Page 47 of Rancher's Pride

Think, Fallon, he’s got weaknesses you need to play on them. “How are things with Chrissy?” I asked sweetly in the voice I’d learned over the years placated him. It was soft, made him feel like he was in control, and made my stomach churn because I sounded like a child.

“She’s gone.” He mumbled without looking at me. A car whizzed by, well over the speed limit, so they wouldn’t have noticed anything out of place. Fuck, there was my chance for someone to help. I needed to refocus.

“Oh no, what happened? Did she get tired of being a punching bag, too?” I smirked as I stared straight out the window. I could see him out of my peripheral vision and I was waiting for him to strike, but he kept both hands on the steering wheel, gripping it so tightly his knuckles were white.

“Her kid wasn’t mine, so I sent her packing.” He grumbled.

“And you wanted me back knowing one of my children wasn’t yours?” Turning, I didn’t care what he did to me. Now the gun was pressed into my abdomen andI could feel the cold of the metal seeping through my thin top.

“No, I don’t want her. Don’t be silly. I can’t have a bastard child ruining my bloodline. We’re leaving her here with her father. I’ll swing by, grab that baby, and go home.” Stepping on the gas, he made a U-turn and drove back down Main St.

Turning, I looked at Steam ’n Sugar and Fred was standing in the window. His brows were furrowed, and he held my gaze as we drove by slowly. I knew Andrew wouldn’t want to draw attention to himself, so he made sure he fit in. He didn’t speed. He waved as we met other cars, but he missed the fact that initially he’d parked across from my daughter's grandfather's shop. I mouthed the word help, and I swear Fred nodded.

I let out the breath I was holding, and I drew in another slow one. “Did you learn that technique in your therapy appointments?” Andrew sneered. “I should have had you committed last time. I wouldn’t be dealing with this now.”

Laughing, I snorted before saying, “I have to admit it would have been better than living the last three years with you.” It was the first time I’d spoken back to him and I was ready for my punishment, but he just kept his eyes focused on the road. “What’s wrong, Drew? Not into hitting women anymore?” He hated when people shortened his name. He didn’t feel it sounded sophisticated, and I knew it would get under his skin.

The prairie whizzed by as we left town and headed out on the highway. He was heading toward the ranch, and my heart started to race even more. I needed to keep him preoccupied, slow him down somehow, and pray Fred alerted Nash.

“I can’t take you home with a baby and bruises. Those will come later.” He turned slowly and looked at me. His eyes were black like his soul and I felt like he sucked the life out of my body.

“Well, you can’t take me or my baby home at all, so I’m not sure what you’re thinking.” Rolling my eyes, I continued avoiding looking at him. I’d make him mad enough he’d mess up, and I needed to be calm when that happened.

Had I kissed Josie before I left today? Would that be the last memory she has of me? What about Lottie, she would never know me. Never know how much I loved her. My arms ached to hug my girls, to keep them close, and my heart hurt with the love I have for them.

Then the most amazing sight crested the hill we’d just driven over. Fred’s truck was behind us. He was far enough back not to draw attention, but he was there. He’d come after me. Another truck was behind him. It was a shiny red truck, chromed out and there was only one person I knew who drove that and I internally jumped around because it was Kristin. Little did the fucker beside me know the cavalry was behind me and my army would be waiting.

We drove in silence for miles. I didn’t have anythingto say to him and I needed him to be somewhat calm when we got to the ranch. There was no reason to show my hand yet. “You’re not usually this quiet. It must be the medication you’re on.” His jeers didn’t phase me. I didn’t care what he thought and if he believed I would be obedient, the better off I would be, since making him agitated hadn’t worked.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

NASH

Watching Lincoln dash across the barnyard like his ass was on fire wasn’t normal. “Nash, Kristin just called Fallon’s in trouble.” He yelled before he got to me.

“What the fuck do you mean?” I said, as I stopped immediately. My phone rang, and I looked at my father’s number. I ended the call, trying to listen to Linc.

“She saw her on the street with a guy. He was pointing a gun at her and made her get into a car. Kristin’s following them. It looks like they’re headed here.” My head was spinning and his words didn’t make sense.

“Did she get a look at the guy?”

“Short, balding, built like a toothpick.” He rattled off and my phone rang again.

Answering the call, I didn’t wait for him to talk. “Pop, we got trouble. I can't talk.”

“I know son, I’m following some asshole who took Fallon off the street. I think Kristin’s behind me.” My heart dropped further than it already had. “He looks like a pretentious prick.” Pop said, his words dripping with hatred.

“Andrew,” I said, growling his name. “We’ve been waiting for him to make his move, but this was much bolder than I’d guessed. Stay behind them, Pop, but don’t get too close. Kristin can give location updates to Linc. I need you to keep her safe. If he tries anything, do what you have to do. I’ll clean it up later.” He and Miller used to tail people who tried to get on the ranch all the time. It’s probably what made me and Kipp choose the career path we had. Those two were always protecting people and making sure trouble in the area was minimal.

“Will do son. And don’t worry, we’ll get her back.” My father’s words shouldn’t have made me stop and take a breath, but they did. In slow, out slowly, it had been Fallon’s saving grace these last few weeks, and I was starting to understand why.

“Thanks, Pop,” I said, trying to hide the hitch in my voice. Why was I hiding my emotion? Because I needed to focus, getting Fallon back wasn’t going to happen if I broke down into a blubbering mess.

As I turned, the entire ranch was standing around, waiting to see what happened. “Nora, get Josie, Lottie,Cooper and yourself to Julie’s and stay put until you hear from one of us,” I said as I pointed at her. She nodded and didn’t need to be told again. She packed up the kids fast and the five of us watched her dust trail blow in the breeze as she drove away. Nora didn’t even take the time to kiss Kipp goodbye.

“We’ve got half an hour before they show up. Kristin said they just passed Maggie’s.” Linc said as he tucked his phone back in his pocket.

“Let’s be ready,” I said in a tone so low I would have scared any other men besides the ones who stood at my side. We’d been through hell and back together more times than I could count. When we made our security company, we hadn’t set out to be the best or take on the problems we had, but we were tough, and nothing scared us. Looking back, it might have been a little naïve to think that a bunch of cowboys from Montana could take on some of the most dangerous people in the world, but we were young and stupid.

---