Linda Conrad - Desperado Dad

Manny sighed and absently rubbed at the ache in his shoulder. She must accept knowing only part of the story. All of it would be too much for her right now. The whole truth might also be very dangerous.

“I wasn’t in the van, Randi. I was chasing it. Ricky had been…taken…by the man driving.”

“Taken? Like in kidnapped, you mean?” She spun to face him, clasping her hands in front of her chest.

He nodded and watched her expression, fascinated by such open emotion. Manny could see her making connections and piecing together the frayed ends of what he’d told her. She was too damn bright, he finally decided.

Being too smart could get her killed. He’d rather keep the nastiness of this whole situation from touching her.

“If you were chasing the van, where was your car? I didn’t see another vehicle on the road.” She only hesitated a fraction of a second. “And what happened to the van’s driver?”

“My bike slid off the side of the road when I stopped to help. I’m not positive about what happened to the driver…except I think he must have been thrown out when the van went over. I doubt he escaped alive, but as soon as the storm subsides we’ll find out.”

Randi made a strangled, hiccupy sound and moved to Ricky’s basket. “Oh, my God.” She bent to pick up the baby and held him closely to her chest.

“Don’t ask me any more,” he mumbled. “Tomorrow, when the storm clears, we’ll notify the sheriff about the accident and the driver. I’ll find my Hog, and Ricky and I will be on our way out of your life.”

Randi closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against Ricky’s hair.

Manny watched closely while Randi changed Ricky. She coaxed the boy into taking a little more milk while Manny rinsed the dishes in cold water and stacked them in the sink. Her ancient, hot-water heater wouldn’t start without electricity. He wondered why she didn’t have an emergency generator like most ranches did these days.

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