She crouched on her knees, still out of sight, and pressed her forehead against the cool boulder. Sky took a deep breath, while she tried to decide what to do next. Her good friend the S&W was in its holster, but the phone clipped to her belt was useless.
Deep breath.
Deep breath.
A click by Sky’s ear sent ice shooting through her veins.
Her entire body chilled as the cool metal of a gun barrel slid along her cheek.
***
The government-issue SUV’s headlights burned a path down the two-lane highway. Zack tried Sky’s cell phone, but it went straight to voice mail again.
The tension that had gripped Zack’s entire body since running the reports on Woods, Larson, Wayland, and Rider doubled. Tripled.
Mile markers and road signs flashed by, illuminated by the SUV’s headlights. Zack tried dialing Sky again. No answer.
Immediately he contacted Eric Torres for backup in case he needed it. When Zack explained that he couldn’t get ahold of Sky, Torres said he was heading out the door as they spoke and would be there as fast as he could.
After seeing the man’s records, or lack thereof, Zack felt pretty solid about Clay Wayland, so he called the sheriff next.
“Wayland,” the man answered after one ring.
“Sheriff, I’m concerned Sky MacKenna may be in trouble,” Zack said as calmly as he could. “I ran NCIC and TECS reports on a few people, and I think I have a pretty good idea who’s behind the rustling.”
“Who?” Wayland asked. “What did you find that makes you think they’re rustlers?”
“Might better be explained in person,” Zack said.
Wayland paused a moment. “All right, Hunter, I’ll trust you on this one.” The sheriff was in another part of the valley but told Zack he’d head on over right away. “I’m calling for backup.”
Zack asked Wayland not to call Gary Woods in on this one and said he’d explain later. To Zack’s surprise, Wayland didn’t question him about this and only grunted in response.
Maybe the sheriff suspected Woods, too.
Zack thought about calling Rider, but after the NCIC report he’d run on the man, there was a good chance Rider was in bed with the rustlers. Could be how the bastards got into Sky’s office—Rider had the only other key according to Sky.
Fraud. Embezzlement. Rider could already have taken Sky for all she had. He might even be ready to leave town.
Yet something... something wasn’t right. Something wasn’t clicking with Rider.
There was someone else Zack could check in with.
Zack hit one of his speed dial numbers on his phone.
“Cabe Hunter,” came his brother’s voice.
“Something might be going down with Sky.” Just saying the words made Zack’s heart pound harder. “I need you to tell me anything you know about Sheriff Wayland, his deputy Gary Woods, and Wade Larson. And Luke Rider. Know anything about Sky’s foreman?”
Cabe seemed to recognize the urgency in Zack’s tone and answered with calm professionalism. “Never met Rider,” Cabe said, “and haven’t heard much about the man.”
“What about the other three?”
“Wayland’s a good man.” Cabe’s voice made it clear he respected the sheriff. “I’ve known him a few years—met him before he was elected sheriff. We’ve played poker a few times.”
Good—Zack’s instincts about Wayland seemed to be right on. “Tell me about Larson,” Zack said as he drove. “You think he’d get himself involved in anything dirty?”
“He’s a hothead and can be a real ass.” Cabe paused. “But other than that, can’t tell you anything.”
Zack’s right front tire hit a pothole, jarring him. “Are you as up close and personal with that deputy, Woods, as you are with the sheriff?”
Cabe snorted. “Woods is a prick.”
Zack’s skin crawled. “What makes you say that?”
“Beat the shit out of a woman once. I think that says it all. I don’t give a flying fuck if he claims it was self-defense. She had no weapon, no skills to protect herself, and was homeless.” Hot anger radiated over the line. “Saw her myself, Bro. He messed her up pretty bad.”
Zack took the turn that would put him on the road to the Flying M. “I’ve got a goddamned bad feeling.”
“What’s up?” Cabe’s voice grew serious. “What can I do to help?”
Zack glanced in his rearview mirror, where there was only darkness reflected. “Right now you’re about sixty miles too far away to do any good.”
“I’ll be here if you need me.”
“Thanks, Bro.”
As he severed the connection, Zack’s SUV flew down the dirt road leading to Sky’s ranch. Once he turned off onto the private road leading to her house, he slowed the vehicle to draw less attention.
He was probably overreacting.
His brother’s words rang in Zack’s head. More and more he had a bad feeling about all of this.
The tires on Zack’s SUV came to quiet halt when he reached the ranch house and killed the engine. As much as he wanted to go charging out to find Sky, he had to think like a fed. Like this was another operation that he’d handle as coolly and professionally as any other.
He glanced at the dashboard digital clock before looking back at the house. After eight thirty and the house was dark.
Sky had better be back.
According to her message, she’d been on her way from Catwalk Trail at the foot of the Chiricahuas. Maybe she was in the barn by now dressing down her mare. The building was lit up like every light in the place was on.
Adrenaline surged through Zack as he got out of the vehicle. His SIG Sauer was snug in its holster on his belt beneath his overshirt.
Yeah, maybe Sky had returned. He hoped to God she had.
Yet Zack’s gut told him something wasn’t right.
The ranch was silent in the usual ways ranches quieted at night. A horse whickered. Satan bawled. Coyotes howled off in the desert.
But nothing overt. Nothing that sounded unusual.
Lights illuminated the windows of the bunkhouse, the door closed. Nothing unusual about that, either. But the barn...
Zack kept his hand close to his holstered SIG as he went up to Sky’s darkened house, first. He knocked, the sound hollow and empty in the night. His heart rate picked up as he tried the door handle and found it unlocked.
He unholstered his weapon and held it as he crept through the house, turning on lights and checking every room. He searched the entire house.
No Sky.
Shit.
Because of the dread in his belly that wouldn’t go away, Zack kept his SIG out and eased from the house, down the porch stairs, to the barn. He moved through moonlight and shadows until he reached the enormous building.
When he reached the building, keeping his back to the side of the huge entrance, he heard muffled voices. He peered around the corner.
Luke Rider finished cinching the saddle on his Quarter Horse as he spoke to one of the ranch hands who was standing next to a saddled roan. Tyler, Zack thought the ranch hand’s name was.
Zack remained in the shadows and didn’t make even the slightest of sounds, but Rider casually moved his hand close to his holstered gun. He kept talking to Tyler, but Zack knew Rider was aware of his presence, whether he realized exactly who it was or not.
Zack eased his SIG into its holster just as casually as Rider was doing, but Zack kept his thumb hooked in his belt loop, close to his gun. He gritted his teeth. If Rider was hurting Sky in any way, Zack would make sure the man paid.
Letting instinct drive him, Zack stepped from out of the shadows and into the barn. He detected the slightest release of tension from Rider, as if he didn’t consider Zack to be a threat. Tyler eyed Zack with the same calm confidence that Rider wore.
“Where’s Sky?” Zack asked as he strode into the barn, never letting his guard down. Instinctively he scanned the rest of the barn’s interior for o
ther people, while keeping his eyes on Rider’s and Tyler’s hands in case they reached for their guns.
“She left a message earlier that she was heading toward Catwalk Trail,” Rider said with a steady expression. “That was a few hours ago. Tyler and I are heading out to look for her.”
“How about I join you instead?” Zack said, approaching the second saddled horse.
Rider paused, then nodded. “All right, Hunter. Go ahead and take Tyler’s mount.” He turned to the ranch hand. “Find Joe, then saddle up Gray Dawn and Tracks.” He met Tyler’s eyes and something unspoken traveled between them.
Tyler nodded. “On it, boss.”
The ranch hand headed toward the bunkhouse at a jog while Zack and Rider mounted the two horses. They were silent as they left the barn at a trot and guided their mares to the southern fence line and headed to the eastern pasture.
Tension and urgency was thick in the air between them.
They were going at a pretty good pace, but his horse’s gait was smooth and fluid beneath Zack. Sky had some of the best riding stock in the country.
When they were away from the ranch buildings, Zack held his reins with one hand while keeping his hand close to his SIG. “Does Sky know about your history of fraud, theft, and embezzlement?”
Rider slowly looked at Zack. “Finally got around to running me through NCIC?”
For some reason, Zack wasn’t surprised Rider knew about the criminal history database. “Just before I headed out to the ranch.”
“Should have come clean with you a while ago,” Rider said, “but I’d been watching you, too. Your own criminal history shows you were arrested for almost killing a man around the same time you were dating Skylar.”
“Fuck.” Zack pulled up his mount. “You are a fed.”
Rider had to bring his mare to a stop and waited for Zack to catch up again. “DEA. I’ll show you my creds once we take care of these bastards.
“Real name is Luke Denver,” Rider—or rather Denver—said. “I’ve been undercover for a good long time, so we’ll just keep it as Rider. We’re closing in on a drug ring involving a Mexican drug cartel. The rustling’s just a cover.”
“You’ve figured it all out then,” Zack said.
“Maybe.” Denver nodded and Zack caught sight of something glinting in the darkness. “We’re about to find out if I’m right.”
Chapter 27
Zack eased through the mesquite bushes and brush on Catwalk Trail, blood thrumming in his veins as he kept an eye on the rustlers near the water trough and tower.
He glanced to where Empress was tethered, and his anger burned like fire in his head. The men must have Sky.
Before reaching the trail, he and Rider had guided their mounts on opposite sides, in wide arcs around the rustlers. Rider had silently cut the fence with a pair of work pliers so that he could come at the rustlers from the south while Zack skirted them on the north side. Both Zack and Rider were to keep far enough away to avoid being seen by the men now herding cattle into a trailer.
Instinct again kicked in and Zack realized he wasn’t alone, but what was near him wasn’t human, either. He glanced to his right where Blue crept from the bushes to his side.
“I bet Sky told you to stay here,” Zack murmured as Blue let loose a low rumble. The dog drew his lips back to reveal his sharp canines as he studied the activity below. “There’s a good chance you’d be dead if she hadn’t.” Zack shifted his position. “You’re going to get your opportunity to help her, bud. Just hold on.”
Zack briefly wondered when the cavalry would arrive. He and Rider had both made calls to their men before they split up, and Zack had contacted Sheriff Wayland again, who’d said he had just reached the ranch. Zack hadn’t been surprised that Tyler was a fed, too, when he heard Rider contact him.
Clouds parted and moonlight brightened the scene enough that Zack could easily make out the large cattle trailer parked behind a one-ton pickup truck near the tower. He wasn’t sure where Rider was but figured he wasn’t far and that the agent was in position.
The men herding cattle into the trailer held Zack’s attention. One man dogged the several head of cattle by horseback while three other bastards were on foot, using cattle prods to get the animals into the trailer. The men’s shouts and whistles along with the bawls of cattle filled the night. The rustlers were at least a couple of miles from the nearest ranch house, so likely they had no real concern they’d be heard.
Zack had started to work his way down the trail when hair prickled at his nape. Someone was coming up behind him.
In one smooth movement he whirled while drawing his gun, at the same time keeping in a crouch.
“Hunter.” A low voice came from the darkness. “Clay Wayland.”
Zack’s muscles relaxed and he lowered his weapon. “Thanks for joining the fun.” He reholstered his gun and nodded toward the rustlers as Wayland moved closer and crouched beside him. “Not sure where Sky is.” Zack clenched his jaw before he continued, “I’ll bet these are the sons of bitches who took Skylar’s cattle.”
“And everyone else’s.” Wayland nodded as he watched the men rounding up the herd. “Recognize any of them?”
“Hard to tell from here.” Zack clenched his fist, imagining the pleasure he’d take in knocking the crap out of the SOB he was sure was responsible.
“They’re finished loading the trailer,” Wayland said as the rustlers slammed the gate behind the last cow they’d loaded. “Looks like we’re going to have to go in without backup.” “Rider is here, too.” Zack’s mouth set in a grim line as he glanced at Wayland. “He’s a fed. DEA.”
The sheriff nodded. “The way the man handles himself, I’m not surprised.”
“Sky’s got to be down there,” Zack said. “I haven’t been able to spot her.” His voice came out in a low growl as he added, “She’d better be all right, or whoever hurt her is dead.”
Wayland glanced at him, a hard look on his face as he nodded. “Yeah, take care of Skylar first.” Wayland’s expression said he’d do the same thing if he were in Zack’s shoes. “These guys aren’t going anywhere.”
“Let’s do it,” Zack said as the men had almost finished loading the stock trailer.
Both Zack and Wayland started forward when a furious shriek cut through the sounds of the cattle and men’s voices and the blood in Zack’s body surpassed the boiling point.
A woman.
Sky.
***
After tying her wrists in front of her with rough baling twine, one of the thieves threw her on the dirt next to the truck. The rustlers left Sky alone as they loaded up the cattle. She sat on the ground, her back against a truck tire, her tailbone and ass hurting from hitting the ground so hard.
The men were obviously stupid when it came to women being armed. They hadn’t bothered to check her for more weapons after taking her S&W, so her utility knife was still in her right front pocket. While the rustlers were busy stealing cattle, she bent her knees so her hands couldn’t be seen from where they were, bound in front of her.
Whistles, horse hooves, and the sound of bawling cattle echoed in the night as the men worked the cattle.
Sky set to trying to get the utility knife out of her right front pocket. It had worked down so deep she was having a hard time reaching it. Her fingers ached and the twine chafed her wrists as she maneuvered her hands. She was beginning to think she’d never dig the pocketknife out when she finally got a good grasp on one end of it.
The men’s voices around her were loud and would easily have been heard by ranchers if they weren’t so far from the nearest ranch house.
Her breathing came hard and fast and her heart pounded as she struggled to get the blade out. She was biting the inside of her cheek so hard she tasted blood.
Sky gave a huge sigh of relief when she managed to pull the knife out and into her palms. She fumbled as she worked to open the damned pocketknife.
There.
She didn’t
give herself a moment to appreciate the small victory. She was just about to see if she could cut the twine binding her wrists when she noticed one of the men approaching her. A man in a sheriff’s deputy uniform.
Her eyes widened.
Gary Woods.
“Gary?” The closer he came, the greater the shock. “You’re part of this?”
She barely had the presence of mind to hide the knife between her hands and her bent knees. She hoped Gary hadn’t somehow seen the metal glinting in the moonlight.
Gary gave a low chuckle as he ambled closer, an arrogant look on his face she didn’t recognize.
His expression turned hard when he reached her. “We’ve got a bit of lost time to make up for, Skylar.”
She had a hard time shaking off the surprise at seeing him and learning he was one of the rustlers. “What are you talking about?”
He crouched in front of her and his handsome features seemed strangely twisted in the moonlight. “I wasn’t good enough for you, was I?” he stated. “Wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
Sky’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t get over the stunned feeling that had temporarily overtaken her anger. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Gary’s humorless laugh grated on her fraying nerves. “Like I said, not good enough for you to even notice me.”
As the men continued loading the trailer, Gary reached out and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. She gritted her teeth and refused to recoil from the deputy’s touch.
The smells of chewing tobacco and alcohol on his breath made Sky’s stomach churn. She could tell he was drunk as he said, “I’m going to get what I want and fuck you until I’ve had enough.” A crazy glint was in his eyes as her stomach churned. “And that may be a while.”
“Like hell,” Sky growled at the same time her skin chilled. “You’ll never get close enough to me.”
Gary laughed. “I could drag your pants down and do it right now in front of these shitheads who can watch me fuck you unconscious.”
Zack (Armed and Dangerous Book 1) Page 20