Wyoming Cowboy Ranger

by Nicole Helm

“Because heaven forbid I protect myself?”

  “Honey, you’re Bambi in the woods full of wolves. Stay at that mansion of yours where your brothers can keep an eye on you.”

  “My brothers. Right. Because only men can protect.”

  “They’ve got some military experience. That isn’t sexism. It’s reality.”

  “The reality is Laurel’s a police officer, and I know how to handle myself.”

  “Laurel’s pregnant,” Ty responded simply. “You really want her keeping your butt out of trouble?”

  “My butt is in trouble because of you, somehow. You leave without a peep, disappear into thin air, leaving me...” She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes. “You know what? Ancient history doesn’t matter. You got me into this mess, and I expect you to get me out. Not my brothers, not the police—you.”

  He looked down at her grimly, then forced himself to smile. “You sure you want that, babe?”

  She scowled at him, shaking her hair back like a woman ready to kick some butt. “And why wouldn’t I?”

  Hart stepped back in, eyeing them both with something like consideration. “We’ll take this back to the station, see what kind of analysis we can get. I’d caution you both to be careful, and call me or Deputy McCarthy if you think of anything that might help us figure out the identity of either the suspicious figure or the person writing the notes.”

  Ty nodded and Jen sent Hart a sweet smile.

  “Of course.”

  “Do you want me to escort you back to your store, Jen?” Hart asked.

  Jen sent Ty a killing look, then beamed at Hart. “Thank you, Thomas. I’d appreciate that.” She strode over to him, and they walked out of Ty’s apartment chatting in low tones.

  Deputy McCarthy tipped his hat at Ty. “Call if you think of anything, and we’ll be in touch.”

  Ty only grunted, paying more attention to Hart’s and Jen’s retreating backs than McCarthy’s words.

  If she had Hart wrapped around her finger, she’d be fine. Safe. Watched after by more than just her cop sister who was busy growing a human being inside her. He should stop worrying. Jen was a Delaney and would be protected at all costs, regardless of what Ty did.

  But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself of that, the worry didn’t go away.

  * * *

  HE LIKED WATCHING the police lights flash red and blue. He liked knowing he’d caused a few scenes, and there was a hot lick of thrill at the idea everyone was thinking about him, trying to figure out who he was and what he wanted.

  He slunk through the shadows, evading the stupid, useless cops with ease. Watching, always watching.

  He’d had a moment of rage when Jen had hurried toward Ty’s place with the cop. She’d looked worried.

  The cop had touched her.

  Now they were walking back out of Ty’s. They smiled at each other. The other cop exited shortly thereafter, but the first cop stayed by Jen’s side as they walked back to her store.

  He followed, melting into the shadows, watching. Jen touched the cop’s arm, and he could all but read her lips.

  Thank you.

  No. This wouldn’t do. Jen was his now. His quarry and his to do with whatever he wanted. Part revenge, yes. Hurt Ty. His first objective was always to hurt Ty.

  But Jen was pretty and sweet. She had a nice smile. He didn’t want her just to hurt Ty anymore, he wanted her. She would be his prize when he tipped the scales back. When he had revenge, he’d have Jen, too.

  This cop wouldn’t do. Not at all.

  Chapter Five

  Jen was exhausted when her alarm went off the next morning. Exhausted and then irritated when she knew, without even getting up, that someone was in her apartment.

  She might have been scared if she didn’t know her family so well, or if she didn’t smell what she assumed was Laurel’s “famous” omelet—i.e., the only thing she ever bothered to cook.

  Jen grabbed her fluffy pink robe that so often brought her comfort and slipped it on as she got out of bed. Summer was beginning to fade, and mornings were colder every day.

  Jen moved from her bedroom to the small cramped space of living room and kitchen. “This better be a bad dream,” she said, glaring at her sister.

  Laurel raised an eyebrow at her as she flipped the omelet in the skillet. “You’re telling me.”

  “Thomas shouldn’t have called you.” She’d known he would, but he shouldn’t have. It was at least a small part of the reason the few dates she’d been on with him hadn’t worked out. He all but idolized her sister as a police officer, and whether it was petty or not, Jen had never been completely comfortable with it.

  “Hart knew better than to keep it from me. I’d have heard about it when I got into the station later, if not before.” Laurel turned her attention back to the eggs, and her tone was purposefully mild. “I thought it didn’t work out between you two.”

  Laurel was only ten months older than her, and they’d grown up not just as sisters, but also as friends. Still, ever since high school there’d been this Ty-sized distance between them. Because Jen hadn’t told anyone about Ty, even her sister. Jen had always known Laurel felt it, and yet she’d never been able to cross that distance. She’d been too embarrassed.

  Jen moved into the kitchen, hating the way all this ancient history swirled around her no matter what she did. “It didn’t work out with Thomas.”

  “Then why do you still call him Thomas?”

  “Because I wanted it to.” Jen sank into her kitchen chair, giving up on sending her sister home. She raked her hands through her hair. “Can’t you tell your husband to send his cousin back to wherever he came from and stop ruining my life?”

  “So, it didn’t work out with Hart because of Ty?”

  “No, that isn’t what I’m saying.” Frowning at Laurel’s back, Jen worked through that. “What would Ty have to do with me dating Thomas?”

  Laurel shrugged. “I always suspected... Well, something.” Laurel moved the omelet onto a plate before turning to face Jen and sliding it in front of her. “Why don’t you tell me the truth?”

  Jen should. Ty was old news, and it didn’t matter now. He’d left. She’d gotten over it. Why not tell her sister? What she’d done in her teens shouldn’t be embarrassing in her late twenties. “It’s ancient history.” History she hated to rehash so much she just couldn’t bring herself to.

  “Is it?”

  “Yes.” Jen pushed the plate back at Laurel. “Eat some of this, preggo.”

  Laurel grimaced and placed a hand to her stomach. “No. Eggs are an emphatic no right now.”

  Touched Laurel had made them for her even though she was feeling off about them, Jen gave in. All these twisting emotions were silly. “Ty and I had a secret thing back in high school. But that was forever ago.” She wanted to say it had hardly mattered, but she knew she’d never make that lie sound like the truth.

  “It seems like there’s still—”

  “No.” Maybe things were still complicated, and maybe the real reason things hadn’t worked out with Thomas was that because no matter how good-looking or funny or kind he was, he’d never made her feel the way Ty had—still did. But that didn’t mean...

  She didn’t know what anything meant anymore.

  “Do they know who wrote Ty those letters?” Because she could tell herself she didn’t care, and that it was his problem, but the fact Ty Carson had called the police last night made her worry for him. It was so out of character he must be beyond concerned.

  “No, and that’s why I’m here. Jen, the last letter is in blood, and every letter points at someone who doesn’t want to hurt Ty, but hurt the people he loves.”

  Though a cold chill had spread through her at the idea of a note written in blood, Jen attempted to keep her demeanor calm and unmoved. “He doesn’t love me.�
�

  “Are you so sure about that?”

  “Positive. He left. He made sure it was a clean break, and we’re both different people now. Whatever feelings are between us are those weird old ones born out of nostalgia, not love. Of that I’m sure.” She wanted to be sure.

  “Okay, so maybe he doesn’t still love you. But maybe whoever is threatening Ty thinks he does. From what Hart told me, Ty thinks it’s someone from his army days, which points to someone who knew him when he still had a closer connection to you. It doesn’t have to make sense to us, if we’re dealing with someone who’s deranged. And this stranger sniffing around your store is too much of a coincidence. You need to be careful until the police clear everything up.”

  Jen frowned. “Ty told me to stay at the ranch. I don’t want to.”

  “As much as I’d usually support a contrary refusal to do anything a Carson ordered—”

  Jen jumped to her feet and began to pace. “I’m not being contrary. I’m trying to be sane. If this man is really after Ty, and for some reason I’m his target, couldn’t someone just tell him I don’t mean anything to Ty? Wouldn’t it be obvious?”

  “So he can turn his attention to someone else? Grady? Vanessa? Noah and Addie and Seth?”

  Jen closed her eyes against the wave of fear. “Laurel.”

  “I know it isn’t fair, but the fact of the matter is, what we have to do is find out who this individual is and let the law handle them. Not try to shift his focus, much as I’d love it not to be on you.”

  Overwhelmed and feeling just a pinch sorry for herself, Jen sank back into the chair. “Why do bad things keep happening here?”

  Laurel placed her hand over her slightly rounding stomach. “Maybe bad things need to happen to exorcise old feud demons. Maybe it’s just bad luck of the draw, but at the end of every one of these ‘bad things,’ something really good has come out of it.”

  “I hope that’s pregnancy brain talking because when I think of how badly you all have been hurt over the course of the past year—how many hospital visits I’ve made, how scared I’ve been—it isn’t worth it.”

  Laurel reached over and squeezed her arm, still rubbing her stomach with her other hand. “It’s been worth it to me. And we’re all still here. You will be, too, but I want you to be careful, Jen. I want you to take some precautions. Whoever is behind this has left a lot of clues, has been careless, really. I’m hopeful it’s all nipped in the bud before anything bad happens, but that means you watching your step and letting some people protect you until this person is caught.”

  Jen had worked very hard to never feel inferior to her siblings. They’d all always known exactly what they wanted to be, and had sacrificed to become it. Cam and his exemplary military service, and Laurel and her dedication to the law. Dylan and what they’d all thought was his education, but had turned out to be a secret military service of his own.

  Jen had only ever wanted to run the store, and then once upon a time she’d wanted to risk everything for Ty Carson.

  But it had never come to fruition and her life had been simple and exactly how she liked it. For ten years she’d had exactly what she’d wanted.

  Except Ty.

  “Why can’t I protect myself every now and then?” Jen asked, not daring to meet her sister’s gaze. “Why am I always the one who needs to be sheltered?”

  “Because the people who love you are all licensed and trained to carry weapons. Because if there’s anything the past year should teach us it’s that working together and protecting each other is far better than trying to do it all alone. We’re not asking you to hide in a corner while we fight your battles for you, Jen. We’re asking you to let your family work with you to keep you safe during a dangerous time.”

  “I hate staying at the ranch.”

  “Join the club. Look, you can come stay with Grady and me, but...”

  Jen wrinkled her nose. “He’s asking Ty to come stay with you, isn’t he?”

  Laurel shrugged. “If it’s all old news...”

  “I’ll stay at the ranch, but I’m still running my store. All my normal hours.”

  “Of course you are. We’ll just want someone here with you while you do.”

  “Laurel.”

  Laurel pushed to her feet. “We’ll come up with a schedule. You don’t need to worry about that. Just be vigilant and don’t go anywhere alone. That’s all.”

  “That’s all,” Jen grumbled. “I enjoy being alone, Laurel.”

  “Well, for a little while you’ll enjoy being safe instead.” Laurel pulled Jen into a rare hug since she was not the touchy-feely type. “I have to get ready for work. Cam and Hilly are on Jen duty today. They’ll just hang around your store being adorably in love. Give them a hard time about when they’re going to get married. You’ll have fun.”

  Jen grunted. “So what you meant by ‘we’ll figure out a schedule’ is you already have.”

  Laurel ignored that statement and pointed to the eggs. “Eat that.” She walked to the front door, all policewoman certainty.

  “I wish I could be more like you,” Jen muttered, not meaning for Laurel to catch it.

  But she clearly did. She stopped in the doorway and turned to face Jen, her forehead lined with concern. “No you don’t,” she said forcefully. “You’re exactly who you should be.” Then she flashed a grin. “Besides, if you were more like me, you’d be married to a Carson, and no one wants that.”

  She left on a laugh, and Jen joined in, feeling somehow a little better for it.

  * * *

  “OVER MY DEAD BODY.”

  Grady rolled his eyes as he wiped down the scarred bar of Rightful Claim. “You’re putting my bar in danger, cousin.”

  Ty didn’t bother to roll his eyes right back. It was such bull he couldn’t even pretend to get worked up about it. “I can handle myself, Grady. Lest you forget, I was an army ranger.” Methodically, he kept pulling chairs off the tables and placing them on the floor.

  “Lest you forget, two Carsons against a nut job are better than one.”

  “You’ve got a pregnant wife. Noah’s got a wife and a kid at the ranch. I don’t buy you’re worried about your bar more than you’re worried about that. Living here is the best place for me. Besides, it’s all nothing.”

  Grady shook his head, clearly taking his irritation out on the bar. “My wife’s a cop and she—”

  “Yeah, funny, that.”

  Grady didn’t rise to that bait. “Laurel’s worried, which means I’m worried. You shouldn’t be sleeping in that apartment alone.”

  Ty flashed a grin. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Yeah, I’ll believe that once you’re able to look away from Jen Delaney long enough to hook up with someone.”

  “Jen Delaney.” Ty made a dismissive noise, though his shoulders tensed against his will. “Sure.”

  Grady clapped him on the back. “Lie to yourself all you want, Ty, but you aren’t fooling anyone. Probably including Jen. You’re coming home with me tonight, and that’s that.”

  “You’re not my type.”

  Grady just flashed him a grin. “Your type’s just changed, pal. Jen’s going to stay at the Delaney Ranch, against her will, and you’re going to be under Carson and cop surveillance against yours. Laurel thinks they’ll catch this guy in a few days. You can survive a few days in the presence of marital bliss.”

  Ty knew Grady’s humorous tone wasn’t to be believed. His moves were jerky, and though he wore that easy grin, there was an edge to his gaze Ty knew better than to challenge.

  At least until he found the right challenge.

  Because he wasn’t about to put Grady and Laurel in danger. Or Noah and Addie and Seth for that matter. It was good Jen would be staying out at the Delaney Ranch. Cam lived in the cabin on the property, and Dylan was currently residing in the h
ouse. Much as Ty didn’t trust a Delaney as far as he could throw one, both men had been in the military and would protect their own.

  Ty couldn’t help thinking he’d do a better job of it, and all without bringing any innocent bystanders in. Not that Delaneys were ever really innocent, were they?

  Jen is.

  Hell. He worked with Grady in silence the rest of their opening routine. He manned the bar while Grady waited tables. The afternoon crowd was sparse, but it slowly got busier and busier as evening inched closer. Even a Monday night could have business booming, especially on a pretty day like today.

  Autumn was threatening, and in Wyoming people knew to enjoy the last dregs of summer while they could.

  Ty scanned the crowd, that old familiar bad gut feeling whispering over his skin. He recognized most of the patrons, but because of the historical atmosphere of the bar they often got strangers in from surrounding towns. It was unusual for him to know everyone.

  But every stranger’s face made him wonder, and every stranger’s casual smile made him fear. He thought of all the real danger he’d faced as an army ranger and had never been jittery. Concerned on occasion, but never nervous. Determination and right and the mission before him had always given him a center of calm, of certainty.

  But Jen had never been unwittingly tied to all those missions, and as much as he detested himself for being that weak, he knew it was the reason. Fear for her.

  He had a terrible feeling whoever was doing this knew that, too.

  His gaze landed on a stranger in a dark corner. All he could make out was a cowboy hat, pulled low.

  Like the man on Jen’s tape.

  Ty forced himself to keep his gaze moving, keep his moves casual. He took the order of a usual customer, pulled the lever on the beer and glanced again at the man in the corner.

  A flash of eye contact, and while he still felt no recognition to this man, he saw the hate in that gaze, and more damning, the flash of white-blond hair as Jen had described.

  Fighting to keep his cool, and think clearly, he turned to give the beer to the person at the bar. When he quickly turned back to the stranger in the corner—he was gone, and the saloon doors were swinging.