Texas Free (The Tylers of Texas 5)

The station wagon was empty.

* * *

From the safety of the ranger post, Rose had heard the sirens that summoned the volunteer fire department. The first thing she thought of was her property. If Refugio had looked for her there and found her gone, it would be like him to torch everything.

Tanner, standing behind her chair, seemed to read her thoughts. He rested a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t know it’s your place,” he said. “It could be anything.”

“I know.” She touched his hand. Her home was burning—she could feel it. And whoever had set the fire would be long gone by the time anyone else got there.

Tanner had told her that Raul and Joaquin were dead. She shouldn’t be sorry. They had been like family, and they had betrayed her in the coldest way imaginable. But she would always remember them laughing, joking with her, teaching her how to ride and herd sheep. They had been good men once, but the cartel, and the lure of money, had changed them.

Rose gazed at the silent phone on the desk, willing it to ring with good news. She thought of her friends on the Rimrock—Bull, Jasper, Bernice, and the boys. They could be in danger, too. She could only hope to hear that they were safe. But the phone remained silent, leaving her in the hellish limbo of not knowing.

* * *

Bull burst in through the front door, wild-eyed and out of breath. Jasper watched him struggle to bring himself under control. “Any word?” he asked.

Jasper shook his head. Even before Bull could say more, Jasper guessed what had happened.

“They’re gone—Bernice and the boys. I found Bernice’s car pushed off the road. Nobody in it. Give me the phone. I’ve got to call the sheriff.”

Sick with fear for his sister and the children, Jasper forced himself to stay calm. He dialed the sheriff’s number before handing the receiver to Bull. It was the female dispatcher who answered.

“Get word to the sheriff.” Bull’s tightly reined voice hid his anguish. “The Cartel’s taken Bernice and my two sons. If anybody sees the vehicle, be aware that they have hostages, so nobody can go in shooting. Get the word out! And, for God’s sake, get some help! Call the FBI! Call anybody!”

Bull slammed down the phone. “Damn it,” he stormed, “why can’t they find those monsters? They’ve got a vehicle description—unless they’ve stolen a different one. Maybe I ought to go after them myself.”

“You know better than that,” Jasper said. “You need to be here in case somebody calls.” And Jasper knew that somebody would. He knew exactly why Bernice and the boys had been taken. But there was no point in mentioning it to Bull. He would figure it out soon enough.

Bull stared out the window as the sun sank toward the escarpment. “It’ll be dark before long,” he said. “Then the bastards will be even harder to track. How can I just stand here and do nothing?”

Just then the phone rang. Bull jumped to answer it. He listened, said a few words, and hung up before he relayed the message to Jasper.

“The highway patrol picked up Bernice. She’s all right except for some scrapes and a sprained wrist from being shoved out on the road. Cabrera gave her a message to deliver. He said that if the cops didn’t back off, he’d kill one of the boys. I’m to wait for his call—it’ll come later, when he’s ready.”

“Where’s Bernice now?” Jasper asked.

“A medic’s checking her over. Then one of the cops will bring her here and stay to monitor any phone calls. But you know that drug lord is too smart to let his calls be traced.” Bull cursed again. “Damn it, I just want my boys back. I’ll give Cabrera every cent I’ve got. All of it!”

Jasper met his eyes with a calm gaze. “Bull, Cabrera doesn’t need your money,” he said. “There’s only one thing he wants, and you know what it is.”

* * *

Half an hour later a young deputy came in with Bernice. Her cheek and hands were skinned, her wrist in a brace. Her eyes were red and swollen from weeping. “Bull, if I could have done anything to stop them—Lord help me, I would have died for those boys.”

“I know, Bernice. This isn’t your fault,” Bull said, and it wasn’t. He was the one who should have realized what Raul and Joaquin were and taken care of them while he had the chance.

Jasper led his sister to a chair and brought her some coffee. She looked as if she belonged in bed, but it was a given that she’d want to be here, helping any way she could.

“How were the boys?” Bull asked her.

“Scared and quiet. As far as I know, they weren’t hurt. They weren’t crying.” Tears welled again. She wadded the tissue in her hands and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

The young deputy appeared unsure of what to do. Jasper found him a chair and brought him some coffee. Then they waited.

* * *

It was getting dark when the call came. Nerves screaming, Bull picked up the receiver.