by Mayer, Dale
So more than one trailer. He had to finish this pass of the outbuildings first. He quickly finished the circuit then made his way back to the living room. “Looks like the first horse trailer is arriving.”
Relief washed over Eva’s face. “I’m glad to hear that. We need to see these horses off to their new homes.” She snagged up a stack of paperwork. “These are the documents for the remaining horses.”
He frowned. “Where did you find those?”
“Lena pointed them out on the small table over there.” Eva pointed to the side table beside the bookshelf. “Isabella had it all ready and waiting.”
“Good. That will simplify things.”
April stood up and stretched. “I’ll be happy to get these horses loaded. We’re supposed to go home with the last trailer, Eva.”
“I hope our ride is on time,” Janice said in a determined voice. “I need to get Mary out of here.”
“I hear you. The sooner the better for me too,” Eva said.
Swede refrained from commenting. The only way Eva was returning home was at his side. Regardless of what she wanted.
Chapter 17
Eva walked out to meet the truck as it pulled into the yard.
“Remember, say nothing,” Swede said at her side.
“What’s to say? I couldn’t begin to explain this nightmare,” she muttered. “But somehow we have to get the horses loaded and gone without arousing their suspicions.”
“You let me handle that.” Swede walked toward the truck. “You get the paperwork ready and the horses sorted. We can have this one in and out in an hour with any luck.”
And somehow with Swede there keeping everything on track, and speaking Spanish like he was born to it, six horses were loaded, paperwork handed over and the truck gone before anyone knew about Isabella.
Afterwards, with the others standing in the dust, April said, “So where was Swede when we needed him yesterday?”
Eva snorted. “I know. Did you see how those horses did his bidding without a problem?”
“He’s magic.” April shook her head then paused. Her arm shot out pointing down the road. “And we have more company.”
“Hopefully it’s our ride,” Mary said. “Are we allowed to leave if the authorities haven’t made it here yet?”
Swede nodded. “Given the circumstances, they will need to contact you at home if they have any questions. Otherwise we’ll handle it.”
Relief washed over both Janice and Mary’s faces. “Great. Let’s get this second load up and done. I want to go home,” Janice said.
“Me too,” Mary added.
It was fifteen minutes before the second trailer pulled in. This one wasn’t so easy. There was a good deal of Spanish flowing before the driver was appeased. Eva heard the name Isabella a few times and some sadness on the driver’s face.
She just hoped that whatever Swede said would be something close to the truth and was something the man could deal with. She held up the six sheets for the next six horses as Swede moved them to the trailer. April gave them a quick check over and they began loading.
One didn’t like the trailer.
It took Swede several moments of calming him down to get him inside. Even then he wasn’t impressed.
Still she stayed out of it. And that surprised her. She was normally in the thick of things. But Swede had this handled so easily he was a pleasure to watch.
The animals trusted him. Several that had been standoffish to date – or rather – when around her – now were rubbing their heads against him.
Interesting to see such an instinctive and heartwarming response. Swede stopped and tilted a muzzle toward him, talking softly to the nervous animal he was standing beside. It was almost as if he had a surreal connection to the animal.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it,” Janice said. “He’s got a pretty special way with horses.”
“Yeah, he has.”
“And you’re pretty lucky. It’s not often you get a man like him in your life,” she warned. “Be careful not to screw it up.”
Then she walked away leaving Eva standing open mouthed in her wake. Her daughter stepped up and said, “Mom’s right, you know. He’s a stud.”
And she followed her mother.
Eva snorted. Swede stepped out of the trailer at that point, the last of the horses for that load safely in and approved. “What did they say to you to put that look on your face?” he asked, a frown creasing his forehead.
“Oh nothing. Just you’re such a stud I shouldn’t screw up and lose you. Guys like you aren’t common apparently.” She glared at him, hating the wicked grin that lit up his face.
“And they are right. We are unique.” He leaned forward. “So you better kiss me so they know you’re not going to mess this up.”
She almost growled in frustration. He laughed and scooped her up into his arms, then as he slowly lowered her to her feet again, he took her mouth in a possessive kiss that branded her as his whether she wanted it to or not. Oh what the hell. Doing what she’d been dying to do anyway, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. His start of surprise was music to her. Good. Let him be off balance for a change. Lord knew he’d thrown her off balance for a long time. Damn him.
She poured out the years of wishing he’d been someone else. Wishing she’d been someone else. The right one for him. The man he was intended to be for her. Not her brother’s buddy, not a SEAL. But her lover. Her love. Her one and only.
And in the face of her passion, he responded. His hands slid down her back to her hips where he pulled her tight against him. Hip to hip, pelvis to pelvis, his response was unmistakable.
Heat drove to the heart of her, and she could feel the need clawing for release. God she wanted him. She needed this. Him. Even if only for a short time. She had–
“Whoa,” he said, pulling back, a flush high on his cheekbones. In a hoarse voice he said urgently, “If you don’t want me to take you right here and now in front of an audience we need to dial this back.”
She gasped, her body trembling from the shock of his withdrawal and the return to their surroundings. The only good thing was his big body sheltered her from those standing at the front of the truck.
Getting words out was beyond her. Forming them in her head didn’t work either. What the…? When she found her voice again – she opened her mouth and blurted out the wrong thing. “What the hell just happened?”
“I have no idea,” he growled. “But we’re going to have to address it soon.”
Mute, she shook her head. She spun on her heels and dashed into the hacienda. The cool air hit her instantly and chilled the ardor still driving her inside. Oh Lord. What had she done? She’d let her inhibitions go. That’s what. Talk about shitty timing and shitting decision making. Whoa. She clapped her hands to her hot cheeks and sank into the nearest chair. She had to get a hold of herself and now.
The others would be leaving soon. She had to say good-bye. It was good they were leaving, but dear God, what was she going to do about Swede?
That man was impossible to be around before. How was she going to survive being with him now? And even worse, how was she going to survive being without him?
*
There were few times in his life he’d ever lost control. And never sexually. But to consider that the first time was with Hawk’s sister, in a public place was daunting. He’d been tossed sideways by her response to his bantering. She’d dragged him into the hidden depths of a place he’d never been, and he’d gone eagerly like a puppy.
It drove him crazy that they weren’t someplace where he could see this to the end. An end he knew would be something unique. He’d had a taste of her passion now. And he wanted the whole meal.
Damn she’d been hot. He looked down at his big hands, not surprised by the fine tremor that made them shake. Heat pulsed in his veins and blood still pumped into one very specific region of his body. Unfortunately. He was desperate to calm his body down before the women
noticed. Hell, throwing Eva to the floor where she stood was still looking good. God, what the hell was that?
And wasn’t that the same question she’d just asked? At least she hadn’t been able to hide her response to him any more than he had to her. They were in this together.
Whatever “this” was.
“Hey, Swede.” Mary waved at him. He took a deep breath and walked over. They were in the truck, the daughter in the back of the big rig, the whole seat to herself. “Take care of her. She’s a little confused at the moment.”
With a nod, he said, “Not to worry. I will.”
“And April. They’ve both been through enough. I personally can’t wait to get the hell out of here,” Mary said. “We’ve got the paperwork. Tell Eva good-bye but we need to get on the road.”
And with that, the big rig pulled out, six horses in the back.
Swede stood in place, a silent April at his side, and watched the plume of dust rise behind the truck.
“Now it’s just Eva and me.”
“And when are you supposed to leave?” he asked noncommittally. “I thought it was at the same time.”
“No. We fly out this afternoon,” April said. “I’d like to leave early if we can. Get the horses onboard and settled in as soon as possible.”
“Can you do the trip on your own?” he asked.
She turned to him, her gaze searching, “I can easily. Is Eva not coming home with me?”
He shrugged, his gaze wandering the area. “She should. You both need to go home. And this is the fastest way now.” He pointed at the big red truck they’d seen yesterday approach. “I presume that’s your ride?”
“Yes.” The relief in April’s voice showed him just how hard this day had been on her.
“Good. Let’s get you and the last of the horses loaded and I’ll go find Eva.”
“Is she okay?”
“Sure. Just tired.” He paused and looked over at the remaining four horses, including the mare that had been sickly. “How did Isabella make money here? She had no horses of her own I believe.”
“She gave her horses to the two men that were doing one of the trips for her. As payment. They weren’t being used, and she wanted to make sure all the stock were taken care of,” April said in a noncommittal voice. “They were two of the horses that went out yesterday. So we have four more to move.”
“Weird. It’s almost as if she knew she wouldn’t be able to look after them,” he said.
And her next comment caught him sideways.
“I think she didn’t expect to. I know she saw a doctor many months ago for some condition but refused treatment. I never brought it up with her again.”
“That would explain it.”
“Then depending on the condition, the bullet might have been easier on her than a slow, painful death.”
“No death is easy,” Swede said. “But I’d like to think there is a good death.”
April smiled up at him. “I don’t know what went wrong between you and Eva. At first I thought the two of you were a complete mismatch, but now I’m not so sure.”
Knowing some response was called for, he slanted his gaze in her direction. “And now what do you think?”
“I think she’s intimidated. Afraid to be all she can be.” April’s tone was distant as if seeing something he couldn’t see. “And maybe fail.”
He rolled her words around in his head. Was she right? “I’m a big guy,” he finally said, knowing it wasn’t what she meant but not wanting to get into it further. He glanced at the living room where Eva had disappeared.
“In more ways than one,” April said on a laugh.
He just barely managed to stop himself from adjusting his pants and bringing her attention to something he’d hoped had gone unnoticed.
“You’re bigger than life, we’d say back East.” She smiled. “You are a lot of man, and many women would find they lack the self-confidence to deal with that.”
He stared at her.
She snorted. “And in typical male fashion you haven’t a clue what I’m talking about.”
She turned her back. “We need to get on the road. So much for being early. I’d say we’re going to be hauling ass to get there on time. Do you want to go in and get her or shall I?” A sly smile took a hold of her face. “Never mind. I’ll go. Then I won’t have to interrupt any sweet good-byes.”
His eyebrows hit the roof.
“See, that’s so sweet. You act like you know nothing of what I’m talking about.” She laughed. “No worries. I’ll go and grab her.”
Jesus.
She walked into the hacienda. Swede looked around the other buildings, knowing Dane would be here.
Somewhere.
April came to the door a few minutes later, a frantic look on her face. “She’s not here. Oh my God, where has she gone?”
Chapter 18
The only thing that was good about being unconscious was the oblivion of what might have happened when you were out cold. Eva had no idea where she was or who had taken her. All she knew was she was lying trussed up like a chicken in the woods somewhere with a hell of a headache. Not pain but a weird grogginess and thick head as if she’d been drugged. Why and how she didn’t know. The last thing she remembered was the hottest most passionate interlude she’d ever had and with Swede, of all people, and damn near in public. Like what the hell had she done? Besides lost her head.
And what had it gotten her? Kidnapped and hauled out into the woods by some asshole. She was here. Where was Swede? She dragged through her memories looking for answers.
Right – She’d rushed inside to calm down and to avoid facing the others in the state she was in. She remembered collapsing onto a chair, shocked at her unbelievable response.
And then what?
Nothing. After that it was all a fog. She tried to shift position but found herself only able to roll over. And that didn’t improve matters. She rolled onto her back again and tried a different maneuver. With her hands tied in front of her, she scrambled up on her knees. After a couple of deep breaths, she managed to hop to her feet. The brush was still higher than her head. She cocked an ear and listened but there was nothing. No birds, no animals rustling in the brush. Nothing. Why weren’t there voices at least? She had to be taken by someone. So what did they do, dump her in the bushes for later? And what if there was no later? What if Swede or Hawk killed the asshole, stopping him from coming back for her?
That horrific scenario rippled through her mind in a never ending wave. Was one better than the other? She had no idea. She studied the knots in front of her. Surely there was a way to undo them? Maybe not her hands but what about her feet? Knowing it was going to take a lot of effort to get back up, but hoping she’d be able to do so with her feet no longer tied up, she plonked down on her butt to study the knots. With a little effort she managed to loosen the tie around her right ankle. It took another ten minutes of playing with the rope for the knots to fall apart. Yay. Her feet were free. Nice. She took another look at the knots on her wrists then got busy. Using her teeth, she could loosen up those knots too. Five more minutes and her hands were free. Thank God.
She pulled her phone out and checked for reception. Only one bar. She quickly sent a text to her brother and Swede.
Putting her phone away, she looked around.
Now to find her way back to the hacienda. The one truck had left while she’d been in the living room, she remembered hearing everyone calling out good-byes.
Then again, after her sprint inside to avoid the others – to avoid Swede – she couldn’t blame them for giving her space.
But this much space was a little ridiculous.
Sigh.
She opened her mouth and in an echo of days gone by she called out for help using her old Hawk cry that she and her brother had perfected while growing up.
She listened. No answer.
Taking a few steps forward, she peered through the brush. No one there. She was alone. Well, that
was fine with her. But she didn’t want to be here when her kidnapper returned.
She needed a new hiding place. She bent down and picked up the bindings. Maybe she could confuse her kidnappers by making them doubt the bush where they’d left her. She checked the trees around her to see if they’d left any markings. There weren’t any that she could figure out. Still, it would make sense. Although she was horrible at navigating.
She did a quick check in all directions, looked at where the sun was above her and realized she needed to move in the other direction.
Emboldened by having gotten out of her bindings, she picked up her feet and started to run. She was leaving footprints but that couldn’t be helped. She had to move and the faster the better.
Now to find someone or something that could help. Surely considering the sun was still high above she hadn’t been missing for very long.
April should have noticed as they should be leaving soon, but if she wasn’t there at the time of departure – then what? The horses had to go. They had to catch the flight. It was going to be a huge headache to reschedule. Not to mention once the authorities arrived how much more difficult it could be to get the horses out of there?
Damn it. Why had Isabella been killed? She was the one they needed to complete the horse rescue.
Frustrated and confused, more than a little scared, she kept on running.
Swede, please find me. And fast.
*
Swede did the fastest sweep of the house and outbuildings he’d done yet. His heart was pounding. How could she have disappeared? When? He had to believe she’d been taken. She couldn’t be that upset with him surely? And even if she was, she wasn’t a fool. And these horses meant the world to her. Getting them loaded and out of here was huge. So where was she? She was supposed to depart with this last load herself. She knew that.
April stopped him. “Look, I don’t want to leave her behind, but I have to go as that flight is scheduled and even now I’m not sure I can catch it. If we miss it, the horses–”
“Go,” he said instantly. “You need to move the horses. You know I’ll find her. I won’t have to worry about you in the meantime. I can’t go after her and keep you safe.”