Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
REMINGTON
“ H ey, Dad?” Johnny asks as we walk down Main Street.
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Maybe we could just stay in town until Erin gets done at work, and then we could take her out for dinner. We haven’t done that in a long time.”
“Yeah!” Holly agrees. “We could get BBQ!”
I stop and look down at the two of them. They’re staring up at me with excited eyes, and I know that there’s no way I’ll say no.
“Best idea I’ve heard all day. We should definitely do that. We don’t spend much time in town, do we?”
“Nah, but there’s lots to do out at the ranch,” Johnny reminds me. “Sometimes, it’s fun to come to town, though.”
“Let’s pop back by the coffee shop,” I say as Holly slips her hand into mine, “and we’ll make sure that Erin doesn’t have other plans.”
“If she was gonna do something with Aunt Millie, she can come with us, too,” Holly suggests. “Then it’ll be even more fun.”
“We can invite Aunt Millie if you want.”
We’re just about to walk inside the coffee shop when I hear someone call out my name.
“Rem!”
I look behind us and see Brooks striding our way. “Hey, Brooks. How’s it going?”
“I’m well,” he says and shakes my hand. “Surprised to see you in town. How are you guys?”
Brooks grins at the kids and ruffles Johnny’s hair.
“We’re going to see Erin at work to invite her to dinner,” Holly says with a grin. “Do you want to go to dinner?”
Brooks grins. “Not today, but I’ll take a rain check. Thanks for asking me.”
“You kind of look like my daddy,” Holly adds with a shy smile.
Brooks and I share a glance, and I shrug. “She’s a kid.”
“She’s an adorable kid. Anyway, I have a guy on my staff who should be on your staff.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”
“All he talks about is horses and ranching. He’s nineteen, and he’s a good kid. Horrible with an engine, but he has a strong work ethic, and I think he’d thrive out at Wild River Ranch.”
“Give him my number. I need more help for the summer, and we’ll take it from there.”
“Thanks.” Brooks nods. “Have a fun dinner, you guys. See you later.”
After a wave in Brooks’s direction, I push through the door of the coffee shop and blink in surprise.
At the counter, Holden Lexington is grinning at my sister.
And she has her arms crossed over her chest, trying not to smile back.
“Where’s Erin?” Johnny demands as we approach.
“Oh, she just had to run and check on Roger real quick. She should be back soon.” Millie turns back to Holden. “Do you need anything else?”
“This coffee is delicious,” Holden says idly, as if he has all day to lean on the counter and ponder over his coffee. He looks over at me and nods. “Rem.”
“Holden.” I nod back. “Have you met my kids?”
“Sure, but I haven’t seen them in a long time. Jenny and Cameron, right?”
Johnny and Holly laugh.
“No,” Holly says. “I’m Holly, and he’s my brother, Johnny.”
“That’s right.” Holden glances back up at me with a wink and then turns back to Millie. “Thanks for your time, Miss Wild.”
“You’re not welcome,” she mutters, making Holden smile more as he takes his coffee and walks out of the shop. “He’s a moron.”
“He’s not as bad as his father,” I reply.
“You hate him,” she reminds me. “And you were nice to him.”
I remember what Erin said to me when we were by the mine.
“Bygones,” I reply with a shrug. “You said Erin went to check on Roger?”
“Yeah, the poor guy. He?—”
She’s interrupted by the sound of the door, and Chase strides in, looking good and irritated.
“Forgot my wallet,” he says as Millie holds it up for him.
“That’s what you get when you run away from the truth,” Millie says as she starts making something in small cups. “Do my two favorite kids want some hot chocolate?”
“Yeah!” both kids say together.
“I’m not avoiding the truth,” Chase mutters darkly.
“What truth is that?” I ask.
“He’s hot for Summer,” Millie says. “The woman, not the season.”
“You are?” I blink in surprise. “Well, she’s pretty and nice. And a good businesswoman.”
“That’s what I said,” Millie agrees.
Chase just shakes his head and pulls his hand down his face. “Everyone shut up about it.”
“I like Miss Summer,” Holly says. “She has pretty flowers.”
Chase looks down at Holly mournfully. “Not you, too.”
Before she can answer, Chase’s phone rings.
“Wild,” he answers, and suddenly, his body tightens, his face goes blank, and I know that something is wrong. “When? Is he there now? Tell him to stay outside, and I’ll be there in three minutes. Send backup.”
He ends the call and looks at me.
“Erin’s in trouble.”
“I’ve got the kids,” Millie says immediately. “Go.”
My adrenaline has never been higher as we run out of the shop and over to Chase’s cruiser.
“Roger called 9-1-1,” Chase says as he cranks the engine. “He just got home and heard someone yelling, so he didn’t go in. He looked in the window and saw a man yelling at Erin.”
My hands close into fists. “Stalker?”
“That’s the only thing I can think of.”
Blind fury pulses through me. “If he’s laid a hand on her, I’ll kill him.”
“You can’t say shit like that to me,” Chase mutters in frustration. “We don’t go in until backup arrives.”
“Fuck that.”
“You listen to me, Rem. I only brought you because I knew you’d go on your own anyway, and because she’ll need you, but I’m in charge here, and there are protocols when it comes to circumstances like this.”
“Fuck your protocols.”
“Don’t make me cuff you and keep you in the car.”
“I’d like to see you try.” I glare over at him, but he doesn’t back down.
“I’ll do it. Don’t think I won’t. If you fuck this up, it could fuck up the whole investigation, so you’ll do what I say.”
He parks a couple of houses down, and we immediately run for the house. Roger’s waiting for us on the sidewalk.
“There’s a man in there with Erin,” he says immediately. “He’s yelling nonsense at her. I think he hit her.”
“No,” Chase says, gripping my arm. “Are you sure he hit her?”
“Yes,” Roger says. He’s beside himself, shaking in fear. “That poor girl, we have to get in there and help her. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“You did the right thing,” Chase assures him. “As soon as backup arrives, we’ll go in.”
Without a word, and with the sound of sirens behind me, I set off for the house. I’ll be damned if I’ll let her sit in there alone while a maniac has his way with her. He could be doing anything to her in there, and I will not have her in there for one more second.
Just as I bust through the door, I see him pull his fist back, and he punches her, square in the face.
I don’t stop. I run for him and tackle him to the ground, and with him on his back, I punch him in the face myself.
“You like to hit women, you piece of shit?” I hit him again, satisfied when blood spurts out of his nose. Men swarm into the room, and I’m pulled off of him. “You just got a death sentence,” I yell out.
“Stop,” Chase says, yanking me by the shoulder. “Take care of her and leave him to us.”
“She wanted it,” the asshole cries. “She loves me. I’m her soulmate, and we’re going to be together forever.”
“Get him out of here,” I snarl and then crouch next to Erin.
She’s out cold and tied to the chair, so I quickly untie her, lift her into my arms, and lay her on the couch.
“Wake up, baby.” I kiss her hand. “Come on, Doc, you have to wake up for me.”
“Don’t you touch her like that!” They’re leading him out, and he’s struggling to reach us. “You take your filthy hands off my wife!”
“Jesus Christ, I’m going to punch you in the face if you don’t shut the fuck up,” Chase says as he muscles the man out the door.
“I’m so sorry,” Roger says as he lays a cool washcloth on Erin’s forehead. “I don’t know how that man got into my house.”
“It’s Clay,” Erin whispers, and I turn to her in relief. She’s awake. “Well, he was pretending to be Clay. He’s really Steven, and he pretended to be Clay so he could get close to me.”
“Shh.” I kiss her hand again. “Don’t talk, baby. How badly did he hurt you?”
“Some smacks to the face,” she says as she fights to sit up but falls into my arms, clinging to me, and the tears start to come. “I was so scared. I thought he was going to kill me and that I’d never see my f-f-family again, or you and the k-k-kids.”
“Shh, it’s over, baby. It’s over.” I rock her back and forth as she sobs, letting it all out. “It’s okay. I’m right here.”
She continues to cling to me, and I kiss her head, rubbing my hands up and down her back.
“You’re going to the doctor,” I announce, and she nods in agreement.
“Yeah.” She looks over at Roger and smiles softly, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Are you the one who called for help?”
“Of course, I did.” Roger takes her free hand in his. “I’m sorry, my sweet girl.”
“I’ll be okay. At least now we’ve caught him.” She looks back up at me with those swimming green eyes. “I have so much to tell you and Chase.”
“You’ll tell us,” I promise her, relieved that she seems to be fine. “But right now, I’m taking you to the doctor.”