Almost Home

by India Masters

  His cell phone vibrated from its place in his shirt pocket. Wyatt engaged the Bluetooth. “Yeah,” he said, tiredly. He heard Lloyd Mattson’s voice. The man was probably getting sick of returning his many calls but, like the true friend he was, he did it anyway. “Anything on Winslow yet?”

  “No, but we found plenty of DNA evidence at Conner’s old place. Enough for the D.A. to go for the death penalty when they finally get the bastard. Still don’t know who she is though.”

  Wyatt shook his head. “I’m sorry for her, I truly am. It’s a horrible way to die but there ain’t nothing I can do to help her now. My main concern is Haley.” He had to pause to keep his voice from breaking. “I can’t lose her, Lloyd. We gotta keep her safe.”

  The sheriff cleared his throat. “There’s something more. That earring? Winslow’s DNA was on that too. So, he’ll be charged for Jack’s murder too. Y’all need to be careful. We’ll do everything in our power to see that happens, Wyatt. You got my word on that.”

  “I know. Thanks.” He sighed. “My turnoff is coming up. We’re just about to hop on 285. Won’t be long now.” He said goodbye to his friend and disconnected.

  Taking the 285 to I-10, Wyatt put the pedal to the metal all the way to Junction, praying he’d avoid the attention of law enforcement. When he reached Main Street, he pulled into the Valero station and shut off the engine. He stroked his wife’s silken hair.

  “Hey baby,” he said softly. “Time to wake up.” She woke with a start, blinking rapidly.

  “Where are we?” She sat up, rubbing the grit from her eyes and looked around. “Why didn’t you wake me? God, you must have glued your eyelids open. Has there been any word? Is Conner okay?”

  “One question at a time, baby girl,” Wyatt said with a chuckle. “We’re in Junction. I didn’t quite have to glue my eyes open but I am a mite tired. You might wanna call Holden while I fill up.” She nodded, stretched and climbed out of the cab behind him, already dialing. He watched her pace and nod, then her face lit up and he knew Holden must have gotten Conner home. He was happy for her but having Conner back at the house meant one more person to protect from Kent Kilpatrick’s hired gun. Still, he smiled and hugged his wife when she delivered the news.

  “Conner’s been released and he’s at the One-Eyed Jack. Dooley got him settled in bunkhouse.”

  “Well that’s good, darlin’, that’s real good.”

  Haley cocked her head. “But?”

  “But nothing. Not really.”

  “I agree but you’re worrying the warts off a frog so you’d just as well tell me.”

  Wyatt shrugged. “Two things. It’s just that he’s barely recovered from the snake bites and surgery—”

  “And he’ll be an easy target.” Her shoulders slumped for a moment before she straightened them. Shaking it off and sucking it up. He’d seen her do it a hundred times. “Well, he’ll just have to stay in the house whether he likes it or not.” She gave him a wry look and a shrug. “Not that he’s likely to be too upset at the prospect. He ain’t exactly the most ambitious worker. What’s the second thing?”

  Wyatt snorted, then shook his finger at her. “Just so you ain’t waiting on him hand and foot, you hear? And the second thing is what we pretty much figured. DNA came back on the earring. It belongs to Winslow.”

  “Well shit. Sometimes I hate being right.”

  “In this case, I tend to agree with you. Get in the truck and let’s get home. I swear I’m so tired every time I stand up my mind sits down.”

  “Then you get in the truck and I’ll drive home.”

  Wyatt shrugged. “What the hell. You can finish pumping the gas too.” He gave her a kiss and climbed in the cab, scooting over to the passenger side.

  * * * * *

  Haley braked to a stop at the gate, leaned out the window and cautiously opened the mailbox to retrieve the mail. Considering what happened to Conner, she didn’t put it past Winslow to put a rattler in her mailbox. She breathed a sigh of relief when nothing popped out at her.

  Along with the bills, there was a large manila envelope with no return address on it. She tossed everything on the dash and headed up the lane to the house. Wyatt woke when she pulled up. She tooted the horn and well-armed cowboys began to appear from all directions. At least security was tight around the house. Not that that seemed to mean a hell of a lot. Aunt Jack’s grave was only a mile away and Winslow had been able to sneak onto her property to dispose of the dead girl’s body. A sense of dread crept up her spine and she looked around. He could be out there right now, looking at them through the scope of a high-powered rifle. One shot was all it would take and life as she knew it would be over. Wyatt would be gone and Rafe would come for her. She closed her eyes, said a silent prayer, then opened the truck door and stepped out, a smile pasted on her face.

  The newlyweds greeted the hands and accepted congratulations, then Wyatt scooped her up and carried her up the steps and across the threshold accompanied by the whistles and applause of the men. He set her on her feet and gave her a long, lingering kiss that spoke of sensual promises to be fulfilled later that night.

  “I need to get over to the Flyin’ W and check on things. You go check on your brother, have yourself a nice, long bath and get some rest, sweet pea. I’ll join you in a bit.”

  Haley caressed his cheek. Lord but she didn’t want him to go. “I love you.”

  He grinned that sinful grin that made his eyes spark with mischief. “And I’m glad of it, ma’am.” He lowered his head and kissed her again, his tongue soft and languorous as he thoroughly explored her mouth. God she loved the way he kissed. Gentle and coaxing one moment and hot and demanding the next. He kissed her like that now, one hand on her ass, the other kneading her breast. She couldn’t help herself, she lifted one leg, hooked it around his hip and returned his hungry kiss. He uttered an impatient growl and hoisted her up, carried her to the couch.

  Haley arched against her husband as his hot mouth skimmed her neck. The snaps on her Western shirt popped and she moaned when he nipped at a straining nipple. The front closure popped and his mouth was on her, drawing on her breast.

  Hot. Lord but he made her hot. And wet. And needy. Made her forget everything but the feel of his lips on her skin, the touch of his hands. If only for a few minutes, the world went away when she was in his arms. “Wyatt.” His name came out on a desperate sigh as his hand wedged between them, flicked open her jeans. The zipper rasped and then he burrowed inside her jeans. She raised her hips and shoved at her jeans, giving him room to work.

  “Damn honey.” His voice was a gravelly rasp, letting her know he was as turned on as she was. “You’re so hot and wet. You wanna come?” He rose up on one knee and sank two fingers into her heated core. She uttered a strangled cry and ground her hips against his tormenting fingers. “Oh yeah. Baby wants to come.” His mouth slammed down over hers as he wedged his calloused thumb against her clit and began to stroke and pump.

  Her mind was void of any thoughts except of what Wyatt was doing to her. An invading army could burst through the door and she wouldn’t hear them. He was going to make her come. Hard. Her hips rose and fell with the rhythm he set. His tongue fucked her mouth as his fingers plundered her, driving her hard to the edge then hurling her over. Her body bowed, froze for a heartbeat, then came the inevitable shuddering as the orgasm rippled through her body from her pussy to her toes and back again. His mouth absorbed her shouts as a series of short, intense orgasms rocked her while Wyatt deliberately toyed with the sensitized nerves of her G-spot.

  “Jesus, Mary and Joseph.” Haley’s breath hitched when he withdrew from her.

  He grinned, pulled away with a regretful sigh and stood. “Hold that thought, darlin’.”

  She watched as he walked to the kitchen, turned on the water. Her pussy clenched when he looked over at her and stuck his fingers in his mouth to suck at the evidence of her orgasm. Good God. He washed his hands, dried them, and sauntered back to the couch a
s she struggled to pull up her pants. He leaned down, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her again.

  “Reckon that oughtta hold ya ‘til I get back,” he teased and squeezed her butt.

  Dazed, Haley stood at the doorway and watched him climb into his truck, which Dooley had thoughtfully driven back from the airport for him. With a self-satisfied smile, she hopped off the porch and went to the rental to get the mail. Her forehead puckered as she examined the manila envelope. She didn’t recognize the handwriting but that didn’t mean much as she rarely received personal mail. She tore open the envelope and pulled out an 8x10 photograph of Wyatt doing chores on the Flying W. Someone had drawn crosshairs on his chest. A soft moan escaped her and a rush of adrenaline blocked out the noise around her. Her head swam as she staggered toward the house. She thought she heard someone shout her name as she stumbled up the stairs and into the house but she ignored it. A shake of her head cleared her thoughts and she raced to her office, fumbling with the keys to the gun cabinet. She unlocked it, grabbed a rifle and a box of ammo.

  Dooley was standing in the living room when she entered, the photo of Wyatt in his hand.

  “I’m goin’ with ya,” he declared.

  Haley tossed him the key to the gun cabinet then started feeding ammo into the rotor magazine. “Make it quick.” She engaged the safety and headed for the ranch truck they’d rented. The screen door slammed behind Dooley before she’d even managed to climb behind the wheel. She cranked the engine as he vaulted onto the passenger seat and they roared away, leaving a trail of dust behind them.

  Her throat ached and tears sprang to her eyes. “If anything happens to him—”

  “Ain’t nothin’ gonna happen to him, girl. It was just a threat to scare you.” Dooley’s words calmed her a bit, until she turned and sped up the road to Wyatt’s spread and shots rang out.

  “Oh God!” She pressed the accelerator to the floor and hurtled toward the ranch compound. She muttered a prayer. “Please, please, please Lord, let him be all right. I ain’t never had nothing good in my life, please don’t take him from me.”

  Haley slammed on the brakes and gave the steering wheel a hard turn. The truck skidded to a stop at the western edge of the porch, mowing down a carefully tended flowerbed. Dooley’s door flew open and he launched himself onto the porch. The screen door opened and Wyatt peered around the bottom corner.

  “God damn it!” he shouted. “Why’d you bring my wife over here?”

  “Hell son, your wife drove.”

  Haley slithered across the bench seat, handed her rifle to Dooley and crawled onto the porch. Wyatt reached out, grabbed her wrist and hauled her across the floor into the house. Haley gave him a grim smile and asked, “Hey, baby. Did ya miss me?”

  He rolled her beneath him and kissed her hard. “Remind me to paddle your ass when this is over.”

  Another shot rang out. “How many?” Dooley asked, then popped up, peeked around the door and fired off a round.

  “Two, I think. Or one guy with a couple a rifles and the ability to move damn fast.” He scowled at Haley. “What are you doing here?”

  Her eyes filled despite her resolution to remain calm. “The manila envelope I got in the mail—”

  “Let me guess. There was a picture of me with crosshairs over it.” Her eyes widened. “I got one too, only it was a picture of you. Anybody think to call the police?” Haley and Dooley looked at one another and Wyatt shook his head. “Yeah, me neither. Until y’all got here, he’s been pretty quiet. Figured he’d left.” He plucked his cell phone off his belt and dialed 9-1-1. He quickly explained the situation and hung up. “They’re on their way.” A grin kicked up the corner of the mouth Haley loved so much. “They said to keep our heads down.”

  When Dooley snorted, Haley pressed her face to Wyatt’s chest and snickered.

  “Think this is funny do you?” Wyatt scolded, but she could hear the amusement in his voice. After all, no bullet was going to penetrate the thick log walls. “I can’t believe you’d do a lame-brained thing like come a rushing into an ambush.”

  “Wasn’t expecting an ambush.” Haley lifted her face and looked at him. “Are you gonna tell me you weren’t running out the door to get back to me?”

  “Hell no but I’m the man. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

  It was Haley’s turn to snort. “Being a man ain’t got nothing to do with it.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Is that right?” He ran his hand over her ass, giving her a swat. “I reckon we’ll see about that once this is over, Mrs. Brody.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “I reckon we will at that.” She’d no sooner spoken the words when one of the living room windows shattered and a bullet embedded itself in the far wall. She swore fluently, using words her husband had never heard her use before.

  “Well, the hell with this,” Wyatt growled. “Dooley, take the kitchen window. See if you can make out where the bastard’s hiding. I’m thinking he’s gotta be out past the rise with the way he’s got the hands pinned down. And I think he winged the new guy, Grady. I saw him go down. He hasn’t moved, so I don’t know how bad he’s hurt. Need to get to him somehow. How much ammo you got?”

  “A box each,” Haley answered. “Didn’t think we’d need more.”

  “A box each will do. I take it you know how to shoot that thing.”

  Her eyebrows drew together. “And then some.”

  He gave her another hard kiss. “Y’all start kicking up some dirt. I’m gonna sneak out the back and see if I can get Grady.”

  Haley rose to her feet beside the window and waited until Wyatt got to the kitchen door. With a nod to Dooley, she pivoted and laid down a wide line of fire. Dooley held off for a heartbeat, waiting for return fire then aimed and took several shots in a short arc. In the distance, a man screamed. Off to the right, she saw Wyatt grab one of the cowhands by his collar and haul him back toward the house. Instantly, she and Dooley let loose a barrage of bullets guaranteed to keep their attackers at bay until Wyatt was safe inside again.

  In the distance, they heard the sound of approaching sirens. Wyatt joined them and she looked him over to make sure he was all right. Thank god. Everything would be all right now. Then she heard a whoosh and looked on in horror as Grady hurled a lit Molotov cocktail into the kitchen. Hell had officially taken up residence in Junction, Texas.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Dooley!” Haley screamed as fire exploded in the kitchen. The gasoline-filled bottle broke against the island, sending fire racing up the solid wood cabinetry, the fumes catching to send flames blazing across the ceiling. In a move that amazed Haley, the older man vaulted onto the sink and leaped across the peninsula, rifle still firmly in his grasp.

  Wyatt hauled her to her feet shouting, “We gotta get out before the whole place goes up!”

  Black smoke roiled, filling the room as he and Dooley grasped her arms and the three of them burst through the door. They dropped to the porch, rolled across the ground and took cover behind the rented pickup truck. Another shot rang out, even as the sheriff’s cruiser turned onto the ranch lane and Haley watched in disbelief as the man named Grady fell, the back of his shirt blooming red with blood.

  “Oh god, he shot him,” Haley moaned.

  Wyatt pulled her against him, wrapping her in his arms as the first of the sheriff’s cars skidded to a stop. “Don’t look, darlin’. Just hang on to me. It’s gonna be okay, the cavalry’s here.” She clutched his shirt, wanting more than anything to believe him. Her fists tightened in the soft cotton fabric. “Conner. Oh my god, Conner.”

  “It’s all right,” Lloyd Mattson said, appearing behind the truck. “I sent two units over to the One-Eyed Jack. Highway Patrol’s setting up roadblocks. With any luck we’ll catch the son of a bitch. Anybody hurt here?”

  Haley sagged against her husband, weak with relief. “He shot that man. He was working with him and he just shot him down for no good reason. What’s wrong with people?”

>   “Come on, sweet pea, we gotta get away from the house.” Wyatt helped her to her feet and Dooley led her away while Wyatt climbed into the truck and moved it over by the barn. Moments later, the windows exploded and flames gushed from the shattered openings. As fire trucks sped up the lane, men began to appear from inside the bunkhouse and barns. One popped up from behind a pile of firewood. Everyone was talking at once and Wyatt was nodding and gesturing, doing his best to calm everyone down. Haley walked between the sheriff and Dooley as they made their way toward Wyatt. The deputies scattered, approaching the shooter’s nest with caution. Wyatt held out his hand when she reached him and she took it gratefully. She smiled grimly as he introduced her to the gathering as the new mistress of the Flying W.

  “I was just telling the men everybody’s armed from now on.” Haley nodded and he went on. “Anybody wants to leave, nobody’ll think any less of him. I don’t expect anybody to take a bullet for me.”

  His foreman, a barrel-chested bear of a man, stepped up to stand beside Wyatt. “I ride for the brand,” he declared.

  “So do I,” a blond, baby-faced cowboy declared.

  In the end, not a single man elected to leave the Flying W.

  Wyatt and Haley sat on the truck’s tailgate and watched as the fire department struggled to put out the blaze. Neither was hopeful that they’d be able to save much. Parts of the house were new, additions made over the years to accommodate a growing family and Wyatt had remodeled and updated the main rooms. But the fact remained that much of the house was built out of century old wood and the flames roared and snapped, devouring decades of memories in less time that it took to eat supper.