Cowboy's Secret Son

by Robin Perini

  The two men hurried away and Jared glanced over his shoulder. Derek stood near the house and Courtney stood in the foyer of his house.

  He strode over to them. “Derek, keep watch here. I’m heading over to the Criswell ranch. I shouldn’t be more than an hour or so. This feud has gone on long enough. Besides if they don’t stop meddling, we’ll never be able to narrow our investigation long enough to catch the blackmailer.”

  She grasped his arm. “Be careful. Please. I have a bad feeling about your leaving.”

  “Don’t worry about me.”

  “Of course I’ll worry.” she said. “You’re a stubborn man who doesn’t have the sense to grab on to what you have, but I must admit I’m fond of you anyway.”

  “Fond?” Jared rested his lips against her cheek.

  “That’s all you get until you’re back safe and sound.”

  Jared cupped her cheek. “I’ll have my phone and radio with me. If you hear anything from CTC or the blackmailer, call immediately.”

  “That’s what terrifies me, Jared. Why haven’t we heard?”

  * * *

  HE PUT DOWN his binoculars and smiled. Jared’s beat-up pickup had left the property. Everything was going according to plan. Well, maybe not everything. There’d been more collateral damage than he’d wanted, but in the end, his victory would be worth it.

  Jared had no idea what was in store for him. He might have clawed his way back the last time, but this time...this time he’d understand everything.

  He opened the back of his SUV. The supplies had been easy enough to steal.

  Before night fell, it would be over. The Last Chance Ranch would have no more chances.

  Chapter Ten

  Courtney watched Jared drive toward the north, her heart filled with trepidation. The guards acknowledged her one by one. She wasn’t alone, even if it felt like it. She’d become used to having him around.

  Probably not a good thing.

  She went back into the house and into the kitchen. Velma had jerry-rigged a high chair for Dylan and she was tempting him with cereal.

  “Everything okay?”

  “The little one and I are doing fine.” Velma glanced over at her. “How are you?”

  “I’ve never seen Jared so angry,” Courtney said. “You don’t think he’ll go too far with the Criswells, do you?”

  “I couldn’t say. Especially if they killed his cattle and he can prove it.”

  Courtney sat next to her son and tried to tempt him with some melon. “Velma, who on the ranch knows the most about watering cattle?”

  The housekeeper turned away from the stove with an inquiring expression. “Roscoe. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason.” Other than it had become clear over the last couple of days that whoever had sabotaged the ranch was one step ahead of them. “Could you watch Dylan for me? I think Roscoe and I need to clear the air.”

  Courtney kissed Dylan on the forehead and headed to the old part of the house. She entered the hallway where the nursery was located. She didn’t really know which room was Roscoe’s.

  Slowly she walked down the hallway. She passed the old nursery door. She knocked on a closed door very lightly.

  No answer. Gingerly she cracked it open. Empty and abandoned.

  She made her way to the next one and rapped on it.

  “I told you I’m not hungry, Velma.”

  Something clattered inside and a loud curse echoed through the door. Courtney pushed inside and gasped.

  Roscoe lay on the floor, his body bandaged, bruised and battered, the contents of a breakfast tray strewn all around the room.

  When he recognized her he flushed. “What do you want?”

  “Do you need some help?”

  He braced himself on the bed and rose to his feet. “I can handle it.”

  “Everyone needs help now and then.”

  Pretending to be calmer than she was, Courtney knelt down and scraped the ruined toast, sausage and eggs back on the tray. Luckily the carafe of coffee was sealed.

  “The coffee looks to be intact,” she said. “Would you like a cup?”

  Roscoe scowled and slid back into bed. “Doc said ‘no’ with the medication he gave me.”

  Courtney winced. “Ouch.”

  The foreman raised a brow. “You an addict, too?”

  “I’m not human until my fourth cup, usually. I had to cut back when I found out I was pregnant.”

  “How hard was it?”

  “The first few weeks weren’t pretty. Between morning sickness and caffeine headaches no one wanted to be around me.”

  Roscoe chuckled. “When Velma learns I’m off coffee and decaf is little more than hot colored water so she’s going to force tea down my throat. I hate stuff that tastes like watery weeds worse.”

  Courtney stared at the wiry old man and laughed. “Hard to argue with that.” She placed the tray on the too small nightstand. “Why don’t you like me?”

  “I don’t know you,” He frowned. “But Jared changed the minute you stepped out of the silly car you rented. That’s not good for the ranch.” He cleared his throat. “But I was wrong. Jared set me straight about a few things. And Velma told me that boy of yours is a pistol just like young Jared.”

  “Did you know him when he was a baby?”

  “Nah. My son and I moved to the ranch when he and Jared were boys. After my wife passed from leukemia.”

  “I’m sorry. My mom died of a brain cancer.”

  “You know how it is, then. Derek took it hard. She understood him. My boy’s too smart for his own good, that’s for sure.”

  Roscoe stretched out a shaky hand. “Truce?” he asked.

  “How about we just start over?”

  “Deal. Why did you come see me after the things I said about you? I thought you’d avoid me at all costs.”

  “I probably would have except for what happened to the cattle last night.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Roscoe straightened up tall in bed.

  Now Courtney wondered if she hadn’t made a big mistake. Too late now. She told him about the salt in the water.

  Roscoe’s face turned alarmingly red and a flurry of curses exploded from his lips. “I wouldn’t have thought Ned Criswell would go that far.”

  “Jared’s going to see him and have it out. I’m worried.”

  “He go alone?”

  She nodded.

  “Damn it. That isn’t good. Ned Criswell’s a mean SOB, but he’s a good rancher and he values water and the livestock. His son, on the other hand, has no honor. Ned might have ordered his guys to dig up the posts so the cattle could escape and stampede, but if I had to bet, I’d say Chuck salted the water.”

  “Why would he do such a thing?”

  “Because he hates ranching and he knows if his dad can convince Jared to pay them off, he’s set for life. He hates living in Carder, and he’d love for his old man to keel over so he can take the money and head to the big city. You aren’t gonna live in or around Carder if you can’t tolerate the main business in the community. Everyone in the area except those CTC guys make a living off the land or off those who work the land.” Roscoe picked up his phone. “I’ll get Sheriff Redmond to go out and check on them.”

  Courtney grabbed the phone from his hand. “You can’t.”

  “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

  “The man who threatened Dylan said if I contacted the police, they’d hurt him.”

  Roscoe leaned back against his pillow. “So that’s why Jared called off the sheriff. Why didn’t he just say something?”

  “He was trying to protect you, I guess.”

  “The boy’s lost a lot in his life. He’s always trying to protect everyone.” Roscoe put out his hand. “Give me that phone.”

/>   She hesitated to place it in his hand.

  “I’m sending Derek to the Criswells to watch Jared’s back. Jared won’t jump down his throat. Hell, I’d go if I could, but even I’m not stupid enough to try to drive all the way out there like this.”

  “Jared wanted Derek to stay here, to watch us.”

  “We’ve got plenty of guards,” Roscoe frowned.” And my boy will keep Jared safe.”

  “Thanks, Roscoe.” Courtney kissed his grizzled cheek. The tension in her shoulders had eased a bit knowing Jared had backup. “I’m glad we aren’t enemies, anymore.”

  “Go on, get out of here. I’m afraid once things get back to normal, I’m going to fall for you just like Jared and Velma have.”

  Courtney smiled at him. “That’s the way I like it.”

  * * *

  THE SMELL OF bacon drifted through the house. Courtney carried the empty breakfast tray back to Velma. “Roscoe and I aren’t at war anymore.”

  The housekeeper turned to her with a huge smile. “I knew he’d grow on you.”

  Velma lifted the bacon from the skillet and rested it on paper towels. Courtney peered at the scrumptious-looking meat. She couldn’t resist and snagged a piece.

  “How’s Dylan?” She munched on the treat.

  Velma placed another half-dozen strips in the pan and the crackling of frying and the delicious scent filled the room. “Oh, the boyo has sure taken to that little blue bull considering all the trouble the animal caused.”

  Courtney knelt down and kissed her son’s head. “Are you having a good time with Miss Velma, Jelly Bean.”

  Her son tugged the blue bull and babbled at it.

  “I wish I knew kid talk. No doubt he and that bull have had some very interesting conversations.”

  Velma’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “He’s a good boy, Courtney. You’ve done a wonderful job with him. Such a good disposition.”

  “I got lucky.”

  “Don’t kid yourself, sweetie. In spite of being on your own, that baby’s not nervous around strangers. He’s lovely and happy. That doesn’t come from luck. It comes from his mama’s confidence and love.”

  “Thanks, Velma. That means a lot.”

  Courtney kissed Dylan’s nose. Most of the time when she looked at him she saw Jared, but his dimples, they belonged to her father.

  “Velma, do you think you could watch him for a while longer?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “I’ll be in the study talking to my father. Hopefully he’s feeling better.”

  “Don’t you worry about a thing.” The housekeeper waved Courtney away.

  Leaving her son in good hands, she pushed open the mahogany doors and entered Jared’s study.

  They’d left the room in chaos this morning. The quilts they’d slept on were still strewn on the floor. Courtney folded them and placed them on the couch, grabbed the CTC folders and rounded the desk.

  If they were ever going to catch this guy, they needed a break, and her father was the only one who might be able to help.

  Sinking in the suppleness of Jared’s leather chair, she picked up the cell phone he’d loaned her. She dialed her father’s number. One ring, two rings. Four rings. No answer. She debated whether to leave a message when a voice filtered through the earpiece.

  “H...h...hello?”

  Slurred but coherent.

  “Father?”

  “Courtney? Courtney, what’s going on? These men grabbed me from my hotel and forced me into a hospital. I’m lucky they didn’t confiscate my phone.”

  How long had it been since she’d heard him in such a state? Years. “Father, do you remember me coming to visit?”

  The phone went silent.

  If he’d blacked out, he really may not be able to help them. Then what would they do?

  She forced her voice to stay calm. “I visited you a couple days ago. Remember. I brought Dylan. It was the day you had to leave the house.”

  He let out a harsh laugh. “You mean the day they stole our things and kicked me out of our home? The day they took the paintings, the furniture, the china, the crystal. Everything.”

  Courtney winced. He wasn’t doing well at all. “That’s. I need to ask a few questions, and I need you to try hard to remember.”

  “You can say it, Courtney. You need me to not screw up again. Like the day I failed you and Dylan. I didn’t have any money.” He let out a low sob. “And I drank the entire bottle of Cognac. I blacked out.”

  “Are you feeling better now? Are they taking good care of you?”

  “I’ll survive. We’ve been here before, haven’t we?” He coughed and it turned into a fit. Just hearing the congestion in his lungs reignited the worry. “Of course life will be different. I’ll have to find a job when I get out of here.”

  “How about you take things one day at a time for now?” Courtney spoke slowly and patiently, but inside she wanted to grab hold of him and get answers. She composed herself and tried to refocus him. “Father, I need your help. Can you concentrate for me? It’s very important.” She leaned forward in Jared’s leather chair, her pen poised on her notebook.

  “Those men have been picking my brain since they woke me up,” he groused. “I don’t know about any three million dollars and change. Except I wish I had it.”

  “Father, I need information concerning the loans you took out for the mill in Pennsylvania. They add up to over three million dollars. It’s a very specific amount of money.”

  Her father laughed out load. “Well, of course it is. I split the loans up so I’d be able to keep the mill going and have a little flexibility. Lot of good that did.”

  “That’s it? No, there had to be more to the blackmail note. It was personal. They’d threatened her son.

  “Was there anyone who caused a lot of trouble while you were working on getting the loans for the mill?”

  He laughed. “Of course not. It kept the mill afloat, but out of the blue last week the bank called them all in. I couldn’t pay. Had to close the mill. End of story.”

  She rubbed her temple. “Who would have been the most upset? The workers? The town? Local politicians?”

  “All of the above.”

  Courtney stared at the sheet of paper and sank back into the desk chair. Her father rambled off a few more random details, like an interview he gave to the local town paper, but they didn’t seem relevant. The number in the ransom note represented the loss of the mill, but they’d punished her father already. Who would gain by threatening to kill her son? Did they simply want the money?

  This felt wrong.

  Maybe Jared would see an angle she didn’t. She dialed his number and he picked up right away.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice crackling.

  “This is a terrible connection.” she said.

  “I’m heading into a valley. I might lose you for a couple of minutes.”

  Sure enough, his voice dropped off.

  She dialed again, but he didn’t answer. She redialed several times then waited a few minutes. When she picked up the phone again, several strange hits of static sounded, then no signal. That was odd. It had never happened before at the ranch.

  Courtney stilled. She perked her ears to listen carefully. She could hear discussions and laughter outside. Nothing worrisome. And yet, a tingling took up residence at the back of her neck, a foreboding that tasted sour at the back of her throat. She rose from behind the desk and strode across the study, checking her phone in different parts of the room. Still, no service.

  She made her way to the mahogany doors. Instead of hurrying through, though, she eased them open. She peered into the foyer.

  It was deserted. And silent. Everything looked normal.

  Then her gaze landed on the front door dead bolt. It was unlocked. />
  Against Jared’s rules.

  Her throat closed off. Her gaze darted behind her to the gun rack.

  She backed up.

  “Oh no, you don’t,” a voice whispered from just behind the door.

  The strangely quiet tone he used to speak made it impossible to identify his voice. Maybe that was the point.

  Courtney whirled around, but a man in a ski mask grabbed her by the arm and shoved her against the wall just inside the study and closed the door behind them. He pressed his forearm against her throat. “I decided not to call,” he whispered. “This time, I came in person.”

  She froze. It was him. She had no doubt, but she couldn’t figure out how he’d managed to sneak through the security. How was it possible?

  “Are you going to behave or cause trouble?” he whispered. “If you’re good, I may let your son live. If not, I have no trouble killing him as soon as I see him.”

  He pressed harder against her windpipe. Spots circled in front of her eyes.

  “P-please,” she gasped.

  He released his grip slightly.

  “I—I’ll do whatever you want.”

  If she could only delay enough, maybe Velma would escape with her son. Maybe Jared would get there and save them all. He wasn’t that far away.

  “I thought you might,” he whispered. “You haven’t figured out the game yet, though. None of you have.” He chuckled, a satisfied arrogant laugh that burned fury in Courtney’s skin.

  “Hold your hands in front,” he said softly. He bound them, cinching the knot tight.

  He paused, his brown eyes narrowed. “If you don’t follow all of my instructions,” he whispered, “I will kill everyone in this house, including your son. Just like I killed your babysitter in that penthouse.”

  If she’d had any doubts this was the man they were looking for, she didn’t anymore.

  He opened the study door and stood at her back, his body touching hers. She shuddered. He bent toward her ear. The knit mask brushed against her cheek. “Don’t speak, don’t cry out. Walk where I guide you in complete silence. Do you understand?”