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

by KC Crowne

  “I am. I know someone that might be able to help.”

  “Who’ve you got? More family?”

  “Somethin’ like that. I know a guy from back in the day, name’s James. We served together in Afghanistan. When he came back to the States, he went into law, like me, but he didn’t quit like I did. He worked his way up, eventually gettin’ into the FBI workin’ as a field agent.”

  Her eyes lit up, as if I’d just solved the puzzle. “Is that right? Well hell, let’s get him on the horn right now! We ain’t got a minute to waste!”

  I took a slow, deep breath. “It ain’t that simple, I’m afraid.”

  “Why?” she asked, deflated by my tone. “What do you mean?”

  There was no way to get into it without getting into it. So I did. I took a slow sip of my beer, letting it hang in my mouth before swallowing it and starting.

  “James and I served together back in the day – guy was in my platoon. He was a hell of a soldier and had about the most solid sense of right and wrong I’ve ever seen in a man. We were tight, along with the rest of the squad.”

  Another sip to soothe the story in my mind. “But one day, during a routine patrol downtown, shit went all kinds of sideways. Some kid was wavin’ to us, lookin’ like he’d gotten hurt, needed our help. So, James, bein’ the man he was, tried to get in there and help. He took off, and the rest of the squad followed.”

  “And what happened?”

  “It was a fuckin’ ambush. They were usin’ the kid as bait, tryin’ to lead us into a blind alley. I remember the moment it all happened like it was yesterday. The kid was at the end of the alley lookin’ at us. He disappeared into a door and was gone. Then the gunfire started.”

  “Oh my God.” She put a hand over her mouth.

  “But we were all trained – we knew what to do. The men took cover and returned fire as we made our way back. Jason was the last of us to cover our escape. But as soon as he got up to make a break for it, one of the insurgents took aim and fired. I got up, divin’ onto him, but he took a round in the leg and fell down hard.”

  “Was he alright?”

  “I managed to drag him out of there, get him to safety. We were damn lucky we weren’t wiped out in that alley, but every man did his part. Except for me. I fucked up, didn’t notice the shooter in time, and James paid the price. He recovered and was perfectly fine,” I told her, frowning as I remembered. “Because of me his military career was over. He got sent home and signed up with the PD in Houston as soon as he could. I never heard from him again.”

  “You didn’t try to stay in touch?”

  “I couldn’t bring myself to contact him. My job was to look out for those men, and I failed.”

  She reached over and placed her hand on my knee. “Now, I ain’t one to subscribe to big cosmic plans or anything like that. But we’re in a spot where his help could do us some real good. Maybe this is just the time to reconnect, to tell him what’s been on your mind. And I bet you anything he’d be more than happy to help us bring some justice to this little part of Texas.”

  Dammit, she was right as rain. I’d been ignoring it for so long, hoping my guilt would just go away, but it hadn’t. And it was time to make things right.

  I stretched my back, shaking my head at the insanity of what we’d gotten wrapped up in. But again, I knew she was right. I couldn’t run from my past any longer. And we needed all the help we could get.

  “I got a question for you, Gerald.” Crystal’s gaze was fixed ahead.

  “What’s that?”

  “What would you do if this were all over tomorrow?”

  I let out a quick bark of a laugh.

  “And what’s so funny?”

  “Nothin’. Just that this is buildin’ and buildin’ by the day, and it almost seems crazy to think about it all bein’ over and done with.”

  “But it will be. And soon, I bet. Then it’s gonna be back to how things were before. You’ll be back on your own, and I’ll be openin’ my bed and breakfast.”

  “That’d be nice, wouldn’t it? Puttin’ all this behind us. But I don’t know. The more I think about it, the more I don’t want to put it behind us.”

  She was curious. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, it’s been hard. And seein’ how deep the corruption goes in this town’s been enough to make me sick to my stomach. But at the same time, it’s brought you into my life. And that’s somethin’ I don’t wanna take back.”

  Her face lit up when she smiled at me. “I feel the same way. You’re a stubborn ass sometimes, Gerald Walker. And sometimes you’re so stubborn I ain’t sure if I’m talkin’ to a brick wall or a damn mule. But you’re also kind and you’ve got a good heart. I wouldn’t wanna take back gettin’ to know you, either.”

  I reached over and took her hand. She curled it under mine, wrapping her slender fingers around my big palm.

  “So…here’s what I’d do,” I said, my voice slow. “I’d take you over to Harrison – little town about thirty miles north of here. There’s this little taco joint called El Aguila, and they make the best damn fish taco you’ve ever had in your life. I’d treat you to dinner, wash those tacos down with a few tequila shots, and then we’d hit Lee’s Bluff just outside of town. From there, you can see all the way down to Patterson – sunset like you’ve never seen before. And there, under the sunset I’d…”

  She leaned in eagerly. “You’d what?”

  I grinned. “I’d give you the screwin’ of a lifetime.”

  Her expression went blank for a moment, then she burst into wild laughter. In the middle of it, she reached over and gave me a playful slap on the chest.

  “Gerald Walker, you really know how to woo a woman, don’t you?”

  “I’ve got my ways.”

  Her expression turned serious, serious and sensual. “Maybe I don’t need a fancy bluff and a belly full of fish tacos to want you to screw me.”

  A slow smile was part of my answer. “I’m likin’ where this conversation’s goin.”

  I leaned close to plant my lips on hers. I wanted to take her inside, see how much punishment Wyatt’s bed could take. Hell, maybe we wouldn’t even make it that far.

  But right before our lips touched, the low buzz of the phone in my pocket reverberated through my body.

  “Fuckin’ hell,” I growled, backing off and taking out my phone. It was Diaz. “It’s him.”

  Crystal went silent as I lifted the phone to my ear.

  “Yeah?”

  “I assume you know who this is?”

  “I know who you are. Tell me what you want.”

  “I want to talk about bringing all this to a close.”

  “Good, because that’s the exact thing I want, too.”

  “Excellent. I assume you heard the news?”

  I said nothing, filled with a fresh wave of rage, remembering what had happened to Josh.

  “Damn shame,” he said. “Youngest mayor in the city’s history. But the job’s not for everyone, I suppose. Guess he couldn’t take the pressure.”

  I stood up, furious. “I know what you did, and you’re outta your mind if you think you’re gonna get away with murder – his or Manuel’s.”

  “Who?” he asked, feigning confusion. “Oh, right – the car lot owner. There’s nothing to get away with, Mr. Walker. The mayor died of an overdose, and Manuel and his wife…well, no one knows where they are. But the police are currently looking into a burglary gone wrong.”

  “You ain’t gettin’ away with it,” I repeated.

  “Anyway,” he said, changing the subject. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how tragic it would be if something like that were to happen to Ms. Peterson or her partners.”

  All sorts of shit came to mind as he spoke – mostly threats and rage I wanted to direct at him. What I would’ve given to have him standing in front of me so I could throttle the little asshole. But I reminded myself there was a time and a place for rage, and this wasn’t it. I didn’t wan
t to admit it, but Diaz had the upper hand at the moment. I would have to play it smart, not angry.

  I took a deep breath, setting aside the fury boiling inside me at the idea of him harming a single hair on Crystal’s head. “Alright,” I said. “How do you wanna do this?” I could almost see the shark smile form on his lips as I spoke.

  “Glad you’re being reasonable, Mr. Walker,” he murmured, his tone satisfied. “Anyway, we’ll need to meet again. Tomorrow, if you’re available – and I trust you are.”

  “Where? And when?”

  “There’s a ranch just outside of town, a little place called Cazadore Point. I’m sure you’ll be able to find it. I want you there with Ms. Peterson and her two business associates. No one else. Arrive no later than noon. Is this agreeable to you?”

  “More than agreeable. We’ll be there.”

  “Excellent. And if you haven’t figured it out by this point, I’m an orderly businessman,” he lied, making me clench my teeth. “I don’t like surprises. That means any nonsense you have in mind, don’t even try it. You won’t like what happens if you do.” The line went dead.

  Crystal gave me a wide-eyed look as I slipped the phone back into my pocket, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “We’re just gonna work with him?”

  “We’re gonna end this.”

  Chapter 25

  Crystal

  The answer wasn’t good enough for me, not by a long shot. “What are we gonna do, Gerald?” I asked again, tension in my voice. “How are we gonna end this?”

  He sighed and glanced away, as if regret had taken hold of him. “Darlin’, I hate to say this, but we’re gonna have to give the man what he wants.”

  “What?” I squeaked, my voice high-pitched and loud. “You mean, just like that?”

  He sat down on the edge of the bed, a heaviness on his shoulders. “This ain’t an easy call to make. But we’ve tried every trick in the book. Michael Diaz…whoever he really is, whoever he’s workin’ for, we’re gonna have to let him win.”

  “No,” I said without hesitation. “We can’t let him win. I can’t give up my dream just because some prick strong-armed me into it. Not fuckin’ gonna happen.”

  He looked at me. “Tell me, what other option do we have? Roll up with all the Walker boys armed to the teeth and have an old-fashioned shootout at high noon? Not a chance. I care about you like crazy, Crystal, but we can’t have a bloodbath on our hands. We tried our damnedest, but at the end of the day we’re just a couple of people up against a damn cartel. And now we know killin’ the damn mayor ain’t beneath them.”

  His words, his tone, added to my feeling of defeat. “But we have to fight back.”

  Another sigh and shake of his head. “Darlin’, you haven’t seen what I’ve seen. During my time in the Rangers, we went up against a few cartels. They ain’t honorable, not like some Mafia gang in the movies. You go against them and nothin’s off-limits.” He looked into my eyes, an earnest expression on his face. “They won’t just come for you. They’ll come for everyone you love first, takin’ ‘em out one by one until you’re left, the guilt of failin’ ‘em the last thing on your mind before they finally finish the job. This is a battle that, even if we were to win, the cost would be too damn high.”

  Fury and helplessness filled me, but as he spoke, I could see a side to Gerald that I hadn’t seen before. He seemed…broken, like he knew he couldn’t win and that knowing took something out of him. He’d been so strong, so willing to do anything it took. But now, he was beat.

  And my will was fading fast. He was right – he’d seen things I could only imagine. As much as it pained me, I had to trust that he was making the right call. I felt tears prickling my eyes, and I blinked furiously to get rid of them.

  “Then…we give up. We meet with Michael tomorrow and sign the B&B over.”

  He nodded. “Michael’s still offerin’ a little bit of money. I know it ain’t much, but if it comes down to a small amount of cash and gettin’ out of this with our lives, that’s hardly a decision.”

  I sat down next to him, and Gerald put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. Though he seemed defeated, there was still strength in him that bolstered me, gave me hope.

  “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you, Crystal. And sometimes protectin’ the ones you care about ain’t a matter of bustin’ heads – it’s a matter of makin’ the right call.” He made more sense the longer he spoke.

  When silence fell, a weariness fell over me, like the troubles of the day all set upon me at once. I was tired. And he was too.

  “Let’s get some rest,” he said. “Tomorrow mornin’, we can tell Adie and Sabrina what’s goin’ on. I’m sure they won’t be happy about it, but—”

  I shook my head. “No, they’ll understand. We’re all tough ladies, but we’re reasonable too. They’ll see it’s the only option.”

  He leaned over and kissed me. Just like his touch, Gerald’s kiss made me feel strong and put me at ease.

  We undressed and slipped under the covers, holding one another close. We didn’t make love that night. Gerald pressed me against his solid body, letting me know without words that he was there for me, now and forever.

  I woke up to Gerald fully dressed entering the room. He carried two mugs of coffee in one hand, a plate of biscuits and gravy in the other. He set them both down on the small, two-person table near the window, the scent of the delicious food filling the air.

  “Mornin’,” he said. “Sleep alright?”

  “I slept just fine,” I told him, smiling. “A little restless, but it’s to be expected, I suppose.”

  He offered a wry smirk, as if he knew exactly what I meant. “Now, I know eatin’s probably the last thing on your mind. But we got a hell of a day ahead of us. Might sound a little like Mama G, but you don’t need to be addin’ hunger on top of it.”

  I sat up and stretched. I didn’t feel like eating, but I needed to regardless. Once I felt ready, I got up, throwing on my robe and taking a seat at the table. Gerald sat down across from me, mug in hand.

  “Now, you might wanna kick my ass for this, but I already told your friends what’s goin’ on.”

  “You told them?” I asked, irked.

  “I wanted to be the one to tell them what was at stake if they had any doubts, and I figured it was one less thing you ought to have on your mind.”

  Part of me was rankled by this, but the greater was relieved. “How’d they take it?”

  “About like you’d expect – disappointed but understanding. They’re dressed and ready to go whenever we are.”

  “And what about the rest of the family? Do they know what’s happenin’?”

  “Just the ones who already know. If the entire Walker clan is aware of the situation, they’ll wanna roll up guns blazin’ – even Mama G.” He chuckled, his love and respect for his family clear. “And I ain’t about to put them at risk like that. Chance’ll be hangin’ back, and I’ll give him the word to tell ‘em what’s up when it’s all over and done.”

  I nodded before taking a sip of my coffee and poking a little at my biscuits and gravy. The food was incredible, but I still had to force it down. The worry was doing a hell of a number on my appetite. After I finished eating, I took a shower and got dressed.

  “It’s a little after ten now,” Gerald said, “and the ranch is about an hour away. We should get movin’ soon.”

  “No sense in putting it off, I suppose,” I answered.

  We headed down to the entry hall of the ranch. Adie and Sabrina were waiting for us near the door, looking forlorn. As far as I could tell, for everyone else there, it was just another day at Rainbow Canyons.

  “We’re really doin’ this, huh?” Adie asked. “We’re really givin’ up the dream?”

  “For now,” Sabrina quickly added. “I’m thinkin’ of it less like a givin’ up and more like a strategic retreat. We take the money, we take a little time off, and we figure out our next move. Jus
t because Idylwood didn’t work out doesn’t mean we can’t try again someplace else.”

  “Maybe someplace that ain’t been taken over by a damn cartel,” I grouched.

  “There you go,” Sabrina said, her tone jubilant. She squeezed my arm in a show of support. “I know this isn’t gonna be easy. But we’ll get through it – together. Just like we always have.”

  She gave me a hug. Adie joined in, and being there with my friends, knowing they had my back, went a hell of a long way toward making me feel a touch better about the whole situation.

  “Alright, ladies,” said Gerald. “Time to get goin’.” He was all business, nothing on his mind but getting done what needed to get done. After opening the door for the three of us, we headed to his truck and climbed in.

  The first part of the drive was silent. The day was hot and heavy, the heat thick in the air and the sky carrying not a single cloud. Brilliant blue stretched above. Gerald’s eyes were fixed on the road as we passed through Patterson and Idylwood. A few cop cars were here and there, and it might’ve just been my imagination, but I was almost certain they were giving us looks as we passed, like they were in on what was happening and most definitely didn’t have our backs.

  “Don’t worry about them,” Gerald said. “I know what y’all are thinkin’. And you might be right.”

  “Bunch of bullies,” Adie muttered. “What ever happened to servin’ and protectin’?”

  “More like coercing and exploiting,” Sabrina grumbled, her eyes narrowed into angry little slits as we passed through the town center.

  I grinned at my friends, maybe my first of the day. Soon we left Idylwood behind, the town that once represented promise and a new start, but now only stood for corruption and lies. Civilization gave way to the dusty Texas plains, only the occasional gas station dotting the road as we drove closer and closer to the ranch.

  “And there it is,” Gerald announced, pointing ahead.

  A worn-down sign was posted in front of a dirt road the broke off perpendicular to the highway. The word Cazadore was written in old-timey letters.