by D'Ann Lindun
“Yeah.”
His gaze went to the animals at the opposite side of the lake. “Come on, girls. Just step into the water.”
Behind the herd, the fire crowded the stragglers. A burning tree tipped, then crashed over onto one of the cow’s hindquarters. With a wild cry of pain, she lunged forward pushing the forerunners into the water.
Derrick stood and shouted, “That’s it, girls. Come on in.”
Turbo whined, waiting for his signal to move the herd.
But other than ten or fifteen of the first cows, who stood knee-deep in the pond, the others lumped together frozen in fear.
“Ash, Apache, come here, boys.” Derrick waved the horses toward him. Caught in the middle of the herd, they seemed to be unable to move. But, slowly, the gray shoved his way through the mass of cattle, the paint following. “That’s the way, boy, come on.”
The horses hesitated.
With a glance at Laramie, Derrick said, “I’ll be right back. Stay put.” Wrestling off his shirt and wet boots, he dove into the water and swam for the opposite shore. Falling residue had dirtied the water, making it nasty tasting and a little warm. All around the edges, weeds burned with a vengeance.
Scrambling up the muddy bank, Derrick shoved his way through the cows. Taking a fistful of Ash’s mane, he swung aboard. Guiding the horse with his legs, he pushed through the milling Angus and urged the gelding into the water. Apache followed close behind. Derrick swam the horses back to where Laramie stood on a boulder. He couldn’t hear her, but she motioned wildly to come through the waterfall.
It took a couple of tries, but Derrick convinced the gray horse to go through the blinding sheet of water. After a minute, the paint came, too. Dismounting, Derrick looked around. On the backside of the falls, Laramie and Turbo waited on a sandy bench about ten feet wide by twelve feet long. They stood in the mouth of an enormous cave.
Laramie called out, “If the cows will get in here, they’ll be okay, too.”
“They won’t even come into the lake.” Helplessness filled Derrick. Stupid creatures. Were they willing to stand there and burn to death while he watched?
Laramie peered through the waterfall. “Yes, they will. Look.”
Not daring to hope, Derrick splashed through the falling sheets of water and watched as all around the water’s edge trees burst into flames with deafening pops. The rim of the water sizzled, steam mingling into the smoky air. As the fire licked at the animals’ backs, they pushed forward, forcing the ones in front into the water. As the back shoved harder, the leaders had no choice but to go deeper to make room.
“They’re going to get in here,” Laramie said. “There’s not enough room in the lake for them all.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the first cow found her way through the waterfall. With a shake of her head, the old cow took stock of her surroundings with wide brown eyes. She didn’t have long to ponder, however, as the others shoved their way to safety.
Derrick leaped off the boulder and grabbed Laramie’s hand. “Come on, we’ve got to get out of the way. We’ll be crushed if they all get in here.”
She dug in her heels. “We can’t go down that passage. It’s dark — ” she shuddered “ — and there might be bats.”
“We don’t have a choice. The cows will trample us if we don’t get out of their way.”
“That’s gratitude,” she sniffed, but smiled as she said it.
He grabbed his boots and shirt, ignoring the way her smile made his heart speed up. “Come on, before we get run over.”
He stopped long enough to pull on his boots and shirt, then took Laramie’s hand and headed deep into the cave. Turbo scouted ahead, and behind the horses and cattle pressed them forward. Just two or three turns into the cave and darkness overtook them.
“Turbo, heel,” Derrick ordered. “I don’t want him falling into a hole,” he explained to Laramie.
“Me, either,” she whispered.
“Why are you whispering?”
Was it his imagination or did she grip his hand tighter. “I don’t like the dark.”
He didn’t relish the thought of falling either. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. Her body trembled and a wave of protective tenderness washed over him.“Slow down. Take one step at a time. We’ll be all right.”
“I know,” she murmured. “As long as you’re with me.”
Not knowing how to respond, he didn’t say anything. He placed an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get out of here.”
Derrick waved a hand in front of his face, but was unable to see it. He placed his palm on the damp, cool wall and kept it there as they took one cautious step after another. The only sound was their breathing and the trickle of water beneath their feet. The horses and cows had stopped following them several turns back.
Derrick couldn’t believe his herd had survived.
He was damn lucky.
And damn grateful.
• • •
Laramie realized what she said was true. With Derrick close, she felt safe and secure. Partly because of his calm and clear head she’d survived this nightmare. If she came out of it intact, she owed it all to him. She held back a sardonic laugh. If they got out of here alive, he’d probably run for the hills screaming if he ever saw her again.
Not if — when. They were going to live. They hadn’t made it this far to die now. Her grip on Derrick’s hand tightened, and he squeezed back. Why hadn’t they met before? Cliffside and Santa Anita were only about thirty miles by highway. Cliffside was bigger, and many Santa Anita folks came over to shop. They might’ve passed each other in the grocery, feed or tack store. Laramie had a feeling if she’d ever seen Derrick she would’ve remembered him.
Derrick said he knew Lawrence. But how? She was reluctant to ask. Thinking about her brother right now could only make things worse. What was she going to do when she got out of here? Who was she going to turn to? Going home wasn’t an option. Laramie didn’t think she could ever go back there again. Her safe haven was now a place of fear and grief. Going to Mom and Dad wasn’t an option either. How could she tell them what Lawrence had done?
Suddenly, the floor of the cave took on a decided downward slope. The trickle of water under their feet increased. Derrick slowed their already creeping pace to a near crawl. “Careful.”
“I am,” she assured him.
Gradually the black-as-tar dark eased into midnight blue. Laramie lifted her hand and could make out the shape. “Look,” she cried, “I can see my hand. Well, sort of.”
“That means there’s light at the end of this tunnel,” Derrick said.
“Thank God,” Laramie breathed.
“Amen. Look. There it is. Sunlight.”
Laramie lifted her chin and saw a thin beam of light shining ahead. “I think I know now what people mean when they say they’ve seen the light.”
Derrick chuckled, and the sound sent a thrill coursing through her. “I agree.”
“Do you think your cows are following us?” she asked.
He tipped his head that way. “I don’t hear them, but since they don’t have anywhere else to go, I’m sure they’ll come along shortly. Actually, I’m glad they’re not right on our heels. If the opening isn’t safe — ”
“It will be.” She refused to believe anything else.
He looked at her, and Laramie realized she could see his face again. She took a minute to study his features, the compassion in his eyes, the hawkish nose and lips that turned up even in the worst times. “We’re almost there. Let’s find out.”
Together, they hurried their steps toward the cave’s opening.
As they stepped into the sunlight, they closed their eyes against the glare. Clean, fresh air flooded Laramie’s lungs, making it almost difficult to breathe. No smoke. No clouds. Instinctively, Laramie moved into Derrick’s arms. For a time she stood wrapped in his embrace. Emotions she couldn’t control reverberated through her, making her s
hake. But she couldn’t stay safe wrapped in his embrace forever, and she reluctantly let go. “Where are we?”
“I know exactly where we are,” Derrick said.
“Where?” She couldn’t hide her surprise. They stood on a wide ledge overlooking a pine forest. A gradual slope led down the mountain. No cliffs, no fire. Laramie took a big sigh of relief.
“I think we were just in Wild Jack’s mine. I’ve heard people talking about it, but I’ve never had time to check it out for myself.”
“I’m so confused. I don’t know where I am.”
Derrick pointed through the trees. “See the shine of that roof? There’s Cliffside.”
“Yes, I see it! We’re right above the river.”
He nodded. “Santa Anita is behind us.”
Laramie threw herself into Derrick’s arms. “We’re safe! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Something in his tone made her look up.
The look of relief in his eyes turned to something else, something hungry. He cupped the back of her neck gently and bent his head to hers. She closed her eyes as his lips slid over hers in a gentle caress that sent tingles crashing through her body. Laramie gripped his shirt and held on. Her knees went so weak she didn’t think she could stand another minute.
Derrick broke contact and smoothed her cheeks with a work-roughened hand. “Hey, I didn’t mean — ”
She sniffed. “It’s just with everything that’s happened … ”
“I was out of line.”
Taking one of his large hands in hers, she shook her head. “No, you weren’t. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead ten times over. I owe you my life.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” he said gruffly. He squeezed her hand. “Stay here and rest. I have to go back and get the animals, but I won’t be long.”
She resisted the urge to hang onto his hand and not let go. Instead, she nodded. “Be careful.”
“Stay safe.”
Chapter Nine
Derrick disappeared inside the cave, and Laramie found a soft spot on the grass, stretched out on her stomach and cradled her face in her arms. Although exhausted, she couldn’t sleep. Why had Derrick kissed her? He’d made it clear he doubted her story about Lawrence, and she couldn’t be with a man who didn’t believe wholeheartedly in her. No matter how attractive she found him.
Sure, he was a good-looking man. He had a lot of the qualities she admired — loyalty, kindness, patience. But she had no intention of getting any closer. Trusting a man could get you dead. Getting to know Derrick better was impossible.
The warm sun on her back gradually loosened her muscles, and she relaxed. Her eyes drifted shut. Something poking her in the back pulled her from a deep sleep.
“Go ’way,” she mumbled. Sweet-smelling meadow grass tickled her cheek, and the afternoon sun had become uncomfortably warm on her back and legs. For a minute she felt disoriented, confused about her surroundings. She blinked and a pair of black cowboy boots came into focus just in front of her nose. Not Derrick’s. He wore a different brand. These were just like —
A groan slid out of her.
“That’s right, little sister. I gotcha.”
Laramie rolled over and stared into the red, drug-crazed eyes of Lawrence. “What — ?”
He laughed. “Finishing what I started.”
She couldn’t form a coherent answer. How had he found her? She started to sit up, and he pushed her back with the barrel of a rifle. “Just stay right there until I figure out what to do with you.”
She gritted her teeth. High again. And as deadly as a cornered rattlesnake. One thing for sure, she would fight to the end rather than be tied up and tossed off a cliff like trash again. Reaching under her thigh, she scooped up handfuls of dirt. Tensing, she waited for the right moment. “How did you find me?”
“I was driving over to Clive Reeves’s place to tell him you weren’t going to make it when I looked up the hillside. There you were, plain as day.” He poked her again with the gun. “Most people wouldn’t have recognized you, but I knew right off.”
Hope flared in her. When she didn’t show up at Clive’s place, maybe he’d get concerned enough to make a few calls. Maybe.
“Forget it,” he said. “I phoned Clive from the truck. He understood when I told him you were called unexpectedly from Denver to help Dad.”
“You cold-blooded bastard,” she hissed. Fighting fear, she tried to act brave. The fastest way to get a rabid dog to bite was to show them you were scared.
His eyes narrowed. “I’m not going to prison.”
“Yes, you are,” she said, throwing caution to the wind. At least if he shot her here she wouldn’t have to endure more torture. “If not for Julie’s murder, then for mine. One way or another, someone is going to take you down.”
“Not if they don’t catch me,” he retorted. “And when I get rid of you, there’ll be no evidence.”
“You’re crazy,” she said.
“Crazy like a fox.” He snickered. “Speaking of, where’s your pal?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play dumb. You know exactly who I’m talking about,” Lawrence insisted. “The dude who hauled you off the cliff. Where is he?”
“I don’t know. He brought me here and said he was going to look for his cows.” Damn. She hoped he’d forgotten all about Derrick.
He pointed with the rifle barrel. “Get up.”
She knew from their last encounter begging or trying to reason with him wouldn’t do any good. There was only one option — try to outwit him. Taking her time, she pushed to her feet, careful not to drop her handfuls of dirt. Once on her feet, she acted fast. Throwing both fistfuls toward his face, she bolted when he doubled over and cursed, running through the deep grass. Instinctively, she headed for Derrick.
Lawrence called her a filthy name.
Her heart pounded so hard she feared her chest bursting open. Her breath came in painful pants. Lawrence charged up the hill behind her. “I’m going to catch you, Laramie. You can’t get away.”
As she ran, she tried to think. She couldn’t go into the cave. If she went there, she’d run straight into the cows and be trapped. Derrick, too, would be caught with nowhere to go. She couldn’t give Derrick’s location away. He didn’t deserve to die. Veering sharply to the right, she tried to lose Lawrence. But he had the advantage of long legs and drug-induced adrenaline. He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, slamming them both into the ground.
For a minute, she lay still, unable to breathe with mashed lungs.
Lawrence stood and wrenched her off the ground. “Stand up.”
“Ouch,” she cried, twisting in his grip.
He shoved her forward. “March. And don’t try anything else funny or I’ll shoot you on the spot.”
She stumbled, going to her knees. Before she could stand, Lawrence wrapped his hand in her hair and jerked her upright. “I said no funny stuff.”
“Ouch! Stop! You’re hurting me. Lawrence, you’re my brother. How can you do this?”She grabbed his wrist, but he only tugged harder. She refused to cry. She refused to die like a whimpering baby. Helpless, but silent, she moved down the mountain to meet her fate. All she’d been through and now back in Lawrence’s clutches? Derrick would have no idea where she’d gone. She couldn’t count on him to come to the rescue.
Reaching the bottom of the mountain didn’t take long.
Lawrence pushed her against the door of his vehicle. “Don’t move.”
“What are you going to do?”
He ignored her, keeping his rifle trained on her chest. She couldn’t see an opening, but poised to jump if one presented itself. Maybe a car would come along, although the possibility was slim. Clive Reeves owned an enormous ranch at the end of the road, but most of the property before it was government owned. Though hikers and campers used the public lands, most preferred the campground and easy access trailhead over by Diamond Lake.
A slow moving river ran alongside the road, and Laramie thought about making a run for it, willing to dive into the cold water. But it was shallow, and Lawrence could shoot her as easily as a fish in a barrel. Running up the road would do her no more good than going up the mountainside had. He could easily overtake her on the straight, flat surface. She held in sobs of despair. There was no escape.
Raising her eyes heavenward, she began to pray.
• • •
Derrick and Turbo hurried back through the cave. Going back didn’t take as long as coming out, now that he knew the way was safe. He found the horses first and started them through the cave. Although reluctant to go, they did what he wanted. Breathing a sigh of relief, he slid along the wall until he got to the back of the herd. Through the waterfall, he saw the fire burning the valley to the ground.
With a yell, he started the herd through the cave. The cows followed the horses. Turbo snapping and barking at their heels helped convince them. Like a long, black flag, they wove their way through the pitch-black hallway. The cows’ bawling ricocheted off the tight walls, nearly deafening him.
Derrick followed his animals through the dark, exiting into blinding sun. For a minute, he stood and breathed in the clean air. Around him, the cattle spread out to graze. For the first time in two days his shoulders relaxed. Tension flowed out of him, leaving him almost weak as a rag doll. He’d made it. He’d brought them all to safety. One cow had a burn on her hindquarters, but she would be okay with veterinary attention. More importantly, he and Laramie were alive and well.
Maybe he could convince her to sleep for a bit before they started hiking. Although his grumbling stomach urged him to start for home. A good meal and a hot shower sounded pretty damn good. He looked to the spot he’d left her. “Laramie?”
No answer. Maybe she was sleeping.
He couldn’t believe his eyes when she wasn’t there. He looked around. Where could she have gone? He called her again, “Laramie? Where are you?”
Only the sound of bawling cattle reached his ears.
Where the hell had she gone?
She wouldn’t have headed back up the mountain toward the cave. Maybe she decided to go ahead without him. A strange disappointment filled him. She probably couldn’t wait to ditch him after he kissed her. He didn’t know why he’d done it anyway. Getting involved with her wasn’t something he intended.
