The Ranger

by Angi Morgan

  “Go ahead.”

  “Brandie’s demanding to come up the ladder now. That okay with you?”

  “I’d prefer that she return to the secured house, but I take it that’s not an option?” Pete looked at the hatch and leaned down to help Brandie up.

  Mitch walked toward the road. Toby was still out there. They’d missed him by minutes and needed to find him. Not later. Right now. Nothing against Pete, but they didn’t know what they were facing.

  The entire neighborhood had to be watching. They all had to be aware of what was going on. Somebody had to have seen something. The people in the house had to have gone somewhere.

  “Vehicles,” he mumbled. “To get away, they needed vehicles, but we’re watching the roads. So how would they get past your roadblocks?”

  “They didn’t,” Pete proclaimed.

  “Then where are they? Where was he trying to run?” Mitch asked.

  Two driveways to the west there was a mobile home with a carport. Two trucks and two cars parked and ready to pull onto the street. But no lights on inside. Not even the glow of a TV. Too early for anyone except the elderly and those souped-up trucks didn’t belong to anyone who went to bed at seven at night.

  Could it be that simple? He didn’t wait to explain himself. He didn’t wait to follow procedure. Or the letter of the law. Or wait for backup.

  He jogged along the side of the road, hanging close to the edge of the pavement because of the darkness. He heard the squawk of the radio behind him. He’d dropped Hardy’s a long time ago. He patted his pockets. No jacket meant no cell or extra clips. But the cold steel of a gun was secure against his back.

  He skirted the wall of the mobile home. Listening. The front of the trailer had a direct line of sight to his fight at the tunnel. They probably knew their battle was lost.

  “Mitch,” Brandie whispered directly behind him. “Pete said to wait on him.”

  “No. Go back and give him my answer. This is too dangerous.”

  “I’m staying. This is Toby.”

  He knew that look and heard the determination in her voice. She couldn’t kill him with niceness—he wasn’t a customer, but she would be stubborn.

  “Stay here. I’m going to the front door.” He squeezed her hand. “They might not know my face, hon. Please stay here.”

  “Since you said please.”

  He saw all her hope that Toby was inside that trailer. Maybe he recognized it because he felt every bit as anxious for all of it to be over. If he weren’t here...

  Mitch turned the corner of the trailer and lightly stepped on the wooden porch leading to the door. The little glass panels used for the windows were raised. Whoever was inside could hear him.

  “Toby, son,” he raised his voice. “Can you hear me?”

  “Go away,” said a heavily accented woman. “No want.”

  “All I want is the boy.”

  “No boy here. Go away,” she said.

  “It’s over.” Brandie’s eyes searched his from the corner. Pleading. “You don’t want to hurt the niño. Just send him out and that’ll be it.”

  He’d lie if it got Toby out of there. What if you’re wrong? What if they’ve already left and you’re wasting time? He could see the same questions in Brandie’s movements.

  A county vehicle, lights flashing, stopped about fifty feet away. Cord stood behind the door, the radio mic in his hand. “Rosita Morales, we know you’re holding a little boy. Send him out to the officer, then follow with your hands up. If anyone’s inside with you, have them do the same.”

  Cord said it in English for everyone to hear and then again in flawless Spanish. Before he finished the second time, the door creaked open. At Mitch’s position on the short porch, he was trapped behind the door. He saw the joy and relief on Brandie’s face and heard the running down the steps. It was Toby.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Each of Toby’s feet hit the big steps, and he ran across the stepping stones the same way. He had a big, laughing smile on his face and didn’t seem scared or abused. Brandie wanted to run to him, but Pete held her back, weapon drawn and pointed at the door.

  She scooped her son into her arms, and Pete pushed them behind him, away from the mobile home and into another county vehicle farther down the street. He tapped on the hood, the car was put into gear and they left. She didn’t see how everything ended. She didn’t care.

  Toby was chattering away. Brandie wanted to listen to him, concentrate on his words, but she stared at Sadie and the man who’d kept her son. They were facedown, hands cuffed behind their backs by the tunnel entrance.

  Defeated.

  “Are you okay, sweetie heart?” she asked.

  “You had to work a long time, Mommy. I want to stay with Gramma Ollie next time. ’Kay?”

  “Sure thing, absolutely.”

  “Ma’am?” Deputy Hardy interrupted. “We’d rather proceed to the station unless you think Toby needs a doctor.”

  “He seems fine. Why the police station?”

  “We don’t know what—if any—retaliation there might be. My orders are to protect you and the boy.”

  “Thank you.”

  Toby was safe, but the apprehension wouldn’t leave her alone. Mitch was still there. He’d been behind the door when she’d left. They hadn’t acknowledged any goodbye. If something happened...

  But nothing was going to happen. He was just as safe as they were. She had to hold on to that thought, concentrate on Toby. She held her five-year-old so securely in her lap that he wriggled to be free.

  “Too tight, Mommy.”

  “I’m just so happy to see you again.” She wiggled her nose against his, unable to get enough of him. She was relieved, grateful, thankful.

  “It’s okay. I had an all right time. But I like my room.”

  “Sure you do.” She kissed his forehead. He even smelled clean, like soap.

  The deputy drove the two miles to the Presidio Police Station and escorted them both inside to the chief’s office. A local officer stood outside the door as if they were fugitives. But they weren’t.

  One by one the Queen’s men paraded by her. When the man Mitch had fought with staggered past, Toby smiled and waved. The man may have worked for a drug smuggler, but he’d obviously treated her son with kindness.

  She heard Sadie coming through the main doors before she saw her. The expensive shoes were back on her feet. Brandie rubbed the side of her head where one had hit her during their fight. The leather skirt had been ripped and there was dried grass stuck throughout her long hair. She couldn’t flip it and be beautiful. Her horrible true nature oozed out, screaming with every foul word that escaped her lips.

  Then she saw Brandie. Her eyes darted to Toby drawing at the desk. She smiled by tilting the corners of her mouth and narrowing her eyes. It was so evil Brandie had to turn away. She wanted to protect Toby, to get him out of a building where this vile woman would be.

  They couldn’t leave. Mitch hadn’t come through the doors.

  She lifted Toby and sat him in her lap. She couldn’t see the door, which made her even more nervous. Was he walking through it or on his way to a doctor?

  “What are you drawing there, Toby?”

  “See, this is the black tunnel we had to crawl through. Not really crawl, but they saids I could pretend. Mommy, I didn’t get to brush my teeth. You aren’t mad, are you?”

  “No, no, honey, I’m not mad.”

  “Javier said you wouldn’t be, but I didn’t know for sure because of the mean lady.” He touched her chin, drawing her attention to his wide-eyed baby blues. “I love you, Mommy.”

  She kissed his forehead again. She’d never get enough of his sweet smell and loving arms. She buried her face in his little neck until he giggled. “Toby Quinn Ryland, I love you right back.”

  “So do I.”

  “Mitch!” Toby jumped off her neck and ran to be scooped up into her knight’s arms.

  Not that horrible woman’s knight.
No, Mitch was hers. She knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. The question was, did Mitch want a life with a ready-made family?

  “The supposed Queen involved her mother, Rosita, and other family members. They’re bringing in quite a few from her operation including the young women from this afternoon. All in all, I think we made a pretty good team out there.” Mitch shifted Toby to his side and held out a hand to her. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  Sitting handcuffed to a chair, Sadie didn’t look as important or threatening any longer. “You know she really did think of herself as the Queen. She said her whole operation was thrown off because of the unknown variable of Toby’s kidnapping. She is a horrible person.”

  “Don’t think you’re safe, Brandie. You’ll never be completely safe,” she spat from the other side of the room.

  “Pipe down,” an officer said, dropping the duffel of cocaine on his desk.

  Brandie was no longer nervous. Her family was safe and they’d stay that way. She was never a person who spoke her mind, but this time, she had something to say.

  “You should probably be more worried about yourself. You’re a captured Queen. And I think you’re wrong. I’m not your passed pawn to be traded for a more important piece. I’m on the winning side.” Brandie didn’t flinch when Sadie threw herself forward, attempting to stand. “I think that’s checkmate.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Toby fussed about having to take a second bath, but then Mitch said he’d take one, too, right after his mom. So they’d played with the toy soldiers and dinosaurs marching in two by two formation on the racetrack carpet. Toys and carpet had been moved to the living room so Bud and Olivia could enjoy the fun, too.

  Once they were all clean, they ate grilled cheese sandwiches and tried for the best chocolate milk mustaches. Olivia and Brandie tucked Toby in bed, giving Mitch time to speak with Bud on the porch.

  “You spending the night again, Ranger?”

  “Yes, sir. I don’t think she needs to be alone.”

  “You’re right about that. I guess you’ll be moving on to your next assignment then?” Bud stretched, smiling like a man with a secret.

  “Actually, Bud, I, um...”

  “You want to hang around here awhile?”

  “If she’ll have me, sir. Yes.”

  He clapped him on the shoulder. “I don’t think there’s a question about that. You take good care of them or you’ll answer to me.”

  “Yes, sir. I know.”

  “Come on, Ollie. I’m yearning for a good night’s sleep.”

  Mitch secured the doors, checked over the windows so they’d both sleep sounder. While Brandie dried her hair, he pulled the couch cushions and stood them behind Toby’s door. He took the blanket and pillows off the bed, looking at it longingly, imagining what might actually happen there one day.

  But not tonight.

  The drier went off as he pulled the covers back over Toby.

  “He still asleep?” she asked from the doorway.

  “I think he’ll sleep at least until six, maybe six-thirty if we’re lucky. You ready to hit the hay?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t think—”

  “Brandie, I can’t—” They both began, both grinned. “Check out behind the door. I sort of thought you’d want to stay in here, too.”

  They pushed the cushions together and leaned against the pillows. He was ready to wrap his arm around her when she pulled back, taking a deep breath and letting it out on a long sigh.

  “I love you.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Not just for everything you’ve done in the past couple of days. It happened months ago. After one of those long, protective looks you gave me standing in the doorway to the garage.”

  “I think I’ve loved you since I met you. I never saw anyone after you and I honestly felt more at home on the cot in the garage than I have in years anywhere else.”

  “If you stay, will you still be a Texas Ranger?”

  “I don’t think they’ll let me run the garage in my spare time, so no.”

  “Is that going to bother you?” she whispered.

  “No. I like working on engines. And I like washing dishes after a bus has come through town. But there’s a bigger question, Brandie... Will you marry me?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Mitch pulled her across his body, their mouths sparking a passion he didn’t think possible with anyone else. But not tonight.

  He wrapped his arms around her body, keeping her close, watching for shadows. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped a hand in the long silky locks. He softly kissed her good-night, thinking about how good they’d be together. But that was their future.

  Tonight was the first as a family.

  Epilogue

  Five weeks later

  Brandie opened the door to the café, expecting business as usual. Toby ran through while she waited on Mitch a few steps behind them.

  It was their first day back since returning from their honeymoon, and she’d been apprehensive about getting back to normal. Her parents had convinced them to sleep late. They’d open up like they had for the past week and take in Toby home with them when they swapped places.

  “Surprise!” Multiple shouts and waving hands, then laughter and loud conversations.

  It was standing-room only in the café. The bar was full of cake, sandwiches, a punch bowl and behind it stood her mom and dad. Her father had his arm around her mom, looking very proud and happy.

  “Oh, my gracious,” Honey and Peach said in unison. “You two should have seen your faces.”

  “I thought I was seeing double. It’s so unusual for you sisters to be together and away from the sheriff’s office. Who’s minding the dispatch desk if you’re both here?” Brandie hugged them both. “Thank you for coming.”

  “We couldn’t miss it. We’re so glad there’s nothing wrong with Toby. He thought it was a sleepover. That’s great. Just great.” The sheriff’s department dispatchers faded into the crowd.

  Mitch wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, “I think you have some friends, Mrs. Striker.”

  “I’m so very lucky.” She did feel very lucky that there had been no lasting effects from the kidnapping. She turned her face to his, giving him a quick kiss. “And so are you.”

  “It’s after the fact, but the two of you took off so suddenly to get married, no one had a chance to give you a shower. Or a reception, so surprise.” Andrea explained the party faster than Brandie could take it all in.

  Neighbors, friends and café patrons crowded more to the edge of the room, leaving a path straight to the far wall. “I can’t believe it.” Brandie ran to the shiny, refurbished jukebox. “You all shouldn’t have. It was much too expensive.”

  “We didn’t,” Kate said, nodding to Mitch on the other side of the room. She handed her two shiny quarters. “Bride’s choice.”

  Brandie’s hands shook, but she got the coins through the slot. Her vision was blurry from happy tears, but she found her favorite song. She dabbed at the corner of her eyes and then extended her arms in an invitation. Her husband of one week wrapped her tightly and kissed her to a round of “awws.”

  They danced to her favorite song with only Toby talking in the background. The other couples swayed, but it was mainly them. It really was the reception she’d dreamed about. Held in her favorite place, with her favorite people.

  At the next song everybody danced with them. Her dad dug the next quarters out of the cash register to keep the music going.

  “I can’t believe you got the jukebox fixed,” she said to her husband during the next slow dance.

  “I might even buy you those expensive sunglasses if you don’t behave.” He winked, then held her closer. He nibbled her neck. Something they’d both discovered she loved. “Do you get the impression that Toby isn’t all that excited to see us?”

  Toby was sitting on a bar stool, turning back and forth
, but not spinning. He knew that was against the rules. “He’s upset about something.”

  “Let me try.” Mitch led her to the bar. “Hey, kid, why the long face?”

  “Gramma Ollie said I need to wait.”

  “If there’s a problem, then you should probably tell your old man. That’d be me now.”

  “I want a new name like Mommy.”

  “Well, now. That’s not a problem. Your present came while we were on our trip. We’ve got papers at home to prove your name is now Toby Ryland Striker.” Mitch announced the news of the adoption loud enough that her parents heard. They both stopped and hugged each other.

  “For real?” Toby said with a brilliant smile, completely happy again.

  “Want me to tell everybody for you?” Mitch asked.

  “Naw,” he whispered. “I think we need to eat cake.”

  “You got it.” Mitch messed up Toby’s hair, then smoothed it back down.

  “I love you more and more every day,” she told him. “You truly are my shining knight. Think you can keep that up for a while?”

  “Sounds like the plan of a lifetime.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE PREGNANT WITNESS by Lisa Childs.

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  Chapter One

  Gunshots erupted like a bomb blast, nearly shaking the walls of the glass-and-metal building. Through the wide windows and clear doors, Special Agent Blaine Campbell could easily assess the situation from the parking lot. Five suspects, wearing zombie masks and long black trench coats, fired automatic weapons inside the bank. Customers and employees cowered on the floor—all except for the uniform-clad bank security officer.