Chapter Twenty—Montgomery

It had to be him. The only thing on Montgomery King’s mind was finding her brother and stopping him. Crap, what kind of mess had she gotten herself into?

Her own brother chased her this way?

It felt sinister and immoral. At least his brother wanted him to leave him alone and didn’t chase him across the southern states.

Montgomery packed her things after her meltdown in the living room, locked her doors, and scanned the perimeter. The buzzards had doubled by that time. Something had died close by in the woods, but Montgomery didn’t have time to go look through it.

The ranch waited on him.

And so did a call to Henry Miller.

He’d promised Swayze he wouldn’t pry, but that fear she had for her brother made it Mont’s business. He planned to be with her for the long haul. He had to protect them and clear this up before anybody got hurt.

Swayze stared out the window of his truck, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail with a sleeveless, plaid shirt and cut-offs. Appreciating that she looked sinfully good hadn’t even crossed his mind. That frown on her face with the pull of her eyebrows had him on edge.

Montgomery smelled the bacon frying from outside of the house. He stopped Swayze on the porch, looking down at her pretty face. “I’m going to head out to the field. I have to work on wrangling these horses down. Will you be okay?”

“Can we check the camera?” she asked.

Mont took her chin in his palm. “Yeah, let’s go.”

They walked into the house, seeing both kids dancing to “Baby Shark” and playing with letters with Abigail.

She stood to her feet and put her hands on her hips. “They’ve been rowdy today. They said they had fun with Lena yesterday. I may try to go out more often now.”

Swayze nodded. “Yeah, she’s good.”

“Funny, I hadn’t heard too much about her at first. But when I asked around, people said she married that Clyde kid, and he’s away for work most of the time.”

Montgomery eyed the hallway where Kaden stood. He looked lighter, and he assumed they’d had time to themselves the night before.

Even though his shoulders weren’t as tensed, he didn’t greet them or acknowledge them.

Abigail watched him walk out of the door and turned back around to look at them. “Good luck with that.”

Mont groaned, leaned down, and kissed Swayze’s cheek. “I’ll set up the cameras on your laptop so you can go through the footage.”

Mont walked toward the office and installed the app and password to check the cameras around the property.

Swayze sat down and looked up at him with those pretty blue eyes. “I’ll holler if I see anything. I know you have work to do.”

He kissed her softly and pulled back abruptly.

The cowboy hat on his head hid the worry in his eyes, so he took the chance to leave the house as fast as he could before Swayze noticed. The horses roamed in the back field by themselves, so Mont hopped a couple fences and eased toward the horse. She was timid and kept him on his toes. He grinned, knowing someone else that did the same thing. After a few minutes of tango, he eased his way closer, rubbing his palm against her side.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he dug it out carefully, not to scare his horse.

“Yo,” he said.

“I’m heading into town to get the feed. Try to do your best to get those horses taken care of. I’ve already milked the cows and fed ‘em.”

Mont rolled his eyes. “Did you seriously just call me to bark orders?”

Kaden hung up.

Since his phone was already out, he dialed Henry’s number.

“My brother misses me already,” he answered.

Mont pulled back from the horse, taking his hat off to rub his head. “I actually have a favor to ask of you.”

Pepper chuckled into the phone. “Already asking favors of me. I haven’t had my firm too long. What is it? A crazy ex-girlfriend?”

“Hell, no. I haven’t had a girlfriend in—years, until now.”

“So, what do you have for me? I’m curious now.”

“I need you to do some digging for me. I have no leads, no name…it’s an ex-marine from Savannah. Mid-thirties or late twenties.”

“What about him? That’s not much information. Anything else for me?”

Mont debated on telling him Swayze’s real name, or what he knew of it. But how could he get the help he needed for her if not? “Demetria Swayze was his sister. Don’t know the last name.”

“That may help. Are you in some trouble?”

“Nah, not that I know of. I can’t really talk about it. I’ll come by on my lunch break today. You at your dad’s house?”

“Yeah, I will be. I’m visiting my grandma now. I’ll look into it before lunch and see what I can come up with.”

“Thank you.”

“Anything for you, friend.”

Montgomery hung up the phone, a sudden feeling of someone watching him slamming into his gut. But when he did a perimeter check, he found nothing.

His phone buzzed after an hour of trying to get his horse’s attention and her trust. “Hello?”

“I found something,” she said.

Mont’s heart plummeted in his gut. “I’ll be right up.”

Kaden still hadn’t made it back, so he strolled in and stalked straight toward the office. Swayze was on the phone with a customer, taking down a request for one of the ponies due soon, but her face was far away.

He walked around the other side of the desk, leaning down with her in between his arms to look at the screen. The monitor was on the camera’s view, paused on something that made Mont’s blood run cold.

It was someone. Montgomery couldn’t decipher who, or what gender. It sent frustration up his throat to strangle any rational words from exiting. What in the hell was going on?

Swayze hung up the call and handed Montgomery the memo with the request to call that person back. “Who is it?” she whispered.

Mont shrugged, resting his palms against her shoulders. “I don’t know. I can’t tell. Any more footage of them?”

Swayze shook her head and fast forwarded the footage. “No. They stand there for what seems like hours, and then he or she just leaves out of the back way toward the cemetery.”

Mont hissed beneath his breath.

“Should we tell Kaden?”

“I don’t want to, but we need to. So he can be prepared to be home until we figure out what’s going on.”

Swayze looked defeated in her chair, her shoulders slumped. “I can’t tell if it’s him or not,” she said. “I wish I could, but—I just can’t.”

Montgomery turned her around in the chair to face him. “It’s okay. We need to go get your stuff after work. All of it. I don’t want you to be alone until we are safe.”

She didn’t even argue, which told Mont that she thought it was him. It had been so many times for her that he had even started to believe it.

“I’m gonna go get us something to eat for lunch. Tell Abigail. I think we all need a break. I’ll be back soon, okay? Stay inside until Kaden gets home and lock the doors.”

There was emotion on Swayze’s face, but she didn’t question him leaving for lunch. He told Abigail the plan and headed out toward Miller Brown’s house. He lived in a more suburban area of the small town with other houses similar in taste close by.

Henry sat on the porch, his laptop on his lap, swinging on his parents’ porch swing. “Look a there,” Henry said, taking a sip of tea. “Look who the cat drug in, Momma.”

Mrs. Brown stood up from her plastic bucket where she shucked corn and gestured for Mont to give her a hug. “Hey, baby. It’s been so long. You know I watched all of your times on that bull. Henry showed me the channel and how to DVR.”

Mont looked over her shoulder at Henry, who rolled his eyes.

“Well, I appreciate that, ma’am. You know I miss your fried apple pies.”

She pulled at the bandana that wrapped around her head. “Ah, I’ll make you some soon and bring them over.”

Henry cleared his throat. “You don’t mind if I talk business with Salt, do ya, Momma?”

“Of course not. I was finishing up the corn anyway.”

“You need help bringing it into the house?”

She grabbed the handle of the bucket and carried it in by herself. “I’m old but not dead.”

Mont laughed as the screen door shut, and he walked over to the railing of the porch and posted up. “Any news?”

“Lucas Pierce,” Henry said, turning the laptop to face him. There he was. It was evident they were siblings. The blue eyes and face shape. The guy had a huge build from the military, with a shaved head, but that was years before. There was no telling what he looked like now.

Mont’s stomach tightened when Henry clicked a button and turned the screen around again. “Sister, Demetria Swayze Pierce.”

Swayze.

She looked different. Her hair was lighter, her face carefree. A soft tank top covered her body, and a little Ryker hung on her hip.

“Looks a lot like your girlfriend to me.”

Mont clutched his jaw. “Don’t say a word to anybody.”

“I would never—”

“Your dad is the sheriff. You can’t tell him.”

Henry placed the laptop beside him and stood up to face Montgomery. “I would never do that to you, but you better get to talking because that guy is a ghost. I can’t find anything on him in the last two years. When his mom died, he went off the grid. Did you know your girlfriend was married—her married name was Harper?”

He hadn’t known her last name, but he knew she’d been married. “Yes. Henry, you can’t let this come out. I need to tell you this in confidence. Her brother killed her husband and is after her. Or he was. She is scared he has found them.”

Henry’s face went white. “How so? Does she need to file a restraining order? It’s really all the police can do without any evidence.”

Mont scoffed. “A piece of paper to throw in his face? Hell, no. I’m gonna kill him if he comes here. It’s time this stopped.”

Henry hissed a curse beneath his breath. “You don’t need to do this to yourself. You’re set for life; you could have any woman—”

“Henry,” Montgomery said flatly. “I love this woman. She is the one. I’ve known since the moment she walked up to my booth at Megan’s. This is real.”

Henry studied his eyes to find the truth and nodded. “Okay then. I’ll do some digging with my private investigator friend, and I’ll see if we can dig anything up on this dude, but he’s good. Experienced at this kind of thing.”

Mont hugged him tightly. “Thank you. Can I take the files on him?”

“Sure, keep them to yourself.”

Mont took the file and placed them underneath his arm. “Thank you again. I’ll keep you on speed dial. I have to go get lunch before they get suspicious.”

Montgomery went straight from Henry’s parents’ house to Megan’s to pick up the order he placed. His nerves skated up and down his arms until he pulled into the driveway and grabbed the food.

Kaden kicked off his boots at the back door when Montgomery placed all the food on the table. “Giving Abigail a break today?” Kaden asked.

Abigail shrugged her shoulders. “Someone understands the concept of appreciation.”

Kaden snorted. “Yeah, Mont appreciates a lot of things.”

Montgomery didn’t even respond because his head was elsewhere. Who cared about Kaden’s bitterness?

Swayze touched his back lightly, drawing his attention. “Everything okay?”

He nodded. “Peachy keen,” he said.

***

Montgomery held her to him most of the night, Ryker sandwiched between their legs, where he had fallen asleep watching TV. Every sound of the air conditioner coming to life or the refrigerator beeping had his heart on high alert. He’d spent most of the day watching the house from the distance while getting to know his horse.

She’d finally let him on top of her, bucking him off after a few short minutes. Swayze had watched him equally throughout the night, swearing he seemed off.

She’d been right, but he couldn’t tell her why. He’d made her that promise to not snoop for her brother’s name, and that’s what he did.

He snooped and wasn’t proud of it, but glad he did it.

One step closer to finding him and stopping him.

Swayze jerked in her sleep, eyes fluttering like she dreamed something chaotic on the other side. It wasn’t until almost 2:00 a.m. that he finally fell asleep and felt himself give up on staying awake. The alarm system he had was highly recommended. It sent alerts to his phone every time the motion lights went off, or something went awry. He could sleep for a bit with the comfort of knowing something was on their side.

“What’s this?”

Montgomery woke slowly, feeling like he’d been asleep for ten minutes, not four hours. He hadn’t even remembered falling asleep. The blinking light on his phone indicated Kaden had been calling him. Normally rising at 4:00 a.m., he was really late for work.

He wiped at his eyes, leaning up to see Swayze standing over him with the manila folder in her hand. Shit, she found it already.

“Digging in my stuff already?” he asked. “I thought that was a year two thing?”

Swayze didn’t smile. She shifted on her leg, pulling at the end of her shorts and bracing a palm against her forehead. “I asked you not to do this. Where did you get this?”

“Over my dead body,” he mumbled, getting up to take charge of this situation before it went south fast. “Swayze, I had to. You understand that, right?”

“Obviously not,” she hissed. “You promised, Montgomery. I’m so mad, I just want to scream. What is this going to help? You see that he disappeared off the map? He is a ghost. The Punisher in real life.”

Montgomery huffed and ran his fingers through his matted hair. “Demi,” he whispered. “I understand you’re scared and mad, but I won’t argue about it anymore. I found who your brother was so I could be prepared. My friend can find him…maybe.”

Swayze shifted her eyes and closed them. Hints of red tinted her tanned skin, probably due to irritation. Montgomery leaned forward and kissed the side of her jaw, pulling her closer as she tried to jerk away. “Let me try,” he whispered.

Ryker’s quick footsteps echoed down the hallway. “I’m hungry!”

Mont gestured toward her son. “See, duty calls. I’m going to cook some breakfast. You want some?”

Swayze turned her head, seeing a chance to leave, and pulled away, walking past Ryker. Ryker grinned at Mont, not knowing any different, and chased her down the hallway.

Mont murmured out a breath, grabbing some jeans from his drawer and pulling them on. Some cartoon played from his living room TV, and he laughed at the thought of his own father listening to the same thing.

Swayze had started breakfast, her back to him, and he liked it that way. He leaned back against the counter to cross his ankles. After a few moments, Swayze turned and yelped, not knowing he was there. “Enjoying the view?” she asked.

Montgomery tilted his head to the side. “You know that answer, darlin’,” he drawled. “I think you’ve got an impressive bottom. I could drown in it.” A shit-eating grin curled at his jaw. “You ever been touched down there?”

The realization of what he said hit her quick, and red tinted her cheeks. She could see through his attempt to win her over and rolled her eyes.

“No comment, huh,” he whispered, pushing off the counter. “You think the silent treatment is gonna keep me from you? You don’t want to talk about it? I can take a hint, but I can’t take being ignored.” Slowly, he grabbed her hip and turned her toward him.

Hot and bothered looked so good on her.

“I hate you,” she said quietly.

Mont chuckled before he nuzzled his mouth against her neck. “I don’t believe that for a minute. How about we finish the food, and we can talk later? Kaden called me several times. I know he is pissed.”

Swayze sighed but nodded. “Go get dressed. I got this.”

Montgomery put his boots on and an old football T-shirt. He’d seen Swayze check him out wearing that shirt once. He’d take the chances again.

The food was on the table once he finished getting ready. Ryker struggled to put his clothes on in the living room. He bent down to help him into his clothes, and Ryker jumped up to kiss his cheek. “I love you.”

The pinch in Mont’s chest made him hold his breath. “I love you too, buddy.” Mont picked him up and stood up, coming to see Swayze watching them from the kitchen. The look of peace on her face when she turned to pour the last of the orange juice felt like forever.

***

Kaden stood by the arena fence while Montgomery rode the new girl. He had walked up more than half an hour before and hadn’t said a word.

When Mont jumped down from the horse, he made his way over to him, wiping his face with the shirt he’d tossed over earlier. “I saw that person on the cameras,” Kaden said.

Montgomery hadn’t thought he’d look so soon. “What do you think about it?”

Kaden turned to look at Mont, a hard look in those dark eyes. “I think someone is weighing their options on how to get us. What’s next?” He shrugged. “Someone set the place on fire? Or maybe kidnap our kids?” This wasn’t heading anywhere good. “I don’t want Swayze to work for me anymore. I think this is the last straw. This has to be why she is here. She is running from whoever this is.”

“You can’t just fire her. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“I can do what I damn well please, actually. I need your help. I won’t make you go away. Life has been easier work wise since you came back. I don’t appreciate this. I have to protect my family.”

He had to protect Swayze.

“Okay.”

Kaden sat quite for a few moments. “Okay? Really?”

Mont shrugged and pulled on the shirt in his hands. “Yeah. She doesn’t need the money if she is living with me. I’m set.”

Kaden scoffed. “You’re seriously going to just move this random girl and her son in with you? You’ve been thrown off one too many bulls, man. You’re delusional. A hot piece of tail comes in, and you are over the moon.”

“She isn’t a hot piece of tail. She’s mine. That’s it. Now drop it. I’ll tell her now, so she doesn’t work anymore for an asshole like you.”

Kaden turned to look at him. “You’ll understand one day. Why I can’t risk their lives.”

“And what if you’re wrong?” Mont asked. “What if she leaves and someone is still here?”

Kaden spit onto the ground and turned his back to his brother.

He didn’t believe that would happen.

Mont’s anger bubbled as he walked back into the house to the sound of the kids playing. Abigail stood in the kitchen and noticed Mont’s anger immediately. “What did he do?”

“He fired her. Told me he needed my help, but she had to leave.”

Abigail gasped and covered her mouth with her palm. “Do you want me to talk to him?”

“No, I think it’s best. He’ll never accept her here. But he has no say on her at my house.”

Abigail sighed and twirled a blond curl around her finger. “You think she’ll stay with you?”

“I don’t know.”

“You have to make her stay. I like her, and I know you do too.”

Montgomery walked over to her office where she filed some paperwork. “Still trying to kiss my ass? It’s not lunch yet.”

“We have got to talk. Kaden saw the videos already.”

Swayze stilled.

“He thinks it’s someone coming after you and wants you to leave.”

Swayze sighed and turned her face away from him. “I understand.”

“Now you know this means I’ll need you at the house.”

Swayze’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t live with you.”

“Yeah, you can, and you will. I can’t let you go out alone with your lunatic brother on the loose.”

“I have no job. No money. I can’t mooch off of you like some kind of—”

“Wife? You can’t cook and clean for me while I work every day? Ryker can stay at home with you until he’s old enough to go to school. By then we’ll have our own baby, and you can tend to her.”

“No, no babies or plans. Stop it.”

“What, you want to work?” he asked. “We’ll hire a sitter, and you can work—”

“My brother is out there. You see it. You get it, right?”

Montgomery shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re gonna get hitched soon, and if somebody comes at my wife, I’ll take care of it.”

“I’m not your wife, Montgomery.”

“You could be. Easily. Right now. Let’s go down to the courthouse and get hitched.”

“No,” she snapped. “You’re being crazy.”

“I’m not,” he suggested. “I know you. You don’t want to owe anybody anything. You wouldn’t want to burden them. You’re not my burden, sweet girl. You’re my everything. We don’t have to do it now, but know I want to. I want to make you my forever girl and have babies with you. We can take our time on that, but please believe you have a place to stay with me. With thoughts of what I want from you. Not some consequence or bad move. Just be…with me.”

Swayze looked over her shoulder at him. There was nothing on her face that gave away what she thought. After a few moments of silence, she stood and grabbed her things. “I guess I need to go since the Grinch asked it of me.”

Mont demanded she look up at him. “Let’s go home.”

She nodded but didn’t smile. Ryker said bye to Abigail and Kathryn, who cried when they left. Montgomery laced his fingers with hers on the ride home, reassuring her that he wanted the same thing forever.

His brother could kick her out of the ranch, but he couldn’t kick her out of Montgomery’s life. He’d make sure Swayze was comfortable and knew he’d take care of her in any way she needed for the rest of his existence.

First, he had to terminate the problem: her brother.