The police were looking for Kay and the baby and would call him if she was found. Even knowing that, he’d driven around the area surrounding the hospital in search of the two for the past hour. He’d be back out there tomorrow morning. In his gut, he felt Kay was in danger. From where—or whom—he didn’t know. Between working on the Moore murders and the task force, he knew he needed to find Kay.
He climbed from his black SUV and stood next to it, staring up at the clear sky with stars scattered across the darkness as if they had been tossed haphazardly. The light breeze blew across the flat land, the temperature dropping into the forties.
Would Kay and the baby be warm enough?
Why had she run?
Why hadn’t she called him?
“Son, is something wrong?” his father’s deep gravelly voice called out.
Drake pivoted toward the front porch. “A long day.” He hated bringing his work home. The only reprieve he had from his job was when he came to the ranch at the end of the day.
“Anna saved dinner for you.”
Anna Torres had been with the family for years as a housekeeper and cook. She’d often declared taking care of three men was more than a full-time job. “That sounds great. I forgot to eat lunch.” Because he’d been driving back to Big Bend. He’d totally let it slip his mind until his stomach began to rumble about an hour ago.
“She fixed a plate of double portions before going to bed.”
Drake mounted the steps to the wraparound porch that faced south and east. “I sure missed her cooking when I lived in Fort Worth. That was one of the reasons I changed to Company E—I was dwindling down to nothing.” He’d certainly taken into account being back where he grew up and living with his dad, but the main reason he had taken this assignment was to be part of the human trafficking task force.
Chuckling, his father patted him on the back. “You didn’t take long adding a few pounds to your frame.”
“I blame that all on Anna.” Drake opened the front door and waited for his dad to go first.
In the kitchen, his father pulled a plate out of the refrigerator and stuck it in the microwave to heat up. “I thought you were going to ask the young woman you rescued yesterday to stay here while she recovered.”
When they’d spoken last night, Drake had mentioned he might ask her, especially if no one came forward to help her. “I didn’t get a chance to ask her. She left the hospital before I returned to her room.”
“Why would she do that? Didn’t you say she couldn’t remember who she was? Did that change?”
Had it, while he was investigating Clarence and Susan’s murders? Was that why she was gone? “I don’t know, and I don’t have a good feeling about this. I think someone is after her and is possibly willing to kill to find her.” The more he thought of the couple’s murder and the fact a stranger had come into her room, the more he felt Kay was in trouble. When he left her, she hadn’t given any indication she would flee. In fact, she’d seemed to appreciate his presence—a familiar face.
The microwave beeped at the same time the back door opened, and his younger brother, Frank, came into the kitchen, plopping his cowboy hat on the peg by the door. “I see you arrived about the same time I finished unloading the hay.”
Drake grinned. “Yep, I parked by the gate and waited until you were through. Why do you think I have a pair of high-powered binoculars in my car?”
His brother tossed back his head and laughed. “I always thought because you were a Texas Ranger you needed them for your job, but now I know the truth. Next time I’ll keep the barn doors shut so you can’t see in.”
Drake took his plate out of the microwave and sat at the table. “How’s Blue Bonnet?” The mare had been his mother’s horse, and ever since their mom died two years ago, Frank had taken extra care of the pinto their mother had loved.
“She fractured her leg and the vet had to set it, but she should heal all right. She has many years ahead of her.”
“Sons, I’m heading to bed.” Their dad strolled from the kitchen, cradling his mug.
“I didn’t even mention Mom.” Drake cut his roast beef into smaller pieces.
“I know. He still can’t talk about her death. I hope one day when I find the right woman, I have their kind of marriage.”
Drake had had that with Shanna—until someone killed her. His family had been there for him when his wife had died five years ago, but no one could erase the pain. He knew what his father was going through. Time had helped, but it couldn’t make him forget the devastating loss. “Dad will come around.”
“You haven’t.”
Drake started to reply, but his cell phone rang. Maybe it was news about Kay. He quickly answered the unknown number. “Drake Jackson here.”
“This is Kay. I’m in trouble.”
FOUR
Kay hunkered down behind a large bush, rocking back and forth to keep Kaleb asleep and quiet. “Someone is after me,” she murmured into her throwaway phone.
“Where are you?” Drake asked, the sound of his deep voice calming her frazzled nerves after the harrowing escape through the restaurant kitchen. Had the man from the hospital seen her leave?
She scanned the field behind the café, praying the man wouldn’t come out the back door as she had. But when it creaked open, her mouth went dry, and sweat rolled down her forehead.
“Kay, where are you?”
“Behind the Five Star Café,” she whispered, but before she could tell him anything else, Kaleb woke up with a jerk, as though he was startled, and began wiggling and whining. “Shh.” She leaned over and kissed the top of his head, then stroked his back.
When she looked up, the man had stopped several yards away at the edge of the overgrown field. “I know you’re out here. Where are you?”
The taunting menace in his voice struck fear deep into her, and for a few seconds she stopped patting Kaleb. He let out a wail.
Paralysis permeated Kay. Her attention riveted to the man.
He cackled.
She rammed the phone into her pocket, then still in a squat, she pivoted on the balls of her feet, frantically searching for the best direction to escape. With a quick glance over her shoulder, she plunged into the thicker vegetation nearby, whispering to Kaleb, “Shh, sweetie. We need to be quiet.”
He continued to fuss but softer, especially when she hunched her shoulder and cradled him even closer to her.
The light from the rear of the café barely penetrated the growing darkness. With another look behind her, though, she clearly saw the large man rushing toward her. She ran through the thicket, branches slapping against her as she increased speed. When she burst out of the undergrowth, a wide stretch of flat land lay before her. Nowhere to hide. She didn’t have to glance back to know the assailant was still coming, because the sounds behind her reminded her of a cattle stampede. Dragging in gulps of air, she raced across the field toward the woods.
God, help!
But the man kept coming like a hunter totally focused on its prey. Pop! Pop!
He was shooting at her? With a silencer?
A cold determination settled over her. She wouldn’t go down without a fight. With every ounce of will, she poured what energy she had into her legs and sprinted faster.
Until she brought her foot down in a hole and went flying forward. She twisted in midair and landed on the hard ground on her side to protect Kaleb.
The sound of the man’s pounding footsteps penetrated her dazed mind. She scrambled to rise while Kaleb cried, a beacon alerting her assailant to their location.
*
The lights of the café beckoned Drake. All he could think about was hearing the baby crying and the fear in Kay’s voice right before the line went dead. He clamped the steering wheel even tighter. As he’d rushed out of the house, he’d placed a call to the Cactus Grove police. Although he wasn’t that far away from the Five Star Café, he hoped one of their officers could reach her even faster.
; Up ahead a patrol car pulled into the parking lot and headed toward the rear. A minute later, he steered his SUV in the same direction, and when he arrived around back, the sound of gunfire fueled him with urgency. He slammed on his brakes, his vehicle fishtailing and coming to a stop near the patrol cruiser. In seconds, he snatched his night-vision goggles from the front seat, then exited with his weapon drawn.
Drake headed into the field, zooming in on the silhouettes of two men about five yards apart. Another round of shots resonated through the night air as the screech of tires behind him informed him others were joining the foray.
Friend or foe?
Drake quickly threw a look behind him, taking note of more police arriving. With his back covered, he returned his total focus on the two figures in the field. The officer went down, lost in the high weeds, while the assailant pivoted and ran hunched over to the cover of trees farther back from the café. Pursuing Kay? Drake didn’t see her.
Still wearing his badge, he gestured toward two patrolmen approaching. “I’m Texas Ranger Jackson. I called this in. There’s an officer down. One of you check on him—the other, come with me. I’m going after the shooter, who is pursuing a woman and a baby.”
He spun around. Where are Kay and Kaleb?
That question drove him after the attacker. Drake signaled for the police officer to search to the left while he covered the right side. When Drake approached the area where the shooter had stood, he inspected the ground for any clue to what happened to Kay. He spied a backpack, grabbed it and slung it over his shoulder, then kept going toward the woods at the rear end of the field, praying Kay and Kaleb were all right.
As he entered the grove, he donned his night-vision goggles. Although the moon was nearly full, the canopy of leaves above him blocked most of its light.
Scanning the terrain around him, Drake penetrated deeper into the trees, his senses heightened. When a deer bounded across his path, he came to a halt, startled. As it raced away, Drake drew in a deep, calming breath and proceeded forward, even more alert.
In the distance, a scream pierced the copse.
*
The sound of Kay’s pursuing assailant consumed her thoughts. She didn’t dare slow down as she felt her way through the dark woods, one arm in front with the other clasped around Kaleb. For some reason, he thought she was playing a game and giggled—thankfully not too loud—as her movements jostled him up and down.
The thundering of her heartbeat in her head, coupled with the pain from her injury yesterday pounding against her skull, vied with her harsh breaths for attention as she dragged air into her lungs. She didn’t know how much longer she could keep going. Suddenly she realized she didn’t hear her pursuer anymore, but in the distance sirens blared.
Had he given up and fled from the police?
She couldn’t keep up her fast pace. She slowed to fortify herself with deeper inhalations and get her bearings. Her arms ached from holding Kaleb for so long. Needing a place to hide, she searched the darkness. Kaleb began fussing, as though he finally sensed the grave danger they were in.
“Shh, sweetie,” she whispered and started moving again, not sure which way to go.
A noise to the right startled her. She veered left. The play of light and dark in the woods confused her. Was she still moving away from her assailant? She could no longer tell which direction she was going.
Then a large shadow stepped from behind a tree, and she ran into a solid muscular body.
She immediately knew it was her attacker. His stale-cigarette scent roiled her stomach. He gripped her arms with an ironclad hold. When she yelled for help, Kaleb bawled. Her assailant slapped her, then yanked on Kaleb, but he was secured against her in the baby carrier. The brute cursed and jerked harder.
Kaleb wailed even louder.
As they struggled, Kay kicked the man’s shin and pounded his arms. He couldn’t take her child. She poured all her energy into protecting Kaleb.
The brute shoved her to the ground, his large bulk hovering above her. She scrambled away. Kaleb’s cries filled her ears and motivated her to keep going, backpedaling as fast as she could. She hated that Kaleb was scared.
She glanced at Kaleb—“I’m here”—then covered his ears and screamed for help again.
When she explored the darkness surrounding her, she didn’t see her assailant.
Where is he?
“Kay, are y’all okay?” Drake asked behind her.
All the tension in her body siphoned from her. Now she was. “Yes.”
Drake clicked on a flashlight and swept the area with the bright beam, then knelt next to her. “He’s gone.”
A police officer arrived.
“The man’s not here.” Drake helped Kay to her feet while she tried to calm Kaleb, who was still crying.
Her legs started to give way. She clutched Drake to keep her balance, and he slipped his arm around her.
“Which way did he go?” the officer asked. “He wounded one of our own.”
“I’m not sure. Kay, did you see where?”
“No. It was too dark, and all I could think was to get away from him.”
Drake removed his goggles and handed them to the officer. “Use these. It might help.”
“Thanks. I’ve called in more men. We’ll have these woods covered in no time. You take care of the lady.” The patrol officer headed north.
Drake cradled her against his side. “I’m going to take you back to the hospital, but I won’t leave your side.”
“No. I won’t go there. I’m fine.” Or she would be when she and Kaleb were safe.
When will that be?
She didn’t know. Nor why someone was after her. I have to remember how I ended up in Big Bend National Park.
“Okay. Then I’ll take you to my family ranch. My dad was a medic in the army.”
“I can’t put your family in danger.” With her arms wrapped around Kaleb, who had calmed down, she straightened away from Drake. He’d already saved her twice. She couldn’t keep depending on him. To emphasize that, she took a couple of steps back in spite of the fact every ounce of her energy was gone.
“Why did you leave the hospital before being discharged?”
“I was scared of that man chasing me.” She waved at the place where her attacker had been moments ago. “Earlier he came into my hospital room. Thankfully Rosa quickly answered my call button with an orderly.”
“So you know who is after you? Are you remembering what happened to you?”
She peered at Kaleb, wishing she could recall how they ended up in the park. But her memory was a vast sea of nothing. “No…but there was something about the man that scared me.”
“C’mon. Let’s get you to my car.”
With his flashlight shining a path through the woods and field behind the café, Kay began to feel safer—at least for the moment. If the police caught the attacker, then maybe she would get answers to her questions about who she was. Why had she and Kaleb been in the park alone?
One of the Cactus Grove police approached Drake as they neared an SUV behind the café.
Drake paused at the vehicle. “Lieutenant, any sign of the man who attacked this woman?”
“I have everyone I can spare out there looking. So far nothing. It’s like he disappeared into thin air.”
At hearing the police officer’s assessment, Kay slid her eyes closed and leaned back against the SUV. Please, Lord, give me answers. I feel so lost.
“How is the downed police officer?”
Drake’s question riveted Kay’s attention. She’d heard shots behind her as she fled, but she hadn’t realized a person was hurt.
The lieutenant glanced at the ambulance leaving. “The paramedics are taking him to the hospital. He was shot in the upper chest, right side. He should make it barring any complications.”
“I’m taking Kay and her child to a safe place. Call me if anything changes.”
Kay straightened, stroking Kaleb down his back. Safe
place? Would she ever be safe? A police officer came to help and was wounded. His presence behind the café allowed her to get away from her assailant, but it had cost the patrolman.
“Will do.” The lieutenant shook Drake’s hand, then he tipped his hat toward Kay and left.
Drake moved closer as if shielding her. “You don’t need to hang out here. Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“My family ranch. My dad and brother are expecting you and Kaleb.”
“But—”
“They would be upset with me if you didn’t come. They won’t turn away from someone who needs help.”
She searched for the right words to refuse his offer. None came to mind. Already one man had been hurt trying to help her. She had no one but Drake. Kaleb’s well-being was her number-one priority. “Okay.” She gave Drake a small smile she wasn’t sure he saw in the dim light behind the café.
He opened the passenger door and assisted her inside. She followed his progress around the hood of the car, wondering what would have happened to her and Kaleb if he hadn’t found her in the park. What if someone like the man from the hospital had discovered her first? The idea of her assailant grabbing Kaleb renewed her fear twofold. Shivers slithered through her, as if a snowstorm had swirled around her.
Drake slipped behind the steering wheel and started the SUV. “The ranch isn’t too far from here. That’s why I was able to get here so quickly after you called.”
“I didn’t know what else to do.” I don’t know who to trust.
He threw her a glance, then pulled out into the light traffic. “It looks like Kaleb has fallen asleep.”
“He’s got the right idea. We’ve had quite an adventure recently.”
“If the guy isn’t caught tonight, I have a photo of him from the hospital that I’ll send to the lieutenant. With that circulating to every law enforcement agency in the area, I imagine your attacker will either be found soon or have the good sense to flee Cactus Grove.”
“I want to know why he came after me.”
“So do I. I have something I need to tell you.” Pausing for a few seconds, he cleared his throat. “The couple who helped us in the park yesterday was murdered. That’s why I left. Their bodies were found in Big Bend. The park ranger called and wanted me to come look at the crime scene.”
Lone Star Christmas Rescue Page 4