A Cowgirl's Secret - By Laura Marie Altom Page 0,57

“I thought for sure he’d be here. It was the most isolated spot anywhere on our list.”

“Wait,” Luke said, “what’s that?”

Only the corner of a chrome truck fender was visible beneath a camouflage tarp further disguised with pine boughs and twigs.

“Let’s check it out. Cut the engine here.” A good two hundred yards from the shack, Luke killed the motor, then together they crept to the truck, tossing back the wrap to find it was indeed Henry’s.

Adrenaline surged through Luke, along with the hope that he’d find Kolt safe inside.

“Come on,” Dallas said, “I’ll cover the back, you get the front. We both have a score to settle with this bastard, but your son’s safety trumps all.”

“Agreed.”

Not in the mood for pleasantries, Luke tried the door and found it locked, then kicked the flimsy barrier down.

Lying inordinately still on a beat-up sofa was his son, Henry hovering protectively over him—holding a knife to his throat. “Go ahead,” Henry taunted. “Step one foot closer and I’ll gut him like a hog.”

“Back off,” Luke said. “You’re in enough trouble as it is. Let Kolt go and I’ll bet any judge will take it easy on you.”

“Let him go?” Henry laughed. “After what his bitch mother said I did? She ruined my reputation. My whole life. I can’t go anywhere without so-called friends accusing me of horrible things. All I ever did was love the children of this town. Is it really my fault if so many of them have loved me back?”

Luke’s stomach turned at the implication that Daisy wasn’t Henry’s only victim.

“Dad?” Kolt sluggishly turned his head. His movements were exaggerated to the point that it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he’d been drugged. “Dad, is that you?”

While Luke’s knees felt rubbery with relief, he knew they weren’t anywhere out of the woods just yet.

“Good,” Henry said, “my new friend’s awake. Before you so rudely interrupted, Luke, I’d planned some nap-time fun, but it’s just as easy to play while Kolt’s alert.”

Luke clenched his hands so tightly his fingernails cut into his palms. More than anything he wanted to jump Henry and take him down, but as long as he held the knife to Kolt’s jugular, Luke had to play it safe.

From the corner of his eye, Luke caught a movement and realized Dallas was stepping up behind Henry, biding his time until he felt it safe to make a move.

Dallas held his finger to his lips.

Luke barely nodded.

Henry brushed Kolt’s hair back from his forehead. “You’re so handsome. I’ve always preferred to play with little girls, but considering how much you remind me of your mother, you’ll do.”

With a mighty growl, Dallas lunged for Henry, pinning the arm holding the knife.

Luke then took down the rest of him, with one mighty punch rendering Henry unconscious. “Sorry,” Luke said. “Self-defense.”

Dallas said, “Couldn’t agree more.”

From outside came a siren’s wail.

“While you were in here, I called for backup. Lucky for us, a few search teams weren’t too far away.”

“Dad?” Kolt tried sitting up, only to fall back down. “I feel funny.”

Chills gripped Luke with such force he had to sit. Scooping his boy into his arms, Luke held him and rocked him and cried silent tears of relief. Not only had Kolt called him Dad, but the boy was going to be okay. He hadn’t been physically hurt, and likely, once Henry’s drug of choice wore off, Kolt would remember little of his ordeal.

As Henry began to stir, Dallas said to Luke, “Get Kolt out of here. I’ll stand watch till help comes.”

On his feet, Kolt in his arms, Luke noted red and blue lights strobing through the dirty windows onto the walls. “Lucky for that scumbag,” he said with a nod toward Henry, “you won’t have to wait too long.”

UNABLE TO COPE WITH both her fears for her son and Peggy Montgomery’s blame, Daisy had asked her mother to take her back to the ranch, where at least she could concentrate on Kolt.

“Honey,” Georgina said, an hour into their wait, “you’re going to wear a hole in the carpet. Sit down. Rest. You know Luke and Dallas will bring Kolt home.”

“That’s just it, Mom, even if Kolt is healthy and emotionally unscarred, how do we ever feel safe in this town again? Kolt was snatched right out from under us at a family party. It’s insane.”

“Yes, it is,” Georgina said, rising to give Daisy a hug, “which is why you never need worry about an event like this