Taken in Texas

by Susan Sleeman

  Thankfully, the doctor had cleared her to return to work, and she hadn’t even had to downplay her symptoms to get him to do so. She’d been tempted to minimize things, but then she thought of what might happen if she really was suffering a serious injury and did nothing about it. Sure, she didn’t want to die from a simple hit to the head, but more than that, Cord couldn’t cope with another loss. He’d made that abundantly clear in the car, and she didn’t want to hurt him.

  That thought had made her sit up in her bed and take notice. She couldn’t possibly be letting him back into her good graces so quickly, could she? That was a recipe for heartache.

  She dug out her phone to call Tessa and find out where she was in the investigation. After seeing Cord’s anguish in the SUV, Kendall didn’t want to waste even a moment with Eve missing and wanted to start the computer imaging and let it run overnight.

  Kendall started to dial when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a man taking long-legged strides toward her. Cord? He was still there.

  He stopped in front of her and took a wide stance as if he was preparing for an argument. “I take it they released you.”

  “Yes. I’m cleared to return to work.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “And you were completely honest with the doctor?”

  She should resent the question, but then she’d considered holding back, so she had no right to be bothered by it. “I was, and now I’m going to check in with Tessa, and then find out what’s happening with my car.”

  “I talked to your dad. It’s at the ranch, and as of a few minutes ago, Tessa is still working the scene, and Matt’s looking into the grain truck.”

  Kendall shouldn’t be surprised Cord would know this. He left nothing to chance.

  “You followed up,” she said.

  “I knew you would want to know the status. Me, too.” He gestured at the exit. “I’ll give you a ride home.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that when you have a long drive ahead of you.”

  “Don’t worry about the drive. It’ll only take me a half hour at most to drop you off at the ranch.”

  “I don’t live there anymore.”

  His eyes narrowed, and she knew she wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “When I talked to your dad, he insisted you stay with them until we apprehend the suspect.”

  Kendall wanted to argue, but Cord had nothing to do with her father’s wishes. “You can drop me off there so I can pick up my car.”

  “You planning on going somewhere tonight?”

  “I want to take Eve’s computer to the lab to start the image.” She held up a hand. “And before you say I need to rest, that won’t happen until I’ve done everything I can tonight to help find Eve. If I get this started now, it could finish by morning.”

  “Fine,” he said. “Then I’ll take you to Eve’s house and the lab, too.”

  “Tessa will have to accompany me anyway, so you can drop me at Eve’s place,” she said and knew he’d understand that, as a deputy, she couldn’t be alone in the lab, where evidence for ongoing cases was often out of lockup while being processed. “And besides, you have that drive ahead of you.”

  “Stop worrying about that,” he snapped, then blew out a long breath. “Sorry.”

  She actually was worried about him driving tired, but equally as worried about spending more time with him when she was tired and her guard was down. And if that didn’t consume her mind enough, she kept thinking about the threat to her life.

  She’d already reported the suspect’s description at the break-in and to dispatch after he’d pinned her to the tree. And she wasn’t going to back down on having the sketch made in the morning. That meant if this man followed through on his word, he was going to try to kill her.

  A tremor of fear rolled through her body but she worked hard to hide it from Cord.

  “C’mon.” He gestured at the door. “We’re wasting time. I’ll take you to Eve’s at the very least.”

  She sighed and stepped off.

  “Is being with me that painful for you?” he asked, coming up behind her.

  “No.”

  “Then why the sigh?”

  She thought about not answering but met his gaze and held it. “Because it’s not painful enough. I don’t want to enjoy being with you because it makes me think we should never have broken up.”

  She expected a rebuttal of some sort, but he didn’t say a word. He shifted his focus and his gaze roved over the parking lot. Right. He was concerned for her safety, as she should be. She pushed thoughts of him to the back of her mind and took a long look through the shadows and between cars and trucks as they moved toward his vehicle.

  She drew in a deep breath to exhale her tension, but the humidity felt oppressive and made it hard to breathe. Or maybe her thoughts of the suspect lurking in the sea of cars was leaving her breathless. After they climbed into his SUV and Cord got the air-conditioning going, she gulped in the cold air and slowly let it out, feeling much like a leaky tire.

  Cord glanced at her, and thinking he’d comment about her anxiety, she braced herself, but he didn’t say anything, and they rode in silence for a long time. Uncomfortable, tense silence that must have finally gotten to him, as he said, “So, update me on your family since I left town. Did Gavin come back to work for the department?”

  Good. Her brother. A safe subject. “No. He’s a Texas Ranger now.”

  Cord shot her an astonished look. “Seriously? I figured he and your dad would have patched things up. I wondered why Matt was running for sheriff instead.”

  “Gavin and Dad finally ironed out their differences but were smart enough to realize they couldn’t work together. Gavin lives in Lost Creek again. He’s married to Lexie, and they have a baby named Noah.”

  He glanced at her hand. “You’re not married.”

  “No. Are you?” He was looking at her ring finger, but she forced herself not to blatantly check his out. She hadn’t looked before. Odd. Maybe the shock of his aunt’s disappearance kept her mind occupied. Or the stress of being injured or almost killed. Or maybe she just didn’t want to know.

  “Never found anyone I...” He stopped talking abruptly and shook his head. “What about the other McKades?”

  “You saw Tessa, and I told you about her engagement to Braden.”

  “And Matt. He’s running for sheriff, but what about his personal life?”

  “He’s about to marry an amazing woman—Nicole. She has a precious little girl named Emilie.” Kendall thought of their little family together, and it brought a genuine smile to her face. “I’ve never seen him happier.”

  “So you’re the only single one, then.” Cord used air quotes around the word single, as technically Matt and Tessa were still unmarried.

  She nodded and was thankful they’d reached Eve’s house before he asked additional questions about her dating life or lack thereof.

  She took a good look around before exiting the vehicle and hurrying inside the house. She seriously didn’t think her attacker would return tonight, but then she wouldn’t have thought he’d barrel into her with an enormous truck, either, or threaten her with a gun.

  She found Tessa in the bedroom, on her knees, peering at something on the carpet. Kendall didn’t bother telling her about the incident with the truck. There was no point. Cord’s call to her father would ensure the family’s grapevine would have already taken care of notifying all of her siblings.

  Tessa looked up, sisterly concern darkening her eyes. “Doc cleared you, then?”

  “He did,” Kendall said and quickly moved forward before Tessa could express her apprehensions about Kendall continuing in this investigation. “I was hoping you’d come to the lab with me so I can get the hard drive image going.”

  Tessa looked like she wanted to say no.

  Before she could, Ke
ndall said, “We could find a strong lead on Eve’s computer, and with her missing, I hate to wait until morning.”

  Tessa glanced at her watch. “How long will it take?”

  “Thirty minutes or so to get everything hooked back up and running. An hour max.”

  Tessa got up. “Then let’s get this place secured and make it quick.”

  “I can give you my key,” Cord offered from behind, where Kendall hadn’t realized he’d been standing.

  “You’re still here?” Tessa asked, the same quizzical look on her face that had been there when she was staring at the floor.

  “After the incident with Kendall’s car, I wanted to make sure she got home okay before I headed back to Houston.”

  Tessa’s eyebrows shot up, and her gaze moved between Kendall and Cord like a ping-pong ball. “I heard about the accident, but we can take care of Kendall. No need for you to hang around.”

  “There’s every need.” Cord’s response was low and deadly sounding as his gaze connected with Kendall’s and held.

  She fired him a warning look, trying to tell him to cool it in front of Tessa before she started asking questions.

  “You do need me,” he said through gritted teeth. “You may not want to, but you do.”

  “We should get going on that computer,” Kendall said to distract her sister, who was clearly picking up on the undercurrent between her and Cord.

  Tessa was a very perceptive person, and it wouldn’t take much for her to figure out there was more than a need for protection going on with Cord. If she found out, Kendall would ask her sister to keep it quiet. Tessa would agree to do so, but she’d get distracted by something and let it slip to the family.

  And that? That would be a mess. Their mother and grandmother wouldn’t leave it alone, and their dad? Well, he liked Cord, so their dad would be all over it, too.

  Not something Kendall needed right now. Not at all.

  “Is the equipment ready to go?” Tessa asked.

  Kendall nodded.

  “Then I’ll lock the back door, and we can get it loaded.” Tessa took one last look at Kendall, then strode from the room.

  Kendall was about to tell Cord to cool things when her phone dinged, alerting her to a text. She glanced at the message from Matt.

  FYI—Grain truck was stolen.

  Kendall relayed the message to Cord.

  “So we have a guy who’s not afraid to steal a truck, nail you with a rolling pin and threaten you at gunpoint.” Cord shoved his hands into his pockets and worked his jaw muscle for a moment. “I want you to do the sketch, then step down on this investigation and lay low.”

  She took a second to calm her thoughts so she didn’t snap at him. “The threat makes me even more determined to find this lowlife. You’re a detective. You should get that.”

  “I do.” He scowled. “But I don’t like it, and I’m not letting you go to the lab without me.”

  “Letting me?”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “Didn’t you?”

  “Maybe.” He shoved his hand into his hair. “Come on, Kendall. Don’t analyze everything I say tonight. I’m tired. You’re tired.”

  “That’s when the real you emerges.”

  “Translated, I haven’t changed, and you think I want to be in charge of everything.”

  “Don’t you?”

  “No. At least I don’t think I do. I just...” He shrugged. “We should get going.”

  He’d at least said he didn’t want to be in charge. That was different from the past, and she would take that for now, but if his bossiness continued, she would put her foot down.

  And what about his motives now? The thought came unbidden. He’s just doing this because he’s worried about your safety, not wanting to push you around and take charge.

  She ignored her thoughts and went to the family room. They carried the computer and cords to the car, and it took her about an hour to get the machine set up and start the image software. Of course, Cord insisted on driving her to the ranch while Tessa went back to Eve’s place.

  When they passed under the Trails End sign arching over the driveway, Kendall let out a big internal sigh. The ranch had been in their family since the 1800s, and it carried such a sense of security and home that she always felt safer and more protected there.

  Cord pulled up to the ranch house, parked and opened his door. “I’ll see you get safely inside.”

  He hopped out and came around to open her door. She had wanted to say goodbye to him in the car, but he was a true gentleman, and that meant seeing her inside. She’d not more than set a foot into the foyer when her mother and nana came running from the family room.

  “Sweetheart.” Her mother breathed out and studied Kendall’s forehead. “That’s some lump.”

  “The doctor cleared me, so I’m good,” Kendall said to play it down, even though it was throbbing something fierce.

  Her mother drew her close for a hug, and Kendall let her hold her for longer than she should when wanting to come across as a strong, independent detective in front of Cord. With her father adding him to the investigation, she felt a need to prove herself.

  Her mother released her.

  “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. That must hurt.” Her nana tsked and stepped in for a hug, too. She smelled of vanilla and cinnamon from her daily baking but she had the firm grip of a ranch hand.

  “You’ll be staying here.” Her father’s voice came from behind her grandmother.

  Kendall freed herself but didn’t readily agree. “The attacker took me by surprise, but now that I know he’s actually gunning for me, I’ll be more cautious.”

  He frowned and stroked the mustache she’d never seen him without. “That’s well and good, but you still need someone with you to have your back.”

  “Your dad’s right,” her granddad said, joining them. “Not about demanding you stay here, but it would make us all rest a lot easier if you decided to do so.”

  Her father cast his own dad a terse look. They often disagreed on how to approach things, so this wasn’t unusual.

  “I can stay here, Granddad.” She smiled at him.

  His eyes crinkled in warmth, and he came close to plant a soft kiss on her cheek. He’d once been Lake County Sheriff, too, but his personality was so completely different from her dad’s. Granddad was warm and affectionate, while her dad was reserved and tough. He loved her as much, probably more than Granddad did. He just didn’t know how to show it in a way that didn’t involve demands like insisting she stay at Trails End.

  “And I’ll be working with Kendall most of the time anyway, so I’ll gladly volunteer to have her back,” Cord said.

  “Perfect.” Her mother turned her attention on Cord, one eyebrow quirking up. “We’re so glad to see you again, Cord.”

  “You, too, ma’am.”

  “Please, it’s Winnie.” She made no secret of checking out his hand, looking for a telltale wedding ring. “I’m sorry to hear about your terrible loss.”

  “Thank you,” Cord said, hiding his emotions, but Kendall knew full well that they were whirling inside him like a Texas tornado.

  “I’m sorry, too, young man.” Nana placed her hand on Cord’s arm. “You can be sure we’ll open our arms to Lucas while he’s staying at the ranch.”

  Kendall’s heart warmed over her amazing family. Her nana would make good on her promise. She’d bake goodies and spoil the boy. And feed Cord until he almost popped. If only that could in any way make up for the loss of his family. But after spending only a few hours with him, Kendall didn’t know if he would ever recover and be happy again.

  SIX

  Kendall usually took her horse, Beauty, for a morning ride, but that next morning she would forgo it due to her throbbing head. So she settled on stopping at the corral to gr
eet her longtime friend before Lucas and Cord arrived.

  “Morning, girl.” She ran a hand down Beauty’s white face and followed it with a kiss. “No riding for me this morning.”

  Beauty whinnied as if she understood.

  “But I need you to be on your best behavior today. A boy named Lucas is coming to stay with us for a little while. He’s not even a teenager, and he’s already experienced some of the most painful things life can offer. He really needs a friend. Someone he can talk to like we talk without any judgements. So be nice to him, okay, girl?”

  The mare tipped her head up and peered at Kendall. “I know. I know. It’s hard to see a boy suffer.”

  Kendall started to lay her forehead on Beauty’s neck but stopped. Not only would it hurt, but she would risk rubbing off the makeup she’d applied to cover the ugly purple bruise. She leaned her cheek against Beauty and closed her eyes.

  Father, please let Lucas’s time at Trails End be cathartic for him. And give me the words to talk to him without falling apart and crying over his terrible tragedy but be uplifting.

  The sound of tires crunching over gravel brought her eyes open. A dusty pickup rumbled up the drive to the house. She’d expected Cord to arrive in his work SUV, but she recognized his truck. He parked and hopped out, then came around to open his door, and a towheaded boy with slumped shoulders slid down.

  Lucas was thin and wore a scowl as big as Texas. Cord said something to him, and his shoulders drooped more. Cord shook his head and stormed to the back of the truck to lift out duffel bags. The boy looked up and held his hand over his eyes to stare in Kendall’s direction.

  She waved at him, and then beckoned him with a curl of her finger. He glanced back at Cord. Held for a long moment. Shook his head and took off at a fast clip across the yard and down to the corral.