Chapter 12
TWELVE
Before Maren could formulate words, Colt said, “This is Officer Maren Anderson of the Colorado Springs PD. Maren, my baby sister, Samantha.”
Samantha grinned. “Mom said you were bringing a colleague. But wow, big brother.” She bumped him with her hip, then stuck out her hand for Maren to grasp. “You can call me Sammy.”
Shaking the woman’s hand, Maren said, “Nice to meet you, Sammy.”
Two little identical girls, with big hazel eyes, strawberry blond hair and matching pink dresses, ran up, each grabbing a hold of one of Colt’s legs.
The twins looked up at him and said in unison, “Uncle Colt.”
“Maren, this is Ivy.” Colt put his free hand on the girl to his left’s head. “This other rascal is Fiona.”
Though the twins were identical, Ivy had a purple ribbon in her hair while Fiona had a yellow ribbon. Maren’s mother used to do the same by putting different hair ties or barrettes in Maren’s and Opal’s hair so that people could identify them without always having to ask which was which.
Of course, Maren and Opal, usually at Opal’s urging, would switch their identifying markers or ditch them altogether. Drove their mother to fits. Now, as an adult, Maren regretted the childhood pranks she and Opal would play on their parents, teachers and strangers alike.
The girls blinked up at her, curiosity evident on their sweet faces. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell the girls she was also a twin, but with her emotions so close to the edge, she wasn’t sure she could without shedding a tear.
“I like your dresses,” Maren told the girls.
“Thank you,” the two said in unison.
Maren remembered a time when she and Opal had been perfectly in sync. A pang hit her chest. She missed her sister.
Another woman with dark mahogany hair held back by a clip and wearing a blue skirt, sandals and white tank top approached, snagging Colt’s free hand. She gave Maren a curious glance and smiled. “I’m Abigail. The twins’ mom.”
“My other sister,” Colt said. “Abby, this is Maren.” Colt gave Maren a sheepish smile. “My brothers are around here somewhere. I’m sure you’ll meet them soon.”
Samantha looked to Haven. “Is your K-9 friendly?”
“She is when she’s not working,” Maren replied.
The twins turned their gaze on her. “Can we pet her?”
Since Haven had little experience with kids, Maren crouched down next to Haven and put a hand on her back, letting her know to stay calm. To the little girls, she said, “Let her sniff your palm before you touch her.”
The twins held out their palms. Haven eyed them, then nudged each girl’s palm with her nose before giving each a lick.
The two little girls giggled. Then they turned their attention to Rusk and practically tackled the dog.
The German shorthaired pointer pretty much flopped down and let the two girls crawl all over him.
Haven stood as if ready to defend her new friend.
“Playtime,” Maren told Haven. The dog visibly relaxed and sat back on her haunches.
Laughing, Maren rose just as Dottie returned. “Colt, go check on your father.” She gestured to the man at the grill and said to Maren, “That’s Joe.”
He was a barrel-chested man with a full head of white hair and an impressive mustache. He had on a plaid shirt underneath a black apron as he flipped burgers, hot dogs and steaks on the barbecue.
Dottie tucked her arm around Maren’s. “Let me introduce you around.”
For the next fifteen minutes, Maren was taken on a whirlwind tour through the party, being introduced to Colt’s two brothers and their wives and the extended family, a couple of cousins, aunts and uncles, and friends.
Finally, Colt arrived at her side. “Mom, Maren and I would like a moment to decompress. Any chance you made strawberry lemonade?”
His mother scoffed. “Of course I made a strawberry lemonade.” She winked at Maren. “My specialty.”
Colt drew Maren off to the side to a quiet corner where they sank onto Adirondack chairs. Haven stayed at Maren’s side, while Rusk ran around weaving in and out of all the children playing on the spacious lawn.
“Are all of your family gatherings like this?” she asked him. Her head was spinning with all the names.
“Only the special ones. And holidays, and most Sundays,” he said with a grin. “My parents love to host. That’s why they bought this spread when they married.”
Taking in the grazing horses and the Rocky Mountains in the distance, she marveled at the stunning view and the peace of the land. “How many acres?”
“A hundred in total,” he told her.
She didn’t know much about ranching, having always lived within the bubble of the city, but that seemed like a decent amount of land. “You learned to ride at a young age?”
“I did,” he said. “Do you ride?”
“I rode a pony at a fair once,” she admitted. “Not quite the same.”
His chuckle sounded deep and pleased and reverberated through his chest. She liked the sound of it. She liked this relaxed version of him.
Yet, she couldn’t settle the anxiety lurking at the edges of her mind. What was happening with her sister? Was she safe? What about Mia?
“Is it weird that I feel guilty enjoying myself?” she asked quietly. “Knowing my sister and Mia are out there, pregnant and scared?”
Colt reached across the chair to take her hand. “Not strange at all. But don’t let the guilt or worry eat you. At the moment, the situation is out of our control. We have to trust God has them. We’ll find them both. I promise.”
She tilted her head. “You can’t make that promise. No one can. Sometimes evil wins.”
He sucked in a breath. “Unfortunately, that’s true.
But I refuse to give up hope.” He rubbed his chin as if working something out in his head.
His eyes took on a contemplative sheen. “Partnering with you the past couple of days has made me realize that even if bad things happen, or bad people happen, like Rebecca, not everything or everyone in life will be bad. Does that make sense?”
“It does,” she said. “But I haven’t figured out how to know the difference.”
His expression cleared and he squeezed her hand. “I think that’s where our faith comes in.”
Her heart rate ticked up. There was so much about this man she admired, respected and liked. He was humble yet strong and determined. He was willing to adjust his course and his thought process as new information was introduced to him. Being here at his family’s home made her want to belong.
Alarm bells clanged in her head. She was becoming emotionally entangled with her partner. A recipe that could end in disaster.
* * *
The twins ran over, stopping in front of Maren as she sat chatting with Dottie on the back patio of the Dawson ranch a little while later. “Uncle Colt said you’re a twin.”
Maren’s gaze jumped to where Colt was talking with the twins’ mother.
Focusing back on the two girls, she kept her emotions in check to admit, “I am a twin.”
“Are you older?” Fiona asked. She pointed a thumb at her own chest. “I’m older.”
“Just by two minutes,” Ivy groused as only a newly six-year-old could.
Maren understood the struggle. Opal hadn’t liked being the youngest either. “I’m older by three minutes.”
Fiona stuck her tongue out at Ivy.
Ivy rolled her eyes at her sister.
Maren laughed out loud. The interplay was so familiar. She and Opal had once had that sort of relationship.
Ivy grinned, then asked Maren, “Where’s your twin?”
Maren’s heart gave a small bump as pain stabbed at her. If only she knew. Heart aching, she answered honestly, “At the moment, I don’t know.”
Both of their little faces scrunched up in confusion.
“Why not?” Ivy asked. “Don’t you like her?” She slanted a glance at her sister.
“Of course she likes her,” Fiona stated firmly. “They’re twins. Like us. We like each other.”
Ivy wrinkled her nose. “Most of the time.”
Maren bit her lip to keep from laughing again. Oh, how she and Opal had quarreled as kids and teens. But at the end of the day, they were each other’s best friend.
At least they were until they weren’t. Until grief and choices separated them from each other, creating a chasm that Maren prayed could be repaired.
How had she let life get to this point? She should have worked harder at being a better sister, better friend, to Opal.
Then maybe she wouldn’t be out there hiding, pregnant and alone.
The burn of tears pricked her eyes. She blinked rapidly to keep them from showing.
“Girls,” Dottie intoned a warning.
Hoping to thwart the argument she saw brewing between the girls and their grandmother, Maren said, “Being a twin is special. Sisters are friends forever. Don’t ever let anything come between you.”
If only she and Opal had adopted the philosophy of not letting anything come between them, then maybe Opal wouldn’t have delved into drugs. Maybe she and Maren could have helped each other through the difficult days rather than turning away from each. If only…
There was no use looking at what-ifs. The past couldn’t be changed.
The girls considered for a moment, then looked at each other as if in silent agreement.
Maren had shared many a silent conversation with Opal as a kid.
She’d thought that special bond was lost to her when she’d believed Opal was dead.
But now there was a chance, no matter how slim, that she and Opal could get that back.
That was if she and Colt could find her.
The twins walked away and were soon giving chase to a couple of boys.
Allowing her gaze to skate over the happy, smiling faces of both family and friends, she finally landed on Colt, and a deep sense of contentment tried to take hold. She fought against it. She couldn’t let down her guard.
Colt met her gaze across the patio and the small smile he gave her brought heat to her cheeks, belying the conviction she needed to stay detached.
She wasn’t sure that would be possible as long as they worked together.
Because he made her yearn for things, things like a home, children, family, in ways she never had before.
* * *
The burner phone in Colt’s pocket buzzed. He retrieved the device and stared at a number he didn’t recognize displayed on the small screen. Pushing the talk button, he said, “Agent Dawson.”
“This is Agent Spares,” a deep male voice said. “The boss wanted me to inform you that the blue panel van was found near Littleton.”
Anticipation revved in his veins. It was the same van the shooters had been driving when they’d shot at Maren on the side of the road. “Did Forensics find anything useful?”
Maren, who’d joined him on the patio, stilled next to him, but she practically vibrated with interest.
“No, the suspects torched the vehicle,” Spares said.
“Figures.” Frustrated with the lack of progress, Colt thanked the agent and hung up. He relayed the info to Maren.
“Shadow’s being careful,” she said. “But eventually, he’ll make a mistake. We need to find Opal. She can identify him and stop his reign of terror.” Maren’s agitation was palpable. “We should be out there searching for her.”
Her obvious distress had him tied up in knots. “If we knew where to look, we would be searching for her. She could be halfway across the country by now. Until she makes contact with Vinnie, there’s not much we can do.”
She reached for his hand. “This waiting is so hard,” she said, her voice breaking.
A rush of tenderness engulfed his system. “I know.” He threaded his fingers through hers. He hated the circumstances but couldn’t deny how right it felt to hold her hand. To soothe her.
Every moment he spent with Maren, his admiration and affection grew exponentially. His heart went out to her and he was loath to let her go.