This Cowboy of Mine--Includes a Bonus Novella Read online

  He started to march away when he turned to see the women moving along beside them. When he began to protest, Meg stopped him with a hairy eyeball. “Hammond Merrick, I’ve stood beside your son for fifty years, and I’ve never hid from danger. I don’t intend to start now. Those hostages inside are as much my family as yours.”

  Behind her, Avery and Liz nodded their agreement.

  Realizing it was a waste of time to argue, he spun away and continued toward the house, with the others following.

  The Merrick family was halfway to the ranch house when a voice, amplified by a bullhorn, announced, “Ray Keller. The house is surrounded by Wyoming State Police sharpshooters. If you release your hostages and come out with your hands in the air, you will not be harmed.”

  Inside the house, Keller leapt from the chair where he’d been watching a true-crime reenactment of a brazen gang of bank robbers shooting half a city’s police force as they made good their escape to a waiting van.

  After his time on the run it took him mere seconds to react. He tucked his pistol in the waistband of his pants and aimed the rifle at the man and woman lying on the floor.

  “Looks like the rules of the game have changed.” Instead of his usual smirk, his face was contorted with fury. “They think they’ve got me cornered. But I’ve still got an ace up my sleeve.” He stepped closer, pointing the rifle downward toward Casey. “Sorry I can’t dump your body down the well like I’d planned, but you’ll be just as dead in here. That’ll let them know I mean business. And then the woman will be my shield when we walk out of here together. And if they try to stop me, I’ll let them know they’ve signed her death warrant, too.”

  Casey’s mind was working feverishly. Thanks to Kirby, he had an ace of his own. Though he knew it was a gamble, he needed Keller to get close enough to overpower. Otherwise, the first bullet out of that rifle would bring on his last moment on earth.

  “You think that gun makes you a big man, don’t you?”

  Keller blinked before stepping closer. “This gun makes me the man to beat. And if you think I’m dumb enough to toss this aside and fight you with my fists, think again, cowboy. I’m nobody’s fool. Killing you is going to be a real pleasure. I just wish I had time to make you suffer first.”

  As he took aim, Casey kicked out with his foot to hook Keller’s ankle, catching the convict completely by surprise as he lost his balance and fell forward. The motion caused him to fire off a shot. The bullet went wild.

  Casey used that moment to pounce, bringing his fist to the back of Keller’s head, stunning him for an instant. Casey grabbed a handful of the man’s hair and slammed his face to the floor.

  Keller swore and twisted free, kicking viciously at Casey’s left arm, causing blood to spurt from the bullet wound and Casey to suck in a breath on the crippling pain. Even before he could straighten up, Keller took aim with the rifle and fired again at close range, sending Casey slamming against the wall before sliding slowly to the floor. Barely conscious, he watched helplessly as Keller advanced, rifle aimed and ready to fire a final, fatal shot.

  At the sound of voices, Keller’s head came up sharply as a group of men and women came racing through the same shattered window Casey had used earlier.

  He swore. “More heroes. Now you’re all going to die.”

  As he turned and took aim at them, he heard a female’s voice cry, “No!”

  There was a blur of motion to one side as Kirby came at him like a wildcat, her raised arm holding a knife.

  Before he could react she jammed the knife into his shoulder again and again, forcing him to drop the rifle and clutch at the fountain of blood that spurted.

  With a savage oath he fell to his knees. Seeing that the Merricks were still advancing, he made a grab for the pistol at his waist. Just as he freed it, a booted foot made contact with his hand and the pistol went flying through the air. He looked up to find Kirby standing over him, tears of pain and rage flowing down her cheeks.

  “You killed Casey,” she shouted. “For that, I’ll never forgive you. Never.” She continued pummeling him with her fists, until he was forced to cover his head with his hands as the Merrick family jumped into the fray.

  The sound of gunshots inside the house had the police quickly changing tactics. With a group of them maintaining their positions to keep the house surrounded, in case the fugitive tried to break away, the rest of the officers were ordered to proceed inside.

  With Noble Crain and the lieutenant in the lead, they entered to find Brand and Jonah Merrick standing over a bloody Ray Keller with rifles pointed at his head. The others had gathered around Casey’s bloody figure lying in a corner of the room.

  “He’s alive.” Meg’s voice had Noble hurrying over to see for himself as he yelled for medics.

  “Are you sure?” Kirby was clinging to Casey’s hand, while tears flooded her eyes.

  As paramedics approached, the family was ordered to move away and make room.

  “I’ve got a pulse,” one of the paramedics shouted. “Erratic but strong.”

  Another inserted an intravenous needle into Casey’s arm.

  All the while, Kirby continued holding on to Casey’s hand, as though afraid to let go for even one second.

  “You need to step back, Miss,” one of the paramedics said.

  “She…stays.” Casey managed the words through a haze of pain.

  “Oh, Casey.” Kirby’s tears flowed even faster. “I was so afraid he’d killed you.”

  Across the room, Ray Keller had been restrained before medics began assessing his wounds.

  “Damned female stabbed me clear to the bone,” he was shouting as the police led him away.

  Casey gave a thumbs-up to his family. “She’s…hero.”

  “You both are.” Noble gave the Merrick family a look of amazement. “I don’t know how these two managed to survive, but I’m betting they’ll have quite a story to tell. As for the rest of you…” He shot a look at the lieutenant before adding, “We weren’t pleased to have you ignore our orders, but I suppose, since it ended well…”

  “Thanks to that little firebrand.” Ham pointed at Kirby, who was busy admonishing the medics to handle Casey with care as they lifted him onto a portable gurney and began rolling it toward the door.

  One of them turned to her. “You’ll have to stay behind, Miss.”

  “Stays…with me,” Casey said as firmly as he could with the sedative beginning to take effect.

  Noble nodded to the medic. “You heard him. The young lady goes with him.” He turned to the others. “I’ll want statements from all of you.”

  Ham started toward the door. “Stop by the ranch later, Noble. Right now we need to follow along to town.”

  As the family disappeared, the state police lieutenant watched with a frown before turning to the chief. “Are you just going to let them walk away like that?”

  Noble couldn’t suppress a grin. “You saw how they follow orders. They barged in here ahead of our shooters. They were ready to stop a killer’s bullets in order to save one of their own. You think a little thing like asking for their statements is going to keep them here now?”

  The lieutenant chuckled. “I see what you mean. So that’s the famous Merrick family. I understand the old man is a legend.”

  “Hammond, the Hammer. Yeah. That’s one tough old bird. And the rest of them are just as tough.”

  Noble looked around at the officers bagging evidence, while outside the team of sharpshooters was busy putting away their weapons in the convoy of vehicles that had rolled up after the all clear.

  “Thanks to the Merrick family, we got our man.”

  “Without a fatality.”

  Noble nodded and shook the officer’s hand. “Now I’d better head back to town to watch the circus.”

  At the lieutenant’s questioning look he said with a laugh, “I can’t wait to watch the Merrick family take charge of poor Dr. Peterson at the Devil’s Door Clinic. In fact, I’m betting it�
��ll be better than a circus.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Billy had been busy in the kitchen since early in the morning. From the amazing aromas perfuming the air, it was clear he was preparing all of Casey’s favorites.

  Meg and Egan sat by the fire with Ham, talking softly. Every so often they would glance out the window, hoping to spot the truck that had left for town hours ago.

  Liz had locked herself in her studio in the barn, explaining that working on her photographs would help pass the time until her brother and nephews returned with Casey and Kirby.

  Kirby. The thought of her had Meg lowering her voice. “I’m worried about Kirby. She wouldn’t even come back with us last night to shower and rest.”

  Ham shot her a look. “Would you, if that was Egan in that hospital bed?”

  “Of course not. But that’s different. Egan has been part of my life for over fifty years.”

  In his typical brusque manner Ham said, “I think once you’ve found the right one, the number of years doesn’t matter. Love’s love, whether for a minute or a lifetime.”

  Meg nodded. “I’m just not sure those two really know what they’re feeling. Especially Kirby. That poor young woman has been through an ordeal. She needs time. And some pampering.”

  “And she’ll get it. First things first, Margaret Mary. You could see that she was worried sick about Casey, after seeing him shot at close range, and believing him dead. How could she leave him, even for a night?”

  Egan added, “Dr. Peterson said the bullets hadn’t hit any vital organs or arteries. The wounds were clean. Besides the gunshots, much of the blood was from the glass when he’d burst through that window. But Casey was looking pretty scary when we got there.”

  “Thank heaven, he was so lucky.” Meg touched a hand to Egan’s. “But poor Kirby went through a trauma of her own. I saw Dr. Peterson’s face when he examined the cuts made by those ropes around her wrists and ankles. The cuts were deep, proving that she’d fought them until she couldn’t fight anymore. Her flesh was so torn and bloody, it looked like she’d been caught in one of those cruel animal traps. I almost think she’d have chewed off her own hands just to get free, in order to save Casey.”

  Ham gave a grunt of acknowledgment. “Still, Doc wouldn’t be releasing her and Casey if he didn’t think they were healing.”

  “I’m sure they are.” Meg sighed. “Still, I’m a firm believer in therapy.”

  “We’ve got Avery for that.”

  Meg shook her head. “Not physical therapy. Kirby experienced terrible fear at the hands of that killer. It isn’t something she can simply forget overnight. Trauma like that could haunt her for years without the proper care.”

  Billy crossed the room and handed Meg a cup. “Herbal tea, Miss Meg. It’ll soothe you.”

  “Thank you, Billy.” She fell silent as she sipped her tea and joined the men in listening for the sound of a truck.

  “I want to see the two of you back here at the end of the week.” Dr. Peterson handed Kirby a printout of his notes on the proper care of their wounds, along with several prescriptions. One for pain medication for Casey, and another for ointment for Kirby’s wrists and ankles, which had already begun scabbing over. “And Kirby, you may want to talk to a counselor about any lingering fears or bad dreams.”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  As the doctor’s assistant, Jenny Swan, wheeled Casey toward the door, Kirby walked along beside him in a mental fog as she kept a hand on his arm.

  With Brand and Jonah trailing behind them, ready to assist Casey into the back of the truck, their father, Bo, remained behind in the clinic.

  As soon as they were alone Bo turned to the doctor. “What’s bothering you, Doc? Is there something about Casey’s wounds you haven’t told me?”

  The doctor shook his head. “It’s not about Casey. His wounds are fine. I’m worried about Kirby. She barely slept last night. Just kept watch over Casey, as though she expected him to stop breathing at any minute.”

  “Don’t you think that’s typical? They were both held hostage by a man bent on killing them.”

  Dr. Peterson shrugged. “There’s just something…” He paused. “I can’t put my finger on it, but Kirby seems in a kind of limbo. That’s why I suggested some counseling. I want her to be able to put this behind her and get on with her life.”

  Bo nodded. “After all that young woman has been through, I’d think it strange if she wasn’t feeling anxious.”

  The doctor managed a smile. “I could be overreacting. But keep an eye on her, Bo.”

  “I will.” The two men shook hands and Bo made his way to the truck, in front of the entrance of the clinic.

  He climbed up to the passenger seat and glanced in the back, where Casey and Kirby sat, shoulders brushing, both looking everywhere but at one another.

  On the long drive home they seemed content to let Brand and Jonah carry the conversation, while they stared out the side windows, watching as a light snow fell, dusting the highway before them.

  The minute the truck pulled up to the back porch, the family spilled down the steps to greet Casey and Kirby with fierce hugs and tons of kisses.

  “Here’s our little spitfire,” Egan said.

  He and Meg kept their arms around Kirby, while Ham led the way inside with Casey.

  In the kitchen both Casey and Kirby were urged to sit by the fire where they were bundled under afghans. Billy handed Kirby herbal tea and offered Casey a mug of hot chocolate.

  “You’d better be careful,” Casey warned. “With all this pampering, I may decide to give up ranch chores altogether and just sit around watching the rest of you work.”

  “Not likely.” Brand shared a grin with Jonah. “You try it, bro, and we’ll haul your—” he shot a glance at his grandmother before saying quickly “—we’ll haul your hide out to the barn and tape a shovel to your hand so you can’t stop until the job’s done.”

  That had everyone laughing and beginning to relax.

  Casey looked around. “Where’s Aunt Liz?”

  “Out in her studio. Chet went to tell her you’re home.”

  “He could’ve phoned her.”

  Jonah gave his brother a sly look. “Then he wouldn’t have had an excuse to walk back with her.”

  The two shared grins.

  When Kirby finished her tea Meg said gently, “Would you like to go up to your room and shower?”

  For the first time Kirby seemed to realize how she must look. “I guess I should.”

  She climbed the stairs, hearing the familiar murmur of voices below.

  Once in her room she stepped into the bathroom and caught her reflection in a mirror. She was dismayed to see the bloody stains on her filthy shirt and pants.

  For a moment she gripped the edge of the counter, seeing again in her mind the way Casey had looked after being shot. So much blood. So much pain. And all she could do was watch in absolute terror as his life seemed to be draining away.

  She stripped and got into the shower, feeling the sting of the spray as she scrubbed away all traces of blood and let the warm water beat down on her. She stepped out and dried herself before wrapping her hair in a thick towel.

  From the closet she withdrew a suitcase and began packing her meager belongings. During her time at the clinic she’d had time to think. To plan on what she ought to do next.

  Tomorrow she would move into the apartment above Julie Franklyn’s hair salon. Though she hadn’t had a chance to see it, she knew it would suit her simple needs. After all, she’d survived in the big city for years, even though her heart had always been in Wyoming. Now she was back, and though it wasn’t turning into the life she’d envisioned, she’d made her peace with it. If she couldn’t have a full loaf, she’d settle for half.

  What had Uncle Frank always said?

  No sense crying over spilt milk. Clean up the mess and enjoy what’s left in the jug, and then get on with it.

  When she’d finished packing,
feeling exhausted beyond belief and unable to ignore the lure of the big bed any longer, she climbed beneath the covers and was asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

  At a knock on her door Kirby awoke with a jolt and sat up. It took her a moment to get her bearings. Slipping out of bed, she hurried to see who it was.

  Casey couldn’t help smiling at the sight of her wearing nothing but a towel. “You look rested. Not to mention really hot.” As he watched her flush, his smile widened. “I figured once you came upstairs, you’d grab some sleep.”

  “Sorry.” Caught unawares, she suddenly felt shy.

  He gave her a steady look. “Every time I woke last night in the clinic you were sitting beside me. I don’t think you slept at all.”

  She gave a negligent shrug of her shoulder. “That doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you slept.”

  “I had no choice. Dr. Peterson had me so full of sedatives, I’d have slept through a tornado.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “Besides, my fierce little warrior was there beside me, ready to protect me.”

  She shivered at his intimate touch. “Just returning the favor.”

  He made no move to leave. “Billy said dinner will be ready in a few minutes. But we have time—”

  She pulled away. “Give me a minute to dress, and I’ll join you downstairs.”

  Casey looked beyond her to the open suitcase. “What this?”

  She turned away to avoid the censure in his tone. “I thought I’d get a head start on packing. I’ll be ready to move into Julie Franklyn’s apartment in the morning.”