by D'Ann Lindun
With a roar of rage, Joel lunged at him, brandishing the rifle over his head like a club.
Montana screamed.
Years of dodging flying objects hurled by fans had given Johnny quick reflexes and he easily sidestepped Joel’s wild charge. One foot slipped on the slick river bank and Joel scrambled for purchase.
Joel couldn’t stop as the rifle flew out of his hands and he grabbed air. He flew over the riverbank and into the racing water. His shrill scream reverberated through the valley, bouncing off nearby mountain peaks.
Johnny spun on his heel, ready to dive in, but he instantly saw the fast-moving water had grabbed Joel and sucked him under.
Running alongside the river, Johnny tried to keep pace, but the current was too rapid, dragging the body under. Joel’s bright hunter orange bobbed under the surface like a crazy cork until it outdistanced Johnny. There was no hope.
Johnny stopped and doubled over.
“Jooooooeeellll!” He bellowed his anguish. The mountains seemed to shake from the power of his voice.
Next to him, Montana grabbed his sleeve. “Dear God.”
What the fuck?
Nothing that had happened in the last few days made sense. Johnny fought to process everything, but his mind churned in wild circles. He couldn’t seem to focus and the world tilted sideways.
Montana moved into his arms and hugged him tight. “I’m so sorry.”
Automatically his arms tightened around her. “Yeah.”
He didn’t know how long they stood there, but he finally cleared his throat. “We have to go. I have to tell the authorities what happened.”
Seeming to understand he didn’t want to talk about what just happened, Montana nodded. “Okay.”
As they trudged down the railroad tracks next to the gurgling river, Johnny tried not to look at the swift current and imagine Joel’s gruesome death. His mind whirled, trying to sort out everything that had happened. His gut churned and his eyes burned with unshed tears.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that his friend, his confidant, had wanted him dead.
How had he not seen Joel was in love with Teal?
He’d assumed his band manager was loyal. Joel had been a superb actor.
Or was Johnny just blind? Or so arrogant he assumed that no one else had a chance with a woman he loved?
Keifer had blown that theory all to hell.
Now that Joel had kicked him in the balls and gotten his attention, he saw how the other man felt about Teal. He’d always been puppy-like in his adoration of her. When she cheated on Johnny, Joel had been furious and hurt. Now Johnny understood it was because she betrayed not only him, but Joel as well.
Was there anyone the woman hadn’t used and thrown away like shitty toilet paper?
Johnny almost felt sorry for Keifer.
Many, many times Joel had suggested Johnny let her have the CD. He’d claimed it was the right thing to do and would make Teal go away.
Johnny had never understood his manager’s logic. He was under no obligation—either legally or morally—to turn over the CD to his ex.
Now Joel’s motivation began to make sense.
A chill sent a shudder through Johnny. Had Joel given Teal his house codes all the times she’d supposedly broken into his home? Was she cleaning him out while he was here? The CD she wanted so badly was locked in his lawyer’s safe, but he had a shitload of valuables he’d hate to lose.
When they reached the sheriff’s office, he’d ask someone to check his house in L.A.
Montana stopped and turned to him. “Are you holding up okay?”
His throat clogged. “Yeah.”
“Good.” She pointed. “Because there’s a bridge up ahead. We’re less than half a mile from the highway. We should be able to flag down a ride.”
He looked to where she pointed. A bridge stood between him and his real life. When Montana held out her hand, he took it. He dragged in a steadying breath.
Shit was about to get real.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
After a lengthy interrogation and a two-hour drive home, a sheriff’s deputy dropped Montana and Johnny on her doorstep.
She’d never been so happy to see a place in her life. Boots met her at the Jeep, wagging his entire body, showing his happy doggy smile. She bent to pet him, almost as pleased as the Border collie.
She rubbed behind his ears. “I wasn’t sure I was going to ever see you again.”
He spun in crazy circles of joy.
Johnny knelt to stroke the dog’s head. “Hey, buddy. You remind me of my gang at home. I’ll be glad to see them again.”
Montana ignored the knot building in her stomach. She had a feeling it would be there for years to come.
The front door burst open and Shannon, Ryan, Adrian and Stoney all poured out. Questions came in rapid fire.
“Are you okay?”
“What happened?”
“Where are the horses?”
“Why are you here? How did you get home?”
Montana held up her hand. “Let’s go in the house and we’ll tell you everything.”
The comforting scents of home—coffee, the sage potpourri she kept on the mantel, lemon furniture polish—filled Montana’s senses. She inhaled appreciatively. God, it was good to be home safe and sound. Coming in after a hunting trip always felt great, but this time was heaven.
Her stomach tightened.
Johnny would be leaving soon.
The sheriff had cleared them of any wrongdoing. Johnny had no reason to stay longer.
Someone handed her a cup of coffee, and like magic, Johnny was given a shot glass with what she presumed was vodka.
“How are you feeling?” she asked Adrian.
The singer waved a hand. “Perfect. I spent a night in the hospital where they hydrated me with an I.V. After that it was all good.”
“Sit, sit,” Shannon said.
Montana sank onto her green corduroy couch with a sigh. To her surprise, Johnny sat beside her, his thigh touching hers. She’d assumed the minute they hit civilization he’d withdraw from her. He hadn’t said much on the long ride from Durango and she’d let him be, certain his thoughts rested on Joel.
She imagined he dreaded the task ahead of telling his friends what happened to their manager. Her fingers found his and curled around them, wrapping tight.
He squeezed back.
Shannon followed the movement, and catching Montana’s eye, she smirked.
Montana looked away and blinked hard. Shannon had the wrong impression. This wasn’t about sex; it was only a move to comfort Johnny. She tightened her hold on his hand.
“Where are the horses?” Ryan asked.
Drawing a deep breath, Montana glanced at Johnny. “Still in the mountains.”
Ryan looked astounded. “What? Why? Are they hurt in some way?”
Montana began filling them in until Johnny picked up the story where Joel had caught them by the river. He looked at his friends with deep sadness etched onto his face.
“Joel would have killed me and Montana if he hadn’t drowned.”
A horrified silence filled Montana’s living room as the story sank in.
Finally Adrian spoke. “Damn. Joel was in love with Teal? I never knew.”
Johnny scrubbed his hands down his face before grabbing Montana’s hand again. “No one did. Teal used him to get the CD she made.”
“Man.” Stoney ran his hands through his hair. “That’s insane.”
“Yeah.” Johnny sighed heavily. “It blows.”
“When did Joel leave here?” Montana looked between her friends and the band members.
They all looked baffled.
“Beats me,” Shannon said.
Adrian frowned. “He helped check me in at the hospital, but I didn’t see him again. In fact, I had to call Shannon for a ride.”
“He must have dropped you off, then gone straight back to the mountains to track
us,” Johnny said. “The cops found a topography map and a compass in his pocket.”
“You think he had this planned the entire time?” Stoney asked.
“Yeah. I do.” Johnny drained his glass. “I also think he let Teal into my house every time she supposedly broke in.”
“How could Joel possibly think he’d get away with this?” Adrian shook her head in disbelief.
Johnny stared into his glass, then gulped the contents. “I don’t know. He apparently just snapped.”
“Why would he destroy your camp?” Stoney glanced between Montana and Johnny. “What could he hope to gain?”
“I think I know,” Ryan said. “He scattered food around, right?” At Montana’s nod, he continued. “I think he might have been baiting the bear, trying to get it to attack Montana and Johnny. And by tearing up the tents and throwing stuff around, he wanted it to look like the bear did it.”
“That’s whacked,” Adrian said.
“I can’t believe he lit the cabin on fire with you in there.” Stoney made a fist. “Trying to burn you alive….Fuck.”
“Yeah.” Johnny lifted his glass. “Tell me about it.”
“Why do you think he didn’t shoot while you were crossing the long valley?” Ryan asked. “Surely he had you in his sights the entire time.”
Montana shrugged. “If I had to guess, probably because he wanted to make our deaths look like an accident. If he shot us in the back, the bullets would have been evidence. Also, hiding us would be impossible. No way to move two heavy bodies.”
“That son of a bitch,” Shannon said.
“I never would have guessed Joel to be enough of an outdoorsman to make it alone in the mountains.” Adrian was clearly shocked and confused like the rest of them. “It absolutely amazes me he would take off alone in the wilderness to track Johnny and Montana.”
“We took outdoor survival in college.” Montana laughed without humor. “I helped him pass the class. Apparently some of it stuck.”
“Fucker,” Stoney said.
Adrian eyed Johnny with sympathy. “You okay, Cowboy? This is another tough body blow. You gonna be all right?”
He lifted his glass in her direction. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t believe you.” She studied his face. “Joel meant a lot to you and it’s got to hurt like hell—”
“I said I’m cool.” He let go of Montana’s hand, picked up the half-empty bottle of vodka and stomped toward the front door. “I want to leave in the morning. Be ready by eight.”
Montana watched him leave, trying not to cry in front of her friends. This wasn’t how she expected to say goodbye.
“Come on, Stoney. We better pack our shit.” Adrian looked Montana’s way. “Go to him, Montana. He’s hurting bad.”
Montana’s eyes flooded. “No. We’re over.”
~*~
Johnny downed the vodka while he soaked in a hot bath. He closed his eyes, trying to erase the image of Joel’s body bobbing face down in the river. He didn’t think the horrible vision would ever fade.
The front door of Montana’s guest cabin opened and closed. His heart sped up. Montana? His hope faded when Adrian called his name.
Fuck.
“In the bathroom.”
She opened the door, came inside and sat on the toilet lid.
“Jesus, Adrian. I’m naked here.”
“It’s not like I’m interested in seeing your dick. I’m not like every other chick on the planet dying to get hold of Cowboy’s cock.” She shrugged. “I’m more interested in what you’re going to do about Montana.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He didn’t want to go down this road.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” she said. “Montana’s head over heels in love with you. Don’t tell me you can’t see it. You might have missed how Peyton felt about you, but this different.”
He knew it. All too well.
Montana wasn’t Teal. Not even close, but his battered heart wasn’t willing to take a chance. What if he leaped and fell flat on his face again? He might be tough on the outside, but his heart and soul felt like they had been through a meat grinder.
“So? She’ll get over me in a few days.”
Adrian looked at him like she might punch him. “Asshole.”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Don’t do this, Cowboy. This might be your one chance for true love. You’re going to blow it.” She took a piece of toilet paper and began folding and unfolding it. “You can’t hold what Keifer and Teal did against Montana. She’s not like them. There’s no way she would treat you like they did.”
His heart knew Adrian spoke the truth, but his mind refused to listen. “Are you packed? I want to leave now instead of morning.”
She looked like she wanted to say something more. Instead she stood and walked out without another word. The front door slammed as she exited the cabin.
Holding his breath, Johnny sank under the water and stayed there until the need for air forced him to surface.
Adrian’s words bounced around in his brain like a ball inside a racquetball court. Montana loved him. She wouldn’t betray him. She wasn’t Teal.
Indecision warred within. Should he bare his soul? Admit that Montana’s independence and spirit impressed him like none other? Could he tell her that he loved her?
Reality washed over him.
What good would it do?
His life was in L.A., and hers was here.
He would take his aching heart home where he could heal in peace. Montana had strong people around her to hold her together.
Mind made up, he stood and reached for a towel.
~*~
After Johnny placed his luggage in the back of Ryan’s pickup, he reluctantly turned to the house. Telling Montana goodbye for the last time was going to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
His feet dragged as he climbed the steps to her door.
Montana, Shannon and Ryan sat in the living room in front of the fireplace. What would it be like to live in this cozy home where love practically oozed from the walls? A wave of longing washed over him.
His heart thudded…stay, stay, stay.
He faltered when his gaze met Montana’s. In her big gray eyes, he saw her love shining. And then fear. Her chin quivered.
“Johnny?”
He took her trembling hand and pulled her to her feet. “Walk with me.”
Together they went out to her porch. He took her in his arms and held her for several long minutes until she pulled free.
“This is it, huh?” she whispered.
“Yeah.” Damn, why did his voice sound so raw and broken?
She wrapped her hands around the rail, holding tight. “Thank you for everything. I had a good time.”
“I’ll send you a check for your tents and stuff…”
Possessions weren’t what he wanted to talk about right now. There was so much he wanted to say, but the words clogged in his throat.
“You don’t need to do that.” She sounded as stiff and brittle as he felt.
“I want to. It’s the least I can do.” Still he hesitated. “Montana-girl—”
She refused to look at him. “Go home, Johnny. We both knew this was just a fling.”
Leaving him standing on the porch, she walked inside and closed the door softly behind her.
“Damn it.” He hung his head. He wanted to punch something. Hard.
In a few minutes, Adrian, Stoney and Ryan came outside, and without looking at him, they walked to the pickup and climbed inside. Clearly, he was on their shit list.
With a sigh, he jumped into the truck and closed the door. He stared at Montana’s front door until Ryan pulled out of the driveway.
~*~
Johnny had made the decision to spend the night in Black Mountain instead of pushing on to Grand Junction, where they’d catch his jet home in the morning. He was bone-weary, no lie, but the truth was he hoped Montana might com
e after him and ask him to change his mind and stay.
Adrian checked them into a motel, then they crossed the street to The Waterfall. No one spoke, but disapproval rolled off Adrian in waves. Even Stoney seemed disappointed in him.
The little bar was almost empty for a Friday night. The only customers were a couple of hunters wearing camouflage, who Johnny presumed were locals, and the two girls he’d met the last time they stopped in.
On a Friday night at The Cave, there’d be standing room only. He’d check in tomorrow night and see what was going on. Maybe find someone who could take his mind off Montana.
Even as he thought it, he knew what a futile plan that was.
Forgetting Montana would take forever.
Spotting him, the girls rushed in his direction.
“Cowboy!”
“You’re back!”
Giggling, they latched onto his arms.
Forcing a smile, he ushered them toward a booth. “Thirsty, girls?”
“Very,” the brunette said.
“Totally,” the blonde agreed.
For the life of him, Johnny couldn’t remember her name. May? Misty? His mind drifted to another M—Montana. His heart pounded painfully in his chest. He missed her already.
The blonde snuggled close, her cheap perfume gagging him. Montana’s clean, fresh scent flashed in his memory.
Getting her out of his head was going to take a hell of a lot of booze.
Stoney and Adrian sat on one side of the corner booth, Johnny and the girls on the other. The blonde waitress from their previous visit approached without her friendly smile. Was she pissed at him, too? Had word already spread that he’d fucked over Montana?
“What can I get you?” The waitress popped her gum.
“Vodka,” Johnny said.
“Add cranberry juice and a twist of lime to mine,” Adrian said.
Stoney muttered, “A Coors.”
The girls ordered a pitcher of margaritas.
“Will do.” The waitress snapped her gum again and turned away.
After a few drinks, Johnny felt a hell of a lot better. Mary-Jane had her hand on his upper thigh and Serena had whispered in his ear a couple of naughty things she’d like to do, although her ideas left his dick limp.
