Colorado Abduction

by Cassie Miles

  He’d have to show himself when he stepped out from behind the rocks to grab the ransom.

  Behind her, she heard Lucas moan. Help him? Or watch for the kidnapper? Damn it, she couldn’t let Lucas die. She lowered her gun and went toward the fallen man.

  He was on his hands and knees beside his horse. He was bleeding heavily from a chest wound. “Save yourself.”

  “You’re not dead yet.”

  Using every bit of her strength, she helped him onto his horse. They were near the fence. Not far from the gate.

  Looking back toward La Rana, she saw a dark shadow against the rocks. The kidnapper. Before she could get her gun ready to shoot, he raised his rifle and fired several shots into the air.

  The cattle reacted. Swept up in the rush of heavy flanks and shoulders, she was carried away from the fence, engulfed in the surging mass. She could only hope that Lucas’s horse would make it to the gate. And that she would find her way clear.

  Shouts filled the air. Peering over the backs of the cattle, she saw cowboys riding toward the field. She thought she recognized Burke’s voice. He’d come for her.

  The cattle jolted against each other. Three hundred of them in this field. There wasn’t enough room for them to run full out, not unless they broke through the barbed wire. If they stampeded, she didn’t have a chance.

  She stumbled but didn’t fall. Clinging to the side of a massive steer, she was carried forward by his momentum, almost losing her footing. Instead of escaping, she was pushed farther away from the barbed wire fence.

  Desperately, she clung to the panicked steer. Another steer banged against her. If she didn’t get out of here, she’d be crushed, pounded into the earth by the animals that were her livelihood.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Paying no attention to the warnings from cowboys who knew better, Burke rode through the gate into the mass of cattle. Being trampled was one hell of a way to die. He had to reach Carolyn.

  He saw her. She clung desperately to a giant steer. He nudged his horse forward, glad that his mount was more experienced than he was.

  Carolyn darted toward him. With one arm, he reached down and lifted her off the ground. She was in his arms, safely cradled against him.

  In seconds, he was at the gate.

  Outside the barbed wire fence, Burke held her close. He was still astride his horse so it wasn’t the most comfortable position. But he didn’t care. His arms clamped around her.

  “Burke, you can put me down.”

  “Never.”

  The other cowboys who rode with him to La Rana were busy, getting the herd inside the fence under control and rescuing the man who’d been shot.

  He kissed Carolyn’s sweaty forehead. She didn’t exactly smell like a rose garden, but he was happy to be near her, grateful that she was safe.

  She turned her face up to look at him. Smears of grime marred her pale cheeks and forehead. Her hat was gone. Her black hair tangled like a bird’s nest. She’d never been so beautiful.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “You told me not to leave the house without you.”

  “It doesn’t matter who’s right and who’s wrong.” He was in no mood for negotiating or competition. “You’re safe. That’s the important thing.”

  “We got a phone call from the kidnapper. And from Nicole. She told Dylan that—”

  “Nicole? You’re sure it was her?”

  “Dylan recognized her voice, and he ought to know. She told him to meet her at the creek. She’d be there after the ransom was delivered here. So Dylan and I split up to handle both things. That must mean there are two kidnappers.”

  “Butch Thurgood and Pete Richter,” he said. “Logan already ratted them out.”

  “Did you rescue the women and children at the compound?”

  “Worked out as planned. Logan is in custody.” He needed to step up and take charge of the operation again. “Before I get back to business, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  A brave smile twitched her lips. “Do you mean I have your undivided attention? For the next two minutes?”

  “Forever,” he said. “You will always have my undivided attention. Carolyn, you’re the center of my universe.”

  Her green eyes widened. “I am?”

  “You look surprised.”

  “Oh, yeah. I definitely am. Stunned, even.”

  In a way, he was amazed, too. They’d only known each other for a couple of days, and he wasn’t generally given to emotional outbursts. “I love you, Carolyn.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He loved her passion. Her strength. Her character.

  She whispered, “I love you, too.”

  For a moment they stared into each other’s eyes, basking in the strange glow of this shocking discovery. They were in love, capital L-O-V-E.

  MacKenzie rode up beside them. His face was somber. “Lucas didn’t make it.”

  “I’m sorry,” Carolyn said in a measured tone. “He died trying to save my life.”

  If she didn’t want to condemn him, Burke wouldn’t refute her. Lucas had died and there was no reason to tarnish his good reputation. “Carolyn, where did you drop the ransom?”

  “On the rocks.”

  He snapped off an order, “MacKenzie, go to those rocks in the center of the field. Look for a backpack.”

  “Backpack?”

  “You heard him,” Carolyn said. “A huge backpack full of money. A million dollars in cash.”

  The young man blinked. “Holy crap.”

  “Go,” Burke ordered.

  While he took out his cell phone, Carolyn repositioned herself so she was sitting in front of him on the saddle. He contacted Corelli and told him where Dylan was headed.

  He hoped there would be a happy ending for all of them, that Dylan would ride back to the ranch with Nicole. He wrapped his arms around Carolyn’s slender waist. “Do you want to ride back on your own horse?”

  “Not really.” She snuggled against him. “I used to be so concerned about appearances, worried that the ranch hands wouldn’t respect me if I showed weakness or emotion.”

  “Unless they’re blind and deaf, I’m pretty sure they know something’s going on between us.”

  “Do you think so?”

  He’d spent last night in her bed, and they hadn’t exactly been silent. “They know.”

  As she rested against him, they watched the cowboys climbing over La Rana, searching every crevice. MacKen-zie waved both arms. “It’s not here.”

  The ransom was gone. Burke had expected as much. Butch and Richter had figured out a simple but clever drop point. All they had to do to create a diversion was fire a gun and get out of the way while the stampeding herd covered their escape. “What happened when Lucas was shot?”

  “I had made the drop, and I was trying to get out of the field. He rode ahead of me, clearing a path. Then, he turned in the saddle and spotted something behind me.”

  “On La Rana?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Lucas didn’t have time to pull his rifle before they opened fire. Lucas was the traitor.”

  “I know.”

  “But he admitted that he’d made a mistake.” She exhaled a shuddering breath. “I want to remember the good things about him.”

  It was hard to believe Logan had no part in this operation, but he clearly hadn’t expected the raid on the compound. Additionally, the FBI team with the chopper had taken the smugglers on the Indian Trail into custody. “When we get back to the ranch, it’s going to be chaos. There will be hostages to process. And a mob of FBI to deal with.”

  “There’s only one thing I’m worried about,” she said.

  “Me?” he asked hopefully.

  She twisted her head to kiss his neck. “Do I need to worry about you?”

  “Not really. I know where I stand.”

  “Where’s that, Burke?”

  “At your side. As long as you’ll have me.”

  “That sounds go
od,” she said. “But I wasn’t really talking about you. I’m worried about what’s happening between Dylan and Nicole. The problems between them run deep. What if she doesn’t want to get back together with him?”

  “That’s her decision.”

  His job ended when Nicole was released.

  AS BURKE HAD PREDICTED, the scene at the ranch house was crazy. Every light in the house was lit. Headlights from vans and trucks raced back and forth. There were terse conversations from cowboys and commandos alike.

  Carolyn climbed down from the saddle and stood looking up at the man who had saved her life for the second time. The man she loved.

  “Go ahead, Burke. I know you have a lot to do. I’m going to the corral to wait for Dylan.”

  He dismounted. “I’m staying with you.”

  It felt good to have him put her first. “Aren’t there a lot of people you need to be ordering around?”

  “They’ll manage.” He hooked his arm around her waist.

  Together, they strolled toward the corral. The horse Burke had been riding trailed behind them. Though the night was far from silent, they seemed to be in their own little bubble of safety—a bubble that could be easily burst if Dylan didn’t return to the ranch with his wife.

  From across the moonlit field, she spotted her brother riding toward her. Alone.

  Her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t be happy in her newfound love if Nicole was…

  She ran to meet Dylan.

  He dismounted slowly.

  “I saw her,” he said. “We talked.”

  “Is she all right?” Carolyn asked. “Where is she?”

  “Not with me. Not anymore.” He held out his open palm, showing her the wedding ring. “Nicole isn’t coming back to me. She wants a divorce.”

  Carolyn took the ring and read the inscription: My horizon. This couldn’t be true. “I don’t believe—”

  “Believe it,” he said. “My horizon. My ass. The sun has set. She doesn’t love me anymore.”

  There had been hints. When Carolyn first showed up at the ranch, Nicole hadn’t wanted to talk. Not that they’d had many conversations lately. Carolyn had been too busy, hadn’t expected to encounter a problem like this. A divorce.

  “Your wife picked a hell of a way to break up with you,” Burke said. “Was the kidnapping staged?”

  “No.”

  She searched her brother’s face for a clue. He wore a stern mask to hide his pain and humiliation. “I want some answers, Dylan. Why did she keep signaling us that she was at the Circle M?”

  “We didn’t talk about that. She told me that being kidnapped was a blessing in disguise. It gave her time to think.”

  “I want to talk to her.” Carolyn needed to see for herself, wanted to hear the words from Nicole’s lips.

  “That’s why she’s not coming back to the ranch. Doesn’t want to explain herself to anybody.” He gestured to the ranch house where teams of FBI and cowboys hustled in and out. “It’s over. All these damn people can go back to where they came from.”

  “Sorry,” Burke said. “But that’s not how this type of investigation works. I need to be sure the victim is all right.”

  “She’s well.” Dylan spat the words. “The only thing wrong is that…she’s gone.”

  Carolyn pressed, “Tell me her exact words.”

  “None of your business. This is between me and my wife.” He straightened his shoulders. “My ex-wife.”

  “What about the ransom?” Burke asked.

  “Money well spent,” Dylan said, “if it means I’m done with her. I’m calling off the investigation. Nicole isn’t a missing person. Nobody was holding a gun to her head. She’s leaving of her own accord.”

  He turned his back and walked slowly toward the barn. Though his posture was erect and stoic, Carolyn knew that he was falling apart inside. And so was she. Her brief moment of happiness seemed to be crumbling. “Do something, Burke.”

  “Legally, I can’t track down a person who isn’t missing.”

  “You’ve picked a fine time to play by the rules.” Her hand closed around the wedding band. “Can’t you make Nicole come back? Make her explain to me.”

  Her gaze searched his face, looking for a reason to hope that this would turn out.

  “I won’t lie to you.” His dark eyes shone in the night. He kissed her forehead. “Dylan is satisfied that Nicole is well. I don’t have the authority to pursue further investigation.”

  “But I’m not satisfied.” This wasn’t the happy ending she’d hoped for. “Dylan might be willing to write off a million dollars, but I’m not. I want the ransom back.”

  “Good point.”

  Nicole had simple tastes. She wasn’t the sort of woman who needed a million dollars to start a new life. “I can’t believe she took the money.”

  “That might have been the price the kidnappers required. The price of her freedom.”

  “It’s just not right.”

  “I won’t leave you alone to handle this,” he said. “The kidnapping is over but I’m staying here. I won’t abandon you, Carolyn.”

  “Thank you.” She clung to him, needing him more than ever. “You just keep saving my life, over and over.”

  “That’s my job.”

  Never before did she have someone to lean on, someone to share the burden. And she was going to need his continued support, especially during the next few days. He was her rock, her strength, her one true love.

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  Mills & Boon® Intrigue brings you a sneak preview of…

  Cassie Miles’s Bodyguard Under the Mistletoe

  Young widow Fiona only had one thing on her Christmas list: keeping her daughter safe. So when a body was discovered on her property, Fiona jumped at bodyguard Jesse’s offer to stay for the holidays. He had a stoic face, but honest, caring eyes. And no matter how she ached to feel his toned and chiseled arms around her, she needed the protection that only a man like Jesse could provide.

  Don’t miss this thrilling new story available next month from Mills & Boon® Intrigue.

  © Kay Bergstrom 2009

  He wasn’t dead yet.

  The darkness behind his eyelids thinned. Sensation prickled the hairs on his arm. Inside his head, he heard the beat of his heart—as loud and steady as the Ghost Dance drum. That sacred rhythm called him back to life.

  His ears picked up other sounds. The beep-beep-beep of a monitor. The shuffle of quiet footsteps. The creaking of a chair. A cough. Someone else was in the room with him.

  The drumming accelerated.

  His eyelids opened—just a slit. Sunlight through the window blinds reflected off the white sheet that covered his prone body. Hospital equipment surrounded the bed. Oxygen. An IV drip on a metal pole. A heart monitor that beeped. Faster. Faster. Faster.

  “Jesse?” A deep voice called to him. “Jesse, are you awake?”

  Jesse Longbridge tried to move, tried to respond. Pain radiated from his left shoulder. He remembered being shot, falling from his saddle to the cold earth and lying there, helpless. He remembered a gush of blood. He remembered…

  “Come on, Jesse. Open your eyes.”

  He recognized the voice of Bill Wentworth. A friend. A coworker. Good old Wentworth. He’d been a paramedic in Iraq, but that wasn’t the main reason Jesse had hired him. This lean, mean former marine—like Jesse himself—always got the job done.

  They had a mission, he and Wentworth. No time to waste. They needed to get into the field, needed to protect…

  Jesse bolted upright on the bed and gripped Wentworth’s arm. “Is she safe?”

  “You’re awake.” Wentworth grinned without showing his teeth. “It’s about time.”

  One of the monitor wires detached, and the beeping became a high-pitched whine. “Is Nicole safe?”

  “She’s all right. Arrests have been made.”

  Wentworth was one of Jesse’s best employees—a credit to Longbridge Security, an outstanding bodyguard. But he w
asn’t much of a liar.

  The pain in his shoulder spiked again, threatening to drag Jesse back into peaceful unconsciousness. He licked his lips. His mouth was parched. He needed water. More than that, he needed the truth. He knew that Nicole had been kidnapped. He’d seen it happen. He’d been shot trying to protect her.

  He tightened his grip on Wentworth’s arm. “Has Nicole Carlisle been safely returned to her husband?”

  “No.”

  Dylan Carlisle had hired Longbridge Security to protect his family and to keep his cattle ranch safe. If his wife was missing, they’d failed. Jesse had failed.

  He released Wentworth. Using his right hand, he detached the nasal cannula that had been feeding oxygen to his lungs. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he felt the bump where it had been broken a long time ago in a school-yard fight. He hadn’t given up then. Wouldn’t give up now. “I’m out of here.”

  Two nurses rushed into the room. While one of them turned off the screeching monitor, the other shoved Went-worth aside and stood by the bed. “You’re wide-awake. That’s wonderful.”

  “Ready to leave,” Jesse said.

  “Oh, I don’t think so. You’ve been pretty much unconscious for three days and—”

  “What’s the date?”

  “It’s Tuesday morning. December ninth,” she said.

  Nicole had been kidnapped on the prior Friday, near dusk. “Was I in a coma?”

  “After surgery, your brain activity stabilized. You’ve been consistently responsive to external stimuli.”

  “I’ll say,” Wentworth muttered. “When a lab tech tried to draw blood, you woke up long enough to grab him by the throat and shove him down on his butt.”

  “I didn’t hurt him, did I?”

  “He’s fine,” the nurse said, “but you’re not his favorite patient.”

  He didn’t belong in a hospital. Three days was long enough for recuperation. “I want my clothes.”