A Time to Protect Read Free Page A

what it was,” he said as the elevator opened.
    “If I did, I’m too tired to remember it.” Chloe stepped out toward the cafeteria. She knew he was following but pretended she didn’t. She needed to think about Christmas, figure out a way to handle her son’s request to go skiing with his friends for the holidays.
    “You’re going to eat all that?” a voice over her shoulder asked.
    Chloe glanced down, saw a carton of chocolate milk, three sandwiches, two apples, a cellophane-wrapped bowl of pudding and a piece of pie. Cheeks burning, she returned most of it then walked toward the cashier.
    “I’m paying.” A twenty-dollar bill pushed past her shoulder and before she could object the cashier had made change.
    She opened her mouth to argue, caught a gleam of interest on the cashier’s face and offered a simple “Thank you.” Chloe chose a table far away from the few staff who dotted the area, sat down and began to unwrap her sandwich. Night shift wasn’t bad, except that she always got so hungry, and she missed saying good-night to the kids.
    Brendan Montgomery flopped down across from her. A moment later his hand thwacked the table. “Hey, do you know Madison Tanner?”
    “She’s my daughter.” She frowned. “How do you know Maddy?”
    “Soccer,” he announced with a grin. “I’m the new coach, started last week. But I didn’t see you at the last practice.”
    “I was working. The sitter took her.” She frowned, troubled by his information. “Is something wrong with their former coach?”
    “No. Buddy Jeffers is still on our side, but his work at the high school is taking a toll. He mentioned he needed help or he’d have to quit. My mother volunteered me to team coach with him.”
    “Your mother?” Chloe frowned. He sure didn’t look like a mama’s boy. “I don’t believe I know her.” The flicker of a smile that tiptoed across his lips puzzled her.
    “Ever hear of the Stagecoach Café, Mrs. Tanner?”
    His mother was a waitress? Chloe frowned, then remembered. “You said your name was Montgomery,” she said aloud, thinking. “Fiona Montgomery owns the Stagecoach—”
    He nodded. “My mother.”
    “Oh.” She had to clamp her lips closed to stop her thoughts about Mrs. Montgomery from becoming public.
    “I see you understand how I came to be a soccer coach.” Brendan chuckled, his whole face alive with amusement.
    “I’m sorry.” Chloe felt herself blush. “It’s just that she is a little—”
    “Overpowering?” He nodded. “No kidding. What did she hit you up for?”
    “Nothing, really.” Chloe wished she hadn’t said a word.
    “Tell the truth. I can take it.” He raised one eyebrow meaningfully. “I know my mother is like a steamroller. You won’t hurt my feelings.”
    Chloe took one look at his face and knew he’d pry it out of her somehow.
    “The blood drive last spring,” she told him. “She needed someone to put up posters. She was rather…emphatic that I help out. I came home after work to find two hundred posters on my porch, with very explicit directions.”
    “That’s my mom.” He nodded, then shrugged. “I can’t cure her, so I just love her. Be glad she didn’t find out you have kids.”
    “Why?” Chloe swallowed the last of her sandwich and sipped her chocolate milk. “Doesn’t she like them?”
    “Oh, yeah, she likes them just fine. But she likes their toys a lot more.” He shook his head at her puzzled frown. “Never mind. It would take too long to explain my mother. Anyway I wanted to ask you about the mayor.”
    “I already told you—”
    He held up one hand. “I got the official line. I’m not after that.”
    “Then what?” She finished the rest of her lunch, rose and carried the tray and contents to the nearest garbage. She had ten minutes more but decided not to linger. That would only mean answering more of his questions and she didn’t like to tell strangers anything. She’d learned not to trust long ago.
    “Mrs.