Полная версия
Randall Renegade
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Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
You may be surprised to find me and the Randalls in the Harlequin Intrigue line. Normally my books are not filled with murder and mayhem. However, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to give one of my Randalls the chance to play a real hero. Jim Randall, Chad and Megan’s oldest boy, has been drifting since he completed college. When a call for help from a former flame arouses old memories, he finds he can’t abandon Patience Anderson. He plays the role of hero very well, but his emotions aren’t as easily directed. I hope you like his story.
The Randalls always pull together to bring about a happy ending. This remarkable family won’t have it any other way. There are, of course, some rough moments, but the Randalls face every test, fearlessly doing what has to be done. We can’t always choose our paths in life, but we can control our behavior.
It was interesting for me to accompany my characters through a different kind of story, one of danger and escape. I hope you enjoy the change, and I promise I will return to Rawhide and the Randalls once again this December.
Best wishes,
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Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
Beginning this October, Harlequin Intrigue has expanded its lineup to six books! Publishing two more titles each month enables us to bring you an extraordinary selection of breathtaking stories of romantic suspense filled with exciting editorial variety—and we encourage you to try all that we have to offer.
Stock up on catnip! Caroline Burnes brings back your favorite feline sleuth to beckon you into a new mystery in the popular series FEAR FAMILIAR. This four-legged detective sticks his whiskers into the mix to help clear a stunning stuntwoman’s name in Familiar Double. Up next is Dani Sinclair’s new HEARTSKEEP trilogy starting with The Firstborn—a darkly sensual gothic romance that revolves around a sinister suspense plot. To lighten things up, bestselling Harlequin American Romance author Judy Christenberry crosses her beloved BRIDES FOR BROTHERS series into Harlequin Intrigue with Randall Renegade—a riveting reunion romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Keeping Baby Safe by Debra Webb could either passionately reunite a duty-bound COLBY AGENCY operative and his onetime lover—or tear them apart forever. Don’t miss the continuation of this action-packed series. Then Amy J. Fetzer launches our BACHELORS AT LARGE promotion featuring fearless men in blue with Under His Protection. Finally, watch for Dr. Bodyguard by debut author Jessica Andersen. Will a hunky doctor help penetrate the emotional walls around a lady genius before a madman closes in?
Pick up all six for a complete reading experience you won’t forget!
Enjoy,
Denise O’Sullivan
Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
Randall Renegade
Judy Christenberry
MILLS & BOON
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judy Christenberry has been writing romances for fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers. A former French teacher, Judy now devotes herself to writing full-time. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two daughters. Judy is a native Texan.
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CAST OF CHARACTERS
Jim Randall—A man of honor who can’t say no to a voice from the past.
Patience Anderson—The fiercely protective mother has no one else to turn to.
Chad Randall—His beloved son wants to stand alone, but that’s not the Randall way.
Joseph Keats—His fanatical beliefs have already cost his wife her life. Will his son also pay the ultimate price?
Tommy Peters—A little boy who loves and trusts Patience, the only mother he’s ever known. Can he trust her to rescue him?
For Pat Bennett:
first a devoted fan, now a good friend.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter One
Jim Randall presented himself in the kitchen at dinnertime because it was expected. But he wasn’t staying. “Red, I’m heading into town. Don’t count me in for dinner.”
“You’re supposed to let me know earlier, boy. You got something special planned?” the older man asked.
“Not really, Red. I’m meeting a few friends. Sorry I didn’t know this morning.”
As he turned away, his father, Chad Randall, entered the big kitchen, and Jim had to explain himself all over again. And if he didn’t hurry out, his mom would be next. As much as he loved his family, twenty-five seemed a little old to be tied so tightly to the apron strings.
“Wait, boy,” Red said. “You got a phone message. Sounded real important.” Red handed him a piece of paper.
Jim scanned the message, and his heart jerked. He carefully folded it and said, “Thanks, Red.”
Red wasn’t finished. “The girl on the phone was crying.”
Damn! Why couldn’t the old man mind his own business? Jim felt badly immediately. Red was like a grandfather to him. He loved him. But he didn’t want anyone asking any questions about the call.
His father looked at him, but didn’t say anything. Jim knew that his father would lend help if it was needed, and he gave him a rocky smile as he hurried out of the kitchen.
He climbed into his truck and headed toward the county road that led into Rawhide, one of the small towns splattered across Wyoming. He’d been born there, knew most everyone who lived there, and he played there on Friday nights.
He stopped halfway to town, pulling over to the side of the road. He turned on the overhead light as he drew the piece of paper out of his pocket. Patience Anderson.
He ground his teeth as images flew before his eyes. He’d fallen for her hard. They’d both been at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. It had been his senior year, her sophomore. He’d wanted her badly. She’d refused to sleep with him unless they were at least engaged.
Jim hadn’t been ready to settle down. He wanted to sow his wild oats and make a name for himself first. It wasn’t easy being a Randall in the state of Wyoming. His family was well-known in the ranching and rodeo communities. So he’d said no to getting engaged so young. In actual fact, he’d said, “Hell, no!”
After two weeks without Patience, he’d realized he’d made a mistake. He missed her terribly. When he’d gone back home for a weekend, he went into town to see his friends and catch up on the news. The first thing his friends told him was that Patience was raising a baby. It wasn’t hers, really, but she was going to raise it.
Jim had torn out of the saloon and found a pay phone. He called Patience. Her voice was cool when she’d told him that yes, she was raising a baby.
“Who’s the real mother and father?” he’d demanded.
“None of your business,” she’d said.
“Fine!” and he’d hung up the phone.
He hadn’t seen or heard from her since. It had been three years, but she still owned his heart whether she knew it or not.
And now she had called him. She’d cried on the phone, asked him to call back. What was going on?
He started his truck and drove fast to Rawhide. He went to the same pay phone he’d used to call her before. He didn’t need to look at the paper. He still knew her number by heart. Not that he’d ever tell her that.
“Hello?” a wavery voice answered.
“Patience?” he asked. After all, Red had said she was crying.
“No, I’ll get her.”
He grew even more tense as he waited.
“Jim?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t intend to make this call easy for her. He’d suffered a lot because she’d wanted nothing to do with him unless they were engaged.
“I need help. I didn’t know anyone else to call.”
“What kind of help?”
“My little boy has been kidnapped.”
“And you haven’t called the law?”
“I called them.”
“Then why are you asking me for help?”
“They won’t do anything.”
Jim was momentarily speechless. “Why not?” he finally asked.
“Because the man who kidnapped him is his father!” The tears were there in her voice.
“Sounds like you’d better listen to the law, Patience.”
“You don’t understand! He’s crazy!”
“No, I don’t understand. And I don’t know why you’re coming to me for help. You threw me out of your life years ago!”
“I threw you out of my life?” she screamed back at him.
“That’s right. Find someone else to fight your battles.”
He hung up the phone.
After an hour of sitting at a back table in the saloon having a beer with his friends, he asked, “What do you hear about Patience now?”
“Nothin’,” his friend Roy said. Roy worked at the feed store and knew almost all the gossip around.
“Nothing? Does she still have that kid?”
“Last I saw her she did.”
“Who’s she seeing now?”
Roy shrugged. “Maybe someone from Buffalo.”
“I see. Well, good. Glad she’s happy.”
Another half an hour and he made an excuse and headed for his truck. Of course Patience was seeing someone. She was a beautiful woman. So let her ask her new boyfriend for help.
AFTER A RESTLESS night, Jim rose and grabbed the phone in the bachelor pad, which was what the bunkhouse built for him and his cousins was called. It was early, but he figured Patience would be awake.
The same wavery voice answered.
“May I speak to Patience?”
“No. She’s gone.”
“Is this Mrs. Anderson?” Patience’s mother hadn’t sounded this old three years ago.
“Yes.”
“This is Jim Randall. When will Patience be back?”
“I don’t know. She went to find Tommy.”
“Is that her son? The one she said was taken?”
“Yes,” the woman said with a sob. “Patience has gone after Tommy and I’m so afraid the boy’s father will hurt them.”
“Mrs. Anderson, I’m coming over to see you. I’ll be there in about half an hour.” He hung up before the woman could say yes or no.
Jim knocked on his little brother’s door in the bachelor pad, then stuck his head in. “Drew, tell Dad I had some personal business to take care of. I’ll get back as soon as I can.”
“What time is it?” Drew asked, rubbing his eyes. He’d finished university last year and still wasn’t happy with the early mornings.
“Almost six. Tell Dad, okay?”
Drew closed his eyes and nodded at the same time. Jim didn’t hold out much hope that he’d remember.
When Jim reached the small brick home on one of the few back streets of Rawhide, he parked his truck and hurried to the front door. Knocking, he called, “Mrs. Anderson? It’s Jim Randall. Can you let me in?”
The door opened slowly. A woman he remembered as vibrant appeared pale and worn as she peered at him through the screen. Slowly she pushed it open and gestured for him to enter.
“Mrs. Anderson, I need to know what has happened to Patience. You said she’s gone after her little boy? Won’t that be dangerous?”
“Yes. I told her not to go. But she wouldn’t listen to me.”
“Where did she go?”
“Up in the mountains. The boy’s father has a camp up there. He…he just came to our house and grabbed the boy. And he cleaned out our pantry and left some worthless coins in place of the groceries.”
Jim frowned. “What do you mean, worthless coins?”
The woman hurried to a pine dresser. She picked up something and returned to Jim.
“These,” she said as she poured five small tin disks into his hand.
“Did you show them to the sheriff?” he asked.
“What’s the point? He already said he wouldn’t help us.”
“Why?”
“Because we never did anything legally about Tommy. Patience never formally adopted him. Legally, Joseph, his father, has custody.”
“Why do you think he’s dangerous?”
“Because he’s crazy. He wants Tommy to be a soldier!”
“And you told the sheriff this?”
“He told us he couldn’t do anything.”
Jim was as frustrated as Patience’s mother sounded. “I’ll go talk to the sheriff.”
“But what about Patience and Tommy?” She gave him a pleading look, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Awkwardly he patted her arm. “I’ll do what I can.” He turned and left.
A sharp wind was blowing and he settled his hat on his head and turned up his collar. It was late October and it wasn’t unusual to have northers blow through, some of them with snow.
He parked in front of the sheriff’s office. Jim knew Sheriff Metzger well. He’d had one or two minor run-ins with the law as a teenager, but he’d become a model citizen.
“Sheriff Metzger,” he said as he entered, sticking out his hand.
“Jim, how are you?”
“Fine. I have some questions, though.”
“Well, sure, son. Come on in and have a seat. How about some coffee?”
“Thanks. I’d like that.” Jim settled into the chair beside the sheriff’s desk. He glanced at the only other man in the office, an elderly deputy. “Hi, Dick. How’s it going?”
“Just fine, Jim. Tell your daddy hello for me.”
“Sure.”
The sheriff set down a mug of coffee beside Jim and circled the desk to take a seat. “Now, then, what’s bothering you?”
“It’s about Patience Anderson. She’s an old friend and—”
Sheriff Metzger held up a hand. “I told her I couldn’t help her,” he said.
“Sheriff, I talked to Patience briefly last night. But her mother says she left to go after the boy and I’m—”
“She left? Surely she hasn’t gone up to Kane’s camp! I told her she’d just have to wait. He’ll get tired of a little boy, I said. He won’t want to take care of him.”
“Who is this man?”
“You don’t know? Do you remember Faith, Patience’s older sister? She married a man named Joseph Kane. When Faith died—”
“Faith is dead?” Jim asked, shocked. He hadn’t heard anything about that. He would’ve called Patience if he’d known…
“I thought you said Patience was a friend.”
“She was. But apart from last night, I haven’t talked to her in three years. What happened to Faith?”
“She died in childbirth. That husband of hers didn’t want her to see a doctor. She bled to death. The baby was saved because Patience got there in time to get him to the doctor.”
“So she’s raising her sister’s baby?”
“Yeah,” the sheriff said, rubbing his chin. “I wish I could help her, but by law, Kane has rights to the boy.”
“So he’s living in the mountains? At a camp, not in a house?”
“Right. He’s camped out with his men.”
“His men?” Jim asked.
“He’s got himself a group of followers, ‘soldiers’ he calls them. But so far, they’ve kept to themselves. And we’re short-handed here. Otherwise, I’d go talk to the man. But I wouldn’t go alone, and it’d take us a couple of days to get there.”
“Is he violent?”
“Don’t know. But I don’t like being completely outnumbered. That’s why I told that little lady to give it some time. I can’t believe she went after him. Why, the weather alone could kill her. There’s a storm coming.”
“Can you give me directions? I need to make sure Patience is all right.”
“Well, I’ll give you the information I have.”
An hour later, after visiting Mrs. Anderson briefly to tell her he’d try to check up on Patience, he headed back to his family’s ranch. He had some preparing to do.
Megan, Jim’s mother, was sitting with Red at the big kitchen table, coffee cups in front of them, when he walked in.
“Where you been, boy?” Red immediately asked.
“I wanted to talk to Patience. She was the one who called me yesterday. I found out she may be in some trouble. Where’s Dad?”
“He went with your uncle Pete to deliver some bulls to Cheyenne. They were going to stay overnight and visit with some other customers.”
Jim didn’t need an explanation. His uncle Pete had run his business for a number of years, supplying animals for rodeos. But that meant he couldn’t discuss things with his dad. Well, he had been complaining about Red treating him like a child. Here was an opportunity to make his own decisions.
“Red, could you rustle me up some breakfast? I’m starving.” He knew he’d need food to eat before he set out. “And then I’m going after Patience.”
“Where is she?” his mother asked.
“Up in the mountains. By the way, did you hear about her sister Faith’s death?”
“Yes, of course. Your aunt Anna was terribly distressed about it. Especially since Faith’s life could’ve been saved.”
“Patience is raising her sister’s boy.”
“Of course she is. I’m sorry the two of you broke up. She’s a wonderful person.” Megan cast a look at him. Then she asked, “Why is Patience up in the mountains?”
“The boy’s father took him up there. Patience has gone after him.”
“Did she call the sheriff?”
“Yeah. But it seems that the man is within his rights. Patience doesn’t have legal guardianship of the boy.”
“Oh, no,” Megan said. “Poor Patience.”
“Yeah.”
“Who’s going with you?”
Jim was distracted by the plate of scrambled eggs and bacon Red set in front of him, along with a big glass of milk.
“Thanks, Red. Looks great.”
“Jim? Who are you taking with you?” his mother asked with more urgency.
“I’m going by myself. I’m just going to convince Patience there’s nothing she can do if the man wants his son.”
“But exactly where are you going?” Megan persisted.
“I’ve got directions from the sheriff. I know what I’m doing, Mom.”
“But there’s a storm brewing. I heard it could be bad.”
“That’s why I need to be on my way. I need to get out of the foothills before the storm comes. I’ll be all right.”
He’d been eating while she questioned him, and now he finished the milk and stood. “I’m changing clothes, grabbing some supplies, and then I’m on my way.” He leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I’ll take the walkie-talkie with me. I’ll be in contact for a while, anyway.”
“Be careful, son.”
“I will, Mom. Oh, by the way, when the boy’s father took the kid, he left some of these worthless coins.” Jim handed her one. “I think it’s made of tin.”
“What does the ‘p’ stand for?” Megan asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” He kissed her again, and hurried to get his things together.
THE RIDE ON HORSEBACK up the mountain was taking much longer than he’d anticipated, but Patience was at least half a day ahead of him and he wanted to make up time. He’d found some signs of her earlier, but the new snow obliterated everything now.
He finally made camp underneath a rocky overhang, which provided shelter for him and his horse from the snow and wind. After building a small fire to heat some coffee and toast the sandwich Red had packed for him, he fed the horse and unfurled his bedroll.
It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep. But he found himself waking to nightmares in which he was unable to save Patience.
When a nightmare woke him for the third time, it was four-thirty, and he decided to give up sleeping.
He broke camp half an hour later. The sun still wasn’t up and he had to go slowly. Snow was still falling, but the farther he moved up the mountain, the less snow there was on the ground. That would continue to be true until he hit the tree line. According to the sheriff’s directions, the camp was near the tree line. So he’d know when he was getting closer by the amount of snow.
He was preparing to stop again for the night when he thought he heard something.
He reined in his horse and listened, but was met with silence. Then his horse nickered softly. “Easy, boy,” Jim whispered.
He still heard nothing but decided to go on a little farther. The sheriff had told him to turn north when he was close to the tree line. He’d also warned him to approach Kane and his men cautiously.
Jim had taken the warning seriously. He’d hidden a small pistol in one boot and a knife in the other. He also wore a gun and had a rifle on his saddle, but they might take any visible weapons.
He hoped not. He wanted to handle this situation peaceably. He only hoped Patience would cooperate. He’d always teased her that she didn’t live up to her name. She had a quick temper that matched the red streaks in her blond hair.
Jim brought himself up short. He didn’t need to think about Patience’s temper or her beautiful hair. He needed to focus on what was important.
Which he did.
And then he heard a woman scream.
Chapter Two
“I told you to stand at attention!” Joseph Kane yelled at the little boy crumpled in the snow, sobbing against Patience’s leg.
“Stop this!” Patience yelled. “He’s not even three yet.” Dear God, if she didn’t get her nephew out of here quickly, he’d die at his crazy father’s hand. How had her sister ever loved this man?
Faith had died because of him, and Patience wasn’t about to leave Tommy to the same fate. He was such a good little boy, so well behaved and loving. He was even already learning to read. And Kane had struck him because he couldn’t stand at attention for an hour at a time. It was outrageous!
“He’s too young to play soldier,” she told Joseph.
“Because you spoil him. He’s my son. He will do as I say!”
Tommy shivered against her and Patience knew it wasn’t from the cold. He was terrified. She crouched down and hugged him. She had no idea how she was going to get them out of here.
She knew Joseph Kane wasn’t ready to give up his child. By the time she’d arrived at the camp, however, Tommy had been abused both physically and mentally. Kane’s brutality was already changing Tommy’s open, loving nature. Oh, how she hated Kane.
But that wasn’t anything new. Her sister’s death had instilled in her a hatred for this man that had never gone away. Faith had been so gentle and kind. And that monster had taken advantage of her goodness.
“Go to your tent, Patience!” Kane commanded.
“Only if Tommy goes with me. He’s cold and tired. He needs to rest.”
“I am the general. You do not argue with me!”
She stood up with the little boy in her arms. “All right. I won’t.” She started to walk to the tent Kane had assigned her.
She certainly had no interest in arguing with Kane—or any of his men. When she’d arrived last night, she’d studied them, hoping to find an ally. But all of Kane’s followers were loyal to him. His three “lieutenants” were cruel, hard men, just like Joseph.
