Boots and Wishes: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 8 (7 page)

Beth’s mouth dropped open as she stepped into the room. “This is a baby’s room.”

Audrey studied the room through Beth’s reaction, knowing how special it was and that it was perfect for Mia. Two walls were painted a pastel green, another a periwinkle bluish purple and the last wall a pale yellow. A shiny new mahogany-stained crib stood in one corner, decked out in a bed ruffle, sheets and bumper pads in the same purple and green of the paint on the walls.

“It’s beautiful.” Already Beth was shaking her head. “I can’t. This room is special.”

“It’s the old nursery.”

“You can’t tell me the furnishings and linens are old. It’s move-in ready. All it needs is a…” Beth turned to Audrey, her eyes softening. “All it needs is a baby.”

Audrey nodded. “Since Jackson and I can’t seem to have one of our own, Mia can use the room.”

“Oh, Audrey. I didn’t know you two were trying.” Beth touched her arm. “It must be hard having me and Mia around.”

“At first. But now I’m growing to accept that I might not have children. I can spoil my friends’ children. Starting with Mia.”

Beth hugged Audrey and whispered, “Don’t give up. It will happen for you. You and Jackson will make great parents.”

Audrey fought back the tears that seemed to be around all too often lately. “Even if we don’t have children, we have each other.” She stepped away from Beth and glanced at her watch, frowning. “Speaking of which. Where is Jackson?”

Lights shone through the gaps around the window blinds.

Audrey and Beth emerged from the baby room as the front door opened and Jackson called out, “Where’s my woman?”

“That’s my cue.” Beth smiled. “I’ll just jump in the shower while Mia’s asleep. That’ll give you and Jackson some time alone.”

Audrey smiled, rounded the corner and fell into her husband’s arms. “Took you long enough.”

“I followed Randall to a hotel in Temptation. I stuck around for half an hour to make certain he wasn’t going out again. When he hadn’t come out of his room by midnight, I decided it was clear and came on home.”

“Thanks, babe.” Audrey leaned up on her toes and kissed his lips.

“Where’s Beth and Mia?”

Audrey laid a hand on Jackson’s chest. “They’re safe. Beth is getting a shower. I gave her the guest room. Mia will be staying beside her in the nursery.”

Jackson’s hands tightened around her. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more certain. That nursery was meant for a baby. I’d rather use it than keep it as a shrine to something that might not happen.”

“I haven’t given up. And the nursery is not a shrine.” Jackson smiled down at her. “But I’m glad you let Mia stay in there. We can help Beth with midnight feedings. The poor girl has to be exhausted.”

Audrey nodded. “Yeah. I imagine she is.”

Jackson tucked a strand of Audrey’s hair behind her ear. “Are you sure you’re okay with all this?”

Audrey wrapped her arms around his neck. “I am. And I gave her the number to Clayton Chance.”

“I’d forgotten you knew him. If anyone can get her out of marriage to Randall, it’s Clayton.”

“Right.” Audrey tipped his head down and stood on her toes to kiss him again. “Let’s lock up and get to bed.”

“You don’t have to ask me to go to bed more than once, sweetheart. I haven’t forgotten that I have the most beautiful wife in the world.”

“Damn right you do. When Beth’s out of the shower, I plan on taking a nice long hot one.” She stepped out of his arms and turned toward their bedroom. “Don’t be long locking up.” With a wink, she entered their bedroom, unbuttoning her blouse. It slipped over her shoulders and fell to the ground behind her. Audrey shot Jackson a sultry look. He wouldn’t be far behind.

He’d be extra quick and thorough locking all the doors and checking the latches on the windows, which would give her just enough time to pull back the covers on the bed, lay out fresh towels and get completely naked.

As she turned down the blankets, the phone on the nightstand rang. In Audrey’s experience, late-night phone calls were never harbingers of good news. The caller ID on the digital display indicated the county sheriff’s department.

Her gut clenching, Audrey grabbed up the phone, worried that one of her employees or saloon patrons had been involved in a wreck.

“This is Audrey,” she said, her tone shakier than she’d intended.

“And Jackson. I’m on the other line.” His voice came through the short distance, reassuring her that she had backup.

“Hey, you two, it’s Deputy Cramer. I have some bad news.”

Audrey sat on the side of the bed, her stomach churning.

Cramer went on. “That little trailer that was parked behind the Ugly Stick is lit up like a bonfire on the Fourth of July.”

Chapter Seven

“I’m going with you,” Audrey insisted, slinging her purse over her shoulder and grabbing her truck keys. She stood in the front entrance while Jackson stuffed his wallet and keys into his pockets, a stubborn frown wrinkling her brow. God, she was sexy when she was worried.

“You can’t.” Jackson gripped her arms and spoke in a low, insistent tone, trying to keep Beth from hearing all the commotion. “You heard Cramer. The fire department has it under control and they’re keeping it from damaging the saloon.”

“But I need to be there. It’s my bar.”

“Yeah, and it might be dangerous. Neal might still be hanging around. If both of us go, who will keep an eye on Beth and Mia?”

Audrey chewed on her lower lip. “Damn, I hate it when you’re right.”

“I need you to stay here and protect her. For that matter, maybe I should stay here too.”

“No. One of us needs to be at the saloon in case they need to get inside.”

“You could call Charli.”

“No. It needs to be one of us.” Audrey fiddled with her keys. “Maybe you should stay here and protect Beth and I should go.”

“I don’t like the idea of you being on the road with that maniac out there.”

“Same goes for me.”

“I’ll go. You stay. Get that .40-caliber pistol I gave you for your birthday out and load it.”

“You think he’ll come here?”

“I don’t know. But I’ll put in a call to Mark and Luke and see if they can come by and stay the night, just in case.”

Audrey shook her head. “They aren’t there, remember? They left for Dallas when Libby got off work to look at that stud stallion they were considering for their stable. They won’t be back until tomorrow night.”

“Then I won’t be gone long. Keep that gun handy.”

“Gun?” Beth appeared in the hallway, her face pale, her long dark hair wet and slicked back from her face, making her appear even younger and more fragile.

“You explain.” Jackson leaned over and kissed Audrey. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” As he burst through the front door, he could hear Beth in the hallway.

“What’s going on? Why’s Jackson leaving when he just got here?”

The door closed behind him and the lock clicked in place.

Jackson hopped into his truck and spun gravel as he left the house and drove back to Temptation and through to the other side, where the night sky was lit up with an orange glow from the flames. His heart thumped against his ribs as he neared the Ugly Stick Saloon. From a distance, it appeared as if the saloon was on fire. Fire trucks, sheriff’s vehicles and an ambulance lined the road, along with the personal vehicles of the county’s volunteer firefighters.

Though the firemen had kept the fire from razing the saloon, a grass fire had sprung up around the area and was quickly spreading back toward town.

Jackson parked on the paved road and leaped out of his truck, running toward the center of the emergency personnel.

Rather than interrupt the command and control team working the incident, he found Deputy Cramer standing near the charred remains of the tiny trailer.

“What happened?” Jackson asked.

“From what we can tell, someone doused the trailer in an accelerant and set it on fire shortly after the bar closed.”

“Damn.”

“Fortunately, I was on my way back from Hole in the Wall and saw the flames. Thankfully, the wind was blowing away from the building. I was able to hold back the flames from the saloon until the fire department arrived. A couple times the wind shifted, sending the embers and flames pretty darned close to the structure. If there hadn’t been a water hose outside, there wouldn’t have been an Ugly Stick anymore.”

Jackson patted Cramer on the back. “Thanks, man. I don’t know what Audrey would have done if her business was destroyed.”

“That’s why we have insurance,” the deputy said. He glanced at Jackson. “Any idea who would do this?”

“I have a suspicion.”

“I take it Miss Smith was the target.”

Jackson nodded.

“We determined there were no occupants trapped inside. But if she wasn’t inside, where is she? Please tell me she wasn’t abducted.”

“No. We took her to our place to keep her safe. Her estranged husband paid a visit to the Ugly Stick earlier this evening.”

Deputy Cramer’s brow dipped. “Wish you would have told me. I’d have kept an eye on him for you.”

“We had no idea he was this dangerous.”

“I’m surprised Audrey didn’t come with you. I thought for sure she’d want to be here to protect her interests.”

“She stayed with Beth and the baby at the ranch.”

“Are your brothers out at the ranch with the ladies?”

“No, they’re in Dallas.”

Cramer stared into Jackson’s eyes. “You mean no one is out there with them?”

“Audrey has a gun and she knows how to use it. And I didn’t plan on staying too long here.”

“Seems like a big fire for a little trailer.” The deputy shook his head.

As Cramer spoke, the impact of his words hit Jackson in the gut. “God, I’m an idiot. He set this fire as a diversion.” Jackson spun and ran back toward his truck.

Cramer called, “I’m right behind you.”

Jackson didn’t slow until he reached his truck. He threw open the door and jumped in. Grabbing his cell phone, he cursed at the lack of service. Jerking the shift into drive, he turned his truck around in the middle of the road and raced back the way he’d come, praying he wouldn’t be too late.

The odds weren’t too terrible with two women against one man. But if Neal wanted Beth bad enough, he might kill anyone standing in his way. That someone would be Audrey.

Jackson’s pulse hammered against his veins and pounded in his ears.

Please don’t hurt Audrey.

Audrey turned off all the living room lights and stood by the front window, staring out into the night.

“He’s coming. I can feel it.” Beth rubbed her arms in the darkness.

A cold draft rippled across the back of Audrey’s neck. She felt it too. Though she had her gun, she couldn’t be prepared for everything. Turning to Beth, she said softly, “Get Mia and put her in the master bedroom closet. Hide her behind whatever you can: shoes, blankets, long dresses, overcoats. Whatever you find that looks like it belongs. Hide with her and don’t come out until Jackson or I tell you to.”

Beth shook her head. “I can’t let you face him alone. He’s mean. You have no idea what he’s fully capable of when he’s angry.”

Audrey laid her free hand on Beth’s arm. “Just do it. If he shows up demanding to see you, I can tell him you’re not here. Now go. If he’s close, we don’t want him to catch sight of you or the gig will be up. Hurry.”

Beth ran down the hallway to the nursery.

Audrey remained at the window, standing guard, straining her eyes to see into the darkness surrounding the rambling ranch house.

She heard Beth’s footsteps crossing the hallway into the master bedroom, but she didn’t turn away from the window.

Something dark moved on the edge of the yard. The wind had picked up and tree branches swayed, causing the shadows to undulate. For a moment Audrey thought perhaps the movement was a product of her overly sensitized imagination. But when a dark form moved again, closer this time, swinging around to the back of the house, she knew it wasn’t just her imagination. Someone was out there, and he wasn’t coming to pay a friendly visit.

When the intruder disappeared around the side of the house, Audrey left her position at the front window and worked her way around, peering through whatever windows were on the side he’d disappeared to. When she reached the kitchen, moonlight streamed in through the window over the sink and the window in the back door.

Audrey hugged the shadows, her stomach churning and her heart racing. She fought to keep the food she’d eaten earlier down. Now was not the time to throw up. The hand holding the gun shook. She’d never shot anyone before. But she had no doubt that if Randall broke into the house, she’d pull the trigger. The bastard would not hurt Beth and Mia.

Firming her grip on the gun, Audrey waited, her back pressed against the wall. Nothing moved to block the moonlight shining in. She prayed Beth remained hidden in the master bedroom and that the baby didn’t wake and cry out.

Jackson, hurry back.
Audrey realized that all her heartache and depression from not getting pregnant meant nothing compared to what was in her heart now. She loved Jackson more than life. And if he did return to the house, she hoped Randall didn’t get spooked and hurt him.

The sharp sound of glass shattering came from the back of the house, in the direction of the master bedroom, breaking through Audrey’s musings.

She left her post in the kitchen, her breath catching in her throat as she ran toward the bedroom, holding her gun in front of her.

Please, Beth, stay hidden.

She rounded the corner into the bedroom and her gaze shot to the window beside the bed. The curtain billowed out when the wind caught it through the gaping hole in the cracked glass.

A rock lay on the floor at Audrey’s feet, but the hole in the window wasn’t large enough for anyone to get through.

Audrey held the gun like she had when she’d tested for her concealed carry license: her arms out front, one hand cupping the other, her finger on the trigger, safety off, waiting.

Nothing moved outside the window.

Was he playing with her?

She didn’t dare get closer to the window. If he was armed, he could easily shoot her, and Beth would be defenseless.

Crouching low, she eased around to the unbroken window and nudged the curtain to the side. Nothing moved in the darkness.

A crash of glass sounded from the kitchen, and more sounds of breaking glass followed.

Damn. He’d done it again, diverting her attention away from his real purpose.

Audrey ran back through the house, pulse pounding, pushing back her fear to deal with the situation.

As she reached the entrance to the kitchen, a dark form dressed all in black with a ski mask pulled over his head and face leaped out, grabbed her wrist and jerked it upward, gun and all.

She pulled the trigger, the bullet ripping through the ceiling. Plaster and dust rained down on her, blinding her eyes. “Let go of me, you bastard!” she yelled, kicking out with her red boots, her toe connecting with the man’s shins.

He banged her hand against the wall. The gun sailed from her grip and clattered against the wood flooring. Unarmed, outmuscled, angry and afraid, Audrey fought like a wildcat.

The man backhanded her, his knuckles connecting with her cheekbone, shooting pain making her squeeze her eyes shut. Shoving her off balance, he flung her around by the arm, yanking it up behind her back. When his arm crossed her neck, Audrey knew she was in big trouble.

He tightened his hold, cutting off her air. “Where is she?” he growled in her ear. “Where’s Elizabeth?”

“I…don’t…know…who you’re…talking about,” Audrey gasped out.

“You damn well do.” He pushed her arm up behind her back harder until the pain brought tears to her eyes. She refused to let one drop fall, even if the bastard broke her arm.

“Where is she?” he repeated.

“Who?”

“Elizabeth and my baby.”

Fighting for air, she whispered, “Not here.”

“I know she’s here. I saw you leave with her.”

“Left town,” Audrey managed.

“Then you must be alone, and no one will miss you if I kill you now.” He squeezed his arm around her throat, lifting her off the ground. “Elizabeth, I’m going to kill her if you don’t come out!” he shouted.

Gray fog crept in at the edge of Audrey’s vision. She tried to remain alert, but she was failing miserably. She’d failed Beth and Mia. And she would never see Jackson’s sweet face again. The fight leached out of her, and she sagged against the man.

The light blinked on.

“Let go of her, Randall. I’ll go with you.” The sound of Beth’s voice carried to Audrey as if from the end of a long, dark tunnel.

The arm around her throat eased slightly.

Audrey gulped in air, while squiggly lines danced across her vision.

“Where’s the baby?” Randall demanded.

“I left her at the babysitter’s. We can go pick her up on the way home.” Beth stood with her shoulders bowed, her head dipped and her gaze on Audrey. “Don’t hurt my friend or I won’t go with you.”

“You’ll go with me no matter what I do. She had no right to take you from me.”

“She didn’t take me from you.” Beth’s shoulders straightened. “I left.”

His arm tightened again around Audrey’s throat. “You’re mine. You had no right to leave.”

Beth’s eyes widened as she stared across at Audrey. “You’re right. I’ll go with you now. Just let go of Audrey.”

Randall hesitated, and then he flung Audrey across the room.

She bounced against the wall and collapsed in a heap on the floor, her head pounding, her vision slowly clearing. “Don’t, Beth. He’ll hurt you.”

“Stay out of it, bitch!” He kicked her hard, his boot connecting with her hip.

Beth grabbed his arm. “Don’t hurt her!”

Her husband backhanded her hard, the ring on his finger cutting her cheekbone. She sailed across the floor like a rag doll, hit the wall and slid down, her eyes filling with tears.

Anger pushed out the pain and Audrey lurched to her feet.

Randall punched her in the face and she went down, stars exploding in her head. When she could see straight again, headlights shone across the entrance hallway. Jackson was home. She scanned the floor for her fallen gun.

Randall’s gaze followed hers and he lunged for the weapon.

Audrey kicked out, catching his shin, tripping him. He waved his hands in the air but hit the ground face-first.

Audrey scrambled across the wood flooring, snatched the gun and rolled onto her back as Randall pushed up to his hands and knees. “Move a muscle and I’ll shoot your ass.”