Ian informed the deputy driving the boat, who altered their course while Tom informed the other law enforcement officers searching. Using his binoculars again, Ian scoured the shoreline. As they neared the area where Owens might be, through the trees Ian spied a red car. He must have just arrived.
Two people ran out of the cabin toward the left side—not to the car. Shadows obscured his view of them.
Ian pointed in the direction of the cabin. “I think that’s Owens and another person, possibly Caitlyn, but it could be someone else.”
While Ian kept his attention on the pair, the pilot swung the boat and headed for the shoreline as fast as he could in the growing dark. Through the lenses, Ian followed the couple plunging into the forest.
When the boat neared the shore, Ian and Tom readied themselves with their weapons and infrared goggles for later when it would be too dark to see well. They jumped into a foot of water and hurried to dry ground.
“Inform the rest of the searchers. We need backup,” Tom said to the deputy manning the boat.
“Check inside.” Ian ran toward the left side of the cabin. He didn’t want to lose the two people. One had to be Owens since the red sports car with the correct license plate number was parked in front.
He slowed his pace when he caught sight of the open window. He inspected the ground. It appeared someone might have had a scuffle here or—he looked up—fell out of the window.
Tom came around the corner. “No one is inside, but someone was tied up. There’s blood on the bindings. I also found blood on a mattress. This might be the place where they killed Kelli and Jane.”
Blood. He prayed Caitlyn was still alive and might have escaped. Ian gestured toward where he saw the couple go into the woods. “They went that way.”
Did Caitlyn climb out of the window? Was the second person with Owens Caitlyn or someone else? As the forest enveloped Ian in dark shadows, he prayed Caitlyn was alive when he found the pair. Soon they would have to put on the infrared goggles, which he hoped would give him and Tom an advantage.
The sound of a gunshot reverberated through the woods. Ian sped in the direction of the noise, his gaze sweeping the terrain.
* * *
When a bullet struck a tree trunk nearby, Caitlyn zigzagged away from it and dived into the brush, hoping the wall of greenery and the dimness would give her some cover to get away. She crawled deeper into the bushes and thick ground cover. While the approach of night could help her, it could also hinder her. She had no idea where she was going.
The pounding of footsteps grew closer. She kept moving away, her heart pounding even louder and faster.
She ran into an impregnable barrier of green. Darkness completely enveloped her. Would it protect her from her pursuers? She could hear the snap of twigs and their heavy breathing as Rob and Missy drew nearer.
Trapped. Nowhere to go. Did Ian know what was going on?
FOURTEEN
With Tom behind him, Ian raced through the woods as fast as he could without making a sound, searching for any sign of someone’s presence. As it grew murkier, he put on his goggles while moving forward. No time to waste. When he glimpsed two heat signatures about thirty yards ahead, both stationary, he slowed.
The man lifted a gun and shot several rounds into the thick brush in front of him. When the woman did the same, Ian was sure it wasn’t Caitlyn. He signaled for the sheriff to move to the right while he went left. If they could sneak up on the pair, they could catch them unawares.
His attention glued to the couple, he crept closer until he was only a few yards away and could hear them whispering but not what they were saying. From behind and with the infrared aid, he couldn’t tell who the woman was, although he was sure it wasn’t Caitlyn. His goal was to subdue the two of them, then search for her. He wouldn’t rest until he found her.
As Ian progressed toward the couple, Tom did too. Several feet away, with the pair’s focus on the thicket in front of them, Ian paused and lifted his weapon at Owens, while Tom covered the female.
Ian stuffed down the rage at what these two had done in Longhorn. He had to remain calm and in control. “Drop your guns, put your hands in the air and turn around slowly. Don’t give me a reason to shoot you.”
Owens tossed his revolver onto the ground a few feet away and swung around, his hands clenched at his sides.
“Raise your arms, Owens. And, lady, I suggest you do the same. The sheriff has his gun trained on you.”
A long moment passed.
“Peggy, do as he says. It’s over.” Owens lifted his arms into the air.
“Step away from her,” Ian said, every sense on high alert.
Owens did as he was told, putting several feet between him and the woman. With her back still to Ian and Tom, she threw her weapon into the brush, her scream of frustration and anger nerve-jangling.
Ian nodded toward the sheriff. They moved in. Looking for any sign Owens would challenge him, Ian grabbed his handcuffs with one hand while holding his gun on the suspect with the other. “Get down on the ground.”
Owens complied, and Ian hurried to cuff the killer so if he needed to help Tom with the woman, he could.
“Peggy, get down and put your hands behind your back,” Tom said in his deep, commanding voice.
Another long moment crawled by.
Sounds of others approaching echoed through the woods. The beams from flashlights danced about the trees, giving Ian enough illumination to take his goggles off.
The woman looked in the direction the backup was coming from and crumbled to the ground as though finally realizing she had been caught. Tom secured her, while Ian hauled Owens to his feet.
As the area brightened further with the approach of three deputies, Ian passed Owens to an officer, then walked to the edge of the brush and shone his flashlight into the dark foliage. “Caitlyn, it’s Ian. We’ve caught Owens. You’re safe! Let me know where you are, and I’ll come get you.” He glanced over his shoulder and saw the woman’s face in good light for the first time. Surprise snatched his voice for a few seconds. “And Missy has been caught.” His heartbeat thumped against his chest.
“I’m over here.”
Ian swung his flashlight in the direction of Caitlyn’s voice. She stood in the middle of the thick vegetation, blood dripping down her arm.
* * *
The throbbing pain where a bullet had ripped straight through the fleshy part of Caitlyn’s left arm pulled her from a restless sleep. Streaks of sunlight streamed through the slits in the curtains into the bedroom at Emma’s. The trauma of the previous night was over. She should be relieved and happy the killers were caught, but all she felt was sadness for all who had been touched by Lex and Peggy, the siblings of Marcus Browning.
Caitlyn stared at the ceiling. Such hatred and anger in the pair had driven them to exact revenge on her and Jane. Their actions had led to more destruction and pain. But in the end, they were caught, and they would spend the rest of their lives in jail—all because they wanted to get back at the two women. God had it right. The only way to deal with pain and anger at someone was to forgive the person. It sounded easy, but it was hard to do without the Lord’s help. She should know. She’d been carrying anger at Byron around for seventeen years. Her feelings generated by that intense rage had guided and directed her life for too long. She’d missed an opportunity to be with Ian years ago.
The door opened slowly. Granny popped her head in and looked toward the bed. “You’re awake. I just needed to check on you and make sure you’re all right.”
Sitting up, she smiled at her grandmother. “I’ll be fine. Now, where is everyone?”
“Emma is in the kitchen making another pot of coffee. Sean and Alice went back to the ranch, and Ian is at the sheriff’s office, most likely dotting all his i’s and crossing all his t’s. He wants nothing to go wrong with hi
s case against the killers. He called for the tenth time to ask how you were doing. He’ll be here as soon as he can.”
Caitlyn swung her legs off the bed. “I’m getting up. The coffee smells great. I’ll be in the kitchen soon.”
Granny stared at the sling holding her left arm. “Do you need any help getting dressed?”
“I’ll manage. Since I’ll be this way for a while, I need to figure out how to do it on my own.”
“It’s okay to ask for help. That’s why I’m here.”
“I know, Granny.”
After her grandmother shut the door behind her, Caitlyn stood slowly, still weak from the loss of blood last night. At least she hadn’t had to stay at the medical center after they’d patched up her arm and checked to make sure her shoulder was okay. She would be sore from her dive out the cabin window, but she would be able to use her right arm.
As she wrestled with a pair of sweatpants and a short-sleeved button-up shirt, she remembered the last time she’d seen Ian. He’d ridden in the ambulance with her, holding her hand the whole way, saying little but absorbing her presence. As a deputy waited for him at the medical center, he’d kissed her lips right before she was wheeled into the ER.
She had so much to talk to him about.
In the kitchen, Granny and Emma sat at the table, and there was a full cup of coffee before an empty seat. As Caitlyn took a long sip, the doorbell rang. Tensing, she straightened.
“You don’t need to worry. The killers are locked up.” Emma hurried out of the kitchen and returned a minute later holding a vase of roses. “You got flowers, Caitlyn.”
From Ian? She plucked the note from the bouquet and slid the card out to read. “‘Thank you for helping me. From a listener of Share with Caitlyn.’” She looked from Emma to Granny. “That’s sweet.” But she wasn’t sure what she should do going forward—not after what had happened. “I don’t know if I’m going to continue counseling and doing my show.”
Granny harrumphed. “You can’t let them win.”
“But Jane, Kelli and Greg are dead because I couldn’t help Marcus.”
“Did you do your best?” Granny’s lips thinned into a hard line.
“I thought so.”
“Then you did what you could. Some people ask for help but don’t really want it. If a doctor stopped practicing when he lost a patient, we wouldn’t have many capable doctors to help us when we need it.”
Emma set the roses on the table. “Come with me. I think you need to see something.”
Caitlyn followed Emma into the dining room. Her jaw dropped at the sight on the table that could seat eight. It was covered from one end to the other with gifts from flowers to chocolate.
Emma took her hand. “And that’s not all. Come into the living room.” She swept her arm toward the presents sitting in every available space. “The den filled up first. They started coming early this morning. Your radio listeners believe in you, but some of these gifts are from people in town also.”
When the doorbell rang again, Caitlyn said, “I’ll go.”
Granny walked with her to answer it and ended up taking a large chocolate-and-fruit arrangement made to look like flowers, since Caitlyn’s arm was in the sling. “I’ll take this. Go see the den, then come back and tell me you haven’t helped anyone. That note you read in the kitchen is like all of the messages you’ve received.”
“I’m going to fix you lunch. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.” Emma headed back into the kitchen.
Caitlyn made her way to the den. Granny followed but stayed at the threshold. As Caitlyn moved from one gift to the next and read the notes attached, emotions soon knotted in her throat. Words escaped her at the outpouring of support and best wishes for a quick recovery. A lot from people she didn’t know.
“I didn’t realize.” Caitlyn sank onto the couch and stared at the vibrant array of flowers and colorful gifts, at all the different ways chocolate could be used. “How did they know I love flowers and chocolate?”
“I recalled you mentioning it on-air a couple of times when replying to a question. Your listeners remember.” Granny glanced to the side. “I’m going to help Emma with lunch.”
Her grandmother scurried away before Caitlyn could ask her to stay. She didn’t know if she wanted to be alone with the memories of the past week’s events. Then Ian appeared in the doorway with a smile on his face.
He closed the distance between them and sat next to her, drawing her close to him. “I’ve missed you so much, but I wanted to make sure Lex and Peggy, aka Rob and Missy, aren’t going anywhere but to jail. With the evidence we have, they will be in prison for life. The case is solid.” He turned slightly toward her and cupped her face with one hand. “Now I can devote my time to you. We have seventeen years to make up for. Just so you know my intentions right up front, I love you, and someday I hope we’ll marry. My bachelor days are behind me.”
Tears blurred her vision. She covered his cradling hand with her own, turned his over and kissed his palm. “I love you. I’m not going to let anyone come between us again.”
Ian leaned forward and took her mouth in a kiss that he poured all his love into, and Caitlyn matched him. In twenty-four hours, her life had completely changed.
When they finally parted their lips, he rested his forehead against hers. “I’m glad I don’t have an allergy to flowers. Where did all these come from?”
She laughed. “From all over the country! A lot of them from listeners to my show. They want me back as soon as possible. I’d been considering a change in career, but I’ve been convinced not to.”
“Good because I have a question for you. How long should a couple wait to marry after declaring their love to each other?”
She tilted her head to the side and tapped her forefinger against her chin. “Well, let me see. That’ll depend on the state marriage laws.”
“In Texas, it’s three days.”
“Then, my answer is three days,” Caitlyn said, then drew his head toward hers and kissed him long and hard.
A year later
Ian pulled up in front of his house at the Pierce ranch, a smaller version of the one Sean lived in. After parking, he ran around and opened the rear passenger door and lifted out his two-day-old son from his baby seat.
“Michael, this is your home.” He held his son up to see the redbrick, sprawling ranch-style house for a few seconds, then he cradled him in the crook of his arm while opening the door for Caitlyn. Using his free hand, he helped her from the SUV.
“I’m glad to be home. I didn’t get any rest in the hospital. It’ll be nice having Granny at our house for a while helping with our son.”
Ian gave her a quick kiss on the mouth, then passed Michael to her. “Honey,” he put his hand on the front doorknob and turned it, allowing her to go in first, “this might not be the time to get rest.”
Across the foyer hung a banner welcoming Michael and Caitlyn home, and family and friends stood applauding beneath it. She looked back at Ian.
He shrugged. “Sean and Alice planned it. Oh, and I think Nana and Sally helped with the party.”
Caitlyn took several more steps into the house and immediately was surrounded by the guests, all wanting a peek at Michael.
“May I hold him?” Melanie asked.
Caitlyn gave Michael to her radio-show producer, who had been dating Sean for the past several months.Ian’s brother was finally getting his life together, and Melanie would be perfect for Sean. Ian hoped something good would come from them dating.
As the guests moved into the living room, Ian slipped his arm around his wife and drew her next to him. “I never thought I would be a dad, but I’m loving every minute.”
Caitlyn chuckled. “Wait until you have to get up in the middle of the night to take care of him.”
“Who, me?”
“Sur
e. We’re in this together. Equal partners.”
Ian paused, pulled her close and kissed her with all the love he felt for her.
* * * * *
If you loved this exciting romantic suspense,
pick up the other books in
Margaret Daley’s LONE STAR JUSTICE miniseries
HIGH RISK REUNION
LONE STAR CHRISTMAS RESCUE
And be sure to check out
Margaret’s previous miniseries
ALASKAN SEARCH AND RESCUE
THE YULETIDE RESCUE
TO SAVE HER CHILD
THE PROTECTOR’S MISSION
STANDOFF AT CHRISTMAS
Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!
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Keep reading for an excerpt from MISSION TO PROTECT by Terri Reed.
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Dear Reader,
Texas Ranger Showdown is my third book in my Lone Star Justice series about Texas Rangers, the state police in Texas. I love writing about strong heroes and heroines. In this story, I wanted my heroine to be the target of a killer who made it personal and taunted her. As a therapist, Caitlyn had faced a traumatic situation that had changed her life. She used her pain to help others solve their problems. She had to dig deep to deal with the killer who wanted to destroy Caitlyn’s life.
I love hearing from readers. You can contact me at [email protected] or at PO Box 2074 Tulsa, OK 74101. You can also learn more about my books at www.margaretdaley.com. I have a monthly newsletter that you can sign up for on my website.
Best wishes,
Margaret Daley
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.
You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.
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