Born To Be Wild (7 page)

Micah had to question his grandfather’s mental faculties if he was turning to the ghost of his nemesis for help. He wondered if Hector had appeared to the old man, but was afraid to ask. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

“The best I could do, boy. You got something else in mind?”

“No, no. The more heads the better.” He couldn’t believe Gramps. After all these years, after all the bitterness between him and Hector, he was willing to let down his guard with the Falcons. For Lucy.

If only it hadn’t taken something less terrible to prompt that, Lucy might be safe with them now.

“See you in an hour…uh, nope. In fifty-three minutes.”

“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

Micah hung up and tossed his phone on the table.

“We’ll be where?” Isabel asked, finally speaking up. “Soledad?”

Micah nodded and started into his food. “Gecko Saloon. It seems Gramps called a temporary truce between the Wilds and Falcons so we can work together to find Lucy.”

Isabel’s eyes widened. “Good Lord. I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Me, neither. I didn’t think anything would ever be important enough to make that happen. Not even Lucy. Not until now.”

He gazed at Isabel, hope blooming in his heart. If things went well, maybe, at long last, they’d have a fighting chance. To be together. To be a real family, as they were meant to be.

The question was, did she even want a life together?

Or had the time for that already passed them by…

…

“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing with that Falcon girl?”

Micah whirled at his father’s demanding voice. Caught. He was in the barn saddling up Slade. It was late, after midnight, long after he was supposed to be in bed asleep. He had a passel of chores tomorrow, starting at dawn.

Slade whinnied and Micah’s pulse jagged. “Dad, how did you find out?” He shouldn’t care what his father thought. He hated the damned meaningless feud between their families.

“People gossip. You didn’t answer my question, boy.”

Micah hesitated only a second. “I’m in love with Isabel Falcon.” He couldn’t hide the belligerence he was feeling. He wanted to add, “Deal with it!” but knew that would be pushing his luck too far.

“Love, my ass! You’re too young to know anything about love!”

“You mean like you and Eduard Falcon?” Jaw clenched, Micah turned away from his father and tightened Slade’s girth.

“Don’t turn your back on me, boy! You don’t throw your dead mother’s memory in my face!” His father was winding himself up to one of his rages. “I loved Darlene with everything I had, and she loved me the same! Eduard Falcon didn’t deserve her. No matter how he tries to play it, she was never his to have. Now remove that saddle and let your horse back out to pasture. You’re not going anywhere tonight!”

Micah faced his father. “You can’t tell me what to do anymore, Dad. I’m not a boy. I’m an adult. A man. I don’t have to ask your permission for anything.”

“You were nineteen only last week. Another birthday doesn’t exactly qualify you as an adult. It sure as hell doesn’t make you a man! And if it did, then shame on you—that girl is still a high school kid! And a Falcon! How did you get involved with the devil’s spawn in the first place?”

Micah drew himself up to his full height—he might still be narrower, but he was a few inches taller than his father. “Don’t you ever talk about Isabel like that!”

“Or you’ll what? Leave the ranch? Desert your family?”

Just by saying it, his father drove a knife through Micah’s gut. “I didn’t say that!”

The ranch was his life. His future. As the oldest, he would someday succeed his father in running it. Throughout the years, even as a screwup in high school, he’d known that someday all this would be in his care. It had seemed like a distant reality back then, but Isabel had taught him about honoring his roots, had made him understand what it was to be a dependable man. The future of Wild Ranch was his responsibility. This was his home, the only one he’d ever have, the only one he’d ever wanted.

He couldn’t imagine another way of life.

He couldn’t imagine Isabel not being in his life, either.

His father went on. “Leaving the ranch is the only way you’re gonna be with that girl—”

“Her name is Isabel!”

“She’s not welcome here, Micah. Not a Falcon. Not ever! Not for any reason! You take up with her, you turn your back on this family, and this family will do the same to you!”

Furious with his father, Micah did just that, turned his back on the man and mounted Slade. His father tried to step between him and the barn door to stop him, but Micah just forced Slade forward so the horse’s shoulder bumped his father out of the way.

“You remember what I said, boy!” his father shouted after him.

How could Micah forget?

He kept hearing his father’s brutal words over and over, during his ride out to Suicide Hill, taking the longer, safer way around. And especially when he took Isabel in his arms and kissed her with all the love he’d been saving up for her. All the love he’d been holding in check.

Only he couldn’t hold it back any longer.

His father had forced his emotions to a fever pitch.

Micah had to show Isabel exactly how he felt about her. Would always feel about her.

So when she started to go down on him, he let the intense feeling of her warm, wet mouth flow over him for just a moment, then placed a hand on either side of her head to stop her.

“I want it to be real,” he said, his voice gritty with despair and desire. “I want to show you how much I love you tonight.”

Breathless with excitement, she said, “I thought you’d never ask.”

He’d been ready—had wanted to ask—from the first time he’d kissed her, but he’d been waiting to make sure she was ready and really loved him, and that she wasn’t doing it just because she thought she was supposed to.

Isabel pulled him down to the ground with her, the wild grasses and pine needles softening their makeshift bed.

Moonlight spilled over her. She was so beautiful…and she was all his.

Her expression filled with joy. They stripped off their clothes and he touched every inch of her perfect flesh, kissing and caressing the woman he loved. And then he found that same joy burying himself deep inside her. Sharing the bliss of a perfect union.

Only afterward did he think about the condoms he’d been carrying in his wallet for months.

Not that it mattered.

They loved each other and would be together forever, no matter what his father had threatened.

No matter what happened, nothing could ever come between them.

Nothing.

Chapter Seven

The Gecko Saloon hadn’t changed much since Isabel had last seen it. She’d only been inside the place a few times years ago with Cruz and Reyna, when she’d stayed over at the family ranch while Lucy spent time with the Wilds.

She walked in, Micah directly behind her. The old bar was just as seedy-looking as she remembered, with broken tiles on the floor and faded adobe walls, as if the saloon was frozen in time. There were mismatched tables and chairs, and the lights were so dim you could hardly see past the person sitting opposite you, even when it was bright daylight outside. But maybe that was the appeal, because the bar didn’t lack for business. It was still afternoon, not even happy hour—if the place had such a thing—but a half-dozen tables were already occupied, not even counting those belonging to Lucy’s family.

Isabel couldn’t believe it had been only a little more than twenty-four hours since she’d realized her daughter was gone. So much had happened.

So much fear.

So much disappointment.

So much uncomfortable surprise…

A covert glance at Micah told her nothing. His expression remained neutral. Clearly, he hadn’t been at all affected by what had happened in the shower. Hurt drilled through her. Not wanting him to know how deeply she’d felt the intimate encounter, she strove to keep her expression equally bland. And hoped that she succeeded.

Behind the bar, the balding, paunchy owner greeted them. “Hey, Micah. Isabel. Your people are in the back.”

She almost choked at the words “your people.” They had never been her people. That was the whole problem. If they had been her people, they’d have accepted her choices, and Micah’s.

“Thanks, Tom,” Micah said.

No doubt Micah was a regular here. But she was surprised the owner had recognized her, since she’d only been here a few times, years ago. He’d probably been expecting them.

The Wilds and Falcons had gathered away from the rest of the crowd. They’d pushed together three rectangular tables, the Wilds on one side, the Falcons on the other, and had left two chairs vacant.

The two chairs at the opposite ends of the tables.

She clamped her jaw. Even now, their families were determined to keep her and Micah apart.

“There you are,” Micah’s grandfather said, pouring a mug of beer from one of the two pitchers in the middle of the table. “We thought you weren’t coming.”

“We made it as fast as we could, Caleb,” she said coolly, kissing her father on the cheek. “Hi, Poppi.”

She slid into the end chair with Reyna to one side, Seth to the other. As usual, her sister sat a little straighter, tipped her nose a little higher, as she always did in Seth Wild’s presence. Seth appeared surly and ready to take Reyna on as he stared back at her. At the other end of the table, Micah took his seat between Zia and Cruz. Zia flashed Isabel’s brother a longing expression but quickly hid it, while Cruz pretended not to notice.

Business as usual among the younger Falcons and Wilds, Isabel thought. She hoped they’d learned their lesson well from her and Micah, and didn’t end up with their hearts broken, too.

“So Gramps,” Micah said, “what did you and old Hector figure out?”

Caleb gave him a look worthy of the patriarch he was. “Don’t be smart-mouthed, boy. Take help where you can get it, and be thankful.”

Isabel spoke up before an argument could ensue between grandfather and grandson. “We appreciate everyone being willing to work together to figure out what happened to our daughter. I assume Caleb told you about the license plates and about the note from Lucy?”

Reyna said, “He did. At least we know Lucy is all right.”

Cruz asked, “You’re sure it was Lucy who wrote the note?”

Isabel nodded. “It was definitely her handwriting.”

“Well, that’s something.” Jonah sounded more subdued than usual. “At least we know she’s alive.”

The entire table went silent for a moment.

Isabel clenched her hands together so she could keep control of her emotions. She glanced around at the serious faces. For the first time in her memory, the Wilds and Falcons were of a mind. Each member of the two feuding families looked equally haunted by Lucy’s disappearance. And equally determined to do something about it. It didn’t exactly make her feel better. But it did make her feel more hopeful. This truce was in itself a miracle. If someone had predicted the warring clans would come together in a time of crisis, she never would have believed it.

“What do the police say?” asked Reyna.

Micah repeated what Detective Ochoa had told him when he’d called for an update on the way over here. “That it could be a random crime of opportunity, but they’re starting to believe that Lucy was specifically targeted.”

“Why?” Cruz asked.

“Because of the way she was picked up at school, possibly drugged. And because that note was delivered right under Isabel’s door. The detective believes whoever has Lucy must be a local. That Lucy likely knows the person who took her.”

Everyone stared at Micah in dismay as that sank in.

Isabel couldn’t believe someone she knew, possibly a friend or a neighbor, had done this terrible thing.

Caleb broke the tense silence. “We need to figure out who might be holding a grudge against the Wilds or the Falcons.”

“That could be anyone.” Poppi’s dark gaze skimmed over the three people on the other side of the table.

Caleb ignored him. “I’m going to offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to Lucy’s safe return.”

Jonah nodded. “We’ll have to take a loan.” He sighed. “If the bank will give us another one.”

Times had been tough in this part of the state, Isabel knew. Until recently, the siblings on both ranches had taken on extra jobs to make ends meet. The crunch had let up some, but no one here was rolling in money.

“No loan necessary,” Caleb said. “I’ve been around long enough to have some savings.”

“Gramps, you’re willing to give up your retirement money?” Seth asked.

“I’m willing to give up even the thought of retirement. Hell, I want to die on a horse’s back, anyway, not in some damn hospital bed. Besides, I would do anything, give anything, to get Lucy back safe.”

A statement that put the old man in a new light for Isabel. Despite the decades of discord between their families, she found herself softening a little toward Caleb.

“We all would do anything,” Reyna said. “We can all contribute something to the reward. Right, Poppi?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Not necessary,” Caleb insisted. “This is something I want to do. In the meantime, we need to start thinking about who might have it in for one of us bad enough to use our girl as a means for revenge. Micah, you had a disagreement with anyone lately?”

Micah shook his head. “Nothing serious, no.”

“Isabel?”

“Not that I know of.”

“What does that mean?” Seth asked with a scowl.

“I’m a news photographer. Disasters…crime scenes…scandals. Sometimes I get shots of people they don’t appreciate.”

“Anyone make a threat?”

She shook her head. “Not really.” Though the idea had some merit. She frowned.

Micah glanced at her sharply. “Something happened. What?”

“It was months ago.” And she’d brushed it off as so much hot air. “Honestly, it was nothing. He was just angry.”

“Who?” Micah asked, his expression grim.

“Some CEO type. It was at a gentleman’s club where we were doing a story about some of the girls getting beaten up. I was taking photographs.” She shrugged. ”He was with his mistress.”

“He threatened you?”

“He tried to buy me off.”

“
Then
he threatened you?” Micah’s voice went cold, sending a chill down her spine. “With what?”

She swallowed a sudden roar in her ears as she recalled his exact words. “He said…if I messed up his family…he would reciprocate.”

“And you didn’t think to mention it?” Micah demanded.

“That’s it, then,” Cruz said, jumping to his feet. “He’s the one.”

Isabel shook her head as she thought more about it. “No, I don’t think so.”

Micah scowled. “Why not?”

“I didn’t use the shot. He’d have no reason.”

“But I’ll bet the photograph is still on your computer,” Reyna observed as Cruz reluctantly sat down again.

“But how could he know that?” Isabel argued. “Besides, wouldn’t the note have demanded I delete it in exchange for Lucy’s return? Instead of sounding like…like he wants to keep her?” She clenched her jaw at the last.

“He’s still a suspect,” Micah insisted.

Isabel took in a steadying breath. “All right. But let’s not make it all about him.” She looked around the table. “Surely, I’m not the only one who may have an enemy. This is a pretty volatile group.” When Jonah and Poppi glared directly at each other, she clarified. “Enemies other than each other, that is.”

Jonah said, “Last week, Alex Horton caught me returning some stock that wandered through a broken fence onto Wild land. He accused me of trying to steal his cattle. Didn’t want to hear my explanation.”

“And?” Micah asked.

“We, uh, had a little altercation. I had a cut lip. He had a broken nose.”

“Still doesn’t seem enough to steal your grandchild in revenge,” Seth said.

Jonah shrugged. “It’s all I got. What about you, Eduard?”

“I don’t think a dissatisfied customer would do something that could get him jail time, either. John Munez thinks I cheated him on a stallion I sold him. Said the
caballo
was shooting blanks.”

“Did he threaten you?”

“With a lawsuit if I didn’t give him back his money. I offered him another stallion, but he wasn’t in the mood for a trade. But I tried to make it up to him anyway.”

“What did you do, Poppi?” Reyna asked.

“I left the stallion in a pasture with his mares. They’re pregnant and now he’s pissed off because the stallion wasn’t the sire he wanted for his foals.”

Zia finally spoke. “That’s understandable. He obviously wanted a certain stock and now won’t be able to get what he thought he paid for.”

Although she was a Wild and worked cattle along with the men in her family, Zia was as horse-savvy as any Falcon, Isabel thought. Her relatives on Pueblo land were horse people, and she’d learned from them.

“Anyone else?” Micah asked, eyeing those who hadn’t mentioned their enemies yet.

Poppi stared straight at Jonah. “Wherever you go, you create enemies. And more dangerous ones than Alex Horton.”

“You’re the one who threatens dire consequences to others because of your damned pride, Eduard!”

Isabel flushed. Jonah had a long, unforgiving memory. At least twelve years long.

Micah spoke up. “Both of you, this isn’t the time! I’m sick of this damn feud! You have a grandchild missing. Think of her rather than yourselves for once!”

Isabel could see that he’d shamed their fathers. Both men sat back in their chairs with hangdog expressions and didn’t say another word.

So far, this was a colossal waste of precious time. Nothing anyone had contributed was a dark enough reason to harm a child.

“The police must be wrong,” Isabel said with an unsteady voice. “I think Lucy being taken really was a random act by—” She squeezed her eyes shut for brief moment. “She was in the wrong place at the right time. Nothing anyone said here makes me think it was against any of us. We can follow up with those people, certainly, but none of them has a strong enough motive for this kind of revenge.”

“What about Bobby Soto?” Zia asked quietly.

Isabel gasped, and everyone turned to Micah’s half-sister.

“What?” Cruz asked. “Why do you bring up Bobby? Who here has crossed him lately?”

Bobby had grown from a reckless boy into a dangerous man who’d seen the inside of a state prison more than once in the last decade. Knowing that made Isabel shudder to think he might be somehow involved. He’d done time for some of the crimes he’d committed—a convenience story robbery, breaking up a bar when he was drunk, some kind of con game involving a rich young woman. Rumor had it that he was responsible for a whole lot more.

Zia gave Isabel’s brother an incredulous expression. “Lucy herself crossed Bobby when she gave police the description of the car that caused the school bus crash.”

Everyone at the table fell silent once again.

My God. That was right! A drunk had swerved his car in front of the bus, forcing its driver to veer the unwieldy school bus out of the way. Instead, it had tipped over onto its side and skidded across the four lanes of highway, stopping only when it crashed into a utility pole.

Lucy had been sitting at the window and had seen the vehicle the bus driver had tried to avoid. She’d given the police a detailed description of the lowrider—a big, old, bright-orange Chevy with the Blessed Virgin painted on the hood—a car that belonged to Bobby’s younger brother, Hank Soto, who was now sitting in jail awaiting trial for involuntary manslaughter. Still drunk when the cops had caught up to him, he’d cried through his whole confession after realizing two kids had died and a few others had been badly hurt. One little girl was still in a coma, even now. Thankfully, as had most of the other kids, Lucy had come out of the tragic accident with mere cuts and bruises.

“I know Bobby isn’t the most upstanding citizen,” Micah said, “and I personally detest the man. But kidnapping Lucy? How would that help his brother?”

Jonah said, “What about out-and-out payback?”

Isabel’s breath caught in her throat. “No, surely not. Lucy might have described the car, but Hank did give the police his remorseful confession.”

“Confessions can always be thrown out,” Micah said, “especially if there’s some doubt about how the police got it. And if the witness disappears…”

“But would Bobby really do that?” Seth asked. “He used to be your friend.”

“Friendships can change on a dime,” Micah muttered, avoiding several sets of eyes, including Isabel’s.

Caleb nodded in unhappy agreement. “Once upon a time, Hector and I were good friends.”

Eduard laughed harshly. “You and my father, friends? I don’t believe it.”

“Friendship isn’t always forever,” Caleb said, looking lost in memories. “All it takes is making one wrong decision.”