A Texas Ranger's Christmas

by Rebecca Winters

  Her right hand gripped the edge of the table. “You saw him?”

  “Yes.”

  Blaire twisted out of her chair in shock. Suddenly her life was flashing before her. Nate wasn’t dead…. She’d honestly been prepared for the news that he was. But for him to be alive—

  “Where did you see him?” she demanded.

  “In La Jolla, California.”

  She frowned. “Has he been in a hospital all this time with amnesia or something?”

  “Come here.” He pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist. His strong legs cradled hers. “Let me tell you what I know for a fact. The rest we’ll learn tomorrow when you and I fly to San Diego and you confront Nate yourself.”

  Confront meant that her husband was capable of being confronted. All the moisture in her mouth dried up. She felt Caige’s arms tighten in a protective gesture.

  After kissing her temple he said, “He goes by the name Rick Pettigrew and is married to a woman named Janie Marshall. Her father, Creed Marshall, is the famous golf-course architect who designed the multimillion-dollar Mourning Dove Golf and Country Club Complex in La Jolla. Rick drives a Ferrari and is an assistant director. He lives in one of the homes on the estate there bordering the golf course. They have two children.”

  AGENT ROBBINS MET THEM at the plane in San Diego. He turned around as Blaire climbed in the back of the unmarked car with Caige. “Remember me?”

  “Of course. You were always kind to me.”

  “I always wanted to believe in your innocence.”

  “That’s what my mother told me. It’s why she and Dad approached you a few weeks ago.”

  He flashed her a quick smile. “There was only one man in the State of Texas who Mac Leesom told me we could turn to in order to solve your case.”

  She nodded. Blaire owed a debt of gratitude to a certain Texas Ranger she could never repay, but right now she had only one thing on her mind. “Is the country club very far from here?”

  “Twenty minutes.” He started the car and they left to get on the freeway headed north. “Our task team is on the premises undercover, ready to act. Caige will make the arrest. When Mr. Farley can’t be a danger to anyone, we’ll let you have your time alone with your husband.”

  “He’s not my husband,” she said in a wintry tone. “I never knew that man.”

  “Mrs. Pettigrew will be saying the same thing in another few hours. Bigamy in the state of California brings at least a one-year prison sentence and a ten-thousand-dollar fine. In Texas it can bring up to a ten-year prison sentence with the same fine. His problems don’t end there.

  “After Caige interrogated Ron Seeward, the caddy broke down and implicated your husband in a money-laundering scheme that involved Danny Dunn. He did it hoping for a plea bargain.”

  Blaire shivered.

  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Asset Forfeiture Division has filed a civil forfeiture complaint in connection with the seizure of more than $70,000 in cash and the BMW bought by your husband. It was purchased with the proceeds of the illegal operation in a structured fashion to avoid the financial-transaction-reporting requirements.”

  What she was hearing now sounded like pure fiction, but she knew it wasn’t. Nate was capable of anything.

  “A maximum penalty for violation of the money-laundering statute can be up to twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the conspiracy and structuring charges each carry a maximum term of imprisonment of up to five years and a $250,000 fine. With a possibility of facing thirty-six years behind bars, he’s in serious trouble, Blaire.”

  She stared out the window, completely numb.

  A bigamist involved in money laundering.

  The answer for his disappearance was as simple as that, and as complex, especially when she thought about his other wife and children, who were innocent. Their grief lay ahead of them. Caige found her hand, twining his fingers through hers the way Josh had done. Any life beating inside her right now beat for them.

  She looked at Caige. “Does he know you know anything yet?”

  “No. We’ll be taking him by complete surprise.”

  “When he disappeared, it took me by complete surprise.”

  When the car stopped, she heard officers talking over the car radio. Agent Robbins let the team of men know they’d arrived. She stepped out into sixty-four-degree weather, only a few degrees warmer than Austin, and looked around. The setting of the swank country club and the fancy cars dotting the parking lot were sooo Nate.

  Caige studied her frozen features. “Are you ready, or do you need more time?”

  Her gaze met his head-on. “I don’t intend to waste another millisecond on that man than I have to.”

  His jaw hardened. “Then let’s go.”

  She walked between the two men. They entered the country club and headed for the staircase. Nate’s eyes had to have popped out of his head when he first saw this place. He’d been living the dream for a long time, and dreaming the dream long before that—probably since he was out at the old municipal golf course mowing lawns at sixteen.

  They passed a man on the stairs. There were more in the hallway upstairs. Anyone around would think they were people doing business with the management. Three of them eyed Caige. He sent her a final glance before they entered the door bearing Rick Pettigrew’s name.

  It couldn’t have been ten seconds later when one of them came out with a frightened-looking woman, probably the secretary, who wanted to know what was going on. The officer walked her down the stairs out of earshot.

  Agent Robbins sent Blaire a smile of support. When she didn’t think she could stand it another second, he answered his phone, then gave her a nod. Taking courage in her hands, she headed for the door and walked inside. The two officers and Caige, whose features were masklike, had placed themselves outside the inner suite. His gray eyes sent the message she could go on in.

  Blaire stepped inside. Nothing about Nate’s office looked disturbed or out of place except for Nate himself. Caige had seated him on what looked like the secretary’s swivel chair in the middle of the room. He faced his own desk. His arms had been pulled behind him with his wrists handcuffed. She noticed his ankles were cuffed.

  Blaire let out the deep breath she’d been holding. “Hello, Nate.”

  He recognized her voice, of course. It took several minutes before he worked himself around with his bound ankles to look at her. His gaze swept over her, taking in the red lapelled jacket and black pants she’d worn the wonderful night she and Caige had decorated his Christmas tree.

  She had to admit the past five years had been kind to the man she’d once loved. His hair was lighter because of the hours spent under the sun. The bronze of his tan had never been more becoming. Blue-eyed, attractive. He wore expensive designer clothes and shoes.

  Blaire walked around him. On his ring finger he wore a wedding band with a sapphire. His nails looked so perfect, she suspected he’d had a manicure recently. A nice cologne that didn’t smell familiar permeated the room. But for the restraints, he would look the epitome of success. But she wondered how good it truly tasted, since he hadn’t reached the rank of a pro golfer and was living on his father-in-law’s money.

  A few more steps and she was facing him again. “You’re a pretty man, Nate. You’ve hardly aged over the years. I don’t see the normal lines of experience around your mouth, or the expected creases in your forehead. No gray at your temples yet. Not even laughter lines at the sides of your eyes. It’s because there’s nothing behind the facade that makes you real.”

  “Blaire—”

  “I don’t want to know when you met Janie, or whether you married her before or after you married me. In fact, I don’t know if you were married to someone else before both of us, or if you’re carrying on with still another woman right now and Janie doesn’t know about it yet.”

  “You don’t understand,” he muttered.

  “No one understands a sociopath.” He f
linched. “None of it matters. I’m only here for one reason. They say it’s good for your mental health to be able to see the body after someone dies. I’ve finally been granted that blessing.” Thanks to the most remarkable, noble man on earth. “Rest in peace, whoever you are.”

  As she turned to leave, Nate unexpectedly screamed her name in a bloodcurdling voice. Everyone in the country club would have heard it. He shouted for her to come back, begged her, before he broke down sobbing.

  She kept walking until she reached the outer hall where Caige was waiting for her with the other officers. His compassionate gray eyes were filled with pain for her. That was the kind of man he was.

  Agent Robbins approached her. “Do you think you’re going to want any more time with him before he’s taken to jail?”

  “No. Do you need me to do anything or sign anything?”

  “Not until after we’re back in Texas and you feel up to it.”

  She stared at Caige. “Then I want to go home.”

  Nate’s sobs followed them as Caige cupped her elbow and they walked down the stairs. Outside the club he gripped her around the shoulders and pulled her hard against the side of his warm, solid body while they made their way to the parking lot.

  When they reached the car, he helped her into the backseat. No words were necessary as he drew her into his arms and they both held each other tight. Tears leaked from her eyes onto his neck. “It’s over. This whole hideous nightmare is over,” she cried. “Thank God for you, Caige.”

  The drive passed in a blur as Agent Robbins drove them back to the San Diego airport. Cocooned by Caige, she hardly remembered the flight back to Austin, or the drive through the city. She’d been in such a daze, reality didn’t hit her until she realized he’d pulled up in the driveway of her parents’ home.

  She blinked before jerking her head toward him. “What are we doing here?”

  “I talked with your parents earlier. They asked me to bring you home. I promised them I’d do it.”

  Panic gripped her. Naturally she was anxious to see her parents and tell them everything, but she didn’t want to be away from Caige tonight. “I’ll call them on the way to your house.”

  “Plans have changed, Blaire.”

  She felt a sharp, jabbing pain. “What do you mean?”

  “While you have a much-needed reunion with your family, Josh and I need one with mine. I’m following my sister back to Naylor tonight. Your car is safe in my driveway until your father takes you over to get it tomorrow.”

  When he’d brought her back from San Diego, she didn’t know she’d be fighting for her life as soon as they touched the ground. “I don’t understand. I agreed to take care of Josh.”

  “That’s true, but your case has been solved. I don’t have any more work, and I need a break. Under the circumstances I’m going to close up the house and take Josh to Naylor for the holidays.”

  Nooo!

  “There’ll be plenty of family around to help me. After talking to your folks, I sensed they need you very badly. These last five years must have been ghastly for them, too. You should have heard their joy when I told them the news.”

  She bowed her head. “I know it took years off their lives.”

  “I’d like to think this news has put some of them back on.”

  “I would, too, Caige.” She struggled for breath. Naturally he needed a break. All he’d done was work night and day to solve her case. But now that it was behind them, she’d thought…

  Don’t beg, Blaire. Don’t ever beg.

  “How do I begin to thank you?” Her voice trembled.

  “By getting back in touch with yourself. You’re a free woman now with the rest of your life ahead of you. Over the years I’ve seen enough in my job to know that when a person who’s been under siege is finally released, they have to rediscover who they really are. Often their minds won’t allow them to do that for a while.”

  I know who I am, Caige Dawson.

  To her chagrin she had the sinking feeling he was the one who’d gotten too close to the situation and was trying to back off without hurting her feelings. It probably happened more often than not in his kind of work. A lot of forced togetherness produced a bond, but it ended when there was no more reason for it.

  She’d been the one to ask for the job of tending Josh, not the other way around. When he’d said he needed a break, she was pretty sure he’d meant a break from her. Blaire knew he liked her. Their desire for each other had been real enough, but desire didn’t necessarily translate to something more permanent.

  If she didn’t want to ruin any hope of being with him in the future, it looked like she was going to have to let him pick the pace of their relationship, if he desired one at a later date. For the time being he wanted a separation.

  Was it to get back in touch with himself? If so, then she knew to give him his space.

  While she sat there in fresh agony, she heard voices, including her sister’s. The family had heard them drive up and had rushed outside to greet them. One nightmare had ended…

  But a brand-new one had begun.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Dr. Sweeney? Thanks for getting back to me. I wouldn’t have bothered you the day before Christmas if I weren’t alarmed over Josh.”

  “My service said this was urgent. What’s wrong with him?”

  “Since I brought him to Naylor three days ago, he’s changed and won’t let me out of his sight. Normally he interacts happily with the members of my family. So far he’s pushed everyone away who comes close. He doesn’t want me talking to anyone or showing attention. I can tell he doesn’t like it that I’m on the phone with you. It’s almost as if he’s jealous.”

  “Does he have a fever?”

  “No. His temp is normal. Physically he seems fine, and he eats for me. It’s his behavior that has me disturbed. I’m in the bedroom with him right now and he’s just lying here clinging to me. If I try to do anything as harmless as going into the bathroom, tears start and he comes with me. I’ve never seen him act like this before.”

  “Did he manifest this behavior before you left Austin, or after you arrived in Naylor?”

  “After. We’re staying at my parents’ home. Tuesday morning when he got up, he didn’t act himself after we had breakfast. I brought his toys to play with, but he threw them across the floor. He wanted his cousins to go away and pushed them, only wanting me. This isn’t typical of him. Do you think I need to take him to the hospital?”

  “Let me ask a few more questions first. Has he never acted out like this around your family?”

  “No. We were here at Thanksgiving and he was fine. In fact, he has always liked it here. This is something new.”

  “Is your housekeeper with you?”

  “No. And she won’t be anymore because she has left my employ. But she has never come on a family vacation with us, so he wouldn’t know anything different while we’re here.”

  “Did something happen at school?”

  “If it had, Mrs. Wright would have told me. Since he’s not riding the school bus yet, he wasn’t set off by another student.”

  “So nothing in his world has changed? You’ve done nothing different?”

  Caige lowered his head. Everything had changed…everything was different…. The last three days had been an eternity without seeing or talking to Blaire. Feeling utterly helpless, he stared down at his boy curled into him for dear life. He wished Josh could talk and tell him what was wrong, but that miracle wasn’t going to happen.

  “A woman I’ve been working with on a law-enforcement case has been in our lives over the last three weeks. Leading up to my housekeeper’s departure, Blaire spent time with her and Josh with the understanding that she would take over after Elly left.”

  “Where is this Blaire now?”

  He breathed deeply. “Home with her family.”

  And he hoped a healing process was going on for her. The psychiatrist who’d helped Caige through his trauma three
years ago had told him he’d needed time to get back in touch with his real self. He’d warned him about not getting involved with another woman while he was in the grieving stage.

  “Let it go through its natural cycle so it won’t catch up with you later on, Caige. I’ve seen too many patients who tried to rush it, then don’t understand why a new relationship isn’t working.” Looking back, the doctor’s advice had made a lot of sense. Blaire was now in her grieving phase and needed to have time alone to do it.

  “What was Josh’s behavior like with her?”

  The question brought an explosion of memories whooshing through his mind. “He accepted Blaire from the beginning. Toward the end, he let her do everything while Elly stayed in the background. He even let her clip his toenails, whereas he normally fights with me. She had a way of handling him that was so natural, I was amazed. Blaire was very loving with him.”

  “She may be the key.”

  Caige’s heart skidded to a stop before taking an extra beat. “But he wasn’t with her that long—”

  “How old is she?”

  “Twenty-nine.”

  “How old was your wife at the time of the accident?”

  “Twenty-eight.”

  “Not a great difference in their ages.”

  He blinked. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “This is only a theory, mind you, but it’s possible some memory from the past has been resurrected. He lost his mother at five. Now Blaire enters the picture and suddenly she’s no longer in his world. Perhaps he’s missing her smell or her touch. Maybe a tone in her voice or even her energy. Something evocative from the past. I’ve seen it happen before.”

  Excitement welled up inside him. “That would mean—”

  “It would mean he’s capable of more cognitive thought,” the doctor finished the sentence. “The human brain is a wondrous thing, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What I propose is that before you put him in the hospital for testing, you contact Blaire and see if she can’t pay Josh a visit. The experiment might or might not work. However, I believe it’s worth trying.”