Wild Horse Springs

by Jodi Thomas

  Everyone was dancing around and hugging, but Tess stood perfectly still. Her man was out of danger. He’d made it through another gunfight.

  “You still there, Tess?” The sheriff’s voice sounded from the other end of the call.

  “I’m here,” she whispered, afraid somehow there was bad news to come.

  “Send an ambulance out. Two of the gang who attacked Cody were shot. The highway patrolmen will stay with them until the ambulance gets here. Weathers and I are bringing the rest in.”

  “What about Cody?”

  “He’ll have to wait till I get them locked up. There is no room in the car for a man his size with a cast on one leg.”

  Tess started walking toward the door. “Tell him I’m on my way to pick him up.” She didn’t wait for an answer. She dropped the phone in her pocket and took off running.

  Ten minutes later they were still loading outlaws in the cars when she pulled up. A few of the tough guys were late on their dose of drugs and were already beginning to whine and shake. The two who had been shot were tied down to makeshift stretchers. From the way they were cussing, neither was in any danger of dying.

  Tess parked the truck by the front porch and jumped out. The sun was just starting to light the sky, but it was still more dark than light. She moved between the men, looking for Cody. A tall man with a bandaged shoulder and a cast on his leg shouldn’t be hard to spot.

  She’d been away from him only a few hours, but she ached to see him. This hard man who cared about her had somehow stomped his way into her heart.

  “He’s in the barn,” Deputy Weathers yelled when he saw Tess. “Sheriff’s already told him to sit down and wait for you, but the ranger’s not listening.”

  “I’m not surprised.” With Cody she knew exactly what she was getting if she took him on. Hardheaded, quick to fire up, mule-headed and a hero.

  Tess ran to the open barn door. It took her a few minutes to find him leaning against a stall gate, one arm over a crutch and the other over the neck of his black horse. His head was down, almost touching the horse’s mane.

  “You shouldn’t be on your feet,” Tess snapped.

  He looked up at her as if he wasn’t sure she was real. “There’s three bullet holes in the barn door. I could have shot Midnight or one of the others.”

  She moved closer, realizing what he must have gone through the past few hours. “But you didn’t. She’s fine.”

  He turned, pivoting on his cast, and reached for her.

  Tess stepped into his arms. For a while, she just held on to him as tightly as she could. She’d almost lost him. Her one chance at loving someone almost ended before it began. This man who yelled and cussed and acted like he didn’t care about anything in the world had just risked his life to save her. He’d stayed behind to fight and made her go. In doing so, he may have not only saved her life, but Thatcher’s, as well.

  She pulled away enough to see his face. “Don’t ever push me away again, Cody. I mean it. I won’t stand for it.”

  She’d expected him to argue, but he smiled. “I don’t plan to, honey.”

  He kissed her cheek, then gripped her chin and pulled her mouth to his. Tenderly, like he was testing, he tasted her bottom lip, then tugged her mouth open for a full kiss. When she responded, the kiss grew hot and she felt herself melting against him. Somehow the time they’d been apart had stripped away all the conversations and questions that weren’t important.

  They were together, and they both wanted it that way.

  Without breaking the kiss, he tugged at the collar of her pajama top, popping off the first button. His fingers shoved the material away from her neck and shoulder as he kissed a path down her throat. “You taste so good,” he whispered. “I’m so hungry for you, honey. Do you mind?”

  She laughed. “No, I don’t mind at all.”

  She closed her eyes, loving the way he held her. She might not be a woman men chased after or made fools of themselves over, but she’d found one man who couldn’t resist her, and considering he was Cody Winslow, one was enough.

  He’d just brushed his hand over her hip when they heard the deputy sheriff calling his name.

  Cody bit gently into the flesh of her collarbone. “Marking my place,” he whispered, then moved away. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get enough of you.” He laced his free hand in hers, silently telling her that he didn’t plan on going anywhere without her.

  Tess followed, but didn’t talk. She’d just been hit by a tidal wave. She’d never known passion like this, and all she could think of was that she wanted more.

  She smiled, realizing she was this one man’s obsession.

  Cody never let go of her hand as he talked to Deputy Weathers and agreed to meet him back at the office.

  A few minutes later, Tess helped Cody into the passenger seat of his truck. She rushed around to the driver’s side.

  The minute they were alone, Cody said, “I see you and Thatcher wrecked my new truck.” His voice was rough now.

  “I did. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. Run the thing off the canyon if you want to, just make sure you’re not in it. We might as well get something straight right now, Ranger Adams. I don’t care much about anything else on the planet except you. I made up my mind in the middle of the gunfight that that’s the way it’s going to be. So paint my kitchen, don’t salt my soup and organize to your heart’s content. Just don’t ever leave me.”

  She drove, eyes on the road, hands gripping the wheel and tears dripping down her face. His words might not be poetry, but she knew they came from his heart.

  They rode in silence for a few minutes, then she began to plan. “We’ll have to wait for the sheriff to process all the guys through to the jail. Then, knowing Sheriff Brigman, he’ll want you to fill out a report. A step-by-step of when and how everything happened. We may be tied up at the office for several hours.”

  “Pull over,” Cody ordered.

  She saw the construction site with all the heavy equipment shining in the morning light. “Oh, this is where the sheriff met me. Are you all right? Are you sick? Maybe I should call back and get the ambulance to stop and take you in to be checked. You could have pulled something.” She frowned at him. “I wouldn’t put it past you to forget about mentioning to anyone that you’re bleeding somewhere.”

  She stopped the truck and turned to him. “I want you to tell me what’s wrong.”

  His face was red, but he didn’t look sick.

  “I’m fine, Tess, but I’m not waiting around until we’re finished with the sheriff.” He moved over, stretching his broken leg out straight. “Turn around and face me.” He almost smiled. “What we’re about to do won’t hurt one bit. I just want to touch you. I’ve been thinking about it all night while the bullets were flying and the demons were creeping up on me. The thought of you kept me on alert and sane, and now there is something I’m going to do before I live another minute.”

  She shifted out from behind the wheel and turned around, resting her hip against his good leg. For the first time in her life, she found she liked someone telling her what to do.

  “Pull your hair free.” He lowered his voice. “This won’t take long, but it’s got to be just as it was in my thoughts.”

  She smiled and did what he suggested.

  “Now unbutton that top all the way. And I’m not looking for broken ribs or bullet holes. All I want to look at is you, honey.”

  Her fingers fumbled as she moved down the buttons, but she didn’t say a word. She only watched him. His eyes grew darker, his breathing faster.

  When a two-inch opening of skin showed, she stopped and waited. He was studying her as if memorizing every part of her.

  Finally, he raised his hand and dug his fingers into her hair. In an impatient jerk, he pulled her to him a
nd kissed her quick and hard on her mouth already slightly bruised from his last kiss. “I can’t get enough of the taste of you.”

  The next kiss was slower. He took his time until she moaned with pleasure, and she felt his smile against her lips. “You like that, do you?”

  “Very much,” she whispered back against his lips.

  When he straightened her back in front of him, he said, “I don’t ever want to hurt you, Tess. Not by something I say or do. Do you understand?”

  She nodded, hesitant to say a word.

  “Say the word,” he ordered.

  “Yes,” she answered. “I understand.”

  “Close your eyes, honey, and don’t open them until I tell you, too.”

  She smiled, realizing she had nothing to fear from this man.

  Slowly, she felt him push the front of her shirt open, sliding the fabric off her shoulders. His hands started at her throat and moved slowly down until he covered her breasts tenderly, then she felt a kiss on each. As he caressed her, he whispered, “I’m going to make love to every part of your body when we finally find time, but while we’re in the sheriff’s office, I want you to remember the way I’m touching you right now. I may yell sometimes or not know the right words to say, but I’ll always touch you this way.”

  She felt the caring in his touch.

  “Raise your head, Tess.”

  She did what he asked.

  When his lips touched hers, he gripped one breast tightly in his hand. Her cry of pleasure was caught in his mouth.

  One long powerful kiss, and then he pulled away.

  “More,” he whispered against her ear.

  She nodded and raised her head, but his mouth kissed between her breasts, then pulled away.

  She sat, eyes still closed, as he buttoned up her pajama shirt. “You’re the woman I’ve always looked for and never thought I’d find, Tess.” His hand brushed along her side, which was now covered in flannel. “But I’m not a man who wants to play games. I want you in my life and in my bed.”

  She didn’t move.

  His hand slid beneath her shirt and spread out over her middle. “If you don’t want this, if you don’t crave my touch, we can stop now. Because if we go any further, I plan on loving you full out. So look at me and tell me only the truth.”

  Slowly, she opened her eyes and for the first time saw the uncertainty in his gaze. She didn’t know the right words to say any more than he did. “I feel the same, Cody. I’ll take all you’ve got and beg for more.”

  “And you’ll love me,” he said, as if testing her. “Only me.”

  “I will.”

  “Then you’ll marry me.”

  “I will.”

  Cody pulled her against him and kissed her, then this hard, broken ranger laughed and pushed her back in the driver’s seat. “Let’s get this last report over with so we can get on with the rest of our lives.”

  She put the truck in gear and drove. For once she could think of nothing to say.

  Cody broke the silence first. “We’re going to burn those pj’s when we get home.”

  She thought of arguing, but after thinking about it decided he might have a good idea.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  DAN HAD THE six prisoners locked away. The tall skinny guy turned out to be the most talkative. He claimed they were all threatened, that if they didn’t go out and help get Thatcher, that the boss would crush them like ants. He said no one was going to kill the kid, they just wanted to talk to him about not testifying to anything he might have seen in the trailer.

  Dan took their statements, but didn’t believe a word of it. If they only wanted to talk, why did they all bring guns?

  Thatcher hadn’t checked in. Dan wasn’t even sure the kid had his phone with him. He wouldn’t be too hard to find. The sheriff knew all the places he hung out, but it bothered him that Thatcher hadn’t called, if for no other reason than to check on Cody.

  Another piece of the puzzle also bothered him. When he walked in his office, he went straight to his daughter. “Notice something not right about the gang we just arrested?”

  “Yep. They all have two ears. Any chance one of the two who went to the hospital was missing an ear?”

  “Nope. I counted.”

  She smiled at him. “Pop, Shorty One-Ear is still out there. And if he’s free, Thatcher is still in danger.”

  “Right.” Dan looked around the room as if just noticing something was missing. “Where are your old and new boyfriends?”

  “They both went home. Would you mind if I just gave up dating? It’s too much effort. I could move back home and take care of you in your old age.”

  Before he could comment, his cell rang.

  Brandi’s name popped up as the caller.

  He picked up on the second ring. “What’s up, beautiful?”

  Dan didn’t miss the raised eyebrow his daughter gave him. Maybe it was time to explain the facts of life to her. Her pop wasn’t a monk.

  Brandi sounded like she was gulping down screams. “Dan, can you come quick? We can’t find the little girl. She’s disappeared.”

  “I’m on my way.” He dropped the phone in his vest pocket and started shouting orders.

  “Weathers, can you handle the jail? I’ve got an emergency.”

  “Got it,” the deputy answered.

  “Cody, can you stay around a little longer? We have another problem I may need your help with.”

  The ranger frowned, but nodded once and sat back down at the desk he’d been taking statements at for over three hours.

  “I’ll stay, too,” Tess offered. “I’ll go over and order lunch for everyone, then I’ll call the hospital and keep you informed on the other two prisoners.” She bounced up. “Oh, I can also search the files for each inmate’s record.”

  Cody growled at her. “You running the office now, Tess?”

  “Somebody needs to,” she snapped back.

  Dan didn’t miss the way she patted his shoulder at the same time. “All right, Tess, you do all that, but go home first and get your uniform on.”

  “Will do,” she said. “I can be changed and be back in time to pick up the order from the diner.”

  As Dan hurried out of the office, he heard Cody ask Lauren what time the justice of the peace came in.

  He didn’t have time to wonder why. He had to get to Brandi. The little girl was probably hiding in one of the dozen bedrooms in the old bed and breakfast. It wouldn’t take long to find her, but he was worried about Brandi. She’d been so upset, like losing the child was bringing back all her pain from losing her daughter a little over a year ago.

  He thought about his daughter and knew if he lost Lauren he’d probably never get over it. Loss like that doesn’t pass; you just have to get through the pain. One of Brandi’s songs played through his head. Her music was her way of coping. Her way of learning to breathe again.

  When he headed up the steps, Brandi opened the door. Her beautiful eyes were full of tears. “We’ve searched everywhere. She’s gone. Someone took her.”

  Dan put his arm around her and calmly asked for details. The Franklin sisters seemed even more upset than Brandi. No one had ever disappeared from their house.

  They all went up to Brandi’s room. The window leading out onto the roof was unlatched. One of the blankets on the bed was missing.

  Fear moved over him. They started at the basement and searched every room, every cupboard, every drawer big enough to hold a child.

  Nothing.

  When Dan called in the report twenty minutes later, a terrible feeling washed over him. Someone had stolen the girl, and this time they’d make sure no one would ever find her.

  Thatcher was the only one who’d seen the men in the trailer that d
ay. Maybe he’d recognize one. But whoever took the child would either be out of the county by now, or hiding, waiting to get to Thatcher next.

  In all his years as a sheriff, he’d never felt so helpless. There was always something he could do, but not this time. He had no leads. He didn’t know what to tell the office to do even after he made the call.

  “Pop?” Lauren said from the other end of the phone call. “Pop, what do we do?”

  He was out of answers. Weathers had his hands full with the jail. Cody was too banged up to go hunting. Pearly was too old. Lauren was too young. Dan had to say something. “Call everyone you know and trust. We’re going to have a manhunt that will cover this whole county, and we’re going to find that little girl.”

  “Organize a manhunt,” Lauren said, as if there was a manual for that.

  “I can do that!” Dan heard Tess Adams yell. “Park rangers do that all the time when people are lost. We start at the site they were last known to be and spread out.”

  Dan tried to remember to breathe. “What do you need, Tess?”

  “A map of the county. After Lauren calls, people will start coming in. I’ll have a planned search organized.”

  Dan had been switched to speaker. “Lauren, pull the one off the wall in the courtroom. It should be big enough. I’ll be there in ten minutes, and I want volunteers already signing up.”

  He hung up, took the time to carefully search for any clues in the bedroom and on the roof. It wouldn’t have been impossible for the child to slip out the window, but there were no little footprints in the snow still on the roof. Only big ones. Probably a size twelve at least. A man’s footprints.

  Someone had carried the little girl out of the upstairs bedroom. She must have been wrapped in a blanket, and it had to have been before dawn because surely someone would have seen them otherwise.

  He checked the area around the house. The walks had been cleared days ago, and no cars had driven into any of the slots out back. He found fresh footprints in the alley, but they disappeared at the street.

  The only good news was that whoever took the child appeared to be moving away from the trailer park. With that direction, they would have had to cross either in front of the county offices or directly behind.