Lone Star Justice (20 page)

He chuckled. "I had a lot of help. I hired an interior designer to get it right."

"Mom, wait until you see the basement!" Brandy tugged her toward the door under the stairs. "He's got the coolest game room!"

At the bottom of the stairs, the room opened up into a large, well lit space with a pool table, large flat screen television, an impressive collection of movies, cd's and games, a small kitchen and bar, and even a movie-style popcorn machine. Brandy spun in a circle. "I could be happy living in just this one room!"

Rand grinned and tousled her hair. "That's good to know. But let's get your things upstairs so you can get unpacked, okay?"

The second floor was a little more intimidating for Maddie. She'd never been allowed up these hallowed stairs before. While Rand's mother had tolerated her presence for the one meal Maddie had agreed to, she'd never offered to show Maddie anything other than the first floor.

Rand opened the first door at the top of the stairs. "This is my room."

Maddie loved it immediately. The walls were covered in pine, painted a bright white, giving it a clean, crisp look. The king-sized bed sported a thick comforter in shades of black and gray. Black end tables flanked either side. On the other side of the room, a massive gray stone fireplace took up most of one wall, faced by matching overstuffed arm chairs. A window seat with soft burgundy cushions looked like a great place to read or just sit and look out over the pasture.

But it was the master bath that took her breath away. He'd spared no expense to make the room as inviting as possible. From the claw foot tub to the multi-headed shower, granite counter tops, and slate tile floor, this was a place to close yourself off from the world and relax.

"I'm impressed, Rand. It's not at all what I expected. I thought the house would be just like your parents left it, but you've made it completely your own."

"It took a while, but it was something I had to do. Like you, I found it hard to be here the way it was. But now the ghosts of the past are gone and it's just home."

He led the way down the hall and opened doors directly opposite each other. "Y'all choose which one you want while I bring your things up."

Maddie wandered into the room on the left, which would put her next to his room. A smaller fireplace covered part of one wall, with well-stocked bookshelves on either side. Another window seat sat under the single window in the room, and cherry furniture gave the room an old-fashioned feel. There was a large walk in closet off the full bath at one end of the room.

She walked across the hall to find Brandy sitting on the canopy bed. "Isn't this great, mom? It's almost like he knew I was coming and got the bed just for me."

Maddie had to wonder if the canopy bed was a new addition, purchased after he'd found out he had a daughter. But that was almost impossible. He hadn't had time since she'd told him about Brandy to buy a bed and have it delivered. Had he been hoping he'd have a daughter some day? Or was it the decorator's idea? Either way, it was good to see Brandy smile again.

Rand brought Brandy's suitcase into the room. "Somehow I thought this was the room you'd choose," he said with a grin.

Brandy gave him a hug. "It's perfect!" He put the suitcase on the bed and she immediately started unpacking.

Maddie and Rand left the room, closing the door behind them. "She doesn't seem any worse for the wear," he said. "I was afraid her ordeal today would be more than she could handle."

"She's a pretty amazing kid." Maddie followed him down the stairs to help bring up the rest of their belongings. "She reminds me a lot of you."

"Ah, so does that mean you think I'm amazing?" Rand handed her a couple of shopping bags to carry and picked up her heavy suitcase and laptop bag.

He'd casually tossed the comment out, but Maddie could see by the tension in his body that he was holding his breath, waiting for her answer. "I've always thought you were an amazing man, Rand."

His smile made her heart melt. Did he feel as vulnerable as she had lately? She'd never thought much about his insecurities as a teenager. He was her hero, and so by default that made him strong, fearless, and capable.

Had that all been a show for her benefit?

***

They settled into a routine, with Maddie taking over the household duties and Brandy helping Rand take care of the animals. Everywhere they went, a deputy stayed close by. If not for the bodyguards, Brandy thought, they'd look like a real family.

She loved everything about the ranch. The wide open spaces, the dogs and horses, even feeding the chickens was fun. But the best part was the small herd of Alpacas. She'd never seen one before and was fascinated by their different personalities. They looked like llamas, only smaller. "Do they spit?" she asked Rand, staying a safe distance back just in case.

He laughed and urged her forward. "They might, if they don't like what you're doing, but mostly they spit at each other. They're very friendly. Here, this is Sarah. She's due to deliver in just a few weeks."

Brandy followed his lead and ran her hand over the animal's thick fleece. "She's beautiful." Cute might have been a better word. With their long necks, large eyes, and prominent noses, the Alpacas were a little funny-looking.

They put out hay and pellets for the animals, then headed back to the house for breakfast. She searched for a way to ask the question that had bugged her all morning, and finally just blurted it out. "Dad, what happens when Aaron is caught and Mom and I are safe again?

He stopped and looked down at her. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"To us. You and me. I don't want to leave you now that I finally found you, but Mom needs me. I can't stay here and let her go back to Oklahoma alone. But I don't want to go back without you." She wiped away a tear.

"Aw honey. I wish I could answer that question, but your mom and I…well, I don't know what will happen. We've changed a lot since we were kids. Who knows if we can ever find a way back to what we once had?" He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. "But I promise you this. I will always be a part of your life from here on out. You can come out here for holidays and the summer if it's okay with your mom. And I'll come visit you whenever I can, okay?"

Brandy nodded, but didn't meet his eyes. It wasn't the answer she'd hoped for, but it would have to do…for now.

Somehow, some way, she had to figure out how to get her mom and dad to realize they all needed to live together--as a family.

***

Damn! He knew he should have hunted down the owner of that boat. It wasn't unusual to find fishing boats tied up along the river's edge, but on that particular day, at that particular time? Too coincidental. But he'd heard the approaching men, the cautious footsteps, and knew they were closing in. Escape was first and foremost on his mind. He'd hoped they'd be too late, but there was nothing on the news about bodies found in a burned out cabin. Nothing at all.

He'd stolen another vehicle and retreated to the vacant farmhouse he'd found during his night time wanderings. He'd been watching it off and on for a few weeks and no one had ever stopped by to check on it. There were no neighbors nearby to tell on him, either.

He only had a few days left to get Maddie back, before it was too late. To heck with Brandy, she was more trouble than she was worth. Maddie was the most important target, and he needed a plan to get her away from Rand. He knew where she was now, at least. He'd seen the deputies in front of the house, watchful and on guard. He had to find a way to separate them. He could take on one, but not both.

He caught his breath when Rand and Brandy came into view, walking with their heads close together.
Well, look at the big, bad sheriff, pretending to be a daddy. Isn't that sweet?

The sight made him want to puke.

When Rand stopped and scanned the tree line, he pulled back, hiding behind the trunk of a large oak. Wouldn't do for the sheriff to see him just yet.

Not until he'd finished what he'd started.

***

There it was again. That feeling that something was wrong, that someone was watching or listening.
Aaron.

Rand looked at the trees, the most obvious hiding place. If Aaron was in there, they wouldn't see him, but he could easily see when someone left the house or returned. He placed a hand on Brandy's back to hurry her along. He kept his body between her and the road, aware that if Aaron used the right gun and ammunition, the bullet would travel right through him and hit her anyway.

"Want to race to the house?" A moving target was much harder to hit, and it was the best he could come up with to get her inside quickly without alarming her. Thankfully, she fell for it and took off running.

It was all he could do to keep up with her. The high school would love to get her on the track team.

The two deputies raced down the steps at the sight of them running. They immediately surrounded Brandy and escorted her up the steps and into the house.

"Hey, we were just racing! Let me go!" she demanded before they closed the door behind her and came back out to where Rand was bent over, hands on his knees.

"Did something happen, sir?"

Rand struggled to catch his breath. "I am way too out of shape. I think I may order everyone to take daily two mile runs from here on out." He took a deep breath and straightened. "I'm not sure what it was, but I had the feeling someone was watching us from across the road. Racing was the best idea I could come up with to get her out of sight quickly."

"Do you want us to go check it out?"

"No." Rand shook his head. "If it's Aaron, you won't find him. He'll be back, though, you can count on it. Just keep an eye out, and pass the word to the next shift."

He left them on the porch and went inside. He soon returned, carrying plates of fried chicken with home made biscuits and mashed potatoes with gravy. The men sat on the porch steps and ate, their gazes still watchful and wary.

From that point on, he doubled the protection detail; two deputies stayed with Brandy and two with Maddie whenever they left the house.

There was no way one man could outsmart four deputies and one sheriff.

When Brandy and Maddie begged to get out of the house for a while, he wanted to tell them no. It wasn't safe. But they'd been cooped up for more than a week without complaining, so he finally gave in and agreed to let them go into town for the Memorial Day festivities. He should be there, anyway, and the townspeople could help keep an eye on them.

He left a deputy to guard the house and they left in a caravan. A squad car in front and behind them, Rand's pickup in the middle.

They watched the parade, the flag raising and twenty-one gun salute ceremonies, ate hot dogs from a street vendor, and wandered through the booths that lined Main Street. Brandy had her face painted and got a temporary tattoo on her arm that said "Mom". When Rand raised an eyebrow, she went back and had "Dad" tattooed on the other arm. He bought them all cotton candy, then drove them to the rodeo arena to watch Missy compete in the barrel races.

Maddie looked cute in her big, floppy hat, and she smelled like sunshine and roses as he scooted close beside her and inhaled her scent. With Brandy sitting on the front row with Linda and two deputies, Rand felt free to hold Maddie's hand and whisper an occasional temptation in her ear.

"Stop that," she hissed, slapping at his roaming hand.

"Hmm? Did you say something? He ran a finger under the edge of her shorts.

She shivered. "Don't start something you aren't ready to finish."

"Who said I wasn't ready to finish what I start?" His finger dipped under the bottom edge of her T-shirt and he traced a line across her belly."

"Rand, seriously, someone will see you."

"That never stopped us before."

She squirmed as his finger hit a sensitive spot. "We were kids. Now we're responsible adults with a child of our own.

He leaned over to nuzzle her neck, keeping one eye on Brandy to make sure she didn't see what he was doing with her mom. No sense getting her hopes up just yet. "I do like the sound of that. The 'child of our own' part anyway."

"Look, there's Missy!" Maddie pointed to the ring.

Rand sighed and gave up. For now.

Brandy clapped and yelled as Missy raced against the clock, then jumped to her feet and hooted when Missy placed second overall in her division.

People left and more people filed in to watch the next round of competition. Rand leaned over to Maddie. "We should go."

They joined Brandy and Linda at the bottom of the bleachers to wait for Missy.

Brandy's phone beeped.

She opened it, expecting the text to be from Missy. Then her face paled and her hand shook.

"What is it? What's happened? Maddie asked.

Brandy handed the phone to Rand. "It's from Sam."

***

Brandy went straight to her room and shut the door when they got back to the ranch , claiming she was tired and wanted to rest.

Maddie dropped onto the couch in the living room.
Why? Why couldn't this psycho leave her and her daughter alone? What had she done that was so awful he wanted to kill her?