Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (summer beach reads txt) 📕

Mary, but Josie had already disappeared behind the door. She swallowed hard. “I am truly sorry, Mr. Baggs, and hope I do not hurt you.”

He gave her a curt nod. Drawing a deep breath, she brought the pitcher down upon his head. He groaned and crumpled to the floor. A line of blood appeared on the right side of his forehead.

Mary held in her sob and set the pitcher down. She dug in her luggage, retrieved her derringer and bullets and slid them in the pocket of her skirt. There was no Lou or Trevor here today. The onus rested upon her, and she’d do whatever necessary to save Josie. She raced to the door, spotted Josie near the stairs and ran toward their escape.

Lou paced the library, twirling his hat in his hands, as he waited for Mrs. Silver to appear. After his meeting this morning with O’Leary, he’d gone straight to the hotel to fetch Mary, only to find her room empty. While staring at the neatly made bed, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt fear. True, bloodcurdling fear.

Despite its paralyzing hold, he forced himself to go to his office and make a telephone call to the director himself. After relaying the smuggler’s name and the suspected boat carrying Canadian whiskey, Lou hightailed it out of there and headed to the Silvers’.

Where he’d found nothing of Mary.

Something was wrong.

She should have been here by now. Where else could she have gone? He perused the hangings on the walls, impatiently tapping his hat against his thigh. Dusty antiques. Family photographs. Langdon looked supremely arrogant in his still shot.

“Mr. Riley. To what do I owe this visit?” Langdon appeared in the doorway, a smirk marring his even features. Smart man kept his distance, though.

“I’m here to speak with Mrs. Silver.”

“Ah.” His smirk grew. “She has unfortunately passed on, negating your need to see her. I shall show you to the door.”

Lou’s fingers clenched the brim of his hat. “Where’s Josie?”

“That’s none of your business, officer of the law or no. She’s my ward. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have funeral arrangements to attend to.”

He took a deep breath and settled into the kind of calm that gave a man an edge over his opponent. And Langdon was worse than an opponent. He stalked toward him. The man faltered for a moment but didn’t budge.

“I smell...something.” Lou sniffed. If this guy was a bootlegger, and based on O’Leary’s notes, Lou felt certain he was, there should be a kind of hint somewhere.

“Perfume from the arrangements. My sister’s favorite.”

“Indeed.” He took another breath and realized it was true, he did smell something floral, and not the prohibited whiskey he’d been ready to accuse Langdon of importing. “Funeral flowers aren’t a pleasant smell on you, but I suppose it works well to mask the odor from your day job.... You know I work for the Bureau of Investigation, right?”

“You flashed your badge in my face.”

“You’re a smart man. Maybe coming into money soon?” Lou gestured around him, watching Langdon’s face closely.

His lids flickered. “The terms of the will have yet to be disclosed.”

“Maybe you’ve got your own money?”

“Maybe it’s time for you to leave, Special Agent.”

“Yeah, because your heart is real broken by your sister’s death.” Lou moved closer still, frowning when he whiffed that scent again. Something unforgettable... Mary.

His jaw clamped. Deliberately he loosened his jaw and bestowed a predatory smile on Langdon. “Heard you’re a rich man. In fact, I have a source who tells me your income is swimmingly large. You own a boat, right?”

“Are you trying to accuse me of something? You’re in my house, on my property—”

“You mean your sister’s?”

Langdon’s face settled into stubborn lines. “Get out of this house.”

Lou held up his hands. “Relax. I’m just here to pick up Mary.”

“Who?” But Langdon’s eyes flickered with recognition.

“Your new employee,” he said smoothly. “She asked me to meet her here.”

“Oh, yes, the nanny. She left moments before you arrived.”

“Really?” He leaned forward, anger a frigid weight in his chest. “I smell her.”

Langdon chuckled. “She’s very, how shall I put it? Friendly.”

Lou’s gaze snapped up to meet Langdon’s hard eyes. He had to play this smart. “Which way did she go?”

“The same way her type always goes. Now kindly leave this house or I’ll have you escorted out.”

“Thanks for your...help.” Lou flashed his teeth. “I’ll be back, though, and next time you might want to be more convincing.”

He spun and headed toward the door. He felt Langdon behind him and his rage grew. Fine way God took care of Mary. Bringing her to this place, putting her right into the hands of danger. They stepped into the hall and that was when Lou heard what had been covered by the carpeted study.

An uneven tap behind him. A sound that resonated in his memory. He stopped abruptly and faced Langdon. His gaze dropped to Langdon’s boots. Shiny, definitely expensive and outfitted with spurs. A vision of a dark alley crept through him. Moonlight. A gunshot and pain...

“Problem?”

Lou tucked his thoughts away and forced a grim smile. “Nope. Just admiring your shoes.”

“Some say vanity is an evil thing, but it’s served me well. I call these my lucky spurs. When I wear them, great things happen.” Langdon’s eyes flashed, belying his amused tone.

“Looks like I need a pair of those.” Lou pulled on his hat, tipped it and scooted out of the house. Once down the porch, he walked the block, turned a corner and hurried across the street. Sliding into the shadows of a different house, he removed his hat, untucked his shirt, slicked his hair back and stuck a piece of gum in his mouth.

The disguise would have to do for now. He bent the rim of his hat upward on the sides. It would ruin the fit and the leather, but circumstances called for it. He could always buy a new one. Adjusting his gait, he meandered down the sidewalk until he passed the