his view, but as he browsed, he noted the store was relatively crowded. An older man’s voice offering customer assistance drew his attention to the cash register and counter at the back of the store. A young woman he didn’t recognize stood next to the older man he assumed was Sierra’s father. She took payment from the customer and bagged toys.
“Can I help you?”
The voice. That voice. Turning to Sierra, he grinned. In a flash he took in her bright blue irises, her lithe and petite form, and the perfect lips that often turned up in an amazing smile, but which now morphed into a huge O.
She gasped. “Bryce, what…what in the world are you doing here?”
“Ah. You’re glad to see me.” He instantly regretted his slightly sarcastic tone. “It’s good to see you too.”
A frown emerged on her face and seemed to war with a tenuous grin.
“Well of course. I mean…of course I’m glad to see you. Why wouldn’t I be glad to see you?” She reached forward and hugged him. This was the Sierra he loved—well, loved to see. She was wonderful. Except he sensed her wariness.
When she released him and stepped back, he saw the fear flashing in her eyes. Her face shifted as though she was searching for the right response, though he saw a spark of amusement when she noted the section of the store he’d stopped in. “Any particular type of baby doll you’re looking for? I’m guessing this is for a niece? Or do you have…um…a daughter?” Sierra handed him a doll.
Like a fool he took it automatically.
“No. I don’t have a daughter.” It had been only a year since Sierra had left Boulder, and they hadn’t kept in touch. “I’m not married and don’t suddenly have a young daughter.” He put the doll back on the shelf. “Nor do I have a niece.”
He jammed his hand into his pockets, wishing he could go ahead and shrug out of his coat. It had kept him warm outside, but in here he was downright hot.
Sierra turned and walked away, still lacking the usual bounce in her step that he hadn’t seen since she’d been attacked in Boulder.
“You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here,” she called over her shoulder. Then she stopped at the counter. “Are you here for the ice climbing festival? I didn’t know you were a fan. You might have said something back when I was in Boulder—we could have visited my hometown together.” Sure they could have visited her hometown together while they were still “together.” A pain flitted across her features. Had she forgotten that in Boulder, after Raul’s attack, she’d distanced herself from him? No. And that made his appearance all the more awkward.
He stared too long, struggling to find the words. “I came to check on you.”
A deep bark resounded from somewhere inside the building and rattled through him. “And Samson. I…missed him.” And you, Sierra.
I’m worried about you. But he kept that to himself for now.
She eyed him, then walked around behind the counter. The man he’d seen earlier stepped from the back room. “Dad, this is Bryce Elliot. I used to work with him in Boulder. Bryce, this is my dad.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Young.”
“Call me John. It’s nice to meet you too. My daughter told me about you. You had her back when she was there in the city. Thanks for taking care of her for me. You can stick around if you like and keep up the good work.” John winked at Bryce then grinned at Sierra.
She gently elbowed her dad and scowled at him, though love poured from her expression. “Dad. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“And me. Your daughter took care of me too,” Bryce said. They had, in fact, saved each other from certain death. He had no idea how much Sierra had shared with her father about what really happened. Bryce suspected she would have kept most of it from John, choosing to spare him the pain of knowing what his daughter had gone through.
“You want to see Samson?” she asked.
“You know I do.”
“Come on back.” She led him through the door past an employee area where boxes of toys were waiting to be stocked. Then through another door into a kitchen where Samson popped up to greet them. “We have an apartment at the back of the store. It takes up two floors. It’s enough for the three of us. Me, Dad and Samson.” She rubbed Samson’s head.
Wagging his tail, he barked and lumbered over to Bryce. “Wow, he’s gained some more weight.”
“It takes about three years for them to be full grown, and he’s about four now. He could still get bigger, but I train him often and keep him in good shape.”
“I’d say that I named him appropriately.”
“Well, I kind of liked your initial suggestion of ‘Tiny’ for a name, but I think you’re right. Samson suits him.”
Bryce leaned toward Samson and ran his hands around the dog’s ear and enormous head. “Hey, buddy. How’re you doing? Did you miss me?”
He received a wad of drool across his face and shirt. Bryce smiled to hide his inward cringe.
“You’re the one who got him for me.” Sierra’s tone told him she was thinking about the reasons why.
“You said you wanted something big.” He pet Samson, then glanced up.
She crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look. “Why are you really here, Bryce?”
His stomach sank as he noticed something in her eyes. “You already know.”
“You’re here because Raul and Damien escaped prison.”
He nodded. Should he tell her that his thoughts went immediately to her when he heard the news? “I wanted to make sure you were okay. Did Captain Stephens call you?”
“I called him.” She gestured for Bryce to have a seat at the kitchen table. She grabbed mugs and poured coffee without asking. Sugar and nondairy creamer were already on the table.
“Why did you call him?”
Sierra took a seat and then placed her elbows on the table. She pressed her face into her hands. “A plane crashed yesterday.”
“Oh, no.”
“Samson and I found the crash site. The state is working to recover the bodies. One died before I arrived. One survived only minutes after I reached the plane. But before he died—” horror crept into her eyes “—Damien tried to kill me. He shot at me. I dodged that attempt, but then…then he told me that Raul was coming for me.”
“Oh, Sierra… I don’t know what to say.” He’d heard about the escaped convicts on the news like everyone else in Boulder and immediately contacted his old boss and BPD captain for the details.
“That’s not all.” Her voice cracked and, though she tried to appear unaffected, he didn’t miss the shudder that ran over her. “I saw footprints in the snow from a third person—someone who escaped
