Desert Rescue

by Lisa Phillips

  “This your case?”

  “Johns needs to question them, since they’re locals and so were the victims. I’m going to stick around and work protection.”

  “Mom!”

  Patrick turned and saw her approaching across the lobby, walking with a nurse.

  Nate collided with her halfway, wrapped his arms around her middle, and they hugged. Tucker strained at the leash to go, too. Patrick had to make sure the gunman wasn’t going to try anything. But before he turned back to the security guard, and the job he was there to do, he met Jennie’s gaze. He mouthed, You okay?

  She nodded, relief clear on her face, and called back, “Tucker saved me.”

  “Can you take charge of this guy?” He motioned from the security guard to the cuffed man. When the guard nodded, Patrick pulled the gunman to his feet and rounded on him. “Who sent you here?”

  The man stared ahead, saying nothing.

  Tucker growled.

  “Does the name Martin Wilson mean anything to you?”

  A flicker in the skin around his eyes indicated...something. But he still said nothing.

  “What does he want with his sister and nephew?”

  Patrick didn’t much care about motive, but if Martin had something planned then Patrick needed to know what that was. Knowledge being power, it also meant it’d be easier to take care of Jennie and Nate. To keep them safe for good.

  Clearly, there was something Martin wanted but didn’t yet have. And it seemed that he was still trying to get it.

  “Fine.” Patrick took a step back. “I guess you can tell the sheriff instead.”

  “Sure,” the guy finally said. “After he calls my lawyer.”

  A sheriff’s deputy strode in, and Patrick explained everything. After the deputy had the security guard—whom he apparently knew—confirm it all, he took the gunman and the weapon.

  Patrick turned to where Jennie now sat, Nate close to her side. Both sipped from paper cups, and a doctor was crouched in front of Jennie. She shook her head then caught Patrick’s stare.

  He took two steps toward them and his phone rang. It was Eric. He answered, lifting one finger for her to hang on while Tucker kept going. She gave him a short nod.

  “Sanders.” He clicked his tongue for his dog to wait.

  “No one followed us. We drove around town a few times, I dropped off the deputy and she followed while I circled again,” Eric said. “You guys good?”

  “It was probably quiet for you because all the focus was on the hospital.”

  “I’d like to know how it didn’t work. I make a pretty convincing Patrick Sanders, thank you very much.”

  “Sure you do.” He smiled to himself. “I don’t want to contemplate it, but I think the uncle wants Nate.” Even as Patrick spoke the words, the knowledge settled in his stomach like old fried rice. His son was the target.

  “You and that dog of yours get them to the house.”

  “While you work with the sheriff on interrogating the two men he now has in custody.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Effectively they’d given each other orders, but it was how their partnership worked. Mutual cooperation and mutual respect. They were equals. Except for Tucker, who had one master and did not think his relationship with Eric required cooperation.

  Another smile.

  It occurred to Patrick then that he was happy here. Something he’d never have believed would happen in his hometown. Had someone told him that a visit home would involve danger, so many feelings he’d never anticipated and more joy than he’d thought possible, he’d have thought they were crazy.

  And yet, this was exactly where life had brought him.

  That made him wonder if Jennie might be right to believe in God.

  Had He given Patrick all this, when he’d never even asked for anything?

  “Later.” Eric hung up.

  Patrick stowed his phone, ready to get Jennie and Nate to safety. Unless she needed to be admitted to the hospital, he could do that as soon as possible. She tossed the cup in the trash, took Nate’s hand and they met him halfway.

  Patrick bent his knees to meet his son’s gaze. “You okay?”

  “Uh-huh.” Despite his words, Nate moved closer to Jennie’s side. Tucker shifted in as well and sniffed the boy’s face until he giggled.

  “Worried about all this?”

  The boy worked his mouth. Almost like he was chewing on what to answer. He shrugged one shoulder.

  “How about you keep me safe, like with that wheelchair move in the elevator, and I’ll keep you safe?”

  “What wheelchair—” Jennie started to ask.

  Nate cut her off, standing a little taller. “Okay.”

  Patrick nodded. “Okay.”

  He needed to get the kid a police badge of his own, so he could feel official. Then he’d have the conversation with him about being brave versus being smart.

  He glanced from Nate to Jennie. “Ready to go?”

  Jennie nodded. “I’m good.”

  Nate wound one arm around Patrick’s waist. That he was still holding on to his mom while he hugged Patrick meant she was tugged up against him.

  Patrick wrapped his arms around them both.

  FOURTEEN

  Jennie gasped awake. Panic clouded her vision. She breathed hard, glanced around and then remembered where she was. Safe.

  She heard the jingle of tags and sat up in the bed. Nate lay beside her on the comforter, under a thin blanket instead of as she was—under multiple heavy covers to keep warm. Tucker lay in the hall, just outside the open bedroom door, scratching at the side of his head with his back foot.

  Everything was fine. You’re a good dog. The nurse had told her how Tucker had jumped on the gunman’s back, sent both Jennie and her assailant crashing to the floor and enabled the security guard to take down the kidnapper.

  My hero.

  Jennie lay back and breathed. A moment of calm in the midst of this storm. They were in a safe place. Nate was good. Everything was good.

  She repeated the words in her mind.

  Everything is good. She mouthed the words then whispered them to the quiet room before she pushed the covers aside and got up.

  Not exactly ready to face the world, but hiding never solved anything. Burying her head in the sand wasn’t going to make her brother go away.

  Tucker passed her on the way to the door. She reached down and ran her hand along the dog’s back as he moved toward the bed, then turned to watch him hop up on the bed and lie down beside her son.

  Jennie opened her mouth. Only the thought of Nate waking alone, as panicked as she had, stopped her from calling the dog off the furniture.

  Instead, she left them sleeping together and located the hall bathroom. All the while, she tried to figure out what on earth her brother even wanted from her.

  Why come after her son? Why take them both, not harming them apart from terrorizing them, and then try again in the hospital? There had to be a reason, but she couldn’t see what it was.

  Jennie didn’t have money. All she had was her mother’s land that had been left to her. If they were trespassing, maybe that was what they wanted? Easy access to her back forty. Maybe Martin wanted the house. She had no idea.

  It wasn’t like she’d been left a fortune—just a paid-for house. Definitely an asset. Especially considering she’d been a young single mom trying to get an online business going that paid utilities and left something over for food and a tiny fun-money budget. Was that what Martin was after?

  Jennie wandered through the house, looking around but mostly trying to find Patrick. Surely he hadn’t gone far if he intended to protect them.

  She found him in the kitchen, stirring something in a big fry pan on the stove, his back to her. Taller. He’d filled out in the last ten years.
In a way that she wasn’t ashamed to admit—at least to herself—made her mouth water.

  Yeah, she was still very attracted to him.

  And why not? The boy she’d loved was now a good man. A cop. On the right side of the law, unlike every other man who’d been in her life. He was like a breath of cool desert air. Light in an otherwise dark life.

  Since she was admitting things to herself, Jennie decided to quit being in denial. She did want him back in her life. There was a lot of pain associated with his having left her alone and pregnant. Especially since it was the result of a lie. They’d have to work through all that. But she was willing.

  Patrick was the perfect missing piece to their family puzzle. Not just the right piece, but the best piece. Considering how long they’d lived without him, there was really no time to lose.

  Patrick should know how she still felt about him being a part of their family...for good. For real. Forever.

  But then, maybe he didn’t feel the same way.

  She had to fight those age-old inadequacies. They reared their heads whenever there was a risk to be taken, a chance that could turn out wonderfully if she actually measured up. If Jennie threw caution to the wind and went for it. Things that were scary were usually the ones that were worth doing—like raising her son by herself.

  But could she take the risk when Nate’s heart was on the line here, too? If she and Patrick had only brokenness between them, her son would be able to tell.

  Maybe it was better not to say anything at all.

  Jennie sucked in a breath, a sniffle. She wasn’t crying but Patrick heard it and turned.

  His curious expression softened. “Hey. You okay?”

  She didn’t even know where to start answering that. There was only one thing to say at a time like this. “Is there coffee?”

  “Half a pot.”

  She hunted for a mug in the cupboards. “I’ll probably be awake all night, anyway, considering how late I slept. I doubt caffeine will make much difference now.”

  “Maybe we could...watch a movie later? Just because we’re hunkered down waiting for the sheriff to find your brother doesn’t mean we can’t distract ourselves. And Nate.”

  She glugged milk into her mug and then sipped. As she drank those few mouthfuls, she used her free hand to put the milk back in the fridge.

  When she turned back and lowered the mug, Patrick had a wide smile on his face. “What?”

  He shook his head, grinning. “Nothing.”

  “Hey, coffee is the nectar of life for moms. Probably cops, too, right?”

  “That is true. But I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed it that much.” He motioned to her mug with a tip of his spatula.

  She eyed the pan. “Is that breakfast or lunch?”

  “Well, it’s after two. But I’m still planning to call it brunch.”

  “Sounds good to me. Brunch is yummy.”

  “I’ll endeavor to not disappoint you.”

  I don’t think that’s even possible.

  “What?”

  She blinked. “What?”

  He turned back to his pan.

  What just happened? She was willing to let him proceed with his tactic of letting it go. There was so much to talk about. Still, this probably wasn’t the time for heavy conversation. Maybe she should just keep things light. And let him do the same.

  She leaned against the counter. “So, you cook?”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “It was that or eat takeout forever. So I had my mom teach me the basics.”

  Jennie had loved Patrick’s mom. She had been warm and loving to Jennie, though never would have replaced Jennie’s memories of her own mother. His mom had been accepting, no matter that her father was a criminal no one could bring charges against.

  Hopefully that wouldn’t hold true with her brother, as well.

  What would Patrick’s mom think of her now? She didn’t want to be all needy about it, but right before they’d left town, things had been...frosty. Now that Jennie knew her father was the one behind their breakup, she understood. Patrick’s mom had allowed her opinion of Jennie to be clouded by how she felt about her father.

  “What is it?”

  Jennie shook her head.

  Patrick turned off the stove and closed the distance between them. If he was any nearer, they would be touching. “Tell me what.”

  “Nothing.” She wasn’t going to brush him off, though. “Everything.”

  * * *

  “I know what you mean.” He squeezed her elbows for a second, then dropped his hands, determined not to push anything. If she wanted him closer, she would let him know. “It’s been a wild couple of days, where you’ve had barely any time to think. Let alone work through what has been happening.”

  Jennie shrugged. “That is true. You’re probably used to it.”

  “Because I’m a cop?” When she nodded, he said, “Most police work isn’t nearly as exciting as what you’ve been through. I’ve had more than a few tough shifts over the years, so I’m kind of used to it. In a way, at least. Not your normal couple of days, though.”

  “No. It hasn’t been. Our lives are quiet.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I mean... Martin? Really? I’ve had nothing to do with him since he left, and I like it that way. Why would he come back now? It doesn’t make sense that suddenly he shows up, and now he wants to meet Nate?”

  He led her to a chair at the table and dished out some of the food he’d made. Just a simple egg scramble. No bacon—which was why Tucker was currently content protecting Nate and not waking the boy up to get in here and locate some smells. And a sample.

  Whatever drew the animal to his son, Patrick didn’t blame him. He was grateful Tucker had bonded with the boy and was determined to protect him.

  One less thing for Patrick to worry about. There were plenty of other things, but with that one, he had yet another reason why maybe he should thank God.

  “You’re safe.” He touched her hand between bites then said, “You’re here, and your brother doesn’t know where you are.”

  She nodded.

  He decided to just ask her what was occupying his thoughts. “Do you think God protected you?”

  “Of course.”

  “But it’s not like everything was fine. I mean, it wasn’t exactly terrible, either...” He wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. Just that while things hadn’t been all right, they also could have been a whole lot worse. Maybe he just wanted her opinion.

  She took a sip of her coffee. “I think... I mean I fell down the side of a mountain. I have a couple of scratches and nothing worse. Nate was in the company of serious gunmen. Anything could have happened, especially if we hadn’t gotten back to him in time. All he has is a bump on the head. If that wasn’t God’s work, looking out for us, then I don’t know what is.”

  “I wanted to pray. When you were pulled away, and the elevator doors shut. Maybe God helped Nate swing his chair at the gunman and distract him.”

  “He and I will be having a talk about that. It was dangerous. He should never have put himself in jeopardy like that.”

  “I know. I even agree with you. He’s a child and it was my job to protect him.”

  She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

  It wasn’t? Patrick figured he should have taken care of the gunman himself. And he had, but not without Nate’s assistance. His son was as good as a deputy, or an honorary partner, at this point. He was full of gratitude that the boy had the fortitude to take action like that.

  But he should never have been put in the position where he’d needed to do it.

  Jennie sighed. “Never mind. It’s over, right? You said we’re safe here.”

  Patrick figured they probably needed God’s help with that, as well. “You are.” />
  He didn’t want her to worry. Plenty of things could potentially go wrong. Part of that involved the answers from Eric, about his interviews with the gunmen they’d arrested, and from the sheriff, due to call back as soon as he and his deputy were done looking around Jennie’s land.

  She pushed a chunk of potato around her plate, quiet for a moment before she said, “I tried to find you.”

  Patrick turned to face her. “But we changed our names.”

  They’d done it so her father wouldn’t be able to threaten them anymore. He’d gotten their land, so he probably would have left them alone anyway. But his mom hadn’t wanted to take any chances.

  Jennie and Patrick had talked this through already, but at a time when their emotions had been fresh. Now seemed more like the time to give each other the gift of understanding. To give each other grace. The first step toward building something good out of everything that had happened.

  “After my father died, I hired that private investigator. I always wondered if he didn’t try all that hard. Or if you’d hidden really well.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe he took my money and never searched for you at all. Just sent me that canned email about how there was no trace.”

  They were both at fault. “I’m sorry you were alone. Sorry about what I missed, but also that I didn’t get to be here and help you.”

  “I’m sorry, too.”

  He squeezed her hand. When he moved to tug his away, she held on tight.

  “I was about to go to your house and tell you that I was pregnant, but my father told me you came over already. That you’d been and gone, and I’d missed you.”

  He nodded. The afternoon they’d beaten the snot out of him because he’d refused a payout her dad would never have given him anyway, and dumped him in the street like trash, he’d limped home to find his mom had already packed the car.

  “He said he told you about the baby, and you didn’t care.” A tear slipped from the corner of her eye. “He even said you asked for money to leave me alone.”

  “And you really believed him?” The question slipped out before he could decide if it was a bad idea to say it aloud. She had hired that private investigator. Maybe, deep down, she’d known something wasn’t right.