The Highlander Next Door by Janet Chapman Page A

woods and coming back to deal with me.”
    Aye, judging by her reaction, the altercation with Hazel’s fourth husband wasn’t the only time Birch had found herself dealing with an angry man. “He’d best be bringing a small army with him, then.”
    “You should let him see you’re armed,” she rushed on, pulling open his jacket. “Your holster’s empty!”
    Instead of responding, Niall pushed Birch behind his back when Shep gave an ominous growl seconds before loud footsteps stormed into the kitchen and the cellar doorway darkened with the silhouette of a male.
    “What the—
Shep
?” the man said in surprise, slamming the door closed just as the dog reached the top of the stairs. “Niall, are you down there?” the now-muffled voice continued through the door.
    “Is that you, Reggie?” Niall asked, heading up the rickety stairs to the sound of the heavy wooden bar sliding into place. “Dammit, boy, don’t lock the door.”
    “Did you talk to Misty this morning?” the teenager said through the wood.
    “Nay, she left with her father and mother nearly an hour ago.” Niall crowded past Shep and pushed against the door. “What are ye doing here, son? Have you been seeing Vaughn’s daughter?”
    “He’s going to kill her.”
    “Then unlock the door so I can help you go after her.”
    “I don’t need your help. I only came to get the bag Misty packed so we can run away. We were supposed to leave tonight, but she texted me and said some lady showed up here this morning and that her father caught them.”
    “She has a cell phone?” Birch cried out as she raced up the stairs, making the old stairway groan and shudder under the added weight.
    “Shep, go down,” Niall said, freezing in place as the dog scrambled away.
    “Reggie,” Birch continued, apparently oblivious to the danger, “are you the baby’s father?”
    “I need to go,” the boy said instead of answering. “Misty’s old man is crazy and I don’t know what he’ll do to her. Her last text said she thought he was taking her and her mom to an old logging camp up at Spellbound Stream’s headwaters. I’m sorry, Niall, but I can’t let you stop me.”
    “I have no intention of stopping you; only helping.”
    “You’ll get out of here eventually,” Reggie went on, “but I need to buy some time before you can tell Julia. I . . . I’m sorry.”
    “Wait!” Birch cried. “Reggie, I—
we
want to help you. Misty’s mom is in danger, too. And Shep might be able to lead us to them. He can follow their scent.”
    “You that lady from the Crisis Center?”
    “Yes. I’m Birch Callahan. Think about this, Reggie. What can you possibly do all by yourself when you catch up with them? We can—”
    “You ruined everything! I gave Misty a cell phone a couple of months ago, but it won’t work in the cellar, and she could only call me when they let her come up to take a shower. I was gonna help her escape tonight, but then you showed up. I know where she’s going and can contact her when it’s time to make a run for it.”
    “You’ll never make it back to your truck being chased by a seasoned woodsman,” Niall told him. “Let—”
    “I came straight up the mountain on my four-wheeler just as soon as I got Misty’s text,” the boy said, cutting him off.
    “Let us help ye, son,” Niall continued calmly. “You’re no match for Ike Vaughn.” He suddenly stiffened. “Did ye bring a gun with you, Reggie?”
    “What? No! Having Misty’s old man after us is bad enough; I don’t need the sheriff looking for us, too.” He hesitated. “Or you.”
    “What about your brother-in-law?” Niall drawled. “Because if you believe you can outrun Nicholas, I’m thinking Ike Vaughn may be the least of your worries. Unlock the door and let me go after them alone. I’ll bring your girl back.”
    It turned silent for several heartbeats, and Niall was aware of Birch holding her breath and clutching his arm, her other hand pressed to her