by Elle James
At one point, they were both in the tack room at the same time. The room barely had space for them to turn around. It was crowded with saddles, blankets and bridles, as well as the equipment they needed to clean hooves, worm cows and generally take care of a place as big as the Iron Horse Ranch.
Molly started to back out of the room.
“Wait,” Parker said. “You have a piece of straw in your hair.” He moved closer and plucked the offending straw loose. His gaze caught hers and held.
Molly’s heartbeat sped, and she swayed automatically toward Parker.
He cupped her cheek and leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. “I’ve wanted to do that all day,” he said.
She laughed, a little breathlessly. “Then why didn’t you?”
“I was waiting for the right time.”
“And waiting until I had straw in my hair and dirt under my fingernails was the right time?” she whispered, her breath lodged halfway up her throat.
“Yup. That’s sounds about right.” He smiled and kissed her again, gathering her as close as he could in the tight space.
A barn door creaked open and closed.
“Molly?” Bastian’s voice sounded. “Are you burning trash somewhere?”
Molly jerked away from Parker and stepped out of the tack room. “No. Why?”
Parker came out after her.
“I smelled smoke.” Bastian looked from Molly to Parker. “Did I interrupt something?”
“No.” Molly’s face burned. She stepped past Bastian and headed for the barn door, hoping Bastian would follow and forget that he’d seen her and Parker come out of the tack room. “From which direction did you smell the smoke?”
“I thought it was coming from the direction of the barn. That’s why I asked if you were burning something.”
The three of them stepped out of the barn and rounded the building to look behind.
Smoke rose from the far end of the hay field.
Molly’s heart dropped to her knees. “Grass fire.”
“Go to the house, call 911 and notify the fire department,” Bastian said. “We need everyone out here now.”
Molly ran for the house, her heart pounding, fear rising up into her throat.
She burst through the back door, yelling, “Grass fire. Call 911. Need all hands on deck outside with buckets, wet towels, old blankets. Anything we can use to put out the fire.” She ran into the living room. “Not you, Mom. You and Fiona need to stay with Caity. If it gets bad, you need to get into the truck and head to the highway.”
“I can help,” her mother said, struggling to rise from the lounge chair.
“No, Mom,” Molly insisted. “I’ll have Hank Patterson’s man, Kujo, spray water on the house and barn in case the fire gets close. He’ll be out there to protect you, Fiona and Caity. Please, don’t try to help. We’ll spend more time worrying about you than worrying about the fire.”
“Okay. Fiona, get my gun out of the drawer beside my bed. If anything happens, we need to be ready.”
Fiona left Caity in Earl’s care and ran up the stairs to Molly’s mother’s room. She was back in less than a minute with the gun and a magazine of bullets.
Earl pushed to his feet and handed Caity to Fiona. “I’ll help with the fire.”
“Earl, are you sure?” Molly’s mother looked up at the old man.
“A grass fire needs every able-bodied man and woman to help stomp it out.” He nodded and left the room.
Molly pointed a finger at her mother. “Stay away from the fire.”
Her mother’s lips twisted. “You really have become bossy.”
Molly frowned. “If I could trust you to behave, I wouldn’t have to be so bossy.”
“Now, who’s the child?” Her mother jerked her head toward the door. “Go. You’re needed outside more than in here. I’ll call 911.”
Molly raced for the linen closet and grabbed all the oldest towels. On her way back through the kitchen, she snagged the handle of the mop bucket and a broom. Then she ran out of the house, passing Earl on her way toward the barn.
Already, Kujo had a garden hose out, spraying water on the roof of the house. His dog, Six, moved with him, pacing near his feet, as if the smell of smoke made him nervous.
Molly stopped long enough to scoop water into the bucket from the water trough. She dunked all the towels into the water and flung them over her shoulder. Armed with wet towels and a bucket of water she half-walked, half-ran across the field.
Her brothers, Taz, Jenna, Bree and Emily were halfway to the line of fire, carrying buckets of water, shovels and brooms.
If they could get to the fire quickly enough, they might have a chance to stop it from spreading.
Molly hurried as fast as she could without sloshing all the water from the bucket.
Smoke rose from the burning grass, blowing toward them, which meant the fire was moving their direction.
Molly caught up with the others and handed out wet towels to everyone.
Wrapping a small towel around her mouth and nose, Molly took a larger one and attacked the line of fire, beating it with the towel. When the towel dried too much, she ran back to her bucket and soaked it. When the bucket was empty, she took up the broom she’d brought and used it to pound the flames.
Soon, they were joined by the volunteer firefighters out of Eagle Rock. They took over with a tanker truck and a pumper truck, spraying water at the flames.
Everyone else fought the falling embers that would start new fires ahead of the line.
Working alongside Earl, Molly lost sight of Parker in the smoke. Her eyes and her lungs burned, but she couldn’t stop for fear the fire would eventually reach the house where her mother, Fiona and Caity were.
A four-wheeler burst through the flames and smoke, heading directly for Molly.
She didn’t see it until it was almost on her.
Parker, from a few steps away, yelled, “Molly! Get down!”
Molly dropped to the ground.
Parker raised his handgun and fired at the moving target. His shot missed, and the rider kept coming. The man pulled a gun from beneath his jacket and aimed at Parker.
Beside her, Earl Monson lifted his broom and swung it at the rider, letting loose.
The rider fired at Parker at the same time as the broom hit the rider, bumping his hand as he pulled the trigger. The bullet missed Parker and slammed into Earl. The old man dropped to his knees, pressing a hand to his gut.
Parker got off a shot, hitting the rider in the shoulder. The impact made him jerk the handlebar of the ATV, sending it into a spin that threw him off.
He staggered to his feet, holding onto his arm. One of the volunteer firefighters aimed the water hose at the man, knocking him off his feet.
Parker raced forward and pinned the man to the ground.
Molly stayed with Earl, applying pressure to the wound in his belly. “Stay with me, Mr. Monson. The ambulance will be here soon.”
“Wouldn’t bother me none if I died,” he said. “I’d be with my wife again.”
“You’re not going to die, Mr. Monson. There’s a little girl at the house who loves pulling on your beard. She would be very sad if you didn’t come to visit.”
Earl smiled up at her, though his brow was creased in pain. “That Caity-did is going to be a heartbreaker someday.”
“It would be a shame if you didn’t stick around to see that day,” Molly said. “Stay with me, Mr. Monson.”
“You’re a good girl, Molly McKinnon. Your daddy must be proud of you.”
The firefighters and all the volunteers soon had the blaze contained.
The sheriff arrived at the same time as the ambulance. Two EMTs worked to stabilize Earl Monson and loaded him first. A third medical technician, under the surveillance of the sheriff and his deputy, worked on the ATV rider. The sheriff read the man his rights as the EMTs loaded him into a second ambulance.
After the ambulance left with one of the sheriff’s depu
ties escorting him, the sheriff found Angus.
Molly joined her brothers.
“The man on the ATV is Mark Janson, a local thug. He said he was paid five hundred dollars to start the fire and snag the redhead when everyone was too busy to notice. They told him it would be easy. Two-fifty up front. Two-fifty when he brought her to the junction of Bear Claw and Dry Creek Roads. I have a unit heading to that location as we speak.”
“If the guy who hired him has access to a police scanner, he won’t be there.”
The sheriff nodded. “I thought of that. Fortunately, I had just enough reception on my cellphone. I called my deputy on his cell. It’s not being broadcast over the scanner.”
“Let us know what you find,” Angus said. “Did Janson say who hired him?”
“No, just that he was approached by a man wearing a dark hat outside the bar on the edge of Eagle Rock. He had his hat pulled down low and stood in the shadows. He didn’t say who he was, just offered him money. Janson took it with the promise of more where that came from, if he delivered the girl.” The sheriff’s lips twisted. “Mark was worried about what would happen if the man he shot died. He swore he’d tell us everything he knew if we didn’t charge him with murder.”
“If Earl Monson dies,” Molly said through gritted teeth, “Mark Janson better pay for what he did.”
The sheriff nodded. “I promised nothing. At the very least, Janson will be charged with attempted murder and arson. He’ll spend time in jail.”
Parker slipped an arm around Molly. “I owe the old man. If he hadn’t thrown his broom at Janson, it could have been me wearing a bullet. Earl saved my life.”
Molly shook her head. “And to think he’s lived years isolated in the mountains over the loss of his wife. He’s a good man. I’m glad he’s no longer hiding away. And Caity loves him.” She looked down at her hands, which were covered in Earl’s blood. “I hope he makes it.”
“You did good by applying pressure to his wound. If the bullet didn’t hit any vital organs, he should be okay,” the sheriff said.
“If.” Molly sighed. “Have you found out anything else about my father’s disappearance?”
The sheriff shook his head. “Sadly, no.”
Molly never felt so tired as she did at that moment. “I’m going to get a shower,” she said.
Parker kept his arm around her waist as they walked back to the house, gathering singed towels and brooms as they went.
Parker dumped them in the burn barrel when they passed it and kept moving with Molly.
Inside the house, Fiona paced with Caity.
Molly’s mother still sat in the lounge chair, her worry showing in the deepened lines around her eyes. “Did they get the fire put out?”
Molly nodded. She didn’t want to tell her mother about the second attempt to kidnap her, but she needed to know about Earl.
“Someone came after me while everyone was working the flames.”
Her mother gasped. “Oh, baby. I should’ve been out there with you.”
Molly shook her head. “I had plenty of protection. Parker shot at the man driving the ATV. When the man pulled a gun and shot back, Earl Monson flung a broom at him, knocking his aim off. Unfortunately, the bullet hit Earl.”
“Oh, dear Lord,” her mother cried. “Is he…”
“He was still alive when the EMTs loaded him into the ambulance.”
Her mother buried her face in her hands and cried. “Why is this happening to us and the people we care about?”
Molly knelt beside her mother and held her hand. “We’ll get through this.”
“Yes, we will,” her mother said and looked up, her gaze capturing Molly’s, “but will Earl? Will your father?”
“They have to. We’ve gone through too much. They’ve sacrificed too much,” Molly’s fist clenched. “Damn it, we’ll all pull through.”
“I pray we do,” her mother said. “I pray we do.”
Chapter 9
While Molly was in the shower, Parker went to Angus on the back porch. “I’m not the right man for the job of protecting Molly.”
“What do you mean?” Angus’s brow furrowed. “You’re the only man for the job. You’ve been there all three times she’s been attacked and saved her from the men trying to take her.”
“I’m always a little too late.”
“Not the way I see it,” Angus said. “If you were a little too late, she’d have been taken a lot sooner.”
“Still, I don’t think I’m the right man for the job.”
“Do you have someone else in mind?” Angus challenged him.
Parker hadn’t thought of alternatives. He felt like a failure after the last two attempts they’d made to get to Molly. But the thought of relinquishing his responsibility left him feeling anxious and scared for the woman he’d come to care about.
“No,” he said. “I don’t have someone else in mind.”
“I can hire one of Hank’s guys to protect her,” Angus offered. “Is that really what you want me to do?”
Parker turned and paced away from Angus and stopped to look out over the charred pasture.
If he hadn’t been with Molly following her into town, the person driving the SUV could have pulled her or her mother from the truck and taken off with them.
If Parker hadn’t been there when the two ATV riders had made that first attempt to grab her, they would have taken her then.
This last attempt had gotten Earl Monson shot. Parker hadn’t been close enough to Molly during the fire, but he’d been there to shoot at the guy and keep him from taking her.
He couldn’t let someone else take over the job of protecting her. He wouldn’t be able to breathe not knowing what was going on. “No,” he said, looking down at this hands. “I want to be the one to look out for her.”
Angus’s eyes narrowed. “Are you falling in love with my little sister?”
Parker’s head jerked up. “I’m the foreman. Your sister is the boss’s daughter.”
Angus chuckled. “You didn’t answer my question. Are you in love with Molly?”
Parker drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yes.”
“Then you’re the right man for the job,” Angus said, as if that was the only answer. “Just curious…how long have you known?”
Parker shook his head. “I think I’ve been in love with her since I started working here. I just wouldn’t let myself admit it.” He looked up at Angus. “She’s the boss’s daughter. I have no business being in love with her.”
“Why the hell not?” Angus asked.
“I respect your father. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him or any one of the McKinnon family.”
“And you think loving Molly will hurt a member of my family?” Angus snorted. “You’re messed up, you know that?”
Parker shoved a hand through his sooty hair. “I know I’m messed up. I love your sister so much I can’t see straight anymore.”
Angus cocked an eyebrow. “I guess the big question is, does she love you?”
“I don’t know,” Parker said. “There’s something between us. I know I love her, but is that something love on her part?” He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you ask her?” Angus said. “I’ve learned that if you want something bad enough you have to be willing to fight for it. For her. No matter what.”
Parker nodded. “You’re right. I won’t know if she cares for me like I care for her, unless I ask her.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
His lips twisted. “The right time?”
“No time like the present.” Angus grinned. “Go ask her.”
“What if she doesn’t love me?” Parker paced the length of the porch and back.
“Then I can hire someone else to protect her,” Angus said.
“No,” Parker said. “Even if she doesn’t love me, I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting someone else take on the responsibility of keeping her safe.”
“S
ounds like you’ve got it bad.” Angus clapped a hand on his shoulder. “If it means anything to you, I approve of you two being together. You’re a good man, Parker. My sister could do worse.”
“Thanks. I think.” Parker laughed. “I hope she doesn’t have to do worse than me.”
Angus glanced toward the house. “I need to get Bree back to her place. The animals there need to be tended.” He held out his hand.
Parker shook it. “Thanks for letting me bend your ear.”
“Anytime. Hopefully, we’ll be calling you brother, soon.” Angus winked. “Don’t wait too long to ask. You’ll want to begin the rest of your lives as soon as possible.”
“Huh?”
Angus chuckled. “Together. You’ll want to begin the rest of your lives together as soon as possible.” He shook his head. “Amateur. I take it you’ve never been in love before?”
Parker shook his head. “No.”
“Well, good luck,” he said. “You’re gonna need it. My sister can be hardheaded. But when she loves someone, she’s all in.”
As he stood on the porch, Parker watched the sunset, waiting for Molly to get out of the shower so that he could get in. He didn’t want to corner her for an answer when he smelled like smoke and sweat.
The sound of Molly’s voice brought him back to the task at hand. She was out of the shower. It was his turn to clean up. Then he’d ask her.
He hoped the words would come to him while he stood under the spray. They sure hadn’t come to him watching the sunset.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Molly entered the living room in time to see her mother struggling to get out of her lounge chair.
“I’m tired of sitting,” her mother said, wincing when she twisted just a little. “I need to move and do something before I go out of my mind.”
“At least, let one of us help you out of that chair.” Molly hurried forward, took her mother’s arm and helped her to stand. “The broken rib has got to be hurting you.”
“It is,” her mother said, straightening slowly.
“Want me to get you one of the pain pills your doctor prescribed?” Molly retained her hold on her mother’s arm until she was steady on her feet.