Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Desire Their Queen [Wyoming Warriors 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) (18 page)

“No, I am.” He glanced at the doorway. “Hopefully, she’ll calm down, and then think more clearly. But you go on. I can handle things here.” He waved Rex off.

Rex was worried, but he needed to get to the meeting. There wasn’t much he could do at home. He doubted Pearce would make another move tonight, but he would definitely strike soon.

* * * *

Rex was the last to arrive. Mitch had called a large number of his major Commandos, Mother Aileen, all the leaders, and both Priestesses. Mitch was pacing the floor in front of the chairs.

“Come up here, Rex, and explain what happened at your house. Hakan and Kira wanted to wait for you.”

Rex started at the beginning. He explained why he’d always disliked his brother and the concerns he’d developed since Pearce came home this time. Then he told them about this evening. “Do we know for sure the pie was poisoned?” Rex asked Kira.

“I stayed with Ellen while she checked it. It didn’t take long. Ellen said the liquid sprinkled on the pie was the most dangerous of the poisons. The one that almost killed Averil.”

“Kira, tell them exactly what you saw, and why you suspected Pearce.”

She took hold of Rex’s hand. “I had an uncomfortable feeling. I suspected Pearce had turned Cindy to his way of thinking, and while we cleaned up the kitchen, she all but told me he had. After that, the uneasiness increased.

“When he insisted on helping his mother with the pie, I decided to sneak outside to the kitchen window.” Kira told them what she’d seen and how she had rushed in to knock the plates out of Pearce’s hands. “It was the cake, he’d sprinkled with poison and had intended to give Hakan, Rex, and his father.

“He left with Cindy, and I fear for her life. He’s angry, and he’s cornered. Consequently he has become much more dangerous.”

Lang, the ranch foreman, stood. “I’ll notify my men to watch for him. He’ll be taken into custody if he returns to the ranch. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take care of that now.”

Mitch waved him on. “Does anyone have suggestions about what to do?”

Nick, Cassie’s other husband, stood. “I say we go find him and lock him up down here. We can find out if anyone else is working with him.”

“We can start at Cindy’s,” Kira said. “I’m really worried about her.”

“I wonder if he’s a shifter and has hidden it from us all this time,” Hakan commented. “He has to be the one who killed Gala. Maybe he caused the severe damage to her body. It’s been suggested the animal was a large wolf. Lang never found any evidence of a wolf in the area. Mitch, you’d better call Lang and ask him to tell his men to keep a lookout for a wolf shifter.”

“I think you may be right. I’d shift if I was him and had the ability.” Mitch took out his phone and called Lang. When he finished his call, Mitch added, “I’d suggest you all call your wives. Tell them to keep the doors and windows locked tight. There’s no telling what a hunted animal will do next.”

Rex, Hakan, and Kira joined the group of men who gathered around Mitch and Daren. They were discussing going out in two groups, one to search for Pearce and one to go to Cindy’s house.

“I’m going with the group to Cindy’s house,” Kira said.

Mitch started to say no, but then he smiled. “We may need you. I keep forgetting what a valuable asset you are to all of us.”

“Thank you, I…”

All the leaders’, Kira’s, Rex’s, and Hakan’s phones rang at once. “This is bad,” Mitch said as he answered his cell phone.

Each person took their call. The emergency system had gone into effect. A programmed message said the hospital had a large number of people in the emergency room, very sick.

“He hit sooner than we expected. Let’s go,” Mitch said. “My group will start searching for him on and off the ranch. Kira, your group will go to Cindy’s. Daren’s going along to lead with you.” Kira nodded affirmative. “The doctors, Mother Aileen, Garth, Lann, and the Priestesses will head for the ER.”

Kira turned to Rex and Hakan. “Call me if I can help, but for now I can’t give any more blood unless we run completely out of the antidote and the situation becomes even more dire. But, I’ll come as soon as we check on Cindy.”

“We’ll let you know what we’re dealing with as soon as we get to the hospital.” Rex kissed her mouth and walked toward the door.

* * * *

Hakan held her close. “Be careful, my love.” His lips brushed across the top of her head. Gently, he pulled away from her. “Be safe.” He hurried out to catch up with Rex.

“Are you ready?” Daren asked.

“Yes, I feel Cindy’s in a lot of trouble.”

The drive into town and to Cindy’s house seemed to take forever. Hakan called Kira and told her a large number of the residents from the third tribe had been poisoned. Some were worse than others. “I’ll put Mitch on the phone so he can tell you about what he’s found.”

“We think he hit the tribe’s temporary water system, so I’ve shut it off,” Mitch said. “We’ll have to call the sheriff and see about getting barrels of water sent out. I don’t trust our system either.”

He gave the phone back to Hakan. “Ellen and her team are here. They’re giving shots to all the victims. They’ve been working hard on developing more of the antidote. But if the numbers keep increasing, we’ll run out.”

“We’re almost to Cindy’s. I’ll get back there as soon as I can.” She ended the call.

Daren glanced across at her. “Can you give any more blood? I’d think it would be dangerous. We can’t risk losing you.”

“You’ve done well without me all these years. You can do so again, if necessary. Perhaps my job in life is to save the tribes, even at the cost of my own life.”

“We won’t allow that to happen.”

Kira didn’t answer. She’d see what she had to do.

“This is the house,” the driver said.

“The lights are on, and there’re two cars in her driveway,” Daren said. “Stop, before they see us. Our four warriors, in the car behind us will park, and I’ll get out to tell them what to do.”

Daren and Sahale, who’d ridden in the front of their car, got out, and the men gathered around them. Kira, not wanting to be left behind, walked over and stood between Sahale and Daren.

“Kira and I will go in first. We’ll put on hidden mics so Sahale can hear what’s going on inside. Hide around the house and wait for our signal. Sahale, you’re in charge out here. Get your receiver on now. If we get in trouble, storm the place.” Sahale nodded. He and his men disappeared into the darkness.

“Drive on up and park beside the two cars,” Daren told their driver. He and Kira put on their hidden microphones, and when the car stopped they climbed out. They walked to the door, and Kira knocked.

“Cindy, it’s Kira,” she yelled out. At first there was no answer, and then the door cracked open.

“It’s late, Kira. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to make sure you were all right.” The door opened further, showing an older woman with dark hair standing behind Cindy.

“I appreciate your concern for my daughter. I surprised her tonight. I’ve been promising to visit and just decided now was the time. So I’ll be here to take care of her. You don’t have to worry.”

Kira moved closer to the door. “Is this your mother, Cindy?”

“Yes, I’m very happy to see her. We’ll have a lovely visit.”

Kira had gotten close enough to see the flat expression in Cindy’s eyes, and to smell a foul odor around her. Kira knew she was in trouble, but this might not be the best time to try and free her.

“I’m glad you’re doing well. It’s been nice meeting your mother. I think the two of you should come with us. You may be in danger. We can protect you better on the ranch,” Kira said.

“A ranch? Oh, I’ve always wanted to see a real, working ranch. Can we look around once the danger is over?” Cindy’s mom asked.

“Absolutely.” Daren stepped forward. “It’s a beautiful place. You’ll like it. You can stay in one of our guest cabins. We’ll place a guard outside to keep you safe.”

“Cindy, go pack a bag. My suitcase is still in the rental car. I’ll drive Cindy and me. We can follow you, and please call me by my first name, Dyna.”

Cindy hurried back to them. She’d packed a small overnight case.

“We’re ready,” Dyna said. “Shall we go?”

Daren led the way. Sahale had heard what was said and when they got to their vehicle, the second car was out of sight.

“Drive straight to the ranch,” Daren told their driver. Then he pressed in the numbers for Mitch. He explained their plan. “We’ll put them in cabin three and have our men hidden in number four. Have them hide several hearing devices in cabin three and put a man in the front and back to guard them.” Kira pulled on his arm. “I think Kira’s trying to tell me she wants to speak with you.” He handed Kira the phone.

“Mitch, this woman has the same odd odor as her son. I smelled it, but I don’t think anyone else will. It’s very faint. Ask Mother Aileen to go with you and greet them when they arrive. We should be there in less than thirty minutes.”

“Will do. Did you see any signs of Pearce?”

“No. Either he’s shifted or he’s hiding out somewhere.”

“See you all at the cabin.” Mitch shut off his phone.

Daren glanced at Kira. “Who do you think this woman really is?”

“I don’t know anything about her except she’s evil and I’d bet Pearce is her son. Pearce resembles her. She makes my skin crawl, and they both have the same distinctive odor. But not all the time. Whatever it is, it’s sickening. You didn’t smell it?”

“No, and all our senses are heightened. Yours must be extraordinarily sensitive.”

“Mom used to kid me. When she made my favorite peanut butter fudge, she said I could smell it from miles away.”

They both laughed, easing the tension in the car.

“There’re the gates. I’m ready to get this over with,” Kira said.

Lights were on in cabin three. Two men stood in front talking to Mitch, Garth, and his mother. They turned when the two cars parked.

Mitch opened Dyna’s door. “Welcome to our ranch.”

She put out her hand, and he assisted her out of the car.

“Thank you.” She looked around the area. “I can’t wait for morning to explore your ranch. I’m so excited.” She turned to greet Garth and his mother.

Kira was watching Dyna closely. Her eyes narrowed very slightly, and her mouth tightened. It was so quick Kira didn’t think anyone else caught the change. She didn’t like Garth or Mother Aileen. And Mother Aileen didn’t like her. It was evident in her stiffening posture and the look in her eyes. Again, both women went back to their friendly countenances so fast that none of the others noticed.