LITMIR.BIZ

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into the phone. “He may be here already.”

      “Who’s Lance?”

      “A deputy sheriff. I called him and told him something was wrong out here. He said he’d head over and check it out.”

      Hope blossomed and she prayed.

      “I got my hands free,” he whispered. “Sit tight. Better do this while there’s only one. While I distract Pete, you grab Sophia and run.”

      “Don’t—”

      Pete hung up and walked back into the den. “Looks like we’re stuck here a bit longer.”

      “What are you waiting for?” Aaron asked.

      “Instructions.”

      He turned slightly, and Aaron sprang from the couch. He slammed into Pete, and they both went to the floor. Sophia screamed, and Zoe clutched her close. Aaron grunted as a fist caught him across the cheek. Zoe looked for a weapon she could use to help. Aaron rolled, avoiding another fist in the face. “Run, Zoe!”

      Zoe pushed Sophia toward the front door. “Go. Run as fast as you can into the trees. Hide until you hear me calling. I’ll find you.” She wanted her child safe, but she wasn’t going to leave Aaron to fight alone.

      Sophia ran for the door and unlocked it. Zoe grabbed a vase from the end table next to the sofa.

      The back door crashed in and a deputy stepped into the kitchen. She could see him assessing the situation in a lightning-fast second. He moved through the small hall into the den and aimed his weapon at the men on the floor. “Police! Freeze!”

      Aaron rammed a punch into Pete’s gut, and the man gasped, rolled to his knees and put his head on the floor.

      Aaron stumbled back. Sophia froze near the front door then ran back to Zoe who set the vase back onto the table and gathered her child close.

      Lance moved quickly and cuffed the man on the floor while Aaron went to the window to peer out. “There’s another one. He left just a minute ago.”

      The front door slammed open.

      Zoe gasped and spun to find Cody and yet a third man standing there with weapons aimed at them. Lance lifted his gun and aimed it at the two men. “Drop your weapons.”

      The third man stepped closer. “I don’t think so.” He simply shifted his gun so that it was pointed at Sophia. “Now everyone is going to settle down.” His gaze darted between Lance, Aaron and the man on the ground. He came back to Lance. “Lose your weapon and your phone and uncuff Pete.” Lance glared but didn’t argue, placing his gun and cell phone on the table with the others. Aaron sank back onto the couch, dabbing his bruised cheek. The newcomer waited until Pete was on his feet before he spoke. “Thought you said you had him tied up.”

      “He was,” Pete grunted with a scowl.

      “Tape him up again. Put his hands in front of him so we can see what he’s doing with them.” He flicked a glance at Lance. “Both of them.”

      Despair welled in Zoe as Aaron and Lance submitted to having their hands bound in front of them. She wanted to wail in frustration. They’d been so close. So very close. She huddled with Sophia and prayed—in spite of the fact that she was convinced that God didn’t care what happened to those she loved.

THREE

      Pete got up from the floor and turned his dark eyes on Aaron. The venom there sent a cold shiver of fear through him. And certain knowledge that Pete wanted to kill him. Aaron figured if the man got his hands on a gun, it would all be over. Aaron had made an enemy for life. One he’d better not ever let have access to his back. He felt sure he could take the man in a one-on-one fight, but Aaron knew he was no match with bound hands. He kept his gaze steady, refusing to flinch. Finally Pete looked away, grabbed his weapon from the floor and aimed it at Aaron.

      “Put it away, Pete,” the newcomer ordered.

      “But Jed—”

      “Now. There’ll be time for revenge later.” Aaron didn’t like the fact that the man could speak without raising his voice and the two men did as ordered. Jed turned his gaze to the blond man. “Cody, get on the phone and find out what the problem is. We can’t stay here forever. Start the truck and once we’re away from here we’ll figure out what to do with them.”

      Cody tossed his shaggy blond hair out of his eyes and snagged his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. He punched in a number, shot them all a vicious look and backed out the door. Aaron glanced at Lance who’d also placed himself in a protective stance between the men and Zoe and Sophia. A cold feeling had settled in the pit of Aaron’s stomach. These men didn’t think anything about using each other’s names. Because they didn’t plan on anyone being able to tell who they were?

      Pete stepped forward and taped Lance’s hands together then gave him a shove onto the couch. Lance landed with a grunt beside Zoe.

      When Pete moved his attention to him, Aaron looked at the new guy who’d displaced Cody with his authority. Jed. “Look, if I don’t check in with my family, they’re going to come looking for me.”

      “Shut up.”

      “My brother is the sheriff of this town,” Aaron continued softly. “Unless you want him on the doorstep as well, you’ll let me text him and let him know I’m going to be busy all night delivering that calf out in the barn. I also have some medication for my mother I picked up at the pharmacy. My dad’s going to be calling and wondering why I haven’t dropped it off yet.”

      Jed’s eyes narrowed and he cut a glance at Pete. Aaron turned his attention to him. “And in case you’re wondering, I don’t want my family coming here and stumbling into this mess. I’m not trying to put something over on you. I’m actually just trying to keep my family away from you. Less trouble for you, too, if no one else shows up.” Might as well say it like it is. Even then, there wasn’t any guarantee that Clay wouldn’t come by to check on him or take it upon himself to come get their mother’s medicine, but with Sabrina due to deliver their first child any day now, he figured Clay would stay pretty close to home once he got back from his trip. Which meant he might send someone. Either way it would involve putting someone else in danger if he didn’t let them hear from him.

      Jed eyed him. “Fine.” He jutted his chin at Pete. “Text what he tells you.”

      Pete’s eyes narrowed, but he found Aaron’s phone. “You’ve got four new texts.”

      “Like I said, better let me answer them, or I’ll have people looking for me.” He met Pete’s gaze. “And they know where to find me.”

      Pete looked to his boss for confirmation. The man nodded. “Who and what do I text?”

      Aaron gave instructions, not even trying to insert a hidden message in his words. It would be too obvious anyway. He added. “One more. Text to my dad, ‘Calf due to deliver any moment. Won’t have time to drop off Mom’s meds. See if Doc Whaley will give her two pills to tide her over till I can get there probably tomorrow.’”

      When the messages had been sent, he allowed Pete to duct-tape his hands together once again. One less thing to worry about. His family wouldn’t come out to the farm and find themselves in danger. He sat back on the sofa while the other two men paced and muttered and checked their phones. They were waiting on something. Orders from someone?

      Cody stomped back into the house, flakes of snow melting in his hair, blistering curses on his lips. “I gotta go into town and get a part. The truck won’t start.”

      “What? What happened?” Jed asked.

      “I don’t know. I think it’s a spark plug.”

      “Take mine.” Jed tossed Cody his keys. “Don’t be long.”

      “Guess

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