Someone is after her and her baby...

Danger returns to Wrangler’s Corner

After saving Kaylee Martin from abduction and delivering her baby boy on the side of the road, Dr. Joshua Crawford can’t get them out of his mind. Unfortunately, neither can Kaylee’s violent stalker. He’ll stop at nothing to get to the new mom and her child. Can Joshua keep them safe so they can become the family he’s dreamed about?

LYNETTE EASON is a bestselling, award-winning author who makes her home in South Carolina with her husband and two teenage children. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and teaching at various writing conferences around the country. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Lynette can often be found online interacting with her readers. You can find her at Facebook.com/lynette.eason and on Twitter, @lynetteeason.

Also By Lynette Eason

Love Inspired Suspense

Wrangler’s Corner

The Lawman Returns

Rodeo Rescuer

Protecting Her Daughter

Classified Christmas Mission

Vanished in the Night

Classified K-9 Unit

Bounty Hunter

Rookie K-9 Unit

Honor and Defend

Capitol K-9 Unit

Trail of Evidence

Family Reunions

Hide and Seek

Christmas Cover-Up

Her Stolen Past

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Vanished in the Night

Lynette Eason

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08454-3

VANISHED IN THE NIGHT

© 2018 Lynette Eason

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

“I’ve got him.” Joshua hurried toward her and took the baby carrier from her.

Sunlight glinted off something in the parking garage across the street. He took a closer look and saw the protruding piece of metal. The sight produced a distinctly bad feeling in his gut.

“Kaylee, go back inside.”

“What? Why?”

A crack sounded, and the concrete spit shards up around the bottom of his calves.

Joshua simply moved, keeping himself between Duncan and the shooter in the parking garage. He rounded the front of the vehicle and had almost reached her when the glass door behind her shattered.

Silence reigned for a split second before screams echoed around him. With a tight grip on the handle of the carrier, Joshua grabbed Kaylee and shoved her through the door that no longer existed.

They made it inside just as the second bullet took out the glass of the other door.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for journeying back to Wrangler’s Corner for yet another adventure. I hope you enjoyed Joshua’s and Kaylee’s story. I really loved getting to know them and little Duncan.

You know, Kaylee had a rough time after losing her mother. She had questions that had never been answered because of her estrangement from her father. She didn’t really think people could change and was really reluctant to give him a second chance. And while it’s true, some people really don’t change, others really do. I was glad to make Kaylee’s father one of those who did. And when Kaylee finally stopped judging him and decided to give him another chance, she was so glad she did. Sure, she was risking being hurt all over again, but in the end, she found it worth the risk. And sometimes that’s what life is all about. Taking risks—that step of faith that allows God to step in and do something good.

Blessings to all and I look forward to having you join me soon on another adventure in Wrangler’s Corner.

God bless,

Lynette Eason

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

Dedicated to my family. I love you more.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

Joshua Crawford gripped the steering wheel and hoped he could keep his cool when he confronted his mother about her lousy idea to marry the town drunk. “Hoped” being the key word. He drove with precise, automatic movements, each mile taking him closer to home and to the woman who’d loved and raised him and taught him right from wrong.

Which was why he was not going to allow her to throw the rest of her good years away on a man who could take advantage of a widow. Because that was just plain wrong. Of all the people—no, of all the unmarried people—in Wrangler’s Corner, she’d picked Garrett Martin?

Joshua was actually worried about her mental state. No matter that she insisted the man was changed and treated her like a “precious jewel.” Her words. Nope, not his mother. No way. His deceased father may have been best friends with the man, but that didn’t mean his mother had to marry him.

As Joshua rounded the next curve that would take him into Wrangler’s Corner, he slammed on the brakes. Rubber screeched on asphalt but his SUV responded well.

A black van sat in the middle of the street, blocking both lanes, its hazard lights flashing. A wreck? Was anyone hurt? His hand went to the door handle.

At the sound of a woman’s scream, he bolted out of the SUV and ran toward the black van. Only to skid to a stop. It was one inch from being T-boned up against the front of a light gray sedan.

A blond-headed woman struggled against a man’s grip.

“Hey!” Joshua started toward them.

The man spun, freeing the woman who dropped to her knees and clutched her very pregnant belly. Her tentlike dress billowed around her as tears dripped down her cheeks. He met her attacker’s gaze. “Get away from her. I’m calling the cops.”

Joshua pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed 9-1-1. The man cursed, raced at Joshua and threw a right hook. If it had connected, it would have hurt, but Joshua easily deflected the intended blow.

With expert precision, he flipped the man, who landed on his back, gasping and blinking. The attacker rolled to his stomach, still trying to draw breath. Joshua started toward him to move him out of reach of the woman and found himself staring at the muzzle of a black pistol.

Joshua held his hands up and stepped back slightly. Even his extreme skills were no match for a bullet. “Whoa. There’s no need for that.”

The man rolled to his feet, keeping the weapon trained on Joshua. The woman let out another low cry, but Joshua couldn’t do anything to help her. Not yet. His adrenaline spiked in a way he’d never felt before. “Get in your van and drive away,” Joshua said.

“She’s coming with me.”

Joshua glanced at the puddle of water on the ground at the woman’s feet. “Actually, I think she’s getting ready to have a baby. Have you ever delivered one?”

Before the attacker could respond, a blue truck approached and slowed. The older man behind the wheel lowered his window, his brow furrowed in concern. “Hey, y’all need any help?”

“No, we’re fine, thanks,” Joshua said. “It was a close call, but no one’s hurt.” He sure didn’t want to involve an innocent bystander. From his position, the newcomer couldn’t see the weapon in the other man’s hand. Joshua planned to keep it that way.

“All right, then.” The driver gave a wave and sped off.

“The cops are on the way,” Joshua said. “That man saw your vehicle. You shoot me or hurt her, you’ll be found.”

A low growl escaped the man as he backed toward his van, never moving his weapon from Joshua. “You’ll regret interfering. I’ll be back.” He climbed in and slammed the door then peeled away as he headed toward the highway.

Joshua let out a low breath and rushed to the woman’s side even as he barked orders to the dispatcher still on the phone. He gave her the make and model of the van and the direction it was headed, but couldn’t get the plate. However, he was able to describe the gun. He turned his attention to the moaning woman. “What’s your name?”

“Kaylee...Martin.” She gasped. “Oh-hh, it hurts.”

He froze for a split second. Kaylee Martin? As in the daughter of the man his mother planned to marry? Great. Just great. With a tight smile, he took her arm and led her to his SUV. “Get in the back. How far apart are your contractions?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t exactly had a chance to time them.” She let out a low gasp and closed her eyes. He waited for the contraction to pass. She looked up. “I need to get to the hospital. I was on the way when he pulled in front of me. I barely managed to stop without hitting him.”

“I don’t think there’s time to get to a hospital. I’m a doctor, let me help you.”

“No. I want my doctor and my hospital. Please, drive me.”

Joshua hesitated.

She gave another low groan and bent, clutching her belly, still standing on the side of the road next to his SUV.

“Breathe through it,” he said. “As soon as this contraction stops, you need to get into the back of my truck and I’m going to deliver your baby. Your contractions are coming too fast to make it anywhere. Where’s your husband? You want me to call him?”

The contraction passed and she gripped his hand. “My husband is dead—and I wouldn’t call him if he weren’t. Now. Take me to the hospital.” She panted a bit then caught her breath. “Please. I can’t have this baby on the side of the road. What if something goes wrong? What if—?”

“All right, we can try. Just promise me you’ll holler if you have to push. Understand?”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

She made it into the back seat before the next contraction hit her. He talked her through it. “I’ve got to move your car out of the middle of the road, okay? I’ll be right back, I promise.”

“Okay. Okay. It’s fine. I can do this.”

The compassionate doctor inside him took over. “Of course you can, Kaylee. I’ll be there to help.”

“The keys are in the ignition,” she whispered. “Hurry.”

* * *

Kaylee watched him leave and breathed a prayer to the God she wasn’t sure was even listening. But just in case he was... I don’t know why stuff like this happens to me, but, please, get me through it. Help me. Let my baby be all right, healthy, whole and fine...

“I’m back.”

“Drive. Please drive. Fast.”

Still, he hesitated. “Kaylee, we’re an hour away—”

“Get in and drive! Please.”

Joshua sighed and climbed into the driver’s seat. “All right, but I can guarantee you we’re not going to make it.” He cranked the big Suburban and pulled onto the road that would take them toward Nashville’s hospital.

“We’ll make it,” she said. “We have to make it.” After all she’d been through, delivering her baby on the side of the road would just be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. No, she could do this. She was strong. She’d survived marrying into a mafia family—unbeknownst to her at the time—then being thrown out of said mafia family when her husband’s parents disowned him. She’d lived through visiting her spouse in prison, learning about his affair, then being tossed out of her home, pregnant and penniless, by the very man who’d promised to love her forever. She was a survivor. If she had to have her child on the moon, she would do it, and they were going to have a wonderful life together. Her baby deserved it.

“What were you doing driving yourself?” he asked just as another contraction hit.

She panted her way through it before responding. “Dad wasn’t answering his phone. I called two other friends, and they didn’t answer. I waited to see if one of them would call me back. Obviously, I waited too long. I didn’t want to spend the money on an ambulance—” Another contraction hit and she couldn’t get another word out. Kaylee clenched her teeth and tried to breathe at the same time. She really should have done the classes, but—“Ah!”

“Breathe, Kaylee. Breathe through it.”

“You breathe through it! I don’t want to breathe through it. I want it to stop!” Then the pressure was just too much. “Oh, no. I have to push. I have to!”

“Don’t push!” The SUV slammed to a stop and then he was there with the back door open. He rested one hand on her right ankle. “Look, let me help you.”

“I don’t know you. You can help me by getting me to the hospital.”

“Don’t you recognize me?”

She blinked at him, trying to focus. “No.” She’d been in pain and fear for the last ten hours. Everything was kind of blurry. And the pressure...

“I’m Joshua Crawford. Dr. Joshua Crawford.”

Another wave of pain hit her even as she processed his name. Joshua Crawford. Oh, no. Not the son of the woman who planned to marry her father. The gold digger who’d sunk her claws into him.

She remembered Joshua now. And wished she didn’t. But she had heard that he was a doctor. Hadn’t she? Or was he some mixed martial arts fighter? The pain eased, the pressure lessened. But she knew it would be back. “I thought you were on the MMA circuit. When did you become a doctor?”

“I became the doctor first. MMA was later. Or rather, during.”

“What?”

“Never mind. I’ll explain later.”

More indescribable pain hit her. She couldn’t speak for the next couple of minutes, but once the contraction passed she looked at him and nodded. “Okay. Just make it stop.” At least she had a doctor to help, so maybe God did care about her just a little. At the moment she didn’t care, she was just thankful.

“Don’t push.”

“If you tell me not to push one more time—”

Joshua ran to the back of the SUV. In the midst of the contractions that seemed to come one after the other in a never-ending wave of pain, she heard him rummaging.

He returned and set a bag on the floor. “Try to relax. I’ve done this before.”

“You’ve had a baby before?” She gritted the words. “I doubt it. If you had, you would never tell me to try to relax—or demand I not push.”

He gave a low laugh. “No, I’ve never had a baby before, but I’ve delivered a few. Okay? How about try to take comfort in knowing that I’m going to take care of you and your little one?”

“That’s better.” She breathed through her mouth like she’d seen people do in the labor room where she’d worked a rotation. Surprisingly, it helped. A little.

“I don’t have everything I would like, but I’ve got a large tarp and a medical bag. It’ll have to do.”

“I’ve got towels in my car. In case my water broke. I was sitting on them in the driver’s seat.”

“Okay, be right back.”

He took off again and she did her best to breathe through the next contraction. When it was over, she sucked in a deep breath. “Whoa.” She had a new appreciation for mothers who chose natural childbirth over having an epidural. She hadn’t planned to do it this way.

She really wanted the epidural.

But it wasn’t to be. Now she just wanted her baby here, whole and healthy.

Joshua returned, towels in hand.

“That was fast.”

“I didn’t have to go very far.” He grinned. “I was driving really slow because I figured this was going to happen.”

She’d take that up with him later.

“I’m ready when you are.” He covered her with two of the towels and his respect for her privacy nearly made her cry. Then another wave of pain hit and she just plain didn’t care anymore. She just wanted to be done. And to sleep. Yes. Sleep would be amazing.

“Fine. Just do it.” She let out another yell and lost herself in the process of giving birth.

Kaylee wasn’t aware of time passing. She was mostly aware of the pain, but also the excitement that the end was finally here. The end...and the beginning. The beginning of a new life with a new life.

And then Joshua was placing him in her arms and everything faded once more. Only this time there was no pain, just awe. She touched the baby’s face. Her baby’s face. And he was just perfect.

She looked up to find Joshua staring at her—at them. His eyes met hers. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome.”

* * *

Joshua stripped his gloves from his hands and tossed them into a trash bag. He never traveled without his bag of medical supplies and, once again, it had paid off to have it.

He let his gaze travel the area, looking for the van used by Kaylee’s attacker. While he’d been focused on delivering the baby, he couldn’t help throwing glances over his shoulder every so often. He was almost surprised the man hadn’t shown up. Grateful, but surprised.

For now, Kaylee and her baby were safe, and that was all that mattered. He glanced at her and found she was still enamored with the infant in her arms. Her son.

His heart thudded at how beautiful he found the sight. Her long, blond hair feathered around her face. She’d pushed some strands behind her right ear but they didn’t want to stay there. Vivid blue eyes were now trained on her child, but Joshua remembered the fire in them when she’d tried to fight off her attacker and then again when she’d realized she was going to give birth in the back of his SUV. He drew in a deep breath. Beautiful or not, she was off-limits.

The ambulance had arrived five minutes after the baby boy had slid into his hands. Now the paramedics were waiting to take Kaylee and her son to the hospital to be checked out. His cousin, Sheriff Clay Starke, was also waiting. “Be with you in a minute.”

“Sure.”

Joshua approached the nearest paramedic, a blonde in her midthirties. “I think she’s ready.”

“Great.” She and her partner, an older guy, grabbed the gurney and rolled it over to the SUV. They gently helped Kaylee and the baby out of the back seat and onto the gurney.

Joshua re-gloved, rolled up the soiled tarp and disposed of it in the ambulance’s hazardous waste bag. He turned to find Clay talking to Kaylee. “...you know the man? Can you describe him?”

“No. I’ve never seen him before, I’m sorry. I...” She gave a small shrug and shook her head.

“Did he say what he wanted?”

“He wanted me to get in the van and, when I refused, he grabbed my arm. That’s when Joshua drove up and fought him off.”

At Clay’s raised brow, Joshua shrugged. “I did some mixed martial arts training to help deal with the stress of medical school. I picked up a few moves.”

She met his gaze. “I’ve never seen anyone fight like that. You made it look so easy.”

“At least until he pulled the gun, huh?” He could have disarmed the man with a few simple moves. And if Kaylee hadn’t been standing in the path of a possible bullet, he would have.

“Well, yes, but still, that was pretty amazing.”

He smiled. “I’ve had some practice.”

She bit her lip. “Thank you for being there. I don’t know what I would have done—with him or the baby.” She blinked back tears and he thought one of the walls around his heart might have just cracked a little.

He cleared his throat and backed up a bit. “It was good timing.”

Clay slapped him on the back. “Nice work. Glad to have you back home. Mom and Dad are looking forward to seeing you.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing them, as well.”

Clay turned to Kaylee. “Is there anyone we should call?”

“My father. I suppose.”

“I’ll call him now.”

“Thanks.”

“We’re ready to roll.” The paramedic shut the door.

“Should I follow her?” Joshua asked.

“Why?”

“Because whoever came after her just a bit ago isn’t done. He said he’d be back.”

And no matter who their parents were or the conflict that might wind up generating between him and Kaylee, he was worried her attacker might return—and he wasn’t about to leave her and her son unprotected.

TWO

Kaylee woke slowly, her body sore, but her heart at peace—at least before her brain kicked in. Her gaze drifted to the white board opposite the bed and noted a new message written on it.

Stopped in to see you, but you were sleeping. Didn’t want to wake you. Call me when you’re up to visitors—and when you’re ready to move in.

Xoxo, Nat.

Natalie Cross, her best friend in high school and the one person she trusted implicitly. Two weeks ago, she’d offered to let Kaylee move in with her, but as a lawyer with one of the most prestigious law firms in Nashville, she wasn’t around much. While she had a home in Wrangler’s Corner that had been in her family for several generations, she kept an apartment in the city for her late nights and early mornings.

Kaylee had yet to make up her mind, but she was leaning in that direction. She would have her own place and help her friend out by keeping up with the house. It might turn out to be a fabulous arrangement when she was ready to move out of her father’s house. Which was going to be soon.

Especially if her father’s marriage went through. She shifted to pick up the baby from his bassinet beside her bed and noticed the bruises her attacker had left on her upper right arm.

But she was safe.

And she had a beautiful baby boy, thanks to Dr. Joshua Crawford. A man who hadn’t hesitated to help. So very different from most of the men she’d crossed paths with. Men like her dead husband. Or the man who’d stalked her until he’d finally made his move and tried to kidnap her.

The thought of her stalker sent her brain spinning back to the man who’d tried to grab her yesterday. If she hadn’t gotten a good look at him, she would have believed her stalker had returned. But that was impossible. Thanks to the quick action of a neighbor, Patrick Talbot had been arrested the night he’d attempted to kidnap her and was now in custody awaiting trial.

Kaylee shuddered, not wanting to think about the man who’d made her life miserable for a little over six months. She still didn’t know what it was she’d done that had focused his attention on her. But that had been over for weeks now, and she didn’t have to worry or think about him again until it came time for her to testify. With a determined effort, she pushed him out of her mind and turned her thoughts to her father.

He’d been in for a visit and had seemed distant, quiet. He’d stood over the bassinet, looking down at the baby with one of the strangest expressions Kaylee had ever seen. Then he’d wished her well, excused himself and slipped out the door. She supposed she should be glad he’d at least come by.

With a mental shrug, she dismissed thoughts of her father and stroked the downy-soft cheek. “You need a name, don’t you?”

She’d not wanted to know the gender of the baby before he was born. As a result, she’d decorated only a little after she’d moved in with her father. And while she’d had offers of help from Mrs. Crawford, she simply couldn’t bring herself to accept it—or the fact that the woman would be marrying her father in three weeks.

Yes, her father was known for his drinking issues, but as far as she could tell, that was in the past, just as he claimed. Since she’d been living in his home, she hadn’t seen a drop of alcohol in the place.

Of course, she didn’t know what he did when he left the house.

But could it possibly be true?

Then again, he also had a lot of money from some smart real-estate investments, and while people judged him for his drinking—not everyone believed he’d quit—they sure didn’t mind taking his money. Or marrying him to get it. Women tended to overlook his questionable past while trying to get their hands on his cash. However, he’d ignored them all.

Until Olivia Crawford.

Kaylee couldn’t stop the tide of resentment. Toward both her father and his fiancée. Nor could she stop the guilt. She knew it wasn’t right, but what was she to do about it? Pretend it wasn’t there? Pray for God to change her heart? She probably should. After all, she’d known Mrs. Crawford practically all her life, and if the woman wasn’t marrying her father, Kaylee would adore her. So, what was her problem? Why was she so out of sorts about this marriage?

Because she believed Mrs. Crawford had proved that she was just like every other woman in town and out to grab her father’s fortune. Then again, why did she care? If he was so blind, what did it matter to her? She sighed. Because he was still her father and she had a responsibility to look out for him even if he didn’t return the sentiment. And, in a way, she felt like she should look out for Mrs. Crawford. Her father was no prize catch, that was for sure.

A knock on the door jerked her from her conflicted thoughts. “Come in.”

The door swung open and Joshua stepped inside. Kaylee’s heart stalled while he shut the door behind him. When he turned back, his warm blue eyes met hers. “Hi.”

* * *

“Hi,” she said. Her eyes dropped down when the baby stirred.

Joshua watched in awe as the little one’s eyes opened and blinked at his mother. His mouth rounded into a small O before his lids dropped again. Joshua’s heart filled with an emotion he couldn’t name and wasn’t sure he should examine too closely. In fact, he should push it far, far away. Hadn’t he learned his lesson when it came to attractive women with children? “Don’t get involved” had been his motto for the past two years. Why was he actually reconsidering that?

And then her focus was back on him. “What are you doing here?”

He tried to read if she was glad, angry or simply indifferent in the question, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “I hope it’s all right. I just came to check in on you.”

“Of course it’s all right. But why?”

Heat surged into his cheeks and he shrugged, hoping she wouldn’t notice. “Because I wanted to make sure you and the baby were okay.” He should have stayed away, but he simply hadn’t been able to. He was overreacting and being silly. It wasn’t like he planned to marry the woman. He was just concerned.

Get a grip, Joshua.

“We’re fine. In fact, we’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. You didn’t have to come by.”

Joshua sighed. She didn’t want him there.

“But for some strange reason, I’m glad you did,” she said softly.

His heart lifted in spite of the sermon he’d just preached to himself about staying uninvolved. “You are?”

“I am. I’m so grateful. If it wasn’t for you, I would have given birth in the back of—” She swallowed and looked away. “Well, let’s just say I’m grateful and leave it at that.”

He took her hand, wondering if all of his preconceived notions about this woman were false. Had he judged her too quickly?

She shivered. “Why is your mother marrying my father?”

He paused. “So, you’ll talk to me about it?”

“Of course I’ll talk about it. If you’ll help me stop it. Or at least figure it out.”

He frowned. “Why do you want to stop it? My mother is a perfectly fine, upstanding lady.”

“I sure thought she was. So, why would she agree to marry someone like my father? He doesn’t exactly have the best reputation in town.”

Her question threw him. “Ah... I don’t know. I’ll be sure to ask her when I see her.” He didn’t bother telling that had been priority number one before he’d had to alter his plans to fight off her attacker and deliver her baby. He nodded to the infant. “What’s his name?”

“I haven’t decided.”

He lifted a brow. “Well, you can’t just keep calling him Baby. Or Bubba.”

“Bubba?” A smile curved her lips. “I’ve not once referred to him as Bubba, I assure you.”

Whoa. Her smile packed a punch. He cleared his throat. “What’s wrong with Bubba?”

“Not a thing. Bubba is a perfectly respectable name for those who choose it. I’m just not calling my child that, so don’t start.”

He shrugged. “I’m kidding, of course. Why don’t you have a name picked out, though? What about naming him after his father?”

She flinched and her eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t name him after his father if it were the only name left on the planet. I want my son to grow up to be good and honorable, to be a man who respects women and loves God. I’ll name him after someone who deserves it.”

Okay, then. There was a story behind those words.

Joshua eased into the chair beside her bed and held out his arms. “Sounds like things a good mother teaches her child. What did your husband do to make you so mad at him?”

She hesitated, then placed the baby in his arms. “He found someone else.”

“Ouch.” He knew the feeling. “Yes, that would do it.”

“And then was killed while he was sleeping next to her.”

He jerked and stared at her. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Wow. Who killed him?”

“The woman’s husband. He was found guilty of murder and is now serving a life sentence.”

Okay, so he probably should stop feeling sorry for himself. She’d been through much worse than he. Joshua settled back into the chair and held the infant in the crook of his arm. “I’m afraid I have no idea what to say to that one.”

A sigh slipped from her. “There’s nothing to say.” Silence fell between them and he adjusted the blanket over the tiny arm. “You’re good at that,” she said softly.

“I like babies.”

* * *

And she liked the image of him holding her son way too much. She almost snatched the child from him, but instead, sighed and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, she found Joshua staring at the baby with one of the most gentle, caring expressions she’d ever seen on a man.

“What’s your name?”

He looked up, confusion in his eyes. “Joshua.”

“I know that. I mean your full name.”

“Joshua Duncan Crawford. But don’t you dare call me JD.”

“Why? You like Bubba better?”

He laughed.

She thought about it. “I like it. I think I’ll call him Duncan.”

“What? After me?”

She held his stunned gaze. “Why not? You’ve shown him more care and gentleness than anyone else in his short life. A life he still has because you intervened today. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather name him after.”

He opened his mouth then shut it. Opened it again. “What about your father?” he finally said.

She shook her head. “No.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then I’m honored,” he said softly. He lifted the baby and gazed into the sleeping face. “Nice to meet you, Duncan.”

Kaylee thought she might burst into tears. His tenderness, his care...yes, Duncan was the perfect name for her son.

Joshua continued to talk to the newly named baby, and she let her eyes drift shut. Just for a moment. Then she’d take Duncan and feed him.

When she woke, the sun was down and the dark night snuggled up against the windowpane. The chair beside the bed was empty. She turned to check on Duncan and gasped at the empty bassinet.

In place of the baby, someone had left a white box. A box just like the one she’d received before she’d left her job in Nashville.

Terror struck. Her stalker was back. And he’d taken her son.

Kaylee threw the covers back and lowered her feet to the slippers someone had so kindly placed next to her bed. With trembling fingers, she snatched the robe from the end of the bed and tossed it around her shoulders.

She rushed to the door and threw it open—only to come to a halt. “Mrs. Crawford?”

The dark-haired woman turned from speaking with two of the nurses—with Duncan in her arms. Kaylee pressed a hand to her pounding heart and walked over to her. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, I worried you, didn’t I? I’m so sorry.” She immediately handed the baby to Kaylee, who gathered him close and inhaled his sweet scent. Her knees trembled and tears gathered at the back of her throat.

But Duncan was safe. Her stalker was in custody. He hadn’t left the box. She could relax. The fact that she’d immediately reverted to her jumpy, nerve-racking, stalker days frustrated her. But that box...

The woman placed a hand on Kaylee’s shoulder and squeezed. “You were sleeping so soundly, I hated to wake you. Joshua had to leave. Clay called him and asked him to come in to discuss the attack on you in more detail. As he was leaving, he introduced your little man to me. Then he started to fuss, so I picked him up and fed him his bottle.”

“Oh. Well, thank you.” Kaylee had needed the sleep, definitely felt better because of it, but the last thing she wanted was for this woman to form an attachment to her child.

But at least Mrs. Crawford wouldn’t hurt him.

Kaylee chided herself for her initial fear. If anyone had taken her baby through the hospital doors, all kinds of alarms would have gone off.

She sighed. The day’s events had rattled her more than she wanted to admit. “I’m going back to my room. Thank you for stopping by.” She turned to go.

“Kaylee?”

Kaylee stopped. “Yes?”

“Could we talk for a few minutes?”

Mrs. Crawford was one of the last people she wanted to talk to, but she didn’t want to be rude, either. “Sure.”

Kaylee led the way into her room and sat on the bed.

The white box mocked her. Mrs. Crawford had probably left it there when she’d taken Duncan to feed him. The fact that the box was the same as the one from her stalker was just a coincidence. Kaylee’s back stiffened. She had no desire for gifts from the woman she considered a gold digger.

Mrs. Crawford took the chair her son had vacated sometime earlier. “We have a lot to talk about.”

Kaylee pulled her gaze from the box. “Like what?”

“Well, for one—” Mrs. Crawford said, “—I know you adored your mother and I could never take her place. I wouldn’t even try, but can we at least be friends?”

Taken aback, Kaylee sank her teeth into her bottom lower lip as she considered her response. “Mrs. Crawford, why did you agree to marry my father?” she finally asked.

Mrs. Crawford blinked. “First, please call me Olivia. And I agreed to marry your father because I love him.”

Kaylee gaped. “But why? He’s so totally unlovable.” Except for his money, Kaylee truly couldn’t see the draw to the man. “I’m his daughter, and I can hardly stand to be around him.” And yet, he’d allowed her to move back into her old room and have one of the spares for the baby. Of course, that was a temporary arrangement, as she planned to move out as soon as it was feasible—especially if he was truly getting married again—but he’d let her.

Olivia crossed her legs. “How long have you been gone from Wrangler’s Corner? It’s been a few years, yes?”

“Four years. I left shortly after high school because I couldn’t stand to be in the same town with him. He’s overbearing, controlling, manipulative—”

“Yes, he was all those things—and he readily admits it.”

Kaylee snapped her mouth shut. “Since when?” she finally managed.

“Since he got out of rehab and turned his life around.”

The woman kept throwing bombshells at her. “Rehab? What rehab?”

“That’s what I meant by we have a lot to talk about.”

“I’ve been home for two weeks and I haven’t seen any indication that he’s a changed man—except I haven’t seen any alcohol in the house.” And he hadn’t completely avoided her. But she hadn’t really given him the opportunity to prove that he’d changed. She simply left the room whenever he entered.

“That’s one indication then, isn’t it?”

Kaylee gave a grudging nod. “He came to the hospital and didn’t even hold Duncan.”

But she had to admit, her father hadn’t yelled at her once since she’d been back.

Olivia frowned. “It’s probably just because he’s unsure and nervous.”

Kaylee laughed. “He hasn’t been unsure or nervous a day in his life.”

“Not when he was drinking. The alcohol gave him some kind of a false bravado, but now...give him a chance, honey. Give us a chance. We just want to be here and love you and Duncan. Please?”

“I would actually love to believe that’s true, but—” She cleared her throat of the sudden lump that had formed. “I guess the best I can do is to try and reserve judgment. For now.”

Olivia nodded. “All right. We’ll take that. For now.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a small box. “It’s not much, but this is for Duncan.”

Kaylee frowned. Another gift? “But didn’t you leave that box?” She pointed to the one in Duncan’s bassinet.

Olivia frowned. “No. Why?”

A tremor ripped through Kaylee. She forced herself to breathe. “Okay, if you didn’t, then who did?”

“I don’t know, hon. It wasn’t there when I came in to see you—and when I picked up Duncan.”

Kaylee felt sick. Her first instinct had been right. Maybe.

“Do you want me to hold Duncan while you open it?” Olivia asked.

“No.” Kaylee forced a smile. “It’s all right. Someone must have popped in while I was sleeping and left it.” Natalie, maybe? Maybe, but the box reminded her of previous “gifts.” And Natalie had already given her a gift.

“All right,” Olivia said. “I’ll see you later.” She rose, walked to the door, gave Kaylee one last smile and slipped out.

Kaylee leaned her head back against the pillow and let a few tears slip out. What was she going to do? Olivia Crawford was a very nice woman. At least, that was the way she came across. So, she was either a very good actress or she sincerely meant every word she said.

Time would tell.

She swallowed and looked at the box again. Telling herself she was being silly, that one of her father’s friends or Natalie had left it, she held Duncan in the crook of her right arm and, using a fingernail on her left hand, lifted the lid to the pretty white box. She slipped it off and stared at the gift.

A dozen black roses stared back at her.

THREE

Joshua paced his mother’s den and raked a hand through his hair. “How can you do this? Don’t you know his reputation?” He’d had to wait on her for two hours before she’d come home only to zip in, change clothes, kiss his cheek and head back out. He’d given up and gone to bed at eleven thirty. She’d come home sometime after midnight.

This morning, he refused to let her out the door without confronting her. “Just tell me. Please.”

“I’m not blind or deaf. Of course I know his reputation. But it’s in his past. He’s not the same person he was two years ago.”

“So you keep saying.” He heard the sarcasm in his voice and couldn’t do anything about it.

She stood. “Yes. He’s changed. You don’t think people can change?”

“People like Garrett Martin? No. No, I don’t.”

“Then you need to spend some time in prayer. You can go to your room now.”

Joshua’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“You heard me. I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions about who I will and will not marry.”

“And I’m a grown man. You can’t send me to my room.”

“My house, my rules. Just like it’s always been.” She stared at him. He stared back.

And finally dropped his eyes. “Mom, I don’t want to fight with you.” And he wouldn’t disrespect her. “All right, tell me. What is it about him that you love so much?”

She sighed. “We’ve been friends for a long time. He and your father were friends as well, you know that. Garrett Martin is a good man. Deep down. He loved Stella so much. When she died, it nearly killed him. He pulled away from everyone, including poor Kaylee, and poured himself into his work.”

“And poured alcohol down his throat.”

“Not to the extent that everyone thinks. Yes, he got a DUI shortly after Stella’s funeral. And yes, four years ago, the pastor found him passed out in the back pew of the church. Garrett was mortified and it was his wake-up call. Pastor Hall got him into a six-month rehab program. Your father and I visited and supported him. Encouraged him. When he got out, he wrote a long letter about how much our friendship meant to him. And then your father died, and Garrett was there for me.”

“I remember him at the funeral.”

“Yes.”

“I’m just having a hard time wrapping my mind around this. Kaylee is, too. I guess I just don’t understand how it happened.”

She smiled. “It happens for older people the same way it does you young people. The late-night chats, after-work dinners and Sunday-morning worship services have all led to something more. Something special. He needed someone and I was there as a friend. When I needed a friend, he was there. And now...it’s just more.”

“He needed someone, huh?”

“Yes, he did.”

“And that someone had to be you?”

She tiled her head and studied him. “No, it didn’t. It could have been anyone, but I chose for it to be me.”

“Mom—”

“Drop it.”

“I’m not dropping it. Not by a long shot.” He paused. “What about Kaylee? Garrett pushed her away to the point she may never want anything to do with him again.”

Sadness flickered. A real grief that shot pangs through him. “I know. That’s Garrett’s one remaining relationship he wants to repair, but is so unsure how to go about it.”

“I don’t know how to help there. Kaylee only returned home because she was desperate and alone.”

“I know, but the fact that she was willing to move in with him gives him hope that this will provide them another chance to get to know one another and allow him to make up for his neglect as a father.”

“I really hope it works out. If not for him, then for Kaylee. I think she needs him.”

“Of course she does. He needs her, as well. Anytime there’s discord or conflict between a parent and their child, it causes that parent severe inner turmoil.” She raised a brow at him.

He met her gaze. “I’m sure it does the same to the child.” With a glance at his watch, he sighed. “I have to go. Clay texted and said he was going to go by and talk to Kaylee before she’s discharged from the hospital. He asked me to be there.”

“You?”

“Well, I did fight off the guy that attacked her.”

“I know.” She frowned. “You could have been shot.”

“But I wasn’t.” He grabbed his keys from the end table then kissed her cheek. “I love you. We’ll talk later.”

“Talk or argue?” she called after him.

“Probably both.” He climbed into the SUV, slammed the door and started the vehicle.

The hour’s drive to the hospital passed quickly for him and he soon found himself on Kaylee’s floor. Her door was open and he could hear Clay’s voice coming from inside the room.

“You didn’t think you needed to tell anyone that you had a stalker?”

“No. I mean, I thought it was all done. He’s in custody. How could it be him?” Kaylee said.

Joshua stepped into the room. “What’s this about a stalker?”

“Kaylee had one back in Nashville,” Clay said. “Looks like he’s returned to finish the job.”

“Finish what job?”

Clay read from a piece of paper in his gloved hand. “‘You thought I was gone, but I’m not. I would never abandon you. I’ve had a lot of time to plan it all out. I know we can be very happy. I know you think you don’t want to be with me, but I’ll show you how much you can love me—and how much I love you. I hope you like the black roses. Red roses are so cliché, so I decided to be different. Different just like our life together will be. We have so much to look forward to. See you soon, my darling.’”

Kaylee held the baby against her shoulder. She’d read the words and had debated what to do. If Patrick Talbot wasn’t sitting in jail, she would have no doubt who could have sent the “gift.” She supposed he could have had someone, like his brother, do it for him, but as far as she knew, Patrick’s family didn’t have a lot to do with him. At least, that had been her understanding. She’d spoken to his brother and sister and they’d been severely grieved at his actions. Stalking with letters, then escalating to breaking into her home and trying to take her. If not for the quick actions of her neighbor, Kaylee wasn’t sure how that would have ended. Although, she had a pretty good idea. She shuddered.

After opening the box, she’d left three messages with the detective who’d handled the case and he still hadn’t returned her calls. Then she’d tried Patrick’s lawyer and he hadn’t answered, either. Her last call had been at three o’clock this morning when she’d finally contacted Clay Starke and explained the situation. The sheriff had arranged protection on her room for the remainder of the night and promised to be at the hospital first thing this morning. She’d been waiting for him when he’d walked in.

“What’s the story behind this?” Joshua asked. “Catch me up.”

Clay nodded and Kaylee sighed. “I had a stalker,” she said. “Three months ago, he broke into my home and tried to kidnap me. He is currently in custody and awaiting trial. He was a former ER patient—one of those in-and-out kind of things. I didn’t remember him until the detectives put it together during the investigation. I don’t know why he focused on me. Before he was caught, I thought the gifts and notes and were from a different patient but—”

“Wait a minute,” Joshua said. “You keep talking about patients? What’s your occupation?”

“I’m a trauma nurse.” She gave a half-hearted laugh. “You’d never know it by the way I freaked out giving birth, but I’m actually a good nurse. I now work at the Wrangler’s Corner clinic in town with Dr. Anderson.”

Joshua smiled. “You didn’t freak out, you were just in a new situation and needed a little help.”

“You’re kind.”

Clay shot Joshua a look that said, “Be quiet.” He turned back to Kaylee. “Go on. Why would you think it was this other patient?”

“He’d been involved in a hit-and-run by a drunk driver. His wife and unborn child were killed and he was hurt pretty badly. But he lived and was soon transferred out of ICU to a floor. I visited him occasionally just to check on him. He was there for two months while he recovered and I seemed to be the only one he responded positively to. He was grieving his wife, the loss of his baby...” She shrugged. “I would talk to him. Encourage him. Hold his hand while he wept. I told him about my own failed marriage and how my husband had deserted me and the baby. It made him angry on my behalf.”

Kaylee rubbed her eyes. “I cared about him. I wanted to help him. And he says I did. That my visits kept him sane.” She shook her head. “In the end, the police investigated him and it wasn’t him. A neighbor saw Patrick Talbot break into my house and called the cops. They arrived as he was trying to drag me out of my house to his car.” She swallowed. “He ran, but they caught him. I was stunned. Like I said, he’d been a patient in the ER.” She held her hands up in a helpless gesture. “So many patients come through that ER, I can’t remember them all.”

“Of course not,” Clay said.

“Did he say why he targeted you?” Joshua asked.

“No.” She frowned. “Not really.”

“So, the guy that tried to grab you in the street yesterday,” Joshua said. “No idea who that was?”

“No. I’ve never seen him before.”

Joshua frowned.

“What about the baby’s father?” Clay asked. “Would he come after the baby?”

“He’s dead,” Kaylee said. “He was killed about a month after I told him I was pregnant. And he kicked me out when I told him. Trust me, even if he was alive, he would be the last one to come after me.”

Clay frowned, compassion in his eyes. He nodded. “All right. I’ll look into this stalker of yours. Patrick Talbot, right?”

“Yes. I tried calling the detective who handled the case, but he’s not answering or calling me back. And I tried calling Patrick’s lawyer, but again, no answer or call back.”

Clay made a note of the names and their numbers. “I’ll get these flowers to the lab in Nashville and have them see if they can pull any prints.” He walked into the bathroom, came back with one of the bath towels and wrapped the box in it. “Did you touch the box?”

“I lifted the top with my fingernail.” She shivered. “Once I realized what was in there, I didn’t touch anything else. The note was sitting on top, so it was easy to read.” A wave of nausea hit her. When would the drama stop? She was tired of everything, the constant emotional roller coaster, the daily battle life had become.

“Where did you live after your husband kicked you out of your home?” Joshua asked. “That’s a big gap of time between then and now.”

“I stayed with my sister-in-law, Marla, and her husband for about two weeks, but it was just too awkward. In spite of being told I was welcome to stay, I moved in with a friend and fellow coworker from the hospital. Since the justice system moves so slow, and there’s no telling when Patrick’s trial will be, I decided to come back to Wrangler’s Corner. Even though I had some good friends and support there, I just couldn’t handle being in Nashville anymore.”

“I understand.” Clay tapped his notebook against his chin then nodded. “All right, I’m going to look into all of this and see what I can find out. In the meantime, be careful and take care of your little one.”

She nodded. Clay picked up the towel-wrapped box and left, his phone already pressed to his ear.

Joshua took Duncan from Kaylee and cuddled him against his chest. “He’s a cute little thing.”

“Yes, he’s a sweetheart.”

“You need a ride home?”

She bit her lip and glanced at her cell phone on the table. She’d left a message for her father, but he’d not returned her call. He was probably at the office and not paying attention to his phone. “I guess so.” She gasped. “I left the car seat in my car.”

“I know. I saw it yesterday and grabbed it a little while ago on my way over here. It’s in the back of my SUV—and I had your car towed to your father’s house.”

She stared. “Really? That was incredibly thoughtful. Thank you.”

He shrugged. “You’re welcome.”

Kaylee couldn’t believe how this man kept coming to her rescue. “Have you talked to your mother about her decision to marry my father?”

“I have. A little.”

“And?”

“Let’s just say, we’re running out of time.”

* * *

Running out of time. Yes, that was an apt description. He had slightly less than three weeks to talk his mother out of her crazy plan to marry Kaylee’s father—and to keep Kaylee and little Duncan safe from the stalker before he had to return to Nashville. He hadn’t saved them both just to let them fall prey to a crazy man.

With Kaylee at his side, Joshua carried the baby in the car seat, the handle fitting comfortably in his grip. Kaylee had dressed in a pair of loose, linen pants and a long, light blue T-shirt that brought out her eyes. Eyes he felt he would enjoy seeing on a daily basis.

The thought made him pause.

“What’s wrong?” Kaylee was looking at him with those blue eyes.

He cleared his throat. “Ah, nothing. The elevator’s at the end of this hall.”

She nodded and walked ahead of him and yet, he still pictured her face. Her beautiful eyes, slightly turned up nose and that dimple in her left cheek.

He didn’t need to notice any of that. He was there to watch over her and Duncan. Period.

Kaylee pressed the Down button then leaned over Duncan to make sure his little blue blanket was tucked around his chin. He yawned and settled back into sleep.

“When did you start working at the clinic in town?” Joshua asked.

“The second day I was here.” She smiled at him. “When I got here, I had a horrible sinus infection. I walked in and Doc Anderson was there. I couldn’t believe he was still working. When I asked him about retiring, he said he hadn’t found the person he could entrust his practice to yet.” She shrugged. “Anyway, I asked him if he needed a nurse and he hired me on the spot even though I was practically ready to give birth.”

“He’s a good man.”

“And a fabulous doctor. He might be old, but he stays up-to-date on all the latest in the medical field.”

The elevator arrived and she stepped inside. Joshua followed her and set the baby carrier on the floor. The doors closed and the car moved, taking them down.

Joshua rubbed a hand through his hair. “Mom said something about a doctor shortage in Wrangler’s Corner.”

“A human doctor shortage. There’s no lack of veterinarians, that’s for sure.”

“That’s because there are more animals than people in town.”

“True.”

“What made you try to make it to the hospital instead of letting Doc Anderson deliver Duncan?”

She grimaced. “He was about an hour away helping one of the Amish men in Ethridge. He’d fallen from the roof of his barn. Trust me, that man needed the doc more than I did—at least I thought so.” She shot him a warm glance. “Fortunately, you came along when you did.”

Her look seared him, made him want to wrap her and Duncan in Bubble Wrap and keep them locked safely behind closed doors.

He gave a silent snort. Now he sounded like a crazy stalker. Only, his intentions were good.

When the elevator opened, they stepped into the lobby. A large welcome area dominated the space with a desk and security guard leaned against it talking to two women.

“Wait here inside and I’ll bring the truck around.”

She nodded and he set the baby next to her. He hated to leave her alone, but the security guard was right there. She should be fine for the few minutes it would take him to pull the SUV around to the circle—and it was better than having her walk out in the open to the parking garage.

He jogged to the garage and took the elevator to the third floor. When he stepped off, he caught sight of the back of a man who came from the stairs. A woman to his right was pulling a child from the back seat of her minivan. Other than that, the place was quiet. Empty.

Chills skittered up his arms, raising the hair there. You’ll regret interfering. I’ll be back. Kalyee’s attacker’s words rang in his ears. Was that man her stalker? No, not possible. Patrick Talbot was in jail.

So, who was the guy who’d tried to snatch her in the middle of the road? Joshua shook his head and picked up the pace. He’d said he’d be back. Would he be watching the hospital? Surely, he knew this was where they would be. If he wanted to find her, it wouldn’t be hard—as the box of black roses testified.

Joshua’s SUV was parked on the end in the second row. He glanced around and noted the security cameras. Nah. No one would try anything that could be caught on video, right?

Then again, some people didn’t care. The attacker who’d tried to nab a pregnant woman in broad daylight hadn’t worried about being seen or stopped. And he’d been ready to kill if it suited him. Joshua wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling the guy hadn’t pulled the trigger because of the man who’d stopped to ask if they’d needed help. Whatever had made him decide to run instead of shoot, Joshua didn’t know and didn’t really care. He was just glad it had ended the way it had. Then again, he had a feeling it wasn’t over, either. And the guy had said he’d be back.

Joshua climbed into the SUV and cranked the engine. The low purr never failed to bring him satisfaction. His phone buzzed and he pulled it from the clip on his belt. Clay. “Yeah?”

“Patrick Talbot is out.”

“Out? How?”

“He had a fancy lawyer who managed to find a loophole in the arrest. He was released a week ago.”

“And no one called to tell Kaylee?”

“The detective said he tried, but apparently she changed her number and never gave him the new one. He said he’d just gotten her messages and was getting ready to call her when I rang.”

“Great. That’s just great,” Joshua muttered.

“I know.”

“All right. I’m getting ready to take her and the baby to her father’s house. Want to meet us there?”

“I’d feel better if you had an escort. Stay there and let me see if I can get someone to follow you to Wrangler’s Corner.”

“I’ll let her know.”

He disconnected and drove around to the front entrance to the hospital. Pulling up to the door, he could see Kaylee standing at the glass window waiting for him. His heart did that funny little dance it seemed to want to do whenever he was in her presence.

Telling himself to get over it—that she was as off-limits to him as his mother was to her father—he parked and climbed out of the SUV. He had to ignore the little voice reminding him that his mother was engaged to that off-limits man. He grunted. Being attracted to Kaylee was one thing, acting on it was another. Right now she needed a protector, not a Romeo.

Kaylee opened the hospital door, her bag slung over her shoulder and the baby carrier gripped in her other hand. She walked toward the SUV.

Joshua hurried to her. “I’ve got him.” He took the carrier from her. For a little bitty thing, lugging him around in his seat required some muscles. Joshua rounded the front of the vehicle and opened the back door where he’d placed the base of the baby’s safety seat.

Sunlight glinted off something in the parking garage across the street. A sharp flicker of light that made him squint. He took a closer look and saw the protruding piece of metal. The sight produced a distinctly bad feeling in his gut.

I’ll be back.

“Kaylee, go back inside.”

“What? Why?”

A crack sounded and the concrete spit shards up around the bottom of his calves.

Joshua simply moved, keeping Duncan’s carrier in front of him and out of sight of the shooter. He rounded the front of the vehicle and had almost reached Kaylee when the glass door behind her shattered.

Silence reigned for a split second before screams echoed around him. With a tight grip on the handle of the carrier, Joshua grabbed Kaylee and shoved her through the door that no longer existed.

They made it inside just as the second bullet took out the glass of the other door.

FOUR

Kaylee huddled over her baby, tucking his carrier against her midsection while Joshua wrapped his arms around her. His chest pressed into her back and all she could think was that he was going to die because of her.

Another shot pinged off the tile floor and she flinched. Hospital security burst onto the scene. The security guard and one other officer who must have already been in the building raced into the lobby, weapons drawn.

“Everyone stay down!”

Really? They thought they had to say that? A hysterical giggle threatened to slip out and Kaylee swallowed hard. She had to keep it together. Her baby needed her. Sirens screamed in the distance.

“Is he still there?” she whispered. Joshua hadn’t moved. How long had the shooter been there anyway? Hours? Minutes? Seconds? Time had no meaning anymore.

“I don’t know.” He shifted and she looked up to see him peering out the shattered door. “The shooting’s stopped,” he said. “Cops are in the garage where the bullets came from.”

Her pulse still in overdrive, she straightened and checked Duncan, who’d slept though the chaos. The lobby now swarmed with law enforcement. Kaylee’s hands shook and she had to set the baby carrier on the floor.

It finally registered that Joshua was speaking with a police officer. The officer glanced her way then back at Joshua. Finally, the two finished and Joshua returned to her. “I think we can leave. I gave him Clay’s contact information, as well as mine and yours. If he needs anything else from us, he knows where to find us.”

“Good. I’m ready to go home.”

“Then let’s go.” He picked up the baby carrier in one hand and grasped her elbow with his other. It felt weird and oh-so-right all at the same time. Her husband had only showed her this kind of courtesy when he’d wanted something from her—or he’d wanted to impress people. For Joshua, it just seemed to come natural. She liked that and took comfort from it.

His SUV was still parked in the circle and in short order, she and the baby were safely strapped inside.

When Joshua settled into the driver’s seat beside her, she held out her hands, noting the fine tremor still running through them. “Do you think I’ll ever stop shaking?” She knew it was shock and that it would pass. The day of her attempted kidnapping, while she’d definitely been scared, she’d also been in so much pain, it had pretty much overridden her fear. Not so today.

He took her left hand and closed both of his larger hands around hers. Warmth enveloped her. “You’ll be all right, Kaylee.” He glanced into the back seat. “And so will Duncan.”

Kaylee desperately wanted to believe him. She nodded and took a deep breath. “I pray you’re right.”

“Yeah. Me, too.”

Joshua pulled away and she clasped her hands together in her lap, missing his gentle hold. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Anytime.”

The hour-long drive passed mostly in silence, but Kaylee didn’t find it uncomfortable or awkward. The truth was, she was glad he was with her while she processed the terrifying experience. She found herself praying as he drove. She prayed even while she wondered if God was listening. She was leaning toward yes. He’d made sure she’d had help and that Duncan had arrived safely. The bullets at the hospital had only damaged the building. No one had gotten shot or hurt. Yes, bad stuff was happening, but maybe God was still in the midst of it.

When Joshua pulled into the drive of her father’s home, the home she’d grown up in, Kaylee tried to see it through his eyes. Traditional in style, with clean lines and a stately bearing, the house really was beautiful. A banner hung between the two white columns that gave it the Southern charm most people swooned over: Welcome Home Kaylee and Duncan!

“Nice,” he said.

“Yes. It is. Solid, too. It’s been here since the mid-eighteen hundreds. Fortunately, Dad had it restored with all of the modern conveniences of today.”

“I was talking about the banner.”

“I know.” There was no way her father was responsible for that, but she had a feeling she knew who was.

Kaylee opened the door and climbed out. Joshua had put the baby seat behind the driver’s side, so he beat her to it.

“I’ll carry it,” he said when she held out her hand. “From now on, you don’t need to be lifting anything very heavy for the next couple of weeks.”

“He’s only eight pounds,” she said.

“Plus the carrier. Lead the way.”

The set of his jaw said not to argue. And she didn’t have the energy to fight about it. She needed to be wise in the battles she picked. “Okay. Thank you.” With a glance over her shoulder, she moved up the steps to the front door. Before she could reach for the handle, the door swung open.

And she came face-to-face with Joshua’s mother. “Welcome home!”

Kaylee stiffened but put a smile on her face. The woman looked so pleased and had been nothing but kind to her. Until she proved herself a gold digger, Kaylee would be polite and respectful. Even if it killed her. “Hi.” She cleared her throat. “Ah, thank you for the banner. That was very thoughtful.”

“You’re so welcome. Your father and I were talking about how we needed to do something to celebrate.”

Her father? Most likely Olivia had told her father what they were going to do. But he hadn’t said no. Interesting.

Joshua simply looked bemused.

Olivia clasped her hands to her chest. “And that awful shooting at the hospital! Coverage is still playing on the television. I tried to call and you didn’t answer, Joshua.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I was a little distracted.”

“What do you mean? Please tell me you weren’t there when it happened.”

Kaylee let her gaze meet Joshua’s.

“We were there. That’s why we’re so late getting here. We had to give a statement and answer questions.”

His mother’s face paled. “How terrible. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“We’re fine.”

They walked into the house and Kaylee once again felt a pang at the loss of her mother. Not only was the woman gone, but everything in the house that had been hers had been put away. Resentment flowed and she drew in a deep breath. “I think I’ll lie down for a little while,” she said.

“Of course, honey,” Olivia said. “Would you like for me to watch the baby while you rest?”

“No.” Kaylee’s swift answer brought forth a flinch from the other woman. Guilt hit her. “Thank you, though,” she said, softening her tone. “I need to feed him.”

“Oh, yes, you do that.” She smiled but the hurt in her eyes lingered and Kaylee mentally kicked herself. She would not be rude to this woman, no matter her own thoughts on Olivia’s reasons for marrying her father.

“It’s kind of you to offer. I’m sure I’ll take you up on that in the near future. Especially when he’s keeping me awake at night.”

The hurt faded and Olivia’s lips curved into a genuine smile. “Wonderful.”

“Where’s my father?” she asked.

“He went into the office, but asked me to be here so you didn’t come home to an empty house.”

“I see.” Had he really? Was it possible for him to be that thoughtful? Or had Olivia Crawford just given him the credit to elevate him in Kaylee’s eyes? She thought about asking, but couldn’t figure out how to do so without it sounding rude.

The doorbell rang and Kaylee jumped. Heart thudding, she swallowed and told herself there was no reason to be so twitchy inside her father’s home. She and Duncan were safe here.

Joshua set the baby carrier on the floor as Olivia strode to the door and flung it open.

“Clay?”

“Yes, ma’am. Hi, Aunt Liv.”

“Hi, honey. Come on in.”

Clay stepped inside and swept his hat from his head.

Kaylee frowned when his eyes locked on hers. The scowl on his face didn’t bode well. “What is it?” she asked.

Clay’s eyes locked on Joshua’s. “You haven’t told her?”

Joshua grimaced and shook his head.

Kaylee frowned. “What haven’t you told me?”

“I didn’t want to spoil your homecoming,” Joshua said. “I figured it could wait a few hours.”

She was going to strangle him. “What news?”

“Patrick Talbot was released from custody.”

A gasp slipped from her lips. “And you didn’t think I needed to know that?”

He rubbed a hand across his eyes in a weary gesture. “Of course you needed to know. You just didn’t need to know it in the last couple of hours. An officer tailed us here, and I’ve been on guard, watching. I’ve seen no sign of him.”

Shoving aside her irritation with his silence on her would-be kidnapper’s escape, she looked at Clay. “How? When?”

“He was released a week ago. Something to do with a technicality in his arrest and processing.”

“But...just...how?” She’d asked that already, hadn’t she? And he’d answered her, but her mind refused to fully process the news. Weakness invaded her and she stumbled to the living room sofa. The cushions pulled her in and she wanted to keep sinking until she simply disappeared. But no, she couldn’t do that. Duncan needed her.

“Wait a minute. He confessed. And they can just let him go?”

“He recanted his confession, said it was all just a misunderstanding and that he wasn’t trying to force Kaylee to go with him. He said she agreed, then at the last minute started going crazy and screaming. He claimed he was about to leave when the cops showed up.”

“He was not,” Kaylee muttered.

“His lawyer—once he arrived—advised him to just keep his mouth shut. Talbot did. Over the last three weeks, the man’s been looking for anything to get his client off. And he found it,” Clay said. “It’s on video that the arresting officers kept questioning him after Talbot requested a lawyer. It’s as simple as that.”

As simple as that.

“So, where is he now?” she asked.

“We don’t know. No one’s been able to track him down. But we’re looking, for sure. It’s only a matter of time.”

“So, what’s being done to find him?” Joshua asked.

“Well, he probably had a visitor or two at the jail. I’m going to ride over there today and take look at who’s been in to see him.”

Kaylee cleared her throat. “So, you think that was him at the hospital today? You think he’s the one who was shooting at us?”

“Shooting at you?” Olivia asked. Her eyes widened. “The hospital shooting? They were shooting at you?”

Kaylee gave her a short nod and waited for Clay’s answer.

“We’re not sure,” he said. “We’ve pulled the security footage from the cameras in the garage, but haven’t been able to get a good look at the shooter’s face. The angles just aren’t working to give us that clear shot, however they’re still working on it.”

“What about the black roses?” she asked.

“Those we know were from Talbot. We got him on camera entering the hospital with the box in his arms. He’s also on camera entering your room with them.”

She shuddered. “So,” Kaylee breathed, “what do I do now?”

Clay placed his hat back on his dark head. “You watch your back and don’t go anywhere alone.”

Joshua stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll make sure of that.”

Olivia raised a brow, but Kaylee didn’t care at the moment.

“Has he used credit cards or left any kind of indication as to where he might be headed?” Joshua asked.

“No. Nothing. Whoever is helping him knows how to keep him under the radar. He’s using cash wherever he is.”

Kaylee gave a short, humorless laugh. “Wherever he is? I know exactly where he is. He’s in Wrangler’s Corner, and y’all know it.”

Clay rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Joshua. “Yep, I believe you’re right about that.”

Duncan let out a cry and Kaylee hurried to unbuckle him from his seat. She held the baby in the crook of her arm and turned to Clay. “I don’t know why Patrick Talbot is so taken with me or why he thinks black roses would endear him to me.” She scowled. “Sometimes being different isn’t all that great of an idea. But I’m so sorry for all the trouble he’s caused and probably plans to cause it in the future.”

“The reasons behind his actions might help catch him,” Clay said. “Then again, maybe not. It really doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we catch him.”

“Yeah,” Joshua said. “And soon.”

* * *

When Kaylee headed for her bedroom to nurse the baby, Joshua went out to catch Clay before he climbed into his cruiser. “Hey, Clay, wait up.”

Clay turned. “Yeah?”

“You think she’s okay here?”

His cousin shrugged. “I don’t know. Her dad’s not here very much. I know he’s a workaholic. What about Aunt Liv? How often is she here?”

“A lot when she’s not at the boutique. Remember, I haven’t exactly been in town to keep an eye on things.” More’s the pity. “But from our biweekly phone conversations, I’ve gathered that while she hasn’t moved in and she never stays the night, she’s here pretty much on a daily basis, cooking meals and cleaning.”

“Thought he had a cleaning service.”

“He does.” Joshua raked a hand through his hair. “I mean, I know they’ve been friends forever. I know they’ve helped each other out through some hard times.” Like his father’s death. “But I didn’t realize she was telling herself she was in love with the guy.”

Clay quirked a brow. “Huh. Okay.”

“Never mind all that. I want to know it’s safe to leave Kaylee here. Do you have someone you can put on the house?”

“I can get Trent and Lance and the new deputy to take shifts.” Trent Haywood and Lance Green. Joshua didn’t know the new deputy.

He nodded. “As long as they understand what’s at stake and they’ll keep an eye on her.”

“They will. I agree that she definitely needs some kind of police presence here. Maybe the sight of a vehicle in the drive will deter anyone who’s thinking she’ll be an easy target now that she’s home.”

Joshua nodded. “All right, that should work.”

“But if this guy is determined to get to her, she can’t be alone. He’s already taken a shot at her. That doesn’t leave much room for escalation.” Sometimes offenders would start out with smaller crimes and slowly make their way to the bigger ones.

“No,” Joshua said, “he’s definitely already escalated.”

“And he’s had a lot of time to think about her, to plan his escape and, depending on his end goal, how he’s going to either get even or just plain get her.”

“And how to find someone to help him.”

“What are your plans while you’re here?” Clay asked.

With a raised brow, Joshua let out a low laugh. “Originally, my plans were to come home and talk some sense into my mother about her upcoming wedding.”

“You don’t approve.”

“Are you telling me you do?”

“It’s not my business, frankly.”

His cousin’s unspoken words rang loud and clear. “You think it’s not mine, either.”

Clay sighed. “Look, man, I know you were devastated when Uncle Don died. We all were. But according to Dad, he encouraged her to find someone else when he passed.”

“But it’s only been a year!”

“Sixteen months.”

Joshua waved a hand and Clay tilted his head, his brow furrowed. “I know it’s hard, but like you said, Kaylee’s dad and your mom have been friends since they were kids. It’s not like they had to go through the whole process of getting to know one another.”

Scowling, Joshua sighed. “You’re not helping.”

“Nope,” Clay said. “I’m staying out of it. What I’m not staying out of is helping with Kaylee. I’ll get Trent out here for now, and we’ll make sure Mr. Martin understands the seriousness of the situation.”

“See, that’s the thing. His daughter’s in danger and he’s nowhere to be found. I don’t like that quality in a man my mother wants to marry.”

“Come on, Josh. Cut him some slack. Have you called to tell him what happened?”

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