Page 40 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

After a pause, she went on. “Well... Lauren, we got stranded during a thunderstorm up in one of his hunting blinds one night. It was terrible and wonderful at the same time. We made love—and it was the most amazing night of my life. That’s why I think I’m falling in love with him.”

“Taylor, I’m so happy for you. I worried that you’d never feel that way about a man again. This Colt must be a very special person.”

Taylor’s heart filled with warmth as she thought of all of his wonderful qualities. “I never knew there were men like him.”

“How does he feel about you, Taylor? Do you think he loves you?”

Her heart thumped hard as doubt seeped into her chest. “Honestly, I don’t know. I think he really cares about me, but love? I have no idea.”

“I’ll bet he does if he’s as good to you as you say. He’s got to love you,” Lauren said, with a smile in her voice.

Her friend’s confidence made Taylor feel immediately better. “I wish you lived closer. I miss you horribly. I hate that this mess is going on so that you can’t come down here. We’re working to resolve it, and I promise I’ll call you as soon as it’s safe for you to visit.”

Feeling better than she had in days, she went to find Colt. Somehow, he had become her lodestone, the magnetic center of her life.

***

Taylor’s shrill screampierced the air.

Heart pounding, Colt shot from his bed, grabbing his Glock from the night table as he rushed from the bedroom toward the sound of her voice and JJ’s loud crying. As he entered the moonlit living room, he spotted two armed men turning toward him. He yelled, “Drop your guns and put your hands in the air,” as he aimed his Glock in their direction.

From the hallway, backlit from the light in the nursery, came the sound of another man’s voice. “No, you drop it, or she’s dead. I’m leaving with the baby, and I could care less whether she’s alive or dead when I do. We’re going where nobody will ever find us.”

From Taylor’s description, Colt recognized the man as Jeb, her rapist’s brother, and he had a large hunting knife held to Taylor’s throat.

Although he was terrified for Taylor and JJ, Colt calmly evaluated his chances. He was outgunned two to one, and it would only take a split second for Jeb to slit Taylor’s throat. Colt had no choice; he bent and laid his Glock on the floor.

Jeb chuckled harshly. “I thought you’d see it my way. Now be a good boy and kick it toward Gantry there.”

Colt did as he was told and met Taylor’s gaze, hoping to reassure her that he would regain control of the situation. She looked terrified, her eyes wide and streaming tears. It broke his heart. JJ continued to scream in the background, and the sound heightened his anxiety at the deadly situation before him.

He heard Shannon in the hallway behind him when she pumped a shell into the chamber of her shotgun.

Jared, the other cousin, called, “Drop it, or you’ll regret it, old lady. Kick it over here.”

“Take a good look at your girl here, Auntie. You should do what he says,” Jeb said in a low, dangerous voice.

Shannon looked at Colt, and he nodded. They couldn’t risk Jeb making good on his threat. She laid the shotgun on the ground and shoved it away. As she rose, she said in a strong, confident voice, “You’re okay, Taylor. Just stay calm.”

“Yeah, Taylor, just stay calm,” Jeb jeered as he backed her towards the nursery. “You’re gonna help me pack a bag for your baby.”

“I breastfeed JJ. You should take me with you.”

Colt’s heart froze.No!She’d just be another hostage.He shook his head vehemently at her, but she just turned her face away.

Moments later, Taylor returned, holding a now quiet JJ in her arms. “I’ll just pack that breast milk in a thermal bag for you,” she said in a shaking voice. Her gaze met Colt’s, and the abject terror in her eyes tore him up inside. She knew the men were taking JJ and that they were powerless to stop them.

He eyed his Glock as it lay where he’d kicked it. The cousins weren’t paying much attention to him. He took a slow step forward. Then he took another. Gantry swung his gun around and said, “You can stop that right now, smart-ass.”

Dammit!Colt stopped and looked away in order to present no challenge. The guy didn’t look very smart, and Colt didn’t want him flying off the handle. That’s when he noticed a dark panel van in the driveway. Thank God for Shannon’s insistence that they leave the porch light on all night.

Jeb came to the kitchen door. “Tell Jen to get in here.”

A moment later, a young, washed-out-looking blond woman walked through the door. Jeb came out of the kitchen carrying three bags. Taylor followed, clutching JJ to her chest.

Jeb said, “You tell Jen what you just told me about caring for the boy.”

In a brave voice, Taylor walked up to Jen and said, “I’m Taylor, and this is JJ. He’s a wonderful baby, and he hardly ever cries—”

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