Like her mom, Kellie had grown up knowing their husband and father would always be in their lives. She’d never given it a thought. But she did now...
With a tortured sigh, Kellie turned off her phone and lay back, praying this threat to her life would be over soon. If the stalker were caught before she had to leave for South Dakota, she would end her association with Cy cold turkey. That was the only way to deal with her feelings. They never had to see each other again and she could concentrate on getting ready for Finals.
Tomorrow she’d talk to the real-estate agent helping her find the right property to buy. So far she hadn’t found the exact thing she wanted. Maybe something else had just been listed on the market. Whether something turned up or not, she’d go on her last four-state circuit of rodeos starting with South Dakota, then Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma.
After that she’d come home for three more rodeos in Texas before she left for Las Vegas. Once Finals were over, she’d buy a place to get her new training business started. With the decision made about Cy, she turned on her side. But her mind wouldn’t shut off. Being in his arms, being kissed with such hunger, had changed her.
Upset with herself, she turned on the other side. When sleep didn’t come, she slid out of bed to get her laptop off the table. The latest scores of her competitors would be listed. Cynthia Lyman from Tombstone, Arizona, was the barrel racer to beat. She’d made the most money for the year, and her last winning time was 13.77.
Kellie needed to do better than that in order to come in first. Her time in Bandera was 14.10. Though she came in second, it wasn’t good enough. Once she reached Las Vegas, she’d be competing for ten nights and had to nail those barrels with consistently low scores in the l3s. Focus was everything.
After reading the latest news, she went to her blog. Once she’d thanked people in a general message after reading the latest entries, she posted her schedule of events for the next seven weeks and promised to add to her blog between each rodeo.
Eventually she grew tired and put her laptop on the floor before succumbing to sleep. When morning came, she was surprised to discover she’d slept in until nine. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that. Emotional exhaustion had to account for it.
Was Cy back?
With her heart in her throat, she showered and dressed in riding clothes and boots. She ran a brush through her hair and put on lipstick before hurrying downstairs.
“Good morning, Ms. Parrish.”
Her spirits plummeted to see a dark blond Ranger wearing a polo shirt and jeans seated at the table with his laptop while he drank coffee. He was a close friend of Cy’s.
“Good morning. You must be Luckey.”
“That’s right.”
“I take it C—Ranger Vance hasn’t come home yet.”
“Nope. He’s still out working.”
She bit her lip. “Have you heard from him?”
“Not yet.”
Good grief. What was wrong with her? He wasn’t about to discuss Ranger business with her. “I’m going to make breakfast. Would you like some?”
“Sounds good.”
“Cy loves bacon and eggs.” Cy’s name rattled off her tongue. She could have kicked herself for using it.
Luckey’s brown eyes smiled. “I think that’s an all-around favorite.” He didn’t miss a thing. Of course he didn’t. He was one of the Famous Four she’d heard mention of on the news.
“Good.” She got to work and whipped up some biscuits to go with them. Before long they sat across the table from each other while they ate.
“If I’d known that house-sitting Cy’s wife was going to come with these perks, I’d volunteer more often.”
She shook her head. “Once he catches the stalker, he probably won’t be able to live down this fake marriage.”
“Cy’s a brilliant tactician. That fake marriage caught the first stalker before any of us could blink. It won’t be long before he brings the other one into custody. In case you weren’t aware, the captain gave the assignment to him because he knew he was the right man for the job.”
Kellie knew that already.
“However, I’d like you to know that any of us would have been happy to take your case on after watching you in the Bandera Rodeo.”
Luckey was a charmer and very attractive. “You could have no idea how grateful I am for all your help.” She got up to pour him another cup of coffee. “I happen to know you were on watch all night long and must be exhausted. If you want to stretch out on the hide-a-bed in the living room, please go ahead while I wash the dishes.”
He didn’t get up. “If I lie down, then I’ll go to sleep. That’s a no-no on the job. I’m better off sitting here talking to you.”
While she loaded the dishwasher, she asked the first question to pop into her head. “What made you go into law enforcement?”
“I wanted to be a Texas Ranger from the first time I saw a troop of them riding their horses in an Austin parade. I was just a little guy. When I told my dad, he said that we in the Davis family descended from a real Texas Ranger living back in the 1800s. After he showed me my great-great-grandfather’s picture, that did it. I was going to be just like him.”
“That’s a darling story.”
His chuckle filled the kitchen.
“Are you married, Luckey?”
“Divorced.”
Kellie frowned. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s all right. My ex-wife didn’t find my occupation darling.”
No. She wouldn’t. No woman would who wanted her husband with her every night of her life. “But if she married you—”
“She thought she could handle it.”
With that response, Kellie felt as if someone had just walked over her grave.
He cocked his head. “How come you’re not married?”
“I’ve been too busy chasing a dream.”
“And thrilling crowds,” he added.
Her mouth broke into a smile. “You’re full of it, Ranger Davis.”
“I couldn’t agree more” came a familiar male voice from the living room. She lifted her eyes in time to see Cy, who walked into the kitchen looking wonderful even though he was tired and needed a shave. How long had he been listening to their conversation? At the sight of him, her heart knocked against her ribs.
She smoothed her palms over her hips. “There’s more breakfast if you want some.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He caught a chair with his boot and sat down by Luckey. If he had any news about the stalker, he wasn’t ready to share it with her.
“I didn’t know your wife was such a great cook, Cy. Try the biscuits. They’re sensational with strawberry jam.”
“Yeah?” The two men glanced at each other. Kellie could tell streams of unspoken messages were passing between them.
She poured a cup of coffee for Cy and placed a plate of food in front of him along with utensils. “There’s more where this came from.”
“Bless you,” he murmured, eyeing her with a look that sent coils of heat through her body.
“I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about, so I’m going upstairs. Thank you for watching over me, Ranger Davis.”
“It was my pleasure.”
Kellie darted out of the kitchen and hurried upstairs. When she reached her room, she fell onto the bed, so relieved Cy was all right she cried tears of happiness into her pillow. Taking a deep breath, she reached for her phone. No call from the stalker. There was only one message. It came from her parents. She should have phoned them last night before she’d gone to sleep.
Without wasting more time, she called them and brought them up-to-date on what was going on. Later in the day she and Cy would drive out to the ranch to exercise the horses. At least that was he
r plan, but it all depended on him.
* * *
“HOW DID THE search go?”
Cy looked at Luckey while he ate. “I don’t even know where to begin. It curdled my blood when we entered the town house opposite this one on the other side of the fence. According to the landlord, a married couple named Michael and Julie Sanders signed a year’s lease in February. When the landlord was shown a picture, he identified Dan as the husband.”
“Good grief!”
“No one was home. When we searched the upstairs, we found that the bedroom overlooking Kellie’s garage had been made into a shrine. Her pictures were plastered all over the walls and ceiling. Hundreds of them.” It had been a nightmarish experience for Cy.
“We found camera equipment and half a dozen guns along with a ton of ammo. One of the rifles has a high-powered scope and was set by the screened window he’d left open. All the weapons are loaded. There’s duct tape, pepper spray, handcuffs, ether, everything used in their other murders.
“In the master bedroom Vic found that a part of the closet contained men’s clothes. The other half held women’s suits and jackets. The upstairs bathroom was filled with makeup and wigs.
“Just yesterday Vic had questioned the owner of a local theater costume shop in town. He remembered selling a lot of women’s makeup, including a brown and blond wig, to a man who said he needed them for a play he was producing. When Vic showed him the picture, the owner identified him immediately. The date of the purchase was the first of February.”
Luckey shook his head. “That was right before they signed the lease.”
“Yup. Those perverts have been holed up there all this time, eying Kellie’s every move.” Cy hissed the words. “While Denny held down the fort, Dan followed Kellie around the circuit. We found a motorcycle in the garage, so he’s out somewhere either on foot or in another vehicle, maybe even a motorcycle.”
“No doubt they’re responsible for a slug of unsolved armed robberies here in Austin to finance their operation.”
Cy’s jaw hardened. “We fully expected Dan to walk in on us. When he didn’t show up, we left and ordered the other condo renters on both sides of the alley to vacate the premises until further notice. We’ve organized the crew to stake out his place. After his last phone message to Kellie, my gut tells me he’s going to make his move when he gets back from wherever he’s been. I’ll be his first target. I know how his mind works. He’s planning to take me out with the rifle, then he’ll break in here for Kellie.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Get some sleep on the hide-a-bed because I’m going to need you later.” He got up from the table. “I’ll be upstairs catching some sleep myself while I wait for a signal from Kit, who’s heading the crew.”
“Kit’s outside?”
“Yup. TJ wanted the best fresh body to head the stakeout. I told him I wanted Kit. Vic has gone home to get some sleep. After I explain to Kellie what’s happening, I’ll be in the guest bedroom. She’s free to roam around the house, but I don’t want her leaving for her parents’ ranch today. That will have to wait.”
He reached for another tasty biscuit and popped the whole thing into his mouth before taking the stairs two at a time. “Kellie?” Cy knocked on her door.
Before long she opened it. He could see her laptop open, lying on the bed she’d made. She was so beautiful to him, he swallowed hard. When he thought of all the pictures smeared over the walls and ceiling in the other condo, rage for the maniacs who’d been lying in wait for her for almost a year threatened to take over.
“Luckey’s asleep downstairs, but we need to talk. Shall we do it in here or in the guest bedroom?”
“Here is fine. Go ahead and use that chair.” She walked over to the bed and sat on the side. He brought the chair around so they were facing each other. A quick glance around the room with its piles of soft, colorful pillows on the bed and comfortable accents around the room proved to him a very feminine woman lived inside the cowgirl.
Cy leaned forward with his hands clasped between his legs. “We’ve tracked down your stalker to his lair. He’s not there at the moment. As we speak, a crew from the department has his place surrounded. I don’t know how long it will be before he returns. If it extends into days, we’ll deal with it. What you need to know is that you’re safe as long as you stay in this condo.”
She nodded. “I’ll phone Dad and ask him to work the horses.”
“Good. You’re free to move around the condo. I’m going to catch some sleep in the guest bedroom, but I’ll be leaving the door open. If there’s any activity at all, someone will phone me and Luckey, so you’re not to worry about anything. Keep your phone right with you. If the stalker calls, I want you to come and wake me before you answer it. Turn on the speaker and keep him on as long as you can.”
“Okay.” She stirred restlessly. “I-is he close by?” Her voice was full of fear.
What to say that wouldn’t alarm her...? “Yes, but we have everything under control.”
“I know that,” she whispered and got off the bed to walk around. “What if he has a gun?”
“It won’t matter. He’ll be surrounded.”
Her hands formed fists. “But it does matter. Even Texas Rangers with all the protection available have been known to get injured, or worse...”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Her eyes blazed a hot blue. “He’s out to kill you for arresting his brother.”
He got to his feet. “I won’t give him the chance.”
“But if you get shot, it’ll be my fault. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
Cy could have sworn that was her heart talking. When he’d agreed to take her case, he’d felt an attraction that had been growing so deep and fast, he didn’t recognize himself anymore. TJ had warned him about walking that thin line. Unfortunately he’d already crossed it after meeting her in Bandera and would have pursued her, case or no case.
Get out of her room, Ranger Vance. Now.
“I assure you everything’s going to be fine.” He put the chair back by the window and left for the other bedroom.
After putting his gun under the pillow, he took off his cowboy boots and lay down, desperately needing a couple hours of sleep. It seemed as if no sooner had his head touched the pillow than he heard a phone ringing. He glimpsed Kellie’s face through his eyelids and bolted upright.
She answered the phone and turned on the speaker. “Why do you keep calling me?”
“I like to hear the fear in your voice.”
“You like to make people afraid?”
“Why not?”
“That’s sick. You’re sick, sick, sick!” she yelled into the phone. That brought Luckey from downstairs. Both men listened while she got him going. Keep it up, Kellie. Stick it to him where it hurts.
“Does your mother know what kind of person you’ve turned into?”
Bingo.
“What mother? She didn’t want us. We were orphans, but you wouldn’t know anything about it with your rich daddy and mommy. You’re going to pay for not going out with me. But first I’m going to finish off that husband of yours.”
“You don’t know who you’re dealing with!” Kellie’s lethal tone lifted the hairs off Cy’s neck. “Try to hurt him and you’ll wish you’d never been born!”
Luckey flashed Cy a secret smile before a maniacal laugh came through the phone. He muttered several obscenities and clicked off.
Kellie looked at Cy. “Did I keep him on long enough?”
“It was perfect. He’s ready to explode. That’s what I’ve been waiting for. Let’s all go downstairs.” He glanced at his watch. To his shock he’d slept seven hours. It was already five thirty in the evening. After putting on his boots, he reached for his gun and follow
ed them out of the room.
“Would you gentlemen like some iced tea?” She’d already gone into the kitchen.
“We’d love it,” Luckey answered for them because Cy had made a detour to the living room to phone Kit.
“Any sign of him yet?”
“No.”
“He just made another harassing call to Kellie. She pressed his buttons. I think he’s going to make something happen as soon as he returns to the town house.”
“I’ll let you know the minute he shows up. Anything you need and we’re ready.”
“I owe you for this, Kit.”
Cy hung up and walked back in the kitchen. Trust Luckey to get Kellie laughing about something. His friend had a way. “What’s so funny?” He’d trained his eyes on her, unable to look anywhere else.
Before she could answer, Cy’s phone rang. It was Kit. He turned his back to her. “What’s up?”
“The second we got off the phone, a woman with neck-length brown hair pulled into a stall driving a used blue Sentra sedan. She got out wearing a business suit and heels and has just let herself in the condo.”
“We’ve got him!” Cy blurted with elation. It felt as if he’d been waiting forever for this moment. “He’ll be watching from the upstairs window with the rifle. I’ll give him ten minutes before I back out of the garage.”
“We’re on it.”
He clicked off and turned to Luckey, who was drinking a glass of iced tea. Kellie was in the background cooking tacos for dinner. “This is it,” he muttered. “You know what to do.”
“Yup.”
Cy hurried upstairs and put on his bulletproof vest. Over it he wore a gray hoodie, and he went back down to the kitchen. “Be sure and save me some dinner.”
Kellie’s eyes look haunted. “You’re leaving now?” He heard the wobble in her voice. “You haven’t even drunk your iced tea.”
“Sorry. I’ve got some business to do, but Luckey will enjoy it. Remember he’s here to protect you. See you soon.”
The Texas Ranger's Bride (Lone Star Lawmen Book 1) Page 11