“Well, well, well, little darlin’, what do we have here?”
Cassidy froze. She had been creeping behind the old rough wood corral when the thick, slow drawl came out of nowhere. Her heart jumped into her throat and cut off her windpipe. She almost spun around, then realized there was a real possibility he had a gun and might shoot her.
“Let’s put those pretty hands where I can see them, little lady.”
She managed to drag in a breath and lifted her hands slowly above her head. Oh man, she was in trouble. Her stomach felt about as sick as the time she’d eaten bad seafood. If it got any worse she was probably going to turn green and barf all over this pitiful excuse for a cowboy.
“Now, turn around real slow and let old Roy get a good look at you.”
Okay, so it just got super creepy. She turned around to find a Clint Eastwood wannabe with a raspy voice. The half-chewed cigar dangling from his lips wasn’t lit, and as he met her gaze he took it with two fingers and drew it out of his mouth. He was holding a pistol and Cassidy tried not to focus on it. It was making her knees knock and her ankles were suddenly weak.
Don’t look down, don’t look down, don’t look down, she told herself, trying not to become hysterical. She had to focus.
Jarrod would find her. He would. This wasn’t the end. This wannabe wasn’t going to hurt her. He was bluffing. All she had to do was stay cool. She was starting to sweat, and despite being outside she was feeling a little claustrophobic. She was in fact going to lose it. Or faint.
Fainting isn’t going to help anything. The voice in her head growled and then kicked her between the eyes.
“You aren’t going to get away with this, y-you know. The cavalry is coming. Just so you know.”
He laughed loudly and ended it with the snort of a pig. Ew.
“The cavalry, huh?” He laughed and waved the pistol at her. “Move it. Let’s tell your jokes to my buddies.”
Jarrod scanned the road and pastures. His heart was pounding and his sweaty palms gripped the steering wheel. Then his headlights found her truck. He immediately saw she wasn’t in it.
He was parked and jogging to the old Ford in a flash. He yanked open the door and scanned the vehicle for any signs of struggle or if she’d left him a note or anything.
Nothing.
He spun and scanned the area. He spotted a headband draped neatly on the fence. He picked it up and his throat clenched. “Cass. What are you doing?”
He bent down and studied the scuffed area she’d made so he’d know where she’d gone . . . or at least where she’d entered the pasture.
“Think, Monahan. Think.” What was out here? Where had she gone . . . or no, where would the rustlers have been going?
He ran for his truck, yanked up his rifle, and reached in his glove compartment for his revolver. But he needed to decide what to do. If they were at the old corral in the valley and then came back this way to leave, and if he was on foot and stuck out there, there was no way he could stop them. But with his truck there was more likelihood he’d be seen.
He called Jake and told him what he knew. Agent Kirkpatrick was already en route.
“I’m free here now, and I’ve already called in backup. So soon we’ll have roadblocks in place. Silence your phone, Jarrod, and dim the screen so you can text me or I can text you if need be.”
“I will. I’m going in, Jake. Cassidy needs me.”
“I’d tell you to wait on me but I know that’d be a waste of breath. You just keep your head down and stay out of sight, Jarrod. And keep the texts rolling.”
“You got it. And hey, don’t call my brothers on this. They’re welcoming my nephew into the world right now and that’s exactly what they need to be doing. Long as you’ve got my back, we’re covered.”
“I’ve always had your back,” Jake said. Jarrod knew he was referring to their football and then rodeo days.
Jarrod hung up and did as Jake had suggested, turning his phone’s sound off and the screen light to dim. He pocketed the phone, turned off his truck lights, and drove slowly down the road and across the cattle guard. He’d decided he had to get his truck a little closer and then he’d go in on foot. He made it to the mesquite trees. How far behind her was he?
Jarrod had never felt so helpless, but he refused to focus on that. He had to find Cassidy. He drove his truck into the thin strand of mesquite, then after grabbing his guns he got out and said a prayer, one of a hundred he’d already said as he’d been speeding this way. He watched the sky and could see a cloud edging toward the slight moon. He forced himself to wait. After a few seconds the clouds blocked out the moon and the night turned darker. He ran.
Covering ground as quickly and quietly as he could, he made it to the next stand of trees before the clouds moved on and revealed the moonlight again.
He dodged through thin trees, and there he could look down the slight hill to the old pens. He’d considered putting a camera here but he’d never gotten around to it, his thought being it was too deep into the interior for them to even know about it.
That’s when he knew the thief was either someone working for him or had worked for him before.
And exactly why he hadn’t alerted his men to what he had been doing.
He saw the trucks down in the valley—two of them. Dozens of cattle were being rounded up. This was one of the sections he hadn’t asked Gil to move, which was more evidence that this was an inside job. He might not be an agent, but he knew someone close to his ranch knew where this corral was and knew this herd hadn’t been moved.
They might have even known his brother and sister-in-law were having a baby tonight and that Jarrod would be preoccupied with that.
But right now he didn’t care. He’d give them every heifer and steer he owned in trade for Cassidy.
Cassidy knew even more than before that she was in trouble. She recognized one of the cowboys as one of Jarrod’s men. She didn’t know his name, but he’d been on the roundup the day she’d gone out with everyone. There was no way she was getting out of this alive. She’d seen every one of their faces.
“What are we going to do with her?” Roy asked the three other rustlers. He looked to be the oldest, around fortyish. The others looked like they were in their thirties. And there was no way any of them wanted to go to prison.
“She’s seen our faces,” the one who worked with Jarrod said, panic in his tone.
Another guy scowled, and his beady eyes darted up and down Cassidy with disdain. “She’ll have to have an accident. Get trampled in the trailer or something.”
Cassidy glanced at the trailer full of cattle and her mouth went dry.
She wasn’t ready to meet Jesus yet. If he called her home she’d go, but on his time, not these lowlifes’.
Her life flashed before her and she realized she wanted to be the one to give Pops another great-grandchild—one with Jarrod.
The thought made her smile. And made her want to cry at the same time.
She was not ready to leave this world, not when she had to tell Jarrod Monahan that she loved him and always had.
But what could she do?
Stall. Hang on. Jarrod was on the way, and if he got there in time he would know what to do.
“I’m curious what y’all are doing with these cattle?” she said. “They’re not finding any traces and y’all have taken a lot of them.”
The one who worked for Jarrod looked nervous and remained silent. He probably knew if something happened to her Jarrod would find them all, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
Or maybe he had a conscience. After all, they’d spent that day working together.
She had to keep talking. They weren’t going to spend a lot of time hanging around the pasture now that the herd had been trailered.
Beady Eyes sneered again. “Let’s just say we have friends in high places.”
That was interesting and reminded Cassidy that she had a friend in the highest place. She silently said a prayer asking God to w
atch over her. To give her strength and show her what to do.
“Like on a mountain?” she asked, acting ditzy.
“You ask too many questions,” Beady snarled. “I bet ole Jarrod thinks you’re a real hoot.”
“Matter of fact, I think she’s wonderful.” Jarrod stepped out from behind the trailer and Cassidy wanted to run and tackle him. He had a rifle pointed at the two men on the left of her and a revolver pointed at Beady Eyes. There was no softness in Jarrod as he leveled his gaze on them. He looked like Matthew Quigley from her favorite western.
She felt it rather than saw it as Roy, the Clint Eastwood wannabe-but-never-gonna-be, leveled his gun on her. Great.
Then she heard the sirens.
Through the trees she saw flashing lights brighter and more plentiful than the Fourth of July fireworks. Chaos erupted when Beady Eyes grabbed her and yanked her against him. In the blink of an eye she’d become a human shield.
Not today.
Cassidy didn’t hesitate. She stomped on his foot hard with the wedge of her heel, rammed him hard in the gut with her elbow at the same instant, then twisted around and brought her knee up hard. She was in a world of her own during this move and she stepped back to watch him crumble. The boom of a gun sounded over the wail of the sirens and she saw Jarrod go down.
“No!” she cried. She dove for him, but she was grabbed around the waist and hauled up against ole Roy.
“You kick me and I’ll finish your boyfriend off,” he growled in her ear.
“Put your weapons down. You’re surrounded.” The voice came from some kind of loudspeaker as spotlights suddenly illuminated them.
Roy froze but held his grip on Cassidy. Her knees went weak.
Cassidy saw Jarrod roll over, revolver in hand. He was alive. Thank you, Lord.
“You better listen to my friend the sheriff,” he growled as law enforcement vehicles burst into the pasture around them. They charged and slung grass and dirt everywhere as they skidded to a halt. Doors flew open and officers exited the cabs, weapons drawn and aimed right at them from behind their open doors.
“Let her go, and you’ll get out of this alive,” Jake called, his gun steady.
Cassidy’s gaze swung back to Jarrod, who hadn’t wavered in his aim.
“Let her go, man,” the cowboy she’d worked cattle with warned, finally deciding to speak up. “I didn’t sign on for a hostage situation.”
“No way. We’re not a part of him,” the fourth rustler said.
Cassidy’s heart was thundering so hard she could barely hear. The moments ticked by, and then Roy held his gun into the air and let her go.
Though her knees were buckling, she made it to Jarrod. She knelt beside him and grabbed his face in her hands.
“Don’t you dare die on me, Jarrod Monahan.” And then she kissed him like there was no tomorrow.
Jarrod let the EMT finish wrapping his shoulder, then thanked her and moved out of the way as they shut down and then drove away. He’d refused an ambulance to the hospital. There was no need. He had everything he needed right here.
He was glad the bullet had hit the same shoulder the horse had attacked so he still had one good arm. The bullet had only grazed him so his injury wasn’t much more than a flesh wound. When he’d gone down, he’d stayed where he was hoping for the opportunity to help Cassidy. Jake and his officers had given him that chance.
Now he just wanted everyone to leave so he could be alone with Cassidy.
Jake came to stand beside him and held out his hand. Jarrod grabbed it in a hard shake. “You did good,” Jarrod said to Jake. “You had my back and then some. This old place hasn’t seen excitement like this since we were kids helping Pops round up those longhorns he used to keep in this pasture.”
Jake laughed. “Now those were some ornery critters.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. But it was worth it. After I told you about the longhorn pen, you were probably the only person other than my brothers and Pops who would have known where to come.”
“It worked out,” Jake said, then glanced over his shoulder toward Cassidy, who was sitting in the squad car making a statement to his deputy. “Those fellas”—he nodded toward the rustlers being loaded in the back of a sheriff’s SUV—“are going to jail, and I have a feeling once the investigation is done they’ll face charges in several jurisdictions. That fella working for you has several names and has worked ranches all over Texas that are missing cattle.”
Jake nodded toward Cassidy. “She’s the one who did great. She didn’t panic. You two will probably have a lot of questions from the TSCRA agents to answer, but that can wait till tomorrow. Y’all need to get to the hospital, you’ve got a new nephew to meet.”
Jarrod grinned. “Give us a ride to my truck. My phone’s about to blow up with text messages and phone calls from Bo and Tru.”
A few minutes later he and Cassidy told Jake good-bye and then stood beside Jarrod’s truck in the shadow of the mesquite trees. He didn’t waste any time taking her into his arms. “Cassidy, tell me again you’re okay,” he said, looking down into her eyes that were glowing in the dim light from the open truck door.
“I’m wonderful. I’ve let go of a huge weight I’ve been carrying. Jarrod, I have to tell you. I love you. All I could think about when I realized those rustlers were going to more than likely kill me was that I hadn’t told you I love you. And that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If you still want the same thing.”
He smiled. “What kind of question is that? I want you more than words could describe. But what about wanting to live life on your own and not trusting men ever again?”
“It was just fear, Jarrod. And I realized I don’t want to be afraid. And you were right. I love ranching so much. I still love the idea of a small farm and a B and B, but I don’t want it to take the place of where you and our family should be.”
She took a deep breath.
“You were so right about that, and I was just so afraid and fighting it all the way. Roxie was content the way she lived her life, but I could never feel content with that life because I’m supposed to be with you. I realized I don’t want to live with bitterness from any part of my life. I’m letting it go, and that includes letting go of what both Jack and my parents did. I want a fresh start with us free from all that.”
She was right. “And I want that too. I’m letting go of the anger against my dad. Life is too short, Cass.” He went down on one knee and took her hand in his. “Cassidy Starr, I came back from Montana to ask you this question eight years ago, but then it was one winter snow too late. Will you marry me, Cass?”
“Yes! Right this minute if you can find me a preacher. I don’t want to wait another instant.”
He rose, took her into his good arm, and kissed her. When his lips touched hers, electricity sparked from every nerve ending, crying out for more.
“And, Jarrod,” she said softly, “the other thing I thought about out there was what our great-grandchild for Pops will look like.”
He laughed. Threw his head back and laughed so hard his shoulders shook.
“I hope she has big green eyes and wild red curls like her momma.”
“And I hope he has deep blue eyes and dark hair like his daddy.”
Jarrod’s heart swelled with pure love. “Then I suggest we get this marriage going because I see we’re going to have to fix this draw with a tiebreaker.”
Cassidy took his face into her hands and looked deeply into his eyes. “I have always loved a tiebreaker. Kiss me and then let’s go tell everyone.”
“And I’ve always wanted a honey-do list. And this sounds like something I can do.”
And then he kissed her and nothing ever felt so right.
EPILOGUE
It was a gorgeous day for a wedding. The wind was a little high and there were storm clouds on the horizon, but even that couldn’t put a damper on the way Cassidy felt.
They had decided on a small, uncomplicated ceremony. Nei
ther of Cassidy’s parents was able to make the date she’d chosen, but she had come to terms with that. She could be happy despite their absence. They might never change, but she could change her heart and her outlook even though she couldn’t control theirs.
Nothing could change the joy she felt today. She could not contain the smile on her face as she stood among the peach trees Roxie had planted and exchanged vows with Jarrod, surrounded by his family, her new family, and friends.
Her heart full, Cassidy took it all in. She was home and she felt Aunt Roxie smiling.
Maggie held her infant son, Will, a sweet little angel who already had Tru wrapped around his little finger. Abby held—or tried to hold—Levi’s hand as he moved from her to Pops to Bo and back again, smiling and full of joy.
A small, close-knit group filled the chairs with Pops. Pebble and Rand were there together, with Pebble sporting a new wedding ring of her own. Stunning everyone, the two had eloped and they had been smiling ever since. Clara Lyn and Reba were present, too, along with Doobie and Doonie and Doc and others.
But as Cassidy turned to look into the eyes of the man she’d loved for so very long, her eyes were only for him.
It had been a shock to learn Jarrod had been concerned enough about her to write Maggie for advice. But it had also touched her deeply, and it made today even more special.
When at last Jarrod took her into his arms and kissed her, she knew joy like she’d never felt in all her life.
“There will always, always be love,” he promised, looking deeply into her eyes. And he kissed her once more. “And there will always be kisses.”
“Oh yes. There will be kisses.” She chuckled and pulled his lips to hers.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. When we meet Cassidy, she is bordering on depression along with grief over not having been able to hold her marriage together. Why? Have you or someone you know ever experienced this?
Kissed by a Cowboy Page 24