Her Mistletoe Protector by Laura Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

having your child in danger.” She fought the rising anger. Who was he to preach to her at a time like this? Her son was missing and he wanted her to pray?
    “I do know a little about what you’re going through, Rachel. Two years ago, I lost my wife and my daughter in a terrible car crash. I nearly went crazy during the hours they were missing, before they were found dead in the bottom of a ravine. And trust me, I wouldn’t have made it through those dark days without God’s strength and the power of prayer.”
    His blunt statement surprised her and caused her to feel ashamed. Why was she taking her anger out on Nick? None of this was his fault. Clearly, he knew what it was like to lose someone he loved. Losing his wife and a daughter had to have been horrible. But prayer? She wasn’t sure she was buying that idea.
    She couldn’t remember the last time she’d prayed, if ever. And she wasn’t sure that prayer alone would make her feel better about losing her son.
    She wouldn’t survive if Joey died. Everything inside her would die right along with him.
    “I’ve been praying for Joey’s safety,” Nick went on in a low voice. “And I want you to know, I’ll keep on praying for Joey and for you.”
    Tears pricked her eyes and her throat swelled, making it hard to speak. Knowing that he would pray for her son brought a surprising level of comfort. And she suddenly realized that he was right. She did need to keep an open mind. Because if Nick’s prayers could really help, she would gladly take them. She would take anything she could get if it meant keeping Joey safe.
    She cleared her throat, trying to hide the evidence of her tears. “Thank you, Nick. And I’m sorry I snapped at you. I didn’t know you lost your wife and daughter. I guess you really do know what I’m going through.”
    “For a long time I wanted to join them up in heaven,” he admitted. “But God chose another path for me, so I’ve decided to dedicate my life to putting bad guys away and leading a Christian life, until God calls me home to be with my family.”
    She wasn’t sure what to say in response to that, since truthfully, his plan sounded a bit lonely. Although who was she to argue about being alone? She wasn’t interested in having a relationship again, either, especially not while she was raising her son. She was too afraid to trust her instincts about men after the way she’d messed up with Anthony.
    Was Nick subtly warning her that he wasn’t interested in being anything more than friends? If so, she was happy to oblige.
    Right now, she didn’t care about anything except getting her son back safe and sound.
    As the minutes passed slowly, she stared out through the car window at the stars scattered across the night sky. And suddenly, she found herself uttering a simple prayer to a God she wasn’t even sure existed.
    Please keep my son safe.

FIVE
    R achel must have dozed in spite of herself, because, when she opened her eyes, dawn was breaking over the horizon and she didn’t recognize the area. She assumed Nick had driven somewhere else at some point in the middle of the night. It took a moment for her to realize the beeping noise that woke her up came from a phone. She scrambled around, searching for her phone as Nick twisted in the driver’s seat to look at back at her.
    “Another text message?” he asked.
    She pushed the button on her old phone and her heart leaped into her throat at the message that bloomed on the screen.

    Ten million dollars will buy your son’s freedom. Details on the exchange to follow. Remember, no police or your son will pay the price.

    She tore her gaze from the message and held up the phone to show Nick. “It’s the ransom demand,” she said in a choked voice. She wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or worried that the message had come so early in the morning.
    She stared at the phone, wanting desperately to believe that some sort of contact from the kidnappers was better than