Savior in the Saddle by Delores Fossen Read Free Book Online Page B

they arrive. Plus, we’ll need to get your statements on the shooting and the explosion.”
    “Ms. Marks will need a safe house right away,” Brandon informed them. “After what she’s been through, she needs to rest.”
    “I can find a place on my own,” Willa insisted right back.
    He didn’t argue with her, for now, but there was no way he could let her go off on her own. God knows how he would be able to convince her of that, though.
    Brandon led her off the bus, and the officers hurried them to the far side of the building to the patrol entrance, probably because they were still concerned about Shore being at large.
    “I’d like to go someplace private,” Willa told the officer the moment they were inside. “Because Sheriff Ruiz and I need to talk. It’s important, and it can’t wait.”
    The officer volleyed glances between Brandon and her, and the man was no doubt wondering what this was all about. Brandon didn’t intend to fill him in, at least not until he’d spoken with the officers from SAPD. Even if those officers had indeed already left their headquarters, they probably wouldn’t arrive for at least another forty-five minutes.
    “Follow me,” the officer finally said. He took them through the maze of squad rooms and stopped outside a break room that had chairs, a sofa and some vending machines. “I hope this’ll do,” the officer commented. “And while you’re talking I’ll see about an update on Lieutenant Duggan.”
    Brandon thanked the man but didn’t say anything else until he was out of earshot. Too bad there was no door so he could give them an extra layer of privacy.
    They were going to need it.
    “Why did you lie?” Willa demanded.
    Since this probably wouldn’t be a short or quiet conversation, Brandon placed her overnight bag on the floor and pulled her to the side of a vending machine. “Because SAPD convinced me that the fastest way to stop another hostage incident was to get you to trust me.”
    Her eyes narrowed, but it didn’t seem to be simply from anger. “And it worked. Well, partly. I was starting to trust you.”
    “You still can,” he promised.
    She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “You’re a liar.”
    “About some things. It’s true, I’d never met you before today.” It was a risk because she might slap him, but Brandon placed his hand over her stomach. “But I really am your baby’s father.”
    She blinked and then stared at him, examining his eyes. “You expect me to believe that?”
    “It’s the truth.” And he blew out a long breath. It was actually a relief to tell her the truth. “Nearly ten years ago I was in the military and headed to a dangerous assignment in the Middle East. I was engaged at the time, and my then fiancée convinced me to store some semen in case I was injured. When I got back from the assignment, the engagement was over. And I knew I didn’t need what I’d stored, so I signed a donor agreement, and it was sent to a sperm bank.”
    Willa continued to study him and was no doubt trying to decide if he was telling the truth.
    “A sperm bank?” she questioned.
    He nodded. “Obviously it was the one you used for your artificial insemination.”
    “Obviously.” But there was still a lot of skepticism in her voice. “Why should I believe you?”
    “Because it’s true. The DNA test results I gave you are real,” he continued. “And it proves I’m the baby’s biological father.”
    Brandon tried not to show what he was feeling. He didn’t want Willa to mistake it for dishonesty. But that last word, father, had not come easily.
    And probably never would.
    He kept that to himself.
    The staring went on, and on, and finally Willa’s shoulders relaxed. A weary breath left her mouth, and she sagged against the wall.
    Since she looked ready to drop, Brandon held on to her. Or rather he tried. But Willa pushed him away.
    “My sperm donor,” she mumbled. She shook her head. “How did SAPD find you?”
    “Bo