Promise Kept

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

Instead she was stuck with Ted for God knew how long.

  ****

  Donovan stomped toward the barn, Mark on his heels chattering away. He had to do something to make Phyl stay, but what? If she didn’t want to be here, he had no right to try to change her mind.

  He loved her and wanted her to be happy. If leaving made it so, then that’s the way it would be.

  “Are you going to teach me about the bags now?” Mark asked.

  “Later.”

  “Can we go riding?”

  “Nope.”

  Mark put his hands on his hips. “What can we do? I know. You can teach me to rope. You promised.”

  They’d reached the barn, stepped inside. Donovan stopped, looked Mark up and down. “Can’t do it.”

  Mark’s bottom lip pouted.

  “Why?”

  “You don’t have the right rigging.”

  Mark looked down. He had on jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers. He spread his hands. “This is all I have.”

  Donovan pulled a package from behind a bale of hay where he’d put it days ago. “Not anymore.”

  “For me?”

  “Yep.”

  Mark tore into the package. “Wow! Look at this! A shirt just like yours. And a hat. He pulled the shirt on over his T-shirt, slammed the hat on his head and dug deeper. “Boots!” he squealed. Sitting down, he chucked his tennis shoes, shoved his feet into them. “They fit. How do I look?”

  “Still not rigged.” Donovan grinned. “Check the bag. There’s something else.”

  “What did I miss?” Then he found it. “Awesome!”

  He couldn’t get the big, silver buckle onto his belt, so Donovan bent down and helped.

  “Am I rigged now?”

  “Absolutely!”

  Mark pranced around the barn, scuffed his boots until hay flew in all directions then ran for the house. “Wait’ll Mom sees this.”

  He stopped at the barn door. “Don’t leave. We have to practice roping now that I’m rigged out.”

  “I won’t go anywhere,” Donovan promised, watching as Mark flew across the yard and into the house.

  If only they were staying. When they were at the rock formation—when they were at the homestead, he’d read her wrong. Thought she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He understood. She’d come here frightened out of her wits. Left the same. No matter what had happened between them at the homestead and the rocks. In between she’d worried they’d be found. It was understandable she’d want to get on with her life now that they were safe.

  But how could he live without her? Without Mark? They were part of his heart. These last few weeks were hell. What would the rest of his life be like?

  The hurt ran deep.

  It didn’t take long until Mark raced back. As he watched the boy run across the yard, Donovan could easily see how his own dad had loved a child not his own. He couldn’t stop the smile when Mark came up to him. It took Mark to show him the truth. Donovan wiped a tear from his eye. Jeez!

  Doing his best to ignore the fact that his heart was breaking into tiny pieces, he gave Mark’s shoulder a hug. “Okay. Let’s get to work.”

  ****

  Phyl watched from the kitchen window as Mark threw the rope again and again. They should have left right away. But Mark looked so cute in his western duds that, against her better judgment, she’d agreed to stay for dinner. She couldn’t deny either of them one last family meal. Buying Mark that outfit showed how much Donovan cared for her son. When he’d followed them to California didn’t it prove he cared for her, too?

  Maybe, but it was also obvious he didn’t love her.

  Time after time, Donovan showed Mark the correct way to hold his hand, flick his wrist. Ted sat on a bale of hay, urging him on.

  She marveled at Donovan’s patience. Seeing them together squeezed at her heart.

  Mark had grown since they’d come here. The few clothes they’d brought with them were getting too small. He’d need a complete new wardrobe soon. He wasn’t a baby anymore. He needed the independence of going to school, of being with other children. Thanks to his dad, it wouldn’t happen now. She wondered if their lives would ever be normal.

  Her thoughts turned to the small amount of cash in her bedroom. She could use it to buy his clothes, save the money from the sale of the house for bigger things.

  Nellie came to stand beside her. “They make quite a pair, don’t they?”

  Phyl couldn’t stop the smile. “Yes, they do.” She turned to Nellie. “Mark’s always happy when Donovan’s around.”

  “And you?” Nellie asked.

  Phyl turned away. “Mark’s happiness comes first.”

  “No. It doesn’t,” Nellie said, taking Phyl’s face in her hands. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? A child is happy if his parents are happy. If Mark sees you upset, he’ll be upset.”

  “Is it that simple?”

  “Trust me.”

  Nellie was right. Phyl had seen it with Mark when they were running from the horror in California. She’d seen it in the Callahan family before Donovan returned. Nellie was sad and upset and every member of the family was sad right along with her.

  “Can you re-think your plans to leave?” Nellie asked, her voice solemn.

  Tears welled in Phyl’s eyes before she could blink them away, and she shook her head.

  Mark missed his target. Donovan took off his Stetson, wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt and laughed. Duplicating his every move, Mark did the same.

  Ted looked as if he was going to burst he laughed so hard.

  Through the tears in her heart, Phyl couldn’t help but smile at the picture they made. She turned and looked into Nellie’s green eyes. There wasn’t a trace of anything there except love. They reached for each other and hugged. “I’m so sorry. About everything.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was up to him now. He laughed at the irony. The low man on the totem pole was now top dog. How great was that? Who would’ve thought a few months ago when some second-rate accountant, hired to do a job about as legit as it could get, would see something he never should have, and start an avalanche that brought down a cartel as big as his uncle’s? Unbelievable. But it happened.

  Dumb bastard thought he was so smart. Instead he was dead. Now the bitch and her brat were back. He’d gotten the word from the guy who heard it from the sheriff’s dispatcher who got it straight from the sheriff himself. So it must be true.

  Word was out that all the Callahans were on their way here.

  It was time to make his move and show them all.

  It didn’t matter that the cartel was busted. What mattered was that Uncle Al would get his revenge.

  And after he made Uncle Al happy, he’d go somewhere, change his name again and live like a king.

  ****

  When the guys came in, Mark’s face was alight with excitement. “Did you see us, Mom? Donovan taught me to rope.”

  “I saw you, Mark. You’re a fast learner.”

  Donovan was right behind Mark. Just the sight of him standing there so tall, looking so wonderful made her insides tremble. How could she leave this place and this man?

  “That’s what Donovan said.” He looked at Nellie. “What’s for dessert?”

  She laughed. “You’ll like it.”

  “Did you wash up, Mark?”

  Mark nodded, making a beeline to sit next to Donovan, who sat down at the head of the table.

  Donovan wouldn’t even look at her. She tried to hide her hurt by pasting a smile on her face, but it felt as if it might crack from the effort.

  Ted came over and sat beside her.

  Tonight, Nellie said the blessing. “Thank you, Lord, for bringing Phyl and Mark home safely. Keep them safe on their journey wherever it takes them.”

  Phyl slid a glance at Donovan. His face was set in a scowl.

  As soon as dinner was over, she said, “We’re packed and ready to go.”

  “I don’t want to leave,” Mark
whined. “I haven’t had a chance to show Donovan how I can help on the next roundup.”

  “It isn’t an option,” she reminded him before anyone else could respond. She stood and carried her plate to the sink. Even though she agreed with her son, she had to stick to what she knew was right. Yes, leaving was painful. But she couldn’t bear seeing Donovan like this, and the thought of putting these people she’d grown to love into possible danger again was too much to consider.

  Mark pushed his dessert plate back and stormed upstairs. Until he came back down, she’d let him be.

  She helped Nellie with the dishes while Ted stood at the window looking out at the barn, and the cows in the distance. “It’s nice here.”

  No one answered.

  Donovan got up and went upstairs. Whether he was going to his room or to talk to Mark Phyl didn’t know. Right now, her heart was so heavy, it felt as if it might fall out of her chest and land on the floor.

  Once the dishes were done, she kissed Nellie on the cheek. “That was wonderful. I think I’ll go to the barn and tell Queenie, Freckles, and the horses goodbye.”

  Tears welled in Nellie’s eyes.

  “Don’t,” Phyl warned. “No tears.”

  “I can’t get over that you’re leaving us.”

  Phyl couldn’t talk about it.

  “Coming, Ted?” she asked.

  “Right behind you.”

  “The Callahans are really nice people,” he said as they walked to the barn.

  “Yes, they are. The rest of the family is, too.”

  “Can I ask you something I hope you don’t think is out of line?”

  “Sure.”

  “What’s going on between you and Donovan? I sense some undercurrents there.”

  She gave him a sharp look. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He chuckled. “I have the feeling you care more about him than you let on. Am I wrong?”

  Phyl sighed. “No. You’re not wrong. But I brought a horror to this family. I can’t very well expect him to forget that, now can I?”

  “He came to California to help you. I think he was ready to fight the entire cartel to get to you and Mark. Once he knew you were safe, he was going to take on the FBI.”

  “That’s his nature.”

  “He seems to be a good man.”

  “He is.”

  “He called you and Mark his family.”

  Her steps slowed. “He said that?”

  “Heard him with my own two ears.”

  Her steps picked up. “The Callahans are such good people. They seem to really care for Mark. In the situation Donovan was in, it was probably a Callahan thing to say.”

  “I don’t know, Phyl. I think the man’s crazy about you.”

  “I think you’re wrong.” She wanted to believe Ted. Wanted him to be right. Could she possibly have read Donovan’s actions in the wrong vein?

  They needed to talk. It was why she’d come here.

  They reached the barn just as the dogs started barking.

  “Heard us coming,” Ted chuckled.

  She went to their pen, stepped inside. “How are my girls?” She realized she’d probably never see them again. Or Nellie. Or Donovan. The thought brought her to her knees. The dogs were all over her, and they wouldn’t stop barking.

  “I’ll be by the door,” Ted said.

  “I won’t be long.” Her voice was strangled. With the ruckus the dogs were making, she didn’t think he could tell.

  She scratched their backs. “That’s enough. I want to check on Skye and Lily.” But the dogs wouldn’t stop barking.

  She stood, looked toward the barn door. No Ted.

  Would he leave?

  No. He took his job too seriously.

  Then she saw a figure walking toward her from that direction. It wasn’t Ted. Her heart jumped into her throat.

  The dogs grew more frantic.

  Mateo!

  “Just the person I was looking for,” he said. “Brought Mark a book.”

  It was dusk; too dark to read the title on the slim volume he poked at her. “It’s too late in the day for pictures. You’ll have to wait until Monday.”

  Something wasn’t right. Where was Ted? Mateo shouldn’t be here. And she didn’t like the weird smile on his face. A chill ran up her back.

  He handed her the book with one hand, grabbed her with the other. “You’ll have to come with me, Ms. Phyl. Boss’s orders.”

  She gasped, tried to pull away, but his arms were like steel.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  She wasn’t going with another man hell-bent on hurting her if she could help it. Then a thought slipped through her brain that was too horrifying to believe. “Are you with the cartel?”

  He just laughed.

  “It’s finished, you know. The flash drive has been turned over to the FBI. I don’t have and don’t know anything else.”

  “Not that simple.”

  He dragged her through the barn to the back door. Phyl struggled, dug her heels into the floor, tried to grab hold of something—anything to stop this. Nothing worked. He was strong.

  But so was she.

  She twisted her arm until it came free and turned to run. He tackled her and she fell flat on her face. Kicking and yelling, she fought to get away.

  He grabbed her around the waist, pinned her arms to her side.

  That’s when she knew fighting him was futile. She grew still. “What did you do to Ted?” Her chest heaved from the effort to get away and she could barely talk.

  “The cowboy at the door? He’ll be okay when he wakes up.”

  Then she saw the knife in a holster on his belt. A chill went over her. Did he stab Ted? Was he lying over there bleeding to death? “Let me see that he’s all right. Then I’ll go with you.”

  “Take my word for it. He’ll be fine.”

  “I want to see for myself.” It was déjà vu all over again. Someone else was hurt, or worse, because of her. Would this nightmare ever end?

  He grabbed her arm, yanked her up and pulled her over to where Ted lay behind a bale of hay. She knelt down beside him, her heart racing. “Ted?” Running a hand over his head, she found a bump. She turned his head, didn’t see blood, but the bump was big. She saw no other sign of injury. His pulse was rapid, and she prayed Mateo was right. She let out a sigh and stood.

  “Satisfied?” His tone was more than a little derisive.

  She nodded. At least Mark was safe, and somehow she’d get free. Right now, she wanted out of here as much as Mateo did. There was no way she’d let the family be hurt. Not again.

  The back door slammed.

  Donovan!

  Mateo heard it too, pulled his knife at the sound. “You don’t want anyone hurt do you?”

  “No. I’ll do whatever you say.”

  He ran, pulling her behind him. The dogs went crazy.

  He dragged her to his car parked behind the part of the barn that held the room where Cal had stayed. He shoved her inside, started the motor.

  What could she do? How could she get away from this madman? She put a hand over her chest, prayed her heartbeat would slow. If not, she’d stroke out. Mateo wouldn’t have to worry about her at all.

  Her one and only comfort was in knowing that Donovan and Nellie would take good care of Mark.

  ****

  Donovan walked into the barn with resolute steps. They were going to talk. There was no way he was going to lose these two people who meant so much to him. Not this way. Not without a conversation.

  He stalked inside, willed his temper under control. Why were the dogs going crazy? Phyl usually had them on their backs, rubbing their stomachs.

  Something was wrong.

  Why hadn’t he thought to bring his dad’s old forty-five pistol? If they weren’t still in danger, she wouldn’t have a U.S. Marshal watching over her 24/7.

  He didn’t see Ted or Phyl. His fear escalated. Where were they?

  He heard a moan
, saw Ted trying to sit up, and ran to him. “What happened? Where’s Phyl?”

  His heart pounding an unhealthy rhythm in his chest, Donovan pulled Ted to a sitting position. Running through the barn, he saw that the horses were in their stalls, but Phyl was gone. He walked out the back, looked over the silent pastures. No Phyl. He ran back to Ted.

  “Where did she go? Who hit you?”

  Ted staggered to his feet. “I didn’t see a thing. Someone came up behind me. One minute I’m standing looking out the door, the next nothing.”

  “Call my brother, the sheriff—he’ll get here ASAP,” Donovan said. “I’ll check the barn again.”

  “No. I will,” Ted said. “I may have a knot on my head, but I can do my job. You make the call.”

  Donovan dialed, watching as Ted walked a grid, his eyes on the ground. At the dog pen, he bent down, whipped out his handkerchief, and picked up something.

  “Phyl’s missing, Dugan,” Donovan said, his voice none too steady. “Put out an alarm. If I figure out who took her, I’ll be in touch.”

  Ted walked over to Donovan.

  “Dugan is setting up roadblocks. But we need to know who took her,” Donovan growled.

  “What’s this? And who does it belong to?” Ted asked. He held up a children’s book so Donovan could see it. “Was it in the barn earlier?”

  “Not that I know. I’ll check with Mark. He hasn’t been here in weeks so it’s not likely to be his. If not, I may know who took her.” There was only one person he could think of. Phyl and Mark had met Mateo in the bookstore. Mark had made the comment that Mateo had given him a book.

  “Bring me a plastic bag. I’ll need this for evidence.”

  Donovan ran to the house and was back in less than a minute, a box of bags in his hand, a cell phone to his ear. “Dugan, Gregory Mateo took Phyl. Get a deputy over to his house. He’s not likely to be there, but check anyway. Be sure and let the guys on the roadblock know. Do you have a description of his car?” He hung up when Dugan assured him he had a description, and would get right on it. Donovan stalked over to Ted. “Phyl told me there was something wrong about the guy. Why didn’t I listen?”

  “He hasn’t had time to get far. Tell me, who is Gregory Mateo?”

  Donovan told him, watching as Ted carefully put the book in one of the bags. “A photographer taking pictures of ranches in the area. From their first meeting, Phyl didn’t like him. Give me your keys.” Donovan held out his hand.