Colorado Abduction (18 page)

Burke watched the woman writhing on the ground, holding her leg and crying. He couldn’t leave her there, suffering. But he couldn’t rescue her without stepping directly into the line of fire. The man inside that trailer had been cold-blooded enough to shoot someone who was trying to warn him.

It had to be Logan.

“Logan,” Burke yelled. “This is your last chance to disarm and come out with your hands up.”

“Then what? Prison?” It was Logan, all right. “Get off my land, fed.”

Burke would have preferred waiting until his teams had the women and children safely loaded into transport. He heard gunfire and shouting from the front gate where another confrontation was underway.

He spoke into his microphone, “Give me a report on the hostages.”

“One woman ran off. We’re almost to the vehicles with the others.”

“Move fast,” Burke said. He didn’t know what else Logan might have up his sleeve.

Another voice came through the headset. “We’re at the front gate. Both men have surrendered.”

The only problem left was Logan, holed up in his trailer.

Burke wanted this over. He wanted to get back to the ranch and to Carolyn. The thought of her spurred him on.

He stepped away from the trailer. From his belt, he unclipped a flashbang canister—similar to a grenade but without the lethal effects. This canister would make a big noise and a fierce burst of blinding white light before exuding a stinging burst of smoke. Should be enough to drive the rattlesnake from his hole.

Aiming high, Burke shot out a side window on the trailer and lobbed the canister inside.

He turned his head aside so he wouldn’t be affected by the flash. The blast was deafening. Smoke poured through the broken window.

From inside the trailer came yelps of surprise.

Burke moved into position near the bullet-riddled trailer door. He saw Agent Smith emerge from his hiding place behind the vehicle and position himself in front of the injured woman so she wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire. Smith would take care of her.

Logan flung open the door. His heavy-duty rifle was poised at his hip. Before he could spray bullets, Burke lunged. He tackled Logan, pinning him to the ground on his belly.

A second man came out of the trailer with his hands in the air. “Don’t shoot.”

The only one who hadn’t given up was Logan. He struggled on the ground. The correct protocol would be to cuff him and proceed with standard interrogation, but Burke had a different idea. If Logan thought he had a chance, he’d spill more information.

Purposely, Burke gave him just enough room to scramble to his feet. Logan took off, running toward the barn.

Burke pursued. Though he could have easily overtaken Logan, he stayed one step behind. Just before Logan entered the barn, he grabbed his collar and spun him around. They were face-to-face.

“Where’s Nicole?” Burke demanded.

Logan took a wild swing, and Burke allowed the other man’s fist to make contact with the Kevlar vest. That had to hurt.

Logan yelled in pain. “Take off your armor. Fight me like a man.”

“Give me a reason,” Burke said. “Where’s Nicole?”

“She was here. But not anymore.”

Burke flipped off his helmet. “Your men abducted her by the creek. Right?”

“It was a joke. I was going to let her go.”

The cold night air felt good on Burke’s face. He was nearly as anxious to take off the protective gear as Logan was to have him do so. He yanked off the arm guards and tossed them aside.

Remembering his training as a negotiator, Burke offered a morsel of hope. “If you’re not involved in the kidnapping, this might turn out okay for you.”

Except for the murder of Barbara Ayers and the illegal smuggling.
But Burke didn’t mention those charges. Or the fact that he’d just seen Logan shoot that woman in the leg.

Burke said, “We could make a deal.”

Though Logan’s eyes were red and watery from the smoke, he brightened. Deal making was his thing.

“It’s Butch Thurgood and Pete Richter,” he said. “They’ve got her. They took Nicole to the cave and never came back.”

Burke shed his Kevlar vest. His arms and upper body were free. “You asked for half a mil in ransom.”

“But I didn’t have Nicole. Like I said, just a joke.”

“Not very funny.”

Burke balanced his weight on the balls of his feet, ready to attack. He laid back and waited for Logan to make the first move. Which he did.

Logan took a jab toward Burke’s chin. He missed.

Burke retaliated with a quick body shot—hard enough to double Logan over. “You’re working with somebody inside the Carlisle Ranch. Who is it?”

Logan dragged himself upright. “I’m not going to prison, right?”

“Give me a name.”

“Lucas Mann. I paid him to help us with the sabotage. He let us know when we could get inside the ranch and make trouble.”

Burke feinted right. With his left hand he smacked Logan’s left arm. “Lucas wouldn’t set fire to the stable.”

Logan drew himself together. His posture signaled that he was getting ready for a final assault. But Burke was already thinking three steps ahead. He knew Logan would go for the body, the biggest target. Burke shifted just enough to let Logan’s blow crease the outer edge of his ribs.

This negotiation was almost over. Burke shot out with his right fist, shoving Logan’s shoulder. “Did Lucas set fire to the barn?”

“He didn’t know what we were planning, but he told us a good time to strike. Then the old fool raised the alarm.”

Burke ducked another flailing blow and responded with a pop to Logan’s face, hard enough to break his handsome nose.

“Where’s Nicole?”

“Don’t know.” Logan wailed. “You busted my nose.”

Burke moved closer. “Last chance for you to get out of this. Where is she?”

“If I knew, I’d tell.”

Burke believed him. Logan had been double-crossed by his own men. They had taken Nicole to make a big score for themselves. He spun Logan around and cuffed him. “Sam Logan, you’re under arrest for the murder of Barbara Ayers. And for illegal smuggling.”

Smith ran up beside him. “
I
have bad news, Burke.”

“Now what?”

“Carolyn called Corelli. She’s delivering the ransom. At
La Rana.
”

Cold dread gripped his heart. There was no more time for strategy or tactics. Carolyn was in danger.

T
HE STRAP OF THE BACKPACK
rubbed against the bruise where Carolyn had been shot. The pain reminded her that Logan wanted her dead. Even though she’d remembered to bring a gun this time, she didn’t feel safe. His men had already tried to kill her once; she’d be crazy to ride into the center of the feeding pasture. Sitting erect in the saddle, she couldn’t hide.

Throughout her ride from the house, she stayed low, leaning over her horse’s neck. At the gate, she slipped to the ground and removed the heavy pack holding a million dollars.

Burke was going to be angry when he found out what she was doing.
Oh, Burke, I’m sorry. If I ever see you again, I’ll make it up to you.

On horseback, Carolyn could have easily maneuvered her way through the herd. But she assumed the kidnapper was close: she had to proceed on foot. She unlatched the gate and stepped inside the enclosure.

She couldn’t turn back. Nicole’s life was at stake.

Carolyn unlatched the gate and stepped inside. The musky scent from three hundred head of cattle didn’t bother her; she’d grown up with that odor. Plenty of hay was strewn across the
packed earth; she couldn’t worry about where she was stepping or what she was stepping in. The dim moonlight shone on the fat rock formation that looked like a squatting frog.
La Rana.

The herd seemed to sense that something was wrong. These were mature cattle, nine hundred pounds and up. Restlessly, they stamped their hooves and made nervous noises as if to warn each other of danger.

Using the cattle for cover, she crept closer to the rocks with the pack slung over her good right shoulder and her gun in hand. She didn’t want to shoot; the noise could set off a stampede.

She heard a horseman approaching. He yelled, “Carolyn. Where the hell are you?”

Lucas.
He’d almost admitted that he was the traitor. But was he the kidnapper? Was he here to collect the ransom?

She ducked down and said nothing.

“Damn it all,” Lucas barked. “I’m on your side. I’m here to help you out.”

Help me out of one million dollars?
She didn’t trust him. Not anymore.

He rode through the gate.

Though she tried to be invisible, he spotted her and approached. She dropped the ransom. Without hesitation, she aimed at the center of his chest. “I don’t want to shoot you. Just take the money. And bring Nicole back to us.”

“You got it wrong,” he said. “When I hooked up with Logan, I thought I was just making some extra cash for letting him play harmless pranks. I didn’t know—”

“Kidnapping isn’t a prank. It’s a federal offense.”

“I’d never hurt Nicole. Don’t you know that?”

She wanted to believe him. “How did you know to come here?”

“I followed you. When I saw you toting that backpack, I
guessed what was going on. That’s the ransom, ain’t it? What are you fixing to do with it?”

“The instruction was to leave it at
La Rana.
”

“Hand it over to me. I’ll do it for you.”

Or he could ride off with the backpack. If Lucas wasn’t the kidnapper, he could botch the ransom delivery. “If you really want to help me, back off.”

“At least let me clear a path through these steers.”

He rode past her, expertly using his horse to nudge the snorting, frightened cattle out of the way.

Carolyn saw her way clear to
La Rana.
She ran. Dropped the backpack. It was done. She’d fulfilled her part of the bargain.

Leaning against the rocks, she checked her wristwatch. Less than half an hour had passed since she and Dylan had taken the call from the kidnapper. Very soon, her brother would see his wife again. The nightmare would be over.

“This way,” Lucas said.

Dodging a wild-eyed steer, she ran toward Lucas. He seemed to be helping her, forming a barrier between her and the other cattle. She was almost to the fence when she saw him turn in the saddle and glance over his shoulder toward
La Rana.

“Look out,” he yelled. He wheeled his horse around. His rifle was in hand.

Gunfire exploded.

Lucas was slammed out of the saddle.

The herd began to move, shuffling nervously. The gunshot had spooked them.

Carolyn peered through the darkness at the rock formation. The kidnapper was there, hiding like a coward. She raised her gun, ready to shoot if she saw the slightest movement. Firing her weapon while she stood in the midst of the herd was suicide; they’d stampede. But she had to face the son of a bitch—to shoot him before he shot her. Adrenaline pumped through her veins.

He’d have to show himself when he stepped out from behind the rocks to grab the ransom.

Behind her, she heard Lucas moan.
Help him? Or watch for the kidnapper?
Damn it, she couldn’t let Lucas die. She lowered her gun and went toward the fallen man.

He was on his hands and knees beside his horse. He was bleeding heavily from a chest wound. “Save yourself.”

“You’re not dead yet.”

Using every bit of her strength, she helped him onto his horse. They were near the fence. Not far from the gate.

Looking back toward
La Rana,
she saw a dark shadow against the rocks.
The kidnapper.
Before she could get her gun ready to shoot, he raised his rifle and fired several shots into the air.

The cattle reacted. Swept up in the rush of heavy flanks and shoulders, she was carried away from the fence, engulfed in the surging mass. She could only hope that Lucas’s horse would make it to the gate. And that she would find her way clear.

Shouts filled the air. Peering over the backs of the cattle, she saw cowboys riding toward the field. She thought she recognized Burke’s voice. He’d come for her.

The cattle jolted against each other. Three hundred of them in this field. There wasn’t enough room for them to run full out, not unless they broke through the barbed wire. If they stampeded, she didn’t have a chance.

She stumbled but didn’t fall. Clinging to the side of a massive steer, she was carried forward by his momentum, almost losing her footing. Instead of escaping, she was pushed farther away from the barbed wire fence.

Desperately, she clung to the panicked steer. Another steer banged against her. If she didn’t get out of here, she’d be crushed, pounded into the earth by the animals that were her livelihood.

Paying no attention to the warnings from cowboys who knew better, Burke rode through the gate into the mass of cattle. Being trampled was one hell of a way to die. He had to reach Carolyn.

He saw her. She clung desperately to a giant steer. He nudged his horse forward, glad that his mount was more experienced than he was.

Carolyn darted toward him. With one arm, he reached down and lifted her off the ground. She was in his arms, safely cradled against him.

In seconds, he was at the gate.

Outside the barbed wire fence, Burke held her close. He was still astride his horse so it wasn’t the most comfortable position. But he didn’t care. His arms clamped around her.

“Burke, you can put me down.”

“Never.”

The other cowboys who rode with him to
La Rana
were busy, getting the herd inside the fence under control and rescuing the man who’d been shot.

He kissed Carolyn’s sweaty forehead. She didn’t exactly smell like a rose garden, but he was happy to be near her, grateful that she was safe.

She turned her face up to look at him. Smears of grime
marred her pale cheeks and forehead. Her hat was gone. Her black hair tangled like a bird’s nest. She’d never been so beautiful.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You told me not to leave the house without you.”

“It doesn’t matter who’s right and who’s wrong.” He was in no mood for negotiating or competition. “You’re safe. That’s the important thing.”

“We got a phone call from the kidnapper. And from Nicole. She told Dylan that—”

“Nicole? You’re sure it was her?”

“Dylan recognized her voice, and he ought to know. She told him to meet her at the creek. She’d be there after the ransom was delivered here. So Dylan and I split up to handle both things. That must mean there are two kidnappers.”

“Butch Thurgood and Pete Richter,” he said. “Logan already ratted them out.”

“Did you rescue the women and children at the compound?”

“Worked out as planned. Logan is in custody.” He needed to step up and take charge of the operation again. “Before I get back to business, there’s something I need to tell you.”

A brave smile twitched her lips. “Do you mean I have your undivided attention? For the next two minutes?”

“Forever,” he said. “You will always have my undivided attention. Carolyn, you’re the center of my universe.”

Her green eyes widened. “I am?”

“You look surprised.”

“Oh, yeah. I definitely am. Stunned, even.”

In a way, he was amazed, too. They’d only known each other for a couple of days, and he wasn’t generally given to emotional outbursts. “I love you, Carolyn.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He loved her passion. Her strength. Her character.

She whispered, “I love you, too.”

For a moment they stared into each other’s eyes, basking in the strange glow of this shocking discovery.
They were in love, capital L-O-V-E.

MacKenzie rode up beside them. His face was somber. “Lucas didn’t make it.”

“I’m sorry,” Carolyn said in a measured tone. “He died trying to save my life.”

If she didn’t want to condemn him, Burke wouldn’t refute her. Lucas had died and there was no reason to tarnish his good reputation. “Carolyn, where did you drop the ransom?”

“On the rocks.”

He snapped off an order, “MacKenzie, go to those rocks in the center of the field. Look for a backpack.”

“Backpack?”

“You heard him,” Carolyn said. “A huge backpack full of money. A million dollars in cash.”

The young man blinked. “Holy crap.”

“Go,” Burke ordered.

While he took out his cell phone, Carolyn repositioned herself so she was sitting in front of him on the saddle. He contacted Corelli and told him where Dylan was headed.

He hoped there would be a happy ending for all of them, that Dylan would ride back to the ranch with Nicole. He wrapped his arms around Carolyn’s slender waist. “Do you want to ride back on your own horse?”

“Not really.” She snuggled against him. “I used to be so concerned about appearances, worried that the ranch hands wouldn’t respect me if I showed weakness or emotion.”

“Unless they’re blind and deaf, I’m pretty sure they know something’s going on between us.”

“Do you think so?”

He’d spent last night in her bed, and they hadn’t exactly been silent. “They know.”

As she rested against him, they watched the cowboys climbing over
La Rana,
searching every crevice. MacKen-zie waved both arms. “It’s not here.”

The ransom was gone. Burke had expected as much. Butch and Richter had figured out a simple but clever drop point. All they had to do to create a diversion was fire a gun and get out of the way while the stampeding herd covered their escape. “What happened when Lucas was shot?”

“I had made the drop, and I was trying to get out of the field. He rode ahead of me, clearing a path. Then, he turned in the saddle and spotted something behind me.”

“On
La Rana?
”

“Yes,” she said. “Lucas didn’t have time to pull his rifle before they opened fire. Lucas was the traitor.”

“I know.”

“But he admitted that he’d made a mistake.” She exhaled a shuddering breath. “I want to remember the good things about him.”

It was hard to believe Logan had no part in this operation, but he clearly hadn’t expected the raid on the compound. Additionally, the FBI team with the chopper had taken the smugglers on the Indian Trail into custody. “When we get back to the ranch, it’s going to be chaos. There will be hostages to process. And a mob of FBI to deal with.”

“There’s only one thing I’m worried about,” she said.

“Me?” he asked hopefully.

She twisted her head to kiss his neck. “Do I need to worry about you?”

“Not really. I know where I stand.”

“Where’s that, Burke?”

“At your side. As long as you’ll have me.”

“That sounds good,” she said. “But
I
wasn’t really talking about you. I’m worried about what’s happening between Dylan and Nicole. The problems between them run deep. What if she doesn’t want to get back together with him?”

“That’s her decision.”

His job ended when Nicole was released.

A
S BURKE HAD PREDICTED
, the scene at the ranch house was crazy. Every light in the house was lit. Headlights from vans and trucks raced back and forth. There were terse conversations from cowboys and commandos alike.

Carolyn climbed down from the saddle and stood looking up at the man who had saved her life for the second time. The man she loved.

“Go ahead, Burke.
I
know you have a lot to do. I’m going to the corral to wait for Dylan.”

He dismounted. “I’m staying with you.”

It felt good to have him put her first. “Aren’t there a lot of people you need to be ordering around?”

“They’ll manage.” He hooked his arm around her waist.

Together, they strolled toward the corral. The horse Burke had been riding trailed behind them. Though the night was far from silent, they seemed to be in their own little bubble of safety—a bubble that could be easily burst if Dylan didn’t return to the ranch with his wife.

From across the moonlit field, she spotted her brother riding toward her. Alone.

Her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t be happy in her newfound love if Nicole was…

She ran to meet Dylan.

He dismounted slowly.

“I saw her,” he said. “We talked.”

“Is she all right?” Carolyn asked. “Where is she?”

“Not with me. Not anymore.” He held out his open palm, showing her the wedding ring. “Nicole isn’t coming back to me. She wants a divorce.”

Carolyn took the ring and read the inscription: My horizon.
This couldn’t be true.
“I don’t believe—”

“Believe it,” he said. “My horizon. My ass. The sun has set. She doesn’t love me anymore.”

There had been hints. When Carolyn first showed up at the ranch, Nicole hadn’t wanted to talk. Not that they’d had many conversations lately. Carolyn had been too busy, hadn’t expected to encounter a problem like this. A divorce.

“Your wife picked a hell of a way to break up with you,” Burke said. “Was the kidnapping staged?”

“No.”

She searched her brother’s face for a clue. He wore a stern mask to hide his pain and humiliation. “I want some answers, Dylan. Why did she keep signaling us that she was at the Circle M?”

“We didn’t talk about that. She told me that being kidnapped was a blessing in disguise. It gave her time to think.”

“I want to talk to her.” Carolyn needed to see for herself, wanted to hear the words from Nicole’s lips.

“That’s why she’s not coming back to the ranch. Doesn’t want to explain herself to anybody.” He gestured to the ranch house where teams of FBI and cowboys hustled in and out. “It’s over. All these damn people can go back to where they came from.”

“Sorry,” Burke said. “But that’s not how this type of investigation works. I need to be sure the victim is all right.”

“She’s well.” Dylan spat the words. “The only thing wrong is that…she’s gone.”

Carolyn pressed, “Tell me her exact words.”

“None of your business. This is between me and my wife.” He straightened his shoulders. “My ex-wife.”

“What about the ransom?” Burke asked.

“Money well spent,” Dylan said, “if it means I’m done with her. I’m calling off the investigation. Nicole isn’t a missing person. Nobody was holding a gun to her head. She’s leaving of her own accord.”

He turned his back and walked slowly toward the barn. Though his posture was erect and stoic, Carolyn knew that he was falling apart inside. And so was she. Her brief moment of happiness seemed to be crumbling. “Do something, Burke.”

“Legally, I can’t track down a person who isn’t missing.”

“You’ve picked a fine time to play by the rules.” Her hand closed around the wedding band. “Can’t you make Nicole come back? Make her explain to me.”

Her gaze searched his face, looking for a reason to hope that this would turn out.

“I won’t lie to you.” His dark eyes shone in the night. He kissed her forehead. “Dylan is satisfied that Nicole is well. I don’t have the authority to pursue further investigation.”

“But I’m not satisfied.” This wasn’t the happy ending she’d hoped for. “Dylan might be willing to write off a million dollars, but I’m not. I want the ransom back.”

“Good point.”

Nicole had simple tastes. She wasn’t the sort of woman who needed a million dollars to start a new life. “I can’t believe she took the money.”

“That might have been the price the kidnappers required. The price of her freedom.”

“It’s just not right.”

“I won’t leave you alone to handle this,” he said. “The kidnapping is over but I’m staying here. I won’t abandon you, Carolyn.”

“Thank you.” She clung to him, needing him more than ever. “You just keep saving my life, over and over.”

“That’s my job.”

Never before did she have someone to lean on, someone to share the burden. And she was going to need his continued support, especially during the next few days. He was her rock, her strength, her one true love.