Josh Page 22

  What a fool she’d been, to think she was safe from it. Safety, she thought with sudden clarity, was just another illusion.

  She would never be safe as long as Sebastian held all the power. But the only thing she could do now was do her best to protect Josh.

  He drew her close before dipping his hand into his pocket. When he lifted it he was holding something as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You’re shivering. Afraid, Sierra, my love?”

  She gritted her teeth at the hated endearment and struggled to pull herself together. She dared not let him sense her fear and weakness. “Of course not. It’s the cold.”

  “Soon you will know nothing but the warmth of my body.”

  He looked over at Josh, who had struggled to his feet and began moving toward them. “Stop right there, or die where you stand.”

  As Josh halted in his tracks, Sebastian laughed as he lifted the pistol and took aim.

  Sierra let out a cry of horror. “You said you’d let him live. I’m only coming with you so you’ll keep your promise.”

  “And that’s why he must die. Now that you’ve admitted sleeping with him, sharing with him what should have been mine alone, I can’t allow him to live.”

  “But he didn’t know—”

  “You never should have left me, Sierra, my love. That was an unforgivable sin.”

  “Please, Sebastian. I’m sorry—”

  “Too late for apologies. Did you think I would just walk away from such humiliation?”

  “I didn’t realize—”

  “Silence. You must pay for your sins. And since I have other plans for you, your lover must pay the price with his life.”

  “But you promised—”

  “I promise you this. You will never again leave me, Sierra, my love. No other man will have you. You will please me until I tire of you. And when I decide…” His voice turned to ice. “When I decide that I’ve had enough of you, I will cast you aside with the same callous disregard you gave to me. Now…” He took aim at Josh. “Say good-bye to your lover.”

  “No!”

  Josh made a valiant effort to leap the distance that separated them, just as Sebastian pulled the trigger.

  There was a tremendous explosion of sound that had Sierra watching in horrified fascination as Josh was knocked backward from the force of the bullet and lay sprawled on the ground, still as death.

  When Sierra tried to fling herself on him, she was restrained in an iron grasp.

  That image of Josh, so still and lifeless, was the last thing Sierra saw before Sebastian jabbed a needle into her arm.

  She heard a voice screaming in her head. A voice unlike any she’d ever heard. The voice of a wild, primitive creature fighting for its life.

  And then the voice was silenced and her world went black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Cole walked into the mudroom to find his two sons sorting through their hiking supplies.

  “What’s going on here?”

  Quinn barely spared his father a glance. “Jake and I are heading out to the mountain.”

  “In this blizzard? Are you both crazy?”

  As if to emphasize his words, a gust of wind tossed a spray of snow against the windowpane with such force, it sounded like bullets hitting the glass.

  Jake fastened his boots. “We’ve been hiking these mountains since we were kids, Pa. We know what we’re doing.”

  “For all you know, Josh and Sierra could be heading home right now.”

  “Or they could be facing a madman’s wrath.” Quinn calmly checked the ammunition in his pouch before adding it to his cache of supplies.

  Cheyenne came rushing into the room, carrying a parka and her hiking gear. “You’re not going without me.”

  Quinn lay a hand on her arm. “I already told you—”

  “And I’m telling you that if you and Jake are going, I’m going with you. I won’t be left behind, Quinn.”

  He saw the tight line of his bride’s mouth, the slight flaring of her nostrils, and knew he was defeated. “Okay. But we don’t have a clue what we’re heading into.”

  “Whatever it is, I’m facing it with you.”

  Phoebe stepped into the room carrying several wrapped parcels. “Protein for the trail.” She handed them to Cheyenne. “See that you take time to eat.”

  “We will.” Cheyenne hugged her. “I know you’re worried sick.”

  “We all are.” Phoebe stood beside Cole as the three young people pulled on caps and goggles before heading for the door.

  “Stop by the barn and say good-bye to Big Jim,” Cole called as they trooped out. “He’s out there raging like a bull.”

  “Right.” Jake paused and returned to hug his father. “We’ll do everything in our power to bring them home safely.”

  “I know you will.” Cole sighed. “As soon as the weather clears, Big Jim and I will be in the air.”

  “We’ll watch for you. As we track, we’ll leave you some signs in the snow.”

  “We’ll watch for them.” Cole stood in the doorway as they made their way through the knee-deep drifts to the barn.

  When he turned, Phoebe touched a hand to his arm, and she could feel the tension vibrating through him.

  “I know how hard it has to be, staying behind while they go after Josh. But hold on to this thought, Cole. You’ve faced hard times in the past.”

  He nodded. “We all have.”

  Phoebe thought about the loss of her young husband, and the strange disappearance of Cole’s Seraphine, leaving him to raise his three sons alone. And then she was reminded of the six graves on the hill behind the barn. “We’ve all faced painful losses, but nobody more than Big Jim.”

  “Yeah.” Cole lifted a hand to her face, as though seeking her strength, before he abruptly turned away and shoved his hands deep into his pockets to stare out the window at the snow-covered mountain peaks in the distance.

  After watching the rigid line of his back for several long moments, Phoebe returned to the kitchen, determined to remain as busy as possible, in order to hold her demons at bay.

  All of them were barely hanging on by a thread.

  Sierra awoke and struggled to sit up. As she did, the world began spinning madly and she had to fight a wave of nausea. For several long minutes she forced herself to remain very still while she breathed in and out, in and out, until the nausea passed.

  Whatever Sebastian had put in that syringe, it had affected her body in ways she couldn’t understand. She seemed to have no control over her movements.

  She lifted her hands, only to see them shaking violently. Her legs felt as weak as jelly. All she could do was lie here, helpless.

  She was reminded of Josh, so still and lifeless, and of the ultimate price he’d paid. A low moan escaped her lips. At once she fell deathly silent, sucking in a breath and praying that Sebastian hadn’t overheard her.

  She looked around furtively. She appeared to be alone for the moment, deep inside a small cave. The only light came from the entrance, but it was so far away, she could only catch a glimpse of sunlight sparkling on snow.

  How long had she been unconscious? The fact that it wasn’t yet dark outside gave her hope that it only been a short time. It would have been an effort for Sebastian to carry her dead weight through the snowdrifts on these narrow mountain passes. Surely she couldn’t be too far from the cave and tent she’d shared with Josh.

  Josh. The thought of him lying dead was a knife through her heart. If only she could have taken the bullet in his place.

  Josh Conway was the finest man she’d ever known. A kind, honorable, decent man who’d never once taken advantage of her. And what hurt the most was the fact that he’d died believing that she didn’t care.

  Hadn’t she tried everything possible not to care about him? She’d done everything she could to convince herself that he was like all the rest of the men who’d ever been in and out of her life. Men who took selfishly and gave nothing. But at every turn
Josh had proven her wrong.

  And now, without ever knowing how she felt about him, he had given his life trying to save hers.

  The thought had her heart breaking. Her eyes filled and she struggled to blink back the tears.

  A shadow appeared at the entrance to the cave, blocking out the sunlight. She reflexively cringed when Sebastian ducked and stepped inside.

  “Ah, Sierra, my love.” That cool, cultured voice sounded smugly pleased with himself. “You’re awake. Good. I was beginning to wonder if I’d given you too much of that sedative.”

  “I wish you had. I’d rather be dead than here with you.”

  “Well. Feeling feisty, are we?” He chuckled. “Good. That’s the way I like my women.”

  “I’m not your woman. I told you that when I left Paris, and again when you followed me here to Wyoming and I was forced to sign that restraining order. I’m not your woman, Sebastian, and I never will be, no matter what you do to me.”

  He crossed the distance between them and yanked her painfully to her feet. His fingers tangled in her hair, forcing her head back until his face was inches from hers.

  When she cried out, he gave her an evil smile. “Oh, dear. Did I hurt you?”

  When she said nothing, he yanked harder, until she sucked in a breath at the pain. Still, she refused to let him know how much he was hurting her.

  There was no smile on his face now. He had the look of a monster. “You don’t even know what pain is yet, Sierra my love. But I promise you, once we’re free of this hellish place, you shall.”

  He gave her a rough backward shove. Her useless legs folded beneath her and, unable to break her fall, she sprawled on the ground, hitting her head hard as she did.

  She lay very still, until the stars stopped dancing in front of her eyes.

  When she opened them, Sebastian was standing over her, holding the syringe. When she tried to back away he merely laughed. “I may prefer a wildcat in my bed, but right now I need you as docile as a kitten.”

  He plunged the needle into her arm and turned away to stride to the entrance of the cave. “I left a message in the snow for my… chauffeur.” He chuckled at his little joke. “Now I won’t have to worry about what you’re doing while I keep watch until my magic carpet arrives. Once we’re airborne and away from this filthy place, the authorities won’t be able to touch me. Or to save you.”

  Josh lay perfectly still, wondering at the pressure on his chest. As though he’d been struck by a flying elephant. In fact, the elephant was still there, crushing him.

  Or was it a boulder flung by a giant?

  Every breath was an effort. The simple act of lifting his arm was so painful, he let it drop like a stone to his side while he lay very still, taking quick, shallow breaths.

  He tried lifting his arm a second time and felt the quick, sharp stab of pain that left him gasping.

  Unwilling to be defeated, he lifted his hand again and sucked in a breath at the pain. Then, bracing himself, he lifted his entire arm until his body was on fire.

  This was a good sign. At least, if he could feel pain, he wasn’t dead. He was very much alive. And hurting like hell.

  And then all the vivid details of that scene with Sebastian came rushing back to him so clearly he forced himself to sit up.

  Pain radiated through his entire body and he let out a moan of pain and rage.

  Sebastian had shot him. At fairly close range.

  Why then was he still alive?

  He reached into his parka and probed for a wound. There was none. Just that painful heaviness in his chest, as though he’d been beaten senseless. And then he felt the edge of the stone in his breast pocket.

  He took it out and stared at the heart-shaped rock that now bore the undeniable imprint of the bullet that had struck. Though the rock had cracks radiating out from the point of impact, it hadn’t shattered, but was still intact.

  He experienced a moment of absolute wonder. His life had been spared by a stone. A silly, sentimental stone that Sierra had insisted was heaven-sent.

  Sierra.

  His own heart sank as the realization dawned.

  Besides the gun pointed at him, he’d seen something else. Something shiny in Sebastian’s other hand. A syringe.

  Of course. A man like that would have planned every detail. Sebastian would have made sure that Sierra was rendered helpless, so that she was now completely under his control.

  Josh had to push aside the wave of fear for Sierra and concentrate on the rules of survival that he’d always adhered to. He was a first responder. He knew what had to be done.

  He lay breathing hard, sweat beading his forehead as he forced himself to act.

  He plucked his cell phone from his pocket and turned it on. Though it flashed a no-signal warning, he left it turned on, knowing that even the slightest signal could be tracked by experts.

  Just that slight movement had his head swimming, and he had to wait until the dizziness passed.

  Despite the trauma his body had suffered, his thought process was now absolutely clear. He knew what he had to do, and was determined to see it through.

  He rummaged through his backpack until he located all that he needed. He loaded bullets into his rifle and put the rest of the ammunition in a small pouch, which he tied around his neck, where it would be easy to reach. He zipped his parka and fastened his boots. Then, using his rifle as a crutch, he managed to get to his feet. Swaying slightly, he stepped from the tent and stared around in the fading light.

  There was only one set of deep footprints leading away from camp. The thought came to him instantly. With Sierra sedated, Sebastian would have had to carry her.

  Sebastian appeared to be a man who had gone to great pains to plan this carefully. Carrying an unconscious woman uphill in deep snowdrifts would be a challenge. Even though Sebastian had the build of an athlete, Josh had a hunch that his campsite couldn’t be far.

  He tried not to let his hopes get too high as he began following the deep footprints. It would be dark soon. Maybe, if he was lucky, he’d spot Sebastian’s campfire. If not, he would wait, and watch, and listen.

  The fact that Sebastian hadn’t returned to finish him off told Josh that the gunman thought him already dead. That gave him a distinct advantage.

  He was forced to move slowly, so as to conserve as much strength as possible for a confrontation.

  The thought of Sierra in the hands of Sebastian gave him the impetus to keep moving when every fiber of his being was screaming for rest.

  Though his body was a mass of pain, he had no intention of stopping until Sierra was safe.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  I’m worried sick about Josh, Clemmy.” Big Jim stood with his hand on the tombstone, speaking softly to his wife, as though she were right beside him. “That boy and I have always had a special bond. I swear, sometimes I can feel his pain before he even knows he’s hurting. And right now, I sense big trouble. It’s that madman who’s been stalking Sierra. If he should find them in this snowstorm, they’d be caught completely unaware. And we know our Josh. He won’t think twice about his own life when it comes to saving someone else.”

  The old man lowered his voice. “Stay close to him, Clemmy, until Cole and I can be there with him.”

  Quinn, Cheyenne, and Jake found Big Jim out behind the barn, standing inside the circle of grave markers. From the amount of snow already piling up on his wide-brimmed hat and parka, they knew he’d been out there for some time, talking over his worries with Clementine.

  He looked up when they drew near.

  Quinn lay a hand on his grandfather’s snowy sleeve. “We’re heading up the mountain, Big Jim.”

  He didn’t argue or try to discourage them. As though anticipating their plan, he merely nodded. “I’d do the same if I were your age.”

  Jake was startled by his grandfather’s admission. It was the first time he could recall Big Jim conceding anything to his age. “I told Pa we’d leave a trail carv
ed in the snow, showing you which way we’d gone.”

  “That’s good.” The old man lifted his head to study the curtain of snow. “As soon as this stops, Cole and I will be airborne.”

  “It can’t come soon enough.” Quinn hugged his grandfather. “We’ll keep our cell phones on, hoping the authorities can track our signals. I know Josh will do the same.”

  Cheyenne hugged the old man, then stepped aside to allow Jake to say his goodbye.

  He grabbed his grandfather in a bear hug. Against his cheek he said gruffly, “I know you’re worried. We all are. But it’s going to be fine, Big Jim.”

  “I know, boyo.” The big man took a step back and studied his two grandsons. “I know you’ll do all you can to find your brother. Stay safe.”

  They saluted him and turned away, heading into the blinding snow.

  When Jake turned back for a last look at his grandfather, the old man was standing, head bent, hand on the tombstone, his mouth moving in quiet conversation with his Clemmy.

  Because of his years spent tracking wolf packs, Quinn took the lead as they headed into the foothills, looking for anything that might point to where Josh and Sierra had made camp.

  Cheyenne and Jake followed his lead, keeping their voices low as they picked their way through snowdrifts, some of them waist-high.

  “A lot more snow up here than down in the lower ranges,” Jake muttered.

  “Yeah. But have you noticed that the higher we get, the less snow is still falling?”

  At Quinn’s remark, the other two lifted their faces to the sky.

  “You’re right. The snowstorm is blowing over us.” Cheyenne breathed a sigh of relief. “Maybe we’ll find some tracks we can follow.”

  Quinn shrugged. “I’m sure any trail that Josh and Sierra left was covered over by a fresh snowfall hours ago. But if they venture out now, we’ll be able to follow any fresh tracks.”

  He paused and studied a bit of thread snagged on the low-hanging branch of a fir growing along the trail. “I can’t say if this is fresh, but it’s definitely from Josh’s parka.”