LITMIR.BIZ

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didn’t need to go into the reasons for their breakup. Buck Kendrick hadn’t been happy about his young innocent daughter dating a man who never planned to make a commitment.

      “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Dad. To start with, I never should have married Alan…. I should have tried harder to contact Chase.”

      “Sweetheart, we can’t stand here and try to atone for all the mistakes made in our lives. If so, I’d have to take some blame, too. I pushed you into that sham of a marriage… but you and Alan seemed to be a great match.” He shook his head. “I had no idea that would turn out so badly.”

      “Dad, stop it. It was my choice.”

      Alan had been her boyfriend in high school, but knew his feelings for her were stronger than hers for him. When Mallory went off to college she ended their relationship, knowing she wanted to experience life. But they’d stayed friends. When she came home that summer from college and saw Chase, she fell hopelessly in love.

      Chase didn’t. When he got the call to join the rangers, he was packed and gone without so much as a backward glance. Alan had been the one who came back into her life and was willing to take on another man’s baby. So she thought…

      “But he hurt you and Ryan…and I can’t forgive him or myself for that.”

      “Maybe if I’d tried harder to contact Chase all those years ago, it would have made a difference.” She looked toward the house. “Now, my only concern is protecting my son.”

      He had a son…. He had a son….

      The rest of the day those words had played in Chase’s head, even during all the paperwork and debriefing on today’s capture. He’d thought it would keep his mind off facing Mallory’s betrayal. It didn’t do any good. He was angry. How could she keep their son a secret?

      Jesse stopped by his office right before the shift ended. “Hey, Chase. Wanted to let you know that Jacobs and Reyes are back in Sweetwater.” He shook his head. “Man, I’m glad they’re in lockdown now, especially Jacobs. He’s one mean son of a gun. The guy seemed to get pleasure out of telling me what his plans were for the boy. Reyes was pretty talkative, too. He was interested in your relationship to Wade Landon.”

      That wasn’t uncommon. “How so?”

      Jesse shrugged. “When I said Wade Landon was your uncle the guy just grinned. Think he’d know anything?”

      “What’s Reyes? Forty-two? He could have been around back then. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check his record…. Monday.” Reyes wasn’t going anywhere.

      Jesse started to leave, then turned back. “You want to go for some food…maybe a beer?”

      “Thanks, but I have plans,” Chase told him as he cleared off his desk.

      Jesse didn’t move. “Well, if you want to talk, I’m around,” he said and started to leave.

      “I’m going to the ranch to talk with Mallory.”

      Jesse nodded. “I’d say that’s a good place to start.” He smiled. “Well, like I said, I’ll be around if you want to…get a beer.”

      “Thanks.”

      Chase watched as Jesse walked out. Would he ever be ready to talk about this? If he were honest, he wasn’t sure about his own feelings. How are you supposed to handle the news that you’re a father? That you have a son? There were eight years he’d missed with his boy. How was he supposed to feel? The problem was he felt too many things, joy…fear…and a lot of anger…

      Before seven that evening, Chase had showered and changed, then walked out of his town house and climbed into his dusty white truck to head to the Lazy K Ranch.

      He knew one thing. Learning Ryan was his kid had affected him like nothing else had in his life. He’d spent less than two hours with the child, but already he felt a bond.

      But an instant father? What if Ryan hated the idea?

      Chase turned off the highway and drove down the road that led to the Lazy K Ranch. He’d traveled this route many times when he’d been dating Mallory. Mostly he’d come by when Buck wasn’t home or out on the range. Her father hadn’t been crazy about a—so-called—older man dating his college age daughter.

      Chase made a snorting sound. He was all of twenty-eight back then.

      His heart rate accelerated as he pulled into the circular drive of the Spanish-style home. The golden stucco-and-stone structure revealed Buck’s wife, Pilar Kendrick’s, Spanish heritage. The patio out front was made of hand-painted tiles with a large fountain in the center. He climbed out of his truck and went to the door and knocked.

      It wasn’t too long before he heard footsteps from inside. “I’ll get it,” called a child’s voice. The door opened and a freshly bathed Ryan with his hair combed neatly stood smiling up at him.

      “Hi, Chase.”

      “Hi…Ryan,” he answered, suddenly feeling awkward.

      “Mom said you were coming tonight. Will you have supper with us? Rosalie made enchiladas.”

      “That’s pretty hard to pass up.”

      “It’s my favorite.” His dark eyes were bright. “That’s why she made it. For me.”

      Chase stepped though the doorway into the terra-cotta tiled entry with rough-plastered, cream walls and dark wood trim that matched the rest of the house.

      “You should get special treatment,” he told him. “You were brave to handle everything.”

      “And I didn’t cry…much,” he said proudly, then leaned forward. “I got scared sometimes, but don’t tell Mom ’cause she’ll start crying again, and I don’t like it when she’s sad.”

      “It’s our secret.”

      “What’s your secret?”

      Chase looked toward the archway that led into the living room to find Mallory. His chest constricted as if he couldn’t draw air into his lungs. She had on a long, multicol-ored skirt and a rose-colored T-shirt. Her shiny ebony hair lay in soft waves against her shoulders. Although her green eyes were weary, she looked beautiful. That was something he didn’t need to notice tonight…or any night.

      “Nothing. Just some guy talk.”

      “Well, you can talk about it later. Rosalie says supper is ready.” She looked at Chase. “I hope you’re hungry.”

      He nodded as Ryan ran on ahead. “This isn’t going to keep us from having our discussion.”

      “I know, but Ryan needs family right now.” She straightened. “This doesn’t just involve the two of us, there’s a child to think about. And I’m going to do everything I can to protect him.”

      “Is that what you’ve been doing for these years, protecting him from me?”

      “However you feel about me, Chase, don’t take it out on Ryan. We’ll settle things after my son goes to bed.”

      “I agree with you there, except he’s our son, Mallory.” He glared at her. “You need to remember that from now on.”

      Mallory sat on Ryan’s bed watching him sleep. She silently thanked God over and over again for bringing her son home safely. When he’d been kidnapped she wasn’t sure she’d ever get the chance to put him to bed again. Now that she had a second chance, she also had a second threat. Was Chase a threat to her family?

      She saw the look on his face during supper, and knew he wasn’t just going to walk away. And she wouldn’t deny Ryan his father, either. Not again.

      She placed a kiss on her son’s forehead and watched as he curled up on his side and snuggled deep into the pillow. She walked out and closed the door behind her.

      Whatever

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