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KATE’S HORSE STUMBLED. She automatically tightened the reins, helping Oreo regain his footing. Jack was setting a scorching pace. Obviously he wanted to leave a clear trail, but also hoped to stay out of sight of their pursuers. She was hot and thirsty, and her arm ached from leading Slider, but the discomfort helped her focus on their escape.
And not the murder she’d witnessed on the knoll. Not Kessler’s blank eyes, the gaping wound in his throat or the way blood had spilled over his shirt.
She gave a choke of disbelief. Kessler had been the man she’d distrusted most, not friendly Logan. And she’d certainly never imagined either agent capable of slitting the other’s throat. Courtney must be shattered. Those two men had been on her detail for years, and Logan had been her riding companion.
Courtney’s abduction must have been planned for a while. Once Logan discovered her passion for wild horses, he would have known he’d be the logical agent to accompany her. But such ruthlessness was outside Kate’s experience. She’d dealt with incompetence, braggarts and fools. Had helped fishermen, hunters and hikers who were simply the victims of poor decisions or bad luck. But people who abducted for money—and were willing to slaughter anyone who stepped in their way—that was hard to absorb.
She tightened her sweaty grip on Slider’s lead line and urged Oreo for more speed. There was no doubt they were being followed. Six shod horses left a lot of tracks. How much time would Monty need? A fit man could walk down a horse or mule, but Monty knew the terrain. And if they were able to give him enough of a head start, she had no doubt he could deliver the girls to safety.
She took a peek over her shoulder, trying not to imagine the feel of a bullet as it ripped into her back. But no deadly silhouettes appeared on the hill. Besides, they wouldn’t shoot her. Not yet. Those men had made no secret that Courtney was the one of value. All other riders and horses were disposable.
Kate followed Jack into another cluster of trees and breathed a little easier, grateful for the shelter and aware they’d just provided Monty with another twenty minutes.
Jack slowed his horse, trotting in a half circle. The three horses he was leading turned with minimal fuss, accustomed to being ponied. “How are you doing?” he asked, his gaze intent as he stepped down from the saddle. “Is Slider pulling your arm off?”
“He’s figuring it out,” she said. “He’s going to be a better ranch horse after all this. So will Courtney’s paint.”
“And you deserve a raise after this.” Jack smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes and she wondered if he still wished she’d gone with Monty. But he would never have been able to make such good time leading all six horses. And if Oreo or Slider had broken away and galloped back to camp, Logan would have been instantly suspicious.
“Can you dismount and hold the horses?” Jack asked. “Keep them hidden in the trees while I check our back trail?” It was clear he had the same concern about an animal getting loose.
“Sure,” she said, slipping from the saddle and taking three more lead lines along with another set of reins.
He unzipped his saddlebags and pulled out a set of binoculars. “A kiss for luck,” he said, surprising her by brushing his mouth over hers before turning and jogging toward the trees.
That little kiss was comforting. This was a scary situation but she trusted Jack and suddenly things didn’t feel quite so grim. As long as all of Logan’s men were following, Courtney would be safe. She didn’t want to think past that, to worry about their own predicament.
The horses milled around her, their flanks heaving, thickening the warm air with the smell of their sweat. She pulled off her jacket, then adjusted the lead lines, keeping Slider and Oreo on her left and the other four on her right, almost afraid to look at their back trail. Six riders, she prayed. Let all six riders be following.
Jack lowered the binoculars and jogged back, a satisfied smile creasing his face. “They’re coming,” he called. “All of them.”
“Thank you, Kate,” he said, easing between the horses and giving her a congratulatory hug. “I couldn’t have done this without you. Now we just have to stay ahead. Keep them believing they’re chasing Courtney.”
She squeezed his hand in relief. It was going to be okay. Logan’s group rode faster horses, but she and Jack had four extra mounts. They could switch animals, give their horses a breather. By tomorrow morning, Monty would have reached the fire tower and be able to call for help.
They just had to keep riding along the foothills. There was plenty of cover, yet some decent ground for galloping. With a little luck, they’d be fine. And when Jack stood close, holding her like this, his confidence was contagious...and she was able to act much braver than she really felt.
*
KATE WAS A HELLUVA rider and an amazing woman. Jack glanced over his shoulder, noting how Slider now kept an easy pace beside Oreo, no longer yanking at his lead rope. The three horses he led were neither better nor worse than when they’d started. But they were used to following Banjo and only occasionally pulled at his arm.
Having his gun hand filled with lead lines wasn’t ideal, but the danger was at their backs. The open spaces scared him though. According to Kate, the men with Logan had sniper rifles. A good marksman could make a long distance shot, bringing down a horse or rider. She’d be the first one in their sights.
He pulled the horses to a stop, surprising Banjo with his urgency. “I know you’re hot,” he said, his voice rough. “But you have to put Courtney’s jacket back on.”
He reached over and grabbed Slider’s lead line, nervously eyeing the open meadow they’d just crossed. A shooter might be lining her up right now and dammit, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if she were hurt. “Hurry up,” he muttered.
“I’m riding Courtney’s horse,” Kate said. But she obligingly removed the jacket from her pack and pulled it back on. “You’re right. We better make sure they think I’m her.”
She was so damn brave and didn’t realize he wasn’t worrying about Courtney. He just didn’t want a bullet in her back. They’d never shoot Kate if they thought she was the President’s daughter. But his gut churned and he hated that she was riding in the most vulnerable position.
If Logan suspected Kate was a decoy, he’d have no qualms about picking her off. Based on the man’s sexual bragging, he viewed women as disposable. Called them job perks. A few times Jack had sensed something darker lurking behind Logan’s genial smile, even when he joked with Courtney.
Jack twisted in the saddle. “You ride in front for a bit,” he said to Kate. “Set the pace.”
“But don’t you want them to see Courtney’s horse? Her jacket?”
“Not necessary. They’re locked on us now.” He busied himself with rearranging the lead ropes in his right hand. Didn’t want to admit he was letting emotion affect his judgment. Of course, Courtney was still his number one priority. Always would be. “We just need to cover ground,” he added. “Head for that ridge. We’ll switch horses on the other side.”
“I know this area,” she said. “Trails crisscross from all directions. It’s a favorite spot for elk hunters. Monty’s horse has been here a lot.”
Good, Jack thought, following her toward the ridge. They could ride most of the night. Let the horses pick their way home, nibbling grass as they walked. A hub of trails meant their trackers would have to wait for daylight.
“Listen!” She swiveled in the saddle, her face bright with hope. “I hear engines. Maybe its four-wheelers from town.”
“I don’t hear anything,” he said. But Slider was staring toward the ridge and seconds later the throb of motors drifted over the valley.
“Let’s go,” she said, turning toward the sound. “They’ll help us.”
“Wait!” Jack said, his voice urgent. “Hold the horses. I want to check first, just in case.”
The hope in her face turned to dismay, and he hated that he’d put it there. But he needed to make sure. Logan had clearly planned Courtney’s abduction in great detail. It only made sense for the man to have ground support, and not rely solely on animals.
Jack passed Kate his reins and left her holding the horses as he jogged up the ridge. He dropped several feet from the top then inched forward and cautiously raised his binoculars.
He spotted three four-wheelers, big powerful machines all headed in the direction of their old camp. The lead driver stopped to study the ground, then spoke into a walkie, probably communicating with Logan. But what really gave Jack concern was the black sniper rifle strapped to the second driver’s back, proving that though it wasn’t hunting season, it was most certainly open season on humans.
If the men had been riding horses instead of machines, their animals would have alerted them to their presence. As it was, he and Kate had almost galloped into them.
He gripped the binoculars, his thoughts churning. The net was tightening. Clearly both groups of pursuers were in radio contact. And Monty and the mules could still be intercepted. If Logan discovered Courtney was actually headed south, he’d simply arrange for his four-wheelers to speed back to town, then circle around and nab her at the fire tower.
Jack twisted, eyeing the mountains. It was still possible to buy Monty enough time. He and Kate would simply go where horses and four-wheelers couldn’t follow... Eagle Pass.
He headed back to Kate, replacing his binoculars in the leather case while he jogged.
“Those men are working for Logan,” he said, taking Banjo’s reins and forcing his voice to remain unruffled. “No problem. We’ll just climb higher.”
“Climb? No, I think we should try to outrun them.”
He shot Kate a wry smile. A horse couldn’t beat a four-wheeler but he was glad she was keeping her sense of humor.
“Yes, we should run,” she went on, her voice strengthening. “And we’ll look for a stream. Or bog. Something that four-wheelers can’t cross.”
“We have something they can’t cross.” He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “Those mountains. They can’t maneuver around us up there.”
“Maybe we should split up. You climb, I’ll gallop. That way we have two chances to get help.”
“No,” he said. “If they catch you, they’ll make you talk. That puts Courtney at risk.” And the idea of Kate being tortured made his gut churn. There was no way he was leaving her to face those men alone. They’d run her down in minutes.
“We’ll switch horses now,” he said. “Make a hard run to the tree line on fresh animals. Then dismount and climb.”
He pulled the bridle off Banjo, slipped it over the rope halter on Dusty, then waited for her to follow suit. But she struggled with switching her headstall from Oreo to Slider, obviously exhausted.
He reached over her shoulder, helping to adjust the bridle over Slider’s ears. “A few more hours,” he said gently, “and it will be dark. We can rest then.”
She just stared at Slider’s neck. He’d assumed she was exhausted but now he noted the paleness of her face, the tiny tremor around her mouth. Obviously she feared the searchers on the other side of the ridge. As did he.
“As long as their engines are going,” he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, “they won’t hear our horses. Don’t worry. Even if they pick up our tracks, no four-wheeler will be able to follow us for long.”
The pallor of her skin emphasized the reddened scratches from her earlier run through the trees. “And since we’ll be high above the tree line,” he teased, “you won’t have to worry about any more branches jabbing you in the face. We’ll be way too high for much to live.”
“Great,” she said. “That eases my mind.”
But she didn’t crack a smile. She just squared her shoulders and swung onto Slider’s back, her stoic expression reminding him of a soldier headed into battle...a battle she thought it highly unlikely to win.
