Certified Cowboy

by Rita Herron

  An intermission followed, and the boys entered a reserved section of the stand to watch the grand finale—the investors performing for the kids. Rachel leaned forward, her heart drumming as the announcer introduced the ranchers—Brody Bloodworth, Johnny Long, Brandon Woodstock, Miles McGregor and Mason Blackpaw.

  “Johnny looks great today,” Kim said. “He’s most at home in the saddle.”

  Rachel nodded, her heart fluttering at the sight of his handsome face.

  “He cares about you and Kenny,” Kim said softly.

  Rachel blushed. “He’s been great for Kenny.”

  “It’s not just Kenny,” Kim said. “I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you.”

  She did not want to have this conversation. “Kim—”

  “Johnny got a bad rap as a playboy in the media,” Kim continued, cutting her off. “But he’s a really good guy. I don’t know if he told you about our parents, but our mama took off one day and our daddy used to beat Johnny.”

  Rachel sighed, hurting for Johnny and admiring him for taking care of his sister. No wonder he had sensed the truth about her situation.

  “He took care of me growing up,” Kim continued, “and then…when Lucy came along. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

  Emotions swirled in Rachel’s throat. “I know how difficult it is to be a single mother.”

  Kim’s gaze met hers, her eyes filled with questions, although she didn’t ask them. Instead, she lowered her voice. “Just don’t hurt him. He acts tough, but he’s really a teddy bear at heart.”

  Rachel clenched her hands in her lap. “I…know.”

  “Let’s welcome our exhibition riders!” the announcer shouted, bringing the crowd to their feet. “First we have our bareback and trick riders.”

  Kim’s words taunted Rachel as she watched the show. Maybe she should leave tonight after the rodeo, make a clean break. Save her and Johnny both more heartbreak before she fell even deeper for the man.

  Next came a roping show by Brandon and Mason who demonstrated techniques for breaking a wild horse. Then they had a small break before the highlight—Johnny riding a bull.

  Kenny and two other boys darted toward the concession stand, and she started to follow but spotted a security guard nearby and sighed in relief. When the intermission ended, Kenny and Willie moved up to the fence to watch Johnny.

  “We are honored tonight to have our very own rodeo celebrity with us!” The announcer introduced Johnny, citing his accomplishments and awards on the rodeo circuit. Everyone burst into applause, shouting his name in chorus. “Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!”

  Rachel’s chest ached as she watched Johnny climb onto the bull in the chute and wave to the crowd. People jumped to their feet, clapping and roaring his name again.

  The bull was bucking and growling inside the chute, waiting to be let out.

  The beast could crush a man with his weight, if it didn’t gore Johnny with his horns first. The memory of Johnny saving Kenny from one still haunted her.

  She glanced at Kenny again, and saw him leaning against the fence in total awe. The announcer hushed the crowd, anticipation rippling through the stands, then seconds later Johnny climbed onto the bull. He gripped the reins tightly with one hand, threw his left hand up in the air, the chute opened, and the bull raced out, bucking and dropping his head forward, digging his paws in, doing his best to throw Johnny off.

  The clock ticked the seconds away, the crowd collectively holding their breaths. Rachel’s heart banged against her chest as each second crawled by. She couldn’t stand it if Johnny got hurt.

  Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone grab Kenny’s arm. Then he angled his face to look at her and he sent her a sinister grin.

  Rex.

  Panic slammed into her, and she jumped up. “Kenny!” She spun toward Kim. “Get Brody and security!”

  Kenny tried to pull away, but Rex hauled him up against him and dashed into the barn.

  Rachel screamed and vaulted down the bleacher steps after them.

  Chapter Twenty

  The roar of the crowd spurred Johnny to hold on tighter as the bull bucked and spun around trying to pitch him off. He ate dust, his Stetson flew off and his neck jerked with the force of the bull’s anger.

  Cheers turned into chants as the fans yelled his name. He hugged his legs tighter around the beast’s body, bouncing hard as he glanced at the clock. A couple more seconds and he’d beat his own record.

  The crowd began to count with the timer, the announcer urging them on. He glanced toward Kenny but didn’t see him. Then he caught a glimpse of Rachel racing from the stands and knew something was wrong.

  Forgetting about the crowd and the countdown, he released his hold on the bull and let it throw him. He’d been tossed enough times to know how to fall and he rolled on the ground away from the animal. The pen gate flew open and Brandon and Brody raced in, driving the bull toward the chute while he jumped the fence.

  Oblivious to his panic, the crowd clapped and sang his name again, but Johnny didn’t care about the accolades. He was too worried about Rachel and Kenny.

  Sweat beaded on his skin as he jogged through the stable to the back exit searching for them. Rachel was running toward the parking area. A second later, he spotted a dark-haired man dragging Kenny into a black town car.

  Dammit.

  He felt for his weapon, but realized he didn’t have it, then glanced around for security, but security was busy covering the arena.

  “Stop, Rex!” Rachel shouted. “Don’t do this!”

  Kenny was kicking and screaming, trying to break free. Johnny raced down the hill toward the car, but Rachel was closer.

  “Please, Rex, it’s me you want, not him!” Rachel cried.

  The man hurled Kenny against the door edge. “He’s my son,” Rex shouted. “I warned you not to leave me.”

  Rachel lunged toward him. “He’s just a little boy, and you’re scaring him.”

  “You’re right,” Rex snarled. With an evil leer, he shoved Kenny to the ground and grabbed Rachel. Kenny yelped as he hit the dirt.

  Fury filled Johnny.

  “Run, Kenny!” Rachel shouted. “Run!”

  Johnny had almost caught up with them, but Rex yanked Rachel against the car, pulled a gun and pressed it against Rachel’s temple.

  Johnny froze, paralyzed with fear. “Let the boy go,” Johnny said, afraid if he moved the man would kill Rachel.

  “He’s my son,” Rex growled. “Not yours.”

  “That’s right, and he loves his mother,” Johnny said quietly. “You don’t want to hurt him by hurting her, do you?”

  Kenny crawled to his knees and looked up at his father, terror streaking his little face. “Please, Daddy, let Mommy go!”

  Rex’s eyes shot daggers at Kenny. “Shut up, kid.”

  “It’s okay, Kenny.” Johnny pulled the terrified little boy behind him to protect him. “Do the right thing, Presley.”

  “She’s my wife,” Rex growled. “We said vows. She’s not leaving me.”

  “She already did,” Johnny said. “You have to accept it.”

  “No, I don’t.” Rex sneered and tightened his grip around Rachel’s neck.

  “Rex, please,” Rachel begged. “Let me go for Kenny’s sake.”

  The SOB used his tongue to swipe her cheek, and Johnny saw red.

  “No way, baby. You’re mine. Let your lover boy call the police,” Rex said with a sarcastic laugh. “While you’re at it, Mr. Rodeo Boy, tell them I’m bringing in a wanted felon.”

  So Rachel hadn’t lied about how evil her ex was or that he had cops in his pocket.

  Pent-up rage boiled inside Johnny, and he inched forward, knowing a sudden move would set the bastard off.

  Rex waved the gun in front of Rachel again. “Get back or I’ll kill her right here.”

  “Daddy, no!” Kenny wrestled free from Johnny and lunged at his father, beating him with his fists.
“Let Mommy go!”

  Rex cursed, then shoved Kenny to the ground so hard that he fell backward.

  Johnny grabbed Kenny and hauled the poor kid up, hating Rex with every fiber of his being.

  Rachel gave Johnny a beseeching look. “Please take care of Kenny.”

  Rex yanked Rachel by the hair and shoved her into the front seat of his car, then pushed her over to the passenger side and climbed in. Kenny screamed and tried to run toward the car, but Johnny caught him. Then Rex aimed at Johnny’s feet and fired a shot.

  Johnny jumped back to dodge the bullet, protecting Kenny with his body, then Rex started the engine and raced away.

  Johnny spun around, hunting for security and saw Brody jogging toward him. The rodeo was ending, the crowd beginning to spill out. A minute later and traffic would be clogged.

  “What’s going on?” Brody yelled.

  “Rachel’s ex has her!” Johnny handed Kenny to Brody. “Take care of him, Brody. I have to go after her.”

  Kenny tried to wiggle free again. “I’m going, too. She’s my mommy. I gots to save her.”

  “No,” Johnny said, tempering his anger. “It’s too dangerous, buddy. Just trust me and go with Brody.”

  Tears ran down Kenny’s face. “But Mommy…”

  “You are a big man, a brave guy, a real cowboy, Kenny.” Johnny squeezed Kenny’s arm. “But let me finish this. I’ll bring your mommy back to you, son. I promise. Now hurry, go with Brody so I can catch up with them.”

  Kenny’s chin quivered, but he nodded, then Brody tossed him his keys. “Take my SUV. It’s parked by the fence.”

  Johnny caught the keys, then broke into a dead run. He jumped in the SUV, started the engine and punched the accelerator. The SUV bounced over the pasture, then onto the narrow road leading to the highway. He spotted the town car ahead rounding a curve, and stomped on the gas, then chased it onto the main road.

  The town car sped up, tires screeching as Rex took another curve going too fast, then Johnny saw Rachel fighting him for the steering wheel. The car careened sideways, hit a pothole, swerved the opposite way and skated along the embankment. Dirt and gravel spewed from the vehicle, tires squealing again as Rex struggled to keep it on the road.

  Johnny was closing in, but Rex raised his gun and slammed the butt of it down against Rachel’s head. She fell sideways, then collapsed.

  Cold rage unlike anything Johnny had ever felt heated his blood, and he accelerated and slammed into the town car’s bumper. The sedan skidded sideways, and Rex swerved onto a dirt road. Johnny careened after him, spitting dust as he banged into the man’s bumper again.

  The road wound back and forth for a mile, then Rex swung the car around and headed straight toward him. Johnny thought he was going to hit him, but Rex screeched to a stop, jumped out and fired at him. Glass shattered and sprayed the ground, and Johnny jerked sideways as another bullet pelted the door.

  Johnny hit the brakes, screeched to a stop, landing sideways, his front bumper only a few feet from the town car’s. Using every ounce of control he possessed, Johnny counted the bullets as Rex unloaded two more at him. Cursing, he opened his door and crouched behind it, using it as a shield.

  Rachel still hadn’t moved. Johnny’s chest clenched with fear. Every second counted.

  Rage fueled his adrenaline, and he inched back behind his car, ducking low and circling behind Rex’s car to launch a surprise attack.

  He almost made it, too, but his foot hit a twig. It snapped and Rex jerked his head around. Johnny threw himself forward and grabbed Rex by the shoulders, forcing him to drop the gun. They rolled and fought, Johnny’s temper escalating as he punched the man repeatedly.

  Then a groan from the seat echoed toward him, and for just a second he eased up. That moment gave Rex the chance he needed, and he crawled for the gun. Johnny tried to reach it first, but Rex snagged it, whipped it around and fired.

  Pain rocked through Johnny’s chest as the bullet ripped into him. He staggered back at the impact, falling into the dirt, and Rex jumped on top of him, then raised the pistol at his head.

  Johnny’s life flashed in front of him. His mistakes. His cocky attitude, an attitude he’d adopted to cover up the loneliness of not having a family to love. A family who loved him back.

  Dammit. He wanted that family and he wanted it with Rachel.

  But he might lose her now, and he’d never even told her that he loved her.

  RACHEL SLOWLY ROUSED from unconsciousness, her head throbbing. She lifted her hand to wipe away the blood trickling down her forehead, momentarily disoriented. But flashes of Rex dragging Kenny toward his car rippled back, and she remembered trading herself for her son.

  Squinting against the darkness, she pulled herself up, scrambling to see where Rex had taken her. Probably some isolated place where he could kill her and dump her body.

  Where was he?

  Blinking to clear her head, she crawled to the driver’s side hoping to find the keys but heard a moan of pain from outside and suddenly spotted Rex. Her lungs tightened.

  Rex had Johnny pinned down, and was waving his gun above Johnny’s face.

  “You’re gonna die for messing with my woman,” Rex growled.

  Johnny moaned, and Rachel realized he’d been shot. “You won’t get away.”

  Anger churned through Rachel. Johnny had been so good to her and Kenny. He’d saved their lives.

  She couldn’t let her ex-husband kill him.

  Adrenaline fueled her, and she threw herself on top of Rex. Her surprise attack sent the gun flying across the ground. She pummeled Rex with her fists, beating his head until he rolled off Johnny. Blood soaked Johnny’s shirt, and a sob caught in her throat. Rex threw her off him with such force that her head connected with the ground, knocking the wind from her.

  Then Rex bellowed and lunged for her.

  Rachel had been beaten by him one too many times. She dodged his blow, then rolled sideways, pushed to her hands and knees and crawled toward the gun. Rex clawed at her ankle, and she shoved her other foot back and kicked him in the face with the heel of her boot. He yelped in pain and anger, then scrambled for her, but she scurried toward the weapon, digging in the dirt as she went. Rex slapped his hand on the back of her calf and dragged her backward. She clawed for something to fight him with, kicking wildly, then her fingers closed around a stick.

  She swung it back, stabbing at his face, earning another cry of pain as she jabbed his eye.

  “You bitch!” Cursing like a sailor, he dove for her again, but Rachel dived for the gun. She grabbed it, rolled to her side and aimed just as he jumped her.

  The gun went off, the sound bouncing off the night air, then Rex grunted and his body slumped forward on top of her. Rachel collapsed, pushing at him, desperate to get him off her.

  A wet stickiness soaked her, and then Rex’s eyes went wide and glassy. Nausea clogged her throat.

  She had killed him.

  A hysterical scream tore from her, but through the haze of her panic, she remembered Johnny was hurt. Trembling all over, she tossed the gun into the dirt and tried to stand. Her legs wobbled as she ran toward Johnny.

  Please don’t be dead…

  Fear clawed at her chest as she dropped down to see if he was breathing. Her own breaths were coming in noisy pants, her hands shaking as she placed one of them on his heart. Then his eyes slipped open and she felt the slow rise and fall of his chest.

  “Rachel,” he whispered.

  “Shh,” she said softly. “It’s over. Rex is dead, Johnny.”

  Only it wasn’t over. Not for her.

  She stumbled to the car and found Rex’s cell phone. She had to get help for Johnny.

  But then the sheriff would take her away. And after all she’d been through, she’d lose Kenny.

  But she loved Johnny too much to let him die, so she punched the sheriff’s number.

  JOHNNY FADED IN AND OUT of consciousness, his mind blurred by pain and drugs as the paramedi
cs arrived and began an IV. Blue lights from the ambulance and police swirled against the darkness, then Brody was talking to him, telling him Rex was dead, and the sheriff appeared, asking him questions.

  What happened? Who shot first? Rachel killed her husband? What did he know about her past? Was he aware there was a warrant out for her arrest? Had she kidnapped her son?

  Johnny searched for Rachel, but it was hard to see anything from the gurney. He vaguely remembered telling her Brody had Kenny, then her holding his head in her hands, stroking his forehead and murmuring soft words to him while they’d waited for the ambulance. But then the sheriff arrived and he’d passed out…

  The medics lifted him into the ambulance and he raised his head and finally saw her. His heart wrenched.

  The sheriff was handcuffing her and putting her into the back of his car.

  Johnny breathed through his teeth. “No…can’t arrest her…Kenny.”

  But his words died as the painkillers took over and he slipped into unconsciousness.

  RACHEL FOUGHT A SOB as the sheriff locked her inside his squad car, flipped on the siren and careened down the dirt road. The coroner was taking care of Rex. Johnny was headed to the hospital. And Kenny was safe at the ranch with Brody and Ms. Ellen.

  But she was on her way to jail.

  Lights swirled in the night, the echo of the siren blasting, a reminder that there was nowhere to run. Not anymore.

  Tears leaked from her eyes, and she doubled over, nausea gripping her. She loved Johnny, but he had been shot trying to protect her.

  Kim’s warning taunted her. She hadn’t meant to get Johnny hurt, but he’d nearly died because of her.

  Johnny was better off without her in his life.

  But God help her, she wasn’t sorry Rex was dead. At least he couldn’t turn his wrath on her son.

  Only, who would take care of Kenny now?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Johnny railed against the doctors’ orders to stay in bed after the surgery. He cursed the injustice of seeing Rachel hauled away in handcuffs.

  And he nearly broke down and cried when Brody told him Kenny had been taken to a foster home.