Gunfire On The Ranch

Jameson’s attention went to her first, and he no doubt saw her tense body. Perhaps saw a whole lot more than that, though, when his gaze shifted to Theo. Then to the bathroom door where he knew Jodi—and Nathan—were waiting. It didn’t take Jameson long to piece everything together, and he cursed under his breath.

“Just in case there’s a bug in the house, I’ll whisper,” Jameson said. “How much trouble is this situation with Nathan going to cause the two of you?” he asked. He didn’t specifically direct the question to either of them, and neither of them answered.

However, Theo did ask a question of his own, and it was indeed meant for Jameson because he was staring at her brother. “Did the gunman say anything about who sent him and why?” He, too, kept his voice at a whisper.

Ivy figured that he hadn’t, but Jameson nodded. He took a deep breath, and that’s when she knew this was not going to be good news.

“The gunman died right after the medics put him in the ambulance,” Jameson said.

Now Ivy wanted to curse. She didn’t. Over the years, motherhood had taught her to rein in the profanity, but still this was a situation that warranted some cursing.

“He didn’t know who hired him,” Jameson went on. “Or at least that’s what he said. According to him, it was all done through a third party. A San Antonio thug everyone just called Mack. I’ve never heard of him, and I know most of the CIs and other informants in the area. And yeah, I’ve already made a call about him.”

That didn’t sound very promising, especially since it wasn’t a name her brother knew, but Ivy got the sinking feeling that it wasn’t his not knowing Mack that’d put that troubled look on his face.

“The gunman said something else,” Jameson continued a moment later. “This Mack hired other men. At least three more.” He turned to his sister then. “And, Ivy, they have orders to use whatever means necessary to kill you.”

Chapter Five (#u49a61b35-618a-5e62-934e-9f9af9841507)

“Ivy’s the target?” Theo immediately asked Jameson. He figured it was a question that Ivy wanted answered, as well.

Jameson lifted his shoulder. “That’s what the guy said.” Like the rest of them, he continued to keep his voice at a whisper. “That doesn’t mesh with what the CI told you, though, does it?”

Theo had to shake his head. “But maybe the person behind this changed his mind and decided to go after one of us at a time. He or she might think Ivy would be the easiest to pick off.”

Ivy made a soft gasping sound, and Theo wished he hadn’t voiced that aloud. Still, it was true. Since they didn’t know the person’s identity or motive, anything was possible.

“Are you okay?” Jameson asked his sister. He gave her arm a soft pat.

She shook her head as if pulling herself out of a trance. “Yes.” Ivy fluttered her fingers toward the bathroom. “I just need to check on Nathan.”

“Give yourself a couple of minutes,” Jameson advised her. “You’re as pale as paper right now, and Nathan will pick up on that.”

The kid probably would. Then again, Nathan and Jodi both had to be on edge waiting for news.

“Are you okay?” Jameson repeated. Not directed at Ivy this time, but at Theo.

Theo lied with a nod. He was far from okay. His mind was whirling. Hell. He’d thought this would be a quick in-and-out trip back to the Beckett ranch, but there was no way that was possible now.

He had a son.

And if that wasn’t enough to get him to stay, someone wanted Ivy dead. Of course, the gunman could have been lying when he’d said that Ivy was the target of would-be assassins, but the attack had been real. Bullets had actually been shot into the house, and even if she was the sole target, that didn’t mean others couldn’t have been caught in cross fire. Nathan and anyone else could have been killed.

“Look, I know you two have plenty to work out,” Jameson went on, “but you need to leave it here for now. Gabriel wants to take everyone to the sheriff’s office. The medics will need to take a look at that, too.”

It took Theo a moment to realize Jameson meant the cut on Theo’s cheek. “I don’t want a medic,” Theo insisted. “But someone should check on Jodi and Nathan.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d said his son’s name aloud, but for some reason, it hit him like a punch to the gut. Theo actually had to take a moment just to regather his breath.

“Yeah,” Jameson mumbled. Whatever the heck that meant. “You both stay here, pull yourselves together, and I’ll go in and talk to Nathan and Jodi. Be ready to leave as soon as Gabriel has the cruisers in place.”

Jameson stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door and leaving Ivy and him alone. Since Theo didn’t want to keep glaring at her, he turned his attention back to the window so he could watch for the cruisers.

“Why would Gabriel want us to go to the sheriff’s office?” she asked, her voice shaky. “Wouldn’t it be safer to stay here rather than risk going outside?”

“No. There could be other gunmen in the area. Plus, he probably wants to set up some security measures here.” He glanced at her and saw that didn’t do anything to ease the tension on her face. “Gabriel knows what he’s doing.”

Theo hoped that was true, anyway. There was no love lost between Gabriel and him, but Ivy’s brother had been sheriff for nearly a decade now. Maybe that meant he knew how to handle an attempted murder investigation along with keeping Ivy and the others safe. Theo had no intentions, though, of just backing off and letting Gabriel run with this. Not when his son’s safety was at stake.

“When I first saw Nathan, he asked who I was,” Theo reminded her. “He thinks your late husband is his dad?”

She paused a long time, and it was so quiet that Theo could hear Jameson talking in the bathroom. He couldn’t hear what the Ranger was saying. Which was a good thing. Because it meant Nathan wouldn’t be able to hear what Theo and Ivy were talking about.

“No. Nathan knows the truth,” Ivy finally answered. “Chad was a widower and a lot older than me. He had a college-age daughter, Lacey, when we got married. Lacey told Nathan when he was about six.” Her mouth tightened enough to let him know that was a sore subject. “My stepdaughter and I don’t get along that well,” she added.

Theo made a mental note of the woman’s name. Right now, he needed to look at all the angles to figure out who was behind this, and a riled stepdaughter could definitely have motive for putting this together.

Of course, so could Uncle August.

Theo would be contacting him very, very soon.

August had been a thorn in nearly everyone’s side since his brother’s arrest for the Beckett murders. For whatever reason, August had become Travis’s champion of so-called justice even though Travis had never asked him to do that. In fact, from everything Theo had heard, his father had accepted his fate and was willing to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

His phone buzzed, and Theo answered it when he saw Wesley’s name on the screen. “I heard about the shooting at the ranch,” Wesley greeted. “I’m still in Blue River, so you want me to head out there?”

“No need. The danger seems to be contained. For now, anyway.” Theo didn’t mention they’d all soon be going to the sheriff’s office since this wasn’t a whispered phone conversation. If there truly was a bug in the house, he didn’t want to tip off the gunmen’s boss about them leaving, since that would mean they’d be out in the open, at least for a little while.

“The deputy here got an update from Gabriel,” Wesley went on. “The gunmen didn’t ID the person who hired them.”

“No. But I’ve got a lead. I’ll tell you about it when I see you.”

“A lead?” Wesley practically snapped. “Who?”

“The house might be bugged,” Theo reminded him. “The info I got might not amount to anything, but it’s a start.”

“Text me what you have,” Wesley added a moment later.

Theo hadn’t thought it possible, but Wesley seemed even more on edge than Theo did. “I will.” Theo ended the call so he could do that, but the bathroom door opened before he could even get started on the text.

And Nathan came out.

Jameson was in front of him. Jodi, behind. Both still had their guns in hand. Nathan gave Theo a long look, and Theo wondered if the boy recognized their similar features. If so, he didn’t say anything. He just hurried to his mom, and Ivy looped her arms around him, pulling him close to her.

“Gabriel wants us in the cruisers,” Jameson mouthed to Ivy and him. “Don’t take anything with you in case it’s bugged.”

It was a good precaution, and while Theo wasn’t exactly eager to have Ivy or Nathan outside, he understood why they were in a hurry when they followed Jameson out of the room and to the stairs. There wasn’t exactly a peaceful, safe feeling in the house right now.

Jodi paused long enough for their gazes to connect, and he saw the questions in her eyes. How was he handling this? It was too long of an answer and one that he couldn’t give her with just a mere glance.