Meant to Be My Cowboy

by R. C. Ryan

  Still, to satisfy his curiosity, he stepped out the door and took his time studying the ground, spotting large footprints in the damp earth. Too large to belong to Annie. A man’s prints.

  One set of prints had approached from the far side of the cabin. The same set of prints could be seen going in the opposite direction, away from the cabin door and back around to the far side. This set of prints, he noted, was deeper. Carrying something heavy.

  The thought burst into his mind.

  Annie would never go outside barefoot willingly.

  With a low moan of anger mixed with fear, he retrieved his cell phone from his shirt pocket and dialed the police chief’s number.

  “Chief Crain here.”

  “Noble. Jonah Merrick.”

  “Hey, Jonah. I was just going to—”

  “I need you to come to my cabin in the woods, Noble. Annie has gone missing.”

  “Missing? Are you sure?”

  “Noble, my next call is to Newton Calder. Annie’s been taken. And I need both of you now.”

  Before the chief could ask any more questions, he hung up. As promised, he phoned Newt and then placed the hardest call of all. To his family.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The rough jostling of the vehicle woke Annie. Nausea rose up in her throat, probably caused by the drug that had been injected into her arm. She could feel the coarse fabric that covered her head, casting her in pitch-darkness. From the strong animal smell, she realized it was a saddle blanket, probably snatched from Jonah’s lean-to behind the cabin.

  Getting her bearings, she realized her abductor had left her hands unbound—probably thinking it was safe due to the strong effects of the drug. She eased the saddle blanket down until she could see daylight. She was lying on the back seat of a car that was heading uphill and not following a smooth trail, but rather going in some sort of haphazard direction over rocks and small brush in its path. The pitch and roll of the vehicle added to her distress.

  From her vantage point, she could see her abductor’s head. They were alone. No other passengers.

  Where was Park taking her? Had Arlen somehow made his way to Wyoming?

  She tried to imagine the slick man in the thousand-dollar suits and Italian leather shoes spending even one day in the wilderness. She knew Arlen would prefer to remain in comfort and let someone else, like this thug, carry out his orders.

  The driver swore as he swerved around some obstacle or other before punching the accelerator and sending the vehicle surging ahead, causing Annie to moan as bile rose up in her throat.

  A short time later they came to an abrupt halt.

  When Park opened his door, Annie closed her eyes and prayed he would leave her alone in the car long enough to get her bearings and possibly make an escape.

  She heard the crunch of footsteps moving away and tossed aside the blanket, eager to try to make a run for it.

  She struggled to sit up and could feel her head swim. Her fingers refused to work as she fumbled to open the passenger door. Her feet were leaden. Before she could even attempt to stand, Park was already returning. Caught, she froze, eyes wide as he shot her a sly grin.

  “Sleeping Beauty is awake. And it looks like you were thinking of making a getaway.” He swung a big hand, slapping her across the cheek with such force her head snapped to one side and she saw stars. She teetered on the edge of the seat. Before she could fall, he picked her up like a sack of grain and tossed her over his shoulder, carrying her inside a rough shelter where he dropped her to the floor in a heap.

  While she dragged in a series of painful breaths, he closed the door and set a wooden brace against it.

  Dazed, she looked around. They were in a shack with a dirt floor and a roof that sagged so badly it looked as though it would collapse on them in a strong wind.

  Park picked up a backpack and sat on the floor with his back against the wall. Opening the pack, he withdrew a bottle of whiskey and took a long drink before leaning his head back and staring at her.

  “May as well get comfortable. We got nothing to do now but wait.” His lips peeled back in an imitation of a grin. “Unless you can think of a fun way to pass the time.”

  The smile he gave her had her skin crawling.

  Jonah’s cabin was crammed with people. Hammond sat in a chair in front of the fireplace. Egan and Meg shared the bench, which Jonah had carried from the front door to a place beside the hearth. His grandparents held hands and tried to hide the nerves that bubbled just below the surface.

  Billy had staked a claim on the kitchen, where he brewed endless cups of coffee. Bo, Liz, and Chet stood beside the kitchen sink, talking in low tones.

  Brand and Avery had arrived with Casey and Kirby, trying in vain to think of comforting words for Jonah, who paced back and forth like a caged panther, his features grim, hands clenched at his sides as though holding himself together by a mere thread.

  As soon as Noble and Newt had arrived, Jonah had taken them outside to point out the man’s footprints and had led them to a set of tire tracks he’d located running alongside the cabin and disappearing deep in the woods. Thankfully, Liz had brought along her ever-present camera and went along with them, photographing everything with the promise to forward the pictures to the FBI lab. Chief Crain had kept everyone away from the area of footprints and tire prints, explaining that he’d already ordered up a task force of state and federal investigators, who would be going over the entire area with a fine-tooth comb.

  Newton, with his jaunty cap over a shock of white hair giving him the look of an aged Sherlock, explained. “Once the feds come into a case, the rest of us have to step back and allow them to take the lead.”

  Now they were all together inside the cabin as Noble laid out what he and Newton had determined so far.

  “This was no random kidnapping. It appears to have been carefully planned. Judging from the speed with which Annie was taken, her kidnapper must have been watching and knew the exact moment Jonah left her alone.”

  His words had Jonah’s eyes narrowing in fury at the knowledge that a stranger had been watching them all through the night and into the morning. A voyeur, no doubt, who had taken great delight in viewing their most intimate acts.

  Noble turned to Jonah. “I believe you said Annie was alone no more than ten or fifteen minutes while you were chopping wood, and that for convenience, you left the door ajar?”

  Everyone turned to Jonah, who nodded.

  “It offered the kidnapper the opportunity he’d been waiting for. No door to force. No one around to shout a warning. And if he caught Annie by surprise, which the burned eggs seem to confirm, he could stifle any cry while subduing her with anything from chloroform to an injection. It was a simple matter to carry her off to his vehicle, hidden deep in the woods.”

  Jonah’s voice was strangled. “And they could be anywhere by now, while we stand around here.”

  “Necessary background work,” Noble said softly.

  “I understand. But how do we search for Annie when we don’t even know who took her or what he was driving?”

  “We will,” Noble said firmly. “The task force is on the way. We have very clear tire marks in the damp earth. They’ll be able to identify the make and model of the vehicle within hours.”

  “Hours.” Jonah spat the word like a curse. “And this guy is already miles away.”

  His family could see the rage and frustration in his eyes and were helpless to offer any comfort.

  “Jonah, Newton and I are in agreement that you will probably receive a call from Annie’s kidnappers sometime today. They may ask for money, but we can’t be sure what type of game they’re playing. For that reason, one of the members of the federal task force will have to stick by you until this is resolved.”

  Meg’s nurturing nature kicked in. “Noble, we have to notify Annie’s uncle. As far as we know, he’s her only living relative.”

  Noble agreed. “I’ll call Des.”

  Jonah gave
a vehement shake of his head. “I should be the one to call, Noble. I was the last to see Annie. I’ll need to explain why.”

  The chief cleared his throat. “I know this will be awkward. It’s no secret that you folks haven’t spoken in years.”

  Jonah’s tone was firm. “This is my responsibility.”

  The chief paused before nodding. “I guess I can allow it. Afterward, if he wants to talk to me, let him know I’m available anytime.”

  They heard the rumble of vehicles and peered outside to see a group of men and women moving around the outside of the cabin. Noble and Newton stepped out the door and spoke briefly to them before returning.

  Noble nodded toward the window. “The state and federal agents will be busy here for some time. It would be best if you folks returned home.” He turned to Jonah. “No need to worry about banking the fire or securing the cabin. They’ll see to it that the place is secure before they leave. And they may leave a few key people here overnight if they see a need for it.”

  They shook hands all around before the family walked outside and began climbing into trucks for the trip back to the house.

  Bo turned to his youngest son, who hung back, looking around as though hoping to see Annie appear at any moment. “You coming?”

  Jonah’s eyes mirrored his pain. “I’d rather walk home, Pop. Maybe the fresh air will clear my head.”

  Bo put a hand on his arm. “I’ll walk with you.”

  “No.” He spoke sharply, before struggling to soften his tone. “Thanks, Pop. I appreciate the offer. But I need to be alone.”

  “If it’s any comfort, son, I know the feeling.” With a last look at Jonah, Bo climbed into the truck and felt again that never-forgotten pain of loss. Sometimes it was little more than a momentary ache. At other times it was as raw and deep as those first days and weeks after the fire, when the death of his beloved Leigh had left him shattered beyond repair.

  The Merrick family had assembled in the great room to meet with Des Dempsey, after he’d surprised them by agreeing to drive to their ranch.

  From the stilted attempts at conversation, it was obvious they were all feeling the strain of such an awkward meeting. It would be the first time these two rival families were together in over twenty years.

  Bo was pacing, his hands behind his back, his expression grim.

  Meg and Egan sat together on one of the sofas, holding hands as much for courage as for comfort.

  Hammond was in his favorite armchair, his white lion’s mane of hair and fierce dark eyes giving him the look of a biblical patriarch.

  Brand and Avery and Casey and Kirby took seats on one side of the room, looking like they would spring up and surround Bo if he and Des should come to blows.

  Jonah stood alone, his face unreadable. He’d barely spoken in the hour since he’d returned home and found federal agents already setting up equipment in the family office in anticipation of contact by the kidnappers.

  At the sound of wheels crunching on gravel, everyone tensed.

  A minute later, Billy opened the door to the great room to say, “Your visitor is here. Would anyone like coffee or tea?”

  At the sight of the figure behind Billy, there was a moment of complete silence.

  It was Meg who managed to say, “Nothing right now, but maybe you could prepare some tea and coffee in a little while, Billy.”

  Before she could get up, Bo walked past her to the man who stood framed in the doorway.

  “Des.” Bo paused before sticking out his hand.

  “Bo.” Des hesitated before giving a quick handshake.

  Both men lowered their hands to their sides, where they were clenched into fists. The two men stood, each taking the measure of the other.

  Though both of them were nearing fifty, Bo’s years of ranching had kept him lean and muscled. Except for some graying at the temples, his hair was still dark and curling over the collar of his denim shirt.

  Des Dempsey wore his usual suit and tie, since he’d come from the bank. Though his tie was carefully knotted, his suit jacket couldn’t hide the fact that his waist had thickened. His copper hair was threaded with gray. His laughing eyes, once his best feature, appeared both wary and weary as they narrowed on Bo with keen interest.

  “I’m sorry my wife, Bev, couldn’t come. She’s recovering from chemo, and I thought whatever this was about, I’d try to shield her from anything that could upset her.”

  “Of course.” Bo led him farther into the room. “I’m sorry to hear that she’s going through this.”

  Des gave a little shrug. “It’s hard. But she’s hanging in there. I just hope, when the treatments are over, I can take her away for a while.”

  He greeted the older members of the family. “Ham.” The two exchanged a quick handshake.

  “Miss Meg.”

  Meg was on her feet to offer him a hug, which he endured stiffly.

  “Des, I’m so sorry to hear about Bev’s illness. I hope you’ll tell her I send my best.”

  “Thank you, I will.” He and Egan looked one another up and down before awkwardly shaking hands.

  Des arched a brow when he spotted Bo’s sister. “Liz. I haven’t seen you in years.”

  “I like to stay close to home.” She managed a polite smile.

  “So I’ve heard. Sorry about…”

  They both knew he was thinking about her humiliation at the hands of her fiancé, leaving her the topic of conversation in the little town of Devil’s Door for many years.

  To spare Liz, Chet stepped forward with his hand outstretched, forcing Des to turn to him. “Hey, Des.”

  “Chet.”

  Bo led Des toward the others. “My son Brand and his wife, Avery. And Casey and his wife, Kirby. And my son Jonah.”

  “The writer,” Des muttered before acknowledging all of them with a nod. “Seems like yesterday you boys were all just tykes.”

  Bo pointed to a high-backed chair. “Have a seat, Des, and we’ll explain why we asked you here.”

  “I hope you’ll make it brief. I have appointments this afternoon.” He sat, stiff-backed, looking as uncomfortable as they all felt. “I’m guessing it has something to do with my niece Annie.”

  Bo crossed his arms over his chest and allowed Jonah to take charge.

  “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you bad news, Des. Annie has gone missing. We believe she’s been kidnapped.”

  “What?” Des was on his feet, his face reflecting his shock. “Is there a ransom note?”

  “There’s no word yet.” Jonah lifted a hand. “And we don’t know where she’s been taken or by whom.”

  “Then how do you even know…?”

  “Both Chief Crain and the crime task force concur that Annie has been kidnapped.”

  “Crime task force?” From his expression, it was plain that Des couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around what Jonah was saying. “So this has something to do with the theft…”

  “I called as soon as I discovered her missing…”

  Des held up a hand to silence him. “When I offered to put up Annie at Mandy and Jamie Ward’s B and B, she told me that you had persuaded her to stay at your ranch because it was the safest place to be. How could someone manage to break in here, with all of you around her, and kidnap my niece?”

  Jonah clenched his hands at his sides, struggling to keep his tone even. “We weren’t here. Annie and I spent last night at my cabin. It’s a little office I built about a mile from here, in the woods.”

  Des was looking at him as though he were speaking gibberish. “You’re telling me that you and my niece spent the night alone in a cabin in the woods, knowing she’s in danger, and now she’s missing? Just where were you when she was supposedly kidnapped?”

  “Around the back of the cabin chopping logs for the fire.”

  Des grabbed Jonah by the front of his shirt and dragged him close. “And in the time it takes to chop wood she just disappeared into thin air?”

  The entire Merrick
family was on their feet, surrounding Des and Jonah with looks so hostile he abruptly released his hold and lifted his fists, ready to fight all of them.

  Jonah raised his hand in an attempt to soothe the tension. “I don’t blame you for your reaction. Any one of us would feel the same way. Frankly, I’d feel a whole lot better if I could just punch someone or something. So if you’d like to take a shot, have at it, because this is all my fault.”

  Des took a closer look at this young man, seeing all the rage and frustration seething within him.

  He took in a calming breath before saying, “Why don’t you walk me through what happened. What you two said and did. Maybe you exchanged some harsh words?” His tone turned hopeful. “Maybe Annie just needed to get away.”

  Jonah shook his head and stalked to the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the Grand Tetons. Ordinarily just the sight of those majestic mountains would be a soothing balm. Today, he couldn’t even see them through the misery that clouded his vision.

  With his back to the others, he said, “Annie and I were laughing together. We were sharing a private joke, since she admitted she can’t cook. But she offered to scramble eggs while I chopped some wood. I called her a domestic goddess, before going outside…” His words trailed off before he managed to add, “When I came back inside, she was gone. Vanished. But from the footprints and the tire tracks I saw, I knew she was taken”—his next words were barely audible—“against her will.”

  Des looked first at Bo, then at the others, who were all staring at Jonah with looks that ranged from stunned to sympathetic.

  Meg’s gaze was fixed on her grandson with a look of tenderness as she walked to him and put her arms around him. Softly she said, “I should have, but somehow I didn’t realize how it was between the two of you until now. We’ll find her, Jonah.”

  “I have to find her, Gram Meg.” His words were muffled against her soft cheek before he pushed away and strode toward the door. “I have to find her, or die trying.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven