The Ultimate Romantic Suspense Set (8 romantic suspense novels from 8 bestselling authors for 99c)

by Lee Taylor

"What?" Wes' Baretta wavered— and as he glanced back through the open door, Judd shot him three times.

  "Never could trust him," Judd grumbled as Wes collapsed in the doorway. He switched his aim to cover Connor. "He always used his gun before his brain. Now, where are they?"

  "Not here." His gamble had paid off. They hadn’t seen Mary. He could say he didn't know where they were, or name someplace else— someplace they’d have to go. "They're on my ship." It shouldn’t be in port any longer.

  "I don't believe you. I think they're here, where Mary said they’d be. Inside." He stepped behind Connor, motioning him in.

  Connor limped painfully into the cabin— then his leg gave way completely and he fell to the floor. He should try to get up again, he thought as he stared at the green indoor-outdoor carpeting under his nose, but with Mary safely out of the way, he’d lost his motivation to live.

  Wes' shot had hit Judd first— Connor had felt the man stagger as the bullet went through. When would Judd realize it? Some men took a lot of bullets to bring down. It all depended upon what body parts got hit.

  All that mattered to Connor was to keep Judd occupied until Mary could get to the highway. She should be past the first bend by now.

  Help her reach the police. Keep these thugs away from her. And then he added something he had never said before. Help me, God, ‘cause I’m too weak to do this by myself. Help me delay Judd.

  The sound of gunshots reached Mary where she crouched in the woods under a tree. She had left the road as soon as she realized Connor wasn’t with her.

  She sank down into the snow hoping it’d hide her, but feared that even if she covered herself with a white blanket of it, Judd would find her.

  At the sound of the first shot, she cringed, holding her hands over her face. They had shot Connor.

  But no. She heard his voice, raised, yelling. Then came a series of shots, and fresh fear swept aside the hope that he might still live. Oh, Connor, Connor.

  The need to be with him was greater than the need to escape Judd and Wes. If they killed her love, she might as well die.

  Mary forced her legs to move. She worked her way out the back side of the tree well and then under another tree, cautiously circling the cabin, coming up from the rear as Wes had done earlier. She could hear Connor's voice, and rejoiced even though it sounded weak.

  She saw Judd through the open door, so moved out of sight again, then came closer, keeping the cabin wall between them.

  Had Connor fought them, to give her more time? It’d be like him, sacrificing himself for her. She didn’t want a sacrifice, she wanted him— alive.

  She loved him. She might be playing a fool's game— there probably wasn’t a thing she could do to help him— yet she couldn’t leave. She had been unable to help her mother. Perhaps, just perhaps, she could make the difference here.

  Connor put his thumb on the pressure point on his thigh. The enemy's number had been reduced, but now he couldn’t fight.

  Judd had apparently not been shot in a vital spot, as he seemed unhurt. Or else he didn't realize he had been shot. Connor knew of that happening— shock could keep the wound from hurting.

  "The jewels were in that chest," Connor explained. "When we got here, it was unlocked and they were gone. We figured you guys got here first."

  "Or Mary's got them at her apartment. I wouldn't put it past her. She tricked us into walking here."

  That possibility had never entered Connor's mind, but he tried to look shocked, as if he, too, had been deceived. It could’ve easily happened, since she hadn't trusted him at first.

  His faked confusion caused Judd to chuckle. "Fooled you too, didn't she? Women are cunning creatures. She tricked us all. We wouldn't have found these cabins except some hikers told us where they were. Where is she?"

  Mary listened at the open back door, her body screaming out against the evil inside. She could watch Connor die while she stayed safe. Or she could use Wes' gun to kill Judd.

  She felt a sense of deja vu', but this time she wasn’t a child. This time she could act.

  Mary wavered for barely a second. She had no choice. She must kill Judd to save Connor.

  She sprinted around to the front door. She needed to step part way inside to get Wes’ gun.

  Would Judd see her?

  He didn't. He was too busy threatening Connor. But Connor—off to one side—saw her, his face going white when she picked up the gun and pointed it at Judd.

  Dear Lord, help me save the life of the man I love.

  Could she take a life?

  She didn't have to, she realized. She had the advantage. She had seen it done on television, countless times. "Drop your—"

  Judd spun, bringing his gun swiftly around as he fired.

  38

  Frightened, Mary yanked the trigger in reflex— the barrel flying up as the gun fired— causing her to almost lose her grip.

  Judd staggered and swore, then glared at her, his mouth working into a twisted rage, his eyes darkly gleaming, aslant with evil.

  Amazingly he shot at her again, forcing her to fire once more, then again as he kept trying to shoot back. His knees wobbled, like a man with palsy, but he ignored it, his fury giving him unnatural strength.

  As Judd's wavering hand tried to center his sights on her, she side-stepped further into the cabin and pulled the trigger again.

  Wouldn't he ever go down?

  Die! She willed his body to collapse as she shot once more. She had made the decision, so why was it so hard?

  "Why won't you die?" she screamed in frustration. Her words impacted Judd more than the bullets— he suddenly realized what had happened. He looked down at his body, back at her in astonishment, then crumpled and fell.

  Dropping Wes' gun, Mary ran to Connor, tears streaming down her face, her body shaking from her ordeal. She sunk to her knees, reaching out for him.

  "Mary!" Connor clasped her hard against his chest, the image of her face— horror-stricken, but determined— indelibly seared into his mind. "My love! My poor, poor love!" He would have given anything to have spared her those terrible moments. "Oh, my love."

  He had died ten times over when she had appeared in the doorway, putting herself in danger again. “You saved my life." He spoke with a great sense of obligation and awe. He would have given his life for her, but never expected her to sacrifice for him.

  Would Mary ever get over what she had done? Would it torment and haunt her through the years? She was just beginning to accept her mother's death, and then this. There was no way he was going to convince her that Wes might have killed Judd.

  He hugged her closer, keeping an eye on Judd. The man might still be alive. Only two or three of Mary's shots had actually hit him.

  Mary pushed away from him and jumped to her feet. "We've got to stop your bleeding!" she exclaimed, dashing over to yank open a kitchen drawer. "Clean towels."

  "Bring some for Judd, too," Connor said.

  "What?" Clutching a towel to her breast, Mary spun around, her features stiffening in alarm.

  "Don't worry. He's not up to anything. But he's still twitching. On second thought, bring me his gun too.”

  She twisted the towel into a tight knot. "Why did I have to shoot him so many times?"

  "You didn’t hit him that often. Plus, Wes' gun has ammo in it with full metal jackets. The slugs go right through, instead of spreading out like hollow points do." She looked confused and he chuckled. "I'll show you what they look like some time."

  Mary hurried back, pausing long enough to get Judd's gun. Picking it up carefully, she handed it to Connor.

  Next she examined his wound— in a professional manner, but looking as if she might be sick. She applied a tourniquet to his leg to stem the flow while she bandaged it, her hands shaking so hard Connor finally tied the knot for her.

  Brave, gentle Mary. She made him want to protect and cherish her. All the men in his squadron would gladly give their lives for Mary. She was the kind of woman a
ny man would die for.

  "Mary, I love you, but why didn't you run?" he asked, scolding gently.

  "Because I love you, too. And I couldn't leave you."

  He smiled, teeth clenched against the pain, but it was still a smile. Now that he had her back, he vowed never to lose her again. She had saved his life at the risk of her own. She was more important than anything. Anything... including his career. It would be empty without her love.

  "Mary... I... I know it's not exactly the best time to ask you this, but when we get back, can I come see you?"

  "You'd better. I'm going to visit you in the hospital whether you like it or not."

  "Not just out of gratitude?"

  "Of course not!"

  "I want to see you, to... to...."

  "Yes?"

  "Uh." He felt at loss for words, his eyes searching hers for a moment, before he tried again. "I'd like to be with you for the rest of my life. If you'll have me." He set his mind and grimly forced out the rest of his words. "I'll leave the military."

  "Why? I thought flying was your life."

  "It is. It was. But I couldn't make you unhappy.”

  Mary smiled back at him. "No, you were right. Peace can only come when you're willing to fight back. I wouldn't ask you to leave your job.”

  He frowned. "But would you be able to take my being away? They've extended our time at sea by several weeks."

  "I wouldn't like it, but I'd manage."

  "I could try for a job as a civilian pilot."

  "Would that be the same as your fighter jet?"

  He grimaced. "No. Like driving a truck instead of a race car."

  "Then don't. The nightmares are gone, Connor. I feel triumphant. Stronger."

  "No new ones?"

  "I don't think so. I've taken charge of my life." She pulled the bandage tight. "Whatever comes, I'm through running."

  "I won't be out on a ship forever. I expect, as soon as we have children— you want children don't you?"

  "Very much so. At least four."

  "Four sounds wonderful. As I get older, I could transfer to Whidby Island. Maybe teach flying. Something like that."

  "We'll work it out." She nodded to him, tying the bandage off. "After what we've been through, we can work anything out."

  The noise of a motor sounded through the open door. Mary smiled happily. "Listen. A car."

  "Run, wave it down."

  "Right!" She jumped up and raced out, determined to stand in the road and stop it. They had to get Connor to the doctor.

  The vehicle was a Seattle police car, holding a gray-haired detective and an older woman, in her fifties. The detective opened his door and jumped out, pulling his gun as Mary ran toward him.

  "Are you all right?" he demanded, and Mary realized her clothes were splashed with blood. Connor's blood.

  "Yes. But Connor's been shot. We need—"

  "Connor!" The woman thrust open the passenger door and sprinted past Mary toward the cabin.

  "Wait!" The detective yelled at her, but she ran inside.

  "What's the situation here?" he asked Mary, looking as if he couldn't make up his mind whether to follow the woman or not.

  "Stable. We've two badly injured, one dead. We need an ambulance and a medical helicopter."

  He reached inside and radioed for help, then shut his car door and started up the path. Walking beside him, Mary explained things briefly. Wes dead, Connor injured. Judd critical. The other two back on the trail somewhere.

  "I’m Eric Hayes. We've been coming every day, waiting for you," he commented.

  "You knew...?"

  "Ryan Duvall called as soon as you were kidnapped. He knew about Connor from your description, thought Connor had taken you. We found his car in your parking lot. Then Barbara McLarren contacted us, told us what had happened. That's her in there."

  "I see." It explained her reaction.

  "We found the farmhouse and the van— with your note. We flew over, hoping to spot you, then decided to watch the cabin until you arrived. Ryan got a group together and began to follow your trail. He had to come back after other hikers wiped out the tracks."

  "We were afraid you had given up on us."

  "Ryan’s been riding us hard to find you two. And Connor's captain threatened to send his squadron out to look."

  He stepped over Wes' body, giving it a quick glance as he did so. "Who shot him?"

  "Judd did," Connor explained as they entered. "And Mary shot Judd when he fired at her. You had better call an ambulance."

  "I've got two on their way. Won't be long— they keep them at the Summit for the skiers. I'll get my first aid supplies." He stepped back over Wes and went outside.

  The woman crouching next to Connor looked up at Mary as Connor spoke. "Mom, this is Mary. Mary, my mother, Barbara McLarren."

  "Hello, Mary."

  "Hello." Mary looked at Barbara’s bright auburn hair and sparkling eyes and smiled. "I remember you. You were at Dad's funeral. I know now that he loved you. I wish you would’ve come forward and told me who you were."

  "I didn't want to upset you. You were having a tough time of it."

  "So were you. It might have helped us to grieve together."

  "Probably. I didn't know what to do at the time. And now, those evil men." She shuddered. "Connor says they're all gone."

  "Almost. I don't know about Ramone—"

  "Wes shot him," Connor interjected. "He's dead."

  "Ira's still out there," Mary said. "He got caught in an avalanche."

  "You left a tent with him?" Barbara asked.

  "Yes. Did you...?"

  "The helicopter spotted it and lowered a man to check. He had crawled out to die."

  Mary sighed, feeling the exhaustion of the days pulling her down. She’d need a month or more to recover. "It's a long story."

  Connor reached for her hand. "That chapter's over. We’ll start a new one."

  The look in Connor's eyes guaranteed that part to last until the end of their lives. "Mary has agreed to marry me. I mean...." He must’ve realized he hadn’t actually asked her.

  Mary smiled, helping him out by swiftly adding, "Yes, I did."

  She liked Barbara. If times got rough when Connor was at sea, she knew she’d be welcome at his mother's house. But she also knew— after all that had happened— that she’d be able to handle anything life threw at her. God had answered her prayers, just not in a way she had expected. She now had the strength to live a full and happy life.

  She nodded to Barbara. "You can help us plan our wedding."

  "I'd love that. I always wanted you for my daughter." Barbara smiled and Mary smiled back.

  "Funny how things work out. I'm glad you and Dad had some happiness together."

  "We did. We wanted to make sure you were well enough that our marriage wouldn't upset you. You depended upon Warren so much. I didn't want to come between you."

  "You wouldn't have. I wish Daddy would’ve known."

  Eric Hayes re-entered, bent and felt Judd's pulse. "Still alive. I suppose we had better bandage him up, too."

  "I'll help," Annie said, moving to his side. Mary sorted through his supplies and brought over fresh bandages for Connor.

  "Do you know why they were in such a hurry to recover the chest?" Connor asked him.

  "Yes. Ramone had been talking—while still in prison—bragging about how they had hidden the diamonds in a chest that belonged to Judd's grandfather."

  He paused to pull the bandage tighter around Judd's chest. "Put your finger there, Barbs, while I tie this off. Anyway, Judd got Ramone to stop, but didn't know how many others had heard. He knew the men would all search for the chest once they were released from prison. And he probably figured we had heard, through a prison informant. Which we had."

  "So you were looking, too?" Mary asked, putting a professional bandage on Connor's side. The old one was no longer effective.

  "Yes. Not me personally. I usually investigate white-collar crime. W
hen Judd's grandfather died, the records from the estate sale were forwarded to Judd, along with the cash."

  "I wonder why he didn't ask for the chest to be held out of the sale?" Connor said.

  "Objects that come into the prison are x-rayed. I guess Judd figured as long as he had the name of the buyer, he could trace them down. We tried, but without dates and names, it was a loosing battle.

  “Also no one connected Judd to the attack on your mother. The Renton police had the paper work, and it wasn't until Barbara came in and demanded action that we got things figured out and realized what was going on.

  “Barbara and I came up here, opened the chest, removed the gems, and inserted a homing device." He smiled at Barbara. "She's a very persistent lady."

  "She's a survivor," Connor corrected. "She doesn't know how to give up, any more than Mary does. I like that in a woman."

  "So do I. I've asked her to go out with me as soon as this is resolved. We've had plenty of time to get to know each other."

  "Yes, we have," Barbara agreed, nodding.

  "So have we," Connor said, meeting Mary's dancing smile with one of his own. Her eyes glowed with love, shining like golden lights, sending a warm welcome to the weary traveler.

  Happy, Connor gazed at the two women he loved the most. He knew how rough and dirty-looking he appeared and marveled at the fact that Mary could smile so sweetly and regard him with such a tender expression in her eyes. She had to be the least selfish person he had ever met. He felt extremely proud of how she had saved his life.

  The battle was over and they had emerged triumphant. Mary’s dragons had all been slain.

  THE END

  But not the end of your reading. On the next page you can meet Abigail Courtney in a short story that introduces the Traherns, a historical western series set just after the Civil War.

  If you enjoyed Courage Dares, please help others to enjoy it by telling your friends and by writing an honest review at Amazon

  .The PRETTIEST GAL on the MOUNTAIN

  A short pioneer story by Nancy Radke

  (The Traherns Series)

  I hitched my creaky old rocker out onto the wooden porch of my old home and set a bit, watching the early summer sun fall down over the Tennessee mountains. There was no one around to ask me to get them a bite to eat, or for help, or for anything. I was all alone on the mountain.