by Ciana Stone
“This is like something out of a fairytale,” she said as she stepped off the bridge and continued toward them. “It’s incredible and I mean that sincerely.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Hannah fairly danced with excitement. “You’re the first person to see it.”
Cody smiled. The back of the church was completely cordoned off. A plywood wall had been erected around the perimeter of the new garden and people were starting to be pretty curious to see what was going on.
“I am really impressed.” She walked up and stood beside Hannah, looking around. “You two make a hell of a team.”
“We sure do.” Hannah reached over to take Bryson’s hand; a fact that didn’t go unnoticed.
Bryson looked around Hannah to Cody. “I want you to know I didn’t do a thing to try and break Hannah and Cooper up. I don’t want you to think—”
“I know and I don’t,” Cody interrupted. “I’ve known you my whole life and I know the kind of man you are.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” She grinned. “The kind I want my sister to hook up with.”
“I always did like you,” Bryson said and grinned. Just then his phone rang. “Oh, sorry. I have to take this.”
“Go on,” Hannah said and watched him walk away with the phone to his ear. She looked back at Cody. “How could I not have seen how wonderful he is all these years?”
Cody shrugged. “You did. When the time was right.” She walked over to the rail of the gazebo and looked out over the garden. “Doc called this morning. The DNA results are in. I’m taking Belinda to see him after lunch.”
“Is she sober yet?”
“Barely.”
Belinda had shown up after being gone for nearly two weeks, stinking, wasted and dirty. Since her return, she’d not stayed sober for a single day. If Cody left her at the ranch alone, she either came home to find some strange man shacked up with Belinda, or Belinda would show up at the bar and proceed to get rip-roaring drunk.
Cody and Hannah had been taking turns caring for Bernice, and Belinda had done little more than give Bernice a passing nod.
“What are you going to do about her?” Hannah asked. “She isn’t sick, just a drunk and drug addict.”
“I don’t know. A lot depends on what happens today. If Cooper is Bernice’s father then maybe I can talk to him about being Bernice’s guardian. If not…”
“You could have Lily go to court and petition to have Belinda declared unfit.”
Cody turned to look at Hannah. “She is unfit.”
“And you love Bernice.”
“More than I ever thought I could love another human being.”
“Even Riggs?”
Just the mention of his name had her fighting tears. They had not spoken since the night they had returned from looking for Belinda. “That’s over and done with.”
“You love him.”
“Yes.”
“Then why aren’t you fighting for him?”
“Fight what? Him? He doesn’t want me.”
“Then he’s a fool.”
“And you’re a good sister.” Cody swiped at her eyes and turned. “Okay, I need to get a move on. I have to go home to pick up Belinda, then get Bernice from day care and be to Doc’s by one.”
“Want me to meet you there? For moral support?”
“I’ll be fine, but thanks.” Cody gave her a smile. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you.” Cody made her way back to the rear door of the church. Bryson was sitting on one of the wicker chairs just outside the door. He put away his phone and stood as she approached.
“Do you have two seconds, Cody?”
“For you I have more. What’s up?”
“I—” He cut a look in Hannah’s direction. “You know I’m crazy in love with her.”
“I do.”
“And I—well, what I mean to say is—”
“Ask her,” Cody interrupted and smiled at the surprise on his face. “She’s just as crazy about you.”
“You think your family will be okay with that?”
“I think we’ll all be thrilled to call you family.”
His smile warmed her heart. Her sister had found a really good man and Cody hoped they’d have a lifetime of happiness.
“Thanks, Cody. See you soon.”
“I hope so… Bro.” She grinned and headed into the church.
When she walked back out through the front door, she pulled out her phone and called Belinda’s number. It went straight to voice mail. “I’m coming to pick you up and will be there in forty-five minutes, so be ready.”
As she opened the truck door, a gust of wind whipped dust into a swirl around her. She quickly got into the truck and brushed at her shirt. The sky didn’t appear threatening but the wind was picking up a bit. As soon as she started the truck, she turned to the weather channel. The last thing she needed today was bad weather.
Fortunately, the weather and the drive home were uneventful. Cody parked in front of the house and got out to go inside. She didn’t make it to the front door before realizing something was off.
The front door was standing wide open. Cody opened the screen door and walked inside. It looked like a bomb had gone off. How could anyone make such a mess in less than half a day?
“Belinda?” she called out, waited and walked over to the bottom of the stairs. “Belinda?”
When she didn’t get an answer, she ran upstairs. There was no sign of Belinda. She came downstairs and walked out onto the porch. One of her ranch hands, an older fellow, Walter was coming out of the barn and yelled.
“That friend of yours took off ’bout an hour ago with some guy in a shiny red truck.”
“Thanks Walter.”
“You bet, Miss Cody.”
Cody wanted to hit something but instead pulled out her phone and dialed Belinda’s number. “You better be at the doctor’s office at one. I mean it. If you’re not there, then you best be looking for another place to stay. You hear me?”
She tossed the phone onto the seat as she climbed into the truck. Just as she was starting the engine, the phone rang. Cody snatched it up. Riggs. She sat there, holding the phone and staring at it.
She hadn’t heard from him in ten days. Why was he calling now?
Cody hated the wild surge of hope that rose inside her. Was he calling to say he was wrong? That he wanted her more than anything else? No. She couldn’t let herself fall victim to that romantic wish.
But why would he call? They had nothing left to say.
The indecision kept her frozen in place, unable to act and finally the phone stopped ringing.
Oh god, had she screwed up? Should she have taken the call? Would he leave a message?
Several longs seconds passed and no notification of a message appeared. But time was running short and she had to get a move on. Mentally gnawing over the reason he might have called, she headed back to town, picked up Bernice and drove to Doc’s.
Luckily, there was parking on the street. She and Bernice went inside.
“Hey Mrs. Delores,” Cody greeted the receptionist.
“Hey there, Cody. And who is this pretty little lady you have with you?”
“Me is Bernice Smiff.”
“Well, it’s sure nice to meet you Bernice.” Delores looked at Cody. “We’re waiting on Belinda Smith and Cooper Quinlan, I believe.”
“Okay, thanks.” Cody took Bernice across the room to the area designated for children and inside two minutes Bernice was busy as a bee, building with the toy blocks.
Five minutes later, the office door opened and Belinda staggered in, clutching the arm of a skinny, rat-faced man wearing a new Stetson and boots that couldn’t have more than half a mile of walking use in them.
A cloud of alcohol rode in with them and Cody grimaced at the smell. “Well, here we are, your Majesty,” Belinda said loudly to Cody.
“Have a seat. We’re waiting on Cooper.”
>
“What the fuck ever. This here is Mitch.”
“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“Mitch.” Cody gave him a nod and watched as he and Belinda took a seat on the sofa together. She noticed that Bernice didn’t move. She’d stopped stacking the blocks but was making no move to go to her mother.
Just then, the door opened again. This time Cooper and his father, Lucas walked in. Cooper looked around and nodded at Cody. “Cody.”
“Cooper. Mr. Quinlan.”
Lucas walked over to Delores’ desk. “Lucas and Cooper Quinlan. We have a one o’clock appointment.”
“Yes, we were just waiting for everyone. Please have a seat. Doc will be right out.”
Lucas and Cooper took seats in straight-back chairs placed along the wall. Cody noticed that Cooper didn’t even glance Belinda’s way. He and his father leaned in toward one another, talking too quietly to be understood.
Belinda, on the other hand, was glaring at Cooper and Lucas as if they were her most hated enemies. Her friend, Mitch, just looked uncomfortable, a feeling Cody identified intimately with at the moment.
When Doc walked out into the reception area, every head turned in his direction. He looked around at everyone. “Good afternoon. As Delores informed you over the phone, we received the results of the DNA tests on Bernice Smith and Cooper Quinlan. I’ll be happy to provide you all with copies of the report if you desire.”
“What does the test say?” Cooper asked.
“The tests prove with a near one hundred percent certainty that he is not the father of the child.”
“You’re lying!” Belinda bounded to her feet and would have fallen had her friend not reached out to steady her. She pointed at Lucas. “You paid him off, didn’t you, you son-of-a-bitch!”
“I most certainly did not,” Lucas argued. “I did, however, have a complete background run on you and have conclusive evidence that you have been lying to everyone here. You have no health issues and are not on a kidney donor list. You are, however, a cheap whore and a liar.”
“You son—” Belinda looked down at Mitch. “Kill that bastard.”
When Mitch stood and reached behind him, Cody scooted over in front of Bernice. There was a clamor of voices when Mitch’s hand reappeared, holding a handgun.
Cody spoke up, directing her words to Belinda. “Look, whatever issues you have with the Quinlans, Bernice doesn’t need to be part of this. Let her, Delores and Doc leave.”
“Fuck you!” Belinda yelled and nudged Mitch. He pointed the gun at Cody while Belinda called out to Bernice. “Come to mama, sugar. Come on now. Come to your mama.”
Bernice got up and started around Cody, but paused when Cody whispered. “Don’t, Bernice. Don’t go over there.”
“Bernice, get your butt over here now.” Belinda’s voice took on a hard edge that clearly had an effect. Bernice’s expression turned to one of fear and she hurried to her mother.
“Me here mommy. Me be good. Me be really good.”
Belinda smiled and knelt, wrapping one arm around Bernice. If Cody lived to be a hundred, she’d never forget the evil she saw in the smile Belinda shot her way as she used her free hand to cover her child’s mouth and nose.
“No!” Cody started toward them as Bernice struggled and screamed. The rapport of a gun and wood splintering at her feet had her freezing, her heart pounding wildly.
“Not one more step,” Mitch warned.
By then Bernice’s struggles were weaker and within seconds her body went limp. When Belinda let the child fall to the floor, Cody screamed and threw herself toward Bernice, hitting the floor two feet from the child.
“Don’t you fucking touch my child.” Belinda reached in her purse and pulled out a gun, pointing it at Cody. “Now get the fuck back where you were.”
“I just need to check Bernice. To make sure she’s okay.”
“Fine. Get the fuck on with it.”
Cody nearly wept with relief when she realized Bernice was breathing. She started to pick the child up, but Belinda stopped her by kicking her in the upper right side of her chest. The blow had her falling back but she righted herself and glared up at Belinda.
“If you raise another hand to that child, god as my witness, I’ll kill you.”
Belinda laughed. “Big talk. We’re the ones with the fucking guns. Now get the fuck over there and sit your ass down.” She gestured at Doc and then at Delores. “You too. I want you where I can see you.”
Cody saw the fear on the faces of the people in the reception room, and then noticed something else. Lucas Quinlan was busy texting on his phone. His gaze met hers and she gave a slight nod. Hopefully, he had alerted the authorities.
*****
Riggs popped his Bluetooth mic into his ear, gathering what he needed as the call was placed.
“Cotton Creek Police Department.”
“Tom Greene please. Jaxon Riggs calling.”
A few seconds passed before Tom came onto the line. “Riggs? What can I do for you?”
“We have a situation.”
“What kind?”
“A woman, Belinda Smith, and a man known only as Mitch have taken the Doctor, his receptionist, Cooper and Lucas Quinlan, Cody Sweet and Ms. Smith’s three year old, Bernice, hostage in Doc’s office. Both are armed with hand-guns.”
“How do you know?”
“Lucas Quinlan texted me the intel.”
“Are you still in contact?”
“Hopefully.”
“What are the demands?”
“So far, none have been made, but this just happened, Tom and it’s liable to get worse before it gets better. Don’t you have a Ranger division assigned to this county?”
“We do. Hold on.”
Riggs carried his gear outside and put it in the front seat of the company truck he’d been given to drive.
Tom came back on the line just as Riggs started the truck. “Ranger Childress is on his way now. There’s not a SWAT team available that can be here within the next hour. But he’s trained in these situations and I’ll assist along with Deputies Kinson and Courtney. And I’m assuming you’re coming equipped?”
“I’m twenty klicks out.” It wasn’t until the words were out of his mouth that he realized he’d reverted to old habits of speech.
“See you soon.”
“Yep.”
Riggs activated the voice function on his phone. “Text LC.” He waited for the phone to respond and then continued, “Don’t anger them but try and stall for time. I’m half an hour away and the police have a Ranger on his way.”
That done, he focused on creating a mental image of the town in his mind to come up with the best vantage point for a sniper to set up and have the best chance at taking out the enemy.
Riggs blinked in surprise as the word enemy ran through his mind. He’d not thought in those terms in a long time.
He’d thought he’d never have to again, but apparently he’d thought wrong.
*****
Inside Doc’s office, everyone was watching Belinda warily. She sat down, lit a cigarette and sucked in a long draw before speaking. “The tests are wrong. Cooper’s the father.”
Everyone looked at Doc. He just looked down, apparently afraid to speak. Since he was sitting beside her, Cody put her hand on his arm to comfort him. That obviously angered Belinda because she screamed at Cody.
“Did I fucking tell you to fucking move?”
“Belinda, this is getting you nowhere. Doc wouldn’t lie about the tests. He has no reason to.”
“He’s a fucking liar. I know.” She stabbed at her chest, sending ashes falling all over the front of her clothes. “I know. He’s the father and he’s gonna pay.”
“Pay what?” Lucas spoke up, earning Belinda’s attention.
“Money, you dumb old bastard. Five million dollars.”
“You’re insane.” Cooper said. “We’re not paying you shit, you crazy bit—”
Delores’ scream and Lu
cas’ roar came on the heels of the gunshot. Cooper’s mouth opened as the impact of the bullet to his chest sent him careening back in his chair. His head flew back and then came forward again and he toppled to the floor.
At the same moment, Lucas leapt to his feet. Cody dove out of her chair and onto the floor where Cooper lay on his back, his chest heaving and his breath labored. She looked to Doc for help. “What do I do?”
Belinda was screaming at Lucas to sit down before she blew him away. As Lucas sat down again, Doc looked at Belinda and Mitch. “May I?”
“No, let the fucker die.”
“If he dies, the police will bust in here and shoot you!” Cody screamed. “Let Doc help him.”
“Fine. Fuck.” Belinda dropped her cigarette on the floor and ground it out with her foot.
Doc hurried to Cooper’s side. It took only a few seconds before he looked at Delores. “His left lung is collapsed. I need a scapel and a straw or tube.”
Delores started to rise but Belinda screamed at her. “Don’t you fucking move!”
“Belinda, he’ll die if you don’t let her get Doc what he needs.”
Belinda looked from Cody to Mitch. “I’ll go with her,” Mitch said. “Make sure all she does is get what he needs.”
“Fine. But hurry the fuck up.”
Cody watched Mitch and Delores leave the reception room. She glanced up at Lucas. Why was he so calm? His son was lying on the floor, probably dying and Lucas was just sitting there with one leg propped on the other and his hands in his lap.
She turned her attention to Belinda. “Belinda, you need to stop this. If Cooper dies, you’ll go to prison. You can’t—”
“Stop telling me what the fuck I can do! Just shut the fuck up, all of you or he won’t be the only one who dies.”
Cody cut her eyes at Lucas and he gave her a slight nod. She didn’t understand until she straightened up a bit, then she realized. From from the way he was sitting, one ankle propped atop the other knee and hands between his legs, it wasn’t obvious, but he was texting. Belinda couldn’t see his hands from where she stood.
She hoped that whoever it was Lucas was texting would show up soon, because if they didn’t, Cooper just might die.
*****
