Chapter Seven

Lorna stood at the stove, flipping bacon with a smile on her face. Spending last night with Eli was beyond amazing. She loved being with him, but she knew she couldn't let their relationship go any further. She understood why his fiancée called off the engagement and knew she would have felt the same way if she were in her shoes.

When Lorna met Mac, he had been an agent for six years and she never thought about the danger he faced every day. He always came home to her until one day he didn't. The thought of losing Eli in the same way made her hyperventilate.

A knock at the door jolted her out of her thoughts. She quickly took the pan off the burner and opened the door to see her friend Abbie standing on the doorstep.

"Abs! Come in," Lorna said, pulling her friend into a hug.

"Oh Lorna, I've missed you so much. Why haven't you called me?" Abbie asked.

"I've been spending a lot of time with Lily and Dad. I'm sorry, I should have reached out. You still love me though, right?"

"Of course, I do…" Abbie's words trailed off as she looked behind Lorna.

Lorna closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning around to see Eli standing in her kitchen doorway.

"Abbie, this is Eli Hawkins. Eli, my best friend Abbie Wells," Lorna introduced them.

"It's nice to meet you, Eli," Abbie said, looking back and forth between Lorna and Eli with widened eyes.

"Ma'am." Eli nodded politely.

Lorna looked over at Eli and could see that he was trying not to laugh. She bit her lip to hold back a grin before turning back to Abbie.

"Would you like to join us for breakfast?" Lorna asked.

"Oh no, I just stopped by on my way to town. I wanted to ask you to go with me, but it looks like you just got out of bed," Abbie said, noticing the couple's disheveled appearance.

Lorna looked at Eli and could see he was struggling to contain his laughter. She bit her lip even harder to keep from smiling and turned back to Abbie.

"We did. It was a late night," she confirmed with a sly smile.

"Very late," Eli added, walking past Lorna to make himself a cup of coffee.

Abbie whispered in disbelief, "Wow. Well, I'll call you later, Lorna. Where's Lily?"

"She's with Dad. I'm picking her up later today."

"Okay. I should get going then. It was nice meeting you, Eli. Have a great day, you two," Abbie said as she headed toward the door.

As soon as Abbie left, Lorna let out a laugh and Eli chuckled beside her.

"She looked shocked," he commented.

"Well considering I haven't been with any man since Mac died, I'd say she was more than shocked," Lorna replied.

"If I had known she was here, I would have stayed in the bedroom," Eli said apologetically.

"It's fine. I'm a grown woman, I can have a man stay overnight if I want."

Eli stepped closer to her. "As long as that man is me."

"I'll try to fit you into my schedule," Lorna teased before laughing again as he pulled her close and nuzzled into her neck.

"Sit down while I make your breakfast. How do you like your eggs?" Lorna asked once they had composed themselves.

"Over easy, but I can make them myself," Eli offered.

"You're my guest, I'll make them for you. Just sit."

"Yes, ma'am," Eli replied with a smile.

As they ate breakfast, Lorna found it difficult to take her eyes off Eli. He looked incredibly handsome sitting at her table, but she knew she couldn't let herself think of him in that way. Despite how much she enjoyed their physical relationship, she couldn't let it become anything more. No matter how badly she wanted to.

****

On a Monday morning, Eli made his way into the office, placing his hat on the rack before settling in at his desk. He was determined to uncover any new leads on recent thefts in the area.

"Eli?"

"Morning, Dave."

"Any updates on the Palmer case?"

"No, nothing yet."

"Damn," Dave muttered. "What about the Norris case?"

"Luke is following up on a lead."

"Well, keep me in the loop. If we don't make progress on Palmer soon, we might have to put it aside. We have other cases that need attention too."

"I understand. Luke and I were thinking of going back out there, but honestly, Dave, I don't think they'll come back. It's been weeks and nothing has happened."

"Probably just some kids messing around."

"Kids." Eli frowned.

"Yeah, why?"

"I need to check on something. I'll get back with you later."

"Sure thing."

Eli stood up, grabbed his hat and left the office, taking the elevator down to the first floor. He walked out of the building and got into his truck, driving down Main Street and out of town.

He eventually arrived at his destination, pulling into the driveway and parking in front of the house. Stepping out of his vehicle, he walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. John Callaway's daughter answered with a smile.

"Well, well, if it isn't Agent Hawkins. What brings you here?"

"Is your brother home?"

"Yes, why?"

"I'd like to talk to him."

She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway with a smirk.

"You already spoke with my father, now you want to talk to my brother? When am I going to get my turn with you, Agent Hawkins?"

"It depends on what your brother tells me. If I need to speak with you, I will."

"My number is—"

"I didn't ask for your number. Now, please get your brother for me."

She huffed but let him inside and went to find her brother while Eli waited in the foyer. After a few moments, John Callaway emerged from his office and saw Eli standing there.

"Agent Hawkins, what can I do for you?"

"Nothing. I'm here to speak with your son."

"My son? You can't possibly think he had anything to do with those horses being stolen."

"I can't discuss that at the moment."

"He's a minor, so you either talk to me or our lawyer."

Eli tightened his jaw. "I promised I would find the culprit, and I need to ask your son some questions. You have every right to be present, but if he refuses to cooperate, he will be arrested."

"You can't arrest him."

"The badge and gun on my hip say otherwise, but, if necessary, I'll call in the Sheriff."

They turned as they heard someone coming down the stairs, and Eli watched as Joey Callaway avoided eye contact with him.

"Joey, come here," John Callaway instructed his son.

Eli observed the boy approach and stand next to his father.

"How old are you?" Eli asked.

"He's sixteen—"

"I wasn't asking you." Eli locked eyes with the boy.

"Sixteen."

"Do you have a driver's license?"

"Yeah."

"And what kind of vehicle do you drive, Joey?"

The boy mumbled something, but Eli couldn't catch it.

"Speak up," Eli snapped.

"A truck."

"I'd like to see it."

"Why?"

"Show me or I'll get a search warrant."

With a sigh, Joey opened the door and gestured for Eli to follow him into the garage. Inside was a large pickup truck with a trailer hitch attached.

"What do you use it for?"

"Nothing."

"Right." Eli circled around the truck and noticed mud caked under the wheel wells. "When was the last time you washed this?"

"About a month ago. I like playing in the mud." Joey shrugged.

Eli stepped closer and glared at him.

"I bet you also like stealing horses, don't you?" When the boy's eyes widened and he swallowed hard, Eli knew he had caught the thief. "Do you have any idea how serious this is?"

"It was just a prank."

"Where are the horses?" When the boy remained silent, Eli's patience ran out. "Where?"

"They're in an old barn on our property."

"I hope you've been taking good care of them, because I'll not only charge you with horse theft, but also animal abuse. Who else was involved in this?"

"I can't say."

"Fine, then you can face all the consequences alone. Is this truck registered under your name?"

"Yes."

"Well, you can say goodbye to the truck and trailer, once it's found. They'll be seized. Turn around and put your hands behind your back."

"Are you arresting me?"

"That's right."

"I'm not going with you."

Eli sighed. "Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. If you think you can take me, try it. I'm almost a foot taller, and I probably have a hundred pounds on you."

"Yeah, well, the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

Eli laughed. "Then try it." When the kid didn't say anything, Eli narrowed his eyes. "Turn around and put your hands behind your back. Now."

With a deep sigh, the kid turned his back to him and Eli handcuffed him and read his rights as he escorted him to his vehicle.

"Wait, what's happening?" John Callaway asked as he rushed down the steps.

"Mr. Callaway, your son is being arrested for horse theft, at least for now."

"For now?"

"If those horses are in bad shape, he'll also face charges of animal cruelty. We'll have someone retrieve his truck, and once we find the trailer, that will be taken too. You should probably call that lawyer now."

"Dad, don't let them take me to jail."

"Is this necessary, Agent?"

"Any livestock theft is a serious crime. He may not end up behind bars, but he will have to face the consequences of his actions. If he tells me who else was involved, I could put in a good word for him."

"Joseph," Callaway said sternly.

"I did it all by myself," Joey shouted.

"You stole five horses on your own? You roped them, led them through a field, and loaded them onto a trailer? All by yourself with no assistance?" Eli shook his head.

When Joey didn't answer, Eli guided him to his vehicle, placed him in the back seat, fastened his seatbelt, closed the door firmly, and turned to look at Callaway.

"Once the other agents get here, he'll be taken to the Clifton County Jail where he'll be handed over to Sheriff Garrett."

"Why are other agents coming?" Callaway asked him.

"They're bringing a search warrant, and they'll go through your property while I take your son to the jail." Eli looked at the truck. "If he'd cooperate, it would go a lot smoother."

"But he said he did it, so why the search warrant?"

"We want to get as much evidence as we can. We'll confiscate his computers, phone, and anything we think will help our case against him. Mr. Callaway, your son is in a lot of trouble. I can't express that enough."

"He's a minor," Callaway snapped.

"And old enough to know better. He will be dealt with accordingly." He smirked. "And since it's Friday, he'll be in jail over the weekend."

"Why can't I bail him out?"

"No judge is available at this time to set bail."

Eli turned to face the driveway when he heard vehicles pulling up. He strode to the first truck to see Beau stepping from it.

"Who do I give this to?" Beau asked him, holding up the folded papers.

"The slick dude in the million dollar suit."

Beau chuckled. "Okay."

Eli watched him walk to Callaway, but when Beau tried to hand him the paper, Callaway wouldn't take it, so Beau shoved it against his chest, making him take it, then turned toward the other two vehicles and waved. All four doors on the other trucks opened, and Eli grinned when he saw the agents walking toward him. Each one nodded to him, then entered the house. He walked to his truck, opened the door, climbed behind the steering wheel, started the truck, and drove down the driveway.

While waiting for traffic to clear, he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Joey staring out the window as tears rolled down his face. Eli felt sorry for him but knew that he had committed a serious crime and needed to face the consequences.

"What's the location of the barn where the horses are being held?"

"It's a mile east of the house."

Eli nodded and called the office to relay the information. After hanging up, he checked the mirror again.

"You'd better hope those horses are okay. Why did you cut the fence a second time?"

Joey shrugged and didn't say anything more. After contacting Sheriff Sam Garrett, Eli drove to Clifton.

****

Lorna walked into the diner, leading Lily to a booth where Abbie was waiting for them with a smile. She stood up and hugged them both when she saw them.

"I'll go grab her booster seat," Lorna said, setting Lily on the bench before walking to the back of the diner to retrieve the seat for her daughter. Once she had returned, she placed Lily in the seat and slid into the booth next to her. Then handed Lily her coloring book and crayons.

"I'm so glad we could meet for lunch. I've been dying to hear about..." Abbie glanced at Lily. "You know."

Lorna laughed. "I was surprised you didn't call me that night."

"I would have, but we were swamped at the hospital. Speaking of which, are you planning on going back anytime soon?"

"Actually, I don't think I am. I've made the decision to quit."

"I'm happy for you. It seems like it's the right choice. You look happier." Abbie tilted her head. "Could it have anything to do with a certain drop-dead gorgeous livestock agent?"

"Abbie, I am crazy about him, but his line of work makes me hesitant."

"You have to hold onto happiness whenever you can find it."

"But for how long?"

"For as long as possible. I wish I could find someone too. You know how badly Jeremy treated me, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to find love again. I'm scared too; what if the next guy treats me the same way?" Abbie shook her head. "But it's a risk I'm willing to take, even though the divorce shattered me."

"Divorce is not equivalent to death," Lorna said softly.

"No, but for some it can be just as devastating."

"I understand. I don't want to downplay it, but the thought of losing another husband is unbearable for me after Mac's passing. If anything happened to Eli..." She shook her head.

Lily eagerly tapped her hands on the table. "Can we see Eli, Mama?" she asked.

"Not yet, sweetie. He's busy now," Lorna replied.

"I'm hungry!" Lily exclaimed cheerfully, causing other customers in the diner to chuckle.

"We'll order something for you in just a minute," Lorna promised.

"So, it seems like Lily really likes him," Abbie remarked.

"She adores him and he's great with her. I feel like such a wuss," Lorna admitted.

"Well, most of us understand why. You loved Mac so much and if you fell for someone again only to lose them, it would devastate you." Abbie sympathized.

"I knew I had to keep going after Mac passed away because of Lily. It was tough though," Lorna said wistfully.

"I remember; I was there. You had me worried sick," Abbie recalled.

"But having Lily kept me focused on her instead of Mac. I still miss him every day, but it gets easier with time. And Eli was his best friend."

"So what? Do you think Mac wouldn't want you two to be together? Two people he cared about, finding love?" Abbie asked logically.

"No, I don't think that would bother him at all. It's not that, it's his job. What if something happened to Eli?" Lorna whispered, glancing over at Lily.

"You'd go on, just like you did after Mac's death. You're a strong woman, Lorna; never forget that. Men don't give women enough credit for their strength," Abbie assured her.

"I know, but it's still a scary thought," Lorna admitted.

"Hello, ladies and pretty little Lily," Connie greeted as she approached their booth.

"Hi Connie. Lily and I will have our usuals please," Lorna ordered.

"Sure thing, and Abbie? What can I get for you, hon?"

"My usual please, Connie," Abbie replied with a smile.

"I'll be right back with your orders and drinks," Connie said as she headed toward the back of the diner.

Lorna watched as Lily eagerly opened her coloring book and began coloring outside of the lines, making her smile.

The sound of the bell jingling above the door caught Lorna's attention and her heart went into overdrive when she saw Eli enter with another man and they sat at the counter.

"What's wrong?" Abbie asked, glancing over her shoulder before turning back to Lorna. "Oh."

Lorna let out a sigh. "That man makes my heart skip a beat."

"I can see why," Abbie agreed with a grin. "But who's that with him?"

"I don't know," Lorna admitted, taking another glance at the handsome man next to Eli.

"He's quite handsome," remarked Abbie.

"You should make a move," suggested Lorna with a laugh.

"I don't even know if he's taken, Lorna."

"True, but I can find out for you quickly."

"No way! Please don't."

"Wait a minute, didn't you just say how much you wanted to find love again?"

"Yes, but I'll do it on my own, thank you very much." Abbie sat back in her seat, crossing her arms, and narrowing her eyes.

Amused, Lorna chuckled and caught a glimpse of Eli looking back at them with a smile on his lips. She watched as he said something to the man next to him, then got up and headed their way. The closer he got, the more heat she felt rising within her.

"Lorna," greeted Eli when he stopped by their booth, then turned his attention to Abbie. "Ms. Wells."

"Please call me Abbie," she said, just as Lily let out a shriek, causing everyone to look in their direction.

"Eli!" exclaimed Lily as she reached out her arms toward him.

"Not now, Lily. Eli is busy," scolded Lorna.

"No," protested Lily.

"I'll see you later, Lily. I promise." Eli winked at her, sending her into a fit of giggles. "This is Beau McCallister. We work together. Beau, meet Lorna Carter and Abbie Wells."

Beau nodded politely. "Nice to meet both of you."

"You too," replied the women together.

"I was actually planning to visit your father after lunch. We made an arrest in his case," announced Eli.

"That's fantastic news! Who was it?" asked Lorna eagerly.

"I'll explain later. Enjoy your lunches. I'll speak to you soon," he said, holding Lorna's gaze until Beau cleared his throat. With a grin on his face, Eli and Beau made their way back to their seats at the counter.

"Damn, that man is fine," sighed Abbie.

"I know."

"I was talking about Beau, but honestly, they're both gorgeous," clarified Abbie.

"I didn't see a wedding ring on Beau's finger," teased Lorna.

"As if that matters. I was married to a man who never wore one. It would have put a crimp in his whoring around."

Lorna let out a snort of laughter. "That's for sure."

Shaking her head, Abbie mused, "I'm just glad I can laugh about it now."

"He was such an ass, Abs. I'm sorry he hurt you like that."

"Thanks, but it's all in the past now. One day, I'll find someone."

"Well, Beau McCallister is definitely worth considering."

"He's handsome, but he didn't seem interested."

"Don't worry, you'll find someone amazing someday."

"You already have and you're dragging your feet."

Lorna sighed. "I know. I really want to take a chance, I'm just scared."

"I know you are, but we all go through broken hearts. Some of us more than others, but I honestly believe that we have to take chances in life and love. How else do we find happiness?"

"You're too smart for me, Abilene Wells."

"I know." Abbie laughed.

Connie set their lunches on the table, smiled and walked off to wait on someone else. Lorna moved Lily's coloring book to the bench and pushed Lily's plate closer to her. She grinned, picked up a fry, and dipped it in the ketchup then shoved it into her mouth.

"I think she likes a little fry with her ketchup." Abbie laughed.

Lorna grinned. She watched as Eli and Beau stood, paid for their meals, and walked toward the door. Eli looked back at her, smiled, and walked outside.

****

Eli and Beau walked back to the office, exchanging greetings with people they passed.

"I never would've guessed that Clifton would be so popular," observed Beau, nodding at a group of women who smiled at them as they went by. "So, who's Abbie?"

"She works at the same hospital as Lorna, but I think she's in the emergency department."

"And what about you and Lorna?"

"What about us?"

"There seems to be some chemistry there, Eli. Isn't she Mac's widow?"

"Yes," Eli sighed.

"What was that sigh for?"

"She doesn't want to get involved with me because of my job."

"Ah, I see. She's afraid of going through it all again."

"Exactly. As much as I know I should stay away from her, I can't help myself. But I'm sure there will come a day when she tells me she doesn't want to see me anymore."

"But you two are seeing each other now?"

"Yeah."

"Eli, you're setting yourself up for heartache."

"I hope not, Beau. I'll just see how things go."

"Well, good luck with that."

Eli nodded but didn't say anything else as they made their way back to the office. When they reached the building, Eli felt his phone vibrate and saw that it was Luke calling.

"Luke? Do you have some good news for me?"

"We found the horses. They seem fine except for being a little underweight. We're loading them up and taking them to the Palmer ranch."

"Great! I'll head over there now." Eli hung up and turned to Beau. "I'll talk to you later, Beau. I need to go to the Palmer ranch and let him know we found the horses and they're on their way."

"Alright. I'm glad they were found. See you later," Beau said as he headed inside the building, and Eli climbed into his truck and drove out of the parking lot.

He parked next to the porch, got out of his truck, and walked toward the steps. Marcus opened it and stepped onto the porch.

"Eli, come in, son."

"Yes, sir." Eli jogged up the steps and wiped his feet on the mat before entering the house. He hung his hat on a hook by the door and took a seat at the table.

"Would you like some coffee?"

"Just water, please."

"I have to have my coffee every day no matter how hot it is."

"My mom is the same way."

"What brings you here, son?"

Eli smiled. "We caught one of the people involved in stealing your horses."

"That's great news. But only one? How many were there?"

"We're not entirely sure since he's refusing to talk."

"Can you tell me who it was or is that classified information?"

"It's fine for me to tell you; you'll find out soon enough. It was Joseph Callaway."

"Callaway?" Marcus raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Yep. John Callaway's son. And I'm pretty sure some of his friends were involved as well. There's no way he could have pulled this off alone."

"Why would he do such a thing?"

"He claims it was just a prank, but I suspect he wanted attention. He's sixteen and heading down a dangerous path." Eli shrugged. "His father seems more interested in making money than being a role model for his son."

"So, you think he did it to get his father's attention?"

"It's possible. I just wish he'd tell me who else was involved instead of me having to track them down. We have his computers and phone, so I'm confident we'll find out."

"And what about the horses?"

"They're on their way here as we speak." Eli grinned. "I was told they were a little underweight, but otherwise in good shape."

"I can't wait to tell Lorna."

"I actually saw her at the diner earlier. I mentioned that we found the culprit, but I didn't want to discuss it with her there."

"Well, I am incredibly grateful for everything you've done, Eli. Ranchers and farmers would be lost without men like you protecting our livestock."

"It's just part of the job."

The door opened and Lorna entered the room. His heart skipped a beat. It was then that he realized he was head over heels in love with her. He cursed himself for falling so hard.

"Eli!" Lily yelled, running toward him. He picked her up and sat her on his lap.

"Hey, Lily. How was your lunch?"

"I finished all my fries."

"Good girl. Did you eat anything else?"

"I had a hangburger, but I didn't finish it."

"You should eat all of your hangburger," Eli said with a smile, causing Lily to giggle.

"You seriously need to stop encouraging her," Lorna said, also smiling.

Their eyes locked and they stayed like that until Marcus cleared his throat. Eli set Lily back on the floor.

"So, who took the horses?" Lorna pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Joseph Callaway, John Callaway's son."

Lorna's jaw dropped as she leaned back in her chair.

"Why?"

Eli shrugged. "For attention. But he won't reveal who helped him. He couldn't have done it alone."

"It would be difficult for one person to take five horses," Lorna pointed out.

"As I explained to your father, we have his computers and phone. We'll find something. It would be better if he cooperated, but things aren't looking good for that happening right now."

"And the horses?"

Eli could tell Lorna was anxious about their whereabouts, but he smiled reassuringly.

"On their way back home."

"That's such great news. I could kiss you—"

Marcus chuckled. "Should I leave the room?"

Eli laughed as Lorna gasped.

"Dad!"

"What? You're the one who said you wanted to kiss him." Marcus stood up, grabbed his cup, and headed toward the living room. "I bet you already have," he joked as he left the kitchen.

Lorna gasped again, then glared at Eli, who couldn't help but chuckle. When she glared at him, he shrugged.

"He's not wrong."

She laughed. "True."

Eli stood up, walked to the door, and peered outside.

"They're here." He opened the door and stepped out onto the porch, watching as a truck pulled up with a trailer attached to it. He waved at Luke when he stepped out of the truck.

"Do you know where they want the horses?" Luke asked him.

Lorna joined Eli on the porch.

"They can put them in the corral," her voice cracked, causing Eli to look at her.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm just so relieved to see them."

He placed his hand under her hair and squeezed her neck affectionately.

"I'm glad we could bring them back for you."

"Thank you so much. I can never thank you enough."

"Have dinner with me tomorrow night."

"You mean, like a date?"

"Yes. We could go to Hartland."

"I would love that. I'll ask my dad if he can watch Lily."

"Of course he can," Marcus said from behind them.

Eli laughed. "Thanks, Marcus."

"You're welcome. Now I'm going to go check on my horses."

Eli watched him walk down the stairs and across the yard toward Luke and the trailer.

He turned back to Lorna. "I should help Luke, then I need to head to the office and fill out some paperwork. I'll see you tomorrow night at six. Should I pick you up here?"

"No, come to my place."

"Okay." He gazed into her eyes for a moment before turning and walking down the steps.

"Oh, and plan on staying over," Lorna added.

He grinned, nodded in agreement, and strode over to Luke to assist in unloading the horses.