The Cowboy Target

by Terri Reed

Wyatt took the map from her hands and studied it. “That’s in the far northeast corner of the property. We’ll have to take the all-terrain vehicles.”

  “Let’s do it,” she said, hoping they could soon put an end to this whole situation once and for all.

  * * *

  Jackie eyed the slick-looking ATV with its big wheels, wide seat and loud motor—and smiled. She loved fast vehicles of any kind almost as much as she loved carrying a gun.

  The sun was high in the sky now, its brilliant rays glistening off the packed snow and making her glad for the sun visor on the brightly colored helmet strapped on her head. Someone had produced cold-climate apparel for her. She wasn’t sure whose clothes she had on. She had a sinking feeling that the thick bright green snow pants and matching jacket had once belonged to Dina Monroe.

  “Sure you’re up for this?” Wyatt asked for the hundredth time.

  She cut him a glance. He’d changed into snow gear much like what she now wore, only his clothes were bright orange. “Yes. I told you. I’m fine.”

  Skepticism shone in his eyes. “You sure you know how to drive one of these?”

  “What makes you think I wouldn’t?”

  He shrugged. “Not much use for an ATV in Boston.”

  “Ah, but you forget I was raised in Iowa. Besides, my daddy and grandpa would take me to Montana with them during hunting season. We packed our gear on ATVs.”

  To prove the point, she threw her leg over the engine block and plunked down on the black leather seat. She placed her hands on the handlebars and put her right foot on the back brake pedal. She reached forward between the bars to turn the engine key. An orange light on the panel glowed. With her left hand, she squeezed the choke and used her thumb to push the start button. The engine came to life with a deep rumble. Using her right hand, she twisted the handle and the ATV moved forward. She adjusted the choke and did a lap around the driveway. When she halted where she’d started, she looked expectantly at Wyatt.

  He nodded. “All right. Scoot back.”

  The plan was for them to ride double until they found Alexander, then Wyatt would ride the horse back while she drove the ATV. The rig was laden with a bridle and reins, a side bag filled with water, food prepared by Aunt Penny and two sleeping bags. Jackie sure hoped the bags were a just-in-case type of deal.

  She did not want to spend the night out in the nether regions of the Monroe property. Sleeping on the hard ground didn’t appeal to her. She’d never been one for camping without a few luxuries—like an air mattress, for starters.

  Wyatt settled himself in front of her. The scent of his aftershave hung on the cold air. Fighting to keep from nuzzling closer to get a better whiff, she wrapped her arms around his waist. The solid feel of him sent a thrill chasing up her spine.

  Feeling awkward and guilty for the attraction zinging through her blood, she glanced over her shoulder to see Spencer and Gabby standing with Penny on the porch. Jackie waved. Gabby blew kisses. Jackie’s heart melted. She blew a kiss back to the little princess.

  They moved along at a nice clip away from the ranch. She didn’t want to hang on to him so tightly, but she had no choice. Every point of contact burned right through the thick material of her snowsuit.

  For the next several hours, they wound their way across pasturelands, startling cattle and birds. They stopped several times to open and close gates as they moved from one cordoned-off section into another.

  Jackie had known the Monroe property was big, but the reality of just how much land the man owned made her wonder why he didn’t sell some if he was having money troubles. But a man’s pride was a prickly monster, she supposed.

  They stopped to eat and stretch near the base of a burr oak in what Wyatt referred to as the calving pasture. The rough bark with its many furrows made for a good break from the wind that had kicked up. Overhead clouds rolled in from the east over the mountain, dimming the winter sun.

  Jackie opened the side bag on the ATV and pulled out a sack with two hard bread rolls stuffed with cold cuts, cheese and dill pickles. Just the way she liked her sandwiches. Wyatt, however, had a sandwich piled high with turkey and lettuce between slices of multigrain bread.

  “Uncle Carl mentioned that you’re having some money problems,” she said between bites.

  Wyatt’s eyebrows rose, then lowered as he faced away from her. “Your uncle should keep my business private.”

  “He didn’t mean any harm. He’s worried about Alexander. About what it would mean to the ranch if something happens to the horse.”

  “The stallion does generate a healthy income,” he said and took a swig from his water bottle. “But the ranch is doing fine. I have investments that keep us afloat.”

  “Investments?”

  “Stocks, mostly. But I have shares in a few real-estate properties around the state.”

  “Then why does Uncle Carl believe the ranch isn’t fiscally sound?”

  “My private investments aren’t part of the ranch’s assets. I move money over when needed.”

  She’d already learned the man was more than he seemed. Poe and Dickens. Cattle and studhorses. The stock market and real estate. Shrewd businessman and cowboy. A man of depth. A man worth loving.

  She coughed as a bite of her sandwich went down wrong. Wyatt looked at her questioningly, and she waved him off. She wasn’t choking. Nor was she falling in love.

  She cared, sure. But that was as far as she could allow herself to go. Getting emotionally involved put her at risk of heartbreak. Once in a lifetime was enough. Never again. “We better get moving,” she said crisply and started packing up their supplies.

  In the distance, the rev of an engine whining as it accelerated sent a shiver of alarm down her spine.

  TWELVE

  “A snowmobile,” she stated grimly. “Hurry.”

  She jammed the last of her lunch into the pack and jumped on the ATV behind Wyatt. He started the motor. The sound of the approaching snowmobile grew louder, but the machine wasn’t visible yet.

  In a spray of snow, Wyatt took off, opening the throttle all the way, pushing the machine to its limits. Air whipped against her face as the ATV flew over the rough terrain. The slight discomfort in her shoulder barely registered. She glanced back just as the snowmobile came into view over a ridge. The driver wore all white. It had to be the same man who’d shot at them yesterday. A flash of fear ratcheted up the knot of tension forming in her gut. The type of high-powered rifle the shooter had was a deadly threat. One she wasn’t sure how to stop.

  Heart pounding beneath her ribs, she debated their options. They couldn’t outrun the snowmobile. Best to face the oncoming threat. Fisting the back of Wyatt’s jacket in her left hand to keep from flying off, she reached inside her coat for her gun. Twisting at the waist so that she faced the snowmobile, she took aim, waiting for their pursuer to come within range.

  She fired one shot. Missed. Hard to hit a moving target. Especially one going more than fifty miles an hour. But even still, the man on the snowmobile veered to the right and looped back the way he’d come, disappearing over the ridge in the landscape.

  Wyatt slowed the ATV to a stop. “He’s gone.”

  Realizing she was frozen with her weapon aimed at nothing, she gave herself a shake and lowered her gun. Inhaling deeply, she let the adrenaline rush out. She sagged forward to lean her head on his shoulder, grateful for his solid, broad back. She was thankful the Lord had spared them. But how long until their assailant came back? Next time he’d have the tactical rifle he’d used to blow out the tire on her SUV. If anything happened to Wyatt, she’d never forgive herself.

  Protecting Wyatt just might cost her her life...and her heart.

  “Jackie?”

  The concern in Wyatt’s voice brought her upright. “We need to hurry and find your hors
e.”

  With a grim nod, he faced forward and hit the gas. But Jackie couldn’t shake the feeling of danger breathing down her neck.

  * * *

  As they reached the edge of the property line where the Monroe ranch met the Dunns’ spread, Wyatt slowed the machine beneath him; his gaze searched the landscape in the fading light. Evening was fast approaching, and soon it would be too dark to search for the horse.

  A black lump on the ground near the creek bed on this side of the fence made Wyatt’s heart thump and his stomach drop with dread. Alexander.

  He gestured to Jackie and sped up. As they approached the horse, the animal lifted his head and whinnied. His dark eyes showed white with fear and panic.

  Cutting the engine, Wyatt jumped from the ATV, grabbed the halter and lead rope he’d brought, and ran to Alexander’s side. “It’s okay, boy. I’m here now.”

  The horse immediately stopped tossing his head and settled. Alexander tried to stand, but his legs collapsed beneath him. Wyatt quickly realized the problem. The horse’s front right leg was trapped knee-deep in the earth.

  Jackie slid to the ground next to Wyatt. She’d removed her helmet. Her wild blond curls spilled over her shoulders. “He’s hurt?”

  “Yeah, he’s stepped into some kind of crevice.” Keeping a hand on Alexander’s shoulder, Wyatt inspected the opening. It was a perfectly round hole. An icy foreboding gripped the back of his neck. “This isn’t natural. Someone made this.”

  Leaning close so she could see, Jackie asked, “Can you free him?”

  “I think so. In one of the packs is a small trowel.”

  “I’ll get it.”

  Wyatt yanked his helmet off and tossed it aside. He worked to put the halter over the horse’s head. He let the lead rope dangle to the ground as he concentrated on keeping Alexander calm by stroking his coat and talking gently to him.

  Jackie returned with a stainless-steel folding trowel. “Here you go.”

  Using the sharp tip, he worked to widen the hole. Sweat broke out on his back, but he didn’t take the time to remove the heavy parka. The earth slowly loosened around Alexander’s leg. He sat back. “Okay. We’re going to have to get him up so we can release his forelock and hoof.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “I’m going to help him stand. Once he’s upright, you grasp him by the knee.” He showed her where. “Then tug for all you’re worth.”

  He sure hoped Jackie would be strong enough. Especially with her injured shoulder.

  “Come on, boy. Time to stand,” Wyatt coaxed. He positioned himself near the horse’s girth; he slid his hand beneath Alexander’s belly and flexed his arms. The horse whinnied and twitched. “Up, boy. You can do it.”

  Alexander struggled to get his hind feet under him. Wyatt lifted, his muscles straining. Jackie grasped Alexander by the knee. She let out a groan as the right hoof popped out of the ground. She let go and tumbled onto her backside. Alexander broke from Wyatt’s arms and tried to run, but as soon as he put weight on the right hoof, the leg buckled and he went down. Jackie gave a small cry. Wyatt flinched and rushed to the horse as he struggled to regain his footing.

  Once upright, Alexander pulled his bad leg up, balancing on the tip of the hoof. Blood dripped from a gash on the front of his cannon bone. Holding on to the lead rope, Wyatt carefully inspected the bones of the right leg. He didn’t detect a break. But he wouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief until a vet took a look. He pulled out his cell phone. No signal. Frustration pounded against his temple.

  “I can’t get a signal out here,” Wyatt stated grimly. “There’s no way he can walk all the way back.” He’d end up lame, and Wyatt would have to put him down. “If only I’d thought to bring a splint.”

  “You couldn’t have anticipated he’d be hurt, Wyatt.”

  “I should have planned for the possibility, though. I should have—” He cut himself off, his frustration as imposing as the mountains behind them. He had to deal with this.

  “And I should have predicted we’d be chased on your land by some guy on a snowmobile,” Jackie stated.

  “There was no reason to believe—” Her arched eyebrow stopped him.

  “Yeah, two can play the self-flagellation game.” She shook her head. “But it doesn’t accomplish anything. We need to move forward. Make a plan.”

  Leave it to Jackie to put him in his place. He liked that about her. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.

  “One of us will have to make the ride back to the ranch alone while the other stays with Alexander,” he said.

  She eyed the horse with concern and nodded. “Then you better head to the ranch and bring help.”

  He glanced at the setting sun hanging low over the horizon. He hated the thought of leaving Jackie out here with the injured horse, but he doubted she’d be able to find her way back to the ranch in the dark. “I’ll head back far enough to get a signal. I’ll have Carl contact the vet and come out here with a trailer. They can reach us if they drive over the Dunns’ property.”

  “Boyd Dunn?”

  “Yeah.” Wyatt grimaced. “Boyd’s dad, Frank, owns the land on the other side of the fence. I’m not sure how cooperative the Dunn family will be, though. There’s no love lost between our families.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “One of the biggest sources of conflict is the creek.” He gestured toward the slow-moving body of water a few paces away. “The Dunns want access to the water, but their property ends two feet shy of the creek’s edge. I’ve offered to sell them the land, but Frank Dunn wants it for free.”

  “Ah, I can see how that would create tension.”

  He could only hope Frank Dunn would give them some grace and allow Carl and the vet to traverse his property to get here. Wyatt had no problem with breaking down part of the fence to get Alexander out. However, he’d no doubt have to fix the fence with improvements.

  “Why don’t I take the ATV and make the call?” Jackie said, her gaze troubled. “There’s still the guy on the snowmobile to think about.”

  “True. But it’ll be dark soon. If snowmobile guy comes after me, I can run. I know this land by heart. You don’t.” He cupped her cheek in his palm, which felt smooth and soft against his calloused skin. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back in one piece.”

  She blinked, then turned her head slightly to press her lips against his palm. His heart tripped over itself. Emotions rose to clog his throat. Now was not the time to analyze what he felt.

  “Be careful,” she whispered.

  “I will.”

  He backed away, from her and from the feelings rising from the depths of his heart. Though a tangible threat lurked somewhere in the dark, a different kind of danger hovered close—the danger of losing his heart to Jackie. And that was something he couldn’t allow to happen. Not if he wanted to avoid the burn of heartache again. An inevitable ending. Soon she’d leave, go back to her life in Boston—and he’d be left here hurting.

  * * *

  Jackie watched Wyatt ride away on the ATV. A strange sense of loneliness threatened to overwhelm her. She crossed her arms over her chest, then shook off the feeling. He would be back, she reasoned. It wasn’t as if she’d never see him again.

  Though if snowmobile guy had his way...

  The thought of Wyatt hurt caused a knot of fear in her midsection. “Lord, please watch over Wyatt. Keep him safe.”

  She had to trust that God would protect Wyatt. There was no other choice. His safety at the moment was out of her control. But she hated feeling so useless and anxious. Inhaling deeply, she strove to remain calm and find peace in trusting Wyatt to God’s care.

  Needing something to do, she turned her attention to Alexander. She could at least care for the horse. Alexander meant so much to Wyatt. She could show
the horse the care and affection she was afraid to show his owner.

  With lead rope in hand, she led him slowly to the creek’s edge. The horse limped along without a noise of complaint.

  “Thirsty, boy?”

  He dipped his head and slurped at the water.

  Placing her hand on his right shoulder, she ran her hand down his bad leg until she reached his knee. Alexander picked up his foot and offered his upturned hoof to her. Fearing she’d hurt him, she released his leg.

  The blood had dried on the wound. She wished she had a cloth or something to wash the blood away. She settled for splashing water on the gash and washing away the blood to reveal the open wound. Wishing for something to wrap around the gash, she thought about taking off her undershirt, but the temperature had dropped significantly, and a shiver worked its way over her body. Not far away she’d seen an outcropping of boulders. The rocks would provide some shelter from the wind.

  “Come on, boy.” Slowly, they picked their way toward the dark mass of rocks.

  Alexander’s ears perked up as a noise filled the air. Headlights cut through the darkness. The sound of tires crunching over the ground made Jackie’s heart pound. It was too soon for Uncle Carl to arrive. Where was Wyatt?

  Her gaze searched the inky landscape where he’d ridden off. But there was no sign of him returning. Was he hurt? Dying?

  She peeked around the side of the boulder. A pickup truck came to a stop on the other side of the fence not far from where Alexander had been injured. Three men emerged from the truck. It was too dark to see their faces, but she could make out the baseball cap of one and the cowboy hat of another. The third man didn’t have any head covering, but he wore a long coat that flapped behind him as he walked toward the fence.

  “This is the spot?”

  Jackie wasn’t positive, but she was pretty sure the man speaking was Pendleton, the Degas Corporation’s representative.

  Alexander nudged her shoulder. She stroked his nose but kept her attention on the men.

  “Yep. The guys you sent over to take samples bored several holes here and on the other side of the fence. They confirmed it,” one of the other men said. His voice sounded vaguely familiar. His words stirred anger on Wyatt’s behalf. They were surveying on his land without his consent. And Alexander had stepped into one of their holes.