She shrugged. “I wouldn’t have time to take care of it like I’d want to. At least I wouldn’t have when I was deployed.” She jabbed the doorbell again and scowled. Now that she’d been discharged, it was a very real possibility that she could have a home like this. One day. After she got herself back in the Army—and separate when it was her choice to leave. She glanced at him. “What about you? Where do you live?”

“I have a small house not too far from my parents. My dad’s been kind enough to keep the yard up for me. I’ve gone by a few times while you’ve slept, and Caden’s been around to keep an eye on things.”

“You mean me.”

“Only in the sense that he’s got your back.”

She nodded. “He does. I’ve never had to worry about that.”

“I’ve got your back too, Sarah.”

His words washed over her. Warming her. “Thanks.” So, not only did his nearness affect her, the look in his eyes was doing odd things to her pulse. “Okay,” she said, clearing her throat, “there are two cars in the drive, but no one’s answering the doorbell.”

“Maybe they went for a walk.”

“Or they could be out on the lake.”

“It’s too cold to swim.”

“Maybe, but it’s never too cold to boat and fish. Just like it’s never too chilly to eat ice cream.”

“True.”

Sarah stepped off the porch and followed the stone path around to the garage where she looked in the window. “Hey, there’s a car in here too.”

“Probably Brianne’s.”

“Then who do the other cars belong to? One to the friend and one to . . .” She shrugged. “Could be another friend or family member visiting, I guess.”

“Could be.”

She continued around the side of the house to the backyard. Once again, Gavin followed. A large deck extended from the back door, and she walked up the steps to rap on the glass. “Hello? Brianne? Are you here?”

“The boat is tied to the dock,” Gavin said, “so they’re not on the lake. In that anyway.”

Sarah went to the window. The blinds had been pulled up and she cupped her hands next to her temples to look in. A gasp slipped from her. “Gavin, there’s someone on the floor, and I see something that sure looks like blood.” She pounded on the window. “Ma’am? Can you hear me?” Nothing.

He peered in. “Call 911.”

Sarah grabbed her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and dialed while Gavin rammed a shoulder against the door. Once. Twice. With the third hit, it swung inward, ripping the safety chain from the frame and sending it across the room.

Sarah rattled off the information to the 911 dispatcher while Gavin rushed to the fallen woman’s side. Sarah stepped closer. “That’s not Brianne.”