Lone Star Christmas Rescue Read online

  Returning her grin, a light shining in his blue eyes, Drake squeezed her hand, then slipped his away. “You need rest. Don’t worry tonight. My brother and I are taking turns staying up and guarding the house. Frank was in the Marines for four years and part of a security detail.”

  “I hate that you and your brother are losing—”

  “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. I’ll sleep better knowing Frank is watching out for us, and he will when I get up. We aren’t the ones recovering from an injury.”

  Kay sighed, massaging her left temple as if that would erase the throbbing ache pulsating in her head. “Yes, and my body is reminding me of that right now.”

  “Tomorrow you should talk to your doctor to make sure you’re doing everything you need to do. How about Kaleb?”

  “He was being released, but I’ll ask about him as well as talk with the state case worker.” She rose, took the mug to the sink and rinsed it out.

  Drake opened the dishwasher and put it inside. “Let me talk with Kaleb’s case worker first.”

  “Maybe…” Suddenly she didn’t want to voice her thoughts out loud.

  “What?”

  “Tonight I got the feeling my attacker wanted Kaleb. The baby was strapped to me, and the man was furious when he couldn’t get Kaleb away from me. What if I’m not his mother?”

  “There’s one way to prove that. I can do a DNA test. It’ll take a while to get results, so in the meantime, we’ll continue to investigate who you are and offer you both protection. There has been no Amber Alert put out on Kaleb, and the locket shows you have a connection to him. I’ll stress that with the authorities.”

  But why was I in Big Bend? “Let’s do the DNA test. That’ll solve one problem.” She started for the hallway, trying to stifle a yawn, but she couldn’t. “I think that’s my cue to say good-night.”

  “We’ll talk more tomorrow. Oh, and by the way, in the evening we’ll be decorating our Christmas tree. We’ve always done it at the beginning of December. You and Kaleb are welcome to participate.”

  Maybe being involved would help her remember what she used to do in the past at Christmastime. “I’d like that.” Kay stood for a second in the kitchen doorway, then strolled in the direction of the guest bedroom, part of her not ready to go to bed. Sleeping left her vulnerable.

  After getting ready for bed, she stood over the playpen watching Kaleb. The feeling that she’d watched him sleep before inundated her. The sense she was fighting an unknown enemy in a pitch-dark world wouldn’t let go. When she sank down on the mattress, her gaze still glued on the baby, she bowed her head and prayed for answers to her questions.

  She finally switched off the lamp on the nightstand, glad Anna had added a night-light in case she needed it. The soft glow comforted her. She could still make out Kaleb in the playpen. She released a long breath and lay down. Sleep descended quickly…

  The blackness crept toward her like an insidious fog devouring everything in its way. A man, his face shrouded in shadows, emerged from the mist. His long strides lengthened even more, and suddenly his large bulk was all she saw, but his features were still hidden. He murmured something in Spanish, then with lightning speed his hands locked around her throat.

  Squeezing.

  Choking off the air.

  The lack of oxygen scorched her lungs. Her vision went in and out of focus until…

  Kay’s eyes bolted open, sweat dripping off her face. She stared up in the dimness at a white ceiling.

  Certain she had been strangled, she touched her neck. Quickly she pushed back the covers, looked to make sure Kaleb was still sleeping, then hurried into the bathroom connected to the bedroom. Before looking at herself in the mirror, Kay braced herself for what she would see.

  *

  Late afternoon the next day, Drake entered the den where his family always set up their Christmas tree in front of a window that showcased it from the front lawn. Kay glanced at him, then returned her attention to Kaleb, who was trying to gum a wooden ornament.

  Ever since Drake had seen her this morning and taken a DNA sample, an emotional distance had seemed to grow between them. Something wasn’t right. She hadn’t said a word to him about going back to Big Bend. In fact, she’d been quiet through the morning and afternoon. Had she remembered what happened to her? They hadn’t been able to talk because of all the time he’d been on the phone to his office, the state case worker and the police. Plus, Kay had been dealing with Kaleb and helping Anna as much as possible, but he would find time to talk to her before the day was over. Any loud sound made Kay nervous and uptight. He couldn’t blame her, but he wanted to reassure her the police were closing in on her attacker.

  He wove his way through the boxes of Christmas decorations and eased down beside her on the couch. Kaleb sat with Kay, watching his dad and Frank put the lights on the tree while fighting his need to take a nap.

  “He still hasn’t gone down?” Drake asked, clasping Kaleb under his arms and swinging him to his lap.

  “No, and I should probably try to keep him up now and put him down early tonight.”

  “With all the changes he’s had lately, he’s likely confused. His sleep pattern is all messed up.”

  “Especially since I don’t remember his usual schedule. No telling how far off we are.”

  Drake leaned close to her and murmured, “What’s bothering you?”

  “Lack of sleep.”

  “Didn’t you get about ten hours last night?”

  “No, I had a nightmare and was up a few hours before I could go back to sleep.”

  “What kind of nightmare?”

  “A bad one.” Kay twisted toward him, staring at Kaleb for a moment, then saying in a whisper, “Someone was strangling me. I couldn’t tell who, but it felt real to the point that I got up and went into the bathroom to check for marks around my throat. I couldn’t stop shaking. But there was no evidence it was real. I’ve never had a dream be so realistic. I was sure I would see red marks around my neck, but I didn’t.”

  “Can you describe the person attacking you? Was it the man from the hospital?”

  “I couldn’t tell much of anything other than the person was large and strong. I guess it could be the guy from the hospital, but for some reason I don’t think so.” She shrugged. “Maybe I’m letting all this get to me. I need to chalk it up to a nightmare and let it go.”

  Drake wasn’t so sure. Dreams could be a way of letting the subconscious come forward. What if her suppressed memories were driving what happened last night? What if someone had tried strangling her, and that was what caused her to flee with Kaleb? “Let me know if you dream it again.”

  She arched one eyebrow. “You think there’s some truth in my nightmare?”

  “It’s possible. But if someone left bruises on your neck, it would have been a while ago, because you don’t have any now.”

  “You might be right.” Kay crossed her arms over her chest, a shudder rippling through her.

  Kaleb turned and leaned toward Kay with his hands opening and closing.

  “I think this fella wants his mama.” Drake lifted the baby off his lap and settled him in her embrace.

  Kaleb rubbed his eyes and whimpered as he tried to get comfortable against Kay.

  “This must be my cue to rock him to sleep. I’m glad I fed him a while ago. He might even sleep through the night.” Kay scooted to the edge of the couch, then pushed herself to a standing position while trying to keep Kaleb from wiggling out of her arms.

  She wobbled, and Drake hurriedly steadied her, leaning partially against her. His heartbeat kicked up a notch at her nearness, and for a few seconds he relished the touch.

  Then he remembered where they were and her situation. He quickly lowered his arms and sidestepped away from her. For a moment, he’d forgotten that he’d lost his soul mate. The pain of Shanna’s death had nearly done him in. He wouldn’t open himself up to being hurt like that again. One love of his life was all he needed
.

  While Frank and his dad finished stringing the lights, Drake took the opportunity to go outside and case the area. Although it wasn’t common knowledge that Kay had come home with him last night, he wasn’t going to take any chances. In two days, there had been two murders and an officer wounded. He had to remember Kay was a victim in need, and that was all. He would protect her as best he could. He hoped he could get her home before Christmas. Then he could go on with the life he’d mapped out for himself. But not before she and Kaleb were safe.

  A chill hung in the air. Its coldness nipped at his arms. He hurried his pace as he circled the ranch house shaped like a boxy U. As he rounded the west side of his home, he spied a black truck passing the front gate, probably only going twenty miles per hour. He stopped and ducked behind a clump of deer grass at the corner. The pickup slowed to a crawl near the entrance to the property, and instinctively Drake put his hand where his gun was. Then suddenly the driver accelerated and continued down the two-lane highway.

  The incident only reinforced his need to be extra vigilant, even at the family ranch, where he’d always felt safe. He couldn’t let his guard down, no matter where he was, nor could he do this alone and still investigate Kay’s case.

  He withdrew his cell phone and called Dallas Sanders, another Texas Ranger in the area. When he didn’t answer, Drake left a voice mail, then backtracked and entered the house through the kitchen door.

  The scent of hot chocolate infused the room. Since he could remember, they’d always drunk it while decorating the Christmas tree. First his mother had made it, and now Anna did, even if the temperature outside was in the seventies or above. As he crossed to the stove to fill the mugs on the counter, Kay came into the kitchen.

  “Did Kaleb go to sleep?” he asked as he poured the hot chocolate.

  “I didn’t even have to rock him.”

  “Considering all that has been going on, he’s a trouper.”

  Kay stopped next to him. “I’ll help you take these into the other room. The smell is what drew me here. That and the peppermint candles on the mantel are getting me into the Christmas mood.”

  “The hot chocolate and peppermint are two traditions we do every year.”

  “I wish I could remember what traditions I followed at Christmastime.”

  He’d always taken for granted what they did every year at this time. But seeing Kay’s melancholy made him realize following traditions each year was comforting, a reminder that some things stayed the same even in a rapidly changing world. “This will be Kaleb’s first one. You can start your own.”

  “I don’t even know where I’m going to be in three weeks. How can I—”

  He held up his index finger to his lips. “Shh. We’ll take it one day at a time. You’ve been recalling a few details. And you’re welcome to stay here until you know what to do.”

  “I appreciate that, but I won’t overstay my welcome. You’re right. I’ll probably remember in no time.” She snapped her fingers, then took two mugs and started for the hallway.

  Drake managed the other three cups and followed, the sound of Christmas music drifting to him. “I have to warn you. From now until the twenty-fifth, that will be all you hear around here. Anna would play it year-round if Dad let her.”

  “That’s another reason I like Anna. The music is uplifting, and right now I can use that.”

  Drake paused at the entrance to the den, watching Kay cover the distance to Anna and give her a mug. Something his cousin said caused Kay to laugh. For a few seconds, her whole face lit up.

  “It’s about time you brought the hot chocolate, bro. Putting up lights is hard work.” Frank grasped his mug while Drake handed one to his father. “Now it’s your turn to work.” His younger brother sat on the couch and gestured toward the decorations. “As I understand it, no one is exempt from putting up ornaments.”

  Drake settled on the other end of the sofa and sipped his hot chocolate. “Anna, this is delicious.”

  “A warning, Kay. These two like to argue about who does the most work. Frank, it seems Drake is the one who got the tree and set it up in here.”

  Frank snorted.

  Drake laughed. “Kay, this too is a tradition every year I’m home.”

  She took a drink, then set her mug on a coaster on the coffee table. “Well, you two can lounge all you want. I’m going to start. It’ll be nice to do something like this.”

  “And I’ll help you.” Anna rose, followed by all three men.

  By the time they finished, the top half of the tree had been filled in by the guys while the bottom was left to Kay and Anna. Drake stepped back, admiring the women’s carefully placed decorations—the upper part looked like a demolition team had swept through. He chuckled. That happened every year.

  Kay and Anna talked as though they had known each other for years. Drake sighed. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would feel like not to remember who you were or where you lived.

  At that moment Kay, on the other side of the tree, looked at him. She smiled and gave him a nod, and all of a sudden, he and Kay were the only two people in the den. He heard his family speaking, but nothing else mattered except the link of his gaze with hers.

  *

  Kay’s eyes bolted open for the second night in a row. Sweat drenched her. Her gaze drilled into the ceiling above her. The sensation of being strangled overrode every other awareness. Her harsh exhalation reverberated through the silence. Her throat burned as though hands were still around her neck, squeezing the life from her. At least this time she didn’t feel like she’d really been throttled.

  When she finally rolled her head toward the nightstand, the red numbers on the clock indicated she’d slept at least five hours, although it seemed like she’d gone to bed less than thirty minutes ago. She pushed up to a sitting position and checked Kaleb in the playpen. Relieved he was still sleeping, she scooted to the edge and rose. She took a fresh change of clothes and dressed in the guest bathroom. Before she left, she again checked her neck for red marks or bruises. Nothing, but it hadn’t felt like nothing.

  Then she quietly left the bedroom and headed down the hallway in search of Drake. At this time, he would be on guard, and she didn’t want to be alone. She checked the kitchen first, then spied a light from the living room. She stopped at its entrance. Empty.

  Where is he?

  The silence and dimness of her surroundings unnerved her. Her hands shook, and she stuffed them into her jeans pockets. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. She should have stayed in her bedroom and turned to go back there.

  Drake came out of the den at the other end of the corridor. When he saw her, he smiled and started for her. “Trouble sleeping?”

  She nodded while she shoved down her anxiety. She hadn’t wanted to go back to her bedroom—to her nightmare.

  He clasped her upper arm. “Is it the dream again?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was going to the kitchen to get more coffee. Want some?”

  “Sounds good.”

  After he filled two mugs and gave one to her, he said, “Let’s go into the den and admire our stunning work on the Christmas tree.”

  Kay followed him, and when she glimpsed the lit up eight-foot-tall tree across the room, emotions from sadness to delight swamped her. For a second, an image of herself placing a glittering star on a small white pine—no more than five feet tall—flashed into her thoughts, only to flee as fast as it appeared. She sucked in a deep breath and stepped back, her hand wobbling so much her coffee sloshed onto her skin.

  Drake quickly took her mug and set hers and his on an end table. “What’s wrong?”

  “I just had a memory of when I was a little girl—at least I think I did.”

  “Tell me about it.” He closed the space between them.

  His nearness calmed the trembling, reassuring her she wasn’t alone dealing with whatever was going on with her. She described the image she’d glimpsed. “It was like I was watching myself pu
t the star on a partially decorated tree. There was a vague picture of a woman behind me. She might be my mother, but I didn’t see her face well. Or it was wishful thinking. I don’t—” her voice caught, and she swallowed several times “—know. Even so, how is that memory going to help me, or for that matter, the nightmare I’ve been having?”

  He grasped her hand and held it between them. “Maybe not the one about your past specifically, but it means you’re starting to recall childhood memories. That’s good news.”

  “My nightmare lasted a little longer tonight. I saw a huge gold ring on the man’s right hand. I tried to see what was carved on it, but I woke up before I could make it out.”

  “What did it look like? Did it have stones in it? All gold?”

  “All gold with something like—a crest on the flat surface. If it was a family crest, that might help.”

  “Possibly.”

  She squeezed her eyes closed, rubbing her fingertips against her temple, and tried to picture the ring. Frustration churned her stomach. “I can’t remember what the crest looked like.”

  He clasped both shoulders. “Don’t force it. Relax.” His strong fingers kneaded her tight muscles.

  But the tension clung to her like a second skin. How could she relax with all that was happening to her and Kaleb? There was an unknown enemy out there with unsavory intentions. She shrugged from beneath his hands and moved back. “Now more than ever, I need to go back to Big Bend. If my memory can recall a few facts here, think what could happen if we returned to where it all began.”

  “Okay, but give me a day to make sure we have enough protection for Kaleb. I don’t like the fact your attacker is running around—” His cell phone rang and interrupted him. He quickly withdrew it and looked at the screen. “I’ve got to take this. It’s the police station.”

  SIX

  A few hours later, Drake opened the front door to allow Texas Ranger Dallas Sanders into his family home. “I’m glad you could come on such short notice. We’re having breakfast. I hope you brought your appetite.”