Saving Hope: Men of the Texas Rangers Book 1

by Margaret Daley

  Only a hundred feet from her.

  She spun around to run away. A tree branch suddenly appeared, and she tripped over it. The hard impact with the earth knocked the breath from her lungs. The sound of hooves striking the ground echoed in the air.

  She rolled over and sat up. The horses were a couple of yards away. She scooted back and tried to scramble to her feet.

  The first animal was right above her, its hooves ready to come smashing down on her . . .

  Kate bolted straight up, her raspy breathing breaking the quiet of the night.

  She scoured the blanket of dark in front of her until she

  made out the faint outline of the end of her sleigh bed.

  Only a dream.

  Why horses and a pasture? Because she’d been at Wyatt’s?

  Why not the wreck?

  She brought her knees up to her chest and clasped them, then rested her cheek on them. Staring at the faint light leaking through a couple of slits in the blinds, she tried to remember the beginning of the dream. Rose materialized in her thoughts.

  “That’s it!”

  She glanced at the digital clock on her bedside table. She’d only been asleep for an hour. Wyatt wouldn’t have been home long. Maybe he was still up.

  Flipping on the lamp, she reached for the phone and called his cell.

  He answered on the second ring. “Sheridan here.”

  “Wyatt, I know what Rose told me about her past. She used to live on a ranch with horses, probably somewhere near Dallas.”

  11

  What did Rose say? Did she tell you where?” As he spoke with Kate on his cell, Wyatt strolled into his house after the long trip back from Beacon of Hope and a brief revisit to the scene of the wreck. He glanced toward the living room and discovered his mother and Jack sitting on the couch. He nodded toward them and kept walking toward the kitchen at the back.

  “We were talking about possible field trips. Things to do when the weather got cooler. Rose mentioned how much she loved to ride horses. That she used to do it a lot when she was a little girl.”

  “Then why do you think she lived on a ranch?” He switched the phone to his other ear, moved to the stove, and poured himself some still-warm coffee.

  “I quizzed her a little farther before she clammed up. She mentioned having to take care of her horse. I supposed she could have lived in town and boarded her horse, but I got the feeling that wasn’t it. I tried a couple of days later to talk with her, but she wouldn’t say anything else. I know it’s not much, but it’s a place to start.”

  “Why somewhere around Dallas?” He was still upset with Kate and her insistence on being involved in finding Rose. He didn’t doubt she would try on her own if he didn’t keep her involved in some way. The key was letting her think she was helping but keeping her out of harm’s way.

  “Because from the beginning she always gave the impression she was from this area. She knew a lot about Dallas. Again, I guess she could have learned that from working the area, but I don’t think so. Her accent is Texan.”

  “There are hundreds of ranches in this part of Texas.” He sipped the lukewarm coffee and winced. Would he ever learn about his mother’s coffee-making skills?

  “I know. I just thought it might help.”

  The weariness in Kate’s voice dissolved his anger. She had been through a lot in the past week and was still fighting strong for the teens at Beacon of Hope. He had to admire that about Kate even if it scared him. He didn’t want anything to happen to someone he cared—

  The realization he cared about her more than he should sucker-punched him. He sat down wearily in a chair at the table.

  “Wyatt?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Just wanted to make sure you were still there. You were so quiet. Still mad at me?”

  “No. It’s hard to stay mad at you for long.”

  “Then you’ll let me help you?”

  “I’m beginning to think I don’t have a choice.”

  The sound of Kate’s laugh floating through the phone wiped away any remnant of anger that lingered.

  “I didn’t get to tell you that I’m bringing Cynthia home tomorrow. We had a good talk today. I’m going to put her with Audrey since both girls need a roommate. I don’t want them alone. They might be able to help each other.”

  The door to the kitchen opened and his mother entered, a dreamy look on her face. Wyatt glanced behind her for Jack, but he wasn’t there. “I’d better let you go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow afternoon. Bye.”

  “Good night, Wyatt,” Kate said as though she was trying to stifle a yawn at the same time as talking.

  He clicked off and peered at his mother who stood a few feet inside the room, lost in thought. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m more than all right. Isn’t Jack wonderful?”

  Wonderful? That wouldn’t be his word for the man. “Mom, he isn’t going be here long. Don’t get too wrapped up in him.” You’re just going to be hurt again.

  “Austin isn’t that far.”

  “Mom, promise me you’ll take it slow this time. Get to really know the guy.” Before deciding you’re in love. How was it he had a mother who could fall in love almost instantly, and he couldn’t see himself doing it but once? Yes, he cared for Kate. But caring and loving were two different emotions.

  “Sure, hon, if you’ll promise me you’ll not give up on loving someone again.”

  “I can’t do that.” He tried to declare it with his usual force, but the words trickled out in a weak stream.

  His mom crossed the room and kissed his cheek. “I love you. I want you to be happy. Rebecca would want that. It’s been nine years.”

  He wanted to shout, “You don’t know what Rebecca would have wanted. You were halfway around the world with husband number three.” He gritted his teeth and kept the words inside, but they boiled in his gut.

  “I’m going to bed. Jack is coming to church with me tomorrow. I wish you would come, too.”

  “I’ve got things to do around here.”

  She headed for the door. “Don’t give up on God.”

  “I haven’t.” He’s given up on me.

  Rose’s eyelids flew open. The ever-present blackness entombed her. The verses of the Twenty-Third Psalm kept playing through her thoughts. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me.

  No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t get the Psalm from her mind. “What are You trying to tell me? That I’m not alone? I am.”

  Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes and rolled into her hair. The hard stone beneath her—so like her life—constantly reminded her of what lay ahead for her.

  Unless you do something about it.

  “What? I tried to escape.”

  First, get out of here, then the rest will come.

  She had to be going crazy. How was she supposed to get out of the Deprivation Room?

  The door crashed open. Rose sat up and blinked as light flooded her prison, silhouetting King in the entrance.

  He settled his fists on his waist. “Have you had enough of this? Or do you want to stay in here longer? I’m losing my patience.”

  This is your chance. As she stared at King, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness, the words ran over and over through her mind and wouldn’t stop.

  “You’ve won,” she murmured, the admission bitter on her tongue.

  He cackled. “It’s about time. You’re family. I should be able to count on you.”

  Her skin crawled as though thousands of spiders covered her. Acid roiled in her stomach. She would never think of King as her aunt’s husband and certainly not as an uncle. He was not family.

  “I don’t have all day. Let’s go.”

  She struggled to her feet. Her legs nearly collapsed under her. She’d been lying on the floor for so long she wasn’t even sure she had the strength to move forward.

  Yes, you do.

  She placed one foot in front of
her, then the other. At the door King sidled away to allow her to go through the entrance.

  When she passed him, he grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him. “I’m not fooled by your meek behavior. I’ll be watching you. If you ever cross me again, there are places far worse than here that I can put you.”

  The words weren’t what pushed the nausea up from her stomach into her throat. It was the scent of peppermint. She bent over and threw up on his boots the little she’d been permitted to eat.

  “We’ve got an open house planned for the last Thursday of the month. We’re opening the place from two to five.” Kate turned onto the street that ran in front of Beacon of Hope. She glanced over at Cynthia. “I’d love for you to help but only if you want to and we have your parents’ permission. This open house is voluntary.”

  “I’ll help. I owe you. My parents don’t care so long as I’m not their immediate problem. You were here for me. Not them. I guess I should be content they called each day while I was in the hospital,” the teen whispered in a husky voice.

  “I’ve kept in touch with your parents about your situation. I’ll continue to do so.” When she’d talked with them that morning, she’d heard frustration in their voices and resignation that it might take a long time before Cynthia was healed. Kate drove into the lot behind Beacon of Hope and parked near the door, then angled around to look at Cynthia. “You don’t owe me anything. Help if you want but don’t feel like you have to.”

  “I want to.” Cynthia sat forward, her head down, her fingers entwined together.

  Kate placed her hand over hers, half expecting the girl to flinch or draw away. She didn’t. “You are what is important to me. Don’t forget that, Cynthia.”

  A tear splashed onto Kate’s skin. Her throat closed. She and her mother might not get along, but her childhood had been nothing like Cynthia’s and a lot of the girls’. So many of them had been throwaway kids. No one to love or care for them. At least she could do something about the girls in the program.

  “I should never have run away from home. I thought that was the answer to all my problems. It was only the beginning.” Cynthia’s last word caught on a sob. “My parents weren’t great, but they were better than my pimp.” The teen straightened. “I want to help Beacon of Hope.”

  “Audrey asked me if you could be her roommate. Do you want to?” Kate squeezed Cynthia’s clasped hands then sat back to let the teen gather her composure.

  “She does? Why?”

  “You need to ask her that, but you need a roommate.” She prayed Cynthia chose to agree, because she couldn’t stay by herself.

  Through shimmering eyes, Cynthia peered at her. “Are you afraid I’ll cut myself again?”

  “All I can do is pray you won’t, be here for you, and provide you with the help you need to work through your problems. When you feel the urge to hurt yourself, come to me. Talk to me about what’s bothering you. I’ll be here for you any time you need me.”

  “Why do you care?”

  Kate could remember Rose challenging her with that question the second month she’d been at Beacon of Hope. She would tell Cynthia the same thing. “Because once I had a chance to help someone and was too frightened to do anything but stand and watch. I won’t do that again. I lost a friend that day. She was sold by her family to a man who ran a prostitution ring in Costa Sierra.”

  “She was?” Those two words came out with a long breath. Sadness reflected in her eyes, Cynthia averted her gaze. “That’s what my pimp did to get money for drugs.”

  “I’m sorry, Cynthia. You’re safe now.” She hoped. She had to find Rose and show the girls no one was going to force them to sell their bodies again, that their life was in their own hands now.

  “But what about Zarah and Rose?”

  “That’s a fair question. Rose left to help someone. I believe Rose would have brought Lily back here if something hadn’t happened to her. I’m not giving up looking for her. She’s too important to me, as you are. And as far as Zarah is concerned, she left on her own. She didn’t want to be here any longer. I would never have sent her away.” If Senator Foster didn’t support the program and she couldn’t find others to fund it, then she would go back to her mother and do whatever she had to in order to get the money she needed.

  “I’ve been thinking lately. I had a lot of time in the hospital to do that. When I told Rose about getting mad at my parents and running away, she got this funny look on her face. Then she smiled at me and told me how much she’d loved her parents. I asked her what happened. All she said was her life became a nightmare when hers were killed in a fire.”

  “Did she tell you where this fire was? How long ago?” Excitement bubbled up in Kate. Maybe Wyatt could use this tidbit to narrow his search down even more.

  “No, but I got the impression it was years ago.”

  “If you remember anything else, let me know. Every little bit helps.” She would call Wyatt and let him know after she got Cynthia settled. “Let’s go in. Dinner will be in an hour. Pizza.”

  Cynthia grinned. “I love pizza.”

  “I know.”

  The teen’s eyes grew round for a few seconds. Then she pushed open her door.

  When they entered the building, colorful streamers were hanging from the ceiling and a banner welcoming Cynthia home stretched across the hall leading into the foyer from the back door. The girl stopped. Her mouth fell open.

  Finally, she glanced over her shoulder at Kate, her eyes glistening with tears. “You did this for me?”

  She shook her head. “It was Audrey and Beth’s idea and the other girls wanted to help them.”

  Cynthia shuffled forward, her attention glued to the banner. When she stepped out into the large front foyer, all the students and staff were there standing in a semicircle around a table laden with chips, dip, cookies, a cake with Cynthia’s name on it, and platters of pizzas. The girls began cheering and clapping.

  Cynthia froze, her gaze sweeping from one person to the next.

  Kate put her hand on Cynthia’s shoulder. “They wanted you to know they cared.” She moved to her side.

  Tears ran down her face. The students swarmed Cynthia and tugged her toward the table, half the girls talking all at once.

  Through the crowd Kate’s gaze paused on Jana off to the side, her arms folded over her chest. Lord, I need to reach her somehow. I don’t want to lose her like Zarah.

  Kate felt someone come up behind her. Even before she turned, she knew it was Wyatt. His presence made her whole body tingle. His scent enveloped her. She smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. I was going to call you.”

  “Oh?” he said with one brow raised.

  “Cynthia told me something she remembered about Rose.”

  He took her elbow and drew her off to the side away from the others. “What?”

  For a moment, all she could focus on was his hand touching her. She wanted more. She wanted him to kiss her again. “Uh . . . Rose’s parents died in a fire, probably years ago. She was happy until then. After that, she said the nightmare began. Cynthia didn’t know exactly how long ago it happened.”

  “It should help. We can do a search of the past twelve years where a man and woman died in a fire and left a little girl. If it was in Texas, we have a good chance of finding something. If it was somewhere else, it will take a lot longer.”

  “So why did you come?”

  “To see how you were after the crash last night.”

  “You could have called. Saved you the time coming all the way down here.”

  “Maybe I didn’t want to save time.”

  “If you don’t have any dinner plans, you can have pizza with us. As you can see we are celebrating.” Kate waved her arm toward the people in the foyer.

  “Don’t mind if I do. Maddie and Mom went to some sappy movie this evening. Didn’t even ask me if I wanted to go.”

  “Did you?”

  “Nope. Mom likes to take my daughter out once a month. She calls
it their girls’ night out.”

  “Sounds like you want to be included.”

  Mock horror seized his face. “No way. The movie is called Love Lessons. I don’t think so.”

  “Are you more a western fan?”

  He shook his head. “I like thrillers.”

  “That would have been my second guess. If we want any pizza, we’d better grab some now. It’ll be gone in no time.” Kate grasped his hand and hauled him through the crowd of girls.

  After getting a plate full of food, Kate directed him to the stairs. “Let sit down. It’s been a long week. And this one coming up doesn’t look any less busy.” As she eased onto the step, her body protested the movement, her aches a constant reminder of how close she’d come to dying last night.

  “I noticed your car was towed out of the pond when I went by today.”

  “And carted off to the junkyard. One of the things I have to do is get a car. I’ve got a rental for the time being. What I hate is the Mustang was paid for. Now I’ll have monthly payments again. Any leads on who tried to run me off the road?”

  “No, but I’m pretty sure it had to do with Rose’s case. Which leads me to telling you again, you’ve got to be careful. Avoid going anywhere after dark and especially any place where there aren’t many people.”

  “I’m carrying pepper spray and starting to upgrade the security system here even more than it is. I think if you had your way you’d put me under house arrest.” She bit into her Canadian bacon and extra cheese slice.

  He grinned. “If only that were possible. I wanted to let you know that tomorrow several other rangers and I will be around this area paying the local law enforcement agencies a visit about Rose. See if anyone knows her. I’ll also ask about fires where a couple died, too. It’ll take us a couple of days, but we’ll cover the surrounding towns. I got some good news. There were fingerprints found in the car Zarah was in that wrecked. A match was found for one set. Tony Langford. His driver’s license photo matched what Georgia gave the sketch artist. He’s the same person who approached Zarah on the field trip.”