Dammit! This was the exact reason she had not wanted him involved. She knew something like this would happen. David was hurting people because of her.
It stops now.
Rushing to the kitchen, Kayla eyed the large knife block on the counter. She grabbed two small steak knives, shoving one in each of her boots. Next, she grabbed the large carving knife. David might search her, but there was no way she was going to meet him unarmed. She might die today, but damned if she wouldn’t go down fighting.
She slipped the carving knife into the back of her jeans, covering it with her long undershirt. The blade poked her skin, slipping at the slightest movement. What am I thinking? She wasn’t some action star vigilante with a fake movie prop. This thing was very real and very sharp. No way could she drive out to David with a large knife in the back of her pants. She’d slice her backside up for sure. Good thing she had a large winter coat.
Carefully pulling the weapon out, she slipped it into the inner pocket of her jacket. Much better. Her gaze caught on the meat cleaver with longing, but there was no way she could conceal something that big on her person. She would have to make do with the three knives she had.
Grabbing a pen and a piece of paper from the junk drawer, she scribbled out a quick note for Ryder. She contemplated calling him, it was his sister in danger, but she didn’t want to take the risk of David killing Julie. No, she had to go alone. If she could distract David, maybe Julie could make a run for it. This was her mess, and she needed to fix it.
But there was one more problem—how to get there?
Ryder only had one car and he took it into work. Her gaze shifted out the kitchen window to the horse stall. Wind Chaser moved lazily around the fenced in pen. No, I need to get there in one piece. If she rode the giant beast, she’d be liable to fall off and break her fool neck, and then where would Julie be?
Thankfully, Ryder had written down a few numbers for her on the fridge. She picked up the phone again and dialed. Maggie answered on the first ring.
“Hi. It’s Kayla.”
“Hey, you coming into the shop today?”
“Actually, that’s what I’m calling about. I need a favor.”
The baker’s cheerful voice held an edge of caution. “Everything okay?”
No it wasn’t, but if her plan worked, everything soon would be.
Chapter 25
After leaving Kayla in bed this morning, Ryder itched to call her and check in. The accident scene had been ugly. Even so, the whole time he was taking statements, his mind wandered back to his bed and the woman he left there. He hated to leave her, but had no choice. He had a job to do.
If it were up to him, all DUI’s would lose their licenses permanently.
He turned the key, locking the door to the station’s one small cell. The drunk inside lay on the hard wooden bench; his loud snores indicated the man was now sleeping it off. After the driver had been pulled from the car, the EMT’s had looked him over. Not a scratch on the guy.
Couldn’t say the same for the other car.
The EMT’s at the scene said the woman suffered a broken arm and possible concussion. Thankfully, the children sleeping in the backseat were uninjured. All three had been passed out when the crash occurred, the youngest, seven months old, buckled tight in his car seat.
Ryder’s blood still boiled at the memory of those wide, terrified eyes. When he arrived at the scene, the mother was being loaded into the ambulance, the baby was screaming, the three year-old was crying for her daddy, and the five-year old boy with dark red hair kept asking if his mommy was going to be okay.
Damn near broke his heart. The fear coming off the kids ramped up his own worry for Kayla. Never before had he wanted to wrap up a scene so quickly.
The bleary-eyed drunk was barely coherent. The guy couldn’t speak, let alone drive. What the hell had he been thinking? He hadn’t. Therein lied the problem. Bastard could have killed the entire family. Instead, he scared them for life. Never had he wanted to kick a man’s ass more. Sometimes he hated the fact he was the sheriff and had to maintain the law, because beating up a drunkard, even if he deserved it, was not standard police protocol.
“Hey, Sheriff?”
Ryder turned from watching the drunk guy snore away to face Mrs. Billings.
“The hospital called. The woman has a broken ulna and a mild concussion. The kids are all medically fine, a little shaken up, but fine. The husband is there with them now. They were on their way to the airport to pick him up. Poor guy got a pretty terrible homecoming.”
“At least they’re all alive.” Tremors shook his usually steady hands. Damn accident brought up memories of his own father’s fatal collision with a drunk driver. Add that to his worry for Kayla and his nerves were shot to hell. “That’s something to be thankful for.”
Mrs. Billings nodded. “It is indeed. I also got word on Tim.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Couple of stitches, a tetanus shot, and he’s right as rain.”
“Have Jason go pick him up.”
The older woman smiled. “Already done.”
Of course it was. She was on top of everything. Going to be tough to find her replacement once she retires. The woman kept the place running like a well-oiled machine.
“Thank you, Mrs. Billings. I don’t know what we would do without you.”
She chuckled, waving a hand in the air. “Run around like a bunch of chickens with your heads cut off, I imagine.”
A smile tugged at his lips. She wasn’t too far off.
“Why don’t you go grab something to eat, Sheriff? Green and Cummings are in. They can hold down the fort for a bit.”
He glanced at the clock. Holy cow, it’s already eleven. He’d been so busy handling everything, he hadn’t noticed how late it was.
His stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, reminding him he hadn’t eaten since dinner last night. Food and coffee would be good right about now. Lots of coffee.
His nerves were on edge also, anxious to check in on Kayla. He hadn’t liked leaving her this morning. His hours could be wonky at times; emergencies came up, and he had to deal with them. She’d handled it like a champ when he told her he had to leave.
There had been a moment there when he almost confessed his feelings. He cared for Kayla, but it was more than that he realized in that moment—he loved her. Body and soul.
It sounded crazy, given the amount of time they had known each other, but he had no doubt she was the woman he had been waiting for his whole life. His father once told him he knew Ryder’s mother was the other half of his soul the moment he met her.
That was how Ryder felt about Kayla.
She was so strong and independent, had to be because of how she’d grown up…alone. It broke his heart every time he thought about her childhood, being shuffled from house to house, never finding a home. Never having a family. Then she found Jen, a sister at heart, only to lose her in the most brutal way. Life wasn’t fair sometimes.
How she managed to go through so much heartache and still come out such a kind, bright, caring person he would never know. But it was amazing. She was amazing. And he loved her without a single shred of doubt. She was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his days with.
When he tried to convey his feelings this morning, however, he had seen uncertainty in her eyes. Whether she was unsure of her feelings or scared to take a leap of faith, he had no idea. He hoped it was the latter. Fear he could help her overcome, but if she didn’t love him…well, that would mean a lifetime of loneliness for him. Kayla was the one for him. If she didn’t feel the same, he would let her go…and his wasted heart would love her until the day he died.
“I’ll be back in about an hour,” he said to Mrs. Billings. “I have my cell on if anything comes up.”
The station mom waved him away, assuring him she could handle things. More than once he found himself pondering if she was secretly Wonder Woman.
Ryder headed outside int
o the cold air. November kept getting colder and colder. He hoped they weren’t in for a nasty winter. Snow was great for tourists, but freezing pipes were hell on townsfolk.
As he made his way down the steps of the small stationhouse, he heard someone call out. Looking up, he saw Maggie running straight toward him, her face pinched with worry.
His senses went on red alert. A million scenarios filled his brain—something was wrong with Lizzy and Dade’s baby, the shop was in trouble again, someone at the ranch got thrown from a mount.
She stopped in front of him, cold air turning her breath to little white puffs of smoke.
“Maggie, what is it? What’s wrong?”
Her gloved hands twisted. “I don’t know. I mean, I’m not sure anything is wrong. Kayla called and asked to borrow my car.”
Kayla? She was supposed to stay at home today. The red alert went nuclear. Why would she need a car? “Did she say why?”
The baker shook her head, small strands of hair falling from her French braid. “No. I picked her up about ten minutes ago from your house. She dropped me off back at the shop. She didn’t say a thing the whole drive, just sat there with a determined look on her face, and, Ryder…she was scared. I could tell, but she wouldn’t talk to me. She kept saying she had an errand to run and everything was fine.” Her lower lip trembled. “I’m sorry. I should have contacted you the minute she called me. I can’t help but think something is very wrong.”
Neither could he. At the best, Kayla freaked and took off. At the worst, David found her. He needed answers. The first place to start looking was the last place she had been.
He gave her a brief hug, noticing the tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. “Thanks for telling me, Maggie. I’m sure everything is fine.”
She squeezed him hard, pressing her face into his chest. Her voice muffled as she spoke, “You’re as bad a liar as I am, Jake Ryder. I may not know everything, but I know that girl is running from something.”
Yes, and he prayed it hadn’t caught her.
Knowing time was precious, he ran to his truck, hitting the gas almost as soon as the engine turned over. His heart and mind raced at breakneck speed with worry.
He made it back to the house in record time. One step inside and he knew Kayla was gone. The air felt heavy, the house empty. He searched the rooms quickly, looking for a clue as to where she would have run and why.
All of her clothing still sat in the bedroom, so she hadn’t gone away for good. His heart shuttered with relief. It was a pretty safe bet Kayla planned on returning. Then why had she needed Maggie’s car? And why had she been so secretive?
A hinkey feeling settled deep in his gut. Something was off.
He made his way into the kitchen. Frenzy settling into a calm worry, he noticed the countertops were so clean they sparkled. Had Kayla cleaned his house? His frantic mind didn’t even question the fact his house was cleaner than it had ever been, too focused on finding her to give it a second thought. Now, if only he knew where the fool woman was so he could thank her properly.
From the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. There, on the perfectly polished counter, was a piece of paper. No, a note.
A note from Kayla explaining where she went? He hoped so.
Ryder snatched up the paper, his gaze rapidly moving over the elegantly written script.
Dear Ryder,
I’m so sorry. It seems my troubles have caught up with me. David somehow discovered your sister was helping me. It’s all my fault. He took her.
His heart stopped. Julie! That monster had his baby sister.
He wants to do an exchange. Her for me. I know it’s a trap, but maybe I can buy your sister some time to escape. I have to try. I am so, so sorry about everything. You are the most amazing man I have ever met. I never wanted to cause you any pain. I should have left the night you found me. I never should have brought my problems to your doorstep.
David is staying in a cabin just off Pine Ridge Road.
Ryder was familiar with the cabin, a rental property, but boarded up during the winter season. The perfect place to take a hostage. Kayla was an idiot to go there alone. David probably warned her not to tell the police or he would kill Julie, and sweet Kayla, who was so concerned for his sister’s safety, complied with the dirty cop’s demand.
But the note told him she knew he would come after her. She was following David’s instructions, but making a backup plan of her own.
Smart woman.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. These past two weeks with you have been the happiest of my life—except the whole being framed for murder thing of course.
He smiled at her ill attempt at humor.
I’ll get her back for you. I promise. You won’t have to lose another person you love.
Kayla
Silly woman, didn’t she realize he loved her? Did she think sacrificing herself for his sister was really what he wanted?
Well, she had another thing coming, because he would not lose either of them. Not to a jackass like David Tyler. If that bastard hurt one hair on either Julie or Kayla’s head, sheriff or not, Ryder would kill the guy. And damn the consequences. Tyler had the two most important women in his life. He would stop at nothing until they were both safely back in his arms.
Chapter 26
Cold wind whipped the short strands of Kayla’s hair into her face. Reaching up, she pushed the hair behind her ear with frozen fingertips. She should have worn gloves, but proper winter attire had been the last thing on her mind. Hopefully, she wasn’t too late. Julie had to be alive. There was no other acceptable scenario. The thought of Ryder losing another family member was unbearable. And to be the cause of it…that was too much.
Maggie’s borrowed car sat in the driveway. The kind woman had been so worried, inquiring as to what was going on, but Kayla didn’t dare tell her. The less people who knew, the better. Ryder and Julie were already dragged into her mess. She did not want to involve anyone else. This was her problem, and she would fix it.
A shiver, having nothing to do with the cold, raced down her spine.
She prayed Ryder got her note on time. David told her to come alone, and she had, but she wasn’t an idiot. She knew there was no way he would let her or Julie walk away. He couldn’t risk either of them talking. Kayla knew he intended to kill them both. That would not happen if she had anything to say about it. Ryder would come after his sister, no doubt in her mind. Now, all she had to do was make sure Julie stayed alive until he got here.
And if she had to sacrifice her own life for Julie’s, so be it.
A terrified sob rose up in her throat. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.
Touching a hand to her jacket, she felt for the large carving knife securely held in the inside pocket. She knew she was bringing a knife to a gunfight, but it was better than no weapon at all.
Plucking up all the courage she could muster, she placed one foot in front of the other and continued toward the cabin. It looked like any other vacation property, small, one story, two aged, wooden rocking chairs sitting on the front porch. The whole scene was very quaint and picturesque; such an antithesis to the current situation, she almost laughed. From the outside, one would think this place the perfect retreat for a little tranquility. No one would ever guess a murderer lay in wait.
Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she made her way up the weatherworn stairs. They creaked under her footsteps. No matter. The element of surprise wasn’t a part of her plan. David knew she was coming. He most likely heard the car pull up.
She didn’t really have much of a plan, to be honest. Distract David so Julie could run, and hope Ryder showed up before David killed her. She bit her bottom lip. Not much of a plan, but it was all she had. She was a kindergarten teacher for goodness sake; her lesson plans included the ABC’s and shape recognition. Dealing with a psychotic killer was out of her area of expertise.
Her body trembled as she reached the front door. Foreg
oing a knock, she grabbed the knob and turned. The door swung open with ease, and Kayla stepped into the small cabin. Chilly air blasted her, freezing her to the bone, the temperature inside colder than the outdoors somehow. Her gaze fell upon a woman bound to a kitchen chair in the middle of the room. Her long, dark hair hung in a tangled mess around her face. Blood stained parts of the torn silk blouse.
Bile rose in Kayla’s throat. What had David done?
She stepped tentatively into the room. “Julie?”
The woman’s head slowly rose. The dark, chocolate eyes reminded her of Ryder. Yes, this had to be Julie Ryder; she would bet her life on it. A despondent laugh rose inside her as she realized she was doing just that.
“Kayla?” Her voice came out harsh and scratchy. The way one sounded after a bout of screaming.
She nodded, a tear slipping from her eye. “I’m so sorry, Julie. I never wanted to put you in any danger.”
“Awe, now isn’t that sweet.” A vile chuckle came from behind her.
She spun around, coming face to face with the man she feared most.
David Tyler looked…disheveled. Not as polished as usual. Chasing down a witness while trying to cover up a murder must do that to a man.
“Don’t you know, Kayla,” he continued, “you are danger. A dangerous murderer on the run, willing to kill anyone who gets in her way.”
“David, how did you find me?”
“I have my ways.” He nodded to the bound Julie. “One of my contacts alerted me the minute your lawyer started digging into my past. It wasn’t hard to track her down.” His eyes gleamed. “And it wasn’t hard to break her down.”
A muffled sob came from the bound woman. Her heart broke. What had David done to her? Torture?
The bastard!
“I’m here now. So you can let her go.”
He laughed, almost doubling over. “Oh, Kayla. Are you really that stupid?”
No, she wasn’t, but she wanted to give him the opportunity to keep his word. Silly her.
Love on the Risky Side Page 16