by Lisa Boone
Sam fell next. He rolled to the ground clutching his stomach. Joker bucked again, his hooves narrowly missing Kristen lying nearby. Bess skirted closer toward the edge to avoid Joker. There was another shot and Sarah turned her attention to Sam. He had crawled to a nearby tree, returning fire at the man above.
Suddenly, Phoebe screamed as Joker ran into Bess, causing the young woman to lose her grip. Phoebe tumbled to the ground and rolled to the side as the horses danced around one another. She screamed again as she fell over the cliff.
Free of their riders, Joker, Buck, Blondie and Bess took off back down the trail as the men traded gunfire.
Sarah struggled to keep Jack in place and from running after his friends. She turned her attention to Kristen lying on the ground, surprised to see the other woman crawling towards her. When she fell, Sarah had been certain she was dead.
Sarah waved her arms, trying to get Sam’s attention. When he looked her way, she pointed to Kristen, preparing to urge Jack forward, hoping Sam understood what she was about to do.
He nodded, bringing his weapon up.
Sarah took a deep breath and spurred Jack toward Kristen as Sam shot at the outcrop above, providing cover.
Once at Kristen’s side, she hurriedly slid off Jack and knelt, slipping her arm around Kristen’s waist. Using Jack as a shield, she then half-carried, half-dragged the nearly unconscious girl to the outcropping.
Kristen hissed in pain, clutching her arm as Sarah dropped her to the ground.
Sarah next looked towards the cliffs, repeatedly calling Phoebe’s name. Her heart sank as the seconds ticked by with no response from the other girl.
She glanced back at Sam, motioning him to come closer.
He shook his head as he held up his gun. Tossing the gun to the side with a grim look, he then reached for the knife at his ankle.
Sarah felt her heart drop as dirt and rocks rained down from over the outcrop. She could hear Fletcher laughing as he walked along the edge.
Clutching his belly, Sam pushed himself away from the tree he was hiding behind, and half crawled to another.
Sarah glanced down at Kristen looking for where she had been shot, surprised to find no blood. “Where are you hurt?”
“My arm’s broken,” Kristen said through clenched teeth, her face pinched with pain.
Sarah reached into her pocket for her phone. When she failed to get a connection with her own phone, she reached into Kristen’s pocket. She stared in dismay at the smashed phone in her hand.
Behind her, another shot rang out and then Sam screamed out in pain. She glanced over her shoulder just as he fell unmoving on the ground.
“Come on,” Sarah said bringing Kristen up with her. She helped Kristen into the saddle. By the time she got settled behind Kristen, Fletcher had appeared. He grinned at her as he stood at the end of the outcrop, the rifle slung over his shoulder.
“Cinderella,” he crooned reaching for the rifle.
Sarah didn’t waste any time spurring Jack forward, using the horse to mow down Fletcher before he could get a shot off.
Fletcher leapt out of the way at the last moment as Jack barreled toward him.
She turned Jack down the trail towards the house, cringing at the sound of gunfire behind her.
“Where’s Phoebe?” Kristen asked, as Jack took off at a gallop. “Did she get away?”
“I don’t know,” Sarah said, praying that Phoebe had somehow managed to survive and was hiding on the ledge below the cliff.
*
Jamie slammed the door of his truck and walked over to Sarah’s car with a scowl on his face, wondering why she had come out all this way. He shook his head as he stomped across the driveway to the front door. When the doorbell failed to bring anyone running, he pounded on the door. When that failed, he opened the door and stepped inside.
He stood in the foyer as memories came flooding back one more painful after the next. He swore once he got out of prison that he’d never come back to this house, but here he was again. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to put the past behind him.
Shaking his head trying to dispel the unhappy thoughts, he strode into the living room calling out Sarah’s name.
He moved throughout the expansive first floor, his unease growing with every empty room he encountered.
He walked into the foyer and started up the stairs, only stopping when his hand encountered something wet. He lifted his hand, shocked to discover blood coating his palm. Jamie felt his chest tighten.
His heartbeat went into overdrive as he raced up the stairs calling Sarah’s name. Now that he was looking for it, he could see the blood on the dark hardwood floors and the bullet holes in the wall.
He opened the first door he came to. A man he didn’t recognize lay in a heap in the center of the floor, dead.
Jamie quickened his steps as he made a sweep of the second floor. His worry for Sarah grew into fear as he encountered more dead bodies littered throughout the upper floor of the house.
He pushed open the double doors to the master bedroom, his gaze automatically turning to the pillows and duvet lying on the floor before rising to the bed.
A figure lay on the bed covered head to toe by a blood stained sheet. Rose petals from a vase of roses near the bed lay scattered along the body.
Jamie felt his stomach drop. He started to reach forward to pull the sheet off, but hesitated, afraid as to what he would find.
Closing his eyes, praying that Sarah wasn’t the one posed underneath, he forced himself to pull the sheet back and look underneath.
He opened his eyes. A combination of relief, anger and sadness swept over him as he looked into Holly’s blank eyes. He gently laid the sheet back over her before continuing his search for Sarah.
When he reached the last room on the second floor, he pushed the drapes aside and looked across the backyard to the stables just as Buck, Blondie and two other horses he didn’t recognize burst out from the woods. Their saddles empty.
He spun around and raced out of the room. Flying down the staircase, his hand instinctively reached under his jacket for his gun. He slid to a stop at the foyer when his fingers came up empty. No gun, he remembered. He didn’t need one anymore. Part of his new life.
His fingers twitched.
Spinning around, he entered Patrick’s study. He swiped the iron horseshoe paperweight off the desk and threw it into the glass gun case next to the desk. He quickly grabbed a handgun, loaded it and placed it into his waistband before reaching for one of the rifles. He breathed deeply, forcing himself to repress his emotions as he did when he was a teenager while he mechanically loaded the rifle. Once that was done, he reached for a hunting knife next, placing it into the pocket of his leather jacket.
A noise in the hall caught his attention and he spun around bringing the rifle up. Moose lifted his arms high in the air and looked at him in surprise.
“Hey Jamie.” He started to lower his arms only to jerk them back up as Jamie tightened his hands on the rifle. “Just me.”
“Take your gun, lay it down on the floor and kick it over here.”
“Jamie—”
“Do it, Moose. I won’t ask again.” When Moose did as he was told, Jamie said, “Now the one you keep at your back.” He nodded approvingly when Moose removed the weapon and kicked it over to him. “Good.” He knelt down and retrieved the guns. “Where’s Sarah?”
“I didn’t even know she was here. Danny and me just got here.” The big man pointed to the broken glass case. “Nathan’s not going to like that.”
“I couldn’t care less,” Jamie said stuffing more ammo into his pocket with one hand while keeping the rifle trained on Moose. “Where is Nathan?”
“I don’t know. Can I lower my hands now?”
“No.”
“Okay.” When Jamie packed as much ammunition he could into his pockets, he trained the rifle on Moose.
Moose shifted nervously from foot to foot. “What are you gonna do,
Jamie?”
Jamie’s finger twitched. “I’m just trying to decide what to do with you, Moose.”
“Moose!” Nathan shouted from the front door. “Danny! Where is everyone?”
Moose looked to the door and then back to Jamie with a questioning look in his eyes.
Jamie nodded.
“In here, boss,” Moose called out.
Nathan’s footsteps could be heard echoing down the hallway. “Those stupid horses are out again. They’re running all over the place.” He rounded the corner and stopped short. He stared at Jamie with wide-eyes. “Oh, hey, Jamie.” His gaze lowered to the rifle pointed at Moose. “Problem?”
“Where’s Sarah?”
“I have no idea. I just walked in the door. Last I knew she was planning on going riding with Kristen and Phoebe.” Nathan glanced out the window as Buck ran past. “I’m sure she’s around here somewhere. Moose, go to the stables and see if Sarah’s there.”
Moose started to move but froze when he saw Jamie’s hands tighten on the weapon. “What you want me to do, Jamie?”
Jamie smirked. People thought Moose was dumb, but he did have his moments.
“Jamie,” Nathan said bringing his hands up in a placating gesture, “why don’t you put the gun down. I’m sure she’s fine.”
“See those horses out there, Nathan?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re still saddled. No way Phoebe would have left them like that.”
Jamie shifted the weapon in his hands. “Moose, pick up the phone and call the police.”
Nathan reached across Moose and laid his hand on the big man’s arm as he lifted the phone up to his ear.
Jamie’s eyes narrowed. He brought the rifle up higher aiming it at Nathan.
“Whoa,” Nathan said raising one hand in the air. “Do we really need to get the police involved? The girls are probably okay. They probably got off their horses to take a walk and the horses took off. That’s happened before. I bet they’re probably walking their way back right now as we speak. That white mare out there is brand-new and the black stallion that’s chasing her is Joker. He runs off all the time. We’re always chasing him down trying to catch him.” He lightly elbowed Moose in the gut.
“That’s right,” Moose said. “Always having to chase him down.”
“Why don’t you, Moose, and Danny go out there and search for them,” Nathan said. “If you don’t find them in an hour, then I will personally call the police.” He looked helplessly at Jamie. “Come on, Jamie. We’re all friends. Put down the gun.”
“I will, just as soon as you tell me why you have blood on your shirt.”
Nathan looked down in surprise at the red stain on his crisp white shirt. Clearing his throat, Nathan pulled his coat closer to cover up the stain.
“Moose,” Jamie said.
“Yeah, Jamie?”
“Put down the phone.” Jamie took a step closer to them, his eyes blazing. “If you so much as touched Sarah, I’m going to rip you apart limb from limb.”
Nathan paled. “I-I didn’t, Jamie. I swear. I didn’t touch her. I got blood on my fingers somehow and wiped it off on my shirt. I didn’t hurt Sarah.”
Moose turned his attention to the window. “There she is. She and Kristen are riding in right now.”
Keeping one eye on Nathan and Moose, Jamie edged to the window.
Spotting Sarah racing past the stables to the gate, he pushed past Moose and Nathan and ran toward the kitchen.
He was there just as Sarah rode up with an unconscious Kristen in her arms.
He gently helped Kristen down, passing her to Moose before pulling Sarah from the saddle and holding her tightly against his chest.
“Fletcher tried to kill us,” she whispered into his chest. “I was so scared.”
He pressed his hands to her face and leaned back to look at her. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. We have to find Phoebe,” Sarah said as he led her back inside. “She said it wasn’t a straight drop from the cliff, that there were some ledges. Maybe she’s still alive.”
Nathan followed them into the living room, watching as Moose laid Kristen on the couch. He looked down at his unconscious wife in annoyance. “I thought you said Fletcher was in Ohio, darling? Moose, call the police. Tell them Fletcher is out there shooting at us.”
Jamie reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll do it,” he said. He wrapped his arm around Sarah’s waist unwilling to leave her side as he spoke to the 9-1-1 operator.
“Where have you been?” Nathan snapped as Danny entered the room, his eyes wide.
“Moose and me went to run those errands for you.”
“Who told you two you could leave the grounds?” Nathan snapped.
Danny automatically pointed at Moose. “Moose said that you gave the all clear to go ahead and go.”
Moose looked surprised. “No, that ain’t right, Danny. You were the one—”
“Oh, shut up the both of you,” Nathan snapped.
Kristen moaned. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment before finally opening and looking around the room. “Where’s Phoebe?”
Nathan sat down in the chair next to her. “We’re not sure yet. The police are on their way.”
Kristen tried to sit up. “I have to find her,” she said as Nathan pushed her back down. “Nathan, let me up. I have to find my sister.”
“The police will find her, Kristen,” her husband said in annoyance.
Tears spilled down her face. “I’m not waiting for them. She could be dying. Let me go.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Nathan said harshly. “What do you think you’re going to do? You’ll probably pass out before you get to the door.”
“Where’s Wade’s men?” Kristen asked. “Send them out to look for her.”
Nathan grimaced. “Wade’s men? You want to know where Wade’s men are?” he asked his voice rising. “They’re dead. Your boyfriend apparently sent only the best to protect you,” he added sarcastically. “Fat lot of good they did. Perhaps Wade doesn’t care as much for you as you think he does.” He moved to the other side of the room. “If you had listened to me in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened. I told you not to go riding but you had to go. I told you not to trust Wade but you wouldn’t listen. Now, Phoebe’s probably dead and it’s all your fault.”
Sarah pulled away from Jamie to sit at Kristen’s side as the other girl began to sob hysterically.
Nathan shook his finger at his wife. “I told you—”
“Shut up, Nathan,” Jamie said striding to the fireplace. A few seconds later a bookcase slid away from the wall, revealing a small room, equipped with a bed and security monitors.
Nathan’s face reddened as Jamie gently picked Kristen up and carried her to the bed.
“Please Jamie,” she sobbed as he laid her down.
“I’ll find her, Kristen. I promise.” He pulled the blanket across her legs before returning to Sarah’s side.
The sounds of hooves hitting the veranda outside the window caught their attention. A few seconds later, Joker passed by the window.
Nathan cursed at the horse as it disappeared from view.
Jamie reached into his pocket and pulled out his gloves. “Sarah, I want you to stay with Kristen until the police get here.”
“What are you going to do?” Sarah asked.
“I’m going to find Phoebe before Fletcher does.” He took the gun out of his waistband of his jeans and handed it to Sarah. “Take this. Lock yourself in and don’t let anyone in until the police arrive. And if anyone tries to enter,” he said pointedly looking at Nathan, Danny and Moose, “shoot them.”
“Jamie, maybe we should wait for the police,” Sarah said watching as he strode to the door.
“I have to go, Sarah. She could be dying,” he said adjusting the rifle hanging from his arm.
They all followed him to the veranda and watched as Jamie walked up to Joker taking his time to introduce himse
lf to the big horse. Joker laid his nose in Jamie’s palm, inhaling deeply. Once Joker seemed at ease, he took the reins and led him down the verandah stairs. “I promise I’ll be back soon. Stay with Kristen and remember what I said, okay?”
“I will.” Sarah touched his arm. “Jamie, please be careful.”
He started to place his foot into the stirrup but stopped and turned back to Sarah. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her. The desire to hold her close was too strong to resist, so he stopped fighting it for a moment and took her into his arms, enjoying the feel of her warm body pressed against his. He pulled back enough to cup her face. “I’ll be back soon. Just stay safe in the meantime.”
“I will,” she said softly, reluctantly moving away from him and back into the house.
He walked along the side of the house and peered into the window, waiting until the bookcase slid shut behind Sarah before turning to glare at Nathan, Danny and Moose. “If anything happens to either Sarah or Kristen, I’m going to hold all three of you responsible. Got it?”
Danny and Nathan scowled as Moose nodded. “Don’t worry,” Moose said, “they’ll be safe in there.”
Nathan stepped off the veranda. “If you see Fletcher out there, shoot him. We’ll back you up when the police arrive.”
“Just like last time, huh?” Jamie climbed on top of Joker. “Just watch Sarah and Kristen,” he said before turning Joker’s head toward the woods.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sarah sat in the living room of the guesthouse, the only area besides the stables that hadn’t been cordoned off by the police. Her gaze flickered from the detective standing in front of her to the window and back again. Several hours had passed since Jamie left. Night had fallen and she was about to go out of her mind with worry. “Has anyone found Jamie or Phoebe yet? Surely by now, someone has run across them?”
“Not yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do,” Detective Henry Lewis said smoothly.
She somehow doubted that but smiled her thanks anyway as he sat down across from her. “Until then, it would help if you could give me as much information as possible.”
