Cowboy's Secret Son

by Robin Perini

  He’d strapped a heavy weight belt to her waist, but she could stand up if she wanted. Except the moment she moved off this chair, he’d shoot her son.

  He was in control.

  The baby had been screaming for close to an hour. She winced at the loud hiccups.

  “Ma. Ma,” he sobbed. “Ma. Ma.”

  They were in big trouble. She had to find a way to save herself and her son, but she had no idea how to do that.

  The rumble of an engine dragged her attention away from her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat, reigniting hope within her.

  Jared’s old truck pulled up to the edge of the pier. He jumped out with a duffel bag.

  His eyes widened when he saw her, and then his gaze whipped toward the sound of their crying son in the boat. He walked down the pier, his face obscured by the darkening sky.

  Even then she’d never seen him so tense, strained, or so angry.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, not sure if he could hear her.

  “Stop,” the kidnapper’s mechanized voice ordered through a bullhorn once Jared had made it halfway down the wooden planks.

  Courtney kept working her wrists. With the man distracted, maybe she could reach the knife. The problem was, any wrong move and he would kill Dylan.

  Jared lifted the bag. “Here’s the money. I came alone. How about we end this now? You take the money. We forget this ever happened. Just let them go.”

  The man pointed the barrel of a pistol at the car seat. “I don’t think so.”

  “No. Please don’t,” Courtney shouted, desperately wanting to stand and beg, but knowing if she moved, Dylan’s life was forfeit. He’d warned her enough when he’d forced her to sit in that chair.

  “Shut up,” the kidnapper ordered. “Or I kill him anyway.”

  Her gaze flew to Jared’s. He’s not bluffing, she mouthed. He’s crazy. He will do it.

  “I know,” Jared said as quietly as he could. He exuded a calm confidence she didn’t think she would ever feel again. She prayed he had a plan.

  He lifted his chin, his expression determined and indomitable. He did. He had something in mind.

  “Here’s the way we play this game, Jared. A little different from five years ago, isn’t it? You have two people you love. Two people you want to save.

  “But you can’t save them both.” The man chuckled. “You have a choice. But first things first. There’s a small boat right off the pier next to your lover. Put the money in it.”

  Jared walked the remainder of the way on the pier and lowered the duffel into the fiberglass craft.

  He was within reach of her and she looked up at him. He was tall and strong and she couldn’t imagine anyone she’d trust more to save their son.

  “Excellent,” the kidnapper said.

  A small motor burst to life and the remote-controlled boat puttered across the lake, past the swimming platform, heading toward the opposite edge.

  “You have what you want, let them go,” Jared said. He paused. “Please.”

  “I don’t have near what I want. We haven’t finished our transaction.”

  Courtney’s gut hurt at the malevolence in the man’s voice. She closed her eyes. Please. Save Dylan.

  “I control you. Your every move. I have what you want. Finally. What I should have had from the beginning.”

  “Who are you?” Jared asked.

  “Your conscience. Your nightmare?” The man chuckled. “It doesn’t matter who I am. What matters is you will always remember this moment. Because you will have to live with your choice.”

  Dylan’s cries grew softer, more tired.

  “Sounds like your kid wants this to be over. So do I. It’s time to choose. Your lover or your son.”

  “No, you can’t do that!” Courtney shouted.

  “I’m in control. I can do whatever I want.” His mechanized laughter filtered across the water from the boat. “You can save one of them. If you choose the baby. I leave him here on the platform for you to save, but you, you must push her in the water and let her go. If you try to save her, your son will die.

  “If you choose her, I throw the kid into the water and he drowns.”

  He lifted a heavy dumbbell tied to rope. It was attached to the car seat.

  Jared’s entire body froze, but she could see the agony in his eyes.

  “You don’t have to do this,” he said. “You have the money. Please. I’m begging you. What do I have to do?”

  “I like you begging me, Jared. Makes you humble.” The man laughed. “Would you give me everything you have? Your money, the house, the land, the oil?”

  “Take it all.” Jared’s voice had grown desperate. “Whatever you want. Just let them live.”

  “Get on your knees. Beg me.”

  Jared didn’t hesitate. He hit the wooden pier as if in prayer. “I’m begging you. Do whatever you want to do to me. Just let them go.”

  Tears streamed down Courtney’s face. This wasn’t what either of them had expected. There was no way they were getting out of this alive.

  The man just laughed. Then suddenly he stopped.

  “Choose. Now. If you don’t make the choice, I’ll shoot the boy, then her. You’ll lose them both.”

  Jared stood up. He looked at Courtney, then at his son. She could tell he was weighing his chances of saving them both.

  The distance was too great. This was impossible.

  “You betting I can’t hit her? Think again. The pistol might suck for accuracy.” The man held up a rifle. “It’s not that tough of a shot.”

  The words ended Courtney’s hope for herself. A strange peace swept through her body. She raised her gaze to the man she’d grown to love, the man who would sacrifice his life for them if he could.

  “Jared.” Courtney’s voice was calm. “You have to save Dylan. He’s all that matters. We agreed.”

  He stared at her, his eyes frantic. “I can save you both,” he muttered under his breath. “I promise.”

  “I have faith in you.” Courtney swallowed. “But I don’t trust him.”

  She shifted slightly and her eyes welled. She blinked. “I never told you this, but I love you, Jared. From the moment we met.”

  “Courtney—”

  “You’re a good father,” she said. “Please tell Dylan that I loved him with all my heart.”

  With that one statement, Courtney stood and jumped into the water, sinking like a stone.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jared watched in horror as Courtney disappeared beneath the water. He knew with the weight around her waist she’d disappear below the surface and end up on the bottom of the twenty-five-foot expanse.

  This couldn’t be happening again. The man sitting in the boat cursed. “Damn her. I wanted you to make the choice!”

  A shot rang out. The man fell to the side. Dylan screamed.

  Jared’s gaze flew to Léon’s location two hundred yards as the crow flies. It had been an unbelievable shot, but Léon was a pro.

  Blake Redmond raced from his hiding place across the lake and commandeered a waiting boat.

  Knowing his child would be safe in moments, Jared yanked off his boots and dove into the water. The lake was lower than normal and murky. The last bit of light muted even more as he swam down to the cold depths. He squinted, barely able to make out strange shadowy shapes.

  A horrifying sense of déjà vu nearly suffocated him. This time it would end differently. Desperate, Jared reached out for the base of the pier. She’d gone down right beside it. He could follow the post.

  His hand encountered a thick wooden support and he used it as a guide. Down deeper and deeper he dove. His lungs protested but Jared wasn’t about to go back up for air. Not without Courtney.

  Darkness engulfed him.

  No. This wasn’t happeni
ng again. Not like before. Suddenly, out of nowhere he made out a murky figure hunched in the water. He kicked to her and clutched her arm. She shook him away and he realized she was using the knife he’d given her to free herself from the weighted belt. He shoved her hands to the side, pulled out his combat knife and finished the job.

  The belt fell free. She slumped forward and grew heavy in his arms.

  Don’t do this, Courtney.

  He wrapped his arm around her waist and kicked for all he could to the surface. He broke through the water and sucked in a deep breath. Her turned her in his arms and his heart sank back down to the lake’s floor.

  She was limp in his arms.

  “Give her to me,” Léon shouted above him. The CTC operative leaned over the pier, hands outstretched. Jared lifted her up and Léon dragged her onto the wooden platform.

  He rolled her over just as Jared climbed onto the pier.

  “She was moving just seconds ago,” he shouted, moving to Courtney’s side.

  Jared bent over her. “Come on, Courtney.”

  He turned her head to the side and some water escaped her mouth. “That’s it,” he urged. He placed his hands on her neck and waited for the beat of life.

  Nothing. He had to get her heart started.

  He placed his hands over her heart and started compressions. Ten, twenty beats.

  No. This couldn’t be happening. He tilted her head back. “Courtney, you’ve got a son who needs you. I need you.”

  He breathed into her mouth. Once, twice, and felt for her pulse. Was that a small thready sign of life?

  A bolt of energy washed over him. “You can do it. Fight. For Dylan.”

  He rested his cheek against her lips. Still no air movement.

  He puffed in another two breaths. Then two more.

  He turned her to her side and pounded her back.

  Her lungs heaved. Water spewed from her mouth and she jerked against him. She turned on her side expelling the water from her lungs.

  Léon looked at Jared a wide grin on his face. “Hallelujah.”

  Jared bent over Courtney and cupped her face in his hands. “Welcome back,” he whispered softly.

  She blinked up at him. “Dylan?”

  “Safe.” He pointed at the swimming platform in the center of the lake. Blake held their still-crying son in his arms.

  She sagged against him, her shaky arms winding around him. “I—”

  Jared helped her sit up and pulled her close. “Are you crazy?” He squeezed her tight. “Don’t ever do that again.”

  She looked up at him again. “Wouldn’t you have done the same?”

  “That’s not the point.” He glared at her, then rocked her close to him, kissing her temple, her cheeks and finally her lips. “I almost lost you.”

  “I know.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “But you didn’t. You saved our son. You saved us both.”

  She opened her clenched hand. The folded knife lay in her palm.

  “You cut the way through most of the strap,” Jared said. “I don’t know if I could have gotten you out in time.”

  “I had to fight. For you. For our son. I knew you’d save Dylan even if I didn’t make it, but the truth is, you need me. I haven’t even showed you how to change a diaper yet.”

  She smiled at him and lay her head softly against his chest. “Thank you.”

  Jared nodded to Léon. “Tell Ransom, thank you.”

  “This will be one for the record books.”

  They all watched as Blake maneuvered the boat toward them. The soft growl of the drew closer, the remote control craft with the duffel of money floating behind.

  The boat tapped the edge of the pier. Dylan reached up to Jared and he grabbed the boy in his arms, hugging him tightly before handing him over to Courtney.

  She held him close, checking every inch. “Jelly Bean.”

  “Mama,” he hiccupped.

  “He’s okay.”

  She held her son close and Jared wrapped his arms around both of them. His cheek rested against her hair. He closed his eyes and said a thankful prayer.

  A thud drew his attention. Blake and Léon had moved the body to the pier. He lay there, still masked and anonymous, half the back of his head was gone.

  “I had to take the head shot so he couldn’t pull the trigger on reflex,” Léon said.

  “Who is it?” Jared asked. “Who hated me enough to kill the innocent.”

  Blake knelt beside the body and peeled the ski mask up.

  Jared gasped. His knees gave way.

  “No. It can’t be.” He shook his head back and forth at the very familiar face.

  “Derek Hines?” He shook his head back and forth. “He was my best friend for years. I trusted him with my life. We had him guarding the house.”

  The lapping of the water against the pier was the only sound for several minutes.

  “Why? Why would he do this?”

  * * *

  THE SMALL CARDER hospital was going to drive her crazy. Courtney lay in the bed. Every doctor, nurse and staffer had found a reason to visit.

  A teenage candy striper poked her head through the door. “Do you need anything, ma’am?” she asked with a giggle.

  “Thank you, no.”

  She fought not to snap. The residents of Carder were doing everything in their power to make her feel at home. Actually, it was too much of a good thing.

  She glanced over at Jared and he chuckled. “I could put up a do-not-disturb sign.”

  “Do you think it would work?” She couldn’t stop the hope from lingering in her voice.

  “Not a chance. You’re famous,” he said. “The woman who was willing to give her life for her son.” All humor left Jared’s face. “I’m sorry I put you in that position. I should never have let it get that far.”

  “It’s not your fault. It’s his,” Courtney said, wishing she could wipe the guilt from his face. He’d made it possible for her to save herself and then he’d saved her. Didn’t he understand they were in this together?

  “Doctor says I can leave as soon as he finishes my paperwork,” she said, hoping for a response.

  Jared nodded and patted Dylan’s back. He adjusted his position a bit. Dylan lay against his shoulder, perfectly content to be in his father’s arms. “He looks good in your arms,” she murmured.

  Jared glanced down at the baby. “I can’t stop looking at him, checking his fingers and toes, watching him breathe.”

  “I felt that way every day for a long time after I brought him home from the hospital.”

  “So I’ll get used to it?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No. Because he’s a miracle.”

  “You both are.” Jared cleared his throat. “We’ve never talked about it, but I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, when you were pregnant, when you gave birth to him. I hope you know I would have been there. If you’d wanted me.”

  “I know,” she said. “I’m sorry you missed out on so much.”

  Jared brushed a lock of hair from the baby’s forehead. “He likes horses.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  Courtney kept silent. She could see he wanted to say something, and her entire body shimmered with anticipation.

  Were they thinking the same thing? How was she supposed to get around to asking the question she longed to ask?

  She breathed in deeply. She’d just have to do it. If the last few days had taught her one thing it was not to wait, but to grab on to life with both hands and shove fear aside. Carpe diem. Seize the day had never become more real.

  Before she could, a sharp knock sounded at the door and Léon walked into her room with another man.

  “This is Zane Westin, CTC’s ace computer whiz, in the flesh. He’s been delving into Derek Hines’s secret
life. The man kept meticulous notes, obsessively so. I thought you’d want to know what we’ve discovered, but first I wanted to make certain you knew that the BOLO’s been rescinded. You won’t be arrested if you travel to New York.”

  Courtney’s gaze flew to Jared. Even in the celebration of returning to the ranch, Jared had been tortured. Roscoe was inconsolable. Neither of them could understand why Derek could’ve been the man behind that ski mask.

  “Secret life?” Jared asked.

  “Everything he told you and his father since he left the military was a lie,” Zane said. “He never earned a degree, but he did run some cons and he was good at ferreting out information.” Zane glanced back and forth between Courtney and Jared.

  “Tell them,” Léon said.

  “He’s been obsessed for a long time with your family and your ranch.” Zane pulled out a file folder. “Jared, he met your first wife in a bar the week before you did. From his writings he thought he was in love with her.”

  “Strange. I remember we went to the bar together when I met Alyssa.” Jared’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “He never said anything.”

  “Evidently, she fell hard for you, when his intention had been to show her off,” Zane commented. “He wrote dozens of draft emails in his system, letters he never sent to her, begging her for a chance, threatening you to leave her alone. When he finally sent one of the emails, she didn’t remember him. Once she chose you, it sent him over the edge. When you married something inside of him snapped. He blamed you for everything in his life that didn’t work.”

  “This doesn’t make sense. We were friends. We confided in each other.”

  “He kept a lot of secrets and they burned a hole in his gut. He never told anyone. He believed his father would rather have had you for a son. He became obsessed with taking everything away from you. When Chuck Criswell started his destruction campaign, Derek took a lot of pleasure in our investigation. He took the shot at Angel Maker to spook the horse. He had no idea the pin had been removed and the bull would get out. He found the irony amusing. He also salted the water and gassed the quarter horse barns.”

  “He almost killed his own father.”