She made another desperate attempt to mount, and this time she succeeded, but only by holding on for dear life with her blistered hand.Pain sliced through her.She could feel the horse’s agitation, its fear.There was another long-drawn-out moan, and several more roars.
Shea suddenly thought of the bears that had been so carefree a few days ago at the waterfall.The roars must be coming from a full-grown bear, the cries from a cub.She closed her eyes as if that would also shut out the sounds, but it didn’t.And then the moan became whimpers.
There’s nothing you can do.Go while you can, her mind kept repeating.Go.Go.Go.
Run!
The horse neighed plaintively, still fighting the reins, and Shea knew she couldn’t leave, not without the cries haunting her the rest of her life.There were traps throughout the woods, Rafe Tyler had said.What if …?
Rafe Tyler would know what to do.But he was back in the cabin.Did she dare go back?What wouldhedo?
She swallowed hard and heard the piteous, heartrending whimper again.She had heard horses hated and feared bears.Even if she could somehow get near the animals, how could she help the cub with an enraged mother nearby?
Rafe Tyler will know what to do.
This time you won’t get another chance to escape.
She ignored the last caution and gave the horse its head, knowing it would return to its master.
Rafe felt as if the world had fallen in on him.His head pounded.His hand went to a particularly painful spot, and he winced as it encountered a sizable bump and a trickle of blood.
He sat up slowly, after discovering that any abrupt move only made the pain worse.As he leaned on one arm, he saw the frying pan next to him and realized immediately what had happened.
He looked around, knowing Shea Randall was gone.At least, his gun was still in the holster and the knife in its sheath at his belt.He felt in his pocket.The key to the stable was there, the stable where he’d stored all the weapons and hidden Jack Randall’s money.
How long had he been unconscious?And why in hell had he been so careless?
He thought of that damn kiss and swore to himself.If he found her again, he’d stay well away from her.And, if necessary, keep her hog-tied.If he failed to find her, he’d have to reach one of the others who could then alert Ben and Clint.
He stood, his head ringing, his bones feeling like jelly.He leaned against a wall, trying to will strength back into his body.Finally, he walked over to the door and looked out.The horse was gone, but then he expected that.
Ben had told him that Shea wasn’t an experienced rider.Rafe thought of her alone in the woods, with a horse that was tired and could be hard to handle.Even if the bay didn’t throw her, it could very well stumble in the mountains at night.It was still afternoon.How long had she been gone?It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes.
Gritting his teeth against the pain in his head, he made his way to the stable.There, he chose a rifle, checking quickly to make sure it was loaded.He locked the stable again and turned toward the woods.A flock of birds rose from the trees, and then he heard the sound of hooves against hard ground.He quickly moved to the side of the stable, out of sight.
He watched as Shea Randall rode into the clearing.Had the bay turned back?But she appeared in control of the horse.Hellfire, she was returning on her own.
He started to move forward, then stepped back.Were there others behind her?
She slid down from the horse and hurried toward the cabin.She had no weapons in her hands, nor did there seem to be anyone with her.She stood in the doorway, apparently puzzled.
He still thought of a trap.Dammit, why else would she return when she’d risked so much to escape?
But the forest was giving him no warning.The birds had settled back in the trees again; the squirrels, after a brief respite, were back chasing one another across the branches.
He stepped out, the rifle in his hand, and she turned, suddenly seeing him and going still.
Rafe was a master at keeping emotion from his face.But his stalking walk, he knew, expressed his anger.She stepped back, blocked now by the wall of the cabin.
He reached her, but she didn’t flinch.Her gaze held steady, and he couldn’t help admiring her.Before he could say anything, she spoke, the slightest tremor in her voice.
“There’s … an animal in trouble in the woods.I think it might be that bear cub.”
He saw her swallow, and he believed her.God help him, he believed her.“Where?”
“Near the waterfall.”
“Go inside,” he said harshly.
