Cold Case at Cobra Creek (23 page)

“Please don’t hurt my son,” she cried.

“I’m not here to hurt him,” Dugan said, intentionally lowering his voice to calm the kid, who looked as if he might bolt any second.

“Then what do you want? I have some cash—”

“This is not a robbery.” Dugan gestured toward the boy, who had huddled up against her with his head buried in her stomach. “I’m here because of Benji.”

Her eyes flared with panic, and the boy suddenly whipped his head around.

Dugan stooped down to his eye level and reached for the boy’s hat. “Are you Benji Freeport?”

“His name is Jordan,” the woman cried. “He’s my son.”

The hat slid off to reveal a head of choppy, blondish hair and eyes that looked familiar.

Sage’s deep green eyes.

Remembering Sage said he had an extra piece of cartilage in his ear, he lifted the boy’s hat. Yes. Just like the picture.

“You are Benji, aren’t you, son?”

The boy fidgeted but didn’t respond.

Dugan removed a photo that Sage had given him of the two of them from his pocket and showed it to him. “This woman, Sage, she’s my friend. She wanted me to find you. She’s your real mother, and she’s been looking for you ever since you disappeared two years ago.”

The boy’s face crumpled. “Mama?”

“Yes,” Dugan said softly. “Your mama loves you, and she misses you and wants you to come home.”

Benji angled his head toward Sandra Peyton, his look sharp with accusations. “You said she didn’t want me anymore.”

Dugan’s pulse hammered.

“She didn’t, but I wanted you.” Sandra’s chin quivered, and she began to cry. “I love you, Jordan. I’m your mama now.”

The boy looked confused, his gaze turning back to Dugan. “Sage is your mother,” Dugan said. “And she never gave you up, never told this woman she could have you.” He kept his voice gentle. “She loves you so much. She’s kept your Christmas tree up with your presents under it, just waiting on you to come back and open them.”

Benji’s little face contorted with anguish.

“Do you remember what happened, Benji? A man named Ron Lewis took you one morning....”

Tears pooled in his eyes, but Benji nodded as if the memory was slowly returning.

A strangled sound came from Benji’s throat. “He took me to the river and told me to go with her.”

Dugan glared at Sandra. “You and Lewis were a couple. You planned the kidnapping together.”

Sandra broke down in tears. “I loved Ron and he loved me. We hadn’t seen each other since I had that miscarriage. But he called me one day and said he was about to make a big windfall, and that he wanted us to be a family.” Her voice broke. “But I couldn’t get pregnant again.”

Disgust churned inside Dugan. “So Lewis cozied up to Sage so he could get to know Benji?”

She wiped at tears. “He didn’t want Benji to be afraid when he left with him, so he got to know him. And it would have worked, too. We would have all been together if someone hadn’t killed Ron.”

Dugan punched Jaxon’s number. “I have Sandra Peyton and Benji Freeport at the bus station. I need backup.”

As soon as Jaxon arrested Sandra, he’d take Benji home to Sage, where he belonged.

* * *

S
AGE LET HERSELF
into the inn, grateful for her friends who’d convinced her to attend the service. Of course, when they’d lit candles, turned off the church lights and sung “Silent Night” in the candlelight, she remembered the joy on Benji’s face as he’d held his candle up, and she nearly collapsed in tears.

The Christmas lights twinkled as she flipped on the light switch, and the scent of cinnamon and apples swirled toward her from her earlier baking.

Maybe she’d take the baked goods to the seniors’ center in the morning. She couldn’t stand the thought of eating cinnamon rolls by herself. She twisted the locket, her heart thumping. She thought she’d gotten accustomed to being alone, but tonight she ached for Benji.

Dugan’s face flashed in her mind, and she wondered where he was tonight. He hadn’t mentioned any family.

Was he still looking for Benji, or had he given up?

She dropped her keys in the ceramic pot on the table by the door, then decided to light the candles in the kitchen and living room.

She had just poured herself a glass of wine and started to play her collection of Christmas music when a knock sounded at the door. Probably someone else from church, checking on her.

She hurried to the front door, prepared to assure her visitor that she was fine, but Dugan stood on the other side.

He looked so utterly handsome that her knees nearly buckled.

“Sage, I had to see you.”

The urgency in his tone sent a streak of panic through her. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” A small smile tugged at his mouth, and his eyes were sparkling, making him look even more handsome. Come to think of it, she’d never seen him smile. “I have a present for you,” he said gruffly.

Sage twisted the locket again. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”

“Yes, I did. I made you a promise, and I keep my promises.” Then he stepped to the side, and Sage’s heart went wild as she saw the little boy beside him.

Emotions choked her. After two years, she’d been afraid she wouldn’t recognize her son when she saw him again, but she instantly knew him.

Dugan had kept his promise. He had found Benji.

She dropped to her knees, soaking in the sight of him, desperate to pull him into her arms. But he looked hesitant, frightened, wary.

“Benji?”

She glanced up at Dugan, needing answers.

“Lewis took him to Sandra Peyton. He’s been living with her for the past two years.”

Sage wiped at the tears streaming down her face.

“She told him that you gave him up,” Dugan said almost apologetically, “that you didn’t want him anymore.”

“Oh, God...” Pain rocked through Sage. Her poor little boy thought she’d abandoned him.

She took Benji’s hands in hers and gave him a smile. She had to convince him she’d always loved him. “Benji, I never gave you up. I would never do that.” She brushed at a tear. “One morning I got up, and Ron had taken you without telling me. I called the police, I called the news station, we put the story on TV, I did everything I could to find you.”

He had grown taller and lost some of his chubby baby fat, but his eyes were just as bright and sweet. “I love you so much, Benji. I prayed every day that I’d find you.”

He lifted his chin, big tears in his eyes. “Mommy?”

“Yes, sweet boy. I’m your mommy.” She nearly sobbed at the feel of his tiny palm in hers. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

She led him into the kitchen and showed him the tabletop tree, leaving Dugan in the foyer. “Remember when you used to decorate this for your room? It was your own tree.”

His eyes widened as he stared at it. Then she pointed out the presents with his name on them. “This one in Santa paper was the gift I bought for you the year you disappeared. Do you remember it? You were only three, but you shook it every day and tried to guess what was in it.”

He wrinkled his forehead as if he was trying to recall the memory.

“I bought this one in the snowman paper for you last year,” she said as she gestured toward another package. “And this one wrapped in reindeer paper this year, because I was hoping I’d find you and you’d come home.”

He looked torn as if he wanted to believe her but was still on the verge. She hated Sandra Peyton for what she’d done to him, for lying to him.

Then she had an idea. “Let me show you your room. I kept it just the way it was.”

She led him up the stairs and to his bedroom, the room she hadn’t changed since he left. Inside, she walked over to the bed and picked up the special blanket he’d slept with and held it out to him. “See, I saved your blankie. I knew one day that you’d come home.”

His little chin wobbled as tears filled his eyes. “Mommy?”

“Yes, baby, I’ve missed you so much.” She opened her arms, and he fell into them, his tears mingling with hers as they savored the reunion.

Chapter Twenty-Four

By the time Sage and Benji came back downstairs, Dugan was gone. A pang of disappointment tugged at her. He obviously felt as if he’d done his job and had gone home.

But she missed him, anyway.

Still, her son was finally home. It was the day she’d been waiting for. And soothing Benji’s fears and rebuilding his trust were the only things that mattered tonight.

They spent the evening making sugar cookies and talking about the past. At times they were both sad, but she tried to help him focus on the fact that they were together again, and he was safe.

Much to her relief, Benji indicated that Sandra had been good to him, had been patient and played with him and read him stories.

Of course, they’d moved around a lot. Sandra had probably known that one day the truth would catch up with her.

Sage fought against the bitterness eating at her. She was grateful Sandra had loved Benji, but the woman had stolen all that time and precious memories from her.

And Benji had suffered the trauma.

But focusing on the past they’d lost would only keep her from enjoying the future, so she vowed to let go of the bitterness.

She read him Christmas stories and tucked him in, then watched him fall asleep, soaking in his features.

When she crawled in bed that night, she was happier than she’d been in ages. She and Benji were a family again.

But there was one thing missing.

Dugan.

She sat up, her heart stuttering. Oh, goodness.

While she’d been guarding her heart and looking for her son, she’d fallen in love with Dugan.

What was she going to do about it?

Did Dugan have feelings for her?

* * *

D
UGAN MISSED
S
AGE
like crazy. But she needed time to reunite with her son. Not pressure from him.

But when he rose Christmas morning and combed his ranch house, the deafening silence got to him. He couldn’t help imagining Benji running down to find Santa’s presents and Sage making breakfast for the two of them.

Work and the land had always been his first loves.

But his life felt empty now.

He suddenly felt antsy and had to get out. A ride across his ranch would do him good, help him clear his head, pass some time and take his mind off the woman who’d stolen a piece of his soul the past few days. And her kid, who’d won his heart the minute he laid eyes on him.

He combed the property, examining fences in case they needed mending, then checking livestock. Hiram and his other two hands had done a good job taking care of things while he worked the case. Now it was time for him to get back to it.

By the time he reached the farmhouse, his stomach was growling. He had nothing in the house to cook, certainly no holiday dinner.

Maybe he’d drive into town for a burger. That is, if the diner was open. Most folks were home with family today.

He guided his horse up to the house, slowing when he saw Sage’s car. What was she doing here?

His heart began to race. He steered the horse to the rail and dismounted, then saw Sage and Benji sitting in the porch swing. Sage had her arm slung around Benji, and he was leaning into her as they rocked the swing back and forth.

It was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

His heart took a funny leap, his mind roaring down a dangerous path. What would it be like to have a family to come home to?

To have Benji and Sage in his life forever?

Sage looked up at him with a tentative smile, but Benji vaulted up and leaned over the porch rail. “Your horse is cool, Mr. Dugan.”

Gone was the traumatized kid from the night before. One night at home with his mother had the boy smiling and at ease.

“Thanks. If your mama agrees, I’ll take you riding sometime.”

Sage stood, walked to the rail and leaned over it, then looked down at him. “Maybe you can take us both out?”

The subtle question in her eyes made him smile. Was she flirting with him?

“Maybe I will,” he said with a wink.

She laughed softly in response, and he realized she
was
flirting.

One night with her son had erased the shadows and pain from her eyes.

Benji ran down the steps. “Can I pet him?”

“Sure.” Dugan showed him how to gently rub the horse’s mane.

“We brought dinner for you,” Sage said. “That is, if you don’t have plans.”

Dugan met her gaze. “That was real nice of you.”

She walked down the steps and rubbed a finger along his arm. “It wasn’t nice. I missed you, Dugan.”

He liked this side of her. He angled his head, heat sizzling between them. And something more. An attraction that went far beneath the surface. He admired her. Liked her.

Loved her.

“I missed you, too,” he said in a gruff voice.

For a brief moment, his breath stalled as he waited on her to make the next move.

Finally she lifted a finger to his lips. “Did you?”

A grin split his face. She was fishing for a compliment? “Yes.” He suddenly couldn’t help himself. That big rambling farmhouse needed her and Benji in it.

He yanked her up against him. “I’m in love with you, Sage.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looped her arms around his neck. “Good, ’cause I’m in love with you, too.”

Then she rose on her tiptoes, closed her lips over his and kissed him. Dugan had never felt anything so sweet, so wonderful.

And suddenly he knew what being in a family was like. He would make one with Sage and Benji, and he would never let them go.

* * * * *

Look for award-winning author Rita Herron’s next book, COLD CASE IN CHEROKEE CROSSING,
on sale in December 2014. You’ll find it
wherever Harlequin Intrigue books are sold!

Keep reading for an excerpt from DELIVERANCE AT CARDWELL RANCH by B.J. Daniels.