“I think you’re getting off track. Someone could have killed Marilee Clemmons to keep her quiet. It’s obvious more than one person, more than Marilee, is involved in Charlie’s abduction. We know that someone doesn’t want you to find Charlie. Maybe Marilee had been paid to abduct the baby and her knowledge was a threat to the person who hired her. What we still don’t know is the connection to Katelyn Mason. Why her baby?”
Willow pushed a protruding evergreen branch away. “I hope Katelyn isn’t in danger now.”
Heath slowed, reining in his horse and angling it just enough so that he could look at them, his expression fierce with worry. “I know the notes have warned you away from finding her, and you believe your abduction was a distraction so he could get to her, but what if you’re wrong? What if this person doesn’t know where Charlie’s been hiding, and all we’re doing is leading him to her?”
Chapter fifty-five
SATURDAY, 7:08 A.M.
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST
“Charlie!” the man called. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help.”
Gasping for breath, Charlie couldn’t let herself stop, but she couldn’t force her legs to keep moving either. She dropped behind a group of boulders and sucked in the cold morning air, sweat coating her body despite the temperature.
Panic set in, freezing her limbs.
God, I thought I could trust you. Mack said I could.
She’d known better than to trust anyone—not one single soul, except for Mack. And she was glad she’d listened to her instincts. She’d known not to trust Sheriff Everett, but she hadn’t expected to see Sheriff Haines here—the Bridger County sheriff.
Why had he shown up at her cabin? He’d come dressed in plain clothes. She only recognized him because she’d seen him with Mack. They were friends.
But a sheriff who wanted to help would’ve dressed for the part—and given his name. Not slinked up behind trees as he made his way to the cabin. Holding her weapon behind her, she’d slowly opened the door, ready to run, and made the mistake of giving him the chance to explain. He’d put on a smile and inched closer like she was a skittish doe.
When he was about fifteen yards from the door, she’d said, “Hold it right there. What are you doing here?”
“The man who wants to kill you, he’s coming for you. I know everything, Charlie. I’m here to protect you.”
“Who told you I was here?”
His eyes had flicked to the left, then the right, as if to see if they were alone. Clyde had done the same right before he’d grabbed Charlie after Momma’s death. She’d gotten away from him and wouldn’t make the mistake of letting a suspicious person get too close again. Add to that, the sheriff had something in his hand that he held to his side as if hiding it. What was it?
“Heath McKade. Who else?”
Wrong answer.
Charlie had dashed outside and around the cabin to run deeper into the national forest. With the sheriff standing in her path, she couldn’t make it to the trail that could take her down to the Emerald M Ranch and Mack.
She wouldn’t believe it until she heard it from Mack—he would have been there too if Charlie had been in imminent danger. How had the sheriff found her? Mack never would have told anyone where she was.
And now she was in a world of hurt, tired of running. Panic setting in. She couldn’t breathe, but she needed to run.
Sucking in a long breath to power her through, she shoved from the boulder. She had to keep moving.
Suddenly, her body buzzed with pain. Electricity surged through her muscles, making them stiff, shutting her down. She fell and hit her head. Everything went black.
Her eyes fluttered open. How long had she been out?
Charlie was hanging upside down over the sheriff’s shoulder. Her body still dazed, her head aching, she wasn’t sure if she could move, but she wouldn’t let him know she was conscious, at least not yet. She had to get her bearings. Make a plan. Where was he taking her? She could just make out the terrain—the Grayback Canyon loomed down farther. At the bottom of that canyon, the Grayback River.
Not much time for her to strategize.
The rush of the river met her ears. Fear squeezed her throat. No . . .
God, please help me! Charlie rammed her knee into the man’s gut. He dropped her, and she scrambled away. But too late she realized she was pinned between Sheriff Haines and the Grayback ravine—not yet the deep canyon—but still, tears engulfed her.
“Why are you doing this? I don’t understand.”
Regret surged in his eyes. “Why couldn’t you just have stayed gone?”
“You? You killed my mother?”
“No. You have it wrong. That wasn’t me.”
“Then explain it to me. What’s going on? You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”
He inched toward Charlie. He would push her off.
“I want answers. Tell me how you’re involved in this.”
“Believe me, I’m being merciful. This is for the best. It’s better that you don’t know the truth, so you can die in peace. The truth would tear you apart.”
Angry tears burned her eyes. “What are you talking about? What truth?”
She took in her options—she couldn’t escape him by running to the right or left. He could hit her with that Taser again. “Please, just let me go. I promise I’ll disappear. You won’t have to see me again. I can stay gone, like you said.” Whatever that meant. “I won’t even go back to school. I’ll leave the country.”
“I wish you had, honey. And I’m real sorry about this.”
Would he use the Taser again or just push her? Heart in her throat, Charlie made a mad dash. God, if you’re there and I can trust you, please don’t let the Taser hit me. Help me survive!
She propelled herself into emptiness.
Chapter fifty-six
SATURDAY, 7:18 A.M.
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST
“I think it’s time to get off the horses, Heath,” Austin called up to his brother.
Heath said nothing and continued. They all sensed the urgency of the situation, but Willow was having a harder time with Amber since Heath increased his speed despite the rocky trail. Austin tensed his neck and shoulders and clenched his jaw as though he could keep Willow safe on the horse by doing so.
A few minutes later, the cabin came into view—just barely—behind a copse of fir trees. It was secluded all right. The woods were eerily quiet. It had taken far longer than he had thought it would to reach it.
Heath got off his horse, his features as grim as they’d been at the news of Dad’s fatal accident. They hadn’t passed Charlie on the trail.
Austin got off his horse. Willow stared at the ground from the saddle, uncertainty in her gaze. Austin reached up. “Here, let me help you.”
“I can do it.” She slid from the saddle like she’d done it a thousand times.
Austin gently grabbed her waist to steady her, just the same. She didn’t resist.
“You’re a natural, you know that?”
“What do you mean?”
“On the horse.” He wanted to smile at that, but this wasn’t the time.
Her attention was drawn to Heath when he pulled a rifle from his saddle scabbard. They tied the horses to some trees. Time to move in and search for Charlie.
“Why don’t you wait with the horses?” he asked Willow quietly. “Please.”
“I’m coming too. But I’ll stay back and give you space to work.”
Fair enough. Austin readied the 9mm Glock he’d borrowed from Heath and they slowly crept toward the cabin. Willow was just a few feet behind him.
“Charlie? You in there?” Heath called as he knocked on the door. “I brought friends. You can trust them.”
“Your life is in danger, Charlie.” Austin held his weapon at low ready. “Willow and I have come to help. We’ve come with some important news about who killed your mother.” Right. They didn’t know who killed her. Bu
t they knew he was coming for Charlie.
Austin drew up next to Heath and gestured to the door. Time to go in. He hoped she wasn’t simply hiding inside—they would scare her with this next move.
Heath prepared to kick open the door. Austin put his hand up to stop Heath and tried the knob. It wasn’t locked. He hoped he’d find Charlie inside alone, but he was prepared for the worst. Still, he rushed in with his weapon drawn. “It’s empty.”
Willow and Heath followed him into the sparse one-room cabin. A propane stove sat in the corner. Papers covered a table. Bank statements? A shelf stacked with canned food—chili, beans, soup.
“I don’t like this.” His lips in a tight line, Heath shook his head.
Willow moved to the small cot in the corner and sat on the creaky bed. She ran her hand across the rumpled, worn-out quilt, then scrutinized the room. “There’s her backpack. Her clothes are still here. That doesn’t tell us much.”
“You sure there’s no other way for her to get to the ranch?” Austin clomped around the cabin.
“Besides this trail? Yes. I’m sure. You saw the ridge. It wouldn’t make sense to take any other path.”
“Unless she thought she was in danger.” Austin stepped outside the cabin and searched the woods for signs of a struggle. The possibility remained that Charlie had been abducted—or worse, murdered. He didn’t want to speak the words out loud. Saying them would somehow give them life.
Austin circled the cabin, going wider with each time around. That Charlie had been living in this secluded, off-grid cabin told him a lot. She was terrified and didn’t believe anyone could protect her better than herself.
Footprints. Boots. Large, with a deep impression. A man. Austin wanted to take a picture of the prints, but finding Charlie took priority.
“Found something,” he called.
Willow appeared around the corner and approached Austin. Heath wasn’t far behind. “Look here.” Austin gestured to the ground. “Footprints. Someone was here. Someone other than Charlie, unless she wears a men’s size 11.
“If it’s the same guy who got me last night, he has a Taser and isn’t afraid to use it. Let’s keep looking. Maybe she’s still running or found a place to hide. We can’t be that far behind him.” Austin didn’t have confidence in his words, but they had to keep hoping until all was lost. The question remained—who would they find chasing Charlie?
Austin had made the mistake of getting ahead of himself far too often. He couldn’t afford to jump to the wrong conclusions now. That could get Charlie killed.
Despite the clouds in the sky and the chilly morning, sweat poured down his back. Images of the mission gone wrong accosted him. Regardless, he would see this through to the end. And he wouldn’t fail.
He couldn’t.
“What now?” Willow asked. “Where do we look for her?”
Heath looked through the scope on his rifle. “She’s smart. She’s always on alert. If he got here before us, she got away. I hope that’s what happened. We can figure out the trajectory of these footprints. Which direction she ran. Then we can head that way. I’ll try to call her again if by some magic I can get a signal.”
Austin and Heath spanned out, searching the ground.
“Come on,” Austin whispered to Willow.
The dark circles under her eyes told of her harried night. Austin blamed himself, but he wouldn’t think about that until they had Charlie back. Until they found the man who had abducted Willow and was intent on harming Charlie.
“There,” Heath said. “These footprints lead deeper into the woods away from the trail. If she kept going in that direction, it would take her to the river.”
Austin squeezed the grip of his Glock. He hoped he wouldn’t have to use it today.
“Should we call out to her?” Willow asked. “Let her know we’re coming and that we’re friendly. We want to help?”
Heath lifted a finger to his lips and crept forward on the pine needles.
Austin tugged Willow close and whispered in her ear, “I don’t want you going into this. It’s dangerous. I’m supposed to protect you. Please stay here. Stay back.”
“Then protect me, but I have a weapon too, so I’m not completely helpless.” Willow pushed beyond him to follow Heath.
He wanted to kick himself. He hadn’t thought they’d be walking into this kind of situation. Hadn’t believed it. Heath moved quickly and quietly like he was still a Green Beret on a covert military mission as he followed the tracks. Austin followed behind Willow and Heath, looking for clues to lead them to Charlie.
The way grew steep in places, more hazardous. The trees denser. Even the forest appeared darker.
A man hiked between the trees toward them. Tension corded Austin’s neck. “Look.”
Heath paused and peered through the evergreens.
The man picked up speed, covering the distance quickly. Sheriff Haines breathed hard. “Got here as soon as I heard.”
“Glad you made it.” Heath peered through the scope. “We could use the help.” He explained what they’d found at the cabin.
Sheriff Haines worked to catch his breath. “No need to put more people in danger than necessary. Why don’t you take Miss Anderson back to the horses, McKade? Your brother and I will continue the search.”
Austin frowned.
“Now wait a minute. I’m here to find her. Someone hired me.” Willow lifted her chin. Defiant to the end.
“He’s right.” Austin gently took her arm.
She protested.
“It’s the sheriff telling you to go back, Willow.” He guided her back toward the horses.
She leaned in to whisper. “Something’s off about this. I don’t think we should leave Heath there alone.”
Willow tried to turn back. He caught her and urged her down the trail. “I agree. That’s exactly why I don’t want you there. Please, just trust me for once in your life.” She must have heard the urgency in his voice because she complied.
Beyond the cabin, they made it to the horses. Willow turned to look back. “Did Heath ever tell anyone where Charlie was hiding?”
“No. Not even the sheriff. He told Haines to meet us at the ranch but never said where exactly we were headed. And even if he had, no way could Sheriff Haines have beaten us here.”
“Go, Austin. You have to do something. You shouldn’t have left Heath back there alone just to protect me.”
Austin paced. He never wanted to leave Willow again. He should keep her at his side to protect her. Forever, if the deepest place in his heart had its way. But what about Heath? Did he realize the danger? Did he recognize it?
Determination shivered in her hazel eyes, making them look more green, like the forest around her. “It isn’t him, Austin. He’s not the masked man who abducted me.”
“How can you know?”
“Sheriff Haines isn’t as big as the guy from last night. Plus, he doesn’t appear injured. His arm isn’t broken.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s not involved.”
“Let’s go back. We’ll follow at a distance in case Heath needs us.” She gripped her weapon and chambered a round.
A shot rang out.
Heath!
Chapter fifty-seven
Heart pumping much too hard, Willow sprinted behind Austin, rushing between trees and thick underbrush, over rocks and fallen branches.
“Heath!” he called. “Heath, are you all right?”
Austin should approach quietly, to her way of thinking, but what did she know? A pang throbbed in her chest on Austin’s behalf. For his brother. The desperation in his voice nearly undid her. Gasping for breath, Willow wanted to fall to her knees. She simply couldn’t keep up. Austin slowed and glanced back at her, his eyes dark with worry.
“Go. I’ll catch up,” she said.
“No.” He shook his head. “No. I’m not ever leaving you again.”
“Not even . . . ?” She let the words trail off. A lump formed in her throat. Not even for
your brother?
“Not even for Heath. He’s a big boy. Can take care of himself.” Fear surged in his eyes.
“Let’s go then.” They had wasted time talking, but it gave her a chance to catch her breath. That he would stay behind with her when Heath could be shot and dying sliced open a chunk of her heart. She didn’t know how to process the raw emotion coursing through her.
“No,” he mumbled, then sprinted forward. “Heath!”
He slid down an incline. Willow followed him down without sliding and Heath came into view. His form was slumped against a boulder.
“Heath! What happened?” Austin dropped to his knees next to his brother.
“I’m okay,” he said, but his voice said otherwise.
“You’re not okay.” Desperation echoed in Austin’s tone. “You’re bleeding. He shot you?”
“Go. Go find Charlie. That jerk must have her somewhere. I don’t know if she’s already dead.”
“You’re going to die if you don’t get help,” Austin said.
“I’m putting pressure on the wound. I know what to do, and there’s time before it’s too late. Hurry, you’re Charlie’s only hope. But be careful, he’ll know you’re coming.”
Austin gripped the collar of his brother’s shirt. “Don’t die on me, Heath.”
“Go get her.” Sweat beaded on Heath’s brow. “I’m too stubborn to die. You know that.”
“Stay here.” Austin directed the words to Willow, the silent message in his eyes. Stay with my brother and take care of him. Then to Heath, he said, “Watch out for her.”
Heath lifted his chin, gesturing deeper into the woods. “He headed southeast. Just be careful. You know he’ll shoot you if you give him the chance. But I know you can handle yourself, little brother.”
Austin took Heath’s rifle and ran in that direction.
Willow dropped to her knees next to Heath, despair etching her soul. Austin had said he wouldn’t leave her, not even for his brother, but circumstances had changed. She wouldn’t have him stay here. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Still, disappointment pinged in her heart that he’d had to leave her, despite his reassurances. Ridiculous. She wouldn’t leave Heath here alone, even if Austin hadn’t asked. “What happened? Why did he shoot you?”
Never Let Go Page 25
