Stockyard Snatching

by Barb Han

  Seaver must know something about Susan, and that was why he was involved.

  Pieces started clicking together in Dallas’s mind.

  “I have a theory about what might’ve happened,” he said. “Susan was in over her head with someone. This person was involved in illegal activities and she decided to turn state’s evidence against him, putting her and her baby’s lives in danger. She didn’t want that for her son, so she arranged an adoption through Safe Haven.”

  “Why Safe Haven?” Kate asked. “Why not somewhere far away?”

  “She loved this area, grew up here. When she asked me to marry her, she wanted to move back home with the baby. I’m guessing she wanted her son close to her hometown so she could keep an eye on him when she returned at some point later down the road,” Dallas theorized.

  “Makes sense,” Tommy agreed. “She might’ve given the stipulation to her handler that her son would be allowed to grow up in or near Bluff, Texas. If the guy she was involved with found out about the adoption, he could be targeting babies here.”

  “To get back at her or draw her out of hiding,” Dallas finished. The one bright spot in this crazy scenario would be that Susan was alive and doing well in the program.

  “There’s another possibility worth considering. The bad guy might be the father, and he found out about the baby,” Tommy said. “The recent spate of kidnappings could be him or his henchmen looking for his son. There was a child discovered in his carrier in the baby-food aisle of a Piggly Wiggly last night. A DNA test this morning confirmed he was one of the boys abducted from an adopted family.”

  “Which means that all the boys who were kidnapped have been returned home safely?” Dallas said, glancing at Kate.

  He wasn’t quite ready to let himself off the hook with Susan just yet. Sure, she might’ve been grasping at straws in telling him he was the father, but there was still a slight chance that it was true. He hoped that she was alive, thriving somewhere else, and that her baby was safe. “Until we know for sure, I’m going to stay with the assumption that the boy could be mine.”

  “I understand your position,” Tommy said. “And that’s fine to think that way. I’m looking at the facts and I have to disagree.”

  “What’s the next step?” Dallas asked. He appreciated his friend’s perspective, hoped he was right.

  “Locate Seaver. Get him in for questioning and try to trip him up,” Tommy replied. “I already sent someone to pick up Harold Matthews. You mentioned before that you knew Susan was seeing someone else when you two dated. Think you can work with a sketch artist to give me a visual of the guy?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “I don’t like you leaving the ranch, so I’d rather send someone to you with a deputy escort.”

  “What time do you think you can have someone sent over?” Dallas asked. He had a few things he needed to take care of in the meantime. Top of the list was calling his brothers together for a family meeting.

  “I can probably have someone over by lunch,” Tommy said.

  “Let me know if you get Seaver in for questioning between now and then. I’d like to be on the other side of the glass when he’s in the interview room,” Dallas said.

  Tommy agreed and they ended the call.

  “I’d like to go see myself what Seaver has to say,” Kate said, holding Jackson. “I just wish there was something to identify him at the scene of Wayne’s murder or connect him in some way.”

  “So do I. Speaking of which, I want to check on Stacy this morning.” Something was gnawing at the back of Dallas’s mind.

  Kate nodded. “I need to check in at work afterward. Make sure everything’s going smoothly at the kitchen. I can’t relax, because I have the feeling that I’m dropping the ball somewhere.”

  “The curse of leading a busy life. It’s hard to slow down long enough to notice the roses, let alone stop long enough to smell them,” Dallas agreed.

  “Do you work all the time when you’re not helping strangers?” she asked with a half smile.

  Kate was beautiful and her looks had certainly made an impression on Dallas. There was so much more to her. She was kind, genuine and honest to a fault. Intelligent.

  There wasn’t much she couldn’t accomplish if she set her mind to something.

  “Do you have any idea how amazing you are?” He kissed her forehead, wishing he could whisk her into the bedroom again. Not an option with the little guy around. Besides, Dallas needed to get his brothers together and then work until the sketch artist arrived.

  She rolled her eyes and smiled up at him. “I doubt it.”

  She’d built a successful company from the ground up. She ran a successful nonprofit while taking care of one of the cutest darn kids Dallas had ever set eyes on.

  He had a hard time believing that she could feel inadequate in any way.

  If he had to describe her in one word it would be…remarkable.

  “You’re kidding me, right?” he asked.

  “Growing up in my childhood home didn’t inspire a lot of confidence.” She rolled her shoulders in a shrug.

  “Then I wish you could see the person I see when I look at you.” And Dallas needed to figure out how she fit into his life when this was all over.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Kate made a few calls to check on work and then spent the balance of the morning playing with her son. She had always believed that she needed work to keep her busy, to feel fulfilled, and was surprised to realize that being with Jackson was enough.

  Maybe once she got her donor base full, she’d consider cutting back to working half-time. She couldn’t imagine stopping altogether. Being a mother was incredibly rewarding, but feeding people filled another part of her heart.

  The one thing she’d realized when she’d cashed out of her start-up was that wearing the best clothes or paying two hundred dollars to have her hair colored and cut did nothing to refill the well. Did she enjoy looking good? Of course. She still thought it was important to feel great in what she wore and how she took care of herself. But she’d figured out that she could still look pretty amazing with just the right color sweater. And a ponytail and pair of sweats were all she needed to impress the little man she was holding. Jackson didn’t even care if her socks matched, which some days they probably didn’t since he’d come into her life.

  Her work at the kitchen was important. It felt good to make sure people were fed, to know she was making a difference for others on a most basic level.

  Then there were other feelings she was having a harder time getting under control, feelings for Dallas O’Brien.

  The rich cowboy was smart, handsome and successful. And he did things to her body that no man before him had come close to achieving.

  It was more than great sex with Dallas. There was a closeness she felt with him that she’d never experienced with anyone else.

  And yet a nagging question persisted. What did she really know about him?

  Like what was his favorite color? Was he a lazy Sunday morning person or did he get up early and go out for a jog? When did he have time to work out between running the ranch and taking care of his business in New Mexico? A body like his said he must put in serious time at the gym. Heck, she didn’t even know his favorite meal, dessert or alcoholic beverage.

  All the little details about each other that added up to true intimacy were missing.

  The one thing she knew for certain was that if she was in trouble, then he was the guy she wanted standing beside her. Dallas O’Brien had her back. And he was capable of handling himself in every situation.

  Kate placed Jackson on his belly on the blanket Dallas had spread out on the wood floor. The few toys Janis had brought were keeping her son entertained.

  And she wondered how long she could keep him safe like this.

  The reality of their situation hit fast and hard, like lightning on a sunny day. They were in hiding in a near stranger’s house. Her mind argued that she and Dallas couldn’t pos
sibly be strangers anymore, but she pushed logic aside.

  She focused on her boy, shuddering at the thought someone could want to take him from her. Rather than give in to that fear, she sipped her coffee.

  There were so many facts and theories rolling around in her head. If what they’d talked about earlier was true, then she had to consider the possibility that Jackson’s father was a criminal. She wouldn’t love her son any less either way, but that would complicate their lives, given that this criminal seemed intent on finding his son.

  If he found Jackson, and Jackson turned out to be his, she wouldn’t have to worry about courts and judges, because this guy could take Jackson and make a run out of the country. He’d eluded law enforcement so far.

  Kate’s chest squeezed as she thought about the possibilities.

  There was another option. Dallas could be Jackson’s biological father. That thought didn’t startle her as much as it probably should.

  “Don’t do that to yourself.” Dallas’s voice startled her out of the dark place she’d gone.

  “You scared me,” she said, avoiding the topic.

  “Sorry. The deputy and sketch artist are on their way here.” He sauntered across the room toward the kitchen with his coffee mug in hand and Kate couldn’t help but admire his athletic grace. She also thought about what he looked like naked and that sent a different kind of shiver down her back.

  “Don’t get tied up with what-ifs,” Dallas said, pouring a fresh cup of coffee. He held up the pot. “Want more?”

  She shook her head.

  “It’s hard.” She looked at Jackson. He was such a happy baby and her heart hurt at the thought of him being taken away, let alone never seeing him again.

  “My mother used to tell me that it was her job to worry,” Dallas said.

  “Then I’m overqualified,” Kate quipped.

  He smiled and it was like a hundred candles lit up inside her.

  “It would be impossible not to worry under the circumstances,” he conceded. “And I think it comes with the territory of parenting.”

  She locked on to his gaze. “I can’t lose him.”

  “If I have anything to say about it, you won’t.” The sincerity in his voice soothed her more than she should allow, because nothing about their current situation said that Dallas could protect them forever.

  There was a comfort in being with him that she’d never known with anyone else. “How’s work? I can’t help but feel we’re keeping you from your own life,” she said, trying to redirect her thoughts.

  Dallas eyed her for a minute before he spoke. “It’s no trouble. I have everything covered here and in New Mexico.”

  “I appreciate all you’re doing for us,” she said, stiffening her back. “In case I haven’t told you that lately.”

  “Don’t do that. Don’t bring up a wall between us.” Hurt registered in his dark eyes.

  “I’m sorry. I just don’t know how to deal with this,” she said, her gaze focused on the patch of floor in front of her. Feeling a sudden chill, she rubbed her arms.

  “How about we take it one day at a time,” he suggested. He covered well, but she detected a note of disappointment in his voice.

  The last thing Kate wanted to do was hurt the one man helping her. The emotions she felt for Dallas confused her, and even though it made no sense, they felt far more dangerous than anything else they faced.

  “I don’t know if I can do that,” she admitted.

  “Will you at least tell me why not?”

  “I’m scared.”

  * * *

  “THEN LET’S NOT overthink whatever’s happening between us,” Dallas said, moving to her and then kissing her forehead.

  She smiled up at him, which wasn’t the same as agreement, and his heart stuttered.

  His cell phone buzzed. He fished it out of his pocket and answered, deciding the two of them needed to have a sit-down when this mess was all over to talk about a future. Dallas had no idea what that meant exactly, but he wanted Kate and Jackson in his life.

  After saying a few “uh-huh”s into the phone, he ended the call.

  “Doc’s here,” he said, moving to the front door.

  He opened it before she could knock. Dallas was ready to get an answer to at least one of his questions.

  After introductions were made, he asked, “What do you need from me to get the ball rolling?”

  Dr. McConnell smiled, winked and set down her bag. “A swab on the inside of your cheek should do the trick.”

  Kate brought Jackson over, sat on the couch and then put him on her lap for easier access. She dropped his toy at least three times before the doctor managed to obtain his swab.

  “How long before you’ll get the results?” Dallas asked, mostly wanting to ease Kate’s concern.

  “I’ll walk this into the lab myself as soon as I leave here,” Dr. McConnell said as she secured the samples. “So I should have news tomorrow around this time.”

  Kate’s eyes grew wide and then she refocused on her son. Dallas could almost feel the panic welling inside her.

  “Thank you for taking care of this personally,” he said, standing to offer a handshake.

  “You’re not getting away that easily,” Dr. McConnell said, pulling him in for a hug. She and his mother had been close friends. “I said it before, but I’m sorry about your folks. I miss my friends every day.”

  “Same here,” Dallas said, appreciating the sentiment. “There’s something I need to tell you before you go.”

  She looked up at him.

  “It’ll be in the news soon enough, even though Tommy is doing his level best to suppress the story, and I told my brothers this morning,” Dallas said. “I thought you should know before everyone else.”

  “What is it, Dallas?”

  “The toxicology results came back with a suspicious substance, cyanide. Mother and Pop were poisoned,” he said.

  It looked as though the doctor needed a minute to let that information sink in.

  “That would explain your father’s heart attack. He was in excellent physical condition and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about him having a heart attack while driving.” Dr. McConnell touched his arm and drew in a deep breath. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Why? How?” Her voice was soft. Tears streamed down her face. “They were such good people. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt your parents. Is there any chance the substance was accidentally ingested?”

  “That’s the question of the day.” Dallas brought her in for another hug. “No matter what, I pledge to get to the bottom of this. If someone killed my parents, then I won’t rest until they pay for what they did.”

  “I’d like to have the poison expert at my hospital take a look at the report. Give another opinion.” Dr. McConnell wiped away her tears and straightened her rounded shoulders.

  “Any additional eyes we can get on the case, the better,” Dallas said. “Any help you can give is much appreciated.”

  “This happened the day after the art auction,” she said. “So they were around a lot of people that night and the next day.”

  “If they were murdered, we’ll find the SOB,” he said, his mind already clicking through possibilities. He’d have Tommy request all the pictures taken that night so he could figure out exactly who had attended the party. The guest list would be easy enough to locate and there’d be dozens of others—waiters, bartenders and cooks.

  There was a professional photographer hired for the party, as well as Harper Smith from the society page of the local newspaper.

  “I can’t think of one person who would want to hurt your parents,” Dr. McConnell said, still in disbelief.

  “Me, either,” Dallas stated.

  She took a breath, pursed her lips and nodded. “If I can be of any help, you know my number.”

  “I won’t hesitate,” Dallas said.

  She hugged him again before taking up her bag
and saying goodbye to Kate. Stopped at the door, she shifted her gaze from Kate to Dallas. “I hope everything works out the way it’s supposed to.”

  Dallas saw the doctor out, then turned to Kate. “Are you doing okay?”

  Her shoulders sagged and sadness was written in the lines of her face. “I didn’t know about your parents.”

  “I just found out yesterday. I’m still trying to process the news.”

  “From Tommy?” Kate seemed hurt that he hadn’t shared the information with her sooner.

  Dallas moved to her side and sat down next to her, ignoring the heat where his thigh pressed against hers. “The only reason I didn’t bring it up last night was because there was so much else going on.”

  “It’s okay, Dallas. You don’t have to tell me anything,” she said, trying to mask her pain and put on a brave face.

  “I’d planned to tell you, but with everything else happening I was trying to process the news myself and then tell my brothers. I overloaded last night, and being with you was the only thing keeping me sane.”

  He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers. “I just hope you can understand.”

  She didn’t say anything right away. She just breathed.

  “I do,” she murmured at last, and Dallas finally exhaled.

  The deputy and sketch artist stopped by next. It took Dallas only fifteen minutes with the artist for him to capture the image in Dallas’s mind. He thanked them before walking them both out.

  For the next hour, Dallas played with Jackson on the floor alongside Kate. He sensed that her nerves were on edge.

  “I wasn’t expecting to feel this stressed about the test,” she finally admitted.

  “One phone call is all it takes to make it go away, if you don’t want this to go any further,” Dallas said.

  “Between you and some random criminal being Jackson’s father, I’m hoping it’s you,” she said.

  “That’s quite an endorsement,” he responded, and he couldn’t help but laugh despite all the heaviness inside him.

  Kate joined him, a much-needed release of nervous tension for both of them, despite the tragic circumstances.