Holding Out For A Hero

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  The pain in his heart was so great he wondered how he’d stand it. He squeezed her hand, which was cold beneath his. “Dori—”

  “I would become just like Crystal. I understand now that she sacrificed herself to keep her family together, but you see, it backfired. She’s given her children a weak role model. Her daughter’s out in California trying to build some self-respect after years of having none, and Jimmy’s growing up to treat women just like his father always has.” Her chin lifted and resolution flashed in her eyes. “My son will have a different role model for a mother.”

  Tanner ground his teeth together. “How can I convince you that I won’t use my money to control you?”

  Her gaze was filled with tragic certainty. “You can’t. Now please take me home.”

  His throat hurt. “You said you loved me.”

  “I loved Tanner Jones, the construction worker. I don’t know who you are.”

  He searched her face for the slightest sign that would encourage him to gather her into his arms. There was none. Dazed by loss, he started the truck and headed back toward Los Lobos.

  They drove in silence toward her house. When they were two blocks away he sat up straighter at the sight of a black-and-white cruiser and a black Caddy parked in front of Dori’s house.

  “Oh, my God,” Dori whispered.

  Tanner pressed down on the gas and in seconds screeched to a stop in front of the house. Dori leapt from the cab before he’d turned off the motor. She ran to the lawn where James, Jimmy and Crystal Devaney stood with Deputy Holt.

  Tanner loped over toward them, his gut clenched. “What’s happened?”

  James Devaney turned to him. His hair was wildly out of place and his shirt was only half-tucked into his pants. His voice came out a hoarse croak. “L.J.’s missing.”

  14

  TANNER’S ATTENTION FLEW to Dori, who looked as if she might pass out. He stepped close to her and put a bracing arm around her waist. “When did you discover he was gone?”

  “About an hour ago.” Crystal’s voice was choked with tears, and without makeup and the clever cut of designer clothes she looked her age. “For some reason I decided to check on him, and he wasn’t in his room. James and I tore all through the house, but he wasn’t there. Then we thought he might be with Jimmy, but Jimmy came home and hadn’t seen him. That’s when we called Deputy Holt.”

  During Crystal’s explanation, Dori had slid her hand down to clutch Tanner’s. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll find him,” he murmured close to her ear.

  “Does he have a key to your house?” the deputy asked Dori.

  “No.” She swallowed. “But let’s go look inside, anyway. Maybe he found a way to get in. Maybe he’s asleep in his bed.”

  Tanner hoped so. Unfortunately, the Devaneys had enough money to make kidnapping for ransom a very real possibility. He figured Dori had already thought of that, too. Another reason for her to hate those with money.

  Dori fumbled with the lock but eventually opened the door. Everyone spread out to search the house and call out for the boy. There was no answer.

  “Let’s try the yard,” Dori said, heading for the back door.

  Once again everyone searched and called, but the backyard was silent except for a breeze through the large oak tree in the corner of the yard.

  “I’m going out to the cruiser and radio for backup,” Deputy Holt said. “I’ll need one of you to go back to the Devaney house in case he shows up there, and somebody should stay here, for the same reason. The rest of you can start driving around the area. We’ll find him.”

  “Crystal will stay at our house,” James said. “Jimmy and I will go out and search.”

  “Good.” Deputy Holt’s glance flicked to Tanner and Dori.

  Tanner stepped forward. “I’ll search.”

  “No. I want to search,” said Dori.

  He looked back at her. He didn’t know what evil was out there, and he could be putting her in danger, but a newborn instinct guided him to agree. “Okay, I’ll stay here.” Her expression of gratitude told him he’d made the right decision.

  Deputy Holt seemed skeptical, but he didn’t comment on Dori’s decision to join the search party. “I’ll check back at the Devaney house every ten minutes,” he said, heading for the door. “If anybody finds him, call there.”

  “I’ll get my keys,” Dori said.

  Within seconds Tanner was alone in the house, and as he paced from room to room, he realized why Dori had been so determined to search. The passive role he’d agreed to take on didn’t sit well. Tanner recalled how James had arbitrarily claimed the active role for himself and his son and Crystal hadn’t even blinked. After years of training, she wouldn’t. But Tanner chafed under the restriction of being the one waiting at home.

  If he smoked, he’d do it now, but he’d given that up years ago. He didn’t want to have a beer and risk blurring his reaction time by even a fraction of a second. Finally, he decided to roam the backyard for a while. He’d circled the perimeter of the block wall and had paused to lean against Little Jim’s swing set when he thought he heard a noise. He listened more carefully and decided he was imagining things.

  On his way back inside he heard it again, a faint rustling in the branches of the oak tree. Probably a squirrel, he thought, but he crossed the yard, anyway. He stood under the tree and peered up into the shadowy branches. Gradually, his vision sharpened. Little Jim was huddled there.

  “Taking orders from Mighty Morphin?” Tanner asked gently.

  “Hi, Tanner.”

  “Everybody’s out looking for you.”

  “I know. I thought Momma would stay here, but then you did.”

  “And what would you have done if your momma had stayed instead of me?”

  The leaves rustled again as Little Jim shifted his position. “I woulda come down and told her we had to run away.”

  “And why’s that?”

  After a long silence Little Jim replied. “I heard Daddy and Grandpa say they’re gonna fix it so Momma can’t have Mondays anymore.”

  Tanner’s heart ached as he imagined the desperation Little Jim must have felt when he overheard that conversation. And he’d shown great courage in making his way through the dark night to warn his mother. He’d obviously learned that courage from Dori. “We won’t let them take you away from your momma,” he said.

  “You can stop them?” Little Jim sounded as if he wanted to believe, but he’d probably been disappointed too many times in his young life to accept whatever Tanner told him.

  “Yes.”

  “How?”

  “By hiring the best lawyers in the country.”

  “Oh.” His sigh of defeat filtered down through the leaves. “But Momma and me, we don’t have much money.”

  “I do.”

  Little Jim’s gasp of surprise nearly made him topple from the tree. “You do?”

  “Yes, and I’m going to help your momma fight this.”

  “You sure don’t act rich.”

  Tanner smiled grimly. “Thanks. Say, Jim, I’m getting a stiff neck from looking up into this tree. Any chance you’re ready to climb down?”

  “Yeah. I hafta go to the bathroom, anyway.”

  Tanner helped the boy down from the tree and they walked together into the house. “I need to call your grandma and tell her you’re okay,” Tanner said as Little Jim scampered down the hall toward the bathroom.

  Little Jim skidded to a halt and looked back at Tanner. “You promise they won’t do that to Momma?”

  “I promise.” Tanner didn’t know if Dori would ever marry him, but if she were faced with losing all contact with her son, she’d probably accept the loan of his lawyers. He’d make sure they gave her a reduced fee, because she’d probably want to pay the entire cost even if it took her the rest of her life.

  “Then you can tell Grandma I’m here.”

  Tanner made the call. Once Crystal understood that her grandson was safe she bega
n to sob, but Tanner was unmoved. “He decided to run away because he overheard your husband and son talking about denying Dori visitation privileges,” he said.

  “Oh, God.”

  “I suggest the three of you rethink your position with regard to that little boy.”

  She choked back another sob. “James gets so determined.”

  “And how about you? Is there any backbone left after thirty years of subjugation?”

  The silence was filled with her sniffling. “I don’t know,” she said at last.

  RED AND BLUE LIGHTS whirled in Dori’s rearview mirror. She pulled off the road, shot out of the car and ran back toward the cruiser. “Any news?”

  The young deputy who’d only been in uniform about six months looked proud to deliver the message. “Found him, Dori Mae. He’s at your house, safe and sound.”

  Dori put out a hand to steady herself against the roof of the car and closed her eyes as the world began to spin. Thank God. Oh, thank God.

  “You okay?”

  His words galvanized her. “I’m fine,” she said, opening her eyes again. “Thank you. Thank you very much.”

  “Want a police escort to your house?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She raced for her car and nearly flooded the engine in her eagerness to get moving. Gravel spurted from beneath her tires as she charged back onto the road and the cruiser had to put on a burst of speed to get ahead of her. She rode his bumper and beeped her horn for him to go faster, despite the fact they were exceeding the speed limit by at least twenty miles an hour.

  “Come on,” she muttered, landing on the horn again. “Come on.”

  She arrived just ahead of the black Caddy that brought Crystal, James and Jimmy. She beat them into the house and Little Jim ran into her arms. She noticed through a blur of tears that he was wearing his Power Rangers T-shirt.

  “Momma, Tanner’s gonna help us!” Little Jim said as he pulled away and looked into her face. “He’s rich!”

  Dori glanced up from where she’d crouched down to hug Little Jim.

  Tanner stood just beyond her son, his gaze intense. “I guess some people don’t have a problem with that.”

  “Neither did I when I was five years old,” she said. “But I’m all grown up now.”

  “L.J.?” Crystal called from the open front door. “Where are you, honey?”

  “Right here, Grandma.” Little Jim tightened his grip around Dori’s neck.

  He was really too big to pick up, but Dori did it, anyway, holding him tight as she stood and faced Crystal, James and Jimmy. She glared at the three of them.

  James stepped forward as if to take Little Jim from her, but Tanner moved to block his path.

  “I’d keep my hands off that boy if I were you,” Tanner said.

  “Out of my way, Jones,” the older man said. “Jimmy, let’s take your son home.”

  “My lawyers have filed a suit in Dori’s name against the two of you for conspiring to deprive this boy of his mother,” Tanner said. “I’d tread lightly from here on out, or you may prejudice the case even more. Little Jim ran away from home because he was unhappy. He wants to stay here tonight. I’ve talked to a judge who says that’s just fine. He’ll be glad to issue a restraining order against all three of you if that becomes necessary.”

  James swung back to the door where Deputy Holt stood. “What’s going on here, Holt?”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Devaney, but it’s just like he said,” the deputy replied. “I checked on it. You’d better leave Little Jim here for the time being.”

  “The hell I will. Jimmy, get L.J. and we’ll be on our way. It’s late.”

  Dori clutched her son, who buried his face against her neck. Tanner flexed his shoulders and Deputy Holt looked very worried.

  “James, leave L.J. be.” Crystal’s voice was soft but laced with a determination Dori had never heard from her former mother-in-law.

  James Devaney turned slowly, slack jawed with disbelief as he stared at his wife.

  She met his incredulity with a steady gaze. Her voice gained power as she spoke. “We’ve allowed our selfishness to make that little boy’s life miserable, and it’s going to stop now.”

  James cleared his throat. “Crystal, honey, you’ve been under a strain. I’ll handle this.”

  “I haven’t been under a strain. I’ve been under your thumb.”

  “Oh, for crying out loud, Crystal.”

  She squared her shoulders and drew in a breath. “I thought it would be hard to buck you, but it’s not that hard, after all. I love our grandson, and I won’t stand by and watch you and Jimmy frighten him with stories about taking him away from his momma. I’ll go to the mat with you on this, James.”

  James’s eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

  “Take it however you want. Besides, Dori has a champion now.” Crystal waved a hand in Tanner’s direction. “From what I hear about him, he could drag you through the courts until all your money is gone. You may be stubborn, James, but you’re not stupid enough to risk your entire fortune. It’s time to throw in the towel and give Dori custody of L.J.”

  Veins pulsed at his temples and his face reddened. “Over my dead body!”

  Crystal stared him down. “With your high blood pressure, you’d better calm down, or that’s exactly how it will happen. Now let’s go home. As you said, it’s late.”

  James glanced to his son for support, but Jimmy Jr. only shrugged. Dori wasn’t surprised. Jimmy followed whoever was leading, and right now that person was Crystal.

  James turned back to Dori and shook a finger in her face. “Don’t think this is the end of it, Dori Mae.”

  Dori didn’t respond, but her heart sang with relief because it was the end of it. James Devaney’s reign of terror was over. Just like that, Crystal had called his bluff and found that she held more control than she’d ever imagined. It also didn’t hurt that she had Tanner Jones to hold over her husband’s head.

  Deputy Holt followed the Devaneys out, and Dori heard him apologizing the length of the walkway. Something about Mr. Jones having friends in high places leading all the way up to the governor’s office, and the sheriff’s hands being tied.

  Tanner closed the door and Dori finally relaxed enough to ease Little Jim to the floor.

  Her son gazed up at her. “I can stay here tonight?”

  Dori gave him a shaky smile. She was almost afraid to believe it. “I think you’ll be able to stay here every night.”

  “Really?”

  Dori nodded and fought tears.

  Little Jim hugged her hard. “That’s good, Momma.”

  “Yes, it’s good.” She smoothed his red curls with trembling fingers. Then she looked at Tanner standing across the room by the door. “Thank you,” she said around a lump in her throat.

  “Crystal’s the one you should thank,” he said.

  “I will, but I don’t know if she would have stood up to James if you hadn’t put the pressure on her in the first place.”

  “Momma?” Little Jim looked up at her, an impish gleam in his eyes. “Can I stay up and watch TV and eat popcorn because it’s a special night?”

  Dori gazed on her precious, freckle-faced son and was so filled with love she could scarcely speak. But he counted on her to be his mother, and she took the job very seriously. She tugged on his earlobe. “A special night? You scared the wits out of a lot of people who love you. You’re lucky you aren’t grounded, buddy.”

  “Then I can’t stay up late?”

  “You’re already up late. Now go in and get your pajamas on and brush your teeth. Call when you’re ready and I’ll tuck you in.” Her voice quivered on the last part of that statement. Tonight she would have the privilege of tucking Little Jim in his bed. She would never take that privilege for granted again.

  “Okay.” Little Jim dragged himself down the hallway.

  “If you’re a very good boy tomorrow, we can see about some TV and popcorn tomorrow night,” she c
alled after him.

  “Okay!” He skipped the rest of the way into his bedroom.

  Dori faced Tanner. The faint scent of his woodsy after-shave drifted toward her, beckoning her closer. She held her ground. “I don’t know what to say. You’ve been wonderful, more than wonderful.”

  His blue eyes filled with resignation. “But it doesn’t change anything, does it?”

  She shook her head.

  “You realize you’re an impossibly pigheaded, prejudiced woman? What do you want me to do, give it all away?”

  “Of course not.” She called on her last reserves of strength and somehow found the words she had to say. “I want you to go back to that bushel basket of letters you got from the article in Texas Men and find a woman who’s delighted to be the little wife of a very rich man. I’m sure there’s someone out there like that.” She didn’t allow herself to think of Tanner with another woman. The picture of him holding someone else might make her start screaming.

  “I’m sure there are women out there like that. And I happened to run into the one woman in the entire world who thinks money is a dirty word!” He braced his hands on his hips and stared at a point over her shoulder. Finally, his gaze moved back to her face. His voice was husky. “I love you. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

  Her throat tightened. “That’s what makes this the most difficult decision I’ve made in my life. But I will not live like a kept woman, Tanner.”

  “Dammit, you would not be a kept woman!”

  “When a waitress marries a CEO, that’s the way it turns out, in my experience. I don’t believe in the Cinderella story anymore. I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath “More sorry than I can say.”

  He stood looking at her, his throat working. “That’s it, then.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a card. “If the Devaneys don’t cooperate in the custody case, get in touch with me.”

  She took the embossed card, careful not to touch his fingers. “I will.”

  “Dori—”

  “Go, Tanner.” She hurt all over. “Before we both break down and Little Jim comes in to find out what’s wrong. He’s had enough trauma for one night.”