Under the Cowboy's Protection Read online

  Raleigh braced himself for Simon and his hired gun to start shooting, but the thug took off running. He ran past them and to the back opening of the barn, where Raleigh saw him press something he took from his pocket. Moments later, there was a hissing sound, and the flames shot up in front of the barn.

  Alma screamed, and Raleigh prayed it wasn’t because the fire had burned her. Even if it had, he couldn’t take the time to check because he had to get her out of there. Not in the direction of the fire, either. Raleigh dragged her into the barn.

  “If any of you move, Thea will be the first to die,” Simon warned them.

  Raleigh looked at Simon’s face, and that’s when he knew. Simon intended for all of them to die.

  Warren moved closer to the end of the tractor. No doubt so he’d be in a better position to return fire if he got the chance. Right now, neither Warren nor he had a clean shot, so he had to do something to tip the odds in their favor.

  “Get down,” Raleigh whispered to his mom, and he hoped she listened. If not, Simon might try to shoot her.

  Warren came out from behind the tractor, causing Simon to turn his gun in his direction. Thea took full advantage of no longer having the barrel pressed to her head. She shoved her weight against Simon, causing him to become off-balanced just enough so that when he pulled the trigger, his shot missed.

  Simon fired again.

  And again.

  Thea scrambled away from Simon, making a beeline to her gun that was on the floor. But before she could even reach it, the shot rang out.

  It seemed as if time had frozen. Raleigh thought maybe his heart had, too. He knew he hadn’t been the one to pull the trigger, but obviously someone had.

  This time, it wasn’t Simon.

  Raleigh saw the shock register on the man’s face. Then saw the blood spread across the front of his shirt. Clutching his chest, Simon dropped to his knees, his stare frozen on the person who’d just put a bullet in him.

  Alma.

  His mother had snatched up Thea’s gun. And she hadn’t missed. If the shot hadn’t killed him, it soon would because he was bleeding out fast.

  Despite what had played out in front of him, Raleigh quickly shifted his attention to the thug at the back of the barn. The man had already lifted his gun and was about to fire. But Raleigh fired first. The guy didn’t fall on his knees but rather face-first onto the ground.

  The adrenaline was still slamming hard through Raleigh, but he checked to make sure everyone was okay. He pulled Thea to her feet. No blood, thank God. It was the same for Warren. But when he looked back at his mother, the adrenaline spun right out of control.

  Because his mother had been shot.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Everyone who mattered was alive. That’s what Raleigh kept reminding himself as they sat in the ER waiting room. Thea, his deputies, the drugged ranch hands and yes, even Warren had made it through the hellish nightmare. But at the moment, it didn’t feel like a victory.

  Because his mother might not make it.

  That wasn’t easy for him to consider. Especially since the man who’d put the bullet in her had been her friend for as long as Raleigh could remember. At least the friend was now dead, and so were all the thugs he’d hired to carry out his sick plan of revenge against Warren and Alma.

  Thea was seated next to Raleigh, resting her head against his shoulder. Her hair and clothes were still damp from the soaking they’d gotten with the sprinklers, and she smelled like smoke. No physical injuries, but she had that stark look in her eyes. The one that told Raleigh that what’d happened this night would stay with her forever. It might be something she could never get past. And since he was part of those nightmarish memories, too, Thea might be done with him, as well.

  Warren wasn’t faring much better. He was sitting across from Thea and him. Again, no injuries, but he had his head in his hands, and every now and then he made a soft groaning sound. He definitely looked as if he needed some rest. And maybe some pain meds since Raleigh knew Warren was still recovering from his own shooting that’d happened a while back.

  “If you want to go on home to your wife and kids,” Raleigh told him, “I’ll call you with any updates.”

  Raleigh immediately wished he hadn’t worded it like that. It sounded bitter. Which he wasn’t. Well, not bitter about Warren anyway. It was going to take a while before he didn’t feel such things about Simon.

  “Helen knows I’m here,” Warren said.

  Helen was his wife, and Raleigh knew Warren had called both his son Egan and her shortly after they’d arrived at the hospital. Raleigh had only heard bits and pieces of Warren’s side of the conversation, but he’d told them that he was fine and there was no reason for them to come and get him. Whether or not they would stay away was anyone’s guess.

  “Helen is okay with you being here?” Thea asked.

  There was plenty of hesitation in her voice. But it was a good question. Raleigh wanted to know the same thing. Warren had put enough strain on his marriage without adding more. Just his being here could be more in Helen’s eyes.

  Warren took his time answering. “Helen’s worried about me, but she knows why I need to be here. Because of Thea and you.”

  There it was again. The confusion swirled with all the other things Raleigh was feeling.

  “I know,” Warren added a moment later. He no doubt saw the mixed emotions on Raleigh’s face. “You don’t want me to worry about you, but you’re my son, and worry comes with the territory of being a father. And for the record, I worried about you even before my relationship with your mother came to light. I know I wasn’t involved in your life, but I loved you,” he said in a mumble.

  Raleigh wasn’t sure he wanted to hear that love thing. But at least it didn’t twist at him the way it usually did when he thought about Warren being his father. Maybe that was a start. Thea must have thought so because she managed a very short, very slight smile.

  The silence settled among them for several long moments before Warren shook his head again. “I should have figured out it was Simon and should have stopped him before it came down to this.”

  Raleigh gave a frustrated sigh because he felt the same way.

  Thea, however, huffed, and this time when she lifted her head from Raleigh’s shoulder, there was no trace of a smile. “I could have missed it in the job description, but a badge or a former badge doesn’t give you ESP. Simon hid his true self from a lot of people, and he’s the only person to blame for what happened. The. Only. Person,” she emphasized.

  Raleigh looked at her, their eyes connecting, and he was relieved to see that what she’d said wasn’t lip service. That was big of her since he’d come damn close to letting her die tonight.

  At least the babies hadn’t been around for this particular attack, and now that Simon and his hired guns were dead, they were out of danger. Soon, Hannah’s baby would be reunited with her birth parents—something they were eager for. Sonya’s daughter might be a little trickier. According to the last call Raleigh had gotten from Miguel, they would still need the DNA results before handing over the child that Hannah had delivered.

  Raleigh’s phone dinged, indicating he had another text message. He’d gotten a lot of them in the hour that they’d been at the hospital since his mom’s ranch was now a crime scene that had to be processed. Or at least it would be once the fire department and medical examiner cleared out and took the bodies to the morgue.

  “It’s from Miguel,” Raleigh told Thea when she glanced at his phone. It wasn’t the best of news, but it was what he’d expected. “They managed to put out the fire, but most of Mom’s house was destroyed.”

  “Alma’s stronger than she looks. She’ll get through this and will rebuild,” Warren said, and then his forehead bunched up when he glanced at Raleigh. “Sorry.”

  Raleigh wasn’t sure exactly what the ap
ology was for. Maybe because Warren didn’t want to remind him that he knew enough about Alma to make comments like that. But it was the truth. His mom was strong, especially under pressure.

  First though, she had to stay alive.

  “If it’s all right, I’d like to be the one to call Hannah’s kin,” Warren continued a moment later, and he was talking to Raleigh. “I want to tell them who was responsible for her death. It won’t be much comfort to them because it won’t bring her back, but at least they’ll know.”

  Raleigh nodded, and it was a reminder that he needed to tell Sonya’s relatives, as well.

  “So, what will happen with you two?” Warren asked.

  The question threw Raleigh, and it caused Thea to pull back her shoulders. She looked at him. Raleigh looked at her. And he realized he didn’t have a clue what the answer was. But he knew what he wanted to happen.

  He wanted to put the past behind them and be with Thea.

  Raleigh wasn’t even sure that was possible though.

  He didn’t get a chance to start figuring it out, either, because he saw Dr. Jacobs, the surgeon, making his way toward them. Thea, Warren and he all stood, and Raleigh could tell they were doing what he was—trying to steel himself up for whatever the news might be.

  “Alma made it through surgery just fine,” Dr. Jacobs immediately said.

  Raleigh hadn’t expected the relief to hit him so hard, but it nearly knocked the breath out of him. It did the same to Thea because she practically sagged against him. He looped his arm around her waist in case her legs felt as unsteady as his did.

  “The bullet didn’t hit anything vital, and I was able to remove it with only a small incision,” the doctor went on. “She’ll have to stay in the hospital a couple of days, of course, but I expect her to make a full recovery.”

  “When can I see her?” Raleigh asked.

  “You can pop into recovery for just a second or two. She’s woozy but awake. Follow me,” the doctor instructed. Dr. Jacobs started to move but then stopped and looked at Thea and Warren. “I can only allow immediate family in the recovery room, but if you’re close to Alma, you’ll be able to see her from the observation window.”

  Warren shook his head. “I’ll just be going. I need to get home.” He hugged Thea. “I’m not offering you a ride,” he added to her, and even though Warren had whispered it, Raleigh still heard it. “Stay here and work things out with Raleigh.”

  That sounded like approval for a relationship between Thea and him. Not that Raleigh needed approval from Warren. But it still felt good to get it.

  Warren stepped back from Thea and extended his hand to Raleigh. Again, it wasn’t much, just a small gesture, but it felt like they were moving in the right direction. Raleigh shook his hand, and judging from the way Warren smiled, it seemed as if Raleigh had handed him the moon. Warren tipped his hat to Dr. Jacobs and headed out while Thea and he followed the doctor down the hall.

  “Your mother might not be so happy to see me,” Thea muttered, suddenly sounding uncomfortable.

  “She’s alive. We’re alive. That’ll make her happy.”

  Raleigh meant that, too, but he wasn’t sure what he’d see when they approached the recovery room. His mother had just been shot. And had killed a man. She might not bounce back from that anytime soon.

  Thea stopped at the window while Raleigh went in, but Alma lifted her hand and motioned for Thea to join him.

  “Immediate family only,” the doctor reminded Alma.

  “Thea’s practically family,” Alma insisted. “Or she should be.”

  Coming on the heels of Warren’s So, what will happen with you two question, this felt like matchmaking. Badly timed matchmaking at that. Thea might still be in shock, and he didn’t want to press her with Warren’s question or anything else.

  Thea walked into the room, her steps slow and cautious. “How are you feeling?” she asked his mother.

  His mother managed to eke out a smile, though it was clear she was weak and sleepy from the drugs. “Better now that you two are here.” The smile didn’t last though, and there were tears in her eyes when she looked at Raleigh. “I had to kill Simon. If I hadn’t—”

  “None of us would be here,” Raleigh interrupted. “You saved our lives. Warren’s, too.” He debated if he should add more about that, but his mother appeared to be waiting for him to continue. “He stayed here until he found out you were out of the woods, and then he went home.”

  No need to add that he was going home to his wife. Alma knew that. And she nodded. “Good.” And it seemed genuine.

  Love had definitely given her a kick in the teeth, but maybe one day she could put aside her feelings for Warren and find someone who didn’t make her part of his secrets and lies. Of course, without those secrets and lies, Raleigh wouldn’t exist.

  “The house is gone, I suppose?” Alma asked.

  He hadn’t planned to bring it up, but since she had, Raleigh nodded. “I’ll do the insurance paperwork to get the rebuild started, and you can stay with me until it’s done.”

  “Thea won’t mind if I’m there?” his mother pressed.

  “Of course not,” Thea jumped to answer. “There’s no reason for me to mind.” In fact, she said it so fast that it made Raleigh wonder if Thea had plans to avoid his place altogether.

  Alma took Thea by the hand and inched her closer to the bed. “You’ll always be close to Warren. I would never want to change that. I just want you to know that I’ll welcome you, too. I mean, it’s as plain as the nose on my face that you’re in love with my son.”

  Thea pulled in her breath, and Raleigh thought some of the color drained from her face. She didn’t get a chance to respond though because the doctor tapped his watch. “Your time’s up. You can visit Alma in the morning, after we’ve moved her out of recovery.”

  Raleigh nodded and then brushed a kiss on his mom’s cheek. “Get some rest.”

  “Tell her you love her,” his mom countered, and she quickly closed her eyes, no doubt a ploy so he wouldn’t argue with her.

  Yeah, she was definitely matchmaking.

  Raleigh didn’t say anything until they were out of the recovery room and back in the hall that led to the waiting area. “Sorry about what my mom said.”

  Thea stopped and looked at him. Actually, she glared a little. “I’m not sorry. If she hadn’t brought it up, I would have. I’m in love with you.” But she immediately continued without giving him a chance to respond. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way. No pressure. But I’m tired of pretending that it’s only an attraction between us. For me, it’s a whole lot more.”

  Since it sounded as if she was getting a little angry—and because she wouldn’t let him get a word in edgewise—he pulled her to him and kissed her. He made sure it was way too long and way too hot for a hospital hallway. But he’d wanted to make a point. Unfortunately, the point-making got a little clouded when Thea moved right into that kiss.

  Thea and he kept it up until he heard someone clear their throat. A nurse, who was smiling at them but had her eyebrow raised. Raleigh knew her. She was Betsy Fay Millard, and she was a close friend of his mother’s. Which meant Alma would soon know about this.

  And would no doubt approve.

  Betsy Fay hitched her thumb to the room next to them. “It’s empty if you two need to work something out.” She winked at them and strolled away.

  Raleigh supposed he should be a little embarrassed about kissing Thea like that in a public place, but embarrassment wasn’t a barrier to what he needed to get done. He took Thea into the room and kissed her again, all the while trying to figure out how to tell her the most important thing he’d ever have to tell her.

  The second kiss lasted as long as he could make it last until they both needed air. And when they broke away from each other, Thea looked up at him and smiled. That wa
s it. She didn’t say anything. Didn’t have to. Because he could see in her eyes every drop of the love she felt for him.

  Man, it was amazing.

  And just like that, everything suddenly felt right, as if all the pieces of his life had lined up the way they should. That made it a whole lot easier for him to say what was on his mind.

  “I love you, Thea.” Raleigh didn’t have to think about it—he meant it with all his heart.

  “Took you long enough,” she joked. Some tears watered her eyes, but since she was smiling, he thought that was a good thing. She wadded up a handful of his shirt and pulled him back to her.

  Raleigh made sure the third kiss was one they would both remember.

  * * *

  Look for the next miniseries from USA TODAY

  bestselling author Delores Fossen,

  Longview Ridge Ranch, later in 2019!

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  Finger on the Trigger

  Lawman with a Cause

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