“What direction would they have taken?” Grady asked, looking at the others for suggestions.
“I’d think they’d stay here in the western section. The eastern part of Montana is getting much worse weather. So let’s narrow our search to this area.” Ty circled a large western section of the state and made a mark where they were located. “We need to start out and go over each section like the spokes on a wheel. What do you all think?”
“I agree, and we don’t want to fly too low. Hopefully if we get close they won’t hear the copter,” Sheriff Grady said.
“I have a friend and my cousin headed this way in a truck. If we see something suspicious they can drive in that direction and check it out,” Ty said. “When my brothers land at the ranch, we’ll send them driving in the opposite direction so one car will hopefully be close to what we find.”
“Sounds good,” the pilot said. “We have limited time. It’s going to get dark before long, and I’m afraid we’re in for more snow.”
As they walked toward the copter, Ty’s cell rang again. “Hello.”
“We’ll be there soon,” Brent said. “Where are you?”
Ty told him what had happened since his call. “After you land, call Mick. See where he is, and then take my truck. I just got it back the other day. I was going to sell it, and thank goodness I changed my mind. It’s got plenty of gas and should be running fairly well. Head in the opposite direction from Mick, but stay west. We only have a few hours before we all have to turn back.”
“Will do. We’ll keep in touch.”
Ty’s hopes lifted knowing everyone would soon be involved in the search. The more people looking increased their possibility of finding Lily. Their helicopter lifted into the air and started on the first spoke of the wheel on their map. They’d drawn out each direction to go. Time was running out for them today.
* * * *
The minutes dragged by. Lily’s hands were feeling numb from being tied so long. Muscles ached from where she’d been sitting in the hard, straight chair. Once in a while one of the men would look in on her, but mostly they ignored her. It sounded as though they were playing cards and waiting for the man who wanted her. If he didn’t get here soon, they’d kill her. Hell, he might kill me, too. I’m in a very bad position.
She glanced out the window and saw the light beginning to fade. If they were looking for her, there wasn’t much daylight left to aid them in the search.
To keep her spirits up, she continued her mantra. Believe. Ty will rescue me. The words comforted and calmed her. She didn’t want to fall apart and get hysterical. The tall man who’d kidnapped her had a short fuse. There was no reason to take a chance on lighting it.
Her head fell forward. She must have dozed for a few minutes. A cell phone rang, and her kidnapper answered. She recognized the tall man’s voice.
“I know the weather report. Get here quick. As I said before we’ll be gone by tomorrow. This front is coming in faster than we expected. And we ain’t taking no prisoners with us. Sure, you paid me. I did what you wanted. It’s not my fault you’re having a problem getting here to collect her.”
“All right. But your man better get here soon. It’s going to snow tonight.”
The conversation ended. He looked around the door to Lily and frowned. “You’re becoming a liability. We need to leave. I lied on the phone to shut him up.” He chuckled. “Never trust a dishonest man.”
Lily heard him talking to his buddies. In a minute, they all came into the room. Her heart rate ratcheted up and out of sight. Her vision blurred as she saw him take out his gun.
“Come on, Karel. Let her live. What the hell. We have our money. It’s a toss of the dice. If the cold gets her, we didn’t do it, and we’ve left no evidence,” the man who’d taken her to the bathroom said. “If she survives, she can’t identify us. We’ve worn our masks whenever we’ve been around her. Then again, maybe the other guy will get here. But with this weather, I doubt it.”
Lily held her breath. She knew pleading wouldn’t help her case with this cold-hearted man. She stared back at him and held her head high. The others stamped out to go to their car. It was probably only seconds, but it felt like minutes as the two studied each other.
“You aren’t going to cry or plead with me to save you?”
“It wouldn’t change your mind. You’ll do whatever you want to do.” She held herself steady, trying to hide how scared she was.
He cocked his head to the side and gave a harsh laugh. “I’ve made strong men weak and tearful when I faced them with my gun. People say I don’t have a heart.”
She didn’t speak, didn’t move. Her heart was lodged in her throat, but she held on to a tiny whisper of hope.
“The only thing I respect is courage. And, little lady, you have it. So, I’ll give you a chance. Maybe your people will find you before starvation or the cold ends your life. I’m leaving the generator running. When it runs out of gas, it’ll quit.” He shrugged. “As my partner said, it’ll be the luck of the draw.” With those words, he pivoted around and strode outside, slamming the door shut behind him.
Lily heard the car engine start, and the sound of the wheels crunching on the icy snow faded as they drove off. Tears she’d been holding back ran down her face. Finally, she took a deep breath. He’d left her tied. She hadn’t dared to ask him to untie the ropes.
Alone, now, she began to work on the ties around her wrists. Over the hours, she’d been pulling on them, trying to stretch the cords. They felt a tiny bit looser. She’d survive. He’d given her a chance. She wasn’t going to waste it.
Chapter Nine
Ty leaned against the window and stared out. Light and hope were fading, but he wouldn’t give in. Lily depended on him and the others to find her.
They finished searching the first spoke of the wheel and started on the second. Dusk was falling.
“We’re going to have to turn back soon,” the pilot said. “My last weather report said we’d have snow in the next hour or two. We’ll take a quick sweep of this area and head home.”
The Sheriff and Ty nodded, but didn’t take their eyes off the territory below. Ty rubbed his eyes and looked toward a narrow road off to the left. He blinked. “Circle around toward that road,” he said to the pilot.
As they got closer, they saw the car speeding toward a major highway. They’d kept their lights off, and with the car’s dark color they had almost faded into the landscape.
“Is it brown?” Grady asked.
“Can’t tell for sure, but it’s the only car we’ve seen in the last hour.” Ty flipped his phone open and called Brent. “Where are you?” When Brent told him they’d landed and were in the truck headed in their direction, Ty gave a sigh of relief. “Good. Take a right on the next road you come to. With luck you might just meet our kidnappers at the last intersection before the interstate. We’re going to circle this area.”
“We’ll follow your directions, and I’ll alert Mick to head this way. They could have divided up. Hopefully you’ll sight a cabin or house that appears deserted.” Brent hung up.
Their pilot turned and began a wide circle. Ty and Sheriff Grady took out binoculars to help see the area better in the fading light. They made one circle with no luck.
“We need to turn back,” the pilot said.
“I have a gut feeling. Make one more smaller circle, please.”
“All right, and that’s it. We’re heading to the ranch afterwards.”
Ty’s heart sank. He saw nothing. They’d have to leave her overnight and hope tomorrow she’d be found alive, or maybe she was in the car speeding down the road.
The helicopter swung toward home. Sheriff Grady patted his shoulder. “We’ll find her tomorrow. Maybe earlier if Brent finds that car and the people inside are the kidnappers. Don’t give up hope.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the help today. I won’t forget it.”
They landed and let Ty off before taking flight again and heading to th
e landing strip where they housed the helicopter.
Sheriff Grady had promised they’d be out at first light, weather permitting. Ty went into the empty house and put on coffee. Eventually the others would be heading home. A few flakes of snow were already coming down.
* * * *
Drake was driving. He speeded faster then he should on the slick roads, but he took a chance keeping the speed up as much as possible. Brent, sitting beside, him watched for the intersection and a car. Daylight was fading fast and the first few snowflakes plopped onto the windshield.
They’d almost given up when they saw the crossroads. They stopped, pulled off the road, and waited.
“If our boys are headed this way, they either should be here any moment, or they’ve made it past us and are on their way to the interstate,” Drake said. “We can’t wait long or we’ll be stranded on the side of this road all night.”
“See that old tree?” Brent pointed. It lay close to the intersection. “I wonder if we could drag it across the crossroads?”
“Probably, but the next car could be innocent people, or Lily might be in the kidnapper’s car. If they hit the tree trunk, there’ll possibly be injuries.”
“I doubt anyone else is out in this weather, especially in this unpopulated area. Lily might be hurt worse if we do nothing.”
“True. Hurry, if they’re headed this way we haven’t got much time,” Drake said.
Quickly they dragged the rotten tree trunk to the intersection and placed it across the tarmac. Drake and Brent ran to their car. Not two minutes later they saw a vehicle approach. Since it was almost dark, the driver didn’t see the obstacle right away.
“Their driver isn’t familiar with these roads, or he’d be driving a bit faster,” Drake said. “I think we may have our kidnappers.”
The brown sedan’s brakes squealed as the car slowed and went to the left, skidding across the ground toward Drake and Brent.
“Damn,” Drake said as the car brushed against the right side of Brent and Drake’s vehicle with a loud bang.
In spite of being shaken, Brent and Drake jumped out of their car from the driver’s side, guns drawn.
“Get out with your hands up,” Brent yelled. Stunned, the two men in front opened the doors and staggered out. The third man in the back had pulled his gun out. Brent saw the man was armed.
“Drop it. You might shoot me, but then my brother would kill you.”
The man hesitated. He glared at Brent, holding the gun pointed at his heart.
“Don’t be stupid,” one of his partners said. “They don’t have nothing on us.”
Brent drew a breath of relief when the man handed him his gun.
Drake got on his phone, contacting the Sheriff. “We’ll tie them and transport them to town,” Drake told Sheriff Grady.
“My deputy and I will drive out in your direction. Then you won’t have to come all the way in.”
“See you soon.” Drake ended the call and kept his gun on the subdued men while Brent finished tying them up.
Brent shoved each man into the backseat and fastened seat belts around them. “With their hands tied behind them and the seat belts on they’ll have much more difficulty trying anything,” Brent said. He checked the side of their vehicle. “Looks like it will drive all right. Not too much damage.” He glanced at Drake. “You feel all right to drive?”
“Sure. You took the brunt of the crash. How about you?”
“Head’s a little dizzy, but I’ll be fine. Let’s get these guys back and find out where they left Lily.” He put his head inside the back door and faced the men. “I don’t suppose either one of you wants to tell me where we can find Lily Yannell?” The silent, stone-faced men stared back at him. “No, I didn’t think it would be that easy. Let’s go, Drake.”
Drake waited for Brent to climb in on the driver’s side, and then he got in. “We’re on our way. But get on the phone and call Dr. Neels to come and check your hard head.”
“I’ll be fine. What, are you turning into an old maid worrying about me?”
“No.” Drake threw him a glance. “I’m just scared of Mom and Angie if I let anything happen to you.”
* * * *
Lily saw the snowflakes and knew outside of a miracle she’d be spending the night where she was, but at least it would keep the other man from getting here. She kept working on her ropes. One piece was getting loose. So far the heat still warmed the house. Still, at any moment that could change.
Her fingers were clumsy and cold. She wouldn’t stop trying. She’d had one miracle when the man hadn’t shot her. Her hope and determination kept her going.
She jumped and blinked her eyes. Faint light shone inside the cabin from the window. She must have dozed after she finally managed to get her hands free and the rest of her ties off of her. In the front bedroom, she’d found two blankets. Although dirty, and no telling what else might be on them, she’d wrapped herself up and sat in the chair. Without a jacket, the heat had not been enough to keep some of the cold out. The blankets warmed her chilled body.
Getting up, she walked to the window. Thankfully, it had been a light snowfall and had stopped early in the evening. She was certain there were people looking for her, but the cabin was in the middle of an isolated area. How could she make the place more visible?
Though faded, the pink and blue blankets on the white snow might catch their eye. If they didn’t she’d probably freeze to death tonight. There couldn’t be much gas left in the generator, and her only covering would be wet. She’d wait and listen. If she heard a plane, she’d run outside with the blankets in her arms. Spread one and stand on it.
A more drastic plan would be to try and burn the old cabin down. Searching the kitchen, she found an old matchbox in the back of one drawer. To start the fire she’d have to use the only material she had, the blankets. No, then she’d have nothing left if they missed her. Her best shot was her second idea.
She moved her chair close to the window and waited. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and her muscles ached. She’d drunk water out of the faucet, but hadn’t had food since her kidnapping. Her knees were weak, but she was determined.
Believe. Ty will rescue me.
* * * *
Sheriff Grady and his pilot landed at the ranch at first light. Ty ran to the helicopter and got in.
“Did you get any information out of those three last night?” Ty asked as he put his headset on.
“No. They’re a stubborn bunch, but my deputy is going to work on them today. At least until the FBI gets here. I understand Brent’s FBI friend is coming.”
“Yes. Brent called him last night, after he got checked by the doctor.” Ty smiled. “What a big fuss he made about getting looked over. We had to threaten to call Angie and Mom before he shut up.”
Sheriff Grady laughed. “I’d like to have seen that. Is he all right?”
“Slight concussion. I guess his hard head hit the side window. He has a headache. We won’t let him go with Drake today. It’s killing him.” Ty looked out the window as they flew away from the ranch.
“We’ll find her today, Ty,” Sheriff Grady said.
“I know.” He took a deep breath. “I’m counting on it.”
He spread out the map they’d marked yesterday. “Let’s take up where we left off. And go back to the last circle we made only go a little more to the left. I swear I saw a dot of something in the distance.”
“Sure,” their pilot said. “No problem.” He swung the bird toward the southwest.
The land below them was covered in white snow, and the air was crisp and clear. Bright sunlight sparkled across the vast land. Ty had on his sunglasses to break the glare. He took the binoculars and searched for the spot where he thought he’d seen something last evening.
Again it was when they turned to go back at a slightly different angle that he caught a glimpse of a dark speck in the whiteness. “Turn right,” he shouted.
Their pilot angled the copter
in that direction. “I see it, too. That little speck, and it looks like a snow-covered small cabin behind it.”
Ty’s heart pounded. It has to be her. A hollow ache filled his abdomen. She has to be all right. As they flew closer, Ty saw a small figure standing on something pink. Arms waving frantically, the figure jumped up and down.
“That’s her,” Sheriff Grady said.
Ty leaned against the window, staring hard. Lily became clearer as they got close. Her golden hair glistened in the sunlight. A small, dilapidated cabin sat behind her.
When the helicopter landed, Ty was the first one out. He ran through the snow and grabbed her tight. Her soft body wrapped around his.
“I knew you’d come. I kept telling myself you’d rescue me,” she whispered in his ear.
Sheriff Grady ran by with gun drawn to check the cabin.
Lily yelled to him, “No one’s in there. They all left late yesterday.”
“Drake and Brent caught three men at dusk. They denied knowing anything, but we didn’t believe them. There wasn’t any other reason for them to be in this isolated area,” Ty said. “Can you identify the men who held you?”
“No. That’s the only reason they didn’t shoot me. They wore masks the whole time. But I think I’d know their voices, at least the leader’s.”
“We’re going to take you home and get you warm.” Ty picked her up and put her in the helicopter. As soon as they were airborne, he contacted the others. “We have her safe. See you at the ranch,” he told Drake, and then Mick. He snapped his phone shut and held Lily tight. His chin touched the top of her silky hair. She cuddled into him, her breath a whisper against his throat.
How could he consider marriage? He’d live in constant fear of her being hurt or worse. And yet the idea of letting her go and never holding her again, never seeing her smile or smelling her womanly scent, was just as difficult to comprehend.
Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Cattleman Wins a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 8
