Hawke's Salvation (11 page)

Jeanette barely paused as she stirred hot chocolate mix into the hot water from the kettle. “Okay, what makes you think that?”

“Is it possible? I mean, with everything I’ve been through, it could happen, right?”

Nodding, Jeanette passed a mug to the nervous woman, and pulled the popcorn out. “Yes. Even without the emotional turbulence you’ve dealt with it could happen. It happens to people all the time. What I need to know is what’s happened to make you feel that that’s what’s happening?”

“I saw Knox.”

Jeanette frowned and shook her head, “Who?”

“Knox, the man who organized the kidnapping of me and Vivienne and countless others. The head of the biggest trafficking ring this side of the Mississippi, or at least that’s what Bran said… Anyway, I was sitting on the window seat of my room, doodling in that journal you gave me, and I looked up and there he was. Near the side of the barn. I swear I saw him, but then when I blinked he was gone. I think I’m losing my mind.”

Jeanette reached for Destiny’s hands. “Okay, take a deep breath for me. There ya go. Now, to the best of our knowledge this Knox guy is on the run to avoid prosecution for the crimes he committed against you, right?”

“Right.”

“And he has no idea about your connection to Crawley Creek—I mean, how would he? Right?”

“Right.”

“So it’s very likely that what happened was a hallucination brought on by the PTSD and paranoia. It’s very common, and very treatable, but you have to be willing to talk about what happened to you. I want to help you, but I can’t if I don’t know the details.”

Destiny shook her head, “I can’t. I just can’t.”

“Okay, well, if you can’t talk about that yet, let’s talk about other things. Fill me in on your life back in Florida, and I’ll tell you all about Philadelphia. We’ll pretend we’re girlfriends getting together for girls weekend and burrow in for chick flicks and chatter. Sound good?”

“Sounds perfect.” Destiny agreed, lifting her mug, “Thank you.”

“No problem. Get comfy, I’ll grab the movie.”

J
eanette had been dozing
through the second half of the movie when their peaceful girl’s night was shattered. Her office door—that she knew for a fact she’d locked behind her—swung open to reveal a short, rotund man with an unusually long handlebar mustache. It even looked as if he’d greased the ends of the absurd facial hair, and if she hadn’t been so startled by his intrusion into her space, she might have laughed.

“No.” Destiny’s whisper was full of shock and terror, and Jeanette’s heart nearly beat out of her chest.

“Thought I’d forgotten you, huh you little bitch.”

“Who are you?” Jeanette shouted, hoping that somehow someone would hear her and wonder what was happening. “What are you doing in my house?”

The man’s attention was focused solely on Destiny, and Jeanette knew in her gut that this was Knox. The man she’d just finished reassuring her friend and patient wasn’t anywhere near North Dakota, much less Crawley Creek.

“I know it was you who went to the feds and set them on my trail. You should be dead just like that cheap, bitch roomie you had. What was her name? Violet? Veronda? Vivica?”

“Vivienne. Damn you, Knox, you know her name.” Destiny’s voice was still soft, but her anger at him was evident. Even in spite of the fact that she was trembling from the top of her blonde head to her fluffy pink socks, she still glared fire at the disgusting man. “You killed her.”

Knox smiled widely, revealing a gap-toothed grin that radiated hatred. “No, it wasn’t my hand that dealt the death blow.”

“It might as well have been,” Destiny spat. “You told those guys to get rid of us.”

“A mistake on my part for sure. I should have handled my own business, then I wouldn’t be forced to run my business while hiding out from the authorities. I plan to rectify the situation by eliminating their only eyewitness.”

Jeanette lurched to her feet, putting herself in front of Destiny. “You need to get the fuck out of my house before I call the police and have you arrested.”

“The police? Oh, you mean that two-bit sheriff living in the cabin on the end? The one who’s been drooling all over my property here?” Knox gestured at Destiny, and Jeanette wanted to throat punch him just for grins. “That dimwit couldn’t track his way out of a paper bag. I’ve been here for almost a week, and he hasn’t even noticed. Hell, I’ve been in every building on the property, and ain’t no one paid any attention. Too wrapped up in your Ho Ho Ho’s I suppose.”

The laughter spewing from Knox’s mouth was nauseating. Jeanette’s brain was scrambled as she tried to think of a way out of this predicament. She had mace in her purse, and another in her nightstand, but that sure as hell didn’t help her now. She could try to reach the phone, but it was likely Knox would get a hold of her before she’d get past dialing the nine, and there was no way she could out maneuver him if he got his hands on her. They were well and truly screwed as they stared into the eyes of a mad man that had already proven he wasn’t afraid to kill.

H
awke felt
like his soul had lifted out of his body and was dancing on air. He felt lighter and happier than he’d been in months. He had a woman in his life that he could see a future with, and he was finally starting to see a place for himself on the ranch, rather than as a tagalong. This Christmas was the beginning of a whole new future for him.

He popped into the main house just to report to Lauren how Marilyn was doing. As the ranches current mama bear, Lauren was keeping tabs on everything that happened and reporting to anyone who asked. It was just easier that way.

“I’m glad to hear she’s back to her feisty self, but she’d better take those doctors seriously.” Lauren said as she rolled out biscuit dough, and cut perfect circles into it before placing it on a pan.

“I think right now she’s trying to cover up her nerves with sarcasm, but she’ll pipe down once the surgery is out of the way,” Hawke said on his way to the back door. “I’m heading to bed for the night. I told D I was going to work in the wood shop tomorrow. Do you think Vin can head up to the hospital early and let us know what time they want to take her in for surgery?”

Lauren nodded, “Of course, I’m sure most everyone will want to go and be there in support. Oh, and Hawke…” He paused, holding the door open, shivering in the cold air. “I’m really happy for you and Jeanette. I just wanted you to know it.”

The smile he’d been holding back spread over his face. “Thanks Lola-brat.”

Braving the icy wind, he pushed out into the darkness, and headed in the direction of Jeanette’s cabin. The lights were blazing inside, and he wondered what she’d been doing to entertain herself while he’d been gone. Normally, she hung out at the main house so that she wasn’t alone, but he kind of liked arriving home to find her waiting for him.

He froze with only one foot on the front porch as he caught a glimpse of Jeanette and Destiny inside the cabin. They were seated in dining room chairs side by side, and they were very clearly bound and gagged. He might have thought it was a joke if it weren’t for the blood on the side of his woman’s face.

Holy fuck. What the hell was happening?

Creeping closer, he eased to the side of the door, and peered inside, trying to figure out how the girls had come to be in this situation, and if it was safe to burst in. A bulky shadow moved just to the left of the front window, and Hawke jerked backwards almost toppling sideways in his haste to avoid being seen. He didn’t know who was in there with them, but whoever it was had hurt Jeanette. Fury burned in his gut, and he had to fight the urge to barrel in and break the intruder’s neck with his bare hands. For all he knew, the person was holding a loaded gun and would blast a hole in his belly the size of a bowling ball. No, he needed to think clearly. If not for his own safety, then for Jeanette and Destiny’s.

Scooting sideways across the porch toward the darkened office windows, he managed to slink into the shadows so that anyone looking outside wouldn’t see anything unusual. At that point he paused to catch his breath and think through his next step. He could head back to the main house and call 911—that’s likely what his family would want him to do. He also knew that the main house was full of women and children, and it wasn’t safe to alert them and risk getting them caught in the line of fire. Besides, it would take the deputies at least twenty minutes to get to the ranch. Who knew what would happen in that timeframe?

In a light bulb moment, he instantly knew what he needed to do, and he ran for all he was worth down the trail that led to the cabin on the end. There were no lights on inside, and Hawke could only pray that Bran was there. If he was in town working… Well, it just wasn’t an option. Slamming into Bran’s front door, he pounded on the wood, barely resisting shouting for his friends help.

Something inside hit the ground, hard, and then the lock clicked on the door, and it swung open. Bran stood in a pair of loose fitting sweatpants, holding a double barrel shotgun level with Hawke’s chest.

“Damn it, Hawke, what the hell are you thinking? I could have killed you.” Bran snapped, lowering the weapon, and stepping back into the warm house.

“Jeanette, and Destiny. Someone’s hurting them. Holding them hostage.”

“What?” Bran’s eyes narrowed, and Hawke noted the tension that filled out his body. “Slow down, what’s going on?”

“I was going to Jeanette’s place, and before I could even open the door I realized something wasn’t right. I don’t know who is in there with them, but he has them tied up, and Jeanette is bleeding. We have to get the guys from the shack and help them.”

“God damn it. It has to be Knox. I warned the feds that this guy wasn’t going to leave Destiny alone. I’ve got to call in back-up.” Bran shoved his bare feet into his boots, and pulled his heavy sheriff’s jacket on over his bare chest.

“Well, while you’re calling for your guys, I’m going after mine, and mine are a hell of a lot closer.” Hawke spun toward the building that housed the ten ranch hands that stayed out on the ranch permanently, but Bran caught him by the arm before he could leave.

“Don’t go rushing in there trying to be a hero, Hawke. That will get one or both of our women hurt. We need to do this by the book.”

“Fuck the book. That bastard already tried to kill Destiny. Are you going to let him take a second crack at it?” Hawke knew he was hitting below the belt, but he was running on pure adrenaline now. All that mattered was rescuing Jeanette.

Bran only hesitated a moment before he nodded. “I’m calling for back-up because someone will have to process the body when we’re done. Go get the guys, and I’ll meet you there.”

“East side of the cabin is dark, we’ll meet and surround the place before we go in.” Hawke called out as he ran for all he was worth to get reinforcements.

B
ran’s
worst nightmare had come true. He’d sworn to protect Destiny if she gave testimony against Knox, and yet here she was being held captive by the vicious man. Standing in the cold night air, bare feet frozen in his boots, his mind grappled for a way to get her and Jeanette out of the cabin without anyone getting hurt. Hawke had only said the women were being held, but in the short time it had taken to recruit back up, Knox had been setting up what looked like a torture chamber. On the dining room table was an assortment of kitchen and household utensils, and he’d just taken a pair of scissors to Destiny’s hair, cutting wide chunks of it off and then dangling it in front of her before he stroked the tip of the scissors over her heaving breasts.

As a member of law enforcement, Bran knew how important it was to follow the law to the letter in order to prosecute the guilty party and get justice, but as a man, he was a breath away from disemboweling the fat man with his bare hands.

“Sheriff?”

Bran turned toward the rough whisper and came face to face Daniel. “Shhh. If he hears anything he won’t waste time killing them.”

Gesturing to toward the darker shadows of the cabin’s exterior, Bran left the window, and his access to what was happening so that he could prepare the others for what they faced. Hawke had brought eight of the ranch hands and Daniel, which mean they had eleven to one odds that they could stop Knox from doing more damage to the girls.

“I haven’t seen a gun yet, but he can still do serious damage with the weaponry he’s got. Deputy Bricker will be here shortly, but I think Hawke is right, we have to make a move now.” Bran explained, checking his gun for ammunition, as several other guys did the same. With all the firepower they had, there was no reason they couldn’t get this done. The question was, would Knox make a last ditch effort to take Destiny out when they went in?

“There are two entrances,” Hawke said. “The front door, and the one through the office, which is how he got in. He used a screwdriver and took the whole damn doorknob off, lock and all.”

“So much for locking the doors.” Daniel gave an angry snort and shook his head, “Has he hurt them yet?”

Bran nodded, but didn’t elaborate as he met Hawke’s angry gaze. “I’m going in through the front, but I want a man at each window—front and back, and two behind me, all guns trained on Knox at all times. Do not shoot unless he attacks first. Hawke, you and Daniel come in through the office. I’ll draw his attention to me, and hopefully. you can get in between him and the girls.”

Everyone nodded their understanding and split up to their positions. Bran reached back and clicked the switch for his radio, turning it on so that he could report to his deputy.”

“Unit thirteen, the hostages are in mortal danger, we’re going in.” There was a short burst of static before a deep voice responded, “Roger that, ETA six minutes.”

Bran shut the radio off and replaced it in his belt. With his gun holstered, he took a deep breath and pushed his way into the cabin.

H
awke’s nerves were frayed
, and he was torn between vile hatred, and terror as he crept through the dark office. Daniel was at his back as he turned the doorknob as slowly as possible, praying it wouldn’t make a sound. On the other side of the door he heard Bran enter the cabin, and Knox cursing.

“The house is surrounded, Howard, you won’t leave here alive if you don’t surrender.” Bran’s voice echoed loudly in Hawke’s ears as he waited for Knox to respond.

“Fuck you. I’m a dead man walking anyway,” Knox snarled. “This bitch saw to it that I lost everything I’d been working for. She’s going to pay.”

Hawke managed to open the door about a half-inch so that he could see the action in the living room. Knox had his back to the door, but he only stood a couple of feet in front of Destiny. There was no way to get between them undetected. Jeanette’s seat was closer to the office by about eighteen inches, but with her bound to the chair from the back there was really no way to sneak her out either.

Suddenly Knox spun around, a large steak knife in his fist as he rushed at Destiny. Hawke only saw the flash of silver metal, and the whites of Destiny’s eyes as she screamed out in agony and a shot echoed through the room. Knox slumped atop the small woman lifelessly, and everyone seemed to pile into the room at the same time.

While Bran and the others surged to help Destiny, Hawke went straight to Jeanette, dropping his rifle to the ground and pulling violently at the scarf that bound her hands. Her fingers were a mottled shade of purple and white, and she flexed them carefully as she pulled them forward to rip the scarf in her mouth away.

“Is she okay?” Jeanette cried out, tears spilling down her cheeks, and Hawke finished releasing her from her bindings. “Bran? Tell me she’s okay?”

“I’m okay.” Destiny said, her voice rough with pain. “I’m still alive.”

The sound of Bran’s radio crackled as he requested an ambulance to Crawley Creek for the second time in a week. With Knox’s body on the floor, it was clear that the knife went into Destiny’s shoulder rather than her chest as he’d been aiming for. Blood soaked her shirt, and a kitchen towel someone had thought to wrap around the wound, but she was going to survive the ordeal.