“You bet. We’ll back you up, son. Don’t worry.” His dad rose and clapped him on the back. “We’ve got this.”

  “Will you bring Landon up to speed? I wish he hadn’t skipped breakfast here this morning.”

  “No problem. I’ll be seeing him at the barn.”

  Haley was in the kitchen with his mother, and he went in to check on her. As he bent to kiss her cheek, he said, “I’m heading over to my house for a few minutes. I just talked to Dad about all of us going armed from now on. I need to get my guns.”

  Her eyes darkened, and she bit her lip. “I hate that this is happening.”

  His mom turned from the sink. “What’s going on?”

  “Haley, can you bring Mom up to speed while I’m gone?”

  “Of course.” She glanced at his mom. “We could be in danger, Debra.”

  He left the room as his mom dried her hands and moved toward the table where Haley was sitting with Aria.

  When he arrived at his house, he decided that he needed to clean the guns before returning to his parents’ place. He took them out onto his wraparound porch, where a slight breeze was blowing.

  He had to admit that he missed being at his own home. He valued his privacy, and he had built his home with the idea of having his own family someday. It had four bedrooms and a beautiful view of the ranch. It even had a fenced yard that he’d planted with grass.

  Cleaning his guns had always been relaxing for him, and it was no different now. He gave himself over to the process. The scent of the oil and the feel of the soft cloth were soothing to his jangled nerves.

  Eventually he was satisfied that the guns were in good working order, and he rose to leave. With a last look around, he locked up and headed for his truck.

  When he walked in the front door at his parents’ place, Haley was rocking Aria. An empty bottle sat by the chair, so she’d obviously finished eating.

  The baby’s eyelids fluttered open and then shut again.

  Carson waved to Haley, then set his shotgun beside the door. He wore his SIG in a quick-draw belt holster at his waist.

  He found his mom shucking corn on the back porch. “Haley told you about our problem?” He sat on the steps beside her and picked up an ear of corn.

  As he stripped the husk from it, she said, “She filled me in. That poor girl. No wonder she’s scared all the time. It sounds like those horrible people will do anything.”

  “The more I think about it, the more worried I get.” He’d talked to Haley before they got out of bed that morning about the preparations he wanted to make, and she’d shivered in his arms.

  “Your dad believes facing trouble head-on is always best. You’re doing the right thing, son.”

  He grabbed another ear of corn. “Thanks, Mom. I’m sorry this is going on. I don’t want anything bad to happen here. I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t.”

  “I know you will, honey.”

  He threw the bright yellow ear of corn into the bucket and rose to his feet. “I love you, Mom.”

  “Love you too, son.”

  He walked back inside just as Haley was rising from the rocking chair to put Aria down to sleep in her cradle. He waited for her to return to the living room.

  She smiled. “Now we’ll have a couple of hours of peace. How did it go? You were gone a while.”

  “I decided to clean the guns before I came back. It was nice being at home. I didn’t realize how much I missed being there. Would you like to see my house sometime?”

  “I’d love that.”

  “I built it big enough for a family, if I ever have one.”

  She smiled. “Of course you will, silly.”

  He took her into his arms. “I’ve always wanted a family. I thought I was getting close one time. Now I’m glad it didn’t work out.”

  She looked up at him. “I can’t remember if I ever got close, but I’m glad we found out there’s a good chance that I haven’t been married. Even when we widened the search, nothing came up.”

  He nodded and let her go. “I think I’ll sit out on the porch. Keep an eye out for trouble.”

  “Can I go out with you?” She looked so hopeful that he agreed.

  “Just be ready to get inside if I spot anything.”

  “Of course.” She followed him out, and they sat on the swing. As he set it in motion, he looked down the ranch drive toward the main road.

  She leaned against him, and they swung in silence.

  His mind returned to a worry that had bothered him during his mostly sleepless night. He’d been happy that a memory had come to her, but he worried that she might eventually remember something about Aria’s father. That she might remember she loved him. He couldn’t bear that. Not now.

  He turned his head aside and closed his eyes, praying: God, I want to be the man that’s right for Haley. I’m strong, dependable, and I’ll defend her with my life. I love her sweet baby and, God, I realize now that I love Haley too.

  After a little while, he noticed her eyes drooping and patted her knee. “Why don’t you go in and take a nap? I’ll get Aria when she wakes up.”

  “I guess I am getting sleepy. Thanks, Carson.” She caressed his cheek as he slowed the swing to a stop. “I’ll see you when I wake up.”

  He watched her walk inside, his heart feeling stretched at her absence. Wherever she went, a part of him went as well.

  Haley turned over in bed again. She was tossing and turning and unable to fall asleep, despite how drowsy she’d been on the swing with Carson. Her mind went round and round, flashing back to the moment she’d seen those awful men.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to think of something happy. With a great effort, she made her neck and shoulder muscles relax. Turning onto her back, she envisioned Aria and what she might look like when she got a little older. Her red hair fell in soft curls touching her shoulders, and her light-blue eyes sparkled with mischief. Haley smiled at how beautiful she was.

  Suddenly the vision shifted, and Haley saw a man in what she recognized as her living room in her home in Houston. Shock crashed into her chest as she realized the man was Evan, her boyfriend. Aria’s father. Her mind shrieked in triumph as memories flooded in.

  Evan had been great at first. They’d met when she was running at the park not far from her home. He was an avid runner, and they’d had that in common. They began running together and soon started dating. It had been fun—right up until it wasn’t. Until he became possessive and controlling. She’d called it off after a particularly bad evening, and he’d been furious. He’d actually scared her that night.

  The next week, she’d found out about her accidental pregnancy. There was no way she wanted Evan in her life, so she’d never told him about her discovery.

  She sat up in bed, and hugged herself, filled with relief. She went out on the porch and found Carson still in the swing looking down the drive.

  He glanced up when she opened the screen door. “Couldn’t you sleep?”

  She went to him, still smiling and so full of joy she felt as though she could break out in song.

  He smiled too. “You sure look happy. What’s going on?” He stopped the swing so that she could join him.

  Feeling bold in her euphoric state, she sat down on his lap and put her arms around his neck. “I remembered who Aria’s father is, and he’s a jerk!”

  Carson burst out laughing. “He is?”

  “Yep. That’s why I broke up with him. I found out I was pregnant right afterward and never told him. I remembered that my doctor had taken me off my birth control pills because I was having problems. He started me right away on a new kind, but I had to use alternate protection as well during the first month. That’s when the pregnancy occurred.”

  He caressed her cheek, and she went on. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. I love my daughter, and I’m glad I’m her mother.”

  Carson wrapped his arms around her waist. “Well, I must admit I’m glad he was a jerk.”

  She grinned. “Me too.”

  “I don’t want to lose you to another man.” He looked into her eyes, his expression solemn.

  She kissed him softly, taking her time. “There’s no chance of that, honey. I’m all yours.”

  He kissed her back, caressing her lips with his tongue and then delving inside her mouth. She moaned and took his face in her hands, kissing him hard, putting everything she had into it.

  He kissed her back with the same passion, and she wanted to tear the shirt from his shoulders, to take him right there.

  He drew back, breathing hard, and grinned.

  She chuckled and sucked in a deep breath. “Well, that was...”

  “Oh yeah.”

  Debra opened the screen door and poked her head out. “Lunch is ready, you two.” Then she smiled with a knowing glint in her eye. “When you’re ready to come in.”

  Haley looked at Carson, her brows raised.

  He chuckled. “I’m sure she knows we’re sleeping together now. Don’t worry about it.”

  Haley stood up as he rose to his feet. Then he gave her one more long kiss.

  She squeezed his hand as they went inside. She wanted to know more about her family now, and she could almost feel it. The memory was right at the edges of her mind. However, in the mental images of her living room, there weren’t any family photos.

  She clasped Carson’s hand tighter. She’d remember. She just had to. She couldn’t go on not knowing who she was.

  Early that afternoon, Carson and Haley put in a call to Jim.

  When the ranger answered, Haley said, “Jim, we pulled the report on my accident yesterday, and we think we may have trouble.” She went on to fill him in on everything they’d learned.

  The man sounded worried after he heard her out. “I’d hoped that there wouldn’t be any links to Haley out there. I didn’t realize that Carson had been a part of the accident report. That’s on me. I should have thought to pull a copy of it. And you’re right. This thing’s looking like it’s big business. These people have a lot to lose.”

  He paused for a moment. “How far away is local law enforcement?”

  “About twenty-five minutes, give or take,” Carson said.

  “I suggest that you talk to them and let them know about the trouble you’re in. That should give you a better response time.”

  “We’ll do that.”

  “Are you armed?”

  “We are,” Carson said. “We’ve got handguns, shotguns, and rifles. We’re all carrying, even when we’re out on the ranch.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I’m staying here at the house, though. I don’t want Haley and my mom here alone.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Then Jim told them what all he’d found out on his end and apologized for not getting back to them sooner.

  “I can’t be more specific, but with the container information you gave me, we found out where the shipments have been coming from and that it’s been happening for over five years, every two months, like clockwork.”

  After a pause, he said, “Believe me, Haley, your accounting manager knew about this. He had to be crooked too. There’s no way this went undetected.”

  “I’d already figured that out. I just didn’t realize that the shipping operations manager was in on anything illegal until I went to his office that day.”

  “What’re you going to do about it, Jim?” Carson asked.

  “I can’t give you details, but we’re not sitting on it. Don’t worry. Now you all be careful. Call me if you need me.”

  After the call, Haley looked shaken. Carson took her into his arms and held her for a long moment in silence. “Why don’t we get out of here? Let’s go for a drive and then get some dinner.”

  She sighed. “That sounds good, but only if we take Aria. I don’t want your parents babysitting.”

  “You know they love Aria. They won’t mind.”

  “I know, but I mind. They both work hard all day. I don’t want them caring for a baby in the evening when they should be resting.”

  He smiled. “Okay. I like having her with us anyway. But first I’m going to call the sheriff and let him know what’s going on.”

  It didn’t take long for them to shower and change, and then they headed off, Aria lying quietly in her car seat.

  “Landon didn’t mind calling it quits early today so he could stay at the house with Mom,” Carson said as he pulled out onto the paved road.

  “It was sweet of him to stay so we could get away,” Haley said.

  “I’m just going to drive around for a while. I’ll show you some ranches where my friends live. You might enjoy seeing more of the country around here.”

  “That sounds perfect. Being out of the house makes me feel like I can breathe again.”

  He smiled at her. “I feel that way too. I’m used to being outside all the time. I don’t like being cooped up.”

  After several miles, he pointed to the right. “That place belongs to the family of my best friend in high school. Do you notice something different about the cattle?”

  She stared out the window. “They all have white faces?”

  “Good catch. Those cattle are called Black Baldies. They’re Angus that’ve been crossbred. A lot of ranchers like them.”

  “But your family prefers purebred Black Angus cattle?”

  “We sure do.”

  He pointed out more landmarks and ranches as they made their casual drive through the area. He noticed Haley visibly relaxing and felt pleased. Eventually, he headed toward San Saba for dinner.

  He glanced in his rearview mirror. Aria had long been asleep. “Looks like your baby’s a good traveler after all.”

  Haley smiled. “I’m a lucky mom.”

  As they drove into town, he said, “I’d like to take you to the Bar D. It’s a restaurant and pub and has good old-fashioned country food and craft beers.”

  “That’s awesome. And I’m hungry too.”

  Aria awakened for a moment as they removed her car seat from the car, then fell back to sleep as they carried it inside.

  They were too early for the restaurant to be crowded yet and were seated quickly.

  Haley grinned as she looked around. “This place is neat. I’m glad we came.”

  Aria slept soundly in her car seat beside Haley as they ordered the night’s special: all-you-can-eat fried shrimp.

  The waitress glanced over at her. “What beautiful red hair. She’s a precious baby.”

  Haley smiled. “Thanks. It’s our first outing with her—and so far, she’s behaving.”

  The waitress glanced at Carson. “You must be a proud papa.”

  Without batting an eye, he said, “I sure am.”

  Haley looked down and smiled.

  Their dinner came out within minutes, and Carson took his first bite of shrimp, savoring the taste. He loved coming to the Bar D on Saturday nights.

  Haley tasted the coleslaw. “This is so good.”

  “Don’t tell Mom, but I like it better than hers.”

  Haley chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare.”

  They were halfway through eating when Carson’s phone rang. He frowned when he saw it was Landon. “Everything okay?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  The place was noisy, so he put his finger over his ear. “Tell me what’s happened.”

  “Two men came to the house a few minutes ago. They showed me FBI IDs, but I don’t know. They looked kind of fake. They wanted to talk to Haley. I told them that they were at the Winchester ranch and that nobody named Haley lived here.”

  “Did they believe you?”

  “One of the guys noticed Aria’s bouncer on the porch. He said, ‘Haley Wilson was pregnant. Does that belong to her baby?’ I told him again that there was nobody here named Haley. I said that my brother was visiting, and he had a newborn son. The guy looked at it again, and I realized that the bouncer was pink and white. He said, ‘A son, huh?’ Dammit, Carson, I made a stupid mistake.

  “The other guy spoke up and said, “Look, we need to speak with Haley Wilson. It’s important.’ I told them again that she wasn’t here. The two guys looked at each other, and the first one said in this threatening voice, ‘We’re going to find her. You can count on that.’ Then they got back into their black SUV and left.

  “But, Carson, they didn’t act like FBI. They were squirrelly. They talked too tough, and they sounded uneducated. Nothing like you’d expect from FBI agents.”

  Carson sighed and looked at Haley, whose face had gone pale. “Damn, they’ve found us, then. Maybe not them, but someone will come back. Thanks for the heads-up, brother.”

  He filled Haley in as soon as he hung up.

  Her hand flew to her mouth as he talked. Aria started to fuss, and she bent and picked her up. Soothing her daughter gave her something to do with her shaking hands. She said, “I need to leave. I can’t eat another bite. My stomach’s tied up in knots.”

  He nodded. “Me too.” He caught the waitress’s attention and quickly paid the bill.

  Once they were on the road again, he asked Haley to put in a call to Jim. On speaker, Carson told him what had just happened as Aria fussed restlessly in her car seat.

  Haley reached back and gave her a pacifier, and she settled down.

  “Can you go somewhere safe?” Jim asked.

  “What do you suggest?” Carson asked.

  “Get some distance from the ranch and stay in a hotel.”

  “For how long? Can you get us protection?” he asked.

  “Not at this point. The case is pretty flimsy. Once we open one of those containers, we’ll have hard evidence on the human trafficking, and then we can consider Haley a witness and offer you protection.”

  Carson’s mind raced. “When is the next container due in?”

  “Less than two weeks, so not long,” Jim said.

  “Damn! This’ll probably blow up before then.”

  “If it does, call me right away. I’ll bring help.” Then Jim said, “If you can’t leave, then stay armed. And tell your local law enforcement what just happened.”

  After Carson disconnected, he clasped Haley’s hand. “Do you want to go to a hotel? It would be harder for them to find us there.”

 

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