Texas Guardian, page 6
But life didn’t work that way.
The patter of raindrops began to change, the cadence becoming faster and louder as the rain picked up again. Time to go back inside and check on the girls and get himself dried off. His wet boots were starting to feel tight, and he knew from experience it was only going to get worse if he didn’t take them off soon. He cast one last look around the barn before closing things up, then put his head down and took off for the house, trying to dodge the worst of the puddles as he went.
He’d made it about halfway across the yard when a woman’s scream pierced the air and froze his blood.
Chapter 5
“No!”
Darcy took a step back, her heart in her throat as she faced down the masked intruder who had forced his way into Ridge’s home.
He lunged for her but she sidestepped, narrowly avoiding his grasp. He grunted in frustration and pressed forward, leaving her no choice but to back away.
“Give me the baby,” he demanded. His hands were everywhere, grabbing and grasping for any kind of hold. Darcy kicked out but he dodged the blow and kept coming.
Penny barked and growled, darting in to snap at the man and then pulling away again. She was doing a nice job distracting him, but it wasn’t in the dog’s nature to be vicious and she seemed reluctant to commit to a bite that might actually hurt him. The intruder seemed to sense her hesitation and lashed out, landing a solid punch to Penny’s shoulder. She yelped and skittered away but then darted back in to snap at his hands, trying her best to protect her master’s home.
Darcy took advantage of Penny’s antics to move farther away from the threat. The man was blocking her access to the door, so she darted to the other side of the room and set the baby on the recliner, freeing up her hands so she could better defend herself and the baby. Then she turned back to face the man, her eyes scanning the room for something, anything she could use as a weapon.
A baseball bat was propped up next to the front door, mocking her. It was too far away to be of any use, but maybe there was something else? She took a step forward, intending to draw the intruder away from the baby. Her foot landed on something hard, and she glanced down to find a large rawhide bone lying next to Penny’s bed. Darcy scooped it up and held it high, ready to strike. It wasn’t much, but it was solid and the edges had been gnawed down to a fine blade that she might be able to use as a type of knife. He’d have to get close for her to use it, but it was better than nothing.
Penny was trying her best to keep the man occupied, but he had made his way over to the other side of the room, closer to the baby. Darcy had to get him away from the little one, but how? A frontal attack wouldn’t work—he was too big for her to stand a chance. She would have to come in from the side and gain the upper hand by attacking from his blind spot. But that meant leaving the baby undefended.
Where is Ridge? She screamed out again, hoping he would hear her this time. She couldn’t hold him off forever, and unless Ridge got here soon, the intruder was going to overpower her and take the baby.
It was now or never. Moving as stealthily as she could Darcy crept up alongside the intruder, trying to stay out of his line of sight as she approached. One step, two, and then she was there, within striking distance.
She lifted her makeshift weapon above her head and started to swing, but before she could make contact, the man turned. She saw the glint of satisfaction in his eyes and realized her mistake—he’d known what she was doing all along!
He kicked out, his foot smashing into her left shin bone. Pain exploded at the site, a viscous, black thing composed of tendrils of agony that wrapped around her leg and threatened to take over her whole consciousness. She sucked in a deep breath and pushed back against the darkness. If she fell down, it was all over.
She swung wildly with the dog bone but missed him. To make matters worse, the gesture put her off balance and she listed dangerously to the side. Gravity took hold and she felt herself going down. Desperate to stay on her feet, she scrabbled for some kind of support. Her hand made contact with the back of a chair and she pulled herself up, but her leg wasn’t going to hold her weight much longer.
Sensing his advantage, the intruder pushed in close and shoved her down. She hit the floor hard and tried to scramble back to put distance between them, but her body hit the chair and she had nowhere to go.
The man towered over her and raised his arm. Darcy barely had time to flinch before his hand made contact with the side of her head, setting off a cascade of fireworks behind her eyes. She blinked to clear her vision, just in time to see him lift his arm again.
Her muscles tensed, bracing for the blow. But it never came. There was a meaty thud, and she opened her eyes to find Ridge had tackled the intruder. The two men rolled on the floor and crashed into a table, tipping it over and sending picture frames and other knickknacks flying across the floor. They were evenly matched opponents—Ridge was taller, but the other man appeared to be heavier. Darcy didn’t wait to see who was going to win the wrestling match. She pulled herself to her feet and limped over to the door, then grabbed the baseball bat. Using it as a cane, she hobbled back to the men and waited for her chance.
It didn’t take long. Ridge let out a muffled shout and flipped the intruder over, then pressed his knee into the other man’s back, effectively trapping him. Penny stood by her master’s side, a low, throaty growl rumbling out of her chest as she stared down at the man who had invaded her home.
“Darcy,” Ridge said, his voice strained.
“Yes?”
“Please hold the baby.”
She blinked, trying to process his request. Then she heard the crying and realized the little one was screaming her head off, and likely had been for a while. Moving as fast as she could, she made her way over to the chair and picked up the red-faced bundle, crooning softly to her as she pressed the baby to her chest.
The baby stopped crying almost immediately, and the relative quiet made the room feel so much bigger.
“Do you want the bat?” she asked, her eyes never leaving the man on the floor.
“That won’t be necessary,” Ridge replied. He took a firm grip on the man. “Now, let’s see who you are.”
The man put up no resistance as Ridge rolled him over onto his back. But just as Ridge reached for the ski mask that covered his face, the intruder let out a window-rattling yell and swung his arm up. Too late, Darcy noticed the ceramic bowl in his hand.
“Watch out!” she screamed, trying to warn Ridge.
She watched in horror as events seemed to unfold in slow motion. Ridge turned back to look at the man, his eyes widening as he registered what was happening. He tried to ward off the blow, but the intruder had the element of surprise on his side. The bowl slammed into the side of Ridge’s head with a sickening crack, and Ridge’s body went limp. He toppled off the other man and hit the floor, his features twisting in pain.
The intruder got to his feet and eyed Darcy. She glared at him and lifted the bat in one hand, ready to do battle. He stared at her for a moment, as if he was considering the pros and cons of attacking her again. He leaned forward, but before he could commit to the act Ridge let out a moan and rolled onto his hands and knees.
Apparently deciding it wasn’t worth it, the man shook his head and headed for the door. Darcy maintained her grip on the bat until he was well and truly gone. Then, her heart pounding in her throat, she crossed the room and locked the door behind him. It was a little thing, but flipping the deadbolt gave her a small measure of comfort.
“Ridge.” She turned back to him and limped over to the couch, sinking down with a grimace. “Talk to me, Ridge.” The blow to his head had sounded painful, and she needed to know if he was injured.
He let out a groan that was part pain, part frustration. “I’m here. How’s the baby?”
“She’s fine.” Darcy couldn’t help but smile at his concern for the little one. Whether he realized it or not, Ridge was already starting to act like a father.
He slowly climbed to his feet, his hand pressed to the side of his head. “Come sit by me,” she said. “I need to look at your head.”
“It’s fine,” he mumbled, rubbing the affected area gingerly.
“Humor me,” she replied.
He plopped down next to her with a sigh. “I should go after that guy,” he said.
“No,” she replied, her heart tightening at the thought of a groggy Ridge chasing a masked man through the dark woods. “It’s not worth it. Call your brother and let the police handle it.”
“I will.”
She passed him the baby while he dialed, then turned his head to the side so she could get a better view of his head.
An angry red welt marked the spot where the bowl had hit him. She probed the area with her fingertips, causing him to wince and suck in a hissing breath. “Sorry,” she said softly.
“It’s okay,” he mumbled, wrapping up his conversation with Sam.
“The good news is, nothing seems broken.” She moved him through a basic neurological exam to confirm he was indeed fine, then leaned back against the sofa cushion. “Take some ibuprofen and put an ice pack on it. It’ll be sore for a few days, but you’re basically okay.”
“How are you?”
The question made her aware of her body again, and her shin let out a fresh protest as she shifted positions. “I’m okay,” she said, trying to keep the pain out of her voice.
Ridge narrowed his eyes as he watched her move. “I don’t think so,” he said. He placed his fingers on her chin and gently tilted her head, frowning at what he saw.
“He hit you.” It wasn’t a question.
“It’s nothing,” she assured him.
“It is to me.” His voice was low and lethal, promising retribution for her pain. She shivered at the implied threat. Ridge was normally so calm and even-tempered, and seeing him this way made her realize he was a physically powerful man who could be dangerous if he wanted.
“Where else are you hurt?”
Darcy considered lying for a split second, but dismissed the thought. He would find out soon enough. “My leg,” she admitted. “He kicked me pretty good.”
Ridge made a low sound in the back of his throat and pressed his lips together. “What can I do?”
“Nothing,” she assured him. “Just stay put and I’ll get us some ice packs.”
Ridge opened his mouth as if to protest, but Darcy pushed herself off the couch before he could stop her. “I’ll be right back.”
It took her a few minutes to find what she needed in his kitchen, but she managed quickly enough. When she came back out into the den, Ridge was focused on Penny, gently stroking her side and talking to her in a low voice. The dog lifted her head and placed it in his lap, then leaned her body against his legs with a sigh of contentment.
Ridge continued to pet her, and Penny cocked one ear to listen to his words. She heard only snatches of the conversation, but Ridge was clearly praising the dog for her good work. It was well deserved. The dog had been a lifesaver—the only reason the baby was still with them was because Penny had kept the intruder occupied until Ridge had arrived. If it were up to her, Darcy would buy the dog a whole truckload of chew toys as a reward.
She hung back, watching the pair of them. It was a sweet moment, one she didn’t want to interrupt. But her lower leg was beginning to protest and she wanted to get the makeshift ice pack on Ridge’s head to keep the swelling down.
“Is she all right?” Darcy nodded at Penny as she handed Ridge the package of frozen corn wrapped in a towel. “She took a hit to the shoulder when she was protecting us.”
“Which one?” Ridge asked, casting a concerned glance down.
“Her left side.”
Without another word, Ridge took the package from his head and pressed it to Penny’s shoulder. Darcy didn’t bother to protest, knowing no matter what she said he would put the welfare of his dog above his own.
“I’m sorry.” The words were said so softly that at first, Darcy wasn’t sure she’d really heard them. But then Ridge turned to look at her, his dark eyes troubled. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get back.”
She shook her head. “You couldn’t have known.”
“I know he was wearing a mask, but did it slip at any point so you could see his face?”
“No. And I didn’t recognize his voice, either.” But that was no surprise. Darcy hadn’t been back in town very long, and the number of people she could identify by voice alone was in the single digits. “You might know him, though,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
“Why do you say that?”
“He didn’t speak after you came on the scene. He only talked when it was just the two of us.”
Ridge lifted one eyebrow, considering. “Did he say anything that could help identify him?” When she shook her head, he frowned. “But who would want to take the baby? More importantly, who knows she’s here with me? The only people I told are you, Sam and Annabel. Unless you think it’s someone from the hospital?” He let the question trail off suggestively, but Darcy shook her head.
“No. I would recognize someone from the hospital. And I can’t imagine anyone working there has a motive to kidnap an abandoned infant.”
“I agree,” he said. “Which means whoever that guy was, he must somehow be connected to the mother. Or the serial killer,” he added, almost as an afterthought.
A chill skittered down Darcy’s spine, and goose bumps broke out on her arms. “If the Alphabet Killer really is after this baby, then you can’t stay here. You need to take the baby and go someplace safe. Can you stay with one of your siblings? Or maybe a hotel?”
“Maybe,” Ridge said thoughtfully. “And the same goes for you—now that he’s seen you, he’ll know you’re connected to us. We need to get you away from here, the sooner the better.” He passed the baby to her and stood, then began to gather up the supplies she’d brought earlier.
It took him only a few minutes to pack up the essentials. “Do you have someplace safe to go?” he asked.
“I’m staying with my parents. I should be fine there—they have a pretty extensive alarm system.”
Ridge frowned slightly but didn’t argue with her. “Sounds good. Make sure you call the police if you notice anything suspicious.”
“Where are you going?” She handed the baby back to him, and he buckled the infant into her car seat.
“I think we’ll find a motel for the night,” he said, straightening up. “If that man decides to follow us, I don’t want to put any of my siblings in danger.”
“But what about you?” Didn’t he understand that going off on his own left him unprotected? “You’re injured—you won’t be able to fight him off on your own if he does come back.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Ridge replied drily.
“This is no time to let your ego get in the way of a good decision,” Darcy said.
Ridge shot her a wry half smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll think of something. Now, let’s get you on your way.”
He made a gesture with his hand and Penny hopped up, ever alert to her master’s signals. “Let’s go, ladies.”
Darcy had no choice but to follow Ridge over to the door, but she was reluctant to part ways with him. Taking care of a baby was hard enough. Factor in a blow to the head and a crazy intruder and the task became almost impossible. Still, they couldn’t stay at his cabin—there was no telling when the man would strike again.
Ridge opened the door just as a flash of lightning lit the sky. He stopped dead in his tracks, then let out a string of curses that turned the air blue.
“What is it?” She strained to see around him, but his broad shoulders completely filled her field of view. “What’s wrong?”
“The road is washed out.”
Darcy’s heart sank and she pushed ahead of him, needing to see for herself. She stared dumbly at the river of mud that filled Ridge’s yard, hardly daring to believe it. “We’re trapped here.”
She felt the breath of his sigh hit the back of her neck. “Looks that way.”
“But that means—” She turned to face him, her heart starting to pound in her chest.
Ridge nodded, his expression grim. “The intruder is still around, too.”
* * *
Ridge handed Darcy a steaming mug of tea and sank down next to her on the couch. “You doing okay?”
She didn’t respond right away, and for a second, Ridge wondered if she’d heard him. Then she nodded, the movement a little jerky. “Yeah. I’m just...processing.”
“It’s been a hell of a night.” He glanced over at Sara, who was now sleeping soundly. As far as he was concerned, Darcy was a miracle worker. She had fed the little one and then wrapped her up tight in a blanket—swaddling, she’d called it—and now the baby slept peacefully in the makeshift crib he’d assembled earlier.
“You should try to sleep,” he said, noting the lines of fatigue around Darcy’s eyes and lips. “I have a guest bedroom where you’ll be comfortable.”
She made a sound that might have been a laugh. “There’s no way I can sleep after what happened tonight.”
“He’s not coming back,” Ridge said, injecting a confidence he didn’t feel into his voice. He had called Sam again after refortifying his cabin, but due to the weather the police couldn’t get close enough to his cabin to respond. All he could do was stay on guard and hope the intruder had been swept away by the storm’s floodwater.
