Rawhide Ranger

by Rita Herron

  He finally spotted the cabin through the thicket of mesquites and oaks, and saw Tolbert’s car parked at an angle in the overgrown weed-choked yard. A quick visual of the perimeter, but he saw no one outside.

  Mentally he debated his tactics. Sneak up on the house and look inside, or call out to Tolbert and lure him outdoors in the open away from Jessie?

  He didn’t have time to second-guess himself. He inched through the woods toward the house, but the front door opened, and Tolbert appeared in the doorway.

  The deputy stood ramrod straight, his brows furrowed as he searched the yard and riverbank. Cabe ducked behind a tree, holding his gun at the ready, then peered around the massive tree trunk. His lungs constricted as Tolbert dragged a burlap bag from the inside and hauled it across the yard toward the river a few feet away.

  God, no…He was too late.

  Tolbert had already killed Jessie.

  A soul-deep ache gripped his chest in a vise. No…he couldn’t be too late. Jessie had to be alive.

  He needed her. Wanted her.

  Loved her.

  Grief clogged his throat, threatening to spill over. But Tolbert shoved the bag into the river, jerking him back to reality.

  Dammit, he couldn’t let Tolbert escape. Wielding his gun, he ran through the woods until he reached the clearing near the river.

  “Stop!” he shouted. “Don’t move, Tolbert.”

  Tolbert swung around and fired his weapon. Cabe felt the bullet skim his left arm, and cursed, then jumped behind an oak to dodge the next shot.

  “Dammit, Tolbert, you aren’t going to get away with this,” he growled. “The sheriff knows you killed Marcie. Even your father knows the truth.”

  “You stupid Indian,” Shane yelled. “I’ll kill you and then I’ll leave this godforsaken town, and no one will ever find me.”

  “The Rangers will track you down,” Cabe shouted as he wove through the trees to close the distance between them.

  Adrenaline pumped his blood, and he launched forward and fired at Tolbert.

  Tolbert cursed and fired again, but Cabe released another round, this time hitting Tolbert in the shoulder and the knee. Tolbert went down in pain and dropped the gun as he grabbed his chest.

  Cabe threw himself at Tolbert, knocking him backward. But Tolbert was strong and fought back, and managed to land a blow to Cabe’s belly.

  The punch only riled his anger, and his need to make Tolbert suffer, and Cabe hit Tolbert dead-on in his injured shoulder. Tolbert shouted an obscenity, and Cabe slammed his foot into the man’s bleeding kneecap. Tolbert buckled with a moan, and Cabe pinned him with his body.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jessie’s body begin to float, then sink into the raging river, slamming against the jagged rocks with the force of the current.

  Dammit, he had to hurry.

  Every second that passed meant Jessie was sinking deeper into the icy water. If she was alive, she wouldn’t be for long.

  He grabbed his gun from the dirt, and pointed it in Tolbert’s face. “Move again and I’ll blow your damn head off.”

  Shane stilled, his eyes feral and dawning with the recognition that he had been caught.

  Cabe straddled him, the gun still firmly jammed into the bastard’s face as he yanked his handcuffs from his back pocket. Then he forced Tolbert to roll over facedown, and clicked the handcuffs around his wrists. Determined to make sure Tolbert didn’t escape, he dragged him over to the porch edge, found some rope on the porch and tied his arms and feet to the wood posts.

  “You son of a bitch,” Tolbert spat. “You can’t send me to jail.”

  “You’re not just going to jail,” Cabe growled. “You’re going to be sitting on death row.”

  “It’s too late to save your girlfriend,” Tolbert muttered.

  Hating the man with every fiber of his being, Cabe rolled his hands into a fist and punched Shane in the face again, this time so hard the sound of bones crunching rent the air.

  Blood oozed from his shoulder wound and knee, and Shane’s eyes turned buggy as he faded into unconsciousness. The urge to finish him off clawed at Cabe.

  But fear for Jessie rattled him into action.

  Sweat poured down his neck as he sprinted toward the riverbank. He scanned the surface, but he didn’t see her.

  Stowing his weapon beneath a jagged rock at the river’s edge, he threw off his jacket and boots, then scanned the river again. He finally spotted the top of the burlap bag floating downstream, but most of her body was submerged.

  Praying Shane had lied, that Jessie wasn’t dead, he dove into the water. The current swept him toward some jutting rocks, but he put his head down and swam with all his might, heading downstream toward Jessie. One stroke, two, a rock jabbed his thigh, others battered his body as the current raged on.

  Ignoring the pain, he increased his speed, channeling all his energy into reaching Jessie. Precious seconds passed, but he forced himself to believe that she was still alive.

  Driving himself harder, he finally reached her. Diving beneath the water, he pushed her body above the surface. Panting for air, he secured her under his arm and swam toward the riverbank.

  Rocks pounded them, and the current was relentless, but a minute later he managed to reach the riverbank. He rolled her to the edge, then climbed out and hauled her body to a clearing. His chest ached for air, his body thrumming from exertion as he ripped open the top of the bag and tore it down the center.

  Jessie lay inside, bound and gagged, her eyes closed.

  God, no…

  She wasn’t breathing.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cabe’s life flashed before his eyes as he stared at Jessie’s lifeless body.

  You have your job, Cabe.

  That was all that had ever mattered before. But suddenly that job meant nothing without Jessie to share his life with.

  If only he hadn’t left her alone. If he’d made her go with him…

  No, he couldn’t give up now.

  He punched in Hardin’s number, at the same time retrieving a knife from his pocket and slicing Jessie’s bindings. Then he jerked the gag from her mouth, hoping that would allow her oxygen. “I’m almost there,” Cabe said. “I’ve got Tolbert, but Jessie’s in trouble,” he shouted to Hardin. “Get an ambulance up to Tolbert’s place ASAP.”

  He didn’t wait on a response. He tilted Jessie’s head back, checked her air passageway, then leaned over and began CPR. Sweat trickled down his neck as he blew air into her lungs and pumped her heart.

  Agonizing seconds crawled by as he counted compressions. “Come on, Jessie, you can’t die on me. I love you, dammit.”

  One, two, three, another breath, over and over and over. “Jessie, sweetheart, I need you. Come back to me.”

  The breeze picked up, rattling the trees and tossing leaves across the ground. The sound of the river slapping the embankment echoed around him, a reminder that Jessie had been lost to it moments before.

  He lowered his head, blew another breath into her mouth, then stroked her cheek. But she lay limp, her body cold, stiff, unmoving, and terror clogged his throat. Had he fallen for Jessie only to lose her?

  JESSIE FELT COLD. She was drowning. Her head ached, her body hurt, she couldn’t move. And it was dark…so dark.

  She hated the darkness.

  But slowly a light invaded that darkness. The sound of a gruff voice echoed in the distance. Strong hands were beating on her chest, and a warm mouth closed over hers, blowing air into her lungs. Air she needed desperately to claw her way from the endless sea of darkness.

  She had to fight her way back. Cabe was calling her. And her father needed her…

  A sharp burning sensation climbed from her stomach to her throat, and her belly clenched and spasmed.

  He pounded her chest again, and suddenly she felt the surge of water coming back up. Choking and coughing, she slowly opened her eyes, and Cabe angled her head sideways while she purged the water from her lungs.r />
  She lifted her hand and clutched at him, and he patted her back. “That’s good, Jessie, that’s good, baby. Let it out.”

  She spat out the water, dragging in a breath, trembling and shivering.

  Cabe slid his arms around her, then pulled her to him, rocking her back and forth. The ambulance wailed in the distance, and he tried to warm her until the medics arrived. Then the ambulance screeched up, the medics raced toward them with a stretcher.

  She hated hospitals.

  She wanted Cabe to go with her. But his hand slipped away from her as the medics carried her to the ambulance.

  TWO DAYS LATER, Cabe, Wyatt, Livvy and Reed met to tie up the details of the case.

  Cabe requested a meeting of the townspeople, and once again, the room was packed, the room divided with the Caucasian and Native American factions.

  Mayor Sadler called the meeting to order, and demanded that the two groups be quiet, then turned the meeting over to Cabe.

  “Deputy Tolbert has been arrested for multiple counts of murder,” Cabe said. “He confessed to killing Marcie, Daniel Taabe and Billy Whitley and will be going to prison for the rest of his life. Charla is being moved to a psychiatric unit and will spend the rest of her life locked up as well.”

  “What about our land?” Ellie Penateka asked.

  “With Charla’s testimony regarding the illegal land deal, the land will be returned to the Native American faction.”

  Trace Becker remained quiet, almost contrite as he sat beside Collier.

  “Will charges be filed against Jonah?” Ellie pressed.

  “No. Evidence suggests that Jonah did not know about the impropriety. Also, on his behalf, Jessie made arrangements to allow the Native American factions access to much-needed water on the Becker land.”

  Rumbles of questions began, but he quickly silenced them. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone, Ellie. This town needs to work together, and the Beckers have taken the first step. Hopefully, others will follow their example, and today will mark the beginning of peace in Comanche Creek.”

  Clapping and shouts of agreement echoed through the room, and Cabe felt a sense of relief that he had managed to do the impossible—solve the case and bridge the gap between the two factions in his hometown.

  But he couldn’t have done it without Jessie. He wove through the crowd toward her, his chest swelling with love and admiration for her. But he still hadn’t been able to confess his feelings. Still wasn’t sure how he could handle a relationship, or if he’d be any good at it.

  And Jessie deserved the best of everything.

  She smiled at him, and his heart melted. “Everyone seems pleased, Cabe. And you deserve the credit here, not me.”

  “You played a big part by meeting with the Natives, Jessie. I meant what I said. You are an excellent role model.”

  A blush stained her cheeks, but an underlying sadness still lay in her eyes. “I’m just glad they don’t hate my father anymore. Now, if he’d only get better.”

  He wanted to promise her that Jonah would recover, but he wasn’t certain about the man’s condition. Still, he wanted to try something. “I’m going to visit my father, Jessie.” He paused, a tightening in his belly.

  “Oh, Cabe,” Jessie said softly. “I’m glad you’re going to reconcile with him.”

  He nodded. “We’ll see.”

  Pleasure lit her eyes but a wariness remained also. He’d hurt her when she’d confessed that she loved him and he hadn’t reciprocated.

  He wanted to. In fact, he itched to take her back to her place and make love to her, but he had to speak with his father first.

  “I’ll see you again before you leave town?” Jessie asked.

  He cleared his throat, then gave a clipped nod, but didn’t trust his voice to speak, so simply walked outside to his car.

  Memories of his family and his cultural teachings suffused him as he drove to the reservation. Pleasant memories mixed with others that troubled him, but the values and traditions he’d been taught as a child had shaped him into the man he’d become.

  So had the hard lessons.

  He parked the SUV, and walked across the limestone rocks, solemn and respectful as he approached his father, Quannah Navarro. His father had been named in honor of a great chief.

  His hair had grayed and lay in a long braid down his back, his sun-bronzed weathered skin looked leathery and wrinkled, but deep spiritual beliefs and strength still emanated from him.

  Quannah didn’t bother to look up. He had probably known Cabe was coming. He seemed to posses a sixth sense that had been almost eerie.

  Except he’d believed the Big Medicine Ceremony would save Simon, and it had failed.

  “Cabe, my son, I’ve been expecting you.”

  Cabe dropped to the ground, then sat cross-legged beside his father and the fire. He addressed him with the Comanche word for father. “Ap. You heard what happened in town?”

  “Yes.” Folding his gnarled hands, his father turned toward Cabe, his gaze intent as he studied Cabe. “You bridged the gap between our people and the others. Comanche Creek will change because of you, my son. For that, I am proud.”

  Emotions threatened to choke Cabe. His father had never praised him before.

  “I knew that you would do great things, Cabe,” his father said. “You are strong, brave and understand the old ways and the new.”

  Cabe nodded. Maybe he’d had to leave and then return to Comanche Creek to appreciate his heritage. “There is one more problem,” Cabe said. “The land has been returned to the Comanche Nation, but there were angry spirits on the burial grounds.”

  “Yes.”

  “Jonah Becker has been ill lately,” Cabe said. “Jessie said he insisted that he was hearing ghosts, that the spirits were tormenting him.”

  “His actions disturbed the spirits, so they have been haunting him.”

  Cabe nodded. He’d never thought he’d ask his father for help, but Jonah’s illness was tormenting Jessie. “Is there any way to put the spirits to rest and free Jonah?”

  A smile curved his father’s mouth, and he pushed his frail body to his feet. “Yes, my son. We will use meditation and perform the ancient ritual. Then there will be peace.”

  Cabe nodded. Then Jessie would be happy.

  And her happiness was the most important thing in the world to Cabe.

  ANXIETY NEEDLED JESSIE as she rode out to the sacred burial land.

  Linda, who’d come back to work for her, had phoned to say that Cabe and an older Native American man were performing some kind of Native ceremony on the property.

  Firebird cantered up to the site, and she slid from her palomino, but kept her distance and she watched from the shadows as they lit a fire and chanted to the heavens. Cabe had dressed in Native attire, the feather headdress accentuating his strong cheekbones and bronzed coloring.

  She watched, mesmerized by the beauty of their movements, intrigued by the sound of their ancient language.

  And Cabe…He was so damn sexy she wanted to eat him alive.

  Yet she understood the spiritual significance as well as the importance of this shared moment with his father and dared not interrupt. More than anything, she wanted Cabe to make peace with his past, to reconcile with his father.

  And she wanted him to know that she respected his culture and would support his choices. Even if it meant leaving her forever.

  Although she’d doubted Cabe’s ability to sense the spirits when she’d first met him, she believed now that he had actually heard and felt them.

  Suddenly a shimmering glow radiated over the land like some kind of magic dust had been sprinkled over the terrain, and the whisper of the breeze—or ancient voices—rose in the wind.

  Jessie stilled, mesmerized by the beautiful picture and the rhythm of Cabe’s and his father’s voices mingling with the spirits.

  A heartbeat later, the earth quieted, the glow settled like a blanket over the land, and Cabe paused, opened his eyes
and looked up at her.

  Jessie’s heart swelled with longing and with love. She’d never thought she could care so much about another person. But it wasn’t the infatuation that her mother harbored over man after man. Jessie’s love was unselfish and would last forever.

  In fact, she loved Cabe enough to let him go if that was what he wanted. He was like a wild untamed mustang who needed to run free.

  And she would not take away that freedom.

  CABE SENSED THE UNCERTAINTY in Jessie’s reaction as she watched him and his father. He’d known the moment she’d arrived, had intentionally not spoken to her, gauging her reaction to his customs and his father.

  Now that he’d reconnected with Quannah and the Comanches, he regretted the time he’d lost. He wanted his father and the Comanche beliefs to be a part of his life, a part of his family’s life.

  If Jessie would have him and make that family with him.

  But would her father accept him?

  Quannah looked drained, and Cabe silently vowed to return to speak to Jessie, then drove his father back to the reservation, thanked him and gave him a hug.

  “It will work out with your woman,” his father said, as if he’d read Cabe’s mind. “You have my blessings, son.”

  Cabe shook his hand. “Thank you for putting the souls to peace, Ap.” He only hoped that doing so had healed Jessie’s father.

  “Before you go, I have something to give you.” Cabe followed his father to his hogan, where he handed him a beaded pouch.

  “This belonged to your grandmother. It is yours now.”

  Cabe’s chest clenched as he removed the silver-and-garnet ring. It was decades old, handcrafted by his ancestors. It might be considered an artifact, was priceless, a part of his family’s heritage.

  “Give it to your wife-to-be,” Quannah said. “Then she will be one with us.”

  Cabe nodded. He only hoped Jessie would accept it, and that Jonah didn’t cause problems. Jessie’s family was too important to her for him to come between them.

  He carefully stowed it back in the pouch and headed to the Jeep.