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Chase nodded. Although he’d given Jesse the brief rundown of his past with Mallory, Chase didn’t want to delve any deeper. What he couldn’t understand was why after all this time Mallory could still get to him.
“It’s okay to admit you have feelings for her,” Jesse said. “She’s a beautiful woman.”
Chase glared at him. “This isn’t the time to notice a woman. We’ve got a little boy to find.” He thought back to the choices he’d made in favor of his career. Being a Texas Ranger had been all he’d ever wanted. Mallory had been the only woman he’d even thought about sharing a life with. In the end, he chose the career over her. He tried to tell himself she’d been too young for him. Too late he realized that she was everything he’d wanted, but it was Mallory who didn’t think he’d been worth waiting for.
She’d married another man.
Chase quickly wiped away that thought as he took a drink of water from his canteen. Too many years had passed to renew a relationship that had been doomed from the start.
“We need to get moving.” He walked around his horse, then climbed on and adjusted his hat as Jesse followed suit.
He’d recalled earlier that day when he glanced toward the house and saw Mallory. She tried to look hopeful, brave, but he could see her pain…her misery. Who could blame her? Her child was out there.
He rode off, praying today was the last one they had to spend in this West Texas heat. More importantly, that a little boy would be found safe and could go home to his mother. And Chase could go back to business as usual.
Or could he?
“Stop smothering me, woman,” Buck Kendrick growled at Rosalie. “I can walk just fine.”
“You’re supposed to take it easy so you won’t open the wound,” the housekeeper told him as she followed him into the kitchen.
Mallory watched her father’s slow gait. He suddenly looked old and he wasn’t even sixty yet. He had thick, gray hair, and warm hazel eyes. He was tall and trim, but right now, his broad shoulders were a little slumped over. His expression was pained, and she knew it wasn’t from the gunshot wound he’d received in his side.
“Any news?” he asked.
“No. I did talk to Chase Landon.”
Her dad didn’t look surprised at the mention of Chase’s name. “We’ve got the rangers looking for the boy, we can’t ask for anything more.”
“You both need to eat,” Rosalie interrupted the silence and began to put together the fixings for lunch.
Her father frowned. “Crazy woman. She thinks about food at a time like this.”
“Rosalie is trying to stay busy the best she can.”
Buck cursed. “I should be out there looking, too.”
Mallory felt the same way. “No, Dad. Let the rangers do their job. Like you said, they’re the best. And they’re trained for this kind of thing.”
“I know. I know.” He sank into the kitchen chair. “I shouldn’t have let them take Ryan…. He’s so little. I begged them to take me instead.”
Even though Buck wouldn’t normally have begged any man, he would have for his family…his only grandson. He loved the boy more than his own life.
Mallory sat down beside him. “I know you did, Dad. None of this is your fault.”
“Damn. What kind of world is it when you aren’t even safe on your own land? They stole my grandson.”
Mallory remained silent and let her father vent. This was a second time Buck Kendrick hadn’t been able to protect his family from the cruelty of the world.
He finally looked at her. “Have you told Landon about Ryan?”
Although they’d never openly talked about it, her father knew about Ryan and she’d wondered when this day would come. She shook her head. “No. But he’ll know soon enough.”
Buck nodded in agreement. “Whether he figures it out himself or not, it’s time he knows the truth. And Ryan, too.”
Nearly three hours later, the search team finally lucked out.
A local rancher gave them the information they’d been hoping for. Two men and a boy on horseback rode along the back of his property, heading toward the foothills. The rancher also told them about a line shack at the base.
“If the rancher hadn’t spotted them,” Jesse began, “the shack could have made a perfect hideout.”
Chase nodded. “And there’s some supplies there. Even if they just stop for some food, we’ve gained some time.”
“They still have about an hour on us.”
Chase discussed the situation with the other men. They decided to keep the dogs at the ranch house. And Chase and Jesse would ride up alone, hoping to catch the escapees off-guard. After the rancher gave them directions for a back route to the cabin, Chase and Jesse headed through the rough terrain of the mountain range, using the thick trees for natural cover. The jeep, with backup men, waited about a mile way. Chase hoped the surprise element worked. They didn’t need to put Ryan in any more danger. If they weren’t careful, this operation could go bad real fast.
At a group of rocks behind the rough-hewn cabin, they climbed off their horses and tied them to a tree. Silently, they made their way toward the back of the structure, happy there weren’t any windows. Once flattened against the structure, Chase crept along one side as Jesse moved along the other side toward the open front door. He listened to the voices inside.
“We can’t stay the night,” one of the escapees said. “We can’t even stay another hour. I tell you they’re on our trail.”
“The kid’s asleep in the saddle,” the other man said. “And I’m tired of carrying him. Besides, the horses aren’t going to last much longer.”
“Then we’ll take fresh ones from that rancher. There were several out in the pasture.”
Suddenly one of the men came outside, wearing jeans that were too short, and an open shirt revealing a once-white T-shirt. Charlie Jacobs. As far as Chase could see he didn’t have a weapon on him.
“I’m going to get us some fresh mounts,” he called over his shoulder as he jumped down the step and walked to his horse.
Chase made his way to the back of the cabin as did Jesse. He motioned for Jesse to go after the man.
The ranger nodded, then hurried off toward his horse.
Chase went back to the side of the shack. He couldn’t see inside to tell where the boy was. And he didn’t want to take a chance on rushing in if one of the escapees had a gun pointed at the kid. He had to wait him out.
Ten minutes later, he got a text message from Jesse. Got him.
Chase knew Jesse would return as backup. Should he wait? Suddenly there was more commotion inside and the prisoner came to the door. “Stay where you are, niño, I need to pee, but I’ll be close by.”
Chase’s heart rate accelerated as the man he recognized in the picture stepped off the stoop and started for the outhouse. He wouldn’t get a better chance than this.
Chase took off running and tackled the guy to the ground with a thud. He knocked the air from his lungs, but the man was still able to put up a fight. Finally Chase landed a punch that connected with the man’s jaw and threw him to the ground again. Enough time for Chase to pull his gun and aim it at the suspect.
“Go ahead. Give me a reason to shoot you…dead.”
In answer Reyes cursed in Spanish, and raised his hands over his head. Chase instructed him to get into position, then he pulled his handcuffs off his belt and put them on him.
About that time, Jesse showed up. He grinned. “Sweet mercy. This is turning out to be a good day. Really good day.”
Chase wasn’t sure about anything until he saw the boy and knew he was safe. Once Jesse took charge of the prisoner, Chase holstered his gun and took off toward the shack. At the doorway he stopped, not wanting to frighten the boy.
“Ryan,” he called out. “Ryan, it’s okay. I’m a Texas Ranger.”
He looked inside to find a small figure huddled in the corner of the bunk. His eyes were big and red from crying. Chase blinked in the dim light and studied the boy’s dirty face, but he recognized him from the picture.
“Are you gonna take me home to my mom?”
Chase allowed himself to smile. “Yes, I am. She said to tell you that your grandpa is okay.”
Ryan’s eyes brightened. “Grandpa tried to fight them. I’m glad he’s okay.”
The kid had dark eyes and curly brown hair. His face was long and there was a small cleft in his chin. His features were so unlike Mallory’s, but he looked familiar.
“Are you really a Texas Ranger?” Ryan said, interrupting his thoughts.
Chase nodded as he pointed to the silver badge on his camouflage shirt. “Yes, I am. We’ve been tracking you for miles. Boy, is your mom going to be happy to see you.”
With a smile the boy climbed off the bed and came to Chase. “I bet she cried ’cause I got kidnapped.”
Chase knelt down in front of the boy. “She’s been pretty brave, too. You’re very important to her and your grandpa.”
Chase felt something tighten in his chest. What if they hadn’t got here in time?
“Did they hurt you?” Chase asked.
Ryan shook his head. “Not much. They pulled me around some. But I didn’t cry,” he said as he pulled up his shirt to show off some bruises and red welts along the thin torso.
Chase examined him and was drawn to a strawberry-colored birthmark on his small chest. It was very similar to the one Chase had on his lower back. The same type that his Uncle Wade had on his shoulder.
Chase stood, but his gaze remained on the boy. His lungs didn’t seem to work as he noticed so much more about the child. The similar chin with a small indentation. His dark eyes…
He shook his head. He couldn’t think that Mallory would do this to him. Nothing this cruel.
“Are you taking me home?” Ryan asked.
“Yes, so we need to get going.”
It surprised Chase when the boy slipped his small hand into his. “I’m ready.” Together they walked out to the porch to see Jesse come toward them.
“Boyd and Grant have the prisoners secured….” A slow grin appeared as he studied the two of them. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you two looked like—” He paused. “Sweet mercy,” he breathed as his smile died away.
“Close your mouth, Raines. We need to get the boy back to his family.”
Jesse nodded. “Right. Then you bring…Ryan down by horseback. And the helicopter is going to meet us at the ranch.”
Chase nodded. He didn’t want to speak right now. What could he say? Until he confronted Mallory, he wouldn’t know for sure. He stole another glance at the boy.
That wasn’t true. There was no doubt in his mind that Ryan Hagan was his son.
Hearing the helicopter overhead, Mallory hurried outside. It had been two hours since Chase’s phone call and she’d heard Ryan’s voice. Her son was back safe.
They landed about a hundred yards away in the pasture, but she didn’t care. She took off running. She needed to hold her child in her arms, to see for herself he was safe.
The blades were slowing down as Chase stepped out, then reached back and lifted Ryan to the ground. Together they started toward her. Father and son.
She stumbled on seeing the two together. They were so much alike, everyone had to see they were related. As much as she dreaded this day, she was happy it was finally here. The only problem was how much Chase and Ryan would hate her for keeping this secret?
“Mom,” Ryan called and shot off. He nearly jumped into her arms.
“Oh, Ryan,” she cried. “You’re safe.” She hugged him tighter. Inhaled that wonderful familiar boy’s smell of dirt and sweat. She loved it. She released him and did a quick examination. Although he’d been checked out in a small clinic near where he’d been found, she needed to see for herself. “You sure you’re okay?”
His head bobbed up and down. “I’m okay. The doctor said I just got some bruises.” He yanked up his shirt. “But they don’t hurt anymore.”
Just then Buck and Rosalie appeared and were calling to him. Before Mallory could stop her son, he shot off toward them. She was left alone with Chase. She finally was brave enough to look at him.
“Is he mine, Mallory? Is Ryan my son?”
Mallory swallowed and managed a nod.
His jaw worked. “We need to talk.” He glanced toward Ryan. “I’ll be back tonight.”
“No, it’s too soon.”
He tipped his hat back, his gaze bore into hers. “Too soon? Hell, Mallory, I’d say it’s years too late.”
He turned and walked back to the helicopter. The pilot started it up and soon it was in the air.
What was she going to do now? How could she explain everything away?
Buck waited for her as Rosalie took Ryan on ahead into the house. “He’s going to take a bath.”
She shook her head. “Kids are so resilient, aren’t they?”
“Oh, I think Ryan’s going to have his share of nightmares for a while.” He studied his daughter. “But we’ll be here for him.”
She felt the tears sting. “Chase knows, Dad. He knows Ryan is his son.”
He nodded. “It’s time. That boy needs a father…a real father, but only if Chase will be there for the boy.”
Mallory didn’t need to go into the reasons for their breakup. Buck Kendrick hadn’t been happy about his young innocent daughter dating a man who never planned to make a commitment.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Dad. To start with, I never should have married Alan…. I should have tried harder to contact Chase.”
“Sweetheart, we can’t stand here and try to atone for all the mistakes made in our lives. If so, I’d have to take some blame, too. I pushed you into that sham of a marriage… but you and Alan seemed to be a great match.” He shook his head. “I had no idea that would turn out so badly.”
“Dad, stop it. It was my choice.”
Alan had been her boyfriend in high school, but knew his feelings for her were stronger than hers for him. When Mallory went off to college she ended their relationship, knowing she wanted to experience life. But they’d stayed friends. When she came home that summer from college and saw Chase, she fell hopelessly in love.
Chase didn’t. When he got the call to join the rangers, he was packed and gone without so much as a backward glance. Alan had been the one who came back into her life and was willing to take on another man’s baby. So she thought…
“But he hurt you and Ryan…and I can’t forgive him or myself for that.”
“Maybe if I’d tried harder to contact Chase all those years ago, it would have made a difference.” She looked toward the house. “Now, my only concern is protecting my son.”
He had a son…. He had a son….
The rest of the day those words had played in Chase’s head, even during all the paperwork and debriefing on today’s capture. He’d thought it would keep his mind off facing Mallory’s betrayal. It didn’t do any good. He was angry. How could she keep their son a secret?
Jesse stopped by his office right before the shift ended. “Hey, Chase. Wanted to let you know that Jacobs and Reyes are back in Sweetwater.” He shook his head. “Man, I’m glad they’re in lockdown now, especially Jacobs. He’s one mean son of a gun. The guy seemed to get pleasure out of telling me what his plans were for the boy. Reyes was pretty talkative, too. He was interested in your relationship to Wade Landon.”
That wasn’t uncommon. “How so?”
Jesse shrugged. “When I said Wade Landon was your uncle the guy just grinned. Think he’d know anything?”
“What’s Reyes? Forty-two? He could have been around back then. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check his record…. Monday.” Reyes wasn’t going anywhere.
Jesse started to leave, then turned back. “You want to go for some food…maybe a beer?”
“Thanks, but I have plans,” Chase told him as he cleared off his desk.
Jesse didn’t move. “Well, if you want to talk, I’m around,” he said and started to leave.
“I’m going to the ranch to talk with Mallory.”
Jesse nodded. “I’d say that’s a good place to start.” He smiled. “Well, like I said, I’ll be around if you want to…get a beer.”
“Thanks.”
Chase watched as Jesse walked out. Would he ever be ready to talk about this? If he were honest, he wasn’t sure about his own feelings. How are you supposed to handle the news that you’re a father? That you have a son? There were eight years he’d missed with his boy. How was he supposed to feel? The problem was he felt too many things, joy…fear…and a lot of anger…
Before seven that evening, Chase had showered and changed, then walked out of his town house and climbed into his dusty white truck to head to the Lazy K Ranch.
He knew one thing. Learning Ryan was his kid had affected him like nothing else had in his life. He’d spent less than two hours with the child, but already he felt a bond.
But an instant father? What if Ryan hated the idea?
Chase turned off the highway and drove down the road that led to the Lazy K Ranch. He’d traveled this route many times when he’d been dating Mallory. Mostly he’d come by when Buck wasn’t home or out on the range. Her father hadn’t been crazy about a—so-called—older man dating his college age daughter.
Chase made a snorting sound. He was all of twenty-eight back then.
His heart rate accelerated as he pulled into the circular drive of the Spanish-style home. The golden stucco-and-stone structure revealed Buck’s wife, Pilar Kendrick’s, Spanish heritage. The patio out front was made of hand-painted tiles with a large fountain in the center. He climbed out of his truck and went to the door and knocked.
It wasn’t too long before he heard footsteps from inside. “I’ll get it,” called a child’s voice. The door opened and a freshly bathed Ryan with his hair combed neatly stood smiling up at him.
“Hi, Chase.”
“Hi…Ryan,” he answered, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Mom said you were coming tonight. Will you have supper with us? Rosalie made enchiladas.”
“That’s pretty hard to pass up.”
“It’s my favorite.” His dark eyes were bright. “That’s why she made it. For me.”
Chase stepped though the doorway into the terra-cotta tiled entry with rough-plastered, cream walls and dark wood trim that matched the rest of the house.
“You should get special treatment,” he told him. “You were brave to handle everything.”
“And I didn’t cry…much,” he said proudly, then leaned forward. “I got scared sometimes, but don’t tell Mom ’cause she’ll start crying again, and I don’t like it when she’s sad.”
“It’s our secret.”
“What’s your secret?”
Chase looked toward the archway that led into the living room to find Mallory. His chest constricted as if he couldn’t draw air into his lungs. She had on a long, multicol-ored skirt and a rose-colored T-shirt. Her shiny ebony hair lay in soft waves against her shoulders. Although her green eyes were weary, she looked beautiful. That was something he didn’t need to notice tonight…or any night.
“Nothing. Just some guy talk.”
“Well, you can talk about it later. Rosalie says supper is ready.” She looked at Chase. “I hope you’re hungry.”
He nodded as Ryan ran on ahead. “This isn’t going to keep us from having our discussion.”
“I know, but Ryan needs family right now.” She straightened. “This doesn’t just involve the two of us, there’s a child to think about. And I’m going to do everything I can to protect him.”
“Is that what you’ve been doing for these years, protecting him from me?”
“However you feel about me, Chase, don’t take it out on Ryan. We’ll settle things after my son goes to bed.”
“I agree with you there, except he’s our son, Mallory.” He glared at her. “You need to remember that from now on.”
Mallory sat on Ryan’s bed watching him sleep. She silently thanked God over and over again for bringing her son home safely. When he’d been kidnapped she wasn’t sure she’d ever get the chance to put him to bed again. Now that she had a second chance, she also had a second threat. Was Chase a threat to her family?
She saw the look on his face during supper, and knew he wasn’t just going to walk away. And she wouldn’t deny Ryan his father, either. Not again.
She placed a kiss on her son’s forehead and watched as he curled up on his side and snuggled deep into the pillow. She walked out and closed the door behind her.
Whatever was going to happen with Chase, she still had to return home to Levelland in a few days. The success of her business depended on her being there. She couldn’t expect her partner, Liz Mooney, to handle both the training and the broker business. She headed down the stairs to the great room where she had left Chase with her father.
Surprisingly, she found the two men leaning over the dining table going through one of Ryan’s baby albums. She hadn’t wanted to notice how devastatingly handsome Chase was. At nearly thirty-seven, he was toned and trim. She sighed as her gaze roamed over his long body. He wore jeans better than any man she ever knew. They rode low and fitted over his tight rear end and muscular thighs.
“That’s the first time I got him on a horse,” Buck said. “Mallory threw a fit.”
She started into the room. “That’s because Ryan was nine months old.”
“I was holding him…firmly,” her father said.
She frowned at him. “He was still too young to be on a horse.”
“After that she wouldn’t let me take him out of the house until he was three.”
Mallory smiled, but Chase didn’t. She didn’t blame him. She’d been the one who’d caused him to miss all those years.
Buck closed the album. “Well, I think I better call it a night.” He turned to Chase. “I can finally sleep now. Thanks for bringing Ryan home.”
Chase nodded. “I’m glad it worked out.”
Buck paused for a long time. “So am I.” He placed a kiss on his daughter’s cheek and walked out of the room.
Mallory suddenly felt nervous. For a lot of years she’d wondered about Chase. She’d known he’d become a Texas Ranger, but she never dreamed he’d be back here… in this house.
And after today everything would change…her life and Ryan’s life would never be the same.
“Can I get you some coffee?”
“No,” he said as he folded his arms over his chest. “All I want right now are some answers.”
She nodded, directed him to a brown sofa, and took the chair across from him, putting the glass-top coffee table between them. “Ask whatever you want.”
“I’ll start with the obvious. Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”
“At first, I couldn’t believe it was true,” she said weakly. “We used protection.”
He didn’t respond.
“And I did try to call you.”
“Like hell you did,” said growled. “I don’t remember any phone calls from you saying you were pregnant with my child.”
She took a breath and let it out. “I called…your mother. I asked her to get you a message…and that it was important that I talk to you.”
She saw a glint in his eyes that told her he’d gotten the message. “You should have tried harder—Told her the reason.”
“The day we broke up and you left, I was devastated.”
“If I remember correctly, you were the one who told me to get out,” he challenged.
Mallory remembered everything about that last night. They’d made love. She told him she loved him…and he told her he was leaving for Austin to join the rangers. “You chose to leave.”
“I told you before we started dating, that our relationship couldn’t go beyond the summer because I would be leaving for training. Besides, you were returning for college.”
“That was my father’s plan. I wanted to go with you, and you didn’t want me. You let me know that being a Texas Ranger was all you wanted.”
His jaw tightened. “So to punish me you didn’t tell me about my baby and you married another man.”
“It wasn’t like that.” She stood and went to the window. “I was so hurt. My world ended when you went off to Austin. I was convinced you’d find someone else…and forget all about the naïve college girl back home.”
She took a breath, and continued. “About three weeks later, Alan came to the ranch with his father. I hadn’t seen him since we graduated high school. We’d dated off and on, but mostly we used to be friends.” She looked at Chase’s stone-cold glare. “I had just learned I was pregnant… I was shocked and scared. And, yes, I told Alan. He listened to me, let me cry it out. He told me he’d always love me…that he’d take care of me and the baby. He asked me to marry him right then.” She left out the part about Buck’s trouble with the ranch, and Alan’s father stepping in as a business partner.