Chapter Sixteen
The ride off the mountain was in silence.
Jag looked down at the boy, who had fallen asleep almost as soon as he settled into Jag’s lap. The rhythmic strides of the horse must have been soothing.
Jacob had his cheek pressed against Jag’s arm, and he was careful not to disturb the kid. He held the compass clutched in one hand and the stuffed animal in the other.
Jag’s mind wandered to Mercy.
His mind was in a state of disarray.
He wanted her, but maybe happily ever after wasn’t in the cards for them.
What if he was wrong? What if he was allowing his fear to misguide him?
His idea of a relationship couldn’t have changed that quickly.
Yet, it hadn’t been so quick.
For years, he’d thought of Mercy. On those lonely nights on the mountain, he'd even allowed himself to imagine, on occasion, what it’d be like to have her in his life. She was amazing. He’d never met a more beautiful, more intelligent woman. He’d never been around anyone who could make him feel like he was tied in knots.
She seemed to understand Jag more than anyone ever had.
But as much as he knew he wanted her, he also knew there was a risk of disappointing her.
Maybe he should stop being selfish and step aside, allow Mercy and Bones to see where their mutual attraction took them?
Why did Jag feel a punch to the center of his chest? Imagining Mercy with someone else was like a punch to his gut.
Sure, he’d seen her with men over the years. Men who were no threat. But Bones was a definite threat. He was a good guy, had his life in order, and would make great husband material.
Jag swallowed the realization, as if he had shards of glass in his throat.
He needed to do the right thing.
He needed to encourage Mercy to find happiness.
Jag needed to let go.
She’d been right when she said they’d been skirting around the perimeter of their attraction for years, toying with flirtation.
Yet, they’d never gotten further than a night together.
She idealized Jag, though. She saw him as the man she wanted to see. He had flaws—big flaws. Hell, he’d just had a nightmare last night that brought him awake, panting and sweating profusely. That would scare a woman.
Would it scare Mercy? She said it didn’t.
She’d nearly been shot and she seemed like she’d brushed it off.
She deserved someone without all the added baggage.
Then again, in his defense, he was healing.
Looking down at the boy, Jag realized rescuing people was in his blood. Doing something good for someone did his heart and mind a helluva lot of good.
But could he be what Mercy needed?
The rain picked up and Jag used his body to protect Jacob, who slept soundly.
They finally reached the trailhead, and Jag could breathe with ease again.
“Good job out there today, Jag,” Sheriff Monarch said as she took the sleeping child from him so he could dismount.
“He’s okay. Dehydrated and exhausted, but things could have been far worse.” Jag looked at the small group of people standing up ahead. He didn’t see the parents among them.
“I bet I know what you’re wondering. I ran the plates on the parents’ car, and it turns out they belonged to a man named Jonah Jetson, sixty years old. I was able to pull Abby aside and ask for her cooperation. She told me everything, and it’s a doozy. I’ll tell you the details later, but to lay your fears to rest, the kid and his mom have been held with this guy, whose real name is Joseph Dussman, for two weeks. From Mom’s story, the kid got mad and bit Joseph, who became irate. In his anger, he told Abby that he was taking the kid and leaving him on the mountain. Long story short, Abby was smart and somehow managed to relay to the neighbors at the campsite that Jacob was missing.”
“Is Mom being charged with anything?” Jag asked.
“Not at this point. Her story seems to check out because I spoke to the neighbor at the campground. So, I’ll question her more, and Jacob too, but right now I think Mom and son deserve to be reunited.”
“Amazing job,” Crow said as he and Bear made their way to Jag.
“That’s one mean-ass mountain,” Jag said, removing his gloves and putting them into his pack.
The dark clouds gave way to brighter skies as the three rode back to Storm Pass.
Jag was full of…what?
On missions, he was always overcome with a sense of pride. He and his team did the dirty work while others received the credit, but he never minded. Going in and taking down the worst of the worst enemy meant something to him. It gave him purpose, even if he didn’t get the recognition.
But there was something different in what he’d just done.
He’d saved a kid.
What could be better, or prouder than that?
He was so emotionally charged that when he arrived at the farmhouse, he went straight to the kitchen to search for Mercy, but she was nowhere to be found.
He strolled into the laundry room where Jess was filling the washer. When she saw him standing on the threshold, she nearly jumped out of her shoes. “For heaven’s sake, Jag. You’re not supposed to ever walk up on an old lady without announcing yourself.”
“Sorry. I’m looking for Mercy. Have you seen her?”
“I’m not the cook’s keeper,” Jess mumbled.
“Of course you’re not.” He plastered a smile on his face, remembering he’d get information quicker with honey than lemons. “But you’re observant. You see everything.”
This seemed to appease her, which didn't happen often. “The supply list is gone, so I'm assuming she finally went into town. I’ve been needing some things for a few days.”
“Town?” The word popped off his tongue.
She grabbed a pair of jeans and shook them out, sending the air whipping around her. “I don’t know if she's taking the cook’s position seriously because she spends a lot of time sitting behind a computer at the office, and when she's not there, she's gallivanting around with Bones."
“Town,” Jess groaned.
“Bones took her?”
“You must think I spy on everyone.” She sighed. “I was hanging laundry when I saw them leave. Now are we done? This laundry won’t wash itself.”
Jag left Jess alone before she bit his head off.
Some of the joy he was feeling faded into…what?
So what happened to that diplomatic thinking of sacrificing his desires for Mercy’s happiness? The woman infuriated him, yet she’d also managed to needle her way into every layer of his being. He couldn’t tell if he was angrier because she left the ranch or that she was with Bones, and only one of the reasons had validation. Or maybe he was too uptight.
The fact was, he’d brought this all onto himself.
So busy counting the stars, he’d missed the moon.