Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set

by Cari Lynn Webb, Linda Warren, Mary Anne Wilson

  He kissed her cheek. “I’ll call when I can.”

  “Just be careful. You know, I have this fear of getting a call that you’ve been injured and I don’t really want that to ever happen. I don’t want to ever get that call. You understand? Take care of yourself.”

  “I’m very good at what I do so don’t worry. I’m always looking out for me and the guys.”

  “Mothers worry. We just can’t help it.”

  She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back. Without a backward glance, he walked out the back door. Getting into his truck, he paused and glanced at the Tullous house. No, he decided he was going to do it differently this time. He marched across the street and knocked on the door.

  Becky opened it, her eyes wide. “Bo.”

  “Could we talk for a minute?”

  “Sure.” She came out wearing skinny jeans and a long-sleeved knit blouse. A cold front had blown through and the air was fresh and snappy. She sat on the step and he sat beside her. “Luci is in her room dancing to the music. She has so much energy.”

  “Did she give you any trouble with pausing?”

  “A couple of times, but then I told her to say it correctly and she did, which surprised the devil out of me because I’ve been trying to get her to do that for over a year.”

  “Keep at it. I think she’s made the turn and is confident she knows the words.”

  “I’m just happy she’ll be able to start school next year.” She glanced at him. “Did you want to talk about something?”

  Bo rubbed his hands together. “The last time I didn’t say goodbye like I should have, and this time I want to say goodbye the right way.”

  “Bo, you’re not going to be gone forever and I’m trying really hard to forget my immature behavior.”

  “No, you were right. I’ve learned a lot of things about myself since I’ve been home and the major thing I’ve learned about is forgiveness. Anyone can say they’re sorry, but it doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t change the way that person feels in their heart.”

  He placed a hand on his chest. “It’s hard for me to forgive my father because when I say I’m sorry it’s not going to change the way I feel inside about him. I know I said I was sorry a hundred times to you and it’s never going to change the way you feel inside about what I did. I hurt you and that scar is always going to be there. I understand that now.”

  “Oh, Bo.”

  “And I apologize for kissing you the other day, but some things are just too hard to resist and that’s my attraction for you. I just want us to remain on friendly terms for Luci’s sake.”

  “I don’t see a problem there.”

  “I’ll miss her.”

  “She…she’ll miss you, too. Bo…”

  The door opened and Luci ran out, interrupting them. Her hair was out of its usual pigtails and disheveled. And she wasn’t wearing her glasses. “Bo, we gonna play?”

  He gathered her into his arms. “Not today, little angel. Remember I told you I’m going back to work and I’m leaving today.”

  “Oh. Where. You.”

  Becky pointed a finger in her face. “No.”

  Luci giggled. “Where you going?”

  “Austin.” He kissed her cheek. “You be good for your mother and I’ll come visit you one day.”

  “’Kay.”

  “Where are your glasses?” Becky asked Luci.

  Luci shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Say goodbye to Bo and go find them.”

  Luci raised her hand in goodbye and went back into the house.

  “She’s acting just like any three-year-old,” Becky remarked.

  Bo got to his feet and wanted to take Becky into his arms, but they’d grown past that. Today they would part as friends. “I’m glad we had the opportunity to air out our feelings.”

  She stood beside him. “Yeah. It’s an eye-opener when you find out that what you’ve been upset about for eighteen years was something trivial.”

  “Goodbye, Bec. Maybe I’ll see you in Austin.”

  “Bye, Bo.” There was a forlorn note in her voice and he turned back to see if she expected something more from him. But she was already headed toward the front door.

  Goodbye, Becky. He really hoped that it wasn’t forever.

  * * *

  BO DROVE TO the end of Liberty Street and saw the courthouse and the sheriff’s office. He’d talked to Cole a few times on the phone, but hadn’t seen him much in the last two weeks. He swerved into a parking spot next to Cole’s truck.

  Bubba was sitting at the front desk. “Hey, Bubba,” Bo said as he walked into Cole’s office. He sat in a chair facing Cole.

  “What’s going on?” Cole asked, leaning back.

  “I’m headed back to work.”

  “I think that’s a good idea, considering everything that’s going on.” Cole knew about Bo’s dad and he knew about Luci. They knew everything about each other’s lives but they’d been growing apart since Cole now had a family.

  “I have so many conflicting emotions in my head it’s about to explode.”

  “Catching criminals will force you to concentrate on something else.”

  Bo ran his hands through his hair. “I feel as if I’m letting everyone down, but I can’t change the way I feel.”

  “Go to work and things will look different in a week. Dealing with the seedier side of life will give you an appreciation of what you have.”

  “What I have is a headache.”

  Cole twirled a pencil in his hand. “How did you leave it with Becky?”

  “As friends.”

  “That’s gotta hurt.”

  “Yeah.” Bo got to his feet. “But I understand now what she went through and I wish I could take it back, but back then I was all puffed up and there was no way she wouldn’t be waiting for me. I can’t believe how arrogant I was. Grandpa filled my head with a lot of nonsense and I’m working my way through that situation, too.”

  “You’re grown, man. It takes a lot of courage to admit that.”

  “I get A-plus for being a jerk.”

  “Come on, man. It’s over, and you and Becky are talking and that’s what’s important. And for the record, you’re not a jerk.”

  Bo knew Cole would always take his side, no matter what. That’s the way they’d grown up, being there for each other because their parents weren’t.

  “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!”

  Zoe came running through the front door and straight to Cole. He swung her up into his arms and kissed her cheek. “How’s my girl?”

  “Good. We come to take you…”

  Cole’s wife, Grace, and his grandfather, Mr. Walt, followed more slowly.

  “Hey, Bo.” Mr. Walt slapped him on the shoulder. “How come you haven’t been to see me?”

  “Grandpa.” He’d always called Mr. Walt grandpa, and it had always seemed natural. “I’ve been busy with family problems.”

  “Heard about your dad. I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks, Grandpa. I’m still coming to grips with that.”

  Grace hugged him. “I’m sorry, too.”

  “Thank you.” He didn’t know what else to say so he didn’t say anything.

  “So, where are you guys taking me?” Cole asked to break the tension.

  “To dinner,” Zoe shouted.

  Grace moved to Cole’s side and he put an arm around her waist. She was a dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty, and Cole was lucky to have found his soul mate. Bo was happy for his friend.

  “Come with us,” Grace suggested. At five months pregnant she was really showing and she absolutely glowed.

  “Thanks, but I have to get back to Austin.” He wasn’t in the mood for a family get-together. He told everyone goodbye and kissed Zoe.

  “No ouchie.” She rubbed Bo
’s clean-shaven cheek.

  “I like the new look,” Grace said.

  “He’s hard to recognize,” Cole joked.

  “See you guys later,” Bo called, going out the door. He got in his truck and drove toward Temple to see his grandma. He’d get a lecture, but he was used to that. He was getting used to a lot of things.

  In his line of work he knew what to do and how to do it without any emotional entanglements. He was good at gauging actions and reactions when it came to criminals. But he was hopeless when it came to women, especially Becky. There was no way she was ever going to love him the way he wanted her to love him. Sometimes hindsight was pure torture.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  BECKY SETTLED BACK into her condo with ease when she and Luci returned to Austin, but her heart was heavy. She wanted to say so many things to Bo, but she’d held on to her fear and she wasn’t sure what she’d been afraid of. He’d been so sincere. He’d meant every word he’d said and she just wanted to throw her arms around him and forgive every pain he’d ever caused her.

  But it didn’t work like that. He was right. She had to find a way to ease the pain inside, and the only way to do that was to continue to talk and continue to share Luci with him. She’d already seen so many breakthroughs she thought would never happen. But there was hope in her heart and she clung to that.

  Luci asked where Bo was a couple of times, but she was glad to see Ruby and Thomas Edwards after their two weeks away. They were a couple in their sixties, and their daughter, Leesha, was a nurse who worked in Dr. Eames’s office. Leesha’s daughter, Zia, had been born a month before Luci. When Becky had frantically been searching for someone she could trust to keep Luci so she could go back to work, Leesha had said she would ask her mother, who was keeping Zia, and it had been a godsend.

  It was nice being back in the condo, but she worried about her dad being alone again. She would make sure they visited this weekend so Luci could see her grandfather and maybe, just maybe, Bo might be home, too. So many years she hadn’t wanted to talk to him, but now that was all she wanted to do. Well, not all.

  * * *

  BO FELL BACK into his regular routine and tried not to think about Becky or his dad. He put them on the back burner, as he’d always been able to do. That was why he liked to work. He was good at shutting out the memories, but eventually he had to face them and he couldn’t put it off much longer.

  “Goodnight.” The lieutenant’s voice came over the intercom. “My office.”

  As he opened the door he could see the lieutenant leaning over something that looked like a map.

  “We have a situation.” She pointed to a spot on the map. “A rural area outside of Bastrop. A deputy tried to serve a warrant on a guy in a house trailer and was shot before he made it to the door. He called for backup and the next officer was shot as he got out of his patrol car. The Bastrop PD and sheriff’s deputies are at the scene, but the shooter has them pinned behind their vehicles. They tried to go through the back way and an officer was shot there, too. There are three officers down and no one can get to them for the shooter’s constant firing. We got a call asking for help. Take the team and get this done so those officers can get medical attention.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She handed him some papers. “That’s a map of the fastest route and a sketch of the layout of the trailer. The sheriff knows you’re coming.”

  He nodded and joined his men. “Let’s go. We have an emergency.” They loaded into the Hummer. Bo took the passenger side. “Listen up.” He told them what the lieutenant had told him. He handed the map to Patel. “The lieutenant said that’s the fastest way. Make sure it is. We need to get there as soon as possible. Officers are down.”

  “Sarge, we can shave about eight minutes off by going a different route.”

  “Give Speed the directions.”

  “Got it,” Speed said, putting the route into the GPS.

  “This is an extremely volatile situation. Make sure you’re in full tactical gear for safety. We don’t need any more casualties today.”

  As they rode, Bo studied the layout of the trailer. Two doors. One in front and one in the back. Two windows in the front and three in the back. One was a double. There were no windows on either end of the trailer.

  As they neared the site, gunshots echoed through the cool afternoon breeze. They topped a small hill and could see the scene in the distance. An old trailer sat under scattered oak trees. An abandoned truck rested in tall weeds and another truck was next to it.

  Police and sheriff’s cars were about a hundred yards away and were set up as a barricade in front of the trailer with officers behind them. Ambulances and other first responders waited patiently behind the officers. The man in the trailer was firing shots at anything that moved. As they got closer, Bo could see two officers lying in the front yard, one on his back and the other with his face to the ground. His heart rate sped up at the sight.

  He told Speed to park behind the sheriff’s car, which was clearly visible. They had to be careful. Bullets were flying everywhere and ricocheting off vehicles. A man with a badge bent over and ran to the Hummer. The bullets stopped for a moment. Bo got out, crouched and met the man. His crew waited for orders.

  “Sheriff Laskey,” the man said, shaking Bo’s hand.

  “Sergeant Bo Goodnight.” They squatted on the ground to avoid being hit by a bullet.

  “We have officers down and we could use your help. We can’t get near them. The guy inside is Duane Hopkins, and he just keeps firing. He’s on drugs, for sure.”

  “Have you tried a high-powered rifle?”

  “Yes, but it’s hard to get a shot at him. He’s at the window for a second to get off some shots, then he quickly disappears, either against the wall or farther into the room. We tried to get to the front and back door, but he seems to know when we’re coming and I’m not risking another officer’s life.”

  Bo peeked over the car to the shattered trailer and saw something at the top under the roof. “Is that a security camera?”

  The sheriff took a look. “Well, I’ll be damned. It looks like it, but I’m not sure. I didn’t think Duane was that smart, but at this point, I’m almost positive it is.”

  “That’s how he knows when you’re coming. He’s seeing everything you do.”

  “Do you think you can get that armored car in there to get my men out? They need medical attention.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking about it, but that would put a lot of people at risk, especially the officers who are down. We don’t know what kind of injuries they have, and if we pull them to safety we might injure them more. If we get the ambulance in, then the EMTs are at risk. I think the best plan is just to take the shooter out.”

  “We’ve tried that.”

  “Have you tried gas?”

  “Yes. The damn man has a gas mask.”

  “I guess that rules out smoke bombs.”

  “Yep.”

  “Tell your men to wait for orders and we’ll take it from here.”

  The sheriff nodded. “Sure thing.”

  Bo motioned to his crew and they came out and squatted around him. “What’s the plan?” Cruz asked.

  “I’m going to see if I can get a bead on him.”

  “That’s dangerous,” the sheriff said. “I have a wounded guy because of that.”

  “Thanks, Sheriff.” Bo turned to his guys. “Here’s the plan. Speed, I want you to take Cruz, Preacher and Patel in the Hummer and get as close to the end of the trailer as you can. He’ll fire at you, but he’ll just put marks on the Hummer.

  “Once you’re there, wait for orders. Hutch will take out the security camera first. Then Cruz and Patel will go to the front door and Preacher and Speed will go to the back door. Preacher and Speed, look for a security camera on the back of the trailer. He’ll have it well hidden. Let m
e know if you see one. Then slither up against the trailer as if you’re glued to it and don’t give him a shot.

  “Hutch will back me up. Once you’re in position I’m going to take a shot and see if I can bring him down. When I give you the word to go, that means breach the front and back doors and make sure he’s completely down.”

  “Got it,” they said in unison.

  The Hummer made its way to the end of the trailer. Hopkins fired several rounds at it until it was out of sight.

  Bo turned to Hutch. “Take out the security camera.”

  Hutch stood quickly and aimed his M16. He pulled the trigger and the camera shattered into a million pieces.

  “Go,” he said to the others.

  The guys climbed out of the Hummer and got into position.

  “The back door is locked,” Preacher said through the mic. “Security camera is located on the end of the trailer.”

  “Take it out.”

  They heard a boom and he knew the camera was gone. They’d leveled the playing field now.

  Curse words blasted from the trailer.

  “The front door is open.” Cruz came on the mic.

  “Preacher, wait for my orders to kick in the back door. Cruz, you know the drill. Patel and Speed, back them up.”

  “Yes, Sarge.”

  Bo lifted his M24 with its scope into his hands. He looked at the sheriff. “Have your guys fire a couple of rounds. I want him to come to the window.” As the bullets slapped against the trailer, Bo placed his rifle on a squad car, putting his head and shoulders in plain sight and putting himself at risk. He glanced through his scope. He could see the guy clearly. Long dirty hair and a beard, but Bo didn’t take time to critique his appearance. A bullet zinged past his helmet. As soon as he had Hopkins centered in the scope, he pulled the trigger and shouted into his mic, “Go, go, go!”

  Bo lowered the rifle and took a deep breath. He watched as Cruz and Patel went through the front door and in a second he heard Cruz on his mic. “We got him. We got him. He’s shot in the shoulder, but he’s still breathing. All is safe.”