The Christmas Rescue by Laura Scott Read Free Book Online

dredged up memories better off forgotten. The arguments she and Jeremy had over the long hours he worked in the charter fishing business. She’d been thrilled when he’d finally agreed to sell out his half of the business to Bill. She’d been looking forward to more family time.
    She rubbed her aching temple. Why was she suddenly remembering the rough points in their marriage? Jeremy had been a good husband and father. She’d never worried about him straying. She’d planned to spend the rest of her life with him.
    But Jeremy was gone. All she had left of her marriage was this house, her memories and the memorial that Bill Schroeder had recently put up in honor of Jeremy.
    â€œYou knew, didn’t you? That’s why you went back to talk to the police.”
    â€œI suspected, but I couldn’t say anything until we knew for sure.”
    Kayla’s shoulders slumped. It didn’t matter if Rafe knew before or not. She was doubly glad she hadn’t gone down to the body to take a closer look.
    â€œSo tell me, how much do you charge to rent one of your rooms?” Rafe asked, abruptly changing the subject.
    Startled, she glanced at him. Why was he asking? Because he planned to stay? As much as she wanted to laugh off his offer, she couldn’t. Especially now that she knew Bill Schroeder was dead. “Just so happens I’m running a half-price Christmas special,” she weakly joked.
    Rafe didn’t so much as smile. “I’m serious, Kayla. I’d like to stay for a few days. Just in case this intrudertries again. Put me in the same room he tried to break into, if possible.”
    She wished she didn’t need Rafe’s help, but she couldn’t turn down his offer. Brianna’s safety had to be first and foremost. After all, wasn’t that the main reason she’d called him? She’d known he’d take charge.
    Keep them safe.
    â€œIf you’re sure,” she said, meeting his gaze. She was thankful Ellen had agreed to stay with them for a while, too, so that she could take Rafe up on his offer. Ellen had mentioned needing to go and visit her sister, who’d fallen and broken her hip, but she wasn’t planning to leave until closer to Christmas.
    â€œI’m sure.” He smiled, and suddenly she remembered all too clearly those moments when he caught her close in his embrace.
    She swallowed hard and glanced away. She could only hope that allowing Rafe to stay wasn’t a huge mistake on a personal level.
    For Brianna’s sake. Or her own.
    Â 
    Rafe left Kayla’s house, after making her promise to set the security alarm, so he could run back home to pick up what he needed. Leaving her alone, even knowing Ellen was there with her, wasn’t easy. He couldn’t help hurrying, unwilling to give Kayla time to change her mind. He’d been shocked at how easily she’d agreed with his plan to stay.
    Which only indicated just how scared she’d really been.
    He’d returned home to get some clothes and his laptop computer. Once again, he swung by the lakefront, but there was still no sign of Charlie.
    He called Luke to tell him about Schroeder’s surprisevisit to Kayla days before his disappearance. “I’m going to try to convince Kayla to let me go through her husband’s belongings. I just can’t help but think it’s odd that Schroeder suddenly put together a memorial for her husband two years after his death.”
    â€œI’ll give you until Monday,” Luke reluctantly agreed. “But if you don’t have anything by then, I’m pulling you back here. We need to figure out who killed our key suspect. Obviously, someone else must be taking over duty of transporting our crooks out of the country.”
    â€œThat’s fine.” Rafe was willing to take what he could get.
    When he returned to the bed-and-breakfast, Kayla seemed nervous, as if having him as a guest felt awkward.