Page 54 of A Baby for the Billionaire Cowboy

They rounded the store. Rhonda Gillespie stood by her car, talking to or possibly shouting at a short woman in a highway patrol uniform. When Rhonda saw Daisy, she rushed toward them, running faster than he would’ve expected a woman of her age and build to move. Rhonda enveloped Daisy in a hug.

Xander stood by, rocking Avery and making nonsense sounds which probably made as much sense as anything the women were getting out at that moment.

Finally they separated.

“But I don’t understand,” Daisy said. “How are you here? I’m delighted, but how did you know? I couldn’t call anyone, because William took my phone.”

“It’s all my fault,” Rhonda choked out. “Your mama told me she wanted to make amends. She asked me to set up a meeting between you two. I told her where you’d be in town, so you’d be on neutral ground. She must’ve told William.”

“More likely William talked her into it.”

Rhonda shook her head. “I never imagined. Good thing I was coming along to mediate. I was heading for the café when I saw him grab you right off the street! I raced after you. I don’t know what I was thinking, I’d never catch you on foot, but I tried. Then Xander and Ava pulled up and I told them you’d been kidnapped and we followed.”

Daisy looked around. Xander’s mama came forward and hugged Daisy. “Rhonda stopped by for coffee and told us what she’d done. We couldn’t help feeling it might mean trouble, so we headed into town. I called the police while Xander drove. Sweetheart, I’m so glad you’re all right.” She stepped back with her hands on Daisy’s arms. “You are all right, aren’t you? And Avery? Do you need an ambulance?”

“No, I’m fine. Avery is fine too. We just want to go home.” She stepped over to Xander and checked on the baby. “He probably doesn’t even know he had a big adventure.”

Shouting caught their attention. They watched as a police officer led William to a squad car.

Daisy propped a fist on one hip. “So y’all are telling me I went to all that work to escape, and you were already on your way here to rescue me?”

“We should have known you’d have things under control,” Xander said. “You’re always two steps ahead of the rest of us.”

“Well, I appreciate it anyway. I wasn’t looking forward to hiding until William gave up and left, and then needing to borrow a phone and try to get a ride home.” Her nose wrinkled. “Plus, I figured if I called the police on him, he’d twist things in his favor somehow.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Xander said. “We have witnesses who saw him grab the baby and drive off with you. Maybe even some security camera footage from the businesses in town. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting full custody now, and Carly will put in for a restraining order against him. He won’t bother you anymore.”

Maybe he shouldn’t promise that. Plenty of men ignored restraining orders. “Or if he tries, we’ll have him arrested before he gets to you.” They’d beef up security on the ranch to make sure. Give her an escort if she had to go into town. Let everyone know to watch out for William and report it if he came to Last Stand. They’d make the whole town safe for her.

Daisy drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Good. Then maybe I’m not entirely sorry this happened. I’m also not sorry I broke William’s back window. Serves him right!”

Suddenly she was trembling, her whole body shaking as she gasped for air. They all surrounded her and held on until she settled.

When they backed up, a police officer had joined them. “Did you say you had to break a window to escape?”

She nodded. “He said something about a double lock, so you couldn’t open the door from the inside. I tried, and I couldn’t get the doors open. Anyway, he parked right up against the wall on one side and pushed a dumpster against the other. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to move it.”

“That’s not true about the double locking,” the police officer said. “There is such a thing, but there’s always some method for getting out from inside. In some cars the unlock feature is in the center console though, instead of on the doors. A foolish design, if you ask me.”

“Well,” Daisy said, “good to know. Not that I expect to need that information again.”

Avery whimpered and reached for Daisy. They took her to Xander’s truck to nurse. The seats were pretty high off the ground, so they offered a little privacy. The group was attracting enough attention with the police presence. Xander went into the store and got Daisy a sandwich and drink and had Mama take them to her while she nursed.

Once she finished nursing, Daisy answered a few questions and agreed to a longer interview the next day. She looked exhausted. Xander had no idea how much sleep she’d gotten the night before, but he had to assume that with a newborn, the answer was not enough. Plus, it had been an emotional day.

One of the officers handed over the car seat William had bought. William kept insisting he bought it for Avery, as if that would make up for kidnapping the baby, so it seemed only fair that they use the car seat to get Avery home. Finally the police took William away, and the rest of them started back toward the ranch. Xander drove. Rhonda sat in the backseat with Daisy and Avery, apologizing and fussing for all she was worth. Back home, Mama and Rhonda escorted Daisy and Avery to the cottage for more fussing.

Xander headed out to do chores and some thinking.

He loved Daisy. He loved Avery too. He wanted to make a family with them. He’d already known that, but it had only been a couple of hours since Daisy told him it might be possible. He felt like he’d been thrown around, tossed this way and that until he didn’t know which way was up. How must Daisy feel after William’s betrayal? She might need time to recover.

If it were only up to Xander, he’d pledge his heart to Daisy right away. But it didn’t seem right to tell her how he felt now, when she’d just gone through so much emotional turmoil. She might not feel ready for a new relationship after all. Or she might grab on to one thinking it would help her stay safe from William. They needed her to know they’d keep her safe, no matter what. Not because she was his girlfriend or their employee or anything. Whatever she decided to do, she’d have their help and support to do it and stay safe. He’d give her some time, and think about his own plans.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Auntie Rhonda insistedon spending the night with Daisy. That was probably a good thing. Her aunt’s snoring kept waking Daisy out of her nightmares.

The next day, Daisy had a long interview with the police, but they were very nice about everything. The police chief even held Avery and made funny faces at the baby, which went a long way toward making Daisy feel comfortable. The police also returned her stroller, with everything in it. Apparently a shopper who had witnessed the abduction called the police and then guarded the stroller until the police came to take her statement. If Daisy had any doubts that the town looked out for its own—and considered her one of them—she knew better now.

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