Read Online The Marshal's Justice (Appaloosa Pass Ranch 4) by Delores Fossen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Delores Fossen
Tags: Fiction, Baby, Suspense, Romance, Contemporary, Thrillers, Action & Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Family Life, series, romantic suspense, Texas, Law Enforcement, safety, Daughter, Single Mother, Bachelor, Kidnapping, Violence, trust, Protection, second chances, newborn, Forever Love, Single Woman, Target, Reconcile, Hearts Desire, Lawman, Appaloosa Pass Ranch, Former Lover, Infant, Appaloosa Creek, Marshal, Criminal Informant, Murderous Thugs, Premature Daughter, Two Months, WITSEC Protection, Crockett Family
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April could ask about those secrets.
“Who’s Malcolm?” Chase immediately wanted to know.
“Someone I met when Bailey was in the hospital. He’s supposedly a cattle baron and was regularly visiting a sick friend.”
Chase’s stare stayed on her. “Supposedly? Does that mean you didn’t believe him?”
“I didn’t trust him. But then, I didn’t trust anyone I came in contact with.” She paused. “Truth is, he gave me the creeps. He kept showing up outside Bailey’s room.”
His eyebrow lifted. “Stalking you?”
She shrugged. “I did a background check on him and he doesn’t have a record or any history of that. But maybe I need to do another check if Crossman’s warning me about him.”
“Crossman could be lying or yanking your chain,” Chase reminded her. But then he groaned, scrubbed his hand over his face. “Or there’s another possibility. Malcolm could be working for Crossman.”
Mercy, that didn’t help the sickening chill she was trying to stave off. Just hearing Crossman’s voice had been bad enough, but if Malcolm did indeed work for him, then that meant Crossman had had “eyes” on her for two months. And one of his thugs had been way too close to Bailey that whole time.
“I’ll ask Jericho to see what he can find out about Malcolm.” Chase fired off a text to his brother.
April thanked him and tried to rein in her fear. Hard to do, though, with Crossman still a threat. Maybe Malcolm was one, too. Having Bailey in her arms helped some, but once again, April found herself fighting back tears.
Tears that caused Chase to scowl again.
“Sorry.” April wiped them away as fast as she could. “The last thing you need right now is a crying woman. Especially a woman who’s caused you nothing but trouble.”
His gaze stayed fixed on her, and by degrees the scowl softened. Chase gave a heavy sigh, reached out and touched her arm. Not a hug, but it still gave her far more comfort than it should have.
“You’ve caused trouble, yes,” he said, “but you don’t deserve what’s happening to you. Neither does Bailey.”
No, her baby didn’t deserve it. “I’m afraid this will be her life. Hiding out in safe houses. Having to learn to look over her shoulder and not trusting anyone.”
He nodded. “And that’s why I need to go into WITSEC with you. I want to be able to protect her.”
April couldn’t argue with the protection part, but she prayed there would be another way. After all, Bailey wasn’t the only family Chase had, and leaving his life would mean leaving them, too. And being with her. Something that would never sit well with him.
“It was true what I said to Crossman,” she tossed out there. “I didn’t know the cop had been killed when I went to your house that night, and I didn’t go there expecting to land in bed with you. I went because I was upset and wanted to talk to you.”
A muscle flickered in his jaw, and his gaze slowly came back to hers. “You didn’t seduce me. I willingly got into that bed with you.”
True, but even now she could see that he still regretted it. Despite Bailey, Chase always would, and that put the ache right back in her chest.
His phone rang again, and for a moment April thought it was Crossman calling back for another round of taunting. But it wasn’t Crossman this time. It was Jericho. Chase answered it and put it on speaker.
“We found Quentin,” Jericho said the moment he was on the line.
April felt the jolt of relief. Followed by another jolt of fear. Because that wasn’t a good news kind of tone from Jericho.
“Quentin’s in the Appaloosa Pass Hospital,” Jericho explained. “He walked in and admitted himself about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Is he all right?” April asked.
“He’s hurt, a gunshot wound to the arm, but he’ll live. He wants to see you now, but I told him that’s not going to happen. Not until we have plenty of security in place.”
“Why does he want to see April?” There was
“Who’s Malcolm?” Chase immediately wanted to know.
“Someone I met when Bailey was in the hospital. He’s supposedly a cattle baron and was regularly visiting a sick friend.”
Chase’s stare stayed on her. “Supposedly? Does that mean you didn’t believe him?”
“I didn’t trust him. But then, I didn’t trust anyone I came in contact with.” She paused. “Truth is, he gave me the creeps. He kept showing up outside Bailey’s room.”
His eyebrow lifted. “Stalking you?”
She shrugged. “I did a background check on him and he doesn’t have a record or any history of that. But maybe I need to do another check if Crossman’s warning me about him.”
“Crossman could be lying or yanking your chain,” Chase reminded her. But then he groaned, scrubbed his hand over his face. “Or there’s another possibility. Malcolm could be working for Crossman.”
Mercy, that didn’t help the sickening chill she was trying to stave off. Just hearing Crossman’s voice had been bad enough, but if Malcolm did indeed work for him, then that meant Crossman had had “eyes” on her for two months. And one of his thugs had been way too close to Bailey that whole time.
“I’ll ask Jericho to see what he can find out about Malcolm.” Chase fired off a text to his brother.
April thanked him and tried to rein in her fear. Hard to do, though, with Crossman still a threat. Maybe Malcolm was one, too. Having Bailey in her arms helped some, but once again, April found herself fighting back tears.
Tears that caused Chase to scowl again.
“Sorry.” April wiped them away as fast as she could. “The last thing you need right now is a crying woman. Especially a woman who’s caused you nothing but trouble.”
His gaze stayed fixed on her, and by degrees the scowl softened. Chase gave a heavy sigh, reached out and touched her arm. Not a hug, but it still gave her far more comfort than it should have.
“You’ve caused trouble, yes,” he said, “but you don’t deserve what’s happening to you. Neither does Bailey.”
No, her baby didn’t deserve it. “I’m afraid this will be her life. Hiding out in safe houses. Having to learn to look over her shoulder and not trusting anyone.”
He nodded. “And that’s why I need to go into WITSEC with you. I want to be able to protect her.”
April couldn’t argue with the protection part, but she prayed there would be another way. After all, Bailey wasn’t the only family Chase had, and leaving his life would mean leaving them, too. And being with her. Something that would never sit well with him.
“It was true what I said to Crossman,” she tossed out there. “I didn’t know the cop had been killed when I went to your house that night, and I didn’t go there expecting to land in bed with you. I went because I was upset and wanted to talk to you.”
A muscle flickered in his jaw, and his gaze slowly came back to hers. “You didn’t seduce me. I willingly got into that bed with you.”
True, but even now she could see that he still regretted it. Despite Bailey, Chase always would, and that put the ache right back in her chest.
His phone rang again, and for a moment April thought it was Crossman calling back for another round of taunting. But it wasn’t Crossman this time. It was Jericho. Chase answered it and put it on speaker.
“We found Quentin,” Jericho said the moment he was on the line.
April felt the jolt of relief. Followed by another jolt of fear. Because that wasn’t a good news kind of tone from Jericho.
“Quentin’s in the Appaloosa Pass Hospital,” Jericho explained. “He walked in and admitted himself about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Is he all right?” April asked.
“He’s hurt, a gunshot wound to the arm, but he’ll live. He wants to see you now, but I told him that’s not going to happen. Not until we have plenty of security in place.”
“Why does he want to see April?” There was
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