Within fifteen minutes, Elliott parked in his driveway. He didn't bother to pull into his attached garage. He'd be leaving in a few hours anyway. He inhaled the clean mountain air, glad to be home after a long day, but wished he would have kissed Sam's rosebud mouth before he let her go.

Darkness shrouded the building. He flipped the indoor switch. Hanging his red plaid coat and Stetson hat on a hook on the wall, he walked into the kitchen, pausing to drop his keys on a nearby ...