Shadows of the Mountain Read online

  “Sure is nice grassland,” he was saying. “That’s great you can look down now, appreciate the view.” She felt his teasing smile against her hair. “Maybe we’ll finally see those wild mustangs.”

  Her breath escaped in a choke then disintegrated into helpless sobs. He just held her, keeping her turned toward the window, shielding her from the other agents, his compassionate hand stroking her head.

  “I’m okay now,” she whispered, after a minute of silent crying, or maybe several. She really didn’t know how long they sat. Jack seemed in no hurry to vacate the seat, even though the blond agent was hovering, his disapproval radiating in waves.

  Jack reached around and stroked her wrists. “They’re taking you directly to the hospital. Two of your fingers are broken, and you’re going to lose some nails. And that cut on your forearm will need stitches. Do you want anything more for the pain?”

  She shook her head, dismissing her injuries. Once she’d decided to climb that rock wall, she hadn’t felt a thing. Still didn’t. There were too many people, and animals, who had fared much worse. “Did they find Kessler’s body?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Jack whispered.

  “What about Logan?” she asked, following his lead, keeping her voice low so the agent wouldn’t hear.

  “Already in surgery. Looks like he’s going to live, thanks to your first aid.”

  “That’s good, I guess,” she said. But she didn’t feel much emotion. She’d held his wound, prevented him from yanking out the arrow while Jack searched for Logan’s radio. The man was no longer a threat and she hadn’t wanted him to die. But she would have shot another arrow if necessary, and she knew she shouldn’t admit that during her interrogation.

  She probably would though. Last year, her lawyer had cautioned her to only answer the specific questions. But evasiveness didn’t come naturally. The inquiry had dissected every one of her thoughts and actions, forcing her to relive the experience in the most agonizing detail. She’d already accepted that she could, and would, do what was necessary to save a life. And that made others uncomfortable.

  Actually it was rather surprising Jack still sat beside her. He’d tilted her back in the seat and was studying her hands, his ambivalence obvious by his expression.

  “What kind of freak could climb a rock wall?” Had he heard those comments? Maybe even participated in them?

  He shocked her by gently picking up her wrists and kissing them, first the right, then the left, then the right again. Respectfully. Reverently. Certainly not hiding his actions. “I can’t believe you were able to climb out of there,” he said. “You saved my life.”

  The muscles in his throat moved and he lifted his head. “I don’t want you to worry about the interview,” he said. “It won’t be like your last time. And the girls are fine. Stiff but grateful. Monty took good care of them.”

  “What about the mules?” She shot a wary peek over his shoulder. The other agents had shut her down, refusing to answer any questions, only saying an information officer would meet her at the hospital. But as usual, Jack seemed to be operating under a different set of parameters.

  “The mules are fine,” he said. “They’ll be picked up and hauled back to the ranch. Monty insisted they not be asked to walk another step. Two agents will stay with them until the trailer arrives. Right now, they’re enjoying the long grass around the fire tower.”

  She gave a wobbly smile. Belle, Gus and Bubba were safe. Once again Monty had returned with all his animals. Not her though. Her smile faded and she wondered if Monty even knew about the horses yet. Or Sharon.

  Of course, her boss was fair, reasonable. Animals should always be sacrificed for people. But once the dust settled, Sharon would grieve. Banjo, Dusty and Oreo had been bred on her ranch. Banjo was Monty’s favorite. Each horse would be missed. Even Slider—who had proven remarkably loyal—had looked at Kate with something akin to hurt when she’d chased him away. As if he knew Logan’s men were lurking, waiting to pick him off.

  “May I talk to my boss?” Kate asked, squeezing the words through her thickened throat. “Just for a minute. To explain...why we had to let them go?”

  “No.” Jack shook his head, every bit as emphatic as the agents. “Not until you answer a few questions. Officials will meet you at the hospital.”

  “Will I be able to see Courtney and Tyra?”

  “No. Sorry. They’ve already been whisked away.”

  “What about you?” she asked. “Will you be there?”

  “No,” Jack said. “They’re escorting me directly to Washington.”

  “I see.” Even though he was still holding her, she felt alone. “I should have told you about the tree blazes,” she said, her voice small. “Should have trusted you. This could have been so different.”

  “Hey.” He turned her around, his expression shocked. “You did your job, way beyond. You and Monty were incredible. Are incredible. And this is on me. I saw those trees too.”

  “Oh,” she said, feeling a bit better. Then she sobered. “Aren’t you worried about your job future? I’m surprised you’re even allowed to talk to me.”

  His look of disbelief changed to something entirely different. He wasn’t smiling but there was definitely amusement in those golden-brown eyes. “Your boss said you were conscientious. That you’d worry. But you need to understand you’re a hero. You can expect to be treated as such. And I don’t care if I ever get another government contract... Although I’m quite sure I will. Everything’s fine, sweetheart,” he added. His head dipped and he gave her a swift but reassuring kiss.

  She shifted away the moment he lifted his head, despite the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and never let go. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll see us?” she whispered.

  “Are you kidding?” He really did grin then. “I want them to see us. They’re all calling you the warrior princess. And every one of them, including the female pilot, wants to ask you out.”

  She scanned his face, wondering if he was joking. But his smile had already turned to a scowl. “I don’t advise accepting,” he said. “These agents are all based in Washington. And I don’t think you’d like the city. I, on the other hand, live in Idaho.”

  Her heart gave a hopeful kick. Maybe he would want to see her after the dust settled. At least that’s the way it sounded. The helicopter rotors might be garbling his words.

  But he was looking at her the same way he had last night—before she’d shot an arrow in Logan’s neck. When there’d been nothing but desire in his eyes. Only now there was something else. Longing and an endearing mix of uncertainty, so at odds with his usual confidence.

  “What about the pilot?” she asked, pretending to purse her lips in thought. “She looks nice. And we already established she wears red underwear. Where does she live?”

  The sides of his eyes crinkled in a smile. “Montana. But she doesn’t like horses. For a woman like you, I guess that rules her out.”

  A woman like you. She’d heard those words before. But Jack spoke them differently. Like she was something good, even special. He didn’t seem to mind that the other agents were watching, that their relationship would be reported. Or that she might be bad luck.

  “I probably won’t have a job soon,” she said carefully. “So I’ll have more time. And I’d like to visit your ranch, see Suds open that beer. But don’t feel you have to ask me out, you know...because of what happened.”

  “You mean because you saved my life?” His gorgeous smile flashed again.

  Clearly he knew exactly what she meant and though she smiled back, her face felt frozen. She’d helped people before, and obviously he’d rescued many more. That left feelings, ties and obligations, especially when it involved the opposite sex. She didn’t want him that way.

  She nodded again, determined to show her understanding of the situation. She even forced a careless shrug. “You know what I mean,” she said “Don’t feel we have to get together because of what happened.”

&nbs
p; “Because I want to be with you?” he said. “Because I’m falling in love with you?”

  She was still nodding even as his words filtered to her brain, and then to her heart, until it was beating double time. “Oh,” she managed.

  “Not quite the response I was hoping for,” he said dryly. “But I intend to work on that. How about I come by the ranch, soon as I leave Washington?”

  If I’m even there. But she didn’t want to get into that, not with the blond agent hovering. Besides, this time it didn’t hurt so much about her employment situation, or any of the other repercussions. Just knowing she’d see Jack when it was over left her flushed with optimism. Maybe he’d return quicker than expected. Although by the look of things, the feds didn’t plan on giving him much freedom any time soon.

  The blond agent leaned over Jack’s seat, as if trying to hear their conversation. This time though, he tapped Jack on the shoulder and gestured at the window.

  Jack inclined his head and turned back to Kate. “I couldn’t convince them to stop,” he said. “And I’m not authorized to answer your questions. But they all agreed you deserve a little detour. This is better anyway. It will end the day on a more positive note.”

  He was grinning and even the blond agent looked oddly satisfied. “Take a look down,” Jack prompted.

  She turned toward the window. The foothills had leveled into a mix of rolling fields and pasture, dotted with clumps of trees and grazing livestock. Then familiar outbuildings and a long rectangular arena sprouted into view. If she peered to the right, she’d see the dining hall where the cook was no doubt preparing a special cake to celebrate Monty’s return. And there was the dance hall where she’d first met Jack. When she’d discovered dancing wasn’t such a chore, as long as it was with the right man.

  The helicopter slanted then straightened, hovering near the barn. The holding pen was empty except for six horses. Five of the animals placidly munched hay. But the sixth horse, a palomino, lifted his head, eyeing the helicopter with open suspicion. A blaze ran down his face, accentuating his white mane, showcased against his beautiful golden coat.

  “Oh, my,” Kate breathed. “Slider! He made it home?” Her incredulous gaze shot back to the other horses. “They all did?”

  “Every one of them,” Jack said, a grin splitting his face. “Logan was lying through his teeth. The four-wheelers never caught them. Never even saw them. The horses have some superficial cuts and tore some shoes off but they’re fine. It was Slider who raised the alarm.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He didn’t stop by the pasture with Banjo and the others but jumped the fence. They found him waiting outside the barn early this morning. That’s when all hell broke loose. And the reason the helicopters arrived so quickly. They’re safe,” Jack said, squeezing her hand. “And I just wanted you to see them.”

  Her lower lip quivered, her heart doing a delighted tap dance in her chest.

  “We can’t talk about details yet,” the blond agent warned, his voice still authoritative but not quite so harsh.

  Jack raised his index finger. “One more thing,” he said, turning back to Kate. “Courtney and Tyra insisted on sending a message. Your friends at the ranch volunteered to deliver it.”

  He tilted her head back toward the window.

  They were flying low over the south field now, where wranglers clustered around a tractor and hay wagon. But not just wranglers. There were loads of other workers too: the cook in her big apron, Allie wearing her striped swimsuit cover-up, and sweet Charlie from the fire pit. Even Sharon Barrett was there, distinctive in her white cowboy hat. She stood a little apart, not waving quite as madly as the others, but instead holding her arm up, as if in salute.

  Jack pressed closer and even the blond agent leaned over Kate’s seat, until all three of them were craning to see out the window. The agent’s holster trapped Kate’s bandaged hand against the steel frame of the seat, but the pain was miniscule, soothed by her flood of happiness.

  She stared down at the upturned faces, her eyes misting as she absorbed their excited waves and the huge message they’d painstakingly printed in the field, using forty-pound bales of hay.

  Only one word but it conveyed plenty. THANKS! it said.

  EPILOGUE

  JACK ANCHORED THE NYLON rope, waiting for Kate to slide down to the cave floor. As soon as her feet touched the bottom, he turned her around and gave her a long and lingering kiss. He’d been watching her all weekend, admiring how she calmed Slider when the helicopters arrived, the way her eyes sparkled as she pointed out the mustang herd, and how easily she’d conversed with the President.

  It seemed last year’s abduction attempt hadn’t tarnished Courtney’s interest in the wild horses, not one bit. In fact, she’d persuaded her father to rebook her graduation present, returning less than a year later with a plucky Tyra in tow—who’d agreed to come only on the condition that she be allowed to ride a mule, preferably Bubba.

  Of course, this time the President had insisted on far more elaborate security. In addition to a huge Secret Service team, he’d also employed three of Jack’s associates before dropping in to join Courtney for a portion of her wilderness trip—the part where they all enjoyed steak and lobster within a virtual fortress.

  It was a measure of Kate’s talent that she’d been able to lead such a clumsy entourage around the valley without spooking the mustangs. However, she’d been able to guide the girls remarkably close to the herd. Courtney had been ecstatic with the experience, staring so long and intently that the binoculars left an outline on her face. Even Tyra had been entranced, especially delighted with observing the foals and how their stubby tails twitched contentedly when they sucked milk from their dams.

  The girls had spent hours giving the mustangs names, based on their color and behavior, peppering Kate with questions ranging from wild horse slaughter to how the mustangs protected their foals from predators and why the stallion was so mean to some of the colts.

  Jack remained on the inner security perimeter, hiding his amusement behind a poker face. But sometimes he felt like running off other males too, before they tried to steal Kate away. He’d admitted that once and she just looked at him, her eyes incredulous. “But you’re the gorgeous one,” she’d said.

  She had no idea how amazing she was, and he couldn’t fathom why she considered herself an oddity, rather than truly exceptional. Hadn’t understood it until her ex-boyfriend had dropped by the ranch for a “visit.”

  It was obvious the ex had made things much worse with Kate’s job last year. The pretty boy was clearly a narcissist, craving the limelight and suddenly keen to have her back in his life. But only after the White House had championed the Mustang River Ranch as a top-notch vacation destination, with exceptional staff, animals and adventure opportunities. The President had even mentioned Kate and Monty by name, putting them firmly in place as top guides in the industry. Now everyone clamored for her services, whether it be carving classes, trail rides or the new women’s survival program.

  Thankfully, for the next twenty-four hours, Jack had her to himself.

  He lifted his mouth from Kate’s, carefully studying her face. Her cheeks were flushed from her descent into the cave but colored for all the right reasons—not shadowed by fear from the recent climb.

  “I think everyone had fun,” she said, still pumped with success. “It’s especially good for the mustangs. A high profile visit like that will help safeguard their future. You were talking to Sharon a lot this morning. Does she still think the Mantracker packages are a good idea?”

  “Absolutely,” Jack said, unclipping her safety harness while Kate removed her lightweight climbing helmet. “She has more requests than the ranch can handle. Guests are stoked about matching their wits against you and Monty. It’s not just locals either. They’ve had calls from Canada and Australia as well as a sheik from the Emirates.”

  Giving guests a head start and then sending Kate and Monty out on
horses to track them down had been Sharon Barrett’s idea. No doubt it would be a surefire winner, providing adrenaline-seekers with the ultimate challenge. There were enough scenarios to fit almost everyone. And one of Sharon’s suggested variations was to have him—a former SEAL—partnered with Kate.

  Only Jack didn’t want to horn in on Kate’s success. He loved seeing the happiness in her eyes, along with the occasional look of disbelief, as if she still couldn’t believe she’d landed her dream job for life.

  “Sharon asked if I’d be interested in filling in for Monty on occasion,” Jack said, gauging Kate’s reaction. “When I’m between jobs... But only if that’s something you’d like. She wants us to think about it.”

  “Think about it? But that’s wonderful!” Kate rose on her toes and flung her arms around his neck. “Imagine! Paid to ride together!”

  “Yeah. And she’ll throw in the guest cottage by the helipad in exchange for some security work.”

  “A cottage too? Unbelievable!” Kate was literally hopping now, her reaction exactly what he’d hoped. “I can’t believe she agreed to that. Only Monty has a cottage, and he’s worked here for ages.”

  “Negotiations were tough.” Jack felt the side of his mouth twitch. Sharon Barrett was a shrewd businesswoman but she also knew how important it was to ride the crest of free publicity. He’d taken full advantage of her desire to keep Kate on staff and to use him as part of her tracking team.

  “The women will want you to catch them,” Sharon had said, rubbing her hands in glee. “That is unless you’re frowning. Then they’ll be shitting their pants in fear. And that wouldn’t be good for my ranch. You will be charming with them, right?”