The Texas Ranger's Reward (Undercover Heroes) (16 page)

With such a short fuse at this point, he was angered by
everything. He kept looking around like a crazed animal, obviously expecting
someone would come.

She thought again of her last night here at the cabin with
Travis. She’d been so afraid he still wanted Valerie that she’d ended it with
him. And because she knew her family’s plans, Melissa realized no one would be
coming up to Kamas this weekend.

For the first time in her life, she had a conviction she was
going to die. But not without a fight!

After what seemed like hours of being strung up in this
condition, she discovered her eyes staring at the ground cover. Her head
drooped, feeling as if it weighed a hundred pounds. If only she could have some
water, but there was no way he was going to untape her mouth. Her arms had gone
numb and she found it hard to breathe.

It could be days that he left her out here. Or he might decide
to rape and shoot her before he went back to Salt Lake to hunt down Travis and
Casey. This maniac would have no qualms about doing something horrible to a boy
she loved like her own son. She needed to save them both, but how?

* * *

R
ELIEF
SURGED
THROUGH
Travis when he drove up the
road from town and saw her Jeep parked at the cabin. He jumped from the cab and
raced to the front door.

“Melissa?” He started knocking. When she didn’t answer, he
knocked again and waited. He rang her phone once more. No answer. With the sun
shining overhead, she might be out in back sketching or painting, even if she
didn’t feel well.

“Melissa?” he called as he walked toward the rear of the cabin.
The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her. “It’s Travis! If you can hear
me, answer me!” The second he rounded the corner his gut twisted, squeezing the
breath out of him.

Not only was the back door open, but there were signs of a
struggle. The lawn chair she used had been tipped over and dented. Her acrylic
paint tubes were scattered in every direction. He stooped to pick up her art
pad, lying on top of an easel that appeared broken.

His heart jumped in terror when he saw blood spatters on the
pad.

A few feet away he saw her cell phone, open. He checked her
last outgoing call. It had been to her parents at five o’clock yesterday
evening. Whoever had surprised her had abducted her too fast for her to call for
help.

If she was inside, he had to find out. His training in law
enforcement had prepared him for this, but not when the victim was the woman he
was crazy in love with.

He hadn’t seen Valerie when she was shot. His boss had been the
one to tell him. This was different. If he found Melissa lying in there…

Saying a prayer, he went inside. A thorough search turned up
nothing. That meant there was a chance she was still alive.

He phoned the firm on his own cell. “Roman?” Travis was in such
a rage over the fiend who’d done this, he could hardly manage words. “I’m at
Melissa’s cabin. Looks like she’s been abducted. One of the Colombians must have
escaped the net while we were rounding them up a week ago, and has been hiding
out. Maybe she caught him using the cabin while she was painting. There’s
evidence she fought him.

“I’m going after her right now. If this scum thinks he’s being
followed, there’s no telling what he’ll do to Melissa. He has plans for her, or
he would have killed her on the spot.”

“What can I do?” Roman asked.

“Send up Jose and Lon. Tell them to drive to the firebreak road
where the marijuana was loaded.” There was no doubt in Travis’s mind the
kidnapper had dragged her to the area where he’d been working most of the
summer. “They’ll know where to head from there. I’ll phone them in a little
while.”

“I’m on it and will have a helicopter standing by,” Roman said.
“Go get him.”

Travis hurried to his truck. He pulled out his heat-seeking
goggles and handgun from his backpack. After putting the weapon in his leg
holster, he retrieved his rifle from the locker in the back of the truck. Fully
equipped, Travis started through the forest on a run.

He had to find her—find her in time…

Forty-five minutes later he got a call from Jose. The guys were
rushing to the harvest site and would stay in touch. He hung up and kept moving
until his thermal goggles picked up an image he hadn’t expected to see until he
reached his destination.

His heart slammed against his ribs when he saw Melissa strung
out between two trees, her head down. A man armed with a rifle emerged from the
pines behind her. Travis got down on the ground behind a log. Using it as a prop
for his rifle, he took aim at the man’s shoulder and pulled the trigger.

The wounded man fell not two feet from Melissa. His rifle
landed just out of his reach. He howled from where he lay, spewing venom as
Travis ran toward Melissa.

In the next instant he was cutting the ropes off her and gently
laying her unconscious form on the ground. He removed the tape from across her
mouth, careful not to take any skin with it. He felt for her pulse and rejoiced
when he found one. It was weak, but it was there.

Then he pulled out his cell to call Roman. “The kidnapper has
been incapacitated. I’ve got Melissa, but she’s unconscious and needs medical
attention. Send a helicopter to the clearing where the marijuana was burned.
Here are the coordinates. Tell Jose and Lon.”

Still hunkered down beside Melissa, Travis pulled a bottle of
water from his pocket and talked to her while he sprinkled droplets on her face
in an effort to revive her. “Come on, sweetheart, be alive for me and
Casey.”

He could hear the chopper now. Suddenly Lon and Jose were on
the scene, followed by police. In another minute a medical team was running
forward with a stretcher.

Once she was safely strapped on, Travis followed and climbed
into the helicopter with her. The blades were still rotating. Within seconds,
the craft took off and the team began the process of hooking her up to an IV.
After taking her vital signs, they put an oxygen mask over her face.

“Do you think she will be okay?” Travis asked.

“Give her time. She’s been through a rough ordeal. We heard
she’d been spread-eagled. With her arms extended that tight, and above her
heart, she’s had a hard time breathing. The oxygen will help her. Don’t worry.
We’ll be at University Hospital in a few minutes.”

One of the medics told Travis he looked pale, and suggested he
sit down, but he couldn’t leave her. He looked at her wrists and ankles. The
ropes had made angry-looking red rings around them.

It was because of him that Melissa was on the verge of losing
her life. He should have made certain they’d caught every illegal operating up
there. Maybe since Valerie’s death, he’d lost his edge and should get out of law
enforcement altogether. He had to be slipping if one of those Colombians had
eluded capture. All week the trash had probably stayed at her cabin at night,
waiting for her to show up.

By the time they reached the hospital, she still hadn’t gained
consciousness. Travis’s pain was unbearable as he watched them wheel her into
Emergency.

Roman met him as he walked through the doors behind the
stretcher. “She might not make it,” Travis rasped.

“She was alive when you found her. Don’t lose hope now.”

“I’m no good anymore, Roman. This is my fault. I wasn’t
thorough enough during the sting. One got away, and now Melissa’s life is on the
line because of my mistake.”

Roman grabbed his shoulders. “What are you talking about? Don’t
you know it was Danny McClusky who kidnapped her?”

“What?”
Travis’s mind reeled.

Chaz spoke up behind him. “He tracked you here, but received
the surprise of his life when you got him with your rifle.”

“It’s true,” Mitch interjected. “Your wife’s death has been
avenged in a miraculous way. As I see it, you have smooth sailing from here on
out.”

Travis grimaced. “Not if Melissa doesn’t make it. She must wish
she’d never met me.”

“You know better than that. Let’s go see how she’s doing.”

The four of them walked toward the cubicle, but were told to
wait until the doctors had finished their examination. Travis buried his face in
his hands. The waiting felt like an eternity.

“Travis?”

He looked up to see Jose and Lon, who’d just come in on the
other helicopter. Lon was carrying her bloodied sketch pad. “We thought you
might like to see what’s inside.” He flipped it open and Travis found himself
looking at his own image. He was staggered by Melissa’s talent. And the words at
the bottom said it all.

Roman’s eyes gleamed. “It’s a very good likeness of you,
comrade.
I think we should hang it in the
office.”

“Notice the date.”
Chaz was
smiling.

It had been this morning.

Tears prickled Travis’s eyelids. “If it hadn’t been for you
guys urging me to talk to her…”

“You’d have gone to find her, anyway. You were a mess without
her,” Mitch said.

Chaz nodded. “You were.”

Suddenly, a doctor stepped from behind the curtain. “Is one of
you Travis? The patient’s asking for him.”

Travis felt half a dozen slaps on his back before he rushed
into the cubicle.

She was bruised and banged up. They’d cleaned her forehead and
had put a butterfly tape over the cut. She was hooked up to oxygen, as well as
an IV, but it didn’t matter because her eyes were open. And she was the most
beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

Her poor mouth was covered in blisters, and he lowered his head
and kissed her cheek. When he met her gaze, his eyes filled with tears.

“I prayed you’d c-come,” Melissa said, her voice weak. “Then I
prayed you w-wouldn’t because he was waiting for you. He threatened to kill
C-Casey.” Tears gushed from her eyes and down her temples to the sheet. “Is
Casey all right? Does he know anything?”

“He’s fine,” Travis whispered “And no, he knows nothing about
this.”

“Don’t ever let him know. I want him to always love the
cabin.”

“It will be our secret.”

The doctor pulled the curtain aside. “I’m sorry to disturb you,
but we’re taking her upstairs to a private room. She’s been given a sedative.
You can come, but she needs to rest now.”

“Understood.”

“Don’t l-leave me, Travis.”

“I won’t, I swear.”

As he left the cubicle, an older couple rushed forward. “I’m
Melissa’s mother. We’re so grateful to you for saving our daughter’s life,
you’ll never know.” She hugged him with surprising strength.

Over her head Melissa’s father was smiling through tears.

“They’re taking her up to a private room,” Travis said. “I
promised I wouldn’t leave her, but I need to call my son. Then I’ll join
you.”

“Go right ahead. We’ll see you upstairs.”

When he walked outside the emergency room doors to make the
call, he announced to his waiting friends, “She’s going to be fine.”

“That’s all we wanted to hear.”

Lon handed him the art pad. “I think you’ll want to hold on to
this. I’ve got the rest of your stuff and will bring it to the office. A couple
of police officers are bringing the truck and Jeep down from the cabin. I told
them to drive both to Melissa’s house so your son won’t be alarmed.”

“You think of everything.”

Lon smiled. “I’m a father, too.”

After everyone left in Roman’s big van, Travis phoned Pat.

“Casey’s been hoping you’d call,” his sister said. “Here he
is.”

“Dad?”

“Hi, bud. How was school today?”

“It was okay. When are you coming home?”

“Well, I have a date with Melissa tonight.”

“You do?” he half squealed in joy.

“Yeah. The problem is, I might get home late.”

“Is that ’cuz you’re going to kiss and stuff?”

“What makes you think that?” Travis teased.

“I saw you kissing, and Zack told me that’s what his parents do
all the time.”

Travis chuckled. “Will it be okay if you don’t see me until
tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah. Do you think Melissa will come with you?”

“We’ll see.”

“You always say that!”

“I know. I love you, Casey.” His voice shook. “See you in the
morning.”

Chapter Eleven

Melissa awakened when the nurse came into her room at
7:00 a.m. on her rounds. That’s when she saw Travis seated on a chair next to
her bed, studying one of the drawings in her art pad. He looked drained and
exhausted. And never more attractive.

The nurse took her vitals and checked the IV. “At this rate
you’ll be able to go home today.” She took the IV out of her arm. “Are you
hungry for more than juice?”

“Yes. I’d love some toast.”

“I’ll bring you some. After breakfast you can get up and
shower.”

“That sounds heavenly.” The nurse’s visit reminded Melissa she
must look awful.

“The doctor will be in later to check on you.”

“Thank you.”

Melissa was feeling well enough not to like the way the pretty
nurse smiled at Travis before she left the room. Melissa wanted Travis out of
the line of fire from all the females working here.

Finally they were alone.

“Hi,” she said to this incredible man who’d saved her life.

His warm gaze traveled over her. “How are you feeling?”

“I can’t wait to get out of here.”

“Ah. If that’s true, then it means you’re well enough to
kiss.”

Her pulse raced when he got up and moved close. “You might not
like the taste of the salve they put on my lips.”

“Don’t you know by now that won’t stop me?”

“Oh, Travis…” He leaned over and kissed her gently. She didn’t
want gentle, and flung her arms around his neck to pull him closer. “I love you,
I love you. If you don’t feel the same way, it doesn’t matter.”

“But I
do
feel the same way. If you
weren’t still in the hospital, I’d show you just how much I love you, darlin’.
Only you and nobody else.”

Though her lips were still tender, she kissed him with all she
had. “Yesterday I was afraid I’d never see you again,” she said long moments
later. “I was a fool to end things with you. It wasn’t what I wanted. All week I
wanted to call you and tell you I was wrong.”

“You don’t even
want
to know about
the week I had without you.” He kissed her neck and throat.

“I’m to blame. You see, I’m a very spoiled girl. But I’ve
repented for wishing to be the first and only love in your life. When I was tied
with those ropes, I realized how lucky I was to be the current woman in your
life.”

Travis raised his head. Even in the dim light, his eyes blazed
with fire. “Not only current, but the only one for the rest of our lives.”

Her eyes filled. “You mean…”

“I’m asking you to marry me. But before you answer me, I need
to ask you something else, and you have to be honest with me.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! I fell in love with a Texas Ranger.
That’s what you’ll always be to me, and I wouldn’t want you any other way. As
your oh-so-wise sister said to me recently, there are no guarantees in this
life. Let’s agree to love each other and stop worrying about what might happen.
Frankly, I’m sick of it.”

A chuckle escaped his throat before he worked an arm beneath
her head so he could give her the deep kind of kiss she was aching for. When he
finally relinquished her mouth, she whispered, “I’ll marry you whenever it can
be arranged, but before this conversation goes any further,
I
need an answer to a very important question.”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with children, would it?
Because if it does, you need to know I want more than one. Valerie was afraid to
have more for fear—”

Melissa put a finger to his lips. “Say no more. I’ve always
wanted a family of three or four children, as long as it was with the right man.
We’ve already got our first with Casey. Besides you, he’s the light of my life.
But there’s a cabin up in Kamas with enough bedrooms to house a new
generation.”

The two of them were laughing when the doctor popped in.
“That’s a happy sound I hear.” He eyed Travis. “If you’ll step out for a
minute.”

“Of course.”

When Melissa was alone with the doctor, she said, “If my heart
rate is up, it’s because of him. He just asked me to marry him.”

The doctor finished checking her over. “I take it you said
yes?”

“Oh, yes.”

The man smiled. “Under the circumstances, I’ll sign you out to
go home, but go easy for a few days. Have your regular doctor check the cut on
your forehead in a week. If that bandage did its job, there shouldn’t be a scar.
If there is, you can check with a plastic surgeon. Stay hydrated.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Melissa couldn’t wait to see Casey’s reaction to their
news.

* * *

“
I
T
’
S
ELEVEN
O
’
CLOCK
, Dad. How come it took you so long to pick me
up?”

Travis glanced in the rearview mirror at his son and Dexter
before he started the truck. “Melissa bumped her forehead getting out of the
Jeep. I had to take her to the doctor to get a bandage put on it.”

His eyes rounded. “Did she need stitches?”

“Nope. She just has a little headache.”

“Oh.”

That was the story they felt would go down best with Casey.
After going to Melissa’s town house in a taxi, he’d picked up his truck and
driven back to the hospital to take her home.

“Where are we going?”

“To the grocery store.”

“Can Melissa come to our house after?”

“I thought we’d go over to her condo.”

“I’ve never been in it before.”

“That’s because I’ve been doing a job for her at the cabin,
Casey. When I’m working for a client, I don’t generally go to their houses. But
now that the case has been solved, she has invited us over, even Dexter.”

“I bet she doesn’t want me to come.”

Travis hadn’t been expecting a statement like that. “Of course
she does. In fact, she asked me to bring you.” He waited for a burst of
excitement that didn’t happen. “Hey, bud, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I thought you loved her. I know she loves
you
.”

“She just says that to be nice.”

“She
is
nice, but I don’t think she
tells that to her other patients. Do you?”

“I don’t know.” The little boy sighed and looked out the
window.

Travis couldn’t get any more out of him during their trip to
the store. When they pulled up in front of the town house, Casey got out of the
backseat with Dexter and headed for her front door. Suddenly it opened.

“Hi, Casey!” That bright voice reminded Travis of those first
moments at the clinic. “I’m so glad you’re here. Come in!” Melissa stood there
in jeans and a creamy, long-sleeved sweater that hid the rope burns on her
wrists and ankles.

Amazing what makeup could do. She’d covered up the bruise on
the side of her cheek where McClusky had shoved her to the ground. Somehow the
lipstick she was wearing disguised the tender spots. Her hair had been freshly
washed and left loose to swing against the sides of her neck. On the whole, she
didn’t look as if she’d been through the ordeal he’d witnessed yesterday.

But one thing was missing. He could tell she was waiting for
Casey’s hug. When it didn’t happen, she darted Travis an anxious glance as he
put the groceries on the kitchen counter at the other end of the living
room.

An exuberant Dexter danced around her, but Travis couldn’t say
the same for his son who stared at the bandage. “Does your head hurt?”

“I took a painkiller and now I feel fine. Thanks for asking.
You’ve never been in my house before, have you? It’s really little. Would you
like to take a tour?”

“Okay.”

Melissa worked with children all the time. She was a master at
not showing her surprise over his uncharacteristic behavior, and pretended he
was delighted to be here.

While they walked around, Travis followed. On the living room
walls she’d hung a grouping of large framed prints of Picasso and Matisse. Her
contemporary furniture added the rest of the color. The place exuded warmth.

They went down the hall. She’d turned the smaller bedroom into
an art studio. He could tell Casey was impressed, but the boy remained
sober.

In her bedroom, small framed photographs of her family sat on
the dresser. Casey studied everything, and was ready to walk out again when he
blurted, “Hey, Dad, look!”

“Where?”

“Over the bed. Melissa painted
me!
”

In a twinkling, his whole demeanor changed.

Travis put his arm around Casey’s shoulder and they moved
closer to examine the good-size framed painting hanging over her bed. He could
have sworn this hadn’t been on the wall when he’d helped her into the house
after leaving the hospital.

The picture filled him with wonder. It
was
Casey, but an older version, the way he might look around age twelve.
Melissa had painted him riding an animal with three horns, a creative figment of
her imagination. She’d shown him emerging from a prehistoric forest.

He wore animal skins on his lean body and a thong around his
forehead, with his chestnut hair spilling over. One hand clutched a spear. His
leg carried a jagged scar from thigh to the ankle. The sight of the young
superhero brought tears to Travis’s eyes.

“Do you like it?” she asked Casey. Travis heard the tremor in
her voice.

“I love it! I didn’t know you painted me.”

“I did this after I first met you, but I’ve kept it a secret.”
The revelation thrilled and humbled Travis.

“How come?” Casey asked.

“Because I take care of children all the time, but I’m not
supposed to love one of them so much, that I wished he were my son. I love you,
Casey. I think I love you too much. That’s why I didn’t read a story to you the
other night. I wanted to be your mommy, but I knew I wasn’t, and I was afraid
you’d see me cry.”

He walked over and looked up at her with eyes more brilliantly
blue than Travis had ever seen them. “Do you want to be my new mom?”

Tears poured down her cheeks. “Yes. More than anything in the
world.”

Now came the hug. Casey almost crushed her. They clung for a
long time.

“You know how you have that picture of your daddy above your
bed because you love him?” she finally asked.

His son nodded.

“That’s the same reason I have your picture above mine.”

Casey’s head whipped around. “Dad?”

“She loves you, Casey. Did you hear that?” His son literally
glowed with happiness. “And do you know what’s
really
amazing?”

“What?”

“She loves me, too.”

“I already know that.”

“How do you know?” His eyes met Melissa’s while they waited for
Casey to come out with something startling.

“ ’Cuz I’ve seen you kissing.”

Travis laughed for sheer joy. “Well, there’s one thing I bet
you don’t know.”

“What?”

“I asked Melissa to marry me last night.”

“I
knew
you were going to.”

“You knew?” Melissa made a sound between a laugh and a cry.

“Yup. You said you were going on a date with her. Zack said
that after Mitch kissed Heidi on a date, they got married.”

“Sheer deduction.” Melissa grinned at Travis. “I’m not
surprised. It looks like those two are so smart, they’ll probably grow up to be
P.I.s like their dads.”

“Nope.” Casey shook his head. “I’m going to be a Texas
Ranger!”

Melissa embraced them both. “Your son has mighty big shoes to
fill,” she whispered against Travis’s cheek. “Will you do me one more
favor?”

He kissed her temple. “Anything.”

“Please don’t let me die of too much happiness yet. Our lives
are just beginning.”