A Cowgirl's Secret(59)

With his fist, Dallas smacked his open palm. “Not if I get to him first. Then you’ll be the one needing to hold me. Way I see it, though, we both need to be smart. No sense in us going to jail for hurting Henry. That would only cause more grief for our families.”

“My head gets that point, but every other piece of me wants to beat Henry to a bloody pulp.”

Dallas nodded. “No one wants to pulverize this guy more than me. We’ll have to work together to keep our cool—if he’s even here.”

Cresting the next hill, Luke saw a structure built of plywood and corrugated metal. What looked to be aluminum trailer windows had been fitted to the side. Seeing no vehicle made the pain in his already tight neck burn.

“Dammit,” Dallas said. “I thought for sure he’d be here. It was the most isolated spot anywhere on our list.”

“Wait,” Luke said, “what’s that?”

Only the corner of a chrome truck fender was visible beneath a camouflage tarp further disguised with pine boughs and twigs.

“Let’s check it out. Cut the engine here.” A good two hundred yards from the shack, Luke killed the motor, then together they crept to the truck, tossing back the wrap to find it was indeed Henry’s.

Adrenaline surged through Luke, along with the hope that he’d find Kolt safe inside.

“Come on,” Dallas said, “I’ll cover the back, you get the front. We both have a score to settle with this bastard, but your son’s safety trumps all.”

“Agreed.”

Not in the mood for pleasantries, Luke tried the door and found it locked, then kicked the flimsy barrier down.

Lying inordinately still on a beat-up sofa was his son, Henry hovering protectively over him—holding a knife to his throat. “Go ahead,” Henry taunted. “Step one foot closer and I’ll gut him like a hog.”

“Back off,” Luke said. “You’re in enough trouble as it is. Let Kolt go and I’ll bet any judge will take it easy on you.”

“Let him go?” Henry laughed. “After what his bitch mother said I did? She ruined my reputation. My whole life. I can’t go anywhere without so-called friends accusing me of horrible things. All I ever did was love the children of this town. Is it really my fault if so many of them have loved me back?”

Luke’s stomach turned at the implication that Daisy wasn’t Henry’s only victim.

“Dad?” Kolt sluggishly turned his head. His movements were exaggerated to the point that it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he’d been drugged. “Dad, is that you?”

While Luke’s knees felt rubbery with relief, he knew they weren’t anywhere out of the woods just yet.

“Good,” Henry said, “my new friend’s awake. Before you so rudely interrupted, Luke, I’d planned some nap-time fun, but it’s just as easy to play while Kolt’s alert.”

Luke clenched his hands so tightly his fingernails cut into his palms. More than anything he wanted to jump Henry and take him down, but as long as he held the knife to Kolt’s jugular, Luke had to play it safe.

From the corner of his eye, Luke caught a movement and realized Dallas was stepping up behind Henry, biding his time until he felt it safe to make a move.

Dallas held his finger to his lips.

Luke barely nodded.

Henry brushed Kolt’s hair back from his forehead. “You’re so handsome. I’ve always preferred to play with little girls, but considering how much you remind me of your mother, you’ll do.”

With a mighty growl, Dallas lunged for Henry, pinning the arm holding the knife.

Luke then took down the rest of him, with one mighty punch rendering Henry unconscious. “Sorry,” Luke said. “Self-defense.”

Dallas said, “Couldn’t agree more.”

From outside came a siren’s wail.

“While you were in here, I called for backup. Lucky for us, a few search teams weren’t too far away.”

“Dad?” Kolt tried sitting up, only to fall back down. “I feel funny.”

Chills gripped Luke with such force he had to sit. Scooping his boy into his arms, Luke held him and rocked him and cried silent tears of relief. Not only had Kolt called him Dad, but the boy was going to be okay. He hadn’t been physically hurt, and likely, once Henry’s drug of choice wore off, Kolt would remember little of his ordeal.

As Henry began to stir, Dallas said to Luke, “Get Kolt out of here. I’ll stand watch till help comes.”