Beautifully Broken Spirit

by Catherine Cowles

  “Tuck—oh, God.”

  I could hear Jensen behind me, but I didn’t slow. I pushed my muscles harder. It was one of the foals. She jerked at the sound of my approach, trying to stand but unable to. I slowed, holding a hand up to Jensen to do the same. “It’s okay, girl. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to help.”

  It was her right front leg from the looks of it. I scanned the rest of the foal’s body. I didn’t see any blood. No sign of other injury.

  Jensen pressed into my back. “It’s her leg.”

  “I know.”

  She grabbed hold of my arm, squeezing hard. “What do we do?”

  The foal was still trying to rise. “I’ll have to tranquilize her. She’s going to hurt herself more if she keeps trying to get up.”

  Jensen released me, immediately moving into action mode. “Tell me what to do.”

  “Nothing just yet.” I set my pack down, working quickly to set up my tranq gun and adjust the dosage for the foal’s smaller form. I hated that I’d have to cause her more trauma before I could help.

  I inhaled deeply and aimed for her hindquarters and fired. The foal reared slightly at the sting. I closed my eyes.

  Jensen’s arms encircled me. “You did what you had to do so we can help her. She’ll forgive you.”

  I pulled Jensen to me. She understood me without words. How I’d never been able to hunt unless the animal would be eaten, and even then, I honestly hated the whole ordeal. She knew how I hated to see any living creature suffer. While people like my father saw it as a weakness, Jensen saw it as a strength.

  “Thank you.” I whispered the words into her hair. “I have to call Mackey again, let her know we’re going to need transport.” Thank God, there was a Forest Service road not too far from here, we’d be able to get this little girl some help.

  I placed the call, and within minutes, the foal was slipping under. I edged forward. “Okay, now I can examine her.”

  Jensen immediately eased down to the forest floor, stroking the horse’s cheek. I made quick work of assessing the foal’s injuries and checking her vitals as best I could. It seemed to just be her leg, but I was pretty sure it was bad.

  “It’s broken, isn’t it?”

  I looked up to meet Jensen’s gaze. “If I had to guess.”

  Tears glittered in Jensen’s eyes, but she kept stroking the horse’s cheek. “It’s okay. We’re gonna do everything we can to fix you up.”

  I scooted closer to Jensen, pressing my lips to her temple. “Mackey was already bringing some extra guys, so we’ll be able to evac her. There will be a trailer waiting on the Forest Service road.”

  Jensen nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but hurried steps in the underbrush stopped her.

  “Boss?” It was Dominguez.

  “Over here.” I stood and waved them over. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the four other guys trailing my team members.

  We worked quickly, the only words spoken the most necessary ones. As soon as the foal was strapped in, the four guys Dominguez and Mackey had brought with them took off for where the trailer would meet them.

  “Where are they taking her?” Jensen stood off to the side, not wanting to get in the way, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

  I strode over, pulling her to me, not giving a single fuck that there were others around. “The equine center outside Cleary.”

  Jensen nodded against my chest. “That’s good. I’ll call Dr. Neill when I get home. Tell her I’ll cover the costs of whatever she needs done.”

  “You’ve got the best heart of anyone I’ve ever known, Wilder.” I whispered the words against her hair.

  Jensen fisted my shirt and straightened to meet my gaze. “I want to kill this asshole, Tuck.”

  I pushed the hair back from her face. “I know you do. And I’m not far behind you.”

  “Tuck! Jensen!” The voice that broke through the forest was almost as familiar as my own.

  Jensen sighed. “Oh, goody, brother bear is here.”

  I stood and pulled Jensen to her feet. “Cut him some slack. He’s been worried about you lately. And with everything going on, you’re liable to give him a heart attack.”

  Jensen blushed. “I know. You’re right. I’m just pissed off.”

  Walker broke through the trees. “Are you guys okay?”

  I held up a hand. “We’re totally fine.”

  As soon as he knew we were all right his face began to redden. “What the hell were you thinking coming up here with all this going on?”

  Jensen stepped in front of me. “Oh, no, you don’t, brother dearest. There hasn’t been an incident in a month. And just because something bad happened up here, doesn’t mean I’m going to avoid it for the rest of my life. These horses mean the world to me.”

  Walker’s face approached the shade of a tomato. “That’s, that’s—”

  I gripped his shoulder. “What Jensen meant to say was, now that we’re aware of the depth of the danger, she will be staying away from Pine Meadow until this asshole is apprehended. Once he is, she’ll be back up here with her horses on the regular. Isn’t that right, Jensen?”

  Jensen stuck her tongue out at me. The action seemed to take some of the wind out of Walker’s sails. “I was just worried.”

  Jensen gave her brother a hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  “I know.” He squeezed her harder, and she winced. “What? What’s wrong?” He looked at me. “I thought you said she was fine.”

  Jensen smacked at Walker to release her. “I am fine. I just got a little banged up when Tuck threw me to the ground.” She narrowed her eyes on her brother. “You know, when he shielded me from bullets with his own body. You might say ‘thanks for trying to save my sister’s life.’”

  Walker looked from Jensen to me and back again. “Why would I want to do that when you’re so damn annoying?”

  Jensen gave him a shove. “Guess I’m walking home.”

  Walker reached out a hand and pulled me into a half-hug, whispering in my ear. “Thank you, man.”

  “I’d do anything for her.” My voice cracked on the last word, the emotion of the day finally hitting me.

  Walker released me. “I know you would. Are you guys good here? I think I’m going to get her home.”

  I nodded. “I’ll give you a call when we’re done and update you.”

  “Appreciate it. Jensen, let’s go.”

  Jensen and I stood a few feet apart. The call of her was so strong, it almost brought me to my knees. I was dying to pull her into my arms. Kiss her. Never let her go. But I couldn’t. Because that wasn’t what we were. That invisible fist clamped down around my chest. “I’ll call you later to check in.”

  J nodded. “I’m going to try and convince Walker to make a stop at the equine center on the way home, but I’ll have my cell.” She glanced around the surrounding forest. “Be careful.”

  “I will.” I watched until the two of them had disappeared into the forest before I turned to my team. “Anyone else coming?”

  Mackey grimaced. “The boss should be here any second. He said he’d be right behind us.”

  I was hoping that was a good sign. An indication that David was going to take this case more seriously. The sound of twigs snapping had me turning around, and there he was.

  He pulled out a water bottle and took a swig. “Fill me in.”

  I brought everyone up to speed on what had gone down.

  David grimaced. “You should’ve never brought that girl off the trail. You both could’ve been killed.”

  I sighed. “I know my way around here better than my own backyard. But if it eases your mind, I won’t be bringing her back until we catch this bastard.”

  David nodded, somewhat appeased.

  I gave Dominguez and Mackey their assignments and then turned back to David. “Have you gotten the ballistics report back on the bullet yet?”

  David scowled. “Those idiots at the lab accidenta
lly damaged the bullet during testing. All the results would be useless at this point.”

  I swiped a hand through my hair. “Fuck.”

  “You got that right.”

  We had officially lost our only lead.

  28

  Jensen

  I swept the broom ever so slowly across the floor of the Kettle. It probably looked like a zombie was doing clean-up. But this time, it wasn’t because nightmares were keeping me up at night, those had started to come more infrequently once again.

  Kennedy straightened from where she was wiping down tables. “Uh, Jensen, are you okay?”

  I paused in my sweeping. “I’m fine. I got up early this morning to go and visit the foal again.” I had been visiting her before work a few days a week and was paying the price, but my girl was worth it. She was a fighter, and the vet had given me every hope that I’d be able to take her home in a few weeks. But she’d need special care and rehabilitation for the next six months or so.

  A smile tipped Kennedy’s lips. “How’s she doing? You name her yet?”

  I leaned against the broom, using the handle to hold myself up. Kennedy was as bad as my mom, giving me a hard time about picking out names. “She’s doing great. And, as a matter of fact, I have.”

  “Well, give it to me already.”

  I laughed. “Ember. She’s kept the fire within herself burning through all she’s been through, so it seemed fitting.”

  “Oh, Jensen. It’s perfect.”

  I started sweeping again. “I think so. I can’t wait to get her home.” Ember had already begun to acclimate to having people around her, but it would be a good while before anyone fully had her trust again.

  The bell over the front door tinkled, and I turned. My stomach twisted. Cody. Gone was his attempt at a charming smile. In its place was cold calculation.

  “Jensen. We need to talk.”

  Kennedy took the broom from my hands. “I can finish this.” She eyed Cody. “If you’re okay.”

  I gave her arm a squeeze. “I’m fine.” I crossed to Cody. “Yes?”

  “I want to cut a deal.”

  My stomach roiled. A deal? “What do you mean?”

  Cody eyed Kennedy and then dropped his voice to a whisper. “You give me five hundred grand or I’m taking your ass to court and filing for full custody.”

  I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. “What in the world makes you think I have five hundred grand just lying around?”

  Cody’s eyes narrowed. “I know you’ve got it. Just collecting dust in that nice fat trust of yours.”

  My blood turned cold. I did my best to hide my family’s wealth. Mostly because I viewed it as exactly that. My family’s, and not mine. I’d used some of the money to start my business and to pay for the costs of supporting my rescued horses, but other than that, I didn’t touch it. I supported myself and Noah with what I made at the tea shop. It wasn’t diamonds and caviar, but it was a good life, and I was proud of it.

  The fact that Cody knew anything about my trust meant he’d been looking into me. I took a slow, steadying breath. “I’m not going to pay you anything. My lawyer has already informed me that no judge would award custody to a father who abandoned his child for nine years.”

  A sneer stretched across Cody’s face. “But what would a judge say if I made the case that you never told me I had a son?”

  My heart began beating faster. “But I did tell you.”

  “You got any proof of that?”

  My mind circled back to those dark days when I had felt so alone. As soon as I had told Cody that I was pregnant and wanted to keep the baby, he’d taken off like a shot. He’d already had enough credits to graduate, so he’d left college a semester early. I’d called and emailed, but his phone had been disconnected, and the emails bounced back. “Th-there’s a record of me trying to contact you.” I hated that my voice shook.

  “But what if I make a case that you knew I was changing my contact information. You know, real world, new number and email. That’s what lots of kids do.”

  My mouth opened, but no words came out.

  Cody chuckled. “And imagine what the judge will think when he learns you brought a serial killer into my son’s life.”

  My body jerked. “What?”

  Cody widened his eyes. “Oh, what? You didn’t think I’d do my research? I really should thank you. You’ve made this so damn easy.” He leaned in closer to me. “I wanted to go about this the right way. Give you a chance to be a family. But, oh no, Jensen Cole thinks she’s too good for me now.”

  A sneer stretched across his face. “Instead, she’s slutting it up with some trail guide. You made the wrong choice going for him, Jensen. And now, this is the way it has to be. Five hundred grand. You have two weeks.”

  My vision went unfocused. I stood frozen to the spot, only slightly aware of the tinkling of the bell, meaning that Cody had left. I began to shake.

  “Jensen.” There was a voice from far away. “Jensen, are you okay?” A hand on my arm. “Let’s sit you down.” Movement. A chair. “I’m going to get you some water.”

  Moments passed. “Do you want me to call someone?”

  The bell sounded again, and I jolted, blinking furiously, trying to clear my vision to see if Cody had returned. Someone was in front of me.

  “Wilder, what’s wrong?”

  I couldn’t seem to get the words out of my throat.

  The voice sounded just a bit farther away. “What the hell happened?”

  I reached out, fisting Tuck’s coat. “Cody’s going to take Noah. He’s going to take Noah, and it’s all my fault.”

  Tuck plucked me from the chair, then turned and sat, settling me in his lap. “Cody is not going to take Noah. Tell me what happened.”

  Slowly, voice shaking, I recounted everything that Cody had said. Tuck’s body grew tighter with each passing word. “I’m going to kill him.”

  I tightened my grip on Tuck’s coat. “I have to get him the money. But I can’t just pull five hundred grand from my trust. It doesn’t work that way. I’ll have to ask my parents. They’ll help me, right?” My words came faster and faster.

  Tuck cupped my face. “Breathe. Just breathe.” He mimicked slow and steady breaths for me to follow. “Please trust me to handle this for you. I’m going to take care of it.”

  My gaze locked on Tuck’s. “Are you going to slit his throat and drop him off a ravine?”

  Tuck let out a bark of laughter. “As much as I’d love to, no, I’m not.”

  I burrowed into his chest. “I trust you.” I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Do you think you could not tell Walker? I don’t want him to lose it and do something that could cost him his job.”

  Tuck tipped my head back and brushed the hair away from my face. “I won’t tell Walker yet if you promise to call Taylor and your mom right now and fill them in.” I opened my mouth to protest, but Tuck silenced me with a quick kiss. “You need support right now. They’re it.”

  I nodded and pulled out my phone.

  Tuck ran his hand under the fall of my hair. “I need to get some things in play to deal with Cody. Are you going to be okay if I leave?”

  I straightened. “I’ll be fine. I just need to find my mad and hold onto that for a little while.”

  “That’s my girl.” Tuck swept his lips across each temple and then my forehead.

  I rose, and Tuck followed. “Be careful.” A feeling of dread settled in my stomach, and I couldn’t put my finger on why.

  “Always.” And with that, he was gone.

  29

  Tuck

  I kept my cool until I reached my truck. When I got inside, I slammed my fist down on the steering wheel so hard it was a miracle I didn’t crack the thing in two. “Fuck!”

  Cody had escalated things because I’d been careless. Making out with Jensen in a parked car like we were high schoolers. What had I been thinking? My gut burned. Just another reminder that Jensen deserved so much more. But I w
asn’t sure I could walk away.

  I blew out a long breath. I needed to focus on the task at hand. I’d made it sound to Jensen like I’d have this whole thing figured out no problem, but I wasn’t so sure that would be the case. The thing I hadn’t wanted to tell her was that she could not give this guy money. Could her family afford the payoff? Sure. But if she did that, he would keep crawling back for more. One payoff would never be enough for him.

  I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel. I needed a plan. And for that to happen, I needed more information. I grabbed my phone and started scrolling through my contacts, looking for a specific name.

  Cain Hale. He was a friend of mine and Walker’s from college. He’d taken his law enforcement and programming degrees and created a tech empire that could rival just about anyone else in the world. But I needed him for his hobby. Hacking.

  I hit Cain’s contact and waited as the phone rang. He’d come through in a clutch when Tessa had been kidnapped a few months ago, and I hoped he would again. If there was anything that pissed Cain off, it was men trying to harm women in any way.

  “Tuck.”

  That was all I got. I rolled my eyes. Always so serious. “Hey, Cain. I need your help with something.”

  I heard a door close. “Anything. You know that.”

  Walker and I had seen Cain through some dark days, and he’d always made it clear that if there was anything he could do to return the favor, he would see it done. “It’s about Jensen.”

  There was silence for a moment. “Then why are you calling me instead of Walker?”

  I swallowed hard. The three of us were brothers. No, not by blood, but by choice. And asking him to keep something from Walker flickered close to the edge of betraying that brotherhood. But Jensen had been right. If Walker knew that Cody had threatened her, he would lose his mind. “He’s not aware of the latest developments on the issue.”

  “And why is that?”

  I grunted. “Because Jensen and I don’t want him to lose his job. Or worse, end up in prison.”