Navy SEAL Rescuer by Shirlee McCoy Read Free Book Online Page B

to move away from Darius.
    “Eileen, it looks like we can go back inside. Why don’t I help
you back to bed?”
    “You’ll have to wait until the bomb squad clears the house.”
The female officer’s pronouncement didn’t seem to bother Eileen, but Catherine
was anxious to retreat and hide herself away for a while.
    “Clear the house? Why? No one was in there but us.”
    “It’s procedure, ma’am.”
    “But—”
    “There’s no sense fighting procedure,” Darius interrupted
before she could continue the argument.
    “Once they clear the house, we’ll be bringing in evidence
teams. Since your grandmother is so sick, it might be best if you arrange for a
friend to come pick her up and let her stay the night,” the officer added.
    A friend?
    Catherine couldn’t think of one.
    “Is there someone you can stay with, Eileen?” she asked,
bracing herself for what she knew was coming.
    “Why would I stay with someone? I’ve got an entire house right
here just waiting for me to get back into it, and that’s where I plan to stay.”
    “You heard what the officer said. It could be hours before we
can go back inside.”
    “Then I guess I’ll sit here for hours and wait.”
    “Be reasonable—”
    “Why don’t I call one of my coworkers and have you taken to my
place, Miz Eileen? You’ll be more comfortable there. Once everything is cleared
up here, I’ll escort you back,” Darius said, and Eileen smiled.
    “Escort me, huh?”
    “Of course.”
    “I suppose that would be okay. I’ve been wanting to see what
you’re doing at the Morris’s place. Old Man Morris wasn’t so good at keeping up
on the old farmhouse. Not that I’m one to talk. I’ve been slacking lately,
too.”
    “This is your lucky night, then. You can explore my place to
your heart’s content.” Darius pulled out a cell phone and took a few steps away,
taking charge and arranging things without bothering to check with Catherine. If
she hadn’t been so anxious to get Eileen settled somewhere, she might have
protested. It was her job to take care of Eileen, after all. Not Darius’s. But
Eileen needed to be warm and comfortable, and Darius was offering her that.
Catherine would be a fool to argue.
    The lights in the house went on room by room, shadowy figures
passing in front of windows. A dog barked, but other than that the night had
fallen silent.
    The worst seemed to be over, the bomb disarmed and the
perimeter of the house swept, but the taste of fear lingered, hot and metallic
as Catherine waited.
    Light appeared in the attic window. Just a few more minutes and
the house would be cleared. Maybe Eileen could go home after all, sleep in the
hospital bed with her well-loved books on the shelves nearby.
    “Yo! Osborne! You out here?” a man called out as he rounded the
corner of the house and started across the backyard.
    “Over here, Lancaster.”
    “Looks like you’ve got a lot going on for a guy who’s on
vacation.” He shook Darius’s hand. Average height, with close-cropped dark hair,
he had a sharply angled jaw and high cheekbones. His eyes might have been blue
or green, but even in the darkness, Catherine could tell they were light with
thick dark lashes.
    “Ashton Lancaster, this is Catherine Miller. Catherine,
Ashton.” Darius offered a brief introduction, and Ashton focused all his
attention on Catherine, his expression intense and curious.
    He knew who she was.
    Most people in the area did, but he kept any thoughts about it
well hidden.
    “Nice to meet you, Catherine. Darius explained the situation,
and I’ll take good care of your grandmother.”
    “I’ll take good care of myself, young man. So, how about we get
on with things. Fact is, I’m gettin’ a little tired of sitting here.” Eileen
tried to get to her feet, but her spindly legs and arms were too weak.
    Catherine took her hand, but Eileen swatted her away. “Let one
of the two boys help me. You’re too puny.”
    “I’ve been helping you for two