Stetson

by Danielle Norman

The house was dark, but that wasn’t surprising since it was so late, but as I headed around the house, I noticed a light on in the stables, which they never left on since Horse’s eyes were so sensitive. Watching my step, I stayed close to the brush, and without taking my eyes off the stables ahead, I moved closer only glancing down occasionally to make sure that I wasn’t going to trip on a branch or step into a hole.

  I heard a noise, like the sound of something falling. Pulling my Glock from my holster, I pressed the button on my radio to call into dispatch. I couldn’t explain it but something wasn’t right. Trusting my instincts had saved my life more than once in this line of work, so I wasn’t about do something different now. “This is Eleven-Eighteen, give me a ten-thirty-eight, ten-forty-six at Kelly Ranch. Have them fifty-six me at the stables.”

  Turning my volume down so that it was near a whisper, I waited for dispatch to reply. “Seminole County Copies, 11:23 hours, copy.”

  I released the button.

  Taking in the scene in front of me, I tried to go through what I knew of the building in my head. Large main stable, twelve individual stalls, back area with open tack room, and one office that has its own side entry door.

  A few deep breaths, I hurried my pace, trying to stay out of the ray of the moonlight and stick close to the building’s shadow as I edged around the corner. I was trained to react under pressure, but when it was the person you loved who was possibly at risk, sometimes all training seemed to fly out the window. I got closer, and it was as though an icy hand reached up and grabbed me, I was frozen when a large figure moved in front of a side window. Recognizing that area as Holland’s office, all signs were whipping a fucking red flag right in my face. This was bad news since whoever was moving around inside had intentionally not turned the lights on in the office and if someone was in the main part of the stables the two were about to run into each other.

  I slowed my breathing as I pressed closer to the window and listened. My chest pounded from anxiety.

  I heard a whimper of someone in pain. Then the weight of what felt like fifty bricks landed in my stomach when it hit home that it wasn’t just someone, that was London who had whimpered. I had no clue how truly strong I was until that moment when being strong for her was my only choice. It was funny, once you figure out who you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start that very moment.

  Hearing her whimpers, but not being able to see her or go inside until backup arrived was a whole new kind of torture, one that I’d never experienced before. I probably only stood there one or two minutes, but it felt like one or two hours as I listened to my heart beat and sweat trickle down my face as I tried to make a plan. Deciding that I couldn’t wait any longer because London needed me, I made my way around to the giant front doors of the stables.

  Bringing my pistol close, I held it at the low ready and then stepped into the well lit main area. The first thing I did was cut the lights. Once the stable was shrouded in darkness, I stepped back outside to safety and to give my eyes time to acclimate and to see if anyone noticed the change.

  Once I felt it was safe and I didn’t hear anything, I waited about another thirty seconds, then headed back in, this time closing the barn doors behind me. Just in case whoever was back there with London wasn’t working alone, the last thing I needed was their partner in crime to sneak up on me. Likewise, I didn’t want Paris or Holland realizing that London was missing and then come traipsing into the stables without my knowing.

  With my back pressed against the wall, I squatted as I quickly moved under each half door of the stalls and looked around corners to see if anyone else was hiding in here as I tried to secure the front part of the stables where the horses were housed and deem it empty.

  Once I was confident that it was just me in here, I stood, and made my way carefully toward that back office, stopping just outside the doorway. There was another muffled cry and then heavy footfalls. Footfalls that were far too loud to belong to London.

  All the possible scenarios crashed through me, making my head swim as each one ended worse than the one before it. I battled through them, knowing that there could be a chance I was over reacting.

  Still, I raised my hand and knocked on the closed office door hollering, “London, you in there? I’d like to talk.” Before I moved to try the handle, which was locked as I had suspected.

  The sounds from the other side of the door ceased, and the silence in the room was the scariest sound of all.

  16

  London

  Braden, please...please.

  I sent silent prayer after silent prayer that he’d be able to figure out what was going on.

  I tried to yell, but my words were muffled by the bandana and then were totally cut off when Ryan pressed his hand over my mouth. By the time he lifted it there were no more sounds of tapping and no more shouts outside the door. Please, Braden, I began my ritual of silent prayers all over again.

  When Ryan’s hands rubbed over my belly, he seemed transfixed, almost lost. Then I heard what had caught Ryan’s attention. He hadn’t been transfixed; he had been concentrating on the sound.

  “London? Are you okay?” Braden said before he knocked on the office door.

  Ryan froze, and for once, I saw an ounce of fear in him, a sign of desperation, and it scared me just as much as his demented mind. He crooked one finger and placed it under my chin and locked his eyes on mine. When he looked at me, the fear had been replaced with resolve and a smirk.

  I let my eyes follow his movements as he trailed a hand to the back of his jeans and pulled out a revolver.

  Oh, god.

  I shuddered when he leaned closer once more, one hand resting on the desk the other next to my head. “If you make a sound, I’ll kill him and then I’ll go inside and kill Paris and Holland.”

  “London, open up. I’m not leaving until we talk.” Braden’s voice was full of determination.

  Ryan moved toward the door as he unbuttoned his shirt then ran his fingers through his hair a few times so that it was disheveled. With one hand, he unsnapped his jeans and then lowered the zipper. He didn’t so much as glance back in my direction before he unlocked the door and stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.

  When the door shut, I wiggled, using the smooth surface of the pavers to help slide my weight around since my constraints were so tight. Something loosened, I wasn’t sure what, but I could move a little more. A warm trickle of blood slid down my wrist, but it was a small price to pay for what I’d gained. I yanked harder, trying to wiggle free, and lifted until I felt the rope catch underneath the leg of the desk. Then I lifted against and again and again until my muscles burned from the effort and the rope holding my wrists loosened.

  I could bring my arms to me.

  Quickly, I worked on the knots as I listened to the lies Ryan was spilling.

  “Deputy McManus, do you know what time it is?”

  Braden wasn’t stupid. He’d be able to tell that Ryan was obviously trying to hide something.

  “I’m here to check on London. I know she’s in there.”

  “Yes, but she can’t come out, umm, we’re a little busy, if you know what I mean.”

  “But you were issued a no trespass.”

  “That is no longer valid since London invited me here.”

  A lie Braden would see right through. No one claimed Ryan was very smart.

  While the two carried on, I continued working on trying to free myself.

  Really, Ryan? Slip knots? What, were you expecting a quick getaway?

  I snorted but pinched my lips closed as I freed my hands and then started working to free my ankles, which was difficult with my legs spread apart. Pressing my hand to the ground, I pushed myself up and used my other hand to quickly unfasten the ties and still listen to what was going on outside.

  His half-baked plan was failing fast, and the only thing he accomplished was pissing me off and adding assault to his ever-growing li
st of charges.

  He would end up in jail for a very, very long time...well, that was if I didn’t kill him myself first.

  The last knot on my ankle unraveled, and I scrambled to pull a saddle blanket off a shelf and wrapped it around me.

  “Ryan, I’m not leaving until I hear from London. You are trespassing, and unless she comes to the door and tells me she invited you onto the property, I have no option but to put you under arrest. So I suggest you get her right now.”

  He didn’t believe Ryan’s act to try to make him jealous. God, I didn’t deserve this man. He believed in me.

  “Actually, she can’t come and see you, she hasn’t gotten dressed yet, she’s still basking.” Ryan let out a whistle that made me curse.

  “London! Are you inside? Answer me and tell me you’re fine. Ryan, you’ll need to step away from the building. You need to come out here with me until I establish you have a right to be here.”

  Braden’s voice was loud enough to echo across the entire ranch. His tone was firm, totally unwavering. I was tempted to open my mouth, but Braden had no idea that Ryan was armed and I had no idea if Braden had his weapon on him.

  “Ryan, I’m not going to ask you again, step away from the door and put your hands where I can see them.”

  I froze as Ryan rushed back inside and tried to slam the door at the same time Braden shoved his body against it. Everything seemed to happen in lightening speed. I filled my lungs with air as Ryan reached for me with one hand.

  “You fuckin’ bitch!” Ryan yelled. “If you had only agreed to date me, I wouldn’t have had to resort to this. We could have been happy. You wouldn’t have had to worry about the ranch.” Ryan pulled out the revolver from behind him.

  He didn’t even get it pointed before Braden shot, Ryan crumpled to the ground, and a barrage of officers swarmed in. Shouts echoed from outside, I thought they were my sisters’, but the sound of the gun was still echoing in my ears, and I couldn’t tell.

  “You should have said yes, London. Your dad wanted me to run the ranch, not you, not some stupid girl.”

  Braden stepped forward and kicked the gun out of Ryan’s reach.

  I turned to Braden, who had left Ryan to the supervision of the other deputies and pulled me into the safety of his arms. “Sweetheart, look at me.” Braden cupped both sides of my face and tried to pull me out of the small stable office. He pressed small rapid kisses on the top of my head as he hugged me in tighter against him. “Are you hurt any where? Paramedics are on their way, we’ll have them look at you.”

  “No, I’m fine.” I looked over Braden’s shoulder to where Ryan lay. One of the deputies had tied his ankles and blood was flowing from his right arm and dripping onto the stone pavers. With quivering hands, I grasped hold of Braden’s shirt, trying to find something to say. “Paris and Holland, are they safe?”

  “Yes, they’re safe.”

  “Is he going to die?” I stole another glance back at Ryan, who looked like he’d passed out.

  “He’ll be fine. I only shot him in the arm and the paramedics are almost here.” Braden assured me. “Please, come with me, let’s get out of the way.”

  Braden held on to the blanket, ensuring that I didn’t accidentally let go of it, which was smart since I had nothing on underneath, and tugged me outside and over to where my sisters stood.

  “I need clothes,” I said between chattering teeth. I had no clue why I was shivering, but I was. I wasn’t even cold.

  Braden pressed a button on his radio and spoke, “I’m taking London Kelly up to her house so that she can gather some clothes. I’ll have paramedics examine her there.”

  With his arm around me, I took one tentative step, feeling the sharp edges of the gravel press into my bare feet. I didn’t even really have time to flinch before Braden was scooping me into his arms and carrying me up the long drive. There was no way he was going to carry me, not all the way up to the house. It was a good distance and hilly. But he did, only wobbling every once in a while when his boot landed on a large rock.

  17

  Braden

  I sat in the waiting room.

  I hated being here, especially since he tried to rape her.

  I met David’s eyes as he stood at the opposite end, waiting for word from the doctor. I wasn’t in any big hurry since I knew that I was going to be put on a leave of absence, it was standard protocol when you were forced to shoot someone. The investigation would come back in my favor, but I wasn’t looking forward to the counseling I would have to sit through. I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt for taking that shot.

  David leaned forward and pointed to the older woman in a white coat walking toward us and I stood straighter as she stopped in front of me.

  “It is my understanding that Mr. Cardenas will be under watch and as soon as he is well, he will be transported to Seminole County jail, is this correct?”

  “It is. Do we have an update?”

  “Ryan Cardenas is in surgery. Due to his blood type, there are several precautions we need to take.”

  I nodded, not really caring about whatever complication they were facing.

  “Blood type? What sort of precautions?”

  “Mr. Cardenas has B negative blood, it is one of the rarest type of bloods, but more than that, those with B negative tend to be more susceptible to autoimmune problems, so we just want to take precaution that he doesn’t leave here, only to get an infection somewhere else.”

  “Well, the physician at the jail will be in touch with you, I’m sure he knows how to get in touch with the hospital and get all of the information but I’ll relay everything just to be positive,” I assured the doctor.

  “Has anyone gotten ahold of Mary Cardenas? She’s listed as his emergency contact in our records.”

  “That was his mother. I believe that she passed away about fifteen years ago.”

  “How about his father? I’d like to find him, maybe he’d be willing to come in and donate some blood to help restock our B negative storage.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a clue who that is, I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows anything.”

  “Please let me know if you do.”

  I reached out one hand to thank the doctor but was stopped in the process by Wally’s heavy breathing as he rush toward me and interrupted my saying goodbye to the doctor. Beads of sweat trickled down his face that was etched with concern.

  “How’s Ryan?” Wally’s voice quivered as his eyes glistened with tears.

  “This is the doctor.” I swung one arm so Wally could meet her.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but I can only speak to family or, in this case, the law enforcement.”

  “I’m his father.”

  I stepped back, mouth agape.

  “Well, then, as you know, there are precautions we take when someone has B negative blood.”

  Wally shook his head. “No, I don’t know about anything about blood, what kind of precautions?”

  The doctor pulled the chart away from her chest, flipped it open, and read for a moment as a line of concentration formed on her brow.

  “Sir, do you know your blood type?”

  “I’m O positive, I think that it’s pretty common.”

  Again, she turned to the file, flipping back and forth through the pages before she slowly closed it and offered him an apologetic look. “Sir, I’m sorry. I can’t discuss this with you. I can only discuss Mr. Cardenas’s health situation with—”

  “I know, you told me. I’m his father. As much as I hate to admit it, he is my son.”

  “Sir, he can’t be your son, not if you are positive that your blood type is O positive. His mother Mary Cardenas also had O positive, so Ryan’s father had to have B blood type. I’m sorry.” The doctor turned and faced me, but my head was still reeling. “If you’ll excuse me, gentleman.”

  It was all she said before she marched back through the swinging double doors.

  I looked at the older man. “Wally, I’m n
ot sure what’s going on but I think that you have some explaining to do.”

  “This is going to sound pathetic, but I had an affair with Ryan’s mother. Then, when Ryan was seventeen, his mother died and he contacted me, claiming I was his father. At first, I didn’t believe him, but he threatened to go to my wife and daughters. My daughters may be grown and married, but it would devastate them to learn that their dad had cheated on their mom. Not to mention what it would do to Ann. I don’t know if any of them would forgive me. So I agreed to meet with him, and well...he made me believe him. I truly thought that I was his father. That was why Sam gave him a job at the ranch. He decided that it would be best to keep Ryan close so we could keep an eye on him. In all these years, I’d never seen this cruel side to him. Sure, I’d seen him get jealous but never cruel.”

  I nodded, trying to process the bomb he just dropped.

  “He may not be my son, but I don’t want him to die.”

  “Don’t worry, Wally. He isn’t going to die. You can sort things out with him later, after he’s been booked and processed.”

  Wally raised his head and nodded his understanding. “I feel really bad for betraying the girls. I don’t know how I’ll ever face them. I thought I was his father. He’s been blackmailing me, told me I had to help him. I hurt the girls because I was too damn scared to own up to something I did years ago. Their dad was my best friend, and he trusted me to watch over them.”

  “Wally, I’m not going to lie to you, I have no clue what they’ll say but neither do you until you tell them the truth. It’s better to do it sooner rather than later.”

  David, who had been holding his silent post against the wall, agreed to stay to and monitor Ryan’s condition while I followed Wally to the ranch.

  * * *

  London, her sisters, and Asher were waiting for us as we pulled up.

  “Is everything okay? Wally, are you all right?” London asked, concern filling her eyes.