Cowboy's Bride: A Secret Baby, Ranch Western Romance (Rainbow Canyon Cowboys Book 6)

by KC Crowne

  “Where are those assholes?” he asked, turning in the direction they’d gone and giving a good, hard stare down the length of the alley. “Not done with ‘em yet.”

  “You damn well are done with ‘em yet,” I said. “Gerald, there’s three of them and one of you.”

  “Better odds than I’ve had before,” he grumbled. “Nothin’ I can’t handle.”

  “Bud, the blood comin’ down your face is givin’ me the distinct impression you ain’t gonna be handlin’ this any time soon.” Jason flashed him a wry grin.

  “The police,” I announced. “We need to call the police. And we need an ambulance for you, Gerald.”

  Whatever dizziness was still in his eyes vanished. Alert and quick, he shook his head. “No!” His deep voice carried down the alley. “No cops.”

  “Why the hell not?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

  He opened his mouth to speak but closed it as if he’d thought better about what he was on the verge of saying. “Just don’t need to get them involved. Not like they’re gonna do anything anyway.”

  “I’ll let the co-manager know what happened,” Jason said. “We’ll go over the footage and see what’s what.”

  “And send it to me?” Gerald asked, lifting an eyebrow. “I wanna a look at these pricks.”

  Jason nodded, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two of us. I spoke, capturing his attention. “Jason, you see the two other women we were here with?”

  “Sure did.”

  “Mind lettin’ ‘em know we’re headin’ out? Tell them to meet us in front of the bar?”

  He nodded. “Will do. Give me a holler if y’all need anything else.”

  He headed back inside, and I turned my attention to Gerald. “No callin’ the cops?” I asked. “What’s that all about?”

  He shook his head as if he didn’t want to get into it. “It’d be messy. Trust me – we don’t need ‘em.”

  “Gerald, if there’s somethin’ more goin’ on here…”

  “Remember what I said about lettin’ you know only what you needed to know for your own good? This is one of those times.”

  Fury pushed at my response. “Bullshit. I don’t need you tellin’ me what’s for my own good, got it?” I sucked in a breath and added, “If you think I’m just gonna stand around all ignorant while you decide what I’m ready to hear, you’ve got another think comin’.”

  He sighed and put his hand on his head. “I know, I know. But it’s not a matter of me thinkin’ you can’t handle it…it’s a matter of keepin’ you safe.”

  “Safe? How about keepin’ you safe? You just got beat up by three thugs in a damn alley!”

  “Better me than you,” he shot back. “But…” A flash of pain crossed his face for a brief moment, and I considered the idea that he had just gotten his ass whooped. Probably didn’t need me giving him the third degree on top of it.

  “Fine,” I huffed. “We’ll talk about this later – and we will talk, got it?”

  “Alright, alright. But for now, let’s get your friends and scram.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. Come on.”

  He took my hand and led me back into the bar. The place was in full swing, the lively dancing and drinking a contrast to the brutal alleyway fight I’d just witnessed. We hurried through the bar, weaving around the tight knots of people drinking and talking.

  When we made it outside, Sabrina and Adie were waiting for us. Their eyes moved to Gerald, taking in the sight of his injuries. Adie gasped, her hands shooting to her face.

  “Holy shit!” Sabrina exclaimed. “Gerald, what happened to you?”

  “Got into a scrap. I’ll tell y’all about it when we get back. But let’s go, now.”

  Sabrina and Adie took Sabrina’s car back, while Gerald and I left in his truck. He insisted on driving, of course, but I refused to let him.

  “That injury on your head is concerning,” I told him, yanking the keys from his hand before he could snatch them out of reach.

  He chuckled as he climbed into the truck. “Darlin’, it’s a head wound. They bleed like crazy.”

  I glance at him as he grabbed a towel from the glove compartment and dabbed at the cut, which actually was quite shallow. “Thank you for indulging me, nonetheless.”

  “I like indulging you,” he teased, a little more himself after the adrenaline was settling.

  “Gerald,” I said once we were on our way. “That was more than some guy mad at you for gettin’ in his face about hitting on me, right?”

  He nodded. “It was more than that. I knew he was gonna be trouble, but I ‘spose I underestimated how much.”

  “What happened? Who were those guys?”

  “Don’t know exactly, but I’ve got a good mind to believe they’re not happy about me pokin’ around in what’s goin’ on in the city. Which is why it’s damn important that you don’t know what I know.”

  His voice carried a tinge of anger, but I could tell it was at the situation, not at me. Gerald wasn’t the kind of man who liked to be in the position he was.

  The rest of the trip was silent. When we pulled up to the B&B, Sabrina and Adie were already there, and I could tell something was seriously, seriously wrong. I pulled the truck to a stop, and we climbed out.

  The first thing I noticed was the sign. The wooded sign in front of the Bed and Breakfast had been yanked off the chains that held it and broken down the middle. Then the windows – just about every single one of them – had been smashed.

  “Oh…oh my God,” Adie gasped as she regarded the place.

  “What the hell happened here?” Sabrina asked, shaking her head in disbelief.

  I didn’t need to see anything more. I took my phone out of my pocket and started dialing the police.

  “Hey!” Gerald called, seeing my fingers move. “What the hell are you doin’?”

  I hit call and spoke. “I’m doin’ what needs to be done! Callin’ the police!”

  Before a single ring could finish, Gerald rushed over to me with speed I wouldn’t have thought a man as injured as he was would be capable of. He snatched the phone from my hand and hit end before shoving the phone into his pocket.

  “What the hell?” I yelled, furious. “Give me my damn phone back!”

  “You got no idea what’s goin’ on here,” he said. “And we’re not callin’ the damn police about it.”

  I glared at him, speaking in a quiet tone I’d been told was more threatening than when I yelled. “Gerald, give me back my phone.”

  “Let me explain,” he said, noting the look and the tone, though not handing my phone to me.

  Frowning, I wanted to yell at him, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. “Go ahead. Explain,” I said, gesturing with my hand for him to go on. I frowned when he didn’t speak immediately and asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I said I’m fine.” The words came out in a quick snap, one that made my eyes widen. His expression softened quickly. “Don’t mean to snap – sorry. But I can’t say enough how you need to trust me on this.”

  “Just promise me you’re not hidin’ how bad you’re hurt.”

  “I ain’t. I took a couple of rough hits, but it’s fine. Nothin’ more than some bruises.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew my phone. “And I need you to promise me that you’re not gonna call the cops. Alright?”

  I still wanted to, but something deep down told me to trust Gerald for a little while longer. “Alright, I won’t call ‘em. For now.”

  He nodded and placed my phone into my hand. “We need to see what’s goin’ on in there, first.”

  “Right,” I said, turning my attention to the B&B. Sabrina and Adie had watched our discussion silently.

  Adie asked, “So we’re not calling the police?”

  “Not right now,” I said.

  Sabrina narrowed her eyes, moving them from me to Gerald and back. “And you think that’s wise?”

  “I trust Gerald’s judgement
,” I told her.

  She considered my words, glancing at him again, then sighed. “I trust you, so I’ll follow you for now.”

  I noted she agreed with me the way I’d agreed with Gerald, adding for now just to make sure everyone understood our position. We were very much alike.

  I nodded at her, then said, “We’ll go in and check out the scene.”

  “Wrong,” Gerald said. “I’m goin’ in and checkin’ it out. There’s a good chance whoever did this might still be in there.”

  “Then you’re gonna need our help.”

  “No – you three wait out here.”

  “Are you serious, Gerald?” I asked, laughing.

  “Do I look like I’m screwin’ around? Listen, I know y’all want to help, and this is your business. But I have training in these kinda things, so let me do what I know how to do.”

  “Alright,” Sabrina agreed. “Just…stay safe in there.”

  He nodded before going to his truck and opening the passenger-side door. He opened the glove compartment, and when he stepped around back to the front, he had a black pistol in his hand. My gut tightened.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I make sure it’s clear,” he said. “Just stay here.”

  He slowly walked up the stairs, almost silently despite wearing boots, and approached the doors. One of them was hanging off its hinges as if it’d been kicked in. Then Gerald pushed through, gun in hand, and disappeared into the dark.

  I could only pray that he’d be alright.

  Chapter 19

  GERALD

  The women were scared, and my first priority was to make sure they were safe. Best way to do that would be to scope out the B&B, confirm no assholes were lurking inside because they hadn’t left before we showed up.

  I wondered if these assholes had planned the whole night. Get into a fight with me at the bar, buying the other group enough time to come here and wreck the joint? Whatever the plan was, there wasn’t a chance in hell it was a coincidence.

  I stepped into the living room, broken glass from the front doors crunching beneath my feet. I didn’t turn on the lights, not wanting to signal to whoever might still be there that I was checking the house.

  Even through the darkness, I could see the entry room had been totally trashed. Red spray paint streaked the walls, anything breakable was broken, and the paneled wood of the front desk looked like someone had taken a crowbar to it, punching mean-looking holes into the material.

  What a fucking mess, I thought, hating the idea of Crystal and her friends seeing it.

  Gun in hand, I cleared the room before moving onto the lounge. The scene there wasn’t any better; the room was a disaster.

  Room by room I cleared the first floor, taking in the sight of the damage. The process gave me flashbacks to my time in the service, working urban ops and clearing houses. But those times were different – I had backup, other guys in the squad watching my ass. Here, I was all alone.

  No problem. Not like I couldn’t handle myself. I was more worried about the women than anything else, how devastating this devastation would be to them.

  Once the first floor was cleared, I went up to the second. Same story – wrecked rooms, total destruction. Crystal’s office was a disaster, all of the bedrooms a mess. Whoever had broken in hadn’t simply wanted to send a message; they wanted to make sure this place would never open again.

  Third floor was next, same deal. And just like I’d feared, my room had been ransacked, the information taken out of the desk and missing. If I needed any proof whoever had been there was associated with the conspiracy I was investigating, that did it.

  On the desk, neatly placed in the center next to my smashed laptop, was a note. I quickly pocketed it and left. After checking all the bedrooms and closets and bathrooms, I didn’t see any sign of someone still there.

  The house was clear.

  I made my way back to the first floor and back outside. The trio of women let out a sigh of relief as I stepped out.

  “What happened?” Crystal asked, hurrying close.

  “The place has been totally trashed,” I said quietly, clicking the safety of my Glock and tucking it into the back of my jeans. “In a purposeful way. They went from room to room, taking their time about it.”

  Adie sniffled, tears forming in her eyes. Sabrina put her arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. But Crystal, as ever, was defiant and fearless.

  “You find out why?”

  That was my cue to take the note out of my pocket. I unfolded it and opened it, noting the neat, typeface handwriting. “Found this in my room. Must’ve known I was lookin’ into them.”

  Crystal hurried to my side and read it with me. I read it aloud to Adie and Sabrina.

  “By now you know what we’re capable of,” I read. “And this is just a taste. You’ve got a way out – if you’re smart, you’ll take it. If you know what’s good for you, this place will stay closed. Or else.”

  Crystal jerked the note from my hand and read it again, as if I’d missed something.

  “They want us to stay closed for good?” she asked, insulted. “Fuck that!”

  She shoved the note into her pocket and strode through the entrance, as if whoever was responsible for what had happened was there waiting for her, and she was ready to give him a piece of her mind.

  “Oh no,” she said weakly once through the door, stopping at staring around.

  I stepped back in, Adie and Sabrina following me through. Together, they made their way through the first floor, appalled at the sight of the destruction.

  I hated, fucking hated seeing these ladies witness the sight of their livelihood, their dream, be in such a state. They’d put so much time, so much effort, so much love into making the B&B what it was, only for some money-hungry pricks to steal it from them.

  More than that, they’d been threatened.

  Anger boiled inside of me, a rage I could barely keep in check. Whoever had done this was going to pay dearly.

  When the women had seen enough, they wandered into the lounge together, flicked the lights on, and sat after I cleared the debris off the couch.

  “I could sure as hell go for a drink right now,” Sabrina announced. “But those pricks smashed the bar. After taking what they wanted, of course.”

  I headed outside to my truck and opened the storage container in the bed. Underneath all the gear in there was a bottle of Jack I kept around for emergencies. That in hand, I walked back into the house and handed the bottle to Sabrina.

  “Holy shit,” she said. “Talk about a fuckin’ lifesaver.”

  “Better to have and not need than need and not have,” I said, dropping into the easy chair across from where Adie and Sabrina were seated. When Sabrina and Adie had taken their pulls, the bottle was tossed in my direction. I caught it and took a sip for myself.

  Crystal wasn’t seated, however. She stood in the corner of the room, her arms crossed, her face set in a determined expression that could be confused with a scowl.

  “Thank you so much,” Adie said. “Gerald, you don’t need to get involved with any of this. But here you are.”

  “Yeah,” Sabrina echoed. “You’re a one-in-a-million guy.”

  “Just doin’ the right thing,” I said with a shrug. “Not about to stand around while people are done wrong.”

  “We have to call the police,” Crystal finally spoke, her tone blunt. “Right now. They need to know what’s goin’ on.”

  “We’re not bringin’ them into this.” I shook my head, continuing my position.

  She shot out her hand in the direction of the entry room. “Gerald, you got jumped at the bar, then we come back here and find the place trashed. We need help, and I don’t care about your stubborn, go-it-alone bullshit. Cops are there to help with crimes, and this is a pretty damn big crime.”

  “We can’t,” I said, not budging an inch.

  Sabrina spoke in a calmer tone. “Gerald, I get that you’re bein’ protective. But rig
ht now, the best way to keep us safe would be to let us know at least a little what you do, tell us why the cops aren’t an option. Because honestly, I’m wonderin’ the same thing.”

  I sighed, shaking my head. I needed to tell them. But where to begin?

  “Mayor Simms,” I said. “He’s an old buddy of mine from high school. When this all started goin’ down, I had a meeting with him, lettin’ him know what I’d seen.”

  “You met with the mayor?” Adie asked.

  I nodded. “Turns out he wasn’t surprised by what I’d said. He doesn’t have hard proof, but he says he’s got a good reason to think there’s a major criminal element operating in the area.”

  The ladies gasped. Crystal’s frown deepened, Adie put her hand on her mouth, and Sabrina pursed her lips. All were paying close attention to my every word.

  “And he thinks the cops might be a part of whatever’s goin’ on,” I said, looking each one in the eyes, though lingering on Crystal. “So we tell the cops, their next move might be to go right to whoever they’re working for and let them know we’re gettin’ close to the truth.”

  “The cops?” Adie asked, stunned. “But they’re supposed to be the good guys.”

  Adie was a sweet woman, and sharp as a tack from what I’d seen – you didn’t run a restaurant and not have a good head on your shoulders – but she could be a touch naïve at times. Then again, maybe thinking cops were always looking out for the good of society was a mistake people ought to have a right to make. Nothing wrong with thinking people whose job it was to stand up for the law would actually do it.

  “They are. Unfortunately, I know from experience that not all of them are good guys.”

  “What’re you talkin’ about, Gerald?” Crystal asked. “What experience do you have with dirty cops?”

  My eyes landed on the bottle of whiskey. I grabbed it, knowing I would need a little more of that in my belly to tell them what I was referring to. After a large gulp, I rolled up my sleeve, showing the women the tattoo of my Texas Ranger badge.