“Check the house.”
Nathan walked over to the house and stepped inside, the screen door slamming behind him. “Becca?”
No answer. He checked the rest of the house. “She’s not here, Clay.”
“I don’t like this,” Clay said.
“I don’t, either.”
“Jeff MacDougal looked to be harassing her a bit in town. I tried to get her to tell me what was going on, but she wasn’t interested in talking to me.”
“I’m on my way.” Nathan raced back to the bunkhouse to grab his keys and his gun and head for his truck. “Brody Mac! Brody Mac!” Back to Clay, he asked, “Did he follow her?”
“Didn’t notice him doing so and I watched for a bit.”
The young man came running from the barn. “What is it, Nathan? Is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure. Can you handle the trail ride?”
Brody Mac’s eyes went wide. “You mean all by myself?”
“Yes.”
“Um. I think so. I know all the kids coming and they like me. Their teacher does, too.” He gave a shy smile.
“Okay, you’re on your own. You have my number if something comes up.”
“Okay.” Brody Mac straightened his shoulders and thrust his chest out. “I’ll do a good job. I promise.”
“I know you will.”
“But maybe Ms. Jean could come help me. Just in case?”
Nathan liked that idea. He would worry to death about leaving Brody Mac in charge, but he was more worried about Becca and her driving the winding road to the ranch with no brakes. And no way to call for help.
“I’ve got to see if someone can come out here to help with the lessons. Brody Mac suggested Jean.”
“I’ll send someone out there,” Clay said. “Brody Mac knows his way around there pretty well, but he’s right. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone else there. From a liability standpoint. You get on the road and I’ll see if Jean can help.”
“That would be great. It’s too late to cancel.” And if he did, it would hurt Becca’s business even more. “I’m sure her clients will be here any second.” He’d probably pass them on his way to search for Becca, but he wouldn’t have time to stop and explain.
Nathan threw himself behind the wheel of his truck and within seconds was careening down the long drive. He’d make his way toward town and keep his eyes open for Becca and pray Clay was wrong about the fluid belonging to her truck.
“I’m heading that way. We’ll come at her from both directions so hopefully one of us will spot her pretty quickly.”
Nathan made the turn that would put him on the road Becca should be on. He turned the heat up and let his eyes scan the area in front of him. Side to side, looking for Becca’s vehicle.
A muffled crack reached him and he hit the brakes. The truck slowed and Nathan lowered his window. The same sound followed the first one. This time Nathan heard it loud and clear. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah. That was a gunshot.”
* * *
Becca screamed as the second bullet shattered her front windshield. She’d been fortunate in that when she went off the edge of the road, she hadn’t been going that fast and had simply rolled backward into a tree. At least she’d thought she’d been fortunate until someone started shooting at her.
She sat frozen in the driver’s seat, unsure whether to get out or stay in the fragile protection of the vehicle. Although, if he was shooting at her, he knew where she was. She’d already unhooked her seat belt and pushed the airbag to the side. Staying low, she opened the door and rolled out of the seat. Landing hard on the cold ground, Becca groaned at the pull on her back.
Then forgot about the pain as another shot took out her driver’s-side window. The truck shifted, but she rolled under it anyway.
Fear hammered her heartbeat against her chest and she reached into her coat pocket for her phone. Only to remember she’d left it in the cupholder. No telling where it was now. Fighting the panic that wanted to consume her, she lowered her pounding head to the ground and tried to get her breathing under control. What was she going to do? How was she going to get out of this one without getting shot? She wasn’t worried about the truck running over her. It was high enough off the ground that even if it went over the edge, it would pass right over her.
But the guy shooting...what if he came looking for her?
She had to find her phone.
No, she had to run. She couldn’t stay here. Woods surrounded her, containing steep drop-offs and some hills and valleys. When darkness fell, she didn’t dare try to find her way as she’d likely walk right off a cliff.
She pictured the landscape above her. If she walked parallel to the road, it was possible she could climb up farther down than where her shooter would look for her.
Or maybe she’d just make herself an easier target.
God, please. What do I do?
Becca lay still and listened. No more gunshots, no footsteps, but no sound of a vehicle leaving, either. At least she didn’t think so. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
Was he just standing up there, watching? Did she dare crawl out from under the truck to assess the situation? She had no choice.
She wiggled to the edge and prayed the truck continued to hold while she was now in the path of the tires. She peered out from under the belly of the vehicle and scanned the edge of the road where she’d gone over.
Nothing.
But she hadn’t heard him leave. Now what?
Another shot sounded and the tire next to her head erupted with a whoosh of air.
She rolled back under the truck and squeezed her eyes shut while she thought of what to do next.
“Police! Freeze!”
Becca’s eyes popped open. “Clay!”
“Becca?”
That was Nathan. “Down here!”
Oh thank you, Jesus. Thank you.
She slid out from under the truck once more, careful of her back, and looked up to see Nathan looking over the edge of the short cliff she’d rolled down.
“I’m coming to get you. Just hold on.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Clay! I need rappelling gear or a rope or something.”
Clay appeared beside Nathan. “Becca, you okay?”
“Yes. Don’t let him get away!”
“I’ve already called in the vehicle description. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a look at the guy as he was getting in his truck as I drove up. I couldn’t go after him until I made sure you were okay.”
“Fine. Just get me up, will you?”
“Absolutely. Hold on.”
Becca waited, shivering in the chilly temperatures. A stiff wind blew across her, and she tugged her coat tighter around her throat then shoved her hands into the pockets. She’d taken her gloves off during the drive.
In less than a minute, Nathan flung a rope over the side and it landed near her. “I’m coming down.”
“No. I can climb up. Just stay there.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.” She grabbed hold of the rope and tied it around her waist in a triple knot. “Okay, pull me up.”
With freezing hands, she held tight and walked up the steep hill, placing one foot in front of the other while Nathan helped her by keeping the rope taut and pulling it up with her.
Her back sent warning signals, but at least it didn’t keep her from climbing. She could see the lights from other law enforcement vehicles and hoped those going after the person who’d shot at her were able to catch him. She really needed them to catch him.
Finally, she reached the top and Nathan assisted her to the edge of the road where her legs gave out. He caught her and lowered her to the asphalt.
And the tears came. Again.
Nathan sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay,” he whispered against her hair. “It’s okay.”
“No.” She sniffed and used the sleeves of her coat to scrub the tears from her cheeks. “It’s not okay. Since everything had happened at the ranch, I thought I would be safe enough away from it. But I guess I’m not.”
“And I’m kicking myself for letting you go alone.”
“I didn’t really give you a choice.”
“I had a choice, but—” He shook his head. “No sense in rehashing a bad decision. Let’s just learn from it. Did you see who did this?”
“No. But I had words with Jeff MacDougal right before my appointment. Clay was there. He saw most of it, I think.”
“He did. And he was watching for you when you left. Clay’s the one who spotted your fluid leak.”
Clay approached. “I’ve got a guy who’s tracking MacDougal down now. We’ll pull him in for questioning.”
“Did he look like MacDougal?” Clay asked.
“I couldn’t tell as I only saw his back. His build could have been similar, but he was hunched over and moving fast to get in his truck.”
“Hair color?” Nathan asked.
“I don’t know. He had on a hat.”
“So, what you’re saying is you’ve pretty much got nothing,” Nathan said.
“Pretty much, sorry.”
He gestured toward the cliff. “Your truck is done for and will need some work before it’ll be ready to run again. I’ve got a tow truck on the way. Once we get it up here, you can get what you need from it and Nathan can see you get home safely.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m shorthanded right now, Becca. I’d put someone full time on your ranch, but I simply don’t have the manpower. What would you think about moving in with my parents?”
She shuddered. Not at the thought of living with his parents, but at the thought of leaving her ranch vulnerable and open to whoever wanted to come in and do whatever they wanted. Like run drugs. She drew in a deep breath. “I’m not above admitting I need help. But I can’t leave the ranch. The animals need to be cared for. I have clients depending on me—the ones I have left, anyway. I mean, even if I agreed to leave, I’d still have to have coverage of the place, have someone come in and take care of it. And, not only do I not have the funds to cover that kind of help, who knows if that would put someone else in danger?” She shook her head. “Leaving’s not really an option.”
“What about your neighbors?” Nathan asked. “The Staffords?”
“No. They’re sweet, but a bit older. They were able to help out a bit when I had the fall, but it was really Clay, Aaron and Zoe and the others who kept the place going for me. I don’t feel right asking them for more help when they have their own places to keep up with.”
Clay nodded. “We wouldn’t mind, you know that.”
“I know, but...no.”
“But...yes. I’m going to ask Aaron and the others if they can swing by at least once during the day to check on you. And you have Brody Mac and Nathan there. That will help, too.” He held up his phone. “I’ve got to call Sabrina first and let her know what’s going on and that I’m going to be delayed in getting home.”
He turned away to get started on his calls and shivers wracked her. The temperature was going down and would hit in the midthirties by the time the sun disappeared on the horizon. Nathan must have noticed her tremors. “All right. Let’s get you in the truck and warmed up.”
Becca stood and winced at the jolt of pain in her back. But it wasn’t horrible. She had hope that maybe all of the physical therapist’s hard work hadn’t just gone down the drain.
She let Nathan lead her to his truck and help her into the passenger seat. He leaned over her to crank up the heat before walking around to the driver’s side to climb in. He fastened his seat belt. “Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“I’m sure.”
“Your back is hurting. You might need an X-ray to make sure you haven’t hurt it worse.”
“It’s not hurt any worse. If it was, I would know—and I’d get someone to look at it. Trust me, it’s not as bad as I was afraid it might be.”
“All right, then. You’re a big girl. I guess it’s your call.”
“Thanks.”
The wrecker arrived and Becca placed a hand on Nathan’s arm. “Wait, please? I’d like to get my purse from the truck if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
Twenty minutes later, she had her purse tucked on the floorboard at her feet.
Nathan climbed back into the driver’s seat. “Ready?”
“More than.”
He did a three-point turn and headed back toward the ranch, leaving the ugly scene behind.
* * *
Becca stared out the window and Nathan wondered what she was thinking about. The attack? The wreck? What she was going to do for a vehicle?
Probably all of the above.
She turned toward him about a mile from the ranch. “I guess I’ve lost all my clients after this afternoon.”
“I don’t know. I know you don’t want to ask her for any more help, but Jean came and took over for you.”
Tears spilled over and onto her cheeks. She closed her eyes and Nathan almost pulled the truck over so he could hold her once more. She drew in a ragged breath. “Sorry I’m such a weeping willow lately. I haven’t cried like this in a while.”
“No need to apologize. You’ve got some good reasons for tears.”
“Maybe. I’ll have to do something special for Jean. Thanks for calling her.”
He started the truck up again. “I didn’t. It was Clay’s idea. Well, actually, it was Brody Mac’s idea. Clay just made the call.”
“She loves Brody Mac. Between the two of them, maybe things are okay after all.”
Nathan turned onto her property and then pulled to a stop at the top of the horseshoe-shaped drive. He climbed out of his seat and walked around to help her out.
Jack ran out of the barn to greet her, dancing at her feet. She scratched his ears and he trotted off, happy with his little dose of attention.
Once she had her feet firmly on the ground, Nathan let his hands linger on her arms to make sure. “Want me to help you into the house?”
“I’m not an invalid.”
“I know.”
She sighed. “And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t snap at you. Not after all you’ve done for me today. Thanks for the timely rescue.”
“Anytime.” He paused. “Although, I have to say, let’s not have it happen again anytime soon.”
She smiled. “That works for me. I just want to check on the horses and then I’ll go inside and lie down.”
“I’ll take care of the horses. You go. Take a pain pill, too, and sleep.”
She hesitated. “The pain isn’t that bad.”
“But you’ll sleep better. And if we’re going to fight whoever is doing this to you, you’re going to need all the strength you can get.”
Still she didn’t agree. He tilted her chin to look her in the eye. “What?”
“What if something happens? If I take a pain pill, I won’t wake up—at least not in a condition to fight back. I’ll be groggy and—”
“I’ve already taken care of it. Temporarily, anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have friends in Nashville who can come help me out for a couple of days. If we cover this place up with security, it can give you some healing time—and Clay some time to go through any evidence he might gather from your wreck.”
She bit her lip. Then nodded. “Okay. If your friends don’t mind coming to help, that would be great.” She shifted out of his reach and he wanted to pull her back. “But I can’t pay t
hem much.”
“We’ll work out the details. They’re friends, they won’t need much.”
She walked stiffly toward the barn.
“Hey, I thought you were going inside.”
“I just want to check on the horses.”
He planted his hands on his hips and scowled at her. “You are one of the most stubborn people on the face of the planet.”
“I know.”
She sounded completely serious. Like it was a flaw she’d long ago accepted. She kept walking, stopping only to wave at Sharon who was putting Lady Lou through her paces in the ring. Sharon waved back and rode over. “Are you okay? You look pretty rough.”
“I had a car wreck. Or a truck wreck, I suppose is a better way of putting it.”
Sharon gasped. “What happened?”
“Just a reckless driver not caring that other people were on the road with him.”
Nathan glanced at her, noting the lack of details in her simple answer.
“Other than a few bumps and bruises, I’m fine,” Becca said.
“Man, I’m sorry.”
“I am, too, but I’m alive and that’s all that matters.”
“What about the other person?”
“He’s fine, too.” Unfortunately.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” Lady Lou tossed her head and Sharon laughed. “This girl is impatient to get back at it.”
“Go ahead. I’m just going to check on Pete.”
Sharon rode off and Becca headed back toward the barn. She stepped inside and Nathan followed. When he shut the door behind him, he saw her standing at Pete’s stall, stroking the horse’s nose. “He hasn’t been right since he threw me.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Just more skittish, I guess.” She looked around. “Where do you think Brody Mac is?”
“The bunkhouse?”
“Maybe.” Frowning, she stepped into the feed room. “There’s feed all over the floor. I guess he fed the horses. It’s weird, though, he doesn’t usually leave a mess like this.” She paused and looked at him. “Was I wrong in not telling Sharon the whole truth about the wreck?”
“You mean, are you putting her in danger by leaving out the fact that the wreck was caused by someone trying to kill you?”
Christmas Ranch Rescue Page 7