Bodyguard Under the Mistletoe by Cassie Miles Page B

scampered off toward her room.
    Jesse rose stiffly and stretched his shoulders. “She’s bright.”
    Of course, Fiona agreed. “Smart, pretty and healthy. Everything a child should be.”
    â€œYou’ve been a good mother.”
    She wasn’t so sure about that part of the equation. After Wyatt died, she’d been depressed and not as responsive to Abby as she should have been. And she hadn’t handled the disbursement of her husband’s inheritance well. Thank goodness, she’d hung on to Abby’s trust fund. When her daughter turned eighteen, there would be sufficient money for her to go to college and get a decent start on her life.
    But that was a long time away, and Fiona had more immediate concerns. She looked toward Jesse. “Did the sheriff figure out who was snooping around my house?”
    â€œNo proof, but plenty of fingerprints,” he said. “Let me show you the security we’ve installed.”
    At the front door, he showed her how to use a brace that held the door shut even if the lock was unlatched. Additional dead bolts had been added on front and back doors. She was familiar with security systems. “Our home in Denver had an electronic burglar alarm with a keypad.”
    â€œWyatt knew how to take precautions. I’m kind of surprised that he didn’t have more up here. From what you’ve told me, this house is vacant for weeks at a time.”
    â€œMonths,” she said. “We hardly ever came up here in winter. Wyatt used to pay a caretaker. After he died, I hired someone to stay here full-time.”
    â€œA local?”
    â€œThe same woman who babysits Abby,” she said. “She has a little boy who’s the same age as Abby, and sometimes I take care of him. When she separated from her husband,having her stay at my house was a good solution for both of us. She had a place to live. And I had somebody who could handle the upkeep. Her name is Belinda Miller.”
    â€œSounds familiar.”
    â€œShe’s Nate Miller’s ex-wife.” She frowned. Though Belinda always swore that Nate hadn’t abused her, he was that type—mean-spirited and angry at the world. “He owns the Circle M Ranch. But he wasn’t part of the survivalist group. He was only leasing his property to them.”
    â€œNate Miller.” Jesse repeated the name. She had the sense that he was storing that bit of information away in the back of his head. She knew he’d been reading Burke’s case files while she and Abby were at dinner. Jesse probably had a great deal of information on the locals.
    He asked, “Was Belinda living here when you decided to move back?”
    â€œA few months ago, she moved in with her boyfriend in Riverton. He’s a decent man. Works at the meatpacking plant in Delta.”
    â€œDid Belinda continue her duties as caretaker?”
    â€œAbsolutely. She came up here two or three times a week to make sure everything was okay.”
    â€œDid she know people from the survivalist group?”
    Fiona was taken aback. If he was hinting that Belinda might have something to do with the missing ransom, he could forget it. “She’s my friend. A good friend. Abby and Mickey are nearly inseparable.”
    â€œI’m glad Abby has someone to play with.”
    Living here at the cabin with no nearby neighbors was far too isolated for her gregarious daughter. Abby needed to be around other kids. “After the first of the year, Belinda and I are hoping to organize a cooperative preschool forthe local toddlers. Maybe a kindergarten, too. The regular grade school is all the way in Delta. That’s a forty-minute ride on a school bus for Abby.”
    â€œLike I said, Fiona, you’re a good mom.”
    His gaze came to rest upon her, and she suddenly felt self-conscious. Messy strands of hair had escaped her long braid. She hadn’t bothered with makeup this morning, and her