Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge (Sweet Colorado Romance #3)

17. CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 17

Zac

The crisp winter air of December filled Zac’s lungs as he and Barb positioned themselves on their sled, ready to take on the friendly competition. It was just over a week since Barb had landed in hospital. As they settled in, Zac couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The past week had been full of moments that brought him closer to Barb and their makeshift family.

“Ready for this?” Zac asked, glancing at Barb. Her golden hair peeked out from under her knitted cap, and her cheeks were flushed from the cold.

“Absolutely,” Barb replied with a determined smile. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have another sledding partner?” She gave him one last chance to change his mind. “I’ve been told I’m not that good with this.”

Zac chuckled. “Yes, Oscar told me at least ten times that Mom is terrible at sledding.” His eyes held hers. “But I’ll always choose you no matter what.”

Barb smiled as they stared into each other’s eyes, and Zac had to stop himself from leaning forward and kissing her soft pink lips, which were shiny from cherry chapstick.

Their moment was broken when Oscar called out to them, “We’re going to beat you for sure!” His voice was full of excitement as he shot them a mischievous grin.

Paige and Oscar were standing a few feet away from them, buzzing with energy and confidence. Zac laughed, thinking again about how much alike Paige and Oscar were.

“We’ll see about that!” Zac shot back, ruffling Oscar’s hair before the kid darted away to join Paige.

The other teams were equally fired up. Emily and her niece Rose were already settled on their sled, whispering strategies. Daven and Max were laughing together, their sled positioned right next to Paige and Oscar’s.

“Just remember, no cheating,” Zac warned Paige, who responded with an exaggerated look of innocence.

“Cheating? Me? Never!” Paige replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

The race was about to start, and the participants lined up at the top of the hill. The slope was steep, the path carved out and slick from the recent snow. The lodge staff had taken care to pack the snow tightly, ensuring a fast, thrilling ride.

“On your marks… get set… go!”

The signal was given, and with a mighty push, Zac and Barb were off. The sled immediately picked up speed, the wind whipping past them as they descended the hill. Zac leaned into the turns, his muscles tensing as he steered them down the course .

Barb clutched the sides of the sled, laughing as they hit a bump that sent them airborne for a split second before landing back on the track. “This is insane!” she yelled over the rush of wind.

“Hold on tight!” Zac shouted back, a grin splitting his face. He felt a surge of adrenaline as they closed in on Paige and Oscar, who were just ahead of them. The competition was fierce, with each team jockeying for position.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Zac noticed Paige and Oscar’s sled veering dangerously close to theirs. Before he could react, Paige gave a quick nudge with her elbow, sending Zac and Barb’s sled careening off course. The world tilted as their sled flipped, sending them tumbling into the snow.

Barb landed on top of Zac, both of them breathless and laughing as they tried to regain their bearings. The snow was soft, cushioning their fall, and for a moment, they simply lay there, caught up in the excitement of the race and the closeness of the moment.

“You okay?” Zac asked, still chuckling as he brushed a few stray snowflakes from Barb’s hair.

“I’m fine,” Barb replied, her blue eyes sparkling. “But I think your sister just cheated.”

Zac grinned, lifting his head slightly to get a glimpse of the race continuing without them. “Looks like she did. We’ll have to get her back for that.”

Barb pushed herself up and walked over to their toppled sled. “I guess we need to finish this race.”

With a playful groan, Zac stood and helped Barb back onto the sled. They could see that the race was almost over, with Paige and Oscar crossing the finish line in a triumphant cheer.

“Well, look at that, they won!” Barb snorted as Zac pushed them off to finish the race.

Emily and Rose, who had finished just after Paige and Oscar, laughed at the sibling banter. Daven and Max arrived next, looking slightly disappointed but still in high spirits .

Zac and Barb finally joined the others coming last.

“You cheated!” Zac accused Paige, shaking his head in mock disapproval.

Paige smirked. “Prove it!”

Zac pointed at Paige, his tone light. “You’re not getting away with this. We’re taking you down in the next event.”

“Oh yeah?” Paige challenged. “It’s the three-legged race?” She raised an eyebrow. “You know you can’t beat me at that!”

“He can if we race together!” Daven grinned, joining in the banter.

“No fair!” Paige wiggled her index finger. “You know the rules.”

“Dad, I don’t like that race,” Max said, shuddering. “You’re a giant compared to me. Why don’t you and Emily do the race together?”

“Sure,” Emily said. “I’m game.” Her eyes narrowed in on Paige. “Let’s take Paige and Oscar down.”

“Bring it!” Oscar laughed.

“Yeah. Let’s see if you can keep up!” Paige taunted them all teasingly. “Come on, Ozzie, let's get ready.”

“Love you, Mom and Dad.” Oscar blew them a kiss as he left with Paige hugging their trophy.

“Love you too, honey,” Barb called after him. “He’s really taken to your sister.”

“She loves him and Charlotte,” Zac replied. “I’ll speak to her about dialing back the competitiveness.”

“Nah!” Barb said, shaking her head. “They’re having fun, and Oscar knows that.”

“We’ll keep an eye on it,” Zac said. “I grew up with my sister.” He shook his head. “Are you ready for the next race?”

“Of course,” Barb said, grinning. “Maybe we should take a page out of your sister’s playbook this time.”

Zac feigned shock as he stared at Barb. “Why, Barb, are you saying we should cheat?”

“If you can’t beat 'em…” Barb laughed, shrugging.

Paige and Oscar came second behind Rose and Max, who’d teamed up. As they were a better height match, they managed to slip past all the other odd matches. To Zac’s delight, Oscar was so excited for his friends that they now each had a trophy.

With the race behind them, the group made their way to the next part of the festival. The atmosphere was full of joy and camaraderie, and Zac couldn’t shake the warmth he felt being surrounded by the people he cared about most. Despite the playful rivalry, the day was shaping up to be one of the best he’d had in a long time.

“I’m so glad tomorrow’s only the snowman building and chili contest.” Emily breathed a sigh of relief. “I need a nap after all that excitement. ”

“Well, cousin, you can get off your feet while we go make our chili.” Heather joined them. Her eyes met Paige’s. “As Avery has defected to Ryder and Hank’s team, would you like to join our chili-making team?”

“Ooh, I’d love that,” Paige said, turning to pull a face at Zac. “See, some people do trust my cooking skills.”

“Don’t leave her with any sharp knives,” Zac warned Heather, and Emily then looked at Daven. “Maybe you should be on standby just in case my sister cuts hers or someone else's fingers off.”

On that note, Zac and Barb checked in on Jackie, who still had Charlotte and was gathering the rest of the kids. As they were about to make their way to Barb’s bungalow, Paige and Oscar appeared.

“Mom, do you mind if I go with Paige and Herschel to ride the hayride course?” Oscar asked. “Max is going home, Rose is going into Frisco with her parents, and Jackie is with Charlotte in the main lodge decorating the small trees. ”

“Herschel needs someone to go with him to make sure the hayride is exciting and fun,” Paige told them, grinning. “I’m sure you two could use the time to get your chili done.”

“Please, Mom.” Oscar bounced in front of them. “I really, really want to ride on the cart.”

Zac’s heart swelled when Barb turned to look at him. “What do you think, Zac?”

He swallowed his throat suddenly dry and nodded. “Of course, buddy. I don’t mind.”

“Then I guess it’s okay,” Barb said and turned to Paige. “Thank you for spending time with him. He really enjoys being with you.”

“You raised a great kid, Barb,” Paige said with a warm smile. “I love spending time with him too.”

“Because she can be a big kid again,” Zac teased, then yelped when Paige punched him on the arm.

“Come on, Ozzie, let's go catch us a hayride.” Paige took his hand.

“Bye, love you both,” Oscar said, blowing them a kiss as he and Paige walked off.

Zac and Barb walked back to the lodge and found that Herschel had gotten them all the supplies Zac had ordered. They were neatly laid out on the counter, and the cold goods were stored in the refrigerator.

“We’re making that much chili?” Barb’s eyes widened as she looked at the pot Herschel had bought.

“Yup!” Zac nodded. “There are a lot of mouths to feed at the festival.”

“Then we’d better get cooking,” Barb said.

As she moved, Zac moved, and they bumped into each other. Zac reached out to grab her and pulled her against himself to stop her from falling. Their eyes locked, and they started being drawn toward each other. As their lips met, Barb’s arms wound around Zac’s neck as he pulled her closer to him .

The world around them started to fade away, only to come back in when Zac and Barb’s phones began to ring. They pulled apart and answered.

“Hello,” Zac said, a little breathless, his heart beating so loudly that he was certain Barb and whoever was on the other side of the call could hear it.

“Zac, it’s Jackie.” Jackie’s voice was strained. “You need to get to the start of the hayride right away. Oscar, Paige, and Herschel are missing.”

“What?” Zac and Barb said in unison, their eyes meeting.

Once their calls were ended, Zac and Barb looked at each other. “Did you just get the call about Oscar, Paige, and Herschel?”

“Yes,” Barb said, her eyes wide with fear. “Let’s go,” was all she said before spinning on her heel, grabbing her hat and coat, then rushing out the door.

Zac was just a little behind her. They reached the starting point of the hayride. Daven, Hank, Giles, Emily, and Heather were waiting for them.

“What happened?” Zac asked.

“The horse and cart came back without Herschel, Paige, and Oscar,” Giles told him, indicating toward the seat. “Zac, there’s blood on the driver's seat.”

“We were about to go look for them when we saw you arriving,” Daven told him, his eyes filled with worry.

“We don’t have any weapons,” Zac said, glancing around, his eyes scanning the ground where he saw the tracks made by the horse and cart. “Follow me.”

Zac followed the tracks, backtracking the way the horse had brought the cart home and stopping at a point which marked a scuffle. Zac picked up five sets of footprints: two females, two males, and a child.

“They went that way.” Zac pointed in the direction the footprints lead into the woods .

He stood by the edge of the snow-covered forest, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. It had been a week since Barb got sick, and during that time, he had found solace in the small moments they shared—breakfasts, dinners, and quiet talks about their families as they prepared for the Mistletoe Winter Festival. But now, with the festival in full swing and the sledding competition behind them, everything had taken a dark turn.

The laughter and joy of the sled race still echoed in Zac’s mind. For a brief moment, time had stood still as he and Barb had shared their first moment. But that lightheartedness had quickly evaporated when they received the calls—Oscar and Paige were missing.

Now, Zac’s focus was razor-sharp, his FBI training kicking in. As he was about to walk, his phone bleeped. “Shoot.” His mind was in such turmoil that he’d forgotten to tell the group to turn off their phones. “Turn the sound off your phones.” As he did so, a message flashed on his screen, making him freeze .

We have Oscar and Paige. We want two million wired to an account and a plane to get me out of the country—no cops, or else.

“I’ve just received a ransom message.” Zac’s voice was low, and he showed it to the group.

“What?” Barb’s face paled as she stood beside Zac. “Where am I going to get two million dollars?”

“Don’t worry, Barb.” Zac’s voice softened. “We’ll work it out.” His eyes darted back to the tracks. “I don’t think we’re dealing with professionals here.”

“Does that make it more or less frightening?” Barb asked, her voice shaky.

“To be honest,” Zac muttered. “I’m not sure.”

“Where do you want us?” Giles asked.

Zac split them into teams of Daven and Giles, Ryder and Hank. He assured them he was okay by himself. He asked Barb, Emily, and Heather to guard the entrance to the woods to ensure no one else went in and to let them know the hayride was closed. They were not to mention what had happened.

Giles asked Heather to call Jackie and get her to make sure the other kids and Charlotte were safely in the main lodge, then to call Priscilla and ask her to get ready to start getting the funds together.

They had less than four hours to comply with the kidnappers. Zac quickly typed a message back to the unknown number. I’m making arrangements. Let me have the account number.

The two groups split up and went the way Zac had directed them as he started to follow the direct path of the footsteps. He was cautiously making his way through the trees when he heard a soft rustle behind him and instinctively reached for his gun, which wasn’t there. He turned, his breath catching when he saw Barb standing behind him. Her face was pale, but her eyes were steely with determination.

“I told you to stay with Heather and Emily,” Zac said, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice.

“And I’m your number two,” Barb shot back, her voice firm. “Oscar is my son, Zac. I’m not just going to stand by.”

Zac sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with her. “Fine, but stay behind me. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

They moved cautiously through the forest, the snow crunching softly under their boots. As they approached a clearing, Zac saw the outline of a campsite—a camper with a larger tent beside it. Smoke wafted from a small fire pit, and the sight made Zac’s heart race. This must be it .

"Stay low,” Zac whispered, motioning for Barb to crouch beside him as they moved closer. His eyes scanned the area, noting every detail—the makeshift clothesline strung between trees, the pile of firewood stacked neatly beside the camper, and the faint sound of voices coming from the tent.

Suddenly, the tent flap opened, and David emerged, followed closely by Sally. His eyes widened. “No way,” Zac whispered .

“Isn’t that David Bradley?” Barb asked in disbelief. “I thought he was behind bars?”

“So did I,” Zac whispered back.

Sally and David did not look like their usual tailored selves. They both looked disheveled, their expressions tense and anxious.

“This isn’t going to work!” Sally’s voice was laced with panic as she paced near David. “I don’t want any more deaths on my hands, David.”

“Neither do I,” David hissed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “What choice do we have? We’re in so thick with my horrible father.” He stopped and looked up at the sky. “He has always ruined everything in my life.”

“I know, baby,” Sally said sympathetically. “My father wasn’t much better. The world's biggest con man.”

“They didn’t want to do this,” Barb whispered, more to herself than to Zac. “They were trying to get ahead in life…”

Zac tightened his jaw. “There are other ways to get ahead,” he muttered under his breath. “Barb, they killed people, leaked information about cases…” He looked at her and saw the compassion in them. “There’s always another way.”

“I know how he feels having a sleazy relative,” Barb told Zac. “His father was my uncle.”

“I know, but now they’ve committed another felony by kidnapping Oscar and Paige,” Zac pointed out. “That’s a gun tucked into David's belt.” He glanced around. “Barb, I need you to stay here while I approach them, okay?”

Barb looked at him and nodded. Zac lifted his arms and stepped into the clearing.

“David, I’m unarmed,” Zac called, noting David grabbing the gun and pointing it at him .

“How did you find us?” Sally hissed.

“I told you we needed to cover the tracks,” David growled before turning his attention back to Zac. “We don’t want any more trouble. We just need the money so we can leave America and never come back.”

“You’re going to run forever?” Zac asked. “That’s not a life, David. In the age of technology, you’re not going to get very far.”

“Two million and Giles Holland’s private jet will get us where we want to go,” David told Zac. “Now get us the money, and we’ll set Paige and Oscar free in Frisco.”

“Where are Oscar and Paige?” Zac demanded, his tone firm. “Let me see them for proof of life.”

David hesitated, glancing at Sally. Before he could respond, a movement caught Zac’s eye. Herschel, his head bleeding from a deep gash, was sneaking up behind David, his face set in determination. Daven appeared on the other side, moving in on Sally, who Giles, Ryder, and Hank were shadowing.

Zac knew they had to act quickly. “There’s a better way, David,” Zac said, trying to buy more time. “Just lower the gun, and we can figure this out together.”

But David was too far gone. “No, Zac! It’s too late for that! Now, just get us the money.”

“No, David, listen to him,” Barb sprung up from behind the bushes.

David got a fright and he swung the gun toward Barb. Zac acted on pure instinct and adrenaline as he saw David’s finger squeeze the trigger. Time seemed to slow as Zac heard the blast. He lunged forward, knocking Barb out of the way. Pain seared through his arm as the bullet tore through his flesh, but he gritted his teeth and stayed on his feet.

Herschel and Daven pounced at the same time. Herschel tackled David to the ground, the gun skidding across the snow, while Daven subdued Sally with swift precision. The struggle was brief but intense, and soon, both kidnappers were restrained, their plans foiled .

Barb rushed to Zac’s side, her hands shaking as she inspected his arm. Blood stained the snow, but Zac waved her off. “It’s just a flesh wound,” he assured her, his voice tight with pain. “I’m fine. We need to find Oscar and Paige.”

Together, they ran to the camper. Zac tried the door, but it was locked. With a swift kick, he broke it open and rushed inside. The small space was dimly lit, and Zac’s heart pounded as he searched for the children.

“Oscar! Paige!” Barb called out, her voice trembling with fear.

“Barb?” Paige called, followed by a “Mom? We’re in here.”

They heard banging on the door to a small bedroom off to one side. Zac managed to break down that door as well to find Oscar and Paige huddled together on one side of the room. Relief flooded Zac as he saw them, unharmed but frightened. The two of them flew into Zac and Barb’s arms, sobbing with relief.

Zac held Oscar tightly, his heart swelling with gratitude that they were safe. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re safe now.”

Paige clung to Barb, but when Daven appeared in the doorway, she broke away and ran to him, burying her face in his chest. Daven wrapped his arms around her, his expression a mixture of relief and anger.

Zac looked at Barb, who was still holding Oscar close. “It’s over,” he said softly, his voice rough with emotion, pulling her to his side. “They’re safe.”

Barb met his gaze, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Thank you, Zac,” she whispered.

Zac nodded, unable to find the words. All that mattered was that they were all safe and that, for now, the nightmare was over.