Fear strangled her. Momentarily prevented her mind, her limbs, from reacting.
Her pulse spiked. Was someone in the cabin with her? She couldn’t afford to stand there and do nothing.
Something moved in the shadows.
Willow dove for the bed. Her arm outstretched, she reached toward the nightstand. Grabbed the Sig, twisted, and aimed.
A man’s form filled the threshold. He was heading for her!
She fired twice, and in the same instant he disappeared.
Oh, great! What now?
Palms sweating, Willow gulped for air. Was it over? Had he left? Had she shot him?
Her position on the bed was far too vulnerable. She slowly rose. He could still be in the cabin. Holding the weapon at the ready, she lifted her phone to call 9–1–1. But given how far out they were, she would do better to call Austin. If she could get a signal.
A stupid signal!
Finally, the call connected. With the phone to her ear, she slowly crept out into the living area. Keeping her back against the wall, she remained ready to shoot the next thing that moved.
Come on, Austin, answer your phone.
The door burst open. Willow fired. The figure lunged to the side.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! It’s me! Willow, it’s me, Austin!”
Her limbs went weak with her pulsing heartbeat. She lowered the weapon. “I could have killed you.”
Holding his own gun, he rushed to her. “I heard the gunfire. What happened?”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. Willow drew comfort from his warm, strong body. From his presence.
Heart still racing, she grasped for the words. “Someone was here. He was in the cabin. He must have come through the window. I found it open.” She fought the need to cover her face and sob. “I don’t know!”
Austin stared down at her. “We’ll figure it out later. Did you call 9–1–1?”
“I was going to, but I called you. You didn’t answer. I tried to call and protect myself at the same time. I could barely get a signal.”
“It’s okay. You’re going to be okay. I didn’t answer because I was running to get here.”
“I know.” She leaned against his chest, hoping she wouldn’t collapse.
“The door wasn’t locked.”
“He must have left that way.”
Austin drew her closer to him, rubbing her arms and back. “I want you to call 9–1–1 now.” He took a step away.
She pulled him back. “Don’t leave me!”
“Okay, okay. I just want to check the cabin, that’s all. I need to make sure we’re alone. Then I’ll check the perimeter. Chances are he’s gone.” Austin peered at her, but she couldn’t see much in the shadows. “Are you good?”
“Yeah. Let’s turn some lights on and I’ll be better.”
“I’d agree with you, but we don’t want him able to see into the windows. He could take a shot at you then, if hurting you had been his intention. Tell you what. I’ll make sure the windows are closed and the blinds and curtains shut, and then we’ll turn on the lights.”
“Fine, but I’m coming with you.”
“Stay behind me then.”
“I still have my gun.”
“The way your hand is trembling, not to mention your aim, I’m not sure that will help us.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“You want honesty, don’t you?”
“Sure, lead the way.”
Austin held his weapon and cleared the cabin, finding only a couple of windows with curtains open to let dawn filter in. After closing all the curtains, he flipped on the lights, which chased away the shadows. Willow positioned herself to get a signal and called 9–1–1. She spoke to dispatch, relaying the information. While she spoke, Austin examined the open window where the intruder entered but didn’t touch anything.
Before she ended the call, light filtered through the blinds on the front windows of the cabin.
“Headlights.” He tensed. “Get back from the window.”
“Why? What do you think is going to happen?”
“No point in taking chances, Willow.”
She moved to stand at the far wall. Austin continued to peer out the window, then his tense shoulders relaxed. He opened the mini blinds so she could see.
Heath’s form headed for the cabin. He knocked, then cracked the door. “What’s going on in here? I heard gunshots coming from this direction. Everyone okay?”
“No, we’re not okay.” Austin had kept his weapon ready to use but lowered it. “Come on in.”
Heath entered. “Is someone hurt?”
“No,” Austin said, “but someone broke into the cabin through this window. Looks like it wasn’t locked. Nobody locks up around here, so maybe it was an oversight the intruder was counting on.”
Willow choked on unshed tears. “I was sleeping. A dream woke me, but now I think I must have heard a noise in my sleep. It was weird. I realized the window was open and then saw something move, so I ran back to the bed and grabbed the Sig you loaned me. I think it might have saved my life tonight. I shot at him. He fled the cabin.”
She shuddered, unable to control her trembling limbs.
“Here, hold this.” Austin handed his weapon to Heath. “Stand guard until the law gets here.”
He gently removed the Sig Sauer from Willow’s trembling grip. Good idea. Then he wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her close. He said nothing at all, seeming to understand that she needed to be held. She pressed her forehead against his sturdy chest, hoping to soak up his courage and strength. Sure, she knew how to use a weapon and to protect herself, to a degree. Facing a real-life attack stripped her confidence and laid her bare. Too many close calls. She wanted to dissolve into the carpet.
“Why does this keep happening? I thought I was safe here, at least for one night.”
He rubbed her back, his hand trembling. This had upset him as much as it had her. She moved back from him to give herself room to breathe. “What am I going to do?”
Heath paced the room. “First, you’re moving in with me tonight. Both of you. I’m sorry this happened while you were here. And then you’re going to tell me what the heck is going on. Maybe I can offer some assistance.”
Rubbing her arms, Willow composed herself. “I’m good with that, thanks. I’m just going to gather my things while we wait on the sheriff.”
They’d cleared the house. The man was gone. Willow moved toward the bedroom to grab her duffel and pack away her things. She glanced at the closet. He wouldn’t be hiding in the closet.
I’m okay. I’m going to be fine.
She placed one foot in front of the other, putting distance between her and Austin and his sturdy brother. Warmth permeated her back. She glanced over her shoulder. Austin followed her. Willow allowed herself a tenuous smile. Of course he would stay close and protect her. She’d never thought she’d need that, though she had a feeling it was equal parts Austin the man and Austin the protector that she needed.
She flipped on the lamp on the nightstand.
A slip of paper rested on the stand. “Austin?”
“What is it?” He stood on the other side of the bed, hands on his hips.
Willow lifted the paper, opened it, and gasped. “It’s . . . it’s a note. A warning.”
Heart pounding, she read it out loud.
STOP THE SEARCH. IT’S A DEAD END.
“The man at my bed with a knife—it wasn’t a dream.”
Chapter thirty
Muscles tensing, Austin fisted his hands. The man had gotten close enough to her to leave a note? A threatening note, no less. He could have killed her if he’d wanted to. He’d tried in Seattle. Why didn’t he kill her here? Austin’s throat tightened.
He tugged latex gloves and a small plastic bag from his jeans pocket and then secured the note in the bag. Willow’s hazel eyes grew big. He shrugged. “I like to be prepared, I guess. Besides, this is the first big break we’ve had. An actual pie
ce of evidence.”
They weren’t hired to find a killer or even the abductor, but all the better if this brought them closer to the truth about Jamie Mason.
Willow pressed her hand to her throat. He knew exactly what she was thinking. “Come here.” He held her again, getting much too comfortable with the action.
Austin hadn’t told her that she’d grazed him with a bullet. It had ripped through his shirt and scratched his arm. Nothing major. No need to upset her. But that concerned him—he had thought she’d be a much better shot. She should have killed him tonight. He was glad she’d missed. Maybe it had more to do with divine intervention—it wasn’t his time to go. His knees still shook at the close call.
Both his and hers.
He never should have left her alone. Even in a cabin next to his. His tense neck and shoulders ached. Headlights shined bright in the distance, moving up and down as the vehicles bumped along the rutted drive to the cabins.
“Why don’t you sit. I’ll get you a drink of water. Looks like the law has finally arrived.”
Willow eased into a chair without a word. She’d drifted into a dazed state. Not good.
Heath moved to the door. “I’ll go out and meet them. I suspect Sheriff Haines will have come himself. We’re friends, so I’ll let him know what’s happened.”
“Sounds good.” Austin headed to the kitchen to get water for both himself and Willow. Their search for a person abducted two decades ago had grown complicated. Now Willow’s life was in danger because they were looking for answers. Getting help from the local law in finding whoever had broken into her cabin could help them in their search.
Heath entered, along with the sheriff and one of his deputies. Two other deputies had been dispersed to search the grounds to see if the man remained. Austin hoped they wouldn’t trample any additional evidence. Getting in and out of here wasn’t easy.
Sheriff Haines propped his hands on his hips, his gun resting in the holster on his belt. A stocky man in his early sixties, he had thick reddish hair layered with gray that looked more yellow than red.
“How’s Tanner doing?” Heath asked.
The sheriff’s expression turned somber. “That grandson of mine is a real fighter. He’s hanging in there. Thanks for asking, Heath.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll keep him in my prayers. I’m going to head outside and look around.” Heath exited the cabin.
After introducing himself, Sheriff Haines gestured to the deputy beside him. “And this is Deputy Taggart. Now tell me what’s going on here.”
He eyed Austin, disapproval etched into his features. Austin had drawn the sheriff’s attention four years ago when his father had his accident. He wasn’t surprised when the sheriff turned away without acknowledging him.
Sheriff Haines questioned Willow for more details about the break-in and she told him about the attacks in Seattle. Then Austin shared his side of the story.
“And you think this guy followed you here from Seattle?” Sheriff Haines lifted a thick yellow brow.
Willow’s features paled. “I hope not, but who else could it be, especially considering the note the guy left?”
“We’ll move up to the house with Heath tonight, Sheriff. Heath and I can watch out for her better there.”
“I’ll take the note with me,” the sheriff said. “We’ll process for fingerprints and do that for the cabin too. Check for footprints. Considering you’re the first person to stay here, like you said, we could get lucky. Then why don’t you come in to see me tomorrow and show me what you have so far on the missing girl. If you have pictures or names. Maybe I can help. Maybe not. It’s worth a try.”
“I have one right now. I can show it to you.” Willow swiped her phone and showed it to the sheriff. “It’s the abductor.”
He examined the image, scrunching up his face.
“It might not be a very good rendering, since it was an age progression done on a grainy photograph,” she said.
The sheriff crinkled his forehead. “Email it to me. I’ll do what I can to get the word out.”
That was certainly more than Austin would have expected. The man had his hands full with law enforcement duties and search and rescues, which could be particularly challenging in these parts. Austin suspected he was only being hands-on because of his relationship with Heath.
Willow’s face brightened. “Thank you, Sheriff. I appreciate your help.”
When the sheriff and deputy moved outside to search the premises, Heath returned to help Austin and Willow gather and load their things into the truck. He drove them the short distance to the main house at the ranch, his house, and ushered them inside.
“As you can see, I’ve added on in the renovations. There are four rooms upstairs. Two downstairs. I sleep downstairs. Evelyn stays in a room downstairs too.” He sent Willow a wry grin. “I wasn’t expecting guests today.”
“I’m sure the rooms are fine,” Willow said. “Thank you, Heath.”
“I just wish you would have stayed here to begin with, then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.” Heath helped them lug their bags up the stairs and showed them their rooms. “You two get a good night’s sleep. I’ll watch the house. Me and the dogs.”
“Thanks, bro.” Austin hoped Heath understood the depth of his gratitude. By the look in his eyes before he headed downstairs, he seemed to.
Willow had already disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door. He’d wanted to talk to her more to make sure she was all right. When the door opened and she stepped out into the hallway, that part of him that couldn’t seem to let go of her could have grabbed her up and held her forever. He reined in those crazy, stupid thoughts as she drew near.
Her glistening eyes zeroed in on his shoulder. Soft lines formed around her mouth and eyes. “I’m so sorry that I almost shot you.”
Bottom lip quivering, she lifted her hand and touched his shoulder. He resisted wincing, for her sake, and savored the concern pouring from her.
She fingered the torn fabric. “Is this from the bullet? It grazed you?” Her shoulders slumped.
He gently gripped her arms. “It’s okay. It’s over. I’m alive. Never thought I’d be glad you have terrible aim.” He teased, but his attempt at humor fell flat. “Now go get some sleep. No one is going to get by Heath and Timber, old dog that he is. Timber, that is.”
Unfortunately, someone almost got by Austin tonight.
“I’m worried about Jamie. Are we putting her life in danger because we’re trying to find her? We don’t know where she is, so we can’t even protect her.”
“I don’t have an answer.” He wondered what she would think if he told her the reason he’d resigned from the FBI. If he shared that on his last assignment, he’d been working to find an abducted child. Was he even up to the task of protecting Willow?
She left him and went back to her room. He returned to his own room, sat at the chair next to the window, and stared into the night. There was so much she didn’t know about him. So much he wanted to finally share—but it was pointless now, because they had no future together.
Chapter thirty-one
FRIDAY, 5:27 A.M.
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST
Something woke Charlie in the middle of the night. From her room she heard Momma’s frightened voice speaking in low tones. She slipped out of bed and crept down the hallway to listen.
“No, please don’t do this. I’m sorry . . . I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have asked for more . . .”
A man wearing a mask fired his weapon point blank at Momma. She dropped to the ground. Before the shock of that moment engulfed Charlie, the man pointed his weapon at her and spoke in a gruff, unnatural tone to disguise his voice. “I’m going to kill you too.”
She turned and fled down the hallway. A bullet hit the wall, barely missing her. She ran into her bedroom and slammed the door behind her, knowing it would merely slow him. Not stop him. She climbed through her window and slipped out into the night. She spr
inted through the meadow in the back of their two-acre lot and kept running. Momma’s screams echoed in her ears. Her body dropping to the floor played through her mind.
Adrenaline propelled Charlie into the Bridger-Teton National Forest, which she knew like the back of her hand.
From a distance behind her, the man shouted that he would find and kill her. She appreciated the warning. She would never let that happen.
Charlie shot up in bed, a cold sweat drenching her body. The dreams came less frequently now. Instead, the fear and anguish and deep, aching loss showed up in panic attacks.
I shouldn’t have asked for more . . .
More what? More money? More time?
The Hoback County Sheriff’s Department investigator, Randall Koonce, had wanted to accuse Charlie of killing her own mother. He claimed there was no evidence anyone else had been in the house except Charlie. She thought maybe he was trying to protect Clyde. Sheriff Everett, to his credit, had put a quick end to the line of thinking that put Charlie as the suspect. But she still couldn’t count on him to protect her from Clyde, even if she got a restraining order.
Charlie would remain hidden from the man who threatened to kill her while she tried to figure out what her mother’s words had meant when she said she shouldn’t have asked for more. Had Momma known the man? It seemed like she’d known who’d come for her and why. It had to have been Clyde. Who else? Part of her feared that Sheriff Everett might bend an ear to Koonce’s accusations and decide Charlie was guilty after all. He’d throw her in jail.
That thought alone could bring on the panic attacks. So she’d disappeared. As far as anyone knew—besides Mack—she’d gone back to the University of Wyoming to finish out her last year studying animal science. As soon as she didn’t fear for her life anymore, as soon as she found out who had killed her mother and why and that person was behind bars, then she could go back to school. Maybe. It would be hard to get on with her life without her mother, but that’s what Momma would have wanted. Charlie didn’t want to let her down in this life or the next.
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