Sheriff Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 10)

by Laylah Roberts

  Unfortunately, Ed wasn’t much of a runner.

  Shoot. Ed. What was she doing? She started walking even though she just wanted to sit. But she knew if she stopped moving that she might not get back up again. Her muscles needed to cool down.

  She was sweating, so hot that her cheeks were roasting and yet she shivered as a cold breeze ran over her.

  Shoot. Why did she take off like that? What was she thinking? It was starting to grow dark. How long had she even been running for? An hour? Two?

  Ed had to be out of court. He’d probably been calling her and she hadn’t even thought to bring her phone with her.

  Shoot. Sugar. Fudgeballs.

  She was in sooo much trouble when he got home. Her butt cheeks clenched reflexively. Now, if she could just work out where home was, she’d be a lot happier. She didn’t even know which direction she’d run in or what road this was. She was in the middle of nowhere, darkness was approaching and she was cold and thirsty. Plus, she hadn’t eaten since her morning snack.

  Oh, she wasn’t going to sit for a week.

  Well, she guessed the first thing she should do is turn around. As she turned and started walking back, she saw a big truck headed her way. The city girl in her told her to ignore it. But this was the country. And she could at least get some directions.

  Before she could decide about whether to flag them down, the truck came to a stop. The engine was still running but nobody got out.

  Well, that wasn’t creepy or anything. A funny feeling developed in her stomach.

  She moved forward just as the door opened. A man who looked vaguely familiar got out. Had she met him before? Maybe she’d seen him in Wishingbone. He looked to be young, around eighteen.

  “Hello,” he called out. “You all right?”

  “Ah, yeah. I ran a bit further than I intended. Do you know where the sheriff lives?”

  “Yeah, back that way a few miles.”

  Crap. That was going to take her a while to walk.

  “Could take you there if you like,” he told her.

  “Oh, but it’s out of your way.”

  “It’s no bother. Really. Wouldn’t like to suffer the sheriff’s reaction if I left his woman out on her own in the cold when it was getting dark.” He gave her a smile.

  She bristled a bit at the ‘his woman’ part. She had a name after all.

  You haven’t offered your name, though, have you? So how is he to know?

  “Are you sure?” For some reason, she felt reluctant about getting into his truck.

  “No problem, ma’am. Hop in.” He climbed in, leaving the decision up to her. Which made her feel a lot better about her decision to catch a ride. When she got in and shut the door, the locks engaged, making her jump.

  “Automatic locks.”

  “Of course.” Silly her. Why was she so jumpy? “Is this truck yours?”

  “Sure didn’t steal it,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

  “I didn’t mean to imply anything. It’s a really nice truck.”

  “My mother recently died. She left me some money.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said sympathetically.

  He nodded. “Buckle your belt.”

  She did up her belt and he put the truck in gear, moving forward. They drove along for a few minutes but when he didn’t turn around, she looked over at him. He was a handsome guy. Tanned skin, black hair, a bit of stubble.

  “Um, isn’t Ed’s place back that way?”

  “Yeah, I just have a quick errand to do down this way then I’ll backtrack. You don’t mind, do you?”

  He could have told her before she’d gotten in the truck. But since he was doing her a favor, she could hardly complain about it.

  “Of course not. Do you have a phone? Would you mind if I called Ed?”

  “Sorry.” He grimaced. “It’s just died.”

  Okay, she was starting to feel really antsy now. “Have you lived around here long?”

  “No, I don’t live here.”

  “You’re visiting someone?” she asked as they turned down an old road. This felt wrong. How did he know where Ed lived if he didn’t live here? They pulled up outside a small cabin. It looked slightly rundown as though no one had lived here in a while.

  “You could say that.” He stopped the truck and got out. Then he walked around the front. She stared at him in surprise as he opened her door.

  “Oh, I’ll just wait here.”

  He shook his head. “Afraid not, my Rose.”

  “What did you call me?”

  “My Rose.” He smiled smugly. “Or should it be my Daisy? That’s what he called you, didn’t he?”

  “Who are you?” she whispered. Her heart skipped a beat then raced.

  Oh God. Oh God.

  “How rude of me, my name is Trent Strange.”

  Trent Strange. The man who had stalked her. Terrorized her. Stabbed her. He’d been Gerald Strange.

  That couldn’t be a coincidence.

  “You . . . you . . . who are you?”

  “I told you, I’m Trenton Strange. My father was Gerald Strange. And it’s your fault he’s dead.”

  She shook her head then yelped as he undid her belt and grabbed her arm, dragging her from the truck. She landed heavily on her knees and sharp pain slashed through her legs, making her hiss. Damn, that was going to bruise. But she didn’t have time to worry about her knees right now.

  “I . . . but Gerald Strange’s son was called Malcolm. He was the same age as me.”

  “Oh, didn’t you know? My mother was pregnant at the time that you ruined my father’s life with your false claims.”

  He dragged her up onto her feet. “I never knew my father, because of you. But I read all about you. The way you taunted him. The way you led him on, only to turn on him, because of pressure from your family. You caused him to kill himself.”

  “I . . . I . . . I don’t know what you read, but you have it all wrong.”

  He started dragging her towards the cabin. She knew it would be a bad idea to let him get her inside.

  “Trenton, I don’t know what you read but your father stalked me, he attacked and stabbed me. He left me notes and flowers and . . .” Something clicked in her brain. “The roses? That was you?”

  “Yes, but you were too dumb to heed my warning.”

  “But he left daisies.”

  “Ah, but that would have been too obvious, to do the same as he did.” He tightened his hold as he turned on her. “But you’re such a dumb bitch, you didn’t have any idea that I’ve been following you for weeks.”

  “You . . . you’ve been outside Ed’s house, haven’t you?”

  She was going to be sick. He’d been watching her? Stalking her? Leaving her dead roses.

  “That’s right. That sicko that you let fuck you all the time had no clue. Some sick games you two play, but then what should I expect from a bitch that will lie about a consensual relationship and say that a man was stalking her, ruining his life. And the life of his family.”

  “It wasn’t a lie!”

  She cried out as he backhanded her. Shit. That stung. She couldn’t believe this was happening. First Saber kidnapping her, now this.

  Ed was never going to let her out of his sight. Ever.

  Think about Ed later. Right now, you have to figure out a way to get away from this guy. Obviously, he’s as crazy as his father.

  “My mother had to leave town because of you. We had to move away, start over with a new name. I never got to know my father because of you. My asshole brother took off overseas as soon as he could and my mother . . . well, she was a bitter, controlling bitch. Always talking badly about my father. But I know the truth of what you did. The way you ruined our family. I found his diaries after she died and I cleared out her house. It was all your fault and now you’re going to pay. Come on, bitch.”

  Hand around her wrist, he pulled her towards the cabin.

  “What do you mean, she’s not there
? Shit. She doesn’t have a vehicle. She must have gone for a run,” he said through the Bluetooth to Jace, who he’d sent to check on Georgie.

  He was going to kill her. What was she thinking? It was nearly dark. It was cold. And she was out running when he specifically told her not to leave the house. Why didn’t she take her phone?

  “I’m going to check the tracker app. I’m about fifteen minutes out from where you are.” Because he’d sped the entire way home. He frowned as he saw that she was now several miles away. How had she gotten there so quickly? She was off the road now, practically in the middle of the woods. The only thing out there were a couple of old hunting cabins.

  “Jace, I’m sending you coordinates. Something’s wrong. Send for backup. I’ll be there soon.”

  Hold on, baby. I’m coming.

  43

  No way she letting him drag her into the cabin.

  She wasn’t that helpless sixteen-year-old girl anymore. And this kid wasn’t a grown man. He didn’t have the bulk his father had. Or the training that she did. Still squeezing her wrist, he tugged her towards the cabin. Idiot expected her to just go along with him?

  Not. Happening.

  “Trenton, please, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Oh, yes, I do. You can’t go around spreading lies and not expect to pay for it.”

  “They weren’t lies!”

  As he started to turn back, she brought her arm up. Then she slammed her hand down on his wrist, breaking his hold on her. Quickly, she smashed her knee into his balls. He made a choked, wounded sort of noise, half crouching. She grabbed his head then drove her knee into his nose with a crunching noise.

  Turning, she took off. She could have stuck around and tried to do more damage, but short of smashing a rock over his head, she didn’t have many options. The keys to the truck were in his pocket and she wasn’t digging around in there. For all she knew, he was faking how injured he was and would grab her if she got close. So she ran.

  But she realized that sticking to the road wasn’t smart. This old driveway obviously only led to this cabin and the road beyond hadn’t been busy.

  She looked around her. Nothing but trees. She was a city girl and this was intimidating as hell.

  Shoot! She could easily get lost out here. She had no idea what direction she was even headed. She raced around a huge tree and caught her breath for a moment. She was exhausted from her long run then fighting off Trenton. Her legs didn’t have much more in them and she was starting to feel light-headed.

  She looked around for a weapon. Then an idea occurred to her. If she couldn’t run, maybe she could hide.

  “Rose? Where are you, Rose? You can’t go far from me.”

  Shoot. He’d recovered quicker than she’d hoped. Searching for a tree that she thought she might manage to climb, she reached for the lower branch.

  Darn it, she really needed to into the gym for some upper body strength training. She strained to lift herself, managing to get her leg up. Then she climbed to the next branch. Slowly, her limbs burning with effort, her breaths coming in shallow pants, she made it further up the tree where the leaves would hopefully hide her.

  She placed her hand on her chest, feeling how fast her heart was racing. That’s when she found her necklace.

  Shoot! How had she forgotten? The necklace. Ed could track her. Only . . . would he be able to do it while she was hidden in a forest?

  God, she hoped so.

  Ed pulled up behind Jace’s truck and jumped out. His deputy turned away from where he’d been talking into his radio.

  “Any signs of her?”

  Jace shook his head. “I’ve searched inside the cabin and around. Whoever drove this truck here is gone and so is she. Just had the plates run. It belongs to a Trenton Strange. Comes from Idaho. Eighteen years old. Six feet tall. Hundred and eighty pounds. You know him?”

  He shook his head. Trenton Strange? No idea. No wait . . .

  He grabbed his phone and placed a call to Georgie’s brother, Marcus.

  “What?” Marcus snapped down the phone.

  “What was the name of the asshole that stalked Georgie?” Ed asked immediately.

  “What? Why? He’s dead.”

  “I know that. What was his name?”

  “Gerald Strange.”

  Fuck. Fuck.

  “Did he have a kid called Trenton?”

  “No, his son was called Malcolm. Why? What the fuck’s going on?” Marcus snapped.

  “Your sister could be missing and the last place the GPS tracker pinged her location is at an old hunting cabin. Only thing here is a truck owned by a Trenton Strange.”

  Marcuse started cursing. “I’m on my way out there.”

  “It will take you hours to get here. No point.” He was finding her soon. He had to.

  “Fuck that. I’m going to get my people looking into Trenton Strange. Get back to you.” Marcus hung up, but Ed didn’t care.

  Shit. It was getting dark. They needed to find her quickly.

  “Kent? It’s Ed. I need JSI’s help.”

  “Rose, my pretty little Rose. Come out, come out. Wherever you are.”

  Why wouldn’t he leave? It was now dark. She was freezing cold. And she was so tired of holding onto this branch. She was scratched up, bruised, and frankly scared. She wanted Ed. She wanted him now.

  A cold wind whipped through the trees. It was eerie out here. Just listening to him calling for her and thrashing around. Obviously, he wasn’t used to being out in the woods, either.

  Her teeth started to chatter. She clenched her jaw tight to stop the noise.

  “Was that you, little Rose? Are you scared? If you come out then it will all be over. Ouch, fuck, motherfucking nature. You’re going to pay for every scratch on me, bitch.”

  A howling noise echoed through the woods and she froze. Her heart thumped, racing then skipping a beat. She felt like she was going to be ill.

  “What the fuck was that? Was that a fucking wolf? You know what, maybe you deserve to be eaten by a fucking wolf. I’m out of here.”

  She heard him stomping away. Was he really leaving? Or was it a trick? She didn’t know. But then a howl sounded again. What if it wasn’t a trick? What if she just sat here and that wolf found her? Wolves couldn’t climb trees, right?

  Right.

  And Ed said she didn’t have to worry about bears. What was left to worry about? Snakes? Did snakes climb trees? She had a feeling snakes climbed trees.

  They’re more scared of you than you are of them.

  Oh Lord. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  Okay, that was it. She was going to take up swearing.

  Another shiver worked through her. Then her calf knotted up in a cramp.

  Shit! Fuck! That was so painful. She tried to keep the moans in, but she couldn’t. She groaned as she grasped her calf, trying to ease the agonizing pain. This is what she got for not stretching after running.

  Like you could do that when you were fucking running for your life.

  This swearing stuff was getting easier.

  A louder groan erupted from her as she tried to ease the cramp. She panted heavily, her stomach rolled. Oh no, she was going to be sick. The branch beneath her began to shake. And then a hand grasped hold of her ankle.

  It was like the stuff of nightmares. She screamed and kicked out, but the hand held on and she found herself yanked from the branch she’d been sitting on. Somehow, she managed to grab hold of it with both hands.

  “Get down here, you bitch!”

  “No!” she screamed. “Let me go!” She kicked out at him, gratified to hear him grunt in pain. Then he yanked harder and she screamed as it felt like her arms were being removed from their sockets.

  Then suddenly, he was gone. There was a loud thumping noise and a gasp. What happened? Where did he go? Shit! She was dangling in the air, unable to hold herself up for much longer. She didn’t even know if she had the strength to pull herself up onto another branch.

 
Don’t give up now.

  Where was he though? Was this a trick to get her out of the tree?

  “Georgina?”

  She froze. That wasn’t Trenton’s voice. This was a far deeper voice. There was an edge of calm and strength. She’d guess this person was older. But who was it? No one she knew.

  “Who’s there? Who is it?”

  “Name’s Jed. Work for JSI.”

  Oh no. She couldn’t hold on for much longer.

  “JSI? Jensen Security?”

  “Yep. Your man called for help.”

  “Ed? Ed’s here?”

  “Sure is. Going out of his mind. Gonna get out of that tree?”

  “I don’t know that I can. I’m b-barely hanging on.”

  She wanted Ed. So bad. She wished he was here and not this Jed guy. Suddenly a large man was pressed up behind her. She let out a loud gasp. “How did you do that?”

  “Do what? Climb a tree?”

  “M-move so silently.”

  He just grunted. Then without a word, his arm went around her waist and he pulled her towards him so her back was against his chest.

  “Let go.”

  He didn’t need to tell her twice. Thankfully, he managed to easily hold her weight as he stood on a branch.

  “Turn you. Wrap yourself around me.”

  Somehow, he twisted her so they were chest to chest. She got her arms around his neck but she had no strength left in them.

  “Legs around me.”

  Later, she might be embarrassed about being wrapped around him like a child. But right now, all she wanted was to get back to Ed. And if this Jed could help her then she’d do whatever he said.

  He navigated the tree with an ease that surprised her. When they reached the ground, she attempted to get down, but he simply wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “Stay still.”

  “Why? Where is Trenton? Is he still out here?” she whispered.

  “Don’t worry about him.”

  Okay, she took that to mean that he’d been taken care of.

  “Eyes closed.” A large hand pressed her face to his chest.