Cameron, Paige - A Fling with the Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (2 page)

Chapter One

Dirk Brodie poured a cup of coffee and sat at his new kitchen table. He looked around the room. His house had been finished three weeks ago, and finally he had all the furniture in and curtains at the windows. The kitchen was large and bright. There were three windows looking out at a wide sweep of prairie.

He was happy with his home, except it seemed empty. There were four bedrooms and three baths, a large great room, and a study for his desk and books.

But after watching the happiness Ty had with his wife and now his baby daughter, he was envious. He’d never thought he would be ready to settle down, but he was. He had been for some time.

His brother, Clay, had introduced him to a friend of his fiancée’s. Dirk didn’t like Clay’s fiancée. Her friend was just like her. Clay hadn’t understood his disinterest. The woman was beautiful, witty, and very cosmopolitan. Dirk chuckled to himself. She’d have never agreed to live on a ranch with the nearest town twenty miles away and very small. Anyway he’d felt no sparks. None with her or anyone else lately.

He’d gotten up early, so he had time to read his big-city paper before he set out to work. Flipping open the newspaper, the headlines jumped out at him. Chelsea Pearce had been in a convoy attacked by rebels. He read down the article quickly. Three soldiers had been killed and two taken as hostage. Chelsea was also missing.

A small picture of her was at the top the story. It had been taken at a remote outpost. She wore brown slacks and a tan top and a bulletproof vest. She grinned at the camera, showing a strong, confident smile.

Taking long strides, he walked into the living room and turned on the television to get the latest news. There she was again, striding across the sand to join the convoy. One of the soldiers handed her a hard hat. Dirk watched as she swung into the truck and they began to move off from the outpost.

The newscaster talked about the men lost and the ones missing. He described Chelsea as a good, tough reporter who was respected by the men.

Dirk flipped his cell open and called Ty. “Hi, hope I didn’t wake you.”

“What, you think I’m going soft?” Ty teased. “It takes a strong man to keep up with a tiny baby during the night.”

“And you love it.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Look, I know this isn’t the best time for me to ask to take a leave, but I have a private emergency I need to see about.”

“No, that’s fine. You covered double time when I needed it. Any idea how long you’ll be gone, and is there anything I can do to help?”

“I have no idea how much time I’ll need. I’d like Brent’s phone number. I need to ask him a favor.”

“Sure.” Ty rattled off the number. “Keep in touch, if you can.” He hesitated. “And come back safe and sound.”

“I didn’t say it was dangerous.”

“You didn’t have to. You asked for Brent.”

“Thanks, Ty. Take care of the family and if by chance I don’t get back”—his throat tightened for a second—“my will is in my safe here at the house.”

“Damn, more dangerous than I thought. Sure you want to do this?”

“Yeah.”

Dirk hung up and called Brent. His wife, Angie, answered.

“How are you, Dirk?”

“Pretty good. I’d like to ask Brent a question. Is he nearby?”

“He couldn’t wait to get out to the barn this morning. He has a new stallion he’s training. But he always carries his cell phone in case I need him.” She gave him the number. “Feel free to call him. He won’t mind.”

“Thanks, Angie.” He hung up and quickly dialed the number. The minutes were ticking by. He was restless to get on his way. Fear for Chelsea stirred inside him.

“Brent here.”

“Brent, it’s Dirk.”

“How are you? This is early for you to be calling. Are Ty, Lily, and the baby all right?”

“Everyone is fine. But I need some information.” He told Brent all he knew from the paper and television.

“I gather this lady is important to you.”

“We were friends when I worked overseas.”

“Seems a high risk to take for just a friend.” He waited a second and added. “I’ve pretty much turned over the agency to Mick. He occasionally contacts me to go over certain plans. I know he’s done several overseas jobs this past year. What you’re asking for could get you all in trouble with everyone, including our government. You may be stepping on some toes to take this on privately.”

“Yeah. But we both know a small, elite force without the constraints of government can get in and out quicker, and hopefully safer. We’ll try to get all three of them out.”

“I’ll run it by Mick and have him call you. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice if he accepts the assignment.”

“I’m ready now.”

Brent chuckled. “Must be a very good friend.” He hung up.

Dirk threw basics in a back pack and paced the floor waiting for his call. Thirty minutes later the phone rang.

“Dirk Brodie?”

“Yes.”

“This is Mick Holster. I talked to Brent and to two of my men. One is an ex-SEAL, the other a crack sharpshooter. If we’re going to do this, we have to get in and out quick.”

“I agree.”

“I’m not sure about taking you along. We don’t need an inexperienced person to snag things up.”

“I’ve done a few covert operations in the past. I’ve never told anyone, family or friends, just you. And you aren’t going without me.”

There was silence on the other end for several seconds. “Brent said you were a good man. All right, I’ll take a chance this one time. We’ll pick you up in a helicopter in about two hours, and then head for a private airport I use. We’ll fly a roundabout way to our destination and make our plans during the flight. I have some contacts on the ground that can furnish us with an unmarked helicopter. We’ll bring our own weapons and ammunition.”

“I’m ready and waiting.”

* * * *

The fierce gunfire had startled her, but she had confidence they’d manage to get through. When she saw the three men die and the other two outnumbered, her heartbeat went into overdrive.

The fighters were covered in long cotton caftans. On their heads they wore turbans, and black kohl had been rubbed around their dark, fierce eyes.

The one who appeared to be the leader grabbed her by the arm. “You are the trophy from this fight, and mine, for now. I may share you with my men if you displease me.” He reached out. A man handed him a large folded dark blue square. The leader shook it out and threw it over her head. “Now no one will see your fiery hair but me, as is proper. Tie her hands and throw her over my horse.”

They put the two wounded men on horses and pulled the reins along behind them. The men were bent over, and Chelsea saw blood on them. She feared they’d never make it to wherever these animals were taking them.

The leader kept his hand on her back. She bounced, jarring her middle every step his horse took. Once he let his hand roam down her back and cupped her buttocks. When she tried to move away from his touch, he laughed.

“Get used to my touch. You are mine to do with as I please.”

His harsh words sent a cold chill throughout her body. No one knew where they were. She doubted even if she was rescued that it would be in time to save her from this man’s assault.

She’d never been afraid, not really, until now. She’d ridden motorbikes fast and hard, bungee jumped over a wide canyon, and canoed down a rapid river. When she’d left home, she became a daredevil, wanting to experience all she’d missed. But now in this dark place, far from home, for the first time she was really frightened.

Dirk had warned her many times that she had been lucky, but luck never lasted forever. Why was he in her thoughts? He was home in Montana. He’d wanted a different life. He’d looked like a handsome cowboy when she tried to sneak onto the Terrell ranch. What would have happened if she’d gone back after her mother’s surgery and subsequent recovery? Would she still be here, a prisoner to a madman?

She raised her head a little and saw a small village built against the side of the mountain. They’d arrived. Her time had run out.

Chapter Two

Dirk, Mick, and his men bent over a map of the area where it was thought the soldiers and Chelsea had been taken. They held flashlights to better see the roads and the small villages that were marked. So many weren’t even listed.

“Our plane lands at this spot.” Mick made an X mark on the map. “We’ll pick up any new information and head out in the helicopter. My guess is they headed to this mountain range just over the border. They’ll believe no one will come in their direction right away. The soldiers will have to get permission to cross over. Whereas we don’t ask.”

One of the men, called Devil, spoke up. “If we’re caught, we won’t be treated well by either country, theirs or ours.” He looked at Dirk. “You understand the risk you’re taking?”

“I do.”

Satisfied, he shook his head. “Good.”

Dirk tried to sleep like the others, but he couldn’t. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face.

A few more hours and they’d finally be close to where they thought she was being held. He doubted they’d get there in time to save her from an assault. Hopefully they’d be able to save her life. Thoughts buzzed around in his head until finally the pilot announced they were landing.

The plane curved to the left and began to descend. Dirk’s heart beat quicker. Finally they were going to be doing something.

“Ready, team?” Mick glanced at them all, including Dirk. “This is it. We get the copter and head out. Chuck, you’ll pilot the helicopter, too.”

As soon as the plane landed, they got off. Two tall, dark-skinned men wearing turbans met them outside the tiny, wood office.

Dirk saw money change hands, and then Mick was handed a key. They spoke low to Mick. Dirk couldn’t catch enough of the words to know what info they were relaying.

Mick motioned them to the helicopter sitting to the right. They ran across the tarmac and got in. Mick handed the key to Chuck. In minutes they were in the air.

“Those two said rumor had it that a small band had taken prisoners, one a woman. He gave me an idea of where they might be hiding out. As we expected, it’s over the border. We’ll fly close to the area, land, and go the last distance on foot. In the back of the helicopter are caftans and turbans. We’ll use dirt as a camouflage to cover our faces. Any questions?”

“No.” They all responded.

It was in the middle of the night, and the copter sounded loud in the emptiness of the sky and below. Chuck went higher and circled first one set of mountains and then another. Nothing. Time was of the essence and running out.

“Take a pass over that small group of mountains to the left,” Devil said. He adjusted his night goggles and leaned out the side window. “There, see? It blends right into the wall of the mountain, and it’s smaller than we expected. But I’ll bet that’s them.”

Dirk saw what he meant when the helicopter turned away and he could see it out of his side. “I agree,” he said.

“All right. Let’s put this baby down, not too far. If we fuck up, we don’t want to have to run a long distance with prisoners who may be wounded.”

Chuck eased the copter into a small area on the other side of the mountain. From there they’d be hidden fairly well.

“If they didn’t hear us, we’ll have the element of surprise. If they did, this is going to be messy. Chuck, you stay here with the machine gun to protect our escape route. Dirk and Devil, follow me.”