weeks and more."

She'd been living in Nashville at the time and, having never seen so much snow in Tennessee, decided to drive to the Knoxville area. That's when she'd decided to move to East Tennessee. The sight of the picturesque snow on the mountains and in the foothills made her dream of making the area her home.

Convincing the Knoxville News-Sentinel to give her a job had been easy with her credentials, but the "good ole boys club" mindset of the old school investigative reporters on staff had been another matter. Still, she'd proven herself, working three times as hard as anyone else, and had gotten the job done with impressive results. But with precious few "real" stories coming her way, she longed to have complete control. A weekend visit to Angel Ridge and the idea had gelled.

She'd come to town to do a fluff, filler piece on the town that time seemed to have forgotten. It had been Christmas. When she arrived, she thought she'd taken a wrong turn and time-traveled into a Norman Rockwell painting complete with strolling carolers in period dress, oil burning street lamps, and horse drawn carriage tours. Carolers had been singing in the gazebo in the Town Square situated between the two sides of Main Street. There was even a bronze statue of a warrior angel to complete the picture-no soft female angel for this town. The only thing missing had been snow, which brought her back to the present.

When Candi Heart, aka Lark Hensley, had moved to town a few months ago, the sleepy little town had awakened like a slumbering dragon. Who would believe the south had its own version of the mob, much less that it was still active despite the fact that they'd closed the Vonore Gentleman's Club in the Eighties.

Clearly, a remnant still remained that had been called into duty to keep Jenny quiet by any means necessary. They could be anywhere and everywhere; back in the mountains, in the hollers, a business owner, or neighbor. It could take two lifetimes to flush them all out. She chewed on her thumbnail. She might never be able to safely return to her old life. So the question was, what would she do if she could no longer be Jenny Thompson, newspaper owner/editor/investigative reporter? Well, much like the fictional Scarlett, Jenny was afraid she'd have to think about that tomorrow.

The Jeep was moving slower and slower. The roads must be treacherous, even in a four-wheel drive. She hated lying p.r.o.ne in the back, unable to see anything but distorted sky and the heavy snow blowing past the plastic window. "Are we getting close?"

"I'm not sure. I could have missed the turnoff. I've never seen one, but I think this qualifies as a white-out. At least there are no other cars out. I guess everyone had the good sense to get inside."

"Let's hope," Jenny agreed, thinking of the people out looking for her.

"Here we go," Cord said, and Jenny found herself holding on to anything she could find to keep from slip-sliding into another gas can or whatever it had been that had bruised her ribs earlier.

"Sorry. It came up out of nowhere."

"I'm all right." Except for now that they were off the paved road, she was bouncing around so much that she was certain her organs would be completely rearranged when they finally came to a stop.

"Get down. Cover your head."

Cord's voice had changed and a gun appeared in his hand. Jenny did as he said, but asked, "What is it?"

"I'm not sure, but keep still and quiet.

He slowed the Jeep and rolled to a stop. A blast of cold air whooshed into the car when he opened the door, then someone said, "Cord Goins? I'm Cole Craig. Grady asked me to meet you here. With visibility low, I thought I'd flag you down so you can follow me over to where you'll be stayin'."

"Much obliged."

With that, Cord got back in the Jeep. When he had the car in motion, he said, "I'm not sure how much the sheriff told him, so when we get to the house he's taking us to, you stay where you're at until I come get you."

It made sense. She didn't want to endanger herself or anyone else for that matter. "All right."

The road got rougher, if that was possible. Jenny groaned every time she went into the air and slammed back down on the cold, hard metal of the floor in the back. She was going to be black and blue, but alive and, hopefully, safe sitting by a roaring fire soon.

Cord came to a stop behind Cole Craig's truck and got out. He turned up the collar of his coat, following Craig as he motioned him into the small, clapboard structure near where they'd parked. All the while, he was scanning the clearing surrounding them, watching for movement.

The inside was spa.r.s.ely furnished, but neat. A fire burning in the fireplace warmed the interior. Faded old curtains on the windows were closed.

"Where's Jenny?" Cole asked. "Does Grady have her?"

"No. She's in the back of my Jeep. I wasn't sure how much you were told."

"I don't mind telling you, it was a shock. But I'm glad she's all right. Let's get her in out of the cold."

"How about if I get her, and you stand watch here on the porch to make sure there's no one who may have followed us."

"Of course, but it's not likely anyone's out in this"

Cord pulled his gun out and extended it to Cole. "You know how to use this."

Cole took it. "Yeah."

Cord took in the tall, muscular blond man. He held the gun like he knew what to do with it; seemed trustworthy. Cord nodded and turned back for Jenny.

He unsnapped the window flap at the rear of the Jeep and let down the tailgate.