by Carol Finch
“I will be tremendously relieved to deliver the ransom money,” Maddie insisted as she trotted toward home. “No one will be able to take it away from me now and I’ll have my sister home again.”
If she was lucky, Jonah thought bleakly. He’d been involved in several hostage exchange situations. Some of them had turned out badly. He hoped Maddie didn’t have to face another crushing blow. He could tell by the look that settled over her bewitching features that she had focused all her energy and thoughts on retrieving her sister. The closer they came to the ranch, the more determined her expression grew.
Two hours later, Jonah jerked his horse to a halt and let loose a string of oaths that startled Boone as much as Maddie. Jonah stared northwest to see a grand, two-story ranch house sitting near a spring-fed creek in a rugged canyon that formed a natural fortress. Holding pens for livestock lined the towering sandstone walls of the canyon.
It wasn’t just any canyon, damn it to hell.
Harsh memories bombarded Jonah as he stared into the distance and remembered the past with painful clarity. This was the place his Comanche clan had named Forbidden Canyon after the army had descended from all directions at once to invade their winter encampment. This was where his father had died and his mother had been mortally wounded. This was where Jonah’s life had changed forever.
Damn, didn’t it just figure that Bar G Ranch would turn out to be his worst nightmare?
“Jonah? What’s wrong?” Maddie asked when his expression turned to stone and he sat rigidly in the saddle, staring at her home as if it were the most distasteful, grotesque sight he’d ever clapped eyes on.
“Come on, Maddie,” Boone murmured as he grabbed her reins and towed her forward. “I have a feeling that Danhill just came face-to-face with the worst of his past.”
Maddie’s gaze flew back to Jonah in alarm. Oh, God, no! Jonah had reluctantly told her about the massacre that had taken his family from him. This was the place where his bitterness originated? The place where he had been forced to bury his emotions to prevent them from overwhelming him? Sweet mercy! How many more times was she going to hurt him unintentionally?
When she looked at this valley she saw a green oasis filled with towering shade trees and an endless supply of clear spring water. But Jonah saw death, destruction and the brutal end of his childhood.
It had been the abrupt end to the only way of life he had known and understood.
Any whimsical hope that Jonah might come to care enough for her to stay died a quick death. If he refused to enter the valley, turned back and allowed Boone to take over she would understand completely.
Tears of guilt and regret blurred her vision as Boone led her across the lush valley, where cattle grazed on thick, verdant grasses, and eight-hundred-foot-high walls of stone formed a natural boundary behind the ranch house. The hired men waved their hats in welcome as Maddie rode past, but she could barely muster a smile of greeting. She felt compelled to reverse direction and wrap Jonah in her arms, offer sympathy and apology for bringing him to the place that must feel like the open jaws of hell to him.
No doubt, she had unintentionally associated herself with every tragedy and heartache he had suffered in the past.
Jonah stared into the distance, lost to painful memories, hearing the cries of his clan as the army thundered into camp, shooting at everything that moved—warriors, women, children, dogs and horses. In his mind’s eye he could see pandemonium breaking loose, and watched as the glistening stream began to flow bloodred while his people crumbled beneath a ruthless barrage of gunfire.
To this day he still wondered why he had been spared, when so many of his clan had perished in this valley.
Jonah shifted uneasily in the saddle, closed his eyes and expelled a heavy sigh. Life, he decided, was one irony following closely on the heels of another. Forbidden Canyon was now the home of the forbidden woman he had come to know intimately the previous night. Her wealth and prosperity came at the sacrifice of Comanche blood. His family’s blood and his clan’s blood. This chasm was filled with unmarked graves of those who would forever be branded on his memory.
The impulse to reverse direction hounded Jonah as he stared at the looming canyon walls. But when his gaze instinctively shifted to Maddie’s silhouette in the distance, he realized that his need to resolve her problems was stronger than his need to avoid his unpleasant past.
He had come this far, faced the worst of his living nightmares, and he would see this situation with Maddie through to the end, he told himself determinedly. After all, that was more or less the motto of Texas Rangers. You face hell and death and you just kept on coming, he reminded himself as he reined his black gelding toward the palatial ranch house.
Jonah also reminded himself that if not for this one unique woman and this fierce attraction he had developed for her—against his better judgment, he might add—he would not have set foot in Forbidden Canyon.
Maddie Garret was the reason—the only reason—he hadn’t turned around and ridden the other way.
“Ah, ¡caramba! We were afraid you would never return!”
Maddie dragged her eyes from the brawny silhouette in the distance and glanced toward the house to see Rosita Perez, the housekeeper and cook, dashing toward her.
“What took you so long, querida?”
Maddie dismounted to find herself swallowed by Rosita’s enthusiastic hug. She clung to the stout Mexican woman who had become her substitute mother for the past twelve years.
“Carlos!” Rosita called to her husband. “Come pronto. Our Maddie is home at last!”
Maddie pivoted to see the Bar G’s foreman stride hurriedly from the barn. Although Carlos smiled in greeting as he approached, Maddie noticed the rigidity of his shoulders. His body language spelled more trouble. It was the same sense of foreboding she had experienced the day Carlos had found the ransom note and delivered it to her. Damnation, didn’t she have enough trouble already? What now?
“Good to have you back, querida,” Carlos murmured as he hugged her close to his chest. “You are well, sí?”
“I’m fine.” Maddie stepped away to make quick introductions to Kiowa Boone.
Boone nodded a greeting, then his gaze strayed to Jonah, who trotted toward them, wearing the bleakest expression Maddie had ever seen on his handsome face. She was surprised he’d come at all. But then, she reminded herself, Jonah lived on hell’s fringe and faced constant danger. He was tough and enduring. Even facing the worst of all possible nightmares couldn’t deter this remarkable man.
“And this is Maddie’s husband,” Boone announced abruptly.
Carlos’s and Rosita’s dark eyes popped in stunned amazement as they gaped at Jonah.
If there was one thing you could say about Boone, Maddie mused, he delighted in making shocking comments and watching everyone react.
“Your husband?” Rosita crowed as she made another thorough assessment of Jonah, then stared at the gold band on Maddie’s finger. “When?”
Maddie’s attention was so focused on Jonah that she didn’t hear the housekeeper’s question. She simply stood there staring up at him, totally amazed that he hadn’t turned back.
“Come inside, querida,” Carlos insisted as he took her arm. “There is much we need to discuss.”
Maddie’s mind whirled with grim speculations as Rosita and Carlos bustled her into the house. Her emotions were already in a tailspin and her heart bled for Jonah. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face another tormenting blow, but as usual, she was left with little choice.
Jonah stared up at the grand home and gigantic barn that were butted up against the towering sandstone walls of the chasm, and wondered what the hell he had done to deserve the emotional blow that had sent him reeling a few minutes earlier.
Fate, the cruel bastard, enjoyed kicking you while you were down—and never let you up.
Jonah tried to distance himself from the uneasy sensations and tormenting memories that hammered at him, and instead
focus on Maddie’s problems. But it was damn near impossible when the distinct image of that day fifteen years ago kept hounding his every step, causing his skin to crawl with bitter revulsion.
He could tell by the apologetic expression on Maddie’s face that he had her pity and sympathy. That’s the last thing he wanted from her. Hell, he didn’t want anything from anyone at the moment. Didn’t want to be here. The impulse to mount his horse and ride hell-for-leather back to the Rio Grande nearly overwhelmed him again.
There were dozens of legitimate reasons to leave, he reminded himself. And only one reason to stay.
“Sit, querida,” the foreman requested, jostling Jonah from his troubled thoughts.
With dismal resignation, Jonah watched Maddie sink onto the elegant chair—one of many expensive furnishings in this opulent palace. There was no question now that her family was wealthy. The teasing nickname he’d given her truly did fit, he mused as he surveyed her majestic home.
Maddie quickly made introductions and then asked anxiously, “Has something else happened?”
“Sí, I’m afraid so,” Carlos replied. “We received another message this morning that the ransom must be delivered tonight instead of tomorrow.”
Jonah could tell by the Mexican’s grim countenance that there was more. “And?” he prodded.
Carlos swallowed audibly. “The ransom has gone up to eight thousand dollars.”
“Eight!” Maddie yelped in dismay. “I don’t have that much left after making several purchases and paying expenses.” Her wild gaze flew to Jonah.
“Boone and I will cover it,” he promised. Anything to wipe that stricken look from her face. He’d worn that same expression himself today and he sure as hell didn’t want to see it on Maddie.
“We will?” Boone choked out, incredulous.
“We can cover it,” Jonah said confidently as he shot the Kiowa a silencing glance.
Jonah would bet his entire savings that the mastermind had received the message that Maddie had acquired the funds. To make things difficult for her, he had jacked up the price, anticipating that she would still have to turn to Hanson to meet the payment. Jonah suspected that bastard had another trick up his sleeve, too, and he had a pretty good idea what it was going to be.
His thoughts trailed off when he heard a muffled sound in the hall. He stepped around the corner to see that one of the hired hands had skulked in unannounced. Jonah’s suspicious gaze homed in on the grimy, shaggy-haired cowboy who had taken it upon himself to carry their gear inside.
How convenient, Jonah mused cynically. He watched suspiciously as the cowboy flinched, realizing he had been spotted, and was forced to step into the room to explain himself. Jonah had the inescapable feeling that Maddie had an informant right under her nose, and that he reported back to the ringleader.
“Please put my husband’s belongings in my room,” Maddie said. “Boone will be using the spare room in the west wing.”
Jonah’s brows shot up as he dragged his wary gaze away from the bowlegged cowboy and stared curiously at Maddie. He hadn’t expected her to carry this farce of a marriage right into her own home. But on second thought, if the lanky cowhand dropped Jonah’s belongings in her room, it would pretty much guarantee that everyone believed the marriage was official and consummated.
A faint smile pursed his lips as he sent Maddie an approving glance. The little lady was as sharp as a cactus sticker. Apparently she was as mistrustful of the cowboy’s convenient timing and possible eavesdropping as he was.
“One of these breeds is your husband?” the disrespectful cowhand snorted as his gaze bounced back and forth between Jonah and Boone.
Maddie surged to her feet, glaring at the hired hand. “Next time you decide to walk into this house uninvited, don’t,” she scolded sharply, and then sent him a challenging stare. “I’m half Irish, Clem. Would you like to make something of that, too?”
“No, ma’am,” the man mumbled, ducking his head and trying to look properly ashamed.
Jonah wasn’t buying it. Apparently Maddie wasn’t, either.
She snatched the gear from Clem’s hands. “I’ll take care of the luggage myself. You are dismissed—permanently.”
Silence reigned as the hired hand turned and stalked off, but not before he cast Jonah and Boone a derisive glance.
Maddie wheeled back to her foreman. “Carlos, if anyone else is heard making disrespectful comments about my husband and my friend, I want them fired on the spot. Is that understood?”
“Sí, querida.” Carlos fished the most recent ransom note from his pocket and handed it to her. “We lost another fifty head of cattle while you were gone,” he reported. “Another Indian necklace and broken arrow was found in the area.”
Maddie wilted into the nearest chair. “I’ll deal with that tomorrow. Right now all I want is to get Chrissy home safely.”
“Wise idea, princess,” Jonah murmured as his gaze followed Clem out the door and down the steps. “First things first.”
Chapter Ten
Avery Hanson glanced up from tallying expenses in his ledger when Jesse Gibbs walked into his office unannounced. “You damn well better have good news,” he muttered as Jesse parked himself in the chair across from the desk.
“I didn’t get the money or even get a shot at Maddie’s husband,” the man reported. “She never went to her hotel room last night. I don’t know where the hell they got off to.”
“Damn!” Avery’s fist hit the desk with a hard thud. “Then please tell me that you had the chance to pick off her husband this morning.”
Jesse shook his head. “Those two half-breeds watch their backs carefully. I couldn’t get close enough to take a shot without being seen.”
Avery slouched in his chair and drummed his fingers on the desk. Hell and damnation, he needed to get his hands on that ransom money before Maddie delivered it. He needed her to turn to him in desperation.
“If you want me to keep tracking Maddie’s husband so I can get a shot at him, then it’s going to cost you.” Jesse extended his hand, palm up.
Avery gnashed his teeth, then reached into the bottom desk drawer to retrieve money. “I don’t know why I’m paying you when you’ve botched up royally.”
“Because I can ruin you.” Jesse grinned goadingly. “The sheriff would be interested in hearing what I have to say about your involvement with old man Garret’s death and your other illegal activities. And I know plenty….” he added, slowly and deliberately. “I’m sure Tipton would like to know about informants, rustling cattle and a few other matters that you have tried very hard to keep private.”
Scowling irritably, Avery handed over the money, then shooed Jesse out of the office. “Don’t come back until you have something to show for the fee I’ve paid you. And make certain no one sees you sneak out the back door.”
When Jesse left, Avery treated himself to a few more succinct curses. Jesse Gibbs had to go. The man knew too much and he was causing more trouble than he was worth.
A wicked smile slid across the rancher’s lips when an inspiration popped to mind. If all else failed he could send Clem Foster—his ace in the hole—to clean up this mess. Gibbs was getting too cocksure of himself. It might be time to shut him up—permanently.
“Mind telling me how we’re going to come up with a thousand dollars we don’t happen to have with us?” Boone questioned as he and Jonah ambled through the upstairs hall to stow their gear.
“Old ranger trick,” Jonah replied.
Boone snorted caustically. “I thought Indians were the only ones with old tricks.” He halted and whistled softly when the plush furnishings in his room distracted him. “Would you look at this place? I’ve never stayed anywhere this fine.”
Neither had Jonah. He hesitated to touch anything, for fear it would break and cost a fortune to replace. He couldn’t imagine living in this house, either. Talk about feeling completely out of place!
Leaving Boone to stow his gear in the very
lap of luxury, Jonah pivoted on his heel to stride down the hall. He stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the enormous suite that belonged to Maddie. Thick gold drapes hung from the vaulted ceiling to the polished wood floor. Bay windows provided a spectacular view of the towering canyon walls with their red, purple and white layers of stone. Jonah felt like the Great Spirit himself, gazing down on this panoramic valley dotted with grazing cattle, sheep and horses.
He turned to appraise the massive marbletop dresser and ornately carved wardrobes. The four-poster walnut bed was covered with a white lace spread and plump pillows fit to prop up a king.
Or a princess.
Jonah was still standing in the middle of the colorful Aubusson rug, his jaw scraping his chest, when Maddie swept into the room. She walked right up to him, flung her arms around his neck and kissed the breath out of him. He suspected she still saw him as her port in the storm, as she had last night. He’d become the place she came for solace when the world caved in on her. But right now, Jonah felt as if the world had caved in on him.
He responded ardently and immediately to the honeyed taste of her lips. As if they possessed a will of their own, his hands glided over the supple curves of her body, and he pulled her full length against him. He devoured her for one long, breathless moment before the voice of self-preservation reminded him that he couldn’t let himself—or her—pretend this supposed marriage was more than it was. Which after last night was much more than it should have been.
It took all the willpower he could muster to break the kiss when his aroused body screamed for more. “Maddie, don’t.” He set her at arm’s length. “Don’t get caught up in this charade. Last night just happened. It shouldn’t have, but it did. You were looking for consolation and I was willing and eager enough to help you forget the troubles you’re facing and the bitter memories I had to deal with. We used each other, and that’s all last night was about.”