Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
TEAGAN
Teagan braced one hand against the wall and ducked her head under the hot water. The heat soothed the stiffness in her muscles and dulled the sharper edges of pain while bits of dried leaves and pine needles swirled around the drain at her feet.
From the sheriff showing up to her waking up in the doc’s bed—half undressed, stitched, wrapped, and wearing his shirt—it had been a hell of a night.
Not her worst. Not by far.
Her injuries, while painful, weren’t life-threatening. She was able to move under her own power, albeit slowly and with care.
Also fortunate: the doc had found her before the sheriff—or the wild animals that called the forest home.
Noah Ziegler. The quiet doc who kept to himself outside of working hours.
Teagan had watched him from afar, just as she did with everyone on the ranch. Knowing the people around her and acquainting herself with their behavior was a key component of self-preservation.
Mona seemed to like him, as did the patients who came for therapy, but Teagan wasn’t able to read him as easily as she did most people. The situation—namely his search and rescue at Mona’s behest—rang a few warning bells, but he didn’t.
She was intrigued but not threatened by him.
On the outside, he came across as quiet and competent, but she sensed more beneath the surface. It was in the shadows that ghosted through his hypnotic amber eyes, a darkness that he kept locked away where no one else could see.
Well, that was something they had in common.
None of her business, though.
One thing she did know: Mona had been smart to hire him. He was a good man to have around if someone fell off a horse. Or out of a tree. Whatever.
Teagan recognized the fresh woodsy scent of the soap as the same one that clung to the doc, scent that she would now associate with him and his kindness. Bonus—the simple act of getting clean revived her somewhat.
A knock on the door interrupted her brief respite.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Coffee’s done. Oh, and fair warning: Mona will be here in fifteen minutes.”
Teagan finished up and rinsed off, then eyed the fluffy extra-large towels Noah had set out for her with appreciation. He was a big guy. Tall. Strong too, if he’d carried her dead weight to his cabin. Regular-sized bath towels probably wouldn’t span those broad shoulders of his.
Shoving away thoughts of Noah’s body and what it was capable of, she towel-dried her hair and did it up into a quick braid, easily concealable under a cap. Brushed her teeth. Did all the things normal people did on the daily. Then she dressed, swallowed a few ibuprofen, and prepared to face Mona.
Teagan knew there would be questions. Questions she couldn’t—or more accurately, wouldn’t—answer, followed by offers of help she’d politely decline.
On impulse, she balled up the flannel shirt she’d slept in and shoved it into the bottom of her backpack, refusing to contemplate the why of it, beyond the fact that it was soft, warm, and large enough to fit over bandages without snagging.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee hit her the moment she stepped into the living space. Like the bedroom, it was clean and simple, rugged and masculine. The area was open plan, with a kitchen on one side, a couch and coffee table on the other.
Noah’s eyes locked on her, his gaze assessing, his body alert, as if he was looking for signs she was going to face-plant right then and there, but he needn’t worry.
“Coffee?”
“Absolutely,” she said, limping forward.
“You shouldn’t be putting weight on that ankle. Sit down, and I’ll bring it to you. Milk? Sugar?”
She ignored his command and continued to the small two-top in the kitchen area. “Black is fine.”
He waited until she sat at the table, then placed a mug in front of her. “You don’t listen very well, do you?”
She shrugged. Her shoulder protested, prompting a mental note for her not to do that again. “I listen. I consider. Then I make my own decision. This is good coffee. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I’d offer to make you breakfast, but knowing Mona, she’s not coming empty-handed.”
As if on cue, the sound of an approaching vehicle grew louder. Teagan tensed—ready to bolt, hobble, whatever—as Noah peeked out of the closed blinds.
“It’s Mona,” he confirmed. “And she’s alone.”
Teagan silently released her breath. She didn’t think Mona would betray her, but sometimes, things changed when the authorities were involved.
Noah opened the door and ushered Mona inside. After scanning the area, he closed and locked the door again.
“Where is she?” Mona asked, scanning the modest space.
The moment she spotted Teagan, she closed the distance between them and eyed Teagan critically. Fully clothed and seated behind the table as she was, Mona wouldn’t see anything amiss.
“Oh, child. Are you all right?”
Teagan shifted, the concern in the older woman’s eyes making her uncomfortable. “I’m fine.”
Noah snorted. “Fine, right. Dislocated shoulder, bruised ribs, sprained ankle, and eight stitches.”
“Narc,” Teagan mumbled under her breath, then changed the subject. “Whatever is in that basket smells fantastic.”
Mona narrowed her eyes but thankfully didn’t press. “Cinnamon rolls, breakfast sandwiches, fresh fruit, muffins.”
Noah leaned forward in interest and lifted the heavy linen cloth. “Jesus, Mona, when did you get the time to do all this?”
“Well, I couldn’t sleep a wink, worrying about our girl here,” she said cheerfully. “And that pest of a deputy Carl nearly cleaned me out of house and home this morning. I swear that boy’s mama must spend half her day cooking for him.”
Teagan’s stomach growled. The granola bar she’d had for lunch yesterday was long gone, and thoughts of a warm, home-cooked meal made her even hungrier. Normally, she lived on whatever she could carry in her backpack—items that were inexpensive, portable, and didn’t require cooking or refrigeration.
“Noah, get some plates, please,” Mona requested as she started unpacking the basket. “You can fill me in while you eat. Why is the sheriff looking for you?”
“He didn’t tell you?” Teagan asked carefully.
“He said something about a recent string of thefts,” Mona said, waving her hand dismissively, “but I don’t believe that for a moment.”
Teagan said nothing, though Mona’s misplaced faith was nice.
“What, then?” Noah asked.
“I believe Teagan is the only one who can answer that.”
She could, but she wouldn’t.
Teagan kept her gaze on her plate, guilt and shame warring for dominance as her ravenous appetite disappeared. She thought she’d done a good job of covering her tracks. Figured she could make it through the holidays, then move on quietly and without incident.
Which was stupid, really. It hadn’t worked so far. Why would this time be any different?
Ten years of running. Ten years of hiding. And she was so damn tired.
She needed to end this once and for all. He would never stop. She understood that now.
“Are you in trouble?” Mona asked gently.
She reached for Teagan’s hand, disappointment in her eyes when Teagan pulled her hand back, as if she’d been burned. For the hundredth time, Teagan wished things were different. Wished she were different.
She should have listened to her instincts and taken off as soon as she woke up.
Teagan pushed away from the table and stood. “Yes, Mona, I am, and I’m sorry I brought it to your doorstep.”
“Sit down, young lady,” Mona commanded. “We’re not done talking about this.”
Teagan stiffened. The defiance that had been lurking quietly under the surface began to rise. She liked Mona, and she would forever be grateful for the older woman’s kindness, but Teagan didn’t take orders from anyone, but especially not those who had no idea what they were dealing with.
She wasn’t helpless. She’d been on her own for more than a decade. She might be on the small side. Might be injured. But she’d been through worse and survived.
Her path was clear. She was the only one who could stop the madness, and she refused to bring anyone down with her.
“Yes, we are. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but it’s better for everyone if I just leave.”
“It’s nearly Christmas! Where are you going to go?”
“I’ll figure something out.”
Mona’s eyes blazed as she, too, got to her feet.
“Now, you listen to me, young lady. You seem to be under the impression that you’re going to walk out of here and we’re just going to hold the door for you.
Well, you can forget about that right now.
” Mona put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what kind of trouble you’re in, but you’re not in it alone anymore. ”
If only that were true. A part of her ached, wanting to believe, but hope had been beaten out of her long ago, along with trust and a belief in a system that didn’t work.
“You’re wrong,” Teagan said, her voice tinged with the sadness she felt. She was alone. “I never wanted to involve you in any of this,” Teagan said sincerely. “I’m truly sorry about that.”
“Little late for that.” Mona’s voice was tough, but her eyes held nothing but concern.
“Mona—” Noah began.
“No, Mona’s right,” Teagan said. “It is too late.”
With that, Teagan limped toward the bedroom to grab her backpack. She had to leave before she did something really stupid.
Like stay.