“I know. I read some of the geological reports. And I see the news. Immigrants are pouring across this year because the water level’s so low. The river’s broad there, so the flow isn’t as strong in a lot of places. And Rebel loves swimming. We built him up again after his injury using hydrotherapy.”
“Well thought out,” he said, nodding slightly. “But—no.”
“No, you don’t think it will work, or—”
“No, you can’t do it, AJ.” He turned, shifting her with him. They stood inches apart and AJ could feel the heat from their bodies searing the air around them.
“AJ, you’ll have Robbie. If Mike decides to claim paternity, you might have to fight, but I’m sure, in spite of his money, you’d have legal standing. I mean, he didn’t even want Gordito for a year. He kept him hidden away. Rosa would testify to that.” He put his hands on her cheeks, stilling her when she would have shaken her head in frustration.
“I will do everything humanly possible to get Rebel back to you somehow. But if I let you take him now, there’s no way to dupe Towers. No way to draw Bone in and try to catch him.” His hands fell away and he finished, “No way to rescue my uncle. Or help Emily. I can’t let Rebel go, AJ. Not only that—once I know you’re out of reach, I’m telling Mike who you are. I think he’ll want to be sure you won’t move against him to recover Rebel. But he’s too greedy not to try to turn a profit. He’ll call Bone. I really think that he will—if I get out of the mess when Robbie disappears.” He moved a step or two away. “AJ, I’m not going to see you after tonight, at least—not until—maybe someday.” He forced a stiff smile. “But I’ll always hope that someday comes, AJ. You’re … something else.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I’ll be gone around eight thirty. You and Rosa need to leave around nine.” He shrugged. “I’ll stow a few things in the trunk. But you can’t come back, AJ.”
“Mike won’t be back—”
“Unless something gets screwed up. AJ, listen to me. Don’t risk coming back.”
She wouldn’t lie to him by agreeing. But she had to let him know, just in case something got screwed up, how much he’d come to mean to her. Her protector, her nephew’s angel, her sister’s reluctant hero. The first man she wished she could take a chance on.
“Goodbye, AJ,” he finished and turned away.
She caught his arm before he could leave, pulling him around. “Chance, thank you,” she whispered. “For Gina, for Robbie—for everything.” She reached up to kiss his cheek, but he turned, his lips meeting hers. Her hands traced over his face, twining in his hair, and he deepened the kiss, his mouth teasing hers open, one arm bracing her shoulders, the other hand sliding down over the curve of her bottom, then cupping her and lifting her against him.
She moaned and ran her teeth gently over his neck, protesting with an inarticulate moan as he moved away.
“Anybody could walk in here,” he pointed out.
“The office—”
“Has cameras. We’re so close, AJ. If we get out of this—” He leaned in and kissed her again, gently this time, and grinned. “If we get out of this, we’ll get a room.”
She giggled, in spite of an urge to break into tears. She didn’t argue, though she wanted to rip off his clothes, risk everything. But she behaved, in spite of the heat burning through her, in spite of the dampness and ache between her legs.
“Goodbye, AJ,” Chance whispered, and placed one last, lingering kiss on her mouth.
“Get up to the house so I can tell Santos to let the dogs loose,” he ordered, back to being head of security. “Everything needs to look normal tonight.” He headed toward the door and paused. “Ten minutes with Rebel,” he told her and she heard a catch in his voice. “That’s all I can give you.” He looked at her one last time, and his eyes glistened, but he walked away.
She glanced at the stall door. Rebel watched her, head alert, ears pricked.
She ignored him, in spite of his plaintive nicker, and went back to the house, Chance’s stricken face haunting her, tears streaming down her own face. Knowing that tomorrow, she would see him one last time.
She knew he thought he could keep Rebel safe, but she knew he couldn’t. She could imagine Mike Towers’s rage when he found out who she was. She didn’t doubt Towers had killed those horses, not Chance’s uncle.
But she couldn’t sacrifice Rebel. Chance wasn’t stupid. He’d have to leave once she’d taken Rebel and gone.
• • •
The traffic crawling across International Bridge One wasn’t particularly heavy for a week day morning. She hated that she was driving Gina’s car, one that apparently hadn’t been used since long before her death. She almost felt Gina’s presence in the sedan, with the rosary hanging from the rearview mirror and a unicorn-shaped air freshener dangling from one of the knobs on the panel.
The light leading to the inspection booth went green and the car crept forward. Tiny beads of perspiration dotted her hairline, something she hoped could be blamed on the heat. She stopped and opened the window as the officer peered in, and she and Rosa gave their citizenship papers. The Customs officer leaned in a little to look at Robbie, sleeping soundly in his carrier. A second officer circled the car with one of the drug-sniffing dogs. The dog made a precursory circle and then the officer moved away to the vehicle behind them, and the woman who had asked their citizenship nodded, wished them a good day, and stepped back as they drove away.
AJ wanted to let out a victory shriek, or throw herself across the seat and hug Rosa. She didn’t, aware that cameras were on almost every post, and that the odyssey wasn’t over yet. As soon as they turned onto Convent Avenue, though, heading away from downtown Laredo, she let out a heartfelt “Yes!” and Rosa crossed herself and closed her eyes in prayer.
“Do we need to stop anywhere?” AJ asked and Rosa shook her head. “I have food, diapers, and clothes enough for today—for a couple of days. We’re going to have to let Emily and Robbie get comfortable.”
“How well do you know Emily?” AJ pressed, still concerned about Emily’s reaction. “She … she seems to have emotional issues.”
“Chance said that she’ll be okay. We’ll deal with problems when they happen,” Rosa answered. They drove in silence, AJ cautious as she drove through the town she had been born in, but had been away from, for so long.
“Can’t believe how much this town has grown,” she told Rosa. “Very different from the East. Philadelphia’s so much bigger, but Mom’s stable is down in Florida. She’s on the outskirts of Ocala, which is much smaller.”
Rosa smiled and nodded, but didn’t comment. Then she looked across at AJ and sighed. “It feels weird, knowing I’ve put revenge aside for good, now.”
“Because of me,” AJ said. Something else I didn’t think about.
“No, it was just time,” Rosa murmured. “I realized I couldn’t kill someone. Killing Mike would have served no purpose.”
Robbie stirred in the back, opening his eyes wide when he found himself somewhere new. Rosa laughed and twisted to caress his cheek, and AJ risked a quick glance in the mirror, her heart bursting with happiness. And love. Gina’s son—her nephew—was on his way home.
“Do you think we should call him Alex instead of Robbie?” AJ asked, as she pulled up outside Emily’s fence. “Because the baby she lost, they’d been going to name him Robert—to call him Beto, but since they’re both Roberts—”
Rosa chewed her lip as she climbed out, then shook her head. “No. Robbie would be confused. When the time comes, I’m sure she’ll understand that you must take him.”
Emily came out just then, her face joyful. “Chance called me earlier,” she said, hugging both women and taking Robbie away from Rosa. “He told me you’d stay for a bit. Come on in.” She ignored them and went in, carrying Robbie tenderly.
AJ and Rosa exchanged glances, and AJ shrugged. “Let’s hope this doesn’t get out of hand.” She sighed. “Guess we can carry the rest of the stuff.”
The next two hours passed in a blur. Watching Robbie explore new surroundings filled AJ with joy. When he spotted Emily’s cat Duchess on top of a bookshelf, he managed to pull himself up and take a hesitant step forward before he sat down with a thud.
Too bad Chance isn’t here. AJ stood and stretched, then smiled at the other women. “Time to go,” she said.
“Okay, dear. When are you coming back?”
“Tomorrow.” After that, Mike Towers would be back. And anything not accomplished would be over. Forever.
“What?” Rosa jumped up. “That’s not … you’re not supposed to leave, AJ.”
Emily got up to rescue a porcelain swan from Robbie’s grasp. “Bring Chance next time,” she encouraged. Robbie suddenly crawled toward the kitchen with a burst of new energy, and Emily hurried after him.
“AJ, you know Chance told you to stay. When María realizes Robbie and I are gone, she’ll call Mike. You know that! Mike could be back in three or four hours, or he could hire a plane and be back even faster. You can’t go.”
“I have to, Rosa.”
“Does Chance know you’re going back?”
AJ didn’t answer. “Look, Rosa, I left a couple of things there I need to pick up. I’ll be back.”
“You’re going after the horse.”
“Yes.”
“You are being so stupid!” Rosa’s voice shook with fury. “Listen to me, AJ Owens. You have a duty to your sister’s child. You cannot have everything. And if you get Chance killed—because you could—not to mention yourself, if Mike Towers finds out who you are and that you took Gordito—if you get Chance killed, I will curse you every day of my life!”
“Give Robbie a kiss for me, Rosa,” AJ whispered and left.
Chapter Nineteen
Chance leaned against the porch rail, taking in the manicured lawn and missing AJ. And Robbie and Rosa. The morning had seemed to go well. He’d gotten texts from Rosa and his aunt, telling him that everything had gone as planned. AJ was the only one who hadn’t reached out.
He sighed and sat down on the porch swing for a moment, leaning his head back against the edge of the seat. Memories of AJ pressed in. He’d told her he didn’t believe in ghosts, but she might be the woman who haunted him always. He closed his eyes, remembering the unexpected kiss that went from innocent to soul shattering in a heartbeat. If they never saw each other again—he wished he’d ignored all the danger. Swept her up and carried her into the office or an empty stall. He’d go crazy imagining.
Annoyed, he got back up and headed down to the stable on a whim. If the police verified to Mike that he’d been away from the ranch when Rosa and AJ took Robbie and fled, maybe—maybe—he’d get by with one last deception.
But he couldn’t get Rebel out. Mike would never buy that. Maybe he shouldn’t tell Mike who AJ was. He’d thought it would speed the process up, if Mike thought he might lose Rebel eventually. From now on, he couldn’t leave Rebel unwatched. He wondered how far Santos could be trusted for some extra money. Extra eyes on the horse to keep him safe.
He inspected the railings above Rebel’s stall, reassuring himself that the cameras were set. Mike could disable them, but he might not think of that, assuming he could just wipe them clean. And the cameras would play on the monitor but save video to his laptop.
His phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then swore violently and hurled it against the wall across the aisle, watching it fall apart. With fingers that shook with nerves and rage, he picked up the pieces, reassembling them and breathing a sigh of relief when it worked.
Then he headed toward the house to pick up the pieces after María confronted AJ.
Clearly traffic had been light, because Gina’s sedan pulled into its usual parking space before he made it all the way to the house. He slowed, not wanting to appear out of breath or panicked when he intercepted AJ. Don’t let María find her before I do … don’t.
But when he hurried through the kitchen, he could hear María’s harsh voice interrogating AJ.
“Look, María, I don’t answer to you,” AJ replied, a haughty tone in her voice that wouldn’t placate the older woman at all. “I told you, Rosa was worried about Robbie. She’s with him at a clinic. I would have told Chance, but I couldn’t find him.”
Good. She’d remembered his alibi and held to it.
“¿Qué pasa?” he asked, joining them.
“Ella se robo el niño,” María accused. “Ella y Rosa.”
“I told you—I told her,” AJ said, focusing on Chance. “Rosa took Robbie to his pediatrician in Laredo We didn’t steal him, for heaven’s sake. The doctor here was out, and Robbie had a fever. Rosa was worried, with Mike gone.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to go pick him up when she calls me.”
“Did Rosa think it was serious?”
“He just wasn’t himself,” AJ explained, hoping she wasn’t overacting. She shrugged. “Anyway, I don’t know much about kids.”
“María, doesn’t seem to me like there’s a problem here,” Chance said. “AJ, I spent the morning at the police station. Mike received another threat on his life.” He looked at her. “You left the ranch not long after we got it. I’m sure you had nothing to do with it, but—” He shrugged. “Would you step into the study and look at the message someone put in the mailbox for Mike?”
“Of all the—” AJ glared at him, then at María. “I don’t know which of you two is stupider. To accuse me—”
He frowned. They couldn’t afford drama right now. She must have picked up on his tenseness, because she fell silent and walked to the study wordlessly.
“María, I’ve told you before. You’d better be careful with AJ. Mike wouldn’t like to come home and find you’d pissed her off to the point she left.” He stalked away, hoping she’d picked up on the warning. He didn’t go immediately to the study, though, walking around, checking window latches, peering into the fireplace as if he thought someone had managed to conceal a weapon there, and hoping he wasn’t as bad an actor as AJ seemed to be.
When he finally entered the study and shut the door, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek.
“I am so sorry,” she apologized. “You knew I would come, though.”
Yeah. Yeah, he had. But she shouldn’t have.
His phone buzzed and he pulled it out. “Santos, what … ” He read the line of text and stared at it numbly.
“Santos just overheard two of the guards talking. Mike’s on his way back to the Nuevo Laredo airport in a private plane.”
“What?” AJ gasped.
The door opened without warning and AJ jumped. Chance looked across the room at María, who stood there gloating.
“You and Rosa should have been careful last night,” she said contemptuously. “No wonder you’re trash. That’s all your sister was, Joanie. Don Mike says he doesn’t know how he missed it.”
“Where are Rebel’s papers, AJ?” Chance hissed.
“At the trailer, in a metal box. Mom has copies—”
He didn’t listen to her, just glanced at the monitor on the desk. “Shit!” he cursed. “AJ, Mike just turned in. Get down to the stable, put a bridle on Rebel, and have him ready to run.”
She hesitated. “You?”
“I’m right behind you. Go!”
• • •
AJ’s heart slammed against the wall of her chest. Any minute she expected to be attacked by the guard dogs or cut down by gunshots. She could hear Chance running behind her, and knew he was protecting her. Still. She burst through the stable, grabbed Rebel’s bridle, and tried to put it on with shaking fingers.
The stallion fought the bit as usual and flung his head back, rolled his eyes. “Come on, boy,” she whispered, and got the bit in and the headstall over his ears. She led him out and Chance practically flung her up, then vaulted up himself.
“Go!” he shouted in her ear, balancing as the stallion danced and sidestepped under the unexpected weight of
a second rider. She squeezed Rebel and he spurted out of the barn and thundered down the path that headed toward the riverbank.
“Aim for the trees so they can’t follow us in the car,” Chance shouted, just as the sharp report of a rifle shot split the air. Rebel shied slightly and AJ slipped crazily, Chance almost falling, too.
Panicked by the shot, Rebel plunged into the trees, throwing his head up and slowing when branches hit him in the face, then thundering forward when AJ shouted, pushing him on.
In the distance, the sound of a helicopter starting up made them both swear and yell Rebel’s name. Another shot sounded and AJ risked a glance behind. She’d expected Jaime or the other guards, but a maniacal Mike Towers raced after them on a big pinto, raising his rifle to take another shot.
“Go, Rebel!” she shrieked.
“The helicopter’s registered in the States,” Chance shouted over the din. “Whoever’s in it won’t stop at the river.”
Rebel plunged on through the tall cane and undergrowth, panicked and unmanageable. The foliage ended on a clear strip of riverbank, and he lunged into the water without hesitation, flinging his head but not veering sharply enough.
Another shot rang out and terror gripped AJ. He’d hit Chance or Rebel if he kept shooting.
Incredibly, over the rotors growing closer and the echo of the gunshot, she heard it—the distinctive, high-pitched wail. She glanced back again as Mike’s horse hit the water. The pinto threw its head up and plunged sideways. Mike had thrown on a saddle. He slipped and his rifle fell away, but he stayed upright. Cursing and slashing the horse with the reins, he drew a pistol from his waistband. The helicopter came over the trees.
“Damn! Bone’s in the chopper and he can shoot,” Chance muttered. “Come on, Rebel,” he pleaded, although AJ knew Rebel couldn’t move any faster. She felt it when he started swimming, slowing to almost a stop, then found his footing as they neared the other side and broke into a gallop again, his breathing unnaturally loud.
The wail behind them rose, and as Rebel clambered out on the far bank, Bone fired at them, missing. The bullet kicked up mud near Rebel’s hoof.
Texas Temptation Page 95
