Chapter Five
Kian picked up his coat and made his way back to the kitchen. He couldn’t feel guilty for kissing Gretchen; her beauty was impossible to resist. Still, he had been honest with her. If he knew he had someone waiting for him at home, he never would have acted on his desires. That’s what they were taught growing up, to treat others with respect, whether they were strangers or family.
He couldn’t wait to make a call to his brother and hear his voice. Kian smiled at the thought of Killian’s reaction when he found out what happened.
As he entered the kitchen, he noticed it was empty. Gretchen must have gone back to her room to get dressed. Kian glanced at the thermometer on the porch post and saw that it was below twenty degrees.
“Damn,” he muttered under his breath.
“What’s wrong?” Gretchen asked as she walked into the kitchen.
“It’s freezing out there.”
“Wait here, I might have some extra winter accessories you can use. Scarves and a hat.”
“Okay.”
She returned with three scarves and a black beanie. She handed him two scarves and the beanie. He looked at them skeptically and shook his head.
“Why did they have to take my cowboy hat? It was a Stetson ; do you know how much those things cost?”
“No idea. But the beanie will keep your head warm and the scarves can cover your face and neck. I’m sorry I don’t have any gloves for you.” She removed the rifle from the cabinet and handed it to him.
Kian grumbled as he pulled on the beanie, took the rifle, but couldn’t help smiling when she laughed at him.
“What’s so funny?”
“You just don’t seem like a beanie kind of guy.”
“I’m not. I wear a Stetson ,” he growled playfully, stressing the popular brand of hat, but then grinned when she laughed again.
“Well, either wear this or freeze on the ATV. Even on the back, it will be cold.”
“Whoa, I’m driving.”
“But—” She stopped when he put up his hand.
“I’ll know better which way to go than you would.”
Gretchen nodded understandingly. “Okay, that makes sense. And I probably wouldn’t hear you giving me directions anyway.”
“Exactly. I’ll have these scarves over my nose and you should too.”
“I will. If you’re ready, let’s go.”
“Let me get the ATV.”
“No, I have snow boots on. Let me get it and then you can drive.”
“Damn. Fine.”
She smiled as she headed out the door. Kian watched her through the window above the sink and heard Lobo whine.
“She’ll be back, boy,” he reassured the dog.
Kian heard the ATV start up and saw Gretchen drive it out of the shed. It was a large one, so he knew they could easily navigate through the snow. When she pulled up to the porch, he stepped out onto the porch.
“Is Lobo coming with us?” he asked.
“Yes.” She scooted back on the seat.
Kian handed her the rifle, climbed onto the machine and positioned himself in front of her, putting his leg over the seat and leaning back.
“Hold on tight.” He revved up the engine and they took off through the snow. He laughed as Gretchen screamed and wrapped her arms around his waist while Lobo followed behind, barking excitedly.
He drove toward the spot where she had found him and paused for a moment before taking a left turn down a hill, weaving through trees, then up an incline. The further they went, the more familiar the area looked.
Kian slowed down when they reached a nearly frozen creek and came to a stop.
“What is it?”
“We’re getting close. Any signal yet?” He could feel Gretchen reaching for her phone in her pocket.
“Not yet.”
Kian slowly drove the ATV through the creek, so they wouldn’t get splashed by the freezing water.
“Is this your land?” he asked.
“No. Mine ended at the creek. We’re on public land now.”
He couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease after they crossed the creek. The memories came flooding back as he reached a small clearing and stopped suddenly. This was where they had shot him from. He turned off the engine, got off the bike and stood up, taking in his surroundings.
Gretchen’s voice broke through his thoughts, informing him that she had a signal. Kian looked at her, almost forgetting he wasn’t alone. She joined him on foot, her eyes scanning the area.
“Is that the carcass you saw?” she asked.
Kian nodded, his voice catching in his throat as he recalled the traumatic event. “Yes... they wanted me to die so I couldn’t report them.” He pointed up the hill to some trees. “That’s where I was standing when I called out to them.”
Gretchen wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. Kian couldn’t help but feel grateful for her support.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
Kian shook his head, trying to push away the memories. “I’m just glad they didn’t leave me here. I would have died for sure.” He then thought about what had happened to his belongings. “I wonder what they did with my coat... ID... weapon—”
“ Stetson ,” Gretchen added, stressing the word as he had.
Kian turned to look at her with narrowed eyes, seeing her trying to hold back a grin.
“Smartass,” he muttered before walking toward the wolf carcass. As he crouched down next to it, he felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, buddy.”
Gretchen handed him a phone and suggested he call his brother.
“Do you know his number?”
“Yes, it’s one digit off from mine. I’m sure he’s been worried. I’ve been gone over a week now.” Kian took a deep breath and dialed Killian’s number, putting the call on speaker in case there were any questions he couldn’t answer about the area.
“Agent Doyle speaking,” Killian answered, and Kian felt tears pricking at his eyes.
“Kil—” he started, but had to clear his throat. “Killian.”
“Kian? Kian, is that you?” Killian’s voice was filled with emotion.
“Yeah, little brother, it’s me.” Kian could hear Killian choking back a sob on the other end of the line.
“Where are you? I’ve been looking for you. We thought... we thought you were dead.”
“I almost was,” Kian replied, before explaining what had happened to him. “Gretchen is here with me. We’re on speaker. We’re where the men were when they shot me. There’s no cell service at her place. I just got my memory back, and we came here so I could call you.”
“Kian, everyone was worried sick. Mom and Dad are going to be ecstatic to hear from you.”
“We heard a helicopter not too long ago—”
“That was me. Warren had Grady fly me around. I spotted smoke coming from a chimney, but Grady couldn’t find a place to land. We checked the coordinates for the cabin, but nothing really came up that we could use. I prayed that you were in there and warm.”
Kian chuckled. “I was. I even told Gretchen that I’d bet my year’s salary on the fact that it was you in that chopper. She saved my life, Killian.”
“Thank you, Gretchen. I can’t wait to meet you and give you a big hug.”
Kian laughed. “Only if I get to hug your beautiful fiancée.”
“No way. She doesn’t even know you’re gone.” Killian laughed.
“Liar. We’re heading back to the cabin now. It’s starting to snow, and it’s only twenty degrees out. We’ll have to wait a while before we can leave.”
“As long as we know you’re safe, we can wait. It’s so good to hear your voice again.”
“Yours too. If the weather isn’t too bad in a day or two, I’ll come back here and call you again. I don’t know what they did with any of my stuff, my vest, coat, gloves, badge, gun, ID—”
“ Stetson ,” Gretchen added with a laugh.
“Oh, by the way, Gretchen is a real smartass,” Kian said with a chuckle.
“Well then she won’t have any trouble keeping you in line. But don’t worry about your things; they can all be replaced. You can’t. Was the shot through and through?”
“Yeah, but if it clears up in a few days, I can look around. They shot at me three times, so I might be able to find at least one of the cartridges.”
“Okay. If we can get one of those cartridges, we might be able to trace it. I’ll have Dave report the gun and badge stolen, though they probably just tossed them somewhere.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured too. We should get going; it’s snowing harder now. I’ll see you soon. Love you, little brother. Make sure to tell Mom and Dad I’m safe, and that I love them.”
“I will. Love you too. Talk to you soon. Bye Gretchen, and thank you again.”
“You’re welcome. Bye Killian.”
Kian hung up the phone and handed it back to Gretchen before sitting down on the ATV seat, tears streaming down his face. Gretchen wrapped her arms around him, and he held her tightly as he cried.
Kian could hear Gretchen crying too, but they were both filled with relief that he was safe and going to be able to go home soon.
****
The sharp buzz of Killian’s cellphone cut through the dull hum of the office, signaling an incoming call. He glanced at the number, not recognizing it, but picked it up anyway- it could be important information about a case. With a heavy sigh, he answered.
“Agent Doyle speaking.”
But when his brother’s voice came through the line, he shot to his feet.
“Kian? Kian, is that you?”
The whole office fell silent as Killian continued to talk to his brother, tears streaming down his face. Agents and coworkers alike huddled around his desk, listening in on the emotional conversation. When he finally hung up, Killian slumped back into his chair and buried his head in his hands.
“Killian, was that Kian?” Agent Creed McBride asked, breaking the tense silence.
Killian looked up with tears still glistening in his eyes and nodded.
“He’s alive,” he choked out and with a resounding cheer, the entire room erupted in celebration. As Killian explained what had happened, relief and joy washed over everyone in the room.
“I’ll report his weapon and badge missing,” Dave said, his voice filled with emotion as he walked back to his own office to take care of the paperwork.
****
“We need to head back,” Kian said. The snow fell heavier and harder, coating the surrounding landscape in a thick blanket of white. He could feel Gretchen shiver as she huddled closer to him, and she nodded in agreement.
After helping her onto the ATV, he settled in front of her, his body tense. He knew she could hear his breathing, heavy and labored.
“Are you alright?” she asked, concern laced in her voice.
He cleared his throat before responding, his voice husky. “Yeah, just processing everything.”
“I’m so glad you were able to talk to him. I’m sure he is too.” She chuckled. “You called him ‘little brother’.”
Kian let out a chuckle as well. “Well, I am three minutes older than him. And although we’re twins, we have different birthdays.”
“Really? How did that happen?”
“Our mom gave birth to me two minutes before midnight on November thirtieth and Killian was born a minute after midnight on December first.”
“That’s incredible. Do you celebrate on both days?”
“Absolutely,” Kian answered with a smirk.
“Tell me about your parents,” Gretchen prompted.
“Our parents immigrated here from Ireland. They were both born and raised there, but my father wanted to move here shortly after they got married. He had worked in law enforcement in Ireland but became interested in becoming a livestock agent once he arrived in the States.”
“And do they still have Irish accents?”
Kian laughed. “Just a hint of an Irish brogue.”
“I’m surprised you don’t have one.”
“No, but I can speak with one if I want,” he said in a perfect accent.
Gretchen laughed. “What are their names?”
“Aileen and Connor.”
“Aileen and Connor Doyle. If that’s not Irish.” She shook her head. “I bet you’ll be happy to see them again,” Gretchen said.
Kian shook his head sadly. “I can’t imagine what they’ve been going through. We’re all very close. I hate that I made them worry.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Kian. It wasn’t your fault.”
He looked at her and nodded. “You’re right, but it still bothers me knowing they were probably thinking the worst and it was almost true. If you hadn’t found me or if those men had left me here...”
“But I did find you and they didn’t leave you here,” Gretchen interrupted.
Kian’s thoughts quickly shifted to the bullet that had caused all this chaos. “Speaking of which, since the cartridge went through my arm and out the other side, it should be somewhere around where I was standing. Maybe more than one of them. Like I told Killian, possibly in a nearby tree. If I can find it, we can run it through ballistics and maybe find out who it belonged to.”
Gretchen’s eyes widened. “I know what you mean. I’ve watched a lot of crime shows.” She grinned before shaking her head. “I’m just glad it didn’t stay in your arm. I don’t know what I would have done.”
Kian chuckled at her reaction. “Well, then you would have had to dig it out yourself,” he joked.
She shuddered at the thought. “There’s a reason I didn’t become a nurse,” she said with a laugh, then frowned. “How did you get here?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you were sent here because of a horse, but how did you arrive?”
Kian’s eyes widened. “I drove my truck.” He glanced around. “But it wasn’t really close to here. I parked it on the shoulder of the road and walked in to look for the horse. I wonder if it’s still there?”
“We can look another time. It’s too cold.”
With a roar, Kian started the ATV, the engine sputtering to life in the frigid winter air. He glanced over his shoulder at her and saw her cheeks and nose pink from the cold.
“Yes, and we’d better get going. It’s getting worse. I just hope I can get back out here in a day or two.” He looked around at the swirling snow and sighed. “Let’s go, Lobo!”
Gretchen’s arms wrapped tightly around Kian’s waist, and he could feel her burying her face against his back to shield it from the biting wind. His hands were freezing and if it wasn’t for the scarves and that damn beanie, he was sure he’d be frozen to the bike.
As they approached the cabin, Kian slowed down and carefully maneuvered the ATV close to the porch. He helped Gretchen off and then quickly parked the vehicle in the shed. Breathing heavily from the cold, he made his way to the porch, climbed the steps, stomped his feet and brushed off his jacket before making his way inside.
“Do I need to bring in more logs before I take my coat off?” he asked as he rubbed his hands together.
“Let me see what we have.” Gretchen walked to the living room and then back to the kitchen, taking quick stock of the dwindling supply of firewood. “We could use some, but I can get it. You must be freezing.”
“I am, but a little more out there isn’t going to make a difference. I’ll be right back.”
“Let me get the bag for you.”
“Alright.”
Gretchen left the kitchen and soon returned with the log bag and handed it to him. He took it, opened the back door and stepped out into the blistering cold, gathering logs before reentering the warm cabin.
“Go get out of those wet clothes. I’ll get the fire started.”
“I can do it.”
“Kian, I have lived here alone for three years now. I know how to make a fire.” She placed her hands on her hips.
He grinned, biting his lip to hide it. “Yes, ma’am.” He handed her the bag, then quickly made his way to the spare room and changed into sweatpants before returning to the living room where he set his wet boots next to the fireplace. “Gretchen?”
“I’m in the kitchen. I’m going to make me a cup of hot chocolate. Do you want that or coffee?” she called out.
“Coffee, but I can make it.” He entered the kitchen.
“Okay. It will only take me a minute.”
“What?” He furrowed his brow.
“I have hot chocolate K-cups,” she said with a smile.
“Ahh, I see.” He nodded in understanding. “Okay.”
“I’ll put your coffee pod in once this is finished.”
“Alright. Thanks. I’m going to sit by the fire to warm up.”
“Sure. Go sit down. I’ll bring it to you.”
“I can get it.”
“Stop being so damn hardheaded. I’ll be there in a minute.” She scolded him. “Damn. Men.”
Kian couldn’t hold back his laughter as he sat in the recliner, picking up the remote and turning on the TV.
Less than a few minutes later, Gretchen entered the room and handed him his coffee before taking a seat on the sofa.
“Here,” he said, offering her the remote.
She shook her head. “I don’t want it. You find something.”
“Alright.” He flipped through the channels and stopped on the movie, The Shawshank Redemption. “Is this one, okay?”
“Oh yes, I haven’t seen this in a long time. Such a good movie.”
“Yeah, it’s one of my favorites.” He grinned. “It’s so nice to remember things like that.”
“I bet. I’m so happy your memory returned.”
“Me too. I can’t wait to call my parents. I’m sure Killian called them, but I can’t wait to hear their voices.” Emotions welled up in him at the thought of speaking with his family again.
“Maybe the weather will improve tomorrow.”
“Can we check the forecast and then go back to watching the movie?”
“Kian, do whatever you want. I’m just going to sit here and relax.”
He nodded before flipping through channels until he found the weather report.
“It looks like it’ll clear up this evening, as well as tomorrow and the day after that, but then more snow is expected.” He turned to her. “Don’t you just love living in Montana?”
Gretchen laughed. “Actually, I do.”
Kian agreed. “Me too. Okay, let’s get back to the movie.”
“Do I need to put the sling on for you?”
He moved his right arm a little. “Actually, it feels a lot better. I’ll go without it unless it really bothers me.”
“Okay. As long as you didn’t hurt it too much by driving the ATV.”
“I didn’t even think about it. Really, it’s better.”
As the day was coming to a close, Kian struggled to stay awake. He had trouble sleeping since being rescued, and it was finally catching up with him. He let out a yawn.
“I’m sorry, I’m exhausted. Last night was the first time I slept through the entire night since arriving here, but I’m still tired.” He glanced at the clock above the fireplace. “It’s not even eight o’clock yet.”
“Why don’t you watch TV from your sleeping bag? Unless you want to go to bed?” Gretchen suggested.
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that an invitation?”
She playfully gasped and threw a pillow at him from the couch. He dodged it and chuckled.
“Thanks, but I can’t sleep in that bed,” he replied. “But I am going to lie down. If I happen to fall asleep, I’ll see you in the morning.” He climbed into his sleeping bag and Lobo laid down beside him, putting his chin on Kian’s chest.
As he tried to focus on the television, Kian’s eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep.
****
Gretchen watched the rest of the movie and smiled as she listened to Kian’s deep, even breathing. She wondered what he would have said if she had said, yes, that was an invitation. She’d never had hotter sex and would love to get him in bed again, but they really didn’t know each other, and she wanted to change that.
She just wondered what would happen when he was able to leave. Would he just leave her behind as if nothing happened between them, or want to keep seeing her? Sighing, she turned the TV off, stood up, and waved for Lobo to follow her, but he didn’t move away from Kian. With a smile, she headed toward her bedroom, entered it, and closed the door.
The following morning, she woke up to sunshine streaming through her bedroom windows. She tossed the blankets off, walked toward the windows and smiled. The sun was bouncing off the snow almost blinding her but it also looked bitterly cold.
Picking up her robe, she pulled it on, opened the door, and headed for the kitchen. She needed coffee. As she walked down the hallway, she could hear the TV playing and smelled coffee brewing.
When she entered the living room, it was to see it empty so she made her way to the kitchen. Kian stood at the coffee maker, watching it drip into his cup. He didn’t know she was there yet. She cleared her throat and when he turned to look at her, all coherent thought left her head. No man should look that good.
“Good morning,” he said with a grin.
“Good morning. How long have you been up?”
“A couple of hours. I want to see if I can find my truck.”
“We can do that, but first I need coffee.”
“This is my third cup.”
“Didn’t you sleep? You drifted off fast.”
“I slept very well. I just want to get something warm in me before heading out in that. The sun might be shining, but it’s only thirty.”
“Thirty? Well, that’s a heatwave compared to yesterday.”
“That’s true. Do you mind if I try to call my parents?”
“No, of course not. Do you remember their number? I can’t remember anyone’s in my phone.” She grinned.
“I’ll have to call Killian first.” He smiled.
“I love his name.”
Kian frowned. “What?”
Gretchen laughed. “Oh, I like yours too.”
“You like mine, but love Killian’s.” He chuckled when she laughed again.
“I like them both. I’ve heard the name Killian before but not Kian.”
“Irish names, darlin’. Sometimes they’re spelled with a ‘C’ but ours are spelled with a ‘K’.”
“Like the actor, Cillian Murphy.”
“Yes. I’m going to get the ATV out and maybe you’ll be ready by then.”
“Okay. Just let me get this coffee in me, then I’ll get dressed.”
“Alright. I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, make sure it has gas, please. If not, there is a can in the shed.”
“Where’s your vehicle?” he asked.
“Around back. I keep it back there because most of the time, storms come from the direction in front of the house. That way, it won’t get buried. At least, not too much.”
“Smart.” He nodded, pulled his jacket on, opened the door, stepped onto the porch, and closed the door behind him.
She jerked when Lobo barked at the door. “He’ll be right back. I am not letting you out yet.”
Gretchen finished her coffee, left the kitchen, and headed toward her bedroom to change clothes. Once she was dressed, she reentered the kitchen just as the back door opened and Kian stepped inside.
“It needed gas.” He rubbed his hands together. “It’s damn cold out there.”
“I wish I had gloves for you.”
“It’s okay. If you’re ready we can go.”
“Let me get the rifle in case wolves show up.”
“You don’t shoot them, do you?”
“No, I would never do that unless I didn’t have a choice. I fire into the air to scare them away.”
“Do you have another one I could carry?”
“I have a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver.”
“I’ll take it.”
“Alright.” She walked to the gun cabinet, unlocked it, removed the rife, along with ammo, and the revolver. Then she handed it and the ammo for it to him.
“Thanks.”
“What is the weapon you carry on duty?”
“Glock 22.”
“That’s a good weapon.”
“It was. I’ll have to get another one.”
“I wonder what they did with it?”
“Tossed it, is my guess. It was a damn good gun.”
“I’m sure it was.”
Kian tilted his head. “How do you know so much about weapons?”
Gretchen smiled. “I spent a lot of time here when I was growing up. My uncle taught me all about them. For safety reasons. He told me to never be out in the woods without protection.”
“Good for your uncle. So, you can handle a rifle and a .357 Magnum. Damn. I need to behave around you.”
“You’re damn right you do. Let’s go.”
Kian nodded, opened the door for her and they stepped onto the porch. Lobo jumped off the porch.
“He loves this weather, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. I just worry about him being out alone. He looks too much like a wolf.”
“Yeah, he does, especially from a distance. I’d hate to see him get hurt by someone mistaking him for one.”
“That terrifies me.”
“I’m sure it does. We’ll keep an eye on him.” He sat astride the ATV and held her hand as she got on behind him. Then he started it and drove it into the woods.
Gretchen laughed as Lobo jumped through the snow. He’d come up, then jump high and down into it again, disappearing. Every time he’d pop his head up from the snow, she’d laugh at his snow-covered muzzle.