The Marshal's Justice (Appaloosa Pass Ranch 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stop.
    Renée didn’t exactly cooperate.
    “Let me go,” she shouted, and she started to fight. Clawing and scratching at Chase while she tried to kick him.
    Chase did something about that .38. He knocked it from her hand and April snatched it up before Renée could grab it.
    That still didn’t stop Renée.
    She rammed into Chase and she didn’t hold back. Renée off-balanced them, and Chase knew he couldn’t stop them from falling to the ground. However, he did try to take the brunt of the fall so that Renée’s unborn baby wouldn’t be hurt.
    But when he heard April gasp, Chase figured he hadn’t succeeded in doing that.
    Until he saw what’d captured April’s attention.
    Renée’s dress had been shoved up during the scuffle. Way up. Chase saw a wire, but he also saw something strapped to her stomach.
    A fake baby bump.
    “She’s not even pregnant,” April mumbled.
    That caused Renée to make another of those feral sounds, and she started fighting again. Not just scratching and shoving this time, but she punched Chase hard in the face.
    Enough of this.
    Since he was no longer dealing with a pregnant woman, Chase rammed her against the ground and pinned her in place.
    “Tell Jax I need a pair of plastic cuffs,” Chase told April.
    April turned, no doubt to call out to Jax. But his brother responded before she could even get out a word.
    “Get up here now,” Jax shouted. “I found a baby.”

Chapter Four
    April ran as fast as she could, the horrible thoughts running right along with her. Jax had said he’d found a baby, but that didn’t mean it was Bailey, and it didn’t mean her precious daughter was safe.
    After all, the men who’d taken Bailey were the same ones who’d murdered Deanne.
    Chase ran, too, dragging Renée along with him. But Renée still wasn’t cooperating, and that slowed Chase down.
    April finally reached the road, but her heart sank when she didn’t see Jax. She soon spotted him, though. He was sitting in the backseat of the car next to an infant seat.
    And Bailey was in that seat.
    “She’s okay,” Jax insisted. “Someone’s obviously been taking good care of her.”
    April’s breath whooshed out, and she practically crawled over Jax to get to the baby. He stepped out, hurrying toward Chase so he could take hold of Renée. But Jax did more than that. He clamped his hand over Renée’s mouth.
    “I don’t want her calling out for help if she’s got any other comrades in the area,” Jax said.
    Yes, and it was something that April should have thought about already. Renée could still be dangerous, but before April could deal with her, she had to see to Bailey first.
    Bailey didn’t appear to have any injuries, but April had to check for herself. She took her from the seat, peeling back the blanket so she could check for any scrapes or bruises. None.
    Jax had been right. Someone had been taking care of her. Bailey had on a fresh diaper, a clean pink gown, and judging from the bottles in the diaper bag next to the infant seat, she’d been well fed. Thank God. She was okay.
    But Chase wasn’t.
    April had been so caught up in making sure Bailey was unharmed that she hadn’t noticed Chase was right there by the door, and he had his attention fixed on the baby. He looked as if someone had slugged him, but the shock lasted for only a couple of seconds. Then, April saw something else she instantly recognized.
    Love.
    One look at his daughter and Chase was as smitten as April was.
    “They didn’t hurt her,” Chase said, gulping in a long breath.
    The love was mixed with a hefty dose of relief. Again, that love and relief didn’t extend to April. Chase’s gaze was practically icy when it landed on her.
    “You should have told me when she was born,” Chase snarled and likely would have said a whole lot more if Jax hadn’t cleared his throat to get their attention.
    “I hate to break up this family reunion, but it’s not a good idea for us to be hanging around out here.