Clint: A Hidden Lane Ranch Cowboy Novel

by Sammi Starlight

  I nodded. He was right. It was time to involve the authorities. “Fine. While I’m filling up, call the sheriff and have him come out.” I parked the truck next to a pump and hopped out. “I’m going to grab a water too when I’m done. Want one?”

  He nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Sure.”

  I shut the door and walked over to start filling up my truck. As I waited, I leaned back against my truck and closed my eyes with a sigh. We had to find her soon. If Seth had her, what would he do with her? He wouldn’t leave without his money and so far, Ma had said no one had even been there. Besides meeting with the sheriff, that’s the other reason I wanted to go home; I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before Rachel showed up with or without Seth to get his money.

  The pump clicked when it was done and I put the cover back on before heading inside to pay. I went to the back of the store and grabbed two waters before walking back up to the counter. I set the waters on the counter and reached into my back pocket for my wallet.

  “Hey Clint,” the cashier said with a grin. It was a girl I’d gone to high school with, Marcy.

  “Hey Marcy.” I gave her a half-hearted smile. “I was on pump six.”

  “Got it.” She scanned my waters as she popped her gum. “I saw your pretty little girlfriend in here earlier this morning.”

  “What?” I gave her my full attention. “You saw Rachel?”

  “That’s her name!” She snapped her fingers together. “I couldn’t remember for the life of me.” She put her hand on her hip. “Sure is a cute little thing.”

  “Did she say where she was going?” I asked, feeling hopeful as I swiped my card through the machine.

  She shook her head and finished my transaction. “No, but I happened to glance up and noticed some guy by her car when she came out. I’ve never seen him before, but he got into the car with her.”

  Seth! Shit, he was here and he had her! “You didn’t see what way she went when she left, did you?” I asked hopefully.

  She shook her head. “No, we had a flurry of customers come in then and I was busy.”

  “Thanks so much Marcy!” I flew out of the store before she could even answer me. I ran out to my truck and flung the door open. “He has her! He’s here!”

  Wyatt looked up from his phone. “What? How do you know?” He asked, looking confused.

  “When I paid, Marcy said she saw Rachel this morning. She saw her with some dude she didn’t recognize. He rode away with her.” I was breathless as I started up the truck and tore out of the gas station parking lot.

  “Fuck!” Wyatt said. “Good thing the sheriff is coming out to the ranch. Are you going to tell him about the money?”

  I sighed. “I don’t know. I might have to. I will do whatever it takes to get her back.”

  We rode the rest of the way in silence. This time I didn’t care about speeding; all I cared about was getting back to the ranch. I wanted to make sure Ma and Eliza were ok and talk to the sheriff. If I happened to get pulled over now, that would be a bonus, getting me in touch with the law sooner.

  When we got to the ranch and drove up the driveway, Eliza was back at home and the sheriff was already there. I was eager to talk to him and have him begin looking for Rachel. Now that I knew she was with Seth, my nerves were even more on edge.

  We went into the house and found him sitting at the table with Ma and Eliza, drinking coffee. We joined them and I filled him in. I decided to tell him everything, even about the money.

  When we were done, we stood up and I walked him to the door. The sheriff reached out and shook my hand. “Don’t worry, Clint, we’ll find her.”

  I nodded. “I know. Thank you so much for coming out here.”

  We walked outside and he opened up his car door. “I’m going to head to the gas station and talk to Marcy. Maybe she can give me some more details. Maybe we’ll start checking motels too.”

  “I appreciate it. I have no idea what he’s capable of, so please be careful,” I warned him.

  “Will do. Keep an eye out here for a phone call or in case she shows up. For right now, the best thing you can do is stay close to home. I know you feel helpless, but I think it’s best right now. If he’s as dangerous as you think, it’s not safe.” He sat down in the car and shut the door.

  I watched him drive down our long driveway and was about to turn around to head back into the house when I felt a hand on my arm. “We’ll find her, son,” Ma whispered behind me.

  I turned around and gave her a nod. “Ma, I’m so worried. He’s dangerous and I don’t even want to think about what he might do to her.” My eyes filled with tears.

  “Shhh…Don’t do that to yourself; don’t think about it.” She took my hand. “Come inside and I’ll make you some tea.”

  We went inside where Eliza was sitting at the table on her laptop, trying to distract herself. Wyatt was pacing around. “We have to go look for her, Clint. I feel so helpless just waiting here.”

  “Sheriff said it was best if we stayed here in case she called or showed up.”

  “What if he shows up?” Eliza asked softly, looking up from her computer. Everyone was quiet for a minute.

  “We should get our guns,” Wyatt suggested.

  I didn’t say a word but walked over to the gun cabinet in the corner of the living room. I unlocked it and got out a couple of guns. “Ma and Eliza, can you get your handguns and keep them nearby?”

  They each nodded and went to their rooms to get them. We didn’t usually allow loaded guns in this part of the house, but this was definitely special circumstances. Honestly, if I saw that fucker, I wanted to hurt him with my bare hands; I wasn’t going to let him get away with a quick and easy death.

  Wyatt went outside to sit on the porch. Sitting still wasn’t his strong suit and he was a bit of a hot head at times. This sitting around and waiting had to be killing him. I sat down on the couch and reached for the TV remote but set it back down. There was no way I was going to be able to concentrate enough to watch something.

  “Clint! Get out here!” Wyatt yelled from the porch. “I think I see Rachel’s car coming up the drive.”

  I got up and quickly walked out to the porch. I shaded my eyes with my hand and looked toward the drive. Sure enough, there came Rachel’s car. As she got closer, I realized she wasn’t driving and there were two people in the car. I went inside to Ma and Eliza.

  “Listen to me and don’t ask questions,” I told them, speaking quietly and quickly. “Rachel’s here but she isn’t alone. I’m assuming Seth is with her. I want you guys to go back to my room and hide in the bathroom. Take your guns and Eliza, take your phone. Call the Sheriff. Not 911.” I handed her the card he’d given me earlier. “Tell him what’s happening but to be careful coming out here. I don’t want sirens and stuff to spook him so he does something stupid.”

  The two women nodded at me, their faces as white as sheets. I couldn’t recall a time that Eliza had ever been so quiet. They took the card, phone, and guns and scurried down the hall. Wyatt called for me again and I went outside, trying to remain calm. It wouldn’t do any of us any good if I lost it right away.

  I assumed Seth was driving the car when it pulled up and parked right by the steps to the house. Rachel got out of the car, her cheek bruised again where he must have hit her. I clenched my fists by my side, trying to control the fire burning deep inside. He got out of the car, his gun pointed at Rachel. My heart broke into a million tiny pieces from the fear that was plainly written all over her face.

  “So this is your cowboy, huh?” He muttered and I looked at Wyatt. His eyebrow was twitching and I was willing him to remain calm.

  She nodded and winced as he got closer and wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck. “Go inside and get my money.” He glanced over at me. He was a punk in his all-black clothes and black mohawk. He was covered in tattoos and piercings. His eyes looked wild, the pupils dilated and I wondered if maybe he didn’t sample what he was s
elling.

  “Let her go,” I said firmly.

  “Awwww, aren’t you sweet?” He pushed her so hard she stumbled and fell to the ground. “Go get my money, bitch!” I moved to help her up but he pointed his gun at me now. “Don’t move. She can get her ass up on her own.”

  She stood up and brushed the dirt from her knees. “Please, leave them alone,” she pleaded softly. “I’ll go get it and then we can leave.”

  I looked at her confused. “We?” I asked.

  She couldn’t look me in the eye and he laughed and nodded. “Yes, cowboy, ‘we’. She’s coming back to Buffalo with me. We’re going to get married and live happily ever after.”

  I saw a tear slide down her cheek. “She doesn’t exactly look like someone that wants to go with you. If she did, you wouldn’t have to be holding a gun to her.” I couldn’t help opening my mouth. This jackass was getting on my last nerve and the thought of him forcing Rachel to leave and marry him made me want to vomit.

  He lunged at me and hit me across the face with the butt of his gun. Rachel screamed as I crumpled to the floor. “Shut up fucker!” He grabbed her arm and pulled her against him, kissing her hard. I could see his tongue try to invade her mouth and he swore when she bit it.

  “Bitch!” he said and back handed her. She fell to the ground and he straddled her. He raised his fist to punch her when Wyatt came flying from the porch and knocked him off of her. He knocked the gun from his hand and the two of them began to roll around on the ground.

  In two long strides I was at Rachel’s side. “I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

  “Babe, don’t,” I replied, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Get inside. Ma and Eliza are in my bedroom. Join them. Do not come out for anything, got it?”

  She nodded and ran inside. Once the door was firmly shut behind her, I turned my attention to the tussle on the ground in front of me. I lunged for Seth’s gun and kicked it well out of his reach before I pulled him away from my brother. He looked at me, his eyes dark with anger.

  “You’re an asshole. There are so many things I want to do to you right now for laying a hand on her,” I roared, trying to maintain some level of control when I really wanted to have Wyatt hold him while I beat the shit out of him. He wasn’t worth it though.

  “Do it,” he said and spit in my face. I held his shirt in one hand and pulled my arm back with the other. One punch wouldn’t hurt. My fist hit his face and I heard the crunch of his nose breaking. He screamed like a little girl and I threw him on the ground, flexing my pounding hand.

  “You are a coward…nothing but a little bitch,” I said, looking down at him. I put my boot-clad foot on his chest, pinning him down to the ground. Wyatt was up now a few cuts on his face. “Thanks, brother.”

  He nodded and brushed the dirt from his shirt. “No one fucks with our family.”

  We pulled Seth up from the ground as we noticed the Sheriff’s car coming up the drive. Once he had him safe in cuffs, the girls could come out. Until then, they were better off away from this jackass. I hoped he was locked away for a long time and never bothered us again.

  21

  Rachel

  I ran to the back of the house to Clint’s room once inside. I didn’t want to at first; I wanted to tell him how sorry I was and that maybe they were all better off without me. I didn’t deserve a man like him or to even be a part of this family.

  I arrived at Clint’s bedroom and knocked on the door. “It’s me, Rachel,” I whispered loudly. The door opened and Eliza pulled me inside. She wrapped her arms around me and held me so tight I thought I would explode.

  “We were so worried about you!” She let me go and looked me over. Mary came over and gave me a big hug.

  “Oh dear, it’s so good to see you! Are you ok? Where is he? Where are the boys?” She was talking a mile a minute, maybe it was the nerves. She released me and noticed the bruise on my face where Seth hit me. “He hit you again?” I nodded and she looked me over. “Anything else?” She asked quietly. I shook my head and bit my lip. She took my hand and led me to the bathroom. “Let’s clean you up.”

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered as I followed behind her. She turned to look at me, a confused expression on her face. “What for, dear?”

  I waved my hand around. “All of this. Causing you guys worry today by sneaking off to town. You guys having to hide out here while Clint and Wyatt deal with my asshole ex-boyfriend.” I sank to the floor hugging myself. “He’s a monster. There’s no telling what he’ll do.”

  Mary and Eliza joined me on the floor and both put their arms around me. Mary stroked my back. “Don’t you worry, girl. It’s not your fault, none of it is. We’ll all be ok. I have faith.”

  We all stood up and went to the door when we heard Clint yelling. He was in the house and it sounded like he was coming towards us. Please let him and Wyatt be ok. A small part of me even wished Seth was dead. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to erase his slimy smile from my mind.

  “You can open the door!” He called to us. “The Sheriff is here and has the asshole in cuffs. Wyatt’s ok too.”

  Mary unlocked the door and threw it open. She embraced Clint while I stood off to the side and watched. Eliza followed and both were crying and checking Clint over. He didn’t even appear to have a scratch on him. I breathed a sigh of relief. I would have died if something had happened to him - to any of them really. I’d brought this mess into their lives; they didn’t deserve any of it.

  I finally caught his eye and began to walk over to me. My eyes filled with tears. Was he going to yell at me for leaving this morning? Or tell me to leave after putting his family in danger?

  “Rachel,” he started, swallowing hard. Were those tears I saw in his eyes? He took me in his massive arms and held me tight against him. I lost it then; sobs racking my body.

  “I’m so sorry,” I managed to get out through my tears.

  He bent down and kissed my forehead. “Whatever for, babe?” He asked softly, not letting up on the tight hug he had me in.

  My sobs got harder as I tried to talk and apologize for the events of the day. He pulled back and lifted my chin with his finger. “Hey, it’s ok.” He hugged me again. “I thought I lost you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I would have done if…” He trailed off and I thought I felt a shudder go through him.

  I tried to pull away but he held me tighter. He sniffled and I wondered if he was crying too. “I’m so thankful you’re ok. I’m going to make sure he goes away for a long time and never bothers us again, Rachel.”

  I nodded into his chest. I believed him; I trusted Clint with everything I had.

  “Hey man, the Sheriff needs us to go down to the station,” Wyatt said from the doorway. Clint finally released me from his arms but threaded his fingers through mine. I was relieved for his touch. After what happened today, I never wanted to be far from him again.

  He looked down at me. “Are you ok to do this?” I nodded with determination. I’d left Seth months ago because I was a strong woman who wasn’t going to put up with him; I was still that strong woman, and I wasn’t going to let him break me. Clint was right; we had to make sure he never bothered us again.

  I walked outside slowly, relieved to see the Sheriff was already gone with him. I wasn’t quite ready to face him yet. Mary locked up the house and we all piled into Clint’s truck. I sat in the middle of the bench seat in his truck, Wyatt on the other side of me.

  We drove in silence, everyone processing what had just happened. When we arrived at the station, we all gave our statements. We also brought the bag of money I’d taken from Seth before leaving Buffalo and turned it over. I was relieved to get it out of my possession. My statement took longer than the others, but Clint stayed with me the whole time. This was the first he heard all the details of my abduction and a few times he held my hand so tight it made me wince.

  When I was done, we all stood outside, waiting for t
he word it was ok to go. There would be other statements and trials and stuff to deal with, but for now, it was over. Seth was locked up and I didn’t have to be afraid of him anymore.

  “Well there’s the little slut now.”

  I spun around and there was Seth. He was being transferred from an interrogation room to a cell. Clint started for him but I pulled him back. “Don’t, Clint. Just ignore him.” He relaxed but I could see the muscle in his jaw still twitching.

  “Aww…Telling the cowboy what to do.” He narrowed his eyes at Clint as he walked past. “I bet you can’t make her scream like I could.”

  Before I knew what was happening, Clint had punched him in the face. A couple of deputies had to hold him back and they quickly got Seth out of there. The Sheriff came out of his office. “Just go you guys. We’ll pretend this didn’t happen, but next time, control yourself,” he warned Clint.

  Clint put an arm around my shoulders and guided me out of the building. We all got back into the truck and the ride home was just as quiet as the ride there. We got inside and Mary got some ice for Clint’s hand and checked Wyatt over to make sure he didn’t need any of her TLC.

  It was late now and the sun was setting. Eliza yawned and stretched. “I’m going to bed, but before we do, should we still have my party? I’m ok with canceling it.”

  I shook my head. “No, we have to have it. I’m ok and I think it would be good to have some fun.”

  Everyone else nodded their agreement. Eliza grinned and came over to hug me. “I’m glad you’re ok.” She let go and hugged the rest of her family before heading off to bed.

  “I’m going too,” Mary said as she came over to hug me. “Love you, dear. You’re part of this family, don’t you forget it,” she whispered in my ear. She hugged Clint. “I’m proud of you today, son.” She gave Wyatt a hug. “You too. Your dad would’ve been so proud.” She smiled at us all before going down the hall to her room.

  “Wyatt, I want to thank you,” I said, walking over to sit by him on the couch. “I know you helped look for me and you took Seth to the ground. You’re very brave.” Clint came to sit on the other side of me and put a hand on my leg.