Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6)

by Bridges, Mitzi Pool

  With a whoop and holler, Mark was right behind her.

  How wonderful it was to be here with the wind in her face, enjoying her grandson’s company and, she told herself, Beau later. At this moment, life couldn’t be better.

  She didn’t have to slow Casey for Mark to overtake her and beat her to the pond. There, they got off their horses and walked around the water’s edge. “Are you enjoying the summer?” she asked.

  Mark’s grin split his face. “Sure. Except those rustlers put a kink in Dad’s plans.”

  “Which were?”

  “He was going to teach me to rope and tie a calf like they do at the rodeo. So far, we haven’t had time.”

  “Are you thinking of competing?”

  He shrugged. “Just thought it would be fun.”

  “Where do you want to have our picnic?”

  Shading her eyes, she looked toward the rock formation. “How about there?” She pointed.

  “I was hoping we’d go there. Maybe we can take a swim.”

  “Maybe.” Since she’d figured they’d end up at the springs, she’d put her old black bathing suit on under her jeans and shirt.

  They took off, Mark in the lead. She couldn’t catch him if she wanted to. Snowman was too fast, and Casey too old to keep up.

  They slowed when they got to the formation and wound their way through the rocks until they came to the natural springs. “It’s hot enough. Let’s take a swim.” Mark laughed and started peeling off his clothes. He’d grown a foot and a half since Phyl came to the ranch, and he was muscling up nicely. All that ranch work and the punching bags he and Donovan pounded every night were turning Mark into a man.

  In his shorts, he gave a whoop and jumped into the cold water.

  Sputtering and laughing, he called out, “C’mon, Gran. It’s great.”

  “Think I will.”

  Soon the two of them were splashing water at each other one minute, swimming the next.

  She didn’t know how long they played in the water, but when she got tired, she climbed out and sat on a rock to dry off before putting on her clothes. She had to pry Mark out. He was ready to spend the rest of the day there. “Time to eat,” she enticed after she’d dressed.

  “Coming.”

  “What do we have here?”

  After he dressed, Mark took a jar of peanut butter out first, the bread next, then a couple of cans of soft drink: Mark’s favorite root beer.

  “Looks delicious,” she said. “Shall I help?”

  “I’ll do it.” It took a minute, but he put her sandwich in a paper towel and handed it to her.

  She waited for him to fix his own, then took a bite. “Umm.”

  He leaned back against the rock, looked around at the formation. “I wonder how all this got here.”

  “Good question.”

  They talked for a long time while they ate, discussing one theory after another.

  “Maybe God just wanted it here so we could enjoy swimming in the cold water.”

  “You could be right.” It began to turn dark. Nellie stood. “I didn’t realize how late it was. We’d better get back or your mom and dad will come looking for us.”

  How had she let them stay out so late? She looked at her watch. It wasn’t that late, which meant there was a storm brewing. Here in the rocks you couldn’t tell. “We’d better hurry, Mark.”

  He leapt onto Snowman’s back and headed out. Then she heard a motor start up. Loud.

  “What in the world?” Before she could climb into the saddle, a voice spoke from the shadows. “Don’t move.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t move or you’ll get hurt.”

  The voice came from the behind a tall rock. Was someone playing games? Should she follow Mark and ignore him?

  She took hold of the saddle horn, meaning to pull herself into the saddle when a pair of strong arms pulled her back. “Run, Mark!” she screamed, her heart in her throat as she was pulled to the ground. “Get help!”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Beau spotted horse and rider the minute they burst from the rock formation. Mark on Snowman! In the early darkness, they could have been a streak of lightning. Something was wrong. Beau felt it in his gut.

  He turned Taro in their direction and overtook them in less than a minute.

  “Help!” Mark cried out when he saw Beau.

  “Rein in,” Beau ordered. Mark did as he was told.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, grabbing the reins. When he saw tears streaming from the young man’s eyes, Beau’s gut curled into knots. “Tell me.”

  “Gran’s in trouble,” he said, gasping for air. “We had a picnic. We were leaving when we heard a truck motor. Suddenly she screamed and yelled for me to run and get help. I don’t know what happened. But Gran sounded really scared.”

  “Get to the ranch. Tell your dad. He’ll know what to do.” Beau cursed the fact that he didn’t have his cell phone with him. He’d been in too big a hurry to see Nell to take it off the charger.

  “Are you going to help Gran?”

  “You bet I am,” he said tightly as he headed for the rock formation. What he’d find he didn’t know. Whatever it was, he wouldn’t let anything happen to his Nell. He couldn’t live without her.

  It was much darker in the formation than out. But he followed their tracks to the spring. “Nell,” he called out softly. She didn’t answer. He didn’t see her. Didn’t see anyone. Casey stood nearby, but where was Nell?

  His heart was in his throat as he slid off Taro and followed footprints to where they had their picnic. He lifted his head, listened. Was that a groan? He hurried over to the rocks. Anyone could hide in there and no one would see them. Nell was here somewhere and he was going to find her.

  He heard the sound again and turned in that direction. “Nell?” he said, his voice little more than a whisper.

  “Here,” she cried out.

  He ran around the tall rock and saw her lying on the ground, her hands tied. “What happened?”

  “Be careful,” she said as he pulled her to a sitting position and untied her hands. “Someone grabbed me, then tied me up and threw me to the ground.”

  Bile rose in his throat. Someone had hurt Nell. He’d kill the bastard. “Who?” He looked around and saw someone standing in the shadows a few feet away. “What do you want?”

  “You,ˮ came the answer.

  Nell whispered, “Do you have a gun?”

  He shook his head. He had nothing to defend them with. How careless. He’d come in here to save Nell without thinking. He raised his voice. “If you want me why didn’t you approach me elsewhere? Why now? You couldn’t know I’d be here.”

  “Of course I didn’t.” The voice was a sneer. “But Ms. Callahan heard the diesel and is smart enough to investigate. She’d find the truck and trailer—put two and two together, and I’d be busted.” He paused. “You showing up is a bonus, otherwise…” his voice threatened. “No telling what I’d do.”

  “Why?” Beau asked. If he stalled long enough Mark would bring help.

  The figure stepped out from the shadows and into what little light there was left. “Jimmy? What the hell?”

  Jimmy snickered. “Had you fooled, didn’t I?’

  Beau saw the gun immediately. Was the guy crazy? “Why are you doing this?”

  “Of course you’ve forgotten, but I’ll remind you,” Jimmy sneered. “I was a toddler when you killed my dad. But my mom told me all about you. She hated you, you know.”

  Beau gasped. “You have me mixed up with someone else. I never killed anyone in my life.”

  “Jack Dorsey? Remember him?”

  Yes. He remembered Jack very well. Actually, he’d never forgotten the man. “I didn’t kill your dad. He died in an accident.”

  “So you said. It was a lie. But my mom knew.”

  “The authorities agreed. I think your dad was depressed and wanted to die. He was in bad financial shape. I was going to make an offer to buy h
im out.”

  Behind him, he heard Nell scratching around. He didn’t dare look to see what she was doing.

  This was the first time Beau had spoken of Jack Dorsey in many years. “That was the reason for the fishing trip. Your dad used to love to fish. I thought a good catch might raise his spirits.”

  “You killed him, then bought his company for a song.”

  “That’s not what happened, Jimmy. Your dad took off his life jacket, dived into water that had to be a hundred-feet deep, and disappeared. He didn’t say a word. Just jumped.”

  “Because of you!” Jimmy yelled.

  Beau shook his head. “There were four of us on that boat, Jimmy. Any one of them will tell you the same story. I didn’t talk business with your dad that day. I was planning to approach him later with an offer for his company.”

  Jimmy came closer, his eyes glittering with hatred, his hands shaking. “Let Nell go. She has nothing to do with this.”

  “She knows. I can’t let her go.”

  “Knows what?”

  “He’s the leader of the rustlers, Beau. Those nights I saw him, he must have been checking on his men. A while ago, I heard their truck start up. I’ll bet they were going to rob you again.”

  “Mark will bring help,” Beau said with a confidence he didn’t feel. “You won’t get away.”

  “Mark may bring help, but by then you’ll both be dead, and I’ll be gone.”

  “They’ll find you.”

  Jimmy shrugged. “They’ll never think to look for me. I’m just the dumb help, remember?”

  They heard the truck move out. Jimmy took a two-way radio from his pocket and pressed the talk button. “Get out as fast as possible. You read?”

  The radio crackled. A voice answered. “We’re out of here.”

  Jimmy grinned. “See how easy that was?”

  “Jimmy, you have this all wrong. Let me tell you what really happened.”

  “You’ll lie. Just like you lied to the authorities over twenty years ago.”

  “I didn’t lie. Neither did the men who were with me. Why would we? I was set to buy the company.” Beau gave a sardonic laugh. “I paid more for it than I intended after your father’s death.”

  “You’re lying again.”

  “No. It’s the truth. I saw you, Jimmy. I looked into your future. So I doubled my price. Your dad’s death cost me a bundle. It sure as hell didn’t help me.” Not since he’d almost lost everything with that misguided decision.

  “Mom told me the truth.”

  “Was she bitter over your dad’s loss?” Nell asked. “She must have hated Beau if she blamed him for everything.”

  “Ask her,” Beau charged. “She’ll tell you. I bought the company from her.”

  “She’s dead,” Jimmy growled. “Dead! And there is no company any more.”

  “I’m sorry, Jimmy,” Nell said, her voice all soft and maternal as she moved toward him.

  “Stay where you are!”

  Beau pushed Nell behind him, turned his head, and whistled low. Taro heard and moved toward them.

  “Stop the damned horse,” Jimmy threatened.

  Taro stopped when he reached Beau. Jimmy moved around so he could keep Beau and Nell covered.

  “Jimmy,” Nell said. “You’re a young man. You don’t want to ruin your life like this. So far, nothing bad has happened. Why don’t you just leave?”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “That’s a sound idea, Jimmy. Tell me though, why get a job with the Callahans? Why not get one with me?” Beau’s left hand inched to his saddlebag. He had to hurry. Jimmy was out of control.

  “Thought that might look too suspicious. Besides, you didn’t need help. Callahan did.”

  His gun came up.

  Nellie stepped up and threw a rock. It landed at Jimmy’s feet. He laughed, and stepped forward when she threw another.

  “Stop,” Beau hissed. “You’re making him angrier.”

  Jimmy leveled the gun. “That does it, you old goats. You’re goners.”

  Beau saw the gun pointed at Nell and reacted. He yanked a flare from the saddlebag and fired as he stepped in front of Nell at the same time Jimmy’s gun exploded.

  Beau heard Nell scream. Then he heard nothing.

  ****

  By the time Donovan, followed by Mark, found them, Nellie was leaning over Beau. She’d taken off her blouse and was using it to staunch the blood. “He hasn’t moved,” she cried out when she saw them.

  “Are you all right?” Donovan asked, his voice low and worried.

  “I’m fine. Please. Help Beau. I can’t stop the bleeding.”

  “Mark,” Donovan said. “Get out of here. When you have reception call Dugan back and tell him to send an ambulance. And hurry.”

  Mark spurred Snowman out of the formation.

  Donovan checked to see Nellie doing what could be done for Beau and went to Jimmy. “What’s going on here, Jimmy?”

  “He shot Beau,” Nellie said, her voice so shaky she didn’t know if she could be understood. Beau can’t die. She pressed on his shoulder as hard as she could. She had to stop the bleeding.

  “He blinded me,” Jimmy moaned. “The bastard blinded me.”

  “He’s the rustler,” Nellie cried out.

  Donovan went to Stormy, took a length of rope off the saddle, and went back to Jimmy.

  “I’m blind. Get me to the hospital,” Jimmy cried. “Damn man shot me with a flare!”

  Without an ounce of sympathy, Donovan tied Jimmy up and went to help Nellie. “I’ll let Dugan take care of him,” he said as he knelt beside his mom. “It looks as if the bleeding has stopped. Don’t let up on the pressure.”

  “He can’t die, Don. He saved my life. If it weren’t for him…” She couldn’t stop the tears.

  “Here, let me,” he said and, taking her place, pressed hard against the wound.

  Nellie sank back on her haunches and let the tears fall. “Beau took a bullet for me,” she said again, grabbing Donovan’s arm. “He won’t die, will he?”

  “Not if we get him to the hospital.”

  “Where is the ambulance?” she cried. Her brain had stopped working. She couldn’t think of what her life would be without the man lying at her feet so pale and unmoving. “Is it too late? I didn’t take his pulse.”

  They heard the sirens at the same time. Donovan took his eyes off Beau long enough to look at her. “You need a shirt,” he said.

  “I’m fine. Who hasn’t seen a woman in a bathing suit before?”

  “You’re only half-covered.”

  She stood when Mark led Dugan and two deputies toward them.

  “Where’s the ambulance?” Nellie asked, so nervous she could barely talk.

  “Right behind us,” Dugan said, taking in the situation with one long look. Motioning to his deputies, they took Jimmy by the arms and led him out of the rock formation.

  “I’m blind! I need a doctor!” he cried out.

  “Get him to the hospital,” Dugan told his deputy. “Mark, wait at the entrance and lead the EMT’s back here.”

  Mark took off again.

  “Call your deputies, tell them to stop a diesel truck and trailer rig. It left here about fifteen minutes ago,” Nellie told them. “It’s the rustlers. Jimmy’s the leader.”

  “You heard her,” Dugan yelled to a deputy who ran out of the formation and to his cruiser.

  “What’s the story?” Dugan asked.

  “I’ll tell you everything when Beau is in a hospital and his eyes are open. Until then, you’ll have to wait.”

  Nellie leaned over Beau, kissed his forehead. “Wake up, Beau. You can’t die on me now.”

  Donovan and Dugan exchanged glances, but said nothing.

  Nellie saw the exchange but didn’t care. For once in her life, she didn’t care what her family thought, she only wanted Beau on his feet again, that smile on his face, his blue eyes shining with love.

  True to Dugan’s word, more sirens were h
eard in the distance. It wasn’t long until Mark was leading two EMT’s with a stretcher into the labyrinth.

  “I want him to wake up!” Nellie said. No one responded. The silence made her all the more agitated. She followed beside the stretcher holding Beau’s hand. When they reached the ambulance, she said, “I’m going with him.”

  “You need some clothes,” Donovan reminded her.

  “If my appearance bothers you, stop at the house and get me something you think appropriate,” she snapped. “Right now, I’m going with Beau, and we’re not stopping for anything.”

  The ambulance door slammed shut. As they bumped across the pasture, Beau moaned.

  Nellie had never heard such a wonderful sound. “Beau,” she said as an EMT, whose shirt read Shirley, took his vitals. “Are you awake?”

  He mumbled something she couldn’t understand.

  She leaned closer, whispered in his ear, “I love you, Beau. Don’t you dare die on me.”

  He mumbled something else she couldn’t understand.

  They were finally on the road, the ride smoother. “Can’t you go faster?” she asked Shirley.

  “We’re going fast enough,” she said. “Your friend is stable now.”

  “Will he be all right?”

  Shirley pocketed her stethoscope. “Looks like he has a bullet in his shoulder, and he’s lost quite a bit of blood. He should be fine once the bullet is removed.”

  The comforting words should have been a relief, but Nellie was frozen with fear. Would she lose this man so soon after realizing how much he meant to her?

  She’d been afraid when Jimmy stepped out of the shadows with a gun, but not like this. Now she was terrified.

  The driver asked, “Are we going to the local hospital or San Antonio?”

  “Local,” Shirley said. “He needs a doctor to evaluate him right away.”

  “Right-O.”

  It wasn’t long before they pulled under the portico at the local hospital.

  They were waiting for them, so Beau was wheeled immediately into a room. Nellie followed them in, but Shirley took her arm and pulled her out. “They need room to work.”