Skin Deep by Pamela Clare Read Free Book Online Page B

Hunter.”
    “Megan.” Nate felt guilt slide through him. He’d just spent the past hour reading her life story, and she didn’t know it. “What’s up?”
    “I wondered if you’d mind very much if I brought Emily out to see the horses. You said it was an open invitation. But maybe you’re busy.” There was hesitation in her voice as if she expected him to say “no.” Beneath that, he heard fear.
    “Has something happened?”
    She hesitated. “I found a letter from Donny and the men he’s working with in Emily’s cubby at preschool. Apparently, they paid the janitor to put it there. It had a note demanding money, along with photos of Emily and me that were taken while we were under police surveillance. They threatened to kill both me and Emily if I don’t get them a hundred thousand dollars by ten tonight.”
    Jesus Christ! Son of a bitch!
    Nate’s rage shifted into overdrive. “Do the cops know?”
    “Yes. I called them right away.” Her voice quavered. “My brother is coming tonight to take me to stay at his place, but right now I’m just sitting in my house with an unmarked police car outside my door. I … I don’t want to sit here alone, waiting, and I thought maybe if you didn’t mind…”
    More than a little gratified that she had turned to him, he didn’t hesitate. “Of course I don’t mind. Head on up. I’ll give you directions.”
    # # #
    Nate tucked his wallet in the back pocket of his jeans and grabbed his coat and gloves. The drive to the ranch from Megan’s house took about forty-five minutes, which meant she’d arrive at the gate in about fifteen minutes. He wanted to be there to ensure she wasn’t followed. He walked to the gun safe, grabbed his SIG Sauer P226, slid it into his shoulder holster, then took out his shotgun and a case of double-aught buck shells.
    If anyone came looking for trouble, he’d make damn sure they found it.
    “Where the hell are you going?” His dad’s voice came from behind him.
    “Megan Hunter called.” He quickly told his old man what Megan had told him. “She’s afraid and doesn’t want to be alone. She asked if she could bring her little girl up to look at the horses. I’m heading to the gate to meet her.”
    His dad frowned. “You know, a woman who’s been through what she’s been through—that’s a lot for a man to take on.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means she comes with baggage. I’m not judging her. I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve a second chance. Hell, I followed her story every day in the paper for weeks. I even wrote a letter to the governor asking him to grant her a pardon. I think what happened to her was pretty goddamned awful. Even so, she’s going to bring her troubles to your door.”
    Nate felt a spark of irritation. “None of this is her fault.”
    “That may be true, but think of it this way.” His dad pointed to the shotgun. “You barely know her, and you’re heading out to meet her loaded for bear.”
    Nate understood the point his old man was trying to make. “I can handle it.”
    His dad’s frown deepened. “It’s a damned stupid time for her to come up here anyway. Didn’t she check the forecast? That storm they expected to dump thirty-six inches on the northwest part of the state took a detour and is headed straight for us.”
    Shit.
    Nate glanced outside, saw a few fat flakes already falling. “It’s too late now. She’ll be at the gate in ten minutes.”

CHAPTER 5
     
    M egan turned off Squaw Pass Road onto County Road 270 and followed it as it twisted and turned through a forest of ponderosa pines and bare aspen, the high peaks hidden in a bank of storm clouds. Snow had begun to fall from a heavy, gray sky, forcing her to turn on the car’s headlights and windshield wipers. She hoped the storm would die out. She didn’t want to drive home in the dark in a blizzard.
    According to the directions Nate had given her, the gate to the ranch was supposed to be about three