Shadows of the Mountain Read online

  “Everything is gluten free,” Kate said, “so you don’t have to worry about anything.” Other than the fact that someone with hostile intentions might be using the blazed trees to follow their trail.

  Kate’s eyes met Monty’s and he gave an encouraging nod. All three agents were patrolling the perimeter, and Tyra was holed up in the tent, sulking. There’d be no better chance to speak to Courtney alone. Kate’s instinct had been to tell Jack about the tree blazes but Monty had been more cautious, wary of all three agents.

  “Do you feel like having a private call with your family?” Kate asked. “We’d like to contact our boss too. Let her know how the trip’s going.”

  “My phone doesn’t work here,” Courtney said. “Besides, I’m only supposed to call at preset times. Unless it’s an emergency.”

  “And if there’s an emergency,” Kate asked, “do you know how to use the equipment?”

  “No, only Kessler and Logan do. I don’t even know the safe word.”

  Monty leaned forward and poked at the fire. “Which one of those guys has been with you the longest?” he asked. He’d quit drinking two hours earlier, as soon as Kate told him about the slashed trees. The knowledge that he’d put away his nightly whiskey underscored the seriousness of the situation, and drove home the fact that they were very isolated.

  “Kessler.” Courtney’s voice warmed with affection. “He’s been on my protective detail for three years. And Logan nearly as long. Logan taught me how to drive and we also ride horses together.”

  “And how long has Jack been around?” Kate asked. “Does he ride horses back east with you too?”

  “Jack?” Courtney’s nose wrinkled with puzzlement. “But he’s not Secret Service. I assumed he worked for your ranch.”

  Sparks spattered, lighting up the night as Monty abruptly dropped his stick into the flames. “Do Kessler and Logan think that too?” he asked.

  Courtney shrugged. “I don’t know. But Tyra knows he’s not an agent. That’s why she’s upset. She wanted Kessler or Logan to save her, not Jack.”

  “Why does it matter?” Kate asked.

  “Well, Jack’s good-looking but he’s kind of intimidating. Tyra already knows Logan and Kessler so they’re easier for her to talk to. Besides, it’s their job to protect us. Now she feels like nobody really cares, you know, and that if something happens again there might not be anyone to save her. I asked Kessler and Logan to leave me and go in the river and help, but when I told Tyra that, she was even more upset.”

  Kate stared blankly at the gooey cracker in her hand. Obviously Tyra had been hurt when the agents deserted her and charged to Courtney’s side. At the time, Kate hadn’t understood all the reasons. Tyra did appear to be very relaxed with Logan, talking more to him than any of the other men. And if Jack wasn’t an agent, who was he? She looked over at Monty, both of them speechless.

  “You’re making a mess of that s’more,” Courtney said. “I thought we were supposed to be careful not to spill food. So we don’t attract animals. Guess I can eat one more if you really don’t want it.”

  Kate made an agreeable sound and passed it over. Her appetite was gone anyway. Now it seemed likely that it was Jack who was marking the trail. But he was the one she trusted most. More than that, she liked him. A lot. But perhaps he’d been charming her for other reasons.

  Courtney finished chewing, wiped her mouth and rose from the log. “I’m going to join Tyra in the tent,” she said. “See if I can cheer her up. She didn’t talk to me much tonight.”

  Tyra hadn’t talked much to anyone. She’d been sulking, retreating to the tent almost immediately after supper. She hadn’t said anything more about not wanting to ride Slider. But now that was the least of their worries.

  “See you in the morning,” Kate said, waiting until Courtney crossed the grassy clearing. The tents were pitched away from the fire and lingering food odors, and Monty didn’t speak until Courtney unzipped the flap and disappeared inside.

  “We need to find out if marking the trail is normal,” he whispered. “Before we panic. Maybe some other agents are riding in to join them.”

  “But wouldn’t Sharon have told you?”

  “Maybe she didn’t know. Too bad they wouldn’t let me make a call.” He poked at the fire again, his frustration obvious. Both Kessler and Logan had flatly denied Monty’s request to call the ranch, citing security concerns.

  “I’m not going to report our position,” Monty had promised. But the agents hadn’t budged.

  Kate glanced around, checking for the radio canister. It must be in the orange pannier, the one with the ammunition—along with the hatchet and anything else that qualified as a weapon. “I bet I could figure out how to use it,” she said. “I’ll check it tonight, when they’re sleeping.”

  “They won’t all sleep at the same time. Besides,” Monty added, his expression chillingly serious, “they’d probably shoot you if they thought we were tipping anyone off about Courtney’s location. That’s top secret.”

  But someone was trying to give out their location, Kate thought. And while the tree blazes could be innocent, what if they weren’t? The idea of Courtney being snatched made her stomach heave. Would they hurt her? Maybe they wanted to use her to leverage the President and nothing that terrorists ever demanded was good.

  “We have to get her back safely,” Kate said, her hands fisting. “Both her and Tyra.”

  “You bet.” Monty’s voice was just as resolute. He’d won top regional guide, eleven years in a row, and it was clear he intended to hang on to that distinction. “If necessary, we’ll leave the horses and walk the girls out. I’ll make up a survival pack in case we have to bushwhack.”

  Kate nodded. Monty had lived here all his life, tramped every square mile of this wilderness. He could find deer trails no one else knew existed, and that no horse could possibly follow. With a ten-minute head start they could melt away. There was a manned fire tower fifteen miles due south. It would be a rough hike considering the bogs and dense brush, but with supplies, it was doable.

  Just knowing they had a backup plan made her feel more in control. The girls might not like walking but if they understood the reason—

  Her relief fizzled as quickly as it had come. Judging by Monty’s heavy sigh, it was obvious he’d reached the same conclusion. It didn’t matter that there was a fire tower to the south. That they might be able to hike cross country and shake their pursuers.

  Because without any real evidence, there was little chance they could convince the girls to ditch their supplies and all the comforts of camp. It was even more unlikely they could persuade them to walk away from Courtney’s trusted bodyguards.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  LOGAN STEPPED INTO the light of the campfire, a hopeful smile outlining his broad face. “I saw on your ranch brochure that overnight rides include a nightcap,” he said. “Well, this is definitely night time, and Petal is asleep.”

  “I already put away the bottle,” Monty said, not moving from his seat on the log. “Would have offered but I didn’t think you’d want one.”

  “I can get the whiskey,” Kate said. “Do the other guys want a drink too?”

  “No, Kessler drew the short straw. I’m the one off tonight.”

  Kate checked the clearing. The animals were settled for the evening, tied to the picket line, their darkened outlines barely visible. She couldn’t spot Jack or Kessler within the trees. And if the men were looking at the bright fire, their vision would be affected and they wouldn’t be able to see the panniers a stone’s throw away. This was likely the best chance for Monty to assemble a survival kit.

  “I can’t remember which pack the whiskey’s in,” Kate said, kicking Monty’s boot. “Would you check for me? And maybe grab some peanuts at the same time.”

  Monty inclined his head, rose and ambled toward the panniers. He looked utterly relaxed, as if the only thing on his mind was collecting the whiskey. However, once he was behind Logan he sc
ooped up his backpack, hiding it behind his outer leg.

  “I better go with him,” Logan said. “I have a good flashlight and the panniers are restricted.”

  “Monty can do it.” Kate patted the log beside her. “You deserve a rest after riding all day and then standing in the woods for hours.”

  “I am a little tired, just from slapping flies.” He settled down beside her and stretched out his thick legs. “Besides, I’d rather talk with a beautiful woman than a grumpy old guide.”

  Kate’s mouth tightened. She’d heard Logan make snide comments before, but this was the first one directed at Monty. She wasn’t the type to sit back and let someone talk about a friend. However, she bit back her reply, knowing it was more important to humor the man, and just hope he wouldn’t notice that Monty was gone a few extra minutes.

  “It’s a beautiful night,” she said.

  His leg brushed hers. She automatically inched away, then forced herself to remain still.

  “Yes,” Logan said. “Too beautiful to waste babysitting spoiled girls. Or checking sweaty mule packs.”

  She gave him a sharp glance, wondering if his comment about the packs was a warning about sneaking to the pannier. But his expression remained bland.

  “All we need is a pool and a warm Jacuzzi,” he said, “and we could pretend we’re like them. Everyone catering to us for a change.”

  There it was again. Another dig. But as long as he was sitting beside her, and not supervising Monty, she should humor the man.

  “I like the bubbling river,” she said. “And the sound of fish jumping. It’s as nice as any manmade pool.”

  Logan gave a disparaging snort. “But we’re stuck sleeping on the hard ground. Don’t pretend you wouldn’t prefer a hotel bed with silk sheets and champagne.”

  “I’m not pretending anything,” she said, blinking in surprise.

  “Come on. I know what women want. At least my girlfriends are honest.” His sneer changed to an irritated groan as giggles leaked from the middle tent. “Sounds like the girls are still awake,” he said. “Let’s hope they’re talking about seeing the mustangs tomorrow. It’ll be awkward if Tyra refuses to ride. Petal has been planning this for almost a year.”

  “I thought it was a last-minute booking?”

  “The actual ranch was. But not the trip.” He paused, studying Kate’s face as if concerned about revealing state secrets. Then he seemed to decide she was harmless. “The less people know,” he said, “the easier it is to keep her safe. But a trip like this has been in the works for a while now. That’s why we upped our riding to three days a week.”

  He rubbed the inside of his thigh. “I should have ridden more though,” he admitted. “My horse is wider than the ones in Washington. Do you have any liniment around?”

  “I’ll check the first aid kit later,” she said, her irritation with the man fading. Not many riders admitted they were sore on the first day, and she certainly didn’t expect it from an elite government agent. But if she left Logan alone by the fire, he’d notice the length of Monty’s absence. She needed to keep him entertained a little bit longer.

  Act interested, Allie always advised. Men love a woman who hangs on their every word. But Kate had never been good at pretending, and she’d already discovered that Logan tended to brag. She wished Monty would come back and fought her urge to check the shadows. If only it was Jack who was off tonight. He was easier to talk to. Easier to look at too.

  She forced an empathetic smile. “The western saddles are bigger than you’re used to,” she said. “So it makes the horses seem wider. Your leg muscles probably had to stretch a bit.”

  “Yeah,” Logan said. “Guess you don’t have that problem anymore, now that you don’t ride horses. Mules are narrower, aren’t they?”

  She peered at him, but he was busy pulling off his boots and examining a blister. She already knew he’d reviewed her background but he seemed to think she was afraid to ride horses. He was wrong. She rode them a lot. She just preferred not to ride them in the mountains.

  “Belle is narrower,” she said, steering the conversation to a more comfortable topic. “But some of our mules are draft crosses so they’re bigger and wider than a quarter horse. Bubba’s sire was half Belgian. His feet are the size of dinner plates. Makes me wonder how big his parents were...?”

  Logan just grunted. Unlike Jack, he wasn’t interested in mule breeding or the best trail saddles or even the soothing sound of the bubbling river. He just wanted to complain about his stiff muscles and now the tiny blister on his toe. She couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose as the smell of his sweaty socks filled the air.

  And then he quit inspecting the sole of his foot to peer impatiently into the shadows. “I better go help Monty,” he said. “One drink and I’ll be able to get some solid sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day.”

  “Oh, do you like wild horses too?” She leaned forward again, desperate for some way to keep his attention. “No wonder you’re her favorite.”

  “Petal’s?” He gave a satisfied nod. “I was actually the one who taught her to drive.”

  “She told us. That was so nice of you.” Kate batted her eyelashes, smiling up at him and feeling like a simpering idiot. If this was how she’d have to act all winter in the dance hall, she’d definitely need more lessons from Allie.

  “Not so nice.” Logan gave one of his smug laughs. “I was under orders. But I was there—not Kessler—when she jumped her first cross rail. She’s way more comfortable with me than him.”

  Obviously there was some competition between the two agents, but at least she’d found a subject that interested him. “She certainly talks about you more than anyone else,” Kate said. “And you’ll be the one with her when she sees her first mustang.” She paused, carefully watching his face. “Or will other agents be joining us?”

  “Joining us?” He twisted, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

  “Just that we have so much food.” He still looked rather alarmed so she jokingly touched his arm. “Although I guess a strong guy like you needs a lot of calories...you know, to keep up your energy. How about I make you a s’more?”

  “Yeah,” he said, looking down at her fingers splayed over his forearm. “Maybe I’ll stay up a bit. Keep you company. And maybe you’d like to help me rub on that liniment?” His voice lowered suggestively. “Which tent are you in?”

  She yanked her hand back. “Monty and I sleep beneath the tarp. Open air. The tents are for guests.”

  “Well,” Logan said, his eyes drifting over her breasts. “I’m suddenly not so tired. And I imagine you get bored doing all these trail rides for local hicks. So I’ll sit up a while longer. And you’re welcome to join me in my tent. You never know when it might rain.”

  He stopped talking as Monty emerged from the shadows carrying a bottle of whiskey and a bag of peanuts. Logan rose and took the bottle. He untwisted the cap, lined up three tin cups and enthusiastically began pouring.

  “None for me,” Monty said. His gaze found Kate’s and he gave a little nod. It was reassuring that he’d had time to prepare a getaway pack but the fact that he declined a drink showed the level of his concern. And magnified her own.

  She covertly studied Logan. It would be a relief to tell someone about the trail blazes. Get it off her shoulders and let the Secret Service worry about it. Logan had an inflated opinion of his appeal, seeming to think any woman would be honored to have sex with him. Boorish but probably dependable. Certainly the White House trusted him. Still, she had a vague uneasiness and the feeling was growing the longer she was around the man.

  She raised a questioning eyebrow at Monty but he just gave a little shrug, as if leaving the decision to her. Monty had certainly talked more to Logan than she had.

  He’d ridden with Logan at the front of the line while she’d spent more time with Jack. However, the more she thought about it, the more she realized she didn’t know anything about Jack’s background.


  And it was far too simplistic to judge a man by the thoughtful way he treated his horse, or be swayed by the fact that he’d been the one to jump in the river and rescue Tyra. That might mean Jack didn’t care so much about Courtney...and so was more susceptible to selling out her location.

  She rubbed her forehead just as Logan pressed a full cup into her other hand. The amber liquid reached almost to the rim. “Should we save some for Kessler?” she asked, inhaling the pungent odor and pretending to take a sip.

  “No, he never drinks.” Logan gave a dismissive snort. “He’s no fun at all. Orders coffee at the bars. It’s a mystery how he landed three wives.”

  “So you’ve worked with both these guys before?” Monty asked.

  “Only Kessler. Jack’s not part of our team.” Logan’s mouth tightened and just like the other two men, it was obvious he didn’t intend to reveal any details.

  Kate took a real sip of whiskey this time, feeling the burn all the way down her throat. She needed to think. It seemed crazy not to trust the Secret Service men, and she certainly knew Logan better than Kessler. Kessler barely talked to her, other than to snap commands. And this might be her only chance to speak to Logan alone.

  “Maybe I’ll go find Jack,” Monty said. “See if he wants a drink before the bottle’s gone.”

  “He’s on the other side of the horses,” Logan said. “And Kessler is watching the path. Better call out though. Let them know you’re coming.”

  “Do you expect trouble?” Kate asked, warmed by the whiskey. “It’s hard to believe anyone could find us here.”

  The flickering firelight outlined Logan’s face and his emphatic head shake. “Of course no one can find us,” he said. “But Kessler is always suspicious. He only trusts fellow agents. It’s probably making him twitchy having Jack floating around.”

  “But why is Jack here?” Kate asked. “What are his qualifications?”

  “Ex-SEAL,” Logan said. “Hired by the President. Waste of manpower if you ask me. We certainly don’t need him.”