Of The Cowboy's Own Accord (Double Dutch Ranch; Love At First Sight #3)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “They’re pretty clear so far. Let’s hope they stay that way.”

  Dane twisted his head in every direction, wishing, praying, and hoping he’d see something, then he peered out the side window. “Stop.” When Tristan stopped the truck, Dane jumped out the back door and stooped to pick up one of Gracelyn’s shoes. She threw it out on purpose, I know she did. Dane let Boston sniff it. “We have to find her, boy.”

  Clenching the shoe and shirt against him, he said to his brothers, “The tracks head off here. Boston has the scent.” He tossed her shoe into the backseat. Dane removed the rifle from the seat and slid the strap onto his shoulder. “Pick me up if you see me on the way back from Jase’s. “I’m going on foot from here. She needs me right now.”

  “We’ll catch up as soon as I check the kids,” Jase said. “Watch your back.”

  Dane stared ahead to see how far the tracks went straight before they veered off. He hurried along following the tracks, keeping Boston on a tight hold, perusing the ground around him at the same time. His combat instincts kicked into gear.

  He removed binos from his belt to scan the area. “At least a red four-wheeler should be easy to spot for now, huh, boy?” Way in the distance sand-dust floated in the air. That has to be them. His heartbeat pulsated in his chest while hatred forced him into a sprint.

  Twenty minutes later Tristan pulled up beside him before he got into the mountainous area. “Get your ass in here, Rambo.”

  “This isn’t a damn joke.” Dane followed Boston into the back seat and took the bottle of water Jase offered, even poured some into his hand for the dog. “There’s dust up there in the distance. They’re not that far ahead of us. Get on it, man.”

  “I didn’t intend it to be a joke. Take it as a compliment,” Tristan said. “Listen, it’s under control. I’m going as fast as I can with the trailer on.”

  Jase shifted around. “We got your back, man.” His eyes narrowed in seriousness and understanding. “No matter what happens or the outcome. We already talked about it back there, and the both of us are with you.”

  Dane nodded. “We’ll lose a phone signal here soon, but I got a satellite phone.” He removed two pairs of night vision goggles from his pack. “Here, use these if we’re still out there at dark.”

  Jase reached back for them and put the goggles up to his eyes.

  Dane peered around the area as he spoke. “The moon will be full again tonight, making it even better to see with these things.”

  “Thanks,” Jase said. “Maybe we’ll be back before dark and not have to worry about any of it. I wouldn’t mind playing around with them later.”

  “You two keep your eyes open for anything. This is what I’m trained to do. It’s second nature.” He removed two orange vests from the bag he had thrown together. “Both of you wear a vest. I’ll be taking off ahead of you so don’t try to keep up. Stick together—I don’t want no friendly fire incident out there.”

  Jase held his phone up. “Signal’s gone. How we supposed to get a hold of you if we have to?”

  He removed two radios from the bag as well, turned them on and handed them over the seat to Jase. “Here ya go. Mine’s already on too.”

  Tristan pulled off the road, as far as he could go in the truck. “This is too damn familiar, eh, Jase? I don’t have a good memory of this place. At least we’re not having a monsoon this time.”

  “Right,” said Dane, opening the door before the truck stopped. Boston jumped over his lap, out the door, his nose to the ground. Dane knelt to examine the sand. “How much farther up can your 4x4 go, Tristan?”

  Tristan went back to get Roark out of the trailer. “A couple more miles. Hell, we don’t even know if we’re following the right tracks anymore.”

  “I know we’re following the right tracks—look at the dog. The problem will be when they have to dump it and walk because following human tracks will be a lot harder in this terrain, but I have confidence in this animal. Radio if you find anything.”

  “You do the same.” Jase grabbed ahold of Dane’s sleeve. “We’ll find her.”

  “Damn right we will. Remember, stay together.” He glanced back as Jase threw the saddle on the horse. Dane sprinted again, even ran up the next hill following after Boston at a fast pace, and slowed it down a mile farther when he spotted the 4x4 ahead. Moving into the brush, he knelt, paying attention to sounds around him and concentrated on Boston’s expertise. He eased forward until he was in line with the vehicle—listening, waiting to see if anything moved inside.

  A sound drew his attention off to the right and the dog pulled on. Up the hill a ways he’d have a better view so he climbed stealthily until he was above where he heard the noise. “Sit.” Sure enough, there was the bastard himself, Gracelyn kneeling beside him. He took out his binoculars to see if he had her bound in any way, but it appeared she wasn’t. One foot was bare. The bastard wore a jacket, but Gracelyn only had on a short-sleeve dress.

  Dane slipped Boston’s leash beneath his boot and pressed down on it. He lifted his rifle, set the crosshairs on Houston’s forehead, took a deep breath and exhaled, then fired off a shot at the same time Houston knelt beside Gracelyn. He dragged her back toward a tree.

  Sonofabitch. Trevor pulled her up in front of him and hid behind her. “Come on, move back an inch.” Dane’s throat tightened when Gracelyn doubled over and spoke.

  “I told you he’d find you. You can’t hide from him.” She pleaded with her captor, “I’m in labor, you idiot. Don’t you understand? I can’t continue walking. Do you know who he is? He’ll kill you.”

  “And I’ll kill you first. Do you think I care you’re ready to deliver that brat? Maybe your dad will think twice next time he issues orders that ended up killing my boy. He can live without his kid the same as I have to.”

  “My husband was right. You’re a sick idiot. My dad’s retired, no longer issuing any orders. Where do you think…” Gracelyn bent forward at the waist and wrapped her hands around her abdomen.

  The maniac knelt behind her, still using her as a shield. Sorry-ass coward.

  Gracelyn’s hands clenched at her sides. “I can’t do this.” Her breaths came rapid now, her shoulders rising and falling.

  Dane’s stomach rolled. The baby’s coming. She’s terrified. She screamed out and leaned forward again. His heart knotted. By the sound of her words, she struggled to breathe through contractions. His jaw clenched. His child was about to be born and that asshole down there stood in the way. Not for long.

  “Please, call for help. Run off before they get here, go free, but please get me some help for my baby.”

  A snap off to the side got Trevor’s attention. He hauled Gracelyn up against him. A tree stood behind him. Gracelyn could barely stand and she struggled out of his clutches and dropped to the ground. So did Houston.

  “Let me go. Please, my son. We haven’t done anything to you.” She glanced side to side. “He came for me. Are you scared now you stupid bastard?” She picked up a rock, swung her hand back over her head, and hit him in the head with it. He pulled her up again.

  You’re damned right I came for you. Dane laid his rifle down in the brush then took his knife from its sheath, removed the leash, using sign language to tell the dog to hold. He eased down the hill to come up behind Houston who had drawn a gun by then.

  He maneuvered in behind the tree trunk, holding position to be sure he hadn’t been seen or heard, at the same time holding his palm up to Boston to halt him for now. By the sound of Gracelyn’s breathing and short whimpers, she hurt badly, as he did for her.

  The only thing he could think about was her sister dying. Nodding to Boston, the dog barked and leapt, getting Smith’s attention away from him. Dane eased around the trunk and grabbed a hold of Houston and pulled his head back, his blade against his throat. Boston ran up growling and snarling, and he knocked the gun from Trevor’s hand when his teeth sunk into his wrist. “Let her go.”

  Houston lifted his hand from
her. “Get your dog off me.” Gracelyn coiled to the ground.

  “Gracelyn, come get my radio from my belt if you can to call my brothers. They’re near. We’ll get help.”

  “Dane, my God, our baby.” She crawled over to him and reached up for the radio on his belt.

  “Key it up. Say their names.” He wanted nothing more than to slice this guy’s throat and he clenched the knife tighter.

  She cried out, “Jase. Tristan, are you there?”

  Jase’s voice came back. “Where are you?”

  “Up here with the radio, hon.” Dane spoke when she held the radio up and gave a landmark. “The rock where Tristan…where he engraved Destiny’s name.” His blade pressed into skin.

  Tristan came back, “Got it.”

  Gracelyn dropped to the ground. Boston lay at her side in protect mode. “The baby is coming. Labor’s increased all day…” She let out a short screech. “Then this idiot grabbed me. I’ve been…in harder labor since…I left this morning.”

  “Scoot away, honey, it’ll be all right.” Dane waited until she moved back a little ways. He said to Houston who struggled in his hold. “I’ll slice your throat and feed you to the mountain lions if you keep fighting me. You won’t win.”

  Tristan and Jase appeared over the hill with their guns both pointed.

  “Dane…” Tristan called. “We got him now. Attend to your wife and child. Dane.” Louder, he repeated, “Dane.”

  Kill him. Every instinct in his body said to take the kill. His muscles tensed, blood rushed through his body. Kill him. His brother’s words resonated in his ears like an echo through a tunnel. The knife pressed harder against Houston’s throat and Dane breathed deep, shook his head, trying to pull himself back into reality.

  “Dane, I need you…”

  He focused on Gracelyn lying there, her sobs and screams calling out to him. In a quick swipe, Dane slid the blade across Smith’s throat, nicking the skin enough to draw blood all the way across the front. Jaw clenched, he spat out, “You’ll never forget you did this.”

  Dane sheathed his knife, and as quick as a breath, he pinned Houston to the ground. “You might live today.” He blew out a big breath, and meant every word of it. Today. Removing Zip Ties from his belt, he tied Houston’s hands and pulled as tight as possible then grabbed him up and shoved him toward Jase. “Take this sonofabitch so I don’t have to look at him.”

  Dropping to her side, Dane glared at Houston. His hand lowered to his .45, then he said to his brothers, “Get him outta here before I kill him right now.” Boston still growled. “Get him out of here. Down, Boston.” His whole body shook—sweat poured off him, and he couldn’t keep up with his breathing.

  “You’ll be sorry for this,” Trevor said with a glare to Dane.

  His body tense and on the verge of springing, he said in a hateful tone, “I’m looking forward to seeing you again. Sooner than later…” Dane made a move to lunge but Jase pushed Trevor onward. “One of you call search and rescue, get a bird over here. Here, take this.” He tossed his sat-phone to Tristan. “Give them lat and longitude coordinates.” Dane took in and let out three big breaths and said to Gracelyn in a disciplined voice, “It’s okay. I got it under control.”

  “Dane…” She couldn’t speak for her breaths were labored and deep, preventing her words, yet she forced them out between moans and cries. “Did you hear? It wasn’t about me. He aimed to get back at my dad… Our baby…our son. I can’t have him now—not here.”

  I knew all about it, sweetheart. “It’s okay, I can do this. Breathe like we learned. Breathe.” Dane moved into position, got her clothes out of the way, and the baby’s head was right there already. “Come on, son.”

  Her screams killed him—tore at his gut, yet his mind focused on what he had to do. I have a job to do. Never give up. “Come on, son, a little more, baby boy.” Dane held his son in his hands when he made his entrance. “There you are. Gracelyn…he’s here.” He choked up barely able to speak while glancing at his wife—worried for her. “You’re a mama.” Dane laid the baby on her stomach long enough to remove his shirt to cover his son. He picked Will up and cleared his throat like he’d seen in training videos, and their son let out a big scream.

  “Is he okay? Is he okay?” she begged.

  “A big boy…big boy. Do you feel all right?” He checked her—his fear of her hemorrhaging wearing on him now. Don’t let me lose her. Dane removed a pocket knife from his pocket to cut the cord, but reflected back to what he remembered. No, don’t cut it yet. The sound of a helicopter drew closer. “Now you know what I felt like when a Dust Off came to rescue one of my guys. The best sound ever. Dustoff inbound, baby.” He took a real deep breath with a slow exhale and sat on the ground. His body trembled uncontrollably. “You’re okay—you’ll be okay.”

  “I’m weak, so weak now.” She held her arms out. “Let me see my son.”

  “You’ve been through a lot, my brave girl.” Dane went to his knees and held Will. “He’s a handsome boy.”

  “My boy’s in camouflage…” She cried as big tears spilled over her cheeks. “Of course he is, he’s your son.”

  The bird landed in a clearing to the east, while soon after the techs trudged up the hill behind Tristan and through the brush to get to them. “Hey, guys,” said Dane, falling back to a sitting position. “The hard works over. I delivered my baby. Let’s get my wife to the hospital. Don’t let anything happen to her.” His hands clenched into fists. Don’t lose it now, man. He explained to them what happened to Sarah. Holy hell, I delivered William, on Double Dutch property.

  Dane slipped his knife into his pocket then ran up the hill to get his rifle and the dog’s leash. When he returned, he knelt at her head as they took over. He used his fingertips to move damp strands of hair from her face. “You did a good job my little soldier wife.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Don’t be scared. You’re in good hands.”

  “A little while longer I would have killed him myself. My eye was on another nice round rock. Awful men shouldn’t mess with women in labor—and the wife of a soldier.”

  “I love you, woman.” Still shaking inside, Dane peered off into the distance. Trevor Houston got off lucky this time. “I found your shoe, and that alone gave me an early start in the right direction. Good thinking.” Dane scooted back as they lifted her onto the Stokes litter, a special basket used in places too difficult to get into. They wrapped a strap around the basket while she held William securely.

  She clenched Dane’s hand so tight a crowbar couldn’t separate them. “Come with me.”

  “I’m here.” He nodded to the guys as they lifted the basket from the ground preparing to trudge back down the hill. “Hear that guys? Me, the dog, and my family in that bird.” He glanced at Tristan. “Thanks for your help, bro.”

  Tristan put his arm around Dane’s shoulder. “No problem. It’ll all be okay.”

  “Gotcha, Carlson.” The tech said, “It pays to grow up friends, eh. We’ll squeeze you in, don’t worry.”

  “You’ve been wanting to do this search and rescue thing since you started shaving. Thanks, man. I owe you, Blaine.” Dane nodded down the hill. “What about the Sheriff’s Department?”

  “I understand they weren’t far behind us,” Blaine said. “Once Tristan called with your location, all of us went into action. One of the deputies was with us. Your mom called so we were already in the air.”

  Tristan veered off toward his horse and went to where Jase waited. When they got to the helicopter, Boston lay on the ground, his ears pinned back, and he shied away.

  “Come boy.” Dane patted his thigh. “You can do this.” The dog didn’t budge. Dane put his rifle into the helicopter then went to Boston and stroked his back. He held the dogs head with both hands and made eye contact with him. “You can do this, one last time.” Dane jumped into the bird first. “Come.” Boston got up and leapt through the door. “That’a boy.”

  Dane took the front of the b
asket as they lifted it inside. Once secured, they took off. He held tight to the dog. “Like old times, eh, Boston? But we’re not being shot at this time.” Boston whimpered yet his ears perked up when Dane patted him. I got my wife, a son, and my dog. What else could a man want?

  “This is the kind of thing you went through all the time?” she asked with a sympathetic tone. “All so frightening.”

  “It was part of my job like any other job, except mine involved getting shot at. I barely remember my last ride, being in and out of consciousness. This is one ride I’ll never forget.” He peeked at his son. “Did you see his hair? It looks kind of dark to me, like his mama.”

  “It’s hard to tell right now.” She exhaled a deep breath. “I’m so tired.”

  “Relax. We’re almost there.” Dane laid his hand over his son’s back. Holy hell. God Almighty. Adrenalin coursed through his body and his heart still battered his ribs. He was seconds away from killing Trevor Houston… If not for his brothers showing up when they did, he would’ve sliced his throat and bounced his head down the hill.

  Now he had to figure out what to do with the dog once he got to the hospital. He looked over at one of his best friends from high school, and removed his belt and holsters. “Blaine, keep my dog until my brothers’ get here? I’ll call them when I get on the ground.”

  “Sure, dude. He’s a good dog.” Blaine peered outside as they neared the hospital. “You have him over there with you?”

  “He wasn’t mine. His handler, Corporal Hanson was one of my men and wounded the same time I was.” Dane patted Boston. “This guy saved both of our lives, but he’s suffering from PTSD. That’s why I have him now—I’m trying to adopt him. Not sure what the Army’s going to do with him, but they’ll fight me getting him back.” Fight Army rules and regulations?

  Boston whined and lowered his head to his paws. The dog probably missed Hanson as much as Hanson missed him, while this incident must’ve brought it all back. “He’ll be back one day.”