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They lingered over dinner, talking and laughing until Hannah’s sides hurt. A few more references to Wes came up but no one pushed, much to her relief.

For a couple of golden hours, she was able to put aside her stress and worry, surrendering to the easy, familiar friendships that made everything in her life a little better.

Later, when she and Holly pulled onto their parents’ street to pick up Lydia, Riley and Carter, the December night seemed quiet and still. Everything seemed to sparkle, from the snowbanks lining the curbs to the Christmas lights glowing in her neighbors’ yards.

As they rounded the bend toward her parents’ house, Hannah’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.

A familiar black pickup was parked along the curb two houses down, exhaust drifting from the tailpipe in a faint, steady plume.

“What’s the matter?” Holly asked, concern in her voice. “You look like somebody just walked over your grave.”

Hannah squinted through the windshield. She tried to tell herself she had to be wrong, that this was only another dark truck.

But her instincts whispered otherwise.

“This will probably sound irrational,” she said slowly, “but I swear that truck is following me. I keep seeing it everywhere around town.”

Holly’s expression sharpened. “How long has this been going on?”

“A few weeks,” Hannah said. “At first I thought it was a coincidence. Black trucks aren’t exactly uncommon in Idaho. But I’ve seen it too many times, in too many different places, when there’s no reason it should be there.”

“I think we should call Asher and Micah and have them come straight here,” Holly said. “They can deal with whoever that is.”

That sounded exactly like something their overprotective brothers would do.

“Wes told me to call him if I saw it again,” Hannah said.

“Then do it,” Holly said immediately.

“You don’t think I’m blowing this out of proportion?”

“No. Not at all. If you weren’t worried, you wouldn’t have brought it up. If you don’t call him, I will.”

Hannah knew her sister meant it. She pulled into the driveway of her parents’ house, pulled out her phone and hit his number.

When he answered on the second ring, warmth slid through her. She hadn’t talked to him since he dropped her and the children off several days earlier and the sound of his voice only reinforced how much she had missed him.

“What’s up?” he said, voice alert.

“You told me to call if I saw the truck again,” she said. “The one I’ve been seeing around town. I’m outside my parents’ house, and it’s parked down the street. The engine’s running and I can see someone inside.”

He swore under his breath. “I’ll be right there. Give me five minutes.”

“What do we do now?” Holly asked after Wes ended the call.

“Go inside Mom and Dad’s, I guess,” Hannah said. “I don’t know what else to do.”

They both got out, doing their best not to stare at the other vehicle as they walked up the porch and into the house.

The instant they stepped through the front door, they were swallowed by warmth and noise. The scent of popcorn filtered through the house and she could hear the children laughing about something.

Hannah felt some of her sudden tension dissipate like the snow melting off her boots. Her parents’ messy, noisy, love-filled house always welcomed her home. She found great comfort to know that whatever—or whoever—might be outside lurking would have to go through a lot of others to get anywhere near the people she loved.

And now, thanks to one phone call, Wes was on his way too.

Chapter 30

As soon as he hung up the call, Wes reached for his keys and gave Kodi the order to come with him.