Deadly Holiday Reunion

A CHILD’S LIFE WAS IN JEOPARDY

Texas Ranger Jake Cavanaugh will do anything to rescue his kidnapped daughter from the clutches of a killer. And that means turning to Ella Terrell—his high school sweetheart—for help. The former FBI agent is lucky to be alive after her own encounter with the vengeful madman. And now history seems to be repeating itself this holiday season. Ella needs time to sort through the past—yet time is a luxury they don’t have. For the kidnapper is taunting them with misleading clues and a ticking clock. But Ella will bring Jake’s child home at all costs—even at the risk of losing her heart and her life….

“I’m here to stay.”

“It’s too dangerous for you,” Jake said, fatigue and defeat in his tone. “I’m sorry, but I have to keep you safe.”

“I understand you’re a worried father and you’re hurting because you feel so helpless. But you got me involved, and I’m the only one who can draw this killer out. Let me do that, Jake.”

He fisted his hands, his hard-edged expression reminding her of a wall of rock. Hard to reach, hard to handle, but so easy to love.

“Jake…”

He looked at her, and she saw it all in his eyes. The need, the fear, the regret and the longing.

He let out a deep breath. “I’ve got to find her, Ella. I can’t rest till I do.”

“Yes, you can,” she replied. “You’ll rest while I take over for you.”

“And when will you rest?”

“After we find your daughter…and get this madman. Or I die trying.”

He touched her cheek. “And that’s what scares me the most.”

LENORA WORTH

has written more than forty books for three different publishers. Her career with Love Inspired Books spans close to fifteen years. In February 2011, her Love Inspired Suspense novel Body of Evidence made the New York Times bestseller list. Her very first Love Inspired title, The Wedding Quilt, won Affaire de Coeur’s Best Inspirational for 1997, and Logan’s Child won an RT Book Reviews Best Love Inspired for 1998. With millions of books in print, Lenora continues to write for the Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense lines. Lenora also wrote a weekly opinion column for the local paper and worked freelance for years with a local magazine. She has now turned to full-time fiction writing and enjoying adventures with her retired husband, Don. Married for thirty-six years, they have two grown children. Lenora enjoys writing, reading and shopping…especially shoe shopping.

Deadly Holiday Reunion

Lenora Worth

www.millsandboon.co.uk

God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

—2 Samuel 22:33

For all of my East Texas friends.

You are all Texas Strong!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

ONE

“I need you to help me find my daughter.”

Ella Terrell hushed her barking German shepherd and stared up at the tall man standing with his cowboy hat in his hand at the door of the barn.

Jake Cavanaugh.

“What?” Her pulse quickened, causing her to put down the rifle she had aimed at him and squint into the sun. Even though he lived and worked a few miles away in Tyler, Texas, she hadn’t seen him or heard a word from him in over five years. Pushing away the dark memories surfacing in her mind, she asked, “What are you doing here, Jake? What do you mean?”

He shifted, turned to glance around the tree-lined yard toward the house, the star emblem on his Texas Ranger badge flashing gold. “Look, I don’t have much time and I haven’t slept all night.” Then he lowered his head but lifted his gaze to her. “Ella, I need your help. Somebody took Macey.”

The plea in his golden-brown eyes did her in. Jake had never been good at asking for help. Which only showed how desperate he must be to come to her. Ella had left the FBI a few years before, but if Macey was missing, she’d help Jake find her.

Ella nodded and took him by the elbow to guide him up to the house, her big dog trailing behind them. “Let’s get inside and talk.”

When they reached the house, Ella hurried up the porch and waited as Jake pushed his way past the big evergreen Christmas wreath hanging on the door, his broad shadow temporarily blocking out the warmth of the Texas sun.

Once inside, he pivoted back to stare at Ella, his expression dark with worry. “Macey was kidnapped last night.”

Macey, the daughter he’d had with another woman after he’d broken off his engagement to Ella. Having a child at nineteen hadn’t been easy. Having a wife who got sick with cancer eight years later had been the worst. Jake’s wife, Natalie, had died and left him with a little girl to raise.

Ella rubbed a grubby hand over her ponytail then snapped into action. Putting down the rifle she always kept with her when she was working alone, she motioned toward the kitchen. “C’mon in and tell me everything.”