Familiar Escape. Caroline Burnes

road to change. She adored you, Molly. You were her hero. And before she died, she felt she could be your equal. That’s an important thing to hang on to. All of the love and effort you gave Anna paid off.”

      Molly got up and went to the fireplace. She used the poker to stir the logs, sending a shower of sparks up the chimney. “I have so many regrets.”

      Thomas hesitated, then went to her side. He put an arm around her. Her shoulders were slender, and he could feel the pent-up tension in her. “If Anna were alive now, would she want you to blame yourself?”

      Molly smiled. “Anna didn’t like blame.”

      “She was right about that part. Blame doesn’t do anyone any good. She talked about your work with the American Indians and the good things you were accomplishing. You were doing what you were meant to do. Anna would only have resented any effort you made in trying to straighten up her life.”

      Molly looked up at him. He could see the sadness in her gaze, but there was also a spark of humor. “You really were her friend, weren’t you?”

      “Yes. We were friends.”

      “It gives me comfort to know that. She had you to turn to.” Molly stepped closer and brushed a kiss across his cheek.

      The kiss was one of gratitude, but Thomas felt it to the bottom of his boots. Molly Harper was a dangerous woman. “You should get some rest,” he said. “Tomorrow is going to be a taxing day.”

      She lingered next to him for a moment, as if she were drawing from his strength. When she stepped away, she called the cat to follow her into the bedroom. The door closed, and Thomas settled onto the sofa, wondering if the tumultuous rush of his thoughts would allow him any rest.

      AT LEAST THE COWBOY and Molly have come to an agreement. I was getting a little concerned at first. They need each other to find baby Kate, and to bring the murderer to justice.

      I took one look at Thomas and knew he hadn’t killed anyone. He’s a rough-and-tumble guy, a cowboy, but there’s a gentleness about him that marks him as one of the good guys. Maybe when we go into town tomorrow I should buy him a white hat. Make him a little more easily identifiable. But I doubt we’ll have time for a shopping spree. Too much to do.

      The person who killed Anna is very clever. The evidence they planted shows great skill and knowledge of police procedure. I’m just not sure of the motive—was it to get rid of Anna or was it to steal the baby?

      The primary suspect, in my opinion, is the baby’s father, Darwin Goodman. If he wasn’t instrumental in framing Thomas, he sure didn’t help matters when he could have. Was he just allowing Thomas to be the convenient scapegoat, or did he plan this out?

      Someone had to know about Anna’s friendship with Thomas. And that someone had to know where the gun was located in Thomas’s house. They had to lure Anna and the baby there, presuming she knew Thomas was camping. That’s a question I’ll have to clear with him tomorrow.

      As soon as we get into town and let the sheriff know that Molly has escaped Thomas, we need to go to the scene of the murder. The crime lab techs have scoured the area, I’m sure, but sometimes my eyes are sharper than the humanoids’. I also have the sixth sense of the feline, which is a tremendous asset in working a case.

      On another front, we need to stop for supplies. Thomas did the best he could with what was available, but a steady diet of corned beef will clog up my arteries and cloud my brain. I’m thinking fresh shrimp or maybe some rainbow trout. These clear mountain streams are known for the fish. I’ll make sure Molly understands that fine cuisine is part of my contract. After all, I am a very discerning cat.

      I think I’ll curl up on the pillow beside Molly and take a snooze. Travel always exhausts me, and this has been one busy day. Tomorrow promises to be even busier. So, sweet dreams, my beautiful Molly. I’ll wake you bright and early in the morning.