Cowboy's Secret Son

With a solemn nod of his head, Jared contemplated her quietly for a few moments. “I understand. But I have to ask this. Could you live knowing he threatened to kill Dylan, wondering if tomorrow is the day the abductor might come back with more threats, more requests? Or that he’ll succeed?”

Jared’s words were stark and harsh. She couldn’t stop the chill settling at the base of her spine. “Of course not. I don’t want to look over my shoulder the rest of my life. I don’t want to be terrified Dylan won’t come home from school one day. You see it on the news and wonder what you’d do if the worst happened to you. Yesterday the fear became all too real. It’s a nightmare I can’t escape.”

He didn’t respond, and she realized it was her call. She twisted her hands in her lap. Both were such a huge risk. “You really think your friends can help?”

“I do. From what I’ve seen, they have experts working for them that I wouldn’t bet against.”

She studied his face, his strong jaw. She recognized the determination in his eyes. She might not know Jared well, but something in that intense gaze, in the loyalty Velma had showed him convinced her to believe in him. She sucked in a long, slow breath. “Okay. We’re in this together. Call them.”

Jared gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, strode across the room and picked up the landline. He dialed a number. “Ransom. It’s Jared King. I need your help. And I need your word you’ll keep it very quiet.”

While he spoke to the man he’d convinced her to place her faith in, Courtney shifted Dylan in her arms. Poor baby. He was down for the count. She slipped his blanket from the diaper bag and placed it on the thick rug before laying him down. His face looked so sweet, so innocent. She shuddered at the flash of the memory of yesterday. She could have lost him. She almost did. Right now, she’d never felt more vulnerable.

Part of her wanted to run away from the world, just disappear, but that would solve nothing.

A loud knock sounded at the door. Roscoe walked inside. She placed her fingertips on her lips and nodded down at the sleeping baby.

“The men have surveyed the immediate area. Nothing suspicious,” Roscoe said in a low voice, eyeing her with skepticism.

His loyalties were clear. She didn’t blame him. But she wouldn’t allow him to get in her way, either.

Jared held up his hand and finished his conversation. “I’ll see him when he gets here.” He hung up the phone and turned to Roscoe. “Léon from CTC will be here later today. Make sure he has everyone’s full cooperation.”

Roscoe straightened, a scowl twisting his countenance. “Can I talk to you for a few minutes? Alone.”

Jared gave the man a quick nod. He pulled out a Glock from the desk drawer and slipped it into his waistband. “I’ll be right back.”

They disappeared through the door. She had to wonder if he had a weapon hidden in every room. Right now, that didn’t seem to be a bad idea.

“I don’t think Jared’s foreman likes me,” she whispered at the sleeping baby.

Velma hovered in the open door. “Faith isn’t Roscoe’s forte, and he’s definitely not subtle. He doesn’t like anybody he doesn’t know, but if he takes your side, he never wavers. He was foreman for Jared’s daddy, and when Mr. King passed on, Roscoe watched the place until Jared could come home from the Army to take over the ranch. He’s made it his job to keep the boy from working or worrying himself to death like his father. He’d do anything to protect Jared.”

“And I’m someone who came here with trouble in my wake. I get it,” Courtney said.

“You don’t know her!” Roscoe’s shout filtered from the other side of the house. “She’s after the money. Just like—”

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