Suited to be a Cowboy

by Lorraine Nelson

  Then, she sobered abruptly. Was that what she’d been doing with Jimmy? Had she been chasing after a man she’d never be able to catch? Their attraction to each other was mutual. There was no second-guessing that fact. His carrying her around had increased that initial attraction. And it wasn’t just sexual, at least, not on her part. She really liked the man, correct that, she loved him. They’d gone from friends to lovers within a short span of time. Maybe things were just moving too fast.

  She closed her eyes and the image of Jimmy standing before her in the nude flashed through her mind. Not a blemish or scar marred the perfection of his body. He was certainly a sight to behold. She’d hurt him by turning him away that first morning, but hadn’t wanted to blurt out the truth. At that point, it had been more prudent to think things through, and she had.

  Her joy at the thought of carrying his child brought home to her how much she loved him. Whatever time she had with him, she’d enjoy to the fullest. If she ended up with a broken heart, so be it. At least with Jimmy she felt like a woman…a very loved and cherished woman…if only in her own mind.

  After an exhilarating ride across the range, Jimmy steered Sherry back toward the ranch proper. He pulled up in front of the barn, dismounted, and led her inside. “Hey, girl. That was a great run. Sorry I haven’t spent much time with you lately.” He kept up a running monologue as he brushed her down, her frequent whinnies and nudges telling him that she’d missed him too. “We’ll soon have our own spread. I’ll still be busy a lot of the time, but you and I will be a twosome during most of it.”

  He put the currycomb away and brought her a ration of feed and fresh water. “There you go, girl. I’ll be back to see you tomorrow.” Jimmy closed up the barn and headed for the house, going by way of the courtyard so he could wash up. His taste buds came to life as he anticipated another of Sheila’s home-cooked meals.

  A low groan from the direction of the gazebo caught his attention and he ventured closer to see who was there. Melissa was stretched out on the bench seat, sound asleep. God, she was beautiful. If only they could’ve met on equal ground. He squatted next to her sleeping form and allowed his eyes to drink their fill. Never in this lifetime would he get enough of this woman. He reached out a hand to brush a strand of hair from her cheek. Her skin was ice cold.

  “Melissa, wake up. It’s time for dinner.”

  Her eyes opened at the sound of his voice. “About time you got here.”

  He lifted one eyebrow in a questioning manner. “You were waiting for me?” His pulse sped up with hope.

  “Not exactly, but you’ll do nicely.” She tried to sit up, but her grimace spoke of pain.

  “Here, let me help.” Jimmy assisted her to a sitting position while his mind mulled over her words. “Your ribs?”

  “No, I stumbled over a loose rock in the path. I think I sprained my ankle. It hurts like the dickens.”

  He glanced down at her foot. “Holy moley! You’d never get back to the house on your own. How did you manage to make it to the gazebo?”

  “With great difficulty. It was closer than going back.”

  “You walked?” he said in total disbelief.

  “More like hobbled, but I needed to be alone for a while.” She looked up at him then. “I’ve been trying to figure out where things went wrong for us, why there’s so much tension in the air, and it goes back to that first morning after. I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I was in a rush for the bathroom. I didn’t stop to think of how my words sounded until after you’d gone.”

  Jimmy studied her expression, decided she was telling the truth, and nodded. “I shouldn’t have spent the night and we wouldn’t have had such an awkward confrontation. I’m sorry.”

  Melissa shook her head. “Don’t be sorry. I enjoyed waking up in your arms.”

  “Yeah?” He tilted his head to one side.

  “Yeah, but if you don’t mind, I could use some help getting to the house.”

  “I would imagine. Is that why you were sleeping out here?” He took another look at her ankle. “Never mind. Stupid question. Come on. I’ll take you inside.” He lifted her into his arms, then lowered his head to sample her lips. He didn’t linger, although he very much wanted to. Her kisses were so sweet, so enervating, he could stay lost in them forever, but right now, she needed some ice on that ankle.

  When he lifted his head, he saw desire shining from her eyes. He wasn’t alone in his passion and that knowledge gave a mighty lift to his ego as he walked to the house, careful not to jar her too much. “The kitchen or your room?”

  “The kitchen. I’m hungry.”

  A chuckle rumbled up from his belly. “It’s always time to eat around here. The kitchen it is. I wonder what delights Sheila has for us tonight.”

  But the kitchen was empty when they entered.

  “That’s weird. Where could Sheila be? She hasn’t even started dinner. That’s not like her.” A worried frown creased her brow as he set her down on a chair.

  Jimmy grabbed an ice pack for her swollen ankle and one of her painkillers. He was just pouring a glass of water for her when the back door opened and in walked Sheila, her arms filled with grocery bags. Jimmy rushed over to lighten her load, setting the bags on the counter.

  “There’s never a man around when you need one,” she huffed.

  “What do you mean?” Jimmy asked, slightly perplexed. He’d just helped with the groceries.

  “I had a flat and a nice man stopped to help me change it, only to discover that the spare was flat too. He let me use his phone to call the auto service and have them bring me a tire, but it was a real nuisance. Sorry, but dinner’s going to be late.”

  “Why don’t I run to town and we’ll have us a pizza night? That way you won’t have to rush around when you’ve obviously had a rough time of it today.”

  Sheila had put the groceries away and now plunked herself down in a chair.

  “That would be a blessing, my boy. I should’ve thought of it myself, but I was almost home when I had the flat.”

  “No problem,” he said, grabbing his hat off the hook by the door. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  Jimmy returned with the pizza and expected everyone to be waiting in the kitchen. Surprised when they weren’t, he set the pizza on the counter and went looking for them. The house was more than quiet. It sounded strangely empty. Where was everybody? Had something happened while he was gone? A little niggle in the back of his mind told him something wasn’t right. It was as if the silence was tense, expectant.

  Cautiously he made his way to the front room, but found no sign of Sheila or anyone else. Retracing his steps, he turned down the hall toward the game room, hearing voices before he got there, Sheila’s and someone else he couldn’t identify. He slowed and continued softly, carefully, toward the room. John faced the door. John sighted him and at the subtle, yet brisk shake of his head, Jimmy knew his instincts had been right. Someone was holding them hostage.

  He edged closer trying to get a glimpse of what was going on. The kids surrounded the table where John sat, but he could see nothing else. He motioned to John that he’d be back, and headed to the kitchen. Was Melissa in there too? He hadn’t seen or heard her. If she was aware of the situation, she must be going insane at the thought of her family in danger.

  Jimmy went back to the kitchen, palmed his cell phone, and called the police.

  “9-1-1 operator. What is the nature of your emergency?”

  “This is James McGovern. We have a hostage situation at Thoroughbreds R Us, the horse ranch north of town.”

  “Please stay on the line while I contact your local precinct, Mr. McGovern.”

  Jimmy paced restlessly the length of the kitchen and back, begrudging every second of the wait. He needed to help. To find out what was happening in there. Finally, the operator came back on.

  “A unit has been dispatched and is on its way to your location. Would you like me to stay on the line until they get there?”

 
“No, and they might need more than one unit. Tell them to come quietly so as not to disturb the culprit. I don’t want him to panic and have someone get hurt.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  Next, he called Brian, thankful when he picked up on the second ring.

  “Brian, someone is holding the family hostage in the game room.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  He had to give the man credit. In moments, he was at the back door and had three men with him, all armed. “What do you need?” Brian whispered.

  Jimmy filled them in on what he’d discovered. “The police are on their way, but I felt we should be prepared in case things turn nasty.”

  “The boys and I can handle this,” Brian said. “We’ll stand guard in the hallway. You stay out front and watch for the police. Got your gun?”

  “Darn! No, I don’t. I forgot it in the barn after I fed Sherry.”

  Brian passed him a handgun. “It’s loaded. Safety’s on. Watch your back.”

  He left with his men and Jimmy quickly moved toward the front of the house, staying as quiet as possible so he could hear if anyone approached from another direction.”

  Brian found him a short while later. “I heard John’s voice and another man and those of Sheila and the kids. I couldn’t see who was holding them, but I’m thinking it’s Melissa’s ex. He was talking about it being a welcome home party, exceptin’ he’s never lived here.” Brian reported the news wearing a grim expression. “What do you want me to do?”

  “If we go in unprepared, we may never see any of them alive again. Marcus has obviously gone over the edge. Keep monitoring the room. The police should be here shortly.” He did his best to keep his voice calm and in control. He must have managed it because Brian nodded and went back to his men.

  Jimmy used his cell and called 9-1-1 again. “This is James McGovern. I called about a hostage situation here at the ranch. Is anyone on their way yet?”

  “Just a minute while I check on that for you, Mr. McGovern.”

  A moment later, she was back on the line. “The police are on their way. They’ve assembled a S.W.A.T. Team and a hostage negotiator to handle the situation. Do you have any new information for me to pass on?”

  “Yes, I think it’s the owner’s ex-husband. Officer Jacobs is aware of his recent threats.”

  “How many people is he holding hostage?”

  ”He has six people held up in the game room, three of them children.”

  “Are you in the house?”

  “No, I’m outside the front entrance waiting for the police to get here.”

  “Please remain outside until help arrives.”

  “Will do.”

  Jimmy was proud of the way he was dealing with the situation. He was worried sick, but hadn’t lost his cool. His first instincts had been to rush blindly in and take charge. But that would’ve resulted in him getting hurt or maybe killed. He wouldn’t be much good to anyone then.”

  The game room faced the other side of the house, so there was no chance of the police being spotted. The door opened and Brian joined him on the front step.

  “What do you think prompted him to do this?” Brian asked.

  “I’d say he’s finally realizing what he’s lost and this is a desperate attempt to get some back.”

  “Oh, he’ll get some all right, but not what he’s expecting. After all the trouble he’s caused, they should’ve kept him locked up.”

  Jimmy raked a hand through his hair, frustrated and feeling useless. “I wish I knew why. He must have a darned good lawyer is all I can say.”

  “Yeah, a lawyer he’s paying with ill-gotten gains. He’s under investigation for fraud for crying out loud. Why didn’t they lock his accounts? Put him under house arrest or something?”

  “He could have more than one account. It’s been done before.” Several vehicles pulled into the yard. “That’s the police now. Go get your men out of the house while I direct them.”

  Brian nodded and slipped inside, only to reappear a few minutes later with his men.

  “Myron Jacobs has been in the house before. He used to visit old Bill and he knows the layout.”

  “Good. That should give them an advantage,” Jimmy said as he watched the police scurry about and disappear around the side of the house.

  Jimmy was worried for the people being held hostage, and they weren’t even his family, although he felt like part of it. He couldn’t believe how much he’d come to love Melissa and Aaron, and he truly cared about the rest of them.

  Officer Jacobs and a few of his men approached. “Are they still being held in the game room?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. My men are in position. We’re going in the front. Please stand back out of the way so you don’t get hurt in the crossfire.”

  “Jacobs, there are women and children in there. I’m hoping you can be victorious without gunfire.”

  “So am I. You can never predict the outcome of a situation like this, but we’ll do our best.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I’ll make us a nice cup of tea while we wait for Jimmy to come back,” said Sheila, rising to put the kettle on.

  “That sounds lovely.”

  “Yes, it does. Better make that tea for three. Or better yet, coffee.”

  Melissa jumped at the sound of his voice, forgetting about her ankle. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

  Marcus’s evil sneer filled her with dread—as did the gun in his hand.

  “Someone was courteous enough to leave the front door unlocked. When your boyfriend left, I decided it was my turn to have the pleasure of your company.”

  Thinking fast, she said, “Then have a seat. I’ll get Sheila to prepare a tray of sweets to go with it.” She had to keep him busy until Jimmy got back. With her busted arm and sprained ankle, she definitely couldn’t handle Marcus herself. Although her cast would make the perfect club, she didn’t relish the thought of breaking her arm again.

  “No, I don’t think so. You see, the rest of the family is in the other room. We will join them and you can introduce me as your husband.”

  He had to have been outside, staking out the place for quite some time. “But I hurt my ankle, Marcus. I can’t walk.”

  For an answer, he grabbed her sore arm and yanked her to her feet, the chair upending in the process.

  “Ouch! You’re hurting me.”

  Sheila turned with the coffee pot in her hand and Melissa thought she was going to hit him with it—until he put the gun to her head.

  “Take one more step and I’ll shoot my lovely wife where she stands.”

  “Don’t get your pecker in a twist. Just filling it with water for the coffee.”

  “Bring it through to the other room, Aaron’s game room, I believe.”

  He didn’t wait for an answer as he backed out of the room, dragging her with him. Footsteps sounded, running up the hall.

  “I heard a thump. Is everything all right?” John asked as he turned the corner then stopped dead in his tracks as Marcus spun around with the gun still aimed at her head.

  “Everything is fine, as you can see. Now go back to the children and don’t try anything stupid. We’ll be joining you momentarily.”

  “Melissa?”

  “Go with the children, John.”

  He went.

  “What do you hope to gain by this?” she asked.

  “My share of the ranch, of course. You see, I’ve brought a new set of divorce papers for you to sign.”

  “Over my dead body. This is Aaron’s ranch.”

  “As you wish.” He cocked the gun, the sound deadly at close range.

  “Marcus, don’t do this. Aaron needs me, needs us,” she added as an afterthought.

  “Ah, so you finally smartened up. Yes, a boy needs his father. Let’s go share our news with him.”

  Mystified and hurting something dreadful, she hobbled along at his side. When they reached the game room, he
motioned her to sit on the sofa, away from everyone else and then sat beside her. She was relieved to see that John had taken the children to the far side of the room and they were sitting close to him at the table.

  “Dad, what are you doing here?” Aaron’s eyes widened.

  “Your mother and I have agreed to reconcile. Isn’t that right, darling?”

  “No way! You were mean to us.”

  “Now Aaron, I was upset because your mother had a boyfriend. Understand?”

  Aaron’s gaze searched her face. “Is that true, Mom? Is it Jimmy?”

  She nodded, her throat too choked up for words.

  “Then why are you going back to him?” Aaron’s sneer mimicked his father’s and showed the disgust he felt at the thought.

  Marcus had kept the gun hidden behind her back, so Aaron was unaware of the danger.

  Right then, Sheila wheeled the tea trolley in. “Get your feet off that table. It’s an antique, you numbskull.”

  Offended, Marcus rose and rushed around the table to confront her, waving the gun in her face. “I could shoot you dead right here,” he said.

  “Dad! No!” Aaron cried, starting to get up, but John held him back.

  “Harrumph! Might be better than putting up with the likes of you.”

  “Just pour the coffee and keep your mouth shut or I might just start with one of those kids over there.” He pointed the gun directly at Rita.

  “I’m pouring. Leave the kids alone.”

  Marcus smirked at having gotten his way so easily and resumed his seat on the sofa, but Melissa noted that he did keep his feet on the floor.

  “Pass that tray of sweets over here,” Marcus demanded.

  “You’ll get your share,” Sheila said as she filled plates for everyone and passed them around, although Melissa was relieved when she served Marcus and her first. Marcus had gone over the deep end. There was no telling what he might do…or to whom.

  “Now isn’t this cozy. John, tell me, how did you find out you were related to us?”

  John glanced at Melissa and she nodded for him to answer.

  “My mother was Bill’s girlfriend. They dated for three years before he met Rose and decided to settle down.”