Cowboy's Secret Son

Jared stared at the scuffed toes of his boots. “I’m going to lose him, you know. Even if we catch the person threatening my son, Courtney won’t stay. They don’t belong here.”

“Just because Alyssa didn’t fit in—”

“Like you always say, the past is over.” He gently eased away from her. “Have Tim quit messing with Angel Maker so he can bring in Courtney’s luggage. Put her in the room across from mine. I want to be close at all times.” The staccato words came out harsher and more clipped than he intended. He bent down and kissed her cheek in apology. “I’ll be back. I have some plans to make.”

He turned on his heel.

“Jared?” Velma called out. “He needs a safe place to sleep while he’s here.”

He slowed his pace, but didn’t stop.

“Don’t let the past rule the present, boyo. You’ll regret it.”

Did she think he didn’t know that? Did she have any idea how tempted he was to grab that little boy and hug him tight. To take Courtney into his arms and convince her that they could make a city girl–country boy relationship work like a Hallmark movie.

Except life wasn’t a movie. There were no happy-ever-afters. Not in his world.

There was only reality. And bad guys won way too often.

Determined not to let history repeat itself, he strode down a barren hallway. His first order of business was to take care of his son. He veered from the door of the brand-new wing he’d completed just last year and made his way to the end of the original house’s hallway.

He hadn’t opened the door separating the old part of the house since he’d renovated, though Velma kept the place spotless. He stepped through, into the past. A white door loomed at the end of the corridor. His heart pounded, rushing through his ears. He forced his boots to cross the decade-old carpet to the end. For a moment he stood there. With a deep breath, he turned the knob and walked inside.

A never-used crib rested in the corner of the room. A yellow crocheted blanket lay abandoned on the floor. As his gaze took inventory of each item, one after another, pain twisted his heart. He would have bent over in agony if he’d allowed himself to feel. This room represented his failure to protect his family. And the threat that still loomed large over his life, a threat he would never deny.

He let his attention settle on a large hole in the drywall, marring the perfect paint job. A sledgehammer lay beneath the opening, a tool he’d swung with anger and fury and unrelenting grief.

Jared hadn’t ventured inside the room in five years. He almost hadn’t climbed out of the dark abyss after losing Alyssa and their unborn daughter. He couldn’t go through that kind of pain again.

Jared would make it impossible for the blackmailers to harm his son. To do that, he needed to identify the person who wrote the ransom note.

Actually, it was more like a blackmail note. A demand before the kidnapping. Strange. Dylan hadn’t been taken, but he could have been.

Why? What was the end game? To take a nine-month-old baby? To hurt Courtney? The more he considered the note she’d shared with him, the more he kept coming back to the unusual ransom amount. The number had to be the key.

He’d do whatever it took to find out who had threatened his son, and make them pay.

And then what? Jared closed his eyes. The moment he’d recognized Dylan as his child, his soul had threatened to reawaken.

He couldn’t allow it.

After it was over he’d send both of them away, back to the city, where they belonged.

And when they left, Jared had no doubt what was left of his heart would crumble to dust.

Chapter Three (#u7d0daf1e-bc76-5e17-af92-460b1d92d19d)

A bright beam of afternoon sun slipped through the closed curtains and cut a shard of light across the study’s rug. A few muffled shouts echoed from outside, but they were orders, not panic.

No way anyone could have followed her already...right? Jared was just being cautious. Exactly as she’d hoped.

Courtney glanced down at Dylan. The biscuit had fallen from his hand. He’d succumbed to sleep. At least someone felt safe after the last twenty-four hours.

She brushed his hair off his brow. “Oh, Jelly Bean. What have we gotten ourselves into?”

Her mind whirled with confusion. She didn’t know what to think. On the one hand Jared appeared to be enamored with his son. On the other, he’d obviously felt used because of his money and had vanished out of the room as if he wanted nothing to do with her.

In any other situation, Courtney might have stalked out and headed back to the airport, but she didn’t have that option. Neither of them did. Not when the most important person in their lives was so very vulnerable.

Dylan sniffed and turned his head against her breast. He snuggled in closer and she closed her eyes, just holding him.

Nothing could happen to him. She wouldn’t let him be harmed. No matter what the consequences.

She’d already made too many mistakes. Whoever had threatened her knew enough about her habits to recognized that she hired cars from a single trusted vendor. They’d obviously been watching her for a while.

She’d resigned herself that the blackmailer would follow her and find her. She had no choice but to see her plan through.

A soft knock sounded on the door.

Velma walked in and set a tray down on the coffee table. “I brought coffee and cake,” she said in a whisper, a frown worrying her brow.

The housekeeper glanced from Courtney to Dylan and back again. She shook her head slowly and clicked her tongue. “This isn’t good.”

Courtney stiffened, frowning at the woman who’d seemed almost too friendly outside. “I’m only here for Dylan. Believe me,” Courtney retorted in a tight whisper.

“Calm down, dearie. I’m not judging you.” Velma studied her with an eerie gaze, as if she were trying to peer directly into Courtney’s soul.

After several moments, Velma nodded. She’d obviously made a decision. “You were right to come. Jared will protect you and your son, and he needed to know about young Dylan. It’s just...” Velma poured a cup of coffee, and a bit sloshed over the side.

“Bother.” She mopped up the spill, then gave up and sat in the chair opposite Courtney.

“I’m sorry for snapping. My nerves are frazzled,” Courtney muttered. She chewed on her lower lip. Dylan shifted against her chest, and she cradled the baby protectively. “All that matters to me is him.”

“As it should.” Velma twisted her hands in her apron before raising her chin and meeting Courtney’s gaze. “I’ll say this only once, and we’ll never speak of it again. If you hurt Jared, I won’t let it pass. You’ll find me a formidable enemy.”

Courtney didn’t know how to respond. She opened her mouth to speak and Velma held up her hand.

“But, if you are who I believe you to be, I’ll stand beside you and fight the powers of hell to protect Jared’s son.” She clasped Courtney’s hands. “I’m just afraid the two of you will break my boyo’s heart.”

Velma’s unexpected words slapped Courtney in the face. “I’m not trying to hurt him.”

“I believe you, but you will anyway. Jared might appear as impenetrable as a rock and too strong to wound, but he’s been injured to the core of his soul. He sealed off his heart. You represent every dream he ever had and a nightmare he’s barely survived.”

The enormity of Velma’s statement gave Courtney chills. “What happened?”

“It’s not my story to tell.” A marked sadness glistened in Velma’s eyes. “Ms. Jamison, you brought trouble here. Jared will give his life to save you and Dylan without a second thought. Please don’t pierce his armor. Leave him be. He doesn’t deserve to be hurt again.”

Before Courtney could process the cryptic words, Jared strode into the room. “We need a few moments, Velma. Alone.”