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THREE
Hours after the attack, Faith’s hands still trembled.
Rain pattered against the kitchen window as police officers bustled between the barn and woods. Crime scene tape bounced in the wind. The stark black and yellow colors were a sharp contrast to the cheery Christmas decorations in the house. This morning’s events felt like a bad dream, but the child in her arms and the chaos in her yard proved it’d been real.
The back door opened, and moments later, Chase stepped inside the kitchen. His thick black hair was damp from the rain. Although it wasn’t even noon yet, a dusky shadow darkened his strong jaw, drawing attention to the deep cleft in his chin. He had shed his jacket in the mudroom. A flannel shirt encased his broad shoulders and was tucked into worn blue jeans. She’d given the button-down to Chase for his birthday last month. The cobalt blue reminded her of his eyes, and when their gazes met, Faith’s heart skipped a beat.
It was an involuntary reaction. And an unsettling one. If she didn’t know any better, Faith would’ve called it attraction. But that was impossible. She and Chase had been friends practically since birth. Romance had never been a part of their relationship, for good reason. They were too different.
An adrenaline junkie, Chase was fond of dirt bike racing and scary movies. He pushed boundaries and charmed naysayers with a flick of his dimple and an easygoing smile. Every single woman in the county was vying for his attention. He carried a bad boy edge tempered only by age and some hard-earned wisdom. The police officer’s uniform didn’t hurt either.
Faith was social and chatty with friends, but she was an introvert at heart. Reading was her main source of entertainment, and a quiet evening at home with a cup of tea and a good book was all she needed. She was serious, organized, and the ultimate rule-follower. Boring with a capital B in dating terms. Especially for someone like Chase.
No, they were excellent friends, but anything more…it was a recipe for disaster.
Faith tamped down the flutters in her stomach as Chase crossed the room toward her. She was just lonely. Christmastime made it worse, a reminder of all that she’d lost over the last several years. Her husband. Their potential family. She was absolutely not attracted to her best friend. The idea was simply preposterous.
Clinging to the thought, Faith turned her attention to the problem at hand. “Did you find anything new?”
“No. We’ve done a canvass of the woods but didn’t recover any new evidence. There’s no sign of the baby’s mom or your attacker.” Chase stopped in front of Faith, his gaze dropping to the infant in her arms. A smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is.” Faith touched the curve of the little girl’s cheek. She had wide blue eyes that radiated with innocence. Hair, the color of hay, curled at the edges of her dainty ears and dusted across her forehead. Judging from her size and weight, she was about two months old. “I think her name is Anna.”
Faith lifted the edge of the blanket wrapped around the baby so Chase could see the monogrammed letters etched on the fabric. “This looks handmade, but I don’t recognize the needlework. I don’t think it was bought from any of the stores in town, but it might be worth asking at the Sewing Circle.”
The Sewing Circle was the only craft store for thirty miles. Betty, the owner, had been running the place since Faith was in diapers and knew every seamstress in the area. If anyone could recognize the stitching, it would be her.
Chase nodded. “Worth a shot. Is the sheriff in here?”
“He’s talking to Holly in the living room.”
As if the conversation had called them, the couple entered the kitchen. Sheriff Aiden James wore a serious expression that matched the broad stride of his steps and the crispness of his uniform. Beside him, Holly Miller looked delicate, although she was anything but. As a social worker, she fought day and night to help the citizens of Cutler. Aiden and Holly had met last Christmas, fell in love, and gotten married. They made a good couple, and Faith was blessed to consider them both friends.
Holly’s blonde hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and she offered Faith a gentle smile. She gestured toward the empty bottle on the kitchen table. “I see Anna didn’t have any problems eating.”
Faith patted the baby’s back. “Not a bit. Poor thing was starving after being examined by the paramedics. I’m glad you brought basic supplies with you. Formula and diapers aren’t things I normally have on hand.”
“If only everything were so easy to fix…” Holly glanced at her husband and then focused back on Faith and Chase. “We have a problem. I’ve called all the foster families on my roster, but no one can take Anna.”
Faith sank into a kitchen chair. She hugged the baby closer, relishing the sweet burden in her arms. “What will happen to her?”
“I was hoping you could take her for a few days.”
Shock vibrated through Faith, followed by a sudden panic. She felt the blood drain from her face. Children were a soft spot for her, and she kept the walls around her heart intact at work because those kids had loving parents and wonderful homes. But Anna…already the baby was wriggling into Faith’s heart and it’d only been a few hours. “Me?”
“That’s a terrible idea,” Chase snapped. His handsome face was twisted into a scowl. “We don’t know how the baby ended up here or who attacked Faith. Leaving Anna in her care puts them both at risk.”
“They may both be at risk no matter what we do.” Aiden placed his hands on the duty belt at his hips. “The fact that none of the foster families can take Anna may be a blessing in disguise. This isn’t a large county. If the man who attacked Faith was after the baby, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to find Anna. He can simply ask around to find out who in town suddenly appeared at the grocery store with a new baby, looking for formula.”
Faith’s heart stuttered at the thought. “The foster family could be in danger, including any other children staying with them.”
Aiden nodded. “Exactly. Keeping Anna with you means we can have police protection on you both, should it be necessary. It also buys us time to sort out what happened to her mom.”
“Do you really think the attacker will come back?”
“Statically, it’s unlikely. But the viciousness of the assault on you worries me.” Aiden passed a glance toward his wife. “I’ve learned the hard way that desperation can push a criminal to the brink. I’d rather be overcautious than not.”
Last Christmas, Holly had been attacked and nearly killed. The incident was a stark reminder that even in small towns, danger could lurk. Aiden’s concern could be a byproduct of the experience, but he wasn’t one to be overly dramatic. Faith’s heart sank as the reality of the situation seeped into her. This morning’s traumatic event had been enough for a lifetime. She didn’t want to spend the next days or weeks fearful the attacker would come back.
