Deadly Vows by Shirlee McCoy Page B

Olivia.”
    Ford bit back further recriminations. Slinging mud wouldn’t change what had happened. Besides, Ford would be dealing with the marshals for the next few weeks. There was no sense getting on McGraw’s bad side. “I know. How are Marshal James and Marshal Louis doing?”
    “They should recover. Sebastian said you’re the reason for that. Thanks.”
    “I think Marshal James had things under control,” Ford responded, turning his attention back to the portico.
    Micah’s radio sputtered and a tinny voice said something Ford didn’t catch.
    “That’s the signal. Looks like we’re ready to move,” McGraw said.
    Seconds later, Olivia slid into the seat beside Ford. She looked pale and drawn, the dark circles beneath her eyesgiving her an air of fragility Ford had never noticed before. She offered a shaky smile as McGraw greeted her.
    A woman followed Olivia into the car. Medium height with shoulder length brown hair, she shot Ford a quick smile as she settled into the car. Was she a marshal or an FBI agent? He didn’t ask. There’d be plenty of time to figure that out later. Three weeks’ worth of time if she stuck around until the trial.
    Marshal Lawrence hurried into the front passenger seat, offering a quick wave to another man who stood outside the car. The door slammed shut, McGraw stepped on the gas, and they were moving, pulling out of the portico and around to the front of the building.
    They headed east through the city and into a subdivision of cookie-cutter houses. Ford thought they’d stop there, but McGraw kept driving. Through the community, out into a rural area dotted with farmhouses. Then, as if he hadn’t just come from there, he exited the freeway and reentered it, heading back to Billings.
    “Is there a reason why we’re turning around?” Ford asked, exhausted and irritated and not in the mood to drive in circles.
    “Yeah. We’re trying to make sure we’re not being followed. The safe house we’re bringing you to isn’t going to be safe if we lead Martino’s men to it,” McGraw responded.
    “This is how it always is, Ford. We could be driving around for another three hours and end up two miles away from the hospital,” Olivia said, yawning loudly as she finished speaking.
    Concerned, Ford studied her face. She’d slept for several hours on the trip from Pine Bluff, and he hadn’t expected her to still be tired. She’d always been the kind of personwho could take a ten-minute nap and wake up raring to go. “Are you okay, Liv?”
    “Dandy.”
    “You don’t sound dandy. You sound exhausted.”
    “Like I said before, pregnancy takes a lot out of me.”
    “Here,” he said, sliding his arm around her shoulders and tugging her closer. “Put your head on my shoulder and close your eyes for a while.”
    “I don’t—”
    “Just for a while, Liv. It’ll do you good.”
    “He’s right, Olivia. A woman in your condition needs her rest,” McGraw said, and Ford wasn’t sure if he should thank the guy or tell him to mind his own business.
    Which proved just how tired he was.
    Under normal circumstances, he didn’t allow himself to be upset by people. Nor did he overreact to things. He was doing both, and seemed helpless to stop it.
    “All right,” Olivia said, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. “Just for a little while.”
    Her hair tickled his chin, her warmth seeped through his jacket, and he forgot his irritation and his fatigue. Forgot everything but how thankful he was to have Olivia in his arms again. He’d missed her. More than he’d wanted to admit. It was a miracle that he’d found her. A miracle that they’d survived the Martinos’ attack.
    They’d need another miracle to survive the next few weeks.
    Maybe more than one.
    Ford scowled, letting his fingers tangle with the silky ends of Olivia’s hair. If she felt his touch, she didn’t comment. Just stayed where she was, head down, eyes closed.
    Ford wanted to believe she’d be safe, that