The Baby Assignment

by Christy Barritt

  How could Tanner not have seen it? The man had been under his nose this whole time.

  Another wave of righteous anger swept through him.

  If there was one thing worse than a bad guy, it was a bad guy who pretended to be a good guy. Tanner had no mercy for men like that.

  “Put the gun down, Manning,” Tanner called. “Backup is on the way. This will all be over soon. There’s no way out for you.”

  “Backup isn’t on the way. Not anymore,” Manning said. “I already called and told them it was a false alarm. You’re on your own Tanner. Let’s just make this easy, and you can give yourself up.”

  Was he bluffing about backup? Tanner would guess he wasn’t.

  Tanner was going to have to handle this on his own.

  He darted toward another tree, trying to get a closer look. Another bullet whizzed by.

  Addie screamed at the sound.

  His breathing quickened. Manning was heartless to terrify a child like this.

  He was also shooting to kill. Those bullets were all at heart level.

  Tanner peered around the tree trunk and spotted the agent standing in the distance. He gripped Macy’s arm and pulled her and Addie in front of him as human shields. In his other hand, he held a gun.

  He was just waiting for Tanner to step out. He’d kill him, kill Macy, and then run away with Addie.

  He must have been paid a pretty penny to go through all this. And Robin must think the right kind of defense team could get her out of this. Little did she know that money couldn’t buy everything.

  Just as Addie let out another cry, Tanner saw his opportunity. Manning glanced down at the baby, agitation staining his features—agitation that was growing by the moment.

  Tanner raised his gun. Lined up his target.

  Lord, direct my aim. Please. Keep Macy and Addie safe.

  He double checked once more and then pulled the trigger.

  Manning froze momentarily before letting out a moan. A second later, he fell to the ground.

  Tanner got him in his neck, the very place where a bulletproof vest wouldn’t cover. The shot may not be enough to kill him, but it would put him out of commission until he could get to a hospital.

  Tanner rushed toward them and grabbed Manning’s gun as the agent writhed in pain on the ground. His hand gripped the bullet wound near his throat, and his eyes bulged.

  “I thought more of you,” Tanner said, growling down at the agent.

  “You wouldn’t understand,” Manning whispered.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because you’re like a Boy Scout. You always try to do the right thing. As if you’re incapable of doing anything but the right thing.”

  “Better to be a Boy Scout than willing to sell out to the highest bidder. I think the court system will agree with me.”

  Tanner glanced at Macy, raking his gaze over her for a sign of injury. She and Addie both appeared fine. Thankfully.

  Relief washed through him.

  He stepped closer and squeezed Macy’s arm, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms. There’d be time for that later.

  “You’re okay?” he confirmed, keeping his voice low.

  Macy nodded, her gaze holding a measure of exhaustion and relief. “Yeah, I’m fine. Now I am, at least. I knew you’d come.”

  “And Addie?” He ran a finger over the child’s hand.

  Macy looked at the baby in her arms, worry filling her gaze. “We do need that antibiotic. She’s burning up.”

  “I’ll get backup here now.” He pulled out his phone.

  Before he could dial, sirens sounded in the background. Help was on the way.

  Maybe all of this was finally over.

  * * *

  Macy put Addie into the crib in her spare bedroom. The baby had fallen into a peaceful slumber after taking a bottle. She was now on antibiotics, and her ear infection should clear up in a few days. The doctor had said that, despite everything that had happened, she would be fine.

  Macy had been given permission by Child Protective Services to take care of Addie and bring her into her home. That was in part because a note from Sarah had been found in a recently discovered safety deposit box. She’d instructed that if anything happened to her, Macy was to take care of Addie.

  Macy didn’t know what to think. She was flattered. Ridden by guilt. But overall, she reminded herself to be grateful.

  She didn’t know what had compelled Sarah to choose Macy to take care of Addie, but she was thankful for the opportunity. Maybe those therapy sessions they’d done together really had had an impact on Sarah.

  Either way, Macy couldn’t imagine Addie being with anyone else at this point. The events of the past few days had bonded them quickly and irrevocably.

  Someone knocked at the door, and Macy answered it, knowing exactly who was on the other side. She didn’t have to live in fear anymore. The bad guys were now behind bars.

  Tanner stood on her porch. Wearing his cowboy hat and boots. His hands were still bruised from the fight that had broken out at the lake house. There was a small cut on his cheek and stitches on his forehead.

  But he’d never looked so good or appealing.

  As soon as Macy saw him, she threw her arms around his neck in a warm hello.

  “I could get used to this greeting,” he muttered with a smile.

  He stepped inside her house and closed the door behind him. He pecked her lips with a quick kiss that lingered on the verge of more.

  “How’s Addie?” he asked, keeping a hand at Macy’s waist.

  “She’s fine. Just went down for a nap. I think she’s feeling better.”

  Macy reluctantly pulled away from him and paced into her kitchen. She poured him some coffee, anxious to hear his update.

  “How’d everything go?” she asked, her voice feeling raw with emotion and anticipation.

  “I’m back in good standing with the FBI.” Tanner followed her and sat at the breakfast nook.

  He already seemed at home here, like he easily fit into her house. Like he belonged here with her and Addie. Macy hoped that might be a reality someday.

  “That’s great news,” she said. “I knew they’d come to their senses when they heard all the details.”

  “Manning will be going away for a long time.” He rested his arms on the table, his hands clutching that mug of coffee.

  “I still don’t understand how Manning was connected with Robin and Sam.” Macy gripped her own coffee mug, concern filling her gut. She couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened since that day at the lake house.

  “The FBI often hires outside of law enforcement, depending on their need at the moment. Manning went to school and studied finance,” Tanner said, taking a sip of his coffee. “So did Sam. They met there, and when Sam decided he needed an inside connection with the bureau, he connected with his old classmate. Apparently, he paid Manning fifty thousand for any information he was willing to feed them about this investigation.”

  “That’s a hefty price tag.”

  “It sure is. I didn’t realize it, but Manning requested this assignment. He said it was because he was mentoring Armstrong. Secretly, he wanted an inside connection to the case, so he could give up information to Sam and Robin and increase his net worth a little in the process.”

  “Sam and Robin hired other people to do their dirty work, though, right? Not just Manning.”

  Tanner nodded. “That’s correct. They had plenty of money at their disposal, so they hired some local guys. At least one had military training. They fed them a story about Addie being kidnapped to make everything seem more legit.”

  “How did they find us after Addie’s doctor appointment that day? Did you ever find out? I really thought we’d lost them.”

  “From what I understand they knew the r
oad we traveled down after leaving Devin’s,” Tanner said. “They kept an eye on that street, knowing that it was the only way out of town. They saw us leaving, and their hunch paid off.”

  “Clever on their part. But one other thing that still doesn’t make any sense to me is how they planned on taking the inheritance after kidnapping Addie.”

  “They planned on saying that the FBI took Addie illegally. They already had papers for the lawsuit drawn. They’d covered everything. The only thing they didn’t anticipate was you.”

  Macy smiled. “And you. Perhaps they didn’t expect an agent to be as dedicated.”

  “The whole situation was twisted. I’m just glad it’s over.”

  Macy leaned back in her seat, unable to comprehend the lengths people would go through for money. “Just how much did they stand to gain through this?”

  “Twenty million.”

  Macy’s eyes widened at the number. “Wow. That’s not a small chunk of change.”

  “No, it’s not. People have killed for a lot less.”

  “They almost got away with it, didn’t they?” She swung her head back and forth in disbelief.

  Robin and Sam had been close. Only an hour or so away from fleeing from the lake house and hiding somewhere new after Manning tipped them off that there was police activity in the area.

  “It’s a good thing we found them when we did,” Tanner said, almost like he could read her mind. “Otherwise, we may have gotten caught up in a legal battle, and who knows what would have happened to Addie in the process.”

  Macy lifted a prayer of thanks. “I’m just glad it’s all over. Have I said that yet?”

  “You can say it as much as you’d like. Things could have turned out a lot differently.” Tanner put down his coffee and reached across the table to grab her hand. “As much as I’m sorry all of this happened, I’m incredibly grateful that it brought me back to you, Macy.”

  She felt herself beaming as she looked up at him. But there was something she needed to say, something that weighed on her like an immovable boulder.

  She licked her lips as her eyes met Tanner’s. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m sorry about the way I handled things five years ago, Tanner. I believed the lies, and I should have talked to you. That was wrong of me.”

  He squeezed her hand again. “We all make mistakes. I’ve certainly made my fair share.”

  Macy stared into Tanner’s beautiful, expressive blue eyes. They hadn’t really had a chance to talk yet. Not to really talk, at least.

  Everything was like a whirlwind after Robin and Sam had been arrested. It had been an endless stream of interviews, doctor’s appointments, meeting with attorneys and more.

  “So where do we go from here?” Macy asked, holding her breath as she waited for his response. “God made our paths cross again after all these years, and we both finally have some much needed closure.”

  “I was hoping you might ask where we wanted to go from here.” Tanner’s eyes crinkled as he smiled.

  Macy raised her eyebrows, curious now. “Were you?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes.” He released her hand and stood. “Because I was hoping we could pick up where we left off before that Dear John letter.”

  Suddenly, nothing else mattered. Macy wasn’t sure if she’d heard Tanner correctly—or if she’d understood. Her heart stammered in her ears.

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  He got down on one knee, just like he had all those years ago. “What I mean is—Macy Mills, will you marry me?”

  All the breath left her lungs as she stared down at him. This was her second chance, her opportunity to make things right, to reverse the mistakes she’d made in the past.

  “You’re serious?” she whispered.

  “Of course I’m serious.” He held out a diamond ring. The same diamond ring he’d given her five years ago.

  Macy would never forget what it looked like, felt like. It was beautiful then, and it was even more beautiful now.

  “You saved that?” she asked.

  “I did.”

  She stared at it, unable to speak.

  “You’re killing me, Macy.” Tanner looked up at her, waiting for an answer.

  “Yes. Yes. Of course I will!” She threw her arms around him, almost knocking him to the floor in the process.

  Tanner chuckled and planted a kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, he slipped the ring on her finger. It fit, like it was always meant for her and her alone.

  Macy stared down at it, feeling like all of this was surreal. But this ring was real. Tanner was real.

  “Tanner, I just can’t believe this,” she whispered.

  He rested his hands on her waist, making no effort to move away. “Believe it.”

  She rested her hands on his cheeks, cradling his face and never wanting to look away. “I love you, Tanner. I always have.”

  He tenderly kissed her forehead. “I love you, too, Macy. Always and forever.”

  Just then, a small cry sounded in the other room.

  “And that’s the sound of another girl I love,” Tanner said.

  Macy smiled, so grateful for this second chance at love and a family.

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  “I can’t believe this is all coming together.” Macy paused and looked around, still feeling like this day was surreal.

  She stood in Tanner’s grandfather’s barn. It had been cleaned up. Now strings of white, twinkling lights were crisscrossed overhead. White chairs had been set up. Wildflowers decorated the edges of the rows of chairs.

  In the background, a lone guitarist played a lovely melody that soothed Macy’s nerves. People were starting to come in to be seated. Macy’s friends from the psychotherapy center, her family. Tanner’s friends from the FBI. She spotted Saul and Cara. Old friends from college had shown up even.

  Macy had been able to use a portion of her savings to save Tanner’s granddad’s farm. Macy’s sister planned on using it for wedding venues in order to keep some profit coming in to sustain the land. It was a wonderful place, full of family history. Macy couldn’t think of any other place she’d rather get married.

  “You ready for this?” Macy’s sister, Diana, asked.

  “I’ve been ready for this.”

  “Yes, you have. For a long time.” Diana pushed one of Macy’s curls behind her ears and smiled up at her sister. “You look beautiful.”

  Macy looked down at the white sundress she wore. It was simple, but she felt lovely. Tanner would appreciate the simplicity of it also. She’d never been the type to want to look fancy.

  Just then, her father walked over. In his arms was Addie, who was now a year old. The girl’s eyes lit when she saw Macy, and she reached for her.

  “Hello, sweetheart,” Macy muttered, kissing her forehead.

  Addie was dressed in a matching white dress, but hers had a pink sash around the waist. A simple baby’s breath headband stretched across her dark curls. She looked like a baby doll.

  “You look beautiful, dear,” her dad said, kissing her cheek.

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  Someone called to him in the distance, and he excused himself for a moment.

  “I’m so glad you and Dad have made up,” Diana said, leaning close. “Maybe we can finally feel like a family. Maybe it’s not too late.”

  “I didn’t realize how resentful I was of his time with his new family,” Macy admitted. “I had to reach the point of forgiveness, to realize that I was hurting myself more than I was hurting him by clinging to my bitter feelings. Besides, if Tanner could forgive me for leaving that Dear John letter, I knew I could forgive Dad.”

  “Well, I’m glad.” Her sister gave a quick hug. “I can just feel that this is the beginning of good things for all of us.”
r />   “I hope you’re right.”

  “I think it’s time,” Diana said. “The minister is motioning to us.”

  “Let’s do this then.” Macy hadn’t wanted anything formal, so, against all traditions, she’d been out and about, mingling with her guests. The only person she hadn’t seen was Tanner. He’d remained near the front of the barn with Devin, and Macy had stayed at the back.

  As her father joined her, Macy hooked her arm through his and stepped toward the temporary staging area that had been set up toward the front. She held Addie on her hip, and Addie held her bouquet of wildflowers, pushing them up to her nose and sniffing.

  As soon as Macy stepped foot into the barn, her gaze connected with Tanner’s, and everything else disappeared—everything except Tanner and Addie. Tanner was dressed in his typical jeans, boots and hat. He’d never looked so handsome to her.

  Her father stopped in front of the minister.

  “Who gives the woman away?” Minister Harvey asked.

  “I do,” her father said.

  Just a few months ago, those words would have caused a swell of bitterness to rise in Macy. But not anymore. Her relationship with her father wasn’t perfect, by any means. But it was on the mend.

  Her father kissed her cheek, and Macy met Tanner there in front of the minister.

  Tanner leaned toward her. “You look beautiful,” he whispered. “You both do.”

  Macy grinned. “Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself.”

  His eyes were warm on hers, and he acted like he never wanted to look away. The realization caused warmth to spread from her gut to her heart. Today, she was marrying her dream guy. She felt like she was walking on air.

  “I feel like I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this moment,” Tanner continued.

  Macy bounced Addie on her hip. “It’s going to be a great day, isn’t it, Addie?”

  She blubbered in response and grabbed at Macy’s hair.

  Macy and Tanner exchanged a smile. They’d spent every waking moment together over the past several months. Tanner was practically already a part of their family. Addie obviously thought so.

  “Okay, let’s do this,” Tanner said. “Let’s make it official. All of it.”