by Barb Han
She must’ve thought Dalton had brought the sheriff back to have her arrested based on how scared she looked.
“We’re looking for your nephew, Hardy,” Sawmill said.
She stopped in her tracks.
“What did he do?” Her question was peculiar. There didn’t seem to be any doubt in her mind that he deserved to be arrested. More warning flares lit in Dalton’s mind.
“You said he served time. What was his crime?” Dalton asked.
“Drugs.” Her gaze bounced from the sheriff to Dalton.
She stared toward the sky. “I thought he cleaned up his act. He found religion and—”
“When was he released?” A picture was emerging that clenched Dalton’s stomach.
“Six months ago.”
“Is he here?” Sawmill was surveying the area.
“I haven’t seen him, and that’s why I have a line of customers waiting to be helped.” She motioned toward the shack. “I need to fetch my husband.”
“Ma’am, we need your cooperation. We believe that your nephew has taken a female law enforcement officer hostage.” Sawmill’s voice had a sense of urgency.
“Norman,” she called out.
“Ma’am, do you know where he is?” Sawmill continued, trying to direct her back onto the right path.
“No, I don’t. I wish I did. This is bad.” She shook her head and tears welled. “We knew something was wrong, but we thought he was holding it together. You say he took a woman?”
“Yes.”
“He hates law enforcement after what happened,” she confessed. “He’s always talking about making them pay. About them being too stupid.” She flashed her eyes at Sawmill and Deputy Granger. “I’m sorry. They were his words, not mine.”
“What happened?”
“His younger sister was abducted when she was seventeen by their mother’s boyfriend. She was found before he killed her...” Pamela made apologetic eyes at them for needing a minute. “But she couldn’t adapt after the ordeal and a few weeks later, on December 7, she hung herself. Hardy found her,” she said. “He blamed the way law enforcement handled her case for her suicide. He never did get over it. He got so sad. I guess he used drugs to numb his pain. We had no idea he’d do anything like this or we never would’ve brought him here.”
Sawmill steadied himself, because it looked like his legs were about to give. “He killed two girls, both seventeen years old, and fourteen years apart.”
Sawmill cursed, and it was the first time Dalton saw the man almost lose his composure. He regained his footing and jumped into action.
Within the hour, law enforcement had descended on the surrounding area, searching for Leanne by air, four-wheelers and on foot. Calling her phone was the first thing they’d tried. She couldn’t be tracked using GPS, either. Hardy must’ve disarmed her. If she had control of her weapon or her cell phone Dalton would’ve heard from her by now.
There was no sign of her or Hardy.
“I put out a ‘be on the lookout,’ a BOLO. I’ll put in a call to Texas State Troopers in order to warn them personally in case he’s on the highway somewhere.”
“I need to talk to her sister and tell her what’s going on.” Dalton knew Bethany would be worried. She knew Leanne wouldn’t disappear without checking in with her since Mila was there. “Call me if you get a hit?”
It would be breaking protocol, but it was worth a shot to ask the sheriff.
“I’ll let you know the second we get anything,” Sawmill promised.
Dalton hitched a ride back to his SUV, which was parked on the side of the road. He thanked the deputy before taking off.
The road in front of him seemed to stretch on for mile after empty mile. Darkness covered the land. At this time of evening, there weren’t many vehicles on the highway.
And then a thought struck.
This was personal. While all available resources were at the tree farm, Hardy had the perfect opportunity to deliver a devastating blow to Sawmill.
Dalton bit down a curse and jammed his foot onto the gas pedal.
Chapter Seventeen
Dalton had a hunch that Hardy would take Leanne to the tree. He just didn’t know if she’d be dead or alive.
Instead of banking a left on the farm road that would take him to Hereford, he turned the wheel right. He made good time back to Cattle Barge.
Driving up to the spot when it was still dark outside would make his headlights give him away. It seemed like the surest way to get Leanne killed.
His stomach lining braided thinking about what could have happened to her already. He knew he shouldn’t go there.
Whatever was going on, he’d face it.
For three hours he camped out near the tree.
Dalton found a place to watch. Seeing the tree was difficult but he’d see anyone walking up to it. The sheriff and his deputies were canvassing neighboring ranches around the tree farm and checking out the list of possible hiding places that Pamela had supplied.
A burst of adrenaline shot through Dalton as he inched closer and saw Leanne’s limp body hanging from the oak tree. Dalton palmed his weapon. Hardy was there. From this distance, he could see that Hardy was supporting her weight, using his shoulder as he tied the knot around her neck.
Dread was a hard knock as Dalton faced the very real fear that she might already be dead.
But then he remembered what she’d said about ketamine and a burst of hope filled his chest that she was out and not gone.
Hardy most likely had her gun but his hands were currently full, which played to Dalton’s advantage.
Biting back a curse, Dalton bolted out of the woods. He covered the distance between them in a few quick strides before diving toward Hardy’s knees.
Making contact, Dalton drove Hardy a step back and heard a loud crack. A bone?
Fighting back, Dalton connected a fist with Hardy’s jaw. Another crack.
And that’s where Dalton’s advantage ended.
With an animal-like grunt, Hardy pounded his fists against Dalton’s body, connecting with his ribs, arms and face.
Leanne hung in the tree a few feet away behind him, and Dalton feared no matter how quickly he subdued Hardy, it would be too late for her.
Fourteen years of rage exploded inside him and, just like a bomb detonating, he exploded against his enemy. On the man who had taken so much from him.
Dalton pounded his fists against Hardy, delivering punch after punch in rapid succession. He worked on Hardy’s gut and face until the man threw his arms up to block. Putting Hardy on the defensive, gaining ground, Dalton pummeled harder.
Thoughts of Alexandria—her pure smile, her sweet personality—tore through him like an out-of-control storm. And then, there were his feelings for Leanne—feelings that ran steady and deep.
Hardy wrestled Dalton for control, managed to get it. Anger surged and Dalton flipped the big guy on his back again. The guy was pinned, momentarily secure, but Dalton was paralyzed. One wrong move and Hardy would gain the upper hand. And if he didn’t get to Leanne soon, it would be too late.
The image of her limp body dangling from that tree momentarily distracted him. Hardy landed a punch that most likely broke Dalton’s nose and threw him off balance enough to tip the scale in Hardy’s favor.
Hardy bucked, knocking Dalton off him.
And then Hardy launched into a terror of flying fists, grabbing and punching anywhere and everywhere on Dalton’s bruised body.
Dalton captured Hardy’s right hand and rolled several times, separating himself for a brief moment.
Hardy flew toward Dalton and as he was about to land on top of him, Dalton threw a punch, his fist connected with the man’s face, jutting it awkwardly to the left.
When Hardy landed, he lay in a lump on the ground. Dalton’s gaze flew
toward the tree as he forced himself upright. His twin brother, Dade, was running toward Leanne.
“She’s alive,” Dade said. “She freed herself before I got here.”
Leanne had propped herself up, and she was leaning against the trunk.
Dalton looked at the tree that had taken so much from him.
But not this time.
“An ambulance is on the way,” Dade said as he made it to Dalton’s side and offered a hand up. “Let’s get you over to her.”
“She’s alive,” Dalton repeated softly as a surprising tear leaked from his eye.
“You did it,” Dade reassured as he helped Dalton to Leanne. “I stopped by to bring food before starting my workday and saw it unfold. You did it, Dalton.”
Dalton was too exhausted to say much. He took Leanne’s hand as Dade said he’d keep watch over Hardy’s body until authorities arrived.
Leanne’s face was pale and her breathing shallow.
“Please don’t leave me, Leanne,” he whispered, adding, “I know how crazy this might sound but I love you.”
* * *
LEANNE WOKE IN unfamiliar surroundings. She blinked her eyes open with a gasp as memories of being abducted by Hardy came back in a flash. She pushed up to a sitting position and looked around the room, steadying her rapid heartbeat.
The sun was blazing in the sky. She threw her feet over the side of the bed, checked to make sure she had clothes on. Exhaled a slow breath when she saw that she did.
She had to remind herself that she wasn’t in the freezing cave that Hardy had dragged her into and kept her in a drug-induced haze for days. She’d spent several more in the hospital before being released.
And then remembered where she was. The Hereford Ranch. But this wasn’t the bedroom she’d slept in.
She managed to get to her feet on shaky legs. A bathrobe was on a chair next to the bed. She slipped the white cotton robe on and tied the belt. A toothbrush waited for her in an adjacent bathroom and she was so grateful. It tasted like she’d slept with cotton balls in her mouth. She was so thirsty she bent down to take a drink from the faucet and then splashed some cold water on her face.
Commotion in the bedroom caused her to turn a little too fast. She gripped the doorjamb to steady herself and was glad she did when she saw Dalton holding Mila. Her daughter was cooing at him and she’d never seen him look so happy.
The expression morphed when he saw her standing there. “You should be in bed.”
“How long was I asleep?” she asked.
“Not long enough. The doctor said it’ll take a few more days before you start feeling like yourself again,” he informed.
Her concern melted a little when she looked at her happy baby. Mila was all smiles.
“We did it, Dalton,” Leanne said, remembering that Hardy would go to jail for the rest of his life with the evidence against him.
“We sure did.”
She leaned into him and cried.
When there were no tears left, he helped her onto the edge of the bed.
“I can’t bring her back,” she said on a sob.
“I know.”
Mila made a cooing noise at her mother and Leanne smiled through her tears.
“You want a cup of coffee?” Dalton had several days’ worth of scruff on his chin, but his face was more relaxed than she’d ever seen.
“Sounds like heaven, actually,” she said, wanting to hold her baby but afraid she wasn’t strong enough yet. “Have you slept much?”
“Me?” he scoffed, and it made her laugh. “I don’t sleep. I’ve been setting up a scholarship for Christian. I hope you don’t mind, but I set it up in honor of Clara and it bears her name.”
“She would’ve loved that,” Leanne admitted. She looked at her baby. “I wish I could hold her.”
“You could sit on the floor,” he said.
Leanne leaned on his free arm for support, anchoring herself against his strong biceps and the bed as she sat down. She stretched out sore legs.
He set Mila next to her with a pillow behind the little girl’s back for support.
“I’ll be right back.” He feathered a kiss on Leanne’s forehead before jetting out of the room.
Dalton returned, as promised, a few minutes later with two mugs of coffee and joined them on the floor.
Leanne immediately took a sip. It tasted perfect. Being here with Dalton and Mila was perfect. But perfect had a shelf life.
“This might sound crazy, but hear me out.” Dalton flashed his eyes at her. “In the past few days, I’ve fallen for you, Leanne. I’m all in. Your daughter is the most beautiful baby, but don’t tell my brother that.” He smiled and it warmed her heart. Was he saying what she was hoping? That they’d somehow figure out a way to see each other after going back to their lives. A life that felt hollow somehow without Dalton in it.
“We might’ve just met, but I feel like I’ve known you my entire life. I see how hard you fight for what you believe in, for the people you love. And that’s all it takes to make a relationship work. I want you to know that if you have the same feelings for me, if you love me, I have every intention of asking you to marry me.”
Warmth cascaded over Leanne at the sound of those words.
“I do love you, Dalton. I can’t imagine living one more day without you in my life,” she said. “So, what are you waiting for?”
A slow smile spread across his lips.
“I promise to love this little girl and protect her as the child of my heart that she is. And I vow to live each day to bring a smile to your lips and make sure you know how much I cherish you. Leanne West, will you do me the honor of being my wife and making the three of us a family?”
“Yes.” Tears of happiness and joy spilled down her face. “I will marry you, Dalton.”
Dalton leaned over and kissed her. Mila giggled at the wonder of her own hand and the two of them laughed with her.
After playing on the floor without having to watch the clock, hunger finally made its presence known. “I could eat for two days straight right now.”
“Wanting food is a good sign,” he said with a smile.
“How’s my sister?” she asked, needing to know what she’d be facing when she walked down that hallway.
“She’s good. She’s been hanging around with May and spending time with Hampton. He’s loving it here, and there’s talk in the family of finding a permanent job for Bethany and setting her up with a place to stay.”
“Has she mentioned Gary?” She hiked a brow.
“Yes,” he admitted. “You should know that Gary admitted to hiring a guy to go to the park in Dallas, but he swears he never had any intention of actually taking the baby. He was trying to scare you and get you to go home so he could work on Bethany. He knows it was stupid. He turned himself in to the sheriff.”
Leanne took a minute to let that sink in. Gary wasn’t the brightest and she could see him following down that path of logic, crazy as it was. “Is he being held?”
“Our family lawyer put a call in to the judge who said they wanted to sweat him out. Give him a couple of days to really think about what he’s done,” Dalton said.
“Serves him right. But it would be best for my sister and Hampton if Gary got his act together,” Leanne admitted after careful thought. “I’m not saying I think she should go back to him after he got physical with her. But he needs to learn to be a better man.”
“Ella is certain she can reform anyone if she has the right resources and they’re willing. He says he is, but Bethany said he’s going to have to change big-time and prove he’s worth another shot before he’s allowed to be in the same room with her or their son again. It’ll take time for her to trust him. Losing his family and Clara seems to have finally sunk in.”
“Whether he’s in the picture at some point or no
t, at least my sister’s on the right track,” she said.
“We all know what it’s like to grow up without a father. No one’s giving up on helping Gary become the man he needs to be. Whether they all live in the same house or not will be up to them when the time is right. For now, he’s willing to work on himself and earn the right to be a father and husband again.”
Warmth spread through her at hearing those words.
People deserved second chances.
Dalton made a move to get up, but she touched his arm. “Did you get the answers you were looking for about your relationship with your father?”
“Don’t need ’em.” There was so much sincerity in his eyes when he looked at her. “I already have the two of you.”
With that, she tilted her head toward the sky and kissed her future husband, the man she loved with her whole heart, the man who was her home.
* * * * *
Look for the next book in USA Today Bestselling Author Barb Han’s Crisis: Cattle Barge miniseries, Bulletproof Christmas, available next month.
And don’t miss the previous titles in the Crisis: Cattle Barge series:
Sudden Setup
Endangered Heiress
Texas Grit
Kidnapped at Christmas
Available now from Harlequin Intrigue!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Delta Force Defender by Carol Ericson.
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