It Had to Be Love (An It Had to Be Novel) (26 page)

She just shrugged in response.

The conversation well went dry once again.

Another fifteen minutes passed while he scrambled through his mind trying to conjure one of the questions from that conversation list. Then he remembered Tara grabbing the paper from his hand and warning him not to ask that one question around her family. “So, what would you do if you found a hundred-dollar bill lying on the ground?”

Sarah frowned at him. “Ryan, if you don’t want to talk, that’s fine with me. We don’t have to. I’m just happy to be with you.”

Surefire conversation starters, his ass. In what world did those questions ever work? That was strike two. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk, I do. I just don’t . . .”

“I know, Ryan.” She patted his arm. “You were never very good at communication.”

He’d been better with Tara than he’d been with anyone else. It hadn’t been hard at all to have normal conversations with her. What he wasn’t good at was expressing his feelings. Putting what he really felt on the line. His father had always said, “Real men don’t cry, get in touch with their damn feelings, or whine.” Was having that pounded into his head his whole childhood the reason he hadn’t been able to tell Tara he loved her? To end up a heartless man like his father would be the last thing he’d ever want.

As he pondered, Sarah said, “Funny, here we are, all grown up now and yet not much has changed. You’re still quiet and broody, and I’m still shy around you.”

Panic raced through him. What was he supposed to say to that? Was it a test? Dammit!

“Maybe people can’t change?” He wanted to change, but then when he’d had the chance to tell Tara he loved her he ultimately couldn’t do it. Maybe the saying was true?

She nodded as she nibbled on her bottom lip, like she always did when deep in thought.

Did that mean he’d answered correctly? He’d forgotten how she used to do that. Throw little questions out there and wait. After he’d answer he could tell by the look on her face he’d usually given the wrong answer, but she never said anything.

Tara never played those games. She wouldn’t agree, but sometimes she could be as direct as his grandmother. It was sorta cute.

Sarah cocked her head. “What’s so funny?”

Was he smiling? He hadn’t even realized it. “Nothing. It’s just . . . nothing.”

“Well, one thing’s changed. It’s the way you look at Tara.” Sarah sighed. “You don’t look at me that way.”

He scrambled for the right words. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings but he and Sarah weren’t going to end up together. Especially not after seeing how great things had been with Tara. “You and I have known each other since we were kids . . .”

She laid a hand on his arm and squeezed. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. You and I will always be just friends. Good friends. But after Ed, I want a man who looks at me like you look at Tara.”

His cell rang. Thank God. He had no idea what he was going to say to that. He dug the phone out and glanced at the screen. “It’s the detective I have the job interview with tomorrow.”

Sarah smiled sweetly. “Then you should take it.”

He hit the speaker button. “Anderson.”

“Ryan, it’s Bailey. Do you know where Tara is? She’s not answering her cell.”

His gut tightened at the urgency in Bailey’s voice. “I don’t. I’m driving to Denver. What’s wrong?”

“It’s Spencer. He’s escaped. He hasn’t been seen since bed check last night.”

Dammit!

Ryan pulled the truck over. “That means he has an eight- to ten-hour lead, then?” His heart pounded with fear for Tara’s life. Could Spencer somehow get ahold of a plane? Or rent a car? He had to be sure she was safe.

“Yes. I’m at the airport trying to arrange a flight to come get Tara. Call your deputies and have them find her.”

“Will do.” He clicked off and sent Sarah a sidelong glance. “Tara’s in trouble. We have to go back.”

“I hope she’s okay.”

“Me too.” It was one thing to lose her to witness protection, but another to let a madman hurt her again. He’d give his life to protect her from Spencer. He’d already given her his heart.

Sarah was silent for a moment then said, “You really love her, don’t you, Ryan?”

Nodding, he did a one-eighty and headed back to Anderson Butte, pushing a hundred while waiting for Mike to answer on the speakerphone. He couldn’t let anything happen to Tara. He did love her and he needed to figure out how to tell her.

Tara pulled her office door closed behind her while composing a note in her head for Ryan for when she left. She’d leave it on her dining room table where someone would eventually find it.

Whoever rented her place next would certainly be lucky. She had to leave behind all the beautiful furniture and knickknacks her mother had sent. Her parents wouldn’t know her new address, so she’d have to redecorate all over again, but on her own next time. That might be fun, at least. She’d been struggling to look at the bright side of her move but hadn’t found much to be hopeful about.

She absently reached for her phone to check the time as she headed to Ruth’s house, but her hand stopped midair. The battery was dead. Zeke hadn’t known to turn off the compass app, so it’d kept searching all night, draining the power.

It had to be close to nine, so she walked down Ruth’s long gravel drive, excited at the prospect of possibly finding which mine held those old barrels of whiskey.

When she lifted her hand to knock on Ruth’s front door, it swung open and Meg stepped out.

Pulling up short, Meg said, “Oh. Hi, Tara. Have you seen Eric? I’ve been searching everywhere. Grams said you guys had a meeting planned here at nine?”

“Yeah, we were all supposed to meet—wait. I’ll bet he went looking for the whiskey on his own. Let me get my car and I’ll go look for him.” Eric had been so eager to start the hunt, he’d probably planned to go out and be back in time for their meeting. He was a responsible kid, so she’d probably run into him on his way back into town.

“Thanks. I’ll go home and see if he’s back yet. I’ll call you if he’s there.”

Tara started down the steps. “My cell’s dead. But it’s not far, so I’ll meet you back at your house in a bit after I look.”

Ruth hobbled out onto the porch. “Tara, do you remember where to look? Or should I come along?”

She waved a hand as she headed up the drive. “No, I remember.” She just hoped Eric hadn’t gone inside one of the old mines on his own. It could be dangerous.

That thought had her jogging the rest of the way to her house to get her car and then head out.

The map had stated that the mine was 2.3 miles from the center of town. She’d kept track of the mileage after she passed the bandstand so the mine should be close. There wouldn’t have been an easy way back then for Arthur to measure as the crow flies, and Ruth had mentioned the road had been straightened out, so the mine would probably be closer by a few tenths of a mile.

Just after she passed the two-mile mark, Tara slowed the car while searching both sides of the road. There wouldn’t be much sign of an old mine after all this time. Thick stands of tall trees dotted the hillside to her left and suddenly there was a sharp drop-off on the other side of the guardrail on the right. Must be on the left, then.

A dark SUV closed in behind her, so she pulled to the side and stuck her hand out, waving it around her. She glanced in the rearview mirror, waiting for the car to pass. When it didn’t, she came to a near stop and waved her hand out the window once again. It slowed like it was going to pull in behind her. Suddenly another car appeared from the opposite direction, and then the dark SUV sped up and passed her. The windows were tinted, but she made out a man in a baseball cap and sunglasses behind the wheel staring straight ahead. Not a local, or he would have waved.

After both cars disappeared, she moved slowly back onto the road. A flash of red on the left caught her attention. Eric’s bike!

She found a place to pull over and then went in search of Eric. Walking toward the bike, she found an old overgrown road and ventured farther into the shade of the tall trees. Soon a wide clearing covered in meadow grass appeared. Maybe the old parking lot for the mine?

She walked toward the boarded-up entrance that had been fenced off with rusty chain link. The padlock stood in place at the gate, so she called out, “Eric?”

When there was no answer, she glanced around and spotted a gap in the fence big enough for a little boy to slip through. But was it big enough for a six-foot-tall woman? She’d soon find out.

After wrestling her length through the hole in the fence and ripping her shirt and pants in the process, she headed for the entrance. She cupped her hands around her mouth. “Eric?”

“In here, Tara. I’ll be right there.”

Thank God he was safe. But the vision of creepy spiders and who knew what else might be inside sent a shiver down her spine.

Eric appeared with a big grin and a flashlight in his hand. “It’s here! I found it! Come see.”

“Wow! That’s fantastic!” Amazing that the whiskey had been there all that time and no one had ever known. Suddenly her heart sank at the thought of not being able to see the whole venture through. “Okay, but is it creepy in there? ’Cuz I don’t do well with—”

“No. Come on! I pulled all of the boards away from where the big doors used to be so it’ll let more light in. It’s not bad at all. The barrels are down below on the next level.”

Probably a little boy’s idea of creepy and hers weren’t the same, so she drew a deep breath and followed behind, ready for a fast retreat if necessary. “This might not be safe, Eric.”

“It’s just inside. But I’m not sure how we’ll get the barrels out.”

She followed Eric inside the mine, happily surprised that it wasn’t a cramped, dark space. Instead it had a ceiling about ten feet tall reinforced by old wooden beams. The sides were propped up the same way.

She followed Eric across the dirt floor toward a rickety railing. When he leaned on the wood, she grabbed the back of his shirt and tugged him away. “Stay back from the edge. This wood is old. It might be rotted out.”

“Okay.” Eric shone his flashlight below. “But look down there.”

Tara slowly moved a step closer and followed the beam of Eric’s flashlight. There were the barrels, all lined up in rows. How had they gotten them down there? Maybe over the railing? Or was that an old loading area? There might be another way in.

The chain-link fence outside rattled. Someone else must be squeezing through it. Maybe Meg and Ruth had decided to help in the hunt for Eric. Tara called out, “We’re in here.”

A deep voice growled, “I’ve waited a long time to finish what we started, Jamie. Or should I call you Tara now?”

The familiar voice sent chills up her spine as painful memories sent fear to her pounding heart. It was difficult to draw enough air into her lungs as she slowly turned around to face him.

Spencer had found her.

Fear for her own life had been with her since the trial. But a new, even greater fear for Eric had her mind racing for a solution.

Spencer would surely kill them both.

That was not happening.

She had to find a way to save Eric.

After he dropped Sarah off at the diner, Ryan dialed Mike’s number again. “Have you found her yet?”

“No. But I just found out she went to the mines to search for Eric. He’s been missing for a few hours. She told Ruth her cell battery died.”

“Okay. I’ll head that way. Meet me out there.”

Why was Eric missing and since when did Tara ever let her cell battery die? As hard as he’d tried to reassure himself that Spencer couldn’t get on a plane so they had a head start on him, Ryan’s gut told him Tara was in danger.

He drew the gun he had tucked in the back of his waistband and laid it on his lap. If Spencer was there, it would take all he had not to shoot the man on sight.

T
ara shoved Eric behind her. Her knees shook as she struggled for an even tone. Spencer was insane. She’d have to play along if she wanted to get Eric out alive. “Hi, sweetheart. I’m glad to see you.”

Spencer blinked rapidly for a moment, then his brow creased as he walked toward them with his gun pointed at her chest. “Nice try. But you know I’m smarter than that, Jamie.”

“So smart I knew you’d eventually find me, even though the police made me hide from you.” As he came closer she circled slightly to the right, hoping to eventually get her back to the door so Eric could run. The crazy gleam in Spencer’s eyes made her heart pound. How had she ever loved him?

The demented look in his eyes suddenly faded. Then his whole face softened and he smiled warmly, like he had when they’d been dating and she’d loved him. He was a handsome man with the most charming smile she’d ever seen. The quick transformation threw her off guard momentarily. How should she proceed?

He said, “Luckily, your mother’s generous gift habits haven’t changed. I had a peek at a few of her usual stores’ customer lists, and sure enough, she’d sent all sorts of designer things here, to someone named Tara Carter.”

Dammit. She’d never thought to worry about that. But that he’d turned back into the sane man he’d acted like when they’d been dating gave her an ounce of hope they’d make it out alive. “That was very clever. How did you bust out of the ward, babe?”

“Babe?” Hate filled his eyes again. “I paid off one of the guards at Laura’s wedding. I saw pictures of your new ‘
babe
.’ Interesting how similar he and I are in build and coloring. Maybe you’re having trouble letting me go?”

A shiver ran up her spine. The crazy was back. “That’s true. I’ve missed you.”

“Liar.” He glanced up at the ceiling. “You’re just like the idiots at the ward. Telling me things I wanted to hear. But I showed them. I bribed an orderly to let me borrow his keycard, then I made a new one of my own.”

Eric let out a low whimper behind her. His hands on her waist gripped tighter in fear. They needed to hurry.

She took a few small steps toward the door as Spencer inspected the ceiling more closely. Maybe if she could keep him talking Eric would have a chance to escape.

Tara forced herself to remain calm while she struggled to draw enough air into her lungs. “How did you get here from New York?”

Spencer walked to the wall and kicked a support beam loose as his gun stayed aimed at her chest. “Private cars, private jets, my brother’s ID. Money buys whatever a person needs. My parents are such idiots, they never even knew I’d been slowly siphoning off funds to a foreign account for years.” When he kicked out another beam, a steady stream of dirt trickled from the ceiling.

She needed to get Eric out before Spencer made the mine collapse.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here now. But let Eric go, okay? He has nothing to do with this. If we hurry, we can make the Mexican border by this evening.”

“I don’t think so.” Spencer moved to the rear and glanced over the railing. “You found the whiskey, I see. I read about that on the quaint little town website.”

As Spencer moved a step closer to the railing, Tara nudged Eric farther toward the door behind them. Just a few more feet. “It’s worth a fortune. Would you like to share in that with us? It’d make your father proud of you for a change.” It was a risk pushing that button, but she was running out of options.

He slowly shook his head. “My dad can go to hell, the bastard. I told you what I’m here to do. Finish what we started. You always did have a listening problem.”

Sweat dripped down her spine as she pushed Eric back another few inches. “I’ll work on that. Let’s go before they find us.”

“They’re going to find us all right, because I’m tired of living among fools. It’s so tedious. But I’m not going to tolerate that sheriff touching my wife, so we’re going to die together. Right here. You picked a great place for it.” He tilted the gun toward the roof and pulled the trigger.

She winced as the loud gunshot deafened her, but as bits of dirt poured down from above, she pushed Eric farther toward the opening. “No. Let’s run away. Remember how happy we were on our honeymoon? We could go to Europe in my dad’s private jet. You love Italy.”

“Just shut up, Jamie. We’re going to die right here. Together. As we were always meant to be.” He pointed the gun up and pulled the trigger again, then again, so many times she stopped counting. Dirt cascaded down both sides of the wall as he kept shooting.

Time to make the move. She shoved Eric and then screamed, “Run!” between one of the shots.

She hoped he’d listened but didn’t wait around to see. Moving toward Spencer, she made herself as large an obstacle as possible, so he couldn’t get a shot at Eric. Spencer would have to shoot her first.

Ryan ran toward the mine with his gun drawn, praying he was there in time. Gunshots echoed through the air as he ripped the fence open wider. Eric suddenly appeared from the opening of the mine with dust billowing from behind him. Tears streamed down his face as he shouted, “That man is trying to bury Tara!”

“Go. Get in my truck and hide until Mike comes.”

Eric nodded and kept moving toward the truck.

Once inside the mine, thick dust choked Ryan as he strained to see. He lifted his T-shirt over his nose. Blinking the dirt out of his eyes, he moved farther inside. Tara was on the ground on her stomach, her face almost buried by the dirt falling all around them. Spencer twisted her arm behind her back, holding her in place.

Tara spotted him. Her eyes silently pleading for help ripped his heart out.

“Drop the gun, Spencer, or I’ll shoot.”

A sick grin spread on Spencer’s face as dirt continued to pour down on them like rain. He released Tara and stood. Pointing his gun he said, “Not if I shoot you first, Sheriff. You should’ve never touched my wife!” He pulled the trigger.

Time moved in slow motion. Ryan dropped and rolled, bracing for the bullet headed his way that he somehow avoided. Tara stood and landed a punch to her ex’s nose like the one she’d given Ryan by the lake. Spencer stumbled backward.

Ryan lunged at Spencer. Dirt billowed over them from the ceiling. “Get out, Tara!”

“But . . .”

“Get help,” he shouted. “Now!” He hoped she’d believe the request, because his chance to survive looked bleak at the rate the roof was collapsing.

Thankfully, she took off toward the entrance. An angry roar sounded deep from the mine shaft, like an approaching freight train as he fought to restrain Spencer. Adrenalin-fueled crazy wasn’t easy to hold down. At the sound of a loud crack, Ryan looked up to see a beam headed directly for them. “Move!”

He rolled away. The beam landed on Spencer’s head.

Grabbing the unconscious man’s legs, he headed for the entrance as planks and beams joined the dirt and stones falling all around them. He wanted to leave the sick bastard behind, but his police training wouldn’t let him.

Moving too slowly, he slung Spencer over his shoulder and stumbled forward as the roof above continued collapsing. Rocks the size of fists knocked Spencer from his shoulder and Ryan ducked, covering his head with his arms. Wood planks and dirt poured over him so fast he’d be buried soon if he didn’t get out.

As he crawled on all fours, a large beam crashed down from above. Sudden pain knifed through his leg. He struggled to free himself from under it, but his leg was stuck. He had no intention of being buried alive, so he tugged on his leg, willing it to come loose.

Suddenly, the noise stopped and eerie silence filled the air. The calm before the big storm?

Once the dust settled a little, he glanced at Spencer. His eyes were open, staring blankly. He was dead.

Coughing and choking on the dirt in his lungs, Ryan yanked on his leg before the collapse started up again, but it wouldn’t budge. If he couldn’t make it out, Tara would never know how he felt.

He needed her to know how much he loved her. He’d find a way to tell her.

Giving it all he had, he grit his teeth and pulled. When his leg finally came a little loose, the adrenalin rush fueled him to keep tugging.

Finally his leg came free, but it didn’t work right, so he rolled onto his stomach and crawled toward the entrance.

The pain was beyond any he’d ever felt, but he ignored it and straightened some, half limping, half crawling to his freedom. When he saw hints of blue sky he tried in vain to draw a deep breath. Dragging his leg behind, he finally made his way out of the mine.

Once outside, he leaned his hands on his thighs, struggling to breathe as he coughed dirt from his lungs.

Glancing up, Ryan had never been so happy to see Mike. Bailey was a step behind him and shouted, “Where’s Spencer?”

Ryan coughed so hard he could barely speak. Relief that Tara was finally free of the bastard made the pain in his leg almost bearable. Throwing a thumb over his shoulder he rasped, “Dead.”

“Thank God. Let’s get you away from here and then we can have a better look at you.”

With great effort, he finally managed to croak out, “Tara?” He needed to tell her he loved her. Right away. If she still insisted she didn’t want a serious relationship, then at least he’d have told her how he felt. He’d made the mistake of letting his father mess with his head before. He wouldn’t do it again.

“She’s on her way to the clinic. We found Eric and sent him there too. You’re next.”

A loud crash behind them sent a huge cloud of dirt flying into the air as the opening to the mine collapsed and boulders cascaded down the hill.

Everyone turned and ran. Ryan lagged behind because of his leg. Mike waited for him then threw an arm around his shoulder. “I gotcha, bud.”

When they were in the clearing, they all turned and watched as the whole front of the hill came tumbling down. He’d gotten out just in time.

He coughed so violently it was difficult to catch his breath. Bending over again, he hoped it’d pass. When he tried to speak, he could only make croaking noises. Ryan started limping toward his truck to go find Tara, but Mike grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the cruiser. “You’re not driving until after we get you checked out.”

Coughing and unable to argue, he climbed into the cruiser beside Mike and then they sped toward the clinic.

Tara winced as Ben moved her broken hand into position for the cast.

“Sorry, I know it hurts, but if you hold still for me, we’ll be done in just a few.”

She was eager to get the cast on so she’d be able to see Ryan when he got there. When he stumbled out of the mine, she could finally draw a full breath. She’d been so afraid she’d never see him again. She’d started to go to him, to wrap her arms around him and hold him, but the other cops with Bailey wouldn’t let her. They’d hustled her into the waiting car. They’d found Eric in Ryan’s truck, but she hadn’t seen him yet either.

The sound of women’s voices preceded Casey, Meg, Ruth, and then Eric as they all walked into the exam room. When Eric saw her, he ran across the room and hugged her. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

She ran her good hand up and down his back. “You too. I’m so sorry. I know that was scary.”