Bucking Bronc Lodge 04(50)
Carlos shifted restlessly, then seemed to accept what he’d said. “All right, man. But...don’t let anything happen to Miss Jordan. She stood up for all of us in there.” He jammed his hands in the pockets of his dusty jeans. “She’s getting to him, too.”
Miles drew a deep breath. Jordan was smart. She would do that, try to figure out a way to calm him.
He just hoped that it worked and that she and Timmy both came out alive.
* * *
DUGAN HAD TO GET THE damn woman out of his head. Stop her incessant talking.
His mind raced, voices whispering at him to shut her up. To torture her and carve her up like the others.
“Just look at Timmy,” she said. “Don’t you see yourself in him, Robert? Don’t you see that innocent little boy? He’s lost his mother. All he wants now is to be with some friends. Learn to ride horses and grow up.”
“Shut the hell up!” He strode over and slapped her again.
Her head whipped back, and Timmy cried out. Then suddenly the brat ran over and bit his arm.
Dugan bellowed and shook him free, then threw the kid against the hay. Jordan jumped up in front of Timmy, and Dugan shoved her aside. The gun went off again, and Jordan screamed.
“Kill her,” the voice whispered. “Take the boy and run. You know what you have to do.” Yes, he did. There would be no time for pleasure with her.
Although that certainly would have tormented McGregor more.
He had to get out of here, had to get away.
See his mama.
“Dugan!” Miles shouted.
Outside, footsteps pounded. Something banged against the barn door. Suddenly the side door flew open, and a deputy dived in firing.
Jordan screamed again, and he hit her with the butt of his gun and knocked her to the ground. Timmy dived on top of her.
“Miss Jordan...”
Everything happened so fast. Bullets flying. The deputy shouting his name. McGregor racing in.
Dugan jerked Timmy up and pulled him in front of himself. McGregor halted and threw his hand up to warn the deputy not to come closer.
Dugan had no choice. The damn bitch started this. But he had to finish it.
He pressed the gun barrel to the boy’s head then glared at McGregor. “Don’t come any closer or you’ll be putting your boy in the ground beside his mother.”
Chapter Fifteen
Miles stared at the scene in front of him in horror. Jordan on the ground. Blood on her blouse. Not moving.
Timmy in the clutches of the sadistic monster who’d killed his mother.
Dammit, what had gone wrong? The gunshot...the deputy barging in...
“Daddy?”
Timmy’s choked voice dragged Miles back to the moment—his son had actually spoken.
“It’s okay, bud. I’m right here.” He cleared his throat of the emotions threatening to consume him. “Don’t hurt him, Dugan.”
“Then stay back.” Dugan’s hand trembled, which made Miles even more nervous. “Is that chopper outside?”
Miles forced himself to rein in his temper. “Not yet but it’s on its way.”
The deputy groaned and panic flared in Dugan’s eyes. “Where’s your car, Deputy?”
Miles glanced at the deputy who was pressing his hand over his thigh to stem the blood flow. “On the hill out back.”
“Keys?” Dugan asked.
The deputy dangled them.
“Toss them to me,” Dugan ordered.
Timmy struggled but Dugan tightened his grip. “Be still, kid, or your dad will get it.”
His harshly spoken words froze Timmy with fear.
Miles silently cursed but gestured for the deputy to toss Dugan the keys. They jangled then fell at Dugan’s feet. He stooped down and stuffed them in his pocket.
Miles had to reason with him. “Come on, Dugan, you can get away faster if you’re by yourself. Everyone will be looking for you if you kidnap a child.”
“Yeah, but no one will shoot.” The glow of victory lit Dugan’s eyes.
Miles took a step forward. “Taking me hostage serves the same purpose.” He rested his hand on the handcuffs at his belt. “Come on, let Timmy go and you can handcuff me.”
He’d trade his life for his little boy’s any day.
Dugan’s mouth crinkled with a smile as he looked down at Timmy. His expression was twisted and demonic.
Then, for a moment, almost affectionate.
What the hell... The sick bastard.
“Sorry, McGregor, but the kid is my best chance.” He rubbed one hand over Timmy’s head. “Besides, your girlfriend made me start thinking about things. How I never had a kid of my own. How I could have done better than my mother.”
Miles’s blood ran cold. What was he going to do? Kill him then raise Timmy as his own?
* * *