Rancher Rescue (15 page)

Chapter Fourteen

“We need to make contact with Marshal Jones. See if we have anything to work with here.” Caleb pointed to the CD.

“How do we do that?”

“Jones gave me this.” Caleb pulled a cell from his pocket and held it out. “It’s secure.”

“Must be. No one has showed up with a gun,” she said.

He opened the contacts, touched the name Marshal Jones and then the call button. “Katherine is willing to turn over the CD we discussed,” Caleb said, a little weary they were about to hand over their best and only playing card. “But I need some reassurances.”

“I’ll go with an outside guy to examine it. No one else will see it,” Jones said, answering the unasked question.

“I like where you’re headed. Go on.”

“Served with him in Iraq. He was dishonorably discharged when he punched his sergeant for his stupidity. Let’s just say there’s no love lost between this guy and the government.”

That’s exactly what Caleb wanted to hear. “Then he sounds perfect for the job.”

“He will be. If there’s anything on the CD, you’ll know it. We’ll catch up to Kane eventually. And we’ll have the evidence ready when we do.”

Caleb caught Katherine flexing her hands. Was she trying to stop them from shaking? Was she still angry about his harsh words?

He picked up Max and pointed to a wooden chair. When she sat, he handed her the little mutt. The best way to lower her blood pressure was to get her interacting with the dog. It might distract her enough to calm her down. Give her time to think through his actions—actions that would convince her his feelings were real.

“And until then?”

“We need to keep searching. He’ll make a mistake, and we’ll be there to catch him. He’ll know anything we do is most likely a trap. He could just send his minions to do his dirty work, and I can’t guarantee anyone’s safety if you’re not in custody,” Jones said.

Caleb walked outside onto the porch. “He’ll come for us. This is personal. He’d never planned to hurt his own son. It’s always been about taking back evidence and silencing Katherine.”

“You may be right. Don’t take any chances. I can order extra security.”

“Matt will insist on helping, too.”

“I don’t want to risk any more civilian lives, but I won’t stop you. I’ll speak to Sheriff Coleman, too. He might be able to provide some assistance. We’ll cover all the bases we can,” Jones said ominously.

“I feel a lot more comfortable with the odds of keeping her safe at the ranch. It’s better than being out there where anything can happen. I can control who has access to the main house. I’ll take her there as soon as it’s dark. Don’t want to move around during the day if I don’t have to.”

“I’ll have the results by morning. If I find what I’m looking for on that CD, we’ll arrest him the minute he shows his face in the U.S. again.”

“And her nephew?”

“He’ll go back to his aunt where he belongs.”

“Other than your men, I don’t want anyone else knowing we’re staying at the ranch,” Caleb insisted.

“Agreed. There’s no sense inviting more trouble than we already have coming to this party. We’ll have our hands full as it is. No additional government agency involvement apart from my men and Coleman. Your location is easy to secure by vehicle with only one road in and out. I’ll station someone near the main house and another officer at the mouth of the drive.”

“I’ll turn over the CD to the officer on duty.” Caleb closed the cell, walked back inside and filled Katherine in on the part of the conversation she missed.

Katherine’s body language was easy to read. She was curled up with Max in her lap, making herself as small as she could possibly become. She wanted to disappear.

It wasn’t cold inside the homestead, but she was shivering slightly. No doubt, she wanted to block out everything that was happening to her.

* * *

“I
T
’
LL
BE
NICE
for you to sleep in your own bed for a change,” Katherine mused, doing her level best to steer the conversation away from anything stressful. She knew on some level that Caleb hadn’t meant to hurt her, but her wounds were still fresh. She needed a minute. Something told her Kane was close by. A man like him would want to finish what he started. No chance he’d walk away and leave her alone.

“No argument there. Except I’ll give you the soft bed to sleep on while I keep watch.” Caleb moved to the food supplies and opened a can of beans. When they were warm, he offered her first dibs.

“No thanks. I ate a protein bar that was stashed here.” The ticking clock was a reminder of how little time she had left. How little time either of them had left. “Did Marshal Jones mention anything about Noah?”

Caleb shook his head.

The pressure was stringing her nerves too tight. A half-desperate laugh slipped out. “I’ll just keep hoping for the best then.”

He moved to her and kissed her. Warmly. She didn’t resist. He tasted like coffee.

“Do you want me to make some more of Margaret’s calming tea?” he asked with a wink.

She straightened her shoulders. “God, no. I’m a coffee person through and through.”

A white-toothed smile broke across Caleb’s face. “You really are determined to hold it together, aren’t you?”

“Not on the inside. I’m a wreck.” That much was true.

“I’d never be able to tell.” He kissed her again.

He pulled her down on his lap as he sat, embracing her as though he might never see her again. He held her as though one of them could be gone tomorrow. Or both.

The gravity of what they were facing hit her hard.

A wave of melancholy washed over her. She’d been so intent on finding a way to bring Kane out into the open, she hadn’t really considered the position she was putting herself in or the consequences. “Promise me that if something happens to me, you’ll find Noah anyway and get him away from that animal.”

His grip tightened around her as his breath warmed her neck. “Don’t have to. You’ll be around to take care of him yourself.”

She turned enough to look into his brown eyes. “Promise me anyway.”

His expression was a mix of sadness, regret and sheer grit. “I will not let anything happen to you. That much I can vow.”

She could tell from the intensity in his gaze he would take a bullet for her if that was the only way to protect her.

“Drink up.” He motioned to her cup. “It’ll be dark outside soon. In a short while we can shower and eat a real meal at the main house.”

“Both sound almost too good to be true. Although I haven’t exactly felt like I’ve been suffering out here. Not compared to what we’ve been through.” Or the hell she faced at the thought of never seeing Noah again.

Caleb smiled his trademark smile. He rose, let Max out and stood at the open door.

She brought her hand up to his neck. If they survived this ordeal, could the three of them think about a future together? Would he resent having a ready-made family as she had all those years ago?

Or could he love Noah the same way he did Savannah?

* * *

C
ALEB
COULDN
’
T
SEE
. He didn’t have time to let his eyes adjust, either. He knew this trail better than the back of his hand. The path from the homestead to the ranch was thick with trees. They provided much-needed shelter from a sweltering August sun and would afford cover for them now.

He fumbled for Katherine’s hand and then slipped through the mesquites in the black, moonless night.

Quietly he made his way through the woods he loved so much. Every tree, every stream, felt so much like a part of him, entwined with his soul. He’d memorized and mentally mapped every inch of his property.

Once inside the house, Caleb bolted the lock. Not that it would do much good against the kind of firepower Kane’s men would bring to the fight, but it would make Katherine feel better.

Keeping her as calm and relaxed as he could under the circumstances became his marching orders. “Which sounds better right now—a hot shower or a good meal while I take the CD to Jones’s guy out front?”

She sighed. “I’ll take either. Both. But let me take one more look at that before we turn it over.”

“You know where the office is. Password is TorJake.” He handed her a couple ibuprofen and a bottle of water, shoving the fear he could lose her down deep. “Then you get cleaned up while I see what’s in the fridge.”

“Deal.” She popped the pills in her mouth and downed them with a gulp of water before disappearing down the hall with the disk.

He showered and brushed his teeth in the guest room before returning to the kitchen. The CD sat on the counter near the coffeepot. He could hear the shower going in the master bathroom.

Caleb trucked outside and waved as he neared the cruiser. “Marshal Jones is expecting this. Said you’d know what to do with it.”

“Yes, sir,” the officer said, opening the door. When he stood, he wasn’t more than five foot ten but had a stocky build. “I’ll take it to him. There’s an officer stationed at the top of the road. He’ll keep watch until I return.”

Caleb thanked him and returned to the house.

Margaret had stacked several Tupperware containers filled with food in the fridge with a note on top. “This should keep you from getting too skinny until I get back in a couple of days.”

The idea of eating Margaret’s food was almost enough to bring a smile to his lips again. She’d made several of his favorite meals. There was a roast with those slow-cooked rosemary potatoes he loved, a tub full of sausage manicotti, and what looked like smoked brisket. There were mashed potatoes in another container and some greens.

Caleb pulled out the roast, fixed two plates and heated them in the microwave.

Katherine stepped into the kitchen wearing one of his T-shirts and a pair of shorts. Seeing her in his clothes, in his house, stirred his heart. God, he needed her.

She was as beautiful as looking at the endless sky on a clear blue day.

He didn’t want this moment to end. For them to end. An ominous feeling it wouldn’t last plagued him.

She walked over to him, inclined her head and pressed those sweet lips to his.

The second the kiss deepened, Caleb lifted Katherine and carried her to the bedroom, shooing Max away with his foot.

He made love to her so completely, so thoroughly, she fell asleep in his arms. Right where she belonged.

Chapter Fifteen

Caleb’s body warmed Katherine’s back. Forget sleep
tonight. Her leg hurt. Her throat was dry.

Could she move without waking him?

Even if she managed to slip out of bed undetected, there was
Max to deal with. Her nerves were banded so tight, she felt as though one might
snap.

Slowly, she rolled away from him until she could feel the edge
of the bed. The absence of his touch made her skin cold and her heart ache. She
ignored the painful stabs in her chest and slipped off the bed.

Thankfully, Max didn’t make a sound. It was too dark to see
him, but she figured he was sleeping at the foot of the bed.

She tiptoed out of the room. She’d hoped to feel some relief
when they’d come back to the ranch. Instead, the hairs on her neck prickled.

Something brushed against her leg. A yelp escaped before she
could suppress it.

Claws?

Katherine squinted. Light streamed in from the window in the
hallway. “Here, kitty.”

Claws stalked away without looking back.

The kitchen was dark save for the light coming in through the
window.

She checked the clock and calculated it had been at least four
hours since her last dose of pain medication. She palmed a couple of ibuprofen.
Turning the spigot, she scanned the yard.

Where was the officer? His sedan was there. Parked. Doors open.
Lights on.

Ice trickled down her spine.

She shook it off.

An officer was parked at the top of the lane and another was
right outside the door. It was safe here.

She downed the contents of her glass and set it on the
sink.

Where was the officer? If he was walking the perimeter,
wouldn’t he close the door?

She peeked out the screen door. Nothing stuck out as odd.

The crackle of a radio broke through. She stepped out onto the
porch. Outside, every chirp seemed amplified.

The pain in her ankle flared despite the compression sock.

She limped to the edge of the porch. Her mind clicked through a
few possibilities. Was the other officer at his post?

Maybe they’d met somewhere in the middle?

Her warning systems flared. She should probably turn and run
back into the house. Wake Caleb.

“Anyone here?” she whispered.

The place was quiet. She said a silent protection prayer. Her
heart thumped in her throat. Her mouth was so dry she couldn’t manage enough
spit to swallow.

She checked around the corner.

Nothing.

No one.

Frustration impaled her. Caleb needed sleep. Surely the officer
was fine.

It might be a false alarm, but better safe than sorry.

She turned to the back door. Before she could hit her stride, a
strong hand crashed down on her shoulder, knocking her backward. The icy fingers
were like a vise. She tried to scream. A hand covered her mouth.

“I don’t think so, honey,” said the male voice.

She recognized it immediately. Scarface.

Using all the force she had, Katherine kicked and threw her
elbows into him to break free.

A blast of cold metal hit the back of her head. Blackness.

* * *

W
AKING
TO
FIND
Katherine out of bed had disturbed Caleb. He’d
already checked the house. Hadn’t found her. Desperation railed through him. She
wouldn’t leave him. Would she?

He checked outside.

The officer wasn’t at his post, either.

Noise came from the barn before Caleb reached the doors. His
stallion was kicking and snorting.

What had Samson riled up?

Caleb didn’t like it.

Then again, there wasn’t anything about this situation he
remotely
liked
so far. The caution bells sounded
louder the closer he got to the barn until he couldn’t hear his own thoughts
anymore.

Katherine was in grave danger. He could feel it in every one of
his bones. He sent a text to Marshal Jones. What had happened to his men?

The closer Caleb moved toward Samson, the more intense his
fears became.

Caleb slowed his pace, his steps steady, deliberate. “Whoa,
boy.”

Katherine was missing. His chest nearly caved in at the
thought.
Kane.

His next call was to his friend.

Matt picked up on the first ring.

Caleb let out the breath he’d been holding. “Katherine’s gone.
I think Kane has her.”

“Damn. What do you need me to do?”

“Where are you?”

“Dallas. At the hospital with Jimmy.”

“I don’t know,” Caleb lowered his tone.

From the north side of the woods, a tall man stalked toward
him.

“I gotta go. Don’t worry about being here,” Caleb said, ending
the call.

The guy was big, but Caleb had no doubt he could take him down
if need be. As he moved into the light, he recognized Marshal Jones.

“Where are your men?”

“Sent one of my guys to deliver the CD. I’ve been trying to
reach the other stationed at the top of the drive with no luck. I wanted to be
close by so I parked up the road in the woods.”

“Kane’s here. It’s the only explanation.” Caleb glanced at his
watch. “I don’t know when he got to her.” It could have been hours ago.

“My man was here fifteen minutes ago. They can’t have gotten
far. I’ll radio again. There’s no other way out of here by car, is there?” Jones
fell into step with Caleb, who pointed his flashlight at the ground.

“One road in. One road out. There’s countless ways to reach the
house through the woods. None of which a car would fit through.” Caleb glanced
up. “Think they got to your guy?”

“Must’ve. He would answer his radio otherwise.”

“Bastards.” The white dot illuminated the yellow-green grass as
Caleb moved closer to the tree line. “They used ATVs before. They’re smart.
They’ve studied the terrain.”

He trained his flashlight on a spot on the ground.

“Hold on.” He dropped to his knees.

“A woman’s footprint.”

“It’s hers.” He shone the light east. “The footprint stops
here.” He glanced around on the ground. “See that?”

“A man’s shoe print.”

“Which means someone carried her.” Caleb followed the imprints
to the tree line. “They went this way.”

“They most likely have a car stashed somewhere,” Jones said as
he turned toward the lane. “I’ll head to the main road.”

“You said you heard from one of your guys fifteen minutes
ago?”

“Yes.”

“It would take about that long to run to the nearest place they
could’ve hid a car. You take the road.” Caleb ran toward the barn. “I can cut
them off on horseback.”

* * *

K
ATHERINE
’
S
EYES
BLURRED
as she tried to blink them open. The crown of her
head felt as though someone had blasted her with a hammer. Her thoughts jumbled.
Thinking clearly through her pounding headache would be a challenge.

In a flash, she remembered being outside before someone grabbed
her and then the lights went out. Didn’t seem like anyone had turned them back
on, either. Pitch-black wasn’t nearly good enough to describe the darkness
surrounding her. Where was she? Where was Caleb? Terror gripped her.

Chill bumps covered her arms. She reached out and hit surface
in every direction without extending her arms. Was she in some kind of
compartment? Whatever she was in moved fast. She bounced, bumping her head.

She lay on a clothlike material. The whole area couldn’t
measure more than three or four feet deep and she couldn’t stretch out her
legs.

Realization dawned. Icy fingers of panic gripped her lungs and
squeezed.

She was in the trunk of a car.

Oh, God.
How would she get out?
Wasn’t there a panic lever somewhere?

At least her arms and legs were free. She felt around for
something—anything—to pop the trunk. Was there a weapon? A car jack?

Her mind cleared and she recalled more details. Scarface’s
voice.

Katherine listened carefully to the sounds around her. The
engine revved. Brakes squealed as the car flew side to side.

A thump sounded. A gunshot rang out.

Her throat closed as fear seized her.

The car roared to a stop.

She repositioned herself so her feet faced the lid. She’d be
ready to launch an attack at whoever opened the trunk.

Her heart hammered in her chest. She held her breath, fighting
off sheer terror.
Patience.

The trunk lid lifted and she thrust her feet at the body
leaning toward her. She made contact at the same time she recognized the face.
“Caleb?”

His arms reached for her, encircled her, while her brain tried
to catch up. He lifted her and carried her to his horse.

His face was a study in concentration and determination. He
didn’t speak as he balanced her in his arms and popped her into the saddle. He
hopped up from behind just in time for her to see that his jeans were soaked
with blood on his right thigh. Her heart skipped a beat. She told herself he’d
be fine. He had to be okay. His arms circled her as he gripped the reins.

Scarface hadn’t fared so well. He was slumped over the steering
wheel. “Is he dead?”

“No.” Caleb urged his horse forward as lights and sirens wailed
from behind. “But he’ll wish he was after the marshal gets hold of him.”

The feel of Caleb against her back, warming her, brought a
sense of rightness to the crazy world. “You found me.”

She could feel every muscle in his chest tense.

Samson kept a steady gallop until they reached the barn. Caleb
took care of his horse, then, keeping Katherine by his side, headed for the
house.

“I walked outside to check on the officer. I turned around to
come get you when I heard his voice. Then everything went black. I’m so
sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m just glad I found you.” He pressed kisses to her
forehead, then her nose before feathering them on her cheeks. “I can’t lose
you.”

His lips pressed to hers with bruising need.

She loved him. There was no questioning that. But what was he
offering? A commitment? Her heart gave a little skip at the thought. He’d
already proved he would be there for her no matter what. When the chips were
down, he’d come through for her, comforting her, saving her. He was the one
person in the world she trusted. “I heard a gunshot and panicked. What happened
while I was in the trunk?”

“Scarface took aim. There were too many twists in the road for
him to be able to steer and shoot, or...”

“Oh, God. Did he hit you?” She scanned his jeans for a bullet
hole, panicked when she noticed the blood.

“Grazed my leg. Flesh wound. I’m fine. I caught up to him
before he got off another round.”

She couldn’t hold back the sob that broke free. She couldn’t
even think about something happening to Caleb.

“I’m okay. I promise.”

She buried her face in his chest, her body shaking. His arms
tightened around her.

“Let’s get you inside.”

“We should get back on the road. Follow Scarface. Maybe he can
lead us to Noah?”

“I doubt it. Scarface should be in custody by now. Unless the
marshal let him go to follow him. Putting yourself in danger again won’t help
that little boy.”

“This isn’t about him anymore, is it?” A chill ran down her
spine at the realization. “Kane is after me now.”

“For his own freedom. He wants to erase you and the file.”
Caleb’s gaze scanned the trees. “Let’s get you inside.”

* * *

C
ALEB
CLEANED
HIS
injuries. He dabbed water on his
leg, thinking how much he needed to keep his head clear. He dressed the cut on
his thigh and changed into clean jeans.

“They might be out there right now,” Katherine said as she sat
down on his bed. “That’s what you were just thinking, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

She glanced at the windows, her tentative smile replaced by a
look of apprehension. “What do we do now?”

“I’ll reconnect with the marshal and then go after the son of a
bitch as soon as we figure out the next step. Until then, we wait here. I won’t
let him hurt the woman I love again.”

“Love?” She rewarded him with a smile. “I love you, too.”

* * *

B
Y
THE
TIME
Matt eased in the back
door, Katherine’s nerves were sizzling. “I thought you were in Dallas.”

“Came back to help you.”

“Why would you do that?”

“When Caleb said he’d found you, I came to stop them from doing
anything else.” He excused himself, saying he needed to find Caleb.

She made a pot of coffee in the dim light, having allowed her
eyes to adjust to the darkness, surprised Matt would want to come to her aid.
She glanced out the window. Were they out there watching? Who else would Kane
send?

They could be anywhere right now. Even standing outside,
looking right at her. A chill ran up her spine. She had to figure out a way to
get Caleb to let her come with him to find Kane.

A noise from behind shattered what was left of her brittle
nerves. She turned to find Matt standing there. Her hand came up to her
chest.

“Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said.

“It’s fine. I’m jumpy.” She held up a mug. “Coffee?”

“I can get it. You should sit down. Caleb said you have to be
careful on that ankle.”

“Believe it or not, it was much worse yesterday.” She eyed him
warily. He looked determined to say something. She filled a mug and handed it to
him. “How about I let you get your own cream and sugar?”

“I take mine black.”

There was another thing to like about him. Under ordinary
circumstances, she figured they might actually get along. She reminded herself
they weren’t really friends and he likely hadn’t sought her out to talk about
the coffee.