Bucking Bronc Lodge 04 - Cowboy Cop (11 page)

Blackpaw mumbled an obscenity. “You’re right. The family we had for him on paper doesn’t fit the psychological profile of a sociopath. But if he has a past we didn’t uncover, it could explain a lot.”

“I can come back and look into it—”

“No, stay put and I’ll follow up. I’ll call you as soon as I find something.”

Miles disconnected, for the first time in weeks energized that they might find Dugan and get justice for the women he’d murdered.

Maybe when he was behind bars, both he and Timmy would sleep again without seeing Marie’s blood in their nightmares.

* * *

J
ORDAN’S HEART RACED
. She was a fighter, and she didn’t intend to let this man kill her.

She jammed her elbow in his stomach and knocked him backward, then rolled away from him.

She slid her hand beneath the mattress, closed her fingers around the handle of the .22, whipped it out and pointed at the figure. “Move and I’ll shoot.”

The hiss of the man’s breath echoed in the air. She had to get to her phone, call for help.

He made a sarcastic sound as if he wasn’t afraid of her, and she raised the gun toward his face. Then he lunged toward her. Adrenaline pumped through Jordan, and she pressed the trigger. The sound of the gun firing splintered the air, and the man swung his hand out to knock it from her, but she fired again.

Outside, a noise sounded. A truck engine? An animal?

The man must have heard it too, because he suddenly turned and jumped through the open window. Jordan was shaking as she chased after him.

She had to see where he was going. If he had a car. A horse.

Darkness washed the property in heavy grays as she searched the backyard. The rustle of bushes near the woods caught her eye. Then the sound of an engine... Where was it?

She was almost certain she’d heard a truck.

But there was no one in the drive. No...wait. She spotted taillights heading up the road toward the west pasture.

Furious and rattled from the attack, she shut the window and made sure it was locked, then flipped on the lamp. She had to do something to chase away the chill engulfing her from the inside out.

For a heartbeat, she paced the room, debating what to do. Was the intruder part of the gang who’d killed her brother? Or could it have been Dugan?

Why would he attack her?

A shudder coursed through her as the terrifying answers trickled through her mind.

Because she was a female.

And because she was working with Timmy.

If Dugan realized that Timmy had seen him and had tracked him and Miles here, he would want to keep Timmy from identifying him.

Calming herself with deep breaths, she crossed the room to her nightstand, laid the gun back down, then grabbed her phone. She clicked her list of contacts, then called Miles’s number.

God, she hated to wake him after the night he’d already had. But she had to report this. Tension knotted her shoulders as she listened to the phone ring. Once. Twice. Three times.

Then Miles’s voice. “Jordan?”

“Miles, someone broke into my cabin. A man...” Her breath caught.

“What? Are you all right?”

She heard his footsteps pounding the floor.

“I...have a derringer,” she said in a shaky voice. “I shot at him and he escaped through the window.”

“Dammit. Did he hurt you?”

“No, I’m just shaken.”

“Did you see who he was?”

“No, it was too dark.” Now that the adrenaline was waning, Jordan’s knees buckled. She slumped down onto the bed, massaging her neck with one hand. “He ran through the woods on foot but he must have had a car parked nearby because I heard an engine... I thought you should know.”

“Let me ask Ms. Ellen to stay with Timmy and I’ll come over.”

“No, I’m fine, Miles—”

“I’m coming,” Miles snapped. “Maybe he left some evidence behind.”

Jordan sighed. She wasn’t thinking straight, acting on emotions. “You’re right.”

“Stay put. I’ll be there soon.”

Jordan retrieved her pistol and hurried to the front window to watch for Miles. If the intruder returned, she’d be ready.

* * *

M
ILES YANKED ON HIS JEANS
and shirt, and hastily buttoned it. He holstered his gun on his belt, then went to check on Timmy. For a moment, his heart tripped as memories of his son’s nightmare crashed in on him.

Thankfully he was sleeping peacefully now.

All because of Jordan.

His failures as a father were mounting.

The wind rattled the roof, and he startled, listening again for trouble. But the sound of Ms. Ellen’s car rumbling up the drive to his cabin gave him comfort.

He rushed to open the door for her. The curly-haired chubby woman with her perpetual smile and loving hugs for the kids seemed to have boundless energy. Yet her mouth was pinched with worry.

“You said Jordan’s in trouble?” she asked as she lumbered up the steps.

Miles nodded. “She had an intruder. She chased him away, but I want to check on her.” He gestured toward the bedroom while she fumbled with her coat and scarf. “Timmy’s sleeping. He had a nightmare earlier and was awake for a while, so he may sleep in, but I should be back before you have to start breakfast.”

“Don’t you worry none, I’ll take care of your boy. You see about Jordan. She’s a sweetheart, that one is.”

He couldn’t argue with her there, and he didn’t have time to analyze whether or not she was trying to play matchmaker, so he simply nodded again, then hurried outside to his Jeep. Dust spewed from his wheels as he cut a circle in the drive and flew toward Jordan’s. He kept his eyes peeled for trouble but the ranch seemed quiet, at peace, everybody and every animal sleeping.

He clenched the steering wheel and took the shortcut off the road, making it to Jordan’s cabin within two minutes.

The outside of her place looked dark, the woods desolate behind the cabin. He parked, scanning the area as he rushed up to her door. Jordan opened it just as he raised his fist to knock.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded, although she looked pale, and he couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms for a moment. His heart pounded at the way she shivered against him, a sign she was more rattled than she wanted him to know.

Hell, why wouldn’t she be? She’d been shot at earlier, and now someone had broken into her place in the middle of the night. She sighed, shaking, then seemed to compose herself and pulled back. Memories of their earlier kiss taunted him, but he reminded himself not to have a repeat performance.

He was a mess. A failure at his job, with Marie, with his son.

Jordan ran a hand through her hair. It was disheveled and she looked tired.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” he said.

“I was asleep and heard a noise,” Jordan replied. “When I looked up, I saw a figure in my room.”

Miles frowned. “What did he look like?”

Jordan twined her fingers together. “I...don’t know, it was too dark for details.”

Miles rubbed her arm. “Just think, Jordan. Was he big, heavy, tall?”

Jordan closed her eyes and pressed a finger to her temple, a frown deepening the space between her eyes. “Tall, wide shoulders...big but not fat. Like he was fit.”

“What about a smell? A cologne? Cigarettes? Booze?”

Jordan shook her head, then seemed to rethink her response. “Yes, he did smell, but it wasn’t a bad odor. It was...subtle. Like an aftershave.”

“Dugan always wore a mint aftershave,” Miles said. “Subtle.”

“You think it was him?”

“I don’t know but we can’t take any chances.” Miles’s chest constricted. “Dammit, what if he broke in here as a diversion to lure me away from Timmy?” He dug his keys from his pocket. “He could be going after him now.”

He didn’t wait for Jordan to respond. He took off toward the door. If this was a setup by Dugan, he had fallen right into the man’s trap.

Chapter Nine

Jordan raced after Miles. “I’m going with you.”

He didn’t argue, simply motioned for her to hurry, and she stuffed her feet into socks, threw a sweatshirt on over her T-shirt and pajama pants and chased him to his Jeep. Within minutes they’d parked at his cabin, both of them searching the perimeter.

Miles climbed the steps two at a time, then opened the door. Jordan’s breath eased out when she spotted Ms. Ellen on the couch with a cup of coffee, relaxed and thankfully unharmed.

Which meant Timmy was safe.

Still, Miles slid open Timmy’s door and checked inside. Jordan imagined him standing above his son, pressing his hand to his chest to make sure he was still breathing like several mothers of newborns had admitted they did.

Ms. Ellen’s eyes widened with alarm as she stood. “Jordan, honey, are you okay?”

“Yes,” Jordan said, hating to worry the woman. “We wondered if the break-in was an attempt to draw Miles away from his cabin so that man Dugan could take Timmy.”

Ms. Ellen stood, arms folded across her ample bust. “Ain’t nobody gonna touch that boy when I’m around.”

If Jordan hadn’t already been so exhausted, she would have smiled at the fierce protectiveness in the older woman’s voice. “Thanks, but we were worried about you, too.”

Ms. Ellen fumbled with her jacket. “Don’t have to. I can take care of myself.”

Jordan did smile then. She wanted to be brave as well. But the truth was that neither of them would be a match for Dugan or his accomplice if one of them came at them armed.

“Has Timmy been resting?” Jordan asked.

Ms. Ellen nodded. “I heard him whimper a couple of times and went in and patted his back and he calmed down.”

“Poor little fellow had a terrible nightmare earlier,” Jordan said. “I’m afraid he was reliving his mother’s murder.”

Miles cleared his throat as he stepped back into the den. “All the more reason to push him to talk.”

Jordan stiffened. “I told you pushing him could be dangerous. He’ll talk, and he’ll remember when his mind is ready.”

Ms. Ellen gave a nod. “She’s right, Mr. Miles. The mind has a way of dealing with things in good time.”

Irritation and worry tightened Miles’s angular jaw. “Thanks for coming, Ms. Ellen. I’m sorry I had to bother you.”

“No problem.” She threw her plump arms around Jordan. “I’m just glad you and Timmy are both safe. I’ll see you later.”

Jordan offered a tired smile. “Remember that I’m taking Timmy’s group on that hike and sleepover tonight.”

“I know,” Ms. Ellen said. “I’m working up a special picnic and treats.”

“Thanks, you’re a doll.”

Ms. Ellen grabbed her shawl and purse and ambled out the door. Miles walked her outside, and Jordan heaved a relieved breath.

But when Miles returned, anger darkened his eyes. “You’re not taking those kids out alone.”

Jordan hated being told what to do, but she also wasn’t a fool. She knew the dangers. “Fine. One of Brody’s security guards can accompany us.”

“No, I’m going,” Miles stated in a gruff voice.

Jordan rubbed at her neck muscles. Lack of sleep and the day’s scary events had drained her energy. “Fine.” It was still dark outside, but soon the sun would be weaving through the gray clouds signaling morning. “I’m going back to grab a couple of hours of sleep. I’ll see you this afternoon.”

Miles caught her arm before she could leave. “You’re not going to your place alone.”

Jordan’s gaze met his, her body tingling at the stark protectiveness in his eyes. “Timmy needs you here. I’ll be fine.”

“I said you’re not going.” His gruff voice hardened to steel. “You can lie down in my bed. I’ll take the couch.”

A shiver rippled through Jordan at the idea of sleeping in Miles’s bed. Images of him lying beneath the sheets with her followed, taunting her with what-ifs.

What if they got naked and made love?

Hunger flared in his eyes as if he’d read her thoughts, and she forced herself to look away. He was still grieving for Timmy’s mother. She was a counselor helping his little boy.

She couldn’t allow herself to dream of anything more.

* * *

M
ILES MUST HAVE IMAGINED
the look of desire in Jordan’s eyes. Although, the idea that she wanted him made his body harden with need.

It had been a long damn time since a female had looked at him like that. Marie and he hadn’t been together in years. His job had consumed his life.

His passion had been hunting and tracking killers.

He couldn’t become sidetracked now either. Not when his son’s life depended on it.

So he jerked his hand from her arm and forced himself to take a step back. “Go ahead. I can’t sleep anyway.”

“I can rest on the couch,” she offered.

“No, go.” A muscle jumped in his cheek. “Now.”

Jordan’s eyes flared with emotions he didn’t want to take the time to decipher. He needed her out of the room before he grabbed her again and kissed her the way his body was craving.

She either sensed he was on the brink of losing control or she thought he was a bastard because she disappeared into his room and shut the door.

Frustrated, he scrubbed a hand down his jaw. Images of Jordan lying in his bed teased him, tempting him to change his mind and join her, but he forced himself to step outside. He automatically felt inside his jacket for his gun as he settled down into one of the porch chairs and studied the woods nearby.

The ranch usually offered him peace, but in the early-morning hours with storm clouds threatening and the memory of the fear that had clawed at him when Jordan had called fresh in his head, peace eluded him.

He wouldn’t rest until Dugan and his accomplice were caught and in jail.

Or dead.

He would prefer the latter. The cold-blooded killer didn’t deserve to stay on this earth alive.

His cell phone vibrated inside his shirt, and he reached inside and removed it. When he saw Blackpaw’s name on the caller ID screen, he immediately connected the call.

“It’s McGregor. What’s up?”

“I may have something.”

Miles perked up. “What?”

“I looked back through the prison’s visitor’s log and it looks like Dugan had a repeated visitor, but his name had been erased. I’m going to the prison this morning to talk to his cell mate and see what I can find out.”