Buch lesen: «Rancher Rescue»
Desperation had the muscles in her face rigid as she stood in front of him, moving closer. A red heat climbed up her neck.
“I can’t let you lie.” He smiled. “Besides, you’re no good at it. And the evidence will clear us.”
Defiance shot from her glare. Her stubborn streak reared its head again. “You don’t get to decide.”
Her gaze was fiery hot. Her body vibrated with intensity as she stalked toward him.
He readied himself for the argument that was sure to come, but she pressed a kiss to his lips instead, shocking the hell out of him.
“There’s been enough fighting for one day. I need something else from you.”
He locked onto her gaze. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“No. Not at all. But I need to do it anyway.”
Rancher Rescue
Barb Han
BARB HAN lives in North Texas with her very own hero-worthy husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky golden retriever/standard poodle mix and too many books in her to-read pile. In her downtime, she plays video games and spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She’s passionate about travel, and many of the places she visits end up in her books.
She loves interacting with readers and is grateful for their support. You can reach her at www.barbhan.com.
The chance to work with the incredibly talented Allison Lyons is a thrill beyond measure. Thank you for sharing your editing brilliance and giving me the chance to learn from you.
To my agent, Jill Marsal, for all your guidance, encouragement, and patience.
To Jerrie Alexander, my brave friend and critique partner.
To Brandon, who is strength personified; Jacob, who is the most courageous person I know; and Tori, who is brilliant and funny, I love you. This one is for you, Babe.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Excerpt
Chapter One
Katherine Harper pushed up on all fours and spit dirt. “Don’t take him. I’ll do whatever you say.”
The tangle of barbed wire squeezed around her calf. Pain seared her leg.
“She got herself caught.” The man glared down at her. He glanced toward the thicket, sized up the situation and turned to his partner. “She’s not going anywhere.”
The first man whirled around. His lip curled. Hate filled his eyes. “Leave her. We have the boy.”
“Kane won’t like it. He wants them both.”
“No. Please. My nephew has nothing to do with any of this.” She kicked. Burning, throbbing flames scorched her ankle to her thigh. “I’ll give you whatever you want. I’ll find the file.”
“We know you will. Involve the police and he’s dead,” the second man warned. “We’ll be in touch.”
Noah screamed for her. She heard the terror in his voice. A wave of hopelessness crashed through her as she struggled against the barbs, watching the men disappear into the woods with her nephew. Oh. God. No.
“He’s sick. He needs medicine,” she screamed through burning lungs.
They disappeared without looking back.
Shards of pain shot up her leg. Fear seized her. The thick trees closed in on her. Noah had been kidnapped, and she was trapped and helpless.
“Please. Somebody.”
The thunder of hooves roared from somewhere in the distance. She sucked in a quick breath and scanned the area. Were more men out there?
Everything had happened so fast. How long had they been dragging her? How far into the woods was she?
All visual reminders of the pumpkin patch were long gone. No open fields or bales of hay. No bursts of orange dotting the landscape. No smells of animal fur and warmth. There was nothing familiar in her surroundings now.
Judging from the amount of blood and the relentless razor-sharp barbs digging into her flesh, she would bleed to death.
No. She wouldn’t die. Noah needed her to stay alive. Noah.
Anger boiled inside her, heating her skin to flames. Katherine had to save him. He had no one else. He was probably terrified, which could bring on an asthma attack. Without his inhaler or medication, the episode could be fatal.
Forcing herself to her feet, she balanced on her good side and hopped. Her foot was slick with blood. Her shoe squished. Her knees buckled. The cold, hard ground punished her shoulder on impact.
She scrambled on all fours and tried to crawl. The barbed wire tightened like a coil. The ache in her leg was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.
Exertion wasn’t good. Could she unwrap the mangled wire? Could she free herself? Could she catch up?
Panic pounded her chest. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
The hooves came closer. Had the men sent company? Had her screaming backfired, pinpointing her location?
Autumn foliage blanketed the ground, making it difficult to see if there was anything useful to use against another attacker. She could hide. But where?
The sounds of hooves pounding the unforgiving earth slowed. Near. She swallowed a sob. He could do whatever he wanted to her while she was trapped. Why had she made all that noise?
She fanned her hands across the ground. Was there anything she could use as a weapon? The best one encased her leg, causing a slow bleed. She needed to think. Come up with a plan. Could she use a sharp branch?
Biting back the pain, she scooted behind a tree and palmed a splintered stick.
The thunderous drumming came to a stop. The horse’s labored breath broke through the quiet.
An imposing figure dismounted, muttering a curse. His low rumble of a voice sent chills up her neck.
Her pulse raced.
His boots firmly planted on the ground, Katherine got a good look at him. He was nothing like her attackers. They’d worn dark suits and sunglasses when they’d ambushed her and Noah. Everything about this man was different.
He wore jeans, a button-down shirt and a black cowboy hat. He had broad shoulders and lean hips. At his full height, he had to be at least six foot two, maybe more.
A man who looked genuine and strong like him couldn’t be there for the wrong reasons, could he? Still, who could she trust? Couldn’t murderers be magnetic?
“What in hell is going on?” A shiver raced up her spine as he followed the line of blood that would lead him right to her.
He took a menacing step toward her. Friend or enemy, she was about to come face-to-face with him.
Katherine said a silent protection prayer.
Her equilibrium was off. Her head light. She closed her fingers around the tree trunk tighter. Could she hold on long enough to make her move?
A dimpled chin on a carved-from-granite face leaned toward her. Brown eyes stared at her. She faltered.
Nope. Not a hallucination. This cowboy was real, and she was getting weak. Her vision blurred. She had to act fast.
With a final push, Katherine stepped forward. Her knees buckled and she stumbled.
* * *
INONEQUICKmotion Caleb Snow seized the stick being jabbed at his ribs and pinned the woman to the ground.
She was gorgeous in her lacy white shirt. Her sea-green skirt hiked up her thigh far enough to reveal a peek of her panties. Pale blue. He swallowed hard. Tried not to think about his favorite color caressing her sweet little bottom as he wrestled to keep her from stabbing him. The rest of her was golden skin and long legs. She had just enough curves to make her feel like a real woman, sensual and soft. “What’s wrong with you?”
The tangle of chestnut hair and limbs didn’t speak.
Was she afraid? Of him? Hell no. He took the stick and tossed it. She kicked and punched.
“Hold still. I’m trying to help.”
“No. You’re not.”
“I will as soon as I’m sure you won’t try to poke me with that stick.”
He’d turned his horse the moment he’d heard the screams that sounded half wild banshee, half horror-film victim expecting to help, not be attacked.
“You’re hurting me,” she yelped.
The tremor in her voice sliced through his frustration. Her admission tore through him. The thought he added to her pain hit him hard. “Stop trying to slap me, and I’ll get up.”
Her lips trembled. She looked at him—all big fearful eyes and cherry lips—and his heart squeezed.
Those violet eyes stared up at him, sending a painful recollection splintering through his chest. She had the same look of terror his mother always had right before his father’d raised a hand to her. Caleb buried the memory before it could take hold.
“Listen to me. I’m not going to hurt you.” Her almond-shaped face, olive skin and soft features stirred an inappropriate sexual reaction. Skin-to-skin contact was a bad idea. He shifted more of his weight onto his bent knee.
Her breaths came out in short gasps. “Then let me go. I have to find him before they get away.”
“As soon as I know you’re not gonna do something stupid, I will. You’re not going anywhere until I get this off your leg. You want to tell me what the hell’s going on? Who’s getting away?” Her actions were that of a wounded animal, not a crazed murderer. He eased more weight off her, scanning her for other injuries.
She recoiled. “Who are you?”
“Caleb Snow and this is my ranch.” He picked up the wire to untangle her. Her pained cry pierced right through him. “Sorry about that.” He eased the cable down carefully. “Didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She’d seriously tangled her long, silky leg in barbed wire. She’d lost a lot of blood. He couldn’t have her going into shock. “The more you fight, the worse it’ll get. You’ve done a number on yourself already.”
Her eyelids fluttered.
Based on her pallor, she could lose consciousness if she didn’t hold still. He stood and muttered a curse.
Her wild eyes looked up at him, pleading. “Some men took my nephew. I don’t know who. They went that way.” She motioned toward the McGrath ranch. Her voice cracked and he could see she was struggling not to cry. Tears fell anyway.
“The wire has to come off first. Then we’ll take a look. Don’t watch me. It’ll only hurt worse. Tell me your name.” A stab of guilt pierced him at the pain he was about to cause. The weight of her body had impaled the rusty steel barbs deep into her flesh.
Her head tilted back as she winced. She gasped but didn’t scream, her eyes still radiating distrust.
“Hold on. I have something that can help.” He pulled wire cutters and antibiotic wipes from his saddlebag. He tied a handkerchief below her knee to stem the bleeding.
“Promise you won’t leave me here?”
“Now why would I do that?” One by one, he pulled the barbs out of her skin, giving her time to breathe in between. “Tell me more about the men.”
“They. Were. Big.” The words came through quick bursts of breath.
He pulled the last barb and stuck his hand out, offering a help up.
Hers felt soft and small. A jolt of electricity shot up Caleb’s arm. Normally he’d enjoy feeling a sexual spark. This wasn’t the time or place.
“I need to go that way.” She pointed north, grasping at the tree.
“You’re hurt. On my property, that means you don’t go anywhere until I know you’re okay. Besides, you still haven’t told me why you’re out here to begin with.”
“Where is here?” she asked, dodging his question.
“The TorJake Ranch.” How did she not know where she was? A dozen scenarios came to mind. None he liked. He took a step toward her. She was too weak to put up a fight. He wrapped his arm around her waist for support. “You aren’t going anywhere like this. Start talking and I might be able to help. I have medical supplies at the house. But you’ll explain why you’re on my land or I’ll call the sheriff. We clear?”
“Please. Don’t. I’ll tell you everything.” He’d struck a nerve.
He should call Sheriff Coleman. No good ever came from a woman caught in a situation like this. But something about her made Caleb wait.
“My name is Katherine Harper. I took my nephew to a pumpkin patch.” She glanced around. “I’m not sure which way.”
“The Reynolds’ place.” Was it the fear in her eyes, or the tremble to her lips that hit him somewhere deep? He didn’t care. He was intrigued.
“Sounds right. Anyway, two men in suits came from nowhere and grabbed us. They dragged us through the woods...here...until I got caught up. Then...”
Tears streaked her cheeks. “They took off with him.”
The barbed wire had been cut. The McGrath ranch was on the other side of the fence. He’d have to ask about that. Of course, he preferred to deal with creatures of the four-legged variety or something with a motor.
“We’ll figure this out.”
Caleb assessed her carefully.
Her vulnerable state had his instincts sounding alarm bells.
Chapter Two
Noah was gone. Katherine was hurt. Her only chance to see her nephew again stood next to her. The cowboy’s actions showed he wanted to help. He needed to know the truth. She couldn’t pinpoint the other reason she felt an undeniable urge to confide in the cowboy. But she did.
“My nephew was kidnapped for a reason.” Oh. God. It was almost unbearable to say those words out loud.
His thick brow arched. “Do you know these men?”
She shook her head. “They wanted me to give them a file. Said they knew I had it, but I don’t. I have no idea what they’re talking about.”
The cowboy’s comforting arm tightened around her. Could he really help? Noah was gone and she was desperate.
He pulled out his cell phone.
“I’m calling my foreman, then the sheriff. We’ll cover more ground that way.”
“No police. They insisted. Besides, there’s no time. Let’s use your horse. We might be able to catch them. Noah needs medicine.” She moved to step forward. Pain nearly buckled her knees. Her vision blurred.
“Hold on there,” he said, righting her again with a firm hand. “We’ll find him, but I’m bringing in the law.”
“They’ll hurt—”
“I doubt it. Think about it. They’d say anything to back you off. There’s no chance to find him otherwise.” He turned to his call. “Matt, grab a few men and some horses. We have a situation. A boy’s been taken. Looks like they might’ve crossed over to the McGrath place with him. I want every square inch of both properties scoured. And call the sheriff.” His gaze met Katherine’s, and her heart clutched. He was right. They were most likely bluffing.
She nodded.
“There are two men dressed in suits. Could be dangerous.” His attention shifted to her. “How old is your nephew?”
“Four.” With reinforcements on the way, she dared to think she could get Noah back safely before the sun went down.
A muscle in the cowboy’s jaw ticked. “You heard that, right?” A beat later came, “Somebody cut the fence on the north corner. Jimmy’s been running this side. Ask him how things were the other day when he came this way.”
Katherine looked at the barbed wire. The last bit of hope this could have been a bad dream shriveled and died.
“Tell the men to be careful.” Caleb took more of her weight as he pocketed his phone. “I’ve got you.”
“I’m fine.” Katherine struggled to break free from his grip. Her brain was scrambled. She’d been dragged through this area thinking it had been a random trail, but how could it be? They’d cut the fence in advance. Everything about them seemed professional and planned. But what kind of file could she possibly have for men like them?
The cowboy’s strong grip tightened around her as she fought another wave of nausea. “I think I’ll be fine once I get on your horse.”
“My men are all over this. Matt’s phoning the sheriff as we speak. I need to get you home where I can take care of your injuries. The sheriff will need to speak to you for his report.”
“The longer I wait, the farther away Noah will be.” She had no purse, no ID and no money. Those had been discarded along with his medicine. Everything she’d had with her was scattered between here and the pumpkin patch.
His brow arched. “You won’t make it a mile in your condition.”
“I can. I have to.” Katherine tried to put weight on her foot. Her knee buckled. He pulled her upright again with strong arms. He was powerful, male and looked as though he could handle himself against just about any threat.
Caleb shook his head. “Hell, I’d move heaven and earth if I were in your situation. But you’re hurt.”
“He needs me. He’s little and scared. You can’t possibly understand.” Her voice hitched.
The lines in the cowboy’s forehead deepened. “We’ll cut through the McGraths’ on the way to the house. How’s that?”
His arms banded around her hips. Arms like his would be capable of handling anyone or anything they came across. He lifted her onto the saddle with no effort and then swung up behind her.
“I need to make sure you’re going to be around long enough to greet him. You let infection set in and that leg will be no use to you anymore.”
She didn’t argue. Fatigue weighted her limbs, drained her energy. If he could fix her leg, she could find Noah.
Taking the long way around didn’t unearth any clues about Noah’s whereabouts. The sky was darkening. Night would fall soon.
The house coming into view was a white two-story Colonial with a wraparound porch and dark green shutters. An impressive set of barns sat behind the house. There was a detached garage with a basketball hoop off to the side. This was a great place for kids.
Katherine hadn’t stopped once to realize this man probably had a family of his own. The image of him cradling a baby edged its way into her thoughts. The contrast between something so tiny and vulnerable against his bare steel chest brought shivers up her arms.
Did he have a son? His reaction to Noah’s age made more sense.
She prayed Noah would be home in bed before the sun vanished. Was he still panicked? Could he breathe? Did he have time before the next attack? Did she?
What would happen when the men came after her again if she couldn’t produce the file?
She shrugged off the ice trickling down her spine. Police would need a description of the attackers. She had to think. The last thing she remembered was being hauled through the woods. She ran so long her lungs burned. The next thing she knew, she was facedown in the dirt. The men had disappeared. She’d lost everything.
“Lean toward me. I’ll catch you.” Caleb stood next to the horse.
One of his calloused but gentle hands splayed on the small of her back. He carried her inside as if she weighed nothing and placed her on the sofa in the front room. He lifted her bloody leg to rest on top of the polished knotty-pine coffee table.
The smell of spices and food warming sent a rumble through her stomach. How long had she been dragged? She wouldn’t be able to eat, but how long could Noah go without food? Was he hungry?
“Margaret, grab my emergency bag,” Caleb shouted before turning to Katherine. “Margaret helps me out with cleaning and cooking. Keeps me and my boys fed.”
So he did have children. Katherine figured a place with this kind of space had to have little ones running around. Noah would have loved it here.
A round woman padded into the room. A salt-of-the-earth type with a kind face, she looked to be in her late fifties. Her expression dropped. “What happened?”
Caleb gave her a quick rundown before introducing them. “I’ll need clean towels, a bowl of warm water and something for Katherine to drink. Some of these gashes are deep.”
Margaret returned with supplies. “If anyone can find your nephew, it’s this man.”
Margaret’s sympathetic expression melted some of Katherine’s resolve. “Thank you.”
“You look like you’re in pain. Tell me where it hurts.”
“My head. Stomach.” Her hand pressed against her midsection to stave off another round of nausea. “But I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you will. You’re in good hands.” She set a cup of tea next to Katherine. “This’ll help.”
She thanked the housekeeper, smiled and took a sip. “Tastes good.”
“Would you mind grabbing the keys to my truck? Call the barn, too. I rode Dawn again. Ask Teddy to put her up for the night.” Caleb patted one of Katherine’s gashes with antibiotic ointment.
She gasped, biting back a scream. “Now that I’m okay, we’re going to find them ourselves, right?”
“I’m taking you to the E.R.”
“No.” Shaking her head made everything hurt that much worse. “I can’t leave. Your guys will find Noah and bring him here, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then the only reason I’d walk out that door is to help search for him. I won’t leave here without him. He needs me and his meds.”
She expected a fight but got a nod of agreement instead.
Caleb went back to work carefully blotting each gash without saying another word. Trying to distract herself from the pain, Katherine studied the room. The decor was simple. Substantial, hand-carved wood furniture surrounded the fireplace, which had a rust-colored star above the mantel. The cushions were soft. The place was more masculine than she figured it would be. There had to be a woman somewhere in the picture. A protective, gorgeous man like Caleb had to have a beautiful wife. And kids. She’d already envisioned him holding his child. She could easily see him with two or three more.
There was one problem. Nothing was out of place. She knew from spending the past week with Noah, kids left messes everywhere. “I hope your wife doesn’t get the wrong impression when she sees a strange woman on your sofa.”
Caleb didn’t look up. “I’m single.”
Had she met him under other circumstances, the admission would’ve caused a thousand tiny butterflies to flutter in her stomach. But now she could only think about Noah.
“Do you want to call Noah’s parents and let them know what’s going down?”
“No. There’s no one else. His mother died. I’m all he’s got.” The poor kid.
Her sister, Leann, had always been the reckless one. Everything had been fun and games and risk for her. Now she was gone and Noah was in trouble.
A hundred questions danced across Caleb’s intense brown eyes. To his credit, he didn’t ask any of them.
Katherine figured he deserved to know the truth. “She died in a climbing accident at Enchanted Rock a week ago. She was ‘bouldering,’ which apparently means you don’t use safety equipment. You’re supposed to have people spot you, but she didn’t.”
Caleb’s jaw did that tick thing again. She’d seen it before when he’d seemed upset and held his tongue. Did he have something he wanted to say now?
“Sorry for your loss. This must be devastating for you. What about Noah’s father?”
“She...the two of them...lived in Austin alone. She never told me who his father was. As far as I know, no one else has a clue, either. My sister may have been reckless with her actions but she could keep a secret.” Katherine wondered what else she didn’t know about Leann.
“Be easy enough to check out the birth certificate.”
A half-laughed, half-exacerbated sigh slipped out. “She put down George Clooney.”
If Caleb thought it funny, he didn’t laugh.
Katherine cleared her throat. “I doubt if the father knows about Noah. Leann never told anyone who she dated. Not even me. I never knew the names of her boyfriends. When she spoke about them, they all had movie-star nicknames.”
“There must’ve been a pattern to it.”
Katherine shrugged. “Never gave it much thought before. Figured it was just for fun.”
His reassuring nod comforted her.
“You two were close?”
“Our relationship was complicated, but I’m...was...fiercely protective of her.” Katherine squeezed her elbows, not wanting to say what she really feared. Her sister had shucked responsibility and become involved with something or someone bad, and now both Katherine and Noah were in danger. Things had been turning around for Leann. Why would she do it?
Katherine tamped down the panic rising in her chest.
No one could hurt Noah.
She had to believe he would come home safely. Even though every fiber in her being feared he was already panicked, struggling to breathe. What if she found him and couldn’t help? Her purse was lost along with his medicine.
One of Caleb’s eyebrows lifted. “What about her friends?”
“I don’t have the first idea who they were. My sister was a free spirit. She moved around a lot. Took odd jobs. I don’t know much about her life before Noah. It wasn’t until recently she contacted me at all.” Had Leann known something was about to happen? Was she connected to the file?
Caleb didn’t look at her. He just went back to work on her leg, cleaning blood and blotting on ointment.
Oh, God. Bile rose in her throat. Acid burned a trail to her mouth. “No news is definitely not good news.”
“There aren’t a lot of places to hide. If your nephew’s around here, we’ll find him. My men know this property better than they know their own mothers.”
His comfort was hollow. A wave of desperation washed through her. If the men got off the property with Noah, how would she ever locate him?
“You hungry?”
“You know, I’m starting to feel much better.” She tried to push up, but her arms gave out.
“Eat. Rest. The pain in your leg is only beginning. You must’ve twisted your ankle when you fell. It’s swelling. Stay here. Keep it elevated. I’ll check in with my men.”
Caleb disappeared down the hall, returning a moment later with a steaming bowl in one hand and a bag of ice in the other. He’d removed his cowboy hat, revealing sandy-blond hair that was cut tight but long and loose enough to curl at the ends.
He set down the bowl before placing a pillow behind her head and ice on her ankle. He pulled out his cell while she ate the vegetable soup Margaret had prepared.
There was a knock at the front door. Katherine gasped. Her pulse raced.
* * *
CALEB’SEYESMETKatherine’s and the power of that one look shot straight to his core. Her on his couch, helpless, with those big eyes—a shade of violet that bordered on purple in this light—made him wish he could erase her pain.
He let Sheriff Coleman in. The officer’s tense expression reflected Caleb’s emotions. “Your coming by on short notice is much appreciated.”
Coleman tipped his hat, a nod to the mutual respect they’d built for one another in the years Caleb had owned the ranch.
“My men are out looking as we speak. I’ll need more details to file the report.”
Caleb introduced Coleman to Katherine. “This is the boy’s aunt. He was with her at the Reynolds’ pumpkin patch when it happened.”
Sheriff Coleman tilted his head toward Katherine. His lips formed a grim line. “Start from the beginning and tell me everything you remember.”
She talked about the pumpkin patch.
“Do you have a picture we can work with?” he asked, looking up from his notepad.
Her head shook, her lips trembled, but she didn’t cry. “No. I don’t. Lost them along with my purse and everything else I had with me. Not that it would do any good. He’s only been living with me for a week. We haven’t been down to clean his mother’s apartment yet. I don’t have many of his things. A few toys. His favorite stuffed animal.”
She rambled a little. Not many women could hold it together under this much duress. Her strength radiated a flicker of light in the darkest shadows of Caleb. Places buried long ago, which were best left alone.
“Let’s go over the description then,” Coleman suggested.
“Black hair. Big brown eyes. Three and a half feet tall. About forty pounds. He’s beautiful. Round face. Full cheeks. Curly hair. Features of an angel.”
“And the men who took him?” he pressed.
“One of them had gray eyes and a jagged scar from the left side of his lip. He had a dark tan.”
“How big was the scar?”
“Not more than a couple of inches. It was in the shape of a crescent moon.” She sobbed, but quickly straightened her shoulders and shook it off.
The sheriff glanced away, giving her a moment of space. Caleb dropped his gaze to the floor, respecting her tenacity even more.
“He mentioned the name Kane. He said ‘Kane wouldn’t like it.’”
“We’ll run the name against the database.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not much to go on. My nephew is alone. Sick. Scared. If he gets too upset, he could have an attack. Without his inhaler or medication, he won’t be able to breathe.”
Silence sat in the air for a beat.
Coleman cleared his throat. If Caleb didn’t know any better, he’d say the sheriff had moisture in his eyes. In this small town, they didn’t deal with a lot of violent crime.
“We’ll do everything we can to bring him back to you safe and sound. That’s a promise,” Coleman said.
“Thank you.”
“What’s Noah’s last name?”
“Foster.”
“You said you haven’t had a chance to clean out his mother’s place. Where’s that?”
“Austin.”
“That where you’re from?”
She shook her head. “I live in Dallas.”
Caleb could’ve told the sheriff that. She had a polished, city look. The jeweled sandals on her feet were one of the most impractical shoes she could wear to the country aside from spiked heels.
“When’s his birthday?”
“March. The seventeenth.”
Caleb looked at her. He could see the tension in her face muscles and the stress threatening to crack, but to her credit, she kept her composure. Probably needed to be strong more than she needed air. Caleb knew the feeling for reasons he didn’t want to talk about, either.
He’d known she was different from any other woman he’d met when he’d showed up to help her and she’d thanked him with a makeshift knife to his ribs. Hell, he respected her for it now that he knew the circumstances. She’d probably believed he was working with whoever had taken Noah and that he’d showed up to finish the job. She’d bucked up for a fight.
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