Chapter Eight

Creed's eyes burned with rage as he stared at the photo in front of him. It was a clear image of the man who had cut and shot him, William ‘Bill' Pedigo. Creed's gut clenched as he read the name, his emotions churning with memories of that fateful night.

"I've got you now, you son of a bitch," he growled, printing out the photo and making his way to the printer.

The paper slid out, revealing the face of his assailant. Creed's hand trembled slightly as he gripped the photo, feeling an overwhelming urge to seek revenge.

"What do you have there?" Eli asked from beside him.

"One of them," Creed replied through gritted teeth. "This prick is the one who cut me and shot me."

Eli took the photo from him, his own expression turning dark as he studied it.

"We need to find out where he is and get him," Eli said firmly.

"I won't stop until I find him," Creed vowed.

"I'm with you on that, and I'm sure Alex is too."

"I'll see what I can find out about him and any other men he's associated with. Then I'll get with Dave and we'll go after them. I don't care where they are."

"Alright. Keep me updated."

"I will." With that, Creed returned to his desk, sitting down heavily in his chair.

He placed the photo in front of him and glared at it, his anger rising with every passing second. He remembered how this man and his cohorts had terrorized them that night, their intentions clear; they wanted them all dead.

But thanks to Creed's call for backup, they had survived. Only Mac hadn't been so lucky. The thought only fueled Creed's desire for vengeance. Pushing away from his desk, he made his way to Dave's office and knocked on the door.

Dave gestured for him to come in, and Creed strode in and tossed the photo onto his desk.

"That's him," he growled.

Dave picked up the photo, studying it carefully before looking back at Creed.

"Are you sure?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Creed shot him a hard look, making it clear that there was no room for doubt. Dave nodded in understanding.

"Find him," he ordered.

"Yes, sir." With determination, Creed turned to leave.

"Creed?"

He paused and looked back at Dave.

"We all want them."

"I know," Creed replied quietly. "And we're going to get them." With that, he returned to his desk and began the task of tracking down their enemies.

As the week wore on, frustration gnawed at him like a relentless pest. Despite checking with numerous agencies across different states, he still couldn't locate them. With each dead end, his determination only grew stronger.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, slamming a file down onto his desk.

"Any leads?" Alex asked as he took a seat in the chair opposite Creed.

"No. Where the hell are they hiding?"

"They could have left the country. Gone to Canada or Mexico."

"I don't think so. These guys are too cocky to run. They think they're invincible. But I'll show them they're not. We can't be this close and come up empty-handed."

"I agree." Alex stood. "It's getting late, Creed. Go home and get some rest."

Creed glanced around the dimly lit office, realizing that most of their colleagues had already gone home for the day. He checked the clock and saw that it was almost six in the evening.

"Why are you still here?" he asked Alex.

"Just got back from Hartland. Still working on that case, but I'm telling you, if you find those men, I will drop everything to go after them with you."

"I know you will, Alex. We need to bring them to justice, for Mac's sake if nothing else."

"I agree. I'm heading home now. Dylan's waiting for me. See you tomorrow. And remember, if anything comes up, call me no matter what time it is."

"I will, Alex. Thanks."

"Go home." With a friendly pat on Creed's shoulder, Alex left the office and Creed was left alone with his thoughts once again.

With a tired sigh, Creed powered off his computer and stood up from his desk. His stomach grumbled, reminding him of his hunger. He decided to stop by the diner for a quick meal before heading home. As he walked toward the elevator, he remembered that he wanted to call Abbie. It had been a hectic week, and he realized that he hadn't spent much time talking to her. He wanted to see her this weekend.

As the elevator descended, he dialed her number.

"Hey," Abbie answered. "I was starting to think you forgot about me."

Creed chuckled. "Never. I've just been busy. Do you want to go out tomorrow night?"

"I'd love that. What do you have in mind?"

"Dinner first, then maybe we can go to Dewey's? I need to clear my head."

"What's been troubling you, Creed?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow night. Let me make a reservation at the Hartland."

"Sounds good."

"I'll pick you up at six. Is that okay?"

"Yes, that works for me."

"See you then."

"Yes. Bye."

"Wait, Abbie?"

"Yeah?"

"I miss you. See you soon." He hung up and headed toward his truck with a smile on his face. He knew seeing her would be just the thing he needed to get past this rough week.

****

Abbie anxiously waited for Creed to arrive, her heart fluttering with anticipation. Despite their lack of communication during the week, she couldn't wait to see him again. She knew he had something weighing heavily on his mind and she hoped he was okay.

As the sound of a knock echoed through the house, Abbie took a deep breath and made her way to the door. As soon as she opened it, she almost jumped into his arms. She had missed him more than words could express.

"Hi, cowboy," she said with a warm smile.

"Ma'am," he teased, tipping his hat in greeting. "You look stunning."

"Thank you. Come in." Her tight red dress hugged her body and she wore knee high black suede boots.

Creed removed his hat and carefully wiped his feet on the mat before stepping inside. He leaned down to kiss her lips, sending shivers down her spine.

"I've missed you," he murmured against her lips before taking them in a deep kiss. When they finally parted, he gazed into her eyes. "Want to skip dinner?"

"I'm hungry," she replied coyly.

"Oh, darlin', so am I," he whispered seductively in her ear, "but it has nothing to do with food."

A blush crept up Abbie's cheeks as she locked eyes with Creed.

"You'll need your strength," she added with a mischievous grin.

"Damn... okay, let's go."

She smiled and went to grab her coat from the hook, but Creed took it from her and helped her put it on instead. As they made their way out of the house, Abbie couldn't help but notice how tired Creed looked.

"You look exhausted," she commented as she gently caressed his cheek.

"I am, but I wanted to see you. I'm sorry I haven't been in touch more."

"You'll tell me about it?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Yes. Let's go before I change my mind and say to hell with dinner, and just carry you upstairs." He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You can keep the boots on."

Abbie couldn't help but shiver at his words, but she gave him a playful wink before they headed out.

At the restaurant, she looked around the bustling room and couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment with Creed. When she turned back to him, he was gazing at her with an intensity that made her heart flutter.

"What?" she asked with a smile.

"You are incredibly beautiful," he stated sincerely.

"Creed..." She blushed.

"It's true. What the hell do you see in a man like me?"

Abbie's heart swelled with love for this humble and selfless man.

"What? Are you serious? You're a wonderful man, not to mention absolutely gorgeous."

Creed chuckled softly. "This," he gestured to the scar on his face, "is not gorgeous."

"Oh, but it's very sexy. Dark and dangerous," she countered with a playful grin. "How did you take that when you saw it for the first time?" she asked curiously.

"It tore me up, but I learned to live with it. Not much else I could do," he answered honestly. "At least I was alive."

"You're so handsome. That scar takes nothing away from that," she reassured him with a sincere smile.

"I appreciate that," he replied gratefully.

Once their server took their orders, Abbie looked across the table at Creed.

"Tell me what's been going on with you."

"I've been trying to find the men who shot us, and I did find the one who cut and shot me, in the database, but I can't find where he is now."

"How did you find him?"

"I had heard one of those men call him Bill, so I went through photos of rustlers, and saw his photo. His name is William Pedigo." He clenched his fists. "I want him so bad, Abbie. Nothing else matters. Not only for what he did to me, but for Alex, Eli, and especially Mac."

"So, what happens now?"

"We're still looking for them. We have calls out to other agencies and hopefully, we'll hear from someone."

"I hope you do. I know you all need closure."

"Hopefully, we'll get it. No matter how long it takes. I won't give up finding him."

"Have you been sleeping?"

"Not much. I keep reliving that night in my dreams. I was hoping once my memory came back, they would stop, but now they're just more vivid."

She reached across the table and touched his hand.

"I'm so sorry. I hope once you catch those men, you won't have those dreams anymore."

"I can only hope."

After eating, they left the restaurant and climbed into his truck. The engine roared to life and Creed drove them to Dewey's. They were lucky to find two empty stools at the bar and promptly ordered their drinks. As Abbie turned to look at Creed, she caught him staring at her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't help but smile.

"You're killing me," he muttered, his gaze still fixed on her.

Abbie laughed, "Now, why would I want to do that?"

"You, Abilene Wells, are so fucking hot," Creed said, his eyes locked onto hers.

She leaned closer and pressed her lips against his, feeling the sparks fly between them. When she pulled away, she whispered in his ear.

"Want to get out of here?"

"I thought you'd never ask." With a wave to the bartender and a quick payment of the tab, Creed took Abbie's hand and led her out of the bar.

In the truck, the tension between them was physical. Her hormones were in overdrive as it had been a week since she last saw him. She stole glances at him throughout the drive back to her place, unable to contain her desire for him. Was he aware of how she felt about him?

But then again, she had no idea how he felt about her. Was it just a physical attraction for him? She desperately hoped not, because for her it was so much more than that.

****

Creed kept his eyes focused on the twisting road ahead, resisting the temptation to steal a glance at her sitting next to him. The tension in his body was mounting as he thought about being with her, and he shifted in his seat to try and ease it. It had been a long week, and he knew that being with her would be incredible, as always.

Finally, they reached her driveway and Creed pulled the truck to a stop. He shut off the engine and turned to look at her, only to see her staring back at him with a slow smile spreading across her lips. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to regain control of his emotions, before opening them again.

"Stop," he muttered under his breath, causing her to laugh softly.

"I'm not doing anything," she replied innocently.

Creed shook his head in amusement and opened his door, walking around the truck to help her out. He took her hand in his and led her up the porch steps, waiting patiently while she unlocked the front door. As they entered the house together, he helped her out of her coat and then removed his own, hanging them up neatly on hooks by the door.

Turning to face her once more, Creed's breath caught as his eyes roamed over her stunning form illuminated by soft lamplight. A surge of desire flooded through him as she stood by the stairs with a playful smile on her lips. He started toward her, each step bringing him closer until he could feel the heat radiating from her body and smell the light scent of her perfume. His heart raced as she teasingly ascended one step at a time, knowing exactly how much it was affecting him. He pulled her into his arms, pressed his lips to hers and kissed her deeply. He'd never get enough of her lips.

Creed's muscles tensed as he lifted her up in his arms and began to ascend the staircase. But halfway up, he set her down and moved his hands up under her dress, slowly pulling down her panties. She placed her hands on his shoulders as she stepped out of them. His fingers trailed along her wet slit, eliciting a low moan from her.

With a deep groan, Creed unsnapped his jeans and lowered the zipper. He retrieved a condom from his wallet shoved his jeans down, revealing his hard cock.

Abbie took the condom from his hand, sitting on a step so that she was level with him. She slid her mouth down over him, sucking as Creed couldn't help but thrust his hips in time with her movements.

"Stop." He groaned. "I want to fuck you."

Quickly rolling the condom down over his hard length, Abbie spread her legs for him. Creed dropped to his knees on the step below and thrust into her with all the pent-up desire he had been holding back. Her legs wrapped tightly around him as he pounded into her, their lips coming together in a passionate kiss.

"Please," Abbie whispered through ragged breaths.

"I'm not going to last." Creed grunted in response.

When he moved his finger on her clitoris, everything exploded. Abbie cried out as she clenched around him. Creed let himself go as well, following suit with a loud groan of satisfaction. Together they rode out the intense pleasure until it finally ebbed away, leaving them both spent and panting on the stairs.

Creed lifted his head, stared at her face as she lay there, eyes closed and a satisfied smile on her face. Slowly, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers, savoring the taste of her lips, then he raised his head and stared at her face. When she opened her eyes, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of her beautiful face.

"Can you move?" he teased, running his fingers through her hair.

"Nope. I think I'm going to sleep right here," she replied playfully.

With a chuckle, Creed stood up and quickly pulled up his jeans. He then scooped her up into his arms and tossed her over his shoulder, making her giggle as he carried her up the stairs and into her bedroom.

"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere," he said with a wink before disappearing into the bathroom to dispose of the condom and wash his hands.

As he reentered the bedroom, he couldn't help but stare at her lying on the bed, dress hiked up around her waist and those enticing boots still on her feet. His damn dick twitched at the sight, and he had to take a deep breath to calm himself down.

****

Abbie lifted her head and met his gaze. He stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the bedpost with a grin on his face.

"Do you have to leave?" she asked him.

"I'm afraid so. I need to get back home for Ranger," he replied apologetically.

She let out a sigh. "Okay."

"Why don't you change, and we can go to my place? I'll bring you back tomorrow," he suggested.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Alright then. Can I take a shower at your place?"

"Of course. Maybe I'll join you," he added with a smile.

"I'd like that." Abbie sat up. "You can go downstairs while I clean up and get dressed."

"Why can't I stay here?" Creed questioned.

"I need some privacy to get ready," she explained. "But don't worry, I'll be down soon."

He pushed off the bedpost. "Fine. I'll go."

Abbie chuckled. "Don't pout, it's not a good look for you."

Creed laughed. "I don't pout. I might sulk a little, but I definitely do not pout."

"Sure, whatever you say," Abbie teased as she got out of bed. "I just need a few minutes to pack my sweatpants and T-shirt."

"Take your time," Creed said as he walked out of the room.

Abbie stared at the doorway wanting to call him back, but she hurried to get dressed so they could go to his house. They had all night.

Monday morning, she entered the hospital to start another work week. She'd had a wonderful weekend with Creed and hoped this week went fast so they could be together again.

The only problem had been him having the nightmare again and waking up in a cold sweat. She did her best to comfort him, but he'd been so angry about reliving that night again, that he left the bedroom and sat in the living room. Abbie had gone to him and held him while he tried to calm down. She wished there was something she could do for him to get him through it, but there wasn't anything other than being there for him. And she would be for as long as he wanted her to be.

****

Creed sat at his desk, surrounded by stacks of old files and papers, completely engrossed in his work. The sudden ringing of the phone on his desk made him jerk. He reached out and picked up the receiver, placing it to his ear.

"Agent McBride," he answered.

"Agent McBride, this is Agent Doyle with the MDOL in Helena. I understand you're looking for William Pedigo?" came a voice from the other end of the line.

Creed sat up straight, immediately intrigued. "Yes, sir, I am. Do you know where he is?"

"The last we heard; he was heading back to Montana. We've been after him for a while now."

"He killed one of our agents."

"Yeah, we heard. I'm sorry to hear that. To be frank with you, Pedigo is an evil bastard. He's been on our radar for years. We caught him ten years ago and he served five years in prison and paid a hefty fine. But when recent rustling cases bore a striking resemblance to his previous crimes, we knew we had to look into him again. It's been a long hard road."

"Well, if he's heading to Montana, I want that son of a bitch." Creed clenched his jaw in determination.

"I've talked with your boss, and he agrees. I'm heading there to assist on this case. I'll share everything I know about Pedigo."

"I'd appreciate that," Creed said gratefully. "When will you be here?"

"Wednesday morning," Agent Doyle replied. "I'll meet you at your office and we can catch up then."

"Sounds good," Creed said with relief. "I'll see you then."

"Yes, sir. Have a good day."

Creed hung up the phone and let out a deep sigh. He knew that catching Pedigo was going to be a difficult and dangerous task, but with Agent Doyle's help, he felt more confident. He quickly got back to searching through files for any possible associates or leads on Pedigo's whereabouts, determined to bring the criminals to justice.

On a Wednesday morning, Creed, Alex, and Eli walked into the conference room to find Dave chatting with another man.

"Good morning, guys. This is Agent Killian Doyle from the Helena office. He'll be assisting us on this case. Killian, meet Creed McBride, Eli Hawkins, and Alex Reeves."

After exchanging handshakes, they all took a seat at the table to discuss their strategy for catching the cattle rustlers. As Agent Doyle talked about Pedigo's tactics, it was clear that he was just as determined to bring him down along with his accomplices.

"How many men does Pedigo usually have with him?" Eli inquired.

"As many as he can convince to join him. He promises them a large sum of money. We've seen him with anywhere from four to ten men. But we could never get any information out of him about who he was working for... although we have our suspicions," Agent Doyle replied.

"Who do you think it is?" Alex asked.

Agent Doyle glanced at Dave, who gave a nod of confirmation.

"Percy Cartwright."

"Of Cartwright Auctions?" Alex asked in surprise.

"Yes. That's one reason why so many of the stolen livestock were never recovered. Cartwright would fix the records to make it seem like everything was legal. And whoever he had doing it was damn good at their job."

"Did Cartwright know you were onto him?" Alex pressed.

Agent Doyle smirked. "We think so. Ever since we questioned him, he's been laying low. We're keeping an eye on him, but there's not enough evidence yet to make a move."

"Do you think he hired Pedigo?" Creed asked.

"We believe so. But without any solid proof, we don't want to jeopardize the case by putting too much pressure on Cartwright."

"We want those men," Creed snapped.

"I have no doubt about that, Agent McBride."

As they continued the discussion, Creed's frustration grew. He wanted Pedigo caught and brought to justice for his sadistic actions. The other men involved were just as guilty, but Pedigo was the one who took pleasure in inflicting pain and death on others.

"With your memory back, Agent McBride, we finally have a chance at catching him. We just need to locate him," Agent Doyle stated.

Creed couldn't stand sitting any longer. He pushed back from the table and stormed out of the room. Making his way to his desk, he grabbed the chair but didn't sit down. Instead, he glared at the pile of folders on his desk and clenched his jaw. Then, with a sweep of his hand, he sent them flying to the floor in frustration. He collapsed into his chair and stared at the computer screen.

Eli stopped by Creed's desk and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll get him, Creed."

Creed looked up at Eli and clenched his jaw. "I hope so, Eli. I want this bastard more than any other rustler I've gone after. He tried to kill us."

"Thank goodness you were able to make that call before it was too late," Eli said.

Creed stood up and began picking up the scattered folders off the floor. Eli joined in to help.

"You know what they say about throwing things; you have to clean up afterwards," Eli joked.

"Fuck you, Hawkins," Creed growled, but then a small smile broke through their tense emotions as they both laughed together.

"We have everything on the computer. Why are you looking through physical copies?"

"I just want to be thorough. Plus, it's easier to take something with me instead of printing it out first." Creed shrugged.

"I see your point." Eli got up and placed the folders he had gathered onto the desk. "I'm heading to Spring City for a case. Let me know if you need anything."

"I will, thanks." Creed settled back into his chair.

"Agent McBride?"

Creed glanced up to see Agent Doyle standing next to his desk.

"Agent," he acknowledged.

"Listen, I know how badly you want to catch him, and I do too. The fact that you can now identify him will help us track him down and arrest him. Law enforcement has issued a BOLO on him. He can't hide for long without being spotted. We'll get him."

Creed let out a heavy sigh. "I hope so. He needs to pay for what he did to Mac."

"To all of you."

"He ordered his men to make sure we were all dead. But when they heard sirens, they knew I had called for backup. Still, that didn't stop the bastard from shooting me again before he ran." Bitterness filled Creed's voice as he remembered the moment.

"He probably thought all of you were dead. Ten years ago, I arrested him, put him in prison, but he only got five years. I was pissed, but what can you do? I knew if he got out, he'd go back to his old ways. As much as I hate to admit it, the man is not stupid. He knows how to get around things and with Cartwright in on it, they had the perfect plan."

"I can't imagine the money they made by doing this."

Agent Doyle shook his head. "You should see the house Cartwright lives in. I know he makes good money owning the auction house, but that house is still way out of his price range."

Creed sighed. "I want them all."

"And we'll get them. I'm going to get a room at the local motel. Let me give you my number. If you find out anything, call me. I don't care what time it is."

Creed gave him his number and watched as he entered it into his phone.

"Same for you. Let me know if you hear anything. I appreciate your help."

"No problem. I'll talk to you soon." Doyle walked out of the office.

Creed sat back in his chair and stared at the folders on the desk. They were a mess now, so he got to work putting them back together, then he'd go through them. Again.