Rocky Mountain Manhunt

by Cassie Miles

  But how could she escape unseen? There were hours of daylight left, and it would be easy for a pilot to spot her from the air as she made her way across the hillsides. There had to be another solution.

  She went to her backpack and took out the gun.

  AS THE CUB CAME AROUND, Liam’s gaze skimmed the distant peaks, still marked with snow in early August. He looked down on dense, old-growth forests and rugged cliffs. The noise of his plane’s engine startled a small herd of elk, and they darted into the forest.

  Liam dipped down across the open terrain again. There was a flash from the ground—something was down there.

  This sighting merited closer investigation, but he knew better than to land in a meadow with high grasses that hid rocks and prairie dog holes. The low-pressure tundra tires on his Super Cub were made for rugged landings, but he needed to see the obstacles. He pulled up and looked for an open stretch—a couple hundred feet was enough.

  Nothing out here resembled a landing strip. There were no roads, no houses, no ranger stations. This area was miles away from sanctioned campgrounds, seriously isolated.

  Nearly a mile and a half away, he spied a dry, gravelly stretch beside a wide creek. A challenging descent, but he could do it. He aligned his approach and cut the speed, slowed until he was floating on air. Then the wheels hit the earth, and Liam jolted like ice in a blender.

  The Cub lurched to a stop, and he leaned forward to fondly pat her dashboard. She was a good old girl.

  Before leaving the cockpit, he stuffed a candy bar into the pocket of his plaid flannel shirt. Not much of a dinner, but it would have to do. He grabbed the photographs of the missing people and hiked due north.

  Liam didn’t expect to find them alive, especially not Kate. Her photo showed an attractive, pampered Colorado blonde with long, smooth hair and cool blue eyes. She’d never last two days in the mountains, much less a month.

  Pausing at the top of a ridge, he looked down at the mountain meadow. The sun hung low in the sky, and shadows had fallen across the land. He needed to hurry so he wouldn’t have to take off in the dark.

  Jogging down the slope, he tried to pinpoint the area where he’d seen a flash. After a lot of tromping around, he found it. A crushed beer can—the ubiquitous sign of humanity.

  When he picked up the can, he realized that it hadn’t been in this location for long; the grass beneath it was green and alive.

  He followed a slight trail, marked by broken grasses. There was another can and three rocks piled on top of each other. What the hell was going on here?

  Walking slowly, he came to a flattened area of grass. Someone had been lying here.

  He squatted down to take a closer look. Caught in thorny shrub was a scrap of fabric. Blue silk. That was the kind of quality material Kate Carradine would wear.

  When he stood, he caught a whiff of smoke. A campfire! What kind of moron would start a fire here? Too easily, the flames could spread. Danger of another killer forest fire was high. He hiked toward the faintly rising smoke, ready to kick some irresponsible camper’s butt.

  At the edge of the trees, he heard a shout.

  “Don’t come any closer! I have a gun!”

  It was a woman’s voice.

  “Ma’am,” Liam called out, “you can’t have a fire here. It’s dangerous.”

  There was no response. Did she really have a gun? He called out to her again. “This isn’t a sanctioned camping area.”

  “Are you a park ranger?”

  He rested his hand against the trunk of a ponderosa pine and peered toward the sound of her voice. Though he couldn’t see her, she appeared to be hiding behind three lichen-covered boulders. “I’m with CCC.”

  “Colorado Crime Consultants.” Rain had heard of them. CCC was a volunteer group, and she knew intuitively that they were the good guys. If he was telling the truth, she could trust him. “What kind of work are you doing for CCC?”

  “I’m looking for two missing persons.”

  “Who?”

  “Their names are Wayne Silverman and Kate Carradine.”

  “Kate, huh?” The name resonated through her brain. She heard the faint echo of voices calling that name. Her name? “I suppose that’s short for Katherine.”

  “Probably.”

  “Katherine Carradine. That’s a long name,” she said. Though familiar, she wasn’t ready to accept that identity. “Six syllables. You’d think a person would remember a name that long.”

  “Ma’am? Is anybody here with you?”

  Why did he want to know? Though she’d watched him approach alone, others might be with him.

  The hairs on her nape prickled. Her head swiveled, trying to see in all directions at once.

  Returning her attention to the tall man, her thumb twitched on the handle of the Glock automatic, and her trigger finger tightened as she kept her aim steady. Though she didn’t want to shoot anybody, she might not have a choice. He could be lying to her. He could be one of the hunters.

  “What about you?” she shouted, keeping the tremor from her voice. “Is anybody here with you?”

  “I’m alone.”

  “You came in a plane,” she said. “I heard you buzz the field. You scared the wildlife.”

  He took a step toward the rocks where she was hiding. “Have you got a name?”

  “You can call me Rain. One syllable.”

  “Nice to meet you, Rain. I’m Liam.”

  When he took another step, she growled, “Didn’t you hear me? I have a gun, and I shoot trespassers. Now, back off. Walk away.”

  “It’s not safe for you to have a fire out here.”

  As if he cared. If he was one of the hunters, he would burn her alive. Panic crashed inside her head. “I told you to stop moving.”

  “It’s okay.” He took another step toward her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  Like hell he wasn’t. She aimed high and pulled the trigger. The gunshot exploded.

  Chapter Two

  Liam hit the dirt. This crazy woman was shooting at him! He sure as hell hadn’t bargained for this.

  “Hey, mister,” she called out. “Liam? Are you all right?”

  Cautiously, he raised his head and looked up. She stood on top of the boulders, only twenty feet away from him. A bizarre sight. She was skinny as a bone. Her jeans were torn at both knees, and she wore a baggy black T-shirt over a blouse with a blue collar. Blue silk? Her blond hair with dark roots stood out in wild spikes. Her face was darkly tanned, emphasizing her blue eyes. There was something about those eyes. A clarity. A steadiness that told him she wasn’t really crazy after all.

  She squatted on her rock perch, limber as a gymnast. “I couldn’t have hit you. I aimed high.”

  “I’m okay.” As he rose to his feet and brushed off his jeans, he continued to study her. Though she barely resembled the woman in the photograph, Liam knew he’d found Kate Carradine.

  “It’s you,” he said. “You’re Kate.”

  “I’m not. I already told you my name.”

  “Rain.” It suited her. She was wild as a lightning storm across the Rockies. He couldn’t believe Kate Carradine had managed to survive in the wilderness. This was tough, rugged country, and she’d been here almost a month.

  Finding her alive was some kind of miracle, and he was determined that he wouldn’t leave without her. Though she looked wiry and strong, she might have been injured. Must have been. Why else would she stay here?

  His first obvious step was to gain her trust so she’d allow him to come closer. If he could get her talking, he could convince her to leave. Feigning nonchalance, he said, “You’re cooking something.”

  “I caught a fish.” She sounded proud of herself. “That’s my dinner.”

  “I’m hungry, too. Maybe we could share.”

  A frown creased her forehead. “I suppose I should offer my hospitality. That’s the proper thing to do, to share whatever is mine.”

  “You’re right,” he said. “Th
at’s proper.”

  But when he took a step closer, she raised her gun again. Her attitude changed. “Normal rules don’t apply out here.” Her voice was firm. “I advise you not to come any closer.”

  Looking down the barrel of her handgun, he planted his feet and took root. “I’m not moving.”

  Her gaze darted as though searching for something. “I don’t want to shoot you, but I will.”

  Approaching her was like trying to get close to a wounded mountain lion. She needed his help but refused to take it. She was scared. And, therefore, dangerous.

  “I don’t mean any harm.” He needed to convince her that he was a friend. Reaching into the pocket of his flannel shirt, he took out the candy bar and held it up so she could see. “I’ll make you a deal—put down the gun, and you can have this.”

  “Chocolate,” she whispered. “Oh, how I’ve missed chocolate.”

  Her mouth watered. Her stomach growled. Never in her life had Rain wanted anything more than she wanted that candy bar. She wanted to inhale the sugary cocoa fragrance, to feel the gooey texture as it melted on her tongue.

  This man—Liam—held the candy bar toward her. He was calm, unaware of the treasure in his hands. She swallowed hard, remembering her father and the candy bars he’d carried.

  But she wasn’t ready to entrust her hard-won safety to Liam. Though he said he was alone and worked for CCC, she didn’t know for sure. He could be one of the hunters.

  Still keeping watch on him, she glanced toward the meadow and the stream. The sound of her gunshot should have summoned other searchers, other hunters.

  But she saw no one else.

  Was it safe to take the chocolate?

  No way would she allow Liam to come closer. He was a big man, over six feet tall. Though he was lean, his shoulders looked muscular inside his red-and-black plaid flannel shirt.

  Her gaze zeroed in on the candy bar. “Do you have any credentials from CCC?”

  “Nope. It’s a volunteer organization.”

  “Then how do I know you’re working with them?”

  “You have to trust me,” he said.

  Not a chance. Not so easily. What if he was armed? She certainly couldn’t get close enough to frisk him. Gestur ing emphatically with her gun, she said, “Take off your shirt.”

  He set the candy bar down on the pine needles and did as she asked, peeling off the plaid flannel. A white T-shirt fit snugly across his chest. His upper arms were sinewy and strong. There wasn’t an ounce of flab on his frame.

  “Now,” she said, “put your hands over your head and turn around in a circle. Real slow.”

  Though she should have been looking for a handgun or a holster fastened to his leather belt, she was distracted by his tapering torso and his tight, round bottom. She wanted to believe that he wasn’t one of the men hunting her. But how could she be sure?

  When he faced her again, she studied his features, looking for a reason to trust him. Or to know he was the enemy. He had a good, strong nose and firm jaw that made her think he was either stubborn or arrogant. What about his eyes? Eyes were the clearest indicator of temperament. His were deep-set, hazel in color. Though she was holding a lethal weapon, his eyes showed no fear. Instead, there was…determination? Curiosity?

  “Empty your pockets,” she ordered.

  A muscle in his jaw twitched, and she could tell that he was irritated. But he did as she asked.

  The contents of his pockets included a Swiss Army knife, but nothing else that could be considered dangerous.

  Satisfied that he was unarmed, she said, “Okay, I’ll take that chocolate now.”

  “It’s my dinner,” he said. “Do I get some of your fish?”

  When she’d been a little girl, camping with her father, Rain had learned to share her bounty with anyone who showed up at the campfire. Wilderness hospitality meant looking out for each other.

  Obviously, such protocol didn’t apply to someone who meant to do you harm. Though Liam said he was on a search-and-rescue mission, she still wasn’t convinced. She wouldn’t give up her edge, no matter how attractive his butt. “Toss the candy bar over here, close to these rocks. Then, step back five paces.”

  Again, he followed her instructions.

  As she climbed down from the boulders, her heart beat faster. The air grew thick with portent, and she felt a little bit dizzy. Interaction with another human being had jolted something loose inside her head. Another memory. Not a pleasant one.

  A sense of danger flared, and the heat spread through her veins, melting her resolve, dragging her toward a dangerous weariness. She was losing control. Fight it! Don’t give in! Bracing her back against the boulder, she faced the tall stranger.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “I’m fine.” Her voice quavered. “Stay back.”

  What next? It was hard to think. Her brain was in turmoil. She forced words through her lips. “Put your hands over your head.”

  He followed her instructions. The precious, beautiful, delicious chocolate was within her grasp, but she couldn’t move. She stared at the center of Liam’s chest. And she remembered….

  A burst of gunfire. It crashed and rattled inside her head. She saw blood that wasn’t her own. A man had been shot, fatally wounded. The thick, red blood spread across his chest as he staggered toward her.

  Rain blinked rapidly, trying to clear this unwanted vision from her head. For an instant, she had seen the past with crystal clarity. And it terrified her.

  She glanced down at the gun in her trembling hand, and she feared the worst. Had she fired the fatal bullet? Was she a murderer? In an awful yet logical way, it made sense. She hadn’t hesitated to shoot at Liam. Had someone else threatened her?

  Oh God, what if she was on the run because she’d killed another human being? What if the hunters who were after her were lawmen?

  Rain needed to find out more, to unlock her memories. Right now, Liam was her only source of information.

  “The names,” she said. “Tell me again. What are the names of those missing people?”

  “Kate Carradine,” he said. “Wayne Silverman.”

  Had she killed Wayne Silverman? Though she couldn’t visualize his face, there was no doubt in her mind that he had died. His spirit had departed from this earth. “What else do you know?”

  “Wayne was your boyfriend.” Liam’s hands were still raised above his head. “Together, you left Denver and went to the mountains for a camping trip. There were several forest fires that weekend. When you didn’t return on Monday morning, search parties started looking.”

  “A fire.” When she had first come to this meadow, her clothing had smelled of smoke. It was becoming inescapably clear that she was, in fact, Kate Carradine.

  “Let me help you,” Liam offered. “I’ll take you home where you’ll be safe.”

  “Home?” But this forest was her home. If she returned to Denver, she would be walking into lethal peril. But how could that be? She’d be returning to her family. Her mother, Elizabeth. Her stepfather and stepbrother. Returning to their welcoming embrace gave her no comfort.

  “Listen, Kate—”

  “Don’t call me that. I’m not who you think I am.”

  Liam raised his eyebrows. “You’re Kate Carradine.”

  “No.” She could take care of herself as long as she stayed here. This was her sanctuary. Loudly, she proclaimed, “My name is Rain. I live here. And I’m not leaving. Not ever.”

  In two measured steps, she approached the candy bar. Her intention was to retrieve her chocolate and take it back to her cave where she could eat it slowly and make the flavor last for days. But when she touched the smooth wrapper, her self-discipline faded.

  One bite wouldn’t hurt. Still holding her Glock, she tore open the wrapper with her teeth. The smell was heavenly. Her taste buds danced with giddy anticipation. She bit through the chocolate and caramel. A warm memory of her father’s face flashed across her mind, easing her fear
. Candy bars had only good, comforting associations for her.

  Another taste. Chocolate smeared across her chapped lips. She licked it off and nibbled again.

  When she looked up, she saw Liam watching her. He was grinning, and before she could stop herself, she returned his smile.

  Just as quickly, she scowled. It was still too soon to trust him. “This isn’t funny, you know. I’ve been out here for twenty-eight days.”

  “I’m not laughing.” He knitted his fingers together and rested his hands on top of his head. “I like to see a woman who enjoys her food.”

  She took another small bite, savoring the texture. The sugar rushed through her system, boosting her energy, giving her a false sense of well-being. “All right, Liam. What kind of work do you do when you’re not flying search and rescue for CCC?”

  “I’m a charter pilot based out of Grand Lake.”

  “Why did you come to this spot?”

  “A couple of days ago, I took aerial photos of your meadow. When the pictures came back, I noticed a parka on the ground.”

  She nodded. He was telling the truth. Her parka had gotten wet and she’d laid it out in the grasses to dry. “So you came back to look around.”

  “That’s right,” he said. “Now, I have a question for you. Why do you want to stay here?”

  “I want to be left alone.”

  “Something’s got you scared,” he said.

  His perceptiveness surprised her. Her eyes narrowed as she met his gaze. “Why do you think I’m afraid?”

  Steadily and calmly, he said, “You’re hiding from something. Why?”

  This was more than enough sharing of information. Even if Liam wasn’t one of the hunters, she wanted him gone. Rain had no intention of leaving these mountains.

  She’d nibbled the candy bar down to a stub, which she held out toward him. “The rest is yours.”

  As he approached, she realized her mistake in inviting him closer. Before she could pull the candy bar back, Liam took it from her. And he kept on coming.

  She scrambled backward until she was trapped between the boulder and this tall, muscular man. He must be nuts to come at her like this. Didn’t he see the Glock? The barrel was only inches away from his belly. If she pulled the trigger—