time when he turned around, he didn’t look back. She shut the door with a soft snick and turned to find the two men staring at her.
Pete let go of Sophia and she rushed at Zoe, wrapping her arms around her waist and holding tight. Zoe met Pete’s gaze since he seemed to be the one in charge. “Now what?” she whispered. “What do you want?”
His eyes dropped to Sophia. “Her.”
That niggling feeling wouldn’t leave him alone. Aaron sat in his truck outside the house, but didn’t crank it. Instead he dialed Lance Goode’s personal cell number. Lance was a deputy with the Wrangler’s Corner sheriff’s department and a good friend of the Starke family. Aaron’s brother, Clay, the sheriff, was out of town until later that evening so the safety of Wrangler’s Corner fell on Lance’s shoulders. The deputy answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
“How far are you from the Updike farm?”
“Not too far. Why?”
“Something weird’s going on here.”
“Aren’t the Updikes out of town?”
“Yeah.” The curtain on the window by the door fluttered. He cranked his truck and debated whether or not to drive off. “But Zoe Collier and her daughter, Sophia, are staying here while the Updikes are on their cruise. I just knocked on the door and she answered, but she had a gash on her head that she said she got from falling against the side of the barn.”
“You have reason to doubt her?”
“No, not really, but she just looked...scared. And she said something about having to go out there and fill up the water buckets. I was just in the barn, Lance. The buckets are full of fresh water and the hose is neatly wrapped and hanging on the reel.”
Lance made a noise low in his throat. “That does sound kind of odd. If she hit her head, she might have a concussion or something. Be a little confused.”
“Maybe. She didn’t seem confused, just scared.”
“All right. I’m on my way. It’s probably nothing but I’ll come check it out.”
“Thanks. I guess I’ll head on back to the office.” Aaron hung up and put his truck in gear. His secretary, Janice Maynard, was out on maternity leave and his partner was on vacation for the next three days.
Managing by himself was a huge headache, and he should have listened to his father’s advice about hiring a temporary person to fill in, but then he’d have the headache of training the person. He grimaced. He still hadn’t decided which choice was the lesser of the two evils. Regardless, he didn’t like to stay gone too long. Then again, that was one of the advantages of living in a small town. Everyone had his cell number and if someone needed him, they’d call.
Aaron drove down the drive and out of sight of the house then stopped at the base of a sloping hill. He tapped his fingers on the wheel. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t just leave. There’d been something in her eyes when she’d looked at him then cut her eyes toward the left. Had someone been there? Someone she’d been afraid off? What if an abusive ex had found her or something? Or what if she really did have a concussion? He didn’t remember seeing any sign of one when he’d looked into her green eyes, but he hadn’t been looking for one, either. Had her pupils been even?
He grunted. Nope. He couldn’t leave. Aaron turned the vehicle around and drove back up to the house. He parked next to the strange truck and shut the engine off. He hesitated only a second before he opened the driver’s door and stepped out. He stared at the other truck, walked over to it and looked inside. Fast food wrappers and cigarette butts littered the cab, but nothing that set off any alarms. He sighed and marched back up to the front door. Before he could knock, the door opened and he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
Aaron froze. Now his internal alarms were ringing. Okay, he’d thought she’d looked scared, but this wasn’t what he’d pictured. The angry dark eyes behind the gun glittered. “Get in here, hero. You had your chance to leave, but guess you get to join the fun.”
* * *
Zoe wanted to weep. Her only hope of rescue had just joined them as a hostage. Aaron lifted his hands in the surrender position and walked into the house. His eyes landed on her and Sophia, huddled together on the couch. She knew she probably looked terrified as she locked her gaze on his. Well, that was fine. She was terrified.
Aaron moved closer to them, putting his body between her and Sophia and the gun. The other man, whose name she hadn’t learned yet, shut the door behind Aaron. “What’s going on?”
“Just taking care of a little business is all. Now hand over your cell phone and your weapon.”
“I’m a veterinarian. What makes you think I have a weapon?”
Pete laughed without a smidge of humor. “You don’t live in this kind of town and not carry a weapon.” His hard eyes turned to chips. “Hand it over.”
Aaron didn’t bother to protest, just pulled his .38 special from his shoulder holster and gave it to the man. When he did, his keys fell to the floor.
“I’ll take those, too. No sense in giving you something that could poke an eye out.” Aaron hesitated then snagged his cell phone from the clip on his belt and released that, as well. From her position behind him, she could see the tension in the set of his shoulders and prayed he didn’t do anything that would cause one of the men to shoot him. Or her. “What kind of business?” Aaron asked.
“Shut up.” Pete looked at his partner. “Now what?”
“Tie him up,” the partner said. He eyed Aaron. “Anyone know you’re here?”
“Several people know I’m coming out here on a regular basis to check on one of the heifers ready to deliver any day now.” He stayed still while Pete used duct tape to secure his hands behind him.
The partner shoved the gun at him. “Let me rephrase the question. Anyone know you’re here right now?”
“No, but when I don’t show up for dinner, my family will be looking for me.”
Zoe stayed still, listening, feeling Sophia’s heart beat against her side. Her rapid heartbeat. Zoe looked closer and saw the sweat on her daughter’s forehead. She lifted Sophia’s chin and looked in her eyes. She stood. “My daughter needs some food.”
“Shut up and sit down,” the partner said without taking his eyes from Aaron.
Zoe stayed put. “My child needs sugar in her system. She has diabetes. Her sugar is dropping, and I need to give her something sweet. Now.” She tried to keep her voice steady and firm. She failed miserably on the steady part. She lifted her chin and met Pete’s eyes when he finally turned them on her. “She could die and while I don’t think you care if I do, for some reason you want her alive.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, and he stared at her as though trying to figure out if she was telling the truth or not.
Zoe wanted to scream. Instead, she clamped down on her emotions and pointed at Sophia. “Look at her. Sweating, rapid pulse, lethargy. If
