Bucking Bronc Lodge 04(46)

Dugan pointed to Malcolm and Justin. “All right, you two.” He yanked Malcolm by the arm and held the gun at his back. “Don’t try anything, big guy, or your friend gets it.”

Malcolm made a gallant attempt to hide his fear, but Jordan saw his body tremble. Justin frowned up at Dugan. “You big bullies are all the same.”

“You got nerve, kid,” Dugan bellowed.

Justin looked as if he intended to say more; Jordan remembered his story. He had not only been bullied as a kid, but he’d been beaten by his stepfather. The stepfather was arrested only after putting Justin in the hospital twice. Finally his mother left the man, but the mental scars remained. Kids who grew up with abusive parents learned early on how to avoid inciting their wrath.

Either that, or they rebelled when they were older and turned violent themselves. Justin had traveled that path but had come back. Still, Dugan must be pushing his buttons, just as he was doing with Carlos and Malcolm.

“Justin,” she said with a warning note in her voice. “Please take Malcolm outside.”

Dugan jabbed Justin. “You think you’re tough, kid.”

Jordan squeezed Justin’s arm. They couldn’t risk antagonizing the man.

Justin released a shaky breath. “No, sir.”

Dugan twisted his mouth from side to side as if in indecision, but finally motioned toward the door with a wave of the gun. “Go now or you lose your chance.”

Jordan stepped to the door. “Miles, Justin and Malcolm are coming out now.”

Miles emerged from the woods and walked toward them, but Dugan shouted at him to stop. Seconds later, Justin took Malcolm’s arm and the two of them hurried toward Miles. He swept them to safety behind some trees with Rory.

“Thank you, Dugan,” Miles yelled as he stepped back into the clearing, his hands once again splayed as if in surrender. “Now release Jordan and the other boys and I’m all yours.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Dugan yelled back. “You ruined my life. I intend to do the same to yours.”

“You’ve already done that,” Miles said. “You killed Timmy’s mother and terrified him.”

“Stop this madness,” Jordan said behind Dugan. “Let the boys go and prove you aren’t the monster Miles accused you of being.”

Dugan cursed, rammed his hand against the wall with a bang, then swung the gun toward Carlos and Wayling. Timmy jerked his head up and whimpered. Jordan wanted to go to him, but any sudden movement might set Dugan off, so she remained still, calm, focused.

“You two, get up,” Dugan said. He shoved the gun in Carlos’s face and jerked Wayling’s arm. Wayling grunted in pain, but Carlos simply stared Dugan in the eyes.

These boys had already seen too much violence in their lives. They shouldn’t be so hardened, but at this moment, she was glad they were tough enough to realize that reacting might make things worse.

Carlos gripped Wayling by the shirt collar. “Come on, kid. Let’s get out of here.” He glanced back at Jordan before he stepped outside. “Will you be okay?”

She forced a smile. “Yes, just take Wayling and be there for the other boys. They need you, Carlos.”

A moment of understanding, and pride flickered in his eyes, and Jordan’s heart squeezed. When they ended this situation safely, she would commend all these boys on their bravery.

Miles stepped out to usher Carlos and Wayling to join the others with Brody, then he returned midway again. “Now, Dugan, send Timmy and Jordan out and I’ll give you whatever you want.”

Jordan sucked in a sharp breath. Judging from the maniacal look in Dugan’s eyes, he wanted Miles dead.

And she couldn’t live with that.

“Make the deal,” Jordan said. “Miles can arrange transportation for you. Then you’ll be free. That’s what you want, not to hurt an innocent child like you were once.”

Dugan swung around as if to hit her, and Timmy made a noise then rocked himself back and forth.

For a moment, Dugan seemed mesmerized by his behavior as if it touched some distant memory chord. Then he moved back to the barn door and nudged his gun into the opening.

“All right, McGregor. Get me a helicopter cleared to take off and cross into Mexico, then I’ll let the kid and your lover girl go.”

Jordan held her breath.

Miles shouted back, “I’ll have one here in an hour. Now send out my son.”

“No way,” Dugan said with a bitter laugh. “Get the chopper first. And I want clearance to get to Mexico without cops on my tail.”

“All right,” Miles agreed. “But you have to release Timmy and Jordan first. You can take me instead.”