Protecting Their Child (2 page)

“Dad blast it, Cord! I’m not going into protective custody. There are plenty of places I can be safe. Davy’s house in Colorado is a fortress.”

“It’s temporary. Maddox is arranging it.”

“And are you going?”

“We don’t have time to argue.” He snagged her arm and gave a gentle tug. “Come on.”

“No.” She yanked free a second time, stepping back out of his long reach. “I’m not going anywhere until you give me your word.”

“It’s the only way you’ll be safe.”

“Like Sarah and Shane? Like a week after you were in the hospital?”

A direct hit below his belt. She knew it was a low blow as soon as the words spewed from her fear. He felt guilty enough and none of it had been his fault. He’d just been doing his job.

Both Rangers had been with their wives when the double ambush happened three years ago. Shane and Sarah never had a chance against Jorje Serna when they’d pulled away from their favorite restaurant. Serna’s younger brother had caught her and Cord on the ranch drive, shooting Cord before he returned fire and killed him. It was still hard for her to make the drive to town without reliving that traumatic emotion.

The wind whistled through the tall brown prairie grass, vibrating the fence wire, echoing the void that had grown between them. There was so much they’d left unsaid.

“I didn’t mean that.” She advanced a step toward him but he backed away before she could touch him. “You have to believe that I don’t blame you.”

“Not a problem. Let’s get out of here.”

She’d known the dangers of his job when they’d decided to marry. “I didn’t mean to lash out, but I won’t trust the police with my life.”

“Shane and Sarah were ambushed just like us. This is different.”

“Not really.” Her hand went protectively across her belly, always remembering the feeling of emptiness after losing their unborn daughter.

Cord was face-to-face with her in a blink of an eye. She couldn’t back away again. In spite of everything, she needed him. She felt so all alone.

“Trust me, Kate.”

His touch, wiping yet another tear from her cheek, forced her to look closer at him. The strain showed in his eyes. The hurt she understood too well. There was so much to say....

And if she were in protective custody, the words would never happen. There was no guarantee when she’d be back or if she’d ever see Cord or her family.

“No. I’ll go to Davy’s. He can send someone to get me.”

“Dammit, Kate. This is not the time to be stubborn.”

“I’ve made up my mind.” She climbed on the four-wheeler. “No more discussion.”

“You aren’t going back to the ranch house then. It’s one thing leaving with security, but you can’t wait for David Jr. to come collect you at a place Serna’s already attacked. Successfully.” He pulled his cell phone from his shirt pocket. It was the first time she noticed that he actually had her father’s work coat on. “Just verifying there’s no coverage.”

“I have a hand radio, but if Frank’s—”

“Right. No one’s listening at the ranch. So we punt. We’ll spend a couple of nights at Caliente Lodge until we know for certain when your transportation is showing up. They have a working ham radio up there, right?”

“I assume so. The guys check it out every fall when they restock the supplies. They went up three weeks ago. We’ll have to have horses to get up there.”

“Horses at the line shed?”

“When have they not been?”

“Who’s there?” His eyes were scanning the horizon. Making certain no one had followed him?

“Juan.”

“I’ll take the lead. When we get there, Juan can take a message back to Griggs or Maddox with the new plan.” He swung his long legs over the seat as naturally as mounting a horse. No awkwardness from a man who couldn’t walk two-and-a-half years earlier.

“No chance you’ll change your mind?” he asked in his deep, low voice.

“None.”

“We’re taking a huge risk getting to the lodge.” He replaced his hat and shoved the top closer to his ears.

“I know, but if we leave now, we’ll make it just after dark. Cord?” He acknowledged her with a pause while buttoning the jacket. “Your word, please.”

“Want a Scout’s honor, too?” He started his four-wheeler.

“Just your promise. And I know you were never a Scout.”

“No protective custody.” He revved the engine, obviously angry. “I promise.” As soon as the words were said, he shot forward in a cloud of dirt and grass.

“I promise, too, kiddo.” She tilted her head, comforting their unborn baby. “I’ll keep you safe or die trying.”

Chapter Two

Even on ATVs, the trail to get the horses took a little over an hour. Kate’s back killed her from the bouncing around, but she knew it didn’t hold up to the pain Cord must be experiencing. He stopped once to make certain she was okay and she could see the strain on his face. The wheels were chugging along behind those dark brown eyes in that investigator-problem-solving mind. After seven years, parts of him were obvious. Or so she thought. Some stayed completely hidden.

The Cord McCrea who couldn’t walk for eight months.
That
man had shut himself behind a door she’d never been able to open. One who she’d waited for, given up on, and two years later finally asked for a divorce.

“Is that Juan’s truck?” he asked, stopping and killing his engine just out of sight of the line shack.

“It’s Dad’s old Chevy.”

He stiffly climbed off the four-wheeler and pulled his weapon, checking his ammo. “Keep your rifle ready to fire, Kate.”

“You can’t possibly think someone’s beat us here. How? There’s nowhere to hide a car and it takes much longer than an hour to drive. It’s safe.”

“Griggs had to kill the man who shot Frank. There wasn’t a vehicle. And it’s been closer to three hours since that happened. Took me a while to find you.” He dropped his hat on the seat. His familiar short hair barely had a dent from the impression. “Didn’t take much training to see the man wasn’t alone. I didn’t get a look at Frank, but I can’t imagine they were able to pound your whereabouts from him. But we don’t know. Too many uncertainties. If you won’t go into protective custody, then we trust no one and take nothing for granted.” He nodded to the rifle strapped behind her. “Get it ready and stay out of sight.”

He darted into the brush and the sparse trees. She followed him with her eyes, unable to look anywhere else. She didn’t hesitate and followed his instructions to unstrap the rifle, bringing it across her knees. She wasn’t leaving the ATV, though. It was her only means of escape.

“You’ve made me a paranoid scaredy-cat, Cord McCrea,” she said to the wind.

Prepared, not paranoid.

There was a difference. The security detail assigned to protect her had gotten lax after eight days. Both men had lost their lives because they hadn’t been prepared. She might not agree with his orders, but she’d brought the rifle and two boxes of shells with her on the chance Serna was released today. Prepared.

“Shoot, Frank. I sure wish you’d heeded my warning. I’m sorry you died because of me,” she whispered, and dropped the sunglasses into her pocket, pushing away more tears that blurred her vision.

The minutes ticked slower and slower as Cord crept closer to the line shack. One room with one door, one window, one cot and an outhouse that she needed badly. What was she doing? Risking everything on a man who had mentally walked away from her and wasn’t approved for active duty, that’s what.

She stood to watch him check out the shack by looking through the window. The door opened and Juan stepped outside. Cord waved her forward.

“Guess that was the all clear.” She replaced the rifle, fingering the safety back on. “I know, baby. I might as well face that it’s going to be a rough couple of days. Maybe years.”

She pulled up in front of the shack just as Juan was pulling away in the truck.

“Where’s he rushing to?”

“I filled him in and sent him back with a message for Maddox.” He stretched his back and started down the dirt ruts they used for a road.

“Wait, I can take you back.”

“We’re not staying, but it might be better to put out Juan’s fire and eat the chili he told me about.”

“You sure you can make another two hours on a horse?” His back must be cramping; her muscles sure were.

“You paid a lawyer good money not to worry about me anymore, Kate. No reason to start again.”

Probably to prove a point, he took off jogging over the rough terrain. The man wouldn’t let her see him limp. Nope, he would never be vulnerable. Not with anyone and especially not her.

“Okay.” She sighed. “A very
long
couple of days.”

* * *

“T
HE
HORSES
ARE
SADDLED
.
” Cord entered the shack, tossing his hat in the corner at the foot of the cot. When he turned to unbutton David’s coat, he finally caught a glimpse of Kate. “What the...you’re...you’re pregnant?”

“Obviously.” Kate pointed to her belly, showing beneath the tight layer of thermals.

Jealousy shot out from his gut, twisting Cord’s insides. Was it someone he knew? Jenkins had helped her while he’d been in rehab. He knew Nick helped her at the ranch. Had she gotten back with her old boyfriend? God, please don’t let it be someone he knew.

“Why so surprised? When you wouldn’t talk to me, my lawyer sent you a registered letter. I explained everything.”

He commanded his voice to remain steady, no inflection, nothing accusatory. Hard to do when you’re thinking of your wife with another man.
Ex-wife.
“Who’s the lucky dad?”

“Really, Cord? Was your phone off for five months and three days?” She sighed, extended and heavy with exasperation.

“But that’s the day we...the night before the divorce?”

“That’s right.” She raised her chin just a hair and compressed her lips. “Mr. Sixth Generation Texas Ranger Cordell Wayne McCrae is...” She paused, and her bottom lip began to shake.

“A father?” he finished for her.

His legs wouldn’t work. He took a step toward her, but the wobbly things wouldn’t hold him upright and he knew his body sort of hit the door and slid to the floor, even though feeling really hadn’t set in.

“Cord!”

Kate was closer. His hand smacked the bed on the way down and his hat fell to the floor beside him. A soft hand swiped his face, a strong one shook his shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m great, just tripped.” The fall added another bruise to his wounded pride. “I was sort of surprised.”

“So surprised you fell down.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Dad-blasted humiliating sticks for legs were tingling under him like they were asleep.

“Think about the hundred or so messages I’ve left for you, Cord. You never listened to any of them?”

“I couldn’t.” Meeting her perfect sky-blue eyes didn’t work. He was ashamed of himself. She’d needed him and he hadn’t been there. Hadn’t been for three years. “I had no idea that’s why you were calling. This changes everything.”

“Hold your horses, cowboy.” She stood, leaving him next to the drafty shack door. “Nothing’s changed. Nada. Zip. I’m still going to Davy’s.”

“I disagree. Everything’s changed.” His whole world had changed. Hadn’t hers?

“I’m pregnant, not incapable of—”

“Just stop a minute.”

Every emotion he’d buried for the past three years screamed to surface. He pushed himself to his feet, struggling to keep steady, determined to keep his mouth and opinions shut. He couldn’t. That was his child, too.

He leaned against the door, clawing his hair, indecisive. His attention splintered between convincing Kate he couldn’t protect her alone and protecting her himself by getting her into the mountains as soon as possible.

Kate continually made him lose focus.

“You promised.” She divided the chili into two bowls already sitting on the two-foot log table.

It had always amazed him that she could hold an argument or discussion or share intimate stories while prepping dinner or making a bed. Even trimming trees. She just pushed right through whatever she was doing, barely pausing for responses, just expecting a nod or acknowledgment that he was listening. This time he had an opinion and she wouldn’t change his mind. She...they—there were two of them now—needed protective custody. Maybe permanently.

“I promised before I had all the facts. Completely voids the agreement.” He stated the facts. How could she be so calm about having a kid?

She’s had five months to get used to the idea.
He had less time to think about it before the baby arrived.

“You can’t pull that reasoning on me. I thought you knew about the baby.” Her movements might have reflected ordinary things that needed to be done to eat, but he could see the strain, the tension just under the surface.

“I didn’t.”

She stood straight, faced him, tummy between them. The urge to pull her close had his hands tangled together behind his back to stop himself.
Are you happy?

“Nothing’s changed. It’s still safer to get me—” she put her hand over her small belly “us—to Davy’s than anywhere else. All of us, even you.”

“No.”

The one word shooting across the room caused her shoulders to drop and had her sighing in disappointment. He knew all her sighs. A habit she’d tried to break for years but could never conquer. Her eyes dropped to his hands when he removed his gloves. He should have taken off his wedding ring long ago. Somehow, he’d never felt comfortable without it on. He pulled it and shoved it on his right hand.

“And that’s your final word? You won’t come with me?” she asked, seeming fairly certain of his answer.

There wasn’t a choice for him. No options. No way out. “I’m not leaving this unfinished.”
Not again.

“It’s suicide.”

She was right, but he had to protect his family. He hadn’t before, but this time would be different.

“We better hit the trail before much longer.”

“I’m hungry and not going anywhere while there’s a drop of this chili left. Juan’s a pretty good cook. He must have made this at home to bring with him. So sit down, enjoy it as much as possible and rest your back. I know it’s hurting.”

She was right. Dang it. The muscles were aching like an entire string of curse words. He hadn’t favored it, so how had she known?

Hell, she always knew. Nothing ever got past her.

They both sat at the small table tied together with horsehair. He leaned over it, sitting in a stiff bodark chair while she sat on a mattress that he knew was very comfortable.

Didn’t matter if Juan was a good cook or not. He couldn’t taste a thing. His memories had him twisting in his seat and he wasn’t likely to enjoy anything. They’d experienced several nights on that dang mattress.

Several nights enjoying the rustic line shack far from cell reception, from last-minute on-call duty or surprise leads in the investigation. He was headed for a tailspin if he didn’t block those thoughts. Wouldn’t look good to walk it off outside since she’d just let him know he’d be a father.

Sheeze...I’m going to be a dad!

Unable to speak or actually think of anything appropriate to say, he spooned several bites of chili into his mouth hoping not to choke. He hadn’t thought he’d ever be around Kate without thinking of her as his wife. And he hadn’t accomplished that task yet. One of the reasons he hadn’t listened to messages or opened envelopes was simply to stop thinking about her.

Stop thinking of the long, silky curtain of hair draped across his chest when she rested her head in the perfect spot. A spot she’d taken months to find so she could stay in his arms all night.

What happened with them now? Was he supposed to ask? Was it too soon? Was he supposed to tell her how happy he was at the thought of being a dad? Or how terrified he was that Serna would take her away from him permanently?

Push the emotional subjects aside.
He had to clear his head and decide what they needed to accomplish today. First priority, get Kate out of here...alive.

“You know I hate it when you call me Cordell.” He blew on the chili and shoved another couple of bites down.

“I still think it’s funny how upset you get at Chuck Norris’s character having the same name. As much as your dad pretended to dislike that show, he watched the reruns every day. You should be honored he was consulted about it.”

“I know.”

“Did you ever order him the DVD set like we’d talked about?”

He put a bite of chili in his mouth and shook his head.

She set her bowl on the table and leaned back against the wall. Sighing. A short one, mainly through her nose. And, yeah, he knew how to interpret that one, too. She was ready to talk and let him have it for not visiting his father. She probably knew he hadn’t really seen anyone except the shrinks and physical therapists for close to two years.

“You haven’t talked to him, have you?” she asked.

“Don’t start, Kate.” He knew she knew the answer. They’d been together too long. Or
had been together
.

She crossed her arms and tipped her chin into the air in a determined show of downright stubbornness. She was about to let him have both barrels. Then all her reasons and frustrations—whatever they were—would tumble out. He’d listen and wouldn’t interrupt since she’d be right. Then it would be too dark to leave till morning. And then they’d be sleeping here on that one mattress. ’Cause he was certain he wasn’t sleeping on the cold, drafty boards forming the floor. No, sir, now wasn’t the time to hash out how stunted his emotions were.

Remind her how dangerous the situation is.

“Don’t get me wrong, Kate. I know there’s a lot to talk about. Now’s just not the best time.” He dropped his spoon on the table. “Serna probably has someone watching the ranch house. The longer we stay here, the more likely the bastard will get curious about why we’re not heading back. Hell, he might already know where we are ’cause Juan showed up.”

“I understand all that. I didn’t say a word. And it’s amazing how you can’t unless you’re issuing orders.” She grabbed her bowl and ate.

The silence grew.

He turned his bowl up to his lips and spooned what he could in his mouth, chewing the rest as he stood and stretched his aching back. This afternoon had been the most activity outside of physical therapy that he’d had in three years. He was not looking forward to a couple of hours on horseback over rocky terrain, in the dark.

“Leave the dishes in the well bucket. I’ll put out the fire.”

She didn’t argue, just dropped the metal bowls with a clunk into the only water inside the shack. He pulled the extra blankets off the shelf, rolling them tight for their saddles—just in case they didn’t make it to the cabin.