“Yeah. Can you get me some clothes? I need to get out of here. They’re after me, and they’re not going to go away until I do.”
“Leaving won’t protect Jessica until you announce your departure, and that wouldn’t be smart.” Mike looked at his wife. “How’s his wound?”
“Healing nicely,” Caroline said. “He should be off the antibiotic in another twenty-four hours. It’ll take him a few days to regain his strength, but he’ll be as good as new.”
“Where are the clothes we brought him?” Mike asked. That question got Steve’s attention. “You brought me clothes? Then I can get out of here!”
“No, Steve,” Mike said at once. “We brought you clothes to preserve your modesty, that’s all. I thought I’d help you get dressed while I’m here.”
“He can probably use a trip to the bathroom, too,” Jessica added.
As Caroline came back into the room, a small stack of clothes in her hand, Mike asked her, “Can he take a shower?”
“I suppose so, but I just redid his bandage.” She looked at first Mike and then Steve. “Okay, go ahead. I’ll redo it when he gets out.”
“Thanks,” Steve muttered.
Jessica and Caroline went into the living room, since all Steve wore was his underwear.
“As soon as Mike gets him into the bathroom, we should remake the bed,” Caroline said.
“I don’t think there are any more clean sheets,” Jessica said, frowning.
“I brought some clean sheets in the bag with his clothes. I figured you’d be needing some. We can take your laundry home with us and wash it for you.”
“Thanks, Caro. You’re the best.”
As they made the bed, Jessica thought aloud. “Now that Steve’s getting better, I need a plan to keep him here.”
“Jess, what are you talking about? You can’t keep him here. He’s not a prize or…a puppy you brought home.”
“I know that, but I feel responsible for his safety. After all, I brought him here,” Jessica said, an unspoken plea in her voice.
“If you hadn’t, he would’ve died. This situation isn’t your fault,” Caroline assured her.
“I know that, but how is he going to escape and make it to Washington by himself?”
“I don’t see how you can help him,” Caroline returned.
“Now that he’s awake more, we can make a plan.”
“Your daddy’s not going to let you put yourself in danger any more than he can help it. You know that.”
“But, Caro—” Her response was cut short when the bathroom door opened and the men emerged, Mike helping Steve walk to his bed. His chest was still bare, giving Jessica a broad view of his wound for the first time. She drew in a sharp breath.
“We thought you should rebandage him before I help him with the T-shirt,” Mike said.
“Yes, of course,” Caroline agreed.
Jessica hurriedly turned down the covers. “We changed the sheets again.”
“Thanks,” Steve said, but it sounded more like a grunt. It was clear that the shower and trip to the bath had taken a lot out of him.
With Mike’s help, he slid his legs under the cover and lay back on the pillows Jessica had piled up.
“This won’t take long,” Caroline assured him. She quickly bandaged him and then reinserted the drip after Mike helped him put on a T-shirt. “There. How do you feel?”
“The shower helped a lot…and the clothes. Thank you both,” Steve said, actually managing a weak grin.
Caroline looked at Jessica. “I think a cup of hot chocolate might be appropriate right now. And Mike and I could use some coffee.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” Jessica jumped up and started for the kitchen.
“I’ll be right there to help you,” Caroline called after her. Then, she turned to her husband. “Jessica feels responsible for him, Mike. You’ve got to find a way to keep her safe,” she said in a whisper. Then she hurried out of the room.
“She’s not responsible,” Steve protested.
“You know that, and so do I,” Mike assured him. “Jessica, however, is another matter. She’s always been hardheaded, according to Caroline. Her parents weren’t happy about her running off to Hollywood, but they couldn’t stop her.”
Steve frowned ferociously. “You’ve got to do something. Take her downstairs and lock her up.”
“Stubbornness is not a reason to get arrested.”
“Don’t you see? That’s why I have to leave. I’ll lead the guys away from here.” Steve pleaded with the sheriff one more time. “Can’t you get me some shoes and a coat?”
Mike leaned against the wall. “Well, I could, but that would kind of put me between a rock and a hard place.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your doctor said it’s too early for you to go, and she’s my wife, and Jessica would be furious, and she’s my wife’s cousin.”
“How about the other doctor? I can’t remember his name.”
“That would be Jon Wilson. But he’s married to Jessica’s sister.”
“Oh.” Steve collapsed against the pillows again. “What am I going to do?”
“Is there anyone you’d trust to take the evidence to the DEA for you?”
“No! My boss there is part of the group profiting from the sales of confiscated drugs. I don’t know if it goes any farther up the chain, but I’d like to take it to the head of the DEA, just to be sure. And I can’t ask anyone else to put themselves in danger.”
“So we have to find a way to get you safely out of here and into the DEA building,” Mike said slowly, rubbing his chin.
“What are you talking about?” Jessica asked sharply as she came through the door, carrying a steaming mug. She turned to Steve. “Here’s your hot chocolate. Do you need help sitting up more?”
“No.” He tried to raise himself up to a sitting position, but he collapsed against the pillows with a groan.
Mike stepped forward. “Relax, I’ll help you,” he said and slipped his hands under Steve to help him sit up.
Jessica handed the cup to Steve and asked her question again. “What were you two discussing?”
Mike spoke up. “Uh, we were discussing how Steve should get his evidence to D.C.”
“And did you come up with any ideas?”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. We can handle getting him out of town okay, but getting him to the office of the head of the DEA would be pretty difficult.”
Jessica narrowed her eyes. “Unless someone knew the head of the DEA.” After a moment, she said, “Maybe my dad knows him, or knows someone who does.”
Steve shook his head. “I’d have to go in unarmed, and I’d be killed before I even got to his office. Miguel would have every agent and officer gunning for me, telling them I was the dirty one.
“He’s second in command at the DEA—Miguel Antonio, my boss. He’s in this up to his eyeballs, I’m sure of it. I’ve just got to get the proof on him. Either way, he’d never let me in alive.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Mike agreed. He turned to Jessica. “How would Brett know someone at the DEA?”
“Dad used to spend time in D.C., talking to the senators about conservation and grazing rights on park lands. He doesn’t go to Washington much anymore, but he still knows people there.”
“I didn’t know that,” Mike said. “Then maybe he does know someone there who could get Steve in.”
“And you could wear a disguise so you wouldn’t be recognized,” Jessica interjected.
“I think Halloween’s already been celebrated, honey,” Steve said with a wry smile. “Besides, people don’t often trick-or-treat at the DEA.”
“I didn’t mean that kind of disguise. I’ve been living in Hollywood. They use disguises all the time.”
“But we’re not making a movie,” Steve said.
Jessica got a stubborn look on her face.
Caroline, who had followed her in with cups of coffee for her and her husband, said, “I think you should drin
k your chocolate while it’s still hot.”
Steve shot her a grateful look.
“I’m not giving up on my idea,” Jessica said, glaring at Steve.
“He’s not going anywhere yet,” Mike assured Jessica. “We’ve got time to do some thinking. When is your dad coming to see you?”
“Tomorrow, with Mom.”
“Oh, yes, Anna said for you to make a grocery list and she’d do some shopping before she came,” Caroline said.
“Okay. Maybe we should go into the living room and let Steve get some rest.”
“I’ll stay with him until he finishes his drink,” Mike promised.
Jessica didn’t look convinced, but followed Caroline into the living room. “I meant what I said about a disguise. I’m sure I could make him look different enough to fool those men.”
“Well, you have a couple of days, at least, to think about it. But don’t be surprised if he doesn’t accept it,” Caroline warned. “After all, his life depends on it.”
“I know.”
Jessica sat down to make a grocery list, but all she could think of was her plan.
A couple of minutes later, Mike came into the living room, pulling the door closed behind him. “I think he’ll be asleep in about a minute. We wore him out this evening.”
“I’m sure we did,” Caroline agreed. “As soon as Jessica finishes her list, we can go home and rest, too.”
“I can call Mom in the morning and tell her what I need. You don’t have to wait. But I did want to ask you, Mike, what happened to your deputy watching the stairs?”
Mike’s expression turned angry. “He went for a bathroom break. I put someone else on the job. But I want you to leave the outside light on all night. The shadows make it hard to determine if someone is on the stairs.”
“No problem. But I have another question. I had a permit for the gun my dad gave me here in Wyoming. When I moved to California, I applied for a gun permit there. Is my Wyoming permit still good?”
Mike shook his head. “Jess, I don’t think—”
“I don’t want to be here with no protection if those men get past your deputy again, Mike!”
“She has a point, honey,” Caroline said.
“I know. Yeah, you’re covered,” Mike said. “But if you think someone is out there, don’t stand in front of the door. They’ll fire right through the wood. If you have any doubts at all, don’t come into the room until they stop firing. As soon as you see either man try to enter, fire on them. Have you practiced?”
“Yes, I went out every couple of weeks to a gun club and did target practice. Dad made me promise.”
“Where’s your weapon?”
“Here, in my suitcase.” Jessica walked over to the suitcase she had left open on the floor, not bothering to unpack. She picked up the gun, checked it and then handed it to Mike. “It’s unloaded.”
“Do you have ammo for it?”
“Of course. But I didn’t want to load it until I’d cleared it with you.”
“All right. Go ahead and load it and put it where you can get to it quickly. If they try to come in, you won’t have much time. But, Jess, I’ve got a good man watching. I don’t think they’ll try it again tonight.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Mike. I just want to be prepared.”
“You could give the gun to Steve and hide on the other side of the bed,” Mike suggested, a worried look on his face.
Caroline and Jessica exchanged a look.
“Come on, honey. We need to go home now. Jessica knows what to do.”
“Yeah, but I’m afraid Brett won’t be happy with me.”
“He’ll only be unhappy if something happens to Jessica. You just said they wouldn’t try anything again tonight. You can talk to Brett tomorrow, and maybe he’ll have some ideas.”
“I already know his idea. He wants them to move out to the ranch, but I don’t think that’s wise,” Mike said, still frowning.
“I don’t either,” Jessica agreed.
It was one thing for her to put herself in danger, but she would never, ever endanger the one thing she treasured most—her family.
Chapter Six
Jessica curled up on the sofa to think out a plan to rescue Steve again. All her life, her family had teased her about her flair for the dramatic, her fantasizing, her pretending. She’d proved them wrong about those things being useless. After all, she’d actually had some success in Hollywood.
Besides, she thought, it was those very skills that might save Steve now.
With her eyes closed, she daydreamed different scenarios. The one constant in each of them was her presence. She wasn’t going to stay home and knit! Women could handle more difficult things these days. And she’d convince her father and Steve that that was true.
Several hours later, without having pinned down a plan, Jessica gave up and got ready for bed. She took a shower and dressed in warm-up pants and a T-shirt, like Steve. Then she crept around the bed and pulled back the covers.
When she sat down, the motion had to have awakened Steve. He grunted and tried to raise up.
“It’s okay, Steve. It’s just me. Go back to sleep.”
He had to have recognized her voice because he settled back down.
After she slid under the covers and relaxed a discreet distance from Steve, knowing her parents still wouldn’t approve, she sighed and closed her eyes.
They popped open wide as a strong arm reached out and pulled her close to his big, warm body.
Steve never opened his eyes.
Jessica found herself fighting the desire to snuggle up against him, feeling safe and protected, like some heroine in a movie where the hero always saved her.
But things weren’t going to go like that, she reminded herself. She was going to participate in this dangerous situation.
But for tonight, just for tonight, she scooted just a little bit closer to that warm body. Just for tonight.
THE RINGING PHONE WOKE Jessica the next morning.
Unfortunately, it also awakened Steve.
“What are you doing?” he demanded in a gruff, sexy voice.
“Answering the phone,” Jessica said as she scrambled from the bed, since the only phone was in the living room. She was grateful that she didn’t have to face Steve until she’d regained her distance.
“IS ANYONE FOLLOWING US?” Marcus asked as he drove the SUV down the dark Wyoming highway.
His partner looked over his shoulder. “Can’t see anyone. Back in Rawhide, did you see Steve at that apartment? Is that where he is?”
“I didn’t see him. Or hear anything, until you whistled. Then I saw that big man coming after me and hauled ass.” He shot his partner, Baldwin, a look. “You almost passed me heading for the car.”
“I didn’t want to try explaining my behavior to him,” Baldwin explained.
“Me neither. But I’d bet that’s where Steve is. I don’t think he could be in very good shape, either. Not after I plugged him in that alley.”
“It doesn’t take a lot of muscle to pull a trigger. And I’m not interested in sacrificing myself for Miguel’s sake. He sure wouldn’t do it for us.”
“Maybe not,” Marcus said, “but if Steve gets to D.C. with the proof Miguel says he has, none of us will be able to defend ourselves.”
Baldwin gave a big sigh. “I know. But I don’t like the thought of killing Steve.”
“Me neither, but I like even less the possibility of losing our gravy train. My wife’s gotten used to it, I can tell you.”
“Haven’t you put enough away in an offshore account? We could cut and run today and be all right for a long time.”
Flicking his gaze to the rearview mirror, Marcus slowed his speed around a mountain curve. “Maybe, unless Miguel found us. And you know he’d come after us, don’t you? As long as he drew breath he wouldn’t let us live.”
Baldwin breathed out deeply. “So we’ve got no choice.”
“Right,” Marcus said on a deep-thr
oated grunt. “And you’d better not forget it, or I’ll come after you, too. Right after I get Steve Carter.”
“DARLING, IT’S MOM. You didn’t call in your grocery list last night like you told Caroline you would.”
“Sorry, Mom. I was busy trying to figure out how to help Steve.”
“I see. Well, is there anything you need?”
“Yes, Mom, uh, let me think.”
“Did I wake you up?” Anna asked.
“Yes, you did, but that’s my fault. I stayed up too late and just overslept.”
After she gave her mother a hastily concocted list, Anna asked, “How is the patient this morning?”
“I haven’t checked on him yet. But I’m going to make his breakfast and feed him. Since he’s been eating, he’s getting stronger.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll check him when I get there. Is there anything he needs?”
“Well, Caroline and Mike brought him some warm-up pants and a T-shirt, but it might be nice if he had a change of clothing.”
“Of course. He’s about your dad’s size, isn’t he?”
“Yes. He’s very tall and lean and— Well, you know.”
“Yes, dear, I know. I thought your father and I would join you for lunch so we can get to know the young man. Red is already cooking. He insisted.”
Jessica couldn’t hold back a smile. “Give him and Mildred my love. I’ll be out to see them as soon as possible.”
“I will. We’ll be there around noon.”
BRETT LOOKED UP AS HIS wife hung up the phone and returned to her seat at the kitchen table.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“You don’t sound like it,” Brett said, putting his arm on the back of her chair. “What’s our daughter number two done now?”
“Do you remember when we first met?”
Jake Randall, who was sitting with them, laughed. “You mean when you threw him on the floor?”
“Sort of. There was an instant attraction, even if we both denied it.”
“You’re right about that,” Brett agreed. “It took me awhile to realize it, though. Hey! You never told me that. You knew at once?”
“Pretty much, though I didn’t think it would happen. After all, you were engaged,” she pointed out with a grin.
Randall on the Run Page 6
