Cowboy's Secret Son

by Robin Perini

  She clutched his hands hard, her nails biting into his skin. “Whatever it takes?”

  “Without hesitation.”

  * * *

  COURTNEY FOUND THE intensity in Jared’s gaze oddly reassuring. She unfurled her fingers and stepped back from him. “I believe you.”

  “I’ll call the sheriff and ask him and his deputies to avoid the Last Chance Ranch for a while.” He rounded his desk and picked up the landline.

  Courtney glanced once more at the image of Dylan on the cell phone screen. Still sound asleep. She’d have to time his nap correctly or tonight would be a nightmare, and she couldn’t afford a bleary-eyed day. She needed to keep sharp.

  She walked over to the curtains and peered through the small crack between the light-colored panels. She didn’t doubt that if she’d stayed in New York, Dylan might already be in a kidnapper’s hands. Or worse. Within a few minutes she witnessed four men wandering outside with rifles in hand. The firepower made her feel better. At least for now she was safe. Dylan was safe.

  They couldn’t hide in the house forever, though. The only way to regain any semblance of a normal life would be to figure out who had written that note. Courtney knew of only one thing she could do. Review every person in her life to try to figure out who could be responsible.

  Despite what she’d told Jared, she had to believe that somewhere in the back of her mind she’d seen something or done something that would point them to the person threatening to kidnap Dylan.

  She pulled out a notepad from her bag and sat down. She’d start with the night at the Waldorf. The answer would come to her. It had to.

  A phone rang. She dug through her purse. It was his phone.

  Her entire body trembled. She picked up the cell. “Hello?”

  “Did you really think you could hide by visiting your baby’s father?” The sound of a mechanized voice chilled her to the core.

  She gasped. No one knew about Jared. No one except the private investigator she’d hired.

  “I know more about you than you know about yourself, Miss Jamison. You picked a man with a lot of zeroes in his bank account to sleep with. I’m sure on purpose. That’s what all women want, isn’t it? A man with money.”

  Her grip tightened until her knuckles paled with the effort. She motioned with frantic movements at Jared before tapping the speakerphone on. He hustled over to her and grabbed his phone from the table.

  “You think you deserve what Jared King can buy you, don’t you?” the inhuman voice taunted.

  She glanced over his shoulder. Jared was sending a text asking if CTC could trace the call.

  Keep him talking, Jared mouthed.

  “Please—”

  “Don’t bother to beg. So, you discovered your father’s broke, hmm. And now you’re begging another man for my fee.”

  Courtney met Jared’s gaze and she could see the shock in his eyes. Could he have been responsible for her father’s financial meltdown?

  “Well, time’s up. Can’t have anyone tracking my location, now can we? But, Miss Jamison, don’t forget, you can’t hide, no matter where you are.”

  A gunshot rang out from outside. Courtney’s heart seized. “Oh my God. Dylan.”

  She raced down the hallway, Jared on her heels.

  “Courtney, let me—”

  She wasn’t about to wait. She slammed open the door.

  Her baby lay sound asleep. Her knees buckled.

  Roscoe raced into the room. “Angel Maker’s loose! He took down Tim and he’s on a rampage.”

  “You’ll have to corral him.” Jared clasped Courtney’s arm. “I can’t leave them alone. Angel Maker may have caused trouble but he didn’t get out of that pen without help. It’s a diversion.”

  Roscoe gave Jared a frustrated look and ran out the door.

  A diversion. Courtney strode over to the crib. A small stuffed bull sat propped against the side, not far from her soon.

  She scooped him up and thrust the stuffed animal at Jared. “He was here. He was in this room.”

  Chapter Four

  Jared pushed Courtney behind him. His pulse raced so fast his heart slammed into his chest. Impossible. The house was as secure as he could make it. The guest room had only three ways in and out. The door and two small windows. Jared gripped the Glock. While the orange-red setting sun glared at him, he checked the latches, but both locks were secure. He scanned the room. Nothing appeared out of place.

  He searched the bathroom, under the bed and the closet. All clear.

  “Dylan’s not going to be without one of us. Ever,” Jared said, tapping on his phone. “Roscoe, I need a report. Where’d the shot come from? Was the shooter one of ours or a trespasser?”

  “It came from behind the barn. I don’t know who,” Roscoe said. “Damn. All hell’s broken loose.”

  Understatement of the year.

  Shouting peppered the phone call’s background. He could hear Roscoe questioning the others. Jared fought back his frustration. Normally, he would’ve been out there with his men, but he’d have to trust his foreman to take care of things. Courtney and Dylan needed him there.

  He glanced over at her. She hovered in the doorway, poised to run, holding Dylan against her chest, her protection unflinching. Damn, she was brave. Their son whimpered and she jostled the baby in an attempt to calm him.

  “In here.” Jared covered the phone’s speaker and motioned to her. “Stay in the corner away from the windows.”

  She couldn’t take her eyes off the small stuffed animal he’d tossed on the floor but followed his instructions anyway. For now, as far as Jared was concerned, this room was the only safe place on his ranch because he’d checked every inch.

  “None of the hands fired,” Roscoe said. “It had to be someone else. Frank said he saw some large tire tracks behind the barn. I’ll check on it.”

  With an eye on his son, Jared mouthed a harsh curse. Criswell’s F-350 was a big truck. Could the Criswells be behind this? “I want everyone on guard duty to stay at their posts. Don’t let Angel Maker distract the hands if it compromises security. You got it? And find out who’s trespassing on my land.”

  “On it.”

  “Velma!” Jared shouted down the hall.

  Within seconds the housekeeper appeared in the doorway, her chest heaving. “What’s wrong?”

  “Someone was in the house. He made it to the guest room. Did you see anything? Hear anything?”

  Velma slapped her hand over her mouth. “Is Dylan okay?”

  “The baby’s fine,” Courtney said, her voice husky with emotion. She pointed at the stuffed blue bull. “The intruder left that.”

  “Oh my.” Velma sagged against the wall. “I’m sorry, Jared. I didn’t think you’d—” She cleared her throat. “I brought that toy to him, dearie. I picked it up at the rodeo a few years ago. Since the little guy didn’t have anything to play with...”

  Jared wanted to sag to the floor in relief. The blackmailer hadn’t penetrated the house.

  “It was you?” Blindly, Courtney sank onto the bed, blinking back tears. “He wasn’t here. He hasn’t found us?”

  Velma rushed across the room and patted Courtney’s knee. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  No one could fake that response. Jared’s doubt that Courtney had orchestrated an elaborate scheme for money faded to almost nothing. Which ratcheted up his concern. They were in danger from two fronts now.

  He couldn’t afford to make the assumption the blackmailer wasn’t outside, not with the cell phone a homing beacon. The Criswells may have freed Angel Maker, but Jared didn’t believe in coincidence either. The chaos that bull caused would make the perfect distraction for either the blackmailer or the Criswell’s.

  Damn it. Jared resented being under siege. With Courtney and Dylan
so vulnerable, his hands wouldn’t be enough. “Bring Dylan,” he said to Courtney. “No one’s alone until I secure the house.”

  He entered the kitchen. A large pot of Velma’s famous Texas chili bubbled on the stove. She hurried over to give it a stir before turning down the heat.

  Jared opened the back door and checked the double lock he’d recently installed. “No sign of tampering.” One of his hands gave Jared a brief nod. The man’s rifle was handy and he stood at the ready with a good view.

  After inspecting the front door, Jared headed to the cellar’s steps, Courtney and Velma behind him. He made his way down slowly, cautiously, every so often looking back at the two women standing at the top of the stairs.

  He flipped on the light. It flickered against the inky darkness of the root cellar. Light glinted off the small glass window just below the ground level. “We’re vulnerable here,” Jared said. “A man could just squeeze through if he kicked in the glass.”

  Jared studied the shelves holding Velma’s canned fruits and vegetables. They lined the room. He’d never wired this room for security. Huge mistake. He grabbed a couple of two-by-fours that leaned against the wall and climbed the stairs. After locking the door he jammed one plank under the brass handle and braced it with the other piece.

  “That should hold for now.”

  “You think he’s out there?” Courtney asked. “The man who threatened Dylan.”

  “I don’t know. But I don’t believe in coincidences, so until I’m convinced this house is completely secure, I’m not letting either one of you out of my sight.”

  * * *

  JARED HATED WAITING more than anything. It had been over an hour, and here he sat at the kitchen table, his hand resting lightly on the Glock. Just across from him Courtney fed Dylan. At any other time, the picture in front of him might have made Jared smile. More food ended up on the baby’s face than in his stomach. But he couldn’t get the tight feeling from balling in his gut. The stuffed blue bull had been a hit, but whenever Jared glanced at the toy, another what-if ping-ponged through his mind.

  Velma had apologized several times for not asking if she could give Dylan the toy. It wasn’t her fault, of course. It was the blackmailer’s. His note would keep them all on edge until he was caught. For now, they waited.

  A too quiet Velma hovered near the oven. After a fight with bread dough she had two loaves rising and a batch of Jared’s favorite cookies in the oven. Snickerdoodles.

  The sweet scent of cinnamon and sugar wafted through the house. The picture should have been the epitome of a blissful home. Instead, the house had become a fortress.

  Jared’s leg bounced beneath the table. He’d rounded the rooms a half-dozen times, letting Roscoe and the hands take care of the pandemonium outside.

  Courtney fought to convince Dylan to eat another bite of mashed potatoes.

  “Jared never did like anything white, either,” Velma said. “He’d spit it out. I finally added bacon bits and cheese and he’d scarf those down.”

  “Potatoes are boring,” Jared said, willing to go along with Velma’s attempt to keep things normal.

  “Dylan’s favorite is spinach.” Courtney made a halfhearted attempt at a smile. “I don’t know where he gets it from. I like raw, but not cooked.”

  A loud pounding rattled the back door. Jared rose, weapon drawn. Courtney and Velma froze. Dylan grabbed the spoon and shoved it partway into his mouth.

  “It’s me,” Roscoe’s voice shouted.

  Jared inched open the door. When he saw only his foreman, he stepped aside. “What the hell took so long?”

  “First we had to corral that damn beast. After we finagled Angel Maker back into his pen and calmed down the horses, I still had to figure out what happened.” Hat in hand, Roscoe limped into the kitchen and sagged into a chair. “Someone let the son of Satan out. Nearly broke Tim in two when the idiot tried to stop the beast, got me in the hip. I’ll be lucky if I can get out of bed tomorrow. Frank’s taking the kid to the clinic in town and I’ve got Lloyd watching the east side of the house until they get back.”

  “Did someone just waltz in and open the gate?”

  “Oh, whoever did this was smarter than that. We found one of the pins missing. Could’ve been done anytime. Angel Maker had to hit the fence just right to take down the gate. Hell, the Criswells could’ve pulled the pin days ago.” Roscoe shook his head. “That shot spooked him just the right way. This was way more than digging up a few posts.”

  Jared stared out the window, running through the last month and the last day in his head. “Maybe that’s why Chuck was so jumpy today. He knew the gate could give way at any moment.”

  “You really believe letting the bull loose was about your ranch and not Dylan?” Courtney asked.

  “Not everything’s about you, city girl.” The foreman scowled.

  “Roscoe,” Jared warned. “If the blackmailer wanted to create a distraction to leave Courtney and Dylan alone, he failed.” Jared tapped his fingers on the table. “Right now, my money’s on Chuck Criswell being stupid enough to fire that shot. Who else but a cowboy would use a bull as a weapon?”

  “Sheriff needs to throw Criswell in jail and let him stew for a while,” Roscoe said, frowning. “I bet he can take pictures of the tire tracks behind the barn and match ’em up.”

  Jared cleared his throat and met Courtney’s gaze. “About that. Take the pictures yourself. I’ve asked Sheriff Redmond to back off the investigation for a while. We’ll handle it ourselves.”

  The foreman let out a loud curse.

  “We got a kid here, Roscoe.”

  “What are you thinking?” he said. “The Criswells will just keep coming. They could hurt someone. Or worse.”

  “You’re right.” Jared turned to face his foreman. “So, I want everyone armed until CTC brings in extra security. Identify who’s willing to stand guard. Get back to me on the schedule. My highest priority is a 24/7, 360-degree view on the house. I don’t want one foot in a blind spot. Whoever’s left will keep an eye on our critical buildings. Have the men eat and shower in shifts until further notice.”

  “We’ve got stock scheduled for delivery,” Roscoe reminded him. “If we don’t meet those obligations we’ll take a huge hit to the ranch’s reputation.”

  “Send an armed contingency with them. If Ned or Chuck let out Angel Maker, they’re willing to do anything.”

  “Got it.” Roscoe rose from the table, shot Courtney a sour look and limped away.

  “I don’t think he likes me much,” she said.

  “He doesn’t like the situation. He likes you just fine,” Jared said, locking the door behind his foreman.

  She gave him an astonished look. Jared shrugged. “Well, he’s just not all that fond of citified women.”

  “Citified?”

  “That’s one way of putting it.” Velma let out a small guffaw and pulled the cookies from the oven.

  “Life on a ranch doesn’t always agree with city folks.” Jared peered over Velma’s shoulder at the cookies. “Tell me the truth, Courtney. It’s hours to the nearest museum, symphony or even a traveling Broadway show. How happy could you be in a small town where the biggest excitement is a barn raising or the annual July Fourth barbecue?”

  “Touché.” She sent him a considering look. “It’s not exactly what I’m used to.”

  Even though Jared had expected her agreement, it didn’t stop the small pang in the region of his heart. Where was his head? He had to remember she wouldn’t be staying.

  So why did he have to keep thinking and hoping she might? And why did he have to like her so much?

  She’d ignited something in him from the moment they’d met. A smile lit her eyes. Even in New York, something genuine exuded from deep inside her. He’d been drawn to her immediately.

  She was confident, beautiful and
passionate. He’d known that from the start. Now he recognized so much more. She valued their son over her own safety or comfort. Nothing citified about her love for Dylan. That was pure country.

  “Roscoe has his reasons.” Velma set a plate of warm snickerdoodles in the middle of the table interrupting his thoughts. “He met a girl in Dallas at a stock sale and fell head over heels. He brought her to visit the ranch. She took one look at the place and hightailed it out of here so fast her feet didn’t touch the dirt. Kind of soured him. Not saying it’s right. It just is.”

  The housekeeper sent a pointed glance to Jared. He knew what she was thinking. No need to mention Alyssa’s first step onto the Last Chance Ranch. His wife had been shocked when he’d brought her home. Roscoe and Velma had both been skeptical, but Alyssa had tried to fit in. Prejudice went both ways. Jared would never know if she would’ve come to love the ranch like he did.

  “No.” Dylan closed his mouth and turned away from the spoon.

  “He’s finished.” Courtney wiped his face. “I need to change and feed him. Is it safe to use the bedroom now?”

  Jared rubbed his temple. “More than likely, but I’m not taking any chances. Until CTC beefs up the security.” He stood up. “Until then, I’ll go with you.”

  Courtney stood and hitched Dylan on her hip. “You know I’ll be feeding him, right?”

  “He just ate.” What was she talking about?

  “I need to feed him.” Her cheeks reddened and Jared realized what she’d been trying to say. “Oh, I see. We’ll figure it out. But I’m not leaving you alone.”

  He followed her toward the guest room. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been more uncomfortable around a woman in his life. What had he gotten himself into? If he hadn’t been terrified for her safety, he would have disappeared into the barn.

  “Don’t close the door,” he said, planting himself in the hallway.

  She nodded and disappeared inside the bedroom, shutting the door behind her halfway.

  Jared hovered in the hallway tempted by her soft whispers and quiet laughs. He knew nothing about babies unless they were the four-legged, barnyard variety. Had no idea how long changing Dylan would take, much less feeding him, but he clearly was the outsider in this endeavor.