LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter Four

      Caleb’s arm, locked like a vise around Katherine’s waist, was the only thing holding her upright.

      The barn wasn’t far but any slip, any yelp, and the men would barrel down on them. The lightest pressure on her leg caused blood to pulse painfully down her calf. She breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth, slowly, trying to keep her breaths equal lengths and her heart rate calm.

      Could the darkness cloak them? Hide them from the danger not a hundred yards away?

      Katherine squinted.

      The glow from lamplight illuminated the parking pad. There were two men. Dark suits. A wave of déjà vu slammed into her like a hard swell.

      They weren’t close enough to make out facial features. Only stature. They looked like linebackers. Had the man with the jagged scar etched in his overly tanned face come back to kill her? He would haunt her memory forever.

      Her pulse hammered at the recollection. “Even if you have a car stashed here somewhere, they’ll never let us get past them.”

      “Don’t need to.”

      “If you have another plan besides trying to barrel through them, or sneak around them, I’m all ears.” She glanced at her bad leg and frowned.

      “You still have your keys?”

      She nodded, tucking the rabbit into her purse.

      “Then we’ll take your car.”

      “How will we do that? It’s too far. I doubt I could get there unless you carried me.” He seemed perfectly able to do just that.

      “Won’t have to. You’ll see why.” Caleb leaned her against the side of a tree near the back door of the barn. “Wait here.”

      She didn’t want to be anywhere else but near him.

      A moment later he pushed an ATV next to her. A long-barreled gun extended from his hand. A rifle? Katherine wouldn’t know a shotgun from an AK-47. She only knew the names of those two from watching TV.

      “This’ll get us there.” He patted the seat.

      She glided onto the back with his help.

      He slid a powerful leg in front of her and gripped the bars. “I think we’re far enough away. The barn should block some of the noise. Hang on tight just in case they hear us.”

      Katherine clasped her hands around his midsection. His abdominal muscles were rock-solid. Was there a weak spot on his body? She allowed his strength to ease the tension knotting her shoulders. His warmth to calm her shaking arms.

      “Why would they come looking for me? They said I had twenty-four hours. Why come after me before that?”

      “Might be afraid you’ll alert the authorities, or disappear. Plus, they must’ve figured out your nephew needs medication since they asked what was wrong with him.”

      “How did they find me?”

      “There weren’t many places to look other than my ranch.”

      “Good point.” She hated the thought of putting Caleb and his men in danger. At least the sheriff was there to defend them. He would have questions for the men in the SUV. He’d slow the plans of any attackers and keep Caleb’s crew safe. A little voice reminded her how the kidnappers had warned her about police involvement. She prayed Sheriff Coleman’s presence didn’t create a problem for Noah.

      The trip was short and bumpy but allowed enough time for her eyes to adjust to the dark. Caleb cut the engine well before the clearing as she dug around in her purse for the keys.

      “They might be watching your car, so we’ll need to play this the right way.” His earnest brown eyes intent on her, radiating confidence, were all she could see clearly in the dark.

      A shiver cycled through her nerves, alighting her senses. It was a sensual feeling she was becoming accustomed to being this close to him. It spread warmth through her, and she felt a pull toward him stronger than the bond between nucleons in an atom. His quiet strength made her feel safe.

      Caleb’s powerful arms wrapped around her, and she wanted to melt into him and disappear. Not now. She canceled the thought. Noah needed her. No amount of stress or fear would make her shrink. She would be strong so she could find him. Sheer force of will had her pushing forward.

      “Wait here.” Caleb moved pantherlike from the tree line. Stealth. Intentional. Deadly. His deliberate movements told her there wasn’t much this cowboy had faced he couldn’t handle.

      Katherine scanned the dark parking lot. She couldn’t see far but figured even a second’s notice would give Caleb a chance to react.

      There was no one.

      Nothing.

      Except the din of the woods behind her. Around her. Surrounding her. A chilling symphony of chirping and sounds of the night.

      Silently she waited for the all-clear or the telltale blast of his gun. For a split second she considered making a run for it. Maybe she could give herself up and beg for mercy before it was too late? Maybe the men would take her to Noah, and she could get his medicine to him now that she had her purse back?

      Maybe they would take what they wanted and kill her?

      They’d been ruthless so far. She had no doubt they would snap her neck faster than a branch if given the chance. Without his medicine, Noah would be dead, too.

      All her hopes were riding on the unexpected hero cowboy, but what if he didn’t come back? What if he disappeared into the night and ended up injured, bleeding out or worse?

      Caleb was strong and capable, but he had no idea what kind of enemy they were up against. A bullet didn’t discriminate between good and evil.

      When the interior

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