Evans had finally managed to pick himself up and was swiping the back of his hand across his busted nose.
“You two have time. They’re not here yet. Run now,” Deegan encouraged.
The gunman lowered the weapon an inch. “Maybe he’s right. We have time to get away.” For a brawny man, he certainly looked scared.
“Don’t let him get in your head, man,” Evan seethed. “We can’t abandon our post.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? This ain’t a post. This was your fucked-up idea.” There went the gun, another inch or so lower.
“We can’t let them live. That’s part of the plan.” Evans didn’t flinch a muscle.
“You better hurry, buddy,” Deegan said. “I can hear the sirens getting closer. They’re coming and once they do, this will all be over. Prison isn’t a life for you.”” He saw the weak link in the man.
“Fuck this!” The gun lowered completely and he took off down the hallway running.
Realizing he was alone, Evans’ confidence slipped some. He turned and raced down the hall too.
“Stay here,” Deegan said to Kiersten as he took off after Evans. The man was a fast runner, but Deegan was catching up to him. Evans slammed through the back door, almost taking it off its hinges, but Deegan was right behind.
They were outside now in a parking lot.
A horn sounded and a truck came out of nowhere, hitting Evans, sending him soaring in the air and landing with a loud sickening thud on the ground. Deegan raced to Evans who wasn’t moving and checked his pulse. It was faint, but he was alive.
Looking back at the truck, Deegan smiled when Cull Cade got out of the driver’s side. “I thought I was going to be late, but it looks like I came at the right time.”
Epilogue
With Deegan’s help, Kiersten climbed out of the back of the ambulance. Although she was banged up, she was fine. “Now tell me again, in more detail, how did the Feds know where we were?” she asked.
“They took my phone, but neither of them knew I had a GPS tracker in my boot that was linked to Jamie’s computer. I turned it on before I walked into Max’s office and I knew Jamie would eventually check his monitor.”
“So, you knew that Max was guilty all along?”
“No, not really. I wanted to have faith in him, but a lawman is always prepared for what can happen. The moment I saw Max I knew he was guilty.”
“He wanted Evans to kill Annie?” She leaned against the front of a patrol car.
“I truly don’t know what his intentions were, but in the end, Max saw that as the only way to get out of the mess he was in.”
“Wow, sis. You look like shit!” Cull came up, smiling from ear to ear.
“Now how the hell did you know where we were?” Deegan asked.
“Kiersten called me as she was leaving the Fed building and told me everything. She was so frantic, she forgot to hang up. The German woman made the mistake of taking Kiersten’s phone. Deegan, you’re not the only one who can track.” He winked. “I better go call Sally. She’ll be worried.” He stepped forward and shook Deegan’s hand. “I believe I can leave my sister in good hands.”
Nodding, Deegan said with pride, “Until my dying breath.”
Once Cull was gone, he turned to Kiersten and took the necessary steps until they were inches from one another. “Now, about you and me. How about we have a talk—”
“What the fuck happened? I thought I said not to leave a trail of damage?”
Kiersten and Deegan both looked up at Hamilton as he bounded their way. His face was red and his arms were waving.
“Sir, with all due respect, you said no bloodshed,” Deegan said.
“We need to get you both debriefed. Immediately,” Hamilton commanded.
“Yes, sir,” Kiersten said with a smile. “But first, I have something else I need to do.”
The man blinked wildly. “Cade, I expect to see you in my office first thing Monday morning. Got it?”
She nodded, took Deegan’s hand and together they walked away from the chaos of emergency vehicles, local police storming around and Hamilton’s angry expression.
“What do you think about,” Kiersten said once they were a few feet from bystanders, “female Sheriff’s?”
“I’m an equal opportunist. Why?”
“Kace has accepted a position closer to the family ranch and I thought maybe I’d like to find out what it’s like to run a county. Think you could handle it? Think you could help me with my election campaign?”
He stopped and pulled her close. “Sweetheart, I can handle anything as long as you’re happy. Does this mean you really want to quit the Justice Department? Or is that because of us?”
“I believe I do. After all, isn’t it important for me to spend quality time with our children?”
He smiled from ear to ear and picked her up, swinging her around several times. He placed her back on her feet and looked into her eyes. She felt loved and wanted. “I love you, Kiersten Cade.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You better because this is where we belong. For better or for worse.”
Not the end but only the beginning…
From the author:
Thank you for reading. Please leave a review and let others know your thoughts.
Hugs,
Rhonda Lee Carver
At an early age, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but when the story ideas were no longer contained, she decided to dive in and write. Her first plot was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With baby on one hip and laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.
Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are smart, strong and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.
When Rhonda isn’t crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her hero and heroine.
For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit: www.rhondaleecarver.com.
Find me on Facebook, too! www.facebook.com/rhondalee.carver
Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver
Diamond in a Rose
Double Dare
Delaney’s Sunrise
Second Chance Cowboy (Book 1, Second Chance Series)
Second Ride Cowboy (Book 2, Second Chance Series)
Second Round Cowboy (Book 3, Second Chance Series)
Second Dance Cowboy (Book 4, Second Chance Series)
Second Song Cowboy (Book 5, Second Chance Series)
Second Burn Cowboy (Book 6, Second Chance Series)
Second Hope Cowboy (Book 7, Second Chance Series)
Second Sunrise Cowboy (Book 8, Second Chance Cowboy Series)
Castle’s Fortress
Dreaming Ivy
Friends With Benefits
Sin With Cuffs
With Honor
Wicked Pleasures (Book 1, Wicked Wolves Series)
Wicked Lust (Book 2, Wicked Wolves Series)
Fighting Flames
UNDER PRESSURE (Book 1, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE RISING (Book 2, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE POINT (Book 3, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
SECRET PRESSURE (Book 4, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
RESISTING PRESSURE (Book 5, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
Under the Mistletoe
Cowboy Paradise (Cowboys of Nirvana)
Ropin’ Trouble (Book 2, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Smoke. Fire. Cowboy (Book 3, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Kissed, Spurred, & Valentined (Book 4, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Cowboy is Mine (Book 5, Cowboys of Nirvana)
The Discreet Cowboy (Book 6, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Leather for Two, Wings of Steel MC
An Unexpecte
d Hero (Buttermilk Valley)
A New Year’s Cowboy
Pride & Pleasure (Book 1, The KNIGHT Brothers)
Roman’s Choice (Book 1, Saddles & Second Chances)
Letting Go (Sable Hunter’s Hell Yeah! Kindle World
Have you read Without You (#3, Letting Go Series)?
Here is a bonus excerpt…
CHAPTER 1
“THEY’LL MAKE FUN of me.”
Kiernan Everhart looked across the seat at her son, Cullen, who was adjusting his thick glasses. “Not a way to stay positive, buddy,” she reminded him.
He shrugged his shoulder. “If I was in their shoes I would make fun of me too.”
She sighed and gripped the steering wheel. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re a kind, compassionate, caring ten-year-old.”
“Mom, you have too much confidence in me.” He brought his foot up to tie his Nike shoe.
Knowing her son was exceptionally bright and mature, she sometimes tried to slow things down for him. “I understand moving to a new school is difficult, but you’ll make friends. I went to this same school when I was in fifth grade.”
“Back when you had to walk twenty miles through the snow while being chased by dinosaurs?”
“Hey, you! I’m not that old and I never said those things. It was your grandpa who wanted to convince you that he walked with dinosaurs.”
“I’m kidding, mom. It’s not possible for either one of you to have seen a dinosaur. They went extinct 65.5 million years ago, yet technically they’re still alive considering scientists believe birds can be classified as dinosaurs.”
“And just think…it was only a few years ago that you played with dinosaurs and now you’re learning about them.”
“Actually I never enjoyed playing with the rubber toys with moveable parts, but it made you happy.”
“Do you pretend doing other things to make me happy?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Keep it up.” She smiled.
Pulling into the school parking lot, she followed the orange cones to the drop off point. “Are you sure you don’t want me to walk in with you?”
“Positive. It’ll be bad enough when they stare because I look like I do, but why make it worse by having my mom walk me to the door like I’m still a kid.”
“You are still a kid,” she reminded him. He was growing up way too fast. “One day you’ll look back and wish you were young again.”
“No, mom. That’s you. I’ll be glad. Being a kid is hard.”
“Yeah, it’s so hard to eat as much chocolate and bacon as you want without your thighs paying the price. No bills. Turning your brain to mush via video games. Adulting is so much fun!”
He unhooked his seatbelt and scooted to the edge of the seat, peering out the window as they drew closer to the front door. He worked his bottom lip and Kiernan’s heart thumped hard against her ribcage. She suddenly began doubting that she’d made the right decision in coming back home. She thought she would be sick and tears stung the backs of her eyes, but she had to be brave and hold it together for her son, although a part of her wanted to jam her foot into the gas pedal, drive through the cones and speed off away from the elementary school. Protecting her son would be easier at home, but according to the doctor, Cullen needed socialization, even if his maturity and intellectual levels were that of a young adult.
And he had EDS. A connective tissue disorder.
When they learned Cullen had a form of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome all the pieces of his prior illnesses fit together like a puzzle. His vision was bad, his skin extremely elastic, unexplainable skin rashes, early-onset of arthritis, and he had decelerated growth. He also bruised easily and had a weak immune system which meant he was sick and endured much more pain than other kids his age.
The first few years of school, the kids had accepted Cullen until they started seeing him as different—or maybe he saw himself as different. It was then that things flip-flopped, and he began losing all his friends. Playing contact sports was out of the question because of his lax joints and arthritis so while other kids went off to play, he watched. He began sitting alone at lunch and, more and more, started disappearing inside of a book all too often.
Kiernan had to believe the move from Los Angeles back to her hometown of Kerrville, Texas would be a prosperous one for her and her son. Although she didn’t have much choice but for things to work. After her clothing boutique went under and she filed bankruptcy, the only option left on the table was to move home to be with her dad and twin brother, Kelan. She’d never been one to give up easily, but this time all the cards were stacked against her.
“Here we are,” she said dolefully.
“Don’t worry, mom.” Cullen’s pensive look made her feel a sense of guilt. “Just like you’ve told me, I was born with elastic skin so insults would bounce off me.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his deep-blue eyes, the only part of him that reminded her of his father who had disappeared at the same time she informed him she was pregnant.
“If you need me—”
“I know. I can go to the office and tell them I’m not feeling well.”
“Or if—”
“Someone picks on me, I should tell a teacher. Mom, we’ve been through this.”
“I’m only checking to make sure you remember.” A car honking behind them made Kiernan sigh. “Patience, jerk.” She spotted the red truck and resisted the urge to flip off the impatient driver. Hand gestures were more noticeable here in the small town and she wanted to be a good role model for her son, so she behaved herself.
“I better go.”
She wanted to kiss him on the cheek, but she guessed he was too old for such displays of affection.
From her position in the car, as he’d requested, she watched him step onto the sidewalk and head toward the entrance of the brick building. She stayed, ignoring another honk, and watched until he disappeared among the throng of kids. It wasn’t until the truck rudely held down on their horn that she reluctantly pulled away from the school and turned back onto the main road. The red truck sped up and passed her, spraying her windshield with dirty water from the heavy rain they had last night.
“Shit!” She switched on her wipers and caught a glimpse of a white hat and a decal in the truck’s back window that read, ‘Texas. Everything’s Bigger’. She groaned. “But not his brain or his di—” she snapped off the last word when she slammed on her brakes to keep from hitting a cat that darted across the street. Good thing she didn’t believe in the superstition that black cats crossing one’s path brought bad luck. She’d already had enough to last a lifetime.
But she’d sworn herself to positive thoughts.
And not losing it over men who compensated for inferior body parts with big vehicles and over-inflated attitudes.
Planting a smile on her face, she drove through town and admired her surroundings. Although she’d gotten quite used to bumper-to-bumper traffic, parking garages and towering buildings, she found the quiet, charming environment of Kerrville to be a welcome change. She could practically smell opportunity in the air and, although she wasn’t sure what she’d do with her future, the idea of finding another storefront to open a business seemed feasible on down the road. For now, she’d agreed to help her father with the daily duties at the family ranch, Double K. She loved horses and enjoyed working with them again. Leaving the ranch had definitely been the hardest decision she’d ever made. Maybe she wouldn’t have to choose between her independence and living at home again.
Reaching the ranch, she pulled onto the property and followed the lane to the two-story house with wide pillars, wraparound porch, and the pristine landscape. Although her mother, Elaine, had been gone for years, her father, Joseph, kept the place looking the same. She had loved flowers and always had fresh, colorful arrangements sitting around the house.
Parking next to her dad’s old beat-up blue truck that he’d owned for as long she could remember, she grabbed her purse and headed up the w
ide steps to the porch, swiping a hand over the horseshoe hanging on a hook for good luck, a tradition all the Everhart’s followed religiously. Kiernan wasn’t sure if it held any weight, but it couldn’t hurt. She gave an extra wish and walked through the door into the foyer, dropped her purse and keys on the table, and inhaled the savory aroma of one of Mila’s fine breakfasts. Following the scent into the kitchen, she found the sixty-something, silver-haired woman standing at the stove whipping up one of her famous concoctions in an iron-skillet.
“I sure hope that’s all for me.”
Mila swiveled and her eyes widened. “Oh, my heavens. There she is. Look at you, young lady.” She dropped the whisk onto the counter and hurried to Kiernan, dragging her in for a tight hug against ample bosom. Mila smelled like maple syrup and the tea tree oil she used for her arthritis. Kiernan gave the voluptuous woman a long squeeze of appreciation. She’d been a housekeeper for the Everhart family for so long she had become more like family. After Elaine Everhart passed away, Mila had taken Kiernan under her wing.
Pulling back, Kiernan blinked away moisture. “I can’t believe you’re still coming here.”
“I don’t come as often, just twice a week now. These old bones don’t move like they once did and since your daddy’s been spending more time at Jolee’s, there’s not much to do around here.”
“Jolee Davis?”
Mila looked over her shoulder to make sure they were still alone. “Yesiree. You know her. The one who buried her oil tycoon husband several years back. I ain’t one to spread rumors, but I hear she’s on the prowl.”
“Well, well…Pops sure can keep his secrets.” Kiernan shook her head.
“Nothing’s changed, baby.” Mila winked.
“I’ve missed you.” Kiernan went in for another hug.
Mila stepped back and subtly swiped at her eyes. “If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve been here sooner. Why didn’t your daddy tell me? That old goat.” Her mouth twisted and gave her head a disapproving shake. “You know how some men are. Getting information is like pulling teeth.”
Taken by the Lawman (Lawmen of Wyoming Book 6) Page 16