The day wasn’t over yet. Jesse, Whiting and he were headed down to the border town of Presidio, Texas. Before dawn they were going in to search Vasquez’s U.S. headquarters in the Chinati Mountains.
Chase hoped everything they’d been looking for was on this side of the border. It would sure make things easier.
He walked through the door of his home and into the empty silence. It suddenly hit him…along with a hard loneliness in his gut. Hell, he missed his son…and Mallory.
He picked up the phone from the kitchen and punched in the memorized number. By the second ring, it was answered by Mallory saying, “Mooney Ranch.”
His throat went dry like a teenager’s. “Hi,” he managed.
There was a long pause. “Chase,” she said in a throaty voice.
“I meant to call sooner, but…things got going and just didn’t slow down. I hope I didn’t call too late.”
“No…it’s fine. I just came upstairs to my bedroom.”
He bit back a groan, thinking about her lying in bed. He shook away the thought. “How’s Ryan?”
“He misses you, of course.”
“Believe me, I miss him, too. I would have called sooner, but we were in a meeting most of the afternoon. And tomorrow I leave.”
Another long pause. “So you got the information you were hoping for.”
“Yes. We’re still not sure if it’s going to pan out. First, we have to find the man…” He stopped. He couldn’t tell her any more, but surprisingly he found he needed to share everything, including his fears, with her.
“Chase…are you okay?” she asked.
He sank down on his oversized sofa, lifting his feet on the coffee table. “I could say I’ve been better.”
“Wade meant a lot to you. I just wish there was something I could do to help.”
His chest tightened and he closed his eyes wishing she was with him. “You’re doing just fine, Mal. Just fine.”
She paused. “Will you promise me something, Chase?”
Anything in the world. “If I can.”
“Be careful. I know how much you want this guy, but he’s a murderer.”
“It’s my job to bring him to justice.” He didn’t want to waste his time talking about Vasquez…he wanted Mallory. “Will you be waiting for me when I get back?”
“Are you coming back here?”
“My vacation time sort of ran out. I thought I’d save those few days.” He paused. “Dammit, Mallory, I want to see you. I want to hold you…make love to you.”
There was a pause. “I don’t think we should talk about this now….”
“It’s past time, Mal. We should have been together long ago.” He released a breath. “Give us a chance.”
“I don’t know if I can,” she said. He could hear the tears in her voice. “I’ve found a life I like, Chase. I’m my own person.”
“And you can’t share it with anyone?”
“I’ve tried, Chase. And if you care about me, please don’t try and push me into anything.”
CHAPTER TEN
FOR THE LAST twenty-four hours, Mallory had tried without success not to worry about Chase. She hadn’t slept since she’d talked to him on the phone, since she’d lied and told him she didn’t want a future with him.
Mallory leaned against her pillow and closed her eyes. She didn’t know many of the details about the assignment, but that didn’t stop her prayers to keep Chase safe. Although he was well trained at his job, he was still going after a known killer.
Suddenly regrets filled her. What if something happened? What if Chase never came back to her…to Ryan? Tears filled her eyes.
“Mom…”
She sat up and saw her son standing in the doorway to her room. “Ryan…what’s wrong, honey?”
“I can’t sleep. I’m worried about Dad.”
She held out her arms and the boy came to her. He climbed in beside her and let her cradle him close. “It’s going to be all right, Ryan. Chase is a ranger, he knows what he’s doing.”
“I know, but this is a really bad guy.” Her son raised his head, and his dark eyes met hers. “He killed someone. Every time I close my eyes I see him shoot at Dad.”
She tensed. “I wish I could say he isn’t in danger, but we don’t know that. Just trust that your dad knows his job, and he wants to come back to you more than anything in this world.”
Ryan nodded. “He wants to come back to you, too. Mom, he loves us both.”
She swallowed hard. Mallory wasn’t so sure. She knew Chase loved his son, but was she just part of the package? He hadn’t loved her enough to want her years ago. And she couldn’t go through that kind of rejection again….
“Hey, why don’t we go and visit Grandpa? You can be closer when your dad gets back home.”
His eyes lit up. “Chase will want you there, too.”
Mallory didn’t want to burst her son’s bubble right now. This was all too new. She just wanted them all to get through the next few days. She knew that Chase had waited for years to find his uncle’s killer.
Then hopefully, she could get back to her life. But she knew with Chase Landon in it, things would never be the same again.
The next morning at dawn, Chase and Jesse hid behind a large boulder, staking out the Spanish-style house on the ranch compound. Nothing looked suspicious. To the untrained eye, it looked like any of the other ranches in the area.
This was supposed to be Sancho Vasquez’s U.S. headquarters. All the big guns were out here today, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, along with the Texas Rangers and local law enforcement.
Reyes had better be telling the truth about this place being where Sancho ran his drugs operation across the border through Ojinaga, Mexico. There were several other buildings in the compound, probably housing the drugs. Word on the street was there was marijuana and cocaine stored here camouflaged by herds of cattle.
Chase should be happier about the possible drug bust, but he had one thought on his mind. To get his uncle’s killer. Everything else was a bonus.
His phone vibrated on his belt. The text message stated all the men were in place and ready to move in. They had a search warrant in hand, but they knew Vasquez wasn’t going to let them just walk in.
“It’s time,” he told Jesse. “Let’s move.”
They climbed into their vehicles, along with several rangers and some local law enforcement and drove toward the compound, breaking down the gate as they went. Once stopped, they drew their weapons.
Several of the workers scattered, some pulled guns, but seeing they were outnumbered, surrendered. Chase drove his jeep to the front of the house and jumped out. With Jesse following him, they kicked in the front door.
“Texas Rangers, come out with your hands up,” he called. A lone housekeeper walked out, looking terrified.
Jesse spoke to her in Spanish and asked where Sancho was. Sobbing, she pointed down the hall.
Guns poised, Chase and Jesse took off, peering into several rooms along the hallway, before finding a library. Seeing scattered papers, they had a good idea Sancho had been there…and recently.
“Damn, how did he get away?” Jesse asked as he checked the locked windows.
Chase searched the perimeter of the room and found something odd about the built-in bookcase. One set of shelves was slightly ajar. He tugged it open to find a set of stairs and a long narrow tunnel. “He went this way,” he said before walking cautiously down the steps, before waiting for backup.
Chase wasn’t about to let the man get away. If Vasquez got through this escape route, he could sneak across the border in no time. And they were out of luck if the drug lord landed in Mexico. He could disappear for good.
Feeling his way along the narrow passage with its rough-hewn beams and dirt floor, Chase fought to find his way through the musty-smelling tunnel. There was barely any light, but he didn’t care, he wasn’t going to stop.
Finally he saw a soft glow of light and heard voices up above outside
the end of the tunnel. Chase stopped behind a beam as Sancho rattled off orders in Spanish to two men. It was something about using explosives to close off the exit.
Jesse came up beside Chase and waited until Vasquez and his men climbed out, then the two rangers went after them. Outside in the grove of trees, Jesse called to them to halt, but one man fired at them. Immediately, Jesse’s bullet took him down. The other surrendered, but Vasquez took off toward the jeep. Chase went after him and easily tackled the forty-something dealer to the ground, then handcuffed him before he could work up a fight.
Chase pulled the short man to his feet. “You’re under arrest, Sancho Vasquez, for possession of illegal drugs and the murder of Ranger Wade Landon.”
He frowned. “You are loco. I murdered no one,” he said with a sneer. “I want to call my lawyer.”
As he walked the man back to the house, Chase read him his Miranda Rights. Jesse was with him as they entered the home and were met by the sheriff and Captain Robertson.
“You got him. Good work.”
“You can’t hold me for long,” Vasquez said as he looked around to see his home being torn apart. “You have no right to destroy my casa.” He cursed in Spanish. “I demand you leave.”
Another ranger came through the front door. “Captain, you won’t believe what the DEA found in one of the barns. It’s a drug warehouse.” He looked at Sancho. “Looks like you’re going away for a long time.”
The man looked panicked. “I demand to speak to my lawyer.”
“You’ll get your phone call, Vasquez,” the captain said, his voice low and controlled, as if trying to hold it together. “But you might want to tell your lawyer that in our search of the house, we’ve found a lot of evidence…evidence that will keep you off the streets for good.”
The man straightened. “You have nothing on me.”
“I have to disagree. We found something very interesting. A hidden room.” The captain glared at the prisoner. “You’re a sick man, Vasquez.”
“What hidden room?” Chase asked Robertson.
The captain frowned. “There was another room off the tunnel.”
Chase handed Sancho off to another ranger, then returned to Vasquez’s office, not knowing if he was more afraid of what he wouldn’t find…or what he would find.
He marched into the library to find DEA agents at the base of the steps. He saw the narrow door open. The hidden room that Reyes talked about…the so-called trophy room.
Heart pounding, Chase crossed the room and peered inside. A light illuminated the small area, and the items on display. He moved inside, drawn to the numerous gun racks that were mounted on the wall.
Chase had trouble controlling his breathing as he eyed the weapons. Right away he zeroed in on the familiar sidearm, a 45 caliber Colt automatic. It was exactly like the one his uncle carried in his holster when he was a ranger.
Chase had no way of knowing for sure until he checked the serial number. But in his heart, Chase knew this was Wade Landon’s issued sidearm. Then his gaze caught the shine of silver. It was the familiar star badge. He sucked in a breath to see the name Landon engraved across it.
Emotions tore through him as painful as if he’d been shot himself. Sancho Vasquez had killed his uncle over ten years ago, and now he was going to pay for it. Rage nearly took over…along with the need to go and beat a confession out of the man.
Suddenly he felt someone else in the room. He glanced over his shoulder to see his friend, Jesse.
“You okay?” he asked.
Chase shrugged. “It hurts like hell, but it’s nearly over.” His thoughts turned from his past to his future…his son…and Mallory.
“Are you sure you’re going the right way?” Ryan asked his mother from the passenger seat of the SUV. “I can call Dad and ask him the directions again.”
“You will not call anyone,” she told him. “I can get us there.”
Mallory wasn’t sure she wanted to find the ranch. She’d waited for three days to hear from Chase, but got nothing. Not a word. Then this morning at her father’s house, he’d called her out of the blue. He asked her to bring Ryan and meet him at a place about forty miles away, nearly halfway between Midland and Lubbock.
“Did Dad say why he wanted to see us here?”
“Honey, you know as much as I do,” she said, seeing the worry on her son’s face.
The boy smiled. “I’m glad he’s back and the bad guy is in jail.” He turned to her. “I’m going to start a scrap-book. Did you save the newspaper?”
Mallory smiled and nodded. “Yes, I saved it,” she told him, recalling how she’d reread the article and studied the grainy picture of Chase as he brought Vasquez in. She knew he’d downplay it, but his son wouldn’t be able to contain his pride.
“Look, Mom. There’s the sign.” Ryan read it off the faded archway. “The Last Dollar Ranch.”
Mallory drove further down the road to find a two-story clapboard house with a brick front. The green shutters needed painting. So did the rest of the place. She turned to see other whitewashed structures, plus a faded red barn.
A man came out the door and stood on the porch waving. It was Chase. Her heart kicked into gear as he smiled, and she knew in that instant she would never love anyone like she loved this man.
“Mom, look, it’s Dad.”
“I see him.” She stopped the SUV and Ryan unbuckled and jumped out of the truck. She watched as her son ran off toward the man in the jeans, Western shirt and dark cowboy hat.
Chase made it to the bottom step as his son launched himself into his arms. Good Lord, the boy felt good.
“I’ve missed you, son,” he told him, unable to let go just yet.
“I’ve missed you, too, Dad.” The boy pulled back. “I was worried you might get hurt and not come back.”
“Since I found out about you, I’m extra careful.” He set his son down. “And we got the bad guy.”
“I know, Mom and I have been reading about it in the paper.”
“You have?”
“Yeah. Mom even read it twice.”
Chase glanced at the woman coming toward them. She was dressed in those slim jeans that made her legs seem a mile long, giving him thoughts he didn’t need right now. He redirected his attention to her face, shaded by her dark cowboy hat. She came closer and he saw her smile and that silky dark hair pulled behind her ears.
“Welcome back,” she said.
He wanted to pull her in his arms, but resisted. “Thanks. It’s good to be back.”
Ryan looked up at him. “Dad, why are we here?”
“Well, because I wanted to show you my new home. The Last Dollar Ranch.”
“Oh, boy. You live here?”
He nodded, but kept his gaze on Mallory. “I just moved in yesterday. I have a lot of work to do, yet, but the house is solidly built, and there’s plenty of room.”
“Will I have a room?” Ryan asked.
“Sure. We can go inside and you can pick the one you want.”
Ryan cheered, then took off into the house.
Chase slipped his hands into his jeans pockets and turned to Mallory. “I’ve missed you.”
“This last assignment had to be hard on you. How are you doing, Chase?”
He sighed. “A lot better since you showed up.”
She glanced away. “Looks like you’ve been busy. I had no idea you were buying a place.”
“I told you I was looking.”
“I thought that was a story you just invented for Ryan’s sake.”
“No, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Have my own place.” He stepped closer. “I want you to like it, too.” He reached for her and was encouraged when she didn’t step back. “And I’m hoping you’ll want to spend a lot of time here, too.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. He heard her soft gasp, and returned for more. This time he captured her mouth in a hungry kiss. He wanted to let her know how much he’d missed her. How much he wanted her. He
finally let go.
“How about if we continue this later?” He took her hand. “I want to show you the inside.”
Mallory wasn’t sure what to do. Chase had her confused, and she desperately needed to keep her head. She’d made mistakes in the past, and wasn’t about to jump into anything. Not even for Chase.
They went up the steps together and across the weathered porch floor. He opened the heavy oak door and led her into a huge entry with bare hardwood floors and a staircase to the second floor. There was an antique cut-glass chandelier hanging overhead.
“Oh, Chase, this is lovely.” She walked into the living room with a tile and brass fireplace. There was faded wallpaper on the walls, but that could be easily removed and painted a warm color. There was a camel colored leather sofa, a matching chair and a large television.
“You haven’t seen the bathrooms and kitchen yet. They need a lot of work. It’s one of the reasons I got the place so cheap.”
“I think you got a great deal. This house has charm, and great bones.”
The sound of footsteps called to them upstairs. They went up to find four bedrooms, a large bath and then down the end of the hall was a master suite.
Mallory stepped into a huge room with a row of windows; underneath was a window seat. A king-sized bed was against one wall with rumpled covers and a long dresser against another. She peered into a side room which at one time must have been a dressing room, now converted into a bath.
“This is wonderful, Chase. This room looks new.”
He came up behind her. “It was done about five years ago. Not my style. If I redo it, I’d like one of those spa tubs and a double shower big enough for two people.”
Mallory didn’t need to think about this man standing naked with water streaming over his body. Suddenly heat surged through her.
“Hey, maybe we should see about Ryan.” She turned and walked out, finding her son down the hall in one of the bedrooms.
“Look Mom, I can see the barn and corral from here.” He looked past her. “Dad, can I have this as my room?”
Texas Ranger Takes a Bride Page 12
